Caroline Goldberg
Mr. Webb
Saturday January 26th 2013
In a recent study conducted on kindergarten children a new theory has been proven to be true. It is now a fact that teaching kids general, not challenging vocab words in the early years of life effect their growing vocab as older children and teenagers. When teachers give their students not challenging vocab words and do not thoroughly teach the definition of the word, the kids miss patterns in words and don't learn the full definition of important words. Tanya Wright also says that there is not enough vocabulary in elementary school and it is not stressed as much as it should be. She also says that under-privileged children that do not go to a successful school start out with 10,000 words less than children that go to a successful school.
article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130124134046.htm
I think this article and study could really change things in schools. If vocabulary is not stressed enough, the SAT english section could continue to be a problem in America. I think if vocabulary is stressed more as children, we would be more successful while reading complex literature.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Hand Warmers: How Do They Work?
Caroline Goldberg
Mr. Webb
Chemistry Blog
Being in Colorado in January was brutal for me. It turned out to be -13 degrees on average. While there, I had to buy hand warmers, and being a new chemistry student, I wondered how they work. I found an article (http://www.tommcmahon.net/2008/01/how-do-hand-war.html) that explained how these hand warmer packets work. The material inside the packet has a chemical reaction with the air, like how something rusts, and causes a chemical change by getting warmer. The vermiculite in the packet slows the release of heat so the heat can last for hours. Even though these warmers are great, they don't last forever. The iron in the packet eventually becomes iron oxide and the heat stops being released.
Even though this isn't breaking science news, I wanted to know how these hand warmers work and I had no idea that it took so many chemicals just to make them. I do find it interesting that certain chemicals can react to help people stay warm while in the cold mountains.
Mr. Webb
Chemistry Blog
Being in Colorado in January was brutal for me. It turned out to be -13 degrees on average. While there, I had to buy hand warmers, and being a new chemistry student, I wondered how they work. I found an article (http://www.tommcmahon.net/2008/01/how-do-hand-war.html) that explained how these hand warmer packets work. The material inside the packet has a chemical reaction with the air, like how something rusts, and causes a chemical change by getting warmer. The vermiculite in the packet slows the release of heat so the heat can last for hours. Even though these warmers are great, they don't last forever. The iron in the packet eventually becomes iron oxide and the heat stops being released.
Even though this isn't breaking science news, I wanted to know how these hand warmers work and I had no idea that it took so many chemicals just to make them. I do find it interesting that certain chemicals can react to help people stay warm while in the cold mountains.
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Truth About Flu Shots
In the article, Can the Flu Vaccine Make You Sick? (article: http://www.boston.com/dailydose/2013/01/10/health-answers-can-the-flu-vaccine-make-you-feel-sick/VM4emmq0F9LpsIYDvpLSTL/story.html) the many misconceptions of flu shots are explained. For many people, the reason they don't get flu shots is because they think getting a flu shot can give you the flu. Andrew Ulrich explains that the flu virus is dead when it is put in your body and the only normal reaction someone should have to the flu shot is soreness or tenderness to the injection site. He also says that many people are exposed to the virus before they get the shot and get sick. The common misconception is that the actual injection causes the flu virus.
This article is very relevant news wise because just this morning the flu virus outbreak was called an epidemic. I have also refrained from getting a flu shot in fear of getting the flu from the vaccine. Every year, flu vaccines are recommended for everyone over 6 months old and everyone in my family, other than my mom, gets a flu shot annually. After reading this article, I might reconsider.
This article is very relevant news wise because just this morning the flu virus outbreak was called an epidemic. I have also refrained from getting a flu shot in fear of getting the flu from the vaccine. Every year, flu vaccines are recommended for everyone over 6 months old and everyone in my family, other than my mom, gets a flu shot annually. After reading this article, I might reconsider.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Concussions: The Problem of Trauma
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.
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.
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.
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