Lab Response

In science class we conducted an experiment to explore and get a better visual of the Earth's mantel and the plasticity. Who knew cornstarch could be so much fun? For this lab we needed water and a beaker of cornstarch and a beaker of water. For this experiment u mix just enough water into the cornstarch so that it can be mixed but is not liquid, followed by blue food coloring. After adding water to the substance we began to mix it. The substance was hard to mix and seemed very powdery and hard at spots. The mixture in the beaker felt like hard rubber, but very smooth. When you remove a pile from the mix into your hands it is very gooy and hard to handle. I began rolling the mixture into a ball but it seemed to be impossible. When I rolled it in my hands it would partially turn into a ball but then fall apart into powder. When I let the goo sit in my hands it turned to liquid. How is this possible? Again and again I tried to roll the mix into a ball, but it never worked; and when I let it sit in my hand to fix it, i found my self trying to keep the liquidity goo in my hand and off the floor. When I slowly pushed by finger through the mix in the beaker it began to sink, in contrast, when I pushed my finger in fast it seem to have a sort of bounce effect on it. This is because when heat is applied to it, it stays together it is dry and powdery; on the other hand, when the u let the goo sit in your hands for even a mere second, the cool air turns it into a liquidity substance. The goo acts like the Earth's mantel, because like the goo with the heat and pressure the mantel keeps the outer sphere of it and the inside is the liquidity goo. For an extra look at this mantel like visual try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GWhOLorDtw Over all this lab taught me a lot and was very fun and very messy.

"October Sky"

"October Sky" was an intriguing movie, and an inspiration to follow your dreams. With the help of Ms. Riley, a school teacher, and his friends, and the excitement of the Russian’s Sputnik, the main character Homer Hickam changed society and brought new hope to his community, as well as, to himself and his family. Homer as a high school student was fascinated by the works of a rocket and the science behind it. With the support of his teacher and help of his friends, Homer began working on building his own rocket to enter in the science fair. Day after day these boys boys became know as "Rocket Boys," and their efforts were seen as a waste of time. As the boys began to successfully start flying rockets many became interested as well, although Homer's father disapproved with this nonsense. Along with Homer's father disaproving of rockets, the Rocket Boys also encountered other obstacles. At this time in Coalwood, West Virginia, students would normally spend the rest of their life working in the cold mines after graduating, with the only exception of getting a football scholarship. Everyone was familiar with the dangers of working in the mines and the non guarantee that you would come back alive once u went down. The toxcicating fumes the workers breath soon lead to horrible illness and lung cancer. Another example, was when the Rocket Boys were being accused of starting a major forest fire and arrested as well as shutting down the rocket sight. After getting out of jail, Homer experiences a day in the cold mines to for fill his fathers spot while he was injured, so his borther could go to collage, although Homer was determined to prove himself to everyone. Homer studies the rate, time and distance to figure out where their one missing rocket could have landed that had supposedly started the forest fire. After through a night full of math Homer and his friends measure out the distance and then add the wind resisantance, and find the rocket. The accused charger are removed and the Rocket Boys find the confidence to continue for filling their dream. Homer found himself chosing between obeying his father and following his dreams. After Ms. Riley's encouragement and the efforts of his friends, the Rocket Boys began making a working rocket for hte science fair. After an endless time of error and trial the Rocket Boys find themselves with a rocket that uses alcohol fuel and heavy steal that can sustain the heat from the burning. With the new improvements the Rokcet Boys win the science fair and the nationals as well. Homer wins the first schoolarship for science instead of football and his father understands and respects him as well.
Character Education plays a big part in this movie, cooperation, emapthy, respect, self- control and assertion. Throughout the movie the Rocket Boys show a great deal of cooperation, helping each other in their strenghts and weaknessed to build this rocket. They worked together day and night, and never gave up. Although they had some disagreements they were a well working team. Respect is an aspect of the movie shown in the changing views of people in the community. The first to support and respect the science in their dream was Ms.Riley, and soon after the fellow students and neighbors. Homer gained respect from his father by proving to him that science is important too in winning the national science fair and getting the schoolarship. Homer showed emapthy toward Ms. Riley by continuing his dream and making her feel like she had accomplished something as a teacher, and that she was not a waste of life, she had done somethign good for people. In "October Sky" there was also a show of self- control. Homer showed self- control by trying to explain to this father and not getting mad when he did not understand. All in all, "October Sky" is a remeberable and interesting movie.

Blog Response

Duchene Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder discovered by a French neurologist in 1860.  After reading this article I feel hopeful towards the one out of thirty six hundred people who have this disorder. This disorder makes life hard because you do not get the protein you need to stay healthy, and the life they live with makes respiratory problems and they move around in a wheel chair. I hope that scienetist can find a cure a to this disorder with a greater knowledge of how it is formed and the treatment. I am happy to know that people with this disorder can live until there thirties, unlike canavan disease people have only survived until their twenties. Like canavan disease these children form this disorder as a little infant, and it is sad to see that children at the age of four have to suffer so much. I also wonder why this disorder only occurs with boys, why not girls?  I hope scientist can figure out a cure for these people. For more information try this link: http://ocean23.blogspot.com/

 

 

Canavan Disease

In 1931  a genetic disorder call Canavan Disease was discovered. This disease is common amongst Jewish people  but is not very common. This disease has only a 1 out of 4 or 25% chance of occurring. Children that have this disease usually die before the age of four, although some may live to their teens or even twenties. A child with this disease would have symptoms like feeding difficulties, abnormal muscle tone (floppiness or stiffness), an abnormally large, poorly controlled head and mental retardation. Some other symptoms like blindness, paralysis, hearing loss and apathetic may occur. Unfortunately, this disease does not have a cure. This disease can only be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. With the lack of enzyme  aspartoacylase, build up the N-acetylaspartic acid material which causes the white matter of the brain to detriorate. In order for this to happen one of the chromozones are mutated. I feel that in order to find the cure for this disease that scienctist need to research the process in which the canavan disease is formed.  After researching Canavan Disease I feel empathy toward those young children who have to suffer this horrible disease. To die at the age of four is very sad. 

 

 

Extracting DNA lab conclusion

In science class we extracted DNA from the plant cell and human cell. Deoxyribonucleic acid, also know as DNA, is found in the nucleus, or the control center of a cell. DNA is in nearly every cell and is very small which would make it seem hard to extract, but in fact it is not hard at all. I personally did the extraction of a human cell. To do this is very simple 4 step process. First i took a small amount of Gatorade and swished it in my mouth for one moment. Second, I spit the Gatorade out of my mouth back into the cup and put it into a test tube. Thirdly, i put alcohol in the test tube. Finally, let the test tube, sit at an angle, for fifteen minutes. After letting the test tube sit for fifteen minutes, i found that there were white floating at the top of the mixture that we made. The white pieces floating around is known as DNA. On the other hand, my partner did the plant cell. After doing this lab i learned a lot about DNA and had fun as well.

New Species of fish

In the past few days science journal reporter has reported, what scientist think is a new species. This psychedelic fish has been seen "bouncing across the ocean floor like a rubber ball." This frogish fish had actually been spotted or discovered in shallow waters of Ambon island in western Indonesia a year ago by a group of scuba diving instructors working on a tour operator. Histiophryne, a professor from the University of Washington and also a member of the antennariid genus, is the one who named this new species as "psychedelica." From looking at this frogish fish it has fins on the side of its body that evolved into legs. "But it has several behavioral traits not previously known to the others," Pietsch wrote. Heres what soem others have to say.

"Each time the fish strike the seabed, for instance, they push off with their fins and expel water from tiny gill openings to jet themselves forward. That, and an off-centered tail, causes them to bounce around in a bizarre, chaotic manner."

"I think people thought frogfishes were relatively well known and to get a new one like this is really quiet spectacular. ... It's a stunning animal," he said, adding that the fish's stripes were probably intended to mimic coral.

"It also speaks to the tremendous diversity in this region and to fact that there are still a lot of unknowns here — in Indonesia and in the Coral Triangle in general."

The fish, which has a gelatinous fist-sized body covered with thick folds of skin that protect it from sharp-edged corals, also has a flat face with eyes directed forward, like humans, and a huge, yawning mouth.

For more information try these links:

• http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090226/ap_on_sc/as_indonesia_funky_fish;_ylt=AqmQW28dZhJZxdSqTfxGdlN4hMgF
• http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/26/asia/AS-Indonesia-Funky-Fish.php

Watchung Hills Regional High School, Somerset prepares for robotics competition

Team 41 from Watchung Hills Regional High School, in Somerset, has once again signed up for the annual first Robotic Competition. The competition is expected to have around 1,500 teams participate; including teams from every state as well as, Brazil, Chile, Canada, England, Mexico and Israel. This years theme is,"Lunacy." The competition will involve a series of challenges, with ramps, speedways, platforms and twisted raceways. "Lunacy" will be played on a huge crater covered with a plastic and than in natural material from the moon also known as, regolith. The game consists of three game pieces. Moon rocks and empty cells worth two points and super ells worth fifteen points. The robot is made in a way so that it can pick up multicolored balls and latticework spheres with a diameter of eight inches. The object of the game is to suck up as many game pieces as possible and drop it in your opponents trailer as well as avoid being targeted by other players in the time given. In the end, which ever team with the least balls wins. This years challenge was revealed on Jan. 3 when officials gave out a standard kit of parts and a set of rules, with only six weeks to complete building the robot. It takes time, effort, team work and intelligence to complete this task.
Team 41 has competed since 1997 and are taking part in the regional on Feb. 26-28 at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton and March 6-8 Janvits Center in Manhattan. Hopefully Team 41 will make it to the Championship on April 16-18 in Atlanta, GA. Good luck guys!

Check out this link for more information: http://www.nj.com/reporter/index.ssf/2009/02/watchung_hills_regional_high_s_11.html