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2 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 ROBOTS in the Lab: Automation Through the Ages

By Kerry Connell

From Gort to HAL, from Robby to Chinese text, the Lie Zi, includes the which uses a computer program to combinatorial chemistry pursuits to Rosie, robots have long been a part story of a mechanical engineer who control temperature to accomplish use very small quantities of reagents of our popular culture. In our world, presented the king with a mechanical DNA synthesis and generate copies. to make millions of compounds at these old robots seem quaint and man. And, of course, there’s Leonardo Organic chemistry processes also use once. kitschy — they’re nothing like our daVinci to consider. automated synthesis. industrial and medical machines. Pure-Bots Today, robots are technology un- The First Modern Robots In biological labs, robotic equipment personified: efficient, practical tools can handle standardized microtiter Robots also perform functions that help us accomplish our goals. The The beginning of the twentieth plates, which scientists use to store related to purification, such as the many ways we routinely use robotics century saw the birth of the first samples that must be frozen or automation of simulated distillation (a in the lab would boggle the minds of modern robots — practical devices sealed to avoid degradation or type of gas chromatography) in the our very imaginative forebears. like Westinghouse Electric’s Televox contamination. The Society for petroleum industry. Automation via and parlor tricks like Elektro, the Biomolecular Screening developed microprocessors allows scientists to Ancient Robots? seven-foot marvel of the 1939 the microtiter plate standard, and perform ion-exchange separation on World’s Fair. labs everywhere use robotic liquid a nanoliter scale very quickly. We tend to think of robots as a handlers or plate movers to prepare or move the plates. Standardization modern idea, but the engineers In 1954, George Devol invented But What About Humans? and artists of ancient civilizations Unimate, the first digitally operated, is key to the development of robotic technologies. all around the world were the first programmable robotic arm. As the science of robotics evolves, to build (or attempt to build, or at Unimate transformed automobile Some companies have developed so too will our ability to apply least describe) automated machines. manufacturing and kicked off the automated technologies to laboratory Perhaps the first to succeed was modern robotics industry. Nearly technology that further automates biological handling. Andrew, by tasks. In fact, a machine called Plato’s friend Archytas, the founder every industry uses robots now the Robot Scientist (also known as of mathematical mechanics; his self- instead of humans for jobs that are too Andrew Alliance, is capable of interfacing with volumetric pipettes, Adam) is a prototype that is able to propelled artificial pigeon reportedly dangerous or for jobs that demand hypothesize and perform experiments flew approximately 200 meters. A precision and accuracy beyond effectively automating the handling processes and removing human error. independently. It also interprets its couple of hundred years later, around human ability. Naturally, laboratories findings without human guidance. 270 B.C., Ctesibius (the father of have embraced robotics. Other instrumentation companies have developed plate readers that use Does this mean that human scientists pneumatics) created a water clock are on their way out? Not at all! with animated figures. optical or computer vision to detect Lab-Bots specific changes in microtiter plates. Humans — not robots — are the ones with the imagination, passion, drive Ancient mythologians, too, wrote of Laboratory robotics began with and insight to investigate challenges mechanical people. The Roman god early applications in peptide Med-Bots and discover answers that can change Vulcan was said to have created and oligonucleotide synthesis. In the lives of people worldwide. We robot servants. Jewish and Norse 1983, Kary Mullis developed the Pharmaceutical companies like have a stake in our research; robots legends both include references to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), McKesson design robots that automate do not. Besides, humans are the one animated clay people. A third-century entire pharmacies to eliminate who can flip the “off” switch. medication errors, and the daVinci Surgical Robot allows? surgeons to perform ?minimally invasive surgery [ CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ] by controlling tiny instruments Discuss the advantages and remotely and viewing their work on a disadvantages of using robotics in the magnified, three-dimensional display. laboratory. What other applications and industries In the pharmaceutical lab, robotic do you think could benefit from using arms have revolutionized sample robotics? preparation for processes like nuclear [ VOCABULARY ] magnetic resonance and high- performance liquid chromatography- PERSONIFY mass spectrometry (HPLC). The PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS combination of nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray crystallography OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS allows for the automation of structural PCR protein analysis. Robotics has also made it possible for scientists in SYNTHESIS

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4 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Humans and Lizards in the Land of Dreams By Mike Howie

Everyone, and everything, needs to throughout the night, with each cycle It’s All Relative sleep. Scientists aren’t quite sure why lasting about 60 to 90 minutes each we need sleep, but it’s been proven in humans. Lizards haven’t changed as much as time and again that nothing good humans have over the happens when you don’t get enough Sleepy Lizards centuries, so studying of it. Efforts in studying sleep haven’t their sleep patterns been entirely fruitless, though: It’s clear While monitoring the brain activity provides us that there are multiple stages of sleep, of lizards, a team in Germany with a and now we’re starting to learn that noticed that they have two patterns new they might be more common between of brainwaves while asleep. The first way animals than previously understood. is 4Hz, a low frequency similar to to slow-wave sleep, and the second is at study Stages of Sleep 20Hz, a higher frequency similar to where our REM sleep. These patterns occurred in own sleep Generally speaking, there are two a cycle similar to the one in humans patterns, as well as patterns of brain activity in sleep. but at a shorter interval, lasting only the sleep? patterns ? [ CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ] The first is slow-wave sleep, which 60 to 90 seconds each. To back this of other animals, has four stages in humans. During all up, the researchers used an infrared originated. They’ve The purpose of sleep is still unclear. of these stages there is little activity camera to record video of the lizards already helped us to Why do you think we need to sleep so often to stay healthy? going on in the brain. The other while they slept, which clearly shows discover that our sleep patterns are pattern is known as REM, or rapid the lizards’ eyes twitching as they about 300 million years old, which What could the brain be doing during is much older than we had once REM sleep, and why are periods of eye movement, sleep. This pattern is sleep. This doesn’t necessarily mean REM sleep spread out? associated with dreaming in humans that lizards and other reptiles dream thought. While we’re not quite there and was previously thought to occur just like humans do, but it does tell us yet, it’s exciting to learn that we’re [ VOCABULARY ] getting closer and closer to unlocking only in mammals and birds. These that our sleep patterns are older than SLOW-WAVE SLEEP two patterns cycle back and forth we thought they were. all of the secrets of sleep. REM SLEEP HERTZ

Robo-Mermaid Discovers Ancient

Shipwreck By Celeste Beley (Image credit: Frederic Osada and Teddy Seguin/DRASSM)

Imagine finding treasure from a On its maiden voyage, OceanOne something light or something heavy. its combination of technology with shipwreck, untouched for over 350 swam through the wreckage of La Besides shipwrecks, the robot can human expertise makes it truly unique. years, without even getting into the Lune, the flagship of King Louis also handle delicate coral reef “We connect the human to the robot water. Seems impossible, right? But a XIV of France, which sank in the research and sensor placement. in very intuitive and meaningful ways. new humanoid robot could allow for Mediterranean in 1664. This ship has The human can provide intuition and discoveries like this and more in the remained untouched by humans for While a pilot can control OceanOne, expertise and cognitive abilities to deepest depths of our planet’s waters. centuries, but OceanOne was able the robot is able to perform without the robot,” Khatib said. “The two to explore the wreckage and recover human interaction. Sensors detect bring together an amazing synergy. OceanOne, the humanoid robot from it a vase, fully intact, which it current and turbulence data that The human and robot can do things developed by Oussama Khatib, brought to the surface. automatically adjust thrusters to keep in areas too dangerous for a human, enables humans to discover and the robot in place and activate quick- while the human is still there.” explore parts of the ocean that have Anatomy of a Robo-Mermaid firing motors to keep the arms steady. previously been unreachable, all Multiple sensors and? cameras also ? [ CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ] while remaining dry aboard a nearby The head of the approximately five- give OceanOne a full perception of boat. A professor of computer foot-long robot features stereoscopic the surrounding environment while the Think of all the applications for a robot like OceanOne. What application science at Stanford University, Khatib vision — allowing the pilot to see robot runs data through algorithms to initially developed OceanOne to help it avoid collisions. do you think would have the biggest exactly what OceanOne sees — as impact, and why? study coral reefs in the Red Sea, a well as two fully articulated arms. [ VOCABULARY ] depth far greater than human divers At the ends of those arms are hands OceanOne was ultimately developed can comfortably go. The prototype equipped with force sensors that to perform tasks deemed impossible HAPTIC FEEDBACK combines human-like vision, robotics, relay haptic feedback to the pilot’s or too dangerous for humans, TURBULENCE artificial intelligence and haptic controls, which allow the human to including deep-water mining, oil-rig feedback systems that work together gauge whether the robot is holding maintenance and even dealing with STEREOSCOPIC to create a one-of-a-kind robot. underwater disaster situations. But

www.fisheredu.com Tel. 1-800-955-1177 Fax. 1-800-955-0740 5 Gold Nanoparticles May Help Detect Kidney Disease By Hamilton Waldron

In an effort to help urologists better First, a fluorescent organic dye is other fluorescent dyes can prove understand the early stages of kidney introduced into the subject, which is beneficial once it’s time for surgery. disease, University of Texas at Dallas then exposed to an external source of As Zheng puts it, the problem with the scientists are currently experimenting invisible near-infrared light that can current dye used by surgeons is that with some very innovative techniques. penetrate the skin. When the light it dissipates faster, requiring surgeons reaches the dye, the dye displays a to keep injecting dye into the patient. Dr. Jie Zheng, associate professor light of a different wavelength, which Zheng believes that in the future, of chemistry and biochemistry at UT is then transmitted by a camera. This the gold nanoparticles could help Dallas, is using tiny gold nanoparticles technique helps facilitate and inform surgeons improve their accuracy in combined with a technique called eventual clinical investigations of fluorescence-guided surgery. in vivo near-infrared fluorescence disease in humans. imaging to study early-stage kidney disease in a live animal model. However, this technique has proven difficult for preclinical kidney disease It is estimated that roughly 10 percent studies because organic dyes don’t of adults in the U.S. may have chronic produce an adequate contrast in kidney disease. This is a scary reality, the kidneys. But ?Zheng and? his as kidney disease is often dubbed colleagues have since figured out [ CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ] “the silent killer,” and usually worsens a way for it to work, and the key is Discuss how long it will likely take for before anything can be done. tiny gold nanoparticles less than six this technique to truly be implemented. nanometers in size, which are just Research what causes kidney disease, A Golden Solution miniscule enough to clear completely then discuss ways to prevent the out of the kidney through urination. disease. Noninvasive in vivo near-infrared [ VOCABULARY ] fluorescence is inexpensive and used To take it a step further, Zheng has FLUORESCENCE IMAGING by many in laboratories. The way it also discovered that the tendency works is pretty amazing. of the nontoxic gold nanoparticles NANOPARTICLES to remain in the body longer than

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6 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Diabetes Treatment Found in Stomach Cells By Christina Phillis

Scientists have successfully engineered or the lower stomach region that mini stomachs in mice. The purpose connects to the small intestine, were is not to allow these cheese-loving the most responsive to high glucose rodents to ingest more pizza, but levels in the blood and were able to instead to learn how to make the body produce insulin. produce more insulin. Next, they destroyed the pancreatic That is the primary problem for people beta cells in one group of mice. This suffering from type 1 diabetes: insulin- forced the mice to become completely producing beta cells are missing. dependent on the reprogrammed Advancements have been made in cells to produce insulin. The control engineering insulin cells in the lab; group of mice, which did not have however the problem with these reprogrammed cells, died within eight therapies is that the body continues weeks. The mice in the group with to reject native and transplanted reprogrammed cells stayed alive for insulin cells. That’s why the team of up to six months, which is how long beta cells. Next they grew the cells researchers at Harvard University was they were tracked. The cells of these into a mini stomach and placed them within the mouse’s abdomen. When ? attempting to develop a method in mice were able to maintain insulin ?[ CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ] which the body replenishes beta cells. production and regulate glucose pancreatic cells in the mice were levels. And with the help of stem cells, destroyed, glucose levels remained How can patients with diabetes benefit from the results of this study? First, scientists genetically engineered stomach tissue is able to replenish on normal in 5 of the 22 mice. mice to express three genes that can a regular basis. What other areas of research could benefit from the results of this study? convert other cell types into beta cells. The results of this study further Doing so allowed scientists to figure To test therapies for humans, scientists support individual patient therapy [ VOCABULARY ] that involves collecting cells from a out which cells in the body would be took stomach tissue from the mice INSULIN STEM CELLS the best at producing insulin. They and engineered it to express the patient, reprogramming them into found that the cells from the pylorus, same factors as the reprogrammed beta cells, and transplanting them as DIABETES GLUCOSE a way to treat diabetes. OHAUS Triple Beam Classic Hands-On Measurement

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8 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Hippos Produce Their Own Sunscreen By Kevin Ritchart

Because they are widely considered other had an orange tint and was deep wounds with their ivory tusks, so-called built-in sunscreen. Scientists to be among the most violent and named norhipposudoric acid. which can grow as long as 20 inches. believe that the substances are aggressive animals in the world, Before they battle over potential mates synthesized from amino acids upon studying the hippopotamus — Built-in Protection by butting heads or violently gashing exposure to oxygen. particularly in its natural habitat each other with their tusks, hippos — is a challenge for scientists. For Despite being unstable on their own, engage in a ritual called gaping in years, researchers have been curious when the two compounds combine which they stand face to face and about both the source of the reddish in the presence of mucus and then open their mouths to show their teeth. substance that appears on the skin of If the sight of the other’s tusks doesn’t dry on the hippo’s skin, the resulting ? [? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] the hippo, and through testing it’s now substance remains in place for hours cause one hippo to back down, a known what purpose it serves. at a time to protect the hippo from the fight ensues. If hippos didn’t produce their own sunscreen, what are some other ways sun. Further testing of the compounds Despite the difficulty of getting close Hippos are considered semiaquatic they could protect themselves from the revealed that hipposudoric acid also sun? to these massive creatures in the animals, as they spend up to 16 hours contains antibiotic properties. Even in For animals other than hippos, what wild, a Japanese team of scientists low concentrations, the highly acidic every day submerged in water and was able to collect samples of the only venture onto land after nightfall kinds of things can they do to keep compound — which is hundreds of their skin from being damaged by the hippo’s secretions and subsequently times more powerful than vinegar — to hunt for food. Staying in the water sun? test them to determine their makeup. is effective at keeping the animals has shown the ability to control the [ VOCABULARY ] The scientists separated the chemical growth of pathogenic bacteria. cool during the day, but it doesn’t compounds from the hippo’s sweat protect their skin from the sun’s rays. SEMIAQUATIC using water and found them to be This helps to explain why hippos HIPPOSUDORIC ACID two highly unstable and highly acidic remain largely free of infection While some research has been compounds. One was red in color despite the fact that they can inflict conducted, there’s still a great deal NORHIPPOSUDORIC ACID and dubbed hipposudoric acid. The that’s unknown about the hippo’s Crater Drilling Makes an Impact By Kevin Ritchart

Earlier this year, a drilling effort off Samples taken from farther up in the hours later, tsunamis filled the crater Now that they’ve entered the peak of the coast of Mexico helped to peak ring have helped to identify with sediment. ring, researchers will continue to drill shed light on the extinction of the the time period when life ceased to — aiming to go as deep as 1500 dinosaurs. Core samples taken from exist, and scientists are hopeful that In April, scientists drilled to a depth meters — as they search for both the Chicxulub crater, which was computer modeling will aid them of 670 meters and brought up a ancient and modern DNA to further created when a giant asteroid struck in learning more about the crater’s section of rock that contained pieces explore and hopefully add to our the Earth 66 million years ago, are formation. of granite and various minerals, knowledge about the time following helping scientists to piece together the which indicated that the drill had the asteroid’s impact. timeline for both extinction and the Asteroid Aftermath reached the peak ring. Researchers return of life to our planet. are debating the depth at which they When the asteroid struck the Earth, crossed from the Cretaceous period, ?[DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS ] Though scientists have drilled the the peak ring formed soon after, which is the last age of the dinosaurs, massive crater before, the 2016 and the Paleogene, which began 66 What are some of the challenges potentially within minutes. Following of executing an offshore drilling expedition is the first offshore effort as impact, granite bedrock from deep million years ago. The line between operation? well as the first to explore the crater’s these two eras, known as the K-Pg below the surface was forced upward As the researchers drill deeper into the peak ring, which is a circular ridge — possibly as high as 10 kilometers boundary, is typically marked by the Earth, what else do you think they’ll located inside the rim. Scientists are into the air — before settling in a discovery of fossilized, small-shelled learn about the Chicxulub crater? examining core samples taken from creatures called foraminifera. The circular pattern around the crater. [ VOCABULARY ] the Chicxulub crater’s peak ring to Following its formation, the peak ring foraminifera were found at a depth of determine if the crater itself was one was covered by a random assortment 620 meters, but scientists are currently PEAK RING of the first habitats for microbial life debating how to refer to the 50-meter of rocks called breccia that came to BRECCIA after the asteroid struck the Earth. the surface after impact. Then, just section between the foraminifera and the peak ring. FORAMINIFERA

www.fisheredu.com Tel. 1-800-955-1177 Fax. 1-800-955-0740 9 The Science of Spicy Foods By Dan Mahoney

Spicy foods are a staple of some same receptors to induce a feeling go all the way up to 2,200,000 SHU! In addition to this recent Chinese study, cultures’ culinary tastes. But what of burning — a feeling that can Growers breed these extreme varieties other evidence suggests spicy food explains the appeal to some of a food affect the mouth, stomach, eyes and by mixing strains of peppers to create can increase metabolism, speed up that others consider painful? If you skin when in contact, extreme levels specific traits like heat or sweetness. the feeling of being full, and possibly tend to dismiss the heat of a spicy of which can even cause nausea or even decrease “bad” cholesterol to food as more of a nuisance than a difficulty breathing. Why Would We Eat Hot Foods? improve blood circulation. While such benefit, you may be surprised to know reports may associate health benefits there’s a lot going on in our bodies How “Hot” Can These Foods Get? Several studies have been conducted with the consumption of spicy foods, when we eat something spicy. to evaluate the potential health benefits that doesn’t mean adding hot sauce The heat levels in food are measured associated with eating spicy foods. will make a bacon cheeseburger What Makes Spicy Food Spicy? in Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), which One such study, published in August “healthy!” gauge our sensitivity to capsaicin. ?2015 by? the Chinese Academy of There are receptors in our bodies Developed in 1912 by Wilbur Medical Sciences, suggests that spicy [DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] clustered around our mouth and skin Scoville, this metric may not be as food can extend life. Almost half a Which cultures of the world are that typically activate when exposed accurate as liquid chromatography million people in China reported their known for their spicy foods, and to atmospheric heat, generally over methods, but it is still recognized intake of spicy foods for the study, the where are they? 109°F. But that’s heat as measured by today as the standard for spicy heat results of which showed that people the thermometer, not our taste buds. measurement. who ate spicy foods six or seven times What are some ways to neutralize So what is it about a “hot” pepper, per week reduced their total risk of the effects of spicy foods? whether it’s no warmer than room Starting the scale at 0 SHU is a bell mortality by 14 percent compared temperature or even refrigerated, that pepper. Other commonly known to those who ate spicy foods no [ VOCABULARY ] sends us running for a glass of water peppers include the banana pepper, more than once per week. While after we take a bite? scored at up to 900 SHU; the people with cancer, heart disease LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY jalapeno, which can reach up to and stroke were excluded from the METABOLISM The substance found in “hot” food that 10,000 SHU; and the habanero, study, it didn’t take into consideration humans react to in this way is called measuring up to 350,000 SHU. There other dietary, environmental or health capsaicin. Capsaicin triggers these are actually varieties of peppers that considerations. Hungry to learn more about taste? See pages 13 and 21 for further reading.

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10 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Wanted: Lifelong Learners By Kelsey Doolittle

Ask a science teacher what skills standards then become the bedrock a new shopping center and needs the The WFSM-UTD process is being they would like their students to have on which a science, technology, students’ help to evaluate the possible used throughout school districts in mastered by the time they graduate, engineering and mathematics (STEM) effects of the new shopping center on several states with positive results. By and most won’t mention organic curriculum can be developed. area wildlife. By having autonomy laying a firm foundation of authentic chemistry or thermodynamics. in their course of research, students instruction, providing access to a Instead, their list will include abilities Providing Inquiry-Based direct their own learning on the large library of engaging, ready-to- that are vital to today’s workforce, Strategies and Resources ecosystems and the ecological impact use cases that connect the learning such as problem solving and of the new shopping center. This to real-life events, and providing analytical thinking. They also take The next step is to provide ready-made ability to analyze a research topic, coaching and leadership support, pride in seeing students develop the problem- and project-based learning generate their own line of questioning teachers are creating a transformative passion and curiosity to become (PBL) cases that establish real-world and extract a hypothesis from their learning environment where STEM lifelong learners. Creating a learning connections to engage students and research is essential for a student to skills can flourish. Armed with these environment that cultivates these skills, promote the use of appropriate STEM develop STEM skills. skills, students are able to enter the however, is not an easy task. skills. Together, WFSM and UTD have workforce ready to succeed and with authored 170 problem- and project- Implementation Coaching a lifelong love of learning. Recently, two institutions of higher based cases that cover a variety of education teamed up to help teachers science topics for grades K-12. These The third component of WFSM-UTD’s address this challenge. The Center cases provide authentic learning process is implementation coaching, of Excellence for Research, Teaching experiences while supporting a which helps teachers prepare for and Learning at Wake Forest School student’s mastery of content. the challenges they may face when of Medicine (WFSM) and the Institute introducing a PBL program in their for Instructional Excellence at the Problem-based learning emphasizes classrooms. It also includes a self- [ CLASSROOM? DISCUSSION? ] University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) the paths students take to arrive at assessment mechanism that enables What types of learning environments have developed a process for creating their solutions, while project-based teachers to continuously improve do you find engaging? such an environment by combining learning emphasizes the process their presentation methods and What STEM skills do you think are most the former’s problem-based learning and application of content through effectiveness. important, and why? curriculum with the latter’s project- a complex product. But both types based learning curriculum. The [ ACTIVITIES ] of PBL have the power to transform Leadership Support process includes four key components. a student’s learning environment by Download a sample PBL case from requiring them to think critically and fisheredu.com/pbl to try out with your The final step is a leadership support students. Establishing Standards of learn collaboratively in order to solve piece that helps teachers to recognize [ VOCABULARY ] Authentic Instruction a given problem. their personality types and teaching styles, as well as those of peers and AUTHENTIC INSTRUCTION The process begins by establishing In the problem-based learning case other personnel in a school or district, SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION fundamental standards of authentic for high school biology called Project so they can fine-tune their instructional instruction that can be unified Site, students are placed in the methods. This enables teachers to PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING across a system. Doing so provides role of a research assistant for an communicate a clear, consistent PROJECT-BASED LEARNING consistency in every classroom so that ornithologist at the Federal Wildlife instructional message and support its higher-order thinking and substantive Agency. The ornithologist has been successful implementation. ORNITHOLOGIST conversation become the norm. These asked to help in the development of

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Talcum Powder and its Link to Cancer By Christina Phillis

Talc, a common ingredient found in American Cancer Society (ACS) does of Pediatrics advised against its use many household products such as not name talc as a known carcinogen, as a baby powder. Products sold in body powders and cosmetics, has but it does acknowledge suggestions the United States containing talc have been subjected to renewed scrutiny that have been made about talc as been asbestos-free since the 1970s. as more people raise claims that it a possible causal agent in ovarian The people most at risk of inhaling the causes cancer. How could such a cancer if it comes in contact with the asbestos in talc are people who have widely used product, in some cases genital area. The International Agency long-term exposure to the substance at lauded for its gentle touch, be able to for Research on Cancer characterizes work, such as talc miners. cause such harm? use of products containing talc in the perineum region of the body as Although a strong link between Made up mostly of the elements “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” cancer and products containing talc magnesium, silicon and oxygen, has not been proven, certain forms talc is a type of mineral. Talc is used The ACS also points out that it’s of talc can be harmful while others to create talcum powder, which is important to know the distinction warrant further study. generally used to absorb moisture between talc in its natural form, which and reduce friction. As a product for contains asbestos, and talc that is consumers it helps to keep skin dry asbestos-free. The Centers for Disease and prevent rashes. For its ability to Control and? Prevention? warn against [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] provide matte and opaque finishes certain methods of using talc in both What role does a company have in it is used in many cosmetic products forms. Inhalation of talc in any form protecting consumers? such as blush, face powder and eye should be avoided as it can have What should you do to ensure that shadow. an effect on the lungs called talc the products you use don’t contain pneumoconiosis. If it is inhaled, talc carcinogens? Does It Cause Cancer? with asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer. Risks [ VOCABULARY ] Most health organizations don’t caused by breathing in the substance CARCINOGEN were the major concerns with talc in the specifically state that talc poses any TALC kind of definite danger to people. The 1960s, when the American Academy ASBESTOS PNEUMOCONIOSIS

12 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Taste Isn’t Just Tongue-Tied By Kevin Ritchart

The concept that we eat first with our Using descriptive language when the door. A pricey meal carries with eyes is a commonly held tenet among speaking or writing about a dish has it the expectation of higher-quality members of the culinary community. shown that it can change a person’s ingredients, which, in turn, elevates But how a dish looks when it’s served attitude about food. People tend to our opinion of the food that’s served. or how different smells waft through praise food more if it’s described in the air while a meal is being prepared more detail. Though more research is Our memories of particular types are just small parts of the overall taste needed on the subject, studies have of food — and our most recent experience. shown that spoons made of copper experiences tasting that type of food or zinc can enhance the apparent — also cause us to alter our opinions. The tongue can recognize five different saltiness of foods. In addition, studies have shown that taste profiles — sweet, salty, sour, people with certain diseases suffer bitter and umami, a Japanese word The Mental Aspects of Taste from taste distortions, a condition that accounts for the taste of savory known as dysgeusia. Mental stress foods like meats and mushrooms. Temperature also can change the and physical fatigue also have a Umami, which means “delicious,” way we perceive taste. Similarly, the negative effect on our ability to was added to the tongue’s taste color of our food — or the color of discern certain tastes. profile in 2002. Each of these tastes the plates it’s served on — can impact ? ? corresponds to taste receptors on the our feelings about the food. A recent [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] tongue that send signals to the brain study found that nearly half of the Is there a food that evokes a strong when a receptor is triggered. This is participants who drank soda from memory for you? Discuss what that is what allows us to identify different a blue glass found it to be a more and why. tastes. satisfying experience, likely because Are there foods that taste different to they associate the color blue with the you based on where you are when you eat them? Recent studies have shown that there soda being cold. are seven additional factors that [ VOCABULARY ] can influence our sense of taste: Environment and expectations play UMAMI Language, utensils, temperature, a big part in how things taste to us. color, environment, expectations and Eating at an expensive restaurant DYSGEUSIA memory have proven to change the is likely to heighten a culinary way we experience food and drink. experience prior to walking through Hungry to learn more about taste? See pages 10 and 21 for further reading.

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www.fisheredu.com Tel. 1-800-955-1177 Fax. 1-800-955-0740 13 be controlled? This is where physics comes in: Because the blades are spinning in a circle, the inside of the blade is moving slower than the outside of the blade. This difference in speed means that the inside of the blade can continue to let air pass around it, which the pilot uses to keep To Land the blades spinning, while the outside of the blade is moving fast enough to create lift. The pilot changes the pitch of the blades to adjust how much lift a Brick is being created, and in doing so By Mike Howie can gently take the helicopter down for a landing. It’s a process called autorotation.

So Dr. Tyson wasn’t exactly right. And, in fact, because a helicopter lands vertically while a plane lands horizontally, it requires much less “An airplane whose engine fails is a glider. speed to get on the ground safely, and there’s less risk of crashing into A helicopter whose engine fails is a brick.” something. That means it’s actually safer to land a helicopter without Famous physicist Neil deGrasse How Helicopters Fly move upward through them, making an engine than it is to land a plane Tyson tweeted that, and to an extent them spin in the same way wind can without one. he’s right. If the blades of a helicopter To understand how a pilot can safely make a windmill spin. Pilots can use completely stop spinning while in land a helicopter without an engine, that air movement? to? keep the blades [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] flight, that helicopter is going straight you need to know a bit about the spinning by adjusting their pitch with down. But helicopter blades spin physics of what makes a helicopter a control called the collective. What variables determine how fast a helicopter’s blades need to spin to get incredibly fast — in some cases faster stay in the air. Basically, the blades it in the air? than the speed of sound — so even act like a giant fan that pushes air Powerless Landing if the engine dies while in flight, the toward the ground with enough force [ VOCABULARY ] blades will continue to spin, giving the to push the rest of the helicopter With the engine off, the pilot is using AUTOROTATION pilot time to land safely. upwards. But the engine isn’t the only some serious skills to keep the blades COLLECTIVE way to make the blades spin. When spinning — but how can the descent the blades slow down, air begins to

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14 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3

HeadlineDiscoveries_qtrpage_ad1081_0715.indd 1 5/29/2015 9:49:51 AM Urine: the Next Renewable Energy Source By Christina Phillis

Researchers have long been trying other devices. The fuel cell they The team of researchers is currently to come up with alternative, more developed, with the help of Queen working on improving the power sustainable energy sources. They’ve Mary University of London and the output of the cell. By optimizing the tried everything from electricity to Bristol Bioenergy Centre, is one inch design of the cell, they are optimistic vegetable oil, but one of the newest square in size. They used ovalbumin, that they can improve its performance. choices might be one of the strangest. a protein found in egg white, and In the future, this device has the Using a mini fuel cell, researchers at glucose as catalysts. This combination potential to generate electricity in the University of Bath were able to is much cheaper than the platinum remote areas for only about $1.50 to generate electricity from urine. used in other fuel cells and, more $3. “To have created technology that importantly, renewable. can potentially transform the lives of The microbial fuel cell that was used poor people who don’t have access to power this innovation is a device To maximize the amount of power this to, or cannot afford electricity, is an that relies on the natural biological tiny fuel cell could generate, scientists exciting prospect,” Jon Chouler, lead processes of “electric” bacteria to turn enlarged the cell’s electrodes from researcher, told Science Daily. organic matter into electricity. For the 4mm to 8mm, which increased the reaction to happen, urine must pass power tenfold. Additionally, they through the fuel cell. Then electricity ?stacked ?multiple units together, generated by bacteria can be either increasing the power further. [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] stored or used directly to power How can people living in rural areas electrical devices. The fuel cell can generate 2 Watts per use this new technology? cubic meter of power, or just about Brainstorm other potential sources of A Smaller Fuel Cell enough energy to power a cell phone. organic energy. Although this doesn’t seem like much [ VOCABULARY ] In addition to developing a new compared to other renewable sources, source of energy, researchers set out the technology is worthwhile because ORGANIC FUEL CELL of its cost, inexhaustible supply and to make a fuel cell that is smaller, MICROBIAL more powerful and cheaper than lack of harmful gases. STAY !! CONNECTEDONNECTED CFollow us on Facebook Please visit us at www.fisheredu.com/facebook or scan the QR Code.

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Description Cat. No. Price K’NEX and K’NEX Education are registered epication Transcription 68801 63.00 trademarks of K’NEX Limited Partnership Group Pennsylvania Students Compete in State STEM Design Challenge By Danielle Ferrante

The annual challenge allows students worked together, along with a written PA STEM DESIGN CHALLENGE in grades four through eight to narrative and oral presentation RESULTS brainstorm, develop and implement that they had prepared. This year a solution to an engineering problem the students’ creativity and design Grades 4-5 using K’NEX building materials. The skills really took the spotlight, with 1st Place Standing Stone problem is usually somewhat vague judges seeing everything from school Elementary to encourage students to really use buildings and spaceships to hotels their imaginations and think of their and even a pagoda! 2nd Place Ellwood City Area School solutions in more unique ways. District This year students were tasked with As part of our mission to enable our 3rd Place Woodland Hills Academy building a structure that was at least customers to make the world healthier, HM East Vincent Elementary one meter high and could withstand cleaner and safer, we promote STEM HM Indian Rock Elementary – some load of weight. Each team was education in classrooms all over York Suburban allowed to use only 1,400 K’NEX the country, and the STEM Design pieces and had just two hours to Challenge accomplishes this in Grades 6-8 complete their build. an interactive and engaging way. Christine Gray, a teacher at Octorara 1st Place Lackawanna Trail School On the day of the competition students Intermediate School who has had District On May 13, 2016 elementary and brought their blueprints, building teams place at the state competition middle school students from throughout 2nd Place Octorara Intermediate materials and a ton of enthusiasm over the past two years, told us, “It School Pennsylvania met at Harrisburg as volunteers from Thermo Fisher is because of this challenge that my University of Science and Technology Scientific, the Allegheny Intermediate students have a love for STEM.” We 3rd Place St. Anne School – to participate in the third annual Unit (AIU3), AquaPhoenix Scientific are extremely proud to be champions Bethlehem, PA Pennsylvania State STEM Design and K’NEX Education evaluated the of this cause and are grateful for HM The Walden School – Challenge. This year 184 students students throughout the two-hour build everyone who participated in order to Media, PA tested their engineering, design, critical time. Teams were judged on their make this challenge possible! HM Southern Fulton School thinking and teamwork skills in this overall design and how well they challenging yet rewarding competition. District

16 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Inflatable Module Attached to Space Station By Hamilton Waldron

Last month, NASA added an extra temperature swings and high- Bigelow plans on making NASA the reaches the end of its two-year room to the side of the International radiation environment of space. primary customer, since NASA is still duration, the BEAM will be detached Space Station. Now that the working on establishing habitable from the station and eventually burn installation of the Bigelow Expandable Timeshares in Space? living quarters for its planned three- up in the Earth’s atmosphere. Activity Module (BEAM) is complete, year trips to and from Mars. NASA will soon expand the room to its Bigelow Aerospace, the manufacturer maximum size of 13 feet long and 10 and owner of the 3,100 pound Speaking of trips to Mars, the biggest potential obstacle for BEAM is feet in diameter, providing astronauts module, has previously tested two ? ? [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] an extra 556 cubic feet of room to other prototypes, but BEAM is its first how it will fare during long stays in Discuss the pros and cons of a move around for the experiment’s two- inflatable to host astronauts. Owned microgravity. It’s for this reason that the year duration. BEAM includes a suite of sensors that potential controlled habitat for “tourist by real estate billionaire Robert trips” to space. Bigelow, the company is also working will gather data about the habitat’s Made of materials that help make it time at the station. Astronauts on Research other prototypes that Bigelow on modules that are up to 20 times Aerospace has previously tested. resistant to impact, these lightweight larger than BEAM. board the ISS are expected to enter habitats could help save millions of the BEAM three to four times a year, [ VOCABULARY ] dollars in launch costs and may also The company is also developing at which time they’ll be able to collect BEAM aid astronauts in protecting against timeshare agreements that will the info for NASA and Bigelow. BIGELOW AEROSPACE radiation. In fact, BEAM will soon allow commercial entities, research undergo a special test run intended organizations and even some space Once all the tests have been MICROGRAVITY to measure how it withstands the tourists to lease the inflatable rooms. completed and the inflatable room

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18 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 First Successful Skin-to-Eye Stem Cell Transplant By Hamilton Waldron

It’s been reported that Japanese A small piece of skin from the cataracts. They did so by manipulating It’s still early, but scientists speculate scientists have successfully completed patient’s arm was modified and protein levels in stem cells. that pluripotent stem cells may also be the first skin-to-eye stem cell transplant successfully reprogrammed into used to successfully treat a range of in humans. In this instance, stem cells induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). In addition, a Maryland woman who other illnesses, including Parkinson’s originating from a patient’s skin were These types of stem cells are capable had previously been blind for more and Alzheimer’s. transplanted into her eye, which of morphing into nearly any type than five years had some of her vision partially helped to restore her lost of tissue within the body, making restored after her own bone marrow vision. it possible for arm skin cells to be stem cells were injected into her eyes. repurposed as retinal tissue. The patient was a 70-year-old woman [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] [ VOCABULARY? ] ? suffering from age-related macular Patient Tested, Patient Approved degeneration (AMD), which is the Discuss what other types of illnesses stem STEM CELL leading cause of vision impairment While full vision has not yet been cells could help treat in the future. PLURIPOTENT in older people. She first received the restored in any case, stem-cell experimental treatment in 2014 as treatments have increased in recent TRANSPLANT part of a pilot study. It’s been almost years. Researchers in the U.S. and two years, and scientists now have the AGE-RELATED MACULAR China have also used stem cells to DEGENERATION results. help improve the vision of infants with

The Home of Meaning By Mike Howie

Words give meaning to the world This isn’t to say that words are thrown Watching While You Listen There’s a lot more work to be done around us. They allow us to haphazardly about wherever there’s here. Beyond studying more people, comprehend the things we see and a bit of space. Instead, they’re neatly Gallant and his team discovered all the team has yet to study a language communicate the things we feel. grouped together according to their this by using a functional MRI scanner other than English. And who knows? Without words and their meanings, meaning. For example, words related to monitor blood flow in the brains One day, this research may help without all the complexity they to family — wife, aunt, brother — of volunteers while they listened to decode words that a person thinks, describe so simply, we humans tend to be stored in a small area of recordings of people telling personal, enabling ALS and non-verbal Autism wouldn’t be where we are today. So the right temporoparietal junction, narrative stories to live audiences, patients to communicate in new ways. where does all that meaning live? while words related to shape live in a which put the words in context for small area of the left occipitotemporal the listener. By comparing where Visit gallantlab.org/huth2016 Mapping Words cortex. blood flowed when a volunteer heard to explore a map of where certain words, they were able to map meaning lives in the brain. Neuroscientists previously believed However, one word can live in more meaning to parts of the brain. that some localized region of than one place. The word “top,” for ? [? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] the left hemisphere of the brain instance, lives in an area related to With only seven participants in was responsible for handling math, plus an area related to clothing, the study, the results aren’t entirely Do you think a larger, more diverse language. But according to Jack and an area related to buildings. conclusive. But it certainly looks group of people will show a different map? Why or why not? Gallant, a neuroscientist at the None of this storage is random — like Gallant is on to something — University of California, Berkeley, groups of words are stored in areas the maps of all seven brains were What other applications does this research have? and his team, meaning and of the brain that are related to similar remarkably similar. With a larger, language are actually stored all functions. So words that describe more diverse group of people to [ VOCABULARY ] over the outer layer of the brain. things you see are stored near the study, researchers will begin to see visual cortex, which processes visual what, if any, differences there are MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING information from your eyes. between people of different genders CORTEX and backgrounds.

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Fueling Your Car with Seaweed? By Lacey Cirinelli

The phrase “Good things come in small packages” certainly applies to algae. Over 20,000 types of algae, found in both fresh and salt water, collectively produce around 60 percent of the earth’s oxygen. While some algae can grow up to 200 feet long, others are only the size of a single cell. This microscopic algae, known as microalgae, is high in fish oil and grows quickly with little maintenance, making it a potential biofuel.

Goodbye, petroleum! Hello, plants? need time and acres of land to grow, tanks of water, exposed to sun light, and are harvested by equipment that and harvested hours later. Once Currently, much of the world relies runs off of fossil fuels. ?harvested,? microalgae are crushed to [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] on fossil fuels like petroleum and release their oils. The oil is then mixed coal for energy. Fossil fuels are the Microalgae, on the other hand, can with a catalyst and alcohol to create What other crops are used for biofuels around the world? result of decomposing plant and be grown in enclosed spaces with biodiesel and a glycerol byproduct. animal matter trapped in the earth minimal equipment. And as an added What are other types of alternative energy? for millions of years. Although fossil benefit, most microalgae feed off With their ability to simultaneously fuels are an effective energy source, of nitrogen and phosphorous (two clean wastewater with fewer What are the pros and cons of microalgae over other alternative as a finite resource their availability is common contaminants in waste water) chemicals, produce oxygen while energy sources or other biofuel crops? limited and their use gives off harmful and carbon dioxide, so they can help reducing greenhouse gasses, and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide reduce pollution from other processes. possibly create renewable biofuel, [ VOCABULARY ] that contribute to global warming. microalgae are proving that they FOSSIL FUEL Microalgae also grow rapidly and are small yet mighty. And they Alternatively, biofuels come from can be converted from a single just might be key to a brighter, BIOFUEL plants like corn, sugarcane and cell to biofuel in a matter of hours. more environmentally friendly and WASTEWATER soybeans. But many biofuel crops To do so, microalgae is grown in sustainable energy future.

20 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Mood-Regulating Chemicals Help You Taste Sour Foods By April Fischione

Does your mouth water when you grab somehow influenced by serotonin. proteins were found on the tongue, a handful of Sour Patch Kids™, or do But if serotonin is responsible for pointing indisputably to seratonin as you cringe when you taste a kiwi or a psychological and bodily functions, the neurotransmitter whose signals to lemon? If you answered yes to either how does it also allow us to taste sour the brain tell us that a particular food of these questions, you can thank foods? tastes sour. serotonin, which gives you the ability to taste sour foods. But what exactly is Serotonin — We’ll Never Be Sour It’s strange to think that something so serotonin? on You small can be responsible for so much, but serotonin plays a huge role in the Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that When you take a bite of sour food, human body and for multiple reasons we is responsible for sending chemical the acid in it triggers a response in the wouldn’t be able to live without it. messages between nerve cells. While taste receptor cells found on your taste serotonin is manufactured in the brain buds. Chemicals are then released and ?[ DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS ] and performs its primary functions there, relay this message back to your brain. it also travels throughout the body and Identify which parts of the tongue are If the food tastes sour to you, and responsible for tasting sweet, salty, sour can be found elsewhere, especially in possibly even makes you cringe, you the digestive tract. By helping to relay and bitter foods. can chalk it up to the mood-regulating How does serotonin play a role in your messages from one area of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. to another and because of its large everyday life? map, serotonin influences a range of This was the finding of a group of [ VOCABULARY ] psychological and bodily functions. researchers whose study was published SEROTONIN in the Journal of Neuroscience. The There are approximately 40 million group performed an experiment using NEUROTRANSMITTER brain cells in the human body and it is a green-glowing protein that fit into PSYCHOLOGICAL believed that most of those cells that are serotonin receptors to test where the related to our moods, appetite, sleep, glowing proteins congregated. The Hungry to learn more about taste? See memory and learning, temperature researchers discovered that high pages 10 and 13 for further reading. regulation and social behavior are concentrations of these glowing

www.fisheredu.com Tel. 1-800-955-1177 Fax. 1-800-955-0740 21 Carbon Emissions Threaten Arctic By Kevin Ritchart

While it’s easy to see the immediate Arctic, soot emissions from wildfires from wildfires will likely remain at While the simulations and the resulting impact of wildfires on people and could double, which would counteract approximately the same level, but statistics carry with them a potentially places, the long-term impact on the the predicted soot-emission reductions the location will change. As wildfire devastating environmental impact, environment may not always be clear. from human activities during that time season gets longer toward the end of scientists warn that they are just frame. the century, it’s estimated that wildfire speculation at this point. There are Within the next 100 years, the soot soot emissions will increase by as much too many factors at play to be able that’s produced from the burning of fossil Predicting future emissions levels can as 49 percent. In the tropics, emissions to accurately predict exactly what the fuels and plants during wildfires — also be problematic because of variations in will decrease by 37 percent thanks to a melt rate of the Arctic will be 100 years known as black carbon — will not only both weather and vegetation. Scientists number of factors, including changing from now. continue to cause respiratory diseases put together three simulations in an land usage, fewer human-caused and greenhouse warming, it will also attempt to predict soot-emission levels in emissions and urbanization. accelerate the melting of Arctic ice. the Arctic. The first simulation dealt with ? ? changes in vegetation. The second was If wildfires shift northward, the Arctic [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] Scientists estimate that rising a wildfire predictor. The results of the will face further peril from falling soot What can we do to reduce our temperatures and changing weather first two simulations were plugged into that is expected to darken the ice personal carbon emissions? patterns will alter the location and the a climate simulator that produced the and snow and accelerate the melting What are some ways to prevent intensity of where wildfires are likely long-term findings for the Arctic region. process. New simulations indicate that wildfires from occurring? to burn, based on recent simulations. 53 percent more soot will settle in the [ VOCABULARY ] By the year 2090, wildfire seasons in Reversing the Trend Arctic by the end of the century, even if several regions could last anywhere humans are somehow able to cut their URBANIZATION from one to three months longer than If we don’t take steps to cut carbon own emissions in half. CARBON EMISSIONS they do now. In regions that border the emissions, overall soot emissions

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22 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 Starter Series pH Bench Meters

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Modern Dams Thwart Ancient Instincts By Mike Howie

In the fall, salmon follow their instincts grounds, they don’t know what to Elwha River in Washington State’s After a decade or so the river will out of the ocean and upriver to their do. They pool at the bottom and Olympic National Park, salmon return to its normal patterns, with breeding grounds, a safe place for swim around, stuck between human and other migrating fish responded about 300,000 cubic yards of their eggs to hatch and their babies creations and natural instincts. quickly, making their way to breeding sediment flowing down the river each to mature. Historically, very little could grounds they hadn’t visited for over a year. Sand will go to the beach, stop them from getting there. They On the other side of the dam, another hundred years. salmon will lay their eggs, and nature would jump over small waterfalls, story is unfolding. Sediment that the will be in control once again. avoid hungry bears, and evade the river would normally carry to the That part was to be expected, but the hooks of fishermen while chasing the ocean becomes trapped behind sand is what excited the scientists who inescapable need to reproduce. But the dam, just like the salmon. In an studied the project.? They estimated? no salmon can jump over a dam. unimpeded river that sediment would that millions of tons of sediment had [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] become a sandy beach, but behind a piled up behind the dams, and once What negative effects could result from River Blocks dam it’s just mud. they came down that sediment was the removal of a dam? free to flow toward the ocean and Research the causes and effects of Humans build dams for any number Breaking Barriers accumulate in the river delta. About beach erosion, then discuss solutions for improving and managing it. of reasons. Some help prevent floods, 2.5 million cubic yards of sediment some collect water for irrigation, and Luckily for sand and salmon, a few settled in the river delta in the first [ VOCABULARY ] others generate electricity. All of them, environmental restoration projects two years after the dams were gone, RIVER DELTA SPAWN however, get in the way of migrating are showing just how disruptive dams followed by another 1.5 million cubic fish. When the salmon run into a can be. When the Elwha and Glines yards over the next few years. SEDIMENT dam before they reach their breeding Canyon dams were removed from the

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24 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 A Century of Preserving Our National Treasures By Christina Phillis

This year marks the 100th anniversary issued three gold coins. The surcharges also kicked off the Find Your Park impoverished and washed into the of the National Park Service (NPS), from these coins must be paid to the Movement. You can join it by visiting streams, polluting the rivers, denuding and special events are taking place National Park Foundation to help fund www.findyourpark.com, where you the fields and obstructing navigation.” across the country — or, as the song projects that preserve and protect its can locate parks near you and We now know that climate change says, “From the redwood forest, to the resources. share your story. You can also get has the power to alter the ecology of gulf stream waters.” With more than involved on social media by using many parks. Extended droughts, fire 400 NPS sites spanning 84 million The gold coins are clad with images #findyourpark. seasons, low-flow rivers, and rising acres, ranging from battlefields and of two instrumental conservationists: air and water temperatures can cause monuments to parks, seashores and Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir. Looking to the Future certain species of animals and plants rivers, you truly can choose your own Muir helped to establish Yosemite to either adapt or die. Barna notes adventure. There are also a variety National Park and published many Although the NPS has much to that peer-reviewed science will be of centennial programs throughout books on conservation and natural celebrate this year, there are still instrumental in dealing with climate the year designed to help you get wonders, including “Our National challenges that lie ahead. David change. involved and help keep the NPS Parks.” And during his time as Barna, the public affairs chief for around for another 100 years. president, Roosevelt created the the NPS, told National Geographic, The NPS is optimistic that much of United States Forest Service and “One of the greatest challenges we its future success will come from the History established 150 national forests, face is in making the National Park 22,000 people it employs as well as 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national Service relevant to all Americans.” the 221,000 volunteers who donate Yellowstone was the first when game preserves, 5 national parks, The NPS is addressing this challenge their time and money every year. And Congress named it a national park on and 18 national monuments. with its Urban Agenda Program, what a glorious green 100th year March 1, 1872. As more and more which asks parks and cities to rethink it’s shaping up to be for America’s national parks were established, the Centennial Programs how to connect with Urban America. treasured national parks! need grew for one unified governing People living in these areas don’t agency to oversee them all. On August Starting with the 2015-2016 school always have the means to visit one 25, 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed year, fourth graders and their families of the many awe-inspiring parks, so the Organic Act, which established were given free access to hundreds of ?the NPS ?hopes to offer populations in the National Park Service as a new parks, lands, and waters through the these areas access to nature through [ CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ] federal bureau in the Department of Every Kid in a Park Program. Students the development of innovative, new Go to www.findyourpark.com and find the Interior. Its mission was simple: and fourth-grade educators, on behalf spaces. a park that you would like to visit. to preserve and protect the then 35 of their students, can print out a How can science be used to deal with national parks and monuments and paper pass for free access by visiting The NPS is responding to not only climate change? those yet to be established so they www.everykidinapark.gov. The site the changing American culture, but [ VOCABULARY ] would be left “…unimpaired for the also offers advice for planning your also our changing planet. Roosevelt enjoyment of future generations.” trip, including finding places to visit, was prescient when he said, “…the CONSERVATION as well as overnight accommodations, time has come to inquire seriously UNIMPAIRED URBAN Commemorations and a packing list. what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, PRESERVE ECOLOGY To commemorate the 100th anniversary As a way to inspire more people to the oil, and the gas are exhausted, CENTENNIAL of the NPS, the U.S. Mint struck and connect to America’s parks, the NPS when the soils have still further

www.fisheredu.com Tel. 1-800-955-1177 Fax. 1-800-955-0740 25 Addicted to Cell Phones By Celeste Beley

Most of us can’t imagine being review of 18 different research studies limits on our use of mobile devices. separated from our mobile devices. thought that true internet addiction Another recommendation is to limit For older generations, that may be might affect up to 26 percent of posting on social media to three easier to imagine since mobile devices teens. Regardless of your definition of to five times per week. And if you haven’t been around that long. But to addiction, 66 percent of parents and can handle it, that same expert also teens who have grown up constantly 52 percent of teenagers agree that recommends that when you feel connected to the internet and each they spend far too much time on their the need to check your device, go other via cell phones, iPads and other phones. for a walk or exercise instead — devices, that’s a harsh reality they something that can provide the same may not be prepared to face. The good news is that most students unpredictability and stimulation as are aware of their potential overuse reading Facebook or Twitter. A new poll by Common Sense Media of devices, and more than a third of found that 50 percent of teens believe them stated that they try to cut down Survey Stats: that they are addicted to their mobile the amount of time they spend on devices. The poll interviewed 1,240 their devices. Meanwhile, parents are • 78% of students and 69% of parents children, ages 12 to 18, and their navigating new strategies on how to said they checked their phone parents. Of those parents, a larger limit use as well as how and when hourly number, 59 percent, thought their their children are connected. teens were addicted to their phones. • 72% of students and 48% of parents But even adults admit to feeling said they feel the need to respond immediately to texts and social What is technology addiction? addicted to their mobile devices. In the poll, 27 percent of parents felt network posts But how many teens are really they were addicted and 28 percent • 36% of parents said they argued addicted? It’s hard to say. Technology of children believe their parents are with their child daily over device use addiction is a rather new phenomenon addicted. • 77% of? parents feel? children are [ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ] but is defined by addiction.com as distracted and inattentive when they Do you feel addicted to your devices? “a serious problem involving the Digital Detox are together Would you take any steps to curb your inability to control use of various • 56% of parents admit to checking use? kinds of technology, in particular the An expert recommends that to curb their phones while driving What are some health risks associated Internet, smartphones, tablets and the addiction, we must resist endless with overuse of technology? social networking sites.” In 2011, a hours of surfing the internet and set

26 Fisher Science Education Headline Discoveries July-September 2016; Issue 3 STEM Career: Becoming a Veterinarian: The Basics

Veterinarians combine their love of colleges offer pre-veterinary courses, animals with specialized knowledge which may prove helpful in gaining of animal health to care both for acceptance to one of the 28 graduate our pets, like cats and dogs, and schools of veterinary medicine in the other animals, like cows and horses. country that confer doctorate degrees. Looking for the best deals While all vets use modern technology But even after earning your doctorate to diagnose and treat medical in veterinary medicine, you must also for your classroom? conditions, some vets have their own pass federal and state licensing exams practice, while others work for a farm, before you can practice as a vet. Subscribe now to receive exclusive, limited-time college or university. offers delivered straight to your inbox. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics The best way to work toward expects the number of veterinary becoming a vet is to take biology positions to grow by 36 percent and chemistry in high school and then between 2010 and 2020, with the Visit www.fi sheredu.com/signup to subscribe. major in chemistry, biological science average vet earning $82,040 per or a related field in college. Many year. Discoverer of Buckyball Dies By Hamilton Waldron

The term “buckyball” and the name with two American chemists, Kroto which, unlike graphite or diamonds, Chief among Harry Kroto’s “Harry Kroto” may not be household worked tirelessly at Rice University in was at that time the only known form contributions to the science world is names, but the importance and Houston. From there, the three would of the substance. a rather simple one. As someone who accomplishments of both live on. A later receive the 1996 Nobel Prize in was most passionate about motivating recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize Chemistry for their discovery. The molecule in question that the children to learn about science, in Chemistry, Harry Kroto, whose three were able to focus on contained Kroto recognized the importance team is credited with discovering the The discovery by Kroto’s team of the 60 carbon atoms and was highly of encouraging students’ interest in spherical, soccer ball-like structure spherical carbon molecule and its stable. Once it was assembled into a science for generations to come. of carbon atoms nicknamed the related class of molecules, fullerenes, model, the molecule was something Without intrigue, discoveries are buckyball, died April 30, 2015 near has significantly advanced scientific to behold. It resembled the geodesic more difficult — but thanks to Kroto, Lewes, England. He was 76. discovery by sparking new lines of dome invented by R. Buckminster there are masses of inspired youths inquiry across multiple areas of study. Fuller, which is prominently featured primed to keep discovering. The discovery by Kroto’s team of The resulting research has led to at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center the spherical carbon molecule and numerous developments, from more in Kissimmee, Florida. ?[ CLASSROOM? DISCUSSION ] its related class of molecules, the effective treatments for AIDS and fullerenes, significantly advanced multiple sclerosis to new designs for As a tribute to Fuller, the scientists Discuss how Kroto’s discovery helped scientific understanding by opening bulletproof vests. decided to name the molecule spark research in nanotechnology. new avenues for research across buckminsterfullerene, which later Research how the buckyball contributed to improved AIDS multiple areas of study. Hard Work Pays Off led to its earning the nickname “buckyball.” treatments. Dr. Kroto specialized in spectroscopy, During their time at the Rice University [ VOCABULARY ] a field of science in which the While the buckyball now enjoys lab, Kroto and his team spent BUCKYBALL spectrum of light from an object, such intense periods of days conducting a storied history, its discovery as a star, is researched to help identify experiments that contributed to the essentially introduced the entire field NANOTECHNOLOGY its chemical composition. Partnered discovery of this carbon molecule — of nanotechnology. SPECTROSCOPY

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