Journal Entry #12: Architect

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Career Overview

An architect is someone who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of a structure, for example a library. In architecture both art and science is involved. Just like other forms of art, there are many different types and styles in architecture, such as “post-modernism.” A lot of science and physics is also involved in architecture.

Journal Entry #11: Nanowire Battery

Silicon nanowires before and after lithium absorption
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Introduction

For the grant proposal, my group’s idea is to make an efficient and reliable electric car while using various types of renewable energy to power the car (wind, solar, water). By doing this we wish significantly reduce the dependence on fossil fuels for transportation.
In order to increase the efficiency of the car, I decided to research upon a highly efficient battery that we could possibly use for our project. I came across a scientific journal in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, titled “High-performance lithium battery anodes using silicon nanowires.”

Journal Entry #10: Super-Sensory Hearing

Newspaper article: Key to Super-Sensory Hearing? Newly Identified Hearing Organ in Bushcrickets' Ears May Inspire Acoustic Sensors

Article by: ScienceDaily

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Summary of the Article

Scientists from the University of Lincoln and Bristol have discovered an organ, called the “Auditory Vesicle” in the ear of a bushcricket. This organ converts sound waves to mechanical, hydraulic, and electrochemical energy. This discovery reveals that the bushcricket ear does “air to liquid impedance conversion and amplification” like the ear of a mammal. Dr. Fernando Montealegre-Z, one of the researchers who discovered the new organ, plans to further study the ears of different bushcricket species in order to understand how the insects can each other’s high pitched sounds over long distances.

Journal Entry #9: Computer Hardware Engineer

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm#tab-1

Career Overview

Computer hardware engineering is a career that I find interesting. A computer hardware engineer develops, designs, and tests computer equipment. Examples of equipment that they design include circuit boards and computer chips. This career appeals to me because I have an interest in computers and technology and I like seeing the way things work. In addition, computer hardware engineers use chemistry, which is one of my favourite parts of science.

Journal Entry #8: Cancer

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Cancer

During our biology unit a few days ago, we learned about cancer. We learned what cancer is, how it develops, what the possible causes are, and what treatments are available for it. I knew some of the things that we learned in class, for example, I knew that cancer was unregulated mitosis (division) of abnormal cells. From the class discussion and lesson on cancer I learned quite a bit that I did not know. I learned that cells become abnormal because sometimes the DNA isn’t copied correctly into the new cell. When this happens, usually the cell will repair its DNA, or if it cannot be repaired, the cell dies.

Journal Entry #7: Typhoid Animal Model

Newspaper article: Animal Model of Typhoid Fever Could Lead to Better Vaccines 

Article by: ScienceDaily 

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Summary of the Article

Since mice show symptoms related to humans, and since they respond positively to immunization, mice models can be used to develop vaccines for typhoid fever. However, prior to the work done by Columbia University researchers, there were no animal models for studying responses to typhoid. Researchers from Columbia University developed the first mouse model to respond to typhoid as mice do not develop this fever due to a receptor in their intestines. The team hopes that their model will increase progress towards developing better vaccines.

Journal Entry #6: Power Felt

Newspaper article: Recharge Your Cell Phone With a Touch? New Nanotechnology Converts Body Heat Into Power
Article by: ScienceDaily

http://images.sciencedaily.com/2012/02/120222092916-large.jpg

Summary of the Article

A new thermoelectric device called Power Felt, converts heat into electrical energy. This device was developed by researchers at Wake Forest University. The Power Felt is made to feel like fabric, but it is actually made up of carbon nanotubes and plastic fibers. The potential uses for it include collecting heat under roofs to lower heating costs, lining automobile seats to help boost battery power and things like the radio and navigations systems in the car, and more. It could also be used to recharge a cell phone and make an emergency call, or to power a flash light. Currently the power output is 140 nanowatts, and the research team is working on adding more nanotube layers to increase the power output. More work needs to be done on the Power Felt before it is ready for the market, however one researcher says that “it's definitely within reach.”