Would I agree that "to live is to know"?:
In researching this question a little further, I came across an article that talks about our immune system - and talks about further research done by Varela and Maturana. In part, the article states (in reference to the regulatory function of the immune system):
From the perspective of the Santiago theory, this regulatory function is part of the immune system's process of cognition. When foreign molecules enter the body, the resulting response is not their automatic destruction but regulation of their levels within the system's other cognitive activities. The response will vary and will depend upon the entire context of the network.
What occurs to me after reading this and after our discussion in class of the Santiago theory in general, is whether the idea of cognition in living systems does not in some way suggest the existence of a "soul" - could the driving force behind otherwise biological behavior be something bigger and essentially unknown, and might not we go so far as to name that other a soul?
In this respect, I would have to say that I definitely do agree that to live is to know - that the sum total of our experiences including something energetically unknown to us (Qi?) drives our processes, development, and ultimately our deaths.
Memory and Magic - how might you view things differently now?:
I guess that the most startling thing about this article, to me, was the assertion that in one well known magic trick - where a magician pretends to throw a ball up in the air - there really isn't a ball at all - that the illusion is strictly in our minds. I have to admit that this idea really blew me away....and it also explains a great deal about the world we live in, where people are completely capable of seeing only what it is they are prepared or willing to see, and why so much is out of balance because of this. It really gives pause to the statement of "seeing is believing"...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Week 12 Assignments - Cell Biology
Connections between cell biology and TCM:
What occurs to me here is how small and subtle shifts and differences create such a diversity of life and organisms and processes; how animal and plant cells have more in common than not, and that for the absence or presence of just a couple of key components a completely different form of life is created, lives, and dies - that but for some mysterious (to me, mostly because I don't quite get the process, no doubt) and slight deviation, cells either simply divide and multiply, or they divide and create male and female, which are in turn capable of continuing to recreate life, and so on and so on. Chinese medicine seeks to understand these subtle and slight shifts and processes - and then uses this understanding to diagnose illness and imbalance and then ultimately to treat those imbalances. Shifting energy through the application of needles and pressure, prescribing herbs which act in a subtle way to alter physiological processes within the body - addressing emotional issues which are stored in the "body memory" of the cells themselves - these components of TCM all address illness that exists in our cellular biology in a very direct way, IMO.
How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis:
This was interesting, and did a pretty good job of showing this division process - but I do feel that for myself, the biology text that I had made all of this a little more clear to me overall. (Can't remember right now the name/version/author of the text...). I guess I am a little fuzzy on why a cell ends up going through either one of these processes - why does a cell perform mitosis vs. meiosis - is a cell specifically coded in advance to go through the reproductive process to begin to create life? And then, I essentially understand all the different steps that this division goes through, but I really hope no one ever asks me to explain it 'cuz I wouldn't be able to do so....
On Cell Biology (links):
The site that does the animated Krebs Cycle was really cool, if I actually understood what was happening it would be even cooler. I get it that this is the process that gives energy to the cells, but the actually exchange of elements and the whole molecular setup is pretty complex and again, I don't understand it very well. However, the link to the site that goes over the cell information was a better one for me than the one up above...the diagrams that are on this site that show the difference between mitosis and meiosis are more like what I had in my biology text at home, and the side by side comparison set up in this way was easier for me to follow than that on the NOVA site. The wikipedia pages are always informative, if not a bit dry.....
What occurs to me here is how small and subtle shifts and differences create such a diversity of life and organisms and processes; how animal and plant cells have more in common than not, and that for the absence or presence of just a couple of key components a completely different form of life is created, lives, and dies - that but for some mysterious (to me, mostly because I don't quite get the process, no doubt) and slight deviation, cells either simply divide and multiply, or they divide and create male and female, which are in turn capable of continuing to recreate life, and so on and so on. Chinese medicine seeks to understand these subtle and slight shifts and processes - and then uses this understanding to diagnose illness and imbalance and then ultimately to treat those imbalances. Shifting energy through the application of needles and pressure, prescribing herbs which act in a subtle way to alter physiological processes within the body - addressing emotional issues which are stored in the "body memory" of the cells themselves - these components of TCM all address illness that exists in our cellular biology in a very direct way, IMO.
How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis:
This was interesting, and did a pretty good job of showing this division process - but I do feel that for myself, the biology text that I had made all of this a little more clear to me overall. (Can't remember right now the name/version/author of the text...). I guess I am a little fuzzy on why a cell ends up going through either one of these processes - why does a cell perform mitosis vs. meiosis - is a cell specifically coded in advance to go through the reproductive process to begin to create life? And then, I essentially understand all the different steps that this division goes through, but I really hope no one ever asks me to explain it 'cuz I wouldn't be able to do so....
On Cell Biology (links):
The site that does the animated Krebs Cycle was really cool, if I actually understood what was happening it would be even cooler. I get it that this is the process that gives energy to the cells, but the actually exchange of elements and the whole molecular setup is pretty complex and again, I don't understand it very well. However, the link to the site that goes over the cell information was a better one for me than the one up above...the diagrams that are on this site that show the difference between mitosis and meiosis are more like what I had in my biology text at home, and the side by side comparison set up in this way was easier for me to follow than that on the NOVA site. The wikipedia pages are always informative, if not a bit dry.....
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Week 11 Assignments - Living Diversity
Diversity of Species in my little corner of the universe:
Of course I am surrounded by humans, but there are also dogs, cats, birds (egrets, crows, hummingbirds, and I saw a banded kingfisher once*, other small birds I don't know the species of), spiders, flies, dragon flies, ants (not too many of them that I see anyway); daffodils, roses, tulips, juniper bushes, grass, geraniums, rocks (are those considered "living"???), tiger lilies (my mom really likes flowers)....*these guys are really kind of funny looking, with a crest on the top of the head, short and stocky - small quirky birds that live near water (there is a canal near the park I live in...) - I guess there are all kinds of microscopic life in the canal area, or even in the park's manmade pools - no fish, that I am aware of at any rate.
Cell Biology:
I liked this website, they do a good job of showing all the different types of cells....I think maybe my least favorite was the "virtual cell", only because there wasn't much going on in that particular graphic although it looked good....I was struck by how similar plant and animal cells are - there are integral parts that are the same (mitochondria, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, etc). I was also struck by the mechanical appearance of a virus - it really looked like a space station or something....
Spike's Gallery:
These images were really beautiful. I liked particularly the "fossil diatoms from Oamaru" - again, these seemed to have an almost mechanical look to them - they reminded me of the inner workings of a clock....and I thought the "opercularia articulata" looked like a bouquet of flowers - maybe cala lilies; conversely, the "water flea" was really kind of ooky...
Of course I am surrounded by humans, but there are also dogs, cats, birds (egrets, crows, hummingbirds, and I saw a banded kingfisher once*, other small birds I don't know the species of), spiders, flies, dragon flies, ants (not too many of them that I see anyway); daffodils, roses, tulips, juniper bushes, grass, geraniums, rocks (are those considered "living"???), tiger lilies (my mom really likes flowers)....*these guys are really kind of funny looking, with a crest on the top of the head, short and stocky - small quirky birds that live near water (there is a canal near the park I live in...) - I guess there are all kinds of microscopic life in the canal area, or even in the park's manmade pools - no fish, that I am aware of at any rate.
Cell Biology:
I liked this website, they do a good job of showing all the different types of cells....I think maybe my least favorite was the "virtual cell", only because there wasn't much going on in that particular graphic although it looked good....I was struck by how similar plant and animal cells are - there are integral parts that are the same (mitochondria, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, etc). I was also struck by the mechanical appearance of a virus - it really looked like a space station or something....
Spike's Gallery:
These images were really beautiful. I liked particularly the "fossil diatoms from Oamaru" - again, these seemed to have an almost mechanical look to them - they reminded me of the inner workings of a clock....and I thought the "opercularia articulata" looked like a bouquet of flowers - maybe cala lilies; conversely, the "water flea" was really kind of ooky...
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Week 10 Assignments - The Chemistry of Life
Re: Gene Therapy -
I definitely have mixed feelings about this question and topic. I am again awed by the technologies that we have developed and the possible applications for those technologies which can be so useful to quality of life for so many people. I suppose that what I feel most strongly is that we should continue to explore these technologies and their applications, and in particular clinical trials should continue in the study of gene therapy.
That being said, I also have serious concerns about the ethical use of the information that comes out of those trials. Given where we are as a species at this point in time, and given how much farther we have to go in learning how to humanely treat each other and the responsibility that we all carry to respect life and this planet in general - well, lets just say that I am less than optimistic at the moment that we are actually capable of doing so, and therefore I am not at all sure that we can use these technologies responsibly - at least at this time.
I also have some questions about treating conditions that are considered disabilities. Let me first say that I have a sister who is severely disabled, so I don't want to be construed as being heartless or clueless when I say this - but my question is around whether or not the existence of disabilities or anomalies in living systems aren't necessary in a normal cycle of life and death....if the attempt to eradicate those anomalies isn't harmful to that cycle in some way, that this might create an imbalance which is harmful in nature, more so than a cure would be helpful. I don't actually have an answer or even an opinion on this question, it is, just, a question...
Definitions of the Chemistry of Life links:
Not very helpful, to me anyway. Most of the links either took me to general pages at schools offering coursework on this topic, or were ads for journals, or sometimes didn't work at all...the few that I found actually had a definition on them were really long and wordy - I think the wikipedia article we were already provided with was more succinct and interesting, frankly.
Re: Animations links:
I was able to get these animations to work, and they were way cool, IMO. Of course, the only thing is that it would be helpful to have text or explanations to go along with the various models - but for instance I looked at the orbitals animations, and having a fuzzy understanding of that concept, I was able to have a slightly less fuzzy experience viewing that animation...tee hee.
I definitely have mixed feelings about this question and topic. I am again awed by the technologies that we have developed and the possible applications for those technologies which can be so useful to quality of life for so many people. I suppose that what I feel most strongly is that we should continue to explore these technologies and their applications, and in particular clinical trials should continue in the study of gene therapy.
That being said, I also have serious concerns about the ethical use of the information that comes out of those trials. Given where we are as a species at this point in time, and given how much farther we have to go in learning how to humanely treat each other and the responsibility that we all carry to respect life and this planet in general - well, lets just say that I am less than optimistic at the moment that we are actually capable of doing so, and therefore I am not at all sure that we can use these technologies responsibly - at least at this time.
I also have some questions about treating conditions that are considered disabilities. Let me first say that I have a sister who is severely disabled, so I don't want to be construed as being heartless or clueless when I say this - but my question is around whether or not the existence of disabilities or anomalies in living systems aren't necessary in a normal cycle of life and death....if the attempt to eradicate those anomalies isn't harmful to that cycle in some way, that this might create an imbalance which is harmful in nature, more so than a cure would be helpful. I don't actually have an answer or even an opinion on this question, it is, just, a question...
Definitions of the Chemistry of Life links:
Not very helpful, to me anyway. Most of the links either took me to general pages at schools offering coursework on this topic, or were ads for journals, or sometimes didn't work at all...the few that I found actually had a definition on them were really long and wordy - I think the wikipedia article we were already provided with was more succinct and interesting, frankly.
Re: Animations links:
I was able to get these animations to work, and they were way cool, IMO. Of course, the only thing is that it would be helpful to have text or explanations to go along with the various models - but for instance I looked at the orbitals animations, and having a fuzzy understanding of that concept, I was able to have a slightly less fuzzy experience viewing that animation...tee hee.
Monday, March 16, 2009
King Corn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiCRwMMh9k8
...and, another great documentary about corn and the high fructose corn syrup industry here in America. These two guys (I think they are from MIT??) decide to buy an acre of land in a corn field and plant corn and then follow it through the growing season, market it commercially, and see just where that corn ends up. Blew me away.
...and, another great documentary about corn and the high fructose corn syrup industry here in America. These two guys (I think they are from MIT??) decide to buy an acre of land in a corn field and plant corn and then follow it through the growing season, market it commercially, and see just where that corn ends up. Blew me away.
Manufactured Landscapes - Edward Burtynsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZiKBKnesnU
http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=manufacturedlandscapes
Ok, for some reason blogger.com won't actually publish these as links - I have tried ever since this afternoon....so sorry. I guess you can cut and paste the link, or just Google the title of the film/book like I did. The youtube video gives a good description of the film by the photographer, and shows some of the footage. The other link is a short review....
We saw this film at the Red Vic in SF, so it is probably not playing anywhere in the area, but this is out on DVD, so check it out!
http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=manufacturedlandscapes
Ok, for some reason blogger.com won't actually publish these as links - I have tried ever since this afternoon....so sorry. I guess you can cut and paste the link, or just Google the title of the film/book like I did. The youtube video gives a good description of the film by the photographer, and shows some of the footage. The other link is a short review....
We saw this film at the Red Vic in SF, so it is probably not playing anywhere in the area, but this is out on DVD, so check it out!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Week 9 Assignments - A Question of Balance
Semiconductor of the Week:
Germanium, chemical symbol Ge, atomic weight 32 - primarily used in the semiconductor industry. As of 2007, worldwide applications include use in transistors, fiber-optic systems (35%), and infrared optics (30%).
Germanium is relatively abundant in the Earth's crust, mined primarily from spalerite (mineral composed chiefly of zinc sulfide), but is an end product of silver, lead, and copper ore processes. It is silver-white in appearance, brittle, and semi-metallic. In 1886 Clemens Winkler verified its existence in the periodic table (hypothesized by Mendeleev two decades earlier) and he named the element after his home country of Germany.
Per Wikipedia and of historical note, "The first metallic material becoming a semiconductor in the presence of an extremely strong electromagnetic field was an alloy of germanium with uranium and rhodium" - ca. 2005.
Some compounds of germanium can irritate the eyes, skin, lungs, and throat; due to its proven activity against certain bacteria, germanium is being studied for use in chemotherapy.
"Welcome to Chembalancer":
I was able to get all of the equations except the last one....it looked balanced to me, but there was obviously something catastrophic that would have happened if I had actually made that compound, 'cause the computer told me I was wrong...
I liked the game, it gave me some practice in the whole balancing concept and it was fun - I had trouble with one of the other combinations, I didn't have it reduced to the lowest number, and it was like a puzzle to figure it out, which I eventually was able to do.
General Chemistry:Balancing Equations:Tutorial -
I didn't really like this site as much as the other one. I guess it is a good site for someone still getting the grasp of the idea of balancing the equation - it is very thorough and goes through the whole process step by step which is useful; I just feel pretty comfortable with the whole thing and so it seemed a little slow and drawn out, compared to the other site. Both, however, are really helpful overall and good resources for an interactive learning experience.
Germanium, chemical symbol Ge, atomic weight 32 - primarily used in the semiconductor industry. As of 2007, worldwide applications include use in transistors, fiber-optic systems (35%), and infrared optics (30%).
Germanium is relatively abundant in the Earth's crust, mined primarily from spalerite (mineral composed chiefly of zinc sulfide), but is an end product of silver, lead, and copper ore processes. It is silver-white in appearance, brittle, and semi-metallic. In 1886 Clemens Winkler verified its existence in the periodic table (hypothesized by Mendeleev two decades earlier) and he named the element after his home country of Germany.
Per Wikipedia and of historical note, "The first metallic material becoming a semiconductor in the presence of an extremely strong electromagnetic field was an alloy of germanium with uranium and rhodium" - ca. 2005.
Some compounds of germanium can irritate the eyes, skin, lungs, and throat; due to its proven activity against certain bacteria, germanium is being studied for use in chemotherapy.
"Welcome to Chembalancer":
I was able to get all of the equations except the last one....it looked balanced to me, but there was obviously something catastrophic that would have happened if I had actually made that compound, 'cause the computer told me I was wrong...
I liked the game, it gave me some practice in the whole balancing concept and it was fun - I had trouble with one of the other combinations, I didn't have it reduced to the lowest number, and it was like a puzzle to figure it out, which I eventually was able to do.
General Chemistry:Balancing Equations:Tutorial -
I didn't really like this site as much as the other one. I guess it is a good site for someone still getting the grasp of the idea of balancing the equation - it is very thorough and goes through the whole process step by step which is useful; I just feel pretty comfortable with the whole thing and so it seemed a little slow and drawn out, compared to the other site. Both, however, are really helpful overall and good resources for an interactive learning experience.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Week 8 Assignments - Molecular Weight
Alkali Earth Metal of the Week:
I chose Magnesium - chemical symbol Mg, atomic weight 12. Magnesium is commonly found throughout the universe, in the Earth's crust and oceans, and it is the 11th most abundant element by mass in the human body; its ions being essential to all living cells and important to biological processes of ATP, DNA, and RNA.
Magnesium is important in numerous biological processes in the human body, and is especially necessary for good heart health and in particular in the prevention of heart disease and heart attack. Part of the action in the body is to stabilize abnormal nerve and blood vessel activity, and insufficient amounts in the body can lead to increased blood pressure and the aforementioned heart attack - in addition to kidney stones. Magnesium has been found to be helpful in the treatment of PMS, and is also commonly used in laxatives and antacids. 65% of the magnesium in the body is found in the teeth and bones, and together with calcium helps to prevent osteoporosis.
Magnesium is also highly flammable, but mostly in its powdered or shaved state - not so much in mass or bulk. When ignited, it produces a bright white light, which was known as flash powder in the early days of photography; it is still used today in marine flares and fireworks.
In its metal state, it is similar to aluminum, in that it is light and strong - it is used commonly in automotive and truck components and has also been used in aerospace applications, notably by the Germans in WWI and II in their aircraft. Although there is some concern about these applications d/t the flammable nature of magnesium, modern science is learning ways to get around this because of current fuel economy concerns.
Magnesium is also used extensively in the electronics industry because it is light, and has good mechanical and electrical properties - and it is commonly found in mobile phones, laptops, and cameras.
Avogadro's Hypothesis:
I was also not able to get my computer to actually check my answers on this website, so I will just relate my understanding of a hypothesis in general and hope I am somewhere near accurate.
The hypothesis is the basis for all research of any kind - but in particular in medical or scientific research it is an idea, or a suspicion, which is then proven to be either true or false, via the scientific method. True and clean research starts out with a hypothesis - a baseline or foundation - upon which the subsequent research sits and which will hopefully be proven out by the scientific method. The scientific method is a systematic testing process, conducted in chronological and methodical procession, and which is supposed to eliminate false information and ultimately prove the hypothesis to be correct. It seems to me that Avogadro's hypothesis follows these guidelines and was indeed correct, but was limited by the amount of information available to be tested at the time, and so it has since been revised and refined to current day standards.
What exactly is a mole?
I have only a foggy idea at this point - it is some unit of measurement of molecules and pertains to elements. The website was not much help to me; it was written in mathspeak, which I don't get or understand. Hopefully, I won't be asked at gunpoint ever in my life to give a credible answer to this question - otherwise, adios April.
I chose Magnesium - chemical symbol Mg, atomic weight 12. Magnesium is commonly found throughout the universe, in the Earth's crust and oceans, and it is the 11th most abundant element by mass in the human body; its ions being essential to all living cells and important to biological processes of ATP, DNA, and RNA.
Magnesium is important in numerous biological processes in the human body, and is especially necessary for good heart health and in particular in the prevention of heart disease and heart attack. Part of the action in the body is to stabilize abnormal nerve and blood vessel activity, and insufficient amounts in the body can lead to increased blood pressure and the aforementioned heart attack - in addition to kidney stones. Magnesium has been found to be helpful in the treatment of PMS, and is also commonly used in laxatives and antacids. 65% of the magnesium in the body is found in the teeth and bones, and together with calcium helps to prevent osteoporosis.
Magnesium is also highly flammable, but mostly in its powdered or shaved state - not so much in mass or bulk. When ignited, it produces a bright white light, which was known as flash powder in the early days of photography; it is still used today in marine flares and fireworks.
In its metal state, it is similar to aluminum, in that it is light and strong - it is used commonly in automotive and truck components and has also been used in aerospace applications, notably by the Germans in WWI and II in their aircraft. Although there is some concern about these applications d/t the flammable nature of magnesium, modern science is learning ways to get around this because of current fuel economy concerns.
Magnesium is also used extensively in the electronics industry because it is light, and has good mechanical and electrical properties - and it is commonly found in mobile phones, laptops, and cameras.
Avogadro's Hypothesis:
I was also not able to get my computer to actually check my answers on this website, so I will just relate my understanding of a hypothesis in general and hope I am somewhere near accurate.
The hypothesis is the basis for all research of any kind - but in particular in medical or scientific research it is an idea, or a suspicion, which is then proven to be either true or false, via the scientific method. True and clean research starts out with a hypothesis - a baseline or foundation - upon which the subsequent research sits and which will hopefully be proven out by the scientific method. The scientific method is a systematic testing process, conducted in chronological and methodical procession, and which is supposed to eliminate false information and ultimately prove the hypothesis to be correct. It seems to me that Avogadro's hypothesis follows these guidelines and was indeed correct, but was limited by the amount of information available to be tested at the time, and so it has since been revised and refined to current day standards.
What exactly is a mole?
I have only a foggy idea at this point - it is some unit of measurement of molecules and pertains to elements. The website was not much help to me; it was written in mathspeak, which I don't get or understand. Hopefully, I won't be asked at gunpoint ever in my life to give a credible answer to this question - otherwise, adios April.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Week 6 Assignments: Electrochemistry and Alchemy
Halogen of the Week:
When looking up what a halogen is exactly, I found one interesting tidbit about all of them - they are the only group on the periodic table which contains elements in all three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas).
That said, I chose to read a little bit more about Iodine, symbol I and atomic number 53. Iodine is the second least reactive of the halogens, and the second most electropositive halogen. As a solid it is dark purple/dark brown, and as a gas it is violet/pink.
Iodine is rare in the solar system and the Earth's crust, although it is found in some minerals and soil; and it is concentrated in seawater and is found in high amounts in kelp. Trace amounts are required to sustain life by all animals and some plants and it is the heaviest element known to be necessary to living organisms.
Iodine is used in medicine, as a disinfectant - povidone iodine in particular is found commonly in hospitals for surgical procedures - photography, and as a dye (due to its staining property) in various technical applications, to detect starch which indicates stuff that is a bit too technical for me. Its staining property is useful in counterfeit banknote detection pens, which is an application that I do understand.
Iodine is also an ingredient of the home production of methamphetamines...
According to Wikipedia, its main role in animal biology is as a constituent of several thyroid hormones...the thyroid gland actively absorbs iodide from the blood to make and release these hormones, which is then regulated by TSH from the pituitary gland. Thyroid hormones regulate basal metabolic rate; 70% of the body's iodine is found in mammary glands, the eyes, gastric mucosa, the cervix, and in salivary glands. Iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism, and mental retardation.
Alchemy - science, magic, art, or all three?
I find it really fascinating to be discussing such a metaphysical and spiritual concept in the context of a basic science course - and yet upon reflection it doesn't really seem all that strange at all. Chemistry is the way in which elements exist and combine and create energy and the building blocks and processes which drive our physical world - and our minds and spiritual/emotional selves serve the same purpose in our personal physical and soul journeys; alchemy seems to be a very eloquent way to understand the ways in which these very scientific processes intersect in a very real way.
There seems to have been a concerted effort in the past on the part of the Western scientific community to separate out the mystical and spiritual aspects of science - which has resulted in a cold and sterile perspective, IMO. I guess that is one of the reasons that I love TCM, because Eastern medical and scientific thought does less of this, and integrates the whole mind/body perspective, which I believe is a more holistic way to approach health and the world at large.
At any rate, I do believe that alchemy is indeed all three; science, magic, (and really, how dull would our world be without the element of magic???) and art.
When looking up what a halogen is exactly, I found one interesting tidbit about all of them - they are the only group on the periodic table which contains elements in all three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas).
That said, I chose to read a little bit more about Iodine, symbol I and atomic number 53. Iodine is the second least reactive of the halogens, and the second most electropositive halogen. As a solid it is dark purple/dark brown, and as a gas it is violet/pink.
Iodine is rare in the solar system and the Earth's crust, although it is found in some minerals and soil; and it is concentrated in seawater and is found in high amounts in kelp. Trace amounts are required to sustain life by all animals and some plants and it is the heaviest element known to be necessary to living organisms.
Iodine is used in medicine, as a disinfectant - povidone iodine in particular is found commonly in hospitals for surgical procedures - photography, and as a dye (due to its staining property) in various technical applications, to detect starch which indicates stuff that is a bit too technical for me. Its staining property is useful in counterfeit banknote detection pens, which is an application that I do understand.
Iodine is also an ingredient of the home production of methamphetamines...
According to Wikipedia, its main role in animal biology is as a constituent of several thyroid hormones...the thyroid gland actively absorbs iodide from the blood to make and release these hormones, which is then regulated by TSH from the pituitary gland. Thyroid hormones regulate basal metabolic rate; 70% of the body's iodine is found in mammary glands, the eyes, gastric mucosa, the cervix, and in salivary glands. Iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism, and mental retardation.
Alchemy - science, magic, art, or all three?
I find it really fascinating to be discussing such a metaphysical and spiritual concept in the context of a basic science course - and yet upon reflection it doesn't really seem all that strange at all. Chemistry is the way in which elements exist and combine and create energy and the building blocks and processes which drive our physical world - and our minds and spiritual/emotional selves serve the same purpose in our personal physical and soul journeys; alchemy seems to be a very eloquent way to understand the ways in which these very scientific processes intersect in a very real way.
There seems to have been a concerted effort in the past on the part of the Western scientific community to separate out the mystical and spiritual aspects of science - which has resulted in a cold and sterile perspective, IMO. I guess that is one of the reasons that I love TCM, because Eastern medical and scientific thought does less of this, and integrates the whole mind/body perspective, which I believe is a more holistic way to approach health and the world at large.
At any rate, I do believe that alchemy is indeed all three; science, magic, (and really, how dull would our world be without the element of magic???) and art.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Week 5 Assignments: The Chemistry of Color and Nutrition
"Inert Gas of the Week: Krypton"
Anyone familiar with Superman knows about his Achilles heel, kryptonite - a meteorite from the planet Krypton, Superman's planet of origin, which renders him powerless; its creation is a bit of Superman trivia (per Wikipedia) in that the 1943 radio show introduced the concept as a plot line and in order to provide the voice of Superman an occasional day off, and that it was only later that the substance made its way into the comic books. Perhaps a more salient point is that kryptonite in no way resembles krypton, nor was it ever intended to do so....
Nevertheless, this would be the reason that I chose krypton as my inert gas of the week, and one characteristic of krypton that does resemble its presence in the world of Superman is its natural brilliant green (and sometimes orange/yellow as well) spectral signature, which is the result of the production of krypton by the fission of uranium and plutonium.
Krypton (symbol Kr, atomic weight 36) occurs in trace amounts in our atmosphere and is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Combined with argon gas, krypton is used in fluorescent lamps which are more energy efficient - however, krypton costs about 100 times more than argon, so these lamps are actually not very cost effective. Krypton is also used in high speed photography, due to its being a brilliant white light source - and neon lights of varying colors are almost entirely krypton based.
Scientific applications for krypton would be in the krypton flouride laser, important in nuclear fusion energy research - and liquid krypton is used in particle physics experiments (neither of which I understand very well, but which are nevertheless important to mention here).
Colors in my kitchen:
Red and yellow raspberries
Blueberries
orange juice
green zucchini
orange butternut squash
green avocado
orange (colored) cheese
brown (chocolate) pudding
white (rice) pudding
yellow butter
black and green olives
yellow and red jello
Links:
What is important about the color of minerals? I was interested in this one, as I make jewelry and I love to use semi-precious stones vs. glass or plastic beads, and over the years I have become familiar with many of the minerals shown and in particular with their variations of color. What was interesting to me was to find that the color of a particular stone is not only determined by the various minerals in it, but also has to do with light frequencies and reflection and so on...which I suppose probably should have been obvious to me.
I was also interested in the link about luminescence, and to discover the different energy sources which produce this kind of light.
Update on article regarding GM contaminated rice in the UK
Anyone familiar with Superman knows about his Achilles heel, kryptonite - a meteorite from the planet Krypton, Superman's planet of origin, which renders him powerless; its creation is a bit of Superman trivia (per Wikipedia) in that the 1943 radio show introduced the concept as a plot line and in order to provide the voice of Superman an occasional day off, and that it was only later that the substance made its way into the comic books. Perhaps a more salient point is that kryptonite in no way resembles krypton, nor was it ever intended to do so....
Nevertheless, this would be the reason that I chose krypton as my inert gas of the week, and one characteristic of krypton that does resemble its presence in the world of Superman is its natural brilliant green (and sometimes orange/yellow as well) spectral signature, which is the result of the production of krypton by the fission of uranium and plutonium.
Krypton (symbol Kr, atomic weight 36) occurs in trace amounts in our atmosphere and is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Combined with argon gas, krypton is used in fluorescent lamps which are more energy efficient - however, krypton costs about 100 times more than argon, so these lamps are actually not very cost effective. Krypton is also used in high speed photography, due to its being a brilliant white light source - and neon lights of varying colors are almost entirely krypton based.
Scientific applications for krypton would be in the krypton flouride laser, important in nuclear fusion energy research - and liquid krypton is used in particle physics experiments (neither of which I understand very well, but which are nevertheless important to mention here).
Colors in my kitchen:
Red and yellow raspberries
Blueberries
orange juice
green zucchini
orange butternut squash
green avocado
orange (colored) cheese
brown (chocolate) pudding
white (rice) pudding
yellow butter
black and green olives
yellow and red jello
Links:
What is important about the color of minerals? I was interested in this one, as I make jewelry and I love to use semi-precious stones vs. glass or plastic beads, and over the years I have become familiar with many of the minerals shown and in particular with their variations of color. What was interesting to me was to find that the color of a particular stone is not only determined by the various minerals in it, but also has to do with light frequencies and reflection and so on...which I suppose probably should have been obvious to me.
I was also interested in the link about luminescence, and to discover the different energy sources which produce this kind of light.
Update on article regarding GM contaminated rice in the UK
Monday, February 2, 2009
...about that book I mentioned
Garbage Land - written by Elizabeth Royte
This is the book I mentioned that was written by the woman in New York who became curious about what happened to her garbage after it was taken away from the curb in front of her home...what came out of it was an interesting journey on her part through the whole labrynth of the NY City garbage system....and was also an interesting story about garbage disposal in general here in the US.
This is the book I mentioned that was written by the woman in New York who became curious about what happened to her garbage after it was taken away from the curb in front of her home...what came out of it was an interesting journey on her part through the whole labrynth of the NY City garbage system....and was also an interesting story about garbage disposal in general here in the US.
Week Four Assignments - Green Chemistry
Catalyst of the Week:
So this was a little more complicated for me, but eventually I figured out that hydrogen is a catalyst in the hydrogenation process, which among other things produces margarine, one of my least favorite foodish substances. (For some reason Wikipedia mentions nickel as part of this process, and in another article there was mention of transition metals being involved in some way – however, other than repeating verbatim what the article says I am only going to mention it here, because I don’t honestly understand how it works….).
Basically, hydrogenation is the process the food industry uses to convert vegetable oils and fats from a liquid state to a solid or semi-solid state. There is some history associated with the invention of margarine in particular, which has to do with Napoleon wanting a substitute for butter and the subsequent work of the chemist Hippolyte Mege-Moutird, which ultimately resulted in the invention of margarine in 1869. Later on, margarine became popular here in the US, due to its being less expensive than butter, and also because it has a longer shelf life; as a result it is the predominant fat used in baked goods.
One of the side effects of the hydrogenation process, however, is that there ends up being leftover product from the process; some but not all of the double bonds of the molecule are reduced which results in an incomplete hydrogenation – hence the term “partially hydrogenated” – the leftover product are the trans fats which have been linked to heart disease.
There is much debate about whether butter or margarine is worse for us health wise; on the one hand you have the whole fat and animal product issue with butter, while on the other hand there is this issue with margarine. Personally, I don’t like the taste of margarine, and the whole chemical process required to create it makes me uncomfortable as well – so my choice is to go with butter in moderation. Probably less fats overall is the ultimate answer here.
My Opinion of Green Chemistry as Social Movement:
I think that the discussion we had in class about organic foods and their availability to the public at large is a good example of the sociopolitical aspect of this concept. While there seems to be no doubt that organic foods are a good thing, and that everyone would benefit from the switch, there is still a predominant paradigm particularly in this country that makes it prohibitive for people of a lower socioeconomic status to take advantage of healthier food. When basic survival skills are the foremost concern for low income families, and for people who are in danger of losing their jobs, spending substantially more for food that is organically grown is sometimes asking too much.
This speaks of a more basic underlying structure that exists where privilege is extended to a small minority of the population and IMO there is a certain callousness that has become the predominant attitude among the privileged that for some reason people of a lower social group are there because they haven’t worked hard enough or been smart enough or in some way are responsible for their own reduced circumstances.
At any rate, the way this applies to green chemistry is that this overall social paradigm has driven our administration for a very long time, and so any prospective advance in scientific thought or activity has been perceived as some type of threat and therefore been politicized. To embrace a “the world is not flat” opinion has been perceived as radical thought under this social environment, and therefore those who have done so have in some ways been labeled as activists.
Hopefully the new administration, with its renewed commitment to scientific thought and research will help to dispel this way of thinking.
On Atom Economy:
Well, while all the math is WAY beyond my understanding, I get the basic concept being discussed, which is the attempt by chemists to use all of the materials in a chemical reaction so as to reduce or eliminate waste material which may be toxic or harmful to humans or the environment – which is something I can get behind.
So this was a little more complicated for me, but eventually I figured out that hydrogen is a catalyst in the hydrogenation process, which among other things produces margarine, one of my least favorite foodish substances. (For some reason Wikipedia mentions nickel as part of this process, and in another article there was mention of transition metals being involved in some way – however, other than repeating verbatim what the article says I am only going to mention it here, because I don’t honestly understand how it works….).
Basically, hydrogenation is the process the food industry uses to convert vegetable oils and fats from a liquid state to a solid or semi-solid state. There is some history associated with the invention of margarine in particular, which has to do with Napoleon wanting a substitute for butter and the subsequent work of the chemist Hippolyte Mege-Moutird, which ultimately resulted in the invention of margarine in 1869. Later on, margarine became popular here in the US, due to its being less expensive than butter, and also because it has a longer shelf life; as a result it is the predominant fat used in baked goods.
One of the side effects of the hydrogenation process, however, is that there ends up being leftover product from the process; some but not all of the double bonds of the molecule are reduced which results in an incomplete hydrogenation – hence the term “partially hydrogenated” – the leftover product are the trans fats which have been linked to heart disease.
There is much debate about whether butter or margarine is worse for us health wise; on the one hand you have the whole fat and animal product issue with butter, while on the other hand there is this issue with margarine. Personally, I don’t like the taste of margarine, and the whole chemical process required to create it makes me uncomfortable as well – so my choice is to go with butter in moderation. Probably less fats overall is the ultimate answer here.
My Opinion of Green Chemistry as Social Movement:
I think that the discussion we had in class about organic foods and their availability to the public at large is a good example of the sociopolitical aspect of this concept. While there seems to be no doubt that organic foods are a good thing, and that everyone would benefit from the switch, there is still a predominant paradigm particularly in this country that makes it prohibitive for people of a lower socioeconomic status to take advantage of healthier food. When basic survival skills are the foremost concern for low income families, and for people who are in danger of losing their jobs, spending substantially more for food that is organically grown is sometimes asking too much.
This speaks of a more basic underlying structure that exists where privilege is extended to a small minority of the population and IMO there is a certain callousness that has become the predominant attitude among the privileged that for some reason people of a lower social group are there because they haven’t worked hard enough or been smart enough or in some way are responsible for their own reduced circumstances.
At any rate, the way this applies to green chemistry is that this overall social paradigm has driven our administration for a very long time, and so any prospective advance in scientific thought or activity has been perceived as some type of threat and therefore been politicized. To embrace a “the world is not flat” opinion has been perceived as radical thought under this social environment, and therefore those who have done so have in some ways been labeled as activists.
Hopefully the new administration, with its renewed commitment to scientific thought and research will help to dispel this way of thinking.
On Atom Economy:
Well, while all the math is WAY beyond my understanding, I get the basic concept being discussed, which is the attempt by chemists to use all of the materials in a chemical reaction so as to reduce or eliminate waste material which may be toxic or harmful to humans or the environment – which is something I can get behind.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Week Three Assignments - Molecular Structure and Bonding
Transition Metal: Silver
Silver has the chemical symbol Ag, and its atomic number is 47; it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element, and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.
This is hands down my favorite metal, and I have more sterling silver (an alloy of silver consisting here in the US as 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper) jewelry than anyone should possess.
Silver occurs naturally as native silver, and also as an alloy, commonly combined with gold. It is produced as a byproduct of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining – found commonly in Peru, Mexico (which has been mining silver since 1546 and which is still a major world producer), China, Australia, Chile, and Poland. Silver is used as jewelry, tableware and utensils and coins – it is a symbol of affluence and has been used as currency in all its forms.
Other uses of silver:
Electrical contacts and conductors; soldering compound
In mirrors
In catalysis of chemical reactions
As compound, in photographic film
Was used extensively as a dental amalgam material (for fillings); but this usage has been widely discontinued due to the high mercury content in this process
It has an antimicrobial property and is currently being researched in holistic medicine in the form of silver colloids as an alternative to antibiotics; in WWI it was in fact used as such before the invention of antibiotics.
Silver is highly malleable and is only slightly harder than gold.
There are many other uses for this element, but I will stop here before I end up writing a novel on the subject. I really love silver!
Link Review:
I prefer the link to the Visionlearning website, which has less graphics and more written explanation. I found the explanations to be easier to read and comprehend, and the pictures and graphics were again more helpful to me in understanding the material; the other sites that I was able to access (several of the links didn’t work) had moving graphics that were pretty high tech, but one of them moved too fast to be able to really follow what was happening, and the other one failed to explain what was going on at all.
Silver has the chemical symbol Ag, and its atomic number is 47; it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element, and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.
This is hands down my favorite metal, and I have more sterling silver (an alloy of silver consisting here in the US as 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper) jewelry than anyone should possess.
Silver occurs naturally as native silver, and also as an alloy, commonly combined with gold. It is produced as a byproduct of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining – found commonly in Peru, Mexico (which has been mining silver since 1546 and which is still a major world producer), China, Australia, Chile, and Poland. Silver is used as jewelry, tableware and utensils and coins – it is a symbol of affluence and has been used as currency in all its forms.
Other uses of silver:
Electrical contacts and conductors; soldering compound
In mirrors
In catalysis of chemical reactions
As compound, in photographic film
Was used extensively as a dental amalgam material (for fillings); but this usage has been widely discontinued due to the high mercury content in this process
It has an antimicrobial property and is currently being researched in holistic medicine in the form of silver colloids as an alternative to antibiotics; in WWI it was in fact used as such before the invention of antibiotics.
Silver is highly malleable and is only slightly harder than gold.
There are many other uses for this element, but I will stop here before I end up writing a novel on the subject. I really love silver!
Link Review:
I prefer the link to the Visionlearning website, which has less graphics and more written explanation. I found the explanations to be easier to read and comprehend, and the pictures and graphics were again more helpful to me in understanding the material; the other sites that I was able to access (several of the links didn’t work) had moving graphics that were pretty high tech, but one of them moved too fast to be able to really follow what was happening, and the other one failed to explain what was going on at all.
Week Two Assignments - Periodic Tables and Atomic Structures
Carbon:
The symbol for carbon is C, and its atomic number is 6; it is a nonmetal
Carbon was known to man from the ancient world, and has been around before recorded history. It exists in all known life forms, and forms the chemical basis of all life on Earth. Because of its affinity for bonding with other small atoms, it forms almost ten million different compounds – the large majority of all known compounds. Carbon is the 4th most abundant element in the universe, and is the 2nd most abundant element in the human body.
Two of the most commonly known allotropes (a variant of molecular structure of an atom with new physical properties) of carbon are diamonds and graphite. The following comparisons are from Wikipedia.com, and they show the differences between the two (essentially, they are polar opposites – and yet, they are both carbon).
Synthetic diamond nanorods are the hardest materials known.
Graphite is one of the softest materials known.
Diamond is the ultimate abrasive.
Graphite is a very good lubricant.
Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator.
Graphite is a conductor of electricity.
Diamond is the best known thermal conductor
Some forms of graphite are used for thermal insulation (i.e. firebreaks and heatshields)
Diamond is highly transparent.
Graphite is opaque.
Diamond crystallizes in the cubic system.
Graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.
Amorphous carbon is completely isotropic.
Carbon nanotubes are among the most anisotropic materials ever produced.
Ozone discussion:
....to follow. :)
Review – Elements, Compounds & Mixtures:
Ok, I have to confess, I reviewed this site mainly because the other two were pretty dry and this one had pretty pretty graphics….tee hee. For myself, I appreciate pictures that illustrate a concept which essentially I find difficult – the more variants I have on an explanation will usually help me to understand a bit better; I also find bullet points which explain an idea or concept to be easier to follow and understand – again, backing it up with an illustration being most helpful.
I do suppose that the other two websites ultimately provide more information; but when I am faced with a somewhat overwhelming concept which I am going to have to get my head around, then the simpler approach is definitely the way to go for me. J
The symbol for carbon is C, and its atomic number is 6; it is a nonmetal
Carbon was known to man from the ancient world, and has been around before recorded history. It exists in all known life forms, and forms the chemical basis of all life on Earth. Because of its affinity for bonding with other small atoms, it forms almost ten million different compounds – the large majority of all known compounds. Carbon is the 4th most abundant element in the universe, and is the 2nd most abundant element in the human body.
Two of the most commonly known allotropes (a variant of molecular structure of an atom with new physical properties) of carbon are diamonds and graphite. The following comparisons are from Wikipedia.com, and they show the differences between the two (essentially, they are polar opposites – and yet, they are both carbon).
Synthetic diamond nanorods are the hardest materials known.
Graphite is one of the softest materials known.
Diamond is the ultimate abrasive.
Graphite is a very good lubricant.
Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator.
Graphite is a conductor of electricity.
Diamond is the best known thermal conductor
Some forms of graphite are used for thermal insulation (i.e. firebreaks and heatshields)
Diamond is highly transparent.
Graphite is opaque.
Diamond crystallizes in the cubic system.
Graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.
Amorphous carbon is completely isotropic.
Carbon nanotubes are among the most anisotropic materials ever produced.
Ozone discussion:
....to follow. :)
Review – Elements, Compounds & Mixtures:
Ok, I have to confess, I reviewed this site mainly because the other two were pretty dry and this one had pretty pretty graphics….tee hee. For myself, I appreciate pictures that illustrate a concept which essentially I find difficult – the more variants I have on an explanation will usually help me to understand a bit better; I also find bullet points which explain an idea or concept to be easier to follow and understand – again, backing it up with an illustration being most helpful.
I do suppose that the other two websites ultimately provide more information; but when I am faced with a somewhat overwhelming concept which I am going to have to get my head around, then the simpler approach is definitely the way to go for me. J
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Week One Assignments
Hmmmm, my bio. Ok.
I am 47 years old, single mother to a 24 year old son - Jason. I spent most of his childhood and adolescence going to night school and taking community college courses as much as was possible - did some prerequisites to get into nursing school, and then ended up in a trade school to get certified as a medical assistant instead...long story.
After graduation I worked mostly in an administrative capacity for over a decade - did 5 years or so at UCSF, and ended up finally as an office manager in a local hospice. During my last year in the western medical profession, I enrolled in and compelted an accelerated BA program at New College, and graduated in 2006 with my BA in Humanities, with an emphasis on Activism and Social Change.
The job at hospice ended up being a complete nightmare, and once I left there I began to consider returning to school. At the same time, I began to have some serious health problems that western medicine was unable to help me with. I was referred to ACTCM and their community clinic, and one of the interns there encouraged me to consider their program....again, long story sort of short - here I am. :)
Chemistry Quiz Results:
1) I knew that burning wood and crushing a rock were physical changes; I also knew that rusting iron was a chemical change; I was wrong about dissolving sugar in water being a chemical change....
2) I didn't know about milk, or salt, or sugar - :(
I did, however, know that steel was a mixture.
3) I totally guessed that coffee was homogenous and impure....tee hee
4) I was wrong about the boiling of water being a chemical/chemical change.....
I am 47 years old, single mother to a 24 year old son - Jason. I spent most of his childhood and adolescence going to night school and taking community college courses as much as was possible - did some prerequisites to get into nursing school, and then ended up in a trade school to get certified as a medical assistant instead...long story.
After graduation I worked mostly in an administrative capacity for over a decade - did 5 years or so at UCSF, and ended up finally as an office manager in a local hospice. During my last year in the western medical profession, I enrolled in and compelted an accelerated BA program at New College, and graduated in 2006 with my BA in Humanities, with an emphasis on Activism and Social Change.
The job at hospice ended up being a complete nightmare, and once I left there I began to consider returning to school. At the same time, I began to have some serious health problems that western medicine was unable to help me with. I was referred to ACTCM and their community clinic, and one of the interns there encouraged me to consider their program....again, long story sort of short - here I am. :)
Chemistry Quiz Results:
1) I knew that burning wood and crushing a rock were physical changes; I also knew that rusting iron was a chemical change; I was wrong about dissolving sugar in water being a chemical change....
2) I didn't know about milk, or salt, or sugar - :(
I did, however, know that steel was a mixture.
3) I totally guessed that coffee was homogenous and impure....tee hee
4) I was wrong about the boiling of water being a chemical/chemical change.....
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