Apparently, there were passengers other than astronauts aboard Space Shuttle STS-115 back in September 2006. Scientists sent along carefully packaged Salmonella (otherwise known as the cause of food poisoning) to learn about the affects of space travel on germs. Scientists consider this an important issue because wherever people travel, they bring microbes along with them. So whether we are traveling in a car, in an airplane, in space, or under the ocean, our microbes are our traveling companions.
Identical strains of Salmonella were used in the experiment conducted by scientists. The Salmonella which remained on Earth was kept under similar temperature conditions as the specimen sent into space. After the Shuttle returned, some of the mice were fed Salmonella that had remained on Earth, and others were fed the Shuttle Salmonella. The result of the experiment was that the mice who were fed the germ that had traveled through space became ill at three times the rate of the other mice, and they died more quickly. After observing the mice for twenty-five days, the scientists observed that 40% of the mice who had been given the Earth Salmonella were still alive, but only 10% of the mice given the Shuttle Salmonella were still alive. They also observed that only about one-third as much of the Shuttle Salmonella was required to kill the mice, as compared to the Earth Salmonella. Further examination revealed that 167 genes were altered in the Shuttle Salmonella.
Scientists speculate that the results of this experiment are caused by a force called "fluid shear", which refers to the force of liquid passing over cells. The Shuttle Salmonella experienced "microgravity", causing low fluid shear. The germs sensed this change in their environment and adapted their genetics. The scientists noted that the human gastrointestinal tract is also an area of low fluid shear, which may account for the ability of the Salmonella germ to so quickly debilitate its host.
The Space Shuttle Salmonella experiment yielded interesting results. Sending other germs into space to observe its affects on them may reveal new ways to combat contagious diseases.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Rainforest Revelation
Scientists from the international conservation group, World Wildlife Fund, announced this week that eleven new species of plants and animals have been discovered in central Vietnam. The discoveries were made within the ancient tropical rainforests of an area of Vietnam known as the "Green Corridor". The new discovery included one new species of snake, five orchids, two butterflies, and three other plants that have not yet been categorized because they have only been seen in the Annamites Mountains of the Green Corridor.Scientists hope that the discovery of these new species will spotlight the necessity to preserve this natural habitat which has remained undisturbed for thousands of years and has been regularly unveiling new species for decades. This area is currently in danger of being compromised by illegal logging, hunting, depletion of natural resources, and development. Local authorities are currently seeking ways to preserve the Green Corridor, and the many new, as well as endangered species living there while also fostering development which can be safely sustained by the rainforests.
The Green Corridor is merely one example of the earth's many rainforests with secrets waiting to be uncovered. An environmental tragedy will certainly unfold if our planet's rainforests are permitted to be usurped by industry and development. We must protect our endangered species before they are eliminated forever. In addition, we must continue the search for those species which remain undiscovered and unravel the life-saving secrets they may possess.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Pachyderms and People
Today's Staten Island Advance contained an article by Robert R. Frump dealing with the conservationalist movement to remove elephants from zoos and release them back into a natural environment where they will be protected from human influence. While at first glance this appears to be a logical remedy to the plight of these beautiful animals forced to live out their lives in captivity, the author suggests that perhaps it is an ill-conceived plan.
Mr. Frump has travelled extensively throughout Africa, affording him the opportunity to observe the successfulness of the program. He has visited elephant conservation parks and discovered that too many animals are being released into the environments. This overcrowding is adversely affecting the people, the vegetation, the land, and the other species sharing the habitat.
The author cites Kruger National Park in South Africa as an example of this phenomenon. Kruger now has a elephant population of 12,000 which is approximately double the amount that the park can adequately support. Since the elephants are protected by law from human predators, the animals can proliferate and are decimating the available food supply needed by other animals in the reserve. Park rangers have suggested that one-half of the elephant population may have to be killed in order for the park to recover from its current condition, and recovery may take as long as forty-five years.
Frump also encountered similar problems in Tanzania at the Great Selous Game Reserve. This reserve's elephant population of almost 90,000 is responsible for the direct and indirect deaths of farmers and villagers, as well as destroying the crops of some of the poorest farmers in the world. The farmers are not equipped with rifles to protect themselves or their property. The park rangers must sometimes travel great distances to assist them, are only supplied with three or four rifle cartridges, and are required by law to fire the first cartridge as a warning.
Unquestionably, the release of large numbers of elephants into game reserves has tipped the delicate ecologic balance of these habitats and placed their human neighbors in harm's way. We should not overlook the irony of this situation. Humans and elephants share much in common: we are social creatures, we nurture our offspring, we exhibit reverence for our dead, and when large numbers of us are placed in close quarters, we tend to behave poorly.
Mr. Frump has travelled extensively throughout Africa, affording him the opportunity to observe the successfulness of the program. He has visited elephant conservation parks and discovered that too many animals are being released into the environments. This overcrowding is adversely affecting the people, the vegetation, the land, and the other species sharing the habitat.
The author cites Kruger National Park in South Africa as an example of this phenomenon. Kruger now has a elephant population of 12,000 which is approximately double the amount that the park can adequately support. Since the elephants are protected by law from human predators, the animals can proliferate and are decimating the available food supply needed by other animals in the reserve. Park rangers have suggested that one-half of the elephant population may have to be killed in order for the park to recover from its current condition, and recovery may take as long as forty-five years.
Frump also encountered similar problems in Tanzania at the Great Selous Game Reserve. This reserve's elephant population of almost 90,000 is responsible for the direct and indirect deaths of farmers and villagers, as well as destroying the crops of some of the poorest farmers in the world. The farmers are not equipped with rifles to protect themselves or their property. The park rangers must sometimes travel great distances to assist them, are only supplied with three or four rifle cartridges, and are required by law to fire the first cartridge as a warning.
Unquestionably, the release of large numbers of elephants into game reserves has tipped the delicate ecologic balance of these habitats and placed their human neighbors in harm's way. We should not overlook the irony of this situation. Humans and elephants share much in common: we are social creatures, we nurture our offspring, we exhibit reverence for our dead, and when large numbers of us are placed in close quarters, we tend to behave poorly.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Street Performers Endangering Central Park Horses
The horse and carriage rides surrounding New York City's Central Park are a familiar sight to native New Yorkers as well as a unique experience for the city's tourists. The hustle and bustle surrounding the park, however, has caused injury and even the death of two of these horses over the past two years.
Although the horses have become fairly accustomed to the normal sounds produced by cars, trucks and buses, they appear to be particularly sensitive to the noise produced by the street performers who regularly position themselves in front of the statue of Civil War General, William Sherman. Over the past two years, the drums used in these performances have startled the animals, causing injury to, and resulting in the deaths of two of the carriage horses. The most recent incident occurred last week, when a mare broke loose from the carriage she was pulling after being frightened by the sound of the drums. The animal died after galloping along Central Park South for almost an entire block before colliding with a tree. Frightened by the mare's reaction to the music, another horse ran into traffic, causing his carriage to crash into a motor vehicle.
The New York City Comptroller has recently completed an audit of the carriage horse industry and concluded that the animals are not provided with enough water or shade while they are working. In addition, the report found that the industry should be regulated more closely by city authorities. The Horse & Carriage Association wants the city to prohibit musicians from performing in the area and to install more water spigots for the horses.
Horse carriages are as much a part of New York City as skyscrapers, theatres, taxis, and subways. The animals who pull the carriages, however, are not made of concrete or metal. These beautiful creatures are entitled to be protected from any element in their environment which may cause them harm or result in their inflicting harm upon themselves. They should be permitted to work under humane conditions by being provided ample water and other comfort during harsh weather conditions.
Although the horses have become fairly accustomed to the normal sounds produced by cars, trucks and buses, they appear to be particularly sensitive to the noise produced by the street performers who regularly position themselves in front of the statue of Civil War General, William Sherman. Over the past two years, the drums used in these performances have startled the animals, causing injury to, and resulting in the deaths of two of the carriage horses. The most recent incident occurred last week, when a mare broke loose from the carriage she was pulling after being frightened by the sound of the drums. The animal died after galloping along Central Park South for almost an entire block before colliding with a tree. Frightened by the mare's reaction to the music, another horse ran into traffic, causing his carriage to crash into a motor vehicle.
The New York City Comptroller has recently completed an audit of the carriage horse industry and concluded that the animals are not provided with enough water or shade while they are working. In addition, the report found that the industry should be regulated more closely by city authorities. The Horse & Carriage Association wants the city to prohibit musicians from performing in the area and to install more water spigots for the horses.
Horse carriages are as much a part of New York City as skyscrapers, theatres, taxis, and subways. The animals who pull the carriages, however, are not made of concrete or metal. These beautiful creatures are entitled to be protected from any element in their environment which may cause them harm or result in their inflicting harm upon themselves. They should be permitted to work under humane conditions by being provided ample water and other comfort during harsh weather conditions.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Canine Connection
The recent commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks prompted many reporters to devote their newspaper columns to various stories related to this tragic event. Many of these articles described the memorial services held at locations throughout New York City or the annual fundraising events which have been organized in memory of a September 11th victim. One article by Andrea Boyarsky featured in the Staten Island Advance, however, described a unique relationship which has developed between two families and has been made possible by the actions of a golden retriever.
The Horning family of Scotch Plains, New Jersey lost their 26-year-old son, Matthew, on September 11, 2001. During a memorial service at Ground Zero on October 28th of that same year, Mrs. Horning was approached by Jake, a golden retriever therapy dog, when he observed her distraught condition. After spending some time with the animal, Mrs. Horning spoke with his owners, Mr. and Mrs. Canzoneri of Huguenot, Staten Island. Mrs. Horning remarked that Jake's temperament was very similar to that of her son, Matthew's. The Canzoneris were so touched by Mrs. Horning and the tremendous burden of her grief, that they promised her they would name their next therapy dog after Matthew. The Canzoneris, together with Jake and Jessie, had worked extensively with volunteers and victims' families at Ground Zero; they were very familiar with the emotions being exhibited by Mrs. Horning.
When the Canzoneri family obtained another therapy dog several months later, they did not forget their promise to Mrs. Horning. The only obstacle was that they did not know her name nor how to get in touch with her. At the suggestion of a friend, they utilized a 9/11 legacy website to post a message to anyone who lost a son named Matthew. Fortunately, it did not take long for the two families to connect with each other.
The Canzoneris' new therapy dog was named "Matthew D. Horning II" in memory of the Hornings' son. He wears his namesake's picture around his neck when he is on duty as a member of "The Smile Retrievers". The families have since become friends and see each other socially.
Since Jake singled out Mrs. Horning from a large crowd of people at their initial meeting, she believes that perhaps her son, Matthew, played a role in bringing them together.
Andrea Boyarsky's article, "A Special Connection Brings Comfort", treated the anniversary of September 11, 2001 in a truly unique manner. Since I am an avid dog enthusiast, my gaze was initially attracted to the article by the photograph of the golden retriever which accompanied the article. As I began reading it, however, I realized it was a great deal more than merely a story about a dog. It was for these reasons and its uplifting message that it appealed to me.
The Horning family of Scotch Plains, New Jersey lost their 26-year-old son, Matthew, on September 11, 2001. During a memorial service at Ground Zero on October 28th of that same year, Mrs. Horning was approached by Jake, a golden retriever therapy dog, when he observed her distraught condition. After spending some time with the animal, Mrs. Horning spoke with his owners, Mr. and Mrs. Canzoneri of Huguenot, Staten Island. Mrs. Horning remarked that Jake's temperament was very similar to that of her son, Matthew's. The Canzoneris were so touched by Mrs. Horning and the tremendous burden of her grief, that they promised her they would name their next therapy dog after Matthew. The Canzoneris, together with Jake and Jessie, had worked extensively with volunteers and victims' families at Ground Zero; they were very familiar with the emotions being exhibited by Mrs. Horning.
When the Canzoneri family obtained another therapy dog several months later, they did not forget their promise to Mrs. Horning. The only obstacle was that they did not know her name nor how to get in touch with her. At the suggestion of a friend, they utilized a 9/11 legacy website to post a message to anyone who lost a son named Matthew. Fortunately, it did not take long for the two families to connect with each other.
The Canzoneris' new therapy dog was named "Matthew D. Horning II" in memory of the Hornings' son. He wears his namesake's picture around his neck when he is on duty as a member of "The Smile Retrievers". The families have since become friends and see each other socially.
Since Jake singled out Mrs. Horning from a large crowd of people at their initial meeting, she believes that perhaps her son, Matthew, played a role in bringing them together.
Andrea Boyarsky's article, "A Special Connection Brings Comfort", treated the anniversary of September 11, 2001 in a truly unique manner. Since I am an avid dog enthusiast, my gaze was initially attracted to the article by the photograph of the golden retriever which accompanied the article. As I began reading it, however, I realized it was a great deal more than merely a story about a dog. It was for these reasons and its uplifting message that it appealed to me.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
"Why I Write"
If I consider the statement "Why I write", I realize my response is somewhat varied, depending upon the situation. I can compose a brief email to a friend, jot down a task I must remember to perform, or compile of list of items which need to be purchased at the local store. My primary and most enjoyable reason for writing, however, is to translate creative thoughts into the written word.
Whether as an author, a lyricist, or a poet, writing enables me to express my innermost feelings, as well as to convey my ideas to others. Writing provides me with a permanent narrative of how I may have reacted in a particular situation, long after my memory of the event has faded. For me, writing is an extension of the thinking process, enabling my imagination to take flight while writing a story or composing a poem.
In addition to providing a creative outlet, writing is a vehicle for expressing the many emotional highs and lows experienced throughout life. Many times over the years I have sat with pen and paper and written about a personal accomplishment or joyous occasion, as well as the loss of a loved one or the pain of a broken heart. Sometimes writing gives me the opportunity to communicate the full range of my emotions to myself; seeing and reading my thoughts on paper often helps me to better understand myself.
Writing allows me to be whimsical, humorous or solemn. I can convey these moods by organizing my words in meter and rhyme, or haphazardly with no apparent order at all. Writing affords me the flexibility to express anything I desire to in the manner in which I want to express it. More than most other activities, writing affords me a flexible and enjoyable method of creating and communicating.
Whether as an author, a lyricist, or a poet, writing enables me to express my innermost feelings, as well as to convey my ideas to others. Writing provides me with a permanent narrative of how I may have reacted in a particular situation, long after my memory of the event has faded. For me, writing is an extension of the thinking process, enabling my imagination to take flight while writing a story or composing a poem.
In addition to providing a creative outlet, writing is a vehicle for expressing the many emotional highs and lows experienced throughout life. Many times over the years I have sat with pen and paper and written about a personal accomplishment or joyous occasion, as well as the loss of a loved one or the pain of a broken heart. Sometimes writing gives me the opportunity to communicate the full range of my emotions to myself; seeing and reading my thoughts on paper often helps me to better understand myself.
Writing allows me to be whimsical, humorous or solemn. I can convey these moods by organizing my words in meter and rhyme, or haphazardly with no apparent order at all. Writing affords me the flexibility to express anything I desire to in the manner in which I want to express it. More than most other activities, writing affords me a flexible and enjoyable method of creating and communicating.
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