Seal Whiskers

    

 It has been known that harbor seals can use their whiskers to detect movement, and that this skill helps them capture their prey. However, German researchers have conducted lab tests that have proven it possible for a seal to distinguish items by shape and size, using only their whiskers.

     During the lab test, a harbor seal's head was placed into a box that is used for experiments, which was placed inside a tank. The seal's essential senses, such as sight and hearing, were made unable to use, so the whiskers' skills could be more easily observed. Paddles were used in this experimentation. As each paddle of different shape and size was placed into the tank, the seal was able to use its whiskers to distinguish it by the disruptions that the paddles made in the water.
     This experiment gave researchers and scientists an idea of how a seal can use body parts other than eyes, ears, nose, etc. to their own benefit. This discovery is impactful in many ways, including the possibility of experiments on other animals to find how they use their uncommon body parts to their advantage. This was a discovery that makes people look at seals in a whole new way. Before I read this article, I didn't even know that seals use their whiskers in a beneficial way at all!


For more information, visit the following link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/science/17obseals.html?ref=research

Soaring Straws: Lab Report

       Gravitational potential energy and elastic potential engery are related and easily observed in this experiment. When the stretch of the rubber band was shorter, there was a greater result of gravitational potential energy. However, there should have been more height and gravitational potential energy with a longer stretch of the rubber band. If the rocket starts lower in the launcher, there is more of an opportunity to fly higher, thus producing more elastic potential energy. When there is more elastic potential energy, it will lead to a larger quantity of gravitational potential energy.
       While collecting this data and creating the documentation, there were many places for possible errors. When we were flying the rocket, we came across one conflict in the data collection. As mentioned before, when there was a shorter stretch of the rubber band (three centimeters), there was more gravitational potential energy and height. This did not go with the relationship between elastic potential energy and gravitational potential energy. I am unsure of how this occurred, but it did not go with the facts of the relationship. Lastly, there are possible ways that this lab could be enhanced. Possible changes include a change of the manipulated variable and responding variable. There could be another element included that would take the role of the manipulated variable. Other than that, this lab was a helpful way to visualize calculations of gravitational potential energy. 

"Branches of Happiness" - Extra Credit Assignment

Branches of Happiness

I face the world alone,

Besides the birds on my branches.

I cannot go far, though the wind will rock me,

And the sun hurts my eyes.

Though my existence seems hard,

You must know,

Being a tree is not so bad.

I get to watch people walking below,

Almost as happy as I am.

Though I am confined to my space in the ground,

I can still have dreams,

And watch humans live them for me.

This poem was inspired by "Dragon Tree" by Douglas Florian. Florian's poem inspired me to write a poem that included personification, and about a tree. However, the idea to write a free-verse poem was my own.

"Toothpick Fish" Lab Analysis

     When simulating fish allele movements in a gene pool, the population and allele passes were tracked and analyzed. In the beginning of this lab, there were twenty four fish (toothpicks) in the gene pool (cup); there were red, yellow, and green fish (eight of each). With each passing generation, the population and offspring changed. Each time pairs of toothpicks were removed from the cup, new offspring was born, and their phenotypes and genotypes were recorded. In the first generation, there were six green fish offspring, one red, two yellow, and three orange. However, the yellow fish were removed and placed in the morgue, because they could not adapt and survive. By the third generation, there were seven green, one red, zero yellow, and one orange offspring. By then, all the yellow fish had been eaten (placed in the morgue). In the fourth generation, there were six green offspring, one red, zero yellow and one orange. The number of offspring had gone from twelve to nine. However, of course, the seaweed and algae (that the fish live off of) will not be there forever.
     At this point, an environmental disaster occurred; factory waste was disposed of, into the stream. Exposed rocks and sand are now perfect for camoflauge for red, yellow, and orange fish. However, the seaweed and algae have died, so the green fish are easy to see and are eaten. All of the green toothpicks were removed from the cup. The surviving population of offspring then consisted of three fish (one red and two orange). This disaster showed how adaptations are important to a living creature in their environment and how allele passes can be disturbed or obstructed. If this lab was slightly altered, the outcome would also be altered. Say the environmental disaster was a chemical dropped in the water that changed the pigment of the seaweed and algae from green to red. Green and yellow fish would be easy to see, so they would most likely be eaten very quickly. Also, because there would be no yellow alleles, the creation of orange offspring would not be possible. This lab simulated and demonstrated fish allele passes, adaptations in environments, and necessities of creatured in their environments; a lot was learned during this task.

Trans Fat Leads to Depression?

Ever hear the trick of eating ice cream to feel better when you're sad? This actually has the opposite effect! Eating ice cream, or any fatty food, to try to feel better could lead to a risk of depression. Researchers in Spain observed the diet, daily routines, and mental health of over twelve thousand people, and discovered 657 new cases of depression. Also discovered was the fact that, as more trans fat was consumed, depression developed even more. "The study also found that people who ate a lot of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, like those found in olive oil, had a lower risk of depression — but that association diminished when researchers controlled for other dietary factors such as adherence to the Mediterranean diet" (Melnick). Americans happen to take in more trans fat than people in Spain, from processed, fried, fast foods, and more. However, the study is not positive of whether the association of trans fat and depression is accurate, but author Miguel Angel Martinez-Gonzalez suggests that first, trans fat is consumed, then comes depression. Now, I will reconsider eating ice cream when I am sad, because it may make me even more upset!
This article interested me because I have heard of the idea of eating ice cream to get over a break up or other sad time. I was curious to read about the study, and I kept wanting to find out more as I read.
To read the article, visit the following link: http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/27/eating-fatty-foods-may-up-your-risk-of-depression/#more-23907

Zodiac Signs- Wrong?

While reading this article about the change in Zodiac signs, I was very curious. I was intrigued, and I wanted to keep reading and acquire more information. The Earth seems to be "wobbling," so the position is different. "Astrological signs are determined by the position of the sun relative to certain constellations on a person's day of birth" (Pappas). However, because of the change, Zodiac signs will be different by approximately a month. I was interested in this because I often read my horoscope. I had always been a Gemini, but now, a Taurus? However, I will continue to read the Gemini horoscope, because that article states that there is a lack of evidence.


To read the article, follow this link: http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/wobbly-earth-horoscope-zodiac-wrong-110113.html

Niche

A niche is a job or role in a community. This is my dog, Kaylee. Her niche is being a pet and a friend to my family, friends, and I. I chose this becuse my dog is important to our family and she plays an important role.