Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Rachel Carson: Responsible for the Deaths of Millions of Africans??

Rachel Carson's is the author of the novel Silent Spring. Silent Spring raised awareness to the harmful effects of the chemical compound DDT. Rachel Carson's book led to the banning of DDT. Although, DDT is harmful it killed the insects that caused malaria. Although, the insects causing malaria were killed off by DDT in the beginning. Eventually, the malaria causing insects would develop a resistance to the DDT. Rachel Carson may have caused some Africans to die because of Malaria but million more would have died if awareness about DDT's harmful effects was not raised.

Friday, November 12, 2010

What if...

1. What are the chances of getting hemorrhoids?
     The chances of getting hemorrhoids is 25 to 1.

2. What is the possibility that you will get struck by lightning?
     The possibility of being struck by lightning is 576,000 to 1.

3. What are the odds of having a stroke?
    The odds of having a stroke is 1 in 6.
  
4. What are the odds of becoming a pro-athlete?
     The odds of becoming a pro-athlete is 22,000 to 1.

5. What is the chances of you having twins? (Does fertilization drugs increase this possibility.)
    The chances of you having twins in the 21st century is 3%.

6. What is the chances of you being murdered? 
    The chances of you being murdered is 18,000 to 1. 

Monday, October 25, 2010

Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve refers to the common matrilineal ancestor from whom all living creatures are descended. Mitochondrial Eve is estimated to have lived around 200,000 years ago. Scientist believe that if they go back far enough, they will find one common mother. The deviation between the mitochondrial DNA among different people can help scientist estimate the time between now and the "original mother". Every 3,500 years mitochondrial DNA accrues one mutation. Mitochondrial Eve is the origin of different tribes whom developed their own specific traits according to the surroundings. Only females pass down their mitochondrial DNA.



                                                                              Italian 


                                                Hispanic 






                                                 Latina 





                                                                       Chinese


                                                 Scottish






                                                Eritrea 




                                          West African 


                                                 Indian 

Although, there are differences among different ethnic groups, there are some similarities which help prove that we are all connected through the "original mother".


Monday, October 18, 2010

Shedding Light on the Origin of Vertebrates



The creature above is an Amphioxus. The amphioxus is the best pre duplicative stand-in of the vertebrate genome. Amphioxus research is helping scientist understand the evolution of the nervous system. Who knows what scientist will discover next?

Polywater: A New Form of Water??

Polywater is a supposed polymeric form of water markedly different from ordinary water, claimed as a new discovery in the early 1970s. The claim was later retracted when its properties were found to be the result of impurities. A Russian scientist named Nikolai Fedyakin, performed experiments which involved sealing water in capillaries. He noticed that a second layer of water formed above the water that was supposed to be there and there was a layer of air between the two columns. Fedyakin also noticed that as the water below the second column decreased, the water in the second column increased. When Fedyakin examined the water he noticed that it had a higher viscosity than water it was more like a syrup. He also noticed that the second column of water had a higher boiling point and lower freezing point than water. When the U.S. Bureau of Standards observed the mystery substance they thought what everyone was thinking, "Could this be a new form of water?". Unfortunately, as the mystery substance was looked at closer, the "new form of water" was no more than tiny particles in ordinary water. 

Friday, September 24, 2010

Website Project: Fact or Fiction?

http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus


This website is about the tree octopus. It seems like a very legit website, it has a good font choice, pictures of the animal in its habitat and a nice layout. However, no matter how real this website may seem its fiction. The purpose of the website is to convince you to "show support" and even con you into buying different items from the gift shop of this supposed tree cephalopod.