John Boy Ubaldo's Bloomberg TV Interview about GMOs

John Boy Ubaldo is the farmer from Cambridge NY, from whom we purchase our pork, beef, and this summer we are participating in his CSA. In a CSA we get a box of vegetables and fruits from him each week. John raises hormone, antibiotic and GMO free Berkshire pigs and Black Angus cattle. Here he is talking about why we should insist on labeling of GMO products.

NASA Satellite Data Helps Pinpoint Glaciers' Role in Sea Level Rise

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/glacier-sea-rise.html

           

            Recently, NASA has announced they are about to launch their second study on glaciers and ice sheets effects on sea level as they melt. This research plan by NASA is supposed to resolve the differences in estimates on how fast glaciers are disappearing and contributing to the rise in sea level. This study has found that glaciers outside of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have lost an average of 571 trillion pounds of mass every year during the six-year study period from 2003 to 2009. As the glaciers and ice sheets melt, the ocean level rises 0.03 inches a year. “The study help precisely constrain how much these glaciers as a whole are contributing to sea level rises,” said Alex Gardner, Earth scientist at Clark University in Massachusetts. The two satellites that recorded and compared data of ground measurements and led to the estimation of the loss of glaciers in all regions of the planet were NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). Even though ICESat stopped operating in 2009, NASA plans to schedule a launch for the ICESat’s successor, ICESat-2 in 2016. Both this satellite and GRACE will continue to operate in order to detect variations in Earth’s gravity field resulting from changes in the planets mass distribution, including ice displacements.

            Most people believe that because global glacier mass is small that it is something that doesn’t need to be worried about. However, Tad Pfeffer, a glaciologist of the University of Colorado, said, “But it’s like a little bucket with a huge hole in the bottom: it may not last for very long, just a century or two, but while there’s ice in those glaciers, it’s a major contributor to sea level rising”. Rising sea level can contribute to an increased costal erosion, pollution, damage, flooding, disturbance of organisms, and safety of humans. Although we will not be affected during our own lifetime, those who will live after us will face many complications because of the risen sea levels.

            I found this article very interesting because it had a combination of what we have been learning in class and global warming, a topic that is discussed controversially by many people. This article provided a lot of detailed and structured information about the missions NASA has run in the past and those missions that are scheduled for the future. However, I did have to do additional research on the long and short term affects of a rising sea level. I felt this peace of information was important to add so the people reading this could retain a full understanding on how this topic is actually important. Life on Earth is at great risk all because of melting glaciers and rising sea levels. Overall, I thought this article was a good read and is great for students to research and find more information about.

            

Australopithecus Sediba: Fossils of a human ancestor from 2,000,000 years ago

Australopithecus sediba

Fossils of a human ancestor from 2,000,000 years ago

http://geology.com/press-release/australopithicus-sediba/

         I read the article, Australopithecus Sediba: Fossils of a human ancestor from 2,000,000 years ago. This article was republished from an April 2010 press release. This article mainly focuses on some new, groundbreaking archaeological finds. Researchers working in South Africa have recently discovered two human fossil skeletons. These two human skeletons date back to almost two million years ago. The international research team, led by Lee Berger of the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, has come to the conclusion that these skeletons are of a new-found species, hominid. Hominids are also known as Australopithecus sediba, which is a combination of the names of the ape-like human ancestor species and the modern human. These researchers also discovered that this species mainly lived near Johannesburg, South Africa. The fossils that were discovered, unusually well-preserved were a young male and an adult female. After making this huge discovery that is the hominid species, scientists are trying to find more about how and on what this ancient species lived. 

Surprising Pollution Problem: Too Many Trees

http://www.livescience.com/34563-tree-pollution.html

            I read the article “Surprising Pollution Problem: Too Many Trees” by Jamie Workman. The article was about how trees are actually increasing the amount of pollution given off by the earth. Today, our Western forests are loaded with billions of trees. It might not sound bad to have too many trees but it is. This is bad because there are constant forest fires in these forests. The trees' canopies collectively intercept about 20 percent of snow and rain that will no longer be able to seep into the ground. Also, each additional tree sucks up about 18 gallons of moisture that would otherwise feed thirsty creeks. And, when the inevitable forest fires rage through over-forested lands, they burn hotter and faster, and are deadlier and costlier than other fires, thanks to all that extra fuel. They also spew huge amounts of carbon and asthma-inducing particulate matter into the air — a big fire is like setting a coal-fired power plant in the middle of a forest.

            However, there is a way to fix this problem. We need to surgically remove the bulk of the excess, small-diameter 'trash' trees through careful thinning. Western markets value an acre-foot of water at $450 to $650, which means that the annual worth of water taken up by excess trees throughout the Western forests may be more than $8.5 billion. To recover that water, private and local public entities could invest $1,000 per acre in people to cut down small trees, earning $1,500 worth of vital water per acre. This scenario would pay for itself, raise revenues, and boost jobs.

            Although this article was very interesting, there were some flaws to it. The author could have included how long this project would have taken to be completed. The author could have also included the opinions on this idea. Whether or not people believe this is a good idea? Overall, Jamie Workman did a great job in her article “Surprising Pollution Problem: Too Many Trees.”  

Hank Thomas
http://www.livescience.com/29259-nasa-rover-explores-greenland.html
  I read the article "To explore Greenland" by Douglas Main.  The article was about how NASA has decided to branch out their research into exploring our earth's mysteries as well as outer space.  They are starting this new project with a new solar powered rover that will be studying Greenland's ice sheets  from May 3rd to June 8th.  The rover will study how the ice formed and from that discover why they have been melting.  With this info they may be able to stop ice from melting all around the globe.  In order to gain this information the rover will send radio wave pulses into the ice to inform the researchers about the ice's characteristics and from there they can continue to find new things about the ice.
  Right now learning about the ice is a key thing for humanity's duty with nature.  Global warming gets worse each day and the pollution levels rise.  Forests and glaciers get smaller each day as well.  This rover will be a huge step to save these beautiful landscapes.
  I thought the author did a great job getting the information on the rover across.  It was well informed with a lot of detail.  I would have wanted to know more about what they were going to apply this new information on, but overall he did a great job.

Brendan Walsh

http://www.livescience.com/29318-solar-plane-pilot-bertrand-piccard.html

I read the article “Solar Plane’s Pilot Describes ‘Revolutionary’ Flight,” by Denise Chow. This article is about the first solar plane to fly across America. The plane’s name is Solar Impulse, and it has a cursing speed around 53 mph. This solar plane can fly day or night, and it uses absolutely no fuel. The creator of this idea is Bertrand Piccard, who is a big believer in promoting clean technologies. The idea of this cross-country flight is to promote clean technologies, and hopefully start something that could be very beneficial to our world. The plane runs on solar panels which collect energy, the solar panels are spread out along the wings.” Theoretically, you can fly forever with the airplane," Piccard said. This trip is part of an initiative called “Clean Generation,” Piccard and his crew wants to make a difference in the world. Their main goal is to increase support and awareness about clean technology, and what a difference it can make.

            As of right now we do not have the means to make solar panel commercial planes, but it is something to work towards in the future. This could without doubt be the start of something monumental.

            I thought the author did a great job writing this article, I felt well informed, and took away a lot of new knowledge. I honestly have nothing to critique about what the author said. 

I did an article review on “Virgin Galactic one test flight closer to space tourism” By Sharon Gaudin which is about how a Company tests rocket as it takes reservations and deposits for commercial space flights. The company, which is looking to be the world's first commercial space-line, now is in the final phase of vehicle testing after launching space ship Two at 10:02 a.m. ET from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. "The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date," said Virgin Galactic Founder Richard Branson, in a statement. "Today's supersonic success opens the way for a rapid expansion of the spaceship's powered flight envelope, with a very realistic goal of full space flight by the year's end." Branson called today's test flight "history in the making." The company is planning on making its first space flight before the end of this year. Virgin Galactic already is taking reservations for space flights. People can sign up to be what the company calls Pioneer Astronauts, which would enable them to be among the first 1,000 people to go into space with the company. It also requires a full upfront payment of $200,000. Virgin Galactic noted on its website that these seats are nearly sold out. Those interested also can sign up for the Spaceship Charter program, which costs $1 million and gets the buyer an exclusive flight with five friends.

 I would certainly love to take a flight. They have worked these flights up to code and to what they need to be, this company has really revolutionized flying into space for the public. Overall this was a great article to read and really opened up my eyes.

Summer STEM Program at Manhattan College School of Engineering

This sounds like an interesting opportunity for Sophomore and Junior students, who are interested in Engineering. Deadline for the application is May 15. See your science teacher for the application or download it from here.

Manhattan College Summer Engineering Prog-04162013 by Charles Ippolito

Sun Unleashes Biggest Solar Flare of the Year Yet

http://www.livescience.com/28662-sun-biggest-solar-flare-2013.html

      In the article Sun Unleashes Biggest Solar Flare of the Year Yet by Tariq Malik, the article describes the impact of the recent solar flare and how it effected humanity. The article explained that at around 3:16 a.m., radio connection was lost in many places of the world and was registered as a 6.5 sun storm. The article then went into detail on how an even greater storm might affect earth and how we can stay prepared. The number of the storms are ramping up and this is what studies have found, "Increased numbers of flares are quite common at the moment, since the sun's normal 11-year cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in late 2013." We will never know when a storm may occur however, we will always be ready.

            This article is significant to our everyday lives 

because we will not know when the next solar storm may be. We 

must stay prepared and stay out of harms way for solar storms 

could be deadly. This incident could happen any day to anyone

and it is very serious.

            There are very few critiques I have on this article. 

The one area where the author could have changed is how we as 

citizens can be prepared and alert. I wish that he gave us a few 

sentences that we could use to help us in this situation. Other 

than that, the article was interesting, educating, and important.

posted for J. McCann

Origin of Life: Power Behind Primordial Soup Discovered

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130404122234.htm

           

           In the article “Origin of Life: Power Behind Primordial Soup Discovered” researchers at the University of Leeds believe they have solved a key puzzle about how objects from space may have kindled life on Earth. While many believe that during the meteorite bombarding of the early Earth important ingredients for life came about. Before this discovery scientists have not been able to explain how living organisms sprung out of life less rocks. The new study shows how a chemical, similar to one now found in all living cells and vital for generating the energy to live. Scientists believe this chemical could have been created when meteorites containing phosphorus minerals landed in hot, acidic pools of liquids around volcanoes, which were common across the early Earth. All life on Earth use a process called chemiosmosis to create its energy to live. The chemical called ATP key for chemiosmosis to work is broken down and is changed during respiration to release energy used to drive the reactions of life. Due to the complex enzymes required for both the creation and break down of ATP are unlikely to have existed on Earth when it was bombarded. This made scientists look for a simpler chemical with similar properties to ATP, but that does not require enzymes to transfer energy. The scientists simulated the impact of a meteorite with the hot, volcanically active during early Earth. They placed samples of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite, an iron meteorite that fell in Siberia in 1947 and placed it in acid that was retrieved from the Hveradalur geothermal area in Iceland. The rock was left in the acid for over 30 days and observations were made. After the scientists found the compound pyrophosphate, the part of ATP responsible for energy transfer. The scientists concluded this compound could have acted as an earlier form of ATP.

            With the new idea that pyrophosphate acted as ATP in the early stages of the Earth and help living organisms spring out of life less rocks gives scientist a stronger grasp on what earth and its surroundings were like before life. As scientists learn more about the Earth it will give them a better idea of how humans came to be and evolved over time. Also pyrophosphates are now being found of different planets, such as Mars. The Curiosity rover on Mars recently reported the presence of phosphorus on the Planet. One of scients part of this experiment was found saying "If Curiosity has found phosphorus in one of the forms we produced in Iceland, this may indicate that conditions on Mars were at one point suitable for the development of life in much the same way we now believe it developed on Earth," added Dr Kee. With this new develop this could prove that Earth is not only planet that has living organisms.

            Even though I found the article to be good I found it to be boring and some parts. Also, I found the peace to be hard to follow at points; you had to have some scientific back round to understand what the author was talking about. Overall I found the peace to have an interesting topic. 

posted for L. Lynch