- Follow-up on the four-legged snake from last week. It may have been removed from Brazil illegally. Also raises the question of the role/responsibility of scientists to check on the history of the samples they are studying.
- Look up! (Or don't. There may be zombies up there.)
- The basic science behind colors. This one is a bit more chemistry/physics related, but is still pretty interesting.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Summer Assignment 8.11
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Out of all the articles, the article about zombies intrigued me right away. The article explains that in the months of July and August, billions of high-flying insects are soaring directly over us. These "insects" are thousands of small, simple species "that get swept up by storms and make it to where there’s hardly any oxygen, where the temperatures are fiercely cold, and where they’re no longer protected from solar radiation by the Earth’s ozone layer." However, these insects will find their way down unaffected by these extreme measures they have experienced. The scientists have agreed that the only way for their survival is for them to spend a period of time being dead. After reading this part of the article, I was confused and it took me some time to fully understand what the scientists were saying. To fully grasp this claim, I compared this to some things I have seen on TV shows. For example, on a medical show, the doctors had to lower a patient's body temperature so much that he looked like he was dead and had no pulse in order to do a surgery, and then once the surgery was successful, his temperature was brought back up and he was fully functional. Comparing this to the article helped me understand this claim better. I agree with the author's reaction to this idea that, "Life, simplie life at least, is not always alive." I find this notion very intriguing and interesting, and I was wondering if this idea only works for simple species and for certain amounts of time. What if we were able to send an animal, for instance, and not have them up for as long as some of these other species? Would they still be able to come back down alive? How would we even be able to test this idea? This can also raise a debate on the definition of what it means to be "alive." Are these species considered to be alive even though they were presumed to be dead for a period of time?
Species living in an atmosphere that has hardly any oxygen or any supply of food is really interesting. They have been living up there for many years and they have learned to adapt to their new surroundings. These organisms are bacteria, fungi and other small organisms that survive on little oxygen and little food. All species need oxygen and food supply to survive and these organisms can do it with little or none of these necessities.
The whole study on creating colors is very interesting. It all depends on the chemo ms balance of the elements. Since elements are the key factor for these colors. Also the wavelength of these color are also important cause they help change the colors. Creating colors is very fascinating and would love to learn more
I read the article about the four legged snake fossil spark and I thought that it is a bad thing that scientists would not be able to research it if they get stolen from the country. Another thing is that it is a good thing that they published the paper so that everyone got to knew that it was taken out of the country. These fossils are being stolen out of private collection which would make it harder for scientists to study the fossils. I would think that the Brazilans are trying to discover what they stole instead of trying to worry about the investigation going on about the fossils. Overall, I hope that scientists find more research on the fossils of the four legged snake which can tell us where it orginated from and its evolution.
The second article I read about is the invisible zombie in which I found intriguing because I never knew that there were lots of bugs above our heads. Another thing is that I never knew that these things ceased to exist because we usually see blue sky the time we step out of our houses. These creatures are very small and microscopic that about 40,000 of them can wrap around our thumbs. Also, some bacteria adapt to life that is as high as mountains and some are above even the ozone layer of Earth. Overall, I find it a great thing to explore life outside of just what we discovered so that we can find better things out there that is eventful.
The second article touched on how above our heads very high in the sky is a billion-bug highway but in addition there are many speices of very small simple Earth life that can get swept by storms and are able to get and live in places of extreme conditions. However, that is not the point of the article, the main point of the article is the suggestion on how these organisms are able to live in these conditions. It’s not that remarkable to find simple Earth life that lives in extreme conditions, however, what was really interesting to me was the theory that Ward and Kirschvink suggested about how they spend a brief period being dead. The ability for a living thing to die and then come back alive screams zombie science fiction movie, which only interests me more. Of course, it’s only a theory about how they survive in the extreme conditions, however this article only shows how much we don’t know and how much more we can learn by referencing Ward and Kirschvink’s book and how they mention distinguishing between what’s dead and alive isn’t as simple when it comes to simpler life. Most people would think that knowing the difference between something being dead and alive is simply common knowledge but knowing that when it comes to simpler life that common knowledge of distinguishing between alive and dead isn’t as common as it once was is very interesting. Not only do we have to reevaluate the definition of dead and alive but we also have to reevaluate the theory of evolution due to the new category of organisms, demonstrating that science is not set in stone and is forever changing as long new discoveries continue to be made. In addition, I wonder if in the future if this theory is truly real then how it would benefit us in any way other than simply knowing that life can stop itself, and then continue itself. Then again, the future is the future and the technology and science we think are impossible to achieve today may be used very commonly in the future.
After reading about the snakes last week I was very interested and seeing this follow up article I was very intrigued. I was interested by how they said the fossil was taken out of Brazil illegally. I was unaware that if a fossil was found somewhere in another country it had to be taken out with permission for it to be legal. To me that is something I wouldn’t think about if I found a fossil. Technically it doesn’t belong to anyone and it was found in the ground or rock so I believe who ever found it has the right to keep it. Another thing I found interesting is how after this fossil was “illegally” removed from Brazil there were articles written all about it expressing the feelings of many paleontologists and how or why it should go back to brazil or stay with who found it.
The next article I read was about the millions of bacteria living way above us. The title was the first thing to catch my eye and I wanted to know what they meant by “zombie highway”. Knowing it wasn’t going to be about zombies I was still very interested. One thing that interested me was that there are many living organisms thousands of feet in the air and they are surviving. It said these organisms are outside the Earths natural ozone layer and they are still surviving. That amazes me because it is a living life form from Earth living so high up. One final thing that caught my eye was when the article said that these organisms maybe dead and come back to life. That isn’t something you hear every day and interested me because these organisms are very unique and survive in places that no other living thing would.
The article I found to be most interesting was the one about how high some bugs and bacteria can go in our atmosphere. I never realized that bugs including beetles, butterflies, and even flies could reach such high altitudes. It was shocking to learn that termites could reach an altitude of 19,000 feet above sea level. This article also focuses on a new, equally amazing, finding. What researchers found is bacteria, viruses, and fungi can get taken up into the atmosphere by storms. These simple life forms can reach so high that they are basically in outer space. Scientists are saying that there are so many microbes in this region that it's beginning to be considered a new ecosystem. What was most shocking about this article is that researchers believe it's possible that while at these extremely high altitudes, these tiny organisms spend a period of time being dead. They have said it may be possible that in the harsh conditions up in the atmosphere, the tiny microbes lose their ability to live. Then as they return back to earth, they regain that ability. What is considered alive and what is considered dead is very different in organisms this small when compared to mammals. This week the article following up on the four-legged snake was also interesting. It discusses a recent investigation on whether or not that fossil was illegally taken from Brazil, and if it should be returned or not. Some scientists believe that the laws requiring scientists to ask governmental permission before obtaining a fossil may hamper important break throughs. Others believe that scientists should not be able to go against the laws set. I personally believe that these laws will make research more difficult because it can make important specimens less accessible.
This week I would like to begin by discussing the article that relates to the fossil of the four-legged snake and its questionable legality. Authorities in Brazil are now investigating on whether the fossil was taken out of their country illegally and if it should be returned. This rather new investigation does however bring a long-standing debate back to life. How responsible are scientists to uphold the legality of potentially questionable fossils? Should they refuse to write about and study these fossils, or should they inform authorities? Others say such an approach could lead to many scientifically significant fossils being overlooked in small parts of the world. Naturally, different researchers have different opinions on this issue. The general consensus among many seems to be that the fossil should be returned to Brazil if that is where it belongs, AS LONG AS it is accessible for scientists who wish to research and study it. I believe that if the fossil was in fact removed illegally from Brazil, and the Brazilian government is keen to have it back within their borders, it should be returned to its rightful place. But that being said, it should not hopelessly wither away in a private collection where no one would be able to study and document its biological value. As long it is safe and in a location where researchers can view it, it doesn’t matter where this fossil ends up. Next I would like to discuss the article titled, “Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You.” While on a warm summer day, you could be looking up to billions of small insects flying thousands of feet up in the air; there are Earth-bound organisms that fly EVEN HIGHER than that. These organisms are microscopic along the lines of bacteria and fungi. Many of them are swept up by storms beyond the ozone layer into extreme parts of our atmosphere. The most amazing thing may be that these organisms eventually return to Earth, basically unharmed. Many of them spend so much time up there, that they adapt to feed on cloud water, develop pigments similar to sunscreen, and even reproduce within clouds. Many of them, even can be described as undead. Many organisms that get that high into extreme temperatures and conditions, essentially die, and then come back to life on their way back down to Earth. This may seem extremely surreal, but scientists suggest that simple life isn’t barred by the same things complex life is. Either way this principle is extremely interesting and I would love to learn more about it.
In the follow up article about the four legged snake Brazil opened an investigation on whether or not the fossil was taken out of Brazil illegally or not. After reading I believe that the fossil does rightfully belong to Brazil and should be returned because that is where it was originally found. Although, I also believe that they should let the scientists do their job because if they do not let them do so the study of the new snake will not be as good as it should be. As it said in the article it is distracting for the scientists to be involved in legality issues before the study. I look forward to reading more about this issue in the future.
In the article regarding the "zombies", the real question at stake is how are living organisms surviving at heights as high as outer space. Researchers say that these bacteria slow down into a type of hibernation similar to a bear in the winter. It is amazing that these bacteria have adapted to the harsh climate that high in the sky. some scientists say that this may be the newest discovered ecosystem. I find it interesting that these bacteria were once living on earth, until they were swept up by storms and placed thousands of feet above the earth. These bacteria have adapted to a new environment and now they seem become both dead and alive in the process of adapting.
The last article about the Tetrapodophis kept me thinking, so when I saw that there was a follow up article I immediately clicked on it. When I started reading, I was very surprised at what it was saying, especially the talk about the fossil being illegally taken from Brazil. I did not know there were laws regarding fossils and moving them from where they were originally found. I do feel that it should have been brought to the attention of the Brazilian authorities that this fossil was found so they were aware. I do not feel that the fossil needs to stay in Brazil however. Whoever found the fossil should be allowed to study it and do what they please with it. They could give Brazil credit and make it known that the fossil was found there, but I feel that it is only fair for the fossil to go with who found it. I agree with James Clark, if it was such a big issue, why was the article published? Science and discoveries should not have to be so involved with the legality.
I found the article about the invisible highway to be very interesting. It is news to me that during the summer months, billions of insects travel about our heads, thousands of feet up in the air. I was surprised to hear that one insect made it to 19,000 feet above sea level, being the highest flying of them all. I was even more surprised when I learned that there are earthlings that basically live in outer space. These living things such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses survive in a place not meant for life. Some has lived here for so long that they have adapted to life in the sky. I am fascinated by the “high-life” species that develops pigments similar to sunscreen, and that they can live off of clouds and reproduce in them. The possibility that this form of life could die in the harsh conditions and on their way down to earth regain life is mind boggling to me. I find it amazing and interesting that science is constantly discovering new forms of life and such.
Although generally, insects are most often associated with living near the surface of the earth, I have never considered them as creatures that can live up to nineteen thousand feet above sea level. It is fascinating how they are able to survive at such high altitudes, where they are vulnerable to low oxygen levels, cold temperatures, and solar radiation. When discussing ecosystems, people primarily think of ones that exist on the earth’s surface, but it is interesting to see how microbes have developed an ecosystem in the atmosphere. It is intriguing to think about the ways that the microbes have adapted to the high environment, such as going into a hibernation mode, entering a period of dormancy, or even being dead temporarily. The idea of dying and then coming back to life later on differs from traditional views, but I think that his concept offers great insight on how simpler forms of life differ from more complex forms. Studying simple forms of life in unique environments can lead to more information on how life on earth began. Perhaps the first forms of life went through multiple periods of fluctuating between life and death.
I also found the article about the production of color very insightful. Since we perceive color instantly, we often do not consider how color is actually produced.
I was interested by how the article linked physics and biology together. While the cells in the retina may perceive a certain color, the wavelength for that color would not actually be present. For instance, although because of human biology red and blue can be perceived as purple, from a physics perspective, it is only an illusion.
The two articles I found interesting this week involved the update on the four-legged snake fossil and the basic science behind the creation of colors. The article on the snake fossil was about an investigation into whether the fossil was taken out of its discovery place, Brazil illegally, or not. Thus, the matter circulates around legal issues, determining whether the fossil should be repatriated back to Brazil. This sets out a long-standing debate between paleontologists. Things in questioning include, how much responsibility researchers and scientific journals have to have for the specimens on which they report: either by refusing to publish work on fossils gotten through illegal means, or by informing national authorities of suspicions over the proof of a fossil. However, others say that taking such a cautious approach could leave important fossils remaining in obscurity in the collections around the world. According to Felipe Chaves, head of a fossil division in Brazil, more has to be said about the matter. Since 1942, Brazil made it illegal to sell or export fossils without governmental permission. Thus, technically, it was illegal for the fossil to be carried across the borders. Overall, it is still unclear whether the Brazilian investigation will make much progress, as German institutions are known to bring suspicious Brazilian fossils. I found this interesting, as science can have debate not only within the discovery, but legally as well. I hope that this legal issue will not mess too much with the awesome snake fossil. Perhaps the legal issues might vanish, realizing how important the fossil is regardless. Plus, this article points out how certain countries have restrictions that can have the potential to ruin certain discoveries. In the future, I hope that there can be solutions for such problems, as more scientific breakthroughs can succeed without any interruptions.
The second article I read about the colors involved topics such as, radiation, atoms, quantum ideas, and much more. The article circled around three ways to see a color. The part I found most interesting in this article was about the black-body radiation (the second way to see color), which was Planck’s explanation for first introducing quantum ideas. Black-body radiation is a simple, universal relationship that explains that no matter what an object is made of, if it gets hot, it will emit a broad spectrum of light by whose wavelength depends only on the temperature. In creating colored light, black-body radiation is pretty limited. At a particular temperature, there is a variation of colors. For example, hot objects project a red glow, shading to orange, then yellow, then white as the temperature increases. I found this interesting, since colors have always fascinated me and made me look at temperature more differently. Temperature plays a role in various things, such as weather, cooking, pressure, and even colors. It amazes me how the effect of black-body radiation can even allow a person to identify the color. Furthermore, the third way involved how the human eyes perceive color from the response of three types of cells in the human retina, each sensitive to light in a particular range of colors. Consequently, based on how strongly each of these cells respond to incoming light, the human brain constructs our perception of color, like a trick in play. I found this to be quite cool. It amazes me how the human brain can see things through perception. Perception and desire are both qualities that are powerful in controlling the human mind. It’s astonishing to see how both effects play in the role of science. In the future, more experiments can be made about enhancing the effect on colors for eyesight.
I found it interesting to read more about the fossil of the Tetrapodophis amplectus from one of last week’s articles. I never thought about the laws regarding the transportation of fossils for research before, so this article was eye-opening. In Brazil, it has been illegal since 1942 to sell or export fossils without permission from the government. It is suspected that the fossil of the four-legged snake was brought from Brazil illegally. The palaeobiologist who noticed the fossil, David Martill, believes that it is unnecessary for Brazilian authorities to be informed of every fossil possibly taken illegally, for there are already so many Brazilian fossils around the world. Other paleontologists agree that these protectionist laws inhibit scientific research. On the other hand, paleontologists like James Clark say that papers about fossils possibly taken illegally should not be published. Many research journals, such as Science and Nature, do not have any policies regarding the legality of fossils. However, Cretaceous Research will not accept publications about fossils of unknown origin. Although the four-legged snake fossil may not return to where it belongs, it is still an amazing discovery to observe.
It is pretty incredible how there are insects living 19,000 feet and higher about the Earth. There is a newly found ecosystem up there where insects manage to survive with little oxygen, extreme colds, and a lack of protection from solar radiation. Some have adapted to that environment in ways such as developing a pigment to mimic sunscreen, feeding on only cloud water, and reproducing within the clouds. Peter Ward and Joe Kirschvink believe that microbes toward the top of the zone are briefly dead. They wrote in their book that in simpler life, there is a place between what we now believe to be alive and dead. In the book, Ward and Kirschvink also suggest how life came to be. Maybe chemistry began by switching between alive and not, and some creatures still have this ability. This idea is something that seems strange but would be interesting to learn more about.
The idea that every month, billions of bugs invisible to the naked eye fly right over my head is a bit hard to believe. Between the belief that bugs only dwell on the surface of the Earth and the sheer number of the creatures, it is a bit baffling (not to mention terrifying). Although the highest known insect flight was an astounding 19,000 feet above sea level, there is, incredibly, life even beyond that. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses exist with the very little oxygen, extremely low temperatures, and solar radiation present at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. The question is: how do they survive? While some have adapted to have a sunscreen-like pigment and the ability to feed on and reproduce in clouds, the real secret lies in their ability to die, and then reanimate themselves. While mammals have two very distinct states, dead and alive, it is not quite so black-and-white for simple life, like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These creatures can lie in the gray zone, where they are “undead.” They can die, and come back to life with no problem. Simple life forms are not so simple when whether or not they are dead or alive comes into question. The fact that a creature can be undead seems like an idea plucked out of a science fiction novel, and it is rather mind boggling when you realize that it is happening, right now, right above your head, thousands of feet above you.
While the debate of whether the Tetrapodophis fossil was illegally obtained from Brazil wages, many good points are surfacing about laws that limit fossil trading as well as other fields of scientific research. Brazil, China, and Morocco all have regulations outlawing fossil trading. However, there was nothing that limited prehistoric creatures from where they roamed millions of years ago. By not allowing fossil trading from within these countries, it is as if they have erased themselves off the map and are leaving holes in a prehistoric timeline. This not only impedes scientific research, but also creates difficulties when it comes to fossils of unidentified origin. If every fossil of unidentified origin has to be background checked and made certain its obtainment was lawful, it adds quite a bit of obstacles in the way of scientists just trying to piece together history. On the other hand, it is highly unlikely Ward and Kirschvink had to fact-check the origin of the simple organisms they have discovered to be "undead". Perhaps the zombie apocalypse is looming closer than expected. Luckily, these "zombies" are microscopic bacteria and fungi that are swept into the upper layer of earth's atmosphere: a harsh and unlivable ecosystem. Lucky for these guys, they don't have to do much living up there. According to Ward and Kirschvink's new book, they believe many of these little creatures go from alive to dead and back. It is a concept that is more than just seemingly complex, as there has always been a definitive line between dead and alive in the scientific kingdom. Now these members of the "high life" are bending the rules to inhabit this vast landscape.
The article that I chose to start off this week was the follow up on the Tetrapodophis. Learning that this fossil could have been illegally taken from Brazil was pretty interesting seeing how previous theories on how this snake came to be were related to its indigenous territory. I didn't realize that it is illegal to relocate fossils from their place of origin and that makes it hard for me to understand why anyone would care if the fossil was moved to a museum like the fossil found in Munich, Germany. I feel that knowing exactly where the fossil came from is critically important for scientific research, but shouldn't be constrained to its country/area found. In regards to the study that scientists are involved in with this fossil research they should not be held accountable for any legality issues and should focus on the field of study while being responsible to uphold standard laws/procedures. I was glad to follow up on this topic and see current effects of research.
The second article caught my attention immediately when I saw that it mentioned zombies in the title! The invisible highway of 3-6 billion bugs soaring through the sky was shocking news to me. It was cool to see the highest flying insect reach a total of 19,000ft above sea level. The Earthlings mentioned as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are capable of surviving in the out-most atmosphere practically outer space seemed really impressive. They thrive with little need for oxygen and other earth essentials. They have even adapted to the sky lifestyle by feeding only on cloud water and reproducing within them. I found it amazing that this is considered a whole new ecosystem to be discovered and will make for some great headlines.
Beginning with the article that interested me the most, organisms that are microscopic in size such as bacteria and viruses have been around since the beginning of life on Earth, however the idea of "high life" or the presence of these organisms near outer space is thought-provoking. Because of the very large population of microorganisms in this area, authors of the book 'A New History of Life', Peter Ward and Joe Kirschvink are calling this, “The most newly discovered ecosystem on Earth.” Besides microorganisms, billions of insects fly over our heads each day in order to carry on with their lives in the form of seeking a new mate or simply finding a new home, much like humans seek better lives through change in any aspect of their lives.
Continuing on to a topic that may not be immediately thought of scientifically, colors may be nothing more than the foundation of artistic creations to some, but the science behind it is quite extraordinary. The ways in which we can see color can start from natural phenomenons such as emission lines, which are wavelengths emitted by certain elements that allow color to be perceived by us. On the biological side of things, humans are able to distinguish between colors because of the previously mentioned physical wonder and can also be tricked into perceiving another color because of discrepancies in wavelengths. The idea of humans being tricked by their own sense is a curious finding considering that humans are the most advanced species, and this brings up the question, "What else can we be "tricked" by?"
This week the article I found most interesting is the one about the creatures. According to the article, July and August are the months when a big group of creatures (approximately three to 6 billion) are passing directly over us. There are thousands of small, and simple species “that are swept up by storms” and they reach a place where there isn’t much oxygen, the temperature is really cold, and where they aren’t protected by the Earth’s ozone layer from solar radiation. Eventually, these creatures will come back down to earth. Scientists believe that “this zone is becoming a newly discovered ecosystem on Earth”. Some bacteria have adapted to the life in the sky because of how long they have been up there. They feed on cloud water and can reproduce within clouds. These scientists believe that that these creatures survive up there by temporally being dead. They believe that very simple creatures that live high in the sky aren’t always alive. When you think about it, it’s actually very interesting. How can something be alive, but dead at the same time? This article leads me wonder if any creature can go into a state where they are living but survive by being dead or if only simple creatures have the ability to do this.
This week the article "Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You" intrigued me the most. It's so fascinating how there are so many insects so high in the sky during the summer months. Three to six billion isn't a small amount, and to think that there are so many, right now in the sky is crazy. These simple creatures are bacteria, fungi and viruses, and live in conditions that are extremely cold, have very little oxygen, and are not protected from the sun's harmful rays. Some species of bacteria have been living in the high zone for so long, that they have learned to feed on cloud water, and develop pigments that are similar to sunscreen. The question that remains is how do the tiny insects, or high life survive. Peter Ward and Joe Kirschvinck came up with a theory that states these tiny creatures die, and then come back to life. This idea is so new and different, and it definitely caught my attention. These experienced scientists stated their idea as "'Life, simple life at least, is not always alive.'" This invisible Zombie highway seems so interesting and definitely something I would like to learn more about in the future. The fact that there are so many creatures like these that are so tiny and can't be seen to human, and survive in different ways, just leaves me to wonder what else scientists will discover in the future.
I was most intrigued by the article titled “Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You”. In the midst of the clear summer days we have right now, there happen to be up to six billion insects and creatures flying around in the sky above us. These are invisibly tiny, microscopic, high-flying insects that were thought to have the ability to go as high as Mount McKinley. Now scientists have found that these creatures can go as high as the upper edge of Earth’s atmosphere and even stay up there for weeks at a time in an altitude that is nearly considered outer space. I found it amazing that such small microbes could survive in such extreme conditions – minimal oxygen, extreme temperatures, storms, and many others. It was fascinating to learn that bacteria have developed adaptations to this new environment, creating what could be a whole new area of life. They have acquired traits that allow them to feed on cloud water, reproduce in the clouds, and even develop a sunscreen like protection. What caught my attention the most was Ward and Kirschvink’s radical proposal – are the microbes temporarily dead? The idea that there is a place between life and death, and the possibility of coming back from being dead raises many questions. Many people have a preconceived notion that the world and life came to be from a single event. However, it may have been possible that there wasn’t something only dead or only alive, but instead switching back between the two. As the article puts it, “…Ward and Kirschvink explore how life came to be four billion years ago. They suggest that instead of a single Genesis-like event (a bag of inert chemicals suddenly sparks into living chemistry), maybe “in the beginning,” chemistry switched back and forth, sometimes alive (on), sometimes not (off)…” This theory leads to the idea that this could still be going on today in the simplest forms of life miles above us. This seemed like a fictitious, unimaginable idea at first, but as I read deeper into the article this theory sounded more and more feasible. With theories and discoveries like these, our idea of life and death could be rethought.
I thought since I touched upon the four-legged snake article last week, I should touch upon this week's article about just that. It really intrigued me to see how serious of a matter that removing a fossil from its country of discovery is. First of all, I believe that the fossil should be returned to Brazil immediately since the country has all rights to claim it as their own discovery. Secondly, I not believe that the fossil was removed without the full realization that doing such was something completely illegal and serious. In other words, the fossil was most likely not "accidentally" removed from Brazil. I hope that the fossil will be returned to the country that rightfully owns the fossil and I hope that the rules of fossil trade with remain intact so nothing like this can ever happen again, and if it does happen, it can be easily resolved.
The other article that caught my eye was the article about the science behind light. I remember in chemistry last year, we preformed a lab where we took different elements and compounds, and then we added energy to them through heat. As a result, each element produced a certain light depending on the electrons which each different element contained. The most interesting thing I found about that lab was the each compound produced a different color light whether it was similar or very different than the rest. It was probably one of the most interesting labs I remember executing in Chemistry if not all of Science altogether. However, I do find that excess energy is often released in the form of color is very interesting and how the color is dependent on the element, the electron configuration of that element, and the amount of energy provided.
The article, "Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You" left me intrigued. First, just reading that there are about three to six billion creatures flying above us amazed me. This new ecosystem is made up of thousands of different species of fungi, bacteria, and viruses. These creatures are able to live in insane conditions at the edge of our atmosphere. Their environment consists of very little oxygen, extreme temperatures, storms, and no protection from solar radiation! Scientists still aren't sure about how these creatures survive. Two scientists, Ward and Kirschvink, brought up the idea that the microbes are able to die for a period of time and come back to life! This sounds absolutely fictional to me, however it may be possible when discussing simpler life forms. With simple organisms, it is hard to determine what is considered to be alive or dead. There may be a place in between. This reading left me thinking about the characteristics of life that each organism must have to be "alive". Are these creatures alive, then suddenly lose these characteristics, and then gain them back again? There is still much to be determined about this new ecosystem that is greater and grander than the oceans!
The first article to catch my attention was the article regarding zombies. Though it seems as if nothing is up in the sky, it turns out that there are billions of insects of all types flying at unbelievable altitudes. What really intrigues me is how high an insect can ascend. It has been reported that some termites have flown up to 19000 feet high. David J Smith has also discovered that simpler life for such and viruses and bacteria get swept up by storms and start living in very extreme environments that are past the ozone layer in which few other life forms can survive due to harshly cold temperatures and a severe lack of oxygen. These creatures are not so different form this that existed in Earth's earlier days when is wasn't so habitable.
The article "The Basic Science Behind Creating Colors" really peaked my interest this week. It demonstrated how a seemingly simple concept works through the use of biology, chemistry, and physics. I'm always intrigued by how several branches of science can be involved in one single concept or idea. The article focused on three different ways to produce color through quantum mechanics and tricking the human eye. The first way was based off of Bohr's model of a hydrogen atom which suggested that electrons absorb and emit wavelengths only when they are switching orbits. The wavelength is determined by the energy difference between the orbits. The article explains how fireworks emit colors by stating that as an element begins to heat up the electrons move to very high states then slowly fall back down. The transition to these high states are what release the bright colors we see when fireworks explode, and different elements produce different colors. The second way to produce light is through black-body radiation, which Max Planck explained as a relationship where when an object gets hot, it will emit a broad spectrum of light. The wavelength emitted depends on temperature, which explains why objects shade from red to white as they get hotter. The third way is the one most closely related to biology, which states that color receptors in our eyes will see colors that aren't there if several wavelengths are present. The article used the example of the color purple, which we see because of the cells in our retina that detect blue and red light. How strongly these cells respond to the light determines what color we see, which explains why there are also shades or purple, where some look lighter (more blue) and others darker (more red).
The article that I immediately found most interesting is "Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You"
by Robert Krulwich. The video was very informative and came with great animations that explained that some insects have the ability to survive in conditions so unlike those of earth, way above in the sky up to 19,000 feet up. This is incredible because they are fairly simple creatures compared to humans and other very complicated species and yet, they have evolved to survive in these incredible heights. Recently, a new discovery was made that very simple Earth life like bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can get swept by storms can go to heights reaching the upper edge of the Earth's atmosphere. In that area, there is very minimal oxygen and the temperature is incredibly cold, way beyond freezing. They are also no longer protected from the dangerous rays of the sun's radiation by Earth's atmosphere. In these conditions, the organisms can even be dead which is a fairly new concept to science. In this case, when the bacteria comes in contact with the incredible conditions so high in the Earths atmosphere, they lose their basic life-giving machinery but then, on their way back down to Earth, when the temperature and condition starts returning back to normal, they build it back up again. This means that they go from being dead to being alive on their journey back to Earth. The discovery of this whole new vast ecosystem that exists so far beyond what are eyes can see and what our brains can comprehend is a whole new idea that is being understood by scientist today.
The article about zombies caught my attention immediately. The article discusses how during the months of July and August about three to six billion of tiny, invisible, high-flying insects are passing directly over our heads. While watching the video I learned that the highest flying insect made it to 19,000 feet above sea level. David J. Smith and his team claim that these "insects" are "thousands of species of very small, simple earth life- bacteria, fungi, viruses- that are swept up by storms and make it to where there's hardly any oxygen, where the temperature is cold, and no longer protected from solar radiation." They claim that most of the microbes will come back down to earth. We cannot seem them without a microscope. The new family of creatures in the sky "high life". Some scientists think that once the bacteria arrive in the freezing zone that they lose their life but once they come back down to earth they can build up their life machinery again. To support this claim in the article someone quotes, "Life, simple life at least, is not always alive." I fully agree with the authors quote and reaction to the idea of simple organisms. It intrigues me because I am thinking what if we could send engmdabgered animals or others organisms up to this zone; would they be able to come back down alive? Does this idea only work for certain organisms or species? This can spark a controversy between what "alive" truly means to us.
I found the zombies article very interesting. It just caught my eye as it said, Look up ! ( or don't. There may be zombies up there). Which is scary if you imagine that. On a fine summer day who thinks that when you will step out there will be 3 to 6 billion creatures soaring through the air above you. They are so tiny that they create an invisible highway above us. There are multiple highways right above us. At around 5000ft are small flies, above them are flying beetles like ladybird at 6000ft, above them are gypsy moths at 10,000ft flying up for the search of females. At 14000ft up are spiders but even higher there's a single termite flying up at 19000ft almost the height of mount McKinley in Alaska. According to David J. Smith and Konstantinids there are thousands of species of very small, simple early life — bacteria, fungi, viruses – that get swept up by storms and make it to where there's hardly any oxygen and where they're no longer protected from solar radiation by the earth's ozone layer. Some bacteria have been there for so long that they have adapted to life in the sky. This is breathtaking. It's almost unbelievable that there can be life up in the air where you can hardly breathe. How do they survive ? Are they dead for sometime ?How can anything be dead for a while ? Ward and kirschvink suggest that instead for a single genesis, chemicals suddenly sparks into living, maybe in the beginning chemistry switched back and forth and maybe same happens with these creatures. They might be alive then not, then alive again. This is intriguing but moreover it's horrifying.
My idea of a zombie was vastly different from what was stated in the article. Either way, it was fascinating to find out that life may not always fit into our definition of “alive.” Everybody knows of the insects that surround us, but I would have never figured it was possible for them to thrive in areas that stretched all the way to 19,000 feet above sea level. Because most insects are quite easy to kill, it is amazing that they could survive in temperatures and pressures much higher in the atmosphere. I use the term “survive” loosely though; I wish the article expanded on the idea of insects being “undead” so that I could understand how exactly those insects find the ability to sustain themselves in an environment much different than where one would typically find insects. I hope more research is conducted on this topic and possibly shed some light on the topic of afterlife for humans.
It was always a mystery to me about how fireworks actually work. How it was able to create many different colors in a short burst and create a splendid display. Now, it makes sense to me that heating up an object will produce different colors, bearing paler colors the hotter the object is. I think it's important to study how colors work and are created, because it is such large part of our lives and how we interpret things around us. I was also intrigued by the fact that one can manipulate their brain to see different colors, especially when it was stated in the video that the color purple does not actually exist according to physics; it is just the perfect overlapping of the blue and red wavelengths. It might even explain the various optical illusions found on the internet, and it is very interesting to see how the human brain interprets parts of life differently than from what physics would allow.
The first article I read that most caught my attention was the one on the zombies living in the sky. The sky above is like a invisible highway of 3 to 6 billion insects. It was recently discovered that they were calculates to fly as high as even 19,000 feet above sea level. These insects are known as Earthlings and are mentioned as being bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They have the capability to survive in the outer most atmosphere high above the earths surface and even as close as outer space. By living so high above earth, they are even managing to avoid the storms that come through by being above them rather then in them. They hardly require any oxygen to survive and live off of cloud water and reproduce within themselves. Also, the temperatures they live in are way below freezing which I find very interesting that they are able to survive in those types of temperatures. I found this article very intriguing and I'm sure that this discovery will just continue to gain more information as more people continue to study this very interesting topic.
The other article I briefly read was the one on the four legged snake. Recently, the fossils of these amazing creatures have been getting stolen from their private collections. Due to this, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the scientists to continue to research these animals and discover more on their past. Hopefully, scientists will be able to recover these stolen fossils or even just work with what they have in order to find more out on these incredible creatures.
Considering the fact that on the previous comment section I wrote about the discovery of the four-legged snake, I knew I had to read this week's follow up article. I have never thought about legality issues in terms of fossils and its exportation from different places. Although there is no evidence that any laws were broken through the exportation of the fossil, there is also no evidence that Brazil gave governmental permission to whoever took the fossil that they could sell or export the fossil. There is the fact that it is a hassle to receive government permission before scientists can study fossils, but if that is the law, one must respect that said law no matter how much of a hassle it may be. If the fossil they found is still in tact despite thousands of years of turmoil, they can wait for whatever period of time it takes for them to get the government permission they need in order to study it.
I love the idea of a whole community of life forms 19,000 feet above sea level. These organisms may be "undead" which is definitely intriguing and could be considered "modern day zombies". It's interesting that these bacteria, fungi, and viruses have adapted to this "newly discovered ecosystem" such as being able to feed only on cloud water and even reproducing within clouds. Ward and Kirschvink's theory is mind blowing but can also prove to be true. I mean there may very well be a "place in between" where organisms are alive but yet agin not truly alive. Either way this discovery is very interesting, and I hope to hear more about it as time goes on.
After reading the follow up article on the four legged snake I was disappointed to find out it sparked legal investigation. Brazilians claimed that this fossil was allegedly illegally removed from their country and therefor be repatriated. Palaeobiologist David Martill of the University of Portsmouth, UK, reported that he saw the snake at a museum in Solnhofen, Germany, in 2012. However, Brazil created laws against selling or exporting fossils without permission by the government. Therefore making this discovered snake specimen illegal. Felipe Chave, head of the fossil division in Brazil, only learned about the fossil when the paper was published on its discovery. The laws referring to fossil trade have not only been adapted by Brazil, but China, Mongolia, and Morocco. Some feel that this dispute should be settled by the embassies and lawyers not the scientists, therefore the scientist can go on with their work.
The title of the second article immediately had me hooked. Look up, there is invisible zombies above us. That could grasp anyone's attention. The article goes into great detail about how scientist have found insects flying up to 19,000 feet, even taller than MT. McKinley in Alaska. However recently, there has been a discovery of earth life, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are swept to the upper edge of Earth's amtosphere. Where the temperatures are freezing, barely little oxygen, and there is no longer protection from UV Rays. Some scientists feel that the earth life goes through a brief death while in the earths atmosphere. Others feel they go though a hibernation process to slow everything down. Whichever is the way the earth life survives with that temperature, amount of oxygen, and sun UV Rays is extremely interesting.
I really enjoyed reading the follow-up article about the Tetrapodophis. The Tetrapodophis is a four-legged snake that provided scientists with information about the early ancestor of the modern snake. This article informs that officials in Brazil believe that the fossilization of the creature may have been illegally exported out of Brazil. Brazil has a law which states that a fossil may only be taken out of the country with the permission of the Brazilian government. Many scientists do not like the protectionist laws set by countries such as Brazil and China. They believe that these laws would prevent many fossils from being examined. They also feel that these laws create tedious work. The laws sometimes annoy researchers for they must check with the country’s government before they are able to observe the fossil.
I also read the article about the “zombie” highway. This article informed me that many microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, are carried into the upper levels of the atmosphere by wind. They are able to survive in harsh conditions by being dead for a period of time. I found it amazing that there are so many species of microorganisms living in this zone. The article never mentioned whether all the species living in the upper atmosphere were previously discovered. There may be a chance that there may be an undiscovered species of organisms in the zone that may potentially be used as remedies for fatal diseases.
The follow up article on Tetrapodophis is interesting but disappointing because it caused legal complications. Tetrapodophis caused legal troubles because it was supposedly taken out of Brazil illegally. Palaeobiologist David Martill discovered Tetrapodophis in a private collection at a museum in Germany this sparked controversy because in 1942 Brazil made it illegal to sell and/or export fossils without the governments permission. Martill believes there is no need for such laws, he says " I see thousands of fossils every year from all over the planet. I am not going to write to the governments of all those countries just to check each and every fossil.” His argument is by creating laws that "protect" the fossils, hinder scientific research for them. Imagine being a Paleontologist and having to write to the government of each country you find a fossil in, it is a lot of wasted words and wasted time because fossils are found in almost every country. Paleontologist James Clark counteracts Martills argument by stating, "From what I have seen, they should not have published the paper,” Clark says this in regards to the legal issues thinking why would they publish a paper if the fossil is thought to be illegal. I feel Brazil should not even bother with trying to get the fossil back because it would be to much of a hassle and they can never really stop people from taking out more fossils. The next article I read was the Look up one about zombies living thousands of feet up in the air. Most bugs get swept up by the breeze and are just carried along till they get where they need to go The microbes that live up there have created an entirely new ecosystem and the biggest question is how do they survive up there do they mimic a Bears hibernation or do they actually die for a while. I find this fascinating because it opens up a whole new frontier in the world of science thinking that some animals can die and come back to life. The sky is one more place we have yet to fully discover.
Studying fossils is important, but scientists must still abide to the laws relating to them. Brazil has had laws since 1942 that should have prevented people from removing fossils from the country, but there are many places, such as Germany, where people suspect have illegally exported Brazilian fossils. These go against the laws that were made to protect the fossils. Other people argue that following the rules would slow down the researching process, so there should be a middle ground between following the laws and researching. I am not an expert on the paleontology and the research that is involved with it, but I believe the best action in a specific case like the legal case of the Tetrapodophis amplectus would be to study the fossil in Brazil (or China, Mongolia, Morocco - whatever the country may be) if possible.
The discovery of the organisms found at the very top of the earth's atmosphere shows us that there is much more to life that we have to learn about. These organisms, consisting of bacteria and other simple organisms, are lifted up into the sky through storms. They have even adapted to the cold and almost oxygen-less air with new features such as pigments that act us sunscreen to protect them from the rays of the sun. It is amazing that these life forms can live in the harsh environment of the sky tens of thousands of meters above ground; or rather, they can "die" and come back to life again. This concept is very intriguing to me, and referencing the popular zombie movies and shows, although being undead again has only been discovered in simple beings, I wonder if it could ever happen in more complex organisms, like humans, too.
It is strange to think that there could be organisms living at the edge of earth's atmosphere, thousands of miles above our heads. It is fascinating that these creatures could live in such extreme conditions, with very little oxygen and little to no water. Scientists say that these organisms are "undead" or are kind of in a state between alive and dead. It makes me wonder what would be considered alive or dead, and is there really a place in between alive and dead that an organism can live in for majority of their lives? If there are organisms that can survive without major necessities in life, is it possible that there could be many more of these out in space, or even on other planets? Are those creatures really considered dead if that is what their body is supposed to do? I hope to find out more information about this topic.
Apparently if you look up you ma or may not notice a zombie highway. Oh wait, they aren't the zombies you think they are of is it an actual highway. Turns out that they are actually just insects and other microscopic organisms just travelling the atmosphere up there. Some of them have been up there for so long tat it begs the question, do any of them ever die? The answer is not so clear, as some scientists believe that some of the organisms may be "undead". As in zombie-state like, "undead. The organisms sped some of their time being alive and some of their time being so dead that they are in fact alive. It may be hard to believe, but yes, technically there are zombies in the real world.
It is crazy to believe that there are billions of microscopic animals that are flying in the air above us right now higher than 19,000 feet above sea level. These creatures live in the upper edge of the atmosphere where there is a lack of oxygen, cold temperatures, and no protection from UV radiation by the Earth's ozone layer. A few bacteria have adapted living in the sky, supported only by cloud water. Some species can even reproduce in the clouds. Scientists believe that these microbes spend time being dead. This makes us question what is truly alive and what is dead. This concept is very interesting and I hope scientists discover new organisms that have the ability to be undead.
The first article that caught my attention was the update on the four legged snake. According to Brazilian authorities, the fossil may have been taken out of Brazil illegally and brought to Germany as a museum exhibit.The investigation of whether or not this is true is ongoing, but there is a possibility that there will never be an answer or justice for the government of Brazil. This is due to the high amount of German institutes whom display fossils of suspicious origin. Not only has it sparked the interest of legal matters, but it has also resulted in controversy between whether or not scientists and reporters should get involved with a fossil without authenticating the legality of it. Personally, I do not think it is right for the government to expect scientists and reporters to go through the trouble of looking into a fossils legal records. If the person is a reporter, his or her job is to find a story and deliver the information to the public. They should not have to worry about whether or not what they're reporting about was illegally taken out of another country. Also, scientists are there to look at the fossil in order to find out more about it. They are in their certain profession so that they may help develop science, and if they must go through legal matters in order to do this, it will just slow down the progress. Meaning it will make it so much harder for a scientist, or in this case paleontologist, to complete their goals as well as make strides in the scientific community.
I also found the article about the billions of insects that soar miles up in the sky to be absolutely astounding. I had no idea that these tiny and seemingly insignificant creatures could reach such high altitudes without dying. To my surprise, even spiders can soar miles up using just their webs to take them to their destination! But it does not just stop there. Way up, where there is barely any oxygen and where the ozone layer cannot protect you from the harmful sun, are living creatures. This newly found ecosystem called the "high life", is home to all different types of fungi, bacteria, and even viruses. The fact that these simple creatures are able to live in such extreme circumstances is absolutely mind boggling. Although all of this article amazed me, there was one thing in particular which blew my mind: there is a theory that since these creatures live in such a harsh environment, they may be surviving by "dying" and then reanimating. In the scientific world this has been unheard of, but if one was to research all things make believe, they would find that all of the creatures living in the "high life" could also be called zombies. According to scientists, simple creatures such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses may be able to switch into a dead-like state in between life and death. This sounds like they are in purgatory, the place between life and death. I am looking forward to hearing more about this newly discovered ecosystem and how these simple creatures are able to live, or not, so high up above the clouds.
Scientists are saying there's a possibility of a new discovered ecosystem on Earth! Its a vast territory that's many times greater than the oceans. There are thousands of species of small simple earth life forms living right above us all the time. They consist of bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. They are taken up by storms to where there's almost no oxygen and where its very cold. They are basically no longer even protected by the Earth's ozone layer. They're so tiny and so harmless. They aren't visible to the naked eye and to give perspective, it would probably take about 40,000 of them laid end to end to make it around an average human thumb. They've also been there for such a long time that they have basically gotten use to adapting, or living in the sky. Some are even known to develop certain pigments in order to have 'natural sunscreen.' Some can only feed on water from the clouds AND some can reproduce within the clouds! The question of how they really survive how ever has come up a lot. Scientists Ward and Kirschvink write in their book in interesting theory of how these species could..die, then be alive again? They say there's a vast new place to be explored between our traditional understanding of what is alive and what is not. They also say there could be a place in between being alive and being dead. Its all very intriging.
-Akanksha Kale
I found the article very interesting. It's unbelievable that it could be possible that a species could live without the necessities, well not exactly live because they died, but then came back to life! There's a whole other world over us. I also liked the title,"Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You" and the author overall was relatable because he was just as shocked as I was when I was reading this article. It's crazy that this species goes so high and into such a bad environment and live, by dying. These creatures have been up there and no one even knew, and also no one knows the way they live. It's a different lifestyle there. my favorite part of the article was when he wrote the quote, “Life, simple life at least, is not always alive.”
As soon as I saw the title I was immediately intrigued; zombies up there, I just had to read this one. I cannot believe that so many insects are above us right now, and at such high altitudes that we do not even see them. What I found quite interesting is that the spiders hang on this piece of web they wove, and move with the breeze, no wonder they are practically everywhere, they literally fall out of the sky. Definitely the most fascinating information was that simple earth life such as fungi and bacteria have practically formed a newly discovered, flourishing, ecosystem on the outer edge of Earth’s atmosphere. They have even adapted to the climate, and some have even developed pigments that provide the same effect as sunscreen. Scientists are still trying to determine how any species could survive in a place with such little oxygen and freezing temperatures, it is actually thought that they spend a short time being dead, and actually come back to life. Something like this is hard to grasp, of course we have all heard stories of people who were dead for seconds or even minutes who were brought back to life but that was with medical intervention and it does not occur repeatedly. However, these different species are able to not only survive in such harsh conditions, but even reproduce within clouds. They have become so accustomed to life in this ecosystem that they pretty much only drink cloud water. Knowing that such creatures exist just opens up a world of possibilities and new discoveries to be made about them, how they ended up there and if it is true that they can die and come back to life.
I found the article on the invisible creatures to be especially interesting. It is very fascinating how some things happen right under our nose, or in this case above our heads, and billions of people are completely unbeknownst to it. these insects, many microscopic, spend part of their lives above the ozone layer in a part of the atmosphere that is unprotected by the sun's harmful radiation. In these extreme conditions, some scientists believe that these microbes actually spend part of their live being dead. This is unfathomable for mammals like ourselves, but scientists such as Ward and Kirschvink believe that these organisms may lose their vitality up in that unforgiving environment, but "come back to life" on the way down. It is amazing how a living thing could change from being alive to suddenly being dead, almost like an on/off switch. I would like to know how organisms are able to do this, and what biological processes occur for this amazing phenomenon to function.
I read the four-legged snake fossil article, and had to follow it up with this recent one. According to Brazilian authorities, the fossil may have been illegally smuggled/transported across the border, because it is illegal to take fossils out of Brazil without government approval, so how did the fossil end up in Germany? These laws, enforced by not only Brazil but a few other nations, could hinder scientific advancement in this area, because of the restrictions placed on the specimens. And although Brazil may have a viable reason for all the trouble, it is better for the sake of science to allow scientists to use these fossils, and other artifacts, to advance the knowledge of the scientific community, and in part, the world.
The world we live in is full of many phenomena which may not seem so complex to us, but truly are when we delve deeper into them. Light, and the way it absorbs and emits the colors that we see, is one of these phenomena. As early as 1850, scientists were able to use the unique wavelengths of colors and the light they emitted to analyze newly discovered elements. Clearly, spectral lines have been imperative to scientists working in chemistry for over a hundred years and have contributed to the identification and development of our modern-day periodic table. Due to Neils Bohr's proposed model of the atom in 1913, which finally provided an explanation of the spectrum of hydrogen but defied the principles of classic physics, scientists were able to establish the ideas quantum physics. The core belief of quantum mechanics that electrons absorb and emit light when they jump to and from orbital levels allows us to understand how the different wavelengths emitted by electrons lead to the different colors of visible light that we see. This explanation of the production of light has enlightened scientists working in all fields, and has led to the advancement of our conception of classic physics.
Another phenomena that many do not even know of are high flying insects. It seems impossible that there could be life that can withstand the conditions at the edge of our planet's atmosphere, but there are incredibly small microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can survive the extremely low temperatures and minimal oxygen found in the sky beyond the ranges of the human eye. The fact that some of these organisms have adapted to live and reproduce in the clouds and survive by consuming the water found in them. Without the protection of the ozone, these microorganisms can even develop their own "sunscreen" to protect themselves. The fact that the high life creatures could defy the human conception of life and death proves that humans that what we believe may not always be true, and we still have much to learn about the earth and its inhabitants and features.
The follow-up article about the four-legged snake had really caught my attention. The British authorizes believe that their fossil of the Tetrapodphis had been taken out of their country illegally and send into a private museum in Germany. Brazil had created a law in 1942 that stated that the selling or exporting fossils without government approval was illegal. Scieneticts, David Maryill, who has discovered the fossil in Germany, believes that the law is not right and should not be needed. He wants there to be a law, which protects the fossil, rather then having a law, which restricts the fossils from being moved around. This investigation had lead to an interest on whether or not scientists have the right to research fossils without authentication whether it legal or not. I personally believe that the fossil should still remain in Germany. However, the fossil should be something that can be researched publicly, rather than put into a private museum where its not to research. This also should not involve on whether the fossil should be researched if it was illegal or not. Fossils are part of the earth, so anyone living should have the right to learn more about what is part of its planet.
Of the four articles, the follow up on the snake article immediately caught my attention because last week's article on the snake really intrigued me. After reading the article, I can understand why the Brazilians want a compensation for the fossil that they claim to be illegally taken out from their country. Granted that stealing a fossil, or stealing anything for that matter, is not acceptable, Brazil should have the fossil given back to them. However, under this circumstance, I wonder why they are making a big deal out of it. Scientists want the fossil not as a piece of decoration or for themselves, but rather as a piece of valuable research material. Under the protective laws for fossils, a country can have a fossil, and not expose it at all. By doing this, less information is available to those around the world who are studying fossils. I think fossils are ancient artifacts that anyone who is accredited to research fossils can have access to, because after all, it is for the benefit of the general public. For example, before the finding of this fossil, I doubt anyone assumed there was a snake with four legs.
The second article that I read was the one about "zombies". While reading this article, I was thinking, "How can organisms even survive in thin air?" I remember my biology teacher telling me in ninth grade that there are thousands of microorganisms living on places that I can't see, such as my eyelashes. One question that came up to me while reading this article was how come we humans can't see these organisms, but can rather see through them? How do these organisms even survive if we can't see their organs? I was most fascinated by the fact some of these tiny organisms have developed pigments that act like sunscreen. I think this finding can be very beneficial because there has been a recent controversy that many sunscreens cause cancer and other deadly skin diseases. With further research and experiments, I think scientists might be able to use these organisms to create a "natural" sunscreen.
Well I'd have to say... the title is definitely misleading. They're clearly not zombies above us, but they're definitely something equally interesting. At first I was reading the article and thought "oh... the article's about bugs... fantastic." But as I read further I was happy I decided to persevere. It is incredible to find an ecosystem of bacteria that have made their way so far up into our atmosphere that they're even adapted to it. Bacteria were the the simplest organisms in the world; single celled and geared to usually only do one thing. Some had nuclei, some didn't but they were still what essentially created the world. In today's world bacteria are different. They serve a variety of purposes and have split into a variety of different subtypes and archetypes capable of different functions. It's even more incredulous that, besides bacteria, simple fungi and viruses have also made their way up. It makes you wonder how organisms like that have adapted to the skies; it's just another example of how incredible evolution can be and what we could be expecting these simple organisms to do. If these simple organisms have made their way into our atmosphere, isn't it also possible that small deadly bacteria will eventually also evolve to make their ways into our most sterile environment; "super-bacteria" as you might call them. Food for thought.
The article that initially stood out to me was the article that addressed the basic science behind the colors that are able to see. According to this article, there are three ways in particular that allow you to make another person see a particular color of light. The first way is to choose an element that emits the color of light that you want. The colored light emitted from particular chemical elements are known for being highly versatile. Each element that is found on the periodic table absorb and emit their own unique set of wavelengths. Because of this, in order to find the specific color you are looking for, it requires you to accurately choose the correct element that emits at that wave length. The central concept of modern quantum mechanics explains why the behaviors of atoms and molecules with an element emit and absorb light at the times that they do. The purpose behind quantum mechanics was to show what really is going on within an atom. The electrons located within an atom have a set of discrete states in which they exist without emitting anything. When the electrons move between these states, that is when light is emitted and absorbed. What I found most interesting about this article was when the author described how fireworks directly relate to quantum physics. When an element is set on fire, it causes the electrons to be excited to very high states. However, they fall back down to the lowest energy state in a short time. During this process, all the wavelengths possible for that element are emitted, and that is what causes the colors that we see. Black-body radiation is another quantum mechanical way of making color, and it simply involves getting an object hot so that a broad spectrum of light can be emitted. What is interesting about this is that the particular color we see is directly related to the temperature of the object. Scientists are able to use this simple concept to determine the temperature of stars. Finally, the human body can be tricked into seeing a color that isn’t there with the right mixture of red, blue, and green light. What we perceive as color is directly controlled by the response of three cells located in our eyes, and each are sensitive to light of a particular range of colors. I found it interesting to finally know in detail the reason behind the colors that we see, and I found it fascinating that the human brain can be tricked into seeing a color that isn’t even there.
Firstly, the title “Look Up! There’s an Invisible Zombie Highway Right Above You” was an interesting topic to begin with. It isn’t everyday that one comes across a conversation starter like that, especially one that may actually be scientifically true. Insects are such small, fragile creatures that humans view them as insignificant in comparison, when they in fact possess astonishing abilities that surpass even the expectations of modern scientists and technology. To be able to even move, not to mention in a constant state of flying at such a high altitude is a major feat. Over the summer, I, too have stayed overnight at an altitude of only 3800 meters whilst on vacation. I almost died. Thus, I have tremendous respect for life that can maintain constant movement at such high elevation. But the simple life forms of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are so far up Earth’s atmosphere they are nearly in outer space, demand even more attention. To survive in such extreme conditions takes extreme qualities which these miniscule organisms don’t possess. Therefore, they spend a while “hibernating” in such a way that scientists consider to be dead, before regaining the ability to sustain life when in better environments. Woah, that’s a new concept. If one were to define the living and non-living, he would say a tree is living, and a bandaid is not. But scientists don’t know the concrete definition and point of where life begins and ends. And that is apparently where it gets tricky. In the beginning, when organisms are evolving, simple creatures are thought to have spent time alive and not alive, flipping it like a switch before the chemistry worked out. That made me wonder, why is it that humans cannot turn the proverbial switch on and off? Is it because we are too complex and have too many cells? Maybe in the future scientists will have cracked this code and explained the tricky situation we currently view and life and death. But I’m not going to start living at the edge of the earth anytime soon.
The article that really caught my eye was the one about the invisible zombie highway right above us. I was shocked to find out that there could be three to six billion creatures soaring through the air directly above us every month. It’s very odd to believe that there are billions of live critters flying to the upper edge of earth’s atmosphere. It makes sense that all these insets have to go someplace else for food, space, etc. But, it brings up the question how do they survive where they are practically in outer space with hardly any oxygen, where the temperatures are extremely cold, and where they’re no longer protected from solar radiation. Clearly we can’t say that all of these small creatures are insects because there are evidently thousands of tiny species of earth and microbes that get swept up into the highest place of the atmosphere at times. You wonder how a little critter can survive the wind at such great heights, yet they in fact are very tough. As the article stated, the highest flying insect made it to 19,000 feet above sea level and that’s pretty impressive. But, the fact that scientists found an even higher zone where earthlings spend a decent amount of their life, is even more shocking and impressive. I found it weird that some species feed only on cloud water; and some can reproduce within clouds. Can adapting to life in the sky be that simple? It’s clearly not like down here so that might be a little hard to figure out. The weirdest part was when Ward and Kirschvink suggested that critters spend a brief period being dead. Is that even possible? Many people can argue about that and I guess I see from both ways but it’s not the easiest thing to talk about in detail. But for now, this curious topic itself is pretty cool and maybe in the future we might discover things even beyond our understanding of other life around us.
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