Prezi

http://prezi.com/rjt9gg2thp_c/element-bonding-project/

Current Event- Pollution might lead to Sclerosis

Purdue University. "Environmental toxin may play important role in multiple sclerosis: Hypertension drug possible treatment." ScienceDaily 23 November 2010. 25 November 2010 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/11/101123174332.htm>.

Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a disease more often encountered at young adults and women; formed when myelin- a protective layer around nerves is damaged. As a result, the brain has difficulties “communicating” with other parts of the body. Acrolein on the other hand is a toxic air pollutant, being mostly found by tobacco and auto exhaust. Neuroscience professor Riyi Shi, at the Purdue University discovered that mice with multiple sclerosis have a 60% larger amount of acrolein in their spine. It basically eats away the connection the myelin has with the nerve. To my surprise, they seemed to may have found a way to solve this problem. It’s a hypertension medicine- hydralizine was proven to reduce the amount of acrolein, therefore delay MS. It is the first time this type of medicine seemed to have an effect on sclerosis, as well as the first time acrolein is proven to have such a drastic effect on  myelin.

This article connects to our study of environmental issues and what they can cause. I never knew that pollution could go as far as sclerosis, a sickness that seemed so far from anything I thought it could cause. Now I’ve learnt what multiple sclerosis and acrolein are and how they impact each other. All I don’t understand is how a blood-pressure lowering medicine could help it. They seem to have nothing to do with each other. But now that I think of it, some things start making more sense. This disease is more often seen at young people, mostly because there isn’t anything to stop it; young people don’t usually need hypertension medicine. On the other hand, my and probably many other’s opinion on sclerosis was that only elders have it. This article completely changes our assumptions, and is completely shocking. It would be great if the medicine would work on humans the same way it does on mice, but won’t it be dangerous to take pills for something you don’t have. It’s like taking pills for stomach ache when you have a fever, then expecting it to work. I’m pretty sure we should test this more, and find out what exactly helps in hydralizine, then combine it with the old sclerosis pills and discover a revolutionary medicine.

This current event was easy to understand after some background information on what MS and acrolein are was researched. If you don’t know them before you read, you wouldn’t understand anything. The information was clearly valid, from a trustworthy website, with facts as well as the thoughts of the scientists. Before I started reading it I wondered what pollution has to do with brain damage and how do blood-pressure medicines help it.

I chose this article because of the many questions, doubts and opinions that popped up in my mind just by reading the title and the subheading. I’m very surprised and in the future, if they will ever manage to explain it, I would like to know how does the medicine really help as well as how are you supposed to know to take it if it only helps preventing multiple scoliosis?

Current Events- Lung Cancer Cure?

American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. "New Treatment for Lung Cancer Shows Promise." ScienceDaily, 16 November 2010. Web. 17 November 2010. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115142005.htm>.


A brand new discovered lung cancer cure is being presented and discussed right now at the Annual Meeting and Exposition 2010 in New Orleans. Raimar Löbenberg along his colleagues Warren Finlay and Wilson Roa seem to have discovered a more efficient, less traumatizing cure. Facts show the lung cancer is one of the deadliest and the second most common in the U.S. People go through horrible, never-ending treatments and most don't seem to have results worth it. You must be wondering what this "new cure" is. It's a dry, inhalant powder (breath it in) developed by using a chemotherapy drug encapsulated into nano-particles. It was tested on mice and the outcome was compared with the results of other mice being treated with the exact same medicine only through injection and a solution. They discovered that inhaling it was more efficient, the mice lived longer and even the tumors got smaller. 


This article connects to what we studied a couple of weeks ago. Many people might not have notices but a lot of our environmental issues affect our lungs. Lung diseases seem to become more and more often so the risk of lung cancer will be increased. Lung cancer, after what I've heard, is the most deadly and horrible one, so finding a cure that would be easily administrated and with better results is truly amazing. The only problem would end up being the price- which will limit the people able to access it. 


This current event was easy to understand and it is a trustworthy source, including clear facts and correct information. Just by the title it got my attention, I was willing to read more- for some reason I'm very interested in facts and cures to horrible diseases. If those tests will be proven on people it will be an amazing benefit that would save so many lives and so much effort as well as time. 

Sunburned Whales

11/10/10 10:53 AM

 Associated Press

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40108686/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Whales off the Mexican coast seem to be suffering from harsh sunburn – believed to be caused by the gaps in the ozone layer that are unable to block UV-rays. So far, none of it developed into cancer.

This time of season the whales are more vulnerable, having to spend more time at the surface, but because they lack any kind of fur or leather as well as the ability to put on sunscreen and sunglasses, they are completely unprotected from the UV radiation. Just like humans, the whale’s skin tone affects the way they react. Blue whales are more affected than the fin whales, even though they spent less time at the surface. The ozone layer got thinner and thinner because of CFC’s (chemicals “eating” it away.) Not only it endangers whales, but in endangers whale species already endangered.

We just wrote an essay on an environmental issue. And yes, I knew we had problems with the ozone layer but I never thought it would get to something as ridiculous as whales getting sunburned. I have never heard of a sea animal getting sunburned; just imagine how much worse it can get. Not only it might contribute to making a Blue Whale extinct but what if this is happening to other, smaller animals, but we just haven’t realized because of their size.

The article was easy to understand and the data is most definitely valid, from a trusted website with scientist and people with studies in the domain contributing. I knew we probably created this issue just from hearing the title; however, I am deeply shocked that whales are actually able to get sunburned. In a way I realized they are a lot like us, how we are affected differently depending on some facts. But at least humans can solve this. We can hide under an umbrella or use sunscreen. And if we get skin cancer, we can do things to try to survive it. You can’t catch a whale and give it pills; it’s not even their fault this is happening.

The Chemistry of Fireworks

How are fireworks capsules designed?
A firework is basically an Aerial Shell- it contains black powder propellant, a time fuse, black powder bursting charge and effect pellets.

What safety procedures do they include in the design?
It includes a time fuse so it won't explode immediately and endanger health as well as the shell that keeps it all together and the mortar tube.

What are the various compounds mentioned in this video? *What are their chemical formulas?
Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Perchlorate, Strontium Nitrate, Copper Oxide, Strontium Chloride, Sodium Silicate, Calcium Nitrate and Barium Acetate.


KNO3, KClO4, Sr(NO3)2, Cu2O, SrCl2, Na2SiO3, Ca(NO3)2, Ba(C2H3O2)2


Which element is extremely important for fireworks to work properly? What is the fire triangle?
You need black powder to both propel and burst. . The Fire Triangle is fuel+ heat+ oxygen and black powder obtains all of them.

What two components do fireworks need in order to produce heat at a certain burning rate?
  You need something to work as a fuel  and an oxidizer.


What type of reaction takes place in fireworks?
An explosion.

Current Events- Every Person Emits Two Tons of Carbon Dioxide per Year

Science Daily, 3/11/10

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101102131108.htm

Can you believe where our world got? Can you imagine that each single one of you pollutes this Earth up to two tons of carbon dioxide every single year? And it's not because of transportation or entertainment. It's just because we eat. We ate, we eat, and we will eat because we cannot survive without eating. But can Earth survive with us eating?

A study by the Spanish University Almeria confirms that from the time the food is produced up until the body excretes it along the year, the amount of carbon dioxide produced is 2 tons, about 20% of all the amount of carbon dioxide released each year in the entire world. From getting the food, to transporting, to selling, to preparing, to eating and further processes our world is being polluted. Some of the greater impacts are producing the food from live stock such as dairy products or meat as well as fishing and agriculture. Not only this, but it seems that for the first time, even human excrement causes some water pollution by containing nitrogen and phosphorus and contributing to several problems.

This current event completely shocked me. I didn’t have a clue that just by doing something as normal as eating the Earth will be so affected. But what are we supposed to do? Stop eating?

It is true; it impacts global warming and pollutes water and air. But one reason why people aren’t going to take it very seriously it’s because, if you think about it, its carbon dioxide. Without it we would have no oxygen for the simple fact that trees and plants take carbon dioxide in and after photosynthesis they release it as oxygen. And if you think deeper, there wouldn’t be any water either. In my opinion, focusing on this would be a waste of time. There is more point in stopping people from driving a car than trying to stop them from eating. It pollutes but there is worse.

I don’t want to sound careless and just let this topic pass by, but if you think about it it’s not half as bad as other. A way to solve it is to make people plant more forests so there will be more plants to “get rid” of it. Also comparing how much carbon dioxide eating produces: 2 tons per year to how much carbon dioxide a car produces: 7.7 tons per year; we would all realize which is worse. In the end, eating is more important than transportation.