http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111025163128.htm
Even though climate change is a very well supported theory that most scientists believe in, it may not be the only reason for glacier melting. It was found that in Greenland ice caps are melting due to ice with a low albedo [does not reflect as much light or heat]. These low albedo ice areas cause heat to be held within the ice as opposed to ice with a high albedo that reflects a large amount of light and heat. The holding in of such heat causes faster ice melting and has been seen over the years. With more ice with a low albedo being there and not being covered with high albedo ice large amounts of heat have been kept within the glacier and melts from the inside. It is unknown if this has been an ongoing process or just a very new one. The answer to that will provide for scientists a gauge of how strong this melting process is, or will be.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Massive Meteorite Strike Mysteries Revealed Through Model
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019173406.htm
Scientists have developed many models to interpret massive meteorite impacts on the Earth, such as one that may have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. They have examined in particular the Chicxulub crater which is believed to be the center of impact which left a large antipodal point at the Deccan Traps. The antipodal point is where the waves from an impact meet at a place on the opposite end of the Earth causing another large area effected. This point however is not on the complete opposite end of the Chicxulub crater, but instead is seen farther away. This brings scientists to realize that due to the shape and contents of the Earth effect the wave traveling speed and direction, and can change an antipodal point. And now that models that take this into account we can better understand the world around us and other planets and moons. We may even be able to reveal more of what is underneath the ground beneath our feet throughout these upcoming years.
Scientists have developed many models to interpret massive meteorite impacts on the Earth, such as one that may have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. They have examined in particular the Chicxulub crater which is believed to be the center of impact which left a large antipodal point at the Deccan Traps. The antipodal point is where the waves from an impact meet at a place on the opposite end of the Earth causing another large area effected. This point however is not on the complete opposite end of the Chicxulub crater, but instead is seen farther away. This brings scientists to realize that due to the shape and contents of the Earth effect the wave traveling speed and direction, and can change an antipodal point. And now that models that take this into account we can better understand the world around us and other planets and moons. We may even be able to reveal more of what is underneath the ground beneath our feet throughout these upcoming years.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Global Glaciation Hypothesis May Be Proven False
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012083450.htm
It's used to be almost proven that there used to be a period of global glaciation. Since it was not completely proven it was a hypothesis that went by the name of the "snowball hypothesis," and was created almost 20 years ago. It was estimated that about 635 million years ago during the Cryogenian period, the Earth was almost entirely covered with ice. Since less heat would remain on the Earth due to the reflection by ice, scientists hypothesized that carbon dioxide remained in the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions. But when looking at the data from this time period, a small amount of carbon dioxide was found in the atmosphere. This shows that it may not have been able to heat up the Earth enough to melt the ice, so this period may not have occurred. In the meantime scientists try to figure out if there may have been another gas that could have caused melting of glaciers, such as methane. With a possibility of such a well proven hypothesis being proven false truly shows how our scientists experience paradigm shifts with these theories. As much as we may believe that we know everything there is to know about our world, there are so many more mysteries and what we believe to be true, may not actually be true.
It's used to be almost proven that there used to be a period of global glaciation. Since it was not completely proven it was a hypothesis that went by the name of the "snowball hypothesis," and was created almost 20 years ago. It was estimated that about 635 million years ago during the Cryogenian period, the Earth was almost entirely covered with ice. Since less heat would remain on the Earth due to the reflection by ice, scientists hypothesized that carbon dioxide remained in the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions. But when looking at the data from this time period, a small amount of carbon dioxide was found in the atmosphere. This shows that it may not have been able to heat up the Earth enough to melt the ice, so this period may not have occurred. In the meantime scientists try to figure out if there may have been another gas that could have caused melting of glaciers, such as methane. With a possibility of such a well proven hypothesis being proven false truly shows how our scientists experience paradigm shifts with these theories. As much as we may believe that we know everything there is to know about our world, there are so many more mysteries and what we believe to be true, may not actually be true.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Possibility to Digest Cellulose Increases
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720091527.htm
We as humans are currently unable to digest much cellulose from plants. This is due to the fact that the cell is so dense and tightly packed that our enzymes cannot attack the beneficial cellulose. Cellulose is a great product that can be converted to ethanol. If we could create this ethanol in our bodies, it could be used for biofuel and become very useful. The biomass can be used for the fermentable sugars which can process the ethanol. Now the only process we have involves toxic chemicals and requires a large amount of energy. Scientists attempted to see what happens to the cells when pre-treated with ammonia. This experiment had worked since it weakened the cell more than usual, by loosening hydrogen bonds within the cells. With this we have found a step that can lead us in a great way towards changing some of our diets if we could perfect this system.
We as humans are currently unable to digest much cellulose from plants. This is due to the fact that the cell is so dense and tightly packed that our enzymes cannot attack the beneficial cellulose. Cellulose is a great product that can be converted to ethanol. If we could create this ethanol in our bodies, it could be used for biofuel and become very useful. The biomass can be used for the fermentable sugars which can process the ethanol. Now the only process we have involves toxic chemicals and requires a large amount of energy. Scientists attempted to see what happens to the cells when pre-treated with ammonia. This experiment had worked since it weakened the cell more than usual, by loosening hydrogen bonds within the cells. With this we have found a step that can lead us in a great way towards changing some of our diets if we could perfect this system.
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