Science Memes!

Creating the perfect match between an organ and the recipient

     I read an article about the shortage of organs for transplants, and what scientists are trying to do about it. Some scientists have figured out a way to trick the body's immune system into accepting artificial, and donor organs. They have to do this because the patients body usually rejects the transplant. Anthony Atala, a scientist from Wake Forest University, created organs that are very close matches for patients. Unfortunately, the organs that he is creating won't be available for 5 years. Another thing that scientists are trying to do is weaken the immune system to lower immune reactioons near the sight of the transplant. But, weakening the immune system can lead the patient more vulnerable to viruses and infections.Meanwhile, scientists are trying many ways to get organ transplants to be more safe for the patient.
     I think that more people should donate organs. I would be happy to donate an organ if I knew I was helping someone else. It makes me really sad to hear that people are dying waiting for an organ transplant. Many people don't want to give up their organs, even after death, where they will just be rotting away in your body. I hope that scientists will be able to come up with a solution for this saddening problem.

Pictures from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaL08jqVEc26mmAWsUoF2c2Y8txU_JYkhvqZlQKbevaVn1w5kpp993xvR9nowBe_P7P-gp8-PYhid0Dmi79kKvT9U56V2LyHJXB3A8NS-B7w-hhImVn0PpBak9goRCYQ15azAkbCM4EkC/s1600/ccotd_kids_logo.gif

http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/organ-transplant-20110418-085820.jpg

Article at: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-05/scientists-outsmart-immune-system-better-match-people-organs

Bald Eagles Being Used for Religous Ceremonies

   

 A few miles from downtown Denver is the National Eagle Repository. They take dead eagles found in the wild, and ship them to Native American tribes that order them. In the Native American culture, eagles are a very important part of religous ceremonies. The controvery is that after you order an eagle, it won't come for 2-4 years. Some of the diffrent Native American communities want to take the already dead eagles on their terrritory to use for the ceremonies, but the government won't let them because they don't have permits.

     I think that they should be allowed to use the eagles on their territory because if they're already dead, they're not doing any harm. I know that the bald eagle is the national bird of America, but I don't think anyone should have to wait 2-4 years for something you can easily get by yourself. It also is for a religous reason, and the government should respect that, and let them be able to take the already dead eagles.


Pictures From: http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/000/cache/bald-eagle_1_600x450.jpg?01AD=3Sh-_BFwMTHOmQEgL7BS-kM8p5A8udMhbLBGLn7EDNAQt1d7aK6u7Hw&01RI=7C6CB7663F75C44&01NA=

http://usaeagle.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/american20bald20eagle20and20flag.gif

Article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/us/a-repository-for-eagles-finds-itself-in-demand.html?ref=earth

Noise Pollution can Change Forests?

     I recently read an article about how noise pollution affects forests. The article was about the animals/ plants that were affected in areas of high noise pollution. (areas near highways, cities, e.t.c) In noisy areas, mice eat the seeds to the Pinyon tree, which is a very important plant in the Southwest. The Pinyon tree rely on scrub jays (type of bird) to help plant seedlings, because scrub jays hide millions of pinyon seeds in one autumn, so they are many new seedlings each year. In noisy areas though, mice eat the pinyon seeds while scrub jays completely avoid them. This is happening in the southwest, with areas of high noise. The problem about this topic is that about 1,000 species of fungi insects, arthropods, mammals and birds depend on pinyon trees.
     I think that scientists should fin a way to help the pinyon trees. I think they should do this for a couple of reasons. First, 1,000 different species depend on pinyon trees, so they must be very important. Secondly,  I think if this problem doesn't get solved soon, it might mess up the southwest's ecosystem. Thirdly, I really want to know the reason why scrub jays don't eat the seeds in areas of noise and how and what can be done to stop it.



Article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/science/noise-pollution-is-changing-forests.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=noise%20pollution&st=cse

Pictures from: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/western_scrub_jay_1.jpg
http://www.itsnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/pinyon1.jpg

Lab Reports: States of Matter

      This week we did four labs to help us understand chemical and physical changes. In  the first lab we did, we observed a lighted candle. Before the candle was lit, we looked at the physical properties of the candle. It was white, hard, and spiral. After the candle was lit, we looked at the physical and chemical properties. The physical properties were that the wick on the candle was burned, and the top of the candle was smooth where the wax had melted. The chemical properties were the fire that was burning, and the smoke that the fire created. From this lab I learned that physical properties are easier to determine because you can always see them unlike chemical properties.

        In the second lab that we did, we also lit a candle. Fire can't burn without oxygen, so we made a mixture where the gas that came from it was carbon dioxide. The mixture had vinegar and baking soda in it. We then poured the gas over the flame, and the fire went out. I learned from this lab that this reaction was chemical because the gas it what put the fire out. 

        In the third lab we did, we had a small marshmallow, a large marshmallow, and a Bunsen burner. We ripped the small marshmallow in half, (which was a physical change) and then ate it. It tasted sweet, and really sugary. Then we put the large marshmallow on a skewer, and turned the Bunsen burner on. We burned a part of the marshmallow, and then ate it. It didn't taste as sweet as before, and it tasted ashy and gross. When we burned the marshmallow, it was a chemical change because the fire was gas, and it burned the marshmallow. The marshmallow was a solid, because it had a definite shape, and the molecules were packed closely together. I learned from this lab that after we burned the marshmallow, it didn't taste good because the sugar was gone.  

 The fourth and final lab that we did included sugar cubes, a glass of water, a test tube, and a Bunsen burner.  We crushed up two of the sugar cubes, and then put them in the glass of water. We stirred the mixture until the sugar dissolved. At his point, we couldn't see actual grains of sugar, but the water was still a little foggy, so we knew the sugar was still present. I also knew the sugar was still present because when I drank the water, it tasted very sweet. After that, we cut up two sugar cubes, so they could fit in the beaker. After putting on our safety googles, we turned on the Bunsen burner, and put the test tube with the sugar in it ove the flame. The sugar quickly melted, and then turend brown. Then, it turned black and started rising to the top. We removed the test tube from the flame, and then we waited for it to cool. After it was cool, the test tube was broken, and we tasted the substance inside of it. It did not taste sugary, but like the marshmallow, it tasted burnt, and ashy. I learned form this lab that the sugar wasn't there anymore because the substance had melted into carbon. These labs showed me how the physical and chemical changes occur in real life.

Pictures from:

http://psdho.me/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burning-candle-with-fire-psd-full.jpg 

http://thenaturalidea.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Vinegar-1.jpg

http://mariasmovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/homemade-marshmallow.jpg

http://www.daviddarling.info/images/Bunsen_burner.jpg

http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/k/c/sugarcubes.jpg

Seperating Mixtures Procedure

1. By looking at the cup, identify the two toothpicks and remove them.
2. By using the magnet, run it up and down the sides of the cup to remove all of the magnetic iron pieces.
3. Put the filter paper in the funnel, and the funnel in the beaker. Then put the water in the funnel, over the filter paper, and remove the funnel after the water is filtered.
4. Plug in the hot plate, and put the beaker on the hot plate. Wait for all of the water to evaporate, and then plug in the hot plate. In the beaker, all that's left should be salt.
5. In the cup, there should be a clear glass rock. Remove it, and all that's left in the cup should be sand and pebbles.

Extra Credit

        The quote: “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom” means that if you get a good education you can do almost anything. If you don't go to or don't finish school, it can really impact your future. In order to get a good well-paying job, you have to have a college or at least a high school degree. When you get older and want to go to college, you have to do well in high school and even middle school before they decide to grant your application. That's why it is important to do well in school.


The quote is by George Washington Carver.