the history and future of science, craddled in the human hands

Urey-Miller’s experiment determined that the content on the Earth’s surface, all living things, could be synthesized abiotically, simply from the gases found in the early Earth’s atmosphere. Now, taking the theoretical event of the first synthesis of a monomer, into a polymer, and then into organisms, and imagine where we are now.

There are living things, and non living things, things with different textures, heck, we have technology. For me, simply looking back upon the history of life on Earth and comparing it to what we have today, it is astonishing to see how far we have come.

For me, I sit in biology class day in and day out, in my research class, day in and day out, wondering what the world could hold in the next 10 years. Over roughly 4 billion years, we have produced everything that is before our eyes to this day, to this moment. And we have the ability to retain it, improve upon it, or cause its demise.

I guess I should have prefaced this post with the reasoning behind my sporadic outburst. I was studying for my AP Biology midterm, and realized that our Earth is so complex, the living organisms within it, not fully understood. We have come so far with our knowledge of science, but there is so much work to be done in the future. No matter what generation you are in, you can be the future of science. And that is my motivation of the day to study hard, work hard, and never give up on aspirations. Anything is possible and the sky is the limit!

a much deserved congratulations

Before I formally begin this post, I would like to explain my extended absence. I have had so much on my plate with school, testing, work, and a personal blog. However, after looking back upon my year in review for this blog and the statistics and distribution of readers and posts, I found myself itching to post again. So here is to 2015 and redesigning this blog in terms of content quality and theme and accessibility appearance.

Here goes the actual post. Haven’t done this in a while so I will ease into it. As of some time at the beginning of this week (01/05/15), Intel Science Talent Search revealed their list of 300 semifinalists.

Intel STS is one of the most prestigious and well-known pre-college science competitions and achievements. For engineers, ISEF (International Science and Engineer Fair), exists and has an award and recognition system similar to that of Intel STS.

As a junior, this is my goal in the next year. Simply by looking at the lists of names and schools does not allow one to truly fathom the amount of passion, effort, time, and the blood, sweat, and tears that pours into the culmination of a project ready for competition.

Although their identities will remain protected over the internet, I would like to wish all the best to my two classmates who have been named semi-finalists, in addition to all other semi0finalists. I know how hard they have worked, showing true passion and promise for the future generations of science research.

home for the holidays… kinda sort of

As the holiday season rolls in, so does the risk of colds, the flu, stress, and everything else. With the cold weather, we must be weary of the impending flu, something many combat with the flu shot. However, beyond that, there are the basic ways to stay healthy and happy.

So here are some of my favorite tips. I apologize for not posting early (yes, I know it has been more than a month, but I have had piles of work and catching up on my own health):

1. Drink lots of fluid, preferably lukewarm to hot beverages. The holiday season is great for peppermint tea, peppermint hot chocolate, pumpkin spiced lattes and coffee, and anything else warm and spirited. Generally, as a little tip for those “trendy” people, use cute tumblers and mugs, and they always make very cute holiday presents.

2. Wear layers and warm clothing. I don’t know why, but many people have the mentality of wearing as little clothing as possible in the winter. I will never understand; no one feels sorry when you freeze and get sick, and layering clothing is always in style.

3. For mental health- DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! The holidays are stressful in terms of gifts and family dinners and affairs. Plan ahead to prevent last minute cramming and stress. This is applicable to many things, but especially during the holiday season.

4. Eat healthy and continue to stay active. Although there are heaps of food, you should try to do some sort of activity, be it skiing, walking, going to the gym, yoga, etc. Many people find their greatest weight gain during this time of year.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving for all that are celebrating! Stay warm, healthy, and thankful for good health and all the opportunities presented before us.

opinion: how the Ebola epidemic parallels as a modern day Salem Witch Trial

As a high school student, having just read The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the concepts of hysteria and mob mentality are fresh in my mind. You may think I’m crazy for publically expressing this, but we all have a voice that needs to be heard. In today’s day and age, we have a variety of sources for information and the spread of news, be it the internet, television, phone calls, social media, word of the mouth, etc., yet people are still uninformed about Ebola, and rather, it has become a joke of sorts.

Just walking through the hallways, Ebola becomes a common word spurring from the mouths of high school students and teachers alike. “”Did you hear about the new case of Ebola?,” “she coughed on me, I have Ebola now,” “The government is covering something up by over-exaggerating this Ebola epidemic,” and everything else you can imagine. Through word of the mouth and false information processing, Ebola has become a topic of misconceptions, often sounding ridiculous.

Due to lack of understanding, hysteria and mob mentality have arisen; fearing the unknown. Girls are walking around the hallways cautiously as to avoid infected persons, people are always asking for hand sanitizer, teachers glaring at any student who sneezes as if they were contagious, these are examples of misconceptions, with no motivation, initiative, intention, whatever you want to call it, to properly learn.

Because of this, people fall victim to hysteria, following the crowd in beliefs, and not thinking rationally. Often charged by emotion, frivolous orders are requested, such as banning all travel into the United States, and to let the victims die without treatment or interactions with other peoples, including hospital staff.

The Obama Administration and WHO have been high criticized in this situation for not dealing with the source of the problem and assuring the people of their safety. It has become an emotionally charged accusation and blame game for those in power, while hiding in fear from the possibility of disease.

For many Americans, first exposed to the idea of Ebola in March, it was not alarming news, as we (yes myself included), believed that the United States medicine and technology would be able to prevents and treat, if necessary, Ebola. Such is a unique case in which the Americans do not have a promised solution, and therefore, become desperate and hysterical in fear for their precious lives.

All opinions are my own. This was written in response/ after reading an article found here.

I would love to hear your opinion on this outbreak; leave a comment or email me at iscienceresearch@gmail.com.

science update: keeping up with Ebola

Check out my first post about Ebola nearly two months ago. Honestly, I would have never guessed this epidemic would still be in daily news reports and conversations. It has become a large and complicated topic scientifically, but also a controversial debate over treatment options and such. I held off on posting about it, hoping it would blow over, but clearly two months later, it is still a hot topic. So here’s some science combined with my opinion.

The newest global phenomenon, Ebola, or Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly (in the sense that it has been shortened in popular culture references) known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, has infected through Africa, and been transmitted to the United States, arguably due to poor hospital protocols for treatment.

As of most recent updates, the second case of Ebola has been found in the US, specifically in Dallas, Texas. The current reports have indicated that a female health worker contracted and tested positive for the virus after interacting and coming in contact with the first American diagnosed with the disease, Dr. Thomas Eric Duncan. Although not 100% certain at this moment, it looks as if this incident could be the first case of transmission through contact within the US.

Because we do not have an effective, guaranteed treatment as of now, the infected patient will remain in quarantine within her own apartment, and security to prevent outsider contact is extensive. Police have been deployed to guard her door to prevent any direct outsider interactions.

With more understanding, Ebola spreads from infected bodily fluids, such as urine, sweat, semen, saliva, among others, entering through cuts, the nose, mouth, or eyes. According to WHO, the most infectious fluids are blood, saliva in vomit, and feces.

However, with this in mind, surprisingly, reports from the hospital and patient have both stated that the infected nurse was fully protected with gloves, a gown, and a facemask at while in contact with the first American patient.

As the facts are presented and put forth before us, it is interesting to analyze and think about. I do not believe any one theory, but think that are many things to consider in the solution and treatment of this epidemic.

Some people are saying that we shouldn’t let anyone traveling from Africa into the country, others are supporting screening procedures such as those at JFK, others claiming that we seclude all infected patients and provide limited care. And the list continues on. As of now, there are limited doses of a treatment that has not proven to be the most effective, but there is not enough to go around. There rises another dilemma as to how the distribution of this possible treatment should be spread.

I do not have a specific opinion I would like to share about any of the debates, but would love to hear your opinions! Comment down below what you think about this (now becoming) global epidemic. This information is a compilation of many news sources, but I suggest checking some out for yourselves. In addition, I plan on checking out various documentaries about Ebola on YouTube and television. I will try to stay updated on this, but until then, stay safe.

music: distraction or concentrater

So here is another debate: does music help or distract a person while they are doing work? For the most part, everyone has their opinion on it, but scientifically, there have been conclusions about the effect of music. (Note: I am currently listening to music while writing this introduction, although I have not done the research yet. I will keep you updated by the end of this post whether the research has convinced me to keep/turn off the music.)

Here is goes; In my opinion, this could be potentially life changing. I always listen to music while I work, so this could change my entire life. So for real, here it goes~

Music and sound in general, has been shown to stimulate brain activity because the brain must decipher the sounds. However, as you concentrate more, it just becomes background. In that way, it could be considered distracting because your brain must process sound and focus on the matter at hand. On the contrary debate, it keeps the brain busy and concentrating on at least something. As a general rule of thumb, while working on homework or essays, classical, soothing music without words helps to blend into the background without the distraction of deciphering words.

In terms of working out and exercising, music has distinct beats to pace a workout and allow the listener to almost zone out, and focus less on the sweat and pain of the workout, but rather the music. Although not necessarily proven, athletes have claimed that it is easier to workout in long periods to distract them

 

healthy tips for life

As the seasons start to change, and we get back to our busy lives, many times, we begin to compromise our health to reach our aspirations. Many times, our goals rely on our precious time and energy. Although I am not an expert by any means, I thought it was important to share some important tips I have been told and some I learned from experience.

As a student and a blogger, one of the greatest skills I lack, but have been trying to improve upon is time management. Many times in our lives we are faced with deadlines in the future, and we must manage our time to complete the activity within the deadline with self-efficacy. In my junior year of high school, I live by my planner and calendars on my phone, always planning out dates and activities down to the second.

Always get sleep! It may seem that whatever activity needs to be completed is more important, but trust me when I say that sleep is important as well. Personal health must be an equal balance between work, pleasure, and rest. Aim to get at least 8 hours minimum per night. It will allow for better brain activity the next morning, leading to a healthy habit cycle.

Healthy eating is important in almost every context, but especially important to remember during times when you’re busy, stressed, and want to eat. Many times, because work can be monotonous, tedious, and boring, we begin binge eating to raise our moods. However, you must be able to identify this behavior and eat in moderation, drink fluids, and control what and how much you’re eating.

One of the greatest stress relievers is exercising. Even in a busy day, it would be great if you could block off a consistent half hour or so to engage in physical activity. One of my favorites when I am down is playing classical music and stretching, doing yoga, or the complete opposite when I am stressed. I love blasting pop and rap music and running, lifting weights, or circuit training. As a little cheat, you can always catch up on some of your favorite television show you normally do not have time to watch during the week. In this way, you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle, treating your body properly and engaging in pleasurable activities.

I am no health professional, but these are some of my tips that have worked for me. Comment down below what you do to stay healthy. Like this post for more healthy tips posts.

a heart-felt apology, and a new beginning

I am alive and healthy and well, but very busy. Some may call it stress, a job, but to me, it is life and I embrace it. If you’ve read my “About” section, you would know that I’m a junior in high school. Junior just started for me and it has already been a learning experience with balancing work with pleasure.

So I guess this post is a quick apology and a promise that I will be posting at least once a week from now on. I have some great posts planned, but I haven’t gotten around to doing research or editing for them. Be on the lookout for my next post on Tuesday night. Forgive me please and let’s put this absence behind us.

striking out ALS: one bucket of water at a time?

Unless you have been living under a rock (or not connected on social media), you likely have heard of something called the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.” I think this is a great cause, and the ALS Association has even claimed to observe a significant increase in awareness. It’s definitely a great way to spread the word with another chain, internet fad. Check out what the ALS Association had to say here.

But personally, despite the great awareness, I know a few people who are just doing it just because, or because they were nominated. It’s great that the word about ALS is being spread around, but many do not know what it actually stands for or what the disease is characterized by. I’m not going to lie, but that almost makes me sick to the stomach. Just for kicks, here are some things my friends had to say about ALS and what they knew.

Me: What does ALS stand for?

(If you’re reading this, I love you, but here it goes for science)

Friend #1: Alzheimer’s Lyme Syndrome?

Me: And what does that do to the body?

Friend #1: Ticks suck the blood out of you and can transport diseases… I think.

So that was the first encounter.

The second one was a bit more informed, but not quite there.

Me: What is ALS?

Friend #2: Something with a mental disorder in the brain that causes nerves to go crazy in your limbs

Me: Is it curable?

Friend #2: Since you’re asking me about it, probably not. I know that Lou Gehrig had it and he died so I’m going to go with no its not curable.

For me, I don’t think there is anything wrong with this challenge. It is for sure, raising awareness, but I encourage everyone to read a little about ALS before or after you accept the challenge. ALS research is 100% a good cause. I personally, have donated money along with some friends in the past and hope to do so again in the future.

I did my final presentation for my science research class on ALS, specifically sALS and fALS. I understand this is not the best made presentation, please forgive me for that, but here is a copy of the presentation. It isn’t very clear, so I encourage you all to read the original paper, cited on the title page. But please check out the presentation below, feedback welcome in the comments.

ALS_final_presentation_2014_posterpresentation

I nominate all of you to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!! Submit your videos to iscienceresearch@gmail.com or leave them in the comments below. I would love to dedicate a post to video submissions, but only you guys can make that possible.

 

 

a Robin Williams story: the science behind depression

In light of Robin Williams’ death, I thought I would write this entry as a tribute to him. Judging from various news sources, it sounded as if he was suffering from depression, and that was what snowballed into his yet-to-be-officially confirmed suicide. Depression is a topic that many do not fully understand, yet it is something close to my heart.

Very rarely are people born with depression. It is something that comes with time. Causes vary from any type of abuse (physical, verbal, emotional), to medications, to traumatic or upsetting experiences, or even genetics. In terms of genetics, it is more complex than other genetic diseases. However, if anyone in your blood-related family has had depression, or symptoms of it, there are chances that you have inherited the decreased amount of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine released. (Note that there are new arguments and studies that serotonin levels are not affected in patients affected by depression).

In terms of brain activity, PET scans have shown that people affected by depression show significantly less brain activity than “normal” brains.

As for the personal take on depression, I think it is important to note that some people cannot control it. Although you can argue that they have control over their emotions, it is difficult to regulate the neurotransmitters that are produced. And those are what in turn, regulate depressive symptoms. In 2010, 9% of Americans were reported to be depressed. Although the number continues to fluctuate, the people affected are nonetheless affected. So, from this post, it is important to be nice to everyone. One of my favorite quotes is: “everyone you meet is fighting a battle you don’t know about. Be kind.” So, let’s all be kind.

Sorry this post was rather choppy and for lack of a better term depressing, but I felt it really needed to be said.

RIP Robin Williams. You will be missed greatly.