2014 no limits

NO LIMITS

The Hotchkiss Science & Technology Magazine

Spring 2014

RESURRECTING EXTINCT SPECIES: IS IT POSSIBLE? CARS OF THE PAST AND FUTURE THE DARWIN AWARDS

EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE BLACK HOLES & DARK ENERGY

SCIENCE @ HOTCHKISS 04

Summer Research at RPI Students detail their summer work

05

Science Research at Hotchkiss Mr. Oberto’s applied scientific research class

ARTICLES 06

Into the Atmosphere Abe Kipnis ‘14 sends a balloon into space

08

Tips for Your Next Lab Report Advice from Tony Zhang ‘15 and Hotchkiss science teachers

10

Science and Art A real-life application

11

The Way of the Tau Rethinking pi

12

Unique College Science Programs Interdisciplinary degree programs

14

Cars of the Past and Future A history in the making

16

The Bionic Eye New sight for the visually impaired

18

2013, Say What?

The year’s biggest scientific advances

20

Personalized Medicine The future of medical treatment?

22

Resurrecting Extinct Species The idea leaves the realm of sci-fi

FEATURES 25

Science Puzzles

26

The Darwin Awards A prize for improving the gene pool

28

What You Didn’t Know about Dreams An infographic about our dreams

No Limits

Spring 2014

FroM tHe eDitorS Hello Hotchkiss!

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2014 Hotchkiss Science and Technology Magazine, No Limits. We’ve been working all year to bring you this issue, so we hope you are as excited as we are.

Editors-In-Chief

The two of us started working with No Limits in 2012, motivated not

Jessica Deng ‘14 Martinique Ogle ‘14

only by the encouragement of our friends in the group, but also our interest in and love of science. To us, how the world works is a puzzle, and science is the field that slowly assembles the puzzle, our understanding of the natural world. Why do a cannonball and a feather dropped from the same height accelerate at the same weight even though one is significantly heavier? The realm of physics provides insight to that question. When do leaves know to come out in the Spring? The answer lies in biological studies. Science explains and deepens our knowledge of the world around us.

With this year’s issue of No Limits, we hope to bring a Hotchkiss twist to current events in science by featuring world headlines next to work done by Hotchkiss students. In this issue, you can read about groundbreaking personalized medicine, Hotchkiss student research at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the bird flu pandemic in Southeast Asia. We also hope you chuckle at some of the world’s stupidest recipients of the Darwin Awards, solve the word jumble, or strike up a conversation with a classmate about an article that made you think. We hope that something, anything, in this magazine inspires you.

Please share this magazine with a friend or loved one, or check out our online presence via our online magazine publication, facebook page, and blog. Links are provided on the back cover.

Art Editor Vivian Xiao ‘15

Contributing Writers Hannah Isaac ‘14 David Jung ‘15 Kevin Kim ‘15 Abe Kipnis ‘14 Bobby Kwon ‘16 James Post ‘15 James Tsui ‘15 Kiki Warren ‘14 Vivian Xiao ‘15 Jake Yoon ‘15 Tony Zhang ‘15

Faculty Advisor Dr. Susan Park

Visit us online: hotchkissmedia.org/nolimits

Thank you for reading, and enjoy the issue!

Like us on Facebook: The Editors

facebook.com/hotchkissnolimits

Jessica Deng ‘14 and Martinique Ogle ‘14

Comments may be sent to: Jessica Deng ‘14 jdeng@hotchkiss.org Martinique Ogle ‘14 mogle@hotchkiss.org Tony Zhang ‘15 tzhang@hotchkiss.org James Post ‘15 jpost@hotchkiss.org

No Limits

SCIENCE @ HOTCHKISS

SUMMER RESEARCH

@ RPI

For the month of July this past summer, a group of 8 Hotchkiss students went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). There, they lived in dormitories and did research in the labs of different professors. In this issue, some of the participants discuss their experiences working in a lab environment.

James Tsui ‘15

Jessica Deng‘14 Over the summer, I had the

This past July, I worked with

privilege of working in the

Dr. Patrick Maxwell and one

Koffas Lab, a lab that focused

of his graduate students at

on metabolic engineering. My

Rensselaer Polytechnic In-

individual project was tan-

stitute (RPI) in Troy, NY to

gentially related to one of the

investigate

lab’s projects: the biochemi-

tion in replicative yeast ag-

cal synthesis of heparin. I fo-

ing. Yeast is a useful model

cused on engineering Bacillus

organism for aging because

to synthesize and secrete GFP,

it is a eukaryote, like humans,

is a typical model protein. Al-

to grow and study. I examined retrotransposition frequency in

though I learnt most of my technical skills through the program,

young yeast cells under different levels of oxidative stress. I also

my current work at the school is unrelated to the Bacillus work I

developed PCR methods to be used in future DNA sequencing

retrotransposi-

but also unicellular so easier

did over the summer.

In the future, we hope to apply this research to understand the

Elena Su ‘15

cellular changes that occur in human aging, which may lead to This summer I worked in the _____ lab at RPI. I studied UV patterning of polyethylene glycol hydrogel for site-speexperimented

on

growing

HUVECS cells on patterned hydrogels. The ultimate goal for this research is to investigate the future potentials of micro-patterned PEGDA hydrogels for various applications in tissue engineering, where vascularization prior to implantation is critical.

No Limits

Spring 2014

treatments that maintain health with age.

SCIENCE RESEARCH

SC650

each student in this class designs and conducts his or her own independent research for an entire school year.

James Tsui ‘15

Soon, I’ll be developing a questionnaire that measures extroverMy current research project is focused on investigating associations between various

sion, and looking for DNA samples to test!

Elsa Olson ‘14 This year, as a part of my

gene and diurnal preference.

Class, I am investigating the role in the negative feedback

human nature’s genetic pro-

loop which controls the cir-

pensity to take risks. Select-

cadian clock. This research

ing members of the Hotch-

could demonstrate the role of

kiss community as subjects,

genetics in people’s different

I will test their DNA to determine whether or not the

sleep cycles or day/night preferences.

individual is apt to take risks,

Arnelle Ansong ‘14 I’m currently conducting re-

Through my research, I have stumbled upon the fascinating

search on an allele of the DRD2 gene, a strip of DNA

as uncovered chemical and hereditary factors for the reasons we

that codes for dopamine re-

act and decide the way we do.

ceptors. I believe that there’s a relationship between the presence of one form of the allele (A1), and extroversion.

People with the A1 allele mine receptors in their synapses, which may cause their body to take in less dopamine.

Because of this decreased level of dopamine, carriers may seek further stimulation, thus causing an extroverted personality.

Throughout the past semester, I’ve been working on a procedure

No Limits

INTO THE ATMOSPHERE

BY ABE KIPNIS ‘14

O

“

The mission: to launch the ballon more than 90,000 feet, and to retrieve the pictures taken by the camera from high above...

”

No Limits

Spring 2014

n April 17th, 2011, I inflated a

the payload safely to the ground. This project

five-foot diameter weather bal-

was a challenge on an individual level, and

loon with helium gas and, fin-

it taught me many things about the scien-

gers crossed, released it into

tific process. First, remember Murphy’s law:

the sky. Like a child losing his balloon at a

“Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,

carnival, the ascension of my latex aircraft

and at the worst moment.” Second, always

filled me with anxiety and astonishment as it

arrange redundancies to prevent Boyle’s law

climbed into the clouds and out of my sight

from spoiling any procedures.

I had secured a small parachute attached

graders in a science elective class, I had been

to a styrofoam payload, carrying a Canon

working to design a radio-controlled mecha-

Powershot A480 camera, Spot II Satellite GPS

nism that would drop a foam box carrying

messenger, Boost Mobile Motorola i290 cell

a camera from a tethered weather balloon.

phone, and chemical hand warmers. Watching

Crunched for time, my teacher hastened our

as $500 in electronics flew up into the sky, I

progress until our team had the gears, assem-

prayed for a safe return back into to my hands

bly, receiver and controller ready for launch

within the next few hours.

day. We labored, carting to the sports fields

A year earlier, with a team of eighth

The mission: to launch the balloon

helium tanks, the payloads and the deflated

more than 90,000 feet, and to retrieve the

balloon, which we struggled to blow up, fit

pictures taken by the camera from high above.

it into a sheath, attach it to the payload and

This had been my dream for the past six

tether, and launch it 50 feet into the sky. My

months. The esteem of my friends, family--

teacher boldly warned us, “Don’t EVER let go

and not to mention my self-respect-- rested

of that tether, or we’ll lose everything forever.”

on whether my dad and I could find the cam-

I imagined releasing my grip from the tether,

era afterwards. The photos themselves would

and the balloon soaring into the overcast grey

be evidence of misison accomplished. Luckily,

sky. I pondered its destiny. How far would it

due to the expansion of the helium, caused by

travel? How high could it fly? Where and

lower pressure in the upper atmosphere, the

when would it land? Curiosity, time, and phys-

balloon popped and the parachute floated

ics would answer my questions.

Image taken from high up in the atmosphere by the camera installed in the author’s weather balloon. © Abe Kipnis Six months later and I was designing my own payload

due to high altitudes, but not this early in the flight. Then, the

to travel into the upper atmosphere. Using a backyard homebrew technique, I researched cheap yet reliable solutions to

minutes later a location was called in: a wooded backyard in

problems that could arise when electronics travel into the upper

Monroe, Connecticut. I plugged in the location and we made the

atmosphere. Cold-proof lithium batteries, to combat the low

drive to the landing site.

temperatures of near space, powered a small point and shoot

Pure luck and thinking ahead had allowed the pay-

camera, hacked with CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) to

load to reach an accessible landing spot. The winds had carried

take a one picture every 20 seconds, along with an expensive

the payload safely to a green lawn, while dodging trees, lakes,

Spot II GPS tracking device that updated its latitude and lon-

rooves, and people. Two back-ups had bailed us out of total

gitude to a website every 10 minutes. Other purchases were

failure. The Boost Mobile cell phone had powered off mid-flight,

a parachute with enough drag to reduce the speed into the

leaving only the Spot Messenger to give positions. Laying my

ground, and the relatively expensive, fragile weather balloon

eyes on the payload, I noticed that the parachute was nowhere

itself. Parachute cord and duct tape sealed the box, carved from

to be seen; it had ripped from the parachute cord mid-flight. The

styrofoam packaging containers. “H.S. Science Project. Please

styrofoam had withstood the 90,000-foot fall back to earth in

Call Abe Kipnis” with my cell phone number was written in

just a mater of a few minutes.

Sharpie on top.

Every time my eyes fall upon the pictures I have taken, I

Everything was set. All possible problems with the

can’t help but feel a little hubristic. A part of me has reached into

flight had been accounted for. Using online wind forecasts,

the sky, touched space, looked down on the whole earth, seen

we chose a day with favorable currents to carry the balloon

its curvature, the hills, and the Hudson River expanding over

from launch in Teaneck, New Jersey towards my house to the

the horizon. The balloon had reached the top and seen billions

northeast, hopefully without falling into the Long Island Sound.

of years of geological erosion, and I was kneeling in someone’s

Batteries and hand warmers made sure the electronics lasted

backyard in northeast Connecticut.

until they reached solid ground. Both a cell phone and a dedi-

To this I end with an exhortation and a warning. Do not

cated GPS device transmitted locations that could be viewed on

be afraid to step outside your comfort zone to invest time, money

my dad’s iPhone.

and pride to try something that seems impossible. Remember

For an hour and twenty minutes the camera flew over a

to use multiple redundancies to provide the highest chance for

hundred miles, snapping hundreds of pictures of its journey over

success. People explore the deepest depths of the ocean and the

New York and Connecticut. Within 20 minutes, the signal coming

highest peaks of mountains, the vast expanses of space and the

from the cell phone blanked out. Radio silence was expected

thin layers of our atmosphere; humanity knows no limits.

No Limits

TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT

LAB REPORT

BY TONY ZHANG ‘15

O

h, lab reports. Everyone hates them, but they

Introduction in their own sections.

seem to pop up in every single science class.

They’re nothing like the papers you write in Eng-

A detailed description of your materials and procedure should

lish class, and yet you’re expected to know how to

go in a Materials and Methods section. Here, describe in detail

write them! Fortunately, we have a few pointers here for you to

all the materials you used and steps you followed. This section

help you on your lab reporting ways.

should provide enough information so that anyone reading your report is able to reproduce your experiment. Write this section

Structure

as a past tense narrative—don’t give a bunch of bullet points, as

A lab report generally consists of title, abstract (though many

many do. More on writing style later.

teachers omit this), introduction and objective, materials and procedures, data and results, discussion and analysis, conclu-

You will have gathered some data, either qualitative or quan-

-

titative. This will go in a Results section. Though it may seem

nating and offer an idea of the contents of the report (don’t title

obvious, report observed results, not expected results. The whole

your report “My Lab Report”). The abstract is a short, standalone

point of an experiment is to test whether some theory holds up.

-

If you have any calculations to do, this section is the place to illustrate them. However, save the error discussion for the next section.

the lab. After all, the point of experimentation is to try to learn something from it.

Finally, interpret and discuss your results and see whether you have achieved the objective outlined earlier in a Discussion

The Introduction follows immediately. Here, you can introduce

section. In particular, you should address any discrepancies be-

your readers to any requisite background information, including

tween observation and expectation here. Try to explain any er-

relevant theory. Your Introduction should directly tell us your

rors you have without resorting to blaming human error—that’s

objective for and what you learned from the experiment. Here, it

a sign that you didn’t do your job as a scientist properly.

materials or procedure too much; a brief introduction to your

To close, end the report with a Conclusion summarizing and

equipment and experimental techniques. These will follow the

-

No Limits

Spring 2014

cance of the experiment, even if you obtained negative results— after all, the point of your work is to test an idea, so null results are important! If you reference any sources in your report, also

some examples.

Presentation

include a Works Cited section.

Keep it concise!

Mr. Bill Fenton, instructor in physics, has this to offer: “I think

Go for the clean, professional look. Dr. Park notes that “organization and neatness do wonders.” Labels should be clear, fonts legible, and headings obvious. Moreover, you should proofread

the most important thing is to be clear and concise.” While it’s that you should be using fresh paper, stapling your report, and, that their primary function is as documentation of experiments

as Dr. Park adds, “avoiding pizza stains.”

Typesetting One great way to create a professional-looking report is to use Still, don’t skimp! Dr. Susan Park, instructor in biology, adds that

LaTeX, a powerful document preparation system that produces

“there is a clear difference between concise and incomplete.”

high quality typesetting. “For the detail-oriented who want to

Style

gain insight and skills to writing lab reports in college and beyond, I would recommend picking up LaTeX,” suggests Eric Li

when referring to published work, but past tense for the experiment you are discussing. You should also avoid using “I” or “me.”

produce everything from articles to slide shows. As a result of this history, LaTeX is very well established in academia, especially

While writing, do aim for an objective tone. Of course, you can’t

in mathematics and physics, where its adept handling of mathe-

learn to write this way by simply reading some general rules.

matical equations make it an easy choice. Li adds: “Though there is somewhat of a learning curve, it is an important skill to retain,

what others have written—lab reports and technical papers all

especially for those who want to continue in the sciences.”

work. Ask friends for some of their old work, or ask teachers for

No Limits

ARTICLES

SCIENCE AND ART A REAL LIFE APPLICATION

BY HANNAH ISAAC ‘14

E

very aspect of art involves

age, paint type used, and its pigments.

used technique is X-ray radiography, a

chemistry. From the pig-

Art restorers are highly trained in these

process that determines the paint com-

ments in paint to the var-

details in order to restore a work of art.

position and density through a beam

Various environmental conditions con-

of X-rays. This method can determine

chemistry is used to create

tribute to the damages in paintings. Hu-

characteristics ranging from the type of

masterpieces. Over time however, due to

midity levels, temperature, and amount of

varnish used to the restoration history.

harmful environmental circumstances,

exposure to light all can cause paintings

The extent of the restoration goes

these works of art begin

beyond

to lose their value. It is

ing a varnish. The repair

important

preserve

depends on analyzing

these works of art while

the chemical makeup of

maintaining their integ-

each element rather than

rity and improving their

simply painting over the

overall

preexisting

to

condition. The

simply

apply-

pigments.

process of art restora-

For example, if a color

tion requires a solid un-

that was originally sky-

derstanding of chemistry

blue fades into a light

combined with an artistic

green after exposure to

instinct; it is impossible

chemicals or lighting, the

to restore a piece us-

restorer would be un-

ing only paints or using

able to reconstruct the original piece because

Art restoration is the

of the change in appear-

process of repairing a

ance. At this point, pro-

piece of art while pro-

cedures such as X-ray or

viding protection from

cross-sectional analysis

further damage. Though

are performed to de-

the actual process of ap-

termine

plying

restoration

composition of the paint.

materials is artistic, the

-

the

process of examining the necessary materials

Caption?

is

the

chemical

throughs have revolutionized the techniques

technical in nature and relies on chemi-

to mold, shrink or become brittle. Along

used in the past. In the past, restoration

cal processes. It is important to know

with light and heat damage, the paints

had a high risk of damaging the origi-

how each restoration chemical will af-

used may react with chemicals in the

-

fect the outcome of the painting. Many

air, affecting the tonality of the piece. To

ods, a piece of art can be accurately and

factors are considered before attempt-

repair these damages, a variety of tech-

safely restored to its original condition.

ing to restore a painting – a painting’s

niques can be used. The most commonly

No Limits

Spring 2014

THE WAY OF THE TAU RETHINKING PI

BY TONY ZHANG ‘15

P

famous mathematical constant there is. It is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diam-

meaning its decimal representation neither terminates (as does it is widely conjectured that every sequence of digits eventually

However, there has been an increasingly vocal movement in recent years calling for a new circle constant. Instead of the ratio of the circumference to the diameter in a circle, this new constant is the ratio of the circumference to the radius, making

mathematics, it is more appropriate to use the new circle constant in calculations (which mostly involve the radius).

One of the most prominent advocates of this new circle constant, usually dubbed (tau), is Michael Hartl. In his Tau Manifesto, he sets out various reasons, based on everything from simple geometry to advanced calculus, for the adoption of . Many of them are beyond the scope of this article, but his central argument is appropriate for discussion here.

In high school trigonometry, one undoubtedly will encounter radian measure. Normally, angles are measured in degrees, with

measure, the measure of an angle is equal to the length of the corresponding arc on a circle with radius 1 (a unit circle). circumference of a unit circle is precisely that. Hartl argues that it makes more sense to use because that would make a full circle have measure . Similarly, a half of a circle would measure half of , and a seventh of a circle would measure a seventh of . The advantages of thus become evident.

But is it worth the effort to make the switch? Is it really any better to say simplify our mathematical lives by much? In the end, it is simply a matter of notational convenience. Why not give a shot and see whether it lives up to its promise?

Further reading: http://tauday.com/tau-manifesto

No Limits

UNIQUE COLLEGE SCIENCE PROGRAMS BOBBY KWON ‘16

S

Several colleges offer interdisciplinary science programs for undergraduates who wish to integrate their interest in science with interest in other academic disciplines. Brown University offers such

a course of study: the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME). Through this program, roughly 50 highly motivated freshmen design an eight-year program of study, combining their undergraduate education and professional medical studies. PLME allows medical students to pursue interests in completely different disciplines, such as the humanities, while preparing for careers in medical fields.

Integrated into the student body for their first four years, PLME students have access to Brown’s entire faculty, encouraging collaborative teaching and research in a wide variety of disciplines. Through great flexibility in curriculum planning, students may take a variety of courses to gain competency in the sciences, establishing a foundation for pursuing medical science courses, all the while exploring interests in various different subjects. Thus, as undergraduates, PLME students can work towards an AB or ScB degree in the sciences, an AB degree in the humanities, social sciences or behavioral sciences, or one of numerous other possibilities.

Moreover, PLME students have access to a variety of study abroad programs, research opportunities in several medical spheres, and extracurricular preclinical electives that teach students the basic etiquette of a proper physician. As such, PLME is ideal for any student interested in pursuing a medical career but simultaneously wishes to explore interests in other academic disciplines.

No Limits

Spring 2014

The University of Pennsylvania

dents may also participate in additional

also offers an innovative, dual degree

research in both subjects during the

interdisciplinary science program bridg-

school year. In this way, LSM prepares

ing business and bioscience for under-

students for everything from public pol-

graduates. Administered by the Wharton

icy and health care to environmental

School of Business and UPenn’s College

research and development

of Arts and Sciences, the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences in Management, commonly known as LSM, offers about 25 outstanding students the opportunity to design an interdisciplinary curriculum combining business and biosciences, thus qualifying them to receive two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in a life science major, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics.

Although the biosciences and business seem completely unrelated, the LSM program understands that for scientific discoveries to benefit society to the greatest extent possible, they must have access to the market and to the general public. LSM hopes to train students who

LSM graduates go on to work in biotechnology, analyse public health programs on Wall Street, and pursue MD and PhD degrees.

will not only create and understand the latest scientific innovations but also manage and promote them.

LSM requires students to pursue at least two paid summer internships, one in business or public policy and the other in scientific research, training students on the application of their knowledge in a variety of settings; stu-

...LSM hopes to foster students who may not only understand and create scientific innovations, but also manage and promote them.�

No Limits

CARS OF THE PAST AND FUTURE

BY KEVIN KIM (‘15)

H

aving revolutionized the field of transportation,

The competitive and recreational nature of humans

automobiles are considered one of the most

soon led cars to be used for races. Automobiles were no longer

critical inventions in history. Since their incep-

just simple transportation tools; they had to go fast. Many fac-

tion, automobiles have been designed to be fast,

tors affect an automobile’s speed. For example, the automobile’s

economical, practical, and beautiful. Now, as the automobile

outer body is the area of direct contact with air, so shape is an

industry advances, attention to the market has never been

influential factor for automobiles. However, automobiles with

higher. Automobile companies are exploring a variety of new

specialized shapes can be fuel-efficient and fast. Aerodynamics

technologies to further develop what already is great.

is the notion of minimizing air resistance. Currently, automobile

The history of the automobile is composed of a marvel-

engineers are studying various aerodynamic shapes in com-

ous series of individual inventions. In 1769, the French inventor

parison with the forces exerted on a moving car. The designs of

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot invented the first ever automobile. He

some vehicles, such as airplanes, are designed to create a lift.

attached a steam engine to a tricycle, but his invention had lots

On the other hand, contemporary cars are shaped to create a

of errors and failed to work properly. Therefore, many credit the

downward force, which keeps the cars on the ground.

German designer Karl Benz as the inventor of the modern auto-

Engines create the drive that moves automobiles.

mobile because in 1885, Benz created the Motorwagen, a func-

There are many ways in which engines can be powered, but the

tioning and useable tricycle automobile powered by an internal

most commonly used engines are gasoline engines. Fuel com-

combustion engine. Later, Benz, along with a couple of engi-

bustions power gasoline engines. When gasoline is injected into

neers, started to manufacture automobiles for wealthy people.

an engine’s cylinders, small explosions generate power. To make

Quickly, the innovative automobile began to replace horses and

cars go faster, some engines are equipped with superchargers

chariots. In 1914, Henry Ford adopted a mass production system

or turbochargers. These additions, inspired by technology in the

and introduced the Model T. His production-line manufacturing

aerospace industry, compress air into engines with turbines to

system allowed mass production and therefore a reduction in

exert greater force, compared to normal combustion engines.

the manufacturing price, which made Ford’s models affordable.

The mass of an automobile affects its speed, accelera-

Eventually, this mass production method became an industry

tion, handling, power, and fuel-efficiency. Therefore, lightweight

standard. The growth of the industry allowed many brilliant cars

cars have many advantages over heavy cars. How do designers

to emerge, including the models of Hotchkiss et Cie, a company

build lighter cars? The simply use lighter building materials.

founded by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who married Maria Bissell.

The first automobiles used steel for the chassis (base frame)

No Limits

Spring 2014

Some cars use additional electric motors to compensate for and wood for body panels.

the power losses associated with smaller engines. These

Once the batteries Later, wood panels were replaced by heavy stainless are fully charged, steel for better protection.

Then, automobile makers, the [electric] cars looking to replace steel, considered hardness and can travel over weight in substitute materi300 miles...Believe als. Aluminum is lighter and softer than stainless steel, it or not, electric so today many car manuuse aluminum as cars are already in facturers a primary building material. Surprisingly, plastic production.�

cars, mixtures of electric and gasoline cars, are called hybrids.

can be used as body panels

sunlight. Believe it or not, electric cars are already in produc-

because it is very light and fairly durable. Another material

tion. So, if you want to contribute in saving the planet, buy an

that can be used is carbon fiber, a fairly new space-age com-

electric car.

Hybrids are highly appealing to the world market because they are eco-friendly, powerful, and economical. Hybrids also offer a choice of energy sources to drivers: electricity, gasoline, or both!

There are numerous alternate energy sources for automobiles, but the most promising alternative is electricity. The car industry is now focusing on electric cars, which electric cars, combustion engines are replaced with electric engines containing electric storage batteries. Once the batand some cars use solar panels to gather electricity through

posite. This material is extremely light and rigid. Because of

Although the automobile has come a long way

these ideal qualities, carbon fiber is being developed for use

since Cugnot’s contraption, recognizing heritage and history

in future generations of automobiles.

is important. With that in mind, the automobile industry will

Other new technologies are being explored to make

encounter exciting new technologies, which will benefit both

cars more environmentally friendly. Because of political and

the environment and humans. Who knows what cars might do

market pressures, eco-friendly technologies are continuing

in the future?

to develop. In an effort to emit less carbon dioxide, automobile companies are introducing more efficient cars. One way to emit fewer pollutants is to minimize the size of engines.

No Limits

THE BIONIC EYE A CURE FOR BLINDNESS?

BY DAVID JUNG ‘15

Whenever I watch a Youtube video, I always search for the

light rays into images in the brain. The device is implanted

highest resolution. Like everyone, I want high definition (HD)

on the retina of the eye and, on behalf of the impaired retina,

and frequently change videos when I’m unsatisfied in order

converts the light into signals to the brain and enables the

to find ones that are 720p or 1080p. Now imagine being

patients to “see” images.

blind, struggling in a resolution of 8 pixels or less (normal vision is composed of around a million pixels).

The eye is one of the most complex organs in our body; despite its small size, it is intricately designed. Many parts

A personal story: both of my sisters are legally blind.With-

convert the outside view into a mental image. To fully rec-

out optical instruments, they cannot tell how many fingers I

ognize the mechanics behind the bionic eye device we must

am holding in front of them. With the help of lasik surgery

first understand how the eye functions.

and corrective lenses, remarkably, a good deal of their sight

The mechanism behind the eye is similar to that of a

has been restored. For those like my sisters with impaired

digital camera. Light is focused primarily by the cornea — the

vision, however, there is a glimmer of hope: the continuing

clear front surface of the eye, which acts like a camera lens.

development of the bionic eye.

The iris of the eye functions like the diaphragm of a camera, -

which stops the passage of light, except for the light passing

tration (FDA) approved the first medical bionic eye for the

through the pupil (aperture for camera).The eye’s crystalline

treatment of a rare type of blindness called retinitis pig-

lens is located directly behind the pupil and further focuses

mentosa. This genetic eye condition gradually deteriorates

light. Through a process called accommodation, this lens

the cells of the retina, which are responsible for translating

helps the eye automatically focus on near and approaching

No Limits

Spring 2014

objects, like an autofocus camera lens. Light focused by the

Retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration, two dis-

cornea and crystalline lens (and limited by the iris and pupil)

eases currently being studied are particularly rare cases of

then reaches the retina. The retina acts like an electronic

eye disease. Only one or two of the vast array of eye condi-

image sensor of a digital camera, converting optical images

tions and diseases identified are treatable, with more be-

into electronic signals. The optic nerve then transmits these

ing identified continuously. Like cancer, a complete cure of

signals to the visual cortex — the part of the brain that con-

blindness seems impossible. Will it and can it ever be ac-

trols our sense of sight.

complished?

Blindness is caused by problems in the optical system. In

The visual system is part of the central nervous system.

the case of the first bionic eye, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis

Light photons act on photoreceptors in the retina. From the

System, the implanted machine dealt with damaged photo-

eye, the signals pass through the optic nerve, to the lateral

receptors, or the cells at the back of the retina that perceive

geniculate nucleus, and then to the primary visual cortex.

light patterns and pass them on to the brain in the form of

As a result, some theorize that a successful, panacean bionic

nerve impulses, which are then interpreted as images. This

eye will only be invented at a time when brain transplants

device consisted of (1) a digital camera built into a pair of

become successful.

glasses, (2) a microchip that processes images into electrical

Still, the bionic eye is an exciting idea, and every small

pulses, (3) a radio transmitter, (4) a radio receiver that sends

improvement leads to added benefit. For those who cannot

pulses to the retinal implant, and (5) a retinal implant with

see anything or even perceive light, little things matter. Ev-

an array of 60 electrodes on a chip measuring 1 mm by 1 mm.

ery pixel added to their perception of the world will liberate

The camera first captures an image and sends information

them, and instill renewed hope, salvation and victory.

to the microprocessor which then converts data to an electronic signal and transmits it to the receiver. The receiver sends signals through a tiny cable to an electrode panel implanted by doctors on the retina. The retinal implant emits pulses, which travel through the optic nerve to the brain.

The brain receives patterns of light and dark, which correspond to the electrodes stimulated on the retinal implant.

The whole mechanism proceeds to provide a fabricated vision of the world.

No Limits

FEATURES

2013, SAY WHAT? Five Great Scientific Events and Discoveries of the Year

JAKE YOON ‘15

1.

In January, NASA-funded researchers analyzed a small meteorite from the Martian surface and discovered that the meteorite contained 10 times as much water as other Martian meteorites. Officially

the meteorite, nicknamed “Black Beauty”, was found in the Sahara Desert and was purchased in Morocco in 2011. It weighs revealed that the meteorite formed 2.1 billion years ago, around the beginning of the most recent geologic period on Mars. NWA by rapidly cooled lava. Researchers suggest the large amount of tion between the rocks and water in Mars’ crust. Interaction with the Martian atmosphere could also have given the meteorite the various isotopes of oxygen in its chemical composition, a No Limits

Spring 2014

characteristic unheard of in other Martian meteorites.

2.

In 140 BC, a cargo ship, the Relitto del

The Cosmological Principle is the assumption that the

Pozzino, was wrecked off the Italian coast.

universe, if viewed from a sufficiently large scale, looks the same

An analysis of pills found in the wreck

throughout (a property known as isotropy). One of its predictions

suggests that they were zinc pills used

is that astrophysicists should not be able to find anything bigger

to treat sore eyes. The pills are the oldest medicines ever to be analyzed.

roughly 0.75 megaparsecs, or 2.5 million light years). The newly

Erika Ribechini, head of a team analyzing the medicine tablets,

discovered LQC appears to average 500 megaparsecs across,

believes the disc-shaped tablets, 4 centimeters across and a

with its longest dimension reaching up to 1,200 megaparsecs,

centimeter thick, were likely dipped in water and dabbed directly

invalidating the long-standing Cosmological Principle.

on the eyes. The tablets are also rich in plant and animal oils.

Ribechini notes, “Pollen grains from an olive tree suggest that olive oil was a key ingredient, just like it is today in many medical and beauty creams.” The tablets were discovered in a sealed, airtight tin that prevented its contents from corroding.

3.

“Four-stranded quadruple helix DNA structures--known as G-quadruplexes-also exist in the human genome”

According to the British Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME), as much as half of all the food produced in the world ends up being thrown away. Poor storage facilities, strict sell-by dates, “get-onefree” offers, and consumer fussiness all

5.

contribute to the waste. Each year countries around the world

Cambridge researchers have published a paper demonstrating that four-stranded ‘quadruple helix’ DNA structures -- known as G-quadruplexes -- also exist in the human genome. They form in regions of DNA rich in guanine, one of the four

produce about four billion tons of food, about 1.2 to 2 billion

fundamental building blocks of DNA. The study, published on

tons of which never gets eaten.

-

January 20 in <i>Nature Chemistry</i> and funded by Cancer

vested just because their physical appearance fails to meet

Research UK, shows clear links between concentrations of four-

the exacting demands of consumers. More shockingly, half the

stranded quadruplexes and the process of DNA replication, prov-

food purchased in Europe and the U.S. is thrown away after it

ing its importance in cell division and production.

is bought. Vast quantities of water are also wasted in global

By targeting quadruplexes with synthetic molecules that trap

food production. An estimated 550 billion cubic meters of water

and contain these DNA structures, preventing cells from replicat-

never reaches consumers, instead going to these harvests. Meat

ing their DNA and consequently blocking cell division, scientists

production is also a gigantic culprit. Producing one kilogram

believe it may be possible to cease the uncontrolled cell prolif-

of meat takes 20 to 50 times more water than producing the

eration at the root of cancer.

same weight of vegetables. Dr. Tim Fox, Head of Energy and

Building on previous research, researchers were able

Environment at the IME, observes, “As water, land and energy

to produce antibody proteins that detect and bind to areas in a

resources come under increasing pressure from competing

human genome rich in quadruplex-structured DNA, proving their

human demands, engineers have a crucial role to play in pre-

existence in living human cells. Using fluorescence as a mark

venting food loss and waste by developing more efficient ways

for antibodies, the researchers could then identify ‘hot spots’

of growing, transporting and storing foods.”

for the occurrence of quadruplexes. While quadruplex DNA is

4.

found fairly consistently throughout the genome of human cells An international team of astronomers has

and their division cycles, a marked increase was shown when

discovered a large quasar group (LQG)

the fluorescent staining grew more intense during the ‘s-phase’

that is some 4 billion light years across.

-- the point in a cell cycle where DNA replicates before the cell

To put this into perspective, this LQG is

divides.

Professor Shankar Balasubramanian from the University

about 1600 times wider than the distance between the Milky Way and the “nearby” Andromeda Galaxy.

of Cambridge’s Department of Chemistry and Cambridge

A quasar is a massive and extremely remote celestial object that

Research Institute wonders if they evolve for a function. “It’s a

emits exceptionally large amounts of energy, typically produc-

philosophical question as to whether they are there by design or

ing a star-like image in a telescope. It has been suggested that

not -- but they exist and nature has to deal with them. Maybe by

quasars contain massive black holes and may represent a stage

targeting them we are contributing to the disruption they cause,”

in the evolution of some galaxies. Quasars are the brightest

he says.

objects ever observed in space, so bright and huge that they actually challenge one of the underpinnings of modern cosmology: the Cosmological Principle.

No Limits

BLACK HOLES, DARK ENERGY, AND THE UNIVERSE CECE WANG ‘16 & MARTINIQUE OGLE ‘14

W

hen a star exhausts all its thermonuclear fuel,

hole will pull the star toward itself and tear the star apart. A

it collapses inward. Smaller stars form white

black hole can also emit powerful gamma rays, and spur the

dwarfs and neutron stars, and the most massive

growth of new stars.

ones form black holes. A black hole, a cosmic

Black holes appear to exist on two radically different scales.

body with immense gravity, is hypothesized as formed by the

Some black holes are 10 to 24 times as massive as the Sun. As

death of massive stars. The singularity in the center of the black

a star’s matter goes near enough and becomes captured by the

hole has no volume, but carries the entire mass of the black

gravitational force of the black hole, the attracted matter accel-

hole; therefore it has infinite density. The radius of a black hole

erates and heats up, emitting X-rays, which indirectly enables

is called the event horizon, whose length is proportional to the

astronomers to detect the place of black holes. Judging from the

mass of the collapsing star. When a star ten times more massive

number of massive stars able to produce black holes, scientists

-

estimate that there are between ten million to one billion such

ters. Imagine a black hole with its diameter the size of New York

black holes in the Milky Way alone. Other black holes are mil-

City and with immense mass. According to Einstein’s general

lions of times as massive as the Sun. Scientists believe these

theory of relativity, the escape velocity inside the event horizon

supermassive black holes exist at the center of every galaxy. The

exceeds the speed of light, preventing even light to emit into

temperature of a black hole is inversely proportional to its mass;

space. What this means, is that when electromagnetic waves

therefore these supermassive black holes are more difficult to

(such as light) travel nearby a massive cosmic object, the path

detect. They are detected by their gravitational pull on nearby

is usually deflected and attracted towards the object, instead of

objects.

moving in a straight line. As the object becomes heavier, the

Black holes are one of the most celebrated predictions derived

path is more distorted and the light is bent more towards the

from Einstein’s general theory of relativity, but Einstein himself

object. For a black hole, its gravitational force is so strong that

did not believe in black holes. The general theory of relativ-

light cannot escape the gravitational pull and is absorbed by

ity suggests that time flows at different rates according to the

the black hole. This property of black holes hinders scientists

gravity of the objects themselves. On the contrary, another

from observing them using telescopes, and the only way to infer

revolutionary theory that Einstein helped formulate in the 20th

the position of a black hole is to observe its gravitational effect

century, quantum mechanics, suggests that at such small scales,

on nearby matters. If a black hole passes through a cloud of

time must be considered as universal, or the equations would

interstellar matter, it will draw matter inward, a process known

make no sense. This conflict is especially stressed at the event

as accretion. If a star is traveling near the black hole, the black

horizon of a black hole. If an astronaut is falling down towards

No Limits

Spring 2014

the event horizon, when he reaches the boundary, he feels he is

recently addressed the conflict between general relativity and

continuing to fall, while from a far-off observer, the astronaut is

quantum mechanics by suggesting that a black hole doesn’t

stuck at the event horizon forever and time stands still for him.

absorb light energy indefinitely, but merely stores the light

This strange phenomena encourages scientists to believe that

energy and releases it later. Other scientists have also addressed

after massive stars die, they do not simply collapse into black

this conflict by proposing the theory of dark-energy star. The

holes. Instead, the space-time inside it is filled with dark energy

theory suggests that the quantum transition phase turns fall-

with fascinating gravitational effects.

ing objects into dark energy when an object falls through the

What is dark energy? In the Big Bang Theory (the actual theory,

event horizon. The vacuum inside the event horizon would then

not the TV show), the universe was formed from a singularity of

have a high energy density, and would be able to exert negative

immense mass but zero volume by an explosion. If mass cre-

pressure against gravity. If the dark-energy star has enough

ates gravity, gravity creates pull, then gravitational pull between

cosmological constant (the energy density of vacuum), it may

objects of mass must slow the expansion rate of the universe

cause matter (such as electrons) to bounce out of the event

down. But the observations of very distant supernovae in 1998

horizon again. When anti-matter and their matter counterpart

suggested that the universe was expanding much slower a long

encounter, they will explode, emit a high-energy radiation, and

time ago, and that the expansion rate was, in fact, accelerating.

disappear. If an electron is released outside the event horizon,

Dark energy is theoretically the force that counteracts the pull-

it will be converted to positrons (the anti-matter version of elec-

ing force of gravity, pushes the galaxies apart, and causes space-

tron), will surely encounter a negative electron in space, explode

time to expand at a faster pace. Einstein discovered that empty

and disappear, and produce a high-energy radiation. This could

space could come into existence, and his theory of gravity with

explain the radiation near the previously interpreted black holes

the cosmological constant predicted that empty space could

and from the center of the galaxy. It also seems to suggest the

possess energy. Dark energy can be seen as a property of space;

universe’s own resemblance to a dark-energy star. Maybe a

thus it will not be diluted as space expands, and will become

dark-energy star in another universe generated our universe, and

proportional to the amount of space, causing the universe to

numerous universes may have already been generated from our

expand faster and faster. When the universe was young, grav-

universe. It seems somehow we are currently “in the middle of

ity outvalued dark energy. But as space expanded, dark energy

nowhere”; we cannot trace back to the mother universe, and are totally ignorant of things happening in the baby universe.

energy constituent of the universe.

Let us return to the discussion of black holes. Stephen Hawking No Limits

PERSONALIZED

MEDICINE

BY KATHERINE WARREN ‘14

H

ippocrates once said, “It is more important to

Personalized medicine is comprised of two major cat-

know what sort of person has a disease than to

egories: epigenomics and pharmacogenomics. The epigenomic

know what sort of disease a person has.” These

section goes beyond the nucleotide-letter code that constitutes

were foretelling words coming from a person

one’s genome. Rather, the epigenome measures where and how

born more than two thousands years before the

frequently genes are actually expressed into functional proteins.

discovery of DNA and the concept of personalized

Twin studies have revealed that the epigenome is susceptible

medicine, about which he unknowingly spoke. In 1989, thirty-

to influence from the environment, including harmful chemicals

six years after Watson and Crick demonstrated unequivocally

and stress.

that DNA was the genetic material, an organization named the

The second part, pharmacogenomics, was created in

Human Genome Project was founded. The purpose of this group

order to recognize and respond to the differences between indi-

was to sequence the entirety of the human genome. By the turn

viduals. For the better part of western medicine’s history, the

of the millennium, a rough draft of our genetic material had

“one-drug-fits-all” approach has been used—modification being

been written and a new concept of healthcare was created—per-

only in dosage. Pharmacogenomics rectifies this method by

sonalized medicine.

accounting for a patient’s response to a prescribed medication,

The concept behind personalized medicine is that

for example to a lipid-lowering drug, or to an over-the-couner

patients are able to have treatments tailored to maximize effi-

anti-inflammatory pill. Unlike the “universal medication” theory,

cacy. Basically, your genetic profile would be used to dictate

pharmacogenomics looks at individual, hereditary point muta-

which drugs for treatment would be most suited to your body.

tions in the DNA called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs),

This field of study has since expanded from treatment to include

or groups of SNPs called haplotypes, to determine if a person’s

disease prevention, risk mitigation, drug efficacy, and health

genetic makeup correlates to how effectively they respond to a

management.

certain medication.

There are many varying factors that make up a human being. First, the genome—the overall hereditary information

of entire genome sequencing has plummeted to around five

of an organism—which is unique each and every individualize human being, with the exception of identical twins. Then there

and Illlumina. This downward trajectory is only expected to

is the proteome, comprising all of the functional proteins avail-

continue. For upwards of fifty dollars, people can even get part

able to perform the work of the cell. Furthermore, there is the lipidome and metabolome—comprising of all the lipids and

and Navigenics, as well as other direct-to-customer conglomer-

metabolites in the cells. Increasingly, attention has been turned

ates that look for specific disease markers. Innovations such

to the microbiome—made up off every microbe and microorgan-

as next-generation sequencing, microarrays, and other high-

ism that cohabitate the cells and body. With all of these compo-

throughput technologies have facilitated genomic profiling and

nents combined, it is no wonder that humans can look, behave,

aided in the efforts of labs around the world to create databases

and respond to situations in radically different ways.

like the International HapMap program, which aims to create

a haplotype map of the human genome to discover genetic,

commonplace, and laboratory animals are genetically engineered

disease-causing variants. This program follows the belief that

to mimic our exact immune system (a prospect that is already all

with burgeoning information being more instantly available, the

too real at a Columbia University research Laboratory), we might

more likely it is that important discoveries will be made and the

reach a time when the practice of medicine is shifted towards

more lives will be saved.

being preventive, rather than responsive. While this branch of

There is a laundry list of benefits that will optimisti-

science contains a slew of moral questions, like the effect of

cally follow the increased emphasis on personalized medicine. A

wealth disparities on the practice and possible exploitation of

paramount change will be the shift from reactive diagnosis and

your genome to evaluate life and insurance risks, the future of

management to preventive care through disease predictions. As

medicine itself surely relies on the movement towards specific-

Chris Sander wrote for

, “the primary goal of

ity. But can people withstand the loss of privacy as the coding

personalized medicine should be to increase the quality of life

of their very person becomes public and the inherent disparities

first, and lifespan second. ” Many aspects of the current medi-

between beings become apparent? All parts of life have ragged

cal system affect the patient’s quality of life, including adverse

edges and answers that are neither black nor white. Moreover,

drug reactions and excess time and money spent on ineffective

a world with personalized medicine will not avoid being asso-

treatments. Personalized medicine would become a lifeline to

ciated with

“rough justice” as the line between

people inflicted with illnesses such as non-small cell lung can-

those who need a targeted

cer. Drugs designed to target a specific type of illness can allow

treatment and who do

patients to avoid painful and detrimental treatments like che-

not grows thin. At the

motherapy. Targeted treatments can also reduce expenses

end of the day every

as well because the “trial-and-error” period of drug testing,

individual will have

eliminating phases of ineffective and harmful medication.

to ponder for him-

Genomic profiling also allows for preventative medicine

self: is he ready to

and regimes to be formed in people whose genome presents high risks for certain diseases. Sometimes, with this knowledge, a change in diet and lifestyle, as well as a schedule of screenings, can help mitigate the risk and

sacrifice the privacy of his genomic identity for medical individualization?

evade illness altogether.

It is still a while down the road before the promise of personalized medicine will finally be practical.

In the future, when a paradigm of genetic testing

prior to prescription

i s

No Limits

No Limits

Spring 2014

Š University of Chicago

RESURRECTING EXTINCT SPECIES

BY JESSICA DENG ‘14

I

n Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park,

been reconstructed, the next step would

urrect a species. In this method, scien-

dinosaurs are revived to create an

be to remove the nucleus in an egg cell

tists sequence the genome of the extinct

amusement park.

The devastat-

of a close living relative, and replace it

species, as well as that of a living close

ing repercussions in the novel led

with the nucleus from one of the cells

relative, and compare the two. Noting

most to believe that the idea of resur-

of the extinct species. Then, researchers

the differences, they can then alter the

recting dinosaurs, while intriguing, was

could use the close living relative as a

living species’ genome until it matches

unsafe. However, those people need not

surrogate mother for the embryo. Pale-

that of the extinct species’. At the “Bring-

worry because natural rates of DNA decay

ontologist Michael Archer, who worked

ing Back the Passenger Pigeon” meeting

mean that scientists can only hope to re-

in the early 2000’s to extract DNA from

held at Harvard Medical School last year,

vive species that became extinct in the

the thylacines (the Tasmanian tiger) in

geneticist George Church mentioned that

last few tens of thousands of years. In

the Australian Museum’s collection also

the biggest challenge of using reverse

addition, scientists would need enough

proposed a different method, saying, “A

genetic engineering is combining all of

ancient DNA to reconstruct the animal’s

cell line of living Tasmanian devil cells

the desired characteristics into one pi-

entire genome. Recent developments in

[a close living relative of the thylacine]

geon. This would require approaching

genetic technology have scientists hope-

could be used to progressively splice in

the study of the extinct species with re-

ful that recovered DNA from extinct spe-

thylacine sequences to replace the cor-

cies may soon lead to bringing the ani-

responding regions of the devil chro-

for a certain outward trait), which would

mals back to life.

mosomes” (Switek).

Newly discovered

help researchers build an exhaustive un-

-

technologies such as an enzyme that can

derstanding of how the animal’s internal

tentially revive extinct species: cloning,

precisely cut DNA, known as Cas9, may

genetic makeup corresponds to its out-

reverse genetic engineering, and strate-

enable scientists to insert and remove

ward appearance and behavior (Switek).

gic mating.

strands of DNA in the genetic code. In Archer’s project, modifying the Tasmanian

Cloning

devil cells many times with enzymes like

Strategic mating involves successive,

Cas9 could lead to producing a thylacine.

planned matches of living animals to re-

parts of preserved specimens of the extinct species. The DNA samples are then

Strategic Mating

store gradually the genome of the extinct

Reverse Genetic Engineering

species. Like reverse genetic engineer-

spliced and pieced together to form the

Cloning is unreliable, and in some

ing, strategic mating requires the exis-

entire genome. Once the genome has

cases there is more than one way to res-

tence of some close living relatives of the

No Limits

extinct species. Although this method has not been tried yet, scientists like Henri Kerkdijk-Otten of the Megafauna Foundation tegic mating. Strategic mating utilizes animals already adapted to today’s environment and living conditions, rather than trying to re-create an animal that existed in a very different time and climate (Switek). Thus, the animals produced are more likely to survive on their own, unlike clones, which are often born with many birth defects and require human assistance to live. In fact,

lung and died within ten minutes (Zimmer). Creating healthy animals could save a great deal of funding and wasted effort in

s e i s c n e o p C S d tinct n a s x o E r P g The urrectin s e R of

the future.

There are 3 ways scientists could potentially revive extinct species: cloning, reverse genetic engineering, and strategic mating.

Now that it’s quite possible for scientists to create a dodo bird in the near future, many have raised the question of what consequences a resurrected species would have in our world. Some, such as Stewart Brand for National Geographic, argue that we work hard to preserve endangered species for reasons that also apply to extinct species: “to preserve biodiversity, to restore diminished ecosystems, to advance the science of preventing extinctions, and to undo harm that humans have caused in the past.” Some conservationists, however, believe that funding such resurrection experiments could cause the extinction of yet more species by taking money from funds that sustain currently endangered species (Biello). These funds maintain protected areas, supervise small surviving populations, and even campaign to reduce the consumption of endangered species. Others worry that the resurrected species won’t have any habitats because human activity the Chinese river dolphin became extinct due to pollution and other pressures from the human population on the Yangtze River. The river is no cleaner today. “Without an environment to put re-created species back into, the whole exercise is futile and a gross waste of money,” says Glenn Albrecht, director of the Institute for Social Sustainability at Murdoch University in Australia.

For the moment, de-extinction remains a dream. But it is no longer pure fantasy. Whether resurrecting extinct species becomes a way of achieving redemption for the environmental damage that humans have caused, or a potential recipe for disaster, only time will tell.

No Limits

Spring 2014

FOR FUN

SCIENCE PUZZLES!

BY JAMES POST ‘15 & JAMES TSUI ‘15

UNSCRAMBLE THE LETTERS TO MAKE A WORD THAT RELATES TO SCIENCE BCITISO __ __ __ __ __ __ __ CARPTELI

LETHOOCNYG

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

IOYOBGL

NSICCEE

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

YECRDVIOS

MCHEALISC

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

FIND THE WORDS FROM THE WORD BANK

COPERNICUS

LAVOISIER

EINSTEIN

PASTEUR

HAWKING

BERNARD

NEWTON

DALTON

PLANCK

FARADAY

BOHR

HEISENBERG

DARWIN

PASCAL

GALILEI No Limits

THE DARWIN AWARDS

FOR EXCELLENCE IN FURTHERING THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN RACE

BY JAMES POST ‘15

U

sually, winning an award is an honor. People win

second, have an “astounding misapplication of judgment”; third,

awards for displays of talent or excellence. Yet there

be the cause of their own demise. Finally, the occurrence needs

is one award that no one wants to win. The Darwin

to be verified as true (or plausible, at the very least).

Awards “commemorate individuals who protect our

gene pool by making the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives:

Clearly, the awards face much opposition. Relatives and friends

by eliminating themselves in an extraordinarily idiotic manner,

of those awarded have spoken out against the mockery of oth-

thereby improving our species’ chance of long-term survival.”

ers’ deaths. Yet the website strongly asserts that “one should

Because they are the cause of their own deaths, the winners

not be ashamed of laughing over the misfortune of others” and

of these awards contribute to the evolution of the human race

that the awards are a valuable “funny-but-true safety guide.”

(thus the ode to the famed scientist Charles Darwin).

And let’s be clear. No one is above such mishaps. In fact, how many close calls have you experienced in your own lifetime?

The Darwin Awards began as a humorous group discussion on

Truthfully, the Darwin Awards take the burden off of humans to

the online communications system Usenet. The first awards

be the “superior” species. After all, didn’t our common ancestor

were simply an unorganized collection of urban myths and

to chimpanzees exist only 6 million years ago? Aren’t we sub-

rumors, crazy stories about people that drove off of cliffs and

ject to the same evolutionary pressures as antibiotic-resistant

used dynamite to play fetch with their dogs. However, as the

bacteria?

awards’ popularity grew, Wendy Northcutt—a then biology student at University of California, Berkeley—created an official

Here is a selection of some Darwin Awards from the website:

website and began to work on a book. This book held a spot

“Newcastle Icicle”, “Smokin’ Hot Sauce”, and “Chimney-Cleaning

on the New York Times best seller list for six months, and the

Grenade”. Remember, “natural selection deems that some indi-

website remains popular today.

viduals serve as a warning to others”:

One must fulfill several criteria to be bestowed a Darwin award.

The website proclaims: “[All award-winners] are self-selected examples of the dangers inherent in a lack of common sense, and all human races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups are

1.

Investigative journalism reaches a new “low” when a reporter freezes to death while getting an inside look at the lives of those who sleep rough...

eligible to compete.” As a basis for entry, one must be mature

-

enough so as to be minimally capable of good judgment. The

tion’s numbers are difficult to gauge; the website Crisis.co.uk

awardees must also meet four all-important criteria. They, first, have to get knocked out of the gene pool by death or sterility;, No Limits

Spring 2014

Intending to advance his career, investigative journalist Lee

Common sense is not so common.”

-Voltaire recover from the shock of taking a mouthful of gasoline-was a decision that an average five year old would consider questionable. As the late Bill Hicks said, “Darn, we lost another idiot.”

Gary’s friend was a mechanic and kept the jar of gasoline Halpin, 26, decided to acquire background in the problem by pretending to be homeless. He borrowed a sleeping bag and, waving aside the concerns of friends and family, he set off into the streets alone. “I will sleep rough, scrounge for my food, interact with as many homeless people as possible, and immerse myself in that lifestyle as deeply as I can,” said the journalist--three days before freezing to death in a boarded up hostel.

Hypothermia is suspected and autopsy results are pending; meanwhile, two homeless men have been arrested on possibly-related drug charges.

2.

(27 February 2012, North Carolina) “It was just a freak incident,” said an investigator, Allen Banning. Gary was at a friend’s apart-

ment when he spotted a salsa jar containing a mystery fluid.

Thinking that it was an alcoholic beverage, he helped himself to a sizeable swig of gasoline! Naturally enough, he immediately spit out the offending liquid onto his clothes. Then, to recover from the shock, Gary lit a cigarette.

Whoosh! Gas+Flame=Combustion.

Firefighters responded to calls reporting a fire in the apartment, and found a badly burned man sitting on a charred carpet. The following morning, Gasoline Gary died at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill.

Two mistakes caused his death. The first mistake was minor: gulping a golden liquid from a salsa jar. Although Darwin Awards editors feel that a jar of yellow liquid is best left sealed, drinking its contents usually does not lead to combustion. But the second mistake--lighting up a cigarette to

near the kitchen sink to remove grease from his hands.

3.

afternoon, 55-year-old Marko retreated to his semi-detached workshop to make himself a tool for chimney cleaning. The

chimney was too high for a simple broom to work, but if he could attach a brush to a chain and then weigh it down with something, that would do the trick. But what could he use as a weight?

He happened to have the perfect object. It was heavy, yet compact. And best of all, it was made of metal, so he could weld it to the chain. He must have somehow overlooked the fact that it was also a hand grenade and was filled with explosive material.

Marko turned on his welding apparatus and began to create an arc between the chain and the grenade. As the metal heated up, the grenade exploded. The force of the explosion killed poor Marko instantly, blasting shrapnel through the walls of the shed and shattering the windshield of a Mercedes parked outside. Marko’s chimney was untouched, however.

Disclaimer

The Darwin awards are not designed to mock or disrespect any of the hon-

orees or their family members. The awards simply serve as a tongue-in-cheek reminder both that we (humans) are descended from a more primitive species and that we are still subject to selective pressure. We may not be as evolved or advanced as we sometimes believe. And, in spite of our impressive intelligence, we still seem to lack some common sense.

No Limits

No Limits

Spring 2014

WORKS CITED Cover Photo Cygnus X-1 Illustration. 2008. NASA. NASA Education.

Web. 30 April 2014. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/cygx1_ ill.jpg Table of Contents bass_nrole flickr user. Family asleep in the JR Yamanote line. 2009. Flickr. Web. May 3 2014.

NVnacco flickr user. Modern Medicine. 2006. Flickr. Web. May 4 2014. e-Magine Art. Pills 3. 2010. Flickr.

International Livestock Research Institute. Controlling bird flu in Indonesia using participatory approaches. 2006. Flickr.

Web. 4 May 2014 Walsh, Kevin. Picture of a Dodo. taken from Naturalist’s Miscellany of 1793. 2006. Flickr. 4 May 2010 Science and Art Chalkley, Matthew. “Art Restoration: The Fine Line Between Art and Science.” (2010). The Yale Scientific.

Donnelly, N., R. Nutile, A. Rivas. “The Preservation and Restoration of Art.” The Scientia Review.

Van Witt, Peggy. “How Scientific Methods are Used in Art Restoration.” (2010).

The Way of the Tau Hartl, M. (2013, March 14). The Tau Manifesto. Retrieved from http://tauday.com/tau-manifesto MSC. (2011, July 4) The Pi Manifesto. Retrieved from http://www.thepimanifesto.com.

College Science Programs http://lsm.upenn.edu/program/about. http://www.brown.edu/academics/medical/plme/sites/ brown.edu.academics.medical.plme/files/images/brochure1_0.jpg Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Flickr. Web. 30 April 2014.

Cars of the Past and Future Bellis, Mary. “Automobile History.” About.com Inventors.

About.com, n.d. Web. 02 May 2013.

Poetsch, Rob. LFA prepares to leave for Cars & Coffee.

2009. Flickr. Web. 30 April 2014.

The Bionic Eye De Leo, Diego; Hickey, Portia; Meneghel, Gaia; and Cantor, Christopher. “Blindness, Fear of Sight Loss, and Suicide.”

EyeFreedom.com, Dr. Edward Boshnick.

Layton, Julia. “How does a “bionic eye” allow blind people to see?” 21 February 2007. HowStuffWorks.

Segre, Liz. “Human Eye Anatomy: Parts of the Eye”. All About Vision. Access Media Group. Web. February 2014.

Sifferlin, Alexandra. “FDA approves first bionic eye.” CNN Health. Cable News Network. Web. 19 February 2013.

Scientific Discoveries of 2013 Coghlan, A. (2013, January 07). World’s oldest pills treated sore eyes.

Dillow, C. (2013, January 11). Faraway quasar group is the largest structure in the universe.

NASA. (2013, January 03). Researchers identify water rich meteorite linked to mars crust.

University of Cambridge. (2013, January 13). ‘quadruple helix’ dna discovered in human cells.

Black Holes Ball, P. (2005, March 31). Black holes ‘do not exist’. Nature.

Black hole. (2013, April 21). Encyclopædia Britannica.

Black Holes (2013, April 26). Retrived from NASA website: http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/blackholes/ Personalized Medicine Crawford, J. M., & Aspinall, M. G. (2012). The business value and cost-effectiveness of genomic medicine. Future Medicine, 9(3), 265.

Dillow, C. (2011). Gene-based treatment for skin cancer may make its way into skin creams within five years. Popular Science, Fleck, L. M. (2010). Personalized medicine’s ragged edge.

The Hastings Center, 40(5), 16.

Kittles, R. (2012). Genes and environments: Moving toward personalized medicine in the context of health disparities.

Ethnicity & Disease, 22(3), 43.

Saey, T. H. (2011). Tumor tell-all: Unraveling complex genetic stories in cancer cells may lead to personalized treatment.

Society for Science & the Public, 180 Saffitz, J. E. (2012). Genomic pathology: A disruptive innovation. Future Medicine, 9(3), 237.

Sander, C. (2000). Genomic medicine and the future of health care. Science, 287(5460), 1977.

Yurkeiwicz, S. (2010). The prospects for personalized medicine. The Hastings Center, 40(5), 14-16.

Resurrecting Extinct Species Biello, David. (2013, April 27). Will We Kill Off Today’s Animals If We Revive Extinct Ones?

Brand, Stewart. (2013, April 27). Opinion: The Case for Reviving Extinct Species.

Jurassic Park (film). (2013, April 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. http:// news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2013/13/130310-extinct-species-cloning-deextinctiongenetics-science/ Zimmer, Carl. (2013, April 27). Bringing Them Back to Life.

Whitman, Charles Otis. The University of Chicago Library. Science News. Web. 30 April 2014.

The Darwin Awards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_Awards http://www.darwinawards.com/ http://www.vote29.com/newmyblog/wp-content/ uploads/2012/04/618px-Darwin_Awards_MAIN.jpg http://thinkinginchrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ human-evolution-02.jpg What You Didn’t Know About Sleep See article for on-graphic citations Back Cover WBUR Boston’s NPR News Station. Hippcampus. October 2008

No Limits

NEW LIMITS

THE REDESIGN OF THE MAGAZINE visit our

write anything

hotchkissmedia.org/nolimits

(science, technology, engineering & math)

web blog

about STEM

like us on

facebook facebook.com/hotchkissnolimits