Below are homeworks submitted by three students that we regard as models of homework well done!

Congratulations Jessica, Jack, and Long!

Homework submitted by Jessica Gresham

reference: www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/science/28crop.html?_r=1&oref=login&ref=science&pagewanted=print

New York Times, August 28, 2007, William J. Broad

Apparently, humans are at the stage where we can help evolution along.

According to an article in the New York Times a technological advance

using radiation to create genetic mutations in certain crops could be

beneficial around the globe. Via radiation, the mutation process can

“guide” the creation of new crops and protect some old ones.

The article begins with an allegory in which Dr. Pierre Lagoda rolls a

pair of dice in order to explain how nature in and of itself produces

natural mutations in evolution. The article then explains that scientists

have been manipulating this mutation process via radiation in order to

make “better” tasting and looking crops with enhanced immunities. The

random “dice rolling” aspect is paralleled in such radiation manipulation

in that scientists are unaware how radiation will change the genetics of

crops. Instances in which creating mutations have been helpful in

maintaining and reviving crops are then listed: a mutant bean replacing a

dying breed in Michigan, keeping the red grapefruits of Texas red, saving

cocoa trees in Ghana from a virus, creating a new species of pear in

Japan, and further production of rice in Vietnam. By protecting such

crops would it be possible to ease hunger around the world? One scientist

in the article states that it would.

While it makes sense that creating new species of crops will increase the

food count across the globe and/or help protect plants from disease and

extinction, the two major arguments for the benefits of radiation-based

mutations, there are still a few aspects of the article that remain

unclear. One of the examples in the article did not seem to be fully

explained: why does it matter if a grapefruit turns pink instead of

remaining a bright red? Is the taste affected? There is no mention of

such in the article. Also, another missing component of the article,

which would have made the article far more informative, is: what is the

effect on the crop from the radiation exposed to it? Radiation emissions

are notorious for being potentially dangerous in large quantities, or in

repeated small ones. While we must be exposed to radiation in certain

instances, x-rays for example, could the radiation directed into mutating

crops, even if it is just the initial seeds, have a dangerous affect?

Homework submitted by Jack Paschal 4 Sept

Tue, September 4, 2007 10:29 pm

Article: “Scientists Ruminate on Cow Stomach Fluid for Fuel Cells”

LiveScience.com; Aug. 29th, 2007

http://www.livescience.com/technology/070829_cow_fuel.html

The article I read discusses the efforts of Ohio State University

researchers to incorporate rumen fluid, from the largest chamber of a

cow’s stomach, into sustainable fuel cells. The article explains that in

the fuel cells used by the Ohio State researchers, cellulose, an ethanol

fuel source, is broken down by microbes found in the cow rumen fluid to

generate electricity. The fuel cells actually contain two compartments.

The first compartment contains cellulose and rumen fluid. As the cellulose

is broken down it generates electrons which flow into the second

compartment – creating an electrical current. The article concludes by

noting that the current fuel cells under development at Ohio State are

indefinitely sustainable, so long as cellulose is consistently added to

the bacteria found in the rumen fluid.

The first question I thought of when reading this article was whether or

not cow rumen fluid is a substance that is available in large enough

quantities to make this a meaningful finding. An Ohio State researcher

quoted in the article notes that cellulose is one of the “most abundant

resources on our planet”, but he does not speak to the availability of

the rumen fluid used in the fuel cells. Since it is a microbe found in

the rumen fluid which is responsible for breaking down cellulose (and not

the rumen fluid itself), it is conceivable however that there are a

variety of sources for the particular microbe, and the bacteria could

possibility be replicated via synthetic means.

Assuming the availability of the active microbe in these fuel cells is

not an issue, I would be interested in knowing in what context the cells

could be used. The article notes that it requires 2 such cells to

recharge a single AA battery. This assertion leads me to presume that the

output of these cells is enough to use them for small scale electrical

needs (such as the type of things that someone would usually put a simple

battery in), but perhaps further study on cellulose energy will yield

higher output cells capable of powering larger electrical needs.

Homework submitted by Long Do

4 September 1:09 pm

Source: http:/www.livescience.com/technology/070829_ap_japan_net.html

The Internet, which was built in the 60’s, is now being

considered obsolete. That’s what the Japanese believe at least. The

country will begin researching a new network that will replace our

familiar world wide web. Japan is not alone; the U.S. and some

European countries have already begun to study ways of revamping the

architecture of the Internet.

As Yoshihiro Onishi, assistant director at the Japanese

communications ministry states, “The Internet is reaching its

limit.” This is because the 30-plus year old Internet was built to

be free and flexible for the researchers that were the main users

during its creation. This flexibility has now allowed new users to

manipulate the Internet and cause problems such as spam and hacks.

Another important fact about the Internet was that it was created

thinking that computers would always remain in the same place, but

now that we have laptops and mobile devices—such as smartphones and

UMPCs—the Internet has had to undergo several changes to accommodate

the new technology.

There are many opinions by researchers about a resolution. Some want

to create a “new” Internet that would either run parallel to our

current one or even go so far as to replace it. Others believe that

the current one should just be remodeled, so to speak. The new

network would be able to utilize all of our modern technological

advances in speed, reliability, and security. Still, in the U.S. and

many countries, results are not expected for at least another decade.

I can’t imagine just having a completely new “Internet.” Would it

look the same? If it were to just be revamped, would the enhancements

be underneath the hood? I can understand why Japan and such

countries would want to create a better Internet, it just might be

easier, but what about the technologies that we are currently using?

Wouldn’t computers, routers, modems all work with the new Internet

when they’ve all been designed specifically for our current

Internet? I understand the idea; it’s like buying a new car instead

of having to keep maintaining an old one that has a lot of problems.

I don’t think replacing the Internet is very feasible though, at

least not quickly. Many people do not like change and would be very

reluctant to do so. I think society has grown accustomed to our

modern day idea of “the Internet” and any changes, enhancements, or

remodeling that would disrupt the image meet vast opposition.