Plasticity

After completing a lab on plasticity, it can know be understood how the mantle's characteristics change when pressure is either applied or removed. By creating a mixture of cornstarch and water, my group and I created an amorphous solid. An amorphous solid is a solid that doesn't have a definite or determined shape and form. In this case, the cornstarch and water mixture resembled the mantle of the Earth. When pressure was applied to the clay like mixture, it turned hard and looked solid. However, when you removed the pressure, the solid turned into a liquid like mixture that was still hard as before when touched. Also, when our group experimented by pushing our fingers into the mixture quickly, the hardness of the solid kept our fingers from sinking in. However, when we pushed our fingers in slowly, our fingers ended up sinking into the mixture.The lab experiment is similar to the Earth's mantle because the heat and pressure from the crust keeps the mantle solid. In the lab, the heat and pressure from our hands kept the mixture solid. However, just as the mixture showed characteristics of a liquid when the pressure and heat were removed, the mantle works the same way. If pressure and heat from the crust was to be removed, the mantle would appear to look like a liquid even though it's a solid. Therefore, the lab mixture and mantle resemble each other because they both are solids that can look like a liquid when the pressure being applied on them is removed. Both the mantle and the lab mixture have plasticity because they have the capability of receiving another characteristic that changes their appearance. In conclusion, this lab was very fun and interesting. I never knew that creating a mixture of cornstarch and water could help learn the characteristics of the Earth's mantle. This lab was very enjoyable.

Blog #11

"October Sky," was a movie based upon a man named Homer Hickam who followed his heart and created a rocket that went soaring through the sky. Currently, Homer Hickam is a retired NASA scientist who had to work very hard in order to reach his goals. Being a young boy from the town where everyone had to start mining at some point, Homer was also expected to do the same. Although he was provided education, it was pretty obvious that it wouldn't be of any use unless he got out of town through a football scholorship. The coal was needed for heat, or to produce energy in the form of steam. This energy was then used to power vehicles such as boats and trains and was also used to power other machines. Even though coal was necessary for heating and other uses, it was also created a major health issue. Working in coal mines usually caused back lung, a disease that was caused due to breathing in the fumes from the mines. Instead of working in such a place, Homer had other plans. While looking up into the starry night sky and watching Sputnik zoom by, Homer was very intruiged by the idea of rockets or satellites going up into space. Sputnik was the very first satellite that was launched into space by the Russians. To Homer, creating a rocket that could go up into space just like the Sputnik was something that pushed him further into trying out this idea and winning the science fair that his teacher, Ms. Riley, encouraged him to enter. Creating something from scratch always needs patience and self-control in order for the process to go right. Homer and his group of friends showed self-control and worked hard to improve their creation. After many failures, they finally created a rocket that flew high into the sky and also got Homer out of town and on his way to the science fair. Throughout all this, Homer came across many obstacles that prevented him from achieving great success. At first, Homer's father disapproved of his son's hobby and threw away all his materials. However, Homer managed to continue building and trying to get his rockets to fly. Later on, when Homer came home from the science fair, he also brought with him a medal that indiacated that he had won first prize. By working hard and showing traits such as cooperation and self-control, Homer Hickam proved that he could create a rocket and also won a medal for it. This shows that by working hard, one can go very far.

Angelman Syndrome Links

http://www.medicinenet.com/angelman_syndrome/article.htm

http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasesa/a/angelman05.htm

http://www.hmc.psu.edu.childrens/healthinfo/a/angelman.htm

Dwarfism(Blog 2)

Dwarfism is a disorder that has no possible treatment. When a patient has this disorder, they tend to walk slower than a normal human being, they have poor growth, and they have subnormal intelligence. The term subnormal means below normal or average. This information is remarkably explained by the writer who attracts the eye of careful readers by stating such interesting information about a disease that many people have all over the United States. The facts about what Dwarfism is and how it affects those who have it really intrigued me to learn more about this disorder because this disease is caused by mutated genes. The writer has undoubtedly stated important facts about Dwarfism and has clearly shown a great understanding of what Dwarfism is.

Angelman Syndrome

Angelman Syndrome is a disease that was discovered in 1965 by a physician named Harry Angelman. The symptoms of this disease are slurred speech, hyperactivity, small sized head, sleep disorders, movement and balance disorders, and seizures. People with Angelman Syndrome usually lead healthy, normal lives and have a normal life expectancy. However, there is no specific cure for Angelman Syndrome that will free people from this disease. Usually, patients with this disease are treated with physical and occupational therapies, communication therapy, and behavioral therapies that allow individuals with this syndrome to reach their maximum development potential. Angelman Syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 12,000 to 20,000 people in the world. The Angelman Syndrome Foundation has knowledge of around 1000 cases of this disease in the U.S. and Canada. Also, Angelman Syndrome is found among all racial groups. This disease is not directed to one specific group. The gene for Angelman Syndrome is called UBE3A. When this gene is turned on, the disease does not occur. But when the gene is turned off, the disease occurs. In patients with Angelman Syndrome, a missing UBE3A gene only occurs in the chromosomes given by the mother. Mutations in the area of the Imprinting Center can also cause Angelman Syndrome. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) supports and conducts research on neurogenetic disorders such as Angelman Syndrome, to develop techniques to diagnose, treat, prevent, and ultimately cure them.
After learning so much information about Angelman Syndrome, it is sure to make anyone realize how hard life could be for those who have this disease. Even though patients can maintain a healthy lifestyle, there will always be something that will stop them from being like everybody else around them. Still, by getting the right therapies, they can reach their maximum development potential. Learning about this disease made me feel very sympathetic towards those who have this terrible disorder and I hope that the NINDS soon find a cure for Angelman Syndrome.