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==== ==== = My Top 5 Sustainability Goals: = 1. No poverty 2. No hunger 3.Good Health I chose Good Health as one of the most prominent Sustainability goals because improvements in health have been drastic but unequally distributed among countries. Many children die in third world countries because of the accidental geography of their birth. Most of their deaths are caused by diseases that rich countries had already developed a cure for in the past century. I believe that the cost of decreasing child and mortality rates is small if the necessary tasks are taken. I think that it is important that underdeveloped countries have access to more health institutions that ensure that immunizations of the people are up to date and that people are developing as they should. Health care should become more affordable so that everybody has a chance at life. 5.6 million children died under the age of five in 2016 alone and it is vital that developed nations are able to share their knowledge and technology with the world in order to implement change.



4. Clean Water and Sanitation I chose Clean Water and Sanitation as another important goal because though many of us have not experienced this struggle, 60% of people worldwide lack safely managed sanitation services and 30% lack safe water services. Half a person's body is composed of water and it is absolutely necessary for survival. Safe drinking water and sanitation systems would prevent diseases from spreading and allow countries to grow economically. Instead of women in underdeveloped countries to have to walk far distances for water, they would be able to gain an education. Children and adults would be able to attend school and work without disruption which would increase productivity. In order to meet this goal, there would have to be cooperation between the government and the action of the people.



5. Quality Education

= New Advancements in the Research of Stroke = Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke which is a disease that is caused by the blood supply to the brain being interrupted. This deprives the brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients and brain cells begin to die. Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael, Professor of Neurology at UCLA and Dr. Tatiana Segura, Professor of Chemical and Bioengineering, collaborated to produce a gel that was inserted into the brain of a mouse following a stroke. The gel was infused with molecules that stimulate blood vessel growth and a decrease in inflammation. After 16 weeks, stroke cavities of the mice contained regenerated brain tissue and new neural networks. The study indicated that brain tissue could reform in areas where the brain was affected by stroke. The study focused on recovery from an acute stroke but its effects on long-term stroke injury will be investigated in the future. This discovery suggests that this new approach may eventually be able to be used on people in recovery.

Relation to Class Discussion - Water
In recent years it has been found that extreme dehydration could lead to stroke. The reason for this is that the body is composed of 60% water and it is stored in different parts of the body, including the intravascular space between blood vessels. When a person dehydrates severely, they lose their blood volume which can cause the blood to flow more slowly. With reduced blood flow, clotting can occur which can induce a stroke. Though dehydration is not a common cause, it contributes to the unfortunate events that lead to stroke. Underdeveloped nations with low water availability have a higher chance of having a serious health condition and they may not be able to get the proper care. Hydration is necessary for all bodily functions. so expanding people's access to water would improve the world as a whole. Media: []

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= Nanoparticles from Tea Leaves Destroy Lung Cancer Cells = Nanoparticles derived from tea leaves inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells, destroying up to 80% of them. The research team was able to make this discovery while they tested a new method of producing a type of nanoparticle called the quantum dot. A quantum dot is a crystal, a few nanometers wide made out of semiconductor particles. They grow a particular size after being illuminated by light. Researchers found that the quantum dot could bind onto cancer cells, and because they emit light, they can monitor where the people's cancer is located. If a drug is attached to the surface of the quantum dot, it can bind to the cancer cell and deliver the drug. Quantum dots can be made chemically but the scientists in the article wanted to explore a non-toxic plant-based alternative method of creating the dots in order to avoid side effects. Scientists decided to use tea leaves since they contain amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. The researchers mixed tea leaf extract with cadmium sulfate and sodium sulfide and allowed the solution to incubate in order to form the quantum dots. The quantum dots were then placed onto the lung cancer cells and its effects were investigated using bioimaging. This experiment showed promising results that quantum dots could be used in the application of tumor imaging and treating cancer. Also demonstrated the advancement of nanotechnology in the future.

Relation to Class Discussion - Food
Research points to associations between diet and cancer. The connection between processed meat and cancer is consistent. For example, a study found that eating around 2 ounces of processed meat is associated with a 20% increase in cancer risk. Processed meats contain meat that has been fermented and includes additional salt and nitrates. Scientists haven't been able to find the clear reason but it may be related to nitrates and hem iron found in red meat.

In addition, when food is processed it loses its antioxidants and is stripped of nutrients. An apple loses 90% of its nutritional value by the time it is produced to the time it is consumed. The researchers mentioned above decided to use tea leaves because they would reduce toxic side effects. The same approach should be taken in terms of people choosing the food they want to include in their diet. Food that is locally grown and has no added processing can provide needed vitamins that can help the body build up immunity and allow a person to lead a healthier life.

Media: [|https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180521092720.ht]



= Using Carbon Dioxide in the Air for Fuel = In the future, the gasoline that we buy for our cars could come from carbon dioxide pulled from the sky rather than the oil pumped from the ground. Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turning it into fresh fuels, engineers have found a way to use a cost-effective way to lower the carbon footprint. Direct air capture technology works by giant fans drawing air into contact with an aqueous solution that picks out and traps carbon dioxide. Through heating and several chemical reactions, the carbon dioxide is re-extracted for further use. David Keith and his colleagues from Harvard University claim that air capture on an impactful scale will cost roughly $94 - $232 per ton of carbon dioxide captured which is profitable. This technology can start tackling roughly 20% of global carbon emissions that result from driving, flying and other forms of transportation. Since humans have been releasing carbon emissions for centuries, atmospheric carbon dioxide is a virtually unlimited source of fuel.

Relation to Class Discussion - Resources
In class, we discussed natural resources and the world becoming less reliant on nonrenewable sources. This article directly relates to using a source that is in abundance for our benefit. Using carbon dioxide that is readily available will be cost-efficient and will provide a resource that is renewable. If this technology was applied, we would be able to impact the way we fuel our appliances and reduce the pollution that pumping oil from the ground would cause. We should be thinking about the planet in the long run and find ways to help future generations as well. Reduce, reuse and recycle.

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