Dow Solar Shingles Finally Hitting U.S. Markets

http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/3624

Picture:

Solar Panels are a great way to save money and save the environment. A huge problem to having this idea of solar panels sent to the public is that they are expensive and in some cases ugly or do not fit in to the traditional home. This idea of shingles might ease the situation...

Summary:

In a nutshell, a company named Dow Solar, created solar panel shingles. The idea of solar panels has become a new revolutionary idea, that will help us through this energy crisis. Recently, this idea of solar panel shingles has become accessible to the masses. These solar panel shingles look remarkable similar to traditional roofing shingles. This should make the idea more attractive to home owners. They can even completely replace your own roofing shingles while creating clean electricity for the entire home. The shingles use ultra thin-film solar cells that are more durable then conventional silicon cells. This project has been used mainly in Colorado but by the end of the year, it will most likely spread to all over the U.S. The shingles are 10% efficient, but if you cover your entire roof, you can save a lot of money. The shingles are even known to make the houses cooler from incoming sunlight making you save even more money. They are in partnership wish major housing company D.R. Horton.

Opinion/Reflection:

I really like this idea. We all know that one day fossil fuels can not, and will not be usable anymore. Not only that but over hundreds of years we have devastated the natural world. The problem with environmentally green energy solutions that they are not practical to the public. Hopefully, this idea will make it more attractive for home owners to use solar panels. I think they look great on your house and make your electric bill look great too.

Questions:

1. Is this idea too expensive for the average home owner?

2. Why do we have to use environmental friendly energy sources?

3. Do you think this a good idea or a bad idea? Energy and money wise.

Extreme Heat Bleaches Coral, and Threat is Seen

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21coral.html

In this image is part of a coral reef. If you look closely you can see how it isn't colorful, but instead it is white in color. Normally the coral is supposed to be bright in color , but it turned white because of coral reef bleaching. Coral reef bleaching can occur because of several different reasons. Did you know that when the coral sheds its color and turns white, it means that it is going into a so called "survival mode" trying its best to stay alive? Read the article from the link above to find out why this bleaching has been going on!

Summary: This article is from 2010. In 2010, the second known coral reef bleaching occcured (the first in 1998). Many scientists believe that the cause of this coral reef bleaching is due the dramatic changes in climate, in this case extreme heat! Coral reef bleaching occurs when extreme heat and alot of sunlight cause the algae's metabolism to go rapid fire and when they go crazy, they produce toxins. These toxins are what is making the coral turn an ugly white color when they should be colorful! You may think that the coral is dead, but it isn't. Infact, the coral is just barely alive. The only way for the coral to survive is if the temperature drop lower and the algae can reproduce and help the coral out. When corals are in these condition they are very susceptible to disease. If the temperature stays hot, the corals can eventually die. Over the course of the summer mre corals will die if the temperatures keep rising!

Opinion/Reflection: I believe that coral bleaching is a very big issue! I can't believe that one of the most beautiful things in the world is turning into a big pile of nothing. All it is becoming is a bunch of coral that turned white and is super close to dying. If the temperature keeps getting worse, like it was this summer, the population of coral can greatly drop! This is not a good thing at all. I believe that one cause of this temperature rising is the increased use of burning fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels has a big impact on our enviroment as you can see. If we stop burning too many we can save the coral!

Questions:
1:Why is coral reef bleaching such a big deal??????

2: What will happen to the ecosystem if the coral eventually dies out????

3: What can people do to help this very big issue?????

Orangutan Culture Develops Like Human Culture

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/orangutan-human-cultures/

By: Wired UK October 24, 2011
The question was for the team of anthropologists was: Do orangutans have the ability to learn socially and pass these lessons down through generations? They found the answer to be yes. There is evidence that culture in humans and great apes have the same evolutionary roots. As humans we are able to learn and adapt quickly and change our behaviors and pass this down from generation to generation through social learning. This is what usually separates us from different species, but not apes.
About a decade ago, different biologists have observed that the great apes have made variations in behavior and think that the apes are passing down environmental innovations from generation to generation. Today, researchers at the University of Zurich have been studying if the variations in behavioral patterns in nine different orangutan populations, living in different areas can be explained by this cultural transmission. It can. After collecting 100,000 hours of data they concluded that environmental influences and genetic factors did play a big role in defining differences in social structure and behavioral ecology between the populations. Michael Krützen, the first author of the study, said: “The cultural interpretation of the behavioral diversity also holds for orangutans — and in exactly the same way as we would expect for human culture.
I think that this is amazing in the world of science. I have always thought about how monkeys and apes were so much like humans and I thought it was so cool. What I also think is amazing is that the researchers at the University of Zurich put 100,000 hours into this. This shows that orangutans do have the ability to learn socially and pass those lessons down through each generation. Apparently, apes are even smarter than we knew! I remember, when I was little, my mom and dad took my little brother and me on a animal safari and I saw apes acting like human and I didn’t know why they were. I was very little then, so I didn’t understand, but now I look back and I remember that they are so much like humans.
Questions:
1.) Do you find this discovery amazing and fascinating in the world of science?
2.) Do you believe that with this ability apes will become orangutans and apes will become more and more like humans from generation to generation?
3.) Do you think that humans will keep evolving with the apes, but always be ahead of them?

San Diego Zoo Launches California Condor Cam!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/san-diego-zoo-launches-california-condor-cam.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Photo: USFWS Endangered Species / cc

Picture: This picture shows a California condor, a bird that has almost been extinct, but certain facilities like the San Diego Zoo have been keeping them safe and the population has been rising!

Summary: There was once less than two dozen California condors left. That is less than 24, which isn't a whole lot for a species of birds. Lately, the condors population has been rising, and places like the San Diego Zoo has a condor breeding area where they have installed a web cam, so people can follow and watch this bird from anywhere around the world. The web cam allows people to see this wonderful bird in action, and once they lay eggs the web can will be focused onto the eggs. Soon there will be a bunch of baby condors being born! It's an amazing sight for people to watch. It isn't just for entertainment purposes though. The whole point of this is to have these condors in this breeding center, so they can be saved and the population can be risen. They were once very very close to extinction. 80 condors have been released from this breeding center back into the wild. This shows that these breeding centers are really working and the condors are being saved, and everyone can watch it happen right from their computer at home.

Opinion/Reflection: When I first saw this, I was really excited! I think it's a great idea that people can experience these condors being saved, and be released back into their habitat, and experience new baby condors being born. They were once so close to extinction, and now there are many more being brought to life. They should really keep this going, and hopefully the condors won't be endangered at all anymore!

Questions:

1. Why do you think the condor gets a lot of attention for being endangered, but other endangered species don't?

2. Do you think the idea of this web cam is a good idea? Why or why not?

3. What do you think would happen if the condor went extinct?

Bee Lovely: The hand cream standing up for insects!

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/health_and_beauty/1053379/bee_lovely_the_hand_cream_standing_up_for_insects.html

PICTURE: Bees carry pollen, bees make honey, bees do lots of things for our ecosystem. I wonder what it would be like if they were... gone?


Summary: UK's threatened bee population is rising day by day. Someone's gotta do something before their eco system comes crashing down. Neal's Yard Remedies has come to the rescue with a campaign, oh and a limited edition hand cream! Neal's Yard made a new hand cream that not only makes soft and healthy skin, but also has plans to save Britain's bees. For every tube of the limited edition Bee Lovely Hand Cream, Neal's Yard will donate 1 euro to protecting UK's threatened bee population as a part of the brand's Save the Bee's campaign. Neal's Yard is also running a petition to outlaw nemonic pesticides which is a pesticide that damages the nerves in an insect resulting in paralysis, one of the biggest threats facing UK's bees! Based on reviews and buyers of the cream, it's supposed to work wonders too!

Opinion/Review: Honestly I think this is a wonderful idea! While they are providing people with whatever honey hand cream they usually buy from other companies, they are helping the situation too. I think unlike other companies, they aren't taking advantage of their products. Think about it, if bees disappear, who will take pollen from flower to flower, who will make honey? Bees are a very very important part of our ecosystem, and if they die off, we are in big trouble.

Question 1: Why don't we hear about the extinction of bees a lot in the media?
Question 2: What could have caused the bees population to be threatened?
Question 3: Do you think bees may be endangered in North America too?

Making Headway in the Movement to Protect the World's Sharks

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/science/earth/11shark.html?_r=1&ref=endangeredandextinctspecies

Picture: A restaurant in San Fransico, California serves shark fin soup. This restaurant is no longer able to serve this soup since the California Legislature has banned the selling of the shark fins.

Summary: california has decided to ban the selling and possesion of shark fins. This is a billion-dollar global trade that has been killing millions and millions of sharks every year! When making soup with a shark fin in Asia, one bowl may cost up to $100. Since the demand for shark fin soup has increasingly gorwn in Asian countries, it has led to over fishing around the globe. Even though it is a big demand in Asia, several celebraties native of those countries and environmentalist group have been trying their hardest to ban the use of shark fins. If the shark finning industry continues to grow, their is a great chance that some shark species can go endangered or even extinct. By starting to ban shark finning, it will slow down the industry and hopefully stop the killing of these innocent sharks.

Opinion/Reflection: I was very surprised while reading this article! To be honest I have never even heard of shark fin soup or shark-finning. This is actually a major issue if you think about it. If all the sharks are being killed, what will eat the other big fish,seals, and other animals? Things may end up getting over populated and more problems can occure! I am glad that some states in the United States are banning the sale and possesion of these shark fins, that way less shark can get hurt!

Questions: 1: What would happen if some shark species went extinct? 2: Why isn't this issue talked about alot in the media? 3: Even if all the states in the U.S. ban shark finning, will the other countries in Asia start hunting for the sharks at greater amounts, since they don't have competition?

Bringing Black Turtles Back from the Brink

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/bringing-black-turtles-back-from-the-brink-with-photography.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

PICTURE: In this picture, it depicts a skull of the black turtle. This kind of turtle is on the brink of extinction. Not many are still alive.

SUMMARY: The issue of extinction of rare animals has been a great problem. From natural extinction, to poachers and hunters, trying to make a profit. To this day the black turtle has nearly been extinct and is close to complete extinction of its species. A special project has been started to help save this species. A photography project that will show and get the word out there about these turtles. It is a great thing, that will hopefully raise lots of money. Their main goal is to show a relationship between biology, art, science, and storytelling. It will be presented to teach about tradition, folklore, corrupt officials, and poor fishermen, illegal pollution, and survival. They will also spread the word through the Internet, podcast, lectures, and interviews. Hopefully, it will reach their targets fundraisers, legislation, and editorials. Their success depends on how other people will try to save this precious, rare species.

OPINION/REFLECTION: When I read about the black turtles in this article, I had no idea what they were. As expected, this rare species is not well known. The media is not well known for telling us about species that are endangered. I hope that this doesn't end like other endangered species. Completely gone. I do not think I can do anything from my situation, but hopefully others can.

QUESTIONS:

1.Why do I not hear more about this, media, etc.?

2. What can I/you do?

3. What exactly caused this endangerment?