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The Scientist's Purpose

11/6/2013

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Scientists change and shape our world by developing explanations and making sense of the things we do not know or do not understand in our world (and outside of our world).  For example, Louis Pasteur's controlled experiment that investigated the question, "Can microorganisms (germs) generate spontaneously?" has completely changed modern medicine.  Pasteur proved that microorganisms do not grow randomly, and that microorganisms must travel through the air or through direct physical contact in order to grow.  

As result of Pasteur's experiment, billions and billions of lives have been saved.  For hundreds of years now, doctors around the world make sure to wash their hands and sanitize facilities to keep disease-causing germs from spreading.  In our school, we know always to wash our hands before and after experimenting, and to cover our mouths when sneezing.  We have Louis Pasteur to thank!

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As we move forward with selecting our testable questions for our independent scientific investigations, it is important that we think about the purpose and meaning of our investigations.  Not every science experiment can (or should) totally change something as dramatic as the way we practice medicine, but every science experiment should aim to shed some light on something that is meaningful to someone out there.  That someone may be you, a family member, friend, pet, or all of the above!  Just remember to think about how answering your testable question (through a controlled experiment) can make some sort of impact.  

Scientists are problem solvers.  They observe problems in our world ("O" in Dr. OPHERC), such as the increase in greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, the spread of malaria, the rise of diabetes in the United States, the shortage of drinkable water in certain parts of the world, species extinction, etc.  With these observations, scientists develop purpose/questions ("P" in Dr. OPHERC) that are testable for investigation to gather evidence to shed light on why these problems exist and how to solve them.  

Our experiments may not shed light on something as "big" as global warming, but will definitely give you a better understanding of something that is important to YOU or someone in your life.  This understanding can lead you (and possibly others) to make better decisions.  These decisions can be related to health (how to snack more healthfully), academics (how to study more effectively), performance in sports (how to score more points in a soccer game), and even performance in video games (so that you have more time to do your homework, of course)!

If you find that none of the testable questions you have developed (so far) have any meaning or purpose (to you), don't be afraid to start from scratch.  Just make sure to start with a topic that is interesting and/or meaningful to YOU.

Will YOU be the next Louis Pasteur?!  
In-Class Assignment
Answer the questions below in your science notebook.  Write the question and answer in COMPLETE sentences.

1.  How did Louis Pasteur's experiment change/shape our world?

2.  Pick the testable question (among those you have written) that means the most to you.  What is the purpose of this testable question?  

3.  WHO could benefit from the information you gather through your scientific investigation? 

4.  HOW might those individuals benefit from the information you gather through your scientific investigation?

5.  What materials will you need to conduct the experiment (include people, place, and things)?

6.  Identify the variables in your experiment:
     IV: __________________________________________________________
     DV: _________________________________________________________
     C: __________________________________________________________
     CG: _________________________________________________________

7.  What materials will you need to measure your dependent variable?

8.  What might be difficult about conducting your experiment/collecting data?

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Cause and Effect: Human Activity and Global Warming

9/27/2013

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Scientists often perform investigations to find the cause of an existing problem or change.  For example, upon observing that 1/3 of the students of MS 88 do not eat their lunch on Fridays, a student can perform a study to find out why these students at MS 88 leave their square-shaped pizza untouched.   Scientists also perform investigations to find the effect of an existing problem or change.  For example, a student can perform a study to determine what happens when the students of MS 88 do not eat lunch on Fridays.

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A cause and effect relationship is when one event or characteristic results in another.  Scientists attempt to understand and explain cause and effect relationships so that they can help prepare the world for future events and conditions, while searching for immediate solutions to prevent/reduce/address current problems and conditions.

Scientists often use the transitional "signal" words and phrases to indicate cause and effect relationships. You can explain a cause and effect relationship using these words and phrases, and/or identify cause and effect relationships written by other scientists upon spotting these words and phrases in published scientific studies.

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As scientists, we make observations, and then allow those observations to inspire scientific questions. Consequently, these fascinating questions drive us to investigate for answers.  One observation scientists have noted worldwide is the dramatic increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Earth's atmosphere over the past 50 years.  What is the cause of this change?  What is the effect of this change?  You might ask?

Well, lets first take it back to the basic composition and function of the Earth's atmosphere.  The Earth's atmosphere is made up of a mixture of gases-- mostly Nitrogen, Oxygen, water vapor (the gas state of water)-- which is held in place by Earth's gravity.  The atmosphere acts like a blanket for the Earth, keeping it nice and warm, while protecting it from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.  

The greenhouse effect is the process that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere by which solar energy is both absorbed by Earth and re-radiated (bounced back) in all directions.  This process is called the greenhouse effect because the Earth's atmosphere is essentially behaving, well, you guessed it: like a greenhouse!
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The recent increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (also known as "greenhouse gases") in the Earth's atmosphere has a similar effect of adding more mass to a blanket: more heat gets trapped underneath, and the temperature rises. This phenomena of rising temperatures in the Earth's atmosphere due to the increase in greenhouse gases is called global warming.  But what is the cause of the increase in these greenhouse gases?  Here is what the students of MS 88 concluded upon examining a series of images and captions from an article published by NASA:

  • “People want corn and corn products faster and cheaper.  As a result, more chemical fertilizers are used, which give off nitrous oxide.  Therefore, there is an increase in nitrous oxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
  • “People around the world love McDonalds.  Consequently, the amount of livestock increases, which produce more methane gas.  As a result, there is an increase in methane gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
  • "People buy more and waste more.  Therefore, landfills are packed, giving off a ton of methane gas.  This leads to an increase in methane gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
  • “People love to drive big, fancy cars.  That is why more gasoline is burned, putting more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Therefore, there is an increase in carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
  • “People use and waste a lot of paper products.  Therefore, more forests, which usually absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, are cut down.  As a result, there is an increase in carbon dioxide lingering in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
  • “People love their electronic gadgets.  Consequently, more fossil fuels are burned to provide electricity.  Therefore, there is an increase in carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
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Note the different transitional "signal" words.  Also, note the common word beginning each cause... people!  Human activity is by far the largest cause of global warming.  Learn more about how mankind is changing the Earth's climate here: http://climate.nasa.gov/causes. 

But what are the effects of the increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Earth's atmosphere?  What is the effect of global warming? Check out a video by NASA to learn more about both the causes and effects of global warming:
To learn more about what other scientists are observing and predicting to be the effects of global warming, check out the following websites:
  • http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/
  • http://planetsave.com/2009/06/07/global-warming-effects-and-causes-a-top-10-list/
  • http://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-effects/
  • http://timeforchange.org/cause-and-effect-for-global-warming

Homework: Read at least two of the articles above.  Then write 3 different effects of the increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Earth's atmosphere.  Make sure to use the transitional cause and effect "signal" words (above), and write in complete sentences.  Use the example sentences to help get you started.  Remember, we are discussing EFFECTS this time, not causes.

  • "The result of the increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Earth's atmosphere is ________________."
  • As a result of the increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Earth's atmosphere, __________________."
  • "The effect of the increase in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Earth's atmosphere is. _______________."
  • "One effect of global warming due to the increase in greenhouse gases is ____________."
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Great Scientists

9/17/2013

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Rachel Carson 
1907 - 1964

Rachel Carson was an American conservationist and marine biologist who is best known for advancing the modern global environmental movement.  Her controversial book, Silent Spring, brought attention to the dangerous effects she believed were caused by the use of synthetic pesticides.  The book ultimately inspired a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides, and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Articles
  • http://www.famousscientists.org/rachel-carson/
  • http://www.rachelcarson.org/
  • http://www.fws.gov/northeast/rachelcarson/carsonbio.html
  • http://ecotopia.org/ecology-hall-of-fame/rachel-carson/biography/

Videos
  • The Journal: Rachel Carson's Legacy 
  • Biography.com: Rachel Carson

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Charles Darwin 
1809 - 1882

Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution based on natural selection.  Natural selection is the process in which the stronger organisms survive to reproduce and pass on their traits (genes), while the weaker do not.  Darwin spent five years at sea on the HMS Beagle (boat), where he observed an incredible diversity of animal and plant species.  When the Beagle reached the Galápagos Islands, he noticed that each species was uniquely adapted to its immediate environment.  This observation led him to ask the questions that became the basis of his scientific explanation: living things have evolved in an orderly manner over many generations, and continue to evolve today.  After 23 years of study, he published his theory of evolution in The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. 

Articles
  • http://www.famousscientists.org/charles-darwin/
  • http://www.livescience.com/474-controversy-evolution-works.html
  • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/151902/Charles-Darwin
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/darwin_charles.shtml

Videos
  • Greatest Discoveries: Darwin's Story
  • Greatest Discoveries in Evolution: Natural Selection
  • Biography.com: Charles Darwin

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Robert Hooke 
1635 - 1703

Robert Hooke was an English physicist and inventor.  Hooke proved that both combustion (burning) and respiration (breathing) require air, and that sound does not travel in a vacuum.  He was one of the first men to build a Gregorian reflecting telescope and to suggest that Jupiter rotates on its access.  Hooke also studied numerous objects under microscopes and was the first to use the word cell to describe the patterns he observed.


Articles
  • http://www.famousscientists.org/robert-hooke/
  • http://www.biography.com/people/robert-hooke-9343172
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/hooke_robert_beavon_01.shtml
  • http://www.roberthooke.com/

Videos
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuVofeYsJN
  • Building a Life: Robert Hooke

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Carl Linnaeus 
1707 - 1778

Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish naturalist who developed the modern classification system for naming plants and animals.  This classification system is called binomial nomenclature, which consts of two words, the first being the genus and the second the species.  For example, Homo sapiens, the scientific name of the human, is an example of binomial nomenclature.  His method of classification allowed for clear and easy descriptions of plants, animals and minerals. 


Articles
  • http://www.anbg.gov.au/biography/linnaeus.html
  • http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/linnaeus.html
  • http://www.macroevolution.net/linnaeus.html#.Uje2f8akrMs
  • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/342526/Carolus-Linnaeus

Videos
  • Greatest Discoveries: Classification of Species 
  • http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/biographies/linnaeus/

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Louis Pasteur
1822 - 1895

Louis Pasteur was a French chemist who founded modern microbiology.   Pasteur established that germs cause diseases and infections.  Before Pasteur, people believed that diseases were generated spontaneously.  However, Pasteur's experiments proved that microorganisms are the true cause of many diseases. 
His early work with fermentation led him to invent to process of pasteurization.  He developed vaccines for anthrax, chicken cholera, and rabies.


Articles
  • http://www.famousscientists.org/louis-pasteur/
  • http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/louispasteur.html
  • http://www.biography.com/people/louis-pasteur-9434402
  • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/445964/Louis-Pasteur


Videos
  • About.com: Profile of Louis Pasteur 
  • Biography.com: Louis Pasteur

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James Watson & Francis Crick
(1928 -  ) & (1916 - 2004)

James Watson (American) & Francis Crick (British) are biologists who identified the structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, otherwise known as DNA.  By analyzing the patterns cast by x-rays striking DNA molecules, they discovered that DNA has the structure of a double helix, two spirals linked together by bases in ladder-like rungs.  Their discovery formed the basis of molecular genetics.  By understanding the structure of DNA, we better understand ourselves and our families through the study of hereditary disease, and the evolution of human life. 

Articles
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/watson_and_crick.shtml
  • http://www.biographyshelf.com/francis_crick_james_watson_biography.html
  • http://www.life123.com/parenting/education/biographies/james-watson-and-francis-crick.shtml

Videos
  • People and Discoveries: Watson and Crick Describe the Structure of DNA
  • http://www.biography.com/people/james-d-watson-9525139
  • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watson-and-crick-discover-chemical-structure-of-dna

Team Assignment:
Become experts on your team's great scientist!  Read the biographies/articles and watch the videos. Make sure to take notes.  Then answer the below questions in your science notebook.
  1. From where is your scientist?
  2. What did your scientist discover/find/advance?
  3. How did your scientist make that discovery?
  4. How has your scientists' discovery changed our world?
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