Category: The Word On Science and Math

The three sisters’ writings on science and math.

Why has global warming become a political discussion?

by Simran Jayasinghe

Global warming is an issue that effects everyone in some way. If you live in areas that are at or below sea level, sea level rise is slowly affecting where you live. For example, the country of Bangladesh has one of the largest deltas, which makes it extremely susceptible to flooding due to rise in sea levels. Some scientists believe that in addition to rising sea levels, the increasing intensity of natural disasters such as hurricanes or cyclones might also be a side effect of global warming. People have a hard time making decisions about preventing global warming because it involves lifestyle changes, and the effects of global warming aren’t seen by everyone on a daily basis. 

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol, which banned and phased out CFCs as well as other chemicals that were harmful to the ozone layer, and was unanimously agreed upon by all the countries in the UN. People felt the need to make this decision because the health effects uv radiation has on humans was clear to everyone and was an immediate concern. It also helped that big lifestyle or economic changes were not needed. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a decision made with this level of urgency about global warming. Perhaps because the effects of global warming are less directly related to our health, and happen slowly, they are easier to overlook. People are also less willing to make big lifestyle changes, which are needed to reduce global warming.

Some changes, such as having more fuel-efficient transportation, are being made easier over time, with new technology. Other changes are easier for people to incorporate into their day to day lives, such as using less plastic, recycling, wasting less food, and eating less meat. 

Despite the overwhelming amount of scientific evidence showing the cause and impact of global warming, whether someone believes in it or not seems to have become a big political discussion. Especially in the U.S, where decision about global warming seem to be influenced by the political party to which one belongs to. A popular argument by some groups is that global warming isn’t 100% proven. This is because, in science, nothing can be proven. Science can provide evidence for the fact that the rise in global temperatures is due to man made increase in CO2 in our atmosphere. However, some groups say that since science cannot prove global warming, it isn’t an urgent problem, and doesn’t require attention. I think that in order to move forward with efforts to reduce the impact of global warming, science needs to take the lead instead of politics. 

Are We Losing The Art Of Civilized Debate?

by Kiran Jayasinghe

I remember watching news channels when I was a few years younger and always seeing both sides of a conversation. News shows would bring in both sides to talk about a topic. Today, I see one side agreeing with itself and bashing the other side instead of having an open conversation between them. Wether about politics or emotions or business, the art of civilized debate is being lost.

What is civilized debate? Some people call it polite disagreement, or polite discussion. It’s the art of being able to have a conversation where two sides disagree and are able to contemplate ideas in an environment focused on learning.

To have a civilized discussion, it is important to understand the other side first. If you don’t know what you’re arguing against, you can’t get your point effectively across and you’re not understanding where the other side is coming from. Conversations with my friends and family can sometimes turn into arguments when we don’t communicate effectively. When we finally listen to each other and consider the other side’s reasoning, we can have a more productive debate and eventually learn more.

It’s also important to keep the idea and the person voicing the idea separate. If somebody voices an opinion or thought that disagrees with yours, it doesn’t mean the person is ‘bad’. It just means that a conversation about the idea is even more important and that an opportunity to discuss the idea and why it is wrong is even more prevalent. 

In society today, wether on social media or within my friend’s conversations, I see the unwillingness to understand the other side. The only goal in a discussion today seems to prevail as the ‘right’ one or the winner. We don’t take the time to understand why the other person may be thinking this way, or what the purpose of the argument is. 

I also see when the relationship between the idea and the person is blurred. If somebody speaks about something in our society, they can’t voice an idea without being bound to it. If the idea is disagreed with or considered to be wrong, the person is punished (i.e cancel culture). I think this societal mechanism doesn’t help as much as we think it does. Punishing somebody for having a wrong opinion and not allowing them to grow from the conversation can destroy a society from the inside out. Unless, of course, it’s one of the topics that have a definitive wrong side: topics like racism or things that involve hatred of others.

As a society, our pride is our downfall. Our minds are open to the idea that we are right, and closed to the possibility that we can be wrong. Conversations are meant to stimulate productivity instead of suffocating communication. If we cannot listen to opposing views because we are so involved in being right, the discussion becomes about winning instead of learning. What would society be like if we were able to learn from civilized debate?

What is DNA? – A Word On Science

by Svara Jayasinghe

Have you ever wondered what DNA is? I was watching an episode of NOVA Wonders called “Can We Make Life?” that got me thinking about DNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a molecule that contains our genetic code. The genetic code is what makes living things have certain characteristics. For an example, my skin is brown because my genetic code has instructions to make a chemical called Melanin that makes my skin brown. DNA exists in every living thing. In humans, DNA is located in the nucleus. The structure of DNA is called a double-helix that has two DNA strands that are twisted around each other. You can think of this like a twisted ladder. Each DNA strand is a row of four different chemicals called Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G). These chemicals are called nucleotides. The nucleotide “A” pairs with “T” and “C” pairs with “G”. This pattern is always the same, and does not vary. DNA is inherited by children from their parents. This is why children share traits or features, like hair color, eye color, and skin color, with their parents.

If you want to know more about DNA, you should watch the episode of NOVA Wonders: “Can We Make Life?” at:

https://www.pbs.org/video/nova-wonders-can-we-make-life-dzcxg8/

The Material That Exposes Hidden Messages Just By Adding Water

By Kiran Jayasinghe

Monali Moiraganthem and Albertus Schenning from Eindhoven University of Technology created a new blue polymer film (a material that is made of long molecular chains). Their film swells when it contacts water, exposing other chemicals or details in it. Using this information, the two scientists used calcium nitrate dissolved in water to create an ink. They printed this ink onto their polymer in a design they would recognize. Then, when they added water to their film, it swelled and showed the chemical lines – in the design printed!

Moiraganthem and Schenning were able to create simple designs and artwork on their film, using a sequence of ink. One layer would show up orange on the film, two layers would become green, and three would become blue, and so on. When water touched the film, these colors showed up and unmasked the hidden message printed on the polymer.

Schenning has many ideas for the film. The polymer could be used to camouflage items, once pre-printed. Tags for items or clothing could be exposed to moisture to show a secret design, so that thieves or crooks could not create fake tags! A more interesting idea would be to have cars that turn color in the rain…

Monali’s and Albertus’ new material would be useful and fun to experiment! The polymer film could hide secret codes on clothing, or reveal a miniature picture for a child. Whatever it will be used for, this new material is  definitely interesting – all you have to do is add water!

Learn more at www.sciencenewsforstudents.org!

 

Can We Predict Earthquakes?

There have been many major earthquakes this year. There was a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake in February, in Papua New Guinea, as well as a magnitude 6.7 and 6.0 earthquake in the same country. There was also a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in January in the United States, a 7.5 in Honduras, a 7.2 in Mexico in February, and a 7.1 in Peru in January. These earthquakes leads to a common question,: Can we predict Earthquakes? Scientists have tried to predict them over the years, to help lessen the damage they cause, but this is not that easy.

For scientists to be able to correctly predict an earthquake, they will need to know the date and time the earthquake will happen, the location, and the magnitude. Over time, people have tried using signs such as unusual behavior in animals, aches and pains, clouds, and more, to tell when an earthquake might be coming. Animals are able to eel earthquakes much better than humans do, and sometimes, they can sense it before humans, but animal behavior is not a reliable source. These signs are not scientific ways to determine if an earthquake is coming, and they are also not correct. USGS stated, “… if there is a scientific basis, a forecast may be made in probabilistic terms.” This means that sometimes we can make a prediction that has a probability, or chance, but not a guarantee of coming true when it comes to earthquakes.

But even though studies have showed that with our knowledge and technology at the moment, we cannot always correctly, or reliably, predict earthquakes, scientists keep working at that goal because, as stated by BBCUK, “If we give up now, we will never be able to answer the question as to wether or not earthquakes are predictable.”

Here are links to the two articles mentioned in the article.

For the article mentioned above by USGS, click here.

For the article mentioned above by BBCUK, click here.

Tinker Crate Spin Art Machine

By Kiran Jayasinghe

Recently we signed up for Tinker Crate (find out more in our Tinker Crate review), and we just received June’s box! Our newest Tinker crate came with the materials and instructions to make a spin art machine. Including paint pens, paper, and instructions, the tinker crate showed us how to create spin art, while also teaching us how to build and engineer the machine.

To create the spin art machine, we used the actual box, a circle of wood, some sticky foam, resistors, a battery pack, a motor, and a breadboard. We placed the spinning motor on the bottom of the box, attached the wood circle, connected the battery to the motor, then attached a breadboard, to distribute energy and be able to create different speeds. See the video below to see how it turned out!

The fun thing about this project is that it is reusable. I used it myself several times. The project teaches you about motion and randomness. It’s definitely interesting to see how each piece comes out differently, however much you try to replicate them!

To learn more about Tinker Crate, visit www.kiwico.com/tinker.

Tinker Crate Review

By Simran, Kiran, and Svara Jayasinghe

A few months ago, we bought something called a Tinker Crate. The company that makes it, Kiwi Crate, sends you a box of materials for a science project each month. We were really excited to get our first box , because the experiments sounded like fun. The Tinker Crate is one of the items that the company sells. They also have other crates, such as Doodle Crates, Kiwi Crates, and Koala Crates. Take a look at them at  kiwico.com.

In the Tinker Crate, there are instructions and the material needed for the main science experiment. The Crate also has a magazine inside. The magazine includes several additional experimental ideas, and materials for two of these other experiments are included in the box as well.

In June, the experiment was to build a bottle rocket. We built the rocket, made a launch mixture, and launched the rocket! The bottle rocket used a small chemical reaction to fly upwards.

It took a few tries to launch the rocket properly, and to get the hang of launching it. Our tips: Hold the rocket tightly against the cork on the launcher so that none of the gas inside the rocket can escape. Make sure that the launcher is on the ground before you let go of the rocket. Otherwise, the launcher will get ejected out of the rocket, instead of the rocket flying off the launcher. Once the launcher is firmly on the ground, let go of the rocket. Try adding extra water and more launch mixture to the rocket for a better blast off.

We can’t wait to see what comes in the Tinker Crate next month!

Tinker Crate Review (December 2017)

by Svara Jayasinghe

This month in our Tinker Crate we found out that we were making paper circuits. I have never done anything like this before so I found it a little challenging. My dad helped me with some of the steps I had trouble with but I did several steps on my own.  Even when my dad helped he just helped me with the instructions and I actually did all the work!  The project was to make lanterns with different colored LED lights.  My dad said that LED stands for ‘Light Emitting Diode”.  I really don’t know what a diode is but I am sure I will learn about these later.  First I had to make the base that help the LED light in place.  We used copper tape to make the circuit and connect the LED to the battery.  We also had to use a resistor to make the LED light up.

The circuit was built using copper tape, two plastic rails, a resistor, two wires and a battery.
The circuit was built using copper tape, two plastic rails, a resistor, two wires and a battery.

The circuit with a blue LED touching the copper paper
The circuit with a blue LED touching the copper paper

After I made the base I made the lamp shades to complete the lanterns. The crate had material to make a flower, a pyramid, or a cylinder lantern.  I ended up making all three lanterns.  The crate also comes with different colored LED lights so that you can try out many different versions of the lantern.

Flower lantern with Red LED
Flower lantern with Red LED

Pyramid lantern with green LED
Pyramid lantern with green LED

Cylinder lantern with blue LED
Cylinder lantern with blue LED

This month’s Tinker Crate was kind of hard for me but I still enjoyed it, and I know my sisters did too. Before this I had never played with LED lights, or resistors, and making the lanterns gave me a chance to know how these worked.  I really enjoyed the project and I learned new things.

March for Science

By Kiran, Simran, and Svara Jayasinghe

On Saturday, April 22, thousands of people gathered to march for science in downtown San Diego. Among them were three girls, their Mom and Dad. That group, was our family.  We drove from our house to the Mission Valley mall and then took the Metro train to downtown and walked about two blocks to the place where the march started.

Several individuals made speeches before the march started. Scientists from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography spoke about their reasearch on measurements of carbon dioxide in the air, and their work on seeing how much the ocean is warming because of increased carbon dioxide levels. Three middle schoolers presented their award winning science fair projects to the crowd. One girl talked about permeable concrete to help water drainage, and another on preventing water evaporation from storage reservoirs. After the speeches, we marched from the Civic Center to the Waterfront Park near the Maritime Museum.

The march took about an hour. They estimated that about 15,000 people participated in the march. It was loud because people were chanting various slogans. There were a sea of signs, and we had a lot of fun reading them. It was really exciting to be around so many people interested in science. When we finally reached the waterfront park, we listened to several additional speakers who talked about the importance of science and its impact on society. One of the speakers was my dad’s student, Sharon Patray, from the university where he works.  She talked about her life experiences as a refugee, and as a marine and how science has helped her succeed in life.  She said that she will be starting her Ph.D. at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.  Overall, it was an inspiring experience and we learned that science has an impact on almost everything!

Should we raise farm animals with antibiotics?

By Kiran Jayasinghe

I was reading the December 2016 issue of the Scientific American magazine when I came across an interesting article.

Did you know that pigs are raised with feed containing antibiotics? Antibiotics are medicines that get kill bacteria. Most pigs are raised in crowded pens and to keep pigs healthy, farmers feed them antibiotics to prevent bacterial infections. These antibiotics also help animals grow faster with less food.

But the overuse of antibiotics have begun to turn pigs into a harbor for deadly bacteria that are resistant to several classes of antibiotics.  These deadly bacteria are known as antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Bacteria also spread easily.  Bacteria can spread through pig manure, which is used as fertilizer for crops. Farm employees’ spread bacteria through contaminated hands when they handle the pigs.  Because bacteria spread easily scientist worry that antibiotic resistant bacteria from pig farms will also spread to other individuals.

The antibiotic-resistant bacteria might be harmful to patients. Many researchers worry that the overuse of antibiotics on farms is decreasing our ability to cure bacterial infections. For example, a woman in Pensylvania was not able to be treated because the bacteria in her infection was resistant to the medicine she was given.

Scientists would like to measure the extent of this problem.  They would like to track how antibiotic resistance may spread from farms to people.  But big meat companies won’t let researchers on their farms. They argue that they can’t have their pigs around outsiders, which makes it hard for scientists to carry out their research.

There are a few farms, however, who have come up with a solution. The Seven Sons Farms raises it’s hogs in woodlands and pastures without antibiotics. It relies on space to keep their pigs healthy. If a pig does get sick, they feed it antibiotics and auction it off.

Perdue Farms announced that it would not be feeding it’s chickens with antibiotics starting in February 2016. Tyson Foods also claimed that it would raise two thirds of their chickens without antibiotics, starting September 2017.

After reading the article, I think we should reduce the use of antibiotics to keep animals healthy, and instead use a different solution to keep animals from getting sick.