Missing the Obvious

by Cecillia

Recently, NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope released information that promptly shocked scientists, as well as the entire world. After all, how hard is it to find two gamma-ray bubbles that are 25,000 light years wide (50,000 light years in total) in the middle of the Milky Way? Just for a basis of comparison, the Earth is only 0.00001585 light years from the Sun.

At the moment, the origins of these gamma-ray emitting lobes are currently unknown. Many scientists have been split between two imperfect theories. The first is the idea of collision between high energy electrons and protons. Another idea involves black holes, a popular topic. Relativistic jets take matter that has been dropped into the black hole and shoot it out of one or both rotational poles. This creates a large amount of energy and yes, the bubbles. Incidentally, this may have been how our universe was created. Yet another theory is that the Fermi bubbles were created by a gas flow that resulted from a star formation. If enough stars form at the same time, heat gas causes bubbles to expand.

With such a large structure obscuring nearly half the visible sky, you would wonder why no one had discovered it until only a week or two ago. There actually happens to be a very plausible reason. Fog is created from gamma rays via collision of particles and gas, thus preventing any instruments from detecting the celestial body. However, a high sensitivity instrument from Stanford University, Fermi's Large Area Telescope, was able to isolate the fog.

At the moment, not much is known about the Fermi Bubbles. There are still many issues to be resolved, such as the bubble density. According to data, the particles within the bubbles are uniformly spread. However, this is impossible due to the shape of a sphere. No matter how you would look at a sphere the middle should seem denser than the sides. Still, despite inconclusive analysis, the Fermi Bubbles are an amazing sight and present another mystery for humankind to divulge in.

Carly. "Expanding on a News Story: Fermi Bubbles - Expanding on a News Story: Fermi Bubbles."It's Full of Stars. 17 Nov. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. .

Baldwin, Emily. "Fermi Finds Giant Bubbles in Milky Way." Astronomy Now Online. Pole Star Publications Ltd., 11 Nov. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. .

Matson, By John. "Hidden in Plain Sight: Researchers Find Galaxy-Scale Bubbles Extending from the Milky Way: Scientific American." Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. Scientific American, a Division of Nature America, Inc., 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. .

The Key to Immortality

by Cecillia

Take a look around. Media, advertisements, books. America has become a sea of self-help, where admitting problems and asking for advice are now seen as weaknesses. No longer do people turn to each other for help. Instead, websites with titles, How to Live a Long Life, and Ways to Prolong Your Life receive thousands, if not millions of hits every year. The very existence of therapy has been understated into ‘little more than do-gooders with degrees.’ But the most prevalent question that resides today is still one unanswered.

“How can I live longer?”

Frankly, over the millennium, the maximum life span for humans has not change. It has, and is still, 150 years old. What has changed is the life expectancy. Back in 1796, humans lived only to around twenty years old. In other words, everyone was underage drinkers. As of 2009, the average age is 66.57 years, which means the life expectancy had tripled in just two hundred years.

There are various factors that determine the life span of a person, such as gender, cultural background, lifestyle, and genetics.

Jeanne Louise Calment holds the record for having the longest confirmed human life span in history, living for 122 years and 164 days. But it is not a coincidence that the longest living human was a woman. On average, women tend to live longer than men. Why?

A supposed theory is ovulation. Though men do not have to put up with mood swings, cramps, migraines, or any of the monthly presents life has given to their counterparts, the payoff is a longer lifespan. Through ovulation cycles, women purge toxins and other harmful chemicals from their bodies. Think of it like detoxification.

As of 2008, Japan is ranked number one for highest life expectancy in the world. As men live around 79.0 years and women live to 86.1 years, that average out to 82.6 years. Compared to United States which, at rank 38, is at 78.2 years, that seems really quite amazing. The reason for such a difference lies in not the technology, but lifestyle. Contributing factors to a higher life expectancy are due to a healthy diet of: fish as opposed to red meat, soy products that help reduce heart disease and high blood pressure, buckwheat flour which helps with digestion, and small portions.

But what it really comes down to is deoxyribonucleic acid. At the very ends of chromosomes are telomeres which act like the plastic tips on shoe laces. Telomeres are there for the sole purpose of keeping the chromosomes from scrambling. They are also what allow cells to divide continually without losing genes. However, every time a cell divides, the telomeres grow shorter and shorter. In this way, cells can divide for a maximum of fifty times, the Hayflick limit. If cells could only divide for a certain amount of times, wouldn’t embryos be unable to grow? That is where telomerase comes into play. As an embryo a gene in cells allow for production telomerase which repairs the telomeres and allows continual division. However, as time goes by, the gene turns off and cells no longer produce telomerase. Once a cell stops replicating, it enters cell senescence which is similar to aging. If the genes for telomerase could be re-activated, aging could potentially stop and the idea of eternal youth would be reachable.

With all these factors taken into account, it is not surprising that one would reach for a self-help book as compared to completely changing their habits and rituals, some of which have become some ingrained, it is impossible to imagine life without them.

Avoid the sun.

Sure the tan may look nice, but the UV rays cause radiation. In turn, the radiation damages cells, causing mutations that can result in cancer.

Eat healthy.

Take a look at the typical diet mentioned in the Japan article.

Most of all, stay happy.

Happy people tend to have a higher life expectancy than others. Happiness seems to protect people from illnesses and while it does not make those who are already sick live longer, it helps expand the life expectancies of others.

"Demographics of the United States." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Median_age>.

"This Wonderful Lengthening of Lifespan." The Longevity Meme -- Pointing the Way to a Longer, Healthier Life. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.longevitymeme.org/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=11>.

Whitney, Craig R. "Jeanne Calment, World's Elder, Dies at 122 - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 05 Aug. 1997. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/05/world/jeanne-calment-world-s-elder-dies-at-122.html>.

"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html>.

Closely, By Looking. "Maximum Human Lifespan." NealIRC. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.nealirc.org/Gerontology/MaximumHumanLifespan.html>.

Carnegie Mellon University. "Happy People Are Healthier, Psychologist Says." ScienceDaily 8 November 2006. 3 December 2010 .

Let There Be Zombies!

by Serena

From the video games to movies, zombies, or the living dead, have become a part of mainstream American society mainly due to George A. Romero’s 1968 film, Night of the Living Dead. The typical member of the undead is characterized by a mindless animated corpse determined to kill and eat the flesh of all living human beings nearby. Typically, they walk slowly and position their arms parallel to the floor, similar to that of sleep walkers’. Although in recent times, the new generation living dead are armed with machine guns, zombies old and new all share the same origin: West African voodoo. In the West African spiritual belief of voodoo, witch doctors, or bokor, are believed to be able to revive the dead and control them. However fanciful this belief seems, it is very much real: there are zombies walking this earth as we speak.

In 1982, Wade Davis made a trip to Haiti to investigate the folk preparations that supposedly creates zombies. He later published a book, The Serpent and the Rainbow, on his discoveries, documenting the story of an ex-zombie, Clarivius Narcisse. Narcisse spent eighteen years being drugged and enslaved to do field work while in a semi-conscious, “zombie” state with several others, claiming it to be the work of a Haitian bokor. Davis’ findings detail the process of making creating a “zombie” or drugged, mentally handicapped captive:

The process typically does not involve a shovel and a spell book to raise the dead to life; a fish, plant leaves and an unsuspecting victim are all the necessary ingredients to make a zombie. The victim is first paralyzed by teterodotoxin, a poison from a puffer fish that “fakes death.” It serves to block sodium channels in the nerves, causing paralysis and lowering metabolism, which causes a death like state. Upon being declared dead and buried, the body is unearth and lathered in a chemical paste made of datura, a dissociative drug that makes victims unable to differentiate fantasy from reality and wipes their memories clean of recent events. The effects of datura lasts for several days and victims are easily susceptible to outside forces or pressures in that time. It is unclear how long a human is able to survive under the effects, although it appears to be several years in the case of Narcisse; he reportedly wandered sixteen years in a trance from the drug before it completely cleared his system.

Although not actually rising from the dead, these drugged, mentally unstable captives as close to Hollywood zombies that reality is going to get. However, being human and under the influence of dissociative drugs, it is unlikely they are plotting to eat your brains or planning the next zombie apocalypse in time for 2012. Whatever the case, beware of shady characters carrying puffer fish and plant paste in the alley ways: you never know when you’ll be the next zombie victim.

Kruszelnicki, K.S. (2004, December 09). Zombie. ABC Science, Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/12/09/1260445.htm

Speigel, L. (2010). How to make a zombie, haiti-style. Aol News, Retrieved from http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/how-to-make-a-zombie-haiti-style/19638134

Freye, E. (2009). Pharmacology and abuse of cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy and related designer drugs. New York, NY: Springer.

Grafting

by Surriento

Grafting is often used in the agricultural industries to produce stronger plants, as can be seen in apple trees sold in nurseries. Apple trees carry either one of 2 genes, one promoting fruit growth to producing favorable fruit, the other, a resilient tree (ex. drought). Despite efforts, to cross and produce trees with both favorable traits, the effort has yet come to frutation. As now, in order to gain the benefits of both genes, agriculturalists graft, cutting the trunks of the young trees and crossing them. By attaching the top of the favorable fruit producing tree to the drought resilient roots of the other and stabilizing it, assuming that the grafting is successful, the outcome should be an apple tree with the capability to produce favorable apples while still maintaining its resilience.

Top Ten Random Facts of November, 2010

by Cecillia


10) Armadillos are the only animals apart from humans to get leprosy.

9) Drinking too much water can kill.
In June 2007, Jennifer Strange, 28, died hours after taking part of the contest, “Hold your Wee for a Wii,” in which participants had to avoid urinating (or vomiting) after drinking a large quantity of water. She drank approximately two gallons before dropping out.

8) Dolphins can create their own toys.
They blow air bubbles underwater and as it rises, the dolphins make a game to swim through them.

7) Is there anything more valuable than life?
Seppuku is a form of ritual suicide that commonly used by those who felt death was a better option than dishonor. To begin seppuku, a small knife is used to create a deep incision into the belly. Then, another cut is made horizontally across the abdomen for disembowelment.

6) Kill yourself to prove a point.
Pre-Socratic philosopher Empedocles was rumored to have thrown himself into Mount Etna in Sicily on grounds that he would be reincarnated as an immortal god. However, he is better known as the founder of the ideology of the four elements: air, water, fire, and earth.

5) Kill yourself to prove a point (the sequel).
US Lawyer Clement Vallandigham accidentally killed himself while trying to enact his view as to what had happened at the crime scene. His assumption was that the pistol was a prop and unloaded. On a lighter note, the defendant was acquitted.

4) Treeman exists.
Dede Kosawa, after being infected with HPV-2 as a teenager, lived a majority of his life as ‘Treeman of Indonesia’ due to the many cutaneous horns covering his body. A surgery was conducted where the horns were sawed off and skin grafts taken from unaffected areas, such as his butt, were placed throughout his body.

3) Adolf Frederick is known as ‘the king who ate himself to death’.
His last meal consisted of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers, champagne, fouteen servings of semla served in a bowl of hot milk.

2) Men can give birth.
There is a condition called ‘fetus in fetu’ in which an unborn twin is absorbed into its twin. The unborn baby then lives like a parasite in its host. The most recent case was Sanju Bhagat who, in June 1999, was taken to the hospital when he was suddenly unable to breath. At the hospital, doctors were horrified to discover a mutated body from within Bhagat’s stomach.

1) Horns can grow on humans.
Zhang Ruifang, a 101 year old Chinese woman, has a two inch long horn on the side of her left forehead. There is evidence of another horn growing on her right forehead.


APA Citation:
Fox, D. L. (1996 January 18) Dasypus novemcinctus: Nine-Banded Armadillo. Retrieved 2010 November 03 from 
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/acounts/dasypus/d._novemcinctus.html.

Hilton, E. (2010, March 01). Seppuku- the japanese ritual suicide. Retrieved 2010 November 03 from http://ezinearticles.com/?Seppuku---The-Japanese-Ritual-Suicide&id=3846416

Parry, R. (2005, March 04). Empedocles. Retrieved from 2010 November 03 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/empedocles/

Park, M. (2008, October 02). Cause of 'treeman's' barklike growths revealed. Retrieved 2010 November 03 from http://articles.cnn.com/2008-10-02/health/treeman.wart.skin.disorder_1_common-warts-immune-system-growths?_s=PM:HEALTH

"Burnside, Ambrose Everett (1824 - 1881)." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrived 2010 November 03 from Http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B001130.

Man with twin living inside him -- a medical mystery classic. (2006, August 2). Retrieved 2010 November 03 from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2346476&page=1

Hoe, R. J. (2010, September 17). Old chinese woman grows horn on her forehead. Retrieved 2010 November 03 from http://www.bukisa.com/articles/356030_old-chinese-women-grow-horn-on-her-forehead

Clout, L. (2008 August 06) Dolphins play with bubbles in Florida. Retrieved 2010 November 03 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2508756/Dolphins-play-with-bubbles-in-Florida.html

(2007 January 13) Woman dies after water-drinking contest Retrieved 2010 November 03 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16614865/

5 Reasons You Should Get a Pet Skunk

by Serena

5 Reasons why you should get a pet skunk:

• Skunks possess the same disposition as a cat.
• Skunks can be trained to do tricks like other pets.
• Skunks like playing treasure hunt.
• Skunks hunt household pests such as rats.
• Skunks behave like toddlers; taking care of one is training for taking care of a baby.

5 Steps to take care of a pet skunk:

• Have a veterinarian surgically remove the scent gland. Meanwhile, also check for roundworms and obtain the needed vaccinations (neutering may be required as well).
• Prepare a litter box for your pet skunk.
• Remember to wash and declaw your pet skunk regularly.
• Train your skunk using a spray bottle and loud voice; never hit or abuse your pet skunk, they can be quite vindictive when they grow up.
• Move to New Mexico, the closest state to California that legally allows you to own a pet skunk (with a permit).

APA Citation: Geiger, D. (2010). Striped Skunk. Retrieved from http://bellaonline.com
Kessler. T (2001). Owners of Pet Skunks. Retrieved from http://skunk-info.org

Discovery in Rats May Lead to Cure for Stroke

by Anastasia

Here’s a scary statistic: Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. It is also the most common cause of long-term disability. To put it plainly, it is almost certain that you or someone you know will die or be disabled by a stroke.
I didn’t just say that to make you depressed, though. A study just got published that might lead to a way of protecting people from the damage a stroke causes. But before we get into the details, though, lets recap on what a stroke actually is.


Simply put, a stroke (more specifically, an ischemic stroke, which is the most common type) occurs when a clot or other blockage cuts off blood flow to a part of your brain. If blood flow does not resume after more than a few seconds, brain cells start to die. The damage caused by this cell death is permanent. Strokes can occur in any part of the brain, and the damage they cause can range from mild to severe.


Ok, back to the study. Researchers at UC Irvine found that by stimulating a single whisker on a rat that was having a stroke, they were able to prevent its brain from being damaged. It turns out that stimulating the area of the brain that is being deprived of blood flow. When scientists stroked a rat’s whisker for four minutes within two hours of the blood flow in a brain artery being blocked, blood was quickly diverted to other arteries, which expanded to accommodate the extra blood flow. This allowed blood to enter the part of the brain that was initially deprived of blood by the blockage. Since nerve cells are now getting the nutrients and oxygen they need, most of them don’t die, as they normally would have, so there is in little to no brain damage.


If you’re confused, imagine that you are driving to school and find that El Camino is blocked by an accident. If all other roads were closed too, you would never get to class on time. But if there were other routes you could take, you would be able to find another road that gets you where you want to (or should I say have to?☺) go. With whisker stimulation, blood is able to find its way around the blockage the same way you find another way around gridlocked El Camino.


But people don’t have whiskers like rats do, so what does this have to do with us? The truth is, we don’t know yet. Perhaps rat’s brains are the only ones that can do this. However, because strokes are so common and can have devastating effects, attempts will be made to apply this research to humans. Parts of our bodies, like lips or fingers, are wired to the same parts of the brain as a rat’s whiskers. Stimulating them might have the same effect. Who knows? In the future, first aid treatment for a stroke might include massage or listening to music. It’s all a matter of finding the right nerves to stimulate.



The picture: UCI researchers found that mechanically stroking a single whisker activated a rat’s cerebral cortex — seen lighting up in magenta and blue — and prompted obstructed blood to take other routes to the brain. Photo by Christopher Lay and Cynthia Chen-Bee (researchers)

Sources:
Wilson, J. (July 13, 2010). UCI Irvine Release: Whisker stimulation prevents strokes in rats, UCI study finds. In UCI Irvine Today. Retrieved November 2, 2010, from http://today.uci.edu/news/2010/07/nr_whisker_100713.php.
Lay CC, Davis MF, Chen-Bee CH, Frostig RD (2010) Mild Sensory Stimulation Completely Protects the Adult Rodent Cortex from Ischemic Stroke. PLoS ONE 5(6): e11270. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.001127