Persian Gulf Heat: It May Become Too Hot for Humans to Survive, Study Warns

Audrey Kim

AP Bio

17 November 2015

Current Event 8 Review

A study conducted by MIT and Loyola Marymount University found that certain areas of the Middle East could become too hot for survival by 2100. They specifically focused on the Persian Gulf area through running computer models to examine how wet-bulb temperature correlates with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The wet-bulb temperature combines air temperature and humidity to yield a value, with drier air resulting in lower wet-bulb temperature values. Present day wet-bulb temperatures only reach 31 celsius on the most extreme summer days in the region, but predictions show that by 2100, they will reach 35 celsius, a temperature considered to be lethal for humans. In drier locations like Kuwait City, actual air temperature is predicted to reach 60 celsius (140 fahrenheit) at this rate. However, another computer model based on cutbacks in carbon emissions show that the temperatures may not reach the lethal levels presented in the prior model. World leaders will meet in Paris for a conference to created an agreement to curb fossil-fuel emissions in December, potentially allowing future citizens to keep living in the Middle Eastern regions impacted.

This article has a direct impact on the future of our society and our ability to sustain ourselves on Earth. If the Middle Eastern regions mentioned do become uninhabitable by 2100, many other places are guaranteed to follow. The article discusses human impact on the future climates of certain areas, reinforcing the argument that humans have a role in the climate change that is currently taking place. To prevent such tragedies from happening, people in our current society must make a significant change in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental policies. Such reasons make it necessary for world leaders to come together and agree on a standard for greenhouse gas emissions so that our society could maximize our ability to sustain ourselves on this planet.

Although this article was well-written in that it was easy to understand and often used  common-speech language to relate to its audience, it could have made a stronger impact by incorporating more scientific data. Including more statistics and numbers would have made the article more compelling and credible, especially when discussing predictions for the future. If such information was added to these areas, the article as a whole would have been more specific and clear.

Citation

Miller, Brandon. "Persian Gulf Heat: It May Become Too Hot for Humans to Survive, Study Warns." CNN. N.p., 28 Oct. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/27/world/persian-gulf-heat-climate-change/index.html>.

How to Survive a Stampede

Wollan, Malia. "How to Survive a Stampede." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 Nov. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/magazine/how-to-survive-a-stampede.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience>.

This article, “How to Survive a Stampede,” is about exactly what you might expect: it educates people on the steps necessary in order to ensure safer evacuation. They did tests on mice who were dropped into pools of water, which mimics the flow of humans in crowded areas like concerts or baseball games. At first, the mice in the confined space “tend to herd, but on later occasions they find all available routes and exit.” This decreased the amount of time it took them to escape overall by seven percent. Not only does this show that the mice were able to learn from their mistake, but also, it demonstrates that the fastest way out of a situation would be to find different paths. People, like mice, usually follow the crowd, but this can clog the exit, and they typically ignore others, which can lead to disasters. Caesar Saloma was the physics professor at the University of the Philippines who did the experiments on the mice, and his advice is simply to not “just do what the person next to you does.” When visiting any sort of event that gathers loads of people, suggested by Saloma, one should make a mental map of where the emergency exits are, and though they can’t actually practice the escape, they should think of the step by step procedure. This is very important because “at high densities of seven or more people per square meter, crowds can resemble fluids.” By having such a large density of people, it creates a large wave with powerful force that can compress people to death.

This article is relevant to today’s society because lots of deaths occur at religious and sporting events. One of the most recent was when the Pope visited more than six million people. Because of this enormous amount of people, Saloma was even asked to work on the crowd-control plan. This shows how serious this issue can be, even if at first, it doesn’t seem to be very important. People tend to forget how powerful crowds can be, and comparing it to waves give visual of this force. Also, because we can’t exactly experiment on people crowd, we have to resort to experimenting with mice, and compare the two organism’s movements.

Overall, this article was really interesting and relatively easy to understand. However, I wish this article would go more indepth with the experiments on the mice because that seems really interesting. Most of the thing was mostly basic logic, yet nobody seems to think about it when met with a crisis.

Ford Neild   November 16th, 2015

AP Biology           Current Event 8

Lab-Grown Bones? They Could Make Painful Grafts History

The article “Lab-Grown Bones? They Could Make Painful Grafts History” by Nina Tandon describes one company's plan to redefine the way we heal bone injuries. Traditionally, the only way to heal bones injuries has been through bone transplant, however, the innovative start up, Epibone, claims they may have a new method for dealing with such issues. Transplants, either through donation are extremely painful and can cause a host of issues. If no donations are available, some patients will even resort to using animal bone. The problem all three of these method is, as tandon states “Unfortunately, the body is quite picky. Complications abound when the body rejects what it sees as a foreign object, leading to infections or defective transplants after these operations.” Obviously using another person's bone or another animal bone, for that matter, is very dangerous. An autograph is an operation where bone from a patient relocates their own bone to the area in need of bone. Unfortunately, as humans we have evolved to be very efficient and none of our bone is unnecessary. Thus, taking bone is very harmful even if it is your own. The article continues to elaborate on this by telling of Roger Ebert, a film director who lost his jaw bone to cancer. He underwent autograph and lost bone in his shoulder and his hip and, as a result, has suffered a lip his entire life. Epibone plans to fix this bone issues, not by taking bone from an outside source, but instead by growing it from the patient’s own cells. By doing so, Epibone is able to control the exact size and shape of the bone and ensure that the body will not reject it seeing as how it’s actually identical to the patient’s natural bone. The procedure for this is actually quite simple in theory. First, a CT scan of the damaged area creates a 3D image of the missing bone. Then using new advances in 3D printing a mold is printed for the new bone to grow. Next, a sample of fat cells from the patient can be harvested for stem cells, which have the ability to transform into any type of cell given the right conditions. Finally, the mold and the stem cells are placed a growing facility know as a bioreactive chamber where pH, temperature, humidity and nutrient composition are all precisely set to facilitate the growth of the bone. In three weeks, new bone will have grown to fit exactly into the missing section and is genetically identical to the patient's natural bone. In light of these exciting opportunities, it is important to note that this procedure is still fairly new as has yet to be tested on humans, however animal testing has reported complete success.  

Many people do not know that, after blood, bone transplants are the most common transplant. As previously mentioned, current methods for bone transplantation often leave the donor scarred and are not a perfect fit for the patient. When the bone does not fit right, the new bone can become very fragile and with time can even further damage the normal bone around the injury. Millions of patients, present and future,  have the potential to be relieved of their pain with this new technique. Personally, I went to a speech by the CEO of Epibone. She shared many personal stories of tragic bone injuries that could potentially be painlessly cured by her exciting new found methods. If these trails succeed, as they are expected to, not only will it have incredible medical significance, but also, as Tandon predicted, “we might also adapt cells to groundbreaking new uses in other realms of medicine, or even entirely different fields, such as architecture, art and fashion.” With all of these possibilities it’s impossible not to be excited for this method to see real life use.

This article was so well written, it’s difficult to find room for improvement. I found that Tandon explained this initially confusing and daunting method quite clearly and define many words for the reader such as “CT scan”, “bioreactive chamber” and “autograph.” Additionally, the ways she methodically moved through the procedure increased the digestibility of this topic. I felt that she may have benefitted from adding more information about the animal testing in order to give the methods for legitimacy. The lack of proof created a hint of doubt in the reader's mind concerning the efficacy of growing bone. All and all, this article was incredibly well written and I am excited to see what Epibone has in store for us.

Tandon, Nina. "Lab-Grown Bones? They Could Make Painful Grafts History." LiveScience.

TechMedia Network, 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://www.livescience.com/52037-lab-grown-bones-could-replace-painful-grafts.html>.

Mars’ Atmosphere Stripped by Solar Winds, NASA Says.

Natalie Kister                     November 8, 2015
Current Event 7                           Ippolito, C Even

Mars’ Atmosphere Stripped by Solar Winds, NASA Says

In this article, the author Kenneth Chang, explores the issue of the thinning atmosphere on the planet Mars. “Mars’ Atmosphere Stripped by Solar Winds, NASA Says” focuses on NASA’s specialty group, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, Maven for short, and their studies that hope to reveal why the atmosphere is deteriorating quicker than any other atmosphere in our solar system. At the beginning of our Solar System, Mars was believed to have had just as thick, if not thicker, an atmosphere as Earth. However, over these 4.5 billion years, it has leaked into space. Scientists were confused at first as to how this could happen-even over that long a period, the small leak would not cause that large of a deficit. The answer was in the solar storms that hit Mars. After a major solar storm occurs, particles from the sun strip away large portions of the atmosphere. Bruce M Jakosky, a scientist at University of Colorado, says that, “What this tells us is loss through space has been an important issue.” Mars had the possibility of being a warm and habitable planet, at one time even having a huge ocean at the northern end. The Maven spacecraft was sent up to analyze the effects of the solar winds on the planet and its atmosphere. It was found that air is released in two ways--electrons are knocked off an atom and this charged atom is accelerated away by the electric and magnetic fields of the solar wind. Maven’s instruments have also captured some ultraviolet auras glowing on Mars. Unlike Earth, Mars does not have magnetic poles so auras occur over large portions of the planet. Nick Schneider, planetary scientist from the University of Colorado, commented, “Mars, without a global magnetic field, should have auroras everywhere, certainly when solar conditions are right. We sort of did this dope slap, saying, “Well, of course, what’s going to prevent those particles from the sun from slamming into Mars’ atmosphere anywhere and maybe everywhere?”

This article is relevant to society because it is important for us to understand how the rest of our universe works. By looking to other planets, and studying them, we may be able to apply this new found knowledge to our homes and planet. The studies conducted on Mars may give us new information about the sun, solar flares, or particles in space that could be vital to Earth. By studying these topics we are expanding our knowledge. The planet Mars is often looked at as a backup if anything were to happen to Earth--it is necessary for us to understand everything possible about this planet if we are to ever hope to someday visit it.

This article was well written and had good, valid information. However, I think that it could have presented it in a more logical order. The quotes from the scientists were interesting to read and I thought that those were well placed, as they broke up the text and kept the flow nice and smooth. I found this article on the New York Times website, so it is from a reputable source. There were no grammatical errors and the video that accompanied it was well made and interesting to watch.

Chang, Kenneth. "Mars’ Atmosphere Stripped by Solar Winds, NASA Says."The New York Times.
The New York Times, 05 Nov. 2015. Web. 09 Nov. 2015.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/science/space/mars-atmosphere-stripped-away

by-solar-storms-nasa-says.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=1>.

After 5,000 years, British tree changes its sex

After 5,000 years, British tree changes its sex

Lowenberg, Loivia. "After 5,000 Years, British Tree Changes Its Sex." Alaska Dispatch News. The Christian Science Moniter, 08 Nov. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

If this title doesn’t catch your eye, I’m not sure what will. Because, if you didn’t know, it is a general rule for yew trees to be dioecious, meaning that they are one sex or the other.  The Fortingall Yew that is estimated to be between 3000 and 9000 years old, has broken that rule. For its entire history, the tree has been documented as a male tree; male yews have small conical structures that issue clouds of pollen upon reaching maturity. Female yew trees, by contrast, have red berries during the autumn and winter months.  That is why it was very rare and unusual (even if it is not entirely uncommon for trees to switch gender from one to the other) when Botanist Max Coleman found a group of red berries on the Fortingall Yew, because the rest of the tree was clearly male.  Dr. Coleman and his fellow scientists have theorized on the causes of this strange change in sex.  He and his team believe that the sex change could have been prompted by environmental factors, but could be a tactic the tree is using to prolong its lifespan.  

According to Brian Muelaner, chair of the Ancient Tree Forum, the apparent sex change is in fact a strategy for longevity and as he told the Guardian, “The Fortingall yew is fragmented and it may be so compartmentalised that part of it has become sexually ambiguous. We are all continuously learning about ancient trees – the ageing process of trees is a new science.”  I thought this was a relevant piece because of how we were just learning about the genders of plants and their specific sex organs.  I also thought it was really cool how this yew tree has changed its sex in order to prolong its life.  I also find it very courageous, even if it took 5000 years, that this tree has finally come out.

This article really peaked my interest and did a great job presenting the information on the Fortingall Yew tree.  It had no grammatical errors and was short and sweet.  One thing I wish it had done was include more discussion on the importance of this tree to science and genetics, since it is such an unusual occurrence.

Jeanne Chrisanthopoulos

AP Biology Current Event 7

Due Monday, November 9th, 2015

Scientists Study Links Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather

A new published collection of studies examined 28 extreme weather events that have occurred in 2014. Droughts, floods, and storms were studied to look for a sign that climate change caused these events. The studies were created to see the effect of climate change as the globe warms. The question is, is climate change already affecting the Earth? This study did not give a conclusive answer. Around half of them did find a role of climate change in the extreme weather conditions’ intensity, and the other half did not. However, it is inaccurate to compare data from different natural events: “The strength of the climate change signals that we see really varies based on the type of event being looked at.” It is important to understand that the scientists behind these studies were not describing a direct cause and effect; they created an analysis of probabilities based on computer models. There is room for error with the results from the models due to uncertainty from uncontrollable variables. These climate changes have been affected by humans; we have increased the likelihood and intensity of heat waves all over the world. There was a high amount of tropical cyclones that hit Hawaii, and there is evidence to support that climate change (global warming) influenced it greatly.

There were also non-environmental factors that affected these weather events, like population growth and government policies. The Syrian drought was affected by its government but also by the lack of rainfall due to climate change. Every event needs its own approach of analysis to draw a conclusion about the topic presented. The wildfires in the American west and the rough Midwestern winter were not strongly linked to climate change.

I chose this article because I find global warming interesting especially because my whole family doesn’t believe it exists. My step-father showed me an outdated article about how ice is reforming in the poles, which contradicts the melting of the polar bears’ home due to global warming. I still believe in global warming because it makes sense that as we increase emissions of CO2 we start the positive feedback loop of cranking up the air conditioning and then causing the Earth to heat up more because of an increase in emissions. It was interesting to see how global warming is affecting the Earth other than the well-known rise in sea level; that is why I chose this article. The article could have explained at least one study in detail because it mentions how 28 studies were conducted and half supported one thesis and the other half supported a different one. It would make sense to give an overview of two studies that each supported a different hypothesis. It was nice how the article referenced examples of natural disasters that may have been triggered by climate change, like the cyclones, but again it did not say how climate change affected it. I learned that it is important to look at all the effects that global warming and climate change have on the world, and how the world will change from extreme weather.

Work Cited

Schwartz, John. "Scientists Study Links Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather." The New

York Times. The New York Times, 05 Nov. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/science/climate-change-extreme-weather-global-warming.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&_r=0

"Toxin-secreting stem cells treat brain tumors, in mice"

Works Cited: Harvard University. "Toxin-secreting stem cells treat brain tumors, in mice." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 October 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141024124613.htm>.

The Harvard Stem Cell Institute has developed a way to use stem cells to battle brain cancers. The leader of this team, Khalid Shah, recently showed the importance of stem cells that were filled with a cancer-killing herpes virus. He and his team now have developed a method to genetically engineer stem cells so they can produce cancer-killing toxins. This team has used these stem cells on mice, who have had their main tumor removed, in order to kill any remaining cancer cells. These stem cells are placed at the site of the removed tumor and they are covered by a biodegradable gel. This is a new method of delivery might fix the issues with delivery that have been tried with this type of stem cell delivery into people’s brains. These stem cells have been successful with types of blood cancers, but have not worked as well with solid tumors because of the extremely short half-life of the toxins and density of the tumors. When Shah and his team realized that stem cells could be used to consistently deliver these toxins, their main issue was how to ensure the stem cells would not be killed themselves by the toxins. Shah started genetically engineering their stem cells and stated,  "Now, we have toxin-resistant stem cells that can make and release cancer-killing drugs." These stem cells are engineered to not allow the toxin to work inside the cell. Therefore, these stem cells are never killed by their toxins, but are also genetically engineered to make and secrete these toxins. Then the toxins, which are tagged, enter the cancer cells without also entering the normal cells. They stop the cancer cells from producing proteins, which kill off the cells. These toxins are called cytotoxins. Shah and his team have tried this therapy on mice with resected brain tumors. The trials were successful showing the toxins killed the cancer cells and therefore prolonged the lives of these mice. Shah wants to use the toxin-secreting stem cells with other therapies that he and his team developed to continue their success with glioblastomas and other common types of brain tumors. Shah thinks that this therapy could go to clinical trial within the next 5 years.

Almost everyone is affected by cancer in one way or another, whether is is having cancer or knowing someone affected by cancer, it is a vicious disease. While standard treatments work for some people, others do not respond to them. It is cutting-edge research like this that can lead to new therapies and therefore successful treatment for those who aren’t responding to regular treatment. It gives these people knew hope for a cure to their disease and more time on Earth.

I thought this article was very well written and thorough. The author did a good job of using quotes from Shah and explaining the positive implications that is discovery could have on the treatment of certain brain tumors. The author did leave out talking about how Shah and his team actually engineer the cells, which I think would be interesting. Other than that, it was very well written and extremely informative.