Get Out The Winter Coats; Its Gonna Get Cold Soon

The article this week is entitled, "Major US Winter Storm Spotted From Space." It was written by Andrea Thompson for Fox News Online. The article discusses the upcoming winter storm that the US will be facing in the next few weeks.

Apparently, while we have been having a warm December, the Midwest United States has been under a blanket of snow. This weather is supposed to continue and even spread into "Texas and parts of the southern United States." This storm is dangerous because of the transportation hazards and travel issues that come up with snow and ice.

Snow Storm in Cleveland

The reason I wanted to report on this article is due to the unusual warm weather here in South Carolina. It has perplexed me why I can wear shorts and t-shirts to class, while the Midwest is bundled in their huge winter coats. I went into researching this strange weather and found this article. I thought the writer did a great job of explaining the weather more in depth then the pure statement of what the temperature outside is. I think this article relates to our class discussions because we study nature and the effects nature can have on our daily lives. All I can say, is I hope the kids in the Midwest have their shovels and sleighs ready!

Snow in New York City

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/12/06/major-us-winter-storm-spotted-from-space/

A Fish Tale

The article I really enjoyed reading this week is entitled, "Cooking Light With Seafood." The article was written by Martha Rose Shulman for the New York Times Online Website. I love to research healthy alternatives for food, and this article was right up my ally. I wanted to share it with you all.

Seafood is historically considered to be a very healthy food option, especially when compared to sugary sweets and fats. There are many different types of fish and seafood, that can be prepared in a variety of ways. The article focuses in on using cod during this Christmas season. The holidays are a time of food and family, but you can always notice the few extra pounds that still linger once the new year rings in. How can we avoid that? This author did a great job of explaining some healthy alternatives to that big Christmas time starchy dinner.

A Healthy Meal

The author describes cod as a "mild tasting fish" with a "firm texture." It is a healthy fish that is easily prepared in your kitchen. There are multiple ways to cook cod, but she recommends baking in the oven to avoid the "smell and fattiness" of frying. She lists several recipes to help readers discover what kind of seafood they wish to try this holiday season!

Seafood Platter

I wanted to write on this article because I love seafood and I love eating healthy. This is an article that is important to our class because we studied the effects of junk food on our bodies. This is a healthy alternative that is easily prepared and tastes delicious! I know that I will be asking my mom to prepare more fish this Christmas while I am home for break!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/cooking-light-with-seafood/?ref=health&_r=0

Animals Getting Jiggy With It

The article for this week is entitled, "Dancing Animals With Some Serious Moves." It was written for National Geographic Online by Liz Langley, and it describes some pretty interesting dance moves that five species of animals apparently can dish out.

The first animal is the Red Capped Manakin Bird. The bird is very tiny, and it lives in "Central and South America". Only the males perform the "Michael Jackson Moonwalk" similar dance in order to find a mate. It is an awe inspiring show!

Red Capped Manakin Bird

The second animal is the Peacock Spider. The spider is also very small, yet it has a very colorful body that is used to find a mate. The "body vibrates" and puffs up to be impressive. It is definitely one of the prettiest spiders I have ever seen. 

Peacock Spider

The third animal is the common parrot. Apparently, scientists have found that parrots have the ability to distinguish "rhythm." It is used for a variety of reasons, and it can be trained to a pet parrot. I think it probably has something to do with their beautiful singing voices!

Parrot

The fourth animal is the Honey Bee. The Honey Bee does not use its dance moves to mate; instead the honey bee has a "waggle dance," which is used to indicate when they find pollen. It is important for honey bees to have this dance, so that they can continue to communicate where to find pollen. 

Honey Bee

The last animal is the Bird of Paradise. There are "39 different species" of the Birds of Paradise, and they all perform the mating dance of "hopping." The hopping dance illustrates these birds agile ability and smooth moves!

Bird of Paradise

All of these animals have one thing in common: they love to dance! They dance for different reasons; mating, communication, and even just for the day to day entertainment. It is important to study animals and their behaviors because it sheds light on our own human characteristics. At events, men and women dance to impress each other and sometimes even to attract a possible mate. Just like these animals humans use dance as a means to communicate what they want someone to know about them. I very much enjoyed this article because the study of animals and their behaviors interests me. Dancing is apparently a multiple species form of fun. 

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/06/dancing-animals-with-some-serious-moves/

Vaccinations Save Lives

The article I read this week from the NY Times was entitled, "20 million in Mideast to Get Polio Vaccine." It was written by Donald G. McNeil Jr, and the article discusses a potential outbreak of polio in the Middle East. I feel very strongly about vaccinations and their importance, so I chose to discuss it this week.

Vaccinations Range For Different Diseases/Illnesses

The article explains how the World Health Organization and UNICEF are attempting to have 20 million children vaccinated against polio in certain Middle East countries. The push for the vaccination of these 20 million children comes from the diagnosis of 10 children in Syria with polio. Apparently, the polio virus has been found in the sewers of these Middle Eastern countries. 

Sewer in Israel

The reason that scientists and doctors are pushing for these vaccines is that polio offers a risk to tourists and can be spread when people move away from the Middle East. In order to keep polio non-existent, we should vaccinate anyone who is at risk for contracting it. 

Advertisements for the Polio Vaccination in Previous Years

I chose this article because it is important for the world to understand the importance of vaccinations. Vaccinations not only protect you, but they also protect the people around you. We discussed this in class regarding the influenza vaccination. This year, the government and health officials are doing a big push for people, especially children and the elderly, to get the flu vaccine. We also want those who are around these groups of people to get the vaccine as well. When people are vaccinated against illness they no longer pose a danger to their own or others' health and well-being. So, even though people may say what happens in the Middle East (disease wise) can not affect them all the way over here in the United States, they are very wrong. 

Children Showing Support For Polio Vaccines

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/science/vaccine-drive-to-curb-spread-in-middle-east.html?ref=science

Catch More Zzzz's

Tonight, as I sat in the dungeon of the library at 3 AM, an article caught my attention on the-scientist.com. The article was written by Ruth Williams on November 7th, and it addressed the positive effects of sleep and awake cycles on the body's production of T cells. Well, since I was clearly breaking the 8-hour sleep rule, I thought I would continue reading.

3 AM Study Sessions...productive?

The article goes into scientific detail of how T cells are created, but their primary purpose is to help with the immune system. AKA: The cells help keep students healthy. The surprising finding of scientists is that these T cells are in fact created during the day as well as at night; however, they also found that during long awake cycles (example used: "jet lag"), there is an overproduction of T cells. This over production leads to inflammation of the digestive system.

An Inflamed Digestive System

The article addresses some of the possible side effects of over active T cells as well. The main one is an inflamed digestive system, but more serious complications include "hormonal and metabolic problems." This is why we are told to get sleep to keep us healthy and happy: the T cells affect our immune system.

Not Sleeping Can Lead to "Hormonal and Metabolic Problems" 

I chose this article because it frightens me. It directly relates to college culture and the art of perfecting the "all nighter." The library on campus is open 24 hours a day during the week, and there are always students on every level. In fact, I am typing this, it is 3 AM, and I still have 5-6 neighbors around me. I was never sick in high school, but in college I am perpetually sick, exhausted, and I rarely remember to eat three meals a day (today I managed a snack and dinner). I wish that I could say that this article will change mine and other students' study schedules, but it can not work miracles. As long as there is class, work, and extracurriculars, there will be all nighters and immense amounts of coffee drinking.

May have possibly done this before in the library...NO SHAME

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38207/title/Time-for-T-cells/

The King Tut Mystery

The article I read this week was entitled, "Mystery of King Tut's Death Solved? Maybe Not." It was written by A.R. Williams for National Geographic. The article explores new scientific findings and possible theories surrounding the Egyptian pharaoh's famously mysterious death.

King Tutankhamun

The article discusses the previous possible causes of death for the young pharaoh, and presents new theories. One of the theories was that King Tut was hit by a chariot, while another was that a horse kicked him. The final theory is that King Tut was attacked by a hippopotamus. The evidence that these theories are even possibilities includes tests that have shown King Tut incurred a crushed chest and a broken leg.

Scan of King Tut's Body

There were also reports of a possible fire that damaged the mummy; however, this seems very unlikely. The article explains this reasoning based on the lack of damage to the other objects in the sarcophagus, the fabric on the body, and the other layers of the coffin.

Possible Burned Face of King Tut

This article related to our class discussion of King Tut and the process of mummification. Scientists continue to do research on Egyptian mummies and pyramids, so the information is always changing and getting closer to the truth. I chose this article because it directly related to class discussion, and it gives us an update on the information we have been studying.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131106-king-tut-mummy-death-mystery-solved-archaeology-science/

Dry Ice Explosives Found at LAX

The article I read this week was "The Science of Dry Ice Bombs, Like LAX's." The article was written by Brian Clark Howard. It is an interesting article because of recent events at the LAX airport in Los Angeles. On October 14, 2013 a dry ice bomb exploded in the airport, which was discussed by the national news. I had only ever heard of dry ice as a coolant, but there is much more to the chemical than that.

Dry Ice Transport Truck

Dry ice is "frozen carbon dioxide that is -109.3 degrees fahrenheit," therefore; it is very, very cold. Bombs are created when the dry ice is placed in a sealed container and allowed to build pressure. when added with water, it pressurizes faster. The carbon dioxide transforms into a gas and that is when the bomb explodes. In the case of the airport, three water bottles sealed with dry ice were found. The science is common, but it can be hurtful.

Dry Ice

The article is very informative, and it should be read by most people. Dry ice can be dangerous and should only be handled by professionals. I chose this article because it relates to current events, and it was a science that I did not know much about before.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131015-how-dry-ice-bombs-work/

Playing Dead: A Common Dog Trick Used Throughout The Natural World

The article that I read for this week was "5 Trickster Animals That Play Dead" by Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato. I found it on nationalgeographic.com and it discusses several animals that "play dead." I chose this article because it continues my trend of fascinating animal anomalies.

The first animal that can "play dead" is the lemon shark. The lemon shark will stop moving if it is placed on its backside, which is a great time for research to be done on the sharks.

Lemon Shark

The second animal is the Central American cichlid. The cichlid has unique patterns on its body that make it look like it is decaying. The cichlid's prey comes close to the apparent dead animal and then are surprised when they turn into dinner.

Central American Cichlid

The third animal is the common duck. Ducks will often "play dead" to avoid predators, and their act is entitled "tonic immobility." I think this is interesting because ducks are a common species, yet I have never seen them act this way!

The Common Duck

The fourth animal is actually a group of animals including pigs, goats, and cows. Scientists are not sure why they "play dead," but they have been known to do this. Next time we pass the cows on the interstate I'll be sure to be on the lookout!

The Common Cow

The last animal that has learned to "play dead" is the baby brown snake. The snake will "play dead" if it is threatened by animal or human. This snake would win in a staring contest.

Baby Brown Snake

This article interested me because I find animal anomalies to be fascinating. I have done a couple blogs on animals before, but I find each one to be different and equal in importance. This is another example of animals' ability to adapt to surroundings and to protect themselves. These articles explain the natural world and the traits that animals have that are found in humans as well. These animals can tell us a lot about human nature and our natural defense mechanisms.

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/12/5-trickster-animals-that-play-dead/

I'll Have Another Round of Water Please!

The article I read was entitled, "Drink More Water, Says FLOTUS—But How Much?" It was written by Marc Silver, and it explained the early beginnings of the eight glasses a day motto. Is it myth or fact?

I'm going to need many more of these to fulfill my 67.6 oz of daily water

Marc looked into this common advice given by your mother and doctor, and he found a surprising twist. Apparently, the eight ounces of water each day rule came from scientists in 1933 who stated that in order to replenish the body each day with adequate amounts of water we need to consume 67.6 oz. 

On glass 5, only 3 more to go!

However, Marc debunked this common claim. He spoke with Douglas Casa, an exercise physiologist at the University of Connecticut, who told him that hydration also comes from other beverages humans drink. This includes soda, so go ahead and enjoy your diet coke at lunch!

I can still enjoy my coffee without regret!

Marc did explain that athletes and those who are anticipating working out should drink more water due to greater amounts of sweat and exertion. 

I loved this article because I enjoy working out and trying to stay fit (emphasis on the "trying" part of that sentence!) I try to carry a water bottle with me everywhere, and I get in kicks where I say I am going to follow the eight ounces rule. However, like most fad diets this ends miserably. I end up feeling bloated, puffy, and water logged. The best advice was given in this article: listen to your body and drink water when you are thirsty! 

This article is important to everyone because dehydration can affect a wide range of health issues. Feeling tired, being overweight, being out of shape, exhaustion, sickness, etc. can all be induced by a lack of proper hydration. Everyone should strive to be better hydrated because their overall health will increase as well!

They look happy, healthy, and hydrated!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/09/130913-water-eight-glasses-michelle-obama/?source=mem_lpnews_20130916-water

He Brews Bud, Not Coors

This article will scare those with weak alcohol stomachs, but send the hard core drinkers into cheers. I am just kidding, but seriously this is one of the strangest human medical conditions I have ever read about. The article is entitled, "Beer Gut: Man's Belly Brews Own Beer," and it was written by Dan Vergano. It seems a man was hospitalized with an incredibly high blood alcohol level, but he had not consumed any alcohol. What a mystery!

How much of this would give you a .37 blood alcohol level...

The man was sixty-one years old and did not have a history of drinking, but he seemed to have unusually high BAC's over five years. It turns out he had gut fermentation syndrome, a condition in which brewer's yeast (scientifically called saccharomyces cerevisiae) inhabits the gut and produces fermented alcohol within the body.

This was not the kind of beer the man was producing

The doctors realized that whenever the man ate starch, the beer yeast would start to break the starch down and ferment it into alcohol. All it took was a big bowl of pasta for this man to become intoxicated. The problem was easily fixed with medication to kill the yeast and a specific diet for a couple of weeks.

This article is relevant to scientists and doctors' abilities to identify and treat patients' diseases or illnesses. Although this article may seem silly or quite humorous, there is a slightly serious message. If the doctors had not known about gut fermentation syndrome, the man could have died of alcohol poisoning or liver disease. The knowledge that doctors and scientists have and continue to build upon is the reason that humans' life expectancy has continued to be prolonged. 

I chose this article because I thought it was entertaining and odd. I find animal and human body mysteries to be downright compelling. I wonder if he ever thinks about his condition? Probably only when he has to fork over the $20 for two overpriced martinis. 

Now the man can enjoy these, within reason of course!

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/21/beer-gut-mans-belly-brews-own-beer/

Can Animals Change Gender?

The article that I chose for this week is entitled, "7 Gender-Bending Animals." It was written by Liz Langley for National Geographic online. The article was incredibly interesting, and the title grabbed my attention. I enjoy reading about weird animal phenomena, and this definitely qualifies as odd and unique!

The Animal Kingdom is very diverse, made up of interesting species with different characteristics

The article began with connecting humans and animals' ability to change, "bend", or hide genders. Then we are introduced to each of the seven animals the article would discuss: Cuttlefish, Garter Snakes, Spotted Hyena, African Bat Bug, Anemonefish, Parrotfish, and Hawkfish. Apparently, the cuttlefish actually changes his appearance to woo the female species on one side (male), but preoccupy other males on the opposite side (female). It is a fabulous dating strategy!

The Male Cuttlefish (right) is pursuing a female with one side, yet keeping other males on his right female side. 

The second animal with the special ability to morph itself is the garter snake. The garter snake mates in a large group (strange in of itself!), so male snakes pretend to be female in order to stay in the warm, protected center. What pranksters!

Garter Snake Mating Ball

Next, we have the spotted hyena. The female spotted hyena actually has a "pseudo penis" that resembles the male hyena's genitalia, yet it performs the female genitalia's functions. The female hyena's brutality helps fulfill the laws of nature: only the strong survive.

Spotted Hyena Female

The next animal is the African bat bug. The bat bugs originated with a violent form of "traumatic insemination," but now they have developed new genitalia. The females adapted with a hole in their bodies to allow insemination, the males copied, and the females followed the males. They are just trying to confuse everyone on their true gender.

African Bat Bug

Now, we move on to the Anemonefish. This fish keeps a healthy stock of males and females, yet all the animals are born male. If a female fish dies, a male will become a new female in order to keep reproduction a possibility.

Anemone Clown Fish: Male or Female? 

Next, the Parrotfish is born with both sets of genitalia. Therefore, females can become male at any time.

If they are not happy being female, they can try being male!

Parrotfish: Male of Female? 

Our last animal is the Hawkfish. This fish can actually change from one gender to the other and back again. Basically, if this fish gets bored they can try being another gender for awhile and change back!

Hawkfish: Male one day, female the next

These animals are all absolutely fascinating! They have adapted, evolved, or changed over time to make it so gender is a choice or an ever-changing process. I chose this article because it taught me something new, and it allowed me to reflect on humans' own behavior regarding gender.

It is important for us to realize these oddities because it allows our own science to study how the animals change, and if it is possible to manufacture. humans have begun this complicated process in the very recent past. We now have gender realignment surgeries for hermaphrodites or people who feel like they are not the gender they were born. The fact that science and medicine can change a person entirely from one gender to another is a relatively new science and is highly controversial. I wonder if it was controversial when the first Parrotfish female evolved into a male? 

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/22/7-gender-bending-animals/?source=hp_dl1_newswatch_gender_bender_animals20130924

Starfish Dying? Mystery in the North Atlantic

The article that I read this week was entitled, "Massive Starfish Die-off baffles Scientists," and it was published on September 9, 2013. The author was Carrie Arnold for National Geographic's Weird and Wild section. This article grabbed my attention because of the repercussions that a massive die-off of marine life could cause. The starfish is part of the marine habitat's ecological system; therefore, a large number of the creature dying is seen as a major issue. 

A healthy Sunflower Starfish

Initial Problems:

The article explains how the dying species of Sunflower Starfish were found by a diver, Jonathan Martin. He thought at first that it could be a mistake, but after seeing many dead or dying starfish he began to find the situation alarming. He contacted a researcher at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. for further information. 

A Sunflower Starfish with multiple missing limbs and dying

 

Hypothesis:

Christopher Mah at the Smithsonian Institute told Jonathan Martin that there was no clear evidence as to what is causing the numerous starfish deaths. One hypothesis is that there is a parasite that could be harming the starfish. Another hypothesis states that because of the overpopulation, the starfish are just naturally undergoing selection. 

However, these hypotheses do not explain why the southern neighbor to the Sunflower Starfish, the Morning Sun Star, is also producing a large number of unexplained deaths. The article goes on to explain the next steps that researchers and concerned citizens are going to take to figure out the cause of the Starfish deaths. 

A healthy Morning Sun Starfish

Reaction:

I chose this article because the beach is my favorite place. This may sound corny, but it is true. I care about what happens in my oceans, at my beaches, and to the organisms that inhabit the coastal areas. I grew up finding starfish on the coast of South Carolina and learning that they are not just part of Ariel's Disney princess world. They are living organisms, and they are often overlooked as important. This is a vast understatement as starfish are an integral part of the oceanic ecosystem. 

The starfish eat sea urchins and other poisonous ocean dwellers that harm human beings. If there were a huge depletion of starfish, there would be a large burst in the number of sea urchins. Imagine running into the ocean and stepping on a sea urchin: It would hurt very bad. Starfish and other organisms that we take advantage of actually help us in a multitude of ways; therefore, if there is an unnatural reason for the deaths of these starfish, we as responsible human beings should care and investigate. 

A South Carolina Beach Walkover

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/09/massive-starfish-die-off-baffles-scientists/