Category: Science and Tech

Why Every Student Should Study Wildlife Conservation in University

According to Youth For Wildlife, every 20 minutes, we lose at least 27000 entire species of plants or animals. Less than 1% of African elephants exist today that existed in 1930. Here are some more important facts about animal conservation:

  • There are 10 – 15 thousand lions in the wild in Africa. A decade ago, there 50 thousand.
  • Only 2700 rhinos are left on the African continent.
  • 90% fewer cheetahs exist today than in 1900
  • According to the WWF Living Planet Report, there was an overall decline in wildlife population of 60% from 1970 to 2014.

These are just a few numbers. Humans are clearly having a negative impact on plant and wildlife species. The world needs more people who understand wildlife conservation, and who have the skills to make a difference.

Any person, at any time, can choose to learn about wildlife conservation. They can also choose to use those skills in a variety of capacities to make a difference. However, college students are in a particularly powerful position. That’s why all university students should make an effort to become active in wildlife conservation.

There is No Better Time Than Now to Study Wildlife Conservation

If you are moved to learn more about conservation and to work to make some difference, now is the perfect time to get involved. As a college student, you have holiday and summer breaks, and likely have fewer obligations than you will in a few years. You’re also open-minded, and an enthusiastic learner.

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Backed by Science: Easy Mood Improvement Techniques

Nearly 10% of adults will experience a mood disorder each year. It may be caused by several factors such as major life events, chronic or severe illness or injury, medications, or mental diseases. Sometimes, there might not even be an obvious cause. The good news is not everyone who experiences mood changes will develop a disorder. Oftentimes, it will resolve on its own, improve over the course of the day, or within a couple of hours. There are also activities that you can do to combat fluctuating emotions and enhance your mood.

Go Outdoors

Spending time in nature is one of the ways to improve moods especially if you’re living in cities where stress is prevalent. From doing errands to catching public transportation, city living is often hectic. New research validates that urban living is more demanding than rural life. The Meyer-Lindenberg research suggested that residing in cities shapes the way the brain responds to social stress and increases the risk of mental problems compared to living in the countryside.

However, a study by White et al revealed that people who have their home in urban areas that are near greeneries such as parks reported the least mental health concerns. You don’t need to live near a park or a wooded area to get its benefits. A research article by Bratman et al indicated that a 90-minute walk through a natural environment can decrease negative thoughts.

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Powder Coating vs. Wet Painting: What’s the Difference?

Powder coating and wet painting are two of the most popular finishes — specifically for metal products. Though they share some similarities, they differ in terms of color mixing, durability and cost.

A finish is necessary to prevent corrosion. Without one, certain metals like iron will react with oxygen and rust. Thanks to processes like powder coating and wet painting, you can avoid rust and erosion.

You may be wondering which of the two is objectively better. However, they each come with their pros and cons — here’s a closer look at each method.

Composition

You’ll find various similarities and differences when studying the composition of both materials. Both contain resins — a type of paste or malleable substance that can harden under the right pressure, heat and circumstances. The resins in powder are usually polyester, polyester-epoxy, acrylic or polyethylene.

Both powder and paint also contain different pigments for coloring and additives for preservation and performance.

The main difference in composition is that wet paint contains solvents, whereas powder does not. Since the paint is a liquid, the solvent is necessary to maintain the right fluid consistency. The powder doesn’t need a solvent because once the crushed pigments and plastics become powder, they maintain that color and consistency.

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More Than An Art: How Successful Advertisers Use Science To Capture Your Attention Online

We are exposed to more than 1,700 banner ads each month, yet we only see half this number. Marketing is crucial for companies wanting to stay ahead of competitors, but capturing their audience’s attention is a more complex endeavor than it may seem on the surface. If you’ve ever wondered why some online ads seem to hold your attention more than others, it could be that the people who made them have a better understanding of the science behind attention capture. In his 2016 book, Captivology, Ben Parr explained the scientific principles behind catching – and holding – an audience’s attention. So what are the principles successful marketers are applying when we find ourselves sucked into an advertisement?

Three stages of attention

Attention can be thought of in three stages: immediate attention, short attention, and long-term attention. Parr says that the secret of successful attention capture lies in making the audience pass through each stage in order. Immediate attentions are unconscious and subconscious reactions to stimuli. Online advertisements will use certain symbols and colors to catch our immediate attention. From here, we move into short attention, which is where we consciously decide to pay attention. This is the type of attention we use when we’re watching a TV program or reading a news article.

While we’re passing through this stage, successful marketers are making sure their content is new, creating something we want to pay attention to. The final stage is long attention, and here, advertisers want us to hook onto a long-term interest in their idea so that we want to become familiar with it. Long-term attention is what we’re applying when we watch not just one episode of a TV program, but the whole series.

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What Scientific Processes Take Place When Your Dog Enjoys Exercise?

Around 56% of dogs are obese in the U.S, which is indicative of one thing – they need to be more active! Exercise is essential for all pets, and while cats can get fairly active jumping up and down structures and fences, dogs need their owners to take them for at least a half hour walk daily. As stated by the American Kennel Club, the exact amount of exercise your pooch needs varies very much on breed, age and state of health. However, in general, the recommended guidelines work well for active, healthy dogs that do not have a condition such as hip dysplasia or heart and/or respiratory issues. If one of the highlights of your day is taking Fido out to the park, you may wonder what is taking place inside that little body. These are just a few scientific processes that take place during exercise, boosting the physical and mental health of your pooch.

Exercise And Stress

Exercise is a powerful way to naturally lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is known as nature’s ‘in-built alarm system,’ and it is produced when dogs are stressed, scared, anxious or angry. Its role is to put your dog into ‘fight or flight’ mode, and it can therefore be very useful when he is in a situation of real danger. When your dog is not in danger but is simply stressed because he is bored or lacks stimulation, he can display behavioral problems such as pacing or shaking, excessive whining or barking, yawning, shedding, panting, frequent urinating, hiding, and even escaping. Bringing cortisol levels down through exercise is key, so if your dog is stressed, extend your time outside and ensure he has plenty of opportunity to run, play fetch, and simply smell the flowers. Exercise is recommended for all pets, but working out with your dog helps you too, since it has similar effects on the human system. Aerobic, strength and holistic exercises (like yoga) will also help reduce your stress levels and improve your mood and vitality.

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An In-depth Look At Aquaponics: Eco-Friendly Fish Tanks

Roughly 13 million households in the US own a pet fish, statistics from the Insurance Information Institute reveal. Aquaponic tanks are one of the most eco-friendly homes you can make for your fish. They have a symbiotic relationship with plants growing on top of the tank; the two organisms rely on each other to survive and thrive. Aquaponics is an enjoyable and rewarding way to keep fish with some truly fascinating science behind it.

What is aquaponics?

Aquaponics is a fusion between hydroponics, which is a method of growing plants without soil, and aquaculture, or fish rearing. It combines both these elements to create a clever closed-loop and self-sustaining ecosystem. The fish create waste, which bacteria converts into nutrients for the plants to use as sustenance. In turn, the plants clean the water for the fish. All you need to do is regularly feed your fish and make sure the tank conditions are safe and healthy (which includes aspects like the water levels and temperature and pH level).

The science behind aquaponics

Aquaponic tanks run through several steps to ensure both fish and plants stay healthy and alive. The first step in the process is ammonification: the fish expel their metabolic waste in the form of ammonia (which is why they’re known as ammonotelic organisms). However, ammonia is also toxic to fish if it’s left to accumulate in the body or their environment. Fortunately, the tank pump removes the waste and funnels it to the plants growing above. The nitrogen cycle is the next essential step performed with the help of beneficial bacteria (nitrobacter, nitrosomonas, and nitrospira) found in the plant beds and soilless grow media. Plants can’t absorb ammonia, but the beneficial bacteria is able to consume it and convert it into nitrates. The plants then use the converted nitrates to grow and perform photosynthesis.

In turn, the plants work as a bio-filtration system with their roots cleaning the tank’s water. The  water is also filtered by the soilless grow media as it passes through the beds. As a result, the water usually remains clean enough for the fish to survive without changing it. However, you may find you do need to sometimes change the water manually. Healthy circulation and oxygen levels are usually maintained with the help of air pumps or air stones. Aquaponic tanks can also provide a small amount of oxygen thanks to gravity — when the water flows between the plants back down to the tank, it naturally mixes with air.

Keeping the tank eco-friendly 

Aquaponic tanks are highly eco-friendly systems. However, choosing energy-efficient heating and lighting options can make the tank as sustainable as possible. For example, LED lights are an energy-efficient option — they use 80% less electricity than other aquarium lights. In fact, you’ll make back the cost of your LED lights within one year to 18 months thanks to the energy savings. Energy waste can also be prevented by selecting a heater or chiller that suits the size of the tank. Positioning the tank away from windows can further prevent heat loss, specially if you live in a cold climate. It’s also a good idea to choose a tank no larger than you really need. For example, a 5-10 gallon tank is the ideal size for two fish. Larger tanks inevitably end up requiring more energy to maintain.

Aquaponic fish tanks are an eco-friendly and enjoyable way to keep fish. They’re also low maintenance and an easy way to grow your favorite edible leaves at the same time.

Everything You Need to Know About Semiconductors

BY MEGAN RAY NICHOLS

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives. We talk to friends and family, stay connected with colleagues, socialize and work from home on our computers and smartphones. Different types of technology show up in nearly every sector, from food to education to manufacturing and everything in between. The innovations that we know and love today rely on one thing to keep them moving forward — semiconductors 

What are semiconductors? How do they work, and where might you find them as part of your everyday life?

What Are Semiconductors?

When you plug your charging cable into the wall, how does it work? Electricity travels from the socket and through a copper wire until it reaches your phone or another battery-powered device. This setup works because the copper inside your charging cable is known as a conductor — it transfers electricity well and under nearly any circumstance. Copper and other conductors like steel and aluminum have very little resistance and allow electricity to flow unimpeded from source to destination. 

Semiconductors, on the other hand, act as insulators most of the time. They have higher resistance and don’t transmit electricity easily or at all. On the other end of the spectrum are the insulators — materials that don’t conduct electricity at all. You’ll often find these surrounding conductors and semiconductors to prevent the power from arcing out and potentially causing harm. Rubber and carbon are both standard insulators.

If they don’t transmit electricity but only work as an insulator some of the time, why are semiconductors essential in the creation of technology? How do they work?

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When Does Subtractive Manufacturing Make More Sense?

By Megan Ray Nichols

Additive manufacturing — especially 3D printing — has captured the attention of hobbyists and manufacturers everywhere. Its capabilities and demand are certainly on the upswing. However, it would be premature to count out the more traditional subtractive manufacturing techniques.

Additive manufacturing builds objects by depositing a chosen material layer by layer. Subtractive manufacturing, including carving, milling, laser cutting and others, removes portions of a solid material until it reaches the desired shape.

There are still many situations where subtractive manufacturing makes better practical sense for the application at hand. Here are a few of them:

1. Time Is of the Essence

Additive manufacturing lends itself well to rapid prototyping. Unfortunately, 3D-printing a product is still not as “rapid” as subtractive manufacturing can be. If the production time is of critical importance, manufacturers should know whether to budget their time for the few minutes injection molding requires or the several hours a 3D printer requires to complete a workpiece.

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How Is Machine Learning Changing Education?

By Megan R. Nichols

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction, and it may be more abundant than you realize. AI already powers things from Netflix recommendations to smart speakers to autopilot in airplanes, and it’s only going to grow from here.

More companies are beginning to take advantage of this technology, as AI adoption rose 270% in just four years. Soon we’ll see this technology used across all industries.

One promising area for machine learning is in human education. Teaching is a vital yet complex profession. Discerning each student’s educational needs can be a complex challenge, and schools may not always have the ability to meet it. AI can help.

Machine learning has a knack for solving complicated problems that have proved too difficult for humans. This problem-solving ability can find ways to improve education for students of all ages and skill levels.

Personalized Learning

One of the most substantial challenges facing educators is that different students require different teaching strategies. Some may grasp certain subjects at a different rate than others or respond better to another learning style. Teachers may not be able to determine the specific needs of each student — much less have the time to address them all.

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The Science Behind Making Us Live Healthier, Happier Lives

By Jackie Edwards

When it comes to health and happiness, science has one clear conclusion to be drawn: these qualities are intricately linked to the extent that it is difficult for one to exist without the other. A review by researchers at the University of Illinois found “clear and compelling evidence” that happy people tend to have longer lifespans and enjoy better health, than their unhappy counterparts.  The steps to physical health are not always the same ones leading to mental health. However, often, the two roads overlap and science has many fascinating findings on the matter.

How can Good Health be Defined?

Bloomberg’s Healthiest Country Index (which places Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, and Switzerland in the top five) equates good health with having a long lifespan and good access to general and specialist health care. While each country differs with respect to health care, one aspect all can work to improve is diet. Although there are many diets associated with good health, recent scientific studies have focused on one in particular: the Mediterranean Diet.

What Stops Us from Living Longer?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans; it causes one out of every four deaths in the United States, according to the CDC. Cancer is the second leading cause of death, and both can be prevented to a large extent by making the right lifestyle choices. Diet and remaining physically active are two of the biggest lifestyle choices that promote health and happiness.

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The science behind lucid dreaming

By Jackie Edwards

The scientific and medical community have become more interested in lucid dreaming since the discovery that it is possible to improve motor learning through lucid dreaming. As a result, there is a possibility it could have some practical use for people in rehabilitation from a sport injury. This article will look at the results of some of these studies and find out how and why it is possible to improve motor skills while lucid dreaming.

What is lucid dreaming?

During a lucid dream you are consciously aware that you are dreaming, yet you remain in the dream state rather than waking up, as such, it is possible to manipulate your dreams as you see fit. It is thought of as a a safe testing ground for trying things out without coming to harm, for example, practicing a difficult and potentially dangerous sports manoeuvre.

Discerning between reality and a dream state

Research shows that achieving a lucid dream state in the first place is no easy task, as it involves being able to discern between reality and a very convincing dream state, which seems completely real to us at the time, even despite the bizarre nature of many of the occurrence in our dreams. Research shows that discerning between the two is a cognitively complex task, and as such, the ability to do this is evidence of problem-solving skills and cognitive intelligence.


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The Tech and Technique Behind Effective Home Surveillance

By Jackie Edwards

The video surveillance industry continues to develop and prosper as awareness for safety grows among citizens concerned for the security of their homes. According to a poll conducted in 2018 by SDM, in which both integrators and dealers were asked about their state of confidence with the current surveillance market, 75% said they believed the market’s state to be excellent. As video surveillance continues to grow in prominence and ubiquity, with more homeowners looking to secure their households, the more technical aspects of home surveillance should be made transparent and readily available. Placement technique and varying types of surveillance systems are being continually innovated and specialized towards fostering intuitive home security setups. Here’s an overview of the current standards for installing CCTV systems and their variant iterations.

Conventional surveillance setup 

A conventional surveillance setup is comprised of either mountable or stand-alone cameras, positioned independently in various areas which work in conjunction with each other to capture consistent video. The collective of cameras send footage to a monitor system; the signal being broadcast from the cameras to the monitors is closed circuit. Viewing of the camera’s feed is strictly observable from connected equipment. The majority of modern surveillance cameras capture high resolution video and are best situated in corner areas of an indoor space, since they are typically capable of wide range viewing. The system itself is conventionally connected by coaxial cables. Inconspicuous and out of reach, wired systems are still commonly used by homeowners to deter potential burglary and more generally maintain consistent observance of their property.

Wireless configuration 

As a means of eliminating the need for cumbersome wire installation, newer surveillance systems are entirely wireless. Composed of a camera, transmitter, receiver, visual monitor, and a supplemental data storage system, wireless setups allow for broader range in regards to placement and proximity from the central monitoring unit. Footage is captured and streamed from a radio transmitter to an antenna; the receivers can either be based within the camera and monitor or separate from one another. Being wireless, these units are able to be disguised as everyday items, or can be totally mobilized and mounted onto a tripod or other peripheral.

Flexibility of location for surveillance

Areas of the home that experience the most break-ins are the front door, backyard, and the ground floor parallel to the house. What should be considered when plotting effective surveillance locations is the camera’s proximity to a power supply and proximity to the home’s router – if wireless. Integration of IoT principles makes it possible to use a smart device for wireless monitoring of the surveillance feed. Some cameras are designed for communication with other smart and IoT outfitted devices. Homeowners are granted the flexibility to place camera’s base on their own concerns for which area of the home is considered a security risk.

Freedom for homeowner’s and how they arm their home is the priority for surveillance companies. As the industry continues to develop along with smart technology’s integration to domestic life, surveillance systems will persist in popularity and normalcy.

The Science Behind Welding

By Megan Ray Nichols

When you want to join two things together, you have a lot of options depending on the two materials. If you attach paper to cardboard, you can grab a bottle of glue. If you stick plastics together, epoxy is your go-to adhesive. If you try to attach two different pieces of metal, glue won’t cut it. That’s where welding comes in. Let’s take a look at the science of welding, as well as the different types of welding and how they work.

The Science of Welding

The science of welding depends on the type of metals you want to join, as well as the kind of filler material you use to attach the pieces. The most common type of welding is known as arc welding, which gets its name from using an electrical arc to melt both the metals and the filler to create a solid connection or joint between the two.

Start by attaching a grounding wire to the welding material. Then an electrode gets attached to the piece you weld and an electrical arc is generated between the two points, creating a high-temperature area that melts the metal and the filler, creating a uniform joint. Welding is tricky because you need to continuously feed the filler into the welding joint at an even rate to create a uniform weld.

Now that you understand the basics of welding, let’s take a closer look at the different types of welding, including the common less common options. There are 30 different types of welding, ranging from simple to complex.

MIG – Gas Metal Arc Welding

MIG welding is a type of arc welding that uses a shielding gas to reduce the combustibility of the materials. This type of welding reduces waste because it uses a high-efficiency electrode that creates cleaner welds. MIG welds are usually found in the automotive, industrial, robotics and maritime industry.

TIG – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

TIG welding, also known as heliarc welding, uses a tungsten electrode that can be used with or without a filler rod to melt two metal pieces together. Like MIG welding, this style also uses an external gas supply — most commonly a mixture of helium and argon. You’ll usually find TIG welding in the aerospace industry, water pipe joints and motorcycle manufacturing.

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The Science Behind Mold: Understanding the Fungi & How to Tackle It

By Jackie Edwards

Molds are a diverse fungi group that have been on the Earth for millions of years. Even though they can approximate bacteria in size, molds are eukaryotic organisms, meaning that their genetic material is enclosed within a specialized membrane that lies in the interior of the organism. Mold plays a fascinating role in the decomposition of organic material, but it also poses a health threat to humans who inhale mold spores in the air, leading to a range of respiratory illnesses.

Understanding The Fungi

Although there are many variations of mold, all molds are fungi that are microscopic in size. Like all fungi, molds derive energy not through photosynthesis but through the organic matter on which they live, meaning that mold needs a food source and moisture in order for the fungus to reproduce. Molds reproduce by releasing spores, which contain the genetic material necessary for the formation of a new organism. These spores can float through the air and, if landing in a hospitable moist environment, can germinate to form a new mold. Put simply, then, mold is caused by excess moisture, which is why surface mold arises in damp homes or places where moisture accumulates, such as the bathroom or kitchen sinks.

Health Effects of Mold

Mold is a natural part of the environment and plays an important part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees. However, mold becomes a problem when it grows indoors, because the fungi is associated with various health risks for humans, particularly humans with asthma or a mold allergy. Public health research from the University of Berkeley has found that of the 21.8 million people reported to have asthma in the U.S., approximately 4.6 million cases are estimated to be attributable to dampness and mold exposure in the home. Because of their minute nature, the health dangers of inhaling mold come from mold spores in the air or, in cases of rotten produce, mold spores that grow on the surfaces of the food we eat.

Getting Rid Of Mold

To cope with indoor mold, bleach and scrub surfaces where mold appears. Bleach kills mold spores, effectively preventing the fungi from spreading. You will also want to shampoo linens (eg., curtains, towels) where mold can live in and shampoo carpets with a bleaching agent. Large-scale instances of mold on the wall can be remedied through mould-killing paint, which bleaches and kills the spores before masking them from your new property. Finally, sodium bicorbonate (or baking soda) is an effective, safe and low-cost mold killer. Place a bowl of baking soda in your home to gather moisture and discard and replace when the powder turns clumpy.

Mold is an important phenomenon across many ecosystems, albeit not one that most homeowners want to find lurking on surfaces after a rainy day. Fortunately, though, mold fungi are easily treated with a bleaching agent and can be controlled to protect vulnerable humans from respiratory distress.

Innovations Expected To Make Driving A Worthy Experience

BY JACKIE EDWARDS

The demand for automotive engineers was set to rise by 18700 in 2018, according to a survey by the Recruiter. This is not a shocking statistic considering that the automotive industry is one of the greatest markets in the world. The constant application of science to daily life in the form of innovations like machine learning is once again showing up in the manufacturing of cars. Cars are getting sleeker, more intelligent, and highly accommodating with each update. New innovations continue to improve the driving experience now and for the future.

Autonomous Vehicles

Also called self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles are finally here after decades of research and test drives. A self-driving car means you can have a hands-off experience on the highway. With the latest car diagnostic tools, it is only fair you have the best car to test them on. The level 3 automated driving Audi A8 is just the first of many. The science behind this amazing feature is a combination of sonar, GPS, radar, laser scanners, odometry, Lidar, and inertial measuring units. A combination of these features ensures that the car senses its environment, including the road structure, other road users, and approaching cars to adjust its speed. It may be a while before these cars are allowed on roads without a driver though.

Biometric Vehicle Access

Gone are the days when a key could help you access your car, and so are the days when you could break into a car using a hanger. The existing radio frequency key fob technology is awesome, but biometric vehicle access is even cooler. During its launch in the 2018 North American Auto Show, the Nissan XMotion showcased its fingerprint scanner that opens the door. Your car basically starts when you touch it. Biometric technology is already used in connected cars, and will be seen in more mainstream and futuristic cars in the coming years.

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