Caroline Goldberg
Science Blog
Mr. Webb
Thursday, December 20th 2012
In the article, The Helmet That Can Save Football (http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-12/helmet-wars-and-new-helmet-could-protect-us-all), the commonality of concussions in contact sports is explained. The article illustrates 2 professional football stories of traumatic brain injuries on the field. Professional football players can receive up to 1,500 hits to the head in one season. Even at a high school level, players that participate in contact sports are at risk for a concussion everyday. Concussions can lead to many problems, even as bad as affecting the brain so much the person commits suicide, like professional football player Andre Waters. The article then goes into the different types and ways an athlete can receive a concussion. A concussion occors when the brain rotates from impact, causing it to hit the inside of the skull and create a concussion. Doctors can diagnose the rotation of the brain but the main problem is how to cure and stop them. Because of the rising numbers on concussions in high school, college, and professional sports, Swedish scientists decided to take it upon themselves to create a helmet to significantly minimize concussions. Creating a helmet that could stop concussions can be very complicated and still no helmet exists that totally stops head trauma. Helmets that closely encase the head in different patterns following the skull can minimize head trauma but nothing, so far, has stopped the rising rate of concussions.
Being a high school athlete and the sister of a high school volleyball player that suffered 4 concussions in one year, i have seen first hand the effects of concussions. Concussions don't just give the recipient headaches, but it effects school work, ability to focus, effects your ability to sleep and think and make it hard to exercise because of the pain. I think more research should go into finding a helmet or a method to stop concussions. Even though I do not play a contact sport and I am at a low risk for concussions, I still think that concussions are a huge problem and should be quickly addressed.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
No More Birthday Balloons?
We all know the funny voice someone gets when they inhale helium, but a British scientist says people shouldn't be laughing. Since helium is lighter than air, when helium is released from balloons we can never get it back. Helium is naturally found in pockets in the earth but the frequent popping of balloons and people inhaling helium the would could run out. What helium's purpose is to slow atoms down, running refrigerators and conduct MRI scans. Because of the shortage, some scientists have called off experiments that involve helium to try to help conserve the element. Dr. Peter Wothers says the shortage should be blamed on the overuse of helium in birthday balloons. He says this is a serious issue. Helium's more important use is when it is mixed with oxygen in hospitals to help very sick and new born patients breathe. Many other scientists agree with the fact that helium must be used more sparingly and should be limited for birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Article: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/helium-balloons-could-cause-world-shortage-claims-british
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Article: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/helium-balloons-could-cause-world-shortage-claims-british
No More Birthday Balloons?
We all know the funny voice someone gets when they inhale helium, but a British scientist says people shouldn't be laughing. Since helium is lighter than air, when helium is released from balloons we can never get it back. Helium is naturally found in pockets in the earth but the frequent popping of balloons and people inhaling helium the would could run out. What helium's purpose is is to slow atoms down, running refrigerators and conduct MRI scans. Because of the shortage, some scientists have called off experiments that involve helium to try to help conserve the element. Dr. Peter Wothers says the shortage should be blamed on the overuse of helium in birthday balloons. He says this is a serious issue. Helium's more important use is when it is mixed with oxygen in hospitals to help very sick and new born patients breathe. Many other scientists agree with the fact that helium must be used more sparingly and should be limited for birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
No More Birthday Balloons?
We all know the funny voice someone gets when they inhale helium, but a British scientist says people shouldn't be laughing. Since helium is lighter than air, when helium is released from balloons we can never get it back. Helium is naturally found in pockets in the earth but the frequent popping of balloons and people inhaling helium the would could run out. What helium's purpose is is to slow atoms down, running refrigerators and conduct MRI scans. Because of the shortage, some scientists have called off experiments that involve helium to try to help conserve the element. Dr. Peter Wothers says the shortage should be blamed on the overuse of helium in birthday balloons. He says this is a serious issue. Helium's more important use is when it is mixed with oxygen in hospitals to help very sick and new born patients breathe. Many other scientists agree with the fact that helium must be used more sparingly and should be limited for birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
No More Birthday Balloons?
We all know the funny voice someone gets when they inhale helium, but a British scientist says people shouldn't be laughing. Since helium is lighter than air, when helium is released from balloons we can never get it back. Helium is naturally found in pockets in the earth but the frequent popping of balloons and people inhaling helium the would could run out. What helium's purpose is is to slow atoms down, running refrigerators and conduct MRI scans. Because of the shortage, some scientists have called off experiments that involve helium to try to help conserve the element. Dr. Peter Wothers says the shortage should be blamed on the overuse of helium in birthday balloons. He says this is a serious issue. Helium's more important use is when it is mixed with oxygen in hospitals to help very sick and new born patients breathe. Many other scientists agree with the fact that helium must be used more sparingly and should be limited for birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
No More Birthday Balloons?
We all know the funny voice someone gets when they inhale helium, but a British scientist says people shouldn't be laughing. Since helium is lighter than air, when helium is released from balloons we can never get it back. Helium is naturally found in pockets in the earth but the frequent popping of balloons and people inhaling helium the would could run out. What helium's purpose is is to slow atoms down, running refrigerators and conduct MRI scans. Because of the shortage, some scientists have called off experiments that involve helium to try to help conserve the element. Dr. Peter Wothers says the shortage should be blamed on the overuse of helium in birthday balloons. He says this is a serious issue. Helium's more important use is when it is mixed with oxygen in hospitals to help very sick and new born patients breathe. Many other scientists agree with the fact that helium must be used more sparingly and should be limited for birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Before reading this article, I never knew that helium was in a shortage or that the world could run out of helium. I think, even though it might not effect me personally, I think this could change the future. Without helium, hospital patients may not be able to breathe as easily without the mix of oxygen and helium. It is also a weird thought to have that the next generation or the one after that may not ever get to make their voice high and squeaky with birthday balloons.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Ice on Mercury
Caroline Goldberg
Mr. Webb
Blog Post 3
The extremely hot surface of mercury would probably be the last place someone would think to find ice, but the messenger spacecraft has found ice and the strongest evidence of it. Mercury can't support life but many were surprised to find ice on the planet that is so close to the sun. The discovery of ice raises the question: how did materials like water get on earth? In the 1990s radars showed the presence of ice with bright spots on Mercury's poles. The new found information confirm the radars showing of frozen water on the planet. Inside the many craters on the planet, the temperature is predicted to be -173 degrees Celsius to prove that frozen water can exist on the planet. Temperature pattern also show that there could have been more ice on the planet than previously thought. Scientists think the ice and other materials arrived from comets or asteroids that landed on the planet.
This article talked about theories about how ice and other resources arrived on planets, which could very much effect our lives today. There have been many theories about how earth or mankind was created and scientists could be on the path to predicting how natural materials arrived on planets. Some of the studies could forever prove how life began on earth or how humans are able to sustain themselves on only one planet.
Article: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/scientists-discover-water-ice-on-mercury-1129.html
Mr. Webb
Blog Post 3
The extremely hot surface of mercury would probably be the last place someone would think to find ice, but the messenger spacecraft has found ice and the strongest evidence of it. Mercury can't support life but many were surprised to find ice on the planet that is so close to the sun. The discovery of ice raises the question: how did materials like water get on earth? In the 1990s radars showed the presence of ice with bright spots on Mercury's poles. The new found information confirm the radars showing of frozen water on the planet. Inside the many craters on the planet, the temperature is predicted to be -173 degrees Celsius to prove that frozen water can exist on the planet. Temperature pattern also show that there could have been more ice on the planet than previously thought. Scientists think the ice and other materials arrived from comets or asteroids that landed on the planet.
This article talked about theories about how ice and other resources arrived on planets, which could very much effect our lives today. There have been many theories about how earth or mankind was created and scientists could be on the path to predicting how natural materials arrived on planets. Some of the studies could forever prove how life began on earth or how humans are able to sustain themselves on only one planet.
Article: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/scientists-discover-water-ice-on-mercury-1129.html
Monday, December 3, 2012
Skype With a Scientist
Today for class. we skyped with a scientist from MIT which I thought was very fun and interesting, as well. I have to admit, I am a little confused about how he can make a cancer cell explode but I still find it interesting. I wish I would have known a little more on what he is working on and I wish I would have asked what is the most interesting thing you have ever discovered. I learned a lot about black holes, because before today, I didn't know you weren't able to see them! I also learned why a black hole is black and how it could stretch a human because of the gravity. By first glance, one can tell Mac is passionate about what he does. Whenever we asked a question, his eyes would light up and he would get very enthusiastic about what he was saying. I'm really glad our class got to do that and hope we can do it again in the future!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Polar Ice Caps Shrinking
Caroline Goldberg
Mr. Webb
Atomic Structure
For my second blog assignment, I chose to read an article about the polar ice caps and how their shrinking is effecting people worldwide. Throughout the changing weather, there has always been rumors of global warming and the melting of ice caps and this article could prove it all to be true. This article tells the reader, "Between 1992 and 2011, the Greenland ice sheet lost 2,940 billion metric tons of ice while the Antarctic ice sheet shed 1,320 billion metric tons." The loss of ice has accounted for 1/4 of sea level rise. Andrew Shepard from the University of Leeds in England says that the findings are important because they could help scientists predict what could happen in the future. For more than a decade, scientists have been researching and reporting new changes is sea level and ice caps to try to predict if they will completely disappear because of warmer temperatures. Data confirms that Greenland's ice caps are melting at a faster rate than before or expected. Antarctica has also lost more ice than it has produced, causing it to shrink and lose mass. This article also explains the good news and bad news of the research found. The good news is that the satellite method for conducting research seemed to be accurate and could be a tool in helping control and monitor ice caps. The bad news is that there are so many factors that go into the melting of ice caps that it will be hard to keep up with year to year changes. Melting glaciers all around the world are a looming topic that shows just how much humans have effected the environment around us.
The severity of losing the polar ice caps are always somewhere in the news and also involved with politics because the state of our environment is in danger. The ice caps in Alaska, Canada, and South America are all melting and losing their mass. This really shows that the mild winter and fall around the world are a harsh reminder that the world's temperature is rising. Global warming is a subject that has much controversy and has many non believers. This article shows that all of the ice could melt and oceans could rise way over regular sea level, effecting sea life, jobs, and coastal life. If that happens, the humans regular way of life could be changed permanently.
Article: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/346733/description/Shrinking_polar_ice_caused_one-fifth_of_sea_level_rise
Mr. Webb
Atomic Structure
For my second blog assignment, I chose to read an article about the polar ice caps and how their shrinking is effecting people worldwide. Throughout the changing weather, there has always been rumors of global warming and the melting of ice caps and this article could prove it all to be true. This article tells the reader, "Between 1992 and 2011, the Greenland ice sheet lost 2,940 billion metric tons of ice while the Antarctic ice sheet shed 1,320 billion metric tons." The loss of ice has accounted for 1/4 of sea level rise. Andrew Shepard from the University of Leeds in England says that the findings are important because they could help scientists predict what could happen in the future. For more than a decade, scientists have been researching and reporting new changes is sea level and ice caps to try to predict if they will completely disappear because of warmer temperatures. Data confirms that Greenland's ice caps are melting at a faster rate than before or expected. Antarctica has also lost more ice than it has produced, causing it to shrink and lose mass. This article also explains the good news and bad news of the research found. The good news is that the satellite method for conducting research seemed to be accurate and could be a tool in helping control and monitor ice caps. The bad news is that there are so many factors that go into the melting of ice caps that it will be hard to keep up with year to year changes. Melting glaciers all around the world are a looming topic that shows just how much humans have effected the environment around us.
The severity of losing the polar ice caps are always somewhere in the news and also involved with politics because the state of our environment is in danger. The ice caps in Alaska, Canada, and South America are all melting and losing their mass. This really shows that the mild winter and fall around the world are a harsh reminder that the world's temperature is rising. Global warming is a subject that has much controversy and has many non believers. This article shows that all of the ice could melt and oceans could rise way over regular sea level, effecting sea life, jobs, and coastal life. If that happens, the humans regular way of life could be changed permanently.
Article: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/346733/description/Shrinking_polar_ice_caused_one-fifth_of_sea_level_rise
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