Biodiversity

1) Making sure that there is a wide variety of species is important for the planet, because if one species goes, it creates a chain reaction. It all starts with overpopulation of one species, that one species food is going to go faster and they are going to die and their predators are going to go too. It can create a global chain reaction.

2) Habitat destruction is a factor in this problem as well. Once again, species is lost resulting in the chain reaction spreading globally. Habitat destruction isn't only happening in a certain area, but all over the world. Amazon, in the desert, and in the ocean.

3) If you preserve biodiversity, you WILL stay well fed. If Japan has an overpopulation of poison sea urchins that's killing the fish population, that's the worlds sea food population, so that means no more seafood. That is a great source of protein for not only Japanese people, but people all over the world. We can fix that easily by removing that sea urchin from the biome. Easy.

Gases and Climate Change

Combustion:
Hypothesis: If the flame touches the rubbing alcohol, then the alcohol will explode.
Observations: The alcohol was spread all around the bottle the flame was put in the bottle and it flew across the room. The flame and the alcohol must have opposing chemicals.

Fossil fuels, there is no doubt about it that they are polluting the air but are they causing climate change? I don't think so. We are harming the natural environment, we can do better.

Co2 gas
Hypothesis: If the carbon dioxide touches the flames, then the flame will grow bigger.
Observations: the carbon dioxide put out the flame. Fire needs to have oxygen to burn. Carbon dioxide takes out oxygen.

Due to deforestation, carbon dioxide isn't tran

Hydrogen gas:
Hypothesis: Its going to cause a minor explosion.
Observations: Once zinc was introduced to the hydrochloric acid, it started to bubble, and the fire was introduced to that product. The fire kept for awhile. Once the bubbling went down, so did the fire.

We took a look at some renewable energy sources including solar, wind, biofuels, and hydro power. Each year more and more people are using cleaner sources.

Air Pressure
Hypothesis: Once the can gets heated and it steams it will cool in the ice bucket and turn to water.
Observation: Nothing too exciting happened.
Hypothesis: If the can is heated then put upside down into the ice bucket, it will turn into water.
Observation: The can was crunched. You know how when your clothes get wet they stick to your body. I think its like that except with water vapor. The water vapor made the can stick to itself

The Effects of Chernobyl Linger On

I read this article discussing how the effects of Chernobyl aren't getting any better. It appears so. Sadly, the toxic material's half-life, is increasing instead of decreasing. The radiation isn't going away either. You may ask, why doesn't it go away? I answer you. Animals and plants keep absorb the radiation, keeping it alive, and also passing it up the food chain when eating each other. This means food restrictions in Europe and the area formerly known as the Soviet Union, is going to last 10-15 more years than thought. No berries or sheep. The ecosystems are going to have to take even longer to recover. Now I have some questions.

1) Are scientists trying to come up with a dispersant?

2) We already put chemicals in our food to make it better, why can't Europeans have the food in the contaminated area and put chemicals in it to disperse the radiations.

3) Can we clean up radiation in the air?

Chernobyl Questions

1) If animals are living in the outside villages, why can't humans?

2) If we are getting footage of Chernobyl for history specials now, does that mean it is safe if you stay temporarily?

3) Can Chernobyl ever recover and be a functioning town ever again?

4) What effects did this even have on the economy?

5) Has the radiation of Chernobyl affected other parts of the world severely?

Q and A for the Panel

How do you know it's safe to live in Black Creek Village?

If it is safe, why is the housing so cheap?

Can we presume it's safe because of the years between incidents including death, miscarriage, birth defect, or illness?

However has there been any unusual incidents in the Niagra Falls area?

How has this affected the ecosystem like plants or animals?

If the toxic chemicals do decompose, will we build on it again?

8-30-Catalyst Block 2

1) A blizzard caused all the water to go into the ground and then push up some of the waste causing it to ooze out of the ground and into creeks.

2) Cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, leukemia are all possibilities if you lived in the Love Canal area. Chemicals oozed out of the ground into people's basements and yards, exposing them to the chemicals.

3) Animals in the area probably were affected. I'm guessing animals died off and that means one animal doesn't get his food and he dies and it starts a chain reaction. Animals that drink in the creek or hunt in the fields nearby, have a high chance of being exposed to these chemicals.

Chemical Dispersants

Why is BP creating more problems with this toxic "solution"?

If it is 4x more toxic than oil, than what's the point of it?

Why is BP trying to hide information about chemical dispersant from us?