Clownfish - Predator VS Prey

Clown fish live in deep seas and move trough (and are 'friends' of) sea anemones. Their predators are sharks, chalk goby. To feed themselves, they eat small marine fish; most of the time the fish are invertebrates. Like I said before, it has relationship with the sea anemones.

Sea anemones have these poisonous tentacles and big predators don't dare to go near them, but somehow clown fish aren't afraid and the tentacles have no affect on them. Also clown fish's feces have a fertilizer effect on the sea anemone; so this is how both of them benefit each other!!!




Bose, Debopriya. "Clown Fish and Sea Anemone." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 04 Dec. 2011. .

And if Chocolate Disappeared?

Title: And if Chocolate Disappeared?

Author: Marta Ferrario

Written on: Focus Junior (FJ) (Italian magazine for teens and young adults)

Date: 15/11/2011

Now we are getting used to climate changes, such things as droughts and storms. But, for the Center for Tropical Agriculture before 2050 cocoa’s production in Ghana and Ivory Coast will severely decrease so chocolate will become a rare thing a delicacy. Since those two countries make 60% of the world’s cocoa the prices will increase and as I told you before chocolate can become a rare thing. So, if you want chocolate better stop with global pollution!

I usually buy this magazine each month and there are many interesting stuff un there, sometimes there are world-wide news, others there are records or interviews with different important people. This article grabbed my attention because everyone likes chocolate and this is a warning, which maybe (hopefully) it should convince people to stop pollution. 

Walking Through Doorways Makes you Forget

Title: Walking Through Doorways Makes you Forget

Author: Marianne English

Date Posted: 23/11/2011

Posted on: Discovery News

Link: http://news.discovery.com/human/walking-rooms-forget-111123.html

You surely had times when, one you got up to get something from another room you totally forget. The "location-updating effect," is a phenomenon, which when walking in from a place to another it makes memory work slower, which means that once you forgot what you were about to do it takes more time to recollect memory.

 Moving from one space to another seems to signal the brain to restore its previous information and to concentrate on the new space rather than the old one. That makes it harder to remember the information from the prior one.

Researchers to test made an experiment. The put college student into virtual and real rooms and they had to remember which objects they carried and then placed down.

Another study on the topic showed that participants forgot information from crossing through a doorway. The location-updating effect may also have something to do with humans' inclination to remember events in segments rather than on a scale. The result also indicates that moving between spaces appears to have a greater effect on memory than a person's interest or engagement in the room itself. Apart from if it was something easier to remember.

Rabbits Population Graphs

So the graphs show how in one year how much the rabbit population grows. There is a kind of rule and if you notice each time it is 2 to the power of some number.

Using Light, Researchers Convert 2-D Patterns Into 3-D Objects

Using Light, Researchers Convert 2-D Patterns Into 3-D Objects

By: North Carolina State University

On: 10/11/2011

Displayed on: ScienceDaily

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110125846.htm

Citation: North Carolina State University. "Using light, researchers convert 2-D patterns into 3-D objects." ScienceDaily, 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2011.

Using only light researches of the North Carolina State University, have found a way to convert 2D pattern to 3D objects.

Dr. Michael Dickey states: “This is a novel application of existing materials, and has potential for rapid, high-volume manufacturing processes or packaging applications,” this means that this is an innovative product, is made of current materials, it also can be used for rapid industrial packaging. What they do is very easy; they take a pre-stressed plastic sheets, then they run it through a common printer to print black lines on the plastic. Then the material is cut into different pieces and put under a heat lamp, or other infrared light. The black lines absore much more energy than the rest, this makes the material bend; then making angles which will form a 3D shape. Many objects can be formed using this technique. Here is what is also included in the writing: “By varying the width of the black lines, or hinges, researchers are able to change how far each hinge folds. For example, they can create a hinge that folds 90 degrees for a cube, or a hinge that folds 120 degrees for a pyramid. The wider the hinge, the further it folds. Wider hinges also fold faster, because there is more surface area to absorb energy.” This shows how scientists can discover more by only knowing one main thing.

I like this article because it is practically talking about a new invention. And not about things that are getting better or worst in world. Scientists and researchers need to know one thing to discover other. This is very interesting and cool!

Hi-Tech Fabric Improves Athletic Prowess And Heals Too!

Hi-Tech Fabric Improves Athletic Prowess And Heals Too!

By: Meera Dolasia

On: 3/11/2011

Posted on: DogoNews --- http://www.dogonews.com/2011/11/3/hi-tech-fabric-improves-athletic-prowess-and-heals-too

Technology is a big part of our lives and it affects it a lot.  Though one part which technology hasn’t affected a lot is the clothes we wear. In southern California a company which produces athletes apparel is trying to create a high tech fabric which will not only help the athletes performance, but also, it will help healing chronic wounds and normal wounds.

This new type of fabric  developed by Santa Monica based Hologenix LLC, will mainly work if the cells have an oxygen level more than normal, the high tech will help the body work better. The fabric is made of synthetic polymer it turns infrared into useful energy, the energy gets stored by the fabric and then transferred onto the person in contact with the fabric.

It is not sure whether it works perfectly or not, but it has now been a decade that this company has been testing it.

The author also includes: “The Company is also currently conducting clinical trials to establish that if the fabric is incorporated into everyday items like blankets, bedding, mattresses etc., it will help us function better and lead healthier lives.” That means that in the future similar things will be invented/developed and they will improve daily lives.

I like this article because there is finally a company which will sell very sophisticated articles which will improve daily lives. I think that the way the fabric is made is very smartly made and that people in the future will need these types of things.

VOCABULARY:

Chronic: Of long duration. Lasting for a long period.

Infrared: Electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter that a microwave radiation, having a wavelength between 700 nm and 1 mm.

Polymer: Any of numerous natural and synthetic compainds of usually high molecular weight.

Mapping the Formation of an Underwater Volcano

Mapping the Formation of an Underwater Volcano

ScienceDaily (Oct. 28, 2011)  

In El Hierro Island in the Canaries, Spain, as started to emerge an underwater volcano on the 9^th of October.

Researchers of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, Ministry of Science and Innovation) took only 15 days to locate the formation in high resolution. The volcano has reached a height of 100 meters and the lava flows, though it has decreased its flowing during the past days. Juan Acosta, head of the IEO explains that: “This is probably the first time that such a young underwater volcano has been mapped in such high resolution,” He explains.

The 9th October, scientists of Spain's National Geographic Institute (Spanish Ministry of Development) sensed the first seismic movements that gave birth the volcano in the Spanish Islands. The 24th of this month, scientists on board the IEO's ship Ramón Margalef had concluded the bathymetry (mapping of the sea bed) with extraordinary accuracy.

Formation in high resolution of the
Underwater Volcano

The author of the article includes in his writing: “In 1998, within the framework in Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, researchers of the IEO and Spain's Marine Hydrographic Institute (Spanish Ministry of Defence) also mapped the same area from within the oceanographic ship Hespérides. Using a geographic information system, these images have now been superimposed onto those just taken and thus the birth of the volcano has been confirmed.” Now we are sure that there actually is a volcano in the El Hierro Islands. The sizes of the volcano are: the base of the volcano lies at a depth of 300 m. It is conical and 100 m high with a base diameter of 700 m and a crater width of 120 m. Videos and photos will be taken, only until the 31^st of October which will be controlled by the Liropus, an observation submarine.

The reason of why I like this article is because it talks about volcanoes and seas and they are two things I like. Also, I find it interesting because it talks about how an underwater volcano grows; plus, I wonder, is lava hot even though it is in water. I’m an kind of confused (generally) about the hot/cold part.

Underwater Volcano Picture
(general, not this one specific)

Plataforma SINC. "Mapping the formation of an underwater volcano." ScienceDaily, 28 Oct. 2011. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.

Dirt: The Movie --- Reflection

Dirt: The Movie --- Reflection

 

Last week 7^th grade watched a movie called: "Dirt". It talked about how dirt is important what we can do to ‘help’ dirt. In the movie there were some important people talking, such as: Nobel Prize winners, experts, scientists and others.

What I learnt from it is that dirt is mainly part of the food chain and that even though it has biotic things in it and helps living things, it is abiotic. (biotic= living; abiotic= non-living). An important part that the movie talked about was pesticides; when farmes put pesticides, it doesn’t get ‘eaten’by plant but I will then flow in the rivers à seas à oceans. Killing everything and polluting the waters. In dirt there are many micro-organisms which make and keep the soil clean and fertile. A way to help soil and dirt is to compost. Dirt is also important because eco-houses can be made from it, it keeps warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 

Biggest Ever Study Shows No Link Between Mobile Phone Use and Tumors

BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Biggest ever study shows no link between mobile phone use and tumors." ScienceDaily, 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.

In the previous years it was thought that the large use of mobile phones would affect our health, starting from the central nervous system and brain tumors.  This hypothesis was though because of the great number of mobile phone users worldwide.

Danish researchers have been studying a lot to get to a answer and now they have found one. The mobile phone use has nothing to do with the risk of any brain tumors.

The author also says: “Previous studies on a possible link between phone use and tumors have been inconclusive particularly on long-term use of mobile phones. Some of this earlier work took the form of case control studies involving small numbers of long-term users and were shown to be prone to error and bias”

When the scientists took away phone from certain people, the rate of cancer didn’t change, so no increase or decrease of cancer.

I picked this article because it seemed interesting especially because now the number of phone users is increasing and this could have been a danger to people who use it, but now we are relieved that cell phones don’t affect our health.

San Diego's Ocean Glows in the Dark

Title: San Diego’s Ocean Glows in the Dark!
Posted on: DogoNews --- http://www.dogonews.com/2011/10/5/san-diegos-ocean-glows-in-the-dark
By: Meera Dolasia
On: 5/10/2011

The coastal city of San Diego, California and the beaches are known to be warm and especially crystal clear but if I tell you that they are … … …  bioluminescent? Well that is how they have been the last 3 week and still are. Unluckily (for some people) this isn’t a sign of aliens landing on earth but it is a phenomenon Red Tides which occurs in different places on our Earth. Scientists say that they are not terribly toxic, which means that people could actually swim in the glow-in-the-dark waters. Those microscopic organisms known as phytoplankton, become the owner of the sea. They turn the normally pristine blue ocean waters into a reddish, brownish and purplish color. Over night the reddish/ brownish/ purplish color organisms turn color to a bright blue; due to a chemical reaction. It seems that the cells are jostling against each other by the ocean waves and the result is flashing blue in the ocean which appears wonderful in the night skies.

VOCABULARY:
Bioluminescent: from bioluminescence which means the emission of light from living organisms.
Phytoplankton: microscopic plants that grow in the upper regions of the ocean where sunlight is plentiful.
Pristine: belonging to the earliest period or state.
Chemical Reaction: is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

I really liked this current event because what happens is very interesting. The fat that those tyny organisms can make such a beautiful effect is scientifically awesome; even though they only have this glow-in-the-dark effect during night, it is not very nice to see them during the day. I think of this event as a special one because it is rare; I wish I was there to see it happen. If you check out the video posted on the original site there's a surfer which decides to surf in the glowing waters... very cool!

Turning Wastewater into Hydrogen Fuel

Turning Wastewater into Hydrogen Fuel

Posted in: Dogo News

Author: Meera Dolasia

On: 10/02/2011

One of the biggest challenges that human kind has ever faced? Finding a green fuel that is cheap and plentiful enough, and that can replace fossils. Now human kind who has faced the problem has now come up with a solution.

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University have designed a radical, low energy consumer which is capable of extracting hydrogen from wastewater, by using salt water and a type of bacteria.

Since 2009, the team led by Professor Bruce Logan of Environmental Engineering has been testing the different types bacteria that are able of releasing hydrogen from wastewater. Though their experiment wasn’t finished; they had to find an environmentally safe way to give the bacteria the energy to do the job of separating the waste from the water.

From then an interesting idea came up: Reverse Desalination !

Desalination is the process of taking saline minerals out of water and that takes up energy, and if you’ll do the opposite it will make energy. So, if they could find a source of seawater close to a wastewater treatment plant, they will then go on with their testings. Like that they give energy for bacteria to work and produce hydrogen. Though now still many things need to be tested a proved. Other than care of our fuel needs it will also help clean – up the waste water.

Snappy the Orange Crocodile

Snappy the Orange Crocodile

Author: Meera Dolasia 

Posted in: DogoNews --- http://www.dogonews.com/2011/9/26/video-of-the-week-snappy-the-orange-crocodile

On: 09/26/2011

Just a few week ago it turned out that a 8 feet long crocodile due to a disease turned from a dull and dark green to a bright orange. Snappy lives in Melbourne, Australia and when he turned orange his owner Tracy Sandstrom was terrified. The vets and the scientists calmed her; it is only a a bad habit which made it turn orange, it can be cured. Snappy (the crocodile's name) had a bad habit of chewing the water pipes in heated bath and by chewing he also broke the filter.The scientists say that what could have happened is that the dry leaves which had fallen in the water might have dyed the water, and since the filter was broken, the crocodile is orange from the color of the leaves. Now Snappy has become a worldwide celebrity!

Why Humans Lost Their Fur

Found on: DOGO News

Written by: Meera Dolasia

On: 19/09/2011
Link: http://www.dogonews.com/2011/9/18/why-humans-lost-their-fur 

Why early humans did lose their fur during the evolution? Well, that is a big question which many people didn’t know the answer to it, but now we know the answer to it. It is simply because with fur it is much easier to move; and you do not sweat.  Some scientists say that it is like athletes, they cut their hair to be more efficient. This is only a theory and it came from an advanced PC modeling program. The research says that from when human walked up – right, they started hunting more often (e.g. running away from a wild animal) and (like we do) the more we run the more we sweat. As time they improved as humters and also their physical features, in fact they lost their fur at a slow paste. So as they developed their fur disappeared and they were much more free to hunt and run even more. Though scientists aren’t still able to precisely confirm the date that they became totally skinned; an idea is around 3 million years ago. A only way they can surely know that by founding a dead early – human body under lava, because that is the only thing known that can preserve hair during a period of time.

I think that now we still have some remains of ‘fur’ in our body and I think through the years it is going to disappear, though maybe once fur helped keeping warm when the weather was cold. One question I have is how do humans evolve, what is the ‘thing’ which makes humans lose their fur, become in an up –right position. I also wonder how science(tists) gain all these types of info about early humans.  

So I hope you learned a great lesson of early humans and its related news.

   





If you want to see this funny video about evolution please follow the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faRlFsYmkeY