The Beaker March 2014

BACTERIA: DEATHLY OR DELICIOUS?

“To be [clean], or not to be [clean]: that is the question”

A RADIX EDUCATION PUBLICATION

BEAKER R

the

del norte high school

THE REACTION: GMOs

In food we trust?

volume 2 | issue 2

CONTRIBUTORSS

Editor-in-Chief Christina Cheng Editor-in-Chief Ajay Nathan Design Editors Kate Jeon Rachelle Juan Principal Artist Rosa Chung Copy Editors April Shewry Nicholas Villalobos Content Editor Tristan Reinecke Srujan Vadlamudi Writers Marie Jung Michael Jung Jenna Kim* Benjamin Li Ajay Nathan Sehong Park* Tristan Reinecke Austin Shih Alan Tang David Tao Sona Trika Nicholas Villalobos Daniel Zhang Advisor Frank Liao

letter

letter

from the editors

from the editors Dear Readers, Dear Readers,

Welcome to your first issue of The Beaker in the 2013-2014 Welcome to our second issue of The Beaker in the school year!

2013-2014We school year! at The Beaker have but one mission: to inspire you to It’s been said that “you are what In The as our staff’s. Our have a passion for science thatyou is aseat.” infectious Reaction, we explore both sides of the debate behind theof experience in magazine is aimed at an audience with all levels consumption and creation of genetically modified foods. science, from a middle school Earth Science student to a senior Decide which argument you agree with more, then go and taking AP Chemistry. Because writers reflect personal interests in read our other interesting articles. We’ve got you covered their articles, each issue will have something for everyone. this issue: everything from new developments in technolThe Beaker has grown considerably in the months since we ogy to the importance of bacteria. published lastresponse issue. Inwe order a deeper Based on theour great hadto tofoster The Beaker Jr. connection to the community and further the magazine’s original last issue, we’ve decided to make it a regular part of our mission, we’ve expanded a non-profit organization called Radix Education, magazine.

We’reinto proud to feature some of the brightest dedicated to spreading the message of STEM to the community at young minds in our community, so check their articles out. large.

In this we cover broad array of topics—everything We’d also likeissue, to recognize thea valuable contributions colonization of Mars to thethanks prehistoric of ourfrom staff,the sponsors, and donors.

Special to Dr. origins of flight. also excited to introduce a new section of our KevinWe’re Reeder, Mr.very Senthil Nathan, and Summa Education. magazine called The Beaker Jr. Aswithout part of them. our goal to encourage This issue wouldn’t have been possible younger students tolike get itinvolved in STEM, middle Science, whether you or not (and we hope you schoolers will get opportunity to write our and become do like it),the is an integral part of our for lives.

Asmagazine always, our published authors.

Look for at the end of this issue. biggest commitment is putting it attheir yourarticles fingertips.

Enjoy.

We’d also like to recognize the valuable contributions of our Sincerely, staff, sponsors and donors. Special thanks to Dr. Kevin Reeder, Mr. Senthil Nathan, Dr. Chuck Wells, and Summa Education. This Christina andhave Ajaybeen Nathan issueCheng wouldn’t possible without them.

Editors-in-Chief So, once again, welcome to another year of The Beaker. We hope that your interest in STEM grows with every issue to come.

Visit us online at www.radix-education.org/beaker to read our previous issues. If you would like to join our team, sponsor, Sincerely, or advertise, contact us at beaker@radix-education.org.

Christina Cheng and Ajay Nathan Editors-in-Chief

Visit us online at www.radix-education.org/beaker to read our previous issue.

You can contact us at beaker@radix-education.org.

art by ROSA CHUNG

MARCH 2014 4

11

6

5

05 06 07 09 11

7

Inhale, Exhale Moore’s Law and How We Fight It The End of Our Oceans Beautiful, Cultured, and Dying A Year in Preview

Image 1

the creature. Today, paleontologists are still just

unsure. Scientists still have no stable 17as evidence to accurately state which end was the

Image 2

head, which spikes were for locomotion, how or what it ate, or even if the creature was actually part of a larger, unidentified organism. At the moment, paleontologists have tentatively placed it under the phylum Lobopodia, and it is credited as an early ancestor to modern day velvet worms. Considering how strange the organism is, however, it is very likely that scientists are wrong about its classification.

While the Cambrian may be the strangest period in Earth’s history, it is by no means the only one. Every era of Earth’s history has interesting and strange creatures that are fascinating in their own way. From the giant sloths of the Paleogene2, to the giant insects of the Carboniferous3, each has something to offer.

Although dinosaurs are still a captivating group, one would be amiss to ignore everything else on the geologic timeline. And maybe one day, when kids are asked what their favorite prehistoric animals are, some will say the Hallucigenia.

THE SCIENCE OF LOVE 9

13 15 17 19

Footnotes 1 Geologic era that spanned from 252.2-65 million years ago 2 Geologic era that spanned from 66-23.03 million years ago 3 Geologic era that spanned from 358-298 million years ago

The Reaction: GMOs The Comet Chaser The Science of Love Bacteria: Deathly or Delicious?

21

915

23

21

23 24 25

24

The Strange and Forgotten Bye-Bye Bees Version 2.0 Citations

Image 3

Inhale, Exhale A new pacemaker treats patients who can’t use breathing machines.

by SONA TRIKA Sleep is a luxury that every high schooler dreams they could have more of.

Consider having a disorder where feeling fully rested is a rarity. This scenario is nowhere close to uncommon. Sleep apnea. It is as prevalent as type 2 diabetes, and according to the National Sleep Foundation, it affects more than 18 million Americans.

The Greek word for “apnea” literally means “without sleep.” This disease is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs when the upper muscles of the throat relax enough to cut off the airway [1]. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common of the three most dangerous types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Individuals suffering from it, and all other types of apnea, stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep and unconsciously wake up during the night.

In doing so, the muscles reset themselves, and the sleep cycle starts all over again.

An individual may awaken several hundred times every night and never notice a thing [3].

Intolerably loud snoring is a major symptom of sleep apnea; more seriously, if left untreated, the disorder can have se-

5

vere or life-threatening effects, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, headaches, and impotence [1]. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.

The treatment found to be the most effective is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP machines push pressurized air through a nasal or facial mask, preventing the muscles from relaxing and blocking off the air passage [3].

Despite this direct counteractive method, many patients find the mask impractical and uncomfortable.

A recent, innovative development is expected to remediate these problems. An electronic pacemaker, or neurostimulator, that can receive signals from a sensor, which detects when the chest rises and falls, will be implanted under the skin of the chest. After receiving the signal, the pacemaker will send another signal to the hypoglossal nerve. This nerve is responsible for controlling the muscle at the base of the tongue. In response, the tongue will move slightly forward to allow the person to inhale. Another wire runs to the fourth intercostal region between the

ribs to monitor breathing. Patients only use it while sleeping; the simple wave of a special magnet over the implant turns the implant off [2][4].

Dr. Ryan Soose, study coauthor and otolaryngologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says that the new treatment plan causes minimal damage and seems promising. He said the findings consisted of robust effects against the disorder, with fewer apnea episodes and more oxygen dispersion in the blood.

Although there was no permanent damage, two out of five patients being treated reported minor discomfort from the electrical stimulation [2][4].

The pacemaker implant is a modern feat. This alternative to CPAP may not be a permanent fixture, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. The dynamic force that is science is ever-changing and constantly evolving. The development of this technology can assist scientists with further research and implementation. It might just be that important catalyst: a step towards effectively eliminating the symptoms of a disorder that plagues us.

MOORE’S LAW AND HOW WE FIGHT IT Moore’s Law spells the possible death of computers; luckily, scientists have a few tricks up their sleeves.

by BENJAMIN LI Let’s face it; we wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have electronics. We wouldn’t be texting in class, wasting hours of our time on Facebook, or typing up papers on the computer. It’s safe to say that electronics have paved the way for convenience and luxury. However, these times may be ending. Unless we come up with a quick solution, Moore’s Law will bring a firm end to the future progress of electronics.

Moore’s Law, espoused by Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel, is more of an observation than a scientific law. It states that every eighteen months, the number of transistors per integrated circuit will double. In other words, every eighteen months, computers will run twice as fast [1].

Normally, this would be a good thing; who doesn’t like faster computers? However, we’re getting dangerously close to a limit. Transistors can only get so small and still retain information. According to Moore’s Law, transistors will be the size of an atom by around 2020. After that, transistors will have to be smaller than atoms, which is theoretically impossible. What will we do then?

Will technology grind to a halt and stay that way forever?

Luckily, we have a few options to continue forward progress. One option is to make use of a new technology: spintronics. Electrons, besides having a negative charge, also have a quantum property called “spin.” Electrons have two states of spin: “up” or “down” [2]. By using magnetic fields, the spin of an electron can be reversed, and information can be transmitted with a string of electrons. For example, an “up” spin can represent “1”, and a “down” spin can represent “0”, thereby

mimicking the binary system [4].

The good thing about spintronics is that it is more efficient than traditional transistor computing. It takes less time to change the spin of an electron than it does to switch a current on or off [3]. It also uses less energy; unlike currents, electron spin doesn’t require a constant influx of power. A spintronic circuit would use less power, because a current wouldn’t need to be constantly applied [4]. This also allows electrons to carry more information, making computers faster [4].

Another option is exploring the field of quantum computing. Quantum computers use quibits instead of classical bits to process information.

These quibits take advantage of a property called “quantum superposition,” which is the idea that a quantum particle can exist in all states simultaneously. Traditional bits can exist as either 0 or 1 (binary); whereas, a quantum computer can exist as 0, 1, or both [5]. Quantum computing is complicated and much research needs to be done; even quantum mechanics experts have a difficult time wrapping their heads around the concept.

Quantum computing represents the coming of a new era in technology.

In the future, we should see both spintronic and quantum computers in the mainstream. Scientists are making more progress with spintronic computers than with quantum ones; in fact, their only barrier is cost. It’s likely we’ll see spintronic computers soon, and maybe in a decade or two, quantum computers will come onto the scene.

Of course, change is inevitable. No one knows what the future will bring, and it is up to the experts to usher in a new era of electronics.

6

In occurrences that resemble those from a Hollywood horror movie, jellyfish have been involved in so many disturbances that seem too scary to be true, and slowly but surely, they are beginning to take over our oceans.

Although jellyfish have wreaked havoc for several years, marine biologists began to seriously take notice in early October 2013, when swarms of moon jellyfish clogged up piping in a nuclear power plant in Oskarshamn, Sweden. Moon jellyfish are harmless creatures: they are brainless and are about 95% water. But in groups of a thousand or more, these seemingly innocuous sea animals cannot be stopped. In Oskarshamn, officials were forced to shut down the nuclear power plant for multiple weeks, inciting a massive loss of revenue [1].

In a similar case in Northern Ireland in 2007, a pack of Mauve stinger jellyfish completely wiped out Ireland’s only salmon farm, disturbing the ecosystem and leaving an environmental footprint still visible today [2].

These large populations of jellyfish have since destroyed fisheries, caused power plant outages, and rendered many beaches of prime vacation spots unsuitable for humans.

The fishing business is the main victim of the jellyfish dilemma. It has effectively cost the industry billions of dollars over the the last couple of decades. And it’s no surprise that jellyfish are huge nuisances to fishermen, who are forced to deal with damaged equipment and nets full of jellyfish. In 2009, a ten-tonne fishing trawler, the Diasan Shinsho-maru, capsized off Chiba on Tokyo Bay, when its three-man crew tried to haul in a net that unknowingly contained dozens of Nomura's Jellyfish, which can grow up to two meters long and can weigh up to 200 kilograms [3].

Tourism is another area that has been drastically affected by the growing abundance of jellyfish. In the summer of 2013,

7

nearly a million jellyfish piled up on the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and cut short the swimming season for many tourists. People’s tourism windows were shortened to just one week, and over 150,000 people were treated for jellyfish stings [4].

What’s more, the situation in the Mediterranean was not the first time jellyfish have harmed humans. In an isolated incident prior to the summer of 2013, beaches in Australia were hit by box jellyfish, whose sting is one of the most explosive envenomation processes presently known to humans. Its venom can supposedly turn human skin tissue to liquid, cause the heart to immediately cease beating, and kill within four minutes of contact.

Essentially, jellyfish are “eating, reproducing machines that are almost impossible to kill.”

And these prolific creatures cannot be stopped for a number of reasons. First, their predators are limited, and the few predators that jellyfish do have, salmon, mackerel, and albatross, are especially scarce in areas where jellyfish are prevalent. Second, jellyfish do not reproduce like other animals. They create polyps: little bundles of clones. These bundles attach to a surface and wait for the best opportunity to release the clones, all the while creating more clones. Finally, jellyfish blooms, or large populations of jellyfish, are nearly impossible to get rid of. In fact, cutting open members of certain species releases a polyp and creates exponentially more jellyfish [5]. Unfortunately, scientists are puzzled as to how to effectively deal with these annoyances.

The unusual biology of jellyfish may have already sealed their fate of ruling the ocean. As we look into the grim future of our marine ecosystems, it is without ease that we recognize the irrepressible power that jellyfish have.

THE END OF OUR

OCEANS

8

Beautiful,

&dying

An in-depth look at how China’s pollution is affecting its citizens

9

by DAVID TAO Everyone and their mother knows of China’s pollution problem. In the greenconscience and pro-planet 21st century, China is always brought up as the worst offender of the environment. This is not surprising, as China is both the most populated country in the world and the world’s largest consumer of coal, an outdated and inefficient source of energy.

This lethal combination makes China’s air extremely dirty and its citizens unhealthy.

There are even jokes that go something like, “at least the cigarette smokers in China get a filter,” or “the Chinese landed on the moon because the moon had a better atmosphere,” a reference to the December 2013 Chinese moon landing. But until recently, little data has been collected on exactly how China’s smog is affecting the health of its 1.35 billion residents. Just how bad could it be?

In a 2013 study titled “The burden of air pollution on years of life lost in Beijing, China, 2004-08: retrospective regression analysis of daily deaths,” the British Medical Journal (BMJ) set out “to better understand the burden of air pollution on deaths” by “examining the effects of air pollutants on years of life lost (YLL) in Beijing, China.” Using YLL as the criterion for measuring the deleterious effects of pollution, BMJ began by analyzing 80,515 nonaccidental deaths of residents of 8 Beijing

districts from the years 2004 to 2008.

The sex, date of death, and age of the passed participants were then compared to Chinese national life tables, charts of projected life expectancy obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO), to measure the disparities, or YLL, between the projected life expectancy of Chinese citizens according to the WHO and actual data collected.

The Journal also analyzed the presence of four different types of pollutants—PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2—from the atmosphere during the same time period to determine the role of pollutants on life lost; they measured densities of 105.1 μg/m3, 144.6 μg/m3, 48.6 μg/m3, and 64.2 μg/m3, respectively, several times higher than recommended amounts for all chemicals [1]. After careful analysis of data, and accounting for various natural factors such as season, temperature, pollution lag, air pressure, and relative humidity, the BMJ affirmed that pollution in China is drastically reducing the life expectancy of its citizens, concluding that “an increase in PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 was related to YLL increases of 15.8, 15.8, 16.2, and 15.1 years, respectively” [1]. Furthermore, BMJ observed that men faced more YLL than women. In addition, those older than 65 years of age were almost twice as susceptible to YLL and experienced the

highest daily death rates when compared to those younger than 65.

BMJ does note, however, the limitations of its study. Since the Journal only collected data from one city, Beijing, it may be difficult to generalize the data collected and conclusion made. They also noted a failure to account for “smoking or for prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related to smoking, because this information was unavailable.”

Overall, BMJ has reasonably correlated that residents of China, particularly those living in China’s capital, are experiencing an average loss of up to sixteen years of their life expectancy due to the increased pollutants present in the atmosphere. These findings strongly support the need for authorities to reduce air pollution in Beijing and most likely the rest of China. Currently, the Chinese government must ask itself if its lust for economic supremacy, fueled not only by dirty energy but also by the last sixteen years of its citizen’s lives, is worth the biological and environmental warfare it has waged on its people and the planet. Can China really ethically or logically continue its current trend of self-destruction? Science says no.

10

11

A YEAR IN PREVIEW

CES and 2014 in Technology

by AJAY NATHAN Old is undesirable. The modern technological era has spoiled us, and we are always expecting something new, wanting and needing just one more gadget.

Thank Ford that technology is continuing to advance, and at unprecedented rates.

Companies have mastered the art of appealing to our desire for more, heralding their new devices, both small and large, as “the next big things.” The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the ultimate manifestation of this ultimatum.

CES, inaugurated in 1967, is a weeklong convention where the world’s most influential technology is debuted. For instance, the VCR, camcorder, CD player, HDTV, and Microsoft Xbox all first met the public’s eye during the show.

CES 2014 revealed trends and subcategories that will most likely define this year in technology. The most notable was wearable tech. It began with fitness trackers in 2013, but those never rose to much prominence.

This year, a new, promising subcategory of wearables was introduced: the smartwatch. Samsung Galaxy Gear was the first watch to hit the market, but it only serves as an accessory to a limited selection of Samsung phones. Pebble released its fashionable smartwatch, called Pebble Steel, which is compatible with both iOS (Apple) and Android devices and sports its own slew of applications, including Pandora and an integrated fitness tracker. The Neptune Pine is also notable, because it is a completely standalone Android mini-tablet smartwatch that does not, unlike most smartwatches, require an accompanying smartphone [1].

Smartwatches are most useful for

checking text messages and notifications and claim to be more convenient than pulling out a smartphone to accomplish the same tasks. However, many cannot seem to find a reason to purchase one.

They are pricy and clunky, and the costs seem to outweigh the benefits. On the other hand, completely new technologies often seem useless and gimmicky at first but later become commonplace, and the smartwatches of CES 2014 are just a glimpse of what is to come.

On the subject of gimmicks, CES 2014 saw a desperate TV industry using them to attract consumers. 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) TVs are awesome, packing four times as many pixels as the 1080p HD TVs we currently have at home. But take those ultra sharp panels and round out their edges, and we have a gimmick.

Curved UHD TVs that promise a “next level” viewing experience are actually quite impractical. The curvature of the display is supposed to make content more immersive and reduce screen glare and reflection, but in reality, it distorts content and is quite distracting if the TV is not viewed from the perfect angle. As some put it, “a TV isn’t an IMAX screen” [2].

CES 2014 also showcased advancements in the realm of video gaming. The most significant was a further encroachment of the wearable tech fad, combined with the always alluring concept of virtual reality and immersion. This is Oculus Rift, a virtual reality (VR) headset that actually works. The prototype demonstrated at CES had no motion blur (a particularly large problem in VR) and accurate motion tracking through precision sensors and cameras. It has ushered in a new era of

immersive entertainment, and similar VR technology even has applications in manufacturing and medicine. It makes sense that the Oculus Rift was heralded by many as the “best of the best” item on display at CES 2014 [3].

Also worth mentioning are a category of products that have the potential to revolutionize how we create things: 3D printers. These incredible devices can take computerized three-dimensional models and print them out, in plastic or metal, exactly as they look on screen.

Though they have been around for some time, 3D printers are starting to emerge in the mainstream. The MakerBot Replicator’s appearance at CES 2014 marked the beginning of consumer-friendly 3D printing [3]. It is affordable, sleek, and easy to use—accessible not only by professionals, but also the average person.

A lot of interesting gadgets and emerging fields were flaunted at CES— more than are possible to mention: new, updated smartphones, tablets, the increasingly popular “phablet,” cool cars, niche software, the acquisition of the smart thermostat company Nest by Google (this marked the beginning of the emerging “digital home” category), among other new technologies [1]. And amidst all the chaos on the show floor was a common theme: a passion for advancement and a trend towards improving quality of life. Technology is incredible in its ability to make things better, and even more so in its seemingly never-ending conquest to get better in itself. Here’s to an incredible 2014, and a future of nothing but forward progress.

12

Ever since Mendel theorized the basic principles of modern genetics, we have had a fascination with the effects that genes have on organisms. Efforts to find out more have led to the Human Genome Project, the world’s largest collaborative biological project with the primary goal of mapping the entire human genome from a physical and functional standpoint [1].

Genetics has made an impact in a multitude of fields and in recent years has sparked a debate in food production.

For centuries, humans have been cross-breeding plant species for desirable traits. It was the advent of genetic engineering that allowed us to combine genes from organisms that are biologically dissimilar. Since the 1990’s, genetically modified organisms have been found in the form of crops such as potatoes, corn, and cotton. The growth of these crops has decreased the use of toxic agrochemicals and increased efficiency for many farmers [2].

However, some argue that such foods are unnatural and may have adverse side effects on people, such as allergic reactions and immune disorders. There have also been outcries of the monopolization of

13

industrial agriculture by genetic modification kingpin Monsanto, which controls a massive GMO cartel [3]. While the GMO industry may be a particularly nasty machine, many claims against the health effects of GMOs are unfounded, leaving room for endless possibilities.

In countries like Uganda, where a large percentage of the population depends on their harvests for their livelihood, GMO crops may have astronomical effects. On average, Ugandans consume around a pound of bananas per day. These bananas are the main source of starch, and nearly every home has a banana tree. However, bacterial wilt disease has led to a significantly decreased yield in recent years. To combat this problem, scientists have engineered a bacteria resistant banana by infusing a pepper gene in the plant, allowing for a bountiful harvest, even in adverse conditions [4].

Such a development may provide the solution to hunger in many third-world countries stricken by drought and infestation. GMO crops can help in the fight against malnutrition, as exemplified by the development of a genetically modified

“golden rice” that has been altered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to usable vitamin A [5]. Crops such as this “golden rice” could benefit the lives of millions around the globe that suffer from malnutrition every day.

Although GMO crops offer great opportunities to benefit society, they do not come without drawbacks. Biotech giant Monsanto, a leading pioneer in the development of GMO crops, has been criticized for its Technology Protection System that renders its seeds sterile, forcing farmers to buy the same seeds year after year rather than saving their own [5].

However, this does not show the faults of the GMO crops themselves, but rather the taint that big corporations have had on a promising humanitarian effort.

The science is not perfect and corporate mindsets have undermined the advantages; however, GMO crops offer solutions to many of the world’s lamented problems, as well as further expansion of the field of genetics.

You leave school and get a call from your mom. She asks you to go buy some apples for a delicious pie she is making.

But when you get to the produce section of the supermarket, you have a dilemma. Not only do you have to sort through bizarre apple names like Granny Smith, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Cripps Pink, and Gala, but you also have to decide whether you want to buy the organic apples or the conventionally labeled apples. You really have no clue what you should do, so you start to panic. But don’t worry! In order to keep you from hyperventilating and having any sort of anxiety attack in the future, I’m going to try and make this ohso difficult decision a bit easier.

Before we delve further into discussing the merits of organic food products, let’s find out what “organic” really means. The term “organic” refers to the way that a food product is grown and produced. Legal use of the term started in 1990 when the U.S. Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) carries out Congress’s legislation by setting the standards for what it means for food to be considered “organic.” The standards mandate that “organic” food cannot be produced with the use of “antibiotics, artificial growth hormones, high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes, artificial sweeteners derived from chemicals, synthetically created pesticides and fertilizers, genetically engineered

ingredients, sewage sludge, and irradiation” [1].

Now that we know what the USDA means by “organic,” let’s determine why these high-priced edibles deserve your attention and earnings. Above all, organic foods are more nutritious than conventional foods, let alone foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. A 2001 study conducted by Dr. Virginia Worthington, a nutritionist at the University of Maryland “examined 41 comparisons of the nutrient levels in organic and regular foods. In every case, the organic crops had higher nutrient levels—27% more vitamin C, 29% more iron, and 14% more phosphorus” [2]. Dr. Worthington’s results were then replicated “[a]t the June 2001 meeting of the American Chemical Society” [2]. There, a chemistry professor reported that organic oranges contain up to 30% more vitamin C than conventional oranges, even though the organic oranges used in the experiment were only half the size of the conventional oranges.

In addition to a greater nutrient content, organic foods are also healthier because of their lack of pesticides and fertilizers. Over the years “[s]ome studies have linked pesticides in our food to everything from headaches to cancer to birth defects” [3]. Historically, the USDA has maintained that the levels in conventional foods are safe for “healthy” adults, but according to the National Academy of Sciences, the USDA has failed

to acknowledge the toxic effect that these pesticides can have on fetuses and children due to their premature immune systems, and on pregnant women, whose organs are already being challenged.

According to a 2006 study led by Alex Lu, a professor of environmental exposure biology at the Harvard School of Public Health, “within five days of substituting mostly organic produce for conventional produce in children’s diets, pesticides disappeared from the children’s urine” [4].

These health benefits from organic foods are surely worth the higher price you will pay (which, on average, is only 20% greater than that of conventional food products). Beyond purely healthful benefits of organic foods, a six year study conducted by soil scientists at Washington State University concluded that “[o]rganic apples are just better! The organic apples were firmer, tasted sweeter and were less tart to a non-expert panel” [2].

So next time your mom calls you to pick up some apples from the store, don’t let the heightened price cloud your judgment. Instead, think about the short and long-term health benefits you can give your family, friends, and yourself: all for only pennies more…And then of course, think about that delicious apple pie.

14

Roughly ten years ago, European scientists launched the Rosetta into space. Ten years later, they tensely waited on the edge of their seats for the transmission signal from the probe. They knew that if there was any signal from the probe at all, it would arrive within an hour of the scheduled time: 10:00 GMT. The minutes ticked by until 45 minutes had passed. The scientists held their breath, then erupted into cheers of relief.

The Rosetta had awoken from its slumber.

The Rosetta was launched on March 2, 2004. Its purpose was to reach Comet 67P, or Churyumov-Gerasimenko, study it for two years, and land a probe on its surface. The probe was placed into a power saving mode, and only the main computer and several heaters were left on. Although it is powered by solar panels, the amount of sunlight reaching the Rosetta is about 4% of that reaching Earth [1]. After travelling 500 million

15

miles from the sun, and undergoing three flybys of Earth and one of Mars, the probe woke up after 31 months of hibernation.

After stabilizing its spin and adjusting the angle of its solar panels, Rosetta switched to a safety mode and sent a radio signal back to European Space Agency scientists on Earth [2]. The next phase in the mission is now checking and preparing the eleven instruments on the probe and the ten on the lander, which will be crucial for collecting data.

Comet 67P is a short period comet (6.5 years) that orbits the Sun and lies between the orbits of Earth and Jupiter. It was first observed in September 1969 by several astronomers at the Alma-Ata Astrophysical Institute in Kazakhstan.

The comet has been observed seven times: once in 1969, 1976, 1982, 1989, 1996, 2002, and 2009. The Hubble Space Telescope was able to take several images of the comet in 2003. The comet was approximated to be an irregular

object roughly three kilometers wide and five kilometers across [3].

What makes the Rosetta unique is that it will be the first to track a comet over time for over a year. According to Matt Taylor, the Rosetta project scientist, “All other comet missions have been flybys, capturing fleeting moments in the life of these icy treasure chests� [4].

Rosetta will be able to orbit the Comet 67P; study its nucleus and atmosphere, or coma; and observe any changes to the comet as it orbits the sun. Philae, Rosetta’s lander, is scheduled to land on November 11, 2014, and its touchdown will mark the first attempted landing on a comet. Among the specific data the Philae will collect is the composition of the ices and organic materials of the comet. [4] The Rosetta spacecraft is a milestone for not only the ESA, but also the entire science community. Now, only time will tell the success of the Rosetta probe.

The Comet Chaser

16

THE SCIENCE OF LOVE 17

There are few things that are complete mysteries in the modern world.

However, there is one field that is still an enigma to even the most learned scholars.

It has inspired countless works of art, film, music, and literature. It is timeless, infinite, and universal. It drives some to insanity but brings others peace and happiness.

What is this influential mystery? Love.

Merriam-Webster defines love as “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person� [1]. Some scientists believe romantic love is shown by physiological, psychological, and behavioral indicators, especially in its earlier phases. Signs of romantic love include increased energy, a desire to always be with a certain individual, emotional dependency, euphoria, and constant, obsessive thoughts about that individual [2]. These observations were made by scientists, but anyone around lovers can clearly make them as well.

However, the physiological nature and brain chemistry of love is more complex than the observed behavioral traits caused by it. Every time the brain senses actions or images related to love, it rewards the body [3]. The brain acts as it would if introduced to stimulants, such as cocaine. Both love and drugs like cocaine act on the ventral tegmental area of the brain, which triggers a release of the

neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine acts on the pleasure (or reward) centers of the brain by lowering the threshold at which those centers fire. Thus, love creates a high similar to that created by narcotics, which is why it feels so good to fall in love [4].

Interestingly, when someone is in love, large amounts of the hormone cortisol can be found in the blood, triggering high levels of alertness and lowering pain sensitivity. Large amounts of other brain chemicals, such as oxytocin, vasopressin, and low amounts of serotonin, can also be found. This means pleasure, motivation, trust, attachment, sexual arousal, attraction, and obsessive thinking, all caused by those chemicals, are common, while sadness, fear, and anxiety are rare [5]. In essence, our bodies and our minds love being in love.

Yet, the explanation for why we fall in love is still vastly different from how we do so, and it all begins with some basic biology. All organisms share a few common goals, one of them being the passing on of genes through reproduction.

All organisms, no matter how simple or complex, have the urge to reproduce, which explains where libido, or sex drive, comes from [6]. However, love is clearly very different from mere sexual attraction; it involves an emotional bond as well.

Scientists believe that early humans used infatuation and love as a mating strategy.

Love would not only attract a mate but also ensure that the mate stayed to help raise offspring, increasing the probability of the offspring’s survival. Four to five million years ago, early humans became bipeds and started to forage. Mothers could not physically carry or raise infants without help, which led to this needed change in mating. Now, with infatuation and attachment, mothers could find a partner to help them: this is how romantic love is believed to have emerged [7].

The concept of love has overcome the boundaries of culture, geographic location, and time, but love is still a big mystery to scientists and those of us just trying to figure out how it works in our own lives.

Research has come a long way, but there are still many unanswered questions that remain: why do we fall in love with just one specific individual who may or may not be better than any other, for instance?

No matter the answer, love is beyond biological processes and transcends a mere behavior in mating. It is something data and knowledge alone cannot explain.

It is unquantifiable and intangible. It is an integral part of the human experience.

18

Bacteria

19

Bacteria are necessary. But in our society, bacteria and germs have a stigma of being dirty and harmful to our well-being, leading to the ubiquity of Purell and Kleenex. Heck, classrooms request donations for these items, and some teachers go so far as to offer extra credit for them.

But recent studies show that while bacteria and germs can be dirty and sometimes harmful, they’re actually an integral part of our lives.

The immune system is what protects us from foreign invaders that come into our bodies and try to infect us. Certain bodily cells recognize the foreign pathogens and send signals to begin the production of antibodies.

Antibodies help locate, recognize, kill the foreign invaders, and make sure that they can never fully harm us again by keeping a record of the antibodies used to kill certain pathogens. If the pathogen ever comes back, our bodies recognize it and immediately send out the specific antibodies needed to suppress the infection [1]. This description gives bacteria a bad name, but not all bacteria are bad.

Consider our bodies. We’re all made up of an immense number of cells, each of which contain our DNA and are widely regarded by biologists as the “building block[s] of life.” But in a healthy person’s body, bacteria outnumber cells ten to one [1]. For every one cell that you’re made up of, another ten bacteria cells infest your body, carrying out functions that make our body run smoothly. In our stomachs, bacteria help break down food. In babies, dog dust helps boost their immune systems. Yup—that’s right. The dog that many parents regard to be too dirty and tiresome to keep around and care for can actually help children become healthier and develop fewer allergies and infections [2].

Before you dismiss bacteria as harmful and rarely helpful, consider this: living in a completely sanitary environment is actually bad for you.

Your body would remain clean while in that environment, but you would be unable to handle the world outside your sanitary cave. The germs and bacteria would bombard you, and the lack of antibodies supposed to be built up from years of being exposed to germs would have you reeling from

coughing, sniffling from snot, and cuddling with your blankie, hating life and germs.

Going back to dogs and their germs, it’s actually been found that dogs that bring dust into the house may actually be helping babies become healthier. The less-thansanitary environment has the potential to prepare babies from overreacting to grass, dust mites, and other commonplace objects [3]. In an experiment, researchers exposed some mice to dog dust and kept others clear of the “dirty” germs. The mice without exposure experienced inflammation in their airways with excess mucus and immune proteins that commonly accompany allergic reactions. The mice exposed to the dog dust had no such symptoms. While this research hasn’t been completely proven in human infants, the potential is great enough to continue the research [2].

If you’re still not convinced that bacteria is good, keep pumping that Purell, because I hope these bits of information disgust you. Do you like pizza? It’s everywhere in America and one of the most popular party foods…but for what party? The gettogether with friends or the bacteria amalgam of goodness? The crust is raised by yeast, a type of bacteria.

Yum. Cheese is supposed to be better aged. In other words, the more bacteria, the better. And the most “disgusting” of all, pepperoni.

Pepperoni is cured meat that never actually gets cooked. What you’ve been eating all your life is a blend of meats and spices that gets cured. In other words, it’s left alone for a period of time to become tasty—left alone for bacteria to work its magic. And do you get sick from eating pizza? I venture to guess no. You don’t throw up or feel sick every time you eat the cheesy, gooey goodness. Pizza is made tasty by bacteria, and you sure don’t complain about that.

So, before you go out and become overly-cautious about touching doorknobs and using Purell every other minute, think about the implications of bacteria. It might actually do you bad to try and keep your body bacteria-free.

20

&

STRANGE FORGOTTEN the

Dinosaurs have always fascinated people. Since the first fossils were classified in 1822 [1], the prehistoric creatures have captivated young and old.

Within a few years Image 1 of the discovery of the first dinosaurs, Iguanodon and Megalosaurus, the London Natural History Museum constructed an entire outdoor park filled with huge models of the prehistoric creatures [2]. Soon, other museums followed suit, and any selfrespecting natural history museum featured a dinosaur-themed exhibit.

Dinosaurs themselves have become an important aspect of our popular culture. The prehistoric creatures are featured in numerous movies, television shows, commercials, apparel, and almost any other product imaginable. Children’s rooms are filled with dinosaur toys, and many adults can still name their favorites.

But beyond dinosaurs and the Mesozoic1 era that they call home, the public is still generally uninformed about the geologic timeline. Many can recognize a wooly mammoth, or sabertooth cat, but ask most people what their favorite species from the Devonian period is, and you will be met with confused stares.

It is a shame really, as there are many parts of Earth’s long history that are as, if not more interesting, than the Mesozoic. Take, for example, the Cambrian period.

21

The Cambrian period occurred from 551-485.4 million years ago, more than twice as far back as the earliest dinosaurs.

For paleontologists, the Cambrian is a fascinating time in Earth’s history as it marks the first real point that species began to really diversify. For the first 3 billion years of life’s existence on planet Earth, organisms had evolved at a very slow rate. It took 2 billion years for the first multi-cellular organisms to evolve, and for many millions of years, the most complex animal was the simple jellyfish: a creature with no brain, major organs, or any motor skills.

At 551 million years ago, something interesting happened: the eye evolved.

Before the evolution of the eye, predators could only hunt by simply brushing against their prey and absorbing them into their bodies for digestion. The prey did not require many adaptations to defend against this, and evolution went along at a slow pace. With the advent of the eye, predators could now see and actively pursue their prey. To combat this, the prey now needed new adaptations to survive, and began to rapidly evolve, with the predators following suit.

This spurred an evolutionary arms race as predator and prey quickly began developing new traits in order to survive.

Paleontologists call this event the Cambrian explosion [3], and it led to one

of the most biologically diverse periods in Earth’s history. What makes the Cambrian period so fascinating was that this was Earth’s “experimental phase.”

Thousands of new species began to evolve, and hundreds of orders Image and 2 classes sprang up that have since gone extinct. Many of these new organisms look more alien than the strangest creatures in science fiction.

Opabinia regalis (see Image 1) used a long proboscis to catch prey and bring food to its mouth, much like an elephant.

That is, if an elephant had five compound eyes and swam around using long, finlike gills. When Opabinia was first presented to a group of paleontologists by its discoverer Harry B. Whittington, he was laughed out of the room as they believed the fossil too bizarre to be real [4].

Pikaia gracilens (see Image 2) was one of the first Chordata and an early relative to all vertebrates. It was a primitive creature with no well-defined head, and was less than two inches long.

Due to the fact that Pikaia had no fins,3it Image is believed to have swam in a series of Sshaped, zigzag curves, similar to modern day eels [5].

Most strange of all was Hallucigenia sparsa (see Image 3). Hallucigenia was first described in 1977 by Charles Doolittle Walcott, and he and his colleagues understood very little about

Dinosaurs have always fascinated people. Since the first fossils were classified in 1822 [1], the prehistoric creatures have captivated young and old. Within a few years of the discovery of the first dinosaurs, Iguanodon and Megalosaurus, the London Natural History Museum constructed an entire outdoor park filled with huge models of the prehistoric creatures [2]. Soon, other museums followed suit, and any self-respecting natural history museum featured a dinosaur-themed exhibit.

Dinosaurs themselves have become an important aspect of our popular culture. The prehistoric creatures are featured in numerous movies, television shows, commercials, apparel, and almost any other product imaginable. Children’s rooms are filled with dinosaur toys, and many adults can still name their favorites.

But beyond dinosaurs and the Mesozoic1 era that they call home, the public is still generally uninformed about the geologic timeline. Many can recognize a wooly mammoth, or sabertooth cat, but ask most people what their favorite species from the Devonian period is, and you will be met with confused stares.

It is is a shame really, as there are many parts of Earth’s long history that are as, if not more interesting, than the Mesozoic. Take, for example, the Cambrian period.

The Cambrian period occurred from 551-485.4 million years ago, more than twice as far back as the earliest dinosaurs. For paleontologists, the Cambrian is a fascinating time in Earth’s history as it marks the first real point that species began to really diversify. For the first 3 billion years of life’s existence on planet Earth, organisms had evolved at a very slow rate. It took 2 billion years for the first multi-cellular organisms to evolve, and for many millions of years, the most

complex animal was the simple jellyfish: a creature with no brain, major organs, or any motor skills.

At 551 million years ago, something interesting happened: the eye evolved.

Before the evolution of the eye, predators could only hunt by simply brushing against their prey and absorbing them into their bodies for digestion. The prey did not require many adaptations to defend against this, and evolution went along at a slow pace. With the advent of the eye, predators could now see and actively pursue their prey. To combat this, the prey now needed new adaptations to survive, and began to rapidly evolve, with the predators following suit.

This spurred an evolutionary arms race as predator and prey quickly began developing new traits in order to survive.

Paleontologists call this event the Cambrian explosion [3], and it led to one of the most biologically diverse periods in Earth’s history. What makes the Cambrian period so fascinating was that this was Earth’s “experimental phase.” Thousands of new species began to evolve, and hundreds of orders and classes sprang up that have since gone extinct. Many of these new organisms look more alien than the strangest creatures in science fiction.

Opabinia regalis (see Image 1) used a long proboscis to catch prey and bring food to its mouth, much like an elephant.

That is, if an elephant had five compound eyes and swam around using long, finlike gills. When Opabinia was first presented to a group of paleontologists by its discoverer Harry B. Whittington, he was laughed out of the room as they believed the fossil too bizarre to be real [4].

Pikaia gracilens (see Image 2) was one of the first Chordata and an early relative to all vertebrates. It was a primitive creature with no well-defined head, and was less than two inches long. Due to the

fact that Pikaia had no fins, it is believed to have swam in a series of S-shaped, zigzag curves, similar to modern day eels [5].

Most strange of all was Hallucigenia sparsa (see Image 3). Hallucigenia was first described in 1977 by Charles Doolittle Walcott, and he and his colleagues understood very little about the creature. Today, paleontologists are still just as unsure. Scientists still have no stable evidence to accurately state which end was the head, which spikes were for locomotion, how or what it ate, or even if the creature was actually part of a larger, unidentified organism. At the moment, paleontologists have tentatively placed it under the phylum Lobopodia, and it is credited as an early ancestor to modern day velvet worms. Considering how strange the organism is, however, it is very likely that scientists are wrong about its classification.

While the Cambrian may be the strangest period in Earth’s history, it is by no means the only one. Every era of Earth’s history has interesting and strange creatures that are fascinating in their own way. From the giant sloths of the Paleogene2, to the giant insects of the Carboniferous3, each has something to offer.

Although dinosaurs are still a captivating group, one would be amiss to ignore everything else on the geologic timeline. And maybe one day, when kids are asked what their favorite prehistoric animals are, some will say the Hallucigenia.

Geologic era that spanned from 252.2-65 million years ago 2 Geologic era that spanned from 66-23.03 million years ago 3 Geologic era that spanned from 358-298 million years ago 1

22

BYE-BYE BEES

The Beaker Jr.

The Beaker Jr. is a section of The Beaker which regularly features articles written by middle school students. The two articles featured were selected as the winners of an essay competition for students at Oak Valley Middle School, which tasked them with writing an article on a topic in science that interested them. Congratulations to the winners Jenna Kim (6) and Sehong Park (7)!

If you are in middle school and want to be featured in our next issue, contact us at beaker@radix-education.org for more information.

23

Imagine waking up one day to find that every single bee on Earth had disappeared. What kind of situation would you find yourself in? Yes, you would run out of honey, but honey would be the least of your worries if this became a reality.

Bees serve as the main pollinator of almost every fruit known to man. Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that bees pollinate about eighty percent of all crops, which means that they contribute to one-third of everything humans eat. A Cornell University study found that bees pollinate fourteen billion dollars worth of seeds and crops in the United States [1]. Losing bees would not only mean that you would lose many fruits, you would also be in danger of losing beef and dairy products if alfalfa, a plant pollinated by bees, was not kept healthy. Many plants rely on bees and bees alone to pollinate them, so if bees died off, they would take many of the Earth’s insect pollinated plants with them [1].

The sad part is, it’s actually happening. Bees are beginning to die off. Millions of bee hives have collapsed and died during the past six years. So many, in fact, that people have noticed it and have even given it a name: the

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

Researchers from the University of Maryland and many scientists from the Department of Agriculture decided to conduct a study about the CCD. They collected pollen from areas where the CCD had been devastating and fed this pollen to healthy bees.

The pollen contained up to twenty-one different chemicals.

The researchers found that bees that ate the pollen had a much higher chance of becoming infected with a parasite known to cause CCD. The pesticides used were supposed to be safe for bees to digest, but now the truth is revealed, showing that those pesticides actually kill bees. Also, students and scientists found that when bees left their hives to pollinate, they went to weeds and wildflowers to eat, the places where pesticides were mostly used [2].

If people don’t do something about this situation soon, our future, a future without bees, won’t look so bright. You don’t have to be a farm owner, or a scientist, or the President to help save bees, you can just be you.

Just spread the word, and when you see a bee, don’t smash or squash it: humankind’s whole future could be flying on that one little bee’s wings.

version 2.0 VERSION 2.0

Evolution. It is the process that has kept all living organisms alive throughout the history of the Earth. Evolution has enabled organisms to adapt to changes in their environment, making them more fit to their surroundings. Sometimes, their appearances changed. In other times, intelligence changed. In any way, evolution has made the living population better, essentially upgrading it. It is as if nature constantly looks an eye out for better software and hardware, or in this case, physical appearance and mental awareness. These processes did not happen in a day, a month, or a year. These evolutionary changes happened over millions of years.

On December 27, 1831 a man named Charles Darwin set sail in his ship the HMS Beagle for a survey expedition.

This voyage led to one of the most shocking and original theories presented at the time. During his voyage, he realized that all animals evolved from other species in the past. He wrote a book called On the Origin of Species, which is

considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. He states that all species struggle to survive, and individuals more suited to their environment are more likely to reproduce. These individuals are more likely to leave their inheritable traits to future generations, which results in the process of natural selection. Natural selection is the gradual process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of the effect of inherited traits on the differential reproductive success of organisms interacting with their environment. To survive, all species had to adapt to their surroundings in order keep their race from going extinct.

Most species changed their physical state in order to survive. The clearest example is the giraffe. The giraffe originated from antelopes or deer. This particular species faced food shortages in the lower branches of trees. As time went on, these animals started developing long legs and necks in order to reach the

higher regions of the trees [1]. All of these animals changed their bodies to be better fit for survival.

While some changed their physicality, others evolved their mentality. The most common example is mankind. Humans and apes had the same ancestors. Then, they separated into Hominidae, which means great ape, and Gibbon, which means lesser apes. From the Hominidae came the Homo habilis.

The next stage was the Homo erectus, a species that had a slightly bigger brain [2]. Finally, there came the Homo sapiens.

As evolution continued, intelligence increased.

Evolution has kept life blooming on Earth. Without it, all species would be extinct because of the lack of adaptability.

As time goes on, the environment may change. Evolution will be the key to survival in the future. To survive, all species must evolve. In a couple million years, there might be a next generation of mankind who study us. They will be an updated version of us. The version 2.0.

24

CITATIONSS

Inhale, Exhale by Sona Trika [1] “American Sleep Apnea Association.” American Sleep Apnea Association. ASAA, 2013. Web. [2] Seppa, Nathan. “Pacemaker Treats Sleep Apnea.” Science News. Science News, 9 Jan. 2014. Web. [3] “Sleep Apnea | WASM.” WASM. WASM, n.d. Web. [4] Thompson, Dennis. “Chest Implant Might Help With Sleep Apnea.” Consumer HealthDay. HealthDay, 8 Jan. 2014. Web.

Moore’s Law and How We Fight It by Benjamin Li [1] “Moore’s Law.” (n.d.): Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. [2] “Magnetoelectronics and Spintronics & SpinAps (IBM-Stanford Spintronic Science and Applications Center).” Magnetoelectronics and Spintronics & SpinAps (IBM-Stanford Spintronic Science and Applications Center). IBM Research, n.d. Web. [3] University of Twente. “Bucky balls for next-generation spintronics devices.” ScienceDaily, 23 Jan. 2012. Web. [4] Greene, Kate “A Bright Future for Spintronics” Technology Review MIT 16 Oct. 2006 Web. [5] Rich, Steven and Gellman, Barton “NSA seeks to build quantum computer that could crack most types of encryption” Washington Post Washington Post n.d. Web. The End of Our Oceans by Alan Tang [1] Craggs, Ryan. “Jellyfish Force Closure Of Oskarshamn Swedish Reactor.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com. Web. [2] “Who, What, Why: Why Are We Plagued by Jellyfish?” BBC News. BBC. Web. [3] Cripps, Karla. “Jellyfish Taking over Oceans, Experts Warn.” CNN. Cable News Network. Web. [4] Tremlett, Giles. “Jellyfish Surge in Mediterranean Threatens Environment – and Tourists.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Web. [5] Guilford, Gwynn. “Attack of the Blob.” Quartz. Quartz, n.d. Web. Beautiful, Cultured, and Dying by David Tao [1] Guo, Yuming. “The Burden of Air Pollution on Years of Life Lost in Beijing, China, 2004-08: Retrospective Regression Analysis of Daily Deaths.” BMJ. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 14 Nov. 2013. Web. A Year in Preview by Ajay Nathan [1] McQuivey, James. “CES 2014 Round-Up In Three Bullets.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Web. [2] Katzmaier, David. “Are Curved TVs a Gimmick?” CNET CES 2014. CNET. Web. [3] Silbert, Sarah. “Presenting Our Best of CES 2014 Awards Winners.” Engadget. Engadget. Web.

Life Savers by Daniel Zhang [1] Kolata, Gina. “The Human Genome, Then and Now.” The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Web. [2] Schiffman, Richard. “GMOs Aren’t the Problem. Our Industrial Food System Is.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Web. [3] Huff, Ethan A. “Monsanto Has Created the World’s Largest GMO Monopoly.” Reader Supported News. Reader Supported News. Web. [4] Doucleff, Michaeleen. “Will GMOs Help Protect Ugandan Families Against Hunger?” NPR. National Public Radio. Web. [5] Robbins, John. “Can GMOs Help End World Hunger?” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com. Web. Go Organic! by Nicholas Villalobos [1] O’Brien, Robyn. “Is Organic Really Better?” Food Revolution Network Blog. N.p. Web. [2] Dauncey, Guy. “Ten Reasons Why Organic Food Is Better.” EarthFuture.com. N.p., n.d. Web. [3] DeCostole, Jessica. “The Truth About Organic Foods.” Redbook. Heart Communication, Inc. Web. [4] “Would Americans Be Better Off Eating a Mostly Organic Diet?” The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Web.

The Comet Chaser by Austin Shih [1] Pearson, Michael, and Smith, Matt. “Comet-Chasing Probe Wakes Up, Calls Home.” Space Science: Rosetta. CNN. Web. [2] “Rosetta wide awake as check-up continues” ESA. Web. [3] “67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko” ESA. Web. [4] “ESA’s sleeping beauty wakes up from deep space hibernation” ESA. Web.

The Science of Love by Marie Jung [1] “Definition of Love.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. [2] Aron, Arthur, Helen Fisher, Debra J. Mashek, Greg Strong, Haifang Li, and Lucy L. Brown. “Reward, Motivation, and Emotion Systems Associated With Early-Stage Intense Romantic Love.” Reward, Motivation, and Emotion Systems Associated With Early-Stage Intense Romantic Love.

American Physiological Journal, n.d. Web. [3] Zeki, S. “The Neurobiology of Love.” ScienceDirect. ScienceDirect, n.d. Web. Jan. 2014.

[4] DiSalvo, David. “Love in the Time of Neuroscience.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 13 Feb. 2013. Web. [5] Fischetti, Mark. “Your Brain in Love.” Scientific American. Scientific American, n.d. Web. [6] “The 7 Characteristics of Life.” The 7 Characteristics of Life. N.p., n.d. Web. [7] Goleman, Daniel. “After Kinship and Marriage, Anthropology Discovers Love.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Nov. 1992. Web. Bacteria: Deathly or Delicious? by Michael Jung [1] American Society for Microbiology. “Humans Have Ten Times More Bacteria Than Human Cells: How Do Microbial Communities Affect Human Health?.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily.

[2] Ornes, Stephen. “Doggy Dust Could Be A Good Thing.” Student.societyforscience.org. Society for Science. Web. [3] Seppa, Nathan. “Dog Dust May Benefit Baby Immune Systems.” Sciencenews.org. Society for Science. Web.

The Strange and the Forgotten by Tristan Reinecke [1] Dean, Dennis R. Gideon Mantell and the discovery of dinosaurs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-521-42048-2 [2] “Video -- Megalosaurus -- National Geographic.” National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. [3] “The Cambrian Period.” The Cambrian Period. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.

[4] Whittington, H. B. (June 1975). “The enigmatic animal Opabinia regalis, Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, British Columbia”. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 271 (910): 1–43 271.Bibcode:1975RSPTB.271....1W.doi:10.1098/rstb.1975.0033. JSTOR 2417412. Free abstract at Whittington, H. B. (1975). “The Enigmatic Animal Opabinia regalis, Middle Cambrian, Burgess Shale, British Columbia”. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 271 (910): 1.Bibcode:1975RSPTB.271....1W.doi:10.1098/rstb.1975.0033.

[5] Palmer, D., (2000). The Atlas of the Prehistoric World. London: Marshall Publishing Ltd. p66-67.

Bye-Bye Bees by Jenna Kim [1] Boland, Maria. “The Importance of Honeybees.” Mnn.com. cirracore. Web. [2] Nesbit, Jeff. “Bee Colony Collapses Are More Complex Than We Thought.” USnews.com. News and World Report LP. Web. Version 2.0 by Sehong Park [1] Holdrege, Craig. “The Giraffe’s Short Neck.” The Nature Institute. N.p.. Web. [2] “Human Evolution Timeline Interactive.” Smithsonian-National Museum of Natural History. N.p.. Web.

Now enrolling for our fall and winter programs!

College Application Workshops Winter Boot Camp Summa SAT Essentials Summa ACT Boost SAT Math II Subject Classes

www.summaeducation.com

9th/10th PSAT Writing / Literature

Congratulations to all of our Summa students including the twenty-two who received perfect scores on the SAT .

Claudia S. B.H. Alice X. Brandon H. Bryan T. Cameron R. Madhavi R. Nathan N. Oliver R. Raj K. Stephanie G. Tina V. Maria V. Timmy S. Jacqueline P.

CCA Bishop’s CCA WVHS WVHS WVHS CCA CCA RBHS CCA WVHS CCA CCA CCA TPHS WVHS

2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400

Kevin F. Scott K. Dan K. Ashwin R. Preetam S. Steven T. Noah T. Ashley C. Brenton C. Grace C. Jessica F. Amanda K. Jenny C. Lucy A. Mark S.

WVHS CCA TPHS CHS FPHS TPHS CCA CCA WVHS RBHS RBHS CCA RBHS Bishop’s TPHS SRHS

2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2380 2380 2380 2380 2380 2370 2370 2370 2370 2370

Apoorva M. Ajay N. Charles H. Peter K. Shaleen S. Kevin Y. Yara G. Amy C. Christine C. Chul Min P. Eric C. Erik S. Michael Z. Patrick C. Richa C. Zachary Y.

TPHS DNHS WVHS TPHS WVHS Bishop’s TPHS TPHS CCA ORHS CCA Bishop’s WVHS WVHS MCHS LJHS

2370 2360 2360 2360 2360 2360 2350 2340 2330 2330 2330 2330 2330 2330 2330 2330

Allen C. Emily Y. Justin W. Lang T. Nada A. Nicole R. Sharanya I. William L. Alexander C. Amy C. Ann L. Ashley T. Christopher L. Caleb H. Katie X. Kevin J.

7th/8th Writing / Literature LJHS WVHS TPHS CCA TPHS CCA MCHS RBHS WVHS CCA WVHS CCA DNHS SRHS RBHS MCHS

5th/6th Writing / Literature

2320 2320 2320 2320 2320 2320 2320 2320 2310 2310 2310 2310 2310 2300 2300 2300

Algebra II Geometry Algebra I Pre-Algebra 5th/6th Math One-to-one tutoring

and many more...

Carmel Valley : 11250 El Camino Real #105, San Diego CA 92130 (858) 793-8880 Rancho Bernardo : 12230 World Trade Dr. #150, San Diego CA 92128 (858) 673-8988

Where science and vision come together

Group tutoring

TM

ortho-k

Don’t let traditional glasses or contact lenses hinder you from experiencing life to the fullest.

Introducing iSee™ therapeutic contact lenses. iSee™ lenses are custom made contact lenses specifically designed to gently reshape your cornea while you sleep.

You simply wear your iSee™ lenses while you sleep then take them out in the morning to enjoy clear vision all day long.

Call today for more information and to schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Reeder.

CARMEL MOUNTAIN VISION CARE OPTOMETRY Serving Penasquitos Families Since 1979

858-484-1500 www.CarmelMountainVisionCare.com 9320 Carmel Mountain Road Suite E, San Diego, CA 92129

Kevin M. Reeder, O.D.

Certified Orthokeratology Practitioner

Getting behind on your mortgage payment?

No problem. We can sell your property, even if its value is less than your loan balance, for no money out of your pocket!

We help you buy and sell house anywhere in San Diego county!

SAN DIEGO REALTY AND

We specialize in foreclosure and short sale properties!

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC.

We manage your rental and investment properties!

CONTACT US TODAY! Senthil Nathan Cell: (858) 922-6014 Email: remax_senthil@yahoo.com Web: www.senthilsellssdhomes.com My 13 years of real estate experience can help you get top dollar for your property or get you into your dream home!

CalBRE License #01356900