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.

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

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

News' title: Ditching farm pollution – literally

Reducing fertilizer runoff benefits both farmers and the environment

 

Date of publication: April 17, 2015

 

Source of information: Science news for students:

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/ditching-farm-pollution-%E2%80%94-literally

 

Scientific field: Environmental biology

 

Extract:

Fertilizers and pesticides from farms become pollutants once they leave the farm. These chemicals are carried away by ditches, and most of them end up in lakes or rivers.

 

This causes some negative effects. This runoff can poison animals in rivers where ditches empty and it can harm the environment. Besides, washed away fertilizer helps algae and bacteria grow faster.

A demonstration project, Shatto Ditch Project, is trying to improve the situation by giving other alternatives to runoff ditches. Farmers consider that they have decreased their costs in ditch maintenance and fertilizers.

 

Critical appraisal: Dear environment:

Sometimes we do not think about the consequences of what we do. We simply carry on doing the same actions as if it was a routine, like that's what we are supposed to do. I've chosen this article because it's a clear example that we can change things and make our world a little better.

 

 

By reading this article, I have realised that little ideas can end up being great changes if we do dare to try. Shatto Ditch Project, created by Jennifer Tank, has demonstrated that there are always other alternatives if we firmly look for them. Tank, seeing the problematic caused by the runoff of ditches, devised a two tier ditch for funneling water near farms. This new method entailed lots of advantages: there were less costs for farmers to assume, and it was environmentally friendly. Besides, the soil had more nutrients as they were retained in the soil.

In conclusion, I believe that this society should have more consciousness and more committed to our world. If we had real concern, we'd be always thinking about what's the best and most ecological way of doing things, and this planet of ours may be better.

Glossary:

algae Single-celled organisms. As aquatic organisms, they grow in water. Like green plants, they depend on sunlight to make their food.

bloom (in microbiology) The rapid and largely uncontrolled growth of a species.

floodplain The nearly flat land that runs along the side of a river, for some distance out from the water. When the river floods, it spills over into this plain, which is built up, over time, with the silt left as the waters recede.

limnology A branch of ecology that studies inland waters, including lakes, streams and groundwater.

microcystins A class of toxins produced by some freshwater algae that are also known as cyanobacteria. Most of these toxins work by poisoning the liver.

no till The somewhat recent practice by some farmers to leave crop residues (stalks, leaves and roots) in place over the winter, instead of turning over the dirt and burying these materials as soil nutrients.

peer review (in science) A process in which scientists in a field carefully read and critique the work of their peers before it is published in a scientific journal.

phosphorus A highly reactive, nonmetallic element occurring naturally in phosphates. Its scientific symbol is P.

runoff The water that runs off of land into rivers, lakes and the seas. As that water travels over land, it picks up bits of soil and chemicals that it will later deposit as pollutants in the water.

Silt Very fine mineral particles or grains present in soil. They can be made of sand or other materials.

tillage (v. to till) A common practice by farmers of turning over soil on croplands to remove weeds and/or cultivate the land.

toxin A poison produced by living organisms, such as germs, bees, spiders, poison ivy and snakes.

Word find: Here you have a wordsearch in which you have to find some of the words mentionned all over the article. Good luck! ;)