Zika virus: Your questions answered

Less than a year ago, most people were oblivious to what the Zika virus was. Now, however, with its name stamped on every headline, there are a lot of questions floating around: where exactly did this virus come from? what does it do? how will it affect us? The Science article, “Zika Virus: Your Questions Answered”, provides us, as the title suggests, with a simplified answer of these questions. The outbreak of the Zika virus began in one of the islands belonging to the Federated States of Micronesia, and eventually spread to Brazil and then other parts of South America. The reason this virus exploded so suddenly, is due to the growing population of a specific mosquito that carries this virus, and, surprisingly, humans themselves, who travel and take the virus with them. The chances of the virus spreading to the U.S are high, however because of environmental conditions and low mosquito counts, the outbreak would most likely be small. For now, any signs of these diseases in the U.S are “imported cases”, where infected individuals arrive in the country, not the mosquito itself. Contrary to the belief, it is not confirmed that the Zika virus is causing microcephaly, abnormal shrinkage in head size, in babies located around Zika infected areas. Manoel Sarno, a fetal medicine expert, has reported saying that “the pattern of brain damage he is seeing now looks distinct from microcephaly caused by other infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella.” In the end, however, they cannot confirm that it is completely linked to Zika until tests results come out. There is currently no vaccine for the Zika virus, and it may take years to make one as well, due to the complexity and time required in order to perfect it. There are also very few symptoms associated with the Zika virus, the main concern is the effect on fetuses, so the push to make a vaccine has been relatively low.

I thought this article provided a lot of information about the Zika virus, a current event that some people may not know about. It’s important to society, because it is infecting so many people in Latin America and has the potential of spreading to other places as well. Another reason this may be significant to society, is because most of the time when epidemics break out, there is so much fear for one’s own health that simple facts are often missed. So learning about this virus, is important so that people don’t over react and can truly understand what it is.

I think this article was pretty well written and informative; I learned things about this virus that I hadn’t really known about before. I also think it provided a good amount of facts for a basic knowledge of the origin and development of the virus, which would also help with gaining more information. However, it was slightly choppy and organized into question and answer form, so sometimes topics jumped around. I would have also liked a few statistics about how many were infected, what future plan are for governments, and other such things. Overall, it was informative and clearly written.

Vogel, Gretchen, Jon Cohen, and Martin Ensernik. "Zika Virus: Your Questions Answered." Science. 2016. Web. 30 Jan. 2016. <http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/zika-virus-your-questions-answered >.

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Period of Soaring Emissions May Be Ending, New Data Suggest

William Tague

Have global emissions stopped growing? According to new data presented at the Paris Climate Conference they may have done just that. In 2014 the green house gases rose only a tiny amount and with 2015 drawing to a close, this year may show a slight decrease by an admittedly tiny 0.6 percent. This however shows that global development maybe flattening off. While normally carbon levels decrease only when there are economic meltdowns there is not one to be blamed here and it is obvious that there could be a trend. While this maybe the start of a long trend downwards on emissions, spurred on by climate activism and the need to reduce our energy consumption, groups like The Global Carbon Project do not consider it very likely. They say instead that with China restarting their growth after a short slump it may not be long until they rise again. That however is not the biggest threat. While energy super powers like United States and Russia are doing little to increase consumption many countries that are impoverished still need to industrialize and follow the massive coal and gas consumption needed to grow their countries. India intends to start a plan to double its burning of coal in power plants which is done to bring over 300 million more people onto the grid. Glen Peter’s says, “Emissions in India are at the same level as China in the 1990s,” and adds on by saying they may follow China’s slope on carbon growth. China, the producer of 25% of the world emissions is a giant that is in need of reforms. While legislative acts have started to gain leeway in stopping some of it people hope that the Paris Climate Conference will be able to convince them in addition to every other country, to make some sort of step in the right direction.

There is a huge relevance between this article and our everyday. While it does show a statistic which may be reassuring to a lot of people about our carbon emissions it also reminds us how coal and gasoline can negatively affect our surroundings. What China, United States, or India may do will affect our planet adversely down the line so it is important to raise our voices to stand up for our planet. It also reminds of a horrible reality in which impoverished people getting electricity and transportation will mean we probably have to stop using as much ourselves to compensate. I think we can take this article as a good thing, as it encourages us that lawmakers and people can at this point make a difference to everyone's carbon footprint since it may not be increasing right now.

I think that this article had a catchy title of “Period of Soaring Emissions May Be Ending, New Data Suggest” however it does sort of send a message that emissions as a whole maybe ending which doesn't make sense. I think it was strongly written however quite brief. It could easily have had just a quick paragraph more on what the consequences of CO2 is in our atmosphere to better reinforce the messages other articles get across and remind people who may only be reading this one. Overall quite interesting and well done, especially to me as a person interested in the topic.

Gillis, Justin, and Chris Buckley. "Period of Soaring Emissions May Be Ending, New Data Suggest." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/science/carbon-emissions-decline-peak-climate-change.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0>

Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops

Ellie Briskin AP Bio C Even

October 30, 2015 Current Event 6

Grady, Denise. "Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/health/penis-transplants-being-planned-to-heal-troops-hidden-wounds.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-3&action=click&contentCollection=Science®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article>.

This article tells of one of the most breakthrough medical techniques; the penis transplant. Although this procedure has never been done in the United States, within just a few months we may have the technology for a young soldier with a horrific injury to have this operation. The organ will come from a deceased donor, and the surgeons, for Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, say it will start working in a matter of months after the operation, developing urinary function, sensation and, eventually, the ability to have sex. This is a huge accomplishment, for in 2001 to 3013, 1,367 deployed military service men suffered genital wounds. These injuries, however devastating, are unfortunately cloaked in shame, stigma and embarrassment, and not something many people hear about. Only two transplants have ever taken place: a failed one in China in 2006 and a successful one in South Africa last year. The Johns Hopkins doctors plan to do 60 transplants, monitor the results, and decide whether or not to make the operation a standard treatment. If successful, it may allow these men to father children, and since the testes (where sperm are produced) are not being replaced, the child will genetically belong to the father, not the donor.  The article continues to cite multiple specialists and patients argueing the seriousness of genetalian injuries, saying it’s so much more than a physical injury, and many men feel it is the worst injury to go through. Also, if the transplant fails, it will be removed, leaving the recipient no worse off than before the surgery. The article also raises the question of whether or not these men and their partners will be able to deal with the fact that the penises are not the men’s own. A leading doctor, Dr. Brandacher, says that he thinks it will be like hand surgeries, saying that “I can tell you from all the patients — and I’ve been involved since 1998 — every single one, after surgery, look at the graft, try to move it and they immediately call it ‘my hand’... They immediately incorporate it as part of their body. I would assume, extrapolating, that this is going to be the same for this kind of transplant.” For now, the operation is only being offered to men injured in combat.

I was initially drawn in with this article because I find the topic of genital transplants extremely intriguing. I think it is beyond impressive that we are able to take one mans penis and attach it to another; and not just that, but actually have it functional. But more than that, this discovery is definitely still relevant to people today. For starters, the fact that we are just now discovering how to transplant these organs proves that no progress in any field is ever truly completed, and that development in all areas is always possible. It truly does open the doors of possibilities in the transplant world! One doesn’t think about how lucky he is to have an intact pelvic area until it is gone; think about it, losing this organ would interfere greatly with life. Being able to have a penis again would have a colossal effect on these patients.

Overall, I was impressed by the presentation of this article. Its paragraphs flowed and were ordered in a way that made sense, making it extremely easy for me to follow along. I also felt that it was strengthened by the substantial number of expert quotes, which legitimized the arguments. I also enjoyed the fun, conversational tone that the author used; this was not only easy to understand but also kept me, the reader, captive. However, the one criticism I have of the article is that it gave an extremely large amount of information, to a point of being extraneous. The latter portion of the article gave extremely extensive details on the psychological affects of being penis-less; although this was pertinent to the article, it took up roughly a fourth of what should have been a much more medically based arguement. I would suggest that the author synthesises his information better, not just condensing what he has but really sifting through what is important and what is not, while still maintaining a logical flow. But overall, I thought this article was very well put together, and maintained my interest throughout.

Data Storage on DNA Can Keep It Safe for Centuries.

Using DNA as Storage Space

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/science/data-storage-on-dna-can-keep-it-safe-for-centuries.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=12&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

Markoff, John. "Data Storage on DNA Can Keep It Safe for Centuries." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015.

DNA is arguably the most important aspect of who we are. What if DNA could be used as a storage device for things other than our genes? Scientists have begun working on a way of utilizing DNA as a form of media storage device. The new research demonstrates that specific digital files can be retrieved from a potentially vast pool of data. Magnetic disks, tape and even optical storage systems safely store information at most for only a handful of decades. Researchers say the new storage technology would also be capable of keeping immense amounts of information safely for a millennium or longer. The scientists use the ability to amplify specific DNA strands rapidly and efficiently using a technique known as “polymerase chain reaction,” to make it easier to find the information they wish to retrieve. The cost and speed of encoding digital information in DNA will soon come down by several orders of magnitude, making it competitive with magnetic storage. Although it is slow in retrieval speed compared with electronic and magnetic memory, DNA will be far better in terms of the scale of the data it can store and the time scale.

This advance in data storage is very relevant because of the vast amount of data that we have accumulated in the relatively recent years. With these new advances, we need to begin looking at long term solutions to store data for long periods of time. It is also interesting because instead of creating larger forms of storage electronically, we are looking to the already existing code that is in every being in order to store important data. It is very ironic how some of the most advanced technology for storage is and has been in the DNA of living things.

The main thing this article did very well was getting information from a variety of reliable sources. With so many sources, it is very easy to get a variety of different perspectives on the idea of DNA usage. I also thought the article did a good job of making the information user friendly and easy to understand. I thought that one weakness the article had was that it didn’t talk about its usage potential in the future aside from the storage. I felt as though it could provide a few innovative ways this technology could be used for.

Coffee Compounds that Could Help Prevent Type II Diabetes Identified

            The article I researched today provided insight into the causes and prevention methods for type II diabetes. The focal point was drinking coffee, which researchers from ACS’s Journal of Natural Products found to decrease the chances of an individual developing type II diabetes. In individuals with the ailment, they experience decreased insulin production over time, which can lead to blindness and nerve damage. The main constituent of coffee that is thought to hinder the process of developing this disease is cafestol. Cafestol was found to increase insulin secretion, as well as glucose intake in muscle cells. In fact, its level of effectiveness matched that of a currently prescribed antidiabetic drug. In addition, it is worth noting that there are likely other compounds in coffee that perform a similar function, as a large portion of the cafestol is filtered out by coffee filters and the similar effects are still noted.

            This article is quite relevant to contemporary society, as coffee is a beverage that is consumed by many Americans on a daily basis, and diabetes is a disease that plagues many within the country. If coffee intake increased, the number of people who develop type II diabetes would as well. As a result of this, the government would be able to reduce expenditures on medicare and Medicaid, and filter those funds into public education.

            This article was quite an interesting read, and immediately caught my attention as I drink coffee from time to time. It did a good covering how consuming coffee effects the development of type II diabetes, as well as the key compounds within coffee that are beneficial. However, I thought it was a little on the brief side and could have included more information regarding actual numbers and the noticeable effects coffee had on mice when tested. Lastly, they almost seldom mentioned that to achieve such effects, individuals would have to drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day, which in itself produces negative side effects and takes a toll on the body, while at the same time causing addiction.

Article Citation:

American Chemical Society. "Coffee compounds that could help prevent type 2 diabetes identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 December 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124610.htm>.

Hyperlink:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124610.htm

Closing In on Where Eels Go to Connect

This article talks about the mating patterns of the American eel, which scientists have tracked for the first time. In prior years, scientists have assumed the eels have mated in the Sargasso Sea because of the sudden appearance of eel larvae in the spring, but have had no concrete evidence to support this claim. Now, however, because of new technology, scientists finally have that proof. Because traditional tracking devices were too big for the small statured eels, scientists created new mini trackers to attach so they could monitor the movements and living conditions of the eels as they migrate. After a few trials with the trackers (predators ate them too often) they were able to pinpoint the journey of the eels to the Sargasso Sea. This migration is remarkable, and scientists say it is one of the most dramatic on Earth, believing the eels orient themselves by the Earth’s geomagnetic field. Karin Limburg, a scientist from SUNY Syracuse stated that this tracking is revolutionary and crucial to helping the species, which are considered endangered: “In order to develop conservation plans, we need to learn as much as possible about the entire life cycle of eels, and the largest information vacuum is this long, long migration back to the spawning area.”

This article really opened my eyes to a topic I had never heard about before. It is so relevant because entire species, such as the American eel, are in danger because of human interactions: “Hydroelectric dams block the eels’ migration inland, and the larvae are often illegally fished.” Also, climate change poses a threat to the eels because it could affect migration patterns. If everything continues on its course as is, the eel population could be destroyed and affect countless ecosystems in innumerable ways, such as the basic food chain.

The New York Times is a highly respectable newspaper with a reputation for delivering the best news in a professional fashion. This article furthered that reputation, as I found excellent research and couldn’t find any grammatical errors. Rachel Nuwer, the author of this piece, has written several articles for the Times, most about climate or endangered species. The one thing she could have included in her writing was a possible solution to this issue, because it is left rather open-ended. Other than that, the article was well-written and an interesting read.

Nuwer, Rachel. "Closing In on Where Eels Go to Connect." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/science/closing-in-on-where-eels-go-to-connect.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront>.