Types of Chemical Bonds

Popplet: Types of Bonds 

Ghostly shape of 'coldest place in the universe' revealed

The Boomerang Nebula, called the “coldest place in the Universe,” reveals its true shape with ALMA.

The coldest place in the universe was found 5,000 light years away from planet earth in the constellation Centaurus. It has a ghost shape for and its said to be colder than the faint afterglow of the Big Bag being it one degree Kelvin (minus 458 degrees Fahrenheit). This nebula was originally observed by ground-based telescope but it was identified as the coldest place in the universe by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) by astronomers. With ALMA they determined the true shape and the properties of the nebula and revealed the whole story other from the picture taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

The object found, called Boomerang nebula, is actually a planetary nebulae that is actually the end-of-life-phases of the stars just like our sun. What remains in their center are white dwarf stars that emit ultraviolet radiation which causes gas and a glow that lets it bright different colors. By now the pre-planetary nebula is seen by starlight which only reflects dust grains not such a big glow. The color emitted is also a character of the coldness expanding in the nebula by a gas. This information has been seen for millions of miles away by the ALMA and the Hubble telescope and many attributes and its properties can be known by this.

It's impressive how technology has evolved to the point were we can see objects that are 5,000 light years away! Personally I think this is incredible and it's amazing how we are discovering new things in the vast universe in which we know very little about. Very similar to the sea, we don't really know what is out there and because space can be very terrifying these new inventions can help the world know a little bit more about the place we live in, the universe. The nebula has very pretty colors, one of the reasons this article was very alluring but also the fact that it's the coldest place in the universe is really interesting and I just had to click and see what the fuzz was all about. I'm glad I got to know more about nebulas and learned about planetary nebulae.

Ghostly shape of 'coldest place in the universe' revealed

Beware of the Yeti

Yeti in the Himalayas

The old legend of the yeti has been alive for many years but never confirmed. Therefore it has always been said it is a myth. Recently it is said, this past week,  that the legendary yeti has been 'discovered'. The yeti is supposedly said to be to be a giant ape-like creature that lives in the Himalayas by trekkers and mountain climbers that have "seen him". They also say it is a dark and extremely shy creature with footprints similar to human's but larger and wider. 

There minimal sustainable proof of the existence of this creature, only footprints and a few hairs that have been found and tested it different places. The conclusion that was reached with the hair testing is that the yeti is a polar bear species that was extinct 120,000 years ago.  The hairs were brown, which shows the resemblance with polar bears and grizzly bears. The two samples that have been collected are relatively far in distance which can indicate that there are more than one of these creatures or the creature moves from place to place. This evidence required has alarmed various news stories where they confirm, "It is not a bear, not anything else that we've so far been able to identify."

Clearly the mythical creature, the famous yeti, has always been an intriguing mystery to many people. Documentaries, news articles, books, movies, and other things have been created in honor of the curiosity people have towards the yeti. Being it a non-solved mystery it is very interesting to research and speculate about, and with the evidence scientist have of this "creature" it gives some sort of hope to the yeti fans. It would be an astonishing accomplishment to once in for all know if the yeti is real, and if this creature actually exist and all of it is a myth. Likely to the mermaid myths, the yeti is a mystery soon to be discovered and we will be expectant to this story. 

Yeti Article

Earth: Wild Fires Burning Up

Scientist are noticing a trend in the wildfires that burned in the U.S.
on the average of acres burned over time

There has been a deep concern in the past year about how the weather is a hazard for hot states. In the state of Arizona there has been research since a wildfire cause by a lighting strike in Yarnell, Arizona. In was a hot, dry day when the fire vastly spread causing 19 firefighters died trying to put out the 8,400 acres of burning land. This all took place the summer of last year, which is a basis to the concern people are having of possible fires this year.

There rapid spreading fires are becoming more common in the United States as the years progress, being the climate change the worst enemy in this case. The increase of temperature in the Earth's atmosphere causes hotter temperatures that makes snow to melt faster in the year and make droughts worse. These dry seasons makes fires last longer, weaken plants and dry out vegetation that is a source that can cause fires to spread easily.

This is a situation that impacts anyone who is aware of it, specially the people who live in dry states. But due to technology advances, "... scientists are getting better at predicting where and were the fires might occur, which helps firefighters prepare to stop them before they get out of control,"says Gregg Garfin in Science Daily. This is a relief for many people and is a relief for many other countries that may be going through the same thing. Thing like this have never been a great concern in El Salvador, but there is a dry season (summer). It is of great concern that anything like this may occur in this small country, but people need to be prepared for anything disastrous that may happen.

Firefighter in California earlier this year
(another dry state to be concerned about)

MLA

Warren, StephanieRosen, RaphaelGuarino, BenHerman, DebbieRoss, Valerie. "Science News." Science World 70.2 (2013): 2. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.

LINK
Article at the bottom

Disappearing Ghost-Octopus

This video about an octopus camouflaging is very interesting. The octopus has perfectly adapted and camouflaged himself to a coral, where he is impossible to see. We are aware the octopus is there until its alarmed and is forced to scape from the unknown man with a camera. 

A marine biologist, named Roger Hanlon, was startled at the appearance of this particular marine creature. He had no idea it was there, and still does not know how this eight armed creature could do such thing. With his research group, Hanlon is investigating underwater creatures called cephalapods, which include suit, cuttlefish and octopi. The researchers are still trying to figure out how the octopus could camouflage to such an identical appearance to the natural object it was against. The biologists conclusion was that pigments of the skin called chromatophores are the cells that can create the skin to match the color and textures of its surroundings. 

Chromatophores

The natural world is so amazing. Its unbelievable that animals can become their surroundings, and adapt so well to them. For me, the idea of camouflage is so strange and uniquely amazing that makes me what to camouflage. It is so great that this tool that some animals have, help them disappear and protect themselves from bigger animals that can hurt or eat them. Its almost like being invisible, which is an awesome concept. Another thing from this article, besides the amazing ghost-octopus, was that these octopi are color blind. Just like Hanlon said,“The amazing thing is that these animals are color blind yet they are capable of creating color-match patterns,” which is insane if you ask me. I definitely learned a lot with this article about how amazing the natural world really is. 

Article Link: Discover Magazine: Disappearing Ghost-Octopus

Niels Bohr

How did he contribute in the develpement of the Atomic Theory?

Niels Bohr is a Copenhagen Physists that came up with the Electron Theory. This theory stated that electrons orbit the nucleus in different energy levels much like the planets orbit the sun.

Prezi: Niels Bohr Prezi

 

Measurement - Prezi

Measurements are crucial in every single persons life. We measure just about everything. We measure time, distance, temperature, and many other things we most of the time aren't aware that we are measuring. In the measuring world the metric system is one of the greatest and most important of tools we can use while we measure. But in the science world, other than the metric system, the usage of significant digits is also important when  recording results while performing experiments.

Link to presentation:
Prezi Measrement Presentation

One-way Mars trip attracts 165,000 would-be astronauts

                                                     One Way Astronaut Official Trailer

Did you ever dream of becoming an astronaut? Since a very young age we are taught that astronauts are the ones who go out to space and explore the moon and the planets. Some of us had a list of what we wanted to be when we grew up, and I included, being an astronaut was one of them. 

Everyone knows the little red planet that neighbors our home. From a perspective Mars is relatively close to Earth, its right next to it, but getting to it isn't as easy as it seems. It takes approximately one year to reach it, and the waited mission to the red planet is finally happening. In April of 2022 Mars One (the name of mission) will launch its way to Mars and land in April 2023. The thing about this mission is that its a one-way trip to Mars, meaning that when the crew gets there they would make Mars their home. The concept of Mars One doesn't include bringing the crew back home to planet earth but leaving them there to create a permanent settlement. There have been thousands of applicants for this mission, but not all of them are fully committed to the part in which there is no return to planet Earth. There is a 23% of applicants that come from the United States, which makes it the largest group from the 140 other countries that sent an application. It is considered the election of the best candidates a crucial element for the mission, and probably all the process will be documented and be filmed for all people to see. 

It is scary to think you will never be able to see your family, friends, or for a matter of fact your planet ever again. This is probably what is going through the mind of all the people who sent an application for the mission Mars One, that takes a crew to Mars to live there and never come back. It is obviously a chance of a life time, to go out in space and to make history by being the first people on Mars. For me its incredible how long it took for this mission to be held, and how long it takes to get there considering it takes about three months to get to the moon. But, I was completely terrified while reading the part about not coming back in this article, and also seeing in the trailer how people were exited and ready for this mission. I also believe this is a great step in history and in the futuristic advance of the human race. Right now these people are thinking about expanding the places were the human species can live or may live in the future. Either way going and being the first people to step on Mars and live in it, is an amazing thing. It even blows my ming just thinking about it. It's simply, awesome. 

Article: http://www.nbcnews.com/science/one-way-mars-trip-attracts-165-000-would-be-astronauts-6C10981032

The Mystery of Underwater Crop Circles

Underwater Circles

The mystery underwater circles have been researched since 1995, until its mystery was revealed of the discovery of its particular maker. Lisa Raffensperger, a writer from the Discover Magazine, writes about the five inch male putterfish's creation to attract female putterfish to reproduce. The patterned circles are seven feet in diameter and are created by the fish swimming in and out repeatedly, using its fins to dig dents in the sandy bottom. It takes the fish about seven to nine days to complete the "... spirograph patterns," as the article recalls were the circle has a center meant for the nest of the eggs the female will lay after mating. After the eggs have been laid the putterfish leaves them and goes to a new spot were he will create a new circle again. This article is very rare to me because I have never paid any attention to any behavior a fish can have, other than knowing about clownfish and their home in anemones, and this is a shocking article to me. It comes to my attention all the things a male animal can do in order to attract a female for matting.

Picture taken from web article
URL: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2013/08/15/underwater-crop-circles-mystery-solved/#.UhGsus2Iqpb

Raffensperger, Lisa. "The Mystery of Underwater Crop Circles, Explained - D-brief | DiscoverMagazine.com." Discover. Kalambach Publising Co., 15 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Aug. 2013.

Chemistry Class and Safety in the Chemistry lab

This school year has began with a good start. Our chemistry teacher has made a very good impression to all the students in her class, and each and everyone of them wants to have a good year with the new teacher. The greatest advantage, other than our teacher being very nice, is that we have a new teacher and we can have a fresh new start. The first week of school started like every first week in the past few years regarding science classes. All the science classes begin with the syllabus and the class rules and expectations, then they talk about what is going to be covered in class, and finally they talk about lab safety.

Safety is the most important thing that should be considered in the Science lab. Day to day when working in the lab we are exposed to dangerous hazards that can put our life at risk. It is very important to be aware of the chemicals that are being used in the lab, specially in Chemistry class. Therefore, in the lab there are certain rules that should be followed in order for people not to get hurt and be able to perform experiments in a safe and correct way. Some of the most important rules that should be followed are: to always have self control, no horseplay due to some things that may be knocked out and break, always wear googles to protect your eyes from harmful chemicals or other things getting into your eyes, always wear gloves to protect your hands from chemicals that can burn your skin, and wear an apron to protect your clothes of being bleached. The importance of these general rules is to be considered in order for your science experiment and your experience in the lab to be a success.