Third Post of 2nd 9 Weeks Due 1/6

[Mr. Dove]

Please respond to this topic post to complete your first post for the first nine weeks. PLEASE RESPOND TO ONLY THIS POST. If you wish to appropriately comment on your classmates post then respond to their thread in this discussion. 

[Hunter Critzer]

A.Biodiversity

B.This article explains that biodiversity is key for farming and keeping us alive. Some of the services animals in the wild provide for farming are: decomposition to help create rich soils, pollinate plants to produce more crops as well as certain animals keeping pest populations down so crops are not ruined. The article goes on to say humans are decreasing the biodiversity of the plants we grow to make more food, which opens the door for a disease or a pest to wipe out a whole crop because it doe snot have genetic biodiversity.Without the genetic biodiversity and the chance to adapt, many crops will evenetually die out. Causing famine and hunger across the world.

C.I chose this article because I hope to one day become a farmer, so anything dealing with agriculture interest me greatly. I think it is very scary we are not allowing genetic biodiversity for industrial crops. Without the biodiversity a single disease or pest could destroy an entire crop. I believe we should have more small scale farming instead of industrial faming to open up more jobs for farmers as well as allow for more diversity in crops, so if one is having a bad year, others will be able to take its place.

D."Industrial Agriculture Is a Major Threat to Biodiversity." Biodiversity. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "The Issues: Biodiversity." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2013.

[Caroline Firer]

Caroline Firer

A. Sustainable use of natural resources

B. Around the holidays it is tradition in almost every American home to have a Christmas decorated to its fullest. But what happens to those trees once Christmas is over? More Christmas trees end up in the trash than one might think, but care2.com has come up with five unique ways to recycle ones Christmas tree and putting the whole tree to use once the holidays are over. The most popular way to recycle a Christmas tree is also the easiest: making it into mulch. Many waste corporations have arranged drop off stations for trees where they are grinded down into mulch. Another way to recycle a Christmas tree is to participate in the coastal erosion defense system where Christmas trees are places with pre-constructed shoreline fences where they sow wave action and help reduce erosion. Even old and dried out Christmas trees can be minimized to air fresheners that hide even the worst of stenches. Also as of right now the Lincoln Motor Company is working on a renewable tree-based alternative to fiberglass for use in auto parts that is 6%heavier.  Last but not least the huge tree that is erected every year at the Rockefeller center is donated to Habitat for Humanity to be used as lumber.

C.I chose this article because as Christmas just happened I too have a Christmas tree that my family and I don't know what to do with once the holidays are over. I feel like everyone that celebrates Christmas and buys real trees could benefit from this article because it provides for more than one option to recycling a Christmas tree. If everyone followed through with one of these options instead of just throwing their tree away, we could not only make the planet better, but the holidays as well if we knew where our tree was going.

D.Buzcynski, Beth. Care2.com. N.p., 29 december 2013. Web. 29 Dec 2013. <http://www.care2.com/causes/5-incredibly-unique-ways-to-recycle-a-christmas-tree.html>.

[Kaona Ayres]

A) Human Health, Emerging Technologies 

B) Thanks to new research by the University of East Anglia there is new hope for the treatment of cancer by the αvβ3-integrin protein. Because of the drugs few side effects (compared to various other cancer treating drugs) and its ability to stop the growth of tumors by blocking blood vessel recruitment, extensive research is underway to try and find ways to make it better and more reliable. However, the beta3-integrin protein has failed a phase III clinical trial to treat an aggressive form of brain cancer recently. Although this is a little disheartening, researchers have not given up but have actually found new hope and the motive to improve the promising drug. 

C) I chose this article for two reasons. One, because I just recently lost a family member to cancer a few weeks ago, and I really wanted to see what improvements are being made to help others suffering from such an awful killer. Second, I thought it correlated well with the lab we did before break about the increased life expectancy of humans thanks to new technologies. So far, cancer seems to be the one thing we just cant beat. But it looks as though we may find a cure for even that in the foreseeable future.

D)University of East Anglia. "Scientists make advance in cancer research." ScienceDaily, 3 Jan. 2014. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.

[Wade Goodrich]

A. 

Emerging Technologies.

B. 

This article is a summary of all parts of the new Formula E (electric) racing series. This series is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, which is also the governing body for the Le Mans World Endurance Championship (Non-stop 24 Hour Races), and the famous Formula 1 series. Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Jay Penske, Richard Branson, and Mario Andretti already own teams in the new Formula E series. The old Formula 1 uses a strict set of rules that rarely change, not allowing for new inventions or innovation in car tech. Formula E cars aren't as fast as Formula 1 cars, but F1 cars are inefficient, and overly complex. The internal combustion engine is inherently a bad, dumb way to power a car. An electric motor is superior, in theory. 

Formula E cars use zero gasoline and have zero emissions. The instant torque available from the electric motors allows the cars to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. The "formula" itself for building Formula E cars is rather loose, allowing each team to build a completely custom car (no car on the track will be the same). This allows for innovation in regular automotive technology (see nissan deltawing) as well as innovation in electrical systems and batteries. The race engineers are trying to make more efficient and more energy-dense batteries, so that the race cars stay in the race longer before pitting. 

C.

This eventual innovation in batteries (and who knows what other parts of cars) will "trickle down" to real production cars that people drive every day. I chose this article because it proves the point that electric cars have caught on (or at least that rich people are trying to make then catch on). With people like Leonardo DiCaprio, and omnipotent organizations like the FIA behind it, Formula E is sure to be a success. If top level electric racing is popular, more people will eventually buy electric street cars. Children might even grow up thinking that electric race cars are "cool". Electric motorsport will help boost this "cool factor" that gasoline race cars currently have, and it will also produce new technology that can be used to reduce worldwide emissions that transportation creates. The purpose of motorsport is to create better cars, and to showcase the engineering prowess of the car companies. Formula E will create better, "greener", electric cars, and it will show the world that electric cars are "cool". This all helps the us get closer to the goal of zero emissions from all cars.

D.

"Electric Cars Hit Milestone With First Grand Prix Race Ahead." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2014.

URL:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/01/140105-formula-e-electric-car-grand-prix-race/

[Hannah Bingler]

A.Environment, pollution, and human health.

B. In Wyoming state regulators approved one of the nation's strongest requirements for water testing near drill sites. The requirement was passed to address concerns that drilling contaminates near by ground water. This regulation is the latest in several groundbreaking regulations that have to do with energy production in the state of Wyoming. Wyoming ranks 4th in states for natural gas production and 8th in oil, both have which grown rapidly these past few years. The new water rule will require oil or gas companies to test wells and springs within half a mile of drilling sites before and after drilling. The test will measure a range of things from temperature to bacteria and dissolved gases. The rule reflects concerns about fracking and how it could effect near by ground water. Environmentalist now hope that Wyoming will act on other drilling related issues. 

C. I choose this article because I think that having uncontaminated ground water is not only important for us but also our environment. I believe that if drilling for oil and other natural gases is having a negative effect on ground water then we should look for more environmentally friendly ways to drill or use alternative forms of energy. I think that using alternative forms of energy would be better for us and the environment in the long run then risking ground water pollution.

D.Galbraith, K. (n.d.). Strong Rules on Fracking in Wyoming Seen as Model.nytimes.com. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/23/business/energy-environment/wyomings-strong-fracking-rules-may-be-a-model.html?_r=0

[Sebastian Glickman]

A. Natural Hazards, Human Health

B. This article is about smog and it's effects on the people who are near it.Smog is a combination of smoke and fog and can be seriously harmful for elderly people and children. It is also a serious issue for people who already have breathing issues. Smog doesn't just affect people who have weaker immune systems because it can also weaken ones immune system. The smog can dry out membranes that are used to prevent one from getting sick, so when they are dried by the smog it is easier for that person to become ill from outside illnesses.

C. I chose this article because I lived in Hawaii for awhile and smog was a really big issue there because of the volcanoes. I thought it was interesting because even though I lived in an area with a lot of smog I never really looked into it or learned about the health hazards. It's weird that smoke and fog can make a pretty hazardous combination that affects such a wide range of people. 

D. "Smog." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2014. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/s/smog.htm>.

[Lauren Cosner]

A. Climate

 

B. With global warming coming into play, the bottom of the food chain member, krill are rapidly dying. Not only is the ocean warming affecting the krill, the acidification is also making an impact. If the krill are effected, many other organisms are also effected such as humpback whales. Also the reduction in growth habitat could be up to 55%. Both of these changes will have an effect on fisheries and eventually could lead to extinction.

 

C. I chose this article because I find it interesting how if one species of a food chain is effected, many others are too. If I was in this situation of risking the krill species I would figure out how to set up a plan that could eventually slow down global warming if possible. Reading this article could keep someone up to date on how the Earth is forever changing around us and is making lasting impressions on certain species. Scientists could benefit from this article by becoming more aware of other things going on. I do not think is necessarily pertains to kids my age.

 

D. "ENN: Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment." Wildlife and Habitat Conservation News: Global Warming Could Impact Antartic Food Chain. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2014.

[Alexandra Fitzgerald]

A. Emerging Technology

B. This article was about a new invention the camp stove that serves as a charger for devices the phones and tablet. This camp stove uses solar panels for the power to charge these devices. The down side to this device is that it takes a while to charge up using solar power.

C. I think that on one level this invention is very clever and useful. However the point of camping is to get away from all that technology and the real world and get back to nature which you can't do if you have a constant source to charge your phone. If you have this device while your out in nature camping then you're really not experiencing nature like you should be.

D."Emerging Tech." Emerging Tech. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2014.

[Alanna Breeden]

A. Natural hazards and biodiversity

B. This article informs people on the populations of the Bighorn Sheep and the problems they are facing in today’s world. Large populations of Bighorn Sheep reside in Nevada. Bighorn sheep, which are wild, cannot be in contact with domestic sheep because diseases are passed between the two of them that are severe to both species.  What scientists are doing, is capturing Bighorn sheep from wild sheep herds and returning them to a range where they haven’t inhabited for years, leading to the title A Symbol of the Range Returns. Veterinarians take blood samples to test for pneumonia, the leading cause of death. If the Big horn sheep have pneumonia, they aren’t allowed to be returned to the range because it will spread to the healthy ones, leading to a major decrease in population again. It is very expensive to do this capture, test, set free method, and it’s interesting to see that hunters are the main financial backing for this population protection. Big Horn Sheep hunting is legal, so they are doing it to ensure the ability to hunt them.

C. I really liked this article. It gave me hope for the future in maintaining specie populations. I choose this article because the title really caught my eye, A symbol of the range returns, just pulls you in and makes you want to read about what returns. This article definitely made me see that hunters and fishers aren't the bad guys people think they are; they are trying to maintain if not increase the populations, even if it is just for their own gain. I really liked this article because it just shows the hope for the future. I think people who are totally anti-hunters would benefit from reading this because it shows that hunters aren't doing anything wrong, they may be doing more than the said anti-hunters.

D. Yoshida, Kate. “A Symbol of the Range Returns.” NY Times 6 January 2014.

[Ryan Jacobson]

A. Biodiversity

B. This article is about the existence of our friends, the Stinkbugs. The real question has popped up on whether or not they are harming us, or actually helping us. There are different types of Stink bugs, some are known as predators and others are known by different niches. Most people think Stink bugs are annoying, and their right. They hardly bite, their always there, and they smell! The main concept that most people don't know about this harmless bug is that they control other species from exponential grow. They eat other insects as well as certain crops. To make sure the pest controlling bugs don't go extinct, scientists have learn they can freeze their eggs. By setting the temperature to 15 degrees Celsius, they can preserve the life forms up to 17 days without effecting their biological characteristics. 

C. Its crazy to think how a little bug could greatly effect the environment. Yes, we all hate Stink bugs because they are annoying and smell but if they stabilize the environment, it's worth investing in. I think it's extremely interesting that we can store these eggs and save them for the future. Predators play a huge role in a food chain and its fascinating that this invasive species plays that role. 

D. "Stink Bugs: Friend or Foe." Wildlife and Habitat Conservation News. Robin Blackstone, 06 Jan. 2014. Web. 06 Jan. 2014.

[Shannon Simko]

1. Biodiversity

 

2.  This article shares the studies behind scientists at The University of Manchester and Lancaster and how their research on soil biodiversity plays an important role in land management. To begin, the prediction was that the ever changing climate systems were the cause in changes of ecosystems, and in this case the soil. The study look at 60 different soil sites across 4 different countries. It showed that the complex organisms living within the soil interact with substances like carbon and nitrogen. It showed the strong link between function ecosystems in such a small thing like soil. The researchers continued to dig further, pun intended. They soon found out that the biodiversity within the soil was less tied to how the land was used but more influenced on how the soil took in the food web properties. With that being said, urbanization, climate change, pollution, etc. are still under observation on how the direct influence of the soil biodiversity.

 

3. This article was interesting because it never made me think that something like soil,which is something I brush off my feet at the end of the day, aka dirt, can have such dense and diverse complicity inside of it. These researchers were studying the affects it had, yes climate change and pollution will affect the soil biodiversity but there's more to it.  Learning that soil can high biodiversity as well as things like an ecosystem was pretty intriguing.

 

4. The citation machine continues not to work for me, as well as other sites. Here is the link:

http://phys.org/news/2013-08-soil-biodiversity-crucial-future-response.html

 

 

[Mary Elam]

Mary Elam

A. Environment, Pollution, and Human Health.

B. NC State University and Shaocai Yu of Zhejiang University in China have theorized that spraying water from sprinklers into the atmosphere can help reduce air pollution. Air pollution, especially in China, has not been easily maintainable because of the massive amount of industrial and economic growth. Yu suggests that the water can remove aerosol and various types of harmful pollutants. It's also been clarified that this is a safe, inexpensive way to manage the air pollution. There have already been plans of installment along all areas of China to enforce this movement, hoping to disperse as much of the pollution as humanly possible. 

C. I decided to choose this article because it was really interesting to see how such a simple task could make such a huge difference. It makes me wonder what other types of ideas could arise from this to help inspire people benefit the environment. Recycling is one form of environmental protection, but it's not necessarily cheap. I wonder if there's any other kind of alternative that will be introduced in future years; not necessarily just for trash management, but any kind of management.

D. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140106133253.htm

Copyright 2013 by ScienceDaily

[Henry Warrick]

1. Natural Hazards

2. For the first time in 20 years, the most costliest natural disasters were not in the USA. This year the United States didn't have that many natural disasters. Usually there is a couple hurricanes a year that cause major damage to U.S. coastlines. The united states had to pay 12.8 billion in hazard costs, compared to the average 30 billion they pay every year. The one natural disaster that happened much more often this year compared to other years was tornadoes. Tornadoes touched down in many places that they rarely touch down and cost thousands their homes. The worst natural disaster that happened this year was the typhoon that hit the Philippines and killed more than 5,000 people.

3. I chose this article because I tried to post another yesterday but the post never got turned in on the site. I have always been interested in natural disasters and especially the impact economically. If I were weather analysts for the United States I would impose that some of the money saved from this year be spent on making sure some disasters can't happen again. (flood gates, walls, etc..) It is otherwise great that the United States didn't have the bad end of weather this year so money can be saved and improvements can be made.

4.Doyle Rice, . N.p.. Web. 7 Jan 2014.