Science Fun!!!!!!

In my science class we had an interesting experiment. We are learning about the Earth. Our teacher wanted us to learn more about the mantel. She explained to us that the mantel is a solid but acts as a liquid. Many of us were confused. How could a solid be a liquid? Well we conducted this experiment. First you will need the following materials: half a cup of cornstarch, half a cup of water, a spoon, and two beakers. Next pour the water into the cornstarch. Take the spoon and mix the water and cornstarch together. You will realize that the mixture will become harder and harder to stir. After mixing take your hand and take a good amount of the mixture. If you let it be the mixture will melt in your hand and start to drip down. But, if you touch it, it will suddenly become hard. This is a good example of what happens in the mantel. Plasticity is the term that explains this experiment. The mantel has this specific property. As a result the crust can float on the mantel. I learned a lot about the Earth and this experiment was fun!!!

October Sky

In my class we watched an amazing movie known as "October Sky". It is about a young boy known as Homer Hickam who watches one night as the Soviet satellite Sputnik zoomed across the night sky in his hometown of Coalwood, Virginia. He becomes inspired by the Sputnik and soon begins to build rockets with his friends Quentin Wilson, O'Dell Carroll, and Roy Lee. But, Homer's father dislikes the rocket building because he hopes for Homer to become a coal mine worker. Determined to win the science fair Homer ignores his father's remarks and soon the "Rocket Boys" start to build rockets. When they begin to launch rockets at their launch site at Cape Coalwood they were soon accused of starting a forest fire. Homer soon had to stop building and launching rockets which depressed him deeply. Homer's father soon gets into a coal mine accident and Homer takes over because Jim, Homer's brother received a college scholarship. Homer soon proves that they did not cause the forest fire after his father gets better. The fire was caused by a flare that was shot from a nearby airport. Soon the "Rocket Boys" enter the science fair which they won. When Homer also wins the nationals he is overwhelmed by college scholarships. When he arrives back to town he is a hero. He shows the medal to his teacher who supported him throughout the entire event, Ms. Riley, who was diagnosed with cancer. They then launch their final rocket which Homer's dad attended and launched. Homer and the other boys graduated from college. Homer's father died due to Black Lung Disease and Ms. Riley died due to cancer. This movie had many connections to Earth Science. For example, Homer's father worked in the coal mines which are located underground. Homer Hickam's story proves that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it.

Color Blindness

Color Blindness is a genetic disorder that affects 8% of men and .5% of women in U.S. Color blindness affects humans when the subject is unable to see shades of colors. Color blindness is not fatal so the mortality rate is zero. Color blindness can disable many people. Colors are used everyday and when someone cannot see the correct colors life can be difficult for them. There are no treatment to the disorder. But anyone with the disorder can get special glasses that allow them to see the correct colors. I believe that color blindness can make a persons life very difficult. I hope that in the future there will be a treatment for color blindness.

The blog I am reviewing is:
sir.4000.blogspot.com

Duchene Muscular Dystrophy

Duchene muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that affects muscles. It was first discovered by a French neurologist named Guillanme Benjamin Amand Duchenne in the 1860s. The symptoms are unusual walking or running at around the age of 3. There are also generalized weaknesses and muscles wasting first affecting hips, pelvis, thigh, and shoulders. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disorder. But patients can take physical therapy so they can remain fit. Most kids with the disorder die with it before their thirties. About 1 out of 3600 male infants have the disorder and mostly males get the disorder. Duchene muscular dystrophy is caused by missing genes that are needed to make proteins in order to build and maintain healthy muscles. To develop new treatments researchers have to learn more about what causes this disorder. I believe that this disorder can be treated. In the future we can find a cure and save many lives.

The websites I used were:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html
http://www.yourgenesyourhealth.org/dmd/whatisit.html
http://www.genome.gov/19518854
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070129164916AAs1WL1

My Roller Coaster Website

The Fire Tsunami

Bugs Found with Heat Sensors!!!!

Scientists believe that the western conifer-seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, has infrared radiation that comes out of it. The bugs navigate this thermoscape using infrared receptors to locate the seed-bearing cones they feed on. Scientists at the Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, and several colleagues discovered that the bugs were often attracted to warm objects in poeple homes. To find out more, the team measured the teamperature from different pine trees. Cones were as many as 27 degrees Fahrenheit warmer then needles and emitted stronger infrared radiation. Then, theseted the ability of the bugs by offering them a strong or weak infrared source. The insects overwhelmingly chose the strong radiation. Scientists believe that some plants use radiation to advertise pollinators to come to them. I believe that this discovery is important because if we learn more about infrared the more we can use it.

I found this article at:

http://www.livescience.com/animals/090209-nhm-heat-sensors.html

New Warehouse made Green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In South Brunswick a new, unique, facility was just finished on Docks Corner Road. The 583,376 square foot warehouse distribution facility was designed "green" in order to save money and energy. "It’s a special building that’s just waiting for a tenant to move in,"said Jason Goldman, executive director of Cushman & Wakefield of New Jersey Inc. Features include a high-solar reflectance white roof system so it can generate solar energy, a lighting package which is 30 percent more efficient than standard lighting systems and potable water reduction of up to 40 percent. The company ensures that the building is 17 more percent energy efficient. The building is one of three facilities in the state which pursued the LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Mr. Goldman says that it is not an ideal time, but nobody would have predicted this 24 months ago! I believe that this building could lead to many other contractors to design and build "green" buildings. If everyone has a building that is energy efficient then those people would save money and help the environment.

I found this article at:
http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/02/09/south_brunswick_post/news/doc498aff4f28186364948108.txt