Science in the News Articles
1)NEWS ARTICLE: http://www.space.com/30683-mars-liquid-water-astronaut-exploration.html (Links to an external site.)
SUMMARY OF ARTICLE: Scientists have confirmed that there is water flowing on the surface of Mars. By finding this they speculate that there is life now or possibly was in the past. Learning that water is there is critical to learning more about mars and being able to send humans/ scientist to live and and study there. Scientists are eager in creating a plan to send astronauts to the red planet.
OPINION OF ARTICLE: I think it is fascinating about the likelihood of life on Mars. Will it be similar or entirely different from Earth's?
Either way life is out there, and we'd better get out there too. One thing the water proves is that it's got incredibly much less than it used to have. Human-mission to Mars ASAP!
2)Sept 29, 2015
Something Strange is happening inside Saturn
http://www.space.com/30665-unraveling-saturn-ring-mystery.html (Links to an external site.)
Summary: There are ripples in Saturn's rings that revealed what is going on inside the gas planet. They found a set of waves heading inward which means there's something moving inside it too.Scientists think it might be that the ice and rock of the core are dissolving upward causing this to happen. Because of this, Scientists might be able to reveal more about the changes in the planet's gravity as well.
Opinion: I found it interesting that there might be a core in Saturn. Which is crazy since it is a gas planet. I am confused about the waves portion because i thought the moon would of disturbed the waves making them impossible to move upward. Learning more about each planet and what it entails is always fascinating.
3)October 5, 2015
Mars Missing Atmosphere Lost in Space
http://www.space.com/30746-mars-missing-atmosphere-lost-in-space.html (Links to an external site.)
Summary:
Scientists think that Mars's surface had large amounts of liquid water billions of years ago. There research suggests that Mars might be covered with lots of carbonate deposits, which might have locked up much of Mars lost atmosphere. But the Mars orbiters and rovers have found just a few carbonate deposits. They figure out that More than 35 carbonate deposits would be required to sequester as much carbon as the mars atmosphere has probably lost.
Opinion:
Mars is a smaller planet with weaker gravity than Earth. It would be interesting to see how water would have to behave in lower gravity and in the different atmosphere of Mars.
4)date- October 25 2015
title- Is there life on Enceladus?
summary-The Saturnian moon Enceladus, the Cassini spacecraft will get sprayed down by another ocean.On October 28, the probe will fly about 48 kilometers over the moon’s south pole and grab icy seawater. The measurements will help researchers figure out how the seas of Enceladus are for extraterrestrial life.
opinion- Thought the title was weird. Is there life on enceladus, obviously no there is not. But it is always interesting to learn more about other planets and there moons.
5)Date- oct 26, 2015
title-If meat causes cancer
Summary- Processed meat such as bacon, sausage and ham may cause cancer. Doctors say it's easy to eat healthier and to avoid meat, just like the Greeks. The Mediterranean diet is heavy on veggies, nuts and fruit, with limits on meat and dairy. An estimated 50 gram portion of processed meat you eat increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. That 50 grams is about two or three slices of bacon.
opinion- I enjoyed this article because I am a vegetarian a believe many types meats are unhealthy for you. I became a vegetarian because I am an animal advocate and millions of animals are mistreated and slaughtered daily around the globe. By becoming vegetarian or vegan, you can improve and even save those lives. Also animals that are raised for meat requires incredible amounts of land, other food, energy, and water. Not to mention that waste from animal agriculture chokes our air and waterways.
6)Date- 10/20/2015
Title- 300 million year old giant shark
Summary- Scientists found a Fossil that is the oldest known shark, Its about the size of a limo. It apparently swam the ocean 300 million years ago. The fossil was found in Texas.
Opinion- This shark from Texas is about 300 million yrs old, as they say. That's pretty far back from other cretaceous ones that I have learned about (75-80 million yrs) I'm not quite sure if I believe the scientists or this article about this fossil.
7) Date: 11/13/2015
Title: First gamma-ray pulsar detected in another galaxy
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151113105709.htm (Links to an external site.)
Summary: Researchers have discovered the first gamma-ray pulsar in a galaxy other than our own. The object sets a new record for the most luminous gamma-ray pulsar known. Prior to the launch of Fermi in 2008, only seven gamma-ray pulsars were known. To date, the mission has found more than 160.
Opinion: I find it interesting but I am not very knowledgeable in this field. Everything I know about clouds and gamma rays are from this class. I don't quite know how to have a strong opinion on this . But having a satellite galaxy that orbits our own Milky Way be discovered is cool. I believe it will better help understand the extreme physics in young pulsars.
8)Date: 11/9/15
Title: Scientists explain why moon rocks contain fewer volatiles than Earth's
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151109135417.htm (Links to an external site.)
Summary: Researchers put together chemical models of the Moon's formation to explain the lack of volatile elements in lunar rocks. Lunar rocks resemble Earth rocks, but Moon rocks have very little volatile elements.
Opinion: I thought the title of the article sounded more interesting than the actual article. I at least knew that we thought the Moon formed from an Earth orbiting disk of matter by an impact between Earth and another Mars-sized body. This I learned in class. I did not know that scientists had considered that volatiles vaporized by the impact might have escaped before the Moon formed.
Reflections on the Course
This course has been quite challenging for me. I originally signed up for this course because I was interested in how the plantets were formed and the future of space. I have not taken any type of Astrology classes since my 10th grade high school class. It was hard to keep up in the class at times. I know that this was an intro class but I felt like I should have taken another pre cursor class for this course. I did not feel knowledgeable enough about the topics. Overall the professor was easy to work with and I felt comfortable in the class.
