It Came From Another Galaxy

For the first time astronomers have discovered a planet in the Milky Way with extragalactic origins. It orbits a star that was most likely ripped from a satellite galaxy 6 billion to 9 billion years ago. Johny Setiawan and his colleagues homed in on the star HIP 13044, about 2,000 light-years away from Earth, its part of a stream of stars called Helmi that is believed to have originated in another galaxy. The researchers found the planet by monitoring HIP 13044 long enough to detect telltale wobbles indicating the tiny tug of an unseen body. The star is unusual because it has the lowest abundance of metals of any star known to have a planet. Also unusual is that HIP 13044 is old enough to have exhausted its supply of hydrogen fuel and passed through the red giant phase of evolution, in which it mushroomed in size. Since then the star has contracted to a diameter about seven times that of the sun and is now burning helium at its core. A star in this phase of evolution has never before been found to have a planet.

This experiment is an example of discovery science. This find is an interesting find, and a can be a step to learn about other galaxies. Through this discovery we can learn about different galaxies.

Author: Ron Cowen

Title of Article: It Came From Another Galaxy

Journal: Science News

Date: December 18, 2010

Page: 11

Researchers link Alzheimer's to a lack of sleep

Losing sleep can lead to losing brain cells. According to scientist the same levels of proteins that form plaques of Alzheimer's disease appear in the brains of mice by lacking sleep. Peter Meerlo, a neuroscientist mentions that chronic sleep loss will eventually change the brain in ways that will contribute diseases. Researchers along with David Holtzman used a method called microdialysis to measure the levels of amyloid-beta a protein in the fluid between the brain cells of mice. The reason they measure the amyloid-beta is because amyloid-beta twists into a sticky form and clumps together, forming plaques. Scientist's believe that amyloid-beta clumping together will eventually lead to the death of neurons and to Alzheimer's disease.

The research done was discovery science because they took all their observations and explained it by making this discovery. This research a lot of importance because it shows people that a lack of sleep or at least a chronic lack of sleep can eventually lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Author: Tina Hesman Saey

Title of Article: Researchers link Alzheimer's disease to a lack of ZZZZZs

Journal: Science News

Date Published: October 24, 2009

Pages of Article: 11

Bones Show Signs of Cannibalism

Herxheim, in Southern Germany, 7,000 years ago hunders of people were butchered and eaten before parts of their bodies were thrown into oval pits. Cannibalism occured during ceremonies which people from near and far brought slaves, war prisoners or other dependents for ritual sacrifice. Skeletal markings indicate that human bodies were butchered and bitten in the same way animals were. Two archaeologists studied human bones reject the cannibalism hypothesis, but with further work they they found facts proving that cannibalism did occur. Herxheim was excavated from 1996 to 1999, there they found the pits to hold the dead. By finding the bones they saw that people in this village separated the people ribs, head were skinned and muscles were removed from the brain skullcap.

This article was an example of both hypothesis based science and discovery science. Hypothesis based because before they found the whole village and bones, they made assumptions that this people were butchered and eaten by other humans. However, when they dug up the village, the archaeologists found the proof in the bones. The bones were marked with bite marks and other types of marks, indicating that cannibalism was made. The importance of this research is to proove that cannibalism did exist, it was not just only a myth people said it occured but didn't.

Author: Bruce Bower

Journal: Science News

Date: January 2, 2010

Page: 10

Exoplanets make pictorial debut

The first true pictures of an Exoplanet were taken around the massive star of HR8799. The Exoplanet had to be analyzed closer so they went an observatory in Hawaii to see if they could prove that it in fact was a planet that they were looking at. When they looked at it from every angle they could think of they reallized that it was in fact a planet that they had found orbiting around the sun. The planet is about ten time's the size of Jupiter whifch is why they were able to find the planet in the first place and once they did it allowed them to find hundreds of more Exoplanets in the area and by today we have already formed a list of about five hundred Exoplanets.

1. The article is clearly a discovery science because it was completely made out of observations and there is no possible physical test we could do in the present time to be able to Physically test weather a planet is an Exoplanet or not.
2. The research of Exoplanets is the finding of planets that like earth have an orbit around the sun. Now this does not mean like earth in every way but only in gravitational pull and in the extremely far future when our son dies out or a catastrophe strike the option to leaved to another planet can be narrowed down by this simple but important research.

Crushing Cancer's Defenses

Daniel Strain's article "Crushing Cancer's Defenses" in Science News talks about the possibility of creating a new "therapeutic cancer vaccine". This vaccine would not be intended to prevent cancer, but to treat it. It relates the white blood cells in the body to a Greek army, signifying that they are constantly fighting bacteria and viruses to maintain our body healthy. White blood cells play a key role in helping the body fight threats. It mentions that cancer is not an "ordinary enemy" and that white blood cells lose the battle against cancer most of the time. The immune system is the one that has the white blood cells and fights against threats to our body. These cancer vaccines would only enhance the immune system to help it fight the cancer cells attacking it. The vaccines would not prevent Cancer; they would treat it. Scientists still do not think that these vaccines can do the job alone. People will also continue to need therapies to treat Cancer. These vaccines have been studied for a long period of time, now is that they are gathering proof that they actually work. In the late 1800’s, a New York City surgeon called William Coley started giving shots of killed pathogens, including strep bacteria, and they were shrinking the Cancer tumors dramatically in many of the patients. The patients being cured were patients who had a very advanced, or “incurable” Cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy gained more fame than Coley’s shots during the late 1800’s. The article claims that: “Today’s proposed vaccines are better sharpshooters than Coley’s original cocktail.” The vaccine is composed of a mix of dendritic cells and similar immune players directly from a patient and mixing them with protein.

The experiment in the article is an example of Hypothesis-based science because they propose and test a method of treating Cancer. First, they apply their knowledge to create a vaccine that they believe will help the immune system destroy carcinogenic cells, then they test it on Cancer patients. If it helps the patient, then it means the vaccine works. Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the world, and the rate of people dying from it is increasing every year even though there are many new treatments. A cure or a vaccine would greatly help humankind.

Author: Daniel Strain

Title of Article: Crushing Cancer's Defenses

Journal: Science News

Date Published: May 7, 2011

Page: 20-23

Image source: http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/july2008/images/vaccine_l.jpg

Prenatal surgery shows promise

Researchers found that fetal surgery improves the chances of children with spinal bifida to walk and lessens the risk of other neurological complications in comparison to surgery after birth. Spinal bifida is a neural tube defect caused by an opening in the spine. This study focused on children with myelomeningocele, the most common and severe form of spinal bifida. 158 pregnant women who had a fetus diagnosed with this condition participated in this study, and half were assigned to fetal surgery while the other half was assigned to have the procedure after the birth. The results showed that 42 percent of children who had surgery before the birth were able to walk at 30 months, compared to 21 percent of children who had it after the birth. Physicians Joe Simpson and Michael Greene stated that the study "is a major step in the right direction" but that " the degree to which intrauterine repair will transform outcomes for fetuses with myelomeningocele remains unclear."

The experiment performed in this article was an example of discovery science because the researchers gathered information and did this experiment to reach a conclusion. The findings of this experiment are important to human beings because it shows advances in technology that can greatly improve conditions such as spinal bifida.

Author: Nathan Seppa
Title: Prenatal Surgery shows promise
Journal: Science news, page 12
Date published: March 12, 2011

Erasing Memories?

Neoroscientists from the Medical college of Georgia, in Augusta, and the East China Normal University, in Shanghai, have achieved what, to most, seems impossible: removing a specific, unwanted memory. These reserchers have learned that by genetically engineering a specific protein in a mouse's brain, alpha-CaMKII, they are able to make the mouse 'forget' a traumatic memory. Scientists alter a version of alpha-CaMKII, a regulatory protein that is involved in learning and memory, especially vital for recalling memories. Memories, probably formed by interactions of brain chemicals exchanging information between neurons, and their formation remain a mystery to scientists. However, this molecule, when blocked, seem to either erase or block a memory from being recalled. The most groundbreaking part of this discovery is that the erasure is specific to the memory being recalled. The experiment consisted of training a mouse to expect a shock whenever it was in a chamber and a certain sound was played. The mouse would freeze in anticipation when they entered the chamber or heard the sound. However, when researchers placed the mouse in the chamber (without playing the sound) and altered alpha-CaMKII's activity, the mouse would not freeze when it entered the chamber. However, it still asociated the sound with a shock. This procedure, when repeated to erase the memory of the sound and not the chamber, produced the same results.

This experiment was an example of hypothesis-based science.

Even though scientists can never be sure if the memory is really gone, it still has many possibilities for application in modern medicine. These disccoveries could someday lead to therapies that can erase traumatic memories from people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or help addicts from relapsing due to drug-associated memories. This exact techique will never be used in people, since it requieres genetically altering a protein in the brain, but it many lead to other ways to selectively forget.

Author: Tina Hesman Saey

"Altering a protein wipes out shocking memory in mouse brain: Erasing effect appears limited to information being recalled"

Science News

November 22, 2008

Page 8

Gene Therapy Might Ease Depression

This article talks about how scientists discovered that a deficiency of the pll protein in the brain contributes depression, this could be used to treat cases of depression with gene therapy. Michael Kaplitt of Weill Cornell Medical College lead a group, which found that levels of pll were lower in people who have been diagnosed with depression, than that of the control group. This team then lowered the levels of ill in mice and observed that they demonstrated behavior much like that of depressed humans. It was found that the ill protein must be present in the nucleus accumbens. Then, the scientists gave the mice a virus with pll, and they stopped exhibiting these depressed behavior. It was concluded that low levels of pll could be a cause for some cases of depression, which means that restoring these levels could reverse the depression. Gene therapy has already been used for Parkinsons disease, and Kaplitt hopes it will be possible to use in about 2 years.

This experiment is an example of hypothesis based science because Kaplitt's team made an observation on the pll levels, carried out an experiment, and after testing their idea on mice had enough evidence to support their initial hypothesis. This research is incredibly important for humans because it can reverse the effects of depression, and possibly lead to the discovery of gene therapy for other diseases.

Author: Laura Sanders

Title: Gene therapy might ease depression

Journal: Science News

Date published: November 20, 2010

page: 14

finding more than just exoplanets

In the article Kepler spacecraft finds much more than exoplanets by Charles Petit, we learn that Kepler is on his way to making many new discoveries in space. He is on a hunt for extra solar planets. It mentions that Kepler was the first one to notice that planets follow elliptical orbits. He finds many new discoveries but chooses certain ones to keep his eye on. It says that he hopes to some that might be earthlike size. Still, him and his group are on a mission to make discoveries that many will be surprised with and would of never expected.

Analysis :

The experiment in the article is an example of discovery science because they made no predictions. Kepler and his group just used their tools and observed to see what they were able to find. This research and their findings has an importance to humans because it informs them of the things out there that they probably never even though of and gives information on many things they were unknown to most of the population.

Author: Charles Petit

Title of the article: Kepler spacecraft finds much more than exoplanets

Journal: Science News

Date published: June 4,2011

Pages: 18-21

Superbug secret revealed

Radiation is used in both good and bad ways. Radiation can be used in treatments to eliminate or aid the reduction of tumors and what not. However, it can also be used to cause great harm and illness to others, but what if there was a way to become immune to that kind of radiation. Well as of recently, scientists have discovered how the toughest known bacterium protects itself from amounts of radiation far beyond the deadly limit for humans. The Deinococcus radiodurans have small complexes of manganese and other substances that slurp up the dangerous chemicals caused by radiation exposure.

Such a discovery can be considered as discovery science because the scientists had gathered information (facts) and then used them to go about and discover the bacteria. This discovery is immensely important for humans because it can give way to new cures against radiation, new weapons and or defenses for radiation.

Author: Laura Sanders

Title: Superbug secret revealed

Journal: Science News

Journal Web Page: www.sciencenews.org

Date Published: September 25, 2010

Page: 9

On the horizon: Holographic Skype

There is a new technology that can deliver video in 3-D. It does so using holograms. The first people using this technology was the military to record enemy territory, but it can take an entire day refreshing each frame of the video. Then, Arizona researchers found away to lower it to four minutes in 2008. Now, they've cut the time to just two seconds. The Arizona researchers estimate that holographic TV may be coming in seven to ten years. How this works is very complicated. First, 16 cameras snap pictures from different angles and are then processed by a desktop PC into hogels, holographic pixels. These are then sent electronically to another location where they are transformed into an optical signal. Then, they are transmitted by a laser onto the back side of a plastic screen. The laser hits the plastic, and it undergoes chemical reactions that temporarily record the most recent set of images in the data stream.

This is an example of hypothesis-based science because the scientists set up an idea, tried it many times, developed it and now have a good time, but still developing it. This invention will help humans communicate better. For example, families will be able to see their relatives anywhere; whether they're at war, in foreign countries, or a couple houses away.

Marissa Cevallos, On the horizon: Holographic Skype, Science News, December 4, 2010, pg. 8

Oxytocin, The 'love' hormone

Oxytocin is a hormone meant to make people to love, trust, and be nicer with one another. However, experiments made by Jennifer Bartz’s group of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York city; have proven otherwise. oxytocin exaggerates whatever social tendencies a person already has, negative or positive. The hormone can make a trusting person become more trusting as well as it can make a very suspicious person become more hostile. Bartz’s team made an experiment in which groups played a computer game and the volunteers had to predict wether their partner would cooperate with them or not. Borderline personality players left the game early having high levels of suspicion, while more mentally healthy players were more cooperative. The pill was also proved to have an effect on men’s memories of their mothers. Men who had a good relationship with there mother would be brought back good memories, and those who didn't, would remember their mom as less caring and supportive after taking oxytocin. Oxytocin also stimulates more trust in one own ethnic group and less in other ethnicity's.

The experiment in the article was a hypothesis based science; Bart’z group found evidence using experiments such as the computer game, to prove their hypothesis.

The research is important to humans because there are many people who take this hormone such as people with autism and other phychiatric conditions with social difficulties. This news raises concerns to the consumers as well as the suppliers.

Bruce Bower, “The ‘love’ hormone has a dark side, “Humans” Society for personality and social psychology meeting January 27-29 page 15.

Neptune- the largest undersea observatory

Neptune, the world's largest undersea observatory will provide the first large scale ocean system. Neptune consists of 530 miles of cable, 130 instruments with 400 sensors. Neptune is connected to the internet, allowing live viewing of Wally, a rover, crawling at 2,800 feet below sea level. Wally can take live videos of tube worms of tube worms and hydrothermal vents, allowing scientists all over the world visit the deep ocean in the comfort of their home, car, or coffee shop. Neptune's parts are all located on the ship called "Ile de Sein" that take it to many different parts of the world, wither it's the pacific ocean to Atlantic ocean. It has a tethered float with radiometers, fluorometers and conductivity sensors used to sample the water and learn how it changes over time. With a construction cost of $106,000,000 an annual budget of $12,000,000 and a staff of 45 people, it is no wonder how this observatory has made it to the bis science of discovery science. The importance of the experiment is to give us an increased knowledge on the sea. Borel, Brooke, Neptune-the world largest undersea observatory-August- pg. 41.

A thousand-plus worlds to explore

Bill Borucki, Kepler chief scientist at NASA’s Research Center in Mountain View, California, reports the outcomes for the first four months of an operation in which he reveals the discovery of 1,235 possible planets, 54 that could feasibly support life. Their results are based on the observations of bright stars monitored by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft. Out of the 54 plants that could potentially hold life, five of them are just about the size of Earth whereas the rest are larger. Some of the moons they’ve located may possibly hold water and therefore life. The finding of these planets is based on discovery science and brings us closer to learning where else there may be life. Now in 2011 the question no longer seems to be whether we’re alone in the universe or not, but where are the other life forms?

A thousand-plus worlds to explore by Ron Cowen

February 26, 2011 pg. 18

Microbes do the electric boogaloo

Recently, scientists have discovered that bacteria can conduct electricity along tiny wires. Researchers found that in places with little oxygen, deep-sea bacteria would grow protein nanowires in order to obtain oxygen. Then the bacteria would share electrons, their way of breathing, by connecting their wires. Scientists think that bacterial nanowires carry electrons, but are having a hard time creating instruments that could measure the current without destroying the wires. Researchers found that wired-up communities of Shewanella bacteria can act like circuits. To capture the electricity to be used, an electrode surface would be needed.

The experiment in this article is an example of hypothesis-based science. This is because researchers tested how bacteria would act when placed in environments with little oxygen. Researchers led by Mohamed El-Naggar of the University of Southern California also tested to see if bacteria can act as circuits. The importance of this experiment is that one day we could use bacteria as a source of electricity. For example, bacteria in sewage could one day help power treatment facilities.

By: Marissa Cevallos. Science News, November 6, 2010, pg. 8.

Obesity impairs brain performance

In the article, Obestiy impairs brain performance, explains that people who are obese have less capacity to remember things, think and reason. Some of these features can be overcome by losing weight. There have also been studies that show that individuals with diseases due to being obese score less on cognitive tests. Scientists decided to test whether just being overweight and healthy might be partially responsible for testing low on cognitive tests. The tests proved that those who lost weight performed better than those who did not. Another study showed by using brain imaging that obese people have white matter damage.

It was an example of hypothesis based science because the scientists formed a hypothesis and then experimented to see if they were right.

The research is important for humans because it makes obese people aware that losing weight benefits their health but also their intelligence.

Author: Janet Raloff

Title of Article: Obesity impairs brain performance
Journal: Science News
Date published: 8/26/11
Page: 8

In Iraq, breathing can be unhealthy

In this article, it is explained how exposure to the particles of the size collected in the study can lead to chronic respiratory infections, aggravate asthma and increase cardiovascular risk. Air samples were collected over 90 minute intervals at several sites in Iraq which contained dust, lead, aluminum and other metals. These amounts exceeded U.S air quality standards. The particles found could evade hairlike projections in the nose and trachae and penetrate deep into the lungs. The air probably results from a mix of natural and man-made sources. Iraq has clay deposits, zinc, lead and silicate minerals that get swept up in dust storms in the region several times a year. The major fear and concern is the potential long-term health ramifications.

My experiment in the article was an example of a hypothesis based science because there were various tests over 90 minute intervals in several places, therefore it was a hypothesis based science experiment.

These findings can prevent the people who live in Iraq from developing health problems such as asthma and increase cardiovascular risks. If it continues like that with no change, it could affect the lives of many who live in Iraq.

By: Rachel Ehrenberg

Journal: Science News Comic Questions

Date published: August 26, 2011

Page of the article: 15

Trash confirms Jamestown drought

In Jamestown, Virginia, an accumulation of oyster shells was found. These were excavated from an abandoned well which had been constructed by early settlers. The oyster shells disclose high levels of salinity in the water from the James River. In comparison to today, the water was much saltier; this means that for the water to have been so brackish, river flow must have been very slow. This translates to the fact that there was little water, and that a drought must have taken place. Jamestown was established in 1607. Though it has been chronicled and recorded by the settlers, physical prove of the drought was lacking. With exception of the study of the rings of trees, and the oyster shells, there was not much but the settler's words to be found of such event. According to Howard Spero, who conducted the studies, "It was interesting to figure out what was happening in the colony at a time when 70 to 80 percent of the colonists were dying. This was CSI: Jamestown." The oyster shells were found about 100 yards from the river, within a fort's well. There were materials and tools from the time. The water level of the well was 3.5 meters. The reason for it's abandonment is unclear. It is believed that maybe the salt water infiltrated it, or it ran dry. For this reason, the colonists converted it into a trash pit. It is estimated that it was dug between 1606 and 1616. The oyster shells were harvested before the drought ended; this was confirmed by the level of oxygen isotopes in them.

*The experiment is discovery based science. The scientists took samples of the shells and materials, and tested them.
*It is important to human findings as it solidifies the evidence of the drought which took place during the colonizing of North America. It was an event in which many people died.

Author: Sid Perkins

Title of article: Trash confirms Jamestown drought

Journal Science News

Date published: July 3,2010

Page of article: 14

Gene therapy might ease depression

This article explains how scientists may have found the answer to depression. They say that low levels of the protein p11 in the brain may cause depression. This defect is found in the brain's nucleus accumbens which involves the control of pleasure, drug addiction and depression. The team of scientists tested the behavior of mice by lowering the levels of this protein. The experiment was effective since the mice began to struggle and show signs of depression. They were able to reverse the mice's behavior later on by treating it with gene therapy. They are hopeful to start treating patients with this disease in about one to two years.

The experiment in my article is an example of hypothesis based science because Michael Kaplitt (leader) and his team were able to test their hypothesis by gathering data from the mice's behavior.

This research is very important for humans because it may be the answer to a disease that has affected the lives of many.

Author: Laura Sanders

Title of Article: Gene therapy might ease depression

Journal: Science News

Date published: November 20, 2010

Page: 14

Many berries show cancer promise

In this article it discusses, the possibility of berries preventing cancer. To test this, scientist injected rats with a carcinogenic chemical. Some were feed normal food and others ate a similar meal that included 5 percent of one of the berries in a dehydrated form. Most of the rats that digested chow developed tumors however, a little more than half of the rats that eat the chow with the berries developed tumors. Black berries have a higher chance of preventing cancer. Nonetheless, new work's are showing that berries need a larger concentration of compounds, ellagitannin and anthocyanin to fight cancer. The berries are being used to prevent tumors and breast cancer.

Questions:
1) The experiment in my article was an example of a hypothesis based science because they had a question, and then looked for the solution.
2) This research is very important to humans because now a days, basically anything can cause cancer. Therefore, individuals must look for ways of preventing it especially because cancer is very dangerous.

Title of Article: Many berries show cancer promise
Author: Nathan Seppa
Journal Science News
Date published: July 17, 2010
Pages of the article: 10

Eyespot deficits stymie peacocks.

Scientist have always wondered what the famous peacock feathers were used for. Recent studies have showed that there only use is for the attraction of there mates not for camouflage or any survival trait. Its a perfect example of what Darwin called natural selection.

Roslyn Dakin of Queen’s University did a study were she cut of some of the eyes spots on the peacocks train in order to see if it affected the individuals ability to mate. With this test she found out having a allot of eye spots did not necessarily improve the peacocks chances of mating but having few eye spots on the train and your chances of mating were severely hindered. This is a hypothesis science because its based on the question of what the spots are for and then it was tested. These finding are not that beneficial for humans but its another mystery of the animals world that has been solve making us one step closer to understanding the fauna in our planets ecosystems. by Alberto Jimenez idk why it says pepito

Susan Milius, Penguins' IDs may impair survival, Science News, February 12, 2011, page 10

As Susan Milius describes in her article, there is a certain effect of the metallic band causing the King Penguin to lag behind. Therefore, the band wrapped around the penguin's flipper, near the shoulder, weighs them down. Although, the band is needed for scientists to figure out how the climate's constant changing impacts life. The development of the banded King penguins slowed down, meaning that they would take about 12.7 days on their way back to the colony; an unbranded King penguin normally took about 11.6 days on heading back. One day can cause a huge difference in the lives of it's family. For example, a baby chick could die if they didn't come back in time. Not only that, but the metallic band can cause harm to the penguins and also the research. Including that they would have fewer chicks and a much lower survival rate. They experimented the band on an Adelie penguin, which used more energy than an unbanded penguin. Furthermore, they canceled the metallic band in order to cause no more damage since the climate changes would affect the banded birds more than the unbanded birds because it weighs on them.

This experiment was an example of a hypothesis based science because it all had to do with deductive reasoning. Meaning, they couldn't observe them, they used guesses and more.
In my opinion, the importance of this research has little to do with humans, except that we are the ones causing the harm to them.

Teens show rise in hearing loss

Although promoting awareness about hearing loss has increased (warning teens about the dangers of loud music and about diseases that cause ear infections) studies have recently revealed that a portion of the U.S. adolescents with any hearing loss has actually increased. It has been discovered that 6.5 million teens in the US have some hearing loss. Contributing factors to hearing loss include medical care, diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. However, kids with good hearing didn't give different answers from those of kids with poor hearing. It has also been found that poorer kids have more hearing loss, possibly due to lack of medical care.

The experiment in my article was an example of discovery based science. A group of scientists observed how loud music and certain ear infections have caused a decrease in hearing in adolescents. They did not conduct any experiments, but just conducted a few surveys and interviews. This article serves as a clear warning against loud music and lack of medical care (for one's ears). It also shows the importance of rising teen hearing loss and how it could affect future generations.

Sure, but can they Chew gum too?

Journal: Science News
Author: Tina Hesman Saey

A group of undergraduate students, working under the supervision of the biophysicist Gerald Wong, at the University of Illinois discovered that bacteria were able to prop themselves up on string-like appendages called Type IV pili and walk. They unnearthed this using adapted technology, which physiscists used to track microscopic particlets, and computer programs which allowed them to rapidly sort through footage they had made of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The researchers discovered that the bacteria were able to cover more ground in less time while walking than crawling, and that the ability to walk was actually quite common among the bacteria.
The researchers unnearthed this through the method of discovery science as they were not expecting to make such a find. This discovery may prove usefull in helping scientists understand how some bacteria for a antibiotic-resistant community, called biofilm, and may lead to more efficient ways of combatting them.

Stellar Oddballs

The astronomy article, Stellar oddballs, describes the life of a telescope named Kepler. Kepler, named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, was sent out in the hopes of discovering new planets in March 2009. Since then, a large amount of data has been sent back, and astronomers from all over the world have gone to Kepler's data to see what they can find. Kepler has discovered over 1,200 possible exoplanets, 15 of which are confirmed. However, Kepler has been helpful in more things other than discovering planets. Throughout it's years orbiting the Sun, Kepler has discovered many oddities that had not been seen before. It discovered stars with unusual brightness variations, stars located so closely to each other that they contain streams of magma streaming between them, collapsed white dwarfs orbiting around larger, younger red dwarfs, and many more bizarre sites. Kepler has brought back information stunning astronomers, and nothing tells what more can be discovered int he next few years.

Experiments with Kepler are discovery science. This is so because scientists use data sent from the telescope to find out what it is that they discovered. Discoveries from Kepler can get people one step closer to discovering planets like Earth in the Universe.

Author: Charles Petit
Title: Stellar Oddballs
Journal: Science News
Published: June 4, 2011

CMV Virus transfer

CMV virus is usually found in very scarse numbers and types of plants. Now mosquitoes are serving as transportation for the virus to possess several hosts. How does it work? Plants infected with the virus release an odor. This odor is very attractive for the likes of mosquitoes and other insects that can feed off of plants. Mosquitoes in this case stand on the plant and once they start feeding off of the plant, the virus is transferred. Those same mosquitoes go on and feed off of other animals and other plants; transferring the virus to those other "victims" aahhhh!!! ;p

1. This discovery was made through the use of scientific discovery. The scientists simply observed the different characteristics, results and patterns of the different mosquitoe/plant "interactions", and based on the observations they made their conclusions.

2. This is important for humans because of the infection traveling. It can be contagious for humas, and if it is not then it can be contagious for animals we consume.

Toddlers with autism may focus on co-occurring sounds & motions

It has been proved that 2-year-olds with autism pay more attention to the movements and sounds of a person’s face. An experiment in which each animation in a video game consisted of bright dots that played normally on one side of the screen, and upside down and reverse on the other side, was performed by Ami Klin of Yale University’s Child Study Center and his colleagues, and tested on toddlers with autism and toddlers without. The results came out to be that 39 developing infants and 16 non-autistic toddlers looked at the normal side of the screen; meanwhile, 21 autistic infants looked at the reverse and upside-down part of the screen. In addition, there was another game in which colliding dots represented two hands clapping, but in an upright position, and this, in fact, called the attention of toddlers with autism. Their conclusions lead to a hypothesis, which stated that infants with autism might watch a face, but not experience a person; in other words, reject social signals. Although this is not final, researchers are still arguing whether children with autism will be more social after receiving a treatment directing their attention to the signs of biological motion.

This experiment came form hypothesis based since, because researchers did an experiment to prove that children with autism pay more attention to sounds and motions. These findings are important to humans because it will help society to understand more the actions of children with autism, and also aid autistic toddlers in informing them about future treatment.

Author: Bruce Bower

Title: Toddlers with autism may focus on co-occurring sounds & motions

Journal: Science News

Date: April 25, 2009

Page: 8

All Patterns Great and Small

By: Tina Hesman Saey

Science News - July 17 2010

Page 28-29

Researchers have been studying different animals and the patterns and colors of their skin, scales or fur in an effort to try to discover what colors an animal and how and why these colorations are arranged in certain locations and patterns. Originally, Alan Turing explained that it was a mathematical process that could be applied to any species. However, Sean B. Carroll and his team of scientists recently found that preexisting patterns within the animal's body cause the coloration. In their experiment they found that a fruit fly's wing spots occurred where wing veins crossed, using a protein called Wingless. David Parichy contested that Turing was right about color pigments self-organizing into patterns. By holding back the production of yellow pigment in Zebra fish, Parichy was able to change the direction of its stripes from horizontal to vertical. Scientists so far have mainly focused on small animals that are easy to work with in a laboratory, instead of big animals such as wild cats .

The information in the article was found using hypothesis-based science. The researchers used experiments and genetically altered fruit flies to test their theories on a fruit fly's coloration. These discoveries and theories are important to humans because it could give insight as to how organism change and adapt

Robots that Learn

Scientist Rajesh Rao is trying to make a robot that can learn by trial and error, much like infants. If the goal is achieved, robots could adapt instead of having to be reprogrammed. Over two dozen labs around the world are now concentrating on this branch of robotics. Rajesh Rao's main goal is to make a robot that can "gaze track," or following another's gaze. He's trying to get a Japanese robot with cameras for eyes to identify what someone is looking at by following their eyes. The robot "tries" to identify the object, recognizes it, and says it out loud. Instead of Rao trying to improve the imperfect system through programming, the robot itself makes a "map" of what the person prefers to look at, which guides the machine, allowing it to learn. Rao also wants to see if a robot can learn to imitate other's actions. Scientists know that to make robots as human-like as possible and integrate them into society poses many challenges.

The experiment in this article is an example of hypothesis science, because even though the hypothesis wasn't stated, that was the general method taken. Based on observations with human infants, Rajesh Rao and other scientists hypothesize that they can apply this system of learning to robots. To try to prove their hypotheses, they conduct different experiments that may succeed or fail with different robots or technology.

The importance of this research to humans is that these robots, if perfected, can be made to better help humans such as the elderly, the sick, and children. 

Author: Bruce Bower

Title of Article: Meet the growbots

Journal: ScienceNews

Date published: January 29, 2011

Pages: 18-21

Hormonal cues for baby cuteness

It turns out the women who take oral contraceptives in order not to get pregnant are especially adept at picking which babies are the most adorable. According to Reiner Sprengelmeyer of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, this is due to the fact that female sex hormones make women more sensitive to differences in baby cuteness. Because taking contraceptives alters their hormones, women on birth control pills are especially sensitive to the cuteness of a baby. These were the results of the study conducted by Sprengelmeyer, in which images of ten new baby faces were altered digitally and adult volunteers viewed variations of the same baby's face to identify the cuter one. The demographics included in the study were postmenopausal women, men of all ages, premenopausal women not on birth control pills, and premenopausal women on birth control pills. The women on birth control pills far outperformed the other groups in identifying the cuter of the baby faces.

This experiment is an example of hypothesis based science. Sprengelmeyer had a hypothesis that he tested with an experiment. I don't think the result of this experiment has much importance to humans, I just wanted to show the irony in the fact that women who don't want babies are the ones who can really identify cute ones.

Article: Hormonal cues for baby cuteness

Author: Bruce Bower

ScienceNews pg.15

NASA Attempts to Wake Up Hubble

NASA engineers are still trying to fix the Hubble Space Telescope that hasn't been responding since September 27. The data formatting unit which relays information back to Earth has failed, only letting the telescope perform maintenance tasks. On October 15, engineers tried to tried to fix this problem by switching to the duplicate backup device which temporarily fixed the problem before engineers restored the device to its working state. The systems that were fixed included the Advanced Camera for Surveys, the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. However an unidentified electrical problem, cut off power to the backup unit and caused the Hubble Telescope back into hibernation. Although an attempt at fixing the telescope wont take place until October 24, the telescope would need a space crew to completely restore the Hubble to its functioning state.

Hypothesis bases science because engineers needed to question what was wrong with the telescope, the perform routine checks to locate the problem and try to fix it.

The findings are importance to humans because now they know what is wrong with the Hubble and know the necessary actions that will need to take place in order to fix it.

Journal:Science News

Title: NASA Attempts to Wake Up Hubble

Author: Ron Cowen and Laura Sander

Page: 8

Date Published: November 8, 2008

Climate Changes Skew Global Grain Harvests

Rising temperatures have decreased global grain production. Farms worldwide produced 3.8 percent less corn and 5.5 percent less wheat than they could have from 1980-2008. These findings could have contributed to increases in food prices. Price of corn rose by 6.4 percent and wheat by 18.9 percent since 1980. Harvests of corn and wheat climbed steadily since 1980 because of technological advancements, says David Lobell, a land-use scientist at Stanford University. But based on the team's statistical analysis, farmers could have produced more wheat and corn if the weather had been cooler. For corn, annual global losses amount to millions of tons- about equal to Mexico's yearly production of it. Lobell says his study identifies a number of problems that do need attetntion now. "If we invest in the development of crops that can withstand reallly high temperatures, that would potentially change things alot." says Lobell.

Junk Food Makes Rats Junkies

In the Neuroscience section of ScienceNews magaizine an article was printed about the effects of junk food on the brain and body. In an experiment executed at Scripps Research Institute's Florida facility, researchers found that junk food causes addictive behavior similar to heroine in rats. The study suggests that there is a direct neurobiological link between obesity and drug addiction. The experiment used control rats that were fed a standard diet and the rats that were fed unlimited amounts of junk food. Those that were fed the junk food developed uncontrollable eating habits and became obese. Later when the researchers tested the pleasure centers of the brain using electrical stimulation concluded that the rats that ate more junk food needed more stimulation to feel good, and even after the experiment ended the rats continued to look for ways to find the same amount of pleasure they got from the food. "This is the hallmark of addiction" (Kenny 8). This experiment used hypothesis-based science because it had a hypothesis and it experimented with controls and differentials to determine a conclusion. This experiment is significant to human knowledge because it helps identify the links between our eating habits and drug use.

Author: Laura Sanders

Page: 8

Title: Junk food turns rats into addicts

Date: November 21, 2009

Page:

Cannibals have better babies

The female Mediterranean tarantulas eat their mate, but they rarely eat their first mate but the mate that comes after him faces up to triple the risk of being eaten. Proven by Moya- Laraño at least one third of the female spiders ate their suitor. By eating their suitors the female spiders had more babies and earlier than usually expected. When Moya researched fights between cannibals and non cannibals, the cannibals won because they became stronger and tougher. Chad Johnson of Arizona State University in Phoenix suggested that if spiders don't get a good meal or benefit from sexual cannibalism, maybe killing the suitors is a way of revenge. Moya Laraño says" That the Mediterranean tarantulas might have some spillover effect too".

This experiment is an example of hypothesis based science because they did experiments on the Mediterranean tarantulas such as the fight between non cannibals and cannibals and experimenting how many spiders eat their suitors. This article is very interesting because not everybody knows that animals such as tarantulas eat their suitors and get tougher and stronger.

author: Susan Milius

title of article: Cannibals have better babies

date published: November 22,2008

page: 14

Defining humans by what's lacking

Researcher David Kingsley and his colleagues have reported that losing chunks of DNA could have enabled humans to develop larger brains and some other distinctive traits. Instead of focusing on genes that make humans unique, this new study looks for genes that were redacted in humans. Humans lack about 510 chunks of DNA; however macaques, chimps, and mice seem to share these chunks of DNA. Most of these DNA chunks are also missing from Neanderthals, which were lost around 500,000 to 6 million years ago. Some scientists have suggested the similar genes between humans and chimps may be used for different ways of development; which can explain the physical and behavioral differences between them. David Haussler, an investigator, describes a function in which one piece of a gene enhances facial hair sensory whiskers. Humans don't have this enhancer which is why they don't have these characteristics.
This experiment is an example of discovery science because the researchers observed the similarities between humans and chimps, and later discovered why they were similar and why they were different by coming to specific conclusions.This research is important to humans because it explains our development in evolution, and how and why we are different from chimps.





Author: Tiny Hesman Saey
Title: Defining humans by what's lacking
Journal: Science News
Date Published: April 9, 2011
Page: 15

Diamond's Softer Cousin

A new form of carbon has been simulated in a Chinese supercomputer. This has been achieved by replacing diamond's atoms with pyramids of carbon. This new "T-carbon would be 43 percent less dense, and 65 percent as hard as diamond. It has not actually been sythesised yet. Theoretical physisits argue wether or not it can be sythesised.

The experiment in my article is an example of hypothesis based science. The researcher has made a hypothesis that it is possible to sythesize T-carbon. It is a hypothesis that is yet to be tested.

If T-carbon is sythesized it will have value in the aerospace industry and be used in storing hydrogen as an energy source. Because of the way electrons flow though T-carbon, it would also be useful as a semiconductor.

Devin Powell
Diamond Cousin Proposed
Vol.179 #7
March 26 2011
page 10

Sensor picks up elusive explosive.

There is a new handheld that you may start seeing at most airports. It can pick up major explosives used by terrorists, such as triacetone, triperoxide, or TATP. It reacts to minimal amounts of TATP. It reacts to below 2 parts per billion, said Kenneth Suslick, a chemist at the University of Illinois. He and his team are working very hard to convert this prototype into a commercially available device. This chemical is favored by terrorists because it s easy to make, but at the same time difficult to detect, until of course chemists came up with this new gadget to keep all airports safe. It can be waved over suitcases or placed inside walk-through chemical detectors at airports.

This is an example of discovery science because they had a lot of evidence and narrowed it down to the idea of the handheld. This finding will keep humans safe at airports and other major terrorist targets.

Rachel Ehrenberg, Sensor picks up elusive explosive, Science News, December 4, 2010, pg.8

African elephants are two species

Scientists have finally proven that Forest-dwelling African elephants and Savana elephants are different species. This was recently proven in a genetic test that confirmed the difference in the DNA. It seems that their common ancestor evolved into different species between 2.6 and 5.6 million years ago. To reach this conclusion the scientists tested a 43,000 year old wooly mammoth bone from Siberia and a 50,000- 130,000 year old North American mastodon tooth. Alfred Roca, who always thought the animals were different was still extremely surprised at their immense differences. Although this theory is not final, many scientists believe that there is not enough evidence to prove otherwise.

This discovery was proved with discovery based science, since they used hypotheses and tests to determine the relationship between the two species. This research is not particularly important to humans because it has nothing to do with our species, but it is an important discovery in the way that it puts to rest all other ideas about these specific species.

Author: Tina Hesman Saey

Title: African elephants are two species

Journal: ScienceNews

Date Published: January 15, 2011

Page: 16

Altering a protein wipes out shocking memory in mouse brain

Scientists from the Medical College of Georgia and East China Normal University in Shanghai posed an experiment that erased memory from a mouse's brain. The experiment involved genetically engineering a mouse and used chemicals to block with a cavity alpha-CaMKII, a protein that is involved in storing and memorizing information. The scientists placed mice in a chamber, played a sound and then shock the mice's feet, they recognized the sound and learned to freeze when they heard the sound. The researchers then altered the protein, the mice had forgotten to freeze when they heard the sound. The removal of memory is only to the portion of the memory that was erased.

This experiment is an example of hypothesis-based science because the scientists made observations and used deductive reasoning to create an experiment and draw conclusions. This discovery may later lead to remove certain memories from a person's brain that may be causing them trauma or pain. It could also remove a piece of information from drug addicts that would eventually cause them to return to drugs.

Author: Tina Hesman Saey

Title: Altering a protein wipes out shocking memory in mouse brain

Journal: Science News

Date Published: November 22, 2008

Page: 8

The 'love' hormone has a dark side

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the brain that is usually known for causing emotions like love, civility, and the ability to trust. But on January 28, 2011 evidence suggested that oxytocin was also capable of working with negative feelings. Oxytocin will actually intensify any tendencies the person already has. If a person is generally polite and respectful, then with a boost of oxytocin, they will become more so. But, if they are rude and defying, the boost of oxytocin will strengthen those traits. So even though, oxytocin is normally called the 'love hormone', this is not what it is, its more like an enhancer, to strengthen the way somebody is, or what they're already feeling.

Jennifer Bartz, a psychiatrist of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, worked with her colleagues to research further into the effects of oxytocin. They studied 14 people with borderline personality disorder and 13 other people that didn't have any similar conditions. People with borderline personality disorder experience serious insecurity with their relationships, issues with abandonment, and a need for reassurances from their partners. The two groups (the normal group and the group with borderline personality disorder) played a game where a volunteer had to predict wether the partner would cooperate with them. People with borderline personality disorder were more prone to quit after a nasal spray of oxytocin because they were already disposed to distrusting and insecurity towards the volunteer.

This research is important to humans because there were plans to administer oxytocin hormones in medications to people with autism or other similar conditions in order to make them more trusting and social. But, thanks to this discovery, the oxytocin hormones won't be administered, preventing those who would have taken the hormones from becoming even more suspicious towards other.

article by Bruce Bower, The 'love' hormone has a dark side. Science News. February 26, 2011 pg. 15.

Researches link Alzheimer's to a lack of ZZZZZs

Scientists have been researching the link between sleep and the development of Alzheimer's disease within mice test subjects. Tests proved that mice which got less sleep, developed more amyloid-beta protein, which is believed to clump together in brain fluid and eventually kill off neurons, leading to Alzheimer's disease symptoms. Scientists also tested genetically predisposed mice, and found that those who did not sleep, developed more plaques than those who did. "This is the first experimental study that clearly shows that disrupted sleep may contribute to the disease process," says Peter Meerlo, a neuroscientist at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Studies in people have not shown a link between chronic sleep deprivation and Alzheimer's, but scientists believe that lack of sleep, specifically during midlife, could hasten the onset of the disease in genetically predisposed individuals.

This article is a perfect example of hypothesis-based science, as the scientists started with one, and later experimented to see if they were correct.

This research is important in the struggle with Alzheimer's. The more we understand about the disease, the more we can try to fight it, and find a cure.

Author: Tina Hesman Saey

Title of Article: Researchers link Alzheimer's to a lack of ZZZZZs

Journal: Science News

Date Published: October 24, 2009

Marine census count continues

After 10 years and the hard work of almost three-thousand scientist, the census of marine life is still going strong as scientist are discovering more and more new species. Not so much as larger sea life like whales and seals, but more along the line of crustaceans and microscopic organisms. Scientist have discovered over 1,200 new species with still so many unknown. The average number of different species in all of the important ocean regions is 10,000 although in the Australian and Japanese have about 33,000 different species. The final results of the census came out in october of 2010.

This experiment was an example of discovery science, because they used many different pieces of information, such as the different species, and brought the conclusion of the experiment. The importance of this census to humans is the fact that now we can know more about the food chain, and all of the different types of species in our oceans, which our vital to our life.

Author of Article: Susan Milius

Title of Article: Marine census count continues

Journal: Science News

Date published: August 28, 2010

Pages of Article: 10-11

Meet the growbots

Robots, the way they are seen today, are mainly used to do tasks that are considered hard, or stressful. But what if they were made to be just like us? Rajesh Rao is working with that exact same topic. He is trying to make robots that can have the same cognitive skills as kids when they speak or learn something new, and have the ability to mimic that skill instantly. Him and other scientists have already made robots lean to give eye-contact and also to learn from their own. Josh Bognard tried this experiment by getting three robots: two that looked the same and one that was different. One of the pair of robots would mimic every movement of the twin, but ignore the one that looked different, making him "learn" only from somebody like him. Other labs are working on how robots can work in a more social way. Such experiments lead to the conclusion that kids would rather look at the robot and play with it than play with a toy that was right next to them.

1. This experiment was an example of hypothesis-based science because they took an idea, and then experimented based on that specific idea.

2. This finding has and importance to the human race because it adds another possible use to machinery, but it would be sad if the robots were able to learn that they are smarter than most of us and take over the world.

Bruce Bower

Meet the growbots

Science News

January 29, 2011

pgs. 18-21

Scientific Article Analysis

Rare rayed crater found in Sahara

The article talks about a 45 meter wide impact site that was made by a Meteor that is thought to have crashed about 5,000-10,000 years. The creater was discovered in 2008 from Google Earth in the Southwestern part of Egypt. Scientist think that it was a huge meteor because the rime of the creator is elevated 3 meters above the surrounding lands. When the impact occured, colored material blasted from the ground and created something that is not usually seen on Earth. This shows how fresh the creator is because the meteor that cause the rays of lights are ruined because of erosion.

The article is an example of discovery science because they are not yet asking question but discoverying the meteor and what it consists of.

The importance that the discovery of the meteor might have to humans is that it might be able to show were it came frome and if more mereor could come from the same place

By: Sid Perkins

Tittle: Rare rayed crater found in Sahara

journal: Science News

Date published: August 14, 2010

Page: 13

Continent prepares to do the Splits

Author: Alexandra Witze

Title: Continent prepares to do the splits

Journal: Science News

Date: April 9, 2011

Page: 12

Summary: Researchers discovered new details on how the earths crust is tearing up Ethiopia. It is said that one day a new ocean will emerge from the split. The surface of the earth is broken up into many tectonic plates which collide and move creating earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters. The tectonic plates are created by magma which comes from the inside core and then reaches the ocean and solidifies creating a crust known as the oceanic crust. The speed of waves that travel through the crust is what lets the scientists know how thin the crust is. In Ethiopia the crust is so thin that the ground has fallen below sea level. Volcanoes around the area erupt because of constant stretching and thinning of the crust.

Approach: The scientists set off explosive charges in order to find out how thin the crust below them was. This is an example of Hypothesis Science because the scientists are saying what they believe is going to happen.

Importance: Because of this finding, now humans that live in Ethiopa, or close to the area that will supposedly split up, will have more precaution and will probably want to move to a different place in the world. :)

3D X-Rays Show Nanosized Details

Author: Gwyneth Dickey

Journal: Science News

Date: October 23, 2010

Page: 8

Summmary: A new x-ray microscope allows scientists to view a 3D image of their samples, in which they can see things as small as 100 nanometers. This microscope was first tested on a small mouse bone. From the scan scientist found "hidey-holes for cells in the bone matrix and connecting channels between those pockets". The way this microscope works is that a beam of x-rays is sent through the sample and then to a photon-counting detector, which forms a two dimensional image of the sample, which is then turned three dimensional using a computer program.

Approach: The scientist tried to make x-rays similar to how a brain CT scan is created.

Type of Science: This article is an example of hypothesis based science because the scientists are trying to make an x-ray scan similar to a CT scan on purpose, it was not a discovery.

Importance: Now scientists can observe x-rays more closely, and by being able to see such small things they can make new discoveries regarding bones, and other things that are shown in this x-ray scan. It can also be used in airport security to prevent terrorism.