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A place to share questions and comments about Science at ATA. In our monthly SINS (Science In the News) Students review a piece of media (newspaper, magazine, radio, T.V., Internet). Then share and discuss. Brief Synopses of our Labs will also be posted here. Feel free to comment! :-)
3 comments:
Alden Woodard
In the Suriname rain forest in South America one Trond Larsen, an environmental scientist was lucky enough to snap a picture of a weird exciting creature. Liz Langley a reporter for National Geographic wrote an article on this new bug and its relevance to the modern world (Troll-Haired Mystery Bug Found in Suriname).
Though a specimen of the insect was never caught, scientists from Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program identified this bug as a planthopper. It’s theorized that these bugs have a similar life cycle to a grasshopper because they come from the same family. This is important to the world and scientists everywhere as a reminder that there is always more to discover even on our own planet. This article was published November 19th, 2013
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/11/19/bug-hair-suriname-species-animals/?source=hp_dl2_ww-troll-bug_20131120
Noah Spoth
Breana Draxler http://discovermagazine.com/galleries/2013/oct/lake-natron-calcification#.Uotg39LVBu4
In Tanzania there is lake called Lake Natron. The lake takes its name from the deadly chemicals that lie in wait. Natron is a mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate(soda ash) and sodium bicarbonate(common baking soda). The lake is so poisonous that there is almost no life in the lake. The only things alive there are microscopic organisms. When animals are exposed to the water of the lake it causes a massive build up of calcium in soft tissue and bones. While this kind of behavior is normally reserved for bone growth and can be completely natural and harmless. However when this happens it is in minute quantities. When it happens to the extent that does when someone takes a dip in Lake Natron the build up dries tissue out entirely; killing the victim(usually birds or bats). This process happens constantly in Tanzania. When birds look at the lake, the mixture of chemicals create a mirror image and the birds crash straight into the lake like when they crash into you window. They then drown and are calcified.
MAVEN Launches for the Red Planet
Jon Brack of Starstruck Magazine explains the importance of NASA’s latest launch to mars in is article titled “MAVEN Launches for the Red Planet”. MAVEN is scheduled to fall into Mars’ orbit by next September. MAVEN is meant to explore the atmosphere of Mars, hoping to find evidence of water once there. MAVEN was launched on November 18th, the only opportunity to do so until 2015, because of Mars’ current alignment with earth.
MAVEN is 37.5 meters long and the solar panels are at a 20 degree angle to the spacecraft; they stabilize the craft as it dips into Mars’ atmosphere. MAVEN will try to find clues of ancient water In the atmosphere. MAVEN will measure the effects of solar wind on the atmosphere of Mars, and figure out where the water has gone.
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/11/18/maven-launches-for-the-red-planet/
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