Cuttlefish: Chameleons of the Sea Peppered Moth Simulation Name:______________________________________________ Objective: Simulate changes in moth population due to pollution and predation, and observe how species can change over time. Introduction: Charles Darwin accumulated a tremendous collection of facts to support the theory of evolution by natural selection. The economic changes known as the industrial revolution began in the middle of the eighteenth century. Instructions: Click the link below to read more information on Kettlewell's study of moths. After 5 minutes record the % of dark moths and light moths - you will need this information later. Peppered Moth Simulation at peppermoths.weebly.com Data and Analysis Read the background information and answer the questions as you go. Life Cycle of the Peppered Moth 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Impact of Pollution 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Kettlewell's Experiments 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Birdseye View 21. Final Analysis 22. 23. 24.
Solve Puzzles for Science | Foldit Charles Darwin's ecological experiment on Ascension isle 1 September 2010Last updated at 11:39 By Howard Falcon-Lang Science reporter, BBC News Cloud forest now forms a damp oasis on Ascension's highest peak A lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin's best-kept secret. Two hundred years ago, Ascension Island was a barren volcanic edifice. Today, its peaks are covered by lush tropical "cloud forest". What happened in the interim is the amazing story of how the architect of evolution, Kew Gardens and the Royal Navy conspired to build a fully functioning, but totally artificial ecosystem. By a bizarre twist, this great imperial experiment may hold the key to the future colonisation of Mars. The tiny tropical island of Ascension is not easy to find. Its existence depends entirely on what geologists call the mid-Atlantic ridge. Ascension is one of a number of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic However, because Ascension occupies a "hot spot" on the ridge, its volcano is especially active. A new island was born.
Neuroscience: Hardwired for taste : Nature A mouthful of bittersweet chocolate cake with a molten centre can trigger potent memories of pleasure, lust and even love. But all it takes is one bad oyster to make you steer clear of this mollusc for life. Neuroscientists who study taste are just beginning to understand how and why the interaction of a few molecules on your tongue can trigger innate behaviours or intense memories. The sensors in our mouths that detect basic tastes — sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami, and arguably a few others — are only the start of the story (see 'The finer points of taste', page S2). The other recent revelation in taste research is that the receptors that detect bitter, sweet and umami are not restricted to the tongue. Brain map Results of previous studies into taste representation in the brain “have been confusing”, says Ryba. The research that led to these conclusions suffered from poor spatial resolution, however. These findings contradict previous ideas about how the brain processes taste.
How Do Animals Become Zombies? Instant Egghead [Video] It may sound like something straight out of a horror movie, but many animals can come under the zombie-like control of parasites. So what about humans? Scientific American editor Katherine Harmon fills us in on the ghoulish side of Nature. Give a Gift & Get a Gift - Free! Scientists unlock chemical processes behind silver-related skin condition Ingesting silver — in antimicrobial health tonics or for extensive medical treatments involving silver — can cause argyria, condition in which the skin turns grayish-blue. Brown researchers have discovered how that happens. The process is similar to developing black-and-white photographs, and it's not just the silver. PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Researchers from Brown University have shown for the first time how ingesting too much silver can cause argyria, a rare condition in which patients’ skin turns a striking shade of grayish blue. “It’s the first conceptual model giving the whole picture of how one develops this condition,” said Robert Hurt, professor of engineering at Brown and part of the research team. Scientists have known for years argyria had something to do with silver. As it turns out, argyria is caused by a complex series of chemical reactions, Hurt said. From silver to salt and back again Implications for nanosilver
11 cheap gifts guaranteed to impress science geeks Science comes up with a lot of awesome stuff, and you don't need a Ph.D, a secret lab, or government funding to get your hands on some of the coolest discoveries. We've got a list of 11 mostly affordable gifts that are guaranteed to blow your mind, whether or not you're a science geek. Click on any image to see it enlarged. 1. Aerogel Also known as frozen smoke, Aerogel is the world's lowest density solid, clocking in at 96% air. Aerogel isn't just neat, it's useful. Price: $35 2. Inside these sealed glass balls live shrimp, algae, and bacteria, all swimming around in filtered seawater. EcoSpheres came out of research looking at ways to develop self-contained ecosystems for long duration space travel. Price: $80 3. NASA has been trying to figure out how to get a sample of rock back from Mars for a while now. Every once in a while, a meteorite smashes into Mars hard enough to eject some rocks out into orbit around the sun. Price: $70+ 4. Price: $150 5. Price: $110 6. Price: $80 7. Price: $15 8.