Szilvia Szabó

Mr. Ippolito

AP Biology

November 21st, 2018

“Scientists Develop Blood Test That Spots Tumor-Derived DNA in People With Early-Stage

Cancers - 08/16/2017.” Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins?, 16 Aug. 2017,

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/scientists_develop_blood_test_that_spots_tumor_derived_dna_in_people_with_early_stage_cancers.

Doctors have been trying to find the cure for cancer for as long as anyone could remember. Part of the problem is that there is no one cause, no one determining factor or characteristic of cancer that we can use to find a cure. However, scientists at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a relatively accurate test to find out early whether or not someone has cancer. “Overall, the scientists were able to detect 86 of 138 (62 percent) stage I and II cancers.” This test specifically is able to distinguish between abnormal, cancer mutated DNA and regular non threatening, altered DNA. Sometimes, cells divide and something goes wrong resulting in a mutated cell to form. Unless this cell starts to rapidly divide, there is no reason for it to be threatening. However, it does interfere with cancer tests because the DNA from altered, but not cancerous, cells looks like DNA from cancerous cells. But, by combing through all of the possibly cancerous mutations in the affected individuals’ genes, these scientists were able to come up with this blood test that brings us one step closer to saving more lives.

Almost any advancement made in the medical field should be deemed important by everyone, especially advances in cancer detecting technology. Cancer continues to be one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. After decades, even centuries of research, not a single scientist has been able to come up with a definitive cure for cancer. So, a blood test such as this one is a great progression towards finding a cure. At the very least, this test has the potential to save and preserve many lives.

I think that this article was really well written and gave a really informative summary of the scientific research done at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. I think that the author did a really nice job of making this kind of information understandable to a larger audience. However, I feel like the author could have added more specific facts in his article and maybe given some context or background information about cancer screening tests such as this one. It would have been helpful to be given a better sense of where we stand with our cancer screening blood tests and see how this one compares. Overall, this article was really well written and informative on a fairly important and interesting topic.

“Climate Change Will Have Dire Consequences for US, Federal Report Concludes.”

Caitlin Mooney

Mr. Ippolito

Current Event 9

11/25/18

Christensen, Jen, and Michael Nedelman. “Climate Change Will Have Dire Consequences for

US, Federal Report Concludes.” CNN, Cable News Network, 23 Nov. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/11/23/health/climate-change-report-bn/index.html.

For this scientific article review, I read the article, “Climate change will shrink US economy and kill thousands, government report warns” by Jen Christensen and Michael Nedelman. This article describes a recent US government report that delivers a warning about the severity of climate change. This article emphasizes the fact that climate change will hurt our global economy by causing it to lose billions of dollars. Christensen and Nedelman prove this point when they cited the report when they wrote, “In parts of the Midwest, farms will be able to produce less than 75% of the corn they produce today, and the southern part of the region could lose more than 25% of its soybean yield.”. With production rates in decline due to temperature variability, it is very obvious that there will be a heavy hit to the economy. Christensen and Nedelman also reference that climate change increases natural disasters such as wildfires and flooding, and how extreme temperatures can affect health.

This article can be easily related to the world today, as California is experiencing deadly wildfires right now. Although the death toll for the California wildfire is currently 63, and 600 others are missing, it is predicted in 2050 wildfires will burn up to six times the area, possibly causing much more death. Another way this article relates to current times is that the economic decline caused by climate change will correlate to a heavy hit to the economy, that has the potential to destroy many lives and create troubles for the lives of others. Another way that climate change can impact society is that it increases disease. The report that was done by the US predicts that premature deaths will increase by 2,000 between now and 2090. The report also predicts an increase in mosquito and tick-borne diseases (like Zika), in allergies, and in asthma.

I feel that Christensen and Nedelman did a good job with there article, one reason I think this is because they were able to incorporate many quotes into their article, I found this very helpful as a reader because it made it easier to understand the problem at hand. Another thing I thought that the authors did well was that they gave the reader a good background on climate change and were able to shock the reader with many facts. One thing I think the authors could have done to make this article better is that they could have listed the studies that found certain information that they talked about instead of only using the recent report done by the US. Also, I think that the authors could have told the reader more specifics about possible solutions to the problem. Besides those issues, I think that this article was easy to follow and I learned a lot about this nationwide problem. Hopefully, articles like these will be able to raise awareness about the dangers of global warming so we can work together to protect the world and its people from there decline.

Charlotte Cagliostro

Ippolito

C Even AP Biology / Current Event #9

11/24/18

Borenstein, Seth. “Government Climate Report Warns of Worsening US Disasters.” U.S. News & World Report, The Associated Press, 24 Nov. 2018, www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2018-11-23/government-climate-report-warns-of-worsening-us-disasters.

In his U.S. News & World Report, “Government Climate Report Warns of Worsening US Disasters,” Seth Borenstein analyzes the National Climate Assessment, a report released by the White House on Black Friday. The annual report combines over 1,000 research studies to construct a comprehensive review of climate change and its effects in the United States. The assessment contains many alarming statistics about the repercussions of climate change, claiming that “the last few years have smashed U.S. records for damaging weather, costing nearly $400 billion since 2015” and “in some areas, such as parts of Alaska and Louisiana, coastal flooding will likely force people to relocate.” Borenstein points out that the report contradicts many of Trump’s tweets and press statements that denounce and reject climate change. He also points out the peculiar timing of the publication. Why did the White House publish such a significant report assessing the severity of climate change on Black Friday? Many speculate that it hoped to draw little attention to the report through its publication date as most Americans would be focused on shopping.

The subject of Borenstein’s article, climate change, is extremely important as it plays a crucial role in the future of our planet. As mentioned in his article, in just a few decades, parts of the country will be submerged in water, forcing millions to move inland, and environmental disasters like wildfires and hurricanes will become more frequent and severe. It is clear the climate change, especially under the current Administration, will continue to harm states across the U.S. and even the globe. Additionally, Borenstein’s article is significant since many Americans are not aware of the White House’s assessment; citizens need to become aware of the threats that jeopardize their way of life and the survival of future generations in order to make more informed, eco-friendly decisions.

Borenstein wrote a fantastic article that was able to explain a very complex, controversial topic in a straightforward manner. He summarized the long, detailed National Climate Assessment in a few sentences, allowing him to maintain the reader’s attention. Additionally, Borenstein cited both relevant and frightening statistics from the assessment that serve to emotionally connect with the reader. On the negative side, Borenstein could have further investigated Trump’s impact on climate change in future years as his discussion on that matter seemed rather light. Through his article, Borenstein will no doubt raise awareness for climate change and the Administration’s effects on it.

Christopher Hutchins

Mr. Ippolito

AP Biology - Current Event 8

11/13/18

Plumer, Brad. “Clean Energy Is Surging, but Not Fast Enough to Solve Global Warming.” The

New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Nov. 2018,

www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/climate/global-energy-forecast.html.

In this article, “Clean Energy Is Surging, but Not Fast Enough to Solve Global Warming”, Brad Plumer
discusses the newly popular renewable forms of energy that are predicted to become the world's leading
energy sources in a near future. The traditional fuels such as coal and oil are dangerous as they emit CO2
into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Plumer adds that the world is nowhere near fixed.
There is an estimated 25 years before the interest in oil begins to drop. “But don’t expect coal to disappear
altogether. While the era of rapid coal growth is fading, the agency projects that global coal consumption
could stay flat for decades.” Coal is beginning to plateau and within 2-3 years, its relevance may also
begin to drop. Although the current use of wind and solar energy is beginning to increase, it is not
replacing the consistent sources for energy that come with coal and oil.

The current situation with climate change is extremely important to take note of. Without everyone
doing their part, the world may cross the point of no return. Humans may find themselves with an
Earth that will never be the same. Therefore, the importance of spreading word of these events is very
important. The more funding for similar projects, the quicker we may find solutions to our impending
problems. By reading this article, the audience may see the power and influence of investing in wind
and solar power, which will benefit and help close the gap between fossil fuels and natural gas.

The author does a very good job separating his evidence and making his argument clear. Plumer groups
the topics into understandable categories that can be compared. The first is the increase of wind and
solar energy. Then he mentions the decline of coal, followed by the decline of fossil fuels, concluding
with how each affects global warming. These sections make it very simple for the reader to understand.
On the contrary, the writing only discusses the predictions of the future; it never mentions the current
situations of the wind and solar systems. Some context about the present would have greatly added to
the article.

“The Wheels on These Buses Go Round and Round With Zero Emissions.”

Ella Stupart

Mr. Ippolito

November 15, 2018

Current Event #8

Plumer, Brad. “The Wheels on These Buses Go Round and Round With Zero Emissions.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Nov. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/climate/electric-school-buses.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/climate&action=click&contentCollection=climate®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront.

In his article “The Wheels on These Buses Go Round and Round With Zero Emissions”, Brad Plumer discusses a new environmentally friendly alternative to diesel fueled school buses. Traditional school buses expose children to dangerous exhaust and emit CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. According to the article, White Plains School District recently invested in five electric powered school buses which cost a whopping $365,000 each. White Plains was able to obtain the funds through a deal with Consolidated Edison. While many schools across the United States are trying to make a similar switch, many districts don’t have the funds. In attempt to make a change, many states are setting aside money to fund new electric powered school buses. The article mentions that some are against setting aside this money, arguing that the buses are too expensive to set aside enough money to fund enough buses to make a significant difference. The article introduces the refute that if more buses are purchased, production rates will go up and therefore price will go down. Despite these economic drawbacks, according to the article, these buses are 75% less expensive to fuel and 60% less expensive to maintain than traditional buses are. Some states still do not have the funds to provide schools with enough of these buses to make a difference in CO2 emission, but they are still working to introduce more environmentally friendly methods of fuel. For example, Arizona is working to switch to propane fuel, which is better for the environment than diesel fuel. Some are concerned with the safety and reliability of electric powered buses.While in 2016, schools in Massachusetts experienced issues with electric powered buses, White Plains has no complaints and the company which provides the buses, Lion Electric, says they have learned from their mistakes and are setting up a service center in New Jersey in case of issues. Additionally, White Plains school district claims that their new buses have led to educational opportunities and environmental awareness among their students. In this article, Plumer argues that electric buses are beneficial to the environment.  

Global warming has been a prominent issue in our society for a long time. Because it is such a lasting issue, I believe it often gets disregarded or forgotten by many, so it is important that we are coming together as a nation to make a change in our environment. While it may seem insignificant that one school district in the country now uses five electric powered buses, it is a big step towards a more sustainable future. Surrounding districts and states are using White Plains as an example for their own schools and coming up with new ways to fund this project. Like most movements, it starts with one group of people and creates a ripple effect until a huge change is created. Another important factor in this project is the educational factor. When students see that their district is switching to electric school buses, it draws curiosity and passion about the issue. Students will want to find out what else they can do to help with climate change which will create an even greater impact. I believe that the switch to electric powered school buses is a small, but significant piece to a huge movement that has the power to change the world.

This article was very effective in introducing the audience to the benefits of electric buses, but there are also a few areas in which it can be improved. The most important strength in this article is the variety of subjects that Plumer discussed, for example, the economic aspect, convenience, the environmental aspect, alternatives, and opposing views were all mentioned. The wide range of subtopics allowed for the author to answer the audience’s questions as they read the article. Even though he had many topics to discuss, Plumer introduced his ideas in a clear and logical manner; the article flows well and is easy to understand. He also does a sufficient job at introducing and refuting opposition without forming a bias. Instead of stating his own opinion, he refutes claims using the opinions of electric-bus companies and supporting statistics from reliable sources including Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Although this was a strong article, I wish that Plumer elaborated more on how bad current diesel fuel school buses are for the environment in contrast with the new electric buses. He should have included statistics and further information on how much gas is emitted from current school buses and how it affects the health of children and the environment. He also could have included the projected long term effects if more schools transition to using environmentally friendly methods of transportation. This would create context for the magnitude of the issue and would inspire the audience to make a difference if they were informed on how it may affect them personally.

Alyssa Lee

Mr. Ippolito

Current Event #8

11/13/18

Temming, Maria. “These Fragile, Futuristic Batteries Run Longer with a Little Oil.” Science News, 8 Nov. 2018, www.sciencenews.org/article/these-fragile-futuristic-batteries-run-longer-little-oil?tgt=nr.  

One of the problems that will inevitably characterize our generation’s exploration in science is the seemingly distant problem of global warming and environmental conservation. Although eco-awareness has become more of a significant issue for scientists in the past decade, there are still many deficiencies in finding viable sources of energy and energy efficiency that must be solved. According to the article “These Fragile, Futuristic Batteries Run Longer with a Little Oil” by Maria Temming, mechanical engineer Brandon Hopkins and his colleagues were successful in developing a new type of battery- one that produces an abundance of energy over a longer span of time without the input of so much oil. Composed of “two electrodes, an aluminum anode and a cathode, separated by a liquid called an electrolyte”, the battery is unique in that it is an aluminum-air battery. Aluminum-air batteries need only aluminum and oxygen to run, and besides this favorable aspect, they are usually rather “lightweight and compact”. However, this type of sustainable battery is not a viable alternative for replacing typical batteries due to the rapid degradation of its components (since the metal rusts and oxidizes too quickly to be considered sustainable; the electrolyte also contributes to this process). The typical aluminum-air battery can lose up to 80% of its energy “sitting on a shelf for a month”. To combat this flaw, Hopkins altered the original design by adding a polymer membrane. This membrane is essentially a filtering device- by enabling the transport of electrolyte into the chamber when electricity is being generated and draining the chamber when the battery is no longer producing energy (replacing it with oil that acts as a buffer). This improvement added weeks to the battery’s lifespan (while in constant use). The article also discusses alternative ways in which the batteries could be altered to generate greater power, such as stacking many batteries together or increasing the size of the battery. This battery could be used in drone operation and electric cars; additionally, large-scale batteries could be used to supply power and electricity to both military personnel and average families in remote regions of the world that are separated from the technological hub of large urban cities. This design, if successful, could contribute to a decrease in our heavy reliance on fossil fuels and other unsustainable forms of energy.

There are innumerable benefits to discovering alternate forms of sustainable energy. One of the most intriguing facts concerning this particular battery is that it may be possible to replace standard oil with oils derived through organic and natural pathways, such as corn. With the abundance of corn that exists in our market today (since corn is largely overproduced), we could direct some of this excess produce towards creating economically and environmentally viable sources of energy to power our devices and our technology as a whole. This, in turn, would decrease our over-dependence on unsustainable energy sources. More than reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, developments in this area of energy production also greatly contribute to the lessening of human impact on our environment. It is impossible for humanity to subsist and survive without the use of electrical power and energy- we have built entire societies and countries that are more interconnected than ever before with the advent of electrical and chemical energy. While this fact is indisputable, we as human beings have the power to change the ways in which we obtain energy; we are currently rather inefficient with allocating our energy resources, and it is precisely due to this inefficiency that we have reached an impasse, a sort of turning point in our lives when our unsustainable energy sources are being depleted at an alarmingly rapid rate. Innovations similar to Hopkins’ battery prototype have the potential to revolutionize the ways in which we produce energy. With a minimum reliance on oil, these types of batteries could be the segway that we need in order to transition to a world that is more ecologically and environmentally independent.

The article itself is well-written and exceptionally comprehensive, though it certainly has its flaws just as any piece of journalism does. The description of the process through which the battery generates energy was detailed but written in plain terms, the author defining certain terms such as “electrolyte” and “electrode” where necessary. Additionally, the article explored multiple facets of the experiment, including the specifics of the battery’s operations, opportunities to experiment further, and the possible uses that could be derived from such a product being released to the general public. However, the article lacks in describing the possible faults and errors in the experiment- it fails to acknowledge and/or refute the opposition. What is it that makes this battery so much more likely to succeed than other aluminum-air batteries? What avenues are left for the researchers to take before releasing these batteries for widespread use? Are there possible health detriments? It would be beneficial if the author could include some of the drawbacks of using this battery, such as, perhaps, the price of production or the shortcomings concerning the amount power produced.

World's Longest DNA Sequence Decoded

Michael Grieco

AP Biology

Current Event 8 - Review

November 14, 2018

Davison, Angus. “World's Longest DNA Sequence Decoded.” BBC News, BBC, 31 Oct. 2018,

<www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46046024>.

This article by Angus Davison from the University of Nottingham talks about a new breakthrough in
DNA sequencing methods. UK scientists decoded a human DNA strand of 2.3 million bases in one read.
It gives context on this ongoing “competition” that will end when scientists decode an entire genome. The
method the scientists used was called nanopore sequencing, which is a simpler and more cost-effective
method compared to the current sequencing methods. This new method also reduces the cost of
replicating a human genome from one million dollars to one thousand dollars. The article states that this
reduction arises from the increased length of a single read. In the past, even with technological
advancements, the only ways of sequencing a genome was in smaller pieces. And after this, scientists
would have to piece together the sequences, a complicated process that the article compared to a jigsaw
puzzle. Finally, the article discusses the applications of this breakthrough, such as further advancements
in cancer research.

As stated above, the extension of sequenced DNA strands can help cancer research, which studies the
rearrangement of DNA. By removing the need to rearrange smaller strands, scientists can increase the
accuracy of studies. With this advancement, we can apply similar tactics to processes such as CRISPR
in order to eliminate disease and increase the quality of life for humans. Additionally, because this
process can be applied to other organisms, we can study evolution to a further extent, allowing us to
understand the history of life on Earth.

This article explains the new study in a very detailed manner. It includes lots of information, regarding
the history of DNA sequencing, how this new method is different, and the potential applications of it. I
believe that the author could have included information regarding how the process actually works. This
could further the understanding of the importance of the study. And by giving the inner workings of the
nanopore sequencing, we could compare it to past methods not just based on efficiency.

How the Jumping Spider Sees Its Prey

Alisa Kanganis

Current Event 8

Gorman, James. “How the Jumping Spider Sees Its Prey.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2018,

www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/science/spider-vision.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&p.

This article, “How the Jumping Spider Sees Its Prey”, by James Gorman describes the different aspects of jumping spiders eyesight. Jumping spiders leap to attack their prey, but how do they know where their prey is? To answer this, Elizabeth Jacob, a spider biologist, decided to look deeper into spiders vision. She even built a custom spider eye tracker, which is used to follow their gaze. This is one of only two spider eye trackers in the world! A jumping spider has 8 eyes in total, 2 of which pick up color and detail, 2 more look backwards, another 2 detect motion, and the function of the last 2 has not yet been determined. Using the spider eye tracker, Elizabeth Jacob and her team were able to conclude that jumping spiders have tunnel vision. Their sight is like shining a beam of light into a dark room. What can be more interesting than that? Well, it turns out that the pair of eyes that detect motion let the spider know where to look! When their motion eyes are blinded, the spiders are left clueless. The main takeaway is that these pairs of eyes, which are physically separate, work together.

This discovery does not impact society greatly. However, the scientists do plan on continuing research. They want to know how the spiders tiny brain can manage information from both sets of eyes simultaneously. This can be important in understanding spider cognition, which opens a whole other door to spider biologists, like Elizabeth Jacob.

Mainly, I wish that the author included more scientific information in his article. For instance, how is a spider eye tracker built and what does it look like? Or what is the significance of this study? It would even be interesting to learn more about how the spider eyes actually work. I would like to know how some eyes are designed only to see color and detail and other eyes are designed to see motion. Why did jumping spiders vision evolve like this and is it different from other spiders? Some contextualization would be a good touch as well, as most people do not have much background information on spiders.

Raphael Munchenbach

5/11/2018

Cohut, Maria. “Cancer: How Close Are We to Curing It?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 2 Mar. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321106.php.

In her article, Maria Cohut discusses a much anticipated scientific development: a cure for cancer. She begins by putting cancer into context, listing shocking statistics which help put the issue into perspective. Then, she lists some already known and widely used treatments for cancer. Then, she introduces the idea that other treatments, which are still being perfected, are currently in the works, and seek to better defeat the deadly illness. The first method which she discusses is immunotherapy, or the bolstering of the body’s immune system against cancer. She then lists a flaw in immunology: that certain more aggressive cancer cells tend to develop resistances against the body’s immune system. However, she then reassures her readers by presenting a study which discussed how scientists were able to work around the more powerful cancer cells, by blocking certain signaling pathways. The second method she discusses is therapeutic vaccination, which consists of injecting “therapeutic viruses” into the patient’s body, which are helped by artificial receptors to help the therapeutic virus identify and destroy the cancer cells. Cohut does recognize a possibly destructive downside to this method, that it is difficult to control, and the supposedly helpful viruses may also certain important components of the human body. She then states a way that scientists have found to mitigate this issue, through a bioresponsive scaffold system, which makes it easier for the treatment to be controlled. She then brings up a relatively new method: nanotechnology. These are very small particles which can be programmed to target cancer and ignore the rest of the body. However, as nanotechnology is fairly new, scientists do not know the full extent of its potential, or possible downsides which may arise from it. The fourth method she discusses is “starvation” of tumors, by preventing tumors from feeding on glutamine. As this method is fairly new and unexplored, scientists must conduct more research before formulating a definitive solution. The final method she discusses is epigenetics, which is the manipulation of gene expression to eliminate possible risks of cancer. However, this is apparently harder to do in a shorter term, emergency situation and is best used years in advance. Then, she ties it all together, saying that although these methods can seem promising, they are fairly new, and it won’t be for some time that they become viable for widespread usage. She ends on a positive note, however, that every day, our knowledge progresses and we have more ways of fighting this disease.

The impact on society of these methods is fairly obvious, as cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death, and it is the medical world’s utmost priority to find ways to combat it.  These new methods of cancer treatment have worlds of potential, and can be applied to fields even beyond the medical world. New breakthroughs such as nanotechnology seem to hold nearly unlimited potential, which brings humanity ever closer to defeating cancer.

The article has very clear strengths: it lists a variety of methods to potentially cure cancer, the contexts in which they are used, and any downsides or limitations of the treatment. This is all presented in well organized chunks, which allows readers to easily sift through each method and be certain of the proper location of these elements. She also very efficiently includes information directly from cancer researchers and studies in the field. However, Cohut’s article suffers from a lack of clarity. The language can seem oversaturated to the average reader, making it very difficult for one to follow the course of the article. Explanation for some of the more technical terms in the article would have been invaluable,  and would make the article easier to digest, and place every reader on equal footing when reading the article.

The Appendix May Play a Role in Parkinson's Disease

Anna Normand

AP Biology

Mr. Ippolito

4 November 2018

Cunningham, Aimee. “The Appendix May Play a Role in Parkinson's Disease.” Science News, 2 Nov. 2018, www.sciencenews.org/article/appendix-implicated-parkinsons-disease?tgt=nr.

The scientific article I read this week described an apparent connection between the appendix and the development of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects movement, coordination, and balance, and affects more than 10 million people worldwide. Although the exact cause of the disease is unknown, but a marker of the disease is the death of neurons (nerve cells) in the area of the brain which controls movement. The subject of this article is a study done through analysis of nearly 1.7 million Swedish people throughout their lives, sometimes for over 50 years. The lead researcher, Viviane Labrie, a neuroscientist at the Van Andel Research Institution, and her team, discovered a possible connection between the removal of the appendix and the risk of developing Parkinson’s. The finding showed that removing the appendix was associated in a 19% drop in the risk of developing the disease. The researchers also studied the differences in urban areas vs. rural areas, and found that rural residents are more at risk for developing the disease. The researchers attributed this risk to possible pesticide exposure in rural areas. The researchers believe that Lewy bodies, or clumped up bits of a protein, can travel from the gut up the main nerve that connects to the brain. Because Lewy body buildup is associated with Parkinson’s, the researchers believe that the markers of Parkinson’s disease may show themselves first in the gut.

The scientific importance of this new connection should not be underestimated. Parkinson’s disease is mostly a mystery to modern scientists, and its causes have not yet been determined. Because of lack of knowledge on how to prevent the disease, most research is focused on treatment. This new information could be the key to developing early or even preemptive treatments for Parkinson’s. Researchers believe that by preventing buildup of Lewy bodies in the gut, they could possibly prevent the spread of the bodies from the gut to the brain, and thus prevent the disease.

I thought this article presented information in a concise and understandable way. Their research, although very complicated, was presented so that someone without medical education could understand, and I liked the way that the information was given and conclusions drawn. However, I thought that the article did not touch enough on the possible treatments stemming from the connection to the appendix. Personally, I am wondering if appendix removal will be considered as a preemptive treatment for those who may develop Parkinson’s, or if removal of the appendix can slow the spread of the disease once contracted. I would have liked if the author had drawn more conclusions from that discovery. I think that if the author gave more information on how this research would change the care and treatment of those with Parkinson’s, the article would be more complete and more informative.

Human Pressures Have Shrunk Wildlife Populations by 60 Percent.

Anabel Maldonado

Ippolito C Even

Current Event Review

November 4th, 2018

Waldman, Scott. “Human Pressures Have Shrunk Wildlife Populations by 60 Percent.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2018, www.scientificamerican.com/article/human-pressures-have-shrunk-wildlife-populations-by-60-percent/.

This year I have learned a lot about the problems our world faces with the environment. However, Scott Waldman article refreshed my memory on these topics. He clearly summarizes our problems with biodiversity and our land usage. He explains that our demand for food, medicine, land, energy and other resources, result in more environmental issues. This is proven, as he states “Humans have wiped out about 60 percent of the world’s wildlife populations in the last four decades, a new report has found.” His main purpose of this article is to explain how our human activity affects the wildlife around us. Waldman states that these events occur because of the deforestation, agricultural uses and overexploitation of animals. He later goes into much more in depth as to specific examples that have been affected such as “Shallow-water coral reefs have been cut in half in the last 30 years, and about 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest has disappeared over the last 50 years, the authors found.” His explanations and examples are suppose to send the audience a message stating that these problems are increasing as more time passes.

Some may argue that our world already knows all of this information. However, Waldman's article reminds his readers about these severe problems - that need to be fixed. The issues our world faces with our environment are very significant. If this trend continues then our world’s rates of deforestation and endangered species will increase. As a result, our “desire for resources” will put more wildlife in danger; and as more time passes we will continue to spiral out of control. If these problems continue to occur then our ecosystem will change, which puts our lives at risk. Yet, this topic is, also, very fixable as he explains that we should stop hunting as much, cutting down more trees, and ultimately be much more respectful of our environment.

One thing that Waldman succeeded with was explaining the relationship between this topic and his audience. He made his audience feel as if they could make a change. Also, Waldman wrote in a very persuasive tone by presenting a lot of evidence. For instance he stated “The population of polar bears is expected to drop 30 percent by 2050 as global warming shrinks the ice they need to hunt for food.” However, he did not state the sources he used to find facts such as these. I believe this was his major weakness. In order to improve upon this, he should include all sources he found. In addition, I noticed that Waldman did not state his stance or opinion on the topic. If Waldman where to personalize his article, his audience would have been more convinced to make a change.