This blogging experience was an interesting one. There were many struggles, a lot of hard work, learning of different topics, and quite a bit of complaining. There were many advantages to utilizing this instrument, but like any other trial, it had its errors. There were topics that were interesting, while other topics were difficult. There are certain things that should stay the same and some that should be changed. There are different ways this could have been implemented and some topics that should have been covered, but were not.
Personally, my favorite topics were the topics covered in week 1, 6, and 7. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting science and pseudoscience. I also liked that we already had a foundation on the subject from class. I think posts were easier to write when I had a foundation to continue building upon. I think that the week 1 topic was very debatable and thought-provoking. I enjoyed writing about renewable resources during week 6. I think that was an important topic to discuss because of the situation our country is in right now. Nonrenewable resources are damaging to our environment and are also running out. This causes us to need other sources to use such as the renewable resources we discussed. Also, I really enjoyed posting about holography in week 7. Holography is such an interesting topic and since I'm such a fan of photography, it was even more intriguing to discover a new type of "photography". I think it was important for us to discover holography's future uses since it will affect us and our way of living. Besides favorite topics, there were some very difficult ones.
The most difficult topics were the final three weeks. That is expectable since things should get harder as time goes on, but the difference in level of difficulty was startling. Mostly, those topics were difficult because of the length requirements. Also, even though holography was a favorite topic of mine, it was very difficult to understand without a lot of time to comprehend it. I know a few others in the class will be able to relate when I say that I had to spend a lot of time working inside and outside of school on the more recent blogs and blog comments. I probably spent at least 5 hours a week working on this blog project outside of class. Overall, there were a few things I would keep the same about this experience.
The blogging experience was beneficial because it allowed us to write and have our classmates critique our work and everyone had different perspectives on the topics. The blogging experience should remain as independent as it was this year except with a little more monitoring of students who appear to not be working. The topics were overall pretty good topics. I think the topics really allowed us to learn a variety of information.
There were some things that should be changed about the experience. The rules should be unchanging from the beginning of the project to the end. Also, if the need arises for rule changes, the class should be informed. An example was when the date the original posting was due changed from Friday to Wednesday during the second week. This threw a lot of people off and I wouldn't have even noticed the change on that rule if a friend hadn't pointed it out to me. Also, plagiarism needs to be watched for a lot more. There was an excessive amount of this occurring during the project and it quite frankly was not fair to the students who actually wrote their own posts. Also, instead of increasing the work amount, it would have been fairer to just take points off of the people who weren't doing their work. The people who weren't doing their work or were plagiarizing weren't affected by the work increase; it just meant more things to copy and paste. For the people who worked, it was an extra worry and more time needing to be spent blogging. Also, the amount of game playing going on was very extreme and rather aggravating when trying to work. One thing that was also somewhat upsetting was to be told to check the "master blog" instead of getting an answer when a question was asked. A better way to have this blogging experience would be to have it be a supplement to teaching. It could be a weekly or monthly blog describing things that were learned in the classroom. That way for every post, the class would have a foundation to build upon. Also, it would have been useful to know how physics related to all of the topics. Besides changes, the blogging experience should also have new topics.
Some topics that could be added would include electromagnetism, classical mechanics, and thermodynamics. Other topics that would be great would be the different branches of physics. Famous physicists would also be interesting to learn about and what effect they had on physics. Also, discussing careers in physics would be a great chance for career exploration.
This blogging experience was definitely a good way to learn, but wasn't implemented completely correct. However, nothing and nobody is perfect and science is always full of trial and error. It is very difficult to find a happy medium especially on the first try. As much as I might have disliked this project at times or complained about it as some of my classmates have, I really did learn a lot of different information on those topics. I'm not really sure it prepared me for college physics except for the size of work. I really enjoyed the different topics and am glad to have learned about them. I hope this does not offend or anger anyone, because I just wrote what I think is true. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and people should honor that entitlement. Overall, I might not have enjoyed every minute of this experience, but I learned about quite a few topics that interested me.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Coral Reefs: An Underwater Adventure
Have you ever been to the ocean? Have you ever looked out over the vast and compelling ocean? Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the waves and ripples? Have you ever thought about the possibility of underwater, productive communities? Well, it may not be the community you were thinking of, but coral reefs are considered "the most diverse and productive communities on Earth". Coral reefs are very complex and are "ecologically important ecosystems" that provide food, medicine, and protection of the coast. Coral reefs have a specific anatomy and structure. There are many types of coral reefs and many things threaten coral reefs. Coral reefs also have specific animals that associate with them. There are many important pieces to the coral reef puzzle.
Coral reefs are comprised of "many diverse species of corals". Tiny organisms named polyps are responsible for creating these corals. Polyps are made of two separate cell layers with a non-tissue layer between them. The cell layers are known as the epidermis and the gastrodermis. The non-tissue layer is known as the mesoglea. Polyps also contain mesentery filaments. These filaments contain nematocysts, a pharynx, endothecal dissepiments, and the columella. Nematocysts are commonly used to capture food and endothecal dissepiments are horizontal layers of skeletal material. The columella is "the central axis of the corallites found below the mouth". A skeletal wall surrounds each polyp and is called the theca. Another feature of coral anatomy is the "calcareous plate-like structure known as septa". There are two types of septa, which are called insert septa and exsert septa. Besides septa having more than one type, there is more than one type of coral .
The coral that coral reefs are made of comes in more than one type. One type of coral is known as perforate coral. This type of coral is known to have "porous skeletons with connections between the polyps through the skeleton". Another type of coral is imperforate coral. Imperforate corals have completely solid skeletons. Corals not only have two different types, they also have different "growth forms". Some of the different forms are plocoid, meandroid, cocoid, spherical shaped, and phalecoid. Another important part of coral reefs are the categories and structures of them.
In the Caribbean, there are three basic types of coral reefs. These types are fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs grow in shallow water and closely border the coast. Sometimes, fringing reefs are only separated from the coast by a narrow stretch of water. These reefs are characterized by depth, reef structure, and the plant and animal communities that inhabit them. The regions of a fringing reef entail a reef crest, the fore reef, and the "spur and groove" zone. The "spur and groove" zone is also called the buttress zone.
Barrier reefs exist when a lagoon separates a reef from land. Barrier reefs are parallel to the coast. These reefs include all the regions of a fringing reef and more. The extra elements in a barrier reef are patch reefs, back reefs, and bank reefs. Back reefs are the shoreward side of a reef. Bank reefs are reefs that "occur on deep bottom irregularities". Also, bank reefs are larger than patch reefs and either have a linear or semi-circular outline.
Atolls are the third important type of coral reefs. This type is an "annular reef that develops at or near the surface of the sea when islands are surrounded by reefs subside. Reefs of this type often separate a central lagoon. The most common shape for an atoll is circular or "sub-circular". There are two different kinds of atolls. One is known as the "deep sea atoll" and this kind rises from the deep sea. The other kind of atoll is found on the continental shelf.
There are many other types of coral reefs besides the three main ones. There are apron reefs, which resemble fringing reefs, but they have more of a slope to them. This type of reef extends from a "point" or the shore of a peninsula. Another type, as previously mentioned, is the patch reef. These are isolated and are usually circular reefs located within an "embayment". Patch reefs are also "dominated by large star and brain coral colonies". Ribbon reefs are long and narrow and are "usually associated with an atoll lagoon". Table reefs are another type of isolated reefs that do not have a lagoon. Another important aspect of coral reefs is there food source.
Coral reefs have to obtain food in order to provide food for other organisms. Zooxanthellae are responsible for providing coral reefs with food. These are often referred to as "unicellular yellow-brown algae". Their habitat is in the gastrodermis of "reef-building corals". This food source is responsible for allowing the growth and reproduction of corals in order for them to form a coral reef. The food source is provided in the form of "photosynthetic products". The zooxanthellae receive protection and access to light as a reward for providing the coral with food.
Like any other organism, coral reefs are prone to diseases. There are four main types of "coral diseases". The first main disease is known as white band disease. The second disease is black band disease which is commonly referred to as BBD. Both of the first two diseases "kill coral tissue while advancing in a band around the coral and leave the white coral skeleton behind". Coral reefs are also in danger of bacterial infections and shut down reaction.
Besides these four main diseases, there are other possible perils. Coral reefs are "susceptible" to tumors and parasitic worms. Most of these unfortunate infections or diseases are stress related. It is claimed that "anthropogenic stresses can increase a coral's susceptibility to these diseases". The temperature of the water a coral reef inhabits also affects the health of it. Warmer waters can raise the rate of infection.
Coral bleaching is another potential problem for coral reefs. This can occur when many “symbiotic” zooxanthellae are lost from the polyps’ tissue. This “loss exposes the white calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral colony”. Coral bleaching is known as the “whitening of coral colonies”. Coral bleaching can be caused by disease, excess shade, pollution, increased temperature, and many other things. Coral bleaching is mostly a result of “stresses or environmental changes”. However, coral reefs are threatened by more menacing things than just disease and coral bleaching.
Coral reefs are threatened by many natural and human-created problems. Sedimentation “smothers” coral reefs by blocking necessary sunlight from reaching the reef. Many people fish with explosives as a “desperate tactic” and they destroy the reefs. Another fishing method that is threatening to coral reefs is “cyanide fishing”. This is very destructive to fish and coral reefs. Water pollution causes chemicals to reach the reefs and these chemicals are very lethal to coral reefs. Even recreation can cause the destruction of these underwater communities because when people are careless they damage the coral. Other threats to coral reefs are over-fishing, coral mining, climate changes, and global warming.
These threats pose even more danger to the oceanic habitat because they harm the lives of animals associated with coral reefs. Many organisms rely on coral reefs. Coral reefs provide food and shelter for these needy organisms. Sponges are popular inhabitants of coral reefs. These sponges use “chips” of the calcium carbonate for food. Coral reefs are demonstrated as a habitat for many more organisms in the popular movie, Finding Nemo. Coral reefs are a very important part of the oceanic ecosystem and many people don’t even realize it.
Coral reefs are very complex and there is a vast amount of information about them. Without coral reefs, the underwater world would be a very different place. Many organisms would be homeless and starving if coral reefs didn’t exist. Coral reefs are susceptible to diseases and countless other threats. People need to be careful of their actions so that coral reefs continue to be part of our world. Everyone needs to realize that if they aren’t responsible for their actions then we might not have important parts of our ecosystem.
Coral reefs are comprised of "many diverse species of corals". Tiny organisms named polyps are responsible for creating these corals. Polyps are made of two separate cell layers with a non-tissue layer between them. The cell layers are known as the epidermis and the gastrodermis. The non-tissue layer is known as the mesoglea. Polyps also contain mesentery filaments. These filaments contain nematocysts, a pharynx, endothecal dissepiments, and the columella. Nematocysts are commonly used to capture food and endothecal dissepiments are horizontal layers of skeletal material. The columella is "the central axis of the corallites found below the mouth". A skeletal wall surrounds each polyp and is called the theca. Another feature of coral anatomy is the "calcareous plate-like structure known as septa". There are two types of septa, which are called insert septa and exsert septa. Besides septa having more than one type, there is more than one type of coral .
The coral that coral reefs are made of comes in more than one type. One type of coral is known as perforate coral. This type of coral is known to have "porous skeletons with connections between the polyps through the skeleton". Another type of coral is imperforate coral. Imperforate corals have completely solid skeletons. Corals not only have two different types, they also have different "growth forms". Some of the different forms are plocoid, meandroid, cocoid, spherical shaped, and phalecoid. Another important part of coral reefs are the categories and structures of them.
In the Caribbean, there are three basic types of coral reefs. These types are fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs grow in shallow water and closely border the coast. Sometimes, fringing reefs are only separated from the coast by a narrow stretch of water. These reefs are characterized by depth, reef structure, and the plant and animal communities that inhabit them. The regions of a fringing reef entail a reef crest, the fore reef, and the "spur and groove" zone. The "spur and groove" zone is also called the buttress zone.
Barrier reefs exist when a lagoon separates a reef from land. Barrier reefs are parallel to the coast. These reefs include all the regions of a fringing reef and more. The extra elements in a barrier reef are patch reefs, back reefs, and bank reefs. Back reefs are the shoreward side of a reef. Bank reefs are reefs that "occur on deep bottom irregularities". Also, bank reefs are larger than patch reefs and either have a linear or semi-circular outline.
Atolls are the third important type of coral reefs. This type is an "annular reef that develops at or near the surface of the sea when islands are surrounded by reefs subside. Reefs of this type often separate a central lagoon. The most common shape for an atoll is circular or "sub-circular". There are two different kinds of atolls. One is known as the "deep sea atoll" and this kind rises from the deep sea. The other kind of atoll is found on the continental shelf.
There are many other types of coral reefs besides the three main ones. There are apron reefs, which resemble fringing reefs, but they have more of a slope to them. This type of reef extends from a "point" or the shore of a peninsula. Another type, as previously mentioned, is the patch reef. These are isolated and are usually circular reefs located within an "embayment". Patch reefs are also "dominated by large star and brain coral colonies". Ribbon reefs are long and narrow and are "usually associated with an atoll lagoon". Table reefs are another type of isolated reefs that do not have a lagoon. Another important aspect of coral reefs is there food source.
Coral reefs have to obtain food in order to provide food for other organisms. Zooxanthellae are responsible for providing coral reefs with food. These are often referred to as "unicellular yellow-brown algae". Their habitat is in the gastrodermis of "reef-building corals". This food source is responsible for allowing the growth and reproduction of corals in order for them to form a coral reef. The food source is provided in the form of "photosynthetic products". The zooxanthellae receive protection and access to light as a reward for providing the coral with food.
Like any other organism, coral reefs are prone to diseases. There are four main types of "coral diseases". The first main disease is known as white band disease. The second disease is black band disease which is commonly referred to as BBD. Both of the first two diseases "kill coral tissue while advancing in a band around the coral and leave the white coral skeleton behind". Coral reefs are also in danger of bacterial infections and shut down reaction.
Besides these four main diseases, there are other possible perils. Coral reefs are "susceptible" to tumors and parasitic worms. Most of these unfortunate infections or diseases are stress related. It is claimed that "anthropogenic stresses can increase a coral's susceptibility to these diseases". The temperature of the water a coral reef inhabits also affects the health of it. Warmer waters can raise the rate of infection.
Coral bleaching is another potential problem for coral reefs. This can occur when many “symbiotic” zooxanthellae are lost from the polyps’ tissue. This “loss exposes the white calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral colony”. Coral bleaching is known as the “whitening of coral colonies”. Coral bleaching can be caused by disease, excess shade, pollution, increased temperature, and many other things. Coral bleaching is mostly a result of “stresses or environmental changes”. However, coral reefs are threatened by more menacing things than just disease and coral bleaching.
Coral reefs are threatened by many natural and human-created problems. Sedimentation “smothers” coral reefs by blocking necessary sunlight from reaching the reef. Many people fish with explosives as a “desperate tactic” and they destroy the reefs. Another fishing method that is threatening to coral reefs is “cyanide fishing”. This is very destructive to fish and coral reefs. Water pollution causes chemicals to reach the reefs and these chemicals are very lethal to coral reefs. Even recreation can cause the destruction of these underwater communities because when people are careless they damage the coral. Other threats to coral reefs are over-fishing, coral mining, climate changes, and global warming.
These threats pose even more danger to the oceanic habitat because they harm the lives of animals associated with coral reefs. Many organisms rely on coral reefs. Coral reefs provide food and shelter for these needy organisms. Sponges are popular inhabitants of coral reefs. These sponges use “chips” of the calcium carbonate for food. Coral reefs are demonstrated as a habitat for many more organisms in the popular movie, Finding Nemo. Coral reefs are a very important part of the oceanic ecosystem and many people don’t even realize it.
Coral reefs are very complex and there is a vast amount of information about them. Without coral reefs, the underwater world would be a very different place. Many organisms would be homeless and starving if coral reefs didn’t exist. Coral reefs are susceptible to diseases and countless other threats. People need to be careful of their actions so that coral reefs continue to be part of our world. Everyone needs to realize that if they aren’t responsible for their actions then we might not have important parts of our ecosystem.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Holography
Do you have a license, credit card, or any official merchandise such as authentic sports memorabilia? Do you own a CD or DVD? Do you know what all of these everyday items have in common and why they are important? Well, a common factor in all of these items is holography. A license, credit card, and official merchandise include holograms to show authenticity and protect against fraud. However, these examples of holography are not superb in quality because they appear more shiny than in three dimension. What is holography? Well, pay attention and you'll find out!
Holography has been defined as "a method of creating a three-dimensional image of an object on film by encoding not just the intensity but also the phase information of the light striking the film" by the American Heritage Science Dictionary. The theory of holography was developed by Dennis Gabor. He developed this theory while he was trying to improve electron microscopes. The word hologram is derived from the Greek words holos and gramma, which means "whole message". In the time of Gabor, holography was much simpler. Holography involved film transparencies and a mercury arc lamp, which caused the holograms to be semi-distorted and an "extraneous twin image". The invention of the laser in 1960 was the ideal tool to create better holograms. How do holograms work?
Well, holograms can be made with very few tools. The essential tools include a laser, lenses, a beam splitter, mirrors, and holographic film. Commonly, helium-neon lasers or "red lasers" are used in making holograms. Some holography experiments have relied on laser pointers, but this results in less coherent and less stable holograms. Certain lasers require a shutter to control exposure. Holography is commonly mislabeled as the "lens less photography", but lenses are required. On the contrary to camera lenses, holography lenses cause the beam to spread out. A beam splitter and mirrors are rather self-explanatory tools. Holographic film is different than photographic film because it must be able to record extremely small changes of light taking place over microscopic distances. This film must have a very fine grain and some holographic film responds only to red light lasers. Below demonstrates a basic transmission hologram setup.
One form of holography as mentioned above is transmission holography. A typical transmission hologram is viewed with laser light. It often uses the same type of laser used in making recordings. The virtual image created in a transmission hologram is very sharp and deep. An example given is "through a small hologram, a full-size room with people in it can be seen as if the hologram were a window". When the hologram is broken, a person can still see the entire "scene" in each piece of the hologram. There is one other main type of hologram and one mixed hologram type.
The other main type of hologram is a reflection hologram. This is considered the most common type of hologram displayed in galleries. It is a "truly three-dimensional image which is seen near its surface". The hologram is "illuminated by a spot of white incandescent light". This light is placed at specific angles and distances and on the "viewer's side". Therefore, the image is formed with light reflected by the hologram. The next type of hologram is not considered a main type, but is also very important.
Hybrid holograms are very important to holography. These holograms are variations formed from reflection and transmission types of holograms. There are different forms of hybrid holograms. The most common types of hybrid holograms include embossed, integral, holographic interferometry, multichannel, and computer-generated holograms. Embossed holograms are mass produced, inexpensive holograms used for security reasons like credit cards. This is when a "two-dimensional interference pattern is pressed onto thin plastic foils". Integral holograms are important to medical holography. Computer-generated holograms will become very important in the future and use the mathematics of holography.
Holography is growing increasingly important and is rapidly changing due to technology. Holography is often used for security purposes or CD and DVD technology. Holography also has an important role in medicine today. Imaging through tissues, ophthalmology, dentistry, urology, ontology, pathology, and orthopedics all show "strong premises" for holography to become even more important to the medical community. The possibilities for medical holography seem almost endless and will most likely continue to grow in the next decade. Other holography that makes a medical difference is X-ray and multiplexed holography. Both allow doctors or scientists to examine samples without damaging the patient. How will holography continue to grow in the future?
In the future, holography will play an even more important role. There has been much speculation about having holograms affect the advertisement industry. This would occur by having animated billboards. One example of these animated billboards would be a woman with a can of Coca Cola, who takes a sip of it and offers it to you. This would create a whole new industry and countless jobs. Also, it is rumored that holography principles could be applied to video games. That would make the demand for video game programmers, designers, and many other jobs in that industry even higher. I wonder what else people will be able to use holography for in the future. Holography is a very unique and interesting form of photography that has highly valuable uses and will only continue to become more involved in our lives over the next couple of decades!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Renewable Energy
Did you know that it has been predicted that the United States will use 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2025? Renewable energy uses natural resources that are replenished naturally. There are many different types of renewable energy that will eventually replace fossil fuels, which are otherwise known as nonrenewable energies. Renewable energy provides a more environment friendly source of energy. There is also a much greater abundance of renewable energy than there is of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels will eventually run out or become so limited that the economic expense would be too great for the fuels to be cultivated or refined. Four major renewable energies are solar energy, wind energy, hydro power energy, and biomass energy.
Solar energy is energy harvested from sunlight. This is also known as photovoltaic technology. One example of where this energy is used is at Oberlin College. This energy has practical uses in both large-scale and small-scale areas. There are different variations of this energy, which include solar power systems, passive solar heating and day-lighting, photovoltaic systems, solar process heat and space heating, and cooling. Utilities and power plants are more commonly using this form of energy and in turn offering their clients the benefits. Power plants are able to produce electricity using the sun. Another form of renewable energy is wind energy.
Wind energy is collected by wind turbines today, but it has been harvested using windmills for hundreds of years. Windmill harvesting was extremely popular in Holland, but gained popularity in the United States. Wind turbines collect the energy from the wind and generate it into electricity. These turbines are mounted on towers in order to capture the maximum amount of energy. Wind turbines collect the wind's energy with their "propeller-like blades". Normally, two or three blades are mounted on one shaft to form a rotor. One example of where wind turbines are used is in Lamar, Colorado. At this particular "wind farm", each turbine produces 1.5 megawatts of electricity. Homeowners, farmers, and ranchers can utilize wind power in order to cut their electric bills. Besides wind power, hydro power is a popular form of renewable energy.
Hydro power energy is the most often used renewable energy. In 2005, hydro power energy accounted for 7% of the total electricity generation in the United States. During that year, it also accounted for 73% of renewable energy used. Hydro power energy is considered one of the oldest forms of energy. The birth of hydro power energy is estimated to date back thousands of years. The first industrial use of hydro power energy happened in 1880 and was at the Wolverine Chair Factory located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On the Fox River, the "first U.S. hydroelectric power plant" opened in 1882. Hydro power plants must be located at a water source to provide the key necessity, water. The top five hydro power energy producing states are Washington, California, Oregon, New York, and Alabama in that order. Hydro power energy is considered one of the cleanest and most environment-friendly energy sources. One problem with hydro power is the destruction it has on wildlife. Salmon used to have major problems with the equipment used to create hydro power energy, but the invention of "fish ladders" has provided fish with the resource to navigate past obstructions. Another form of renewable energy is biomass energy.
Biomass energy is a renewable energy, which is otherwise known as "bioenergy". This is energy derived from plants and "plant-derived" materials. This energy has been used since people started burning wood in order to cook meals or maintain body temperature. Wood is considered the most used source for biomass energy today as it has been for many centuries. Another source of biomass energy comes from landfill fumes. Biomass replaces fossil fuels by producing fuels, power production, and other products that would need fossil fuels to be created. By using biomass energy, greenhouse gas emissions have the possibility to be reduced by a vast amount. Another advantage of using biomass energy is that it may decrease the dependence on foreign oil. This is due to the fact that biomass creates biofuel and biofuels are "the only renewable liquid transportation fuels available". Biomass is a very important renewable energy form.
Renewable energy sources will replace fossil fuels throughout the next few centuries. This will be advantageous for the environment and also to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil. Renewable energies are the key to being environment-friendly. Renewable energy has different variations. The most popular renewable energy sources are solar power, wind power, hydro power, and biomass energy.
Solar energy is energy harvested from sunlight. This is also known as photovoltaic technology. One example of where this energy is used is at Oberlin College. This energy has practical uses in both large-scale and small-scale areas. There are different variations of this energy, which include solar power systems, passive solar heating and day-lighting, photovoltaic systems, solar process heat and space heating, and cooling. Utilities and power plants are more commonly using this form of energy and in turn offering their clients the benefits. Power plants are able to produce electricity using the sun. Another form of renewable energy is wind energy.
Wind energy is collected by wind turbines today, but it has been harvested using windmills for hundreds of years. Windmill harvesting was extremely popular in Holland, but gained popularity in the United States. Wind turbines collect the energy from the wind and generate it into electricity. These turbines are mounted on towers in order to capture the maximum amount of energy. Wind turbines collect the wind's energy with their "propeller-like blades". Normally, two or three blades are mounted on one shaft to form a rotor. One example of where wind turbines are used is in Lamar, Colorado. At this particular "wind farm", each turbine produces 1.5 megawatts of electricity. Homeowners, farmers, and ranchers can utilize wind power in order to cut their electric bills. Besides wind power, hydro power is a popular form of renewable energy.
Hydro power energy is the most often used renewable energy. In 2005, hydro power energy accounted for 7% of the total electricity generation in the United States. During that year, it also accounted for 73% of renewable energy used. Hydro power energy is considered one of the oldest forms of energy. The birth of hydro power energy is estimated to date back thousands of years. The first industrial use of hydro power energy happened in 1880 and was at the Wolverine Chair Factory located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On the Fox River, the "first U.S. hydroelectric power plant" opened in 1882. Hydro power plants must be located at a water source to provide the key necessity, water. The top five hydro power energy producing states are Washington, California, Oregon, New York, and Alabama in that order. Hydro power energy is considered one of the cleanest and most environment-friendly energy sources. One problem with hydro power is the destruction it has on wildlife. Salmon used to have major problems with the equipment used to create hydro power energy, but the invention of "fish ladders" has provided fish with the resource to navigate past obstructions. Another form of renewable energy is biomass energy.
Biomass energy is a renewable energy, which is otherwise known as "bioenergy". This is energy derived from plants and "plant-derived" materials. This energy has been used since people started burning wood in order to cook meals or maintain body temperature. Wood is considered the most used source for biomass energy today as it has been for many centuries. Another source of biomass energy comes from landfill fumes. Biomass replaces fossil fuels by producing fuels, power production, and other products that would need fossil fuels to be created. By using biomass energy, greenhouse gas emissions have the possibility to be reduced by a vast amount. Another advantage of using biomass energy is that it may decrease the dependence on foreign oil. This is due to the fact that biomass creates biofuel and biofuels are "the only renewable liquid transportation fuels available". Biomass is a very important renewable energy form.
Renewable energy sources will replace fossil fuels throughout the next few centuries. This will be advantageous for the environment and also to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil. Renewable energies are the key to being environment-friendly. Renewable energy has different variations. The most popular renewable energy sources are solar power, wind power, hydro power, and biomass energy.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Deep Ocean Discovery
Have you ever wondered about the deep waters of the ocean and the creatures that inhabit them? Have you ever thought about the composition of that vast unknown environment? The deep waters of the ocean are defined in a very unique way. Also, deep oceans are explored using various technologies. Information on the many creatures that inhabit these deep waters of the ocean is scarce and continually changing.
In definition, the deep ocean is "any place away from coasts and beyond the continental shelves where the seafloor drops away to extreme depths". The ocean has two main sections, which are the surface layer and deep waters. In between the surface waters and deep waters, there is a region called the pycnocline. Pycnocline means rapid change of density. The temperature of deep ocean waters is about 3 degrees Celsius. Majority of deep ocean water is created when surface water in the North Atlantic Ocean becomes so dense it sinks. It becomes dense enough to sink because of the cold temperature and high salinity level in the water.
Then currents direct the movement of this deep ocean water. Currents will cause the deep ocean water to flow past the equator and into the Southern Hemisphere. Next, this deep ocean water will flow past Antarctica and into the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. In these destinations, some of the deep ocean water is transformed back into surface water. This occurs because the water's temperature increases until it decreases in density, which allows the water to rise to the surface. This "cycle of ocean water circulation" is referred to as "conveyor belt cycling" and is considered a simplified version of "real global ocean circulation".
Throughout decades of investigation, less than ten percent of the deep ocean has been explored. Even though the deep ocean realm is considered to be the largest habitat for life on Earth, there are still many "sea monsters" or deep ocean inhabitants yet to be discovered. Cryptosaras couesi or angler fish is one of the most commonly discussed deep ocean creatures. Another creature, which is characterized by its huge mouth, is the Eurypharynx pelecanoides. This is otherwise known as the "umbrella mouth gulper" or the pelican eel and commonly inhabits oceans at depths exceeding 6,500 feet. A discovered creature that has never been photographed in its natural deep ocean habitat is the viper fish or Chauliodus sloani. These deep ocean creatures are discovered by different methods of discovery.
Deep ocean discoveries are made possible through the use of vessels, submersibles, diving, and observation tools. Vessels are commonly referred to as "the most critical element in any oceangoing exploration". Vessels are sophisticated "mobile research platforms" and are equipped with submersibles, divers, and observation tools. Submersibles are designed to descend to ocean floor, which allows firsthand exploration of the deep oceans. Diving allows explorers to research underwater for hours with the use of the "aqua lung". Observation tools also aid scientists in learning about the underwater world because they are the means by which the most information can be gathered about the ocean.
The deep waters of the ocean are a curiosity to many people. Even though the ocean covers a vast majority of our planet and has been explored for many decades, there is still so much to uncover. As technology continues to advance, more information about the deep waters of the ocean will be known. Therefore the information about the creatures that dwell in the deep ocean waters will also be more prevalent.
In definition, the deep ocean is "any place away from coasts and beyond the continental shelves where the seafloor drops away to extreme depths". The ocean has two main sections, which are the surface layer and deep waters. In between the surface waters and deep waters, there is a region called the pycnocline. Pycnocline means rapid change of density. The temperature of deep ocean waters is about 3 degrees Celsius. Majority of deep ocean water is created when surface water in the North Atlantic Ocean becomes so dense it sinks. It becomes dense enough to sink because of the cold temperature and high salinity level in the water.
Then currents direct the movement of this deep ocean water. Currents will cause the deep ocean water to flow past the equator and into the Southern Hemisphere. Next, this deep ocean water will flow past Antarctica and into the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. In these destinations, some of the deep ocean water is transformed back into surface water. This occurs because the water's temperature increases until it decreases in density, which allows the water to rise to the surface. This "cycle of ocean water circulation" is referred to as "conveyor belt cycling" and is considered a simplified version of "real global ocean circulation".
Throughout decades of investigation, less than ten percent of the deep ocean has been explored. Even though the deep ocean realm is considered to be the largest habitat for life on Earth, there are still many "sea monsters" or deep ocean inhabitants yet to be discovered. Cryptosaras couesi or angler fish is one of the most commonly discussed deep ocean creatures. Another creature, which is characterized by its huge mouth, is the Eurypharynx pelecanoides. This is otherwise known as the "umbrella mouth gulper" or the pelican eel and commonly inhabits oceans at depths exceeding 6,500 feet. A discovered creature that has never been photographed in its natural deep ocean habitat is the viper fish or Chauliodus sloani. These deep ocean creatures are discovered by different methods of discovery.
Deep ocean discoveries are made possible through the use of vessels, submersibles, diving, and observation tools. Vessels are commonly referred to as "the most critical element in any oceangoing exploration". Vessels are sophisticated "mobile research platforms" and are equipped with submersibles, divers, and observation tools. Submersibles are designed to descend to ocean floor, which allows firsthand exploration of the deep oceans. Diving allows explorers to research underwater for hours with the use of the "aqua lung". Observation tools also aid scientists in learning about the underwater world because they are the means by which the most information can be gathered about the ocean.
The deep waters of the ocean are a curiosity to many people. Even though the ocean covers a vast majority of our planet and has been explored for many decades, there is still so much to uncover. As technology continues to advance, more information about the deep waters of the ocean will be known. Therefore the information about the creatures that dwell in the deep ocean waters will also be more prevalent.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Big Bang: "Origin of the Universe"
Have you ever wondered how everything came into being? How was this universe and all that is encompassed in it created? Did everything just appear or was it a result of a higher power? Was evolution prevalent in the universe's creation? Many theories have been created in an attempt to explain the birth of the universe. Some theories are purely based on science, while others are based on beliefs and religion. The theories created by astrophysicists strongly differ from religion based theories.
The first theory used in attempt to describe the creation of the universe is the "steady state theory of cosmology". This theory suggests that the universe "simply exists without changing with time". Since there is little evidence to support this theory, many astrophysicists disregard this explanation. It is evident that the universe expands and even though expansion can be explained in a "steady state universe", this theory is highly disregarded for this reason among many others. Majority of the time, the "steady state theory of cosmology" is included for historical purposes only due to its lack of credibility. The next theory used in attempt to explain the creation of universe is the most commonly accepted, which is known as the Big Bang theory.
The Big Bang theory postulates that our universe was non-existent until about 12 to 14 million years ago. Astrophysicists claim that vacuum fluctuation caused the creation of a singularity. This singularity became our universe. At the very beginning of the universe, there was an incredibly large presence of energy. This form of energy is known as photons. Photons transformed into quarks, which are postulated as the smallest particles in existence. Quarks then formed neutrons and protons. Eventually, Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium nuclei were formed and this process of formation is known as big bang nucleosynthesis. Cosmic Microwave Background is a prediction about the photons that remained after the big bang. The Big Bang theory's name is derived from the "tremendous explosion" that started the universe. This theory's origin is credited to Edwin Hubble. His observations provided the foundation for the Big Bang theory.
The Big Bang theory led to the inflation theory. The inflation theory is considered a "possible explanation that right after the big bang the universe began a period of exaggerated outward expansion, with particles flying outward faster than the current speed of light". This theory is "advocated" among astrophysicists, but it is not "directly verifiable" and has no clear cut evidence. The theory of inflation is used as an explanation for a phenomenon and is not a theory proven by a phenomenon. Could that mean that the inflation theory is pseudoscience?
There is contradicting information about the origin of our universe when religion is added to the equation. According to religion, the world was created by god or a higher power. In religious theories, God created the universe and everything in it. God created man, earth, animals, stars, and everything else. Is it possible that both groups have valid reasoning? Is it possible that both theories can be intertwined? Is it possible that a higher power created the photons that were allegedly responsible for the birth of our universe? Then perhaps, the real question is how was that higher power created? The origin of the universe can be hypothesized, but will we ever know the truth when science and religion are both factored into everything?
The first theory used in attempt to describe the creation of the universe is the "steady state theory of cosmology". This theory suggests that the universe "simply exists without changing with time". Since there is little evidence to support this theory, many astrophysicists disregard this explanation. It is evident that the universe expands and even though expansion can be explained in a "steady state universe", this theory is highly disregarded for this reason among many others. Majority of the time, the "steady state theory of cosmology" is included for historical purposes only due to its lack of credibility. The next theory used in attempt to explain the creation of universe is the most commonly accepted, which is known as the Big Bang theory.
The Big Bang theory postulates that our universe was non-existent until about 12 to 14 million years ago. Astrophysicists claim that vacuum fluctuation caused the creation of a singularity. This singularity became our universe. At the very beginning of the universe, there was an incredibly large presence of energy. This form of energy is known as photons. Photons transformed into quarks, which are postulated as the smallest particles in existence. Quarks then formed neutrons and protons. Eventually, Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium nuclei were formed and this process of formation is known as big bang nucleosynthesis. Cosmic Microwave Background is a prediction about the photons that remained after the big bang. The Big Bang theory's name is derived from the "tremendous explosion" that started the universe. This theory's origin is credited to Edwin Hubble. His observations provided the foundation for the Big Bang theory.
The Big Bang theory led to the inflation theory. The inflation theory is considered a "possible explanation that right after the big bang the universe began a period of exaggerated outward expansion, with particles flying outward faster than the current speed of light". This theory is "advocated" among astrophysicists, but it is not "directly verifiable" and has no clear cut evidence. The theory of inflation is used as an explanation for a phenomenon and is not a theory proven by a phenomenon. Could that mean that the inflation theory is pseudoscience?
There is contradicting information about the origin of our universe when religion is added to the equation. According to religion, the world was created by god or a higher power. In religious theories, God created the universe and everything in it. God created man, earth, animals, stars, and everything else. Is it possible that both groups have valid reasoning? Is it possible that both theories can be intertwined? Is it possible that a higher power created the photons that were allegedly responsible for the birth of our universe? Then perhaps, the real question is how was that higher power created? The origin of the universe can be hypothesized, but will we ever know the truth when science and religion are both factored into everything?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Comparison of Solar Systems & Galaxies
There are many solar systems in existence, perhaps even more that have yet to be discovered. A solar system is a group of celestial bodies orbiting a central star. The most commonly discussed solar system is the one we inhabit. "Our" solar system consists of eight official planets, at least three dwarf planets, many satellites, comets, asteroids, and the interplanetary medium; all of which revolve around the Sun. The Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars comprise the inner solar system. The outer solar system includes Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto was included in this region, but is now considered a dwarf planet.
The solar system is mostly comprised of empty space. The space between the planets is massive in comparison to the size of the planets. The planets orbit in ellipses. Mercury is the only planet with an elliptical path that is not nearly circular, but the rest are considered nearly circular. The "elliptical" is the plane in which all of the planets' orbits lie. the main asteroid belt of the solar system lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Solar systems are one of the main components in a galaxy, which explains why solar systems are so much smaller.
Galaxies are vast collections of solar systems, dust, gas, and countless stars. Galaxies rotate about a cluster of stars rather than a central star. There are more than 100 billion galaxies in the "observable universe" alone. The galaxy that is considered to be "our" galaxy is known as the Milky Way galaxy. "Small galaxies" are galaxies with less than a billion stars. There are three main galaxy classification, which are spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies. Spiral galaxies consist of "a flat disc with a bulging center and surrounding spiral arms". The galaxy's disc rotates around the "galactic center" in a regular pattern. One example of the spiral galaxy is the Milky Way. Elliptical galaxies are shaped as ellipses. Most stars in elliptical galaxies contain older star. Irregular galaxies are all the left-over galaxy variations that cannot be classified as an elliptical galaxies or spiral galaxies. It is theoretically stated that galaxies formed shortly after a cosmic "big bang".
While researching, I found it interesting that solar systems are mostly left without a name, but quite a few galaxies are given a name. I also found it intriguing that there are so many galaxies in existence that we do not even have a number large enough to say how many there are. It is also interesting that some scientists believe that galaxies start as globular clusters and transform into galaxies later. Solar systems and galaxies are a topic with a vast amount of information discovered, yet there may still be something left to find out.
The solar system is mostly comprised of empty space. The space between the planets is massive in comparison to the size of the planets. The planets orbit in ellipses. Mercury is the only planet with an elliptical path that is not nearly circular, but the rest are considered nearly circular. The "elliptical" is the plane in which all of the planets' orbits lie. the main asteroid belt of the solar system lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Solar systems are one of the main components in a galaxy, which explains why solar systems are so much smaller.
Galaxies are vast collections of solar systems, dust, gas, and countless stars. Galaxies rotate about a cluster of stars rather than a central star. There are more than 100 billion galaxies in the "observable universe" alone. The galaxy that is considered to be "our" galaxy is known as the Milky Way galaxy. "Small galaxies" are galaxies with less than a billion stars. There are three main galaxy classification, which are spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies. Spiral galaxies consist of "a flat disc with a bulging center and surrounding spiral arms". The galaxy's disc rotates around the "galactic center" in a regular pattern. One example of the spiral galaxy is the Milky Way. Elliptical galaxies are shaped as ellipses. Most stars in elliptical galaxies contain older star. Irregular galaxies are all the left-over galaxy variations that cannot be classified as an elliptical galaxies or spiral galaxies. It is theoretically stated that galaxies formed shortly after a cosmic "big bang".
While researching, I found it interesting that solar systems are mostly left without a name, but quite a few galaxies are given a name. I also found it intriguing that there are so many galaxies in existence that we do not even have a number large enough to say how many there are. It is also interesting that some scientists believe that galaxies start as globular clusters and transform into galaxies later. Solar systems and galaxies are a topic with a vast amount of information discovered, yet there may still be something left to find out.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Red Giants, White Dwarfs, the Sun, & Black Holes
A Red Giant is defined as a "large, old, luminous star; that has a relatively low surface temperature and a diameter large relative to the sun" by the American Heritage Science dictionary. A red giant's creation originates when the hydrogen in a star is converted into helium. This conversion produces light and other radiation. The heavier helium created "sinks" toward the center of the star and a "shell" of hydrogen is formed around the helium cluster. At this point, the star does not generate a sufficient amount of energy and pressure; which is necessary to support the outer layers of the star, because of the hydrogen depletion. The star then collapses and the star's temperature and pressure levels rise until the helium core can "fuse" into carbon. This causes the helium to burn and radiate energy. At this point, the star transforms into a Red Giant. Red Giants are mostly formed from a main sequence star. Therefore, our sun will become a red giant during its lifetime. Red Giants characteristically have a surface temperature of 2,500 to 3,500 degrees Celsius. Red Giants also have a diameter between 10 and 100 times larger than the Sun's diameter. The masses of Red Giants vary greatly. Red Giants that are formed from the most massive of stars are considered to be Red Supergiants. Red Giants are also believed to "pulsate" and are considered variable.
A White Dwarf star is what stars become after they have "exhausted" their supply of nuclear fuel. White Dwarf stars are formed from planetary nebulae, which are formed from Red Giants. After a star has undergone the planetary nebula stage, only the hot core of the star remains present, which leaves the star as a "young" White Dwarf. This "young" White Dwarf will continue its cooling process over a period of a couple billion years. White Dwarfs are detected as low-energy x-ray sources. White Dwarfs are normally half as massive as the Sun, but a small amount larger than the Earth. White Dwarfs are one of the densest "forms of matter". White Dwarfs are known to survive because of quantum mechanical principles and not internal fusion. Also, as a White Dwarf's mass increases, its size decreases. Therefore, its mass and size are inversely proportional.
Our Sun is known as a main sequence star. Therefore, the Sun will become a Red Giant. Then the Sun will transform into a planetary nebula and finally meet its fate when it becomes a White Dwarf. The Sun's diameter is 1,390,000 kilometers. The Sun is known to contain approximately 99.8% of the Solar System's total mass. The core of the Sun is approximately 15,600,000 degrees Kelvin and its surface is 5,800 degress Kelvin. Since the Sun is not a "solid body" it exhibits "differential rotation", which causes the Sun to rotate slower near its poles. The surface of the Sun is called the photosphere, which lies below the chromosphere. Above the chromosphere, there is a region known as the corona, which is only visible during a total solar eclipse. The Sun has "cool regions" that look darker compared to its surrounding areas. These "cool regions" are called sunspots and are a result of "interactions", which are not yet understood, with the Sun's magnetic field. If the Sun was not a main sequence star and was a massive star instead, then the Sun's fate would be to result in a black hole.
Black holes are "objects so dense that not even light can escape their gravity", which means that nothing can exit a black hole. In the time of Newton, scientists hypothesized that a an object like a black hole could exist, but Einstein's Theory of Relativity "more accurately describes" this phenomenon. Black holes are formed as a result of supernova explosions. It is claimed that black holes are produced as a Red Supergiant collapses. Some scientists who specialize in black hole research are Karl Schwarzchild, Jayant Narlikan, and Stephen Hawking. Since substantial evidence about black holes is limited, black holes continue to be a topic of interest and immense fascination.
~Lindsey~
Addition to this post:
Here is a link to a very good flow chart of a star's life cycle: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2807/es2807page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization.
This website is written by a textbook company so it should not be discredited by the fact that it is a ".com".
Below is an image of a star's developmental stages.
Image provided by http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC040808/stages_of_a_star.html.
A White Dwarf star is what stars become after they have "exhausted" their supply of nuclear fuel. White Dwarf stars are formed from planetary nebulae, which are formed from Red Giants. After a star has undergone the planetary nebula stage, only the hot core of the star remains present, which leaves the star as a "young" White Dwarf. This "young" White Dwarf will continue its cooling process over a period of a couple billion years. White Dwarfs are detected as low-energy x-ray sources. White Dwarfs are normally half as massive as the Sun, but a small amount larger than the Earth. White Dwarfs are one of the densest "forms of matter". White Dwarfs are known to survive because of quantum mechanical principles and not internal fusion. Also, as a White Dwarf's mass increases, its size decreases. Therefore, its mass and size are inversely proportional.
Our Sun is known as a main sequence star. Therefore, the Sun will become a Red Giant. Then the Sun will transform into a planetary nebula and finally meet its fate when it becomes a White Dwarf. The Sun's diameter is 1,390,000 kilometers. The Sun is known to contain approximately 99.8% of the Solar System's total mass. The core of the Sun is approximately 15,600,000 degrees Kelvin and its surface is 5,800 degress Kelvin. Since the Sun is not a "solid body" it exhibits "differential rotation", which causes the Sun to rotate slower near its poles. The surface of the Sun is called the photosphere, which lies below the chromosphere. Above the chromosphere, there is a region known as the corona, which is only visible during a total solar eclipse. The Sun has "cool regions" that look darker compared to its surrounding areas. These "cool regions" are called sunspots and are a result of "interactions", which are not yet understood, with the Sun's magnetic field. If the Sun was not a main sequence star and was a massive star instead, then the Sun's fate would be to result in a black hole.
Black holes are "objects so dense that not even light can escape their gravity", which means that nothing can exit a black hole. In the time of Newton, scientists hypothesized that a an object like a black hole could exist, but Einstein's Theory of Relativity "more accurately describes" this phenomenon. Black holes are formed as a result of supernova explosions. It is claimed that black holes are produced as a Red Supergiant collapses. Some scientists who specialize in black hole research are Karl Schwarzchild, Jayant Narlikan, and Stephen Hawking. Since substantial evidence about black holes is limited, black holes continue to be a topic of interest and immense fascination.
~Lindsey~
Addition to this post:
Here is a link to a very good flow chart of a star's life cycle: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2807/es2807page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization.
This website is written by a textbook company so it should not be discredited by the fact that it is a ".com".
Below is an image of a star's developmental stages.
Image provided by http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC040808/stages_of_a_star.html.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Science Vs. Pseudoscience
Science is defined as "the investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation" by The American Heritage Science Dictionary. Science uses the scientific method as the basis in establishing scientific facts. In science, an observation is made and a hypothesis is formed pertaining to that observation. Then experiments are conducted to test the hypothesis. As a result, a hypothesis is then confirmed, modified, or discarded. Scientists consistently research the same topic for an extensive period of time before regarding a hypothesis as a scientific fact. Science studies reality and explores the physical world. There are many branches of science and even more categories within those branches. Science includes biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. All of those branches are considered to be natural sciences.
Pseudoscience is considered to be "fake" science because "pseudo" in its language of origin means "false". Pseudoscience is also given derogatory nicknames such as junk science or bad science. Pseudoscience is a "set of ideas based on theories put forth as scientific when they are not scientific". Pseudoscience is based on hypotheses without research or evidence to support the claims. Many branches of "science" could even be considered pseudoscience depending on who you talk to and their beliefs or point of view. Some of these branches that can arguably be pseudoscience are social sciences (such as theology, methodology, and other studies of human behavior or society) and "Creation" science. Other examples of pseudoscience are psychic detectives, palm readings, horoscopes, astrology, therapeutic touch, homeopathy, chiropractics, channeling, and Unidentified Flying Objects(UFOs). Psychic detectives, palm readings, horoscopes, and astrology are all obviously pseudoscience because they deal with "spiritual" connections and not the physical world. Therapeutic touch, homeopathy, aromatherapy, craniometry, and other such "medical" pseudosciences are justly classified as such because they are not based on facts, but are based on selective use of anecdotes or intuition. Channeling is "a process whereby an individual (the "channeler") claims to have been invaded by a spirit entity which speaks through the channeler". This is commonly practiced by superstitious followers and is often done with the use of a children's toy, the Ouija Board, which clearly supports it is not real science. Chiropractics can be considered pseudoscience because the theory it revolves around is that "subluxations" or "blockages of nerves" in the back are the cause of the health problems, but neither the creator of chiropractics nor any chiropractor since has proved the existence of these "subluxations". Other pseudosciences include Quantum Physics and Graphology. Graphology is "the study of handwriting" and is used to estimate a person's personality or sometimes identify a person as guilty for a certain crime. How can graphology, which is clearly pseudoscience because there are always exceptions and does not have any substantial "empirical" evidence behind it, be used as a tool to find criminals? Pseudoscience is highly capitalized upon and is intertwined throughout our society.
I believe that many "fields" of science are actually pseudoscience because they don't have any proof to support their so-called facts. This also makes it hard to distinguish between science and pseudoscience and leads to controversy between people. Pseudoscience has been a part of society in the past, is a part of society today, and will continue to be part of society in the future. Some of the reason that pseudoscience is so prevalent in our society is because people want to have their beliefs even if they can't "see" something. One example is the belief people have in God. They can't see or know for certain of God's existence yet God is as prevalent as pseudoscience in our society considering U.S. currency states "in god we trust". Another example is the Pledge of Allegiance phrase "under god". So, does that mean that religion is another form of pseudoscience? Pseudoscience is also prevalent in society because of people craving something to give them hope whether it's hope about life on other planets, spiritual connections with those who have passed, or hope for answers to the unknown. Although, science and pseudoscience are different, they are easily confused sometimes and will always have to co-exist.
~Lindsey~
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