Planet Hunters

Ever want to try your hand at astronomy?  www.PlanetHunters.org is giving you that opportunity.  Dedicated to finding planets among a sea of stars, Planet Hunters hosts a website where 40,000 users around the world help professional astronomers analyze 150,000 stars’ light in search of an orbiting planet.  The data being analyzed is from NASA’s Kepler mission.  Does the website work? 

Since its launch in March 2009, two exoplanets have been found beyond our solar system.

“Citizen Scientists” on Planet Hunters have currently discovered 1200 candidates, which are then further investigated by astronomers.  So far, two findings have been classified as planet candidates.  Will you be the one to find the next planet candidate?

Interested in teaching your students more about telescopes? Check out SSR's Vol 40 DVD, episode: Telescope: New Eyes on the Cosmos and X-Ray.  Interested in speaking to students about telescopes? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Source:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110922093321.htm

Breast Cancer Killing Virus

Scientists at Penn State College have found a virus that kills three different types of breast cancer, throughout different stages of cancer development, without causing subsequent disease.  Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) is regularly contracted by humans, but does not cause disease.  Instead, AAV2 has been shown to constantly kill cancer cells throughout the body. 

The benefit to using AAV2 to kill breast cancer is that AAV2 can tackle the many stages breast cancer goes through.  Normally breast cancer is difficult to treat because the multiple stages are affected by hormones, metastases, drug resistance, and potential toxicities.  AAV2 is able to cut through all these barriers and go straight to the cancer cells.  In laboratory tests, 100% of the cancer cells were destroyed by the virus within seven days.  Scientists are now analyzing the virus’ pathology to develop medications to replicate this for clinical use. 

Interested in teaching your students more about bioengineering? Check out SSR's Vol 40 DVD, episode: Bioengineering: Science by Design.  Interested in speaking to students about bioengineering? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Source:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110922114239.htm

Heart-attack Proof

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr has noticed, in his cancer research, that certain cultures do not suffer from the number one killer in the Western world: heart disease.  Studying the diets of these cultures, Dr. Esselstyn has determined that his dietary prescription can “heart attack proof” your body.  This diet consists of consuming no: meat, eggs, diary, or added oils. 

Dr. Esselstyn’s plant-based diet has been known to help patients, deemed “too sick for surgery,” recover.  Many of Esselstyn’s patients credit the diet for saving their lives.  Esselstyn recommends not waiting until a problem presents to start the diet, as most often the first sign of heart disease is sudden death. 

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/19/heart.attack.proof.diet/index.html

SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT Volume 41 Release

SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT is proud to announce the release of its Volume 41 DVD for the 2011-2012 school year.  Stay tuned to www.sciencescreenreport.com for blogs relevant to the topics found in Vol 41.  These blogs are an excellent way to relate current STEM news to topics your students are studying.   Below are the titles found on Vol 41:

Engineering – Bridges by Design

Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night

Space Science – Everyday Astronauts

Electronics – The Science of Circuit Boards

Environment – Science for a Healthy Planet

Energy – Understanding Hydroelectric Power

Energy – Transforming Renewable Resources Part 1

Energy – Transforming Renewable Resources Part 2

If you are interested in obtaining this resource for your school, free of charge, please visit www.ssrvideo.com.

Look Up, Look Down, All Around; Hey, Satellite!

A satellite orbiting in space is quickly making its decent to Earth this very moment.  The path Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) will be falling in is unclear at this point; however, scientists have determined it is unlikely it will land in North America.  Because 70% of the Earth’s surface is water, scientists believe it will likely land in water, or an unpopulated area.  

Most of the satellite’s aluminum structure is expected to burn up upon its descent.  26 pieces are expected to remain intact, ranging between 10 to hundreds of pounds.  The pieces also will not be falling at an intense rate of speed, such as that which it is capable of in orbit.  Erring on the side of caution, the FAA issued a warning to pilots about the falling debris, requesting a report of any falling debris sighted. 

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/us/nasa-satellite/index.html?iref=allsearch  

Putting the "M" in STEM

Slews of students throughout the US are struggling to meet state standardized math tests.  With classes such as algebra, geometry, and calculus, students are having to find ways to learn mathematical concepts without an understanding of real-world application.  Even worse, many students are being forced to learn math skills they may never use, while important math skills go largely untaught. 

Many are proposing a reformation of math classes in the US.  Classes such as finance, data, and basic engineering classes are thought to better serve students in the long run, as opposed to calculus.  The concern is not with the value of current math classes, but rather the practical application.  Some believe that this reformation of math classes could bring the US to prosper through teaching practical math, instead of traditional math.

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/opinion/how-to-fix-our-math-education.html

The Golden State's Golden Investment

It comes at no surprise to many to hear that California schools are feeling the pinch from the current economic times.  Millions of dollars worth of budget cuts have left schools looking for ways to save money at every angle.  The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has decided to approach this problem from a different angle: investing in alternative energy.

Thanks to low-interest federal loans, SRVUSD has installed 10,000 photovoltaic panels at five of its schools.  This investment should cut the schools’ electrical use is expected to be reduced between 67% and 75%.  The initial savings will be used to repay the loans, and the panels are expected to pay for themselves in 16 years.  Afterward, savings are projected to $2-4 million dollars annually. 

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/09/17/solar.schools.california/index.html?iref=allsearch