Current Event #4

How Scientist Plan to Farm on Mars

What if there was a way for the human race to start life outside of planet Earth? Well according to NASA scientists, there is a possibility that farming on Mars is, in fact, probable. This, however, has many missions ahead of itself on future calendars in order to  further prove this inquiry. Actually, they have been planning it for years. In addition to this proposal, they have already set a date in 2020 to launch a fifth rover, as well as a crew of trained astronauts to land on Mar's soil in 2030.  Although, before NASA's can be sending humans out in the unknown, researchers are going to need loads of enhanced data to whether Mars can support human life. The topic that intrigues scientist the most is, in any case, the presence of growing greenery. If this turns out to be authentic, there won't be a need for us to bring our own plants. Thriving vegetation would lead to the planet's environment, obtaining the oxygen we need to survive. Angelo Vermeulen, who was commander on of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation Site, stated that growing crops on Mars and then consuming them "[Is the only way] for a long-term settlement." 


I haven't had any connections that truly reflect this topic in any of my classes. Even though this is apparent, I  still can connect this event to a book I remember reading way make in eighth grade. I forgot the title of it, but it was all about these kids that lived on mars, and had these different type of experiences, such as acid rain occurring. To think that one day that perhaps we might set foot on Mars,  I would have never of  thought to be imaginable. I honesty didn't think that the whole concept of them being Mars in the book, were soon to become a reality right off the pages. This shows how technologically advanced we are, even though not quite to our goal, but close enough to wear we can put it to our benefit. 


Genuinely, this event is an outrageously big step for us in order to explore more of Mars. The creating of the two events to go explore more of Mars, shows that maybe in the year future, people might start living there. The the classic "martian" will become, ironically, us. I don't know if I like the thought of me living on Mars because,  taking the risk to live on a planet that has been uninhabited for so quite some time, brings doubt that it is livable. What undoubtedly gives evidence that there is a way to plant greenery on Martian soil, is when there was a study done by Dr. Wieger Wamelink of the Alterra Institute in the Netherlands. This research helped to confirm that plants are able to grow in these samples of Martian land, and even outgrew the pot it was contained in. I do like the thought that growing farms on Mars is one step closer in organizing any civilization. With astronauts growing the food on Mars, it serves as a reproduction for the growing and sharing of food sources and emotional well being on their lengthy journey ahead. 

Short Answer:
What is the author’s point of view, and how does it impact the overall effect of the text? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

In the passage, the authors point of view is third person. This is because the author give detailed facts that is involved with the development and studies that are undergone. The way it effects the overall text is that it isn't talking about the authors experiences, but information her has received. He also uses direct quotes that give first hand explanation to what they are researching, such as in the study where the, "The goal [was] to develop a system where robotics [could] take over part of the maintenance and food growing tasks, and, as such, free up time for the astronauts"(Vermeulen). 

Citations

Epstein , Eli. "How Scientists Plan to Farm on Mars." Mashable. Mashable , 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. <http://mashable.com/2014/02/28/farm-on-mars/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link>.


Rana, Cyril. "Mars- We are coming!!!!!. Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo, 6 Feb. 2012. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/58076840@N08/6830698011>.

USHM Article Blog

Children's Diaries during the Holocaust 

During the time of the Holocaust, there where over 1.1 million children that fell victim to this murderous tragedy. These actions committed by the actions of the  Nazi soldiers, under the Axis power. 

The sufferings of there children, caused by this ignorance, can only be imagined. Although, there have been direct evidence into the tribulations they had to endure. 

A small amount of hand written diaries have been found throughout this time, and some of the ones retrieved have been owned by kids themselves. They have documented the heinous acts, and their overwhelming emotions they encountered.     

One of the first diaries obtained from this time period, was from a girl names Miriam Watternberg. This helped a wide range of people to examine, in depth, the horrific acts that happened during the Holocaust. She was born on October 10, 1924. She began writing in her diary around the wartime, where Poland surrendered to the power of German's army. Miriam's diary was one of the few that actually was written in English, and contained reports from the Warsaw ghetto. 

Another child diary owner, that is more well known, was Anne Frank. Anne wrote in her diary about her time spent in the attic of a warehouse of Amsterdam. Born Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, on June 12, 1929, Anne Frank acquired this diary during on her twelfth birthday.  She began to write in detail of all the things that went on enclosed in the "secret annex". Sadly on August 4, 1944, German Police discovered them and sent them to Auschwitz. 

There are many different categories of content that are within the pages of a child's diary. The main documented occurrences are: diaries that were written by children that had fled the control of German domains, diaries about children in hiding, diaries of children that existed in a run down environment, under the constraint of German rule, or scarcely, diaries of children within the gates of a concentration camp. All of these records, created by the children of the Holocaust era, demonstrates them individually within the confines of the wartime situations. 

Citations
"Children's Diaries during the Holocaust." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, 10 June 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007952>. 

Current Event #3

Air pollution exposure may increase risk of autism, schizophrenia

Air pollution in the atmosphere is raising suspicion to whether it actually increases the chances of multiple diseases. These diseases may have an effect on the heart and lungs of the surrounding people. Not only diseases such as these, but also one of our most important organs, the brain, may be at risk of afflictions from the poisonous gases as well. With the rising development of pollution in the Chicago area, scientists of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences came together to stress that the over exposure of these fumes, and the consistent intake, may induce an enlargement with the ventricles brain tissues. Toxins in the air holds boat-loads of metals and gases. These particles, that when small enough, can cause a person massive health complications. This is explained by an environmental professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, when stating that, "[They] go all the way down into the bottom of the lung. Once they get to the bottom of the lung, they can be absorbed into the blood stream" (Slechta). Researchers tested this out on the brains of mice. When they "took the brains, and it had been a couple months since exposure, [they] couldn't find a brain region that didn't have inflammation going on" (Slechta). 

With the constant outbreak of air pollution, not only unveils our health to the risks of diseases, but as well as our environment. I can connect this with the sudden abnormal weather we have been having for the past month. We have recently received a collection of snowfall in our location, but a controversial debate arouse about the snow not melting. When close to a flame, the snow would only turn into a blackish color and excrete a foul stench. This topic has been spread throughout social media. Many believe it is the doings of the government that manipulated the real snow with foreign chemicals. My belief is that it is the doings of the pollution in the air. Snow is actually able to pick up pollution when in the air quite well, and with the pollution chemicals inside the snow.

Personally I think this contaminated waste in our breathing environment is bound to have an affect on our health. All this absorption of junk within our lungs and other significant body parts are going to get filled with all the chemicals that will eventually cause blockage. I'm not sure if it really does causes autism as well as schizophrenia, but by the looks of this article it does seem probable. I feel that we need to not let these toxins get into our air. If we all took the time and lessen the outflow of pollution, then our air, environment, and health conditions will decrease. Without this effort, more people are in danger of lowering their life quality. 

Short Answer 

How does the structure of the text refine and support the author’s claim? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The structure of the text is refined and supported by the author's claims by bringing up the subject of how pollution is causing many different diseases in the first half. Then she proceeds to talk about the scientific research that was done in order to prove this. She also included quotes from the actual researchers that say that the pollution "tracks of what’s called ‘white matter.’ And they cross over the brain; they connect the two hemispheres. And in [there] mice, those are either missing, or never developed, or died. We don’t know which, but a lot of that is missing, and that too is very characteristic of autism and schizophrenia" (Slechta). 

Cecílio, Guilherme. "Untitled." Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo, 19 July 2008. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/85408714@N00/2699325735>.

Grush, Loren. "Air pollution exposure may increase risk of autism, schizophrenia." Fox News. Fox News Network, 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/02/18/air-pollution-exposure-may-increase-risk-neurodevelopmental-disorders/>.

Current Event #2

Printed Candy You Can Eat? 

There have been many 3D printer creations, but no other printer has been able to create a sweet treat other than the new Chef Jet! It is said to be "the world's first on-demand 3D candy printer" (Dolasia)! First introduced in Las Vegas at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show. It is small enough to fit on a kitchen counter and is completely safe for anyone to eat. To make one of it's delicious creations, one must provide the printer with a sugary or chocolaty substance. It is then flatted downed by a rolling pin type contraption. The inkjet print head then spreads water over the surface for the candy to crystallize and solidify. This process can be repeatedly executed multiple times in order to create it's " beautiful intricately designed piece of candy" (Dolasia). 

This is an invention you would think would have been invented in the future if you asked me. No more having to go to your local candy store in order to create your favorite goodies. Now with this new Chef Jet, you have the power right at your finger tips. This makes things more convenient for people. Not only does the Chef Jet provide its owner with a bunch of creation templates, but also lets the owner add their own creative mix as well. This article makes me think of how much technology has advanced. We use a ton of technology at our school, so maybe by a year or two we might even get one of these 3D printers.

I absolutely love sweets, and this is just a cool innovative way of how our candy is being formed!  I think the only draw back from this invention is that it can take up to an hour to make, and can leave impatience people to starve.  Another unfavorable aspect would be the price of the invention. It starts at a price of $5,000, and for the more advanced models it would cost someone up to $10,000! You would have to be a truly devoted candy lover if you would wanted to purchase the Chef Jet, because some people (like me) are just plain broke. If this invention would lower its price, I would totally jump at the chance to have one, because frankly this thing is just plain incredible.  

Short Answer Response 

How does the author use language to advance her point of view? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The author advances her point of view by using language, such as, when she states that the "Chef Jet ... can print colored confectionery, [and] is expected to come to market by the second half of the year" (Dolasia). By the use of the word confectionery, it proves to me that she thinks that this invention is quite fancy. The word confectionery is basically the word candy, but in a much more sophisticated way.


Work cited
Eric. "Candyland." Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo, 2 Dec. 2007. Web. 1 Feb. 2014. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/29498428@N00/2081440397>.
Dolasia, Meera. "Print Your Candy And Eat It Too!" DOGOnews. DOGOmedia, 26 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Feb. 2014. <http://www.dogonews.com/2014/1/26/print-your-candy-and-eat-it-too>.