Wild Science

Meteorolgy and Environmental Science: The Little Ice Age

2012-01-31T09:23:00.000-08:00

An excerpt form Wikipedia:

"The Little Ice Age (LIA) was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period (Medieval Climate Optimum). While not a true ice age, the term was introduced into the scientific literature by François E. Matthes in 1939. It is conventionally defined as a period extending from the 16th to the 19th centuries, though climatologists and historians working with local records no longer expect to agree on either the start or end dates of this period, which varied according to local conditions. NASA defines the term as a cold period between 1550 AD and 1850 AD and notes three particularly cold intervals: one beginning about 1650, another about 1770, and the last in 1850, each separated by intervals of slight warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes areas affected by the LIA:

"Evidence from mountain glaciers does suggest increased glaciation in a number of widely spread regions outside Europe prior to the 20th century, including Alaska, New Zealand and Patagonia. However, the timing of maximum glacial advances in these regions differs considerably, suggesting that they may represent largely independent regional climate changes, not a globally-synchronous increased glaciation. Thus current evidence does not support globally synchronous periods of anomalous cold or warmth over this time frame, and the conventional terms of "Little Ice Age" and "Medieval Warm Period" appear to have limited utility in describing trends in hemispheric or global mean temperature changes in past centuries... [Viewed] hemispherically, the "Little Ice Age" can only be considered as a modest cooling of the Northern Hemisphere during this period of less than 1°C relative to late 20th century levels."

New Evidence suggest the Little Ice Age was cause be four separate volcanic eruptions during the 13th century between 1275 AD and 1300 AD.

Read the stories here:

Little Ice Age triggered by volcanic eruptions

Four huge volcanic eruptions are to blame for the 'Little Ice Age' that cooled Earth up until the late 19th century

Meteorology: Atmosphere

2012-01-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

High Student succeed in putting a "Lego Man" into the stratoshpere, an amazing 15 miles above the surface of the earth.

Read the articles.

Watch the video.

Teens send Lego man into near space

Lego man launched into space by 2 Toronto teens

Astronomy - Video from Space

2011-11-13T18:14:00.000-08:00

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space | Fly Over | Nasa, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Environmental Science : Green Living

2011-10-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

Engineering: 3D Printing

2011-10-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

I really want one of these! If you can design it in a CAD program you can print it. 3D printer use a type of fast curing plastic, but imagine what you can build if you could if you used a metal alloy.

Environmental Science: Malaria

2011-08-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

New breakthrough could finally control the Malaria parasite. You can listen to the NPR story here.

Environmental Sciecne: The Solar Economy

2011-08-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

Solar panel maker Solyndra files for bankruptcy.

While this may seem like bad news for the Solar Power industry, it's really a coming of age. Solar power is starting to respond to real world economics. For years, solar panel were seen as to expensive to have, but that is not true any more. Market forces and new technologies have brought the prices down.

You can read about what really brought Solyndra down here: What went wrong at Solyndra?

Physics and Physical Science: LHC and the Higgs Boson

2011-08-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

Years after being predicted, scientist are still looking for the Higgs boson. Sometimes call the "God Particle", the Higgs Boson is thought to be the elementary particle that gives the property of mass to most of the other know particles in the universe. So far scientist have been unsuccessful in finding the Higgs boson and they are running out of places to look.

Read more here: BBC News: Higgs boson range narrows at European collider

Looks like we may need something bigger than the LHC - Large Hadron Collider

2011-03-15T21:29:00.000-07:00

Source Space.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Environmental Science - Toxicology and Plastic

2011-03-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

It has been long know that plastics made with a chemical call BPA (Bisphenol A) can have that chemical leach out of the plastic over time. This particular chemical can be recognized by the human body as something similar to the hormone Estrogen. Now a recent study show that even plastics made without BPA run a risk of leaching out chemicals that are similar to the human hormone Estrogen as well.

You may read and listen to the NPR story here: Study: Most Plastics Leach Hormone-Like Chemicals

Environmental Science: Iowa Flooding and Wetland

2011-01-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

Iowa's Rising Flood Risk: Blame Corn and Soybeans?
01/26/11 filed by Kate Wells
With Iowa experiencing heavier rainstorms and rising rivers each year, scientists say it's only a matter of time before the state is hit by yet another major flood. Communities are still recovering from previous disasters, like the ones that befell Cedar Rapids in 2008 and central Iowa in 2010. Environmentalists are trying to lower that risk by conserving land to slow run-off. But as market demand for corn and soybeans increases, there's little hope that conservation will win the battle for Iowa's acres. Iowa Public Radio's Kate Wells reports.

You can download and listen to the whole story here: 3 mins 45 sec Audio Clip

Environmental Science: A tale of two Seeds

2011-01-26T19:30:00.000-08:00

Genetic Modified Sugar Beets vs Organics Swiss Chard

farmers in Oregon are struggling with growing organic crops near geneticly engineered sugar beets. The sugar beet are modified with the same gene that resist Roundup herbicide. The organic Swiss Chard is grown to produce seeds that sells to growers that want organically pure produce. The problem cross pollenation.

The chard and the beets are actually the same species. They're all Beta vulgaris, the way black Labradors and golden retrievers are all dogs. So anyone growing these plants for seed has a special concern: windblown pollen.

You can read more of the story here: A Tale of Two Seed Farmers: Organic vs Engineered

You also listen to the audio story as well by following the above link to NPR: All Things Consider.

Computer Science: Cyber Warfare

2010-11-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

Putting the pieces together just so you can lose sleep tonight.

Imagine if an Enemy of the United States had the ability to alter, stop, or read the flow of information between two sites: Say between a soldier in the field and his base. This would make a great basis for a technothiller or the stuff of nightmares for the Pentagon.

Guess What!

Report sounds alarm on China's rerouting of U.S. Internet traffic

Or add on this piece...

What if you could track U.S. troops by the GPS in their smartphone or by using Facebook?

Apps that answer Miltary's needs

Hey! Why don't we just put our soldiers in Bozo the Clown outfits. I'm sure that would make them easier to find.

Environment Science: Coal Mining Accident

2010-04-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

This is the cost for our electricity.

7 dead, 19 missing in W.Va. coal mine blast

Physics: Touchpad Tracking and Capacitance

2010-03-05T05:01:00.000-08:00

How does a touchpad work? If touchpads come from just a few manufacturer, why does their performance varies widely in products such as phones and PDA. Here is a great article answering those question.

Finger Fail: Why Most Touchscreen Miss the Point

Geology/Environment Sci: Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-14T09:45:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday Haiti was struck by 7.0 magnitude earthquake. People are still being rescued from the rumble as aid workers from all over the world pour in to help the victims.

Satellite Image of Port-Au-Prince,Haiti

The image shows the aftermath of a 7.0-magnitude quake, Haiti's worst in two centuries, which struck at 1653 local time (2153 GMT) on Tuesday, just 15km (10 miles) south-west of Port-au-Prince.

Environmental Science: Texting and Driving

2009-09-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

We spent yesterday talking about risk and probability in Science. More people die on US highways each year, than the total number US soldiers killed in the middle east in the past 8 years.

What's the risk when driving and texting at the same time.

Environmental Science: High Court Case Tests Power Plants' Water Rules

2008-12-04T06:06:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Supreme Court hears an important environmental case Tuesday, testing whether utilities must use the best technology available to minimize harm to the nation's waterways. At issue is the physical impact on fish and the financial impact on companies.

Listen to the NPR Story

Environmental Science: Mountaintop Mining

2008-12-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

"The Environmental Protection agency approved Tuesday new rules that make it easier for mining companies to dump waste near rivers and streams. Environmentalists argue that dumping the rubble fouls the waters, kills fish and causes flooding in nearby communities." Listen to this story involving the Bush Administration, Mining and the Clear Water Act. Here is the NPR story.

Environmental Science: Pigs with Spinach genes

2008-11-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

Ok... Candlelight, a little wine and a lot of Barry White.....AND YOU STILL WOULD GET THIS! Japanese Scientist in a quest to make a leaner pig, have succeed in introducing a spinach gene into a pig!

Read about it here.

Scientists cross pigs with spinach

Spinach gene makes pigs healthier to eat

Astronomy: Extrasolar Planet Imaged!

2008-11-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

The first picture of a planet outside of our solar system has been released. Check out the articles.

First Directly Imaged Brown Dwarf Companion To An Exoplanet Host Star

EXOPLANETS IN SIGHT

Groups take first photos of extrasolar planets

Hubble Takes First Visible Light Image of Extrasolar Planet

Geology: Hellboy and the Golden Army

2008-11-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for this place forever! This is a geologic formation in Ireland. Stone formation similar to the ones found at Devil's Tower in Wyoming. This place was mention in Hellboy: The Golden Army. You can see more pictures and explore the site at The Giant's Causeway

Computer Science: Organic CPU

2008-08-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Ok... This is just to weird. Scientist have found a way to use rat brain tissue as the control system for a robot. Are you freaked out yet. just think when you die your kids can use your brain to power their video game: Gran Theft Auto 15.

Just read the stories.

A 'Frankenrobot' with a biological brain

Rat's 'brain' used to power robot (Watch the video!)

Rat-brain robot aids memory study (Watch the video!)

Robot with a Biological Brain: new research provides insights into how the brain works (Watch the video!)

Environmental Science: Syria's Reactor

2008-04-24T07:45:00.001-07:00

It seems Syria was building a reactor. As with any piece of modern technology, a reactor can be a two edge sword. Yes, it can produce electrical power and no greenhouse gases. However some reactors can be used to produce nuclear material that can aid in a nuclear weapons program. I guess that was a chance that Israel could allow to happen. Israel bombed the plant last fall (2007). Today the CIA take congress to school for Nuke 101: Nuclear Power and You.

You can read or listen to the related here:

U.S. Officials Tie N. Korea to Syrian Nuclear Site by Tom Gjelten
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89904753
CIA to Brief Congress on Israel's Syria Bombing
N Korea 'linked to Syria reactor'

Geology: Earthquake strikes Midwest

2008-04-18T06:53:00.001-07:00

Early morning earthquake ripples through the middle of the country

270_40 An earthquake shook a large area in the Midwest at 4:37 a.m. CT, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Seismologists say the epicenter of this magnitude 5.2 temblor was in southern Illinois, about 66 miles from Evansville, Ind.

As of right now, there are no reports of serious injuries or damage.

"It shook our house where it woke me up," David Behm of Philo, 10 miles south of Champaign, tells the Associated Press. "Windows were rattling, and you could hear it. The house was shaking inches. For people in central Illinois, this is a big deal. It's not like California."

Tremors were felt hundreds of miles away. We found reports from people who felt the quake in Kansas City, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Madison, Wis., Des Moines and near Atlanta.

Gary Patterson, a geologist at the University of Memphis, tells the Evansville Courier-Press that this is the first quake in that area since 1968. He explains why it was felt so far away: "Obviously, it depends on what the soil is where you're at, and what type of building you're in. A person jogging down the street in Kansas City didn't feel this, but a person in a 20-story building there would have felt it."

Posted from USA Today

Meteorology: Edward Lorentz Father of Chaos Theory

2008-04-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

"Edward N. Lorenz, the MIT meteorologist whose efforts to use computers to increase the precision of weather forecasts inadvertently led to the discovery of chaos theory and demonstrated that precise long-range forecasts are impossible, died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Cambridge, Mass. He was 90.

Lorenz was perhaps best known for the title of a 1972 paper, "Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?" The memorable title pithily summarized the essence of chaos theory -- that very small changes in a system can have very large and unexpected consequences."

-- Posted from the Los Angeles Times

Edward N. Lorenz, 90; scientist developed influential chaos theory

Other Obituaries

Edward N. Lorenz, a Meteorologist and a Father of Chaos Theory, Dies at 90

Edward Lorenz; Pioneer in Creation of Chaos Theory

An explanation of his work should be noted.

Chaos Theory for Beginners - An Introduction -

Play with Lorentz Attractors and Chaos theory. See how small changes in initial conditions can change the path of a process.

Lorenz Butterfly: A Demostration

The Butterfly Effect: Another Demostration

Lorentz Attractors

Dr. Lorentz's Original Paper: Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow

Environment Science: Paper or Plastic?

2008-04-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Paper or Plastic? Tried of that question? Which answer is more friendly to the planet? What if you could have a bag that is tough , long lasting and fits in your pocket? Try a "Chico Bag"! These bags are reusable, strong and colorful. They fit in your pocket or purse. They are great for shopping trips, quick errands, and even Halloween trick or treat sacks.

Environmental Sciecne: The Plastic Ocean

2008-04-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

Every year millions of pieces of plastic find there way into the ocean as trash. Some pieces are wash into the ocean from runoff, storm drains, or discarded articles on the beach. Other pieces are from trash intentionally dump by fisherman, cruise liners, cargo ships, and other ocean going vessels. The oceans' currents eventually take this plastic flotsam to the middle of the ocean forming a mass of debris that cover millions of square miles. Captain Charles Moore has made a study of these floating masses of debris and here is his story.

Trashed:
Across the Pacific Ocean, Plastics, Plastics, Everywhere

Would you like to know more? Please take the time to listen to the audio stories as well.

Navigating the Pacific's 'Garbage Patch'
Garbage Mass Is Growing in the Pacific
Floating toxic plastic garbage island twice the size of Texas
Photos of a Plastic Ocean

Environmental Science: China's One Child Policy

2008-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

Looks like China's One Child Policy is going to cause them problems in the near future.

China Demographic Crisis: Too Many Boys, Elderly by Louisa Lim

Environmental Science: Food and Fuel

2008-04-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

Land to grow food now competes with land to grow bio-fuels(ethanol).

Fuel, Food Demand Raise Corn, Soybean Prices by Lynn Neary

Aid Groups Target Poor Nations as Food Prices Soar by Michele Kelemen

Physics: Optics Stereographic Images

2008-04-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

In our discussion of parallax I mention that stereographic images produce a 3D effect when viewed with a Stereographic viewer like a Viewmaster. However a similar effect can be done using an animated gif File and a computer.

Stereo Images: Time for Space Wiggle

Physics: Head Tracking, Optics, and Computer Science

2008-04-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is just so cool I had to post it.

Head Tracking on the Wii.

Not to be out done here is a head tracking clip done on a PS3 running Linux

Environmental Sciecne: What's really in your Water?

2008-04-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

It seems that all the drugs we are taking are making their way into the water supply of the planet. The water pollution control systems just don't handle drugs, hormones and chemicals we put in to our bodies and Flush down the toilet. Everything ends up in the water. Guys if you are feeling less virile and ladies if everyone seems to be more feminine, maybe it's not just you. Could it be something in the water?

Want to learn More?

Is Fatherhood In Peril?

Estrogen-Related Hormone Found In SF Drinking Water

Study: Antibiotics, Anti-Depressants, Estrogen In Drinking Water

I'll Have the Water With Estrogen, Please.

Just a Reminder!

2008-03-31T05:36:00.001-07:00

Remember: I'll be out of town on Monday March 31st and Tuesday April 1st. So, No Class! Yippie!

Homework Deadline Revised!

2008-03-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

ALL HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK IS DUE ON FRIDAY BY NOON

Environmental Sciecne: Driving Green

2008-02-21T07:10:00.000-08:00

How much is your carbon footprint as you drive?
Calculate Your Impact

Environmental Science: How Much Carbon is in Your Food

2008-02-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

NPR's Fresh Air had a wonderful story about the greenhouse gas cost of raising food. Is it more environmentally friendly to buy apples from Washington State or apples from New Zealand?

You might want to give the piece a listen:Michael Specter: Count Carbon Along With Calories

Environment Science: Put a Monkey in Your Coffee

2008-02-19T17:56:00.001-08:00

Yes, It's true! There is a coffee made from the beans dug out of the excrement of monkeys.

The World's Most Expensive Coffee is From Beans Cycled Through an Indonesian Monkey's Digestive System-Truth!

Environmental Science: Food Cost Rising

2008-02-12T08:38:00.001-08:00

More people around the world are eating meat than ever before. That coupled with raising fuel cost and the demand for ethanol are just some of the factor increasing your grocery bill.

Food Prices Surging, Raising Hunger Concerns

On Point: The Soaring Price of Food

Muscatine Community College Closed! 2/6/2008

2008-02-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

Axel and Roxas Comic: Snow Day by *Silverookami on deviant ART

WOOOHOOO! Snow Day! The College is closed today! We will see you on Thursday. Thursday and Friday Exams are still on! Use the day to study. :)

Meteorology: Killer Tornadoes

2008-02-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

Killer Tornadoes ripped through the Southern United States leaving many homeless and some dead.

Tornadoes sweep U.S. south, at least 26 dead

Tornadoes tear across Southern states, killing at least 27

Environmental Science: China's One Child Policy Riots

2008-02-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Is everyone happy with only one child?

Chinese villagers riot over one-child policy

Meteorology Schedule Upated!

2008-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

I'm just batting a 1000 here!

Please take the time to download and read the new Schedule for Meteorology Spring 2008: MET Spring 2008 Schedule(pdf)

Why some humans should not breed.

2008-02-01T09:35:00.001-08:00

Yes, that is a power strip floating on two sandals.

Questions?

What are you cooking that is so important that you need an electric grill in the middle of a pool?

How much beer do you need to drink, so this seems like a good idea?

Sustainable Investing

2008-01-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

Feel the power of Exponential Growth.

What would happen if you could save $1000 every year for 40 years at 2%. After 40 year and no withdraws you would have $62,000. What if you could do $2000 at 8% for 40 years? How does $600,000 sound to you?

Check out the numbers...

Investing.pdf

Environmental Sciecne: Updated Schedule

2008-01-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

Please take the time to download and print the new Environmetal Science Schedule for this spring.

Environmental Science Schedule Spring 2008

Welcome Back Spring 2008

2008-01-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

Environmental Science - Cloning

2008-01-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

Would you eat a Cloned cow hamburger?

The FDA says it's safe.

F.D.A. Says Food From Cloned Animals Is Safe

A Bedtime Story

2007-10-02T09:28:00.001-07:00

An Adult Nightmare: New York City will vanish in a pillar of nuclear fire within four years.

All the pieces are in place, if you choose to pay attention. The biggest hurdle was cleared by Iran just last month when they announce that Iranian scientist have succeeded in producing a “small” amount of enriched uranium. This is “THE” big step to creating a nuclear weapon. It’s not the engineering, the cost, the time, the effort, or the will. Getting the Uranium is the battle. First let get a crash course in Modern Physics 101.

Uranium is a naturally occurring element that comes in several different isotopes (flavors, if you will). Chemical they are all the same, but some have more neutrons in the center of the atoms than others. The two isotopes we are most concerned with are Uranium 235 (U-235) and Uranium 238 (U-238). For every thousand uranium atoms only seven of are U-235, so only about 0.7% of naturally occurring uranium atoms can be used for fission. Since theses two types atoms are chemical the same, you have to find a way of physical separate them. U-238 is slightly heavier than U-235. So you can separate the flavors of atom physically by weight (mass). In the past, this would take a lot of work. (It took the United State over two years scrap enough U-235 together for the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.) This is no longer the case due to a very clever scientist named Gernot Zippe. He came up with the bright idea to take Uranium and convert it into a gaseous from, Uranium Hexafluoride, then sort the uranium by weight. This is what a gas centrifuge does. By spinning the uranium gas, the lighter U-235 can be separated from it’s non-fissionable sister U-238. The act of concentrating fissionable nuclear material is called enrichment.

Most light water reactor require 5% of the uranium in a fuel pellet to be U-235, that is called enriched uranium. There are some other types of reactors that need the concentration of Uranium 235 to be as high as 20 percent and weapons grade uranium is 90 percent U-235. Gathering the material is the hard part, building a atomic weapon is trivial, especially if you don’t have to put it in a plane or in the nose cone of a missile.

The simplest atomic weapon is a gun type bomb, sillier to the device use at the end of the Second World War. Basically, you take two large pieces of Uranium 235 and smash them together. One piece is the target. The other piece is the “bullet”. You can smash the “bullet” into the target by using high explosives. What makes this design so dangerous is how simple it is. The whole weapon would fit very nicely into a standard shipping container. Even if you completely mess up the design the explosives will scatter the uranium all over the place contaminating hundreds of square city blocks. If the device works the death toll could be in the hundred of thousands if not millions.

I’m not saying Iran, Iraq, or any other nation would be stupid enough to destroy a major city. However, having a less than stable nation producing large quantities of uranium 235 without very tight regulation and safe guards would be a very bad idea.

Building a weapon is no problem. Getting it in a shipping container is just a matter of bribing a bored, greedy longshoreman. Just tell him it x-rated DVD’s and he’ll let it right through. Just take the example of the Chinese foreign nationals who smuggled themselves into Seattle. This certainly put a new spin on a foreign company trying to get a contract to run some of the United States largest shipping ports.

Maybe I’m just paranoid.

One thing I forgot to mention is how useful Uranium 238 can be. Normally, U-238 is not fissionable. However, that does not make it worthless. A quick look at any periodic table will tell you that all the elements listed after Uranium are artificial, in other words there are created in a breeder reactor or particle accelerator. These transuranium elements all start with a base of Uranium. By bombarding a target Uranium atom with neutrons or alpha particles you make the all the elements heavier than Uranium. All of theses elements are highly radioactive and some or so unstable they only exist for fractions of a second before decaying into something more stable. However, there are some useful products gained from this process. The most useful of theses transuranic element is fissionable Plutonium. A breeder reactor converts Uranium (or Thorium) into Plutonium. Plutonium can be used in reactors for power, or for making nuclear weapons. (Aside: The second atomic weapon used by the United States in World War II was a plutonium device, the infamous “Fat Man”.) What makes Uranium-238 so useful is the fact it can be used in a breeder reactor to make Plutonium.

Have a nice day. Please continue consuming the caffeinated beverage of your choice.

Environmental Sciecne: Cool Business in Japan

2007-10-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Japan has found a way to dramatically cut their Carbon Dioxide greenhouse gas emissions. They have turn off the air conditioning in the workplace and encouraged their workers to dress down, giving up the "salaryman" business suit.

Read and listen the the NPR story

Japan Trades in Suits, Cuts Carbon Emissions

Environmental Sciecne: Could you live as a Freegan?

2007-09-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Freeganism
From Wikipedia

Freeganism is an anticonsumerism lifestyle where people employ alternative strategies for living based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed." The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters that have passed their expiration date, but are still edible and nutritious. They salvage the food not because they are poor or homeless, but as a political statement.

Many freegans get free food by pulling it out of the trash, a practice commonly nicknamed dumpster diving in North America or skipping in the UK. Freegans find food in the garbage of restaurants, grocery stores, and other food-related industries, and this allows them to avoid spending money on products that they claim exploit the world's resources, contribute to urban sprawl, treat workers unfairly, or disregard animal rights. By foraging, they believe that they are preventing edible food from adding to landfills and sometimes feed people and animals who might otherwise go hungry.

Instead of buying industrially grown foods, wild foragers find and harvest food and medicinal plants growing in their own communities. Some freegans participate in "Guerrilla" or "Community" Gardens, with the stated aim of rebuilding community and reclaiming the capacity to grow one's own food. They claim to seek an alternative to dependence and participation in what they perceive as an exploitative and ecologically destructive system of global, industrialized corporate food production.

Articles on Freegans

Freegan Ride: One month as a Freegan

Diving for Dinner

Not Buying It

Freegan Links

Freegan.Info

Feeding the hungry

Second Harvest

Environmental Science: China's Population

2007-09-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

What is the current population of China? Check out the China Population Clock!

What about India? India's Population clock

Environmental Sciecne: Sustainability

2007-09-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Consumer Consequences - Are you living a sustainable life? (Play the Game)

What would the Earth be like if everyone lived like you. Depending on your choices how many Earths would it take to sustain your lifestyle.

2007-09-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the PDF (adobe Acrobat) File Why Do Humans have Sex?

Mutations and Four Leaf Clovers

2007-09-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

It turns out 1 clover in 10,000 is a Four-Leaf Clover. This is sometimes called a somatic mutation, a mutation that cannot be passed on to it's descendants. Whether this mutations is from radiation or environment is still debated today.

Other Mutations of Notes

Extra Nipples
Extra Fingers
Sickle Cell
Cystic Fibrosis
Tay-Sachs

Kobe Beef

2007-09-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

So what make Kobe Beef so expensive? Maybe it's all that beer the Japanese feed the cow or maybe it's that daily massage?

Kobe Beef: Prime stock gets beer and massage

NIKON Small World Competitions

2007-09-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hey! Look it's a mouse Colon! Winners for the 2007 Nikon Small World Competition will soon be announced!
2005 Nikon Small World Winners

2006 Nikon Small World Winners

Environmental Science: Eating the Land

2007-09-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

Depending on what the cow eat the taste of the cheese can vary a great deal. The changing climate around the worlds has altered many of the plants farm animals graze upon. Their changing diet alter the taste of the milk they give and the meat of the animals themselves.

Listen to the NPR story: Cheesemakers Taste a Change in the Weather.

Good Bye Baiji Dolphin

2007-08-29T08:49:00.001-07:00

Once again another species has been kicked off the planet. The Baiji Dolphin of China has fallen prey to habitat extinction in the Yangtze River. Damming and overfishing of the river has ruined the once pristine river, thus destroying the only home the dolphin has.

Requiem for a Freshwater Dolphin

Coal Mining

2007-08-11T21:27:00.000-07:00

Current state Mining in the World form Wikipedia

Mining Accident

Comparing Mining in the U.S. , China and the world.

Listen to the NPR news item

Gliese 581c

2007-05-06T18:25:00.000-07:00

Scientist have found the most Earth-like planet to date.

Gliese 581 c

This is an artist rendition of Gliese 581 c taken from Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Darfur is Dying

2006-05-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

Read the news: Darfur

Play the game: Darfur is Dying

Maybe you will understand what is going on in the world.

Environmental Sciecne: Where will your computer end up?

2006-05-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

What happens to your computer when you throw it out?

GOTTA GET GREEN in the March 2006 of CPU (Computer Power User).

Sigourney Weaver urges Women into Science

2006-05-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

And it's About time too!

Read it here: Sigourney Weaver urges women to study science

FYI: Did you know that the EICCD's current enrollement is 60%. In some college across the United States this number is closer too 75%. Even with these numbers women are underrepresented in most science, math and technology classes.

Tornado Iowa City

2006-04-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

Use the posted images and the Fujita scale given in class to determine rating for the tornado that hit Iowa City, Iowa.

Salaries For 2005

2006-04-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

What is the starting salary for a college graduate with a 4 year degree?

Astronomy: Earth Crossing Asteriods

2006-03-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

An animation of asteriods tracks crossing the Earth's orbit. Yes, we could all die and any time. Have a nice day.

Earth Crossing Asteriod movie

Astronomy: Titan Images

2006-03-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Multiple Titan Image from JPL

Environmental Sciecne: Nuclear Waste Leak

2006-02-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

An NPR story on the a leak at a local Nuclear Power Plant.

Nuclear Story

Environmental Sciecne: Global Warming

2006-02-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Another straw in the Global Warming Debate:

Greenland's Icesheet

Environmental Sciecne: Mudslide

2006-02-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

Philippine Mudslide

CNN: Mudslide Story

One example of the violent world we live in.

Physics: How many transistors on a CPU

2006-02-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

As mention in class:

The current AMD dual-core Athlon Processor has 154-233 Million transistor. An Intel Pentium D has 230 million transistors.

In the early 90's the pentium III had 100,000 - 10 million transistors.

In the early 80's the Intel 8086 had 5000-100,000 transistors.

Sources:

AMD

History of Computers

Environmental Sciecne: China's One Child Policy Protest

2006-02-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

China's has always had a problem with the "One Child" program in the rural countryside. It seems someone is taking thing to the extreme.

NPR: Activist Protest

Listen to the audio clip.

Astronomy: Apollo Mission - Hammer and Feather Drop

2006-02-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in class, he is David Scott doing Galileo's gravity experiment on the Moon.

Watch the Movie Clip 8 MB

This clip may take awhile to load.

College Physics Homwork

2006-02-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

Chp.16: 1,4,5,8,12,13,17,22,26,30,31,33,34,35,40,57, and 59

Chp.17: 3,4,10,11,14,16,31,32, and 48

Physics Homework

2006-01-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

Engineering Physics Homework:

Chp. 23: 1,2,6,7,10,15,18,20,22,25,26,30,35,40,43, and 54.

College Physics Homework:

Chp. 15: 1,6,7,8,13,15,17,24,27,28,30,41,42, and 50.

Friday's Lab:

Electric Fields(Internet) Located on the lab manual website.

Environmental Science: Saving the Giant Catfish

2005-12-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

You have got to see this fish!

The Search for the Giant Catfish

Please select the audio link as well.

Environmental Science: Honor Killings

2005-12-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

After talking about Western and Non-Western Culture relating to environmental and social issues, I submit this link: Honor Killings

Please click on the audio link as well.

Environmental Science: Invasive Species

2005-11-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

The Tamarisk (Salt Cedar) is an invasive plant from the Eurasian plains. It is current playing havoc in the Western United States.

NPR Audio Story: Tamarisk Taking Over Western States

Other Links:

Exotic Tamarisk on the Colorado Plateau

Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas

Invasive Species Info.gov

Environmental Science: Seattle and Greenhouse Gases

2005-11-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

As mention in class, Seattle is try to control it's greenhouse gas emission.

NPR STORY: Seattle Tackles Greenhouse Gases

Click on the Audio Link.

Engineering and College Physics: Starting Salaries

2005-11-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Today I got off on a rant about strating salaries and the need for hard work in the sciences. After some digging I found sevral sites with current starting salaries based on degreee and major. Some even have good advice on what to expect during your job intereview.

Starting Salaries Expectations

Lucrative Salaries

Class of 2004 Starting Salaries

This last link is a pdf file and has information about chemistry majors. It even contains information on starting salaries based on grades.

Engineering and College Physics: House on the Rock

2005-11-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

I mention House on the rock as an example of a cantilever structure. The picture is the Infinity room at House on the Rock. The house itself is interesting, but the whole complex can be quite the tourist trap. Go once in your life, spend a day, then flee. (The tour continues.... Trust me if you go to House on the Rock. Those three words are a slice of hell and a year later they are hysterically funny.)

Environmental Science: Clean Water For EL Salvador

2005-11-01T05:28:00.000-08:00

Contaminated water kills thousands of Salvadorans every year. Most are children.

You may read the whole story at NPR.org.

Environmental Science: Where is The Water Treatment Plant

2005-11-01T05:18:00.000-08:00

Remember November 3rd is our tour of the Water Pollution Control Plant.

Where is it. Here is a Map.

You can find Direction from the college to the plant here: Directions

General Science - 8th Grade Math

2005-10-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Environmental Science: Bioengineering

2005-10-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in class: A mouse with a Human ear "growing" on it's back.
The following is text from an email explaining this image.

Forwarded-by: bostic@bsdi.com (Keith Bostic)
Forwarded-by: Todd Kover

BOSTON (AP) -- It sounds like something from a carnival side
show: ``The Mouse With A Human Ear On Its Back.'' But it's real.
It's alive.
That mouse, and others of its kind, are at the leading edge of a
science known as tissue engineering, which allows laboratories to
grow skin and cartilage for transplant in humans.
The mouse in question, in the laboratory of University of
Massachusetts anesthesiologist Dr. Charles Vacanti, is helping
researchers refine the technology that someday will allow them to
regrow ears and noses for people.
Linda Griffith-Cima, an assistant professor of chemical
engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology who helped
Vacanti grow the first ears on mice, said she did it at the request
of a plastic surgeon from Children's Hospital, Dr. Joe Upton.
``He said, `I see these kids who are born without ears. And I
have boys who come in whose ears have been chewed off in playground
fights, and I can't sew them back on because they're so chewed
up,''' Griffith-Cima said.
So she set about creating an ear-like scaffolding of porous,
biodegradable polyester fabric. Then she and Vacanti distributed
human cartilage cells throughout the form, and implanted the
prototype ear on the back of a hairless mouse.
The mouse, specially bred to lack an immune system that might
reject the human tissue, nourished the ear as the cartilage cells
grew to replace the fiber. The mouse remains healthy and alive
after the ear is removed, the researchers said.
``You end up with a piece of cartilage in the shape of an ear,''
Griffith-Cima said.
Griffith-Cima's and Vacanti's research follows in the footsteps
of Vacanti's older brother, Dr. Joseph Vacanti, a surgeon who does
liver transplants at Children's Hospital, and his close friend Dr.
Robert Langer, professor of chemical engineering at MIT.
Twelve years ago, when Joseph Vacanti became head of the
hospital's transplant program, he started searching for ways to
grow new liver tissue in sick children instead of waiting for donor
organs. Too many of his patients died before they could get
transplants.
Now Joseph Vacanti can implant a polymer scaffolding in a
diseased rat's liver and transplant new liver cells. The new liver
will grow and function for up to six weeks, he said.
Langer, the Vicantis and other scientists now have managed to
grow liver, skin, cartilage, bone, ureters, heart valves, tendons,
intestines, blood vessels, and breast tissue on such polymers,
Langer said.
Although no such tissue products have yet become available to
the public, skin products are in the advanced stages of clinical
testing on humans, and heart valves are in the early phase of
clinical trials.
Someday, ears and noses will be grown in a test tube using the
patient's own cells on a custom-designed scaffold. Other tissues
will be grown from donated cells on polymer devices placed in the
patient's body.
``Some tissues, like cartilage, we can grow all the way to
perfect tissue before putting it in,'' Joseph Vacanti said. ``In
other tissues, we only grow it for a short time, then we implant it
and the body takes over.''
Dr. Michael Miller, an associate professor of plastic surgery at
the University of Texas' Anderson Cancer Center, said the
technology is promising.
``In fact, I think the next major advances to come in the field
of reconstructive surgery are going to be due to tissue
engineering,'' said Miller, who is working with Rice University
scientists trying to grow bone tissues in shapes that are useful
for plastic surgery.
The chemical engineers say their job now is to create better
polymers. It's one thing to grow cartilage that holds a shape for
cosmetic surgery, another to grow cartilage that could mend a
shattered knee, Griffith-Cima said.
Dr. Peter Theran, director of laboratory animal welfare for the
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
said he had not reviewed the Vacantis' research, but was not
opposed to it.
``Generally speaking, we support the use of tissue culture work
because often it means using fewer live animals'' than other
procedures, such as transplanting animal organs into humans.

Environmental Science: Water Treatment Plant Tours

2005-10-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

The tours for the Water pollution Control Plant are set. Mark your calender: Thursday NOV. 3.

Tues-Thurs Classes: 9:30 AM Nov. 3
MWF Classes: 1:00 PM Nov. 3

Car pool and meet at the site!

Environmental Science: Exploding Snake!

2005-10-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

The question is: "How does a Burmese Python get in the Florida Everglades?"

Environmental Science - Bears

2005-10-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

I mention Timothy Treadwell in class as the freelance bear reseacher and watcher that was later killed by a bear.

His film and story are here : Grizzly Man

Geology - Pyroclastic Flow

2005-09-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

I promised you movies of Pyroclastic Flow. Here they are.

Movie 1 - Mount Pinatubo by M. T. Dolan

Movie 2 -Tar River Valley

Movie 3 - Alantic Ocean

Other Pyroclastic flow sites

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/hazards/primer/pyro.html

Granular Volcano Group

USGS - Mt. St. Helens

Environmental Science - The Miller and Urey Experiment

2005-09-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here is an image from a Miller and Urey Experiment. Notice the discoloring in the main vessel.

Physics: The Atomic Cannon

2005-09-09T08:09:00.001-07:00

As mentioned in class the U.S. built a artillery cannon capable of firing nuclaer shells. Pretty Cool. Check out the movies too!

Atomic Cannon

Physics: Projectile Motion and the HARP Project

2005-09-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

Details on the HARP GUN and the life of Dr. Gerald Bull.

Another HARP GUN Link is here: The HARP Project

Geology: Diamond Mining

2005-08-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in class there is a place in Arkansas that let you hunt for diamonds. The best part is you can keep whatever you find!

CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK

WELCOME BACK!

2005-08-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

Nice to see you again MCC students.

Just a Reminder: Labs start next week. That's the week of the 29th of August.

Spring 2005 Final Exam Schedule

2005-04-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Her is the Final Exam Schedule for my science classes.

College Physics 10 AM Monday May 16
Astronomy NOON Monday May 16
Environmental Science 8 AM Tuesday May 17
Meteorology 8 AM Wednesday May 18
Engineering Physics NOON Wednesday May 18

Remember Your Note Sheet(8-1/2 by 11), Calculator, #2 Pencil and Your Brian!

Biology and Anthropology: Human Evolution

2005-03-29T07:12:00.000-08:00

I often mention the ancestor of Man in class. Here is a link to an activity on human evolution.

Human Evolution Activity

Environmental Science: Evolution and Extinction

2005-03-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a little game I came across that provides a good demonstration of species adapting to changing in the environment.

NOVA ONLINE Game: Evolution in Action

Environmental Science: ANWR OIL Drilling

2005-03-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

Let the Drilling Begin!

Congress OKs ANWR

It will probably take 10 years before the oil starts flowing. The ANWR oil fields are expected to generate 1 million barrels of oil a day. Hardly a dent in the world demand. Most of the oil will probably be exported for a higher price if the U.S. dollar stays weak.

Here is a timeline leading up to the vote today. ANWR TIMELINE

Just in time too, because Oil Price just hit a record high today at $55+ per barrel. OPEC met today to vote on increasing oil production, but it is in doubt whether or not that will help lower oil prices. Even, ANWR will probably not help with that because of record demand. Can you say get use to $2/gallon gasoline.

OIL Demand outpaces supply!

Environmental Science: Green and Mean SUVs

2005-02-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) rated cars, SUVs and other vechiles this year for Environmentally Friendly Green Vechiles. The Ford Escape Hybrid gets high marks, while the Ford Excursion gets spankings.

You can read the findings in Money magzine: Ford SUVs 'Green' and 'Mean'