Jun 12, 2012
Jun 11, 2012
May 18, 2012
Coffee Gives Jolt to Life Span
Drinking several cups of coffee every day may help you live longer according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 17. Coffee is commonly known as a stimulant, which is why it is hard for scientists to believe that coffee can have any beneficial factors. Surprisingly, coffee may reduce the risk of death, heart disease, stroke and even infections. This news may be pleasing for the many coffee addicts in the world.
Everyone is always looking for ways to live longer, and I am no different. From this report, I feel tempted to start drinking as others do. There are many reasons for my thinking. One reason is that people who drink two or more cups a day are approximately ten to sixteen percent less likely to die. Another motivator is that if I drink about two cups of coffee a day, I could potentially reduce the threat of death, heart disease, respitory ailments, and maybe even diabetes. Lastly, for people who absolutely love coffee, if they are able to drink four or more cups of coffee in a day, they could fight against stroke and other harmful infections. So with this knowledge, who needs a "Fountain of Youth" to keep me young and alive forever, when I have coffee by my side?
Article from: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/340733/title/Coffee_gives_jolt_to_life_span
May 4, 2012
Ancient Flower Blooms Again
This story is about a 31,800 year old flower. The seeds of this amazing flower were found frozen deep under Siberia which is a region covering central and eastern Russia. After Russian scientists discovered the remains of the plant, the team brought it back to their lab and helped it grow. The reason of the seeds being discovered lies in the help of the animals. Back in the ice-age, an Arctic ground squirrel buried seeds and fruits underground near the Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia. This led to the discovery of the seeds about 30,000 years later.
I think that the discovery of the seeds was wonderful. I'm really amazed at how long the seeds were able to survive even after a period of 31,800 years. It's also fascinating to find out that the plant's history is known. Out of all, I really feel the discovery of the seeds is wonderful because I feel we have another connection to the past now. I feel that this is another step towards really learning about our past, present and future of all plant life.
article and picture from: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/03/ancient-flower-blooms-again/
Mar 29, 2012
Scientists Hijack Mouse Neurons to take Control of their Memories
This article is about scientists and mice. The scientists tested on the mice and manipulated their fear response. This study occured in a laboratory and was officially posted on Friday in Science. The reason for this experiment is to study mental health. This study may help for mental disorder such as schizophrenia.
I think that this experiment was very harmful and cruel to the mice, but I also feel that this study will help in the better cause. The reasons for my thinking are: the mice were shocked, the mice had their memories tampered with, but at the same time human health can be improved for some people. With this study, many people will be affected for the better. Of course, some mice may be manipulated and messed around with, but they will have helped to allow humans to survive.
This information was found on: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-03/scientists-hijack-mouse-neurons-control-and-manipulate-memories
Picture from: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1441&bih=710&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=FkmZWL6jD30_zM:&imgrefurl=http://wp.stockton.edu/gfb1/2012/03/09/extra-gene-in-mice-prevents-cancer/&docid=gC24m-TkzOQRtM&imgurl=http://wp.stockton.edu/gfb1/files/2012/03/mice_smooth1.jpg&w=450&h=338&ei=Zr90T8u_AqrX0QGTysn_Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=795&vpy=189&dur=1485&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=86&ty=113&sig=103692481630777264989&page=1&tbnh=148&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
Feb 7, 2012
Labs of the Week
Another lab was the "Pouring Gas" experiment which was another chemical change. For this experiment, we took baking soda and mixed it in vinegar which got the mxture really fizzy. Through this fizz, CO2 was created. By tilting the mixture glass next to the fire, the flame was forced to go out immediately. The flame went out because the key ingredient for fire is oxygen, which got cut off by the CO2.
The third lab that we did was "Marshmallow Fun," which displayed a physical and chemical change. We had ripped the marshmallow halves which did not change the substance making it a physical change. When we burned the marshmallow, it was a chemical change. But the ashy black part of the marshmallow is change in the physical property of the once-soft and sweet marshmallow.
Through all of these experiments, I have learned many new things about physical and chemical changes. I have learned that a physical property can change without the chemical property having to. And the chemical property can change along with the physical property of an object. It's interesting how such simple tasks such as burning a marshmallow can be broken down so scientifically.
Jan 11, 2012
Frog Blog
In science class some time ago, we had conducted a frog dissection experiment. In this experiment, we had to cut up a frog and we were to identify organs. Unfortunately, our frog, ImraniOmariJoshiAmani, was a female. Due to this, as soon as we opened our frog, we had to take out millions of tiny eggs from her body. After one and a half classes of just taking out her excessive amount of eggs, we were finally able to see her organs. I could not believe how much us humans have in common to a frog! We could see her organs such as lungs and kidneys. After identifying the organs, we had completed the experiment. We said our final goodbyes to our amazing frog ImraniOmariJoshiAmani and then we had fun by poking her eyes out. We will always remember her quiet nature and her wonderful ability to endure a great amount of pain.
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