So here we are......the last final day of learning in high school. Our finals are tomorrow and lets face it.........none of us have studied yet. Well maybe, a couple but in general we haven't even thought about it yet. This class has been a long but fun class at times. So lets go back in time and talk about what happened throughout the year.
So our first day I remember I was totally excited to start physics because I had heard so many great things about the class. I thought it would be pretty cool when we started talking about all of the labs we would be doing. Woohoo.....Well we did do a whole crap load of labs and most were pretty enjoyable but I didn't enjoy the lab write ups all the time. I mean they weren't hard it just got to be a hassle to do them. Then came the videos by the dude that wrote our physics book that we no longer use because it is like ninety years old. HAHAHAHA.
We watched those movies which honestly made me start to enjoy physics alot better. He was funny and he spoke in simple terms and made things seem easier. Then we started to go into the computer lab. GULL........
I'm not going to lie at first I had no clue how to do any of these blog things let alone set up my own account. I'm how do you say a little computer illiterate:) Yeah so we began to post each week on different topics and it was pretty fun. I actually enjoyed this part of class because I learned about alot of interesting things and some things that I probably wouldn't of even looked at or wasted time on if it wasn't for this class. I mean don't get me wrong, there is always things that need to be fixed to make something better but it was a good project. Maybe if we didn't do it every week it would have been better. Like maybe one week of the book and then blogs and so on and so forth. We had a lot of problems in the classroom relationship wise....................yeah. We all know who it consisted of and it was sometimes hard to focus when there were problems and misunderstandings with everyone.
I overall enjoyed the class and actually want to join a group that helps animals and the environment because the post I did on endangered species. I honestly hope everyone had a blast and I'm going to miss everyone lots.....never loose touch. I love you guys, Yeah CLASS OF 2008 kicks rump!!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Endangered Species
So many animals are becoming extinct today. Its seriously ridiculous!! However there are many groups trying to help save and decrease the amount of animals going into extinction. After reading this I hope you will think twice about what you do or what you buy; you never know when you could of just killed an animal because of the shirt your wearing...
The White rhinoceros is one of the largest Northern subspecies ever to be described by scientists. This subspecies was classified in 1908. Today, it is very close to extinction in the wild, and few have ever been brought into captivity. The first captive White rhinos were received at the Antwerp Zoo, Belgium, in 1950. However, while they grew to maturity, these animals never bred. They have only bred at the Vychodoc'eska Zoo at Dvur Kralove in Czechoslovakia. The first southern white rhino that was ever born in captivity was born at Pretoria on June 8,1967. The most successful breeding of the White rhino in captivity has occurred in the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Seventy-five white Rhinos have been born as of 1988. The white rhino is slightly larger than the black rhino with a larger head and body. They can weigh up to two tons and have a maximum age of up to fifty years. The horns of the rhino are the exact same substance as fingernails (keratin). The rhino is quite active and swift and can reach speeds of up to thirty m.p.h. This animal is surprisingly agile for its large size and can make sharp turns as it runs. With a very acute sense of smell, it plays a large role in their social life. Mothers can identify their children or members of a particular "home-range". Their sense of smell also helps identify the territory of others. The female rhinoceros has a gestation period of fifteen-sixteen months, in which only one calf is born.
Leopards are mainly found over nearly the whole of Africa, south of the Sahara, northeast and Asia. They are well known for their dark spots arranged in rosettes over much of their body without the central spot as found in jaguars. Besides being known for their spots, they are also known for running very fast with up to speeds of about one hundred kilometres per hour. They also have the agility to climb trees as well as swim. Their diet consist of antelope, wild pigs, monkeys, porcupines, birds and domestic livestock. They favour dogs as a meal. If they are unable to lure a dog out of the village, leopards are known to go right into the village to get the dog they want. They frequently store the remains of their kill up on trees for protection among the branches while they eat or rest. In the past, leopards were considered a nuisance to cattle and were frequently shot or hunted. But as man destroyed their habitat for cattle, farming and other human activities, the leopards had no where to survive and their prey decreased due to immigration and lack of food. Therefore leopards had no choice but to kill cattle and domestic livestock. As a result, man killed them to protect their livestock. This caused the leopards to decrease drastically. Besides that, the leopards were poached illegally for their valuable skin and body parts. In the 1980s and 1990s, the demand for their skins increased sharply due the furs’ popularity in fashion.
Gazelles are found in Africa and in Mongolia in Asia. They usually live in open plains and deserts. They are founds in herds of five to ten, but herds up to several hundred are found. Gazelles are known for their graceful movements and alertness. Their colour consists of a shade of brown with white underparts and a horizontal black band running along each side of their body. Most species have horns on both of the sexes, with the horns often lyre-shaped. They run with a skip and have an amazing swiftness. Gazelles are herbivores meaning they only eat plants. They forage among shrubs and short trees leaves. They are often hunted by other animals as a source of food. They use their swiftness to escape. These graceful animals are endangered due the poaching for their skins and horns. Their habitats are also being destroyed by human development such as farming and cattling. Conservation efforts such as making their habitat area an enclosure for them and banning illegal poaching has helped a bit in their increase.
An estimated seven hundred Giant Pandas are left in the world today, living in the high mountains in coniferous forests and bamboo thickets in central China. Since 1979 the San Diego Zoological Society has been working with Chinese zoos to spread the conservation message about the Chinese Giant Pandas. Before the Giant Pandas were exported as State gifts, but now they are "loaned" as "conservation Pandas." For example, two pandas visited for two hundred days in 1987 and 1988 at the San Diego Zoo and over two million people came and visited and enjoyed the Giant Pandas. The Giant Pandas primary food source is bamboo. They eat it almost twelve hours a day and for the rest of the day they sleep. In the course of a year they eat almost 10,000 pounds of bamboo. However the giant panda routinely eats birds, snakes and bamboo rats. Giant Pandas live up to an age of 15 years in captivity and when one gives birth only one baby is born.
Once flourishing in the forests of Asia, there are now fewer than five thousand tigers left in the world. Already the Caspian and Malinese tigers are extinct. However, there finally is a law that bans hunting of tigers everywhere. Unfortunately there is even a greater threat to them which they face, a far greater threat than hunters. Thousands of tigers have been killed in the last 50 years because their habitat has been destroyed by bulldozers and chainsaws. Already more than 80 per cent of India's forests have been destroyed. Still more forests are being cut down in order to sell firewood and lumber, plus to clear the land for farming. Despite all of the hardships and disasters that this animal has endured, the tiger population has actually risen over the last ten years. This has only been possible through strict laws protecting these magnificent animals and wilderness preserves around the world. However, this is just a small step in saving the tigers. New preserves must be added, but finding these preserves will not be easy. There must be enough water, prey, and plants for their prey to feed on. The people living near the tigers must manage and control the commercial use of the lands natural resources.
Tapirs are found in small groups in the tropical rain forests of Malaysia and Central America. They are short-legged and heavy-bodied with small eyes, rounded ears and small trunks protruding over their mouths. Their body hair are often short and usually sparse. The main source of food is grass and shrubs as well as certain roots. The central American tapirs are plain grey or brown in colour, but the Malaysian tapirs have a distinct black and white pattern. The heads, shoulders and legs are black while the rumps, backs and bellies are white. The young are completely different from their parents, with a dark brown colour and streaked as well as spotted with yellowish white. Tapirs are shy and often travel near water. When they are disturbed, they will crash wildly through the undergrowth and hide in the water. Tapirs are easy prey as they do not run fast and do not have special defences, therefore easily become victims to carnivorous animals and hunters. Their habitat, the rain forests are also depleting quickly destroyed by human activities, leading even more to their decline.
The bird of paradise is noted for its vibrant colours and bizarre shapes of the male birds’ plumage during the mating season. They are found in the New Guinea highlands and islands and some are also found in Australia. The males' colourful plumage is used to attract females during their breeding season. The females are dull brown with scattered brown specks. Courting males will strut around on a chosen perch or a cleared spacing on the forest floor for hours, showing off their magnificent feathers of different shapes and sizes. After mating, the females will go off and make a nest on their own, taking care of the young unaided. Some birds of paradise have extra long tail and flank feathers trailing behind as they fly while some are adorned with colourful feathers around the neck which can be erected to form ruffs. Naturally, when explorers from other countries came to the land, the brightly coloured birds caught their attention. A few were brought back to their homeland and the Bird of Paradise feathers soon became a fashion statement. By the nineteenth century, popular demand of the feathers had made the number of birds decline rapidly and almost caused extinction. Fortunately, conservation efforts managed to save the species before they were wiped out but the number of surviving birds are still small even today due to illegal poaching in their habitat.
Leatherback Turtles are found in most warm seas, often migrating from one continent to another. They are the largest of all turtles, sometimes weighing more than 1500 pounds. Their shells are covered by a thick layer of smooth leathery skin, instead of scales. Unlike other turtles, their ribs and backbones are not joined to the shell. These turtles have huge strong front flippers which can propel them in the water at high speeds. Leatherback Turtles have a very unique way of laying their eggs. From August to September, female turtles travel vast distances just to lay their eggs on the exact spot where they had laid their eggs previously. Without fail, their homing instincts are always right and rarely do they lose their way to their nesting site. As soon as they reach the shore, they will not rest until they have arrived at their nesting grounds. By using their giant flippers, they heave themselves up towards the spot and dig a deep hole in the sand. In this hole, they will lay about 100 to 200 soft rubbery eggs at one time. While they are laying the eggs, they will start shedding tears to excrete the excess salt from their bodies while swimming in the sea water. Once they are finished, the turtles will cover up the hole with sand and return to the sea, only coming next year to the same spot to dig another hole to lay eggs. The heat of the sun will warm the eggs and after a period of time, the hatchlings will climb out of the sand and crawl towards the sea. Even though many turtles are hatched, many do not survive the first few weeks of their lives. There are many predators such as seagulls who prey on the young turtles. The baby turtle's hard shell has not yet formed and has no hardened defence against the attackers. Some turtles are caught in fishermen's nets and left out to die. Other turtles are caught between the wastes man created such as plastic bags and eventually die of suffocation and strangulation. To make matters worse, Leatherback Turtles are hunted for their ornamental shell while their eggs are considered delicacies. Illegal gathering for eggs to be sold in markets also helps in the decline of these turtles. The coming ashore of the Leatherback Turtles to lay their eggs have become quite a spectacle and have drawn large crowds to witness this event. Unfortunately, the crowds created a large amount of noise and drove many turtles away. They also made campfires which scared them away.In order to protect them, the Malaysian government has declared it as a protected animal. Various rules and regulations have been made and huge fines imposed on those who break the law.
The Japanese Ibis has a white body with a red face. They often wade in shallow lagoons, bays and marshes. They use their long slightly curved bills to pick up any small fish and soft molluscs while wading. While they fly, their neck and legs are stretched out. They fly by alternately flapping and sailing through the air. Their nests are of compact size made out of sticks found in the branches of trees or bushes. These birds are considered to be on the verge of extinction and the Japanese government has build different programmes to increase the species such as breeding them in captivity. The Japanese Ibis is endangered due to the excessive hunting of the birds and the destruction of their habitat by man. They also face food problems as more of their feeding land is used up for human activities.
Polar Bears are found throughout the arctic region, often covering hundreds of miles in their range. They have heavy white fur which camouflage them against the white landscape in which they live in. Despite their size, they are extremely fast runners and wide-ranging travellers. They are also expert swimmers, with their thick layer of fur and fat insulating them against the extreme cold of their climate. They have hairy soles on their broad feet to protect them and insulate them from the cold, as well as help them move across the snow swiftly. Their diet consists of fish, seal, caribou, birds, seaweed, grass and an occasional whale which strayed too far from its course. Polar Bears are usually shy but they are known to be dangerous when attacked or confronted. They give birth to one to four cubs at a time in the winter and the cubs stay with their mother for up to three years. Polar Bears are endangered due to the man's excessive hunting for their priceless hide, tendons, meat, fat and flesh. Their numbers dwindled from several hundred thousands to a few hundred in a few years time. In efforts to protect Polar Bears, an international agreement was set up in 1973 whereby only traditional weapons were allowed to be used in the hunting of the Polar Bears.
Musk Oxen are roaming in parts of Europe, northern Canada and Greenland. They are stocky with large heads, short necks and legs. They are extremely huge in size with a bull weighing up to about 880 pounds. Both male and female have horns which can reach up to 2 feet as found in old males. They have long shaggy brown hair that cover the whole body that reach nearly up to their feet and conceal a short tail. Their face is further covered by short hair. Underneath their shaggy hair, they have a thick layer of wool which they shed during the summer. This wool will be collected by the Eskimos to be made into fine cloth, resembling cashmere. Musk Oxen travel in herds of 20 to 30. When attacked, the adults will form a circle with the young safe inside. The adults will face the outside and use their sharp horns as weapons against their enemy. The predator attacks young oxen who stray too far from their herd when they attack.Musk Oxen have become endangered due to the excessive hunting by man for food and sport. Their habitat also have been destroyed by human activities.
Koalas are found in the coastal regions of Eastern Australia. It is a marsupial mammal that gives birth to underdeveloped young and the young are carried around in their mother's pouch. Koalas have strong clawed feet and are able to grip the branches firmly. They are extremely fussy eaters and only feed very selectively on eucalyptus leaves. To aid in the digestion of these leaves, Koalas have a long caecum and extra long intestines. Koalas have only one young at a time and their young remains in their mother's pouch for up to 7 months. When it is 1 year old, baby Koalas cling to their mother's back constantly. Koalas have become endangered because it is valued for its soft fur. If a disease is spread among them, they have no resistance against it because of them having the same genetic pool. Therefore they are not immune to disease and if one Koala gets a virus, the whole community is infected by it as well. Often these diseases bring disastrous results and hundreds or thousands or maybe even millions can be wiped out because of a single virus. Their habitat is being destroyed. Besides having no living place, it has lost its source of food. As the Koala is an very fussy eater and almost only eats eucalyptus leaves, it has a limited supply of food choice.
This was a quote I found, "The only way to save a rhinoceros is to save the environment in which it lives, because there's a mutual dependency between it and millions of other species of both animals and plants." So seriously you need to help the environment in order to save an animal. Go out there and join a support group or work on a project to help save ENDANGERED SPECIES!!!!!!
The White rhinoceros is one of the largest Northern subspecies ever to be described by scientists. This subspecies was classified in 1908. Today, it is very close to extinction in the wild, and few have ever been brought into captivity. The first captive White rhinos were received at the Antwerp Zoo, Belgium, in 1950. However, while they grew to maturity, these animals never bred. They have only bred at the Vychodoc'eska Zoo at Dvur Kralove in Czechoslovakia. The first southern white rhino that was ever born in captivity was born at Pretoria on June 8,1967. The most successful breeding of the White rhino in captivity has occurred in the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Seventy-five white Rhinos have been born as of 1988. The white rhino is slightly larger than the black rhino with a larger head and body. They can weigh up to two tons and have a maximum age of up to fifty years. The horns of the rhino are the exact same substance as fingernails (keratin). The rhino is quite active and swift and can reach speeds of up to thirty m.p.h. This animal is surprisingly agile for its large size and can make sharp turns as it runs. With a very acute sense of smell, it plays a large role in their social life. Mothers can identify their children or members of a particular "home-range". Their sense of smell also helps identify the territory of others. The female rhinoceros has a gestation period of fifteen-sixteen months, in which only one calf is born.
Leopards are mainly found over nearly the whole of Africa, south of the Sahara, northeast and Asia. They are well known for their dark spots arranged in rosettes over much of their body without the central spot as found in jaguars. Besides being known for their spots, they are also known for running very fast with up to speeds of about one hundred kilometres per hour. They also have the agility to climb trees as well as swim. Their diet consist of antelope, wild pigs, monkeys, porcupines, birds and domestic livestock. They favour dogs as a meal. If they are unable to lure a dog out of the village, leopards are known to go right into the village to get the dog they want. They frequently store the remains of their kill up on trees for protection among the branches while they eat or rest. In the past, leopards were considered a nuisance to cattle and were frequently shot or hunted. But as man destroyed their habitat for cattle, farming and other human activities, the leopards had no where to survive and their prey decreased due to immigration and lack of food. Therefore leopards had no choice but to kill cattle and domestic livestock. As a result, man killed them to protect their livestock. This caused the leopards to decrease drastically. Besides that, the leopards were poached illegally for their valuable skin and body parts. In the 1980s and 1990s, the demand for their skins increased sharply due the furs’ popularity in fashion.
Gazelles are found in Africa and in Mongolia in Asia. They usually live in open plains and deserts. They are founds in herds of five to ten, but herds up to several hundred are found. Gazelles are known for their graceful movements and alertness. Their colour consists of a shade of brown with white underparts and a horizontal black band running along each side of their body. Most species have horns on both of the sexes, with the horns often lyre-shaped. They run with a skip and have an amazing swiftness. Gazelles are herbivores meaning they only eat plants. They forage among shrubs and short trees leaves. They are often hunted by other animals as a source of food. They use their swiftness to escape. These graceful animals are endangered due the poaching for their skins and horns. Their habitats are also being destroyed by human development such as farming and cattling. Conservation efforts such as making their habitat area an enclosure for them and banning illegal poaching has helped a bit in their increase.
An estimated seven hundred Giant Pandas are left in the world today, living in the high mountains in coniferous forests and bamboo thickets in central China. Since 1979 the San Diego Zoological Society has been working with Chinese zoos to spread the conservation message about the Chinese Giant Pandas. Before the Giant Pandas were exported as State gifts, but now they are "loaned" as "conservation Pandas." For example, two pandas visited for two hundred days in 1987 and 1988 at the San Diego Zoo and over two million people came and visited and enjoyed the Giant Pandas. The Giant Pandas primary food source is bamboo. They eat it almost twelve hours a day and for the rest of the day they sleep. In the course of a year they eat almost 10,000 pounds of bamboo. However the giant panda routinely eats birds, snakes and bamboo rats. Giant Pandas live up to an age of 15 years in captivity and when one gives birth only one baby is born.
Once flourishing in the forests of Asia, there are now fewer than five thousand tigers left in the world. Already the Caspian and Malinese tigers are extinct. However, there finally is a law that bans hunting of tigers everywhere. Unfortunately there is even a greater threat to them which they face, a far greater threat than hunters. Thousands of tigers have been killed in the last 50 years because their habitat has been destroyed by bulldozers and chainsaws. Already more than 80 per cent of India's forests have been destroyed. Still more forests are being cut down in order to sell firewood and lumber, plus to clear the land for farming. Despite all of the hardships and disasters that this animal has endured, the tiger population has actually risen over the last ten years. This has only been possible through strict laws protecting these magnificent animals and wilderness preserves around the world. However, this is just a small step in saving the tigers. New preserves must be added, but finding these preserves will not be easy. There must be enough water, prey, and plants for their prey to feed on. The people living near the tigers must manage and control the commercial use of the lands natural resources.
Tapirs are found in small groups in the tropical rain forests of Malaysia and Central America. They are short-legged and heavy-bodied with small eyes, rounded ears and small trunks protruding over their mouths. Their body hair are often short and usually sparse. The main source of food is grass and shrubs as well as certain roots. The central American tapirs are plain grey or brown in colour, but the Malaysian tapirs have a distinct black and white pattern. The heads, shoulders and legs are black while the rumps, backs and bellies are white. The young are completely different from their parents, with a dark brown colour and streaked as well as spotted with yellowish white. Tapirs are shy and often travel near water. When they are disturbed, they will crash wildly through the undergrowth and hide in the water. Tapirs are easy prey as they do not run fast and do not have special defences, therefore easily become victims to carnivorous animals and hunters. Their habitat, the rain forests are also depleting quickly destroyed by human activities, leading even more to their decline.
The bird of paradise is noted for its vibrant colours and bizarre shapes of the male birds’ plumage during the mating season. They are found in the New Guinea highlands and islands and some are also found in Australia. The males' colourful plumage is used to attract females during their breeding season. The females are dull brown with scattered brown specks. Courting males will strut around on a chosen perch or a cleared spacing on the forest floor for hours, showing off their magnificent feathers of different shapes and sizes. After mating, the females will go off and make a nest on their own, taking care of the young unaided. Some birds of paradise have extra long tail and flank feathers trailing behind as they fly while some are adorned with colourful feathers around the neck which can be erected to form ruffs. Naturally, when explorers from other countries came to the land, the brightly coloured birds caught their attention. A few were brought back to their homeland and the Bird of Paradise feathers soon became a fashion statement. By the nineteenth century, popular demand of the feathers had made the number of birds decline rapidly and almost caused extinction. Fortunately, conservation efforts managed to save the species before they were wiped out but the number of surviving birds are still small even today due to illegal poaching in their habitat.
Leatherback Turtles are found in most warm seas, often migrating from one continent to another. They are the largest of all turtles, sometimes weighing more than 1500 pounds. Their shells are covered by a thick layer of smooth leathery skin, instead of scales. Unlike other turtles, their ribs and backbones are not joined to the shell. These turtles have huge strong front flippers which can propel them in the water at high speeds. Leatherback Turtles have a very unique way of laying their eggs. From August to September, female turtles travel vast distances just to lay their eggs on the exact spot where they had laid their eggs previously. Without fail, their homing instincts are always right and rarely do they lose their way to their nesting site. As soon as they reach the shore, they will not rest until they have arrived at their nesting grounds. By using their giant flippers, they heave themselves up towards the spot and dig a deep hole in the sand. In this hole, they will lay about 100 to 200 soft rubbery eggs at one time. While they are laying the eggs, they will start shedding tears to excrete the excess salt from their bodies while swimming in the sea water. Once they are finished, the turtles will cover up the hole with sand and return to the sea, only coming next year to the same spot to dig another hole to lay eggs. The heat of the sun will warm the eggs and after a period of time, the hatchlings will climb out of the sand and crawl towards the sea. Even though many turtles are hatched, many do not survive the first few weeks of their lives. There are many predators such as seagulls who prey on the young turtles. The baby turtle's hard shell has not yet formed and has no hardened defence against the attackers. Some turtles are caught in fishermen's nets and left out to die. Other turtles are caught between the wastes man created such as plastic bags and eventually die of suffocation and strangulation. To make matters worse, Leatherback Turtles are hunted for their ornamental shell while their eggs are considered delicacies. Illegal gathering for eggs to be sold in markets also helps in the decline of these turtles. The coming ashore of the Leatherback Turtles to lay their eggs have become quite a spectacle and have drawn large crowds to witness this event. Unfortunately, the crowds created a large amount of noise and drove many turtles away. They also made campfires which scared them away.In order to protect them, the Malaysian government has declared it as a protected animal. Various rules and regulations have been made and huge fines imposed on those who break the law.
The Japanese Ibis has a white body with a red face. They often wade in shallow lagoons, bays and marshes. They use their long slightly curved bills to pick up any small fish and soft molluscs while wading. While they fly, their neck and legs are stretched out. They fly by alternately flapping and sailing through the air. Their nests are of compact size made out of sticks found in the branches of trees or bushes. These birds are considered to be on the verge of extinction and the Japanese government has build different programmes to increase the species such as breeding them in captivity. The Japanese Ibis is endangered due to the excessive hunting of the birds and the destruction of their habitat by man. They also face food problems as more of their feeding land is used up for human activities.
Polar Bears are found throughout the arctic region, often covering hundreds of miles in their range. They have heavy white fur which camouflage them against the white landscape in which they live in. Despite their size, they are extremely fast runners and wide-ranging travellers. They are also expert swimmers, with their thick layer of fur and fat insulating them against the extreme cold of their climate. They have hairy soles on their broad feet to protect them and insulate them from the cold, as well as help them move across the snow swiftly. Their diet consists of fish, seal, caribou, birds, seaweed, grass and an occasional whale which strayed too far from its course. Polar Bears are usually shy but they are known to be dangerous when attacked or confronted. They give birth to one to four cubs at a time in the winter and the cubs stay with their mother for up to three years. Polar Bears are endangered due to the man's excessive hunting for their priceless hide, tendons, meat, fat and flesh. Their numbers dwindled from several hundred thousands to a few hundred in a few years time. In efforts to protect Polar Bears, an international agreement was set up in 1973 whereby only traditional weapons were allowed to be used in the hunting of the Polar Bears.
Musk Oxen are roaming in parts of Europe, northern Canada and Greenland. They are stocky with large heads, short necks and legs. They are extremely huge in size with a bull weighing up to about 880 pounds. Both male and female have horns which can reach up to 2 feet as found in old males. They have long shaggy brown hair that cover the whole body that reach nearly up to their feet and conceal a short tail. Their face is further covered by short hair. Underneath their shaggy hair, they have a thick layer of wool which they shed during the summer. This wool will be collected by the Eskimos to be made into fine cloth, resembling cashmere. Musk Oxen travel in herds of 20 to 30. When attacked, the adults will form a circle with the young safe inside. The adults will face the outside and use their sharp horns as weapons against their enemy. The predator attacks young oxen who stray too far from their herd when they attack.Musk Oxen have become endangered due to the excessive hunting by man for food and sport. Their habitat also have been destroyed by human activities.
Koalas are found in the coastal regions of Eastern Australia. It is a marsupial mammal that gives birth to underdeveloped young and the young are carried around in their mother's pouch. Koalas have strong clawed feet and are able to grip the branches firmly. They are extremely fussy eaters and only feed very selectively on eucalyptus leaves. To aid in the digestion of these leaves, Koalas have a long caecum and extra long intestines. Koalas have only one young at a time and their young remains in their mother's pouch for up to 7 months. When it is 1 year old, baby Koalas cling to their mother's back constantly. Koalas have become endangered because it is valued for its soft fur. If a disease is spread among them, they have no resistance against it because of them having the same genetic pool. Therefore they are not immune to disease and if one Koala gets a virus, the whole community is infected by it as well. Often these diseases bring disastrous results and hundreds or thousands or maybe even millions can be wiped out because of a single virus. Their habitat is being destroyed. Besides having no living place, it has lost its source of food. As the Koala is an very fussy eater and almost only eats eucalyptus leaves, it has a limited supply of food choice.
This was a quote I found, "The only way to save a rhinoceros is to save the environment in which it lives, because there's a mutual dependency between it and millions of other species of both animals and plants." So seriously you need to help the environment in order to save an animal. Go out there and join a support group or work on a project to help save ENDANGERED SPECIES!!!!!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Holography
So what is holography......wouldn't you like to know:) Its a crazy photography that you have probably seen today but may not have noticed. It is used in so many different ways today that you would be quite surprised.
Holography is "lensless photography" in which an image is captured not as an image focused on film, but as an interference pattern at the film. Typically, coherent light from a laser is reflected from an object and combined at the film with light from a reference beam. This recorded interference pattern actually contains much more information that a focused image, and enables the viewer to view a true three-dimensional image which exhibits parallax. That is, the image will change its appearance if you look at it from a different angle, just as if you were looking at a real 3D object. In the case of a transmission hologram, you look through the film and see the three dimensional image suspended in midair at a point which corresponds to the position of the real object which was photographed.
Well, a hologram is like a picture. Sort of. You see, when you look at a picture -- like a photograph -- it is flat. If you took a regular picture of a big marble, and it had a smaller marble behind it, you would not be able to look around the big marble to see the little one.
With a HOLOGRAM, you would be able to look around the big marble and see the little one behind it. It's true. That's because a hologram is in 3-D. The letter "D" in "3-D" stands for the word "dimension". The "3" in "3-D" stands for how many "dimensions" something has.
A photo, a piece of paper -- or even this computer screen -- is 2-D, or two dimensions: up and down and left and right. When something has 3-D, like the world in which we live -- or a hologram -- it has an added dimension: up and down, left and right and forwards and backwards. When talking about dimensions, we call forwards and backwards "depth". So . . . when we say that a hologram has 3 dimensions, it means we can see up and down, and left and right, just like a picture or photo . . . but we can also look "into" the hologram because the hologram, and the objects that it contains, has depth.
Looking at a certain types of holograms is just like looking at something that is really in front of your eyes. In fact, some holograms are so real that you want to take your hand and touch the object in it -- but your hand goes right through thin air. Imagine getting up to get a soda while you're watching a holographic Super Bowl. When you walk across your living room, you'd walk right through the players. You could try to kick the ball, but your foot would pass right through it.
Well, someday everything that we look at will be holographic images. In fact, all of those "really cool" special effects that you love in the movies today . . . would you believe that someday you will actually LAUGH at them? One day in the future, 3-D holographic images will be sent into our homes and we will see all the action as if it is taking place right in our own living rooms.
We do not have it now because we are not as advanced in science and technology as we sometimes like to think we are. If you have an antenna, cable TV, or a sattelite dish, you know that what you watch on TV has to get there somehow. It's OK for us to send regular pictures to a TV, but we cannot send a hologram. In fact, we are not even close to being at the point where we can send a hologram and have it show up in someone's house. It's going to take a lot of clever minds (like your own) to make this happen. But it will happen. And maybe, yes maybe, you'll be part of it.
With holography, we can test all kinds of things . . . from automobile engines, to aircraft tires, to artificial bones and joints. This type of holography is called "interferometry", and the resulting hologram is called an "interferogram". Holography is also used in medical imaging where doctors can look at a 3-dimensional cat scan and actually go in and take measurements within the holographic image.
Very simple (and colorful) holograms are used on consumer packaging materials such as cereal and toothpaste boxes, and a host of other items. Holograms are used for security for credit cards and for identifying manufactured objects such as clothing to help cut down on conterfeiting.
Holographic Optica Elements (HOE's) are used by airplane pilots for navigation. It allows them to keep their eyes on the sky or runway, while still being able to read their instrumentation . . . which appears to float in front of their cockpit window. This feature is already available as an option on several automobiles. Holographic lenses and contacts can make one lens provide several different functions, such as correcting regular vision and also act as magnifiers for reading -- all in the same lens, and throughout the entire lens at the same time. Holograms can be made into portraits of people, pets, etc. Artists use holography to express their creativity and are shown in galleries around the world. They are used in printing for magazine and book covers. National Geographic as well as Sports Illustrated (Michael Jordon) have been famous examples. They can be used for point-of-purchase advertising, taking the place of a photograph of a product or service in a store or supermarket. Holograms can be used for data storage such as holographic hard drives. The entire contents of the library of congress can be stored in the area the size of a sugar cube.
As the technology grows and develops we will see holographic television and motion pictures as mentioned earlier. So yeah that was alot of information but I hoped you learned something new. Actually this was probably all new to you, because it was definitely all new to me:) Oh I thought this picture was cool.
Holography is "lensless photography" in which an image is captured not as an image focused on film, but as an interference pattern at the film. Typically, coherent light from a laser is reflected from an object and combined at the film with light from a reference beam. This recorded interference pattern actually contains much more information that a focused image, and enables the viewer to view a true three-dimensional image which exhibits parallax. That is, the image will change its appearance if you look at it from a different angle, just as if you were looking at a real 3D object. In the case of a transmission hologram, you look through the film and see the three dimensional image suspended in midair at a point which corresponds to the position of the real object which was photographed.
Well, a hologram is like a picture. Sort of. You see, when you look at a picture -- like a photograph -- it is flat. If you took a regular picture of a big marble, and it had a smaller marble behind it, you would not be able to look around the big marble to see the little one.
With a HOLOGRAM, you would be able to look around the big marble and see the little one behind it. It's true. That's because a hologram is in 3-D. The letter "D" in "3-D" stands for the word "dimension". The "3" in "3-D" stands for how many "dimensions" something has.
A photo, a piece of paper -- or even this computer screen -- is 2-D, or two dimensions: up and down and left and right. When something has 3-D, like the world in which we live -- or a hologram -- it has an added dimension: up and down, left and right and forwards and backwards. When talking about dimensions, we call forwards and backwards "depth". So . . . when we say that a hologram has 3 dimensions, it means we can see up and down, and left and right, just like a picture or photo . . . but we can also look "into" the hologram because the hologram, and the objects that it contains, has depth.
Looking at a certain types of holograms is just like looking at something that is really in front of your eyes. In fact, some holograms are so real that you want to take your hand and touch the object in it -- but your hand goes right through thin air. Imagine getting up to get a soda while you're watching a holographic Super Bowl. When you walk across your living room, you'd walk right through the players. You could try to kick the ball, but your foot would pass right through it.
Well, someday everything that we look at will be holographic images. In fact, all of those "really cool" special effects that you love in the movies today . . . would you believe that someday you will actually LAUGH at them? One day in the future, 3-D holographic images will be sent into our homes and we will see all the action as if it is taking place right in our own living rooms.
We do not have it now because we are not as advanced in science and technology as we sometimes like to think we are. If you have an antenna, cable TV, or a sattelite dish, you know that what you watch on TV has to get there somehow. It's OK for us to send regular pictures to a TV, but we cannot send a hologram. In fact, we are not even close to being at the point where we can send a hologram and have it show up in someone's house. It's going to take a lot of clever minds (like your own) to make this happen. But it will happen. And maybe, yes maybe, you'll be part of it.
With holography, we can test all kinds of things . . . from automobile engines, to aircraft tires, to artificial bones and joints. This type of holography is called "interferometry", and the resulting hologram is called an "interferogram". Holography is also used in medical imaging where doctors can look at a 3-dimensional cat scan and actually go in and take measurements within the holographic image.
Very simple (and colorful) holograms are used on consumer packaging materials such as cereal and toothpaste boxes, and a host of other items. Holograms are used for security for credit cards and for identifying manufactured objects such as clothing to help cut down on conterfeiting.
Holographic Optica Elements (HOE's) are used by airplane pilots for navigation. It allows them to keep their eyes on the sky or runway, while still being able to read their instrumentation . . . which appears to float in front of their cockpit window. This feature is already available as an option on several automobiles. Holographic lenses and contacts can make one lens provide several different functions, such as correcting regular vision and also act as magnifiers for reading -- all in the same lens, and throughout the entire lens at the same time. Holograms can be made into portraits of people, pets, etc. Artists use holography to express their creativity and are shown in galleries around the world. They are used in printing for magazine and book covers. National Geographic as well as Sports Illustrated (Michael Jordon) have been famous examples. They can be used for point-of-purchase advertising, taking the place of a photograph of a product or service in a store or supermarket. Holograms can be used for data storage such as holographic hard drives. The entire contents of the library of congress can be stored in the area the size of a sugar cube.
As the technology grows and develops we will see holographic television and motion pictures as mentioned earlier. So yeah that was alot of information but I hoped you learned something new. Actually this was probably all new to you, because it was definitely all new to me:) Oh I thought this picture was cool.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Renewable Energy
Geothermal Energy
The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the water is replenished by rainfall and the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.Geothermal energy is generated in the earth's core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Temperatures hotter than the sun's surface are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, a process that happens in all rocks. The most active geothermal resources are usually found along major plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated. Most of the geothermal activity in the world occurs in an area called the Ring of Fire. This area rims the Pacific Ocean.
Hydro Power
Of the renewable energy sources that generate electricity, hydropower is the most often used. It accounted for 7 percent of total U.S. electricity generation and 73 percent of generation from renewables in 2005. "I thought that was pretty crazy:)"It is one of the oldest sources of energy and was used thousands of years ago to turn a paddle wheel for purposes such as grinding grain. Our nation’s first industrial use of hydropower to generate electricity occurred in 1880, when 16 brush-arc lamps were powered using a water turbine at the Wolverine Chair Factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first U.S. hydroelectric power plant opened on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, on September 30, 1882. Until that time, coal was the only fuel used to produce electricity. Because the source of hydropower is water, hydroelectric power plants must be located on a water source. Therefore, it wasn’t until the technology to transmit electricity over long distances was developed that hydropower became widely used.
Solar Power
“Solar” is the Latin word for “sun” – and it’s a powerful source of energy. In fact, the sunlight that shines on the Earth in just one hour could meet world energy demand for an entire year!
We can use solar power in two different ways: as a heat source, and as an energy source.
People have used the sun as a heat source for thousands of years.
Today, more than 10,000 American families get all of their electricity from solar power. And silicon from just one ton of sand, used in photovoltaic cells, could produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal.You might be wondering why we don’t use solar electricity all the time. Solar power systems make a different kind of electricity than big power plants do, so different wiring is needed – and that can be expensive.There are a few big solar power plants in the United States, mostly in California. It’s difficult and expensive to make a lot of electricity using photovoltaics – the panels cost a lot, and a lot of open land is needed.
Wind Power
Using the wind to create electricity has been around for a long time - you've probably seen windmills on farms. When the wind turns the blades of a windmill, it spins a turbine inside a small generator to produce electricity, just like a big coal power plant.
A windmill on a farm can make only a small amount of electricity - enough to power a few farm machines. To make enough electricity to serve lots of people, power companies build "wind farms" with dozens of huge wind turbines.Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least 14 miles per hour. Iowa currently has more than 600 wind turbines, producing enough electricity to power 140,000 homes. Minnesota and Wisconsin are also home to wind farms – and the number is growing every day.A wind farm might have only two or three turbines, or it could have as many as 150 spread across a big field. One of the largest wind farms in the U.S. is in Altamont Pass, California. It has more than 900 wind turbines. How Crazy Is That!!!
There are so many different ways to use renewable energy. These were the four types that interested me the most. No matter what you do you can use a renewable energy that will help keep the environment a nicer place. The next time you use energy think of where its coming from and how its being produced. Its quite entertaining if you ask me:)
The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the water is replenished by rainfall and the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.Geothermal energy is generated in the earth's core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Temperatures hotter than the sun's surface are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, a process that happens in all rocks. The most active geothermal resources are usually found along major plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated. Most of the geothermal activity in the world occurs in an area called the Ring of Fire. This area rims the Pacific Ocean.
Hydro Power
Of the renewable energy sources that generate electricity, hydropower is the most often used. It accounted for 7 percent of total U.S. electricity generation and 73 percent of generation from renewables in 2005. "I thought that was pretty crazy:)"It is one of the oldest sources of energy and was used thousands of years ago to turn a paddle wheel for purposes such as grinding grain. Our nation’s first industrial use of hydropower to generate electricity occurred in 1880, when 16 brush-arc lamps were powered using a water turbine at the Wolverine Chair Factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first U.S. hydroelectric power plant opened on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, on September 30, 1882. Until that time, coal was the only fuel used to produce electricity. Because the source of hydropower is water, hydroelectric power plants must be located on a water source. Therefore, it wasn’t until the technology to transmit electricity over long distances was developed that hydropower became widely used.
Solar Power
“Solar” is the Latin word for “sun” – and it’s a powerful source of energy. In fact, the sunlight that shines on the Earth in just one hour could meet world energy demand for an entire year!
We can use solar power in two different ways: as a heat source, and as an energy source.
People have used the sun as a heat source for thousands of years.
Today, more than 10,000 American families get all of their electricity from solar power. And silicon from just one ton of sand, used in photovoltaic cells, could produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal.You might be wondering why we don’t use solar electricity all the time. Solar power systems make a different kind of electricity than big power plants do, so different wiring is needed – and that can be expensive.There are a few big solar power plants in the United States, mostly in California. It’s difficult and expensive to make a lot of electricity using photovoltaics – the panels cost a lot, and a lot of open land is needed.
Wind Power
Using the wind to create electricity has been around for a long time - you've probably seen windmills on farms. When the wind turns the blades of a windmill, it spins a turbine inside a small generator to produce electricity, just like a big coal power plant.
A windmill on a farm can make only a small amount of electricity - enough to power a few farm machines. To make enough electricity to serve lots of people, power companies build "wind farms" with dozens of huge wind turbines.Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least 14 miles per hour. Iowa currently has more than 600 wind turbines, producing enough electricity to power 140,000 homes. Minnesota and Wisconsin are also home to wind farms – and the number is growing every day.A wind farm might have only two or three turbines, or it could have as many as 150 spread across a big field. One of the largest wind farms in the U.S. is in Altamont Pass, California. It has more than 900 wind turbines. How Crazy Is That!!!
There are so many different ways to use renewable energy. These were the four types that interested me the most. No matter what you do you can use a renewable energy that will help keep the environment a nicer place. The next time you use energy think of where its coming from and how its being produced. Its quite entertaining if you ask me:)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Oceanography
Oceanographers are scientists who study the sea. Oceanography incorporates features of many sciences, including biology, chemistry, geology, and meteorology. For this reason, oceanographers have varied backgrounds and do many kinds of work. Oceanographers may work on ships or in laboratories on land. Some work for private companies. Most work for research institutes or government agencies, or hold teaching and research jobs in colleges and universities.
Oceanographers who conduct research study many aspects of the sea. Their findings provide valuable information for industry and government. The fishing industry, for example, is interested in the life cycles and food chain of marine life. The federal government and the shipbuilding industry use information about the sea to design new ships. Oil and mining companies are looking to the sea for new sources of fuel and minerals. Plants and animals found in the ocean are used for medical research. Researchers are also trying to find new sources of food made from marine animals and plants.
Chemical oceanographers and marine geochemists investigate the chemical composition of seawater and its interaction with the atmosphere and the sea floor. Their work may include analysis of seawater components, desalination of seawater, and studying the effects of pollutants. They also examine chemical processes operating within the marine environment and work with biological oceanographers on studies of living systems. Their study of trace chemicals in seawater helps us understand how ocean currents move seawater around the globe, and how the ocean affects climate.
Geological oceanographers and geophysicists explore the ocean floor and map submarine geologic structures. Studies of the physical and chemical properties of rocks and sediments give us valuable information about Earth’s history. The results of their work help us understand the processes that created the ocean basins and the interactions between the ocean and the sea floor.
There are plenty of job opportunities in the study of oceanography. They typically make about 32,000 to 40,000 a year. They help the world in so many different ways that probably effect all of us and we sadly don't even know it. Overall if the ocean and its creatures interest you, you should make your passion your career :)
Oceanographers who conduct research study many aspects of the sea. Their findings provide valuable information for industry and government. The fishing industry, for example, is interested in the life cycles and food chain of marine life. The federal government and the shipbuilding industry use information about the sea to design new ships. Oil and mining companies are looking to the sea for new sources of fuel and minerals. Plants and animals found in the ocean are used for medical research. Researchers are also trying to find new sources of food made from marine animals and plants.
Chemical oceanographers and marine geochemists investigate the chemical composition of seawater and its interaction with the atmosphere and the sea floor. Their work may include analysis of seawater components, desalination of seawater, and studying the effects of pollutants. They also examine chemical processes operating within the marine environment and work with biological oceanographers on studies of living systems. Their study of trace chemicals in seawater helps us understand how ocean currents move seawater around the globe, and how the ocean affects climate.
Geological oceanographers and geophysicists explore the ocean floor and map submarine geologic structures. Studies of the physical and chemical properties of rocks and sediments give us valuable information about Earth’s history. The results of their work help us understand the processes that created the ocean basins and the interactions between the ocean and the sea floor.
There are plenty of job opportunities in the study of oceanography. They typically make about 32,000 to 40,000 a year. They help the world in so many different ways that probably effect all of us and we sadly don't even know it. Overall if the ocean and its creatures interest you, you should make your passion your career :)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Big Bang Theory
About 15 billion years ago a tremendous explosion started the expansion of the universe. This explosion is known as the Big Bang. At the point of this event all of the matter and energy of space was contained at one point. What exisisted prior to this event is completely unknown and is a matter of pure speculation. This occurance was not a conventional explosion but rather an event filling all of space with all of the particles.
The origin of the Big Bang theory can be credited to Edwin Hubble. Hubble made the observation that the universe is continuously expanding. He discovered that a galaxys velocity is proportional to its distance. Galaxies that are twice as far from us move twice as fast. Another consequence is that the universe is expanding in every direction. This observation means that it has taken every galaxy the same amount of time to move from a common starting position to its current position. Just as the Big Bang provided for the foundation of the universe, Hubbles observations provided for the foundation of the Big Bang theory. (ironic)
There are many different theories of how the universe began. They are same in some aspects and completely different in other areas. Some believe it was caused by something other than itself and others believe the exact opposite. Many people believe that the big bang is an example that there is a god and that he created all. Others believe that it is all cosmological and that is has nothing to do with god. Science and religion come together at points but believe different things especially about the beginning of time and how they occured.
I honestly am not to sure what to believe. I believe in god and believe that he created all but I also believe scientists when they talk about the big bang theory. I am at a coin toss so to speak on what is really the truth. I guess no one will really and truly ever know.....except god himself. :)
The origin of the Big Bang theory can be credited to Edwin Hubble. Hubble made the observation that the universe is continuously expanding. He discovered that a galaxys velocity is proportional to its distance. Galaxies that are twice as far from us move twice as fast. Another consequence is that the universe is expanding in every direction. This observation means that it has taken every galaxy the same amount of time to move from a common starting position to its current position. Just as the Big Bang provided for the foundation of the universe, Hubbles observations provided for the foundation of the Big Bang theory. (ironic)
There are many different theories of how the universe began. They are same in some aspects and completely different in other areas. Some believe it was caused by something other than itself and others believe the exact opposite. Many people believe that the big bang is an example that there is a god and that he created all. Others believe that it is all cosmological and that is has nothing to do with god. Science and religion come together at points but believe different things especially about the beginning of time and how they occured.
I honestly am not to sure what to believe. I believe in god and believe that he created all but I also believe scientists when they talk about the big bang theory. I am at a coin toss so to speak on what is really the truth. I guess no one will really and truly ever know.....except god himself. :)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Solar Systems and Galaxies
Our solar neighborhood is an exciting place. The Solar System is full of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, minor planets, and many other exciting objects. Scientists believe that the Solar System evolved from a giant cloud of dust and gas. They believe that this dust and gas began to collapse under the weight of its own gravity. At the center of this spinning cloud, a small star begin to form. This star grew larger and larger, as it collected more of the dust and gas that were collapsing into it. Further away from the star that was forming in the center were smaller clumps of dust and gas that were also collapsing. The star in the center eventually ignited forming our Sun, while the smaller clumps became the planets, minor planets, moons, comets, and asteroids.
Galaxies on the other hand are large systems of stars and interstellar matter. There are many different types of galaxies such as the spiral, lenticular, elliptical, and irregular. We live in a spiral galaxy known as the Milky Way. (well at least you should know that) Galaxies emit light of every wavelength and were known as the Island Universes. Our own galaxy has over 200 billion stars and also has a disk in it, which holds our solar system. Galaxies are much bigger than solar systems and contain billions of extra stuff.
I think space is a very fascinating thing. I love stars and I am actually a proud owner of a star that is on ursa minor. I received it as a gift which I thought was pretty cool. Although I will never get to see an entire galaxy in real life, it would be really cool to see another planet in our Solar System like Jupiter perhaps;)
"For I dipped into the Future, far as human eye could see; saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be." -Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1842 I thought this quote was kind of cute:)
Galaxies on the other hand are large systems of stars and interstellar matter. There are many different types of galaxies such as the spiral, lenticular, elliptical, and irregular. We live in a spiral galaxy known as the Milky Way. (well at least you should know that) Galaxies emit light of every wavelength and were known as the Island Universes. Our own galaxy has over 200 billion stars and also has a disk in it, which holds our solar system. Galaxies are much bigger than solar systems and contain billions of extra stuff.
I think space is a very fascinating thing. I love stars and I am actually a proud owner of a star that is on ursa minor. I received it as a gift which I thought was pretty cool. Although I will never get to see an entire galaxy in real life, it would be really cool to see another planet in our Solar System like Jupiter perhaps;)
"For I dipped into the Future, far as human eye could see; saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be." -Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1842 I thought this quote was kind of cute:)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Compare and Contrast Red Giant, White Dwarf, our Sun, and Black Holes
The Red Giants are evolved from main sequence stars. They are huge in size generally 4 to 6 solar masses. A red giant is a luminous giant star of low or intermediate mass that is in a late phase of its evolution, with nuclear fusion going on in a shell outside the core but not in the core itself. Red Giants are typically colored yellow to orange and to sometimes red. Red Giants are stars that contain way larger radii than the sun does. Thats Huge!!
A White Dwarf is a star that is exhausted of its nuclear fuel. A typical white dwarf is half as massive as the sun. Although it is only a little bigger than the Earth. White Dwarfs are one of the densest forms of matter. Some white dwarfs have almost all helium and hydrogen atmospheres. White dwarfs are said to have very strong atmospheres' as well. They are also known as the degenerate dwarf.
Our Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. It is the largest object and contains approximately 98% of the total solar system mass. That's CRAZY. Solar energy is created deep within the sun's core. The Sun appears to have been active for 4.6 billion years and has enough fuel to go on for another five billion years or so. At the end of its life, the Sun will start to fuse helium into heavier elements and begin to swell up, ultimately growing so large that it will swallow the Earth. After a billion years as a red giant, it will suddenly collapse into a white dwarf. It may take a trillion years to cool off completely. Yeah a trillion years unless global warming takes over first. lol.
Black holes is a region of space that has so much mass concentrated in it that there is no way for a nearby object to escape its gravitational pull. Some black holes spin around an axis, and their situation is more complicated. The surrounding space is then dragged around, creating a cosmic whirlpool. So far there are no signs of a blackhole near Earth. Thank God.. Either way black holes consume everything in sight, even light.
All of these are a part of our world today. I personally think that black holes are like the bully of society, you never want to cross one. We need the sun to exist and live. Without the red giant or the white dwarf the sun would not exist today. Overall the solar system and the galaxies are something so beautiful that it would be bad news for everyone if something went completely wrong. Say goodbye to life as we know it....
A White Dwarf is a star that is exhausted of its nuclear fuel. A typical white dwarf is half as massive as the sun. Although it is only a little bigger than the Earth. White Dwarfs are one of the densest forms of matter. Some white dwarfs have almost all helium and hydrogen atmospheres. White dwarfs are said to have very strong atmospheres' as well. They are also known as the degenerate dwarf.
Our Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. It is the largest object and contains approximately 98% of the total solar system mass. That's CRAZY. Solar energy is created deep within the sun's core. The Sun appears to have been active for 4.6 billion years and has enough fuel to go on for another five billion years or so. At the end of its life, the Sun will start to fuse helium into heavier elements and begin to swell up, ultimately growing so large that it will swallow the Earth. After a billion years as a red giant, it will suddenly collapse into a white dwarf. It may take a trillion years to cool off completely. Yeah a trillion years unless global warming takes over first. lol.
Black holes is a region of space that has so much mass concentrated in it that there is no way for a nearby object to escape its gravitational pull. Some black holes spin around an axis, and their situation is more complicated. The surrounding space is then dragged around, creating a cosmic whirlpool. So far there are no signs of a blackhole near Earth. Thank God.. Either way black holes consume everything in sight, even light.
All of these are a part of our world today. I personally think that black holes are like the bully of society, you never want to cross one. We need the sun to exist and live. Without the red giant or the white dwarf the sun would not exist today. Overall the solar system and the galaxies are something so beautiful that it would be bad news for everyone if something went completely wrong. Say goodbye to life as we know it....
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Compare and Contrast Science and Pseudoscience
Science extends and enriches our lives. It is a way to better understand the world around us. The word science comes from the Latin "scientia," meaning knowledge. Science is a way to acquire knowledge through experiments and systems. Science is also defined as any knowledge gained by systems. A primary aim of science is to gain facts. After gaining facts it is then explained through tests and observations. A hypothesis is formulated based on observation and experimentation. There are many different fields in science. Some fields are biology, chemistry, and physics. Science is as simple as a cause and effect process.
Pseudoscience however is a false science. Many people today use horoscopes and palm readers to explain why things happen in their lives. But is there evidence to prove what they are saying and if it is true? Of course not, there might be signs and thoughts but there is no clear evidence. Pseuodscience is used to excite people and to soothe anxiety about life and its adventures.
Pseudoscience is more appealing to the general public rather than science alone. Although science is more factual than pseudoscience and can be backed by experiments pseudoscience seems more interesting. So the next time you read your horoscope think about what it is saying and if it is really true, or just a false science.
Pseudoscience however is a false science. Many people today use horoscopes and palm readers to explain why things happen in their lives. But is there evidence to prove what they are saying and if it is true? Of course not, there might be signs and thoughts but there is no clear evidence. Pseuodscience is used to excite people and to soothe anxiety about life and its adventures.
Pseudoscience is more appealing to the general public rather than science alone. Although science is more factual than pseudoscience and can be backed by experiments pseudoscience seems more interesting. So the next time you read your horoscope think about what it is saying and if it is really true, or just a false science.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)