Pick a story - tell me what you think!
US Spy Satellite to "De-orbit" and Fall to Earth
Builders of the Pyramids Lived Short, Brutal Lives
Are You an "Owl" or a "Lark?" Your Genes May Make the Choice!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Where Should Science Draw the Line?
Recently I read two stories that disturbed me. The first was about the FDA allowing meat and milk from cloned animals to be sold as food. The second is that a man genetically engineered a rabbit with jelly-fish genes so that it glowed in the dark.
From the AJC's article about the FDA: "Meat and milk from cattle, swine and goat clones are as safe as food we eat every day," said Dr. Stephen Sundloff, FDA's food safety chief.
I say, are we sure? These things haven't been around that long, and we haven't been eating them.
As far as the ethics of creating genetically altered creatures, the Supreme Court has said it is ok for any living thing except humans.
Part of me is naturally wowed by what science can do, but another part of me is a little creeped out about the thought of a glowing bunny or eating a burger from a cloned cow.My daughter used to have a poster in her room that said, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." I sort of feel that way about these two things.
What do you think? Are these experiments pushing science forward in a good way? A bad way? Would you own a glowing pet? Would you drink milk from a cloned cow? Any other thoughts?
Monday, January 14, 2008
It's Pleo!
What is Pleo? From the Pleoworld website: "Pleo is an autonomous robotic life form modeled on a one-week-old Camarasaurus dinosaur. Pleo is designed to mimic life which means Pleo thinks and acts independently, just like a real animal."
It is also completely adorable! The operating system and mechanics are similar to, but more sophisticated than, the ones used in STEM class, but the principals are the same. If you go to the Pleoworld website, there is some interesting information on the "insides."
A few weeks ago we talked about technology and its changes, and someone mentioned having robots for pets. Pleo is available from The Sharper Image for about $350 - the same as many dogs, but without the food or vet bills. I am half-charmed and half-alarmed by Pleo and its popularity. Reading the forums, I am struck by how devoted many owners are to the creature.
What do you think? Good or bad? Scary or sad? Cute or disturbing? Would you own one?
It is also completely adorable! The operating system and mechanics are similar to, but more sophisticated than, the ones used in STEM class, but the principals are the same. If you go to the Pleoworld website, there is some interesting information on the "insides."
A few weeks ago we talked about technology and its changes, and someone mentioned having robots for pets. Pleo is available from The Sharper Image for about $350 - the same as many dogs, but without the food or vet bills. I am half-charmed and half-alarmed by Pleo and its popularity. Reading the forums, I am struck by how devoted many owners are to the creature.
What do you think? Good or bad? Scary or sad? Cute or disturbing? Would you own one?
Friday, January 11, 2008
Neuroscience For Kids
This is the website we used in class for the brain activities. It has a lot of information and activities for you to learn more about your brain and how it works. The memory and learning activities are here.
Which was your favorite? Did you learn anything new? Are you going to change any habits because of the activities?
Which was your favorite? Did you learn anything new? Are you going to change any habits because of the activities?
Challenge Day - Can You Be the Change?
Although I was disappointed that 8th grade didn't get to participate in Challenge Day, I was very happy that the Foundation was able to bring to program to our school. ECMS is unique; we have an amazingly diverse population. This is a strength but it also presents problems - that is why Challenge Day was so important.
For those of you curious about what your classmates experienced, you can read more about Challenge Day here.
Challenge Day also brought some positive publicity to our school: the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Marietta Daily Journal, and WXIA, Channell 11, all covered the event. Be sure to click on the links to read the stories.
Challenge Day isn't meant to be a single day event - it's meant to be extended. The Be the Change program is a way of extending the lessons of Challenge Day.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you think this will make a difference? Did any of your younger friends or siblings get to participate? What did they say? What's something you could do to "be the change?"
For those of you curious about what your classmates experienced, you can read more about Challenge Day here.
Challenge Day also brought some positive publicity to our school: the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Marietta Daily Journal, and WXIA, Channell 11, all covered the event. Be sure to click on the links to read the stories.
Challenge Day isn't meant to be a single day event - it's meant to be extended. The Be the Change program is a way of extending the lessons of Challenge Day.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you think this will make a difference? Did any of your younger friends or siblings get to participate? What did they say? What's something you could do to "be the change?"
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