We may have heard that our pets at home can predict the weather. Is this statement true though? Scientific evidence may prove that they can. I don’t know about some of you but the weatherman in my hometown has been known to get the weather wrong from time to time. Hopefully if scientific evidence can prove that they can, we won’t have to listen to weather personnel anymore.

Could you even begin to imagine if our animals could predict the weather? Lives and cities would benefit greatly from this in the case of a really bad storm. On Dec, 26th 2004 a tsunami destroyed most of southeast Asia. Many people perished in the tsunami but what struck me as fascinating is that almost no animal lives were lost. Could these animals have known before hand? Scientists say that these animals react to the changes in the environment and not necessarily to the weather. However some scientists also believe that animals have the ability to sense these disasters before hand but there really is no evidence to prove this.

After reading more about this phenomenon and interesting story it is also stated that the animals use our 5 senses a lot better than humans do. This may let us know of an incoming disaster but animals won’t be able to tell lets say, an earthquake for example is coming they won’t know what an earthquake actually is. Animals that can sense and feel vibrations in the ground may be able to predict an earthquake as well. Many researchers are examining whats inside an animal to test to see if they can pick up these early warning sign like senses compared to us when we can just feel them.

I even stumbled upon a list of animals that may be able to predict the weather. There are 8 animals listed. They are frogs, birds, cows, bees/butterflies, sheep, ladybugs,ants,and the famous groundhog. Each animal was described as having their own ability to predict the weather but I thought was pretty cool was the ladybugs. Apparently as we all know it’s freezing in State College, ladybugs seek shelter when colder weather is on the way. In conclusion I believe that it is fascinating that some are actually believed to predict the weather. On the other hand scientists haven’t been able to prove if they could and with no scientific evidence there is really no way of knowing. Hopefully if scientists and researchers find out what is making these animals have this so called ability, we can all benefit greatly from it. Also I would like to note that many people think dogs can predict the weather but I found it very interesting that they weren’t on the list.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/animals-predict-weather2.htm

http://www.weather.com/science/news/animals-predicting-weather-20130201#/7

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550437/Punxsutawney-Phil-predicts-six-weeks-winter-Groundhog-Day.html

http://kingsbrookvet.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html

Personally I think that Global Warming is still only a theory. I also believe that it will never be fully proven. In class we learn that the only way to do this is to disprove the theory. This lead me to researching about global warming to see what it was all about. I looked at the scientific standpoint on the issue to see what global warming was all about and see what scientists had to say about it.

In recent years scientists have documented that the earth is warming all over. To do this scientists have looked at the temperatures that were documented around the world over the past couple centuries. They found that within the last century the temperature has risen to 1 degree and its risen even more than that in the arctic. We have to note that this rise in temperature is based on an average around the globe and not specified to any specific region.

 I’m not one to really look into photographs that often but I think this photo sends a very strong message.

To study the temperatures of the past scientists look at different ways to figure out just how warm our Earth was over the centuries. Scientists do this by looking at the thickness of trees, our ocean floor, and our atmosphere. Scientists do this by drilling into the arctic sheets. When drilling bubbles that were stuck in gas gives the scientists an idea of what our atmosphere was like back then.

With winter right around the corner scientists also believe that the storms may get worse as time goes on. In 2006 the Journal of Applied Meteorology looked at the snowfall over the past 20th century. It was noted in that journal that scientists and meteorologists alike concluded that the major snowfall that has hit us has been during warmer years than what it usually has been. Scientists will go on to say that they predict the warmer temperatures we experience throughout the globe will lead to increased snow storms.

I find it fascinating that this is still all really considered a theory in my opinion. Yes it states that the climate is getting warmer but I do not believe enough has been done to prove that this theory is correct. I’m not going to lie I laughed about global warming when I first heard about it but now that I have been addressed on the issue I have a better understanding. I say this but I also believe that the effects of global warming can’t account for all major snow storms that may or may not happen.

As for the future, scientists are using computers to see what is in store for the Earth’s surface. Using these computers scientists are able to see how our oceans and atmosphere react to the sun. The energy that is absorbed is then spread out throughout our Earth.

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-real/

http://www.livescience.com/48874-warming-climate-produces-more-snow-storms.html

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/16/PLS-HOLD-FOR-TUESDAY-9-17-AFTER-11AM-ET-Climate-Study-Evidence-Leans-Against-Human-Caused-Global-Warming

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/global-warming2.htm

I’ve never been a fan of milk at all. I do however have no problem with chocolate milk. We hear that milk is good for our bodies but do we really need it? Growing up our parents always tried to get us to drink milk and I’ve always wondered why. Turns out we may not need it after all or do we?

A journal titled JAMA Pediatrics is taking a closer look at the recommended three servings we have always been told was helpful. A pediatricitian named Dr David Ludwig from Boston’s Children Hospital says that recommended daily servings should be looked at and that the servings should have a wider range that is more appropriate. Is reduced fat milk turning out to be harmful than drinking whole milk? Evidence shows that this may just be true. Dr Walter also notes that milk should not be taken out of the diet.

Adults with different diets sometimes get their calcium from other foods. Studies show that this may not be such a big deal after all. Countries throughout the world may not consume dairy foods at all. Rates of osteoporosis don’t seem to vary as compared to those of us living in the United States.  The rates are no higher than they are here. This may be because other countries get their calcium from plants and other sources that contain vitamin D.

Ludwig also notes that some children may have very poor diets and that they may require more calcium. Ludwig states that as high as three 8 ounce glasses to ensure they build strong bones. The debate against fat free or whole milk is still a debate to this day. Studies show that the possibility of obesity is not reduced when drinking fat free or 1 percent milk. When trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle fat free milk tends to be the go to choice. Yes the taste may be bad but the way fat free milk is made is what makes it the best option. To make fat free milk the fat is taken out of the liquid then some nutrients is added. Fat free milk is only 0-0.5% fat when compared to whole milk having 3.25% these percentages come from the USDA. When trying to be fit and healthy always try and get past the taste of fat free milk to ensure you live a fit and healthy lifestyle. Milk is needed for strong bones as well as teeth and still is recommended in our diets.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blogs/daily-dose/2013/07/01/how-much-milk-really-need/yT8YraNS4m39XiC8RWxLgK/blog.html

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/is-fat-free-milk-healthy.html

http://www.holdthecarbs.com/low-carb-milk-mix

Pennsylvania is known to have some great places that you can go to to gaze at the stars. I was wondering what exactly were stars and how are they formed. Stars are held up in the sky by their own source of gravity and are filled with luminous gas. It is composed of mostly hydrogen and helium. Nuclear fission also plays a role with making a star. It supports the star with its number of reactions holding it against gravity. This ends up producing photons, heat, and also creates heavier elements.

On clear nights you can usually see stars in the sky but do we really know where they come from? In a recent star formation theory it is believed that stars start out as basic clumps inside gas clouds that eventually fall on each other. After the material that is inside a cloud gets hot enough the gravity of the cloud causes it to fall inward. The gas then heats up to 18 million degrees. Once it reaches this extremely hot temperature hydrogen nuclei forms into helium nuclei. The results form into what you see in the sky on a clear night. Nuclear fissions energy causes the center of the star to radiate outside the star which causes it halt the collapse of the gas cloud.

You can also see which stars are the hotter ones. Blue lighted stars are the hottest and the lighter color stars are lower in temperature. In the next million or so years the hottest stars will have used up all their energy. The lighter stars however have the ability to burn billions of years down the road. Now this leads to my next question. What exactly causes a shooting star?

Shooting stars really aren’t even stars at all. They are made of meteoroids that entire entire our atmosphere burning up. The small light you see behind the star is actually called a meteor. If any part of its journey actually hit the Earths surface it is then dubbed the name meteorite. I always thought space was pretty awesome thing to look at and what better way to start then with the stars. You may now understand a little more about them and have a better understanding.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-resources/what-is-a-star/

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question12.html

http://kazzabee.com/2012/06/04/be-better-basket-challenge-1-stop-look-up-at-the-stars-and-dream/

In April of 2010 our marine life in the Gulf of Mexico suffered from one of the worst disasters in the history of oil spills. It was called the Deepwater Horizon oil spill or better known as the BP oil spill. Our marine life still suffers today and scientists are trying to fight back. What are they doing? How is it still affecting our wildlife? As I dove into some more information about the disaster I couldn’t of prepared for what actually happened.

Scientists today are still at war with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For starters over 8,000 different species of aquatic life and birds were either found dead or injured. Long term impacts of the spill range from an unbalanced food web all the way to parks and recreational service that deal with fishing trips to suffering business wise. Scientists are still using different methods to locate where the impact of the spill had the most affect. Also they are finding what is wrong with the dolphins in regards to their health.

Scientists are looking into the effects the spill had different kinds of species of animals. In 2011 researchers visited the Louisiana Bay to study the recently discovered very sick dolphins still suffering from the effects of the bp oil spill. They had to test the blood of these dolphins and their sickness ranged from low blood sugar all the way to elevator lifted enzymes. The dolphins also showed that they were way more likely to develop lung disease. They did this by encircling the dolphins into a net then handlers would try to calm down the dolphins so they could do their study. Scientists are also taking samples from the sea floor to determine how much oil is still in the area and they also note that they don’t believe all the oil has been accounted for. Other scientists are simply looking for life in the sea floor using under water cameras. They discovered that more animals have been roaming through the sea floor at a higher rate. There are plenty of ways we can help scientists out with this issue. Donations to the NWF can help researchers save the environment around the oil spill simply by going to their website at www.nwf.org.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/scenes_from_the_gulf_of_mexico.html

http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Protect-Habitat/Gulf-Restoration/Oil-Spill/Effects-on-

Wildlife.aspx

http://www.npr.org/2013/12/19/255406326/scientists-charge-bp-oil-spill-gravely-injured-dolphins

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/bp_oil_spill_scientists_strugg.html

http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help.aspx

Some of us may have enjoyed a nice cold refreshing drink over the holidays…and i’m not talking about soda or water. I’m talking about an alcoholic beverage (if you’re of age of course.) Personally if you aren’t of age I do not see any problem with enjoying an alcoholic drink in the comfort of your own home. Some of us like to watch what we put into our bodies and an alcoholic beverage could be one of them. But is there a specific type of alcohol that is best for your health? I decided to look at both wine and beer.

You can argue that beer has more vitamins than wine or other spirits. You can also argue that wine drinkers refer to a term called the “French Paradox.” This term means that the French are proven to have a lower rate of deaths when it comes to heart disease even though they are known to smoke more, are proven to exercise at a lower rate than Americans, and indulge in the nasty foods that most of us consume in a fast food joint.

In 2000 a study was done by Danish scientists that compared both wine and beer drinkers. Danish scientists concluded that the risk of cancer was proven to be more likely found in beer drinkers than wine drinkers. The risk of getting a stroke and even death was shown to be higher in beer drinkers as well. These may be true but I have problems with this study because the individuals diet was not taken into account and the everyday life of the individuals also plays a role as well and I think that is important. I stumbled onto another study that was conducted in Germany involving 300 patients.

What makes this study more convincing is that these individuals had heart disease and wrote down just how much they were consuming. German studies showed that those who consumed beer whether abusing it or drinking it in moderate amounts, displayed a lower risk of getting heart disease. However a 2006 study that also took place in Denmark showed that wine drinkers are known to eat better. Over six months the beer and wine drinkers were tracked in supermarkets adding up to 98 supermarkets. As for the results they showed that wine drinkers make more beneficial and healthier choices when it comes to eating. Examples included the purchasing of vegetables and other healthy items. Beer drinkers went down a different road showing they bought more fatty foods like soda and chips.

The 2006 study took into account the diet of these participants which I believe is most important. A 2001 study conducted in the Czech Republic showed that vitamin B6 is found to be most common in beer which is used to fight heart disease. Also if you are looking to obtain a good beach body light beer is very low in calories and the price of beer is much cheaper than wine. What I just mentioned regarding the cost means that since wine is more expensive the drinkers of wine are believed to be more wealthy thus resulting in a healthier lifestyle. It seems as if the winner is wine but I found that different studies showed different results so there is really no clear winner in my opinion. Always remember though that excessive amounts of any alcohol is not good to your health and there are plenty of other ways to live a healthier lifestyle without the use of alcohol.

http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_nutrition/page7.htm

http://www.focused-on-fitness.com/health/wine-vs-beer.php

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/beer-vs-wine-which-drink-should-you-order.html

Over the Thanksgiving break I was playing around with my dogs just like I’m sure most of you also did the same thing. Or some of you may have been playing around with your cat. Owning pets all my life had me thinking which pet would be the smarter one. As I died deeper into researching the brains of a dog I also wondered about cats. The results regarding the two different pets and which one was smarter had some different results but in the end I think you all know who the winner would be…or do you?

When comparing dogs to cats we have to understand that different breeds of dogs and cats may play a huge part into judging which one is smarter. However I wanted results as a whole. Science is backing up who I thought would win. In 2013 the Wall Street Journal published an essay also wondering the same exact question. The results in the end leaned more to the dogs being the winner. Many arguments for the dogs involved them having the ability to show more reasoning, understanding of human languages, and having the ability to use the process of elimination to figure things out. As for cats the main argument looked at the pure independence that a cat always displays.

Having science to back up any argument is worth believing so lets start with some facts. Looking at the two different brains of these animals we need to look at body mass. A cat’s brain is only 0.9% of its body mass whereas a dogs is 1.2% Science though may not agree that this matters though. Instead they look at the neurons in their bodies and say that this is what matters. Our cerebral cortex is responsible for problem solving and even perception. The numbers speak for themselves here. Cats have 300 million when dogs only have 160 million. Now we hear about studies working with dogs are for more common. The main reason for this is because cats are hard to work with. The study that was done involved whether a cat can place objects into categories just like dogs. As well as to figure out what a human is thinking.

A psychologist named Christian Agrillo put the cats to the test. The test showed that cats can be trained to this task but it does not come easy to them like other animals. He also stated that in another study they could also have the ability to read gestures as well. Also conducted was a study between the two and found that when a dog couldn’t figure out a piece to puzzle when dealing with food, the dog seemed to be more relying on its owner unlike the cat.

What we need to know is that dogs have been involved in our lives much longer than cats. Dogs simply have more interaction with humans which makes them understand us better. Does this make them smarter than cats? I believe this study showed that there is no real winner here. Personally if I had to take a guess i would guess that a dog would be much smarter. After reading about the different types of tests being done it shows that cats may carry some of the same abilities. You be the judge.

http://www.pawnation.com/2013/02/11/are-dogs-smarter-than-cats

http://www.livescience.com/45730-cats-dogs-intelligence.html

How intelligent is the average House Cat?

What is the real reason why we should keep dogs away from chocolate? We have all heard that dogs may get sick or possibly even die from consuming to much chocolate. What causes a dog to become sick when eating the one thing that almost everyone enjoys? We need to fully understand what it can do to our dogs. Dogs are known to suffer greatly from consuming to much chocolate but what about other household pets?

Chocolate is considered to be the most common cause of poisoning in canines. Dogs that consume chocolate can suffer seizures and we all know it can kill a canine. It is very important to note that there is no amount of chocolate that is healthy for dogs. Some of the most serious kinds of chocolate are dark and bakers chocolate. More less serious varieties of chocolate include white and milk chocolate.

What is in chocolate that is harmful to dogs? Caffeine is found inside the cocoa beans as well as theobromine, which causes the most serious danger to canines. Humans can metabolize theobromine a lot faster than dogs. Theobromine is very similar to caffeine and can be very toxic to dogs. When theobromine is consumed in dogs it can stay in their system for up to 17 hours and pose many problems. As I stated earlier levels of theobromine are found to have higher doses in dark and bakers chocolate.

What are some of the terrible things that can happen to our canines if they consume chocolate? Earlier in my blog I stated that no amount of chocolate is good for dogs. Even with small amounts of consumption dogs can experience vomitting and even diarrhea. Heavy doses of chocolate can lead to rapid heart rate, seizures, high blood pressure, and it could lead to cardiac arrest.

Dark chocolate and bakers chocolate can contain up to ten times more of the lethal toxic known as theobromine then milk or white chocolate. Deaths in canines have been known to contain up to 115mg of theobromine. Theobromine is measured by using body weight. The toxic reactions in canines can occur with 100-150 milligrams per kilogram.

If your canine ingests to much what can you do? When a dog consumes to much chocolate veterinarians usually recommend the use of ipecac. Ipecac induces vomitting in canines. As of now there is no cure to chocolate poisoning and the best way to help your canine is to bring him or her to vet immediately. When the vomitting has stopped activated charcoal is recommended to eliminate the remaining toxins, drugs and other fluids are also used to help with seizures and this also helps with the dogs heart and helps protect it.

Canines can suffer greatly but what about other pets? Theobromine in cats is also very toxic but there are very few cases simply because cats don’t prefer chocolate. Horses are also known to suffer from chocolate and can have the same side effects as dogs because horses also metabolize the toxin theobromine very slowly. When horses are involved in competition theobromine can also cause the horses to show up positive for a drug test.

I really feel that we all need to watch what we feed our pets and not get carried away with it. With Halloween just around the corner, and if you are missing your pets just as much as I am, it may not hurt to tell your family members to watch the chocolate around your pets. Dogs are known to not care what they eat and they do not know it is harmful to them but us as pet owners need to be sure we keep this harmful candy away from them. As a human I am thankful that I can consume chocolate but if this were to harm my pets I couldn’t imagine what I would do. We have to have situational awareness when it comes to what our pets consume to ensure their safety.

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dogs-and-chocolate-get-the-facts?page=2

http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/theobromine.php

http://www.petparents.com/show.aspx/horses/horse-health/common-foods-to-avoid-feeding-your-horse

http://honeyhny.com/the-low-down-on-chocolate-and-your-health/

http://www.hdwallpapers.in/cute_dogs-wallpapers.html

”My god, what have we done?” – Robert Lewis co pilot of the Enola Gay. Just before the beginning of World War 2 Albert Einstein wrote a letter to our president at the time Franklin D. Roosevelt. Einstein as well as some other scientists told our president that Germany was planning on purifying Uranium and that they could possibly be planning to make an atomic bomb the world was never seen before. This news startled the president and what we now know as ”The Manhattan Project” was underway.

Making an atomic bomb is no easy task. Scientists believed the hardest part was making enough Uranium to produce a chain reaction. In the early 40’s getting a hold of Uranium-235 was not easy. A lab in Tennessee was built to complete the task at hand. Harold Urey and some of his colleagues worked on task of figuring out gaseous diffusion. Scientist Earnest Lawrence was tasked with working on separating the two isotopes U-235 and U-238 magnetically. A gas centrifuge was used to seperate U-235 which was lighter and U-238 which was non fissionable. As soon as all the tasks were completed the next step was completing the theory behind atomic fission or splitting the atoms.

From 1939 to 1945 2 billion dollars was put into completing the project. Some of the best scientists at the time were doing whatever they could to work on making Uranium into an atomic bomb. Robert Oppenheimer was the big name behind the atomic bomb and oversaw its completion from beginning to end. The First test came in the summer of 1945 in New Mexico. After the test was done however scientists had plenty of different reactions. Even Robert Oppenheimer the head guy in charge, felt as if he created a monster. Some of the participants who took part in creating the bomb that would shake our time wanted to petition what they had created.

Towards the end of World War 2 allies used the the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and in Nagasaki Japan. It is important to note that this is still the only time nuclear weapons has been used since the bombs fell on Japan. Within minutes thousands have died. Thousands of buildings were immediately destroyed as well as result of the massive blasts. In Nagasaki alone 39% of the buildings there were destroyed and most of the casualties were from the radiation. Plenty of people were missing and never found as a result of the blasts.

In my opinion yes this is something that still instills fear in all of us. It happened once could it happen again? Could this happen on U.S soil? I believe that there is a huge possibility that it could happen with so many technical advances in our generation. Was all this necessary though? So many civilians women and children for instance died as a result of the blast. We have to really look at the aftermath and what it did. In my opinion yes it did end the war but at the same time I do not think was necessary to drop a bomb of this magnitude on innocent civilians who played no part in the war at that time.

http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki

http://www.atomcentral.com/hiroshima-nagasaki.aspx

http://ozebook.com/wordpress/archives/5500

http://wweapons.blogspot.com/2011/04/fat-man-atomic-bomb-nuclear-weapon.html

We consume water or should at least, every day. But how much is to much? Drinking to much water will increase the volume in your blood. Putting more water into your blood will cause stress on the heart as well as the blood vessels. Your kidneys also suffer from to much water being consumed. Drinking to much water will cause your kidneys to overwork themselves in filtering out all the water.

Not only is drinking to much water harmful to your body it can also take your life as well. In 2007 a California wife and mother of three died from such cause. This mothers body was found inside her home after she participated in a contest where she had to hold her pee to win a free gaming system. If people knew what the effects were of consuming to much water this event would never have taken place and a life would never have been taken.

Electrolytes are a important part of your body. Drinking to much water will cause your circulatory system to try and maintain the electrolytes and your blood and cells to equal out. This will cause water to flow into the cells causing your cells to grow from their normal size. Swelling can also occur in your brain causing increasing and painstaking pressure causing headaches, and breathing will become very difficult.

Hyponatremia can be shortly described as a low salt content in your blood. Parents should advise their children not to drink to much water even when the temperature is relatively warm and should pay attention to how much they drink. Schools as well should take notice this. Some schools hold contests where the students are required to drink a high amount of water. Sports teams and coaches should also take note for athletes are always moving and requiring nourishment while playing at a high speed. I always knew drinking to much water could be harmful to your body but I never knew that drinking to much water could cause all of these problems within your body. It also important to note to balance how much you are sweating and drinking. This I know is hard but as long as you drink till you match your thirst that is the healthiest way.

http://drbenkim.com/drink-too-much-water-dangerous.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/

http://yogavoices.com

http://www.cbc.ca/daybreaksouth/2012/06/08/do-we-drink-too-much-water/

Washing your hands should be a simple task, yet some people are to lazy to do it. Plenty of students on campus have struggled with the sickness that has been going around. Maybe if some of us took the time to wash their hands the sickness wouldn’t be able to spread as easy. How long should you wash your hands though? How many times a day should you wash your hands and not just after using the bathroom?

Washing your hands prevents the spread of a variety of things. Washing your hands before and after activities can reduce the chance of you and others getting sick. When should you wash your hands? As a pet owner myself and I know I’m not alone on this should always wash their hands after handling pets. I’m guilty of this and I don’t think about it to often. Also with students being sick it is very important to wash your hands after blowing your nose or coughing. I’m sure some of us have all been in a class where it sounds like everyone is coughing and it wouldn’t hurt to just wash your hands after you leave that class to help prevent germs and other things that could potentially make you sick.

My blog title is about how long you should wash your hands and yes, it does seem a little bit childish but at the same time I know we have all seen people take very little time doing this. Make sure you are washing your hands with clean water to start out with. Water temperature can either be hot or cold. I for one always prefer hot water when doing so. Next you need to be sure to lather up your hands. When lathering up your hands though you need to be sure to get between your fingernails and in between your fingers as well. At least 20 seconds is recommended for washing your hands! Sing your favorite song in your head for a little bit if you need a timer on that. You can dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry.

I know some of the bathrooms on campus sometimes run out of paper towels so it wouldn’t hurt to have a small bottle of hand sanitzer on you just in case. Just note hand santizers do not eliminate all germs. I previously stated ways to help eliminate germs but what is the science behind all of this? Studies have shown no health benefits regarding using either antibacterial type of sanitizers and just using regular soap. Even when turning off the faucet yes it saves water but there is very little studies that have proven the transfer of germs between the hands and the faucet. Using soap instead of just water is very important. Studies have proven that using soap will lift more oils out and microbes. Also when we use soap we always tend to scrub a little more to help remove even more germs. I also learned there really is no difference when using hot or cold water. I said I usually prefer hot water when washing my hands but using hot water can cause skin irritation. I previously said that washing your hands is a simple task but we all need to make sure it is done the right way.

http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-you-need-to-wash-your-hands/

Ever since I could remember I was always reminded by my teachers how important the rainforest was and how we should keep it preserved. I would ask myself at a young age what really is the importance of the rainforest? Why are my teachers in elementary school telling me about the rainforest at such a young age? I believe myself as well as others take the rainforest for granted. Medicine discoveries within the rainforest have shown that we do in fact need to preserve the rainforest.

Destruction of the rainforest may have taken away some valuable medicine that we have not discovered yet. Roughly only 1% of the discoveries we found in the rainforest have been tested for their medical abilities. The National Cancer Institute examined 3000 plants and 70% have the possibility to hold anti-cancer properties which to me is something I believe is astounding. Most of the medical compounds given out by doctors are from plants, 7,000 to be exact!

Medical discoveries found in the rainforest have been linked to the help of headaches and also certain ingredients found in birth control. We constantly discuss research in our class and this is exactly what is important within the rainforest. Rainforest’s have allowed doctors and scientists the opportunity to research new medical opportunities to benefit the rest of the world.  We know that preserving this vital part of our world is no easy task. You may think differently the next time you walk into a prescription drug store and take a look at a simple bottle of aspirin. About 120 prescription drugs are found to have been from the rainforest.

Rainforest’s across the world are being constantly destroyed and used for different purposes. Just think about all the medical discoveries that are being taken away from the rest of the world. Does the greatest discovery in medical history still lie within the rainforest? Is it destroyed and we don’t even know it? These are questions and concerns we have to ask ourselves. One of the best ways to spread the issue is through awareness and conservation efforts. Organizations such as Rainforest Alliance help keep the awareness going. We all have to take into account the possibilities and treasures the rainforest has and how the world can benefit from them.

http://www.adventure-life.com/articles/rainforest-medicine-78

http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/rainforest_drug.htm

http://www.islandcountyeh.org/Page/17

Children in California are battling a rare illness with Polio like symptoms. Doctors in California have yet to determine what is causing these symptoms in children. Over the last two years in California 20 children have become victim to this, resulting in paralyzed limbs. Doctors believe it is a disease but have not concluded what is actually causing the polio like symptoms in these children.

Now to give you all a little background on the Polio itself. There is no cure for this disease but vaccines are available for treatment. Immunizing children at a young age will hopefully stop the spread of Polio. Polio is contacted through person to person interaction. This disease attacks the spinal cord and brain causing what is called paralysis. Paralysis in other words means you can’t move. As mentioned earlier vaccinations for children at an early age is the best way to avoid catching the disease. Polio has been somewhat of a quiet topic until recently. Polio has recently made its mark in multiple African countries.

Paralysis isn’t the only thing that this disease will affect. Polio is known to cause breathing problems and death. I also discovered which in my opinion is the scariest issue regarding this disease is that about 95% of the time there are no symptoms. Polio is broken down into two categories: asymptomatic and symptomatic. Only about 4% of the time will an individual show symptoms and even if they do it could progressively get worse. People with low immune symptoms for instance children and women that are pregnant are vulnerable to this disease. Symptomatic polio can also be categorized as non paralytic and paralytic. Symptomatic polio is a very severe form and occurs 0.1 to 0.2% of all cases. Spinal polio, Bulbar polio, and bulbospinal are categorized in the symptomatic polio. Spinal polio attacks the spinal cord and causes the breathing problems and eventually paralysis. Bulbar polio attacks your senses for instance your vision and taste. Bulbospnal is both spinal and bulbar.

What exactly causes Polio? Areas with very poor sanitation allows the disease to easily spread. It can be spread in contaminated water and food a big problem in the countries within Africa. Polio is usually entered through the mouth and through contact of feces. If symptoms do occur a person with Polio can spread the disease 1-2 weeks after they notice symptoms, which I later stated is very rare that symptoms do occur.

Children in California are not alone however. Atlanta center for disease control issued a warning  on September 26th to take notice in spinal cord abnormalities and limb weaknesses in MRIs. This warning was issued after nine children had a polio like illness. Discoveries were also discovered in Missouri, Massachusetts, and Michigan. California child Lucian Olivera is battling the symptoms now and it’s a sad story and we need to realize that this is not something we should take lightly. Lucians’ parents are reaching out to other parents with their children experiencing the same thing and wants them to know they may have been missed diagnosed.

Reading about Lucians’ story was inspirational to me. How could it be a person this young and children like him cope with such a horrible situation and still have the will power to make the most out of it? It’s been more than 30 years since the last case was discovered in the United States. It is important to note that parents need to get the right diagnosis if their children are experiencing these symptoms. We know that there is no cure but early vaccination is important to help prevent this disease.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141006-polio-california-disease-paralysis-children-health/

http://www.cdc.gov/polio/about/index.htm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155580.php

http://original.antiwar.com/vlahos/2012/06/11/the-cia-and-polio-in-pakistan/

We say dogs our a mans’ best friend. No matter what kind of pet you own they always will bring a smile to your face. I know I can speak for many people when they say they miss their pet while at college. Pets can bring us happiness but what else can they bring to the table? My next article is on pets and the benefits of having one.

Studies show that pets can help with blood pressure and of course anxiety. But did you know that having a pet is even known to help you make you live longer? This article also explains that even having a pet can help you score a date with the one your after. Some people become allergic to animals and there used to be saying that the more you own the more likely you will be allergic to a pet. Studies show that this is not the case. Studies show that people who do own a pet are less likely to have allergies. A study was done on newborn babies after they were born were actually likely not to have an allergic reaction if a pet was in the home.

As I said earlier owning a pet will help you score a date with the one you’re after. Owning a pet is known to bring someone out of the shy state that him or her might be in. Elder individuals who own a pet will benefit greatly. If you can take your pet outside on walks this provides exercise which when you get older, is highly recommended. People in very stressful work environments are known to have high blood pressure. Studies show that if own a pet the high blood pressure and can be lowered and the stress, even though we all get stressed out sometimes will lower as well.

I have owned pets all my life and currently I own two dogs who I wish I could take with me to college because who knows maybe if we brought our pets to school with us maybe our grades would improve. This could also lead to us into making new friends at a big university like Penn State because interaction with others would also improve. This may just be a post at a later date because I would be very interested to see if this could help a student.

 http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/features/health-benefits-of-pets?page=2

http://images.boomsbeat.com/data/images/full/44019/puppy-wink_1-jpg.jpg

I think we can all agree that sex is something  we all think about, some more than others. I was searching on the web and I was thinking how it could effect your brain on the intellectual aspect. It turns out that sex does actually make you smarter. Im not saying if you’re slipping in a class or having trouble in school to go out and start having sex by any means. I just find it very interesting that sex does actually play a role in our brain. Scientists in both Maryland and South Korea did a study on mice and rats and found out that it did indeed prove their performance mentally. Not only did it improve their mental status but it also improved their memory. A 2007 study was given to boys of both average and below average intelligence. Researchers tested the testosterone in the saliva of these boys and discovered that the boys with average intelligence did indeed have a higher testosterone level. Sex is also known to help with stress and upon reading this article can also help with ones’ memory. Researchers also looked at pornography and tried to figure out if it was harmful to the brain. A study at the University of Texas was conducted and later disputed as having little evidence to support this fact. I said earlier that sex could be beneficial to the brain but this does not mean that if you are a genius you will have more sex. Studies showed that people with above average IQ will wait a longer time to engage in sexual activities. I’m not trying to scare anyone on this next statistic or put bad images in someones head but the next statistic involved the elderly. People with Alzheimer’s were less likely to engage in sex anymore. Although sex may make you smarter it was not encouraged as we all know. Training your brain and studying hard is the safest way to get smarter.

 http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/how-sex-affects-intelligence-and-vice-versa/282889/

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02741/sex_2741191b.jpg

Hello Everyone!

 I decided to do an article on the deadly virus Ebola. I first learned of Ebola while reading the book titled The Hot Zone. Ebola has recently made national news not only in the United States but also the world. Ebola is a virus that causes one to bleed on the inside and outside ones’ body. Once a person has the virus the body starts to break down and it causes the immune system to shut down. Ebola once inside a persons body, has a very deadly effect. Statistics show that once someone has the virus it has a 90% mortality rate. Ebola was first contacted in Africa. If the virus reaches the United States strong safety procedures are in place to contain the virus. Safety procedures are held on airline flights and airline personnel are trained on identifying a person who has the virus. Ebola is spread to other people by skin contact, infected needles, or other surfaces and it is important to note it is not an airborne virus. First a person will experience flu like symptoms and eventually the virus will cause bleeding internally. Doctors will test for other illnesses before they diagnose someone with the Ebola virus. Anyone who is known to have the Ebola virus will basically be cut off from the outside world.

 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ebola-fever-virus-infection

http://mashable.com/2014/04/05/crowd-assaults-ebola-center/

People with Autism do not just have Autism but may also have other disturbances that effect their everyday life. A person with Autism can go through behavioral therapy or be given medicine to attack the issue. By attempting to fix the issues at hand and using behavioral therapy a person with autism can improve their learning capabilities. Professionals as well as the family members join in on attacking the issue. By attacking the issue early people with autism can benefit greatly by acquiring learning skills and interacting with others. Researchers and scientists have developed many early learning therapies to help fight autism at an early age. Some of these therapies include a scheduled number of hours throughout the week, a detailed objective that will be monitored by therapists and family members, and having a person who specializes in autism therapy monitor a autistic individuals progress.  http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment

 http://cstl.semo.edu/southeastasdcertificate/

Hello Everyone!

I was completely shocked when I read what the American Lung Association had to say about marijuana and although I find it shocking it is very important to know the effects and what it can have on you. We know that medicinal marijuana can be used as medicine HOWEVER the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) only recognizes the THC which is found in marijuana to be approved not the plant itself. Reasoning behind this looks at the risks involved and they are unsure if it is beneficial or not. Marijuana does in fact have cancer causing substances, 33 to be exact. Just like nasty cancer sticks marijuana deposits the tar into the lungs and can produce a greater amount of tar into ones’ body. Unlike cigarettes marijuana is not filtered and can produce a greater risk of problems including coughing and respiratory problems that we see in cigarette smokers. We know marijuana effects ones’ reaction and motor skills but there is also a risk of heart attack due to the increased heart rate marijuana produces when taken in by an individual. Some people including me never thought marijuana could be addictive. In Colorado substance abuse centers are seeing an increase in youths reaching out for help. The chemical used in marijuana called dopamine creates a physical addiction. This is extremely harmful towards our younger generation because it inhabits our understanding of consequences and abilities to perform in a classroom environment or work environment. Just like trying to quit tobacco marijuana users who are trying to quit experience the same irritability, sleep deprivation, and anxiety. After reading this article from the American Lung Association I now have a greater understanding on the effects that marijuana can have on an individual. http://www.coolchaser.com/graphics/tag/WEED%20PLANT

www.lung.org/associations/states/colorado/tobacco/marijuana.html

Hello Everyone!

My name is Jordan Unsworth. I am studying to be a Criminology major at Penn State. I chose not to be a Science major because Criminology has always been what I wanted to pursue. I am 22 years old and I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years stationed in North Carolina. I have been to Afghanistan, Japan, Guam, Germany, Ireland, Alaska, and the deserts of Yuma Arizona and 29 Palms out in California. I was in the Infantry and was a squad leader in charge of some of the best group of friends anyone could ever ask for. I enjoy soccer, working out, shooting guns, hunting and fishing, and I’m huge Pittsburgh everything fan. As I said I am huge Pittsburgh fan so you can visit the Steelers website here. I am very excited about attending PSU and look forward to furthering my education. Below is a picture of me training in Guam about a year ago.