Resistance to Bt Corn Toxins in Rootworms a Potential Threat

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

A team led by entomologist Aaron Gassmann from the Iowa State University has concluded that the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) has developed resistance against the toxins produced by Bt corn. Bt corn is the term used for corn that has been incorporated with the genes of the bacterium Bacillus thurinigiensis (Bt) such that it produces the toxins that the bacterium produces. Currently there are three types of toxins being used, and Gassmann’s team found out that the rootworm has developed resistance to two of these.

The first Bt toxin to be used was Cry3Bb1, used in the United States in 2003. A second toxin used was mCry3A. In 6 years, damage was already observed in plants producing the first toxin, and by 2011 even the plants producing the second began to show damage. Normally, the Bt toxins are able to kill 98% of the rootworms. This is comparably lower than the 99.99% killed in another pest, the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). The other 2% of rootworms that survive are then able to propagate and pass on the toxin resistance to their offspring. This is initially not a problem, but over time more and more of the rootworm population become resistant to the toxin and the effectivity of the toxin in preventing crop damage decreases. How fast can resistance develop? In fields in Iowa where corn has been grown year after year, resistance to the toxins showed up after an average of 3.6 years. [1]

Another entomologist, Lance Meinke of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has confirmed that rootworm resistance has been observed in fields in Nebraska, saying that damage due to resistant rootworm has been observed as early as 2011. After lab and field testing, Meinke has concluded that the rootworms they have tested have developed resistance specifically to the Cry3Bb1 toxin. Reaching the same conclusion as the Iowa team, Meinke said that farming Bt corn numerous years in a row promoted the development of resistance through natural selection. Meinke hopes to communicate that rootworm populations can become harder to handle if Bt technologies are continued to be overused and if resistance continues and expands to other Bt toxins. [2]

What are the suggested solutions to this problem? Both teams of researchers have suggested “pyramiding” the different Bt toxins available. This means incorporating more than one Bt toxin in the corn so that the rootworm population will take more time to develop resistance. For example, Dow AgroSciences in Washington DC has begun to sell seeds that have both the Cry3Bb1 toxin and the Cry34/35Ab1 toxin, one with no observed resistance development at present. [1]

However, emphasis was given by both teams on another solution: crop rotation, wherein instead of farming Bt corn continuously, it is alternated with other plants, specifically soybean according to Meinke. When the rootworm larvae hatch, even if they have the genetic resistance to the toxins, they don’t find the nutrients they need and they die.

Meinke suggests that farmers move away from the “silver bullet” approach when using Bt hybrids. I believe he has a good point in this, seeing as how the usage of enormous amounts of money and time to develop Bt technology can be overcome and made useless by the mindless application of it year after year. It is possibly very frustrating for the researchers who developed Bt technology to see it become useless in a few years due to resistance development that could have been delayed or avoided. I think the usage of pyramided Bt toxins alone can only delay development of resistance in the rootworm and thus is not a permanent solution. It would simply produce a situation wherein researchers who develop new Bt toxins are racing against natural selection’s ability to develop resistance; a race they would probably lose. On the other hand the solution to this problem seems to be not as simple as ordering the farmers to stop farming Bt corn continuously. Those farmers are trying to maximize efficiency in their production, and alternating crops may disrupt the established systems and thus cost money. However if these farmers are truly to maximize efficiency, it may be better in the long run to heed the call to alternate crops, along with pyramiding Bt toxins, despite the possible immediate costs it may bring instead of continuing their current procedures and seeing a crisis of super-resistant rootworms in the future. It is in this kind of situation that scientists and lay people need to communicate well to effectively face problems and provide long-lasting solutions.

[1] http://www.nature.com/news/pests-worm-their-way-into-genetically-modified-maize-1.14887

[2] http://www.farmandranchguide.com/news/crop/with-confirmed-resistance-western-corn-rootworm-worthy-of-being-watched/article_58a75b18-a886-11e3-93a8-0019bb2963f4.html

1, 2, Smile! Makati and Pasig, Selfiest Cities of the World

Posted by Princess Iris G. Bugayong - 0 comments


1, 2, Smile! Makati and Pasig, Selfiest Cities of the World


                                                                                   Source: GMA News Online
          Taking pictures has really evolved through time and developed many styles and forms when it comes to posing in front of the camera. From the traditional cameras where the number of shots is limited to digital cameras where we can take pictures as many as we like as long as we have a memory card that usually ranges from one to thirty two gigabytes. Now that's a lot of picture!

           Nowadays, in a generation where people are active virtually on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr, taking photos become more of a habit because people are fond of posting pictures of what they are doing, where they are at the moment, what they are eating, who they are with...well...almost everything and anything under the sun. You name it.

           I think the most common pose when it comes to taking pictures is what people call "selfie" where one takes a photo of himself or herself, usually close-up to the face and it only focuses on the face. It's like the favorite pose or shot of narcissistic people, the vain ones. Because of the popularity of the term, Oxford Dictionary declared "selfie" as the word of the year in 2013. According to Oxford Dictionary, selfie is defined as "a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website." Selfie is said to be a term that is already used in 2002 when someone posted a comment on an online forum  in Australia and mentioned of the term "selfie" as that person refers to a photo. Editorial Director Judy Pearsalls said that the term has also been used in 2004 on a photo hosting site called Flickr.

           On a study that was conducted by TIME Magazine that was released yesterday, two cities in Metro Manila, namely, Makati and Pasig City ranked first as the "selfiest cities" in the world. Yes, you read it right. How the TIME conducted the study? They had a database of 400, 000 pictures in Instagram with the tag "selfie" and the geographical coordinates. Four hundred fifty nine cities have been ranked. It turns out, out of a hundred thousand people, Makati and Pasig city generated the most number of people taking selfie photos which is 258. Manhattan, New York ranked as second with 202 and Miami, Florida as third with 155. Another city in the Philippines also made it to the top 10 which is Cebu City.

           What can this study tell about the Philippines? Are we vain people? Or do we just love taking pictures of ourselves? Maybe. It is evident that Filipinos do love selfie. Whenever I go online in Facebook, I can see my Facebook friends posting so many pictures of themselves. It is so many that they even have an album of it then the name of the album goes something like, "Vain" or "Selfie." I must admit, I also do selfies but I don't usually post them on my Facebook account. There are also times when my profile picture is a selfie. I guess selfie is here to stay.

           Technology truly has a great impact on society. It has its advantages as well as disadvantages. As for the virtual world, just be cautious when posting pictures. It is not really necessary to post everything, right? As long as we can still differentiate what is supposed to be public and private, we'll be fine. 

SOURCES:

 http://ph.news.yahoo.com/two-philippine-cities-named--selfie--capital-of-the-world-085911546.html

 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/352001/scitech/socialmedia/makati-pasig-are-selfie-capital-of-the-world-according-to-time-study

 http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/press-releases/oxford-dictionaries-word-of-the-year-2013/  








Posted by Unknown - 0 comments


Charger Problems Resolved

With the new discoveries and advancements in technologies, gadgets are to be found here and there. And because of the pleasure we can get from these gadgets, many of us are spending number of hours using these gadgets. While we are enjoying listening to the music, playing games, having some selfies, and surfing the internet, isn’t it annoying that your cell phones for example will just shut down because the battery is already drained? And it’ll really a big problem if you’re in the middle of a walk or a trip and you haven’t brought your charger with you. Sometimes, it’s also a trouble searching for sockets especially when you’re not at home or at office. So, with the help of Goergia Tech researchers lead by Zhong Lin Wang, this nuisance of ours is already answered - these researchers invented a charger that will get the electricity it needed from your body motion.

“The device — built by Georgia Tech researchers, led by Zhong Lin Wang — consists of four discs layered on top of one another. The first disc is made of copper, and rotates. The next is a polymer and remains stationary, and the third is a gold layer that is divided into sectors, with alternating sections cut out, to make something that looks like a bicycle wheel. The last layer is made of acrylic.

When the copper disc rotates, positive charges in the copper move past the negative charges in the polymer. That causes an imbalance of charges in the gold layer, with each "spoke" of gold having either more positive or more negative charges. This imbalance means that when a wire is connected between sectors, current flows. Wang said the device can generate power as long as something causes the copper disc to rotate...” (Live Science)
            
This device is indeed so efficient for us that it comes in wearable versions and is about 4inches across. During ordinary days, you can attach this device on your hands or leg while walking or jogging and it can already generate about 5volts of electricity. It will really be useful for everyone, say for example those having some fieldworks and to those who are in a place with a very limited amount of electricity. In an emergency like during brownouts too, this device will be of great help in keeping our gadgets on for us to have a continued communication. The fact that different gadgets like smart phones have been already a part of everyone’s everyday life – used in communication, for entertainment, to acquire information or news details, etc., this new discovery really comes in handy.
            
New problems arise as new gadgets are also discovered. But the good thing is that, people never stop searching answers and solutions for man’s convenience.


Social Media Addiction?

Posted by Eliz Jaizen Fojas - 0 comments

Social media is now becoming a part of our daily lives. It does not only provide us communication but information as well. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are so popular and highly addictive for many people. Why is that? Based on Harvard University’s recent study, they found out that the act of people posting and sharing things about themselves online is associated with same part of the brain that triggers the sensation of pleasure that we get from eating food, getting money, or even having sex. It may not give the same amount of pleasure as that of sex but the brain considers self-disclosure to be a rewarding experience. Researchers also found out based on an experiment that people would really prefer talking about themselves rather than talking about someone else even if someone offers money for them to talk about someone else. Another research also found out that sharing/ posting their thoughts with a friend or a family member gives a more rewarding feeling in the brain and less of a reward sensation.

So what is the takeaway?
Lead researcher Diana Tamir told the Los Angeles Times, “I think the study helps to explain why people utilize social media websites so often. I think it helps explain why Twitter exists and why Facebook is so popular, because people enjoy sharing information about each other.”


Source: Click Here

One Billion Rising: End Violence against Women Forum

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

Actually, it’s the first time that I’ve heard of that One Billion Rising thing and it’s really good to know that there is a movement like this around the world that push women around the world to fight for their rights and to fight violence against them. There’s really a huge number of women who were violated, raped or abused and didn’t do anything about it because they’re scared or they didn’t know that there’s a support group like the One Billion Rising which can actually help them. And this does not only happen in our country but it happens in every country around the world.
            I like how the lecture started with the topic of love. The first speaker presented us with images or pictures of love and the art. Those images reflects the different ways of how love can be perceived and the different kinds of love, because love can be towards a person, thing, place or anything intangible. But what I liked most about her speech was when she repeatedly said. “Is it our desire for love or is it about social acceptability?” It really makes sense for me, because it made me realize something, that yes, some people really love just because they want to be accepted by the society and not because it’s how they feel towards something.
            Then they discussed about what they call Red Love and Queer Love. It’s really interesting to know how people love in different ways, the conventional way and the unconventional way of loving. But for me, in any way, as long as you really feel love and you are loved the way you want, then it doesn’t matter. We should just learn how to love one another, appreciate the things that we have and learn how to love them.
            Another thing was the conceptual proposal of loving soft and struggling hard. These two things works side by side, because whatever way you want to love something or someone there are struggles, there are obstacles ahead of you and no matter how hard it is, you should overcome those in the name of love.

            But I think, what they want to point out is that love is the best way to stop violence against anyone, not just among women but for anyone. Everyone should learn how to love one another in any way possible just to avoid violence towards one another.

Science and Faith

Posted by Chelsea Jae - 0 comments


It has become a normal occurrence for scientists and Christians to disagree. Just take evolution and creationism for example. In a world that most believe it is impossible that science and faith may coexist, we are forced to choose sides. Some view those who "side" with faith as close-minded and traditional people always contradicting anything new scientists propose, discover, or invent.

Faith and the Bible I believe should not be seen as hindrances to scientific discovery or to the pursuit of knowledge. It is just that some people take verses in the Bible too literally perhaps when really they can be used to back up and explain scientific discoveries. Other's faith are built on weak foundations and this could also be a reason for their fear to try, at the very least, to give science a chance.

According to Ben Erwin's article "Why You Might Have to Choose Between Science and Faith" (link at the end), we do not have to be forced to choose sides. Those that do are the close-minded people--both the "faithful" and the scientist. Science can explain and help us understand how but it does not really answer why. We do not have everything figured out. A lot of us still lack understanding of both the Bible and the world around us. After all, "science is not the only answer."

At the end of the day, it is the kind of faith that we have that determines whether or not we need to choose a side. Science and faith can coexist and I actually believe they can go hand in hand. Science is not perfect and our understanding of our faith is not either. If it is too hard to grasp that they are not mutually exclusive, at the very least we should respect both sides.



Source: Why You Might Have to Choose Between Science and Faith

When Science Meets Traditional Healing

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

Only recently have the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) developed a honey wound dressing that proved more effective than antibiotics in wound healing.
Indigenous honey has been known for its antimicrobial properties. Honey’s medicinal properties have long been recognized and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) identified how honey is suitable for fast healing. Honey is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and has a low PH level. It was reported that its sugar content helps in the “granulation” of wounds. Its low moisture gives honey a longer shelf life and helps in drawing out water and pus, drying and healing the wound fast.
Three indigenous honey samples were distinguished: the pineapple honey sample from Bacolod, the coconut honey sample from Mindanao, and the dark honey found in Northern Luzon. The PNRI tested the honey dressing in rabbits and it showed equal healing capabilities as the generic Neomycin. The honey dressing also showed a potential, for some cases, of healing wounds a month earlier than commercial medicines.
The Biomedical Research Section head Zenaida de Guzman expects that the honey dressing will be commercialized by 2015.
This research initiative is testament to the potential of bridging modern medicine with traditional medicinal knowledge. Most especially in the Philippines, a number of local provinces and regions in the world have a vast knowledge on indigenous medicinal practices. People who follow these customs usually suffer the social stigma of being called the practitioners of “non-scientific” beliefs. Contrary to this, traditional medicinal knowledge can in fact be seen as experiments outside laboratories. The earlier people may not have the knowledge of proper scientific method, and may have skipped a step or two. Some may started with a hypothesis that honey can cure burns, or some may have discovered that honey is effective through consistent use. Indeed, these have not been thoroughly studied and therefore are not widely considered as valid or acceptable by most sophisticated societies. However, this doesn’t mean that it must be discarded and completely forgotten. This calls for the scientific community to harness this knowledge and marry it with the latest science and technology available. Looking and learning from the past are most often beneficial for the present. The potentials are endless.
References:
Ronda, Rainier Allan. “DOST scientists develop honey wound dressing”. The Philippine Star. 20 February 2014.

They Can Fly Like a Butterfly!

Posted by Joyce Anne Pradez - 0 comments

My first blog entry here was last year when Typhoon Haiyan was the headline for the news all around the Philippines. My entry contains information about the water system that could be done to help the victims of the typhoon get cheap and clean water in the most convenient way they can. Now for this second blog entry, I would like to raise another kind of help from our fellow citizens for the victims. Last February 17, 2014, I was able to watch a news on TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) regarding the butterfly house built by Vonz Santos. Mr. Santos, a Filipino-American CEO, was moved by the present condition of the victims of the typhoon that he decided to make the butterfly house together with his Butterfly Team and partnered with designer Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda of BUDJI+ROYAL (BusinessMirror, February 2014). Ciara Zembrano, one of the reporters of ABS-CBN, said in her news that the victims of the typhoon were already having a difficult time with their living condition. They were having a hard time living in tents in the Tent City. She also mentioned that there is not enough tents and houses for them. And this was the reason that Mr. Santos decided to make a butterfly house.

“It is called a butterfly house because it opens like a butterfly.” said Mr. Santos. Butterfly house is a foldable house that comes in three arrangements: 11.5-square-meter (sq m) single unit, 15-sq-m single unit, with bathroom, and 26-sq-m full unit, with bathroom—all ranging from P50,000 to P70,000.  Also included in her news were the steps to fold and unfold the house, demonstrated by Mr. Santos himself. She mentioned that since the house only come in a specific layout and that it is foldable, many houses can be shipped at once to the places where the victims are located. Since the price of the said house ranges from Php50,000 to Php70,000, the reporter mentioned that people can donate online through this website: www.socialproject.ph.

Figure 1. Rogelio 'Vonz' Santos Jr. and the butterfly house.
Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/top-news/27726-butterfly-house-for-yolanda-victims

Since the news about the typhoon Haiyan came into place, I have always asked my father what would happen to the lives of these people, especially with regards to their assets such as their houses. I felt sad that all their possessions were devastated by just a typhoon. The fruits of all their hard work from the previous years were already broken or even gone. If I was in their place, I thought, I could not afford to think of plans to start my life again. If I was in their place, I thought, I would never find hope again. But, I guess, people like Mr. Santos could give encouragements for these people. People like him who eagerly think of ways to help them could open rooms for starting over again. Starting your life again from such a disaster is not an easy task. In fact, it requires a lot of one’s time, work, and positive spirit. That’s why they need help – different and all sorts of help. Whether it may be financial, emotional, and physical help, these people need help. I was also able to watch another local news wherein Mr. Vonz Santos was encouraging people to donate money for the construction of houses. He emphasized that he does not require payment for his invention. Instead, what he just wished to happen is for a lot of people to donate money for their housing system to work and help the victims.


As a student, I may not have enough money to pay for a house for them but I think through advertising such news (just like this blog entry), I can be of help. And I hope we could all help too.

In Desperate Need of Chief Mermaids

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

           Ms. Anna Oposa is known to be the Chief Mermaid of Save Philippines Sea and from then on, I now assert a Chief Mermaid as one of the lacking, in-demand and difficult jobs worldwide simply because one has to be an environmental advocate by applying one’s area of expertise. It’s like using art to develop situational awareness because as she said “The earth without art is just eh”. Meanwhile, Anna makes use of her public speaking and free-lance writing skills to disseminate ecological problems and information. I really admire her determination and persistence when it comes to addressing issues regarding Philippines’ natural state towards various government agencies, environmental organizations and educational facilities through sending e-mails and messages.

          Despite the disparity between her degree and compassion for the environment, she was eager enough to learn facts and knowledge about the natural world especially in marine ecosystems. According to her: Philippines is the epicenter of marine diversity and adversity; an estimated 50-80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface; 350 million jobs are directly linked to the world’s five oceans and more than 80 other nations are involved in the fishing trade industry that generates $102 billion dollars yearly. On the other hand, here some dreadful news specified: coral reefs twice the size of Manila were destroyed due to poachers who devastated the seas in Cotabato; 5 to 10 fatal shark attacks only happen annually whereas to 50-100 million shark kills; only less than 2% of the world’s oceans are protected (nearly 12% for land). But what caught my attention is the fact that 80-90% of the Filipinos don’t know how to swim since I, too, don’t know how considering our country is an archipelago surrounded by bodies of water. With that, it is also said that almost 6,000 Filipino children drown every year. What an irony we have here. Anna also revealed that because of this, most Filipinos are not able to see the beauty and exceptional treasure underwater that is why it’s being neglected often times and the conventional fear towards oceanic creatures such as sharks remains.

           Citing all these specific observations and measures, she moved to broader generalizations and theories – the main problem of the Philippines, which is not poverty, instead, “apathy”. We, Filipinos, have a habit on focusing ourselves to other unnecessary matters. For instance, show business rather than our own domestic issues. We are likely to be affected by pointless trends averred by media and internet and then, afterwards, we still continue to compel it's our government's fault. So, let’s stop global whining and swim against the current as what Anna alleged, and be Chief Mermaids in our own unique and possible way.

One billion Rising + Love expressed in Art

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments


The introduction of the public forum was a short video on One Billion Rising. Essentially it calls everyone around the world to rise up and dance in violence against women and girls.

 The website can be found here:

 http://www.onebillionrising.org/about/campaign/

 What I found interesting was that a massive campaign Such as this was

 The public forum was started with how love is depicted in art.

MOLECULAR TRAFFIC JAM MAKES WATER MOVES FASTER THROUGH NANOCHANNELS

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

“MOLECULAR TRAFFIC JAM MAKES WATER MOVES FASTER THROUGH NANOCHANNELS”

                Indeed, the new discovery of the research team headed by Mechanical Engineering Professor Seth Lichter of Northwestern University - School of Engineering and Applied Science is an intrinsic revelation of truth. They found out that the water molecular traveling through tiny carbon nanotube pipes do not flow continuously but rather intermittently.
                The previous molecular dynamic simulations suggested that water molecules coursing through carbon nanotubes are evenly spaced and move lockstep to one another. However, the latest research undertaken by Professor Lichter as published in the January 27 in the journal Physical Review Letters entitled “Solitons Transport Water through Narrow Carbon Nonatubes” revealed that, water actually move intermittently, enabling surprisingly high flow rates of 10 Billion molecules per second or more.
                The finding resolved the quandary that baffled fluid dynamic experts for years and placed the previous predicament uncertain because in reality water passing to carbon nanotubes travelled 10,000 times faster than the predicted.
               
 Such phenomenon was attributed to the smoothness of the carbon nanotube’s surface but further investigations points to the counter intuitive role of their inherently rough interior. Lichter and post doctoral researcher Thomas Sisan performed new simulations with greater time resolution, which reveals the localized variations in the distribution of water along the nanotube. Such variation occur when the water molecules do not line up perfectly with the spacing between the carbon atoms -- creating regions in which the water molecules are unstable thus it propagate exceedingly and rapidly in the nanotube.

                The nanocells are evident in all our cells, where they regulate fluid flows acrosscell membranes. Introducing the recent fluid dynamic principles will develop the medical field in the handling of fluid flow in the human body to save precious life. Also, the promising application could be utilized in the water desalination; water treatment; chemical separations; water filtration; nanotube power batteries; fabrication of quantum dots and nanocrystals which is vital in the electronic industry.

Stage Fright?

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

Have you ever experienced stage fright?

Probably anyone who has gone through a recital, a performance, or a speech, has experienced stage fright at some point in their lives. We all have that moment where we stand in front of a huge audience, dazed and unable to perform properly. Our palms sweat, our tongues stutter, and basically we shake like a leaf in front of everyone to see. It’s a ‘scientific’ reaction of our bodies telling us to just run.

For some of us, stage fright may not be a big deal.  But to some people, it can be very stressful, especially when a certain performance/speech is necessary. So for these people, how do we get over this sense of anxiety?

Joe Kowan, a graphic designer and musician from Boston, found a way to get around this. He wrote a song about stage fright, and would perform it every time he would have to get on stage. The song would describe his whole experience during stage fright, making the audience accept his anxiety as part of the performance.


During his performance, Joe appears to be very nervous, but he conquers it when the song starts. Joe managed to overcome his fear by actually singing about his fear, making him relax and better perform in front of the audience. It’s a great example of using your bad experience to create a good one—which teaches us values not just about stage fright, but about life. 

source: TED Talks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq_BVyou38s

Should We Continue To Use Electronic Devices?

Posted by Jami Nicole Ang - 0 comments



Today, technology has made our lives easier with the inventions of electronic appliances and portable gadgets.  We can almost do everything with a single click or command.  However, recent studies show that despite its advantage, we are also putting ourselves at risks of its disadvantages, particularly health problems.

In a recent article, the top three most common electronic devices owned by most people living in different countries are television, computer and car.  These devices are what they usually use in their daily activities.  Because of the convenience these offer, people tend to become lazier.  People spend more time sitting to watch television or to use the computer than doing other physical activities.  Most of the time, people also use their private cars for transportation, thus missing out exercise.

Having little or no exercise at all is most likely the reason why most people today suffer obesity and diabetes.   From time to time, we need to take a break from using these devices and instead, do some physical activities to burn calories.  We could exercise just by walking or taking public transport to our destination. 

We must consider the pros and cons of using electronic devices.  There may be more benefits than disadvantages they give; still, we should be conscientious in using them.   


Source: ABS-CBN News

The Frustrating Physics behind Flappy Bird

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

This rise of this infamously difficult, yet simple game has baffled everyone.
But that's exactly the reason why it's become so popular. The difficulty is insanely hard, but the mechanics are insanely simple. Or is it?

Frank Nosechese examines the physics behind the game.
His link is here:

http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/flappy-bird-when-reality-seems-unrealistic/

In the first part of his experiment, he analyzed the game by recording it in video. He then measured the movement of  each pixels via Logger Pro, a neat program that allows one to perform video-image analysis.
Image from http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/flappy-bird-when-reality-seems-unrealistic/

 His results shows that the bird is accelerating downward, with an almost constant acceleration equivalent to the earth's. (9.75 m / s / s)

 So we know that the bird is falling downward, the same way any object in real life falls.

 Frank tries another explanation that the impulse after every tap is inconsistent. In real life, it Should be consistent.

What does that mean?

Simple, impulse is the CHANGE in LINEAR MOMENTUM. Let's compare this to a car going really fast (and constant velocity - say 200 km / hr). For some crazy reason you chose to put the car in reverse. The car will not go in reverse immediately, it would need to slow down, stop, and then finally reverse. If the car was slow in the beginning though (say and 5 km / hr), it would just need to stop, and then reverse. It takes less time for a slow car to go to reverse than a fast car. 

 In short, it's easier to change the velocity of a fast moving object than a slow moving object. 

 Should the same physics apply in Flappy bird.
But according to Frank, no. 

 You can actually answer the question by simply playing the game yourself. When you play the game and tap the bird Several times, it goes up and up, but the jump height is ALWAYS the same. Had the game followed the real physics, it would go higher and higher. That's why if you're in the game and you are trying to go through a pipe above, you would need to tap Several times, about three or four and least. But if real physics applied, you could just do it with two taps and most.

 The reason for this is that the code of Flappy bird's velocity resets itself after every tap. Thus your "going up" is always the same height when it should be changing, depending how fast you're going. 

 Here is my poor drawing in comparison. Blue arrows show the projectile motion of Flappy Bird after two taps to get through the pipes with real physics. Red arrows show actual taps in the game.

Anyway, this blog was just to clarify Frank's post. ^ ^

The Particle discovered that is Higgs Boson

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments


The world of science has been consistently shaken up and thrilled whenever new discoveries are made which makes everyone very enthusiastic and eager to study about. One topic which has always been an interesting thing for scientists to discuss is about our own universe. Of course, who wouldn’t be able to resist knowing and being curious about this so called “God particle” in which they say holds the truth regarding particle physics- and the universe? Dr. Andre David who is a research physicist at CERN, which is an organization within the European Union for nuclear research gave his take on this issue last January 29 in which everyone was enlightened by his words. Dr. David has discussed about some of the most recent news regarding this much fussed about particle.

The particle was considered to be a “God particle” of sort because of its characteristics and properties. One of which is the possibility of it having a certain mass and that at some point, that it fully confirms Einstein’s general theory of relativity. But then later studies as said in the discussion, the claim about it confirming the theory of Einstein has been proven to be wrong. It was also discussed that the Higgs boson connects itself with multiple other particles such as leptons, photons, quarks and the likes in which it is linked with each and every one of them. This gave rise again into a debate amongst scientists whether or not it actually connects like what is being said. With an impact such as this, I wouldn’t really be surprised that this particular particle has been nominated as a Person of the Year. Yes! It is indeed true. It has been nominated for such category due to its enormous impact- and the gigantic potential it still holds secret.


Dr. David has emphasized that discoveries brings inventions. He further states that without the curiosity of man to discover the world of the unknown, we cannot afford to bring something into existence. I definitely agree with what he has said. Curiosity really brings out the creative thinking we have and makes us stand on top of the world with regard to that specific topic in our heads. He also further stated about incorporating society in such discoveries and inventions. I do believe that this is a must for every researcher and scientist out there. They must always see to it that whatever they are doing, they are doing for society. One notable issue raised by Dr. David is that most often than not, discoveries were made by researches in which have lack of initial funding and support from society as well as with no immediate profit or gain. This is really true and has been proven through the milestones that the countless scientists and researchers have been showing to the world. We can see this kind of reality within the countries that have advance technology in their nation versus those that are in third world countries. If we wish to really be able to discover useful things for society, we definitely must invest on the researches that are being made by our fellow countrymen. This is because they are not doing this alone for themselves but for the betterment of society – which should always be their top priority. 

A Whole New World – Or Not?

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments


The Earth has been generous enough to let life flourished on its land for almost 4 billion years. It has been making it possible for us to live this life that we have been enjoying. But everything at some point reaches its own limit. The modern times of today has got everyone wondering until when can earth sustain life? It is a given fact that as time goes by, the earth has indeed slowly showing some signs of its limit. This is why until now, there have been numerous researches that are being done to find an alternative suitable and habitable home for us.

In a recent article by Jeff Hecht (2014), he has stated that there exists a neighbor habitable planet in which we could potentially live in. The planet reportedly has a star orbiting around it which is close to the sun and is called as the Alpha Centauri B. Hecht (2014) mentioned that this potential planet with the help of the Alpha Centauri B can potentially have seas and slopes and could provide conditions needed to be able to support a wide array of life forms which could last for up to 10 billion years. Although this may sound as good news for many, still not all conditions that is existent on earth could be similar to that of other potential planets. It was mentioned as well in the article that the pull of gravity on this planet would be about one-quarter stronger than that of the Earth.

René Heller (2014) as stated by Hecht (2014) who is from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada together with his colleagues continued to analyze the possibilities of finding potential planets with criteria’s such as its hypothetical gravity, age and internal structure. They found out that indeed, the most suitable place for life is a planet bigger than Earth orbiting an orange star that is smaller than the sun. Still in all of this, the issue of gravity and its implications on life remains a big question. In all of this, the Earth can be seen still as the most suitable place for us humans, as well as other life forms to live in. Even though there are potential planets, known and unknown that can serve as an alternative home for us in the future, still problems are seen with each of them. Only time can only tell until when the Earth can sustain carrying the weight of life. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t give up on us soon – or we’re doomed! 

References:
Hecht, J. (2014). Star next door may host a 'superhabitable' word. In NewScientist. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24980-star-next-door-may-host-a-superhabitable-world.html#.Uu8PUz1dVv8

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

MEASLES OUTBREAK: NO MORE

The Department of Health (DOH) declared measles 'outbreak' in NCR. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 14 last year, the DOH registered a total of 1,724 laboratory-confirmed measles cases nationwide, with 744 cases coming from Metro Manila, 21 of which led to death.
The Health department said measles outbreak were confirmed in Quiapo, Sampaloc, Tondo, Binondo, Santa Cruz, Port Area, and Santa Mesa in Manila; Dagat-Dagatan and Bagong Barrio in Caloocan City; Talon 5, Talon 2 and Pamplona Uno in Las Pinas City; Longos and Tonsuya in Malabon City; Alabang and Putatan in Muntinlupa City; North Bay Boulevard South in Navotas City; Moonwalk and Don Bosco in Paranaque City; Bagong Tanyag in Taguig City and Ugong in Valenzuela City.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases among children. According to the DOH, measles is an air-borne disease which can be spread quickly especially if you are near to someone who is infected by the virus. The fatal disease is caused by paramyxovirus that grows in cells at the throat and lungs.
Measles can be controlled or prevented through vaccination. The government offers vaccination for free. Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said that babies nine months old must be given the first dose and those one-year-old and above must get their second dose. It is quite frustrating that despite the massive campaign for the control of measles, there are still areas in our country with alarming number of victims of the deadly disease. Who is really responsible for the outbreak of measles in the country?
The Philippine government is really trying to protect the health of the Filipino people by extending free immunization/vaccination to children. Based from my “Under Five Clinic Growth Chart” which was given by DOH through our Barangay Health Clinic, the Health department had given me shots in BCG, Hepatitis B, DPT, Polio and Measles. The immunizations were free of charge and were conducted by local health workers in our barangay. I accept the fact that our place is a far-flung area in Nueva Vizcaya, but the services of DOH are being rendered there. What happened in the metros with numerous victims of measles? Are the people not aware of the services given by the health department?
At this point in time, advertisements in media particularly in television have already been aired for immediate and faster dissemination about measles vaccine. However, many people in the cities are busy with their work for they don’t have time to watch the television. The ads remain futile. The campaign is not quite effective for that reason. Perhaps some parents failed to bring their children for their vaccination shots. If this is the case, the government must have an urgent contingency plan in order to eradicate measles attack in the country. The children are being seriously affected by the deadly disease, so doable and effective solutions must be employed in no time. The future of the nation is at stake if the young generations are not healthy.
According to ASec Tayag, the symptoms of measles are redness of the eyes, coughs and colds, fever reaching 40 degrees Celsius, and rashes on the ears, face, neck and the whole body. It is a fact that children or babies are being infected by the virus, but since it is air-borne then everyone is susceptible and potential victim if not immunized by measles vaccine. If a pregnant person is being attacked by measles, this can be a cause of miscarriage. Measles is really fatal, so the government should aim for “zero” victim in the future. How does the Health department attain “zero victim” in the country?
One of the best solutions in order to control or eradicate measles is to bring the services of DOH to the households. Aside from the flyers or ads, a health representative will make a survey on the number of children who are not immunized not only in measles but also BCG, Hepatitis B, DPT, Polio and others. This should be done in every barangay to ensure 100% immunization. The local barangay health worker makes an appointment to the parents for the immunization of their children, a door-to-door immunization.
The DOH should make the immunization “mandatory” to all children. No one is exempted for that noble purpose. Once the Local Civil Registrar issues the birth certificate of the newly born baby, the Health department will also issue a Health Card or MediCard to remind the parents about the immunizations offered by the agency. After which, the DOH will monitor if that baby is brought to the barangay health center for immunization. This will perhaps diminish if not totally eradicate the cases of measles victims in the country.
The crusade of the DOH against measles or any infectious disease is highly appreciated. Enough funds should be given to the agency in order to protect the health of the manpower of the country. Everyone should also cooperate in order to control or eradicate the contagious diseases. Parents are encouraged to avail the vaccinations and other health services offered by the Health department for their children and for them.
Measles outbreak: no more!


Stages of Grief

Posted by Anonymous - 0 comments

Stages of Grief


At one point in our lives, we may experience grief or have experienced grief due to the loss of a loved one, a failed relationship or an end of one’s career.  To better understand grief, we need to know the stages that one undergoes.  These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.


When something hard hits you, a person feels numb and is in a state of shock.  As reality hits him slowly, he/she then starts to feel the emotions he/she has denied.  

Anger,  the second stage of grief, is an emotion that everyone of us is familiar with.  It can actually give us strength and direction.  It is so much easier to channel our emotions when there is someone to blame for the pain that we are feeling inside.  The best way to go through it is to feel it in order to get to the pain it is covering up.

The third stage in understanding grief is bargaining.  This is the stage where a person goes back to the time before the turmoil happened and asks himself what he could have done to prevent it.  Thoughts such as “what if” and “if only” flood the person’s thoughts and guilt fills his mind.

Depression, the fourth stage, is a natural emotion that comes after a tragedy and must be faced.  This is where you are in the present, facing all the pain. You withdraw from people and ask yourself if things will ever be the same again.

The fifth and last stage is acceptance. Once you have reached this stage, it doesn’t mean that you’re ok.  Things will never be the same again but you start to have better days.  You start reaching out to people and start thinking that things will be better again. You may allow yourself to enjoy life once again.  Acceptance happens when you believe that life will never be the same again and you have to adjust and move on.

We can never go around grief. We have to go through these stages because the more a person avoids going through grief, the longer they stay grieving and the longer the healing process.

Dinosaur Fossil First Ever to be Discovered with Soft-tissue Crest

Posted by Unknown - 0 comments


                 A mummified fossil of Edmontosaurus regalis has been found to have a crest on its head. Phil Bell, a paleontologist at the University of New England, Australia, discovered the soft-tissue crest on the hadrosaurid (duck-billed dinosaur) fossil while studying it. The discovery of the fleshy crest on this fossil from the Wapiti formation in Alberta, Canada was so unexpected, Bell put his chisel straight through the structure. Many hadrosaurids have been previously described to have bony crests, but CT scans showed the crest on this fossil had no osseous (bony) support, similar to a rooster’s comb. This is the first dinosaur fossil to be found with a fleshy crest. 

                Without an underlying bone support or air passages, the most probable use for the crest was for socio-sexual display. Comparing it with the fleshy combs of present-day roosters, grouse and condors, Bell theorized that the crest might have served the same function: to indicate the strength and fertility of the male. Given also the knowledge that Edmontosaurus was a herding animal, the crest may have also indicated the top male within a herd, he said.

                Aside from the discovery of the soft-tissue crest, the fossil was interesting also for having very well-preserved skin. "For the skin to preserve, these animals had to be buried very rapidly, probably within a day or two after they died, and the chemical environment in the sediment was just right," Bell said.

                Bell speculates the loss of the bony crest of the hadrosaurids’ ancestors and the substitution of the fleshy display structure in Edmontosaurus through evolutionary processes. Creation scientists, who believe in a literal 6-day creation of the universe, point out that these speculations based on evolutionary assumptions are just that: speculations. "The actual bones of Edmontosaurus have absolutely no indication that there's a crest of any sort in this animal, so similar crests or other fleshy structures could have been really widespread among dinosaurs," Bell said. It is then possible that other dinosaurs may have also possessed fleshy crests but simply failed to fossilize and be preserved. Thus, creation scientists point out, guesses on the evolutionary development of the fleshy crest in this dinosaur’s lineage remains speculative since the fossil evidence does not necessarily support them. Though Bell and his colleagues write, “The discovery of a fleshy crest in Edmontosaurus regalis reveals that some later hadrosaurines did not in fact lose their ornamentation but evolved an alternative solution to the bony crests that were widespread within the clade”, creation scientists point out that “the discovery of the fleshy crest ‘reveals’ no such thing.”

                Creation scientists believe that the rapid burial conditions required by such well-preserved specimens were provided by the worldwide flood of Noah’s day. The “undulating and partly wrinkled” skin of the specimen’s neck seems to have resulted from the head of the specimen having arched sharply backward. This and other features consisting of the mouth open and the tail arched upward are part of a characteristic death pose that is so frequent among dinosaur fossils, it has been given a name: the opisthotonic death posture.  Research has suggested that this death posture is associated with immersion in water. “The violent rising waters of the global Flood would have provided the loads of sediment needed to catastrophically bury billions of animals and plants, triggering opisthotonus in dying dinosaurs and ultimately providing the conditions that preserved many as fossils”, creation scientists claim.

                The fossil specimen shows the first ever discovered fleshy crest in a dinosaur fossil. Since there were no evidence of this on its bones, it is absolutely possible for other dinosaurs to have this fleshy structure without revealing it in their fossils. While it is definitely possible for Edmontosaurus to have used this structure for visual socio-sexual display, this behavior does not fossilize; thus this speculation on the structure’s function cannot be conclusively proven with the current fossil evidence. Nor does the fossil evidence show how the structure evolved in the dinosaur’s lineage. Whether the reader holds to evolutionary or biblical assumptions, it is important to discern between what can be clearly observed and which are unsupported speculations.

References:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131212-duckbill-dinosaur-rooster-comb-fossils-paleontology-science/

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2014/01/02/dinosaur-crest