Lea+M

=Week 4: Replacing Fossil Fuels with Jellyfish? =

In class this week we focused a lot of our time on energy sources. We learned about the non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, and alternative renewable resources to replace them. We talked about solar, wind, tidal, water, thermal and biomass, however I found myself wondering if there were any other types. When I googled "creative alternative energy sources" the first thing that came up was jellyfish.



In 2010 Swedish scientist Zachary Chiragwandi and his team dedicated their research to the protein that makes the jellyfish Aequorea Victoria glow in the dark. They have named it GFP (green fluorescent protein); it allows the jellyfish in the deep and dark trenches to glow. After many tests, the team has discovered that these proteins can potentially be used to power solar panel, replacing the more expensive source currently used. Traditionally silicon-based photovoltaic cells, which means they convert light energy directly into electricity, have been used on solar panels, but they are very expensive to produce. While the cells do not cost much to produce, titanium dioxide particles must be used to facilitate the generation the cells, and this is very expensive. As the use of solar energy becomes more common place, it is important to find a less expensive resource that is renewable, and Chiragwandi believes GFP is the solution.

He found that this protein can be used to produce solar energy from animal matter in a complex yet intriguing method. First, the protein is placed between two aluminum electrodes on top of silicon-dioxide. Next, while sitting between the electrodes the GFP splits itself into strands. Once this occurs, ultraviolet light rays are shone onto the electrodes. The GFP absorbs the photons from the light and emits the electrons. When reflected, the electrons are sent through a circuit that ultimately leads to the production of electricity.

Jellyfish aren't the only sea creature that can be used for solar energy; studies have shown algae could be used for this purpose as well. When exposed to the sun, algae cells split the water into the oxygen, protons, and electrons. A device created by Adrian Fisher and Paolo Bombelli would then be able to extract these electrons (rather than them being sent to the oxidation of carbon dioxide) and use them to generate electricity.

While these are much more cost effective means of extracting solar energy, the efficiency is significantly less than the current method. For example, the photovoltaic cells have a 15% efficiency while the use of algae is only at 0.1% currently. Right now may not be the best time to make the switch to jellyfish power, but scientists are confident that with more research and innovation they can improve the efficiency of such energy sources and they hope that in the future they will replace the more expensive method.

Here is a video about the use of jellyfish as an energy source, however this delves more into the idea of using the waves produced by jellyfish movements (tidal power). This just explores yet another option as we search for a solution to the non-renewable sources. media type="custom" key="29246453"

=Week 3: Headsets That Read Your Thoughts? = = = = What Are EEG Headsets? =

EEG headsets are newer forms of technology that claim to "read your thoughts." Companies such as Emotiv Systems, Neurosky, and Interaxon debuted this product last year, claiming that their technology has allowed people to control video games, skateboards, television, even cars, with their minds. Currently the technology is being used to help those with disabilities better function. Those who have received amputations can use the headsets to control their prosthetic limbs. Patients who have had spinal injuries can use them to control their wheelchairs and those with ALS can use them to better communicate.

media type="custom" key="29232299" align="center"

= How? =

For about half a century, scientists have been studying and developing electroencephalography, also known as EEG. EEG is the practice where electrode headsets are placed against a person's scalp and measure the electrical signals in the brain's neurons. The device can track patterns in neural activity and associate specific signals with a specific action/emotion. By storing these patterns, when it senses one that is connected to an action, it can wirelessly trigger a device (such as the remote car in the video) to move in response.

= So... Do They Actually Work? = = =

Technically, yes, as seen in the video, she was able to move the car forwards by thinking about it. In many tests people have been able to control video games by moving their avatars using the headsets. However, it isn't working in the way you think, and there are some drawbacks:
 * 1) **If you want to be technical, you are not actually controlling it with your thoughts.** You cannot simply think "car, move forward" or "video game avatar, walk" because the electrodes would not be able to pick up commands like this and translate it into an action. Instead, you must train your brain to think a certain way. You have to introduce the sensors to the desired neural pattern over and over again for it to come to associate it with something specific, and it has to translate to its language. An example given on [|this website] about the workings of the headset is that in order for the headset to cause a video game avatar to turn left, it must receive brain signals of drowsiness. Likewise, the avatar will stop moving when it receives signals of the wearer being asleep.
 * 2) **People have hair.** Many brands of headsets either can only function on a bare scalp or they become less effective in the presence of hair. The hair can lesson the waves and make it more difficult for the headset to pick up the neural signals. Additionally, before use all skin oils must be wiped away to allow the electrodes to be glued to the scalp for many brands.
 * 3) **Outside interference cause confusion.** The headsets can easily be distracted by outside electrical impulses and become confused about which ones to respond to. For example, if you are talking on the phone while wearing a headset, the electrodes could pick up the phone signals instead of the brain's. Furthermore, they can even become distracted by other signals within the body. Studies have revealed that some electrodes are picking up the heartbeat, muscle movements, even blinking, instead of the neural signals, which would yield completely different responses, especially considering these actions are involuntary and the goal is to read your thoughts.

This relates to what we did in class this week because in the video we watched about where the world will be by 2028, one of the predictions was that wearable technology will be controlled by our thoughts. This kind of technology is already being developed. It has seen mixed results, some studies have worked (such as in the video when she managed to move the car) while others have failed miserably. Although the technology is not quite there yet and actually controlled by our minds, the rapid advancement suggests that one day this could be a reality and perhaps the video isn't too far off.

=Week 2: Biodiversity in Antarctica =

The common belief held by the Convention of Biological Diversity and many other specialists has been that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are doing much better environmentally than the rest of the world, however it had never been tested before. Recently, this past March, a team of environmentalists consisting of Monash University students, lead by Steven L. Chown, conducted a study to finally have data to support whether or not this popular belief was accurate. They did so using the Aichi targets, created in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity in 2011-2012 to assess the rapid decline.

The results came as a shock to many when Chown discovered that generally Antarctica is in a similar state of decline as the rest of the world. In areas such as regulation of bioprospecting (the use of species for commercial purposes) and protected area management, Antarctica is in a worse place than the rest of the world. However, Antarctic is faring much better in the management of invasive species. When looked at as a whole, it can be seen that Antarctica is no longer thriving and efforts now need to be directed towards it.

Antarctica is a very important region of the planet because it drives much of Earth's processes. For example, it affects the sea level, ocean circulation, and climate, as well as being home to many unique species. This region is already being hit by global warming. The rising temperatures have been causing the glaciers to melt and ice forms to collapse, resulting in the loss of habitat for creatures, temperatures too warm for them to endure, and the most troubling globally: the rise in sea levels. The organisms in the Southern Ocean also are threatened by the increase in ocean acidity. The entire food web is suffering due to the significant decline in the phytoplankton population, which supports the majority of the ecosystem. Without the producers, the krill population is also in decline, which relies on phytoplankton for food. This threatens to throw the entire web out of balance and decrease biodiversity even more. Due to all of these issues Antarctica is facing, it is very important that people begin to find solutions in order to preserve Antarctica, and therefore the rest of the world.

As a result, the Antarctic Treaty System has been branched out to aid efforts. This treaty, signed in 1959, was an agreement among twelve nations, including USA, Russia, UK, France, Norway, Chile, and Australia, to cooperate in Antarctica and allow the freedom of scientific investigation. Now fifty-three nations have signed the treaty to protect Antarctica. In response to the investigation, many nations that are members of the Antarctic Treaty System have agreed to focus their efforts in Antarctica towards the preservation of biodiversity. They have attributed the sudden decline to the region's remoteness as well as the preconceived notion of its strength, and have been working towards the reversal of the effects. In addition to the new aid to Antarctica's environment, this investigation has proven that the Convention of Biological Diversity must focus its efforts to all areas of the planet and avoid neglect, regardless of the popular belief about it.

The issue of the loss of biodiversity in Antarctica is directly related to the UN Sustainability Goals we discussed in class. This issue applies to two goals, both "Life on Land" and "Life Below Water." Biodiversity is greatly diminishing both below the water in the Southern Ocean (such as phytoplankton) and above the water on Antarctica's land. Many nations that are members of both the United Nations and the Antarctic Treaty System have pledged to work towards the preservation of Antarctic ecosystems to ensure a better future and the halt the loss of biodiversity.

This image demonstrates the impact of climate change on biodiversity. As time goes on, the amount of floating ice in the Southern Ocean is declining, Less floating ice means less white reflecting the sun, so more sunlight reaches the ocean, and sea temperatures increase. This affects primary productivity and therefore the rest of the food web, diminishing biodiversity.

For more information on global warming in Antarctica click [|here] For more information on Antarctica's declining biodiversity click [|here]

=Week 1: WALL-E =


 * 1) After watching WALL-E, use your own background knowledge to define SUSTAINABILITY in your own words.
 * Sustainability is the practice of maintaining appropriate levels of natural resources to ensure ecological balance.
 * 1) What are the next steps for the new settlers? That is, if you were to colonize an area in this condition, what are some of the first major issues & solutions that need to be accomplished for successful & sustainable future?
 * At the beginning, the main concern for the settlers would be to become mobile again. Before they can begin cleaning up the earth, they would need to be physically fit to able to complete the arduous work required for such a process. For this reason, their time must be focused on regaining strong bones and muscles, and slimming down. In addition to doing lots of physical activity, they must eat healthful foods. During this process, the settlers can construct or rewire robots (and as they begin to gain their strength they should assist the robots too) that can begin cleaning the area. This means gathering all of the trash as well as taking down the destroyed buildings in order to clear wide open spaces. Other robots can repair some buildings which will ultimately become the people's homes when they are ready. In these wide open spaces, the robots (at first, then later the people) should plant grass, trees, fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Not only will these plants be able to return the atmosphere to the proper oxygen levels via photosynthesis, but also they will provide the people with healthy foods to return their bodies to the proper state. Finally, in order to ensure a sustainable future, the people should become less reliant of the robots, however with the continued use of them, they should find environmentally friendly ways to power them, such as sunlight, water, or wind.