Link to Article
Discovery of new species is always interesting, but what is even more fascinating is finding remains or fossils of species already long gone. These teams of researchers found a several specimens of a new species in amber markets of Myanmar. I've always found insects and other creatures being preserved in amber to be so fascinating, as amber when dry is a slow moving liquid, and to have any specimens at all is lucky for scientists today to learn about life before humans became to be.
This specific creature many would deem as a nightmare. Even in the article I had read, the author describes it a "stuff of prehistoric nightmares". It's described as a spider with a whiplike tail, similar to that of a scorpions. I personally see it very similar to the nightmare that is a vinegaroon, which is another thing many people would scream at. I personally find it extremely interesting. The tail of this creature, that was recently named as Chimerarachne yingi, researchers believe was used as a sensory organ.
This article says that C. Yingi is not a spider, but rather a relative and lived among ancient spiders. It provides insight to the possible evolutionary history of how species have evolved to the arachnids we know today. Learning about evolution is fascinating to me, and shows how complicated it is. Unlike how people believe evolution is a step by step, point A to point B process, evolution is complicated, branches off, and is how biodiversity came to be. I love learning about evolutionary processes, and seeing how ancient and prehistoric species have changed across thousands of generations and over the course of millions of years.
Monday, February 12, 2018
Monday, February 5, 2018
Response #5 A Suitcase-Size Satellite’s Big Image of Frozen Earth Below
Link to Article
In this article, a small sized satellite takes pictures of Alaska, enabling photos to be taken even without a large sized and costly satellite to be launched. This camera was attached to a rocket which makes it easier to deal with.
The technology itself is not groundbreaking according to the article, but the size and diminished cost to produce definitely is. Despite it's limitations, it shows advances in science that allows us to understand more about the environment around us. It's important to be able to see a large expanse of land, as a person in it wouldn't be capable of seeing everything at once. This method will enable more pictures to the price and effort of launching a satellite.
It's fascinating to see how science is constantly improving, and all the improvements to further understand the world we live in. Hopefully, advances like this will enable people to be able to see more, and understand more, with scientists being able to investigate more trends and issues with a large area, and hopefully aid in helping solve issues and queries they have with the environment.
Currently there are plans on sending another satellite with larger resolution, but the current camera is capable of providing scientists valuable information on sea ice, regardless of day or night, clouds or no.
In this article, a small sized satellite takes pictures of Alaska, enabling photos to be taken even without a large sized and costly satellite to be launched. This camera was attached to a rocket which makes it easier to deal with.
The technology itself is not groundbreaking according to the article, but the size and diminished cost to produce definitely is. Despite it's limitations, it shows advances in science that allows us to understand more about the environment around us. It's important to be able to see a large expanse of land, as a person in it wouldn't be capable of seeing everything at once. This method will enable more pictures to the price and effort of launching a satellite.
It's fascinating to see how science is constantly improving, and all the improvements to further understand the world we live in. Hopefully, advances like this will enable people to be able to see more, and understand more, with scientists being able to investigate more trends and issues with a large area, and hopefully aid in helping solve issues and queries they have with the environment.
Currently there are plans on sending another satellite with larger resolution, but the current camera is capable of providing scientists valuable information on sea ice, regardless of day or night, clouds or no.
Response #4 Billions of Plastic Pieces Litter Coral in Asia and Australia
Link to Article
I've always been aware of pollution in oceans, and how huge and expansive the amount of plastic floating in the wide oceans. I also knew of the dying coral reefs, and how people have advocated to save these dying ocean treasures. This is the first time I've seen photographs of trash and debris embedded in coral reefs, littering everything in sight. It was actually shocking and a bit tragic to see how severe the damage was.
The article includes images of plastic bottles being lodged into coral, coral growing from plastic bags, which could gather harmful bacteria and basically magnet for harmful chemicals and bacteria. Plastic also diseases corals that consume it, as sometimes coral eat the plastic that attaches to it. It disgusts me honestly, to see how pollution and garbage in a supposedly natural environment like this, and brings to light how even individual decisions cause catastrophic damage.
If one person litters, and says "Eh, it's just one person. It won't matter.", it may seem just like one piece of trash. But if millions of people think like this, and accumulates over days and weeks, months and years, the amount of garbage that ends up in places that it shouldn't increases drastically. I've been to the river next to my apartment and it's vile, with floating garbage and other bits and pieces that could have been thrown away, instead of tossed in there. It's partially the reason why I've gotten a hand held net, to scoop things out every now and then.
These pictures are both a reminder and a wake up call. We need to care about our environment, but it's a shame that people only care when something pretty, cute, or endearing is at stake. However, we need to still be aware of the actions we take every day, and hopefully can salvage something so the future can be not as dangerously rocky and unsuitable for life.
I've always been aware of pollution in oceans, and how huge and expansive the amount of plastic floating in the wide oceans. I also knew of the dying coral reefs, and how people have advocated to save these dying ocean treasures. This is the first time I've seen photographs of trash and debris embedded in coral reefs, littering everything in sight. It was actually shocking and a bit tragic to see how severe the damage was.
The article includes images of plastic bottles being lodged into coral, coral growing from plastic bags, which could gather harmful bacteria and basically magnet for harmful chemicals and bacteria. Plastic also diseases corals that consume it, as sometimes coral eat the plastic that attaches to it. It disgusts me honestly, to see how pollution and garbage in a supposedly natural environment like this, and brings to light how even individual decisions cause catastrophic damage.
If one person litters, and says "Eh, it's just one person. It won't matter.", it may seem just like one piece of trash. But if millions of people think like this, and accumulates over days and weeks, months and years, the amount of garbage that ends up in places that it shouldn't increases drastically. I've been to the river next to my apartment and it's vile, with floating garbage and other bits and pieces that could have been thrown away, instead of tossed in there. It's partially the reason why I've gotten a hand held net, to scoop things out every now and then.
These pictures are both a reminder and a wake up call. We need to care about our environment, but it's a shame that people only care when something pretty, cute, or endearing is at stake. However, we need to still be aware of the actions we take every day, and hopefully can salvage something so the future can be not as dangerously rocky and unsuitable for life.
Response #3 Doomsday Clock Is Set at 2 Minutes to Midnight, Closest Since 1950s
Link to Article
The concept of the "Doomsday Clock" had always fascinated me, ever since I was made aware of it by a musical album based around it's concept. Titled "Minutes To Midnight", the titled caught my eye and I had further researched on the Doomsday Clock. In this article, it discusses how recently the clock has ticked closer to midnight, a metaphorical way of showing how close humanity is to the apocalypse.
The article discussed how in 2017, the political climate and tension of several decisions by political leaders, and tensions between countries ushered the clock closer to midnight by thirty seconds, the closest it has been since the Cold War in the 1950s. This is very terrifying, and I feel that without the metaphor would be very difficult for many people to visualize how dangerous the situation we are all in right now is.
Similarly how David Suzuki has used metaphors to visualize how severely doomed we are in regards to population control and environmental issues, the Doomsday Clock is very important in teaching others who may not understand things without an efficient accompanying visual to see it. It also shows people who may not realize how their actions effect the state of humanity's survival immediately, and would hopefully be a wake up call and slowly change the way they think. If not, it's sure that the clock will tick closer and closer to midnight.
It also shows how tightly wound humans are with politics and the decisions made by world leaders. It is essential to save our planet, our environment, and our species, to be well aware of how seemingly unrelated things drastically effect eachother.
The concept of the "Doomsday Clock" had always fascinated me, ever since I was made aware of it by a musical album based around it's concept. Titled "Minutes To Midnight", the titled caught my eye and I had further researched on the Doomsday Clock. In this article, it discusses how recently the clock has ticked closer to midnight, a metaphorical way of showing how close humanity is to the apocalypse.
The article discussed how in 2017, the political climate and tension of several decisions by political leaders, and tensions between countries ushered the clock closer to midnight by thirty seconds, the closest it has been since the Cold War in the 1950s. This is very terrifying, and I feel that without the metaphor would be very difficult for many people to visualize how dangerous the situation we are all in right now is.
Similarly how David Suzuki has used metaphors to visualize how severely doomed we are in regards to population control and environmental issues, the Doomsday Clock is very important in teaching others who may not understand things without an efficient accompanying visual to see it. It also shows people who may not realize how their actions effect the state of humanity's survival immediately, and would hopefully be a wake up call and slowly change the way they think. If not, it's sure that the clock will tick closer and closer to midnight.
It also shows how tightly wound humans are with politics and the decisions made by world leaders. It is essential to save our planet, our environment, and our species, to be well aware of how seemingly unrelated things drastically effect eachother.
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