Rawr, I'm a Dinosaur...That's Extinct D:

Mass Extinctions: Small but Deadly

Note: Hello! Sorry for posting up my blog so late D: ...uhm..better late than never right..? I hope... Q.Q

Link to Article: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21582243-biggest-extinction-history-was-probably-caused-space-rock-changed

            Ever since I was young, I loved pondering about the world; I always wondered how the world became what it is today. I would sit in the car, stare out the window, and think. There is so much that we do not know about the past, yet we can only discover bits and pieces of it.

            The mass extinction that took place millions of years ago in the Permian period was one puzzle piece that remained an obscurity to, not only me, everybody. However, Dr. Tohver has possibly solved this mystery.

            The Permian extinction was the largest extinction in history, yet there was still no concrete answer as to what has caused it. Many people have inferred that impact was the cause; Dr. Tohver confirms this conjecture. The crater in Brazil, the Araguinha, is said to be the culprit. Its small size is due to the fact the comet or meteorite contained a large amount of gas instead of rock. The gases, then, created a greenhouse effect that eventually led to the extinction of plants, since the temperature was too high, and inevitably led to the extinction of most species.

            Although it will take more evidence to support this hypothesis, this occurrence seems plausible. Today, we experience our own global warming with greenhouse gases, and we can see its effects. The mass extinction is what we have today but on a much larger scale. At that point, the heat is only suitable for certain species-the species that aren’t suited for such intense temperatures will diminish. If this explanation is correct, we should all take our actions into consideration. The Earth had already experienced a mass extinction, and we should attempt to prevent such an occurrence from happening again. If we continue to increase the amount of greenhouse gases that are present, we are putting the Earth at risk of another mass extinction. Currently, temperatures have already begun to rise-the reason why ice caps are slowly beginning to melt. We must all be more cautious of our actions and how it can affect our environment by learning how to conserve our resources and dispose of waste properly.

            I will continue to ponder about this piece of the past until Dr. Tohver’s hypothesis is confirmed. However, this event does not only concern me; it concerns all of us. We learn history to prevent its mistakes from occurring again. If we humans plan to continue to survive, we must learn from this event and act accordingly. Hopefully, humans will not be included in a mass extinction that we created ourselves. 

Radioactive

Limiting the Fallout

Note: I apologize for writing such a lengthy blog, but it is a topic that should concern all of us. Also, I hope you have fun attempting to pronounce all the Chinese names in the article! :D

Link to Article: http://www.economist.com/news/china/21582016-rare-protest-prompts-government-scrap-plans-build-uranium-processing-plant

Last year, albeit it was a long time since the incident occurred, I finally learned of the nuclear accident in Chernobyl. The story was devastating to hear; one mishap with a nuclear reactor caused the deaths, either directly or indirectly, of thousands of people. Those that did not perish from the incident directly died due to the cancers the radiation caused, and there is also a vast amount of people who are affected by deformities also caused by radiation. I began to wonder exactly how crucial nuclear energy is if it can damage more lives than it can aid.

            The people in China also share my concern; however, their concern was prompted by the nuclear accident in 2011 at Fukushima, Japan. Citizens gathered in Jiangmen city to protest against the construction of yet another nuclear plant, one that is a uranium-processing facility. The government plans to build nuclear plants inland; they have initially built plants by the coast in order to dump waste easily if an accident were to occur. The new plants would be built by rivers, and many citizens are worried about the effects of such a construction. Waste dumped down the river can severely harm those that depend on the river’s water.

            Anti-nuclear activism is low-key at this point, but it has the possibility of changing the hearts of a myriad of people. Green activism has spread since a few current nuclear plants are improperly dumping waste. News tells us that most projects will only be temporarily postponed, despite citizens pushing officials to scrap the entire project.

            China has many plants that are planned, under construction, and in operation. I fear for the radiation that this can cause. Radioactive waste can cause cancer and deformities in people. In any nuclear accident, the consequences will be tremendous; every nuclear plant has a possible fate of ending the way the plant did in Chernobyl. The consequences brought by the accident in Chernobyl still lingers as the city is completely contaminated with radiation-it is also possible that strong winds can also carry this radiation to nearby areas. Clearly, nuclear plants are unsafe. Its chemicals are hazardous and the damages caused by it will affect us forever. Humans cannot withstand a great amount of radiation. Thus, such high levels of it are fatal to us. The radiation in Chernobyl will last 1,000 years, but some of it diluted into the air, water, and soil. We cannot protect ourselves completely from the radiation that nuclear accidents bring. We do not even know how the deformities and mutations caused by radiation will affect us. If nuclear accidents harm us in a way that cannot be reverted, since the radiation will continue to remain, then such plants should not continue to function; there will be a day where the radiation no longer affects a country or two and will affect the entire Earth.

            My eyes were opened by the events at Chernobyl as the events at Fukushima opened the eyes of the citizens of Jiangmen. I support the actions of those citizens and I hope that their passionate feelings spread and inspire others to take on a new perspective on nuclear plants. Nuclear radiation will affect us all in the long-run, so we should all lend a hand in aiding the prevention of further construction of these harmful facilities. Mankind must look to a new source of energy, one that does not have such a great capacity to do us harm. Perhaps, then, humans can advance towards a more environmentally safe future.

Let's Be Fair, Everyone!

Testing Times

Link to Article: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21582007-how-mathematical-logic-could-help-stamp-out-drug-use-sportsmen-testing-times

               Before, I had never understood one’s temptation to intake drugs as a means of improving his or her performance. I met a person last year who had the same temptation. He sought to consume illegal products (illegal according to the rules of the sport, not illegal according to the law, per se) to enhance his growth and endurance so that he may be able to withstand more physical pressure; albeit he never did it, he still had the notion.       
        His current strength did not please him as other athletes’ strength does not please them. Despite many prohibitions against the use of certain substances, many athletes continue to take these illegal drugs.            
        Numerous people are skeptical about whether drug testing among athletes should increase or decrease. Increased testing will disqualify many members and even disappoint a large amount of fans; however, decreased testing will lead to further abuse of such substances. Mathematical logic supports the increase of testing procedures to benefit the equality of sports in the long run.           
         I agree with that logic, considering the fact that drugs no longer make it a competition about one’s effectiveness in his or her sport but the effectiveness of his or her drug. In the short run, there will be a collection of disapprovals towards the new system; even though that may be the case, the long term effects of less athletes using prohibited substances is more imperative. Decreased substance use will allow competitive sports to be executed more fairly.
              Now, I understand the desire to take drugs-the longing to triumph over one’s competitor is overwhelming. At first, my friend had sought a quick and effortless route to surmount his difficulty, but, in the end, he chose the more dignified route of training endlessly to achieve his goals. I hope that more and more athletes today will follow suit and focus on training fairly rather than using illegal substances. A competition is more exhilarating when one competes with those who are equally, if not more, talented in the same sport. 

Changes, Changes, Changes!

What is Epigenetics? 

Link to Article: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/07/economist-explains-7

Note: In the article, it refers to another article. You do not have to read the linked article, but you can read it if you want to. :) Just a heads up, my blog is pretty wordy and might be a little complicated to understand. Otherwise, enjoy~!

            Epigenetics is a new growing branch of biology that is concerned with the expression of genes. Although one’s inherited genes are permanent, one can influence the expression of these genes. This happens through two contrasting processes: methylation, the expansion of an area of the gene, or histone acetylation/ deacetylation, the condensation of an area of the gene. On one hand, methylation opens up the area of the gene so it can be coded and, therefore, expressed; on the other hand, acetylation/ deacetylation condense the gene so it cannot be coded or expressed.

            I have to say, I am very excited about this new study. It gives us a whole new perspective on things! Everything we have thought about our genes being permanent has slightly changed; yes our genes are still our genes, but we ourselves can affect them! Who could have thought that we were partially in control of our own DNA? The article mentions that exercising can affect the way in which fatty tissues function. Just by exercising, we can alter the expression in our genes so that lipids (fat) can stored in the right place and surplus fat isn’t settling in more harmful areas.  Before, exercising was just a method for us to live a healthier lifestyle by boosting our metabolism and such. Now, we learn that exercising stimulates epigenetic changes in our body. Not only that, but parents can also pass on these new changes to their offspring! Lamarck was a French naturalist during the mid 1700’s and 1800’s. He proposed that parents can pass down these acquired characteristics to their offspring. However, Darwin and other scientists refuted his hypothesis by stating that only the genetic material can be passed down; the study of epigenetics has not yet taken place at that time. Until recently, it was believed that acquired traits would only affect the individual and not its offspring. How ironic and amazing it is that Lamarck is partially correct! I was amazed at such a discovery! Lamarck’s hypothesis of the inheritance of acquired characteristics has been seen as a theory that incorrectly explicated evolution and natural selection, although people do credit him for being on the right track. It excites me that this new finding has supported a hypothesis that was long rejected!

            Aside from commenting on the content of the article, I would also like to discuss its structure. I appreciate how the article is very considerate of its audience; instead of using advanced biology terminology, it gives a very vague and easily understandable phrase to replace that word. For example, instead of methylation, it simply states “…adding specific chemicals” so that it is easier for any reader to understand. Even though removing difficult vocabulary eases the reading of the article, it is still a difficult subject to comprehend unless one is familiar with biology. In this case, the article is well written for an audience with at least a little knowledge on subject.

            I hope that this field of biology continues to grow and continues to discover new information on how we can affect the expression of our genes.

Summertime with...Cholera?

Cholera in Haiti

The UN Strain

article: http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/07/cholera-haiti

           In Haiti, there has been an outbreak of cholera, an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease of the small intestine that is typically contracted from infected water supplies and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Haitians claimed that the outbreak was a result of the unsanitary actions of a nearby UN peacekeeping base. The UN has disregarded all claims and has done little to acknowledge the possible fact that they are at fault. “…The UN’s stance is tantamount to claiming impunity-that the UN, an organization whose mission involves promoting the rule of law, is putting itself above it.”

            I was quite disappointed at how the UN is currently dealing with these affairs. Thousands of Haitians are affected by this new strain of cholera that many scientists are finding to be present in Nepal, where the peacekeeping base was staffed. The United Nations was made to promote international peace, security, and cooperation; however, this case calls into question the determination of the organization to truly execute actions to meet its objectives. Haiti does not possess the proper sewage system to combat the insanitation that plagues its waterways. I believe that the UN needs to take the initiative and be responsible for its actions. Although it is difficult for such a large organization to admit that they carried out quite unprofessional acts, the health of the people of Haiti is more important than the reputation the UN encompasses. I find it very saddening that the well-known United Nations has barely lent a hand to this devastated country because the incident does not coincide with its “political and policy matters.” The UN is basically saying that it is not responsible for any of its actions that are outside of its jurisdiction. This statement paves the way for a very dangerous organization as it allows for its members to continuously execute harmful actions without any consequences. If we give the UN the benefit of the doubt and say that it was not the direct cause of the outbreak, I still believe that it should take partial responsibility for the indirect cause of it.   

            The cost to repair the damage is tremendous, but that should not stop efforts to aid the affected country. I wish there was more news of this depressing event so that more people can contribute to a charitable organization that can help the people of Haiti. Perhaps the UN and other countries can help fund a more effective sewage system to prevent further cases of cholera or even fund a more advanced medical center to treat infected patients. There are many ways in which the UN can aid Haiti; I hope that the organization will be able to find it in itself to help the victims of the bacterial strain one way or another.

Competing for a New Hope

Rare Mutation Ignites Race for Cholesterol Drug

Link to Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/health/rare-mutation-prompts-race-for-cholesterol-drug.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fnational%2Findex.jsonp&_r=0

Link to Quoted Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152.php

            First, I would like to comment on the structure of the article. I believe that it was well-written in the sense that it does a good job explaining the race for a new drug that might lower cholesterol. However, I believe that it is lacking in another sense. The title states that the race is initiated by the discovery of a rare mutation. It would have been more informative if it included more information on the mutation itself. For example, at the end of the article, they mentioned a mutation that occurred within a family that encompasses an awfully high cholesterol level and the gene in which the mutation occurred. Although the topic was more focused on the actual race, more background information on what really initiated the chase would have improved the article.

            With that said, I would like to state my opinion on the matter. It is great that we have possibly found a way to lower cholesterol, a common cause for heart disease and stroke, but I find it a bit saddening that this is what humanity has come to. I know that in some cases, such as the one mentioned in the latter part of the article, people are born with a genetically high cholesterol level; I also know that there are cases where high cholesterol can be prevented. The lifestyle amongst many people today is undeniably unhealthy. Popular interest has promoted unhealthy food, and people continue to consume large amounts of foods that are harmful in the long run. Perhaps if more people changed their lifestyle, there would not be such a need for a drug to lower cholesterol. Even though those are the ideals I hope the world would strive for, I know that I must accept reality. “Cholesterol levels among US adults today are generally higher than in all other industrial nations” (Medical News Today, par. 3). Despite the fact that I believe that people should strive for a healthier lifestyle themselves rather than obtain it through medicine, I do wish that the project is successful. The modern world is different; therefore, I hope that, if the drug happens to be effective, it will change people’s lives for the better.

Secure the Sahara, if you can

Secure the Sahara, if you can

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21580472-pursued-one-place-west-africa-extremists-pop-up-somewhere-nearby-first

Africa has been thrown into a state of turmoil as coups and rebellions continue to arise. With the help of the French forces, and later the UN, Africa has a chance of being rescued.

            Initially, the French’s 4,000 troops helped quell Tuareg and jihadist forces. Quelling the Tuareg was much simpler; they were gradually led to surrendering and signing a peace deal. However, to suppress jihadists, troops gave chase across open country. Unfortunately, a few extremists managed to escape.

            With immediate problems resolved, Mali was able to focus on creating a legitimate government. Such a task is more difficult than it seems-everything must be laid out correctly. If there is an uneven distribution in polls, then Mali has yet another ineffective regime and a reputation that will hinder anymore future attempts. Many people in the world are in favor of Mali prevailing over its crises. Many Africans joined the French intervention and took up the hats of UN forces. The UN is also sending in support troops to aid the cause while other rich countries are contributing money.

            However, we must not forget that the extremists are still free. Although Mali may be successful, extremists have the Sahel, the southern Saharan fringe of Africa, to roam. Niger is amongst the many destinations that are completely vulnerable to suppression by these forces. West Africa encompasses democratic politics and a strong economy and can play a vital role to help combat extremism. True victory can only be reached with a collective force as a sub-region and a continent of Africa as one.

            Africa presents us with an example of a need of combined effort. Africa cannot handle its problems and it will continue crumble under the pressure of its crises. Dispersed efforts will not help suppress Islamist extremism; therefore, we must all lend a hand. This is an international cause and it is imperative that every country plays a role in helping Africa rise from its chaos. If we successfully quell Islamist extremism, Africa will finally be on the road to becoming a more unified and stabilized continent. It should be a global goal to aid one another, financially, militarily, or even politically. In my opinion, the UN is playing its part and I hope it continues to support the new movement. Aiding Africa is the first part; perhaps the world can convene and pull other countries out of their chaos. If the world continues in this direction, perhaps there is a possibility of a more peaceful future.