The
Immortal By Jenny Mar and Maggie Yao
Jellyfish
The idea of immortality has stumped scientists, as humans
These polyp colonies create new jellyfishes, which when released,
and most other animals don’t have this extraordinary ability.
are approximately one millimeter in size, and they proceed to grow
The reason for this normalized sense of aging is caused by the
larger and larger through feeding plankton. After a few weeks, they
process of cell senescence: the loss of a cell’s power of division
become sexually mature and take on the familiar jellyfish forms and
and growth. Despite this, there are a few noteworthy species
are known to have the tendency to prey on other jellyfish species. When they are fully grown, Turritopsis dohrnii are only about 0.18
“these glasslike creatures can turn back time in a sense through reverting to an earlier stage of their life cycle.”
inches across, smaller than one would expect for such an awe-inspiring name. Nevertheless, one could describe them as rather beautiful creatures, with a bright-red stomach visible in the middle of its transparent bell. But appearances may be deceiving as these tiny creatures have an extraordinary will to survive. In response to conditions of starvation, sudden temperature change, reduction of salinity and artificial damage of the bell, they will revert back to their initial stages of their lifecycle, a polyp. Once again, the polyp colony eventually buds and releases these jellyfish that are genetically identical to the injured adult.
As scientists have studied countless different species throughout the century, still only one can truly hold the title of being called “biologically immortal”, and as the title of this article implies, it would be the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish. Similar to most other hydrozoans, a taxonomic class of predatory animal living mostly in salt water, but unlike the rest of their class, these glasslike creatures can turn back time in a sense through reverting to an earlier stage of their life cycle. The Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish begin this life cycle as tiny, free-swimming larvae known as planulae, and as the planulae settle down on the ocean floor, or even the rich marine communities that live on floating docks, a colony of polyps that are formed attach themselves to these surfaces. And interestingly enough, all the polyps and jellyfish that arise from a single planula are genetically identical clones.
“In response to conditions of starvation,suddentemperature change, reduction of salinity and artificial damage of the bell, [Turritopsis Dohrnii] will revert back to their initial stages of their lifecycle, a polyp.”
This phenomenon is what gives them the legendary moniker of
largely unnoticed due to the small size. Currently, the immortal
the immortal jellyfish. This reverting mechanism is known as the
jellyfish can either be found at the bottom of the ocean floor or at
cell development process of transdifferentiation, which essentially
ship docks and vessel hulls.
alters the differentiated state of the cells and transforms them into new types of cells, allowing them to be “reborn”. This mechanism is especially of interest to scientists as it holds many valuable applications in medicine. Transdifferentiation can allow an adult cell, one that is already specialized for a specific tissue, to become an entirely different type of specialized cell. It’s the process of cell recycling that would be able to help scientists replace cells that have been damaged by disease and advance the medicinal field as we know it. Generally, most of the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish prefer to live in tropical and warm conditions, although the species has also been found in colder waters. The immortal jellyfish were first discovered in the Mediteranean Sea, but has spread worldwide through ballast water discharge, which causes the spread of organisms from the saltwater held in ballast tanks from ships. These water tanks are intended to maintain stability and maneuverability during trips when ships are not carrying much cargo. Unlike many other species who are spread using this water discharge, the invasion of T. dohrnii around the globe was
“Transdifferentiation can allow an adult cell, one that is already specialized for a specific tissue, to become an entirely different type of specialized cell.” Although the immortal jellyfish may technically be “biologically immortal”, it’s also very commonly preyed upon by other jellyfish for its small size, much like it does to other jellyfish. But its other predators include sea anemones, tuna, sharks, swordfish, sea turtles, and penguins due their simple compositions. Therefore, its renowned immortality cannot protect them against such dangers in the ocean. Nevertheless, it’s a remarkable species and also poses an interesting question about mortality as if all of the immortal jellyfish’s cells were replaced, would it still be considered the exact same individual? Perhaps the rebirthed jellyfish would be an accurate name.
Drawing: Hollis Halpern
STAR
symphonies WRITTEN BY SARAH DATTA
AN
introduction TO
sonification Small pinpricks of light beam out of an otherwise dark sky. A glassy moon peers out from behind a nebulous night. Shifting hues of blue and black swirl and glitter. For centuries, we have gazed awe-struck at the constellations, picking out images and shapes, even creating personalities and fortunes based off of their positions. But for those who can’t see, NASA offers another solution to still experience the stars. Star sonficiation is a method for converting visual data of the galaxies into melodies and chords. The astronomers and musicians go left to right across an image, assigning different pitches and notes to different sections. Items higher up on the image become higher pitches, and brighter areas become louder notes. The results are listened to as solos or as layered melodies, providing an opportunity for comparison against other parts of the galaxy. For example, audio from pulsars- a type of star characterized by the appearance of fluctuating light- can be used to determine the relative age of each star. Pulsars tend to rotate slower as they get older. By comparing the speed of the low, monotonous beats produced from each star’s rotational data, scientists can ascertain the life of each one. Creating sounds out of motionless data sets is more than an ambient experience though. Researchers find new patterns in data that they were otherwise unaware of, and it can even be used as an educational tool by creating a more in depth experience of research that a visual alone cannot provide. Furthermore, sonification represents a way to increase accessibility of information to a wider array of people. Wanda Diaz Merced, a blind astronomer, faced extreme obstacles at the onset of her vision problems, but upon discovering sonification, she says, “I’m able to do physics at the level of the best astronomer, using
sound.” Sonification augments the opportunities in science for people with vision problems, and it provides a way to study complex data at the same level as the best in the field. In the future, Merced looks to improve pre existing techniques to help more blind students gain access to astronomy. Sonification is not unique to stars, though. The technique is employed by many different researchers with a variety of data types, including temperature, electromagnetic waves, and oxygen levels in the ocean. The level of musicality changes between each researcher as well, with some outputting buzzing, flat tones like that of the pulsar, and some outputting whimsical, lilting tones. Mark Ballora is a professor of Music Technology at Pennsylvania State University and spends a major portion of his sonification experience producing a sound befitting the data. For solar wind, he remarks “I created a shifting, shimmering sound,” while for storms he wanted “a swirling noise that would sound like a tornado.” Sonification presents exciting new opportunities in data analysis for a wide variety of people. Although usually we associate stars with gazing at them and using our eyes, creating music out of astronomical data can help us discover patterns and allow scientific access for more. Looking ahead, sonification will only improve our outlook on the galaxies and universe around us, and the stars are the limit for the knowledge we can uncover with this technique.
Image Credit: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Unsplash: Thomas Park
Screen time and its effect on children and adolescents during COVID-19 BY SREENIDHI SURINENI
T
he 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in laws and policies that include laws on national school closures, lockdown or shelter-in-place laws , and social-distancing guidelines that can translate into greater average screening time for the period of implementation of these laws and policies among children and adolescents. To monitor future COVID-19 recurrences or other national emergencies, these policies will need to be periodically restored. Cardiovascular disease risk factors such as obesity , high blood pressure and insulin resistance are associated with prolonged screen time because it raises sedentary time and is associated with snacking. Although previous policy statements by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended strict screen time limits (i.e. < 1 to 2 h / d) for entertainment purposes, the most recent policy statement issued in 2016 proposed that families make an individualized family media usage schedule without defining uniform regular screen time limits. A major concern in a family's media use strategy could be to minimize the possible adverse health effects of screen time. While excessive screen time may be associated with health risks, including inadequate sleep and greater cumulative sedentary time, screen time increases may be unavoidable and even beneficial for education and socialization, given current laws and policies during COVID-19. These increases in total screen time can result from
non-discretionary or discretionary practices that encourage or are solely for entertainment to promote positive youth growth. A higher accumulation of screen time among children whose parents are working remotely from home may also be an inevitable fact. It may be particularly necessary to create an adapted family media use plan during COVID-19, and these plans should optimize screen time for its strengths and benefits while mitigating known risks. !"#$#%&'()!*+,&-./)0-%&1&%+ While excessive screen time may be associated with health risks, including inadequate sleep and greater cumulative sedentary time, screen time increases may be unavoidable and even beneficial for education and socialization, given current laws and policies during COVID-19. These increases in total screen time can result from non-discretionary or discretionary practices that encourage or are solely for entertainment to promote positive youth growth. A recent comprehensive study of adolescents showed that digital strategies involving schooling, setting goals, self-monitoring, and involvement of parents contributed to substantial increases in physical activity. 234-.%&#'./)566#"%4'&%&7, Many schools and universities have switched to interactive or online curriculums in the midst of national school closures, which enable students to use screens and facilitate major educational
benefits. On screens, most remote learning is performed (including instruction, tasks, submission, and feedback on materials). While this represents a significant proportion of the day explicitly needed for schoolwork and teaching, in-school teaching is essentially equal to this period. Via different variables, including economics, access to health care, health-related activities, and dealing with stress, having more years of schooling is connected to long-term health benefits. !"#$%&'()*$%'%+*'!"#$%&'!,--"./ In addition , social media can be an ideal outlet for children and adolescents to remain linked while practicing social distancing with their friends and peers. One research prior to COVID-19 showed that in high school students, social media use of < 2 h / d was correlated with high levels of school connectivity. Children and adolescents already familiar with social media may have an advantage in weathering the time of social distancing during periods of school closure and social distancing, provided their fluency in communicating with others via social media. During shelter-in-place or stay-at - home orders provided by federal or local governments, children and adolescents can often use virtual games and online activities to stay socially connected. Social media can be used as a forum for playing and communicating with friends and family because during the pandemic, it is crucial for kids to play and interact with friends and family, particularly in the summer months when choices are minimal, school is out, and kids have more free time. !&))Via several mechanisms, excessive screen time is associated with inadequate sleep, including nighttime exposure to bright lights that can inhibit the development of melatonin, and displacement of other sleep-beneficial behaviors, such as physical activity. Given these associations, at least 1 hour before bedtime, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that screens be avoided. Sleep disruptions can be mitigated by this practice , especially given that sleep quality may be poorer due to stressors or anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. 87'%./)97./%* The risk of depression , anxiety, suicide, and inattention among children and adolescents may also be further intensified by increased screen time. However, several mental health education tools and support services are available through online channels ( e.g. smartphone applications) during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would require the use of screen time. In addition , mental
health practices can only provide counseling and therapy sessions via telehealth, which will be performed on screens. During times of school closures, lockdowns or sheltering in place and social distancing, screen time can become more ubiquitous, and these measures may need to be regularly restored to monitor potential recurrences of COVID-19. In order to help families seeking to stick to arbitrary screen time restrictions or feeling anxiety over excess screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic, professional societies should update their existing guidelines on screen time. For example, during COVID-19, the American Academy of Pediatrics might provide concrete examples of family media use plans that would adjust to current needs and demonstrate the benefits of screen time by highlighting activities that encourage physical activity, education, socialization, and positive youth development, while also setting some limits to reduce risks such as poor sleep or excessive sedation. In addition, screen time guidelines need to take account of the coming summer months, when many children and adolescents may not have classes but will still be motivated to practice social distancing, particularly as regions advance through staggered re-openings. These screen time services could be disseminated by professional associations, health care practices, and clinicians online or by mailings. During COVID‐19, physicians should also ask parents about the use of family media and administer these services during any clinical visits. Communities and schools should facilitate positive uses of screen time, such as access to instructional tools, instructional physical activity, and encouragement for mental wellbeing.
:#";,)<&%73 •; “Children,
Adolescents, and the Media.” Pediatrics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28448255/. Lissak, Gadi. “Adverse Physiological and Psychological Effects of Screen Time on Children and Adolescents: Literature Review and Case Study.” Environmental Research, Academic Press, 27 Feb. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S001393511830015X. World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www. euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/publications-and-technical-guidance/noncommunicable-diseases/stay-physically-active-during-self-quarantine.