CSB#8: A Pressure Test

This is a project that my friend Thyne and I worked on.

After a day of playing soccer, a day full of exercise, your muscles ache, your eyes are blurry, and your body is begging for nourishment. However, your hands do not feel any different than before your exhaustion. In fact, you will be attending a piano recital in a couple hours and your performance will probably not be altered by the soccer game in any way. My partner Thyne and I tested this by asking if doing different activities, such as jogging in place, keeping a weight suspended in air, and typing rapidly, affects your ability to apply pressure? From our prior knowledge on body systems, Thyne and I know that this project utilizes the muscular system and its energy source, ATP. ATP is a molecule that helps muscles perform work, and it is formed from the contents of the food you eat. Once you perform work, the ATP molecule becomes an ADP molecule and is stored to be recycled back into an ATP molecule. The activities we are testing all use up the body’s ATP storage, however we want to observe their impact on the hand in particular. Does using ATP in some muscles affect the ability of the hand to perform work or do the muscles of the hand operate individually? We hypothesized the latter stating that all the activities will decrease the amount of pressure you can apply on the sensor but the activity that is most associated with the hand and uses it the most, or typing, will lower the maximum pressure by the most amount.

To test our experiment we used a dynamometer, which is basically a hand grip pressure sensor. After recording our originals, Thyne and I performed a particular activity and then applied pressure on the sensor. After recording our right hand, we recorded our left hand to increase the amount of data we possessed. The data we now provide is the average between the force that Thyne applied and the force that I applied and is measured in Newtons. Our original right hand force was 195 Newtons, our right hand force after jogging was 197, our right hand force after lifting a weight was 164, and our right hand force after typing was 147. Our original left hand force was 190, our left hand force after jogging was 200, our left hand force after lifting a weight was 163, and our left hand force after typing was 174. As you can see, the original was the highest, jogging provided little or no change, weights decreased substantially, and typing decreased even more so. The only data that doesn’t affirm was the 174 Newtons for the left hand but that must have been due to us pressing the dynamometer differently towards the end.

To analyze the data, jogging, which used various muscles but used the muscles in the hand the least, had no effect. Lifting a weight, which used the muscles in the hand more than jogging but less than typing, had effect. Typing, which used the muscles in the hand the most, had the most effect. Therefore, our hypothesis is partly supported. Typing had the most effect on the hand since even though it used only a few muscles, used the muscles in the hand the most. However, contrary to our hypothesis, jogging had no effect on our maximum pressure. According to these findings, you will be able to excel at your piano recital after your tiring soccer match.

CSB#7: A New "Body-Building" strategy

Artificial muscles are very prominent in our society, enabling the disabled to function as a normal human being would. Scientists have simplified this system by creating muscles that operate on fuel rather instead of batteries or electricity. These muscles, which run on oxygen and other high energy fuels, are fully competent and able to perform work, such as raising a weight. The main component of the system is a wire that shortens and elongates with changes in temperature and is coated with a platinum catalyst. The coating helps the wire produce heat from the oxygen and hydrogen in the fuel, which results in the muscle contracting. The muscle lengthens when scientists slow the reaction down. Another prototype consists of electricity, rather than heat, making the muscle contract. Oxygen in the muscle dissolves in water and sends electric charges into carbon tubes in the system. This causes the tubes' electrons to repel each other, resulting in contraction. The muscle returns to its original state when the charge stops coming.

The muscles and their technology could be used for a variety of uses. The muscles can be inserted into individuals who whatever reason, don't have all their limbs. By inserting this system into the disabled, we can prevent the problems of electric muscles, such as tangled wires and long charge times, from arising. The muscles would also be placed in robots which would consist of a "circulation system carrying fuel to each engine," says John Madden, an author who wrote about a similar concept. The technology of these fuel operated muscles could be integrated into shape-shifting aircraft, sensors, and surgery mechanisms.

This article provides strong insight into the advancements in the technology for the disabled, discussing the technology of the fuel powered muscle and its possible uses. This muscle system has many advantages, ranging from simplicity to portability, by enabling the user to use it without an electrical source. The technique also opens up the front of artificial muscles that are powered by the human body.  However, no system is perfect; the muscles will probably require high maintenance and a costly pressure system to pump the fuel into the engines. The invention of fuel powered muscles is a major achievement and shows that we are well into the process of overcoming the problems that disabilities pose.



Citations: 
Kane, Daniel B. "Artificial Muscles get a Makeover." MSNBC 2006: n. pag.
     MSNBC. Web. 8 May 2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11858650/ns/
     technology_and_science-science/>.

Picture URL:http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060316/060316_arm-wrestling_hmed_10a.grid-6x2.jpg

CSB#6: Vapor left by Airplanes Speed up Global Warming

Contrails, the white streaks of vapor left behind by airplanes, accelerate the rate at which the globe warms. According to Reuters Magazine, the vapor increases the production of cirrus clouds in the atmosphere, which trap heat in the atmosphere. Apparently, as the lines break up, more cirrus clouds are formed, and they block the radiation exiting Earth from reaching space.

Even more shocking, the cirrus clouds and air trails left by the plane are proposed to contribute to the warming of the earth more than the actual CO2 emissions of the plane do, according to the journal Nature Climate Change. Contrails and the clouds left by them are heating the Earth by 31 milliwatts per square meter at any one moment. CO2 emissions from the planes, however, only heat the earth by 28 milliwatts per square meter.

These findings will have a large variety of impacts, from new global warming laws to new innovations. The study might encourage the United Nations to change their imposed penalties on planes' greenhouse gas emissions. Olivier Boucher, who wrote about a similar concept, predicted that air traffic will be changed and planes might fly routes where there is less humidity and less chance of cirrus production. Finally, the findings will spur inventions of environmentally friendly equipment. One possible idea is an engine that condenses the vapor before it leaves and releases it in the form of ice crystals or drops, which would quickly fall to the Earth.

It is frightening to think that a concept that we deemed negligible might actually pose a larger threat to the planet than what we had been focusing on. If more findings like this are found, it might be necessary to adapt our plan to stop global warming. It is interesting that vapor can create such a large impact on the environment indirectly. Possible ways to deal with vapor emission are flying at lower altitudes, possibly below other clouds, and as stated before, flying in areas with lower humidity. These new findings pose new problems that hinder our efforts to help the environment, but when solved, we will truly be on the way to stopping global warming.

Citations:
Doyle, Alister. "Aircraft contrails stoke warming, cloud formation." Reuters 29
     Mar. 2011: n. pag. Reuters. Web. 8 Apr. 2011. <http://www.reuters.com/
     article/2011/03/29/us-climate-contrails-idUSTRE72S47O20110329>.
Picture URL:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/externalnews/2011-03-29T154017Z_01_BTRE72S17J800_RTROPTP_2_ENVIRONMENT-US-CLIMATE-CONTRAILS.JPG 

CSB #5: Micro-organs

"Organ on a chip"

Last year, Harvard University bioengineers created a apparatus that imitated a human lung, consisting of a membrane enveloped by lung tissues. The same year, scientists claimed that they had built a mini replica of the liver. Microchip technology is very close to the prospect of housing cells that can imitate the functions of organs and systems. Chips are still in elementary stages, but scientists have the ideal structure of the device in mind. The device, dubbed "organ on a chip" would consist of glass slides covered with human cells that would be able to mimic specific tissues in the human body.

The chip can leave a strong impact on our present medical society. They are meant to test various concepts from mutations to virus life cycles. Scientists could predict drug response within a particular population by testing the drug on a chip with genetically mutated cells. Other scientists have used past prototypes to observe the life cycle of the virus hepatitis C instead of keeping it in cultures. Chips can even test toxicity levels of devices used to spread drugs around the body. Overall, the chip will help pharmaceutical establishments develop drugs faster. Another advantage to the "organ on a chip" is its ability to replace animal testing. Animal testing is sometimes inaccurate, expensive, and against our morals and ethics. The chip can prevent these problems from arising.

However, these chips are not a hundred percent perfect. Using chips can lead to problems in observing the response and function to the entire human system. For example, tests on the lung will only obtain results on lung response and will lack data on the response of the arteries, heart, etc. This is one thing that animal testing allows us to do.

I believe that the organ on a chip will allow us to bring drugs into the market more efficiently and can prevent animal testing. However, these chips can be expensive to produce and may take a long time to manufacture. I believe the problem addressed in the previous paragraph can be solved by incorporating different tissues onto one slide. For example, when testing a drug on an organ, we can observe the effect on the brain by placing nerve cells and brain tissue on the slide along with the organ.

Citations:
Moyer, Melinda Wenner. "Organs-on-a-Chip for Faster Drug Development."
     Scientific American 25 Feb. 2011: n. pag. Scientific American. Web. 7
     Mar. 2011. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/
     article.cfm?id=organs-on-a-chip>.
Picture URL:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/organs-on-a-chip_1.jpg 

CSB #4: The Science behind Inception

Definitions:
Inception: The planting of an idea into someone's mind


Kick: something that triggers the beginning or end of a period of free fall


free fall: suspect to the pull of gravity without any resistance present 

Summary:

In the movie, "Inception," directed by Christopher Nolan, a group of characters are hired to insert a false idea into a target's mind to make him give up the company he inherited from his dad. This group decides to tackle this inception by "building" dreams and inserting themselves and the target into them using high-tech equipment. They build multiple layers of dreams representing a "dream inside a dream," with each layer's time moving exponentially slower than the one before, so the target will not know he is dreaming. The group selected for this job is far from normal, able to construct a dream that mimics the real world, able to realize they are inside a dream, and able to keep the dream stable through many levels. They also know to end dreams by using a kick, in which an individual enters or exits free fall. 

Discussion: 

The group selected for this inception is highly experienced with the concept of dreaming. I believe that in the real world, because an individual's dream is based on their thoughts and what is happening in their life, it is possible after sufficient training to willingly build one. The group used an advanced machine that connects a dreamer and another person to insert both people into a dream. I doubt that this is possible in the real world. To enter another's dream, a person would have to be translated into a system of thoughts. Dreams are made of thoughts, and the dream would not be able to accomodate the thoughts of the dreamer and the outsider. Additionally, a system of thoughts would not be able to act as a normal human being. The "kick" concept introduced in the movie suggests that if the body of an dreaming individual is entering or exiting free fall, the person will wake up from a dream. I believe this is possible in the real world because being exposed to resistance or large acceleration can alter a person's thoughts and in turn, a person's dream. Sometimes, when your mother jolts you awake, your mind is averted as your nervous system senses something happening in the world around you. Also, when you fall from a bed and hit the floor, you usually wake up as your nervous system senses something happening and triggers a reflex to wake up. It is the same concept in the movie. 

Questions:
Can the amount you think of a concept, idea, etc. impact the subject of your dream?
Is it possible for something going in the world around while you are dreaming able to enter your dream?


Citations: 
Inception. Dir. Christopher Jonathan Nolan. 2010. Film. 


Picture URL:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqT8ul5iLr-Zuf4l1bMhGKGRPbt-tvmlRh2tOxtIvCXqkPqK8zgBlWXlBR4YhAJjJ7HS-QPfqXtTQX3CGSSbrCAXcURIzb1NAHrkuS5ioC2SHZn18oici129Ag0HDp5eWrMi1s8yE37g/s1600/inception_wallpaper_12.jpg