The Curse of The Ghost Net!

         Original Article: http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/ghost_fishing_nets_invisible_killers_in_the_oceans/

          Just like my last blog post I'm writing about another horrible environmental issue floating around in that far too unexplored world that just so happens to take up the majority of our planet. A little place called the ocean. Last time it was cyanide fishing, well now its an entirely different problem known as Ghost fishing.

          Have you ever wondered what happens to all of that fishing gear that fisherman lose, forget, or knowingly abandon? Nothing. It's left to drift down in the bottom of the ocean. Hundreds of nets float aimlessly around under the surface ensnaring helpless marine-life and wrapping itself around coral reefs and other habitats trapping whatever lives there. Long story short, this discarded fishing gear that you'd think is harmless actually kills countless fish every year. The problem is that a lot of the gear is made of Polyurethane, a non-biodegradable material, so they will remain under the sea for an incredibly long time unless they are physically removed by humans. Luckily for sea creatures there are a number of humans willing to do just that.

          Groups such as Ghost Fishing, the Olive Ridley Project, and GhostNets Australia send out groups of divers to free sea-life from these traps and then take the nets out of the ocean. They also work to convince the fisherman who leave these horrid things around to A. Not! and B. Use biodegradable fishing equipment so at the very least the equipment wont sit around forever if it is lost. Also an incredible program called Fishing for Energy works to convert the old nasty gear into... energy! That's right they recycle all the gear that is collected and send it to Covanta Energy locations where they convert it into usable energy. It's pretty incredible.

          Thanks to groups like these all hope for these innocent little swimmers is not lost. However they have just begun to scratch the surface of this problem. What makes it so hard, as Cas Renooji (Director of Ghost Fishing) says in the article; "The thing about this problem is it happens at the bottom of the ocean and no one sees it - It's an invisible problem." So know that you know about it start spreading awareness yourself! It's the least we can all do to help.

                                                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_net

Powering the Future: Is Sustainable Energy Finally Foolproof?

       The following essay is based off of the article: “Organic mega flow battery promises breakthrough for renewable energy” from “e! Science News,” an online science journal which is updated every few minutes by an AI which sorts science news articles based on popularity, relevance and date. The article was published January 8th, 2014. The link for the article is as follows. http://esciencenews.com/articles/2014/01/08/organic.mega.flow.battery.promises.breakthrough.renewable.energy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eScienceNews%2Fpopular+(e!+Science+News+-+Popular)

       Energy, and having a lack thereof, is an important problem which needs to obtain a solution before planet earth’s resource become completely depleted, which, unfortunately, may be far sooner than we counted on. Our resources (i.e. fossil fuels and their byproducts) will only last so long, and we need to figure out a way to create energy which can be reused and reproduced without harming the environment at all (or at least very little). Such an idea is, as of the present, not in existence, however, Harvard scientists have made an astonishing breakthrough. This remarkable idea is based off the principle of “the electrochemistry of naturally abundant, inexpensive, small organic (carbon-based) molecules called quinones, which are similar to molecules that store energy in plants and animals.”    

        What was designed in the lab of Michael J. Aziz, Gene Sykes, and Tracy Sykes Professor of Materials and Energy Technologies at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) a type of battery which uses the quinones to produce a kind of battery, which is tenfold times more efficient for storing energy. To quote the Artificial Intelligence at “e! Science News,”: “Flow batteries store energy in chemical fluids contained in external tanks -- as with fuel cells -- instead of within the battery container itself. The two main components -- the electrochemical conversion hardware through which the fluids are flowed (which sets the peak power capacity), and the chemical storage tanks (which set the energy capacity) -- may be independently sized. Thus the amount of energy that can be stored is limited only by the size of the tanks.”
       
          To translate the above quote, because the battery relies on chemical storage tanks, the amount of energy that can be stored is only kept restricted by the size of the tanks and the amount of fluid in them. This means that there is now a way to cost-effectively produce batteries which contain lots of electrochemicals, and, as a result, do not run out of power as quickly.
         
           The most important breakthrough with this new renewable flow battery is the following contrast with regular batteries, and even some higher-storage batteries. While most electricity storage in batteries takes place in metals, especially vanadium, the new breakthrough battery utilizes organic molecules (the aforementioned quinones) to store the energy. These molecules resemble (and even can be the same as) the molecules which store energy in animals and even humans. This means that we will be producing a battery which consumes far less resources than your average battery.
             
             If we can successfully harness energy that comes from places like the sun, geothermal heat, and wind turbines (which we already can do), we need a place to store the energy, a problem which is not often thought about, however important it may be. However, the new battery provides, if we look at the factors explained above, a solution which is considerably more A) cost-effective and B) environmentally-conscious than most, if not all of the alternatives provided in years past. This is truly an astounding breakthrough, and if production increases and begins to occur on a large scale, it could change the way we harness and store energy for many years to come.

A prototype flow battery in Aziz's lab

organic.mega.flow.battery.promises.breakthrough.renewable.energy

Is the Earth Cooling or Warming?

The New York Times published a new article on January 7th written by Henry Fountain about the existence  of global warming. 52 scientists were stuck in the ice last month in a large outcropping of ice in Antarctica. This created a large debate over the internet of whether or not the ice is really melting in Antarctica. Later, scientists discovered that a change in winds had moved a roaming ice chunks to the boat and they became trapped.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/science/earth/still-stuck-in-a-climate-argument.html?ref=globalwarming

    In the Arctic ice continues to melt and more of the land begins to show every year. This is one of the largest concerns global warming brings, but surprisingly this ice melting isn't happening everywhere. In Antarctica ice is actually increasing  at about 1% per decade. This growth though is increasing in only some parts of the continent and there are even areas where ice is  decreasing .Specifically only about a third of the continent is either growing or shrinking. This changing of ice is believed to be from north-south winds that bring warmer air due to lower-pressure air. This has increased ice in the Ross Sea, but in Bellingshausen  ice has decreased.

 Scientists are now baffled by the lowering of air pressure which is thought to be caused by the increase of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere. Air pressure has gotten considerable lower in the seas than in the past which causes some alarm to scientists and also strengthens the idea of global warming if a correlation is proven.  This subject is still under debate though and is another argument in the bunch.


I found this article very interesting because I did not expect to have Antarctica's ice to be becoming larger in size. Usually, global warming articles give more evidence of melting or increases of temperature, but this article gave some unexpected observations of Antarctica. I also enjoyed how the author included both the skeptics   and the supporters of global warming in the article. As written  in the article “Global warming idiots out of danger,” this was a noted after the scientists were helicoptered away from the ice. In addition, I never would have thought that global warming would have any affect on air pressure or wind currents to be honest.

The article reminded me of when we learned about global warming and how carbon gets trapped in our atmosphere and traps the heat from the sun. It also made me think of middle school because we learned about ocean and wind currents and that they form lots of circles around the earth. Overall, I think that the article did a great job of presenting global warming and the changes that our poles are going through.

Soon To Be Rhinosaurs

Tuesday, January 7th 2014

"Soon To Be Rhinosaurs"

The article I read was called, "Experts Say Poaching Could Soon Lead to a Decline in the Rhino Population" by Louis Lucero II and was published on November 22nd 2013. It can be found on the NY times website under science and environment. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/23/science/experts-say-poaching-could-soon-lead-to-a-decline-in-the-rhino-population.html?ref=endangeredandextinctspecies

This article talks about the rhino populations that are slowly decreasing and the fact that something has to be done about it.  Rhinos are being killed faster than they can repopulate.  Two rhinos are being killed everyday in South Africa alone. This is highly concerning because experts say that there are only around 30,000 rhinos left in the world.

The only Rhinos species that are not extinct are the Javan, Black, White, Indian and the Sumatran rhinos. The least populated species are the Javan, there are only 44 rhinos of this species left on the Earth. The Javan rhino used to live in 10 countries, but after many years of being hunted, they only exist in the Ujung Kulon National Park located in Indonesia. The most threatened species of rhinos are the Sumatran species with only around 100 left. The species that is threatened the least are the White rhinos. Even though there are 20,040 White rhinos left, they are still close to the "near threatened" list.

This article reminds me of 5th grade when we had to learn about endangered species and I thought it would be a good idea to deepen my knowledge and share some what I learned with people around the world. I learned so much precious information on this topic that I didn't know before.

Why are rhinos poached so much? Their horns, ounce for ounce, is worth more than gold that is being sold on the black market. Another  reason rhinos are being poached so much is the fact that the Chinese use their horns for reducing a fever, but nowadays people use them to help get rid hangovers. I bet these are a few things people didn't know about rhinos horns.

 As Ms. Ellis stated, “There’s a need for the international community to put pressure on Mozambique to help South Africa strengthen its borders,” she said. “The South African government has implemented so many promising measures, but until that influx of poachers sneaking back and forth from Mozambique can be stemmed, the problem promises to just keep getting worse.” What Ms. Ellis is saying is that poaching will not be adequately controlled unless certain countries take action and enforce their laws and have stricter border control.

I totally agree with this article that rhino populations are going to steadily disappear if we don't do something about it. I feel that extinction of species is a big issue in the world because more and more species are becoming extinct and we have found no reliable way of stopping poachers. What I think is a good way to stop poachers would be to have stricter border controls and  harsher punishment if you have intents of poaching certain species illegally. I also feel like the United Nations should take control of the situation by making new and improved laws to protect our endangered wildlife. Who do you think would be the most influential person or group that could help to protect our wildlife?

http://www.sabc.co.za/wps/wcm/connect/da6d39004bacf89ba174a720d3556fa3/rhino%2Bpoaching-%28R%29.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=da6d39004bacf89ba174a720d3556fa3

Batteries Will Save the Earth

The article “Catching Rays in California, and Storing Them” by Matthew L. Wald can be found in The New York Times. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/business/energy-environment/catching-some-rays-in-california-and-storing-them.html?ref=earth

http://www.smashinglists.com/11-innovative-and-
interesting-ways-to-generate-power/

At a slow pace the Earth is dying. Due to such issues as deforestation and the combustion of fossil fuels, greenhouse gases are building up in the atmosphere, causing global warming. Before it is too late, there needs to be a decrease in our pollution of the Earth. One way of doing this would be the use of solar energy, which is starting to take effect in California.

The article listed above describes the forthcoming installation of many batteries in California by utility companies, which will store surplus solar energy. With many solar panels taking in energy from the sun, there is often an oversupply of energy, which, according to Clyde Loutan (senior adviser for renewables integration at the California Independent System Operator, which runs the state’s power grid), can be “just as destabilizing as a shortage” of energy. The extra energy created during the sun’s peak can be used around sunset, a solution for problems in the past caused by the rapid decrease of generation and increase of demand which occurs at that time.

Though the use of these batteries could be beneficial in several ways, there are still negative effects that detract from just how great these batteries are. For one, generators which run on natural gas will still be used. Though one positive step is made in the form of solar energy, the combustion of fossil fuels will still occur, though at a decreased rate. The batteries are also very expensive, and could cost billions of dollars for California. This is why the use has been limited so far. Overall, just because the batteries have a few flaws, they are not enough to justify that the batteries would have an overly negative effect. The combustion of fossil fuels would be decreased, which is a step in the right direction. Also, the issue of cost should not be considered much, as similar amounts of money are being spent on less significant causes. To lessen pollution and be more eco-friendly should be one of the greatest priorities if future generations are to have an Earth to live on.

The idea of batteries storing solar energy relates to our unit on the Carbon Cycle. In that unit, we discussed how the combustion of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere causing global warming. In relation to the buildup of greenhouse gases, we discussed ways in which the Earth could be sustained. They are conserving energy by burning less fossil fuels, managing forests properly, and developing alternate energy sources. Through the storage of solar energy on batteries, two out of the three ways are fulfilled. Less fossil fuels are burned, and the sun is now used as an energy source.

In all, I fully support the use of the batteries. There are simply so many benefits from their use that there would have to be more reasons against them in order to have doubt that they would have an overall negative effect. Humans should be doing all that they can to preserve the Earth for future generations. These batteries will not single-handedly solve the problem, but their use gets us closer to that goal.

Could Seeds Be Our Future?

The article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/business/energy-environment/start-up-makes-gains-turning-jatropha-bush-into-biofuel.html?pagewanted=1&ref=greenhousegasemissions

 

Every second oils are forced out of the ground and refined in to jet fuels, and diesel. At this rate all the natural fossil fuels will gone within a couple of years if nothing is done about it. Fortunately, scientists have genetically engineered a solution to the fuel source problem. In the article, “Start-Up Uses Plant Seeds for a Biofuel” by Todd Woody, scientist have genetically engineered a seed that is inedible, and drought-resistant, but can be used as an alternate biofuel source.                                                                                                                                                          A flaw with using fossil fuels as a fuel source is eventually the fossil fuels will run out. The Jatropha seed could serve as a replacement for fossil fuels. The high-quality oil of the seed can be refined into low-carbon jet fuel or diesel fuel. The average Jatropha bush produces six to eight seeds. The disadvantage of these seeds is that big cooperation’s are buying them faster than they can be produced. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have, you can’t make cells divide quicker.” said Mr. Haney a technology entrepreneur. Could you imagine growing fuel for planes and cars in your backyard! If further research were to be done the Jatropha bush, the world could reduce its fossil fuel drilling.

In class we learned that the companies drilling fossil fuels have disastrous effect on the environment. The drilling can cause oil spills witch would wipe out animal habitats and create anoxic and hypoxic zones. With this seed it could help stop oil spills and lessen the strain on oceanic habitats.

The article about the seeds surprised me. I could never imagine having the ability to grow fuel on trees instead of mining it from the grounds. I think that this seed should be used more often, instead of standard oil mining. This will help reduce the oil accidents, and benefit the carbon cycle so it can move carbon faster.   

Save The Amazon!

 
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/deforestation.php

    The largest Rainforest in the world, the Amazon, is being destroyed! The article, World of Change: Amazon Deforestation describes it very well by saying it, “has profound, sometimes devastating, consequences, including social conflict and human rights abuses, extinction of plants and animals, and climate change.” The article does not have an author or a date on which it was published but after reading I assume that it was published some time in 2010 because there is not any information going past the year 2010. This means that the deforestation in the Amazon is a lot worse than what the article says.

         In 2003, 67,764 square kilometers of rainforest was cleared. This is an area larger than the state of West Virginia we‘re talking about! The deforestation of the Amazon is rapidly destroying the forest. Many plants are going extinct and many animals are losing their homes. This is a satellite image of the state of Rondônia in western Brazil in the year 2000.

 

   All the places that are tan or a light green are places that have been deforested. This is a picture of the same place in 2010.

 

 

         Most of the rainforest in 2000 was gone by 2010 because deforestation is progressing this fast.

            This article really caught my interests though because it connects to what we learned in class. We learned about deforestation in class and how it affects the climate and plays a role in global warming. Trees and other plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Knowing that the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world, you can guess that it produces a lot of oxygen. Know a day when Twinkies goes out of business people are protesting trying to get them back. Yet you don’t see the same thing happen when it comes to deforestation. I mean it’s not like trees and other plants produce the air we breathe or anything. (I meant this sarcastically)

            Deforesting the rainforest may help our needs for paper, wood and other products produced with these trees but it is hurting us in the long run. By deforesting the Amazon we are killing off all these different plants and animals and adding to global warming.

Hope for Cure of H.I.V.

A disease that no one wants.  One that can rip you apart and tear you into pieces by making one stupid decision. Doctors have been searching for a cure ever since the first case. Until recently, the possibility for HIV/AIDS seemed more or less wishful thinking. But two patients experiences have changed doctors mind.

It is clear that doctors mind-sets have changed over the years on this topic. It says in the article “New Hope for a Cure for H.I.V.” from New York Times, that “There were attempts in the past to cure the disease, but most experts thought it more feasible to focus on prevention and treatment.”  But doctors have backed off a little bit on finding a cure considering that antiviral drugs have turned the H.I.V. infection from a near-certain death sentence to a chronic disease. I don't think that taking drugs everyday of your life is a great way to live compared to the alternative, but doctors are saying that they don't have the resources to get this drug out to the tens of million people infected. Which leaves the only other option, finding a cure.

Recently, a 50- year old man went through a gene therapy procedure. “While he was not cured, his body was able to briefly control the virus after he stopped taking the usual antiviral drugs, something that is highly unusual. Although it was not a cure, it lead doctors to new research. They looked at this disease in a new way, one that may have been abstract. Doctors still can't imagine or understand about the possibility of them thinking they can do it. It hasn't been done before. But everything had to be done for a first time.

Hope for a cure was raised by the experience of an American man named Timothy Brown , who was getting two bone marrow transplants to treat his leukemia. “The donor was among the 1 percent of Northern Europeans naturally resistant to H.I.V. infection because they lack CCR5, a protein on the surface of immune cells that the virus uses as an entry portal.” When his own immune system replaced by one resistant to the infection, Timothy Brown was able to live 4 years free of the virus. But bone marrow transplant is really risky and expensive, and  finding "immunologically matching donor, let alone one with mutations in both copies of the CCR5 gene." So doctors have been inspired to modify the patients own immune cells to make them resistant to the infection by elimination CCR5.

Everything started at some point. Everything in the world started at one particular moment and hasn't stopped since, weather it be yesterday or 10 million years ago. Things may have evolved and gotten better, but they are essentially the same. The clock hasn't started ticking yet for this virus, but the starting whistle is just about to be blown.