CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XII), by Marina Dorca

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XII), by Marina Dorca

News' title: Bones: Custom cushioning helps heal a bad break

For a patient with a broken limb, an inflatable bladder inside their cast could limit complications that can occur during healing

Date of publication: May 14, 2015

Source of information: Science news for students

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/bones-customcushioning-helps-heal-bad-break

Scientific field: Biology and medicine

Extract:

This article talks about the invention of two teenagers, who presented its device on Intel International Science and Engineering Fair created by the Society for Science and the Public.

The aim of these teenager's invention was to optimize the purpose of casts. Casts are intended to hold the limb firmly in one position for a few weeks as the fractured bone heals. But costly or painful problems can develop, especially if the limb swells a lot after the cast has hardened into its final shape. For this reason, they’ve developed a computer-controlled inflatable bladder to fit between the limb and the cast. Electronics monitor the pressure inside the bladder. As needed, they adjust how much air it holds to keep the liner grip on the limb firm but comfortable.

Critical appraisal: Teens and science

In this article I've found out that there are many people who organize events and contests in order to encourage teenagers to let go their imagination and talent in the field of science. Furthermore, we should also highlight the number of teens that participated in the fair the article talks about, which is called Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. This year, 1702 finalists from more than 70 different countries came to that event. I'm gladly surprised by these data, because that means that young people have concerns about science and come up with new and fresh ideas which may be put in practice in the future.

I'd also like to say that, in my opinion, big or useful inventions don't have to be something impressive always. What I'm trying to say is that when we think of inventions we always have in our minds the bulb, the plane or something like these. Nevertheless, inventions can be something as simple as the mop, which is a stick attatched to a cloth. Inventions are that kind of devices that makes you life easier. For these reason, although this girls' creation may not seem relevant, if it helps to optimize the casts, it will be worth it.

I'm really impressed by the discoveries of these teenagers, not because they are of great importance, but because of the effort and hope they have surely put in her research. Her example makes clear that you don't have to be an adult to investigate or to make a research on something that intrigues you. You just need to have interest and constancy.
It's great to know that there are teenagers like them in the world, because the future of this planet lies in our hands.

I believe teenagers like them is what our world needs, because future is just around the corner and we really need intelligent and working people in order to face it.

Glossary:

Bladder A flexible bag-like structure for holding gases or liquids.

Cast A shell made of plaster, fiberglass or other hard material that encases a limb or large portion of the body, often to stabilize broken bones as they heal.

Society for Science and the Public (orSSP) A non-profit organization created in 1921 and based in Washington, D.C. Since its founding, SSP has been not only promoting public engagement in scientific research but also the public understanding of science. It created and continues to run three renowned science competitions, including the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (initially launched in 1950). SSP also publishes award-winning journalism in Science News (launched in 1922) and Science News for Students (created in 2003). Those magazines also host a series of blogs (including Eureka! Lab).

Sensor A device that picks up information on physical or chemical conditions — such as temperature, barometric pressure, salinity, humidity, pH, light intensity or radiation — and stores or broadcasts that information. Scientists and engineers often rely on sensors to inform them of conditions that may change over time or that exist far from where a researcher can measure them directly.

Tissue Any of the distinct types of material, comprised of cells, which make up animals, plants or fungi. Cells within a tissue work as a unit to perform a particular function in living organisms. Different organs of the human body, for instance, often are made from many different types of tissues. And brain tissue will be very different from bone or heart tissue.

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XII)

Catching ZZZs may

retrieve lost memories

                                                                                20-5-2015

https://student.societyforscience.org/profiles/sk/themes/student/logo.png

SCIENTIFIC SHIELD:  BODY & HEALTH,  ANIMALS, GENETICS

SUMMARY:

Sleep can restore memories in forgetful fruit flies, new data show. This raises hope that some extra ZZZs might also help people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders.

For a series of new experiments, researchers altered the genes of fruit flies. This caused various types of memory problems in the bugs. But the flies could get their memories back. All they needed was some solid snooze time.

The researchers used flies with gene changes, known as mutations. In one series of experiments they used different methods to get their flies to sleep more. One way was to drug the flies. The sleep that followed left these formerly befuddled flies sharper than ever. In a test of short-term memory, these flies better remembered to avoid an area treated with a nasty chemical (quinine).

CRITICAL APPRAISAL:

By reading this article, I have realised that something as a fly can overcome memory losses and humans, the most complex organism can't. If the scientist Paul Shawn and his colleagues could take out the gen that makes possible the memory recovering they could save thousands of old people of cruel diseases as Alzheimer.

Even though insects and people are different. That means the fly research doesn’t necessarily apply to us. Still, dozing fruit flies act a lot like people. Sleeping flies hold very still. Snoozing flies are hard to wake up.

Right now, there's no tratment for Alzheimer so it seems that sleeping and taking some steps are  the best option. Those steps can include getting more exercise and consuming less caffeine (which can make it hard to fall asleep).

GLOSSARY:

Alzheimer’s disease  An incurable brain disease that can cause confusion, mood changes and problems with memory, language, behavior and problem solving. No cause or cure is known.

caffeine  A stimulant, which activates the nervous system and heart. The leaves, seeds and fruits of many plants contain caffeine. In coffee plants and tea bushes, caffeine acts as a natural pesticide. It will kill or harm insects that attempt to dine on the plant. Caffeine is also toxic to some types of plants, bacteria — even frogs and dogs.

fruit flies  Tiny flies belonging to the species Drosophila melanogaster. Scientists often use these short-lived animals as a “guinea pig” for lab studies because they are easy to grow, can mature into adults in a short time and their bodies share many of the same traits and responses as more complex animals — including mammals.

mutation  Some change that occurs to a gene in an organism’s DNA. Some mutations occur naturally. Others can be triggered by outside factors, such as pollution, radiation, medicines or something in the diet. A gene with this change is referred to as a mutant.

quinine  A bitter compound derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. Quinine has been used since the 1600s to treat malaria. It is also used as a flavoring agent in tonic water.

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XI)

PLASTIC POLLUTION

Enviroment

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/tiny-plastic-big-problem?mode=topic&context=60

Marc Dorca Fernàndez

Summary:

Plastics are used to make countless everyday products. In 2012, 288 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide. Since then, that amount has only grown. Scientists estimate that 10 percent of plastic that we use every day finally ends in the ocean. A recent study thinks that this is 8 million metric tons of plastic every day.
Sometimes this plastic arrives to the ocean because of the storms or wind but this is only the 80 percent. The other 20 percent of plastic enters directly in the water because of fishing or other activities.
The problem is bigger than we can think because it's not only the plastic that we see in the surface, a lot of bottles and other thinks sinks into the ocean and polluts water.
Recently a group of Spanish scientists travel around the world for 6 months to count how much plastic are there in the surface. They drag a net around the oceans to recollect as little pieces of plastic as they can. They count and weight the plastic that they found in different sides. Finally they found less plastic that they think.
But scientists are more concerned because of the products that makes plastic pieces. A lot of times these are chemical products and this could be so bad for our health. But plastic, oil and other hydrophobic substances are attracted to each other. So oily contaminants tend to glom onto pieces of plastic. In a way, plastic acts like a sponge, soaking up hydrophobic contaminants.



Crittical appraissal:

I think that we are destroying the most beautiful treasure that we'll ever have: The Earth. There's no solution to stop it, we haven't got human awareness so it's impossible to tray to tell people that we are in a serious problem.
There's no a joke, we are wasting 8 million plastic metric tones every day, finally there weren't space for fish in the ocean because all of it will be plastic. All the countries in the world would do something to safe our world.
Marine ecosystem is so important for humanity because it give us water, that can be use das renewable energy or as a drink and food.
I only want to add one think:
"Safe the world, is the most beautiful think that we will have"


Glossary:

Plastic:  Any of a series of materials that are easily deformable; or synthetic materials that have been made from polymers (long strings of some building-block molecule) that tend to be lightweight, inexpensive and resistant to degradation.

Pollutant:   A substance that taints something — such as the air, water, our bodies or products. Some pollutants are chemicals, such as pesticides. Others may be radiation, including excess heat or light. Even weeds and other invasive species can be considered a type of biological pollution.

Marine:   Having to do with the ocean world or environment.

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XI), by Marina Dorca

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XI), by Marina Dorca

News' title: Warming’s role in extreme weather

Climate change ups chances of hot temperatures and heavy precipitation

Date of publication: May 6, 2015

Source of information: Student science

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/warming%E2%80%99s-role-extreme-weather

Scientific field: Environmental biology

Extract:

Since the industrial revolution, the earth has become 0,85ºC warmer. This phenomenon is known as global warming, and it's caused even more extreme weather events on the last decades.

Some human activities have been largely behind this warming. For example, burning fossil fuels has lead to a build-up of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere. This CO₂ is a greenhouse gas, which means it can trap heat in the air, and that makes temperature rise.

Governments are planning to limit global warming to 2ºC above temperatures that were typical before the Industrial Revolution.

Besides, the article also talks about a recent climate study which was made in Germany, in which they analysed the effects of global warming. The scientists studied 25 computer models of global climate, and they found out that across the planet there will be more extremes of heat, rain or snow.

Critical appraisal:

Global warming is one of the worst problems our planet is suffering. Greenhouse gases such as car emissions and other fossil fuels, factory gases, cigarrettes,... are charging the atmosphere of CO₂, which causes, as explained on the article, an increase of the Earth's temperature.

But, despite being aware of this reality, very little is being done to change this situation. Consumerism, car emissions of CO₂ and factory gases between other factors are polluting the air more and more everyday. And amid this actuality we're being both the victims and the killers of this society. We could really do something to change today's world but sometimes it's easier for us to just to continue with our lifestyles without caring about the consequences they entail.

However, there are also positive things abou all this. Many governments are concerned about all this environmental issues and are trying hard to lower temperatures. For example, there are some cities that are proposing initiatives to reduce traffic in order to decrease car emissions. Instead, they suggest taking the bike to go to work or going by food if possible. 

So, in conclusion, I believe we all have to be responsible to the environment and put our part if we want our world to keep turning.

Glossary:

climate change Long-term, significant change in the climate of Earth. It can happen naturally or in response to human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests.

computer model A program that runs on a computer that creates a model, or simulation, of a real-world feature, phenomenon or event.

fossil fuels Any fuel — such as coal, petroleum (crude oil) or natural gas — that has developed in the Earth over millions of years from the decayed remains of bacteria, plant or animals.

global warming The gradual increase in the overall temperature of Earth’s atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect. This effect is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and other gases in the air, many of them released by human activity.

greenhouse gas A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing heat. Carbon dioxide is one example of a greenhouse gas.

greenhouse effect The warming of Earth’s atmosphere due to the buildup of heat-trapping gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Scientists refer to these pollutants asgreenhouse gases. The greenhouse effect also can occur in smaller environments. For instance, when cars are left in the sun, the incoming sunlight turns to heat, becomes trapped inside and quickly can make the indoor temperature a health risk.

Industrial Revolution A period of time beginning around 1750 marked by new manufacturing processes and a switch from wood to coal and other fossil fuels as a main source of energy.

simulate To deceive in some way by imitating the form or function of something.

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (XI)

The Mystery Behind an Eye That Changed Color

                                                                                                        8-5-15

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/08/health/ebola-eye-color-change-mystery.html?ref=science&_r=0

SCIENTIFIC SHIELD: Body and health

SUMMARY:

How can a viral infection change the color of a person’s eye? Months after Dr. Ian Crozier thought he had recovered from Ebola, he was stunned to find himself developing intense eye pain and fading vision. The inside of his left eye was still occupied territory, full of live, replicating virus. And one morning during this siege, he looked in the mirror and saw that his iris had changed from blue to green.

They had considered the possibility that the virus had invaded his eye, but they had not really expected to find it. Months had passed since Dr. Crozier became ill while working in an Ebola treatment ward in Sierra Leone as a volunteer for the World Health Organization. By the time he left Emory, his blood was Ebola-free.

Gradually, over the next few months, his sight returned. Surprisingly, his eye turned blue again.

Dr. Crozier believes information from his case may help prevent blindness in Ebola survivors in West Africa. On April 9, he headed to Liberia with Dr. Yeh and several other Emory physicians to see patients who had recovered from Ebola and examine their eyes.

“Maybe we can change the natural history of the disease for survivors,” Dr. Crozier said. “I want to start that conversation.”

CRITICAL APPRAISAL:

As Dr.Crozier believes, the results from this case may help prevent blindness in Ebola survivors. In fact it's something incredible. How from an infection of a patient scientists can devolp a cure or a vaccine for all the other infected people. 

Even though the history of the doctor has a happy ending there are too mysteries about the case we don't know: 
How can a viral infection change the color of a person’s eye? Why only one eye was affected?...

Another question withouth answer is if Dr.Crozier could infected other people being that Ebola is an extremely infectious illness. And in this case who is infected?

Finally, it's a little strange but who knows if scientis with a virus could in the future make change the color of our eyes withouth danger during a period of time for example. I know that is practically imposible but maybe with science,,,

GLOSSARY: 

iris: the round, colored, front part of the eye that contains an opening, the pupil, in its center.

blindness: unable to see

virus: a very small living thing causing infection, which reproduces only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals.

The Scale of the Univers

Take a look at this wonderful application !. You'll be amazed how wonderful it can become our universe. DO NOT MISS IT!:

THE SCALE OF THE UNIVERS

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (X)

Marc Dorca Fernàndez

4/5/2015

http://www.abc.es/ciencia/20150503/abci-amor-materno-oxitocina-201505022155.html

THE MATERNAL LOVE

Summary:

Bringing a child into the world is considered one of the most beautiful things there, especially for the mother what has raised the fetus and has been it for nine months in her tummy, creating an incredible link between them. Recent studies have shown that maternal love changes the brain. Behind that love scientists believe that there are a hormone called occitocina. At first this hormone had got the charge of the regulation of salt and water and over time has come to function as a neurotransmissor and as a hormone together. It is produced in the hypothalamus and is responsible for maintaining close relationships with our offsprings. One of the strongest relationships that exist for a longtime is the one between a mother and his child bond. After all, is more important the interaction with the baby  , although it is true, a caress or a simple contact with the mother make occitocina release and, therefore, continues to create that bond between making stronger.

Crittical appraissal:

It's hard to believe that a simple hormone is able of regulating or feeding a feeling, which is something abstract. However, it makes sense to be a hormone made in the brain and interacts both during pregnancy . Clearly, the fact of having a life for nine months inside you creates links between both of them who will be almost impossible to break but what really amazes is the cause. Therefore, we can conclude that as the baby receives more love he will have more cognitive abilities. But an example that not all feelings will issue related to this hormone or made ​​to share the same genes are cases of adoption . Mother and son create strong bonds regardless of genes.

Glossary:

Oxytocin: is a mammalian neurohypophysial hormone.

Gene: A gene is the molecular unit of heredity of a living organism.

Offspring: children or young of a particular parent or progenitor.