Car Project

In science class we completed a task called Gravity Powered Wheeled Vehicle Project. In the project we were required to build a car out of house hold materials, not including Styrofoam or Lego's, Kinex, pinewood derby cars or kits that have been purchased. Some rules that were given were that the car must be gravity powered ONLY. The car must have three or more wheels, no less. It should be decorated, must have a body, and should be sturdy. Also each student was allowed a parent, sibling, teacher etc. to help out.

In my Project I used four whiffle balls as wheels. A Special K bar box as the body, skewers to connect the wheels and the body, and medical tape to keep the whiffle balls on the skewers. To decorate my car I wrapped the body in colorful wrapping paper.

I thought this task was fun because we were forced to think outside of the box. Each car looked very different from every other. As well, each car used unique items to complete the vehicle. Therefore i enjoyed this task.

Self-Compassion: The Most Important Life Skill?

Self-Compassion is the best skill to use when dealing with a situation like a chid with autism for example. It is also the most important life skill, therefore everyone should be putting self-compasssion into effect. For children with autism self-compassion works much better then self-esteem, self-esteem in fact is distracting humans today from self-compassion. Self-compassion is not only motivating and comforting but it may uproot previous paradigms which have focused, to a fault, on building self-esteem. Self-esteem is a measure of yourself against others, meanwhile, self-compassion is relating to yourself. Accordingly, one should use self-compassion before self-esteem due to proven facts of better outcomes. I defiantly agree with this aspect, for the reason that it makes more sense to me. As well as, self-esteem deals with too much comparing with other while self-compassion lets you focus on yourself which is the task at hand.

article written by: Robin Nixon

information from: http://www.livescience.com/14165-parenting-compassion-life-skills.html

Toothpick Fish Lab

The known knowledge of genetics describes the outcomes of the fish in the pond. In this case there was more green fish than yellow, red or orange. This occurred because, green is dominant while yellow and red are recessive and are incompletely dominant of each other, which is why there is orange. For example, there was usually six or seven green fish, while the amount of orange, yellow and red fish were four or less. Also, the orange fish had a higher amount then yellow or red fish for the reason that it is more likely to have two different alleles than two of the same. Therefore, those are the reasons that the fish were the colors they were.

Environments have very big impacts on the animals in them. These can be good or bad. For example, that could mean there is less of a species or it could mean having more prey to hunt. The effects can change though. For instance, an environment can effect one animal, or type of animal and then later stop effecting that animal and start with another.

In this lab the fish that were strongly effected were the green and yellow fish. This occurred because in the beginning of the lab the yellow fish got eaten because they stood out, from their color. Later, the green fish's population decreased, for the reason that they get eaten because they aren't camouflage. Therefore, those species had less and less. However, if you were to change this lab, I suggest changing the colors of the fish. The outcome would change because they would be hidden more or less.

Secret of the Sea Horse: How Creature Got its Curve

Sea Horses don't have that curve in them for no reason. Although it does look cool. Researches discovered that the wavy shape evolved to help capture prey. This curve makes the creature very different then its relatives the pipefish. With this curve in the body it gives the sea horse an advantage to capture its prey, more so then if it was straight-bodied. Having the curve suggests an easier ability to move forward, as well as an advance in the length it can go in one motion. In my opinion this discovery is very interesting and makes a lot of sense. Having the curve would help creatures out more than without, and having the curve gives them an advantage to be taken for granted.

I got my information from: http://www.livescience.com/animals/seahorse-shape-helps-capture-prey-110125.html

Why You Should Hold A Grudge Against Your Spouse

Many people take the easy way out and just forget their spouses mistakes, move on from them, put them in the past. But is that always the right way to handle things? Sometimes saying "its okay honey" may give your partner the idea its okay to do it again. Therefore, past mistakes will reoccur over time. So holding a grudge against something you don't feel is right makes more sense and will lead to less problems in the future then just forgiving right away. Study's show that marriages who are very forgiving of there spouse tend to fight more then others who don't let their partner off the hook as easy for the reason that the behaviors of the unforgiving spouse will be better because they want to be forgiven. Scientists also found that couples who are more forgiving have troubles with their spouses behavior the next day, twice as much as couples who hold the grudge. This isn't saying to never forgive your spouse, just sometimes being tougher on your loved one will benefit in the long run. In my opinion being less forgiving will lead to fewer problems based on research results.

I got my information from: http://www.livescience.com/culture/forgiveness-bad-for-relationships-110107.html

Commensalism

This picture shows commensalism because the sun is beaming down on the plant giving it sunlight, which helps the organism survive. Without the sunlight the plant would die. So one of the species is benefitting while the other is neither benefitting nor being harmed.

Biotic Limiting Factor

This is a biotic limiting factor because this plant gives the butterfly in the picture a source of food. Also this butterfly is a factor because it gives food to another source. Although, these flowers are a factor to more then just this butterfly. So the flower and butterfly in this picture are both biotic limiting factors.

Science Project: Tornadoes

website:http://thundersoftball1429.webs.com/

Fish Fear Their Own Reflections

By: LiveScience Staff

Some fish get scared when looking at themselves in a mirror study finds. They are more afraid of their own reflection then another fish separating them by glass. But whether its a reflection or a real fish the first physical instinct is the same which is to fight. Researchers experimented by putting fish together but separating them with glass and then replacing it with a mirror. Which resulted in attempting to fight or giving gestures towards fighting. Although the type of fighting the fish were doing was not like usual, it was different usually they bite each other one after another but with this instance they did not act the same way. In my opinion the way the fish are acting is very interesting for they do not realize they don't have full contact with their opponent especially when its their own reflection.

I got this information from:http://www.livescience.com/animals/fish-intelligence-fear.html

Lit. Poems

"The Book Thief"
Dreams
Quiet, calm
Hoping, wondering, searching
Happiness, wanting, safe, happiness
Wishing, tranquilizing, wanting
Live, love
Peace.

"The Brave One"
Max
Brave, loving, caring
Who loves to make Liesel happy
Who feels grateful about Hans, Rosa, and Liesel
Who needs hope
Who shares nightmares with Liesel
Who fears loneliness
Who'd like to see the outside
Who ends up alive

Extra Credit #2

A TV show that I watched that connects to science is survivor. This show is connected to science because the contestants have to figure out how to contain a fire, make and get food and both of these have to do with science. These have to do with science because in order to make fire you have to know the things to do to make one and those involve science. Also making and getting food involves science because if you want to know where to hunt you have to know where the animals habitats are and how to control them in their environments. Then to cook you also need the knowledge within science. So that is how the TV show survivor connects to science.

Top 5 Reasons Why People Go Bankrupt

By: Mark P. Cussen

The most common causes of bankrupt are from medical expenses, job loss, poor/excess use of credit, divorce/separation, and unexpected expenses. First, medical expenses cause bankrupt for the reason that if an illness or injury comes along it costs so much money that it blows out savings, education funds, etc.. Even if it doesn't blow them out it will decrease you amount of money tremendously. Second, job loss, whether being laid off from a job or quitting it still is devastating. Also by loosing your job your loosing insurance's which causes even more problems, and will bring you further into bankruptcy . Next, poor/excess use of credit, people, not all, can not control their spending. Some things that can eventually spiral out of control would be credit card bills, installment debt, car and other loan payments, until finally the the person can not reach the payment cost. Then its divorce/separation. divorce/separation causes several problems for both partners. There are legal fees, marital assets, child support and or alimony, then keeping your own household after they have split. Meanwhile the legal costs alone are expensive. Last, unexpected expenses, there is loss of property due to theft or casualty, such as earthquakes, floods, tornadoes etc. and if the owner is not insured it can lead to bankruptcy. So there are many reasons for bankruptcy. In my opinion all of these reasons are accurate. They all make sense to why it would cause bankruptcy and i believe they do and are the top five reasons.

I found my information from:http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/109143/top-5-reasons-why-people-go-bankrupt?mod=bb-checking_savings

How Math Relates to Child Soldiers

How does math relate to child soldiers?

Math relates to child soldiers because of the numbers. They have to count how many child soldiers there are. Thy have to calculate how many die, or survive each day. So each time they loose a child soldier they have to recalculate. It is a constant use of math, for the reason that there are children as soldiers who die every day. Also they use math to count how many places use child soldiers. In each place they have to count how many child soldiers they have to see who has the most. Then they have to calculate how many there are in the world. So that is how math relates to child soldiers.

Study: Running Shoes Could Cause Joint Strain

By: Rachael Rettner

The decked out running shoes may not be as good as we think for your feet and joints. Study finds that the running shoes currently on the market put more stain on the feet and joints than running barefoot or even to walk in high heels. However scientist don't suggest leaving your running high-tech shoes. Also while running and walking is great for your health it could also put stresses in your joints and feet. High heels can give damage to your knees and since running shoes typically have a heel, damages could occur. In my opinion running shoes don't do damage on the joints and feet I believe they help them. For the reason that you can personalize them to fit your own feet and they have support.

I got my information from: http://www.livescience.com/health/running-shoes-joint-strain-injury-100112.html

Oceanography

Have you ever wondered what oceanographers do and earn? If so listen to my podcast on oceanography!

PodOmatic Podcast - Omega Science's Podcast

Chocolate Reduces Stress, Study Finds

By: Carla Moskowitz

There has been some new evidence that eating dark chocolate every day can reduces stress! People who have rated themselves highly stressed with lower levels of stress hormones after eating chocolate everyday for two weeks! The subjects of this study ate 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate a day. To prove this study doctors took urine and blood plasma samples of the participants in the beginning, middle, and end of the two week study. From these samples they found lower levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines in samples at the end. Written for everyone to see by the researchers; "The daily consumption of dark chocolate resulted in a significant modification of the metabolism of healthy and free living human volunteers with potential long-term consequences on human health with in only two weeks treatment." Also "This was observable through the reduction of levels of stress-associated hormones and normalization of the systemic stress metabolic signatures." This research shows that certain substances in chocolate such as antioxidants called polyphenols can be helpful health benefits. Previous studies have found chocolate does help fight heart disease and help prevent the chance of developing cancer. But since chocolate is not very healthy for the reason that it contains a lot of sugar and fat you have to watch how much of it you eat. My opinion is that a lot of people will like the fact that chocolate reduces stress because then they could eat more of it. Which will lead to more people being obese and a lot of people in this world are already obese so i don't believe saying to the world dark chocolate reduces stress because people will take advantage of it.

I got my information from: http://www.livescience.com/health/091111-chocolate-reduces-stress.html

Extra Credit (tv show)

A show that I watched that connects to science is, Survivor. Survivor connects to science in a few ways. One being they have to deal with the weather and adjust to it, which involves science. Also in order to survive they have to think in scientific ways to keep them safe and covered, like building a shelter. As well in challenges they have to think outside of the box when they have challenges that include science. Lastly, and most important, they have to make fire. Making fire involves science. So science is connected to the TV show Survivor.

Another Choice Responce Quote

In Science the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurred.

Sir William Osler (1849-1919) Canadian physician.

This quote means to me that even if you discovered something, you might not get credit for it. This might happen because someone else tells the world and teaches it to them and they understand it. So even if you discover something you have to take charge of it, and tell the world what you discovered.

Matter

Matter is anything that has mass and volume. Matter is also what the universe is made up of. Four general properties of matter are mass, weight, volume, and density. Matter stays the same no matter where you are. Also mass is the amount of matter in an object.

Matter is everything around you. Also anything made of atoms and molecules are matter. As well matter is related to light and electromagnetic radiation. States of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Matter is made up of particles. The temperature of matter depends on how fast the particles move and how much they move.

Matter is very important. Matter controls many things. I believe matter is easy to understand because it is everything, and since it is everything it is easy to learn. Matter is also important to understand. Matter helps you understand why certain things are the way they are. That is my opinion about matter.

I got my information from:http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_intro.html and http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/sciber00/7th/classify/sciber/clmatter.htm

Wolves Beat Dogs on Logic Test

http://www.livescience.com/animals/090903-wolf-smart.html
Wolves Beat Dogs on Logic Test
by: Carla Moskowitz


Wolves do better on some logic testes than dogs. This happened for multiple reasons. One reason is because dogs follow human cues. Since they follow human cues they act more like human than animal. Also dog responses are similar to human infants, and human infants follow adult humans. It makes sense to why they act like humans because they are with humans so much, and they are practically raised by humans. But wolves make choices based on there observations. So they do more on they're own then dogs do. A test scientist would have them take is...they would repeatedly place an object in box a, and they would allow them to look for the object. But when they switched the object to box b human babies and dogs got confused and continued looking in box a. Wolves easily followed evidence with there eyes and found the object in box b. Neither wolves or dogs are smarter than the other but they are smart in different ways. For example, without humans wolves are smarter, but dogs are smarter when they have to survive in human enviorments. So in all wolves do better on some logic tests, but a wolf or a dog is not smarter than the other.