"Asian Carp Breed in Great Lakes"

"Asian Carp Breed in Great Lakes, Threaten Fishing." USA Today. Gannett, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/28/asian-carp-great-lakes/3289387/>. 

http://bigfishesoftheworld.blogspot.com/2011/11/grass-carp-ctenopharyngodon-idella.html

On Monday, October 28, 2013 scientists documented the first cases of Asian carp successfully breeding in rivers connected to the Great Lakes. The three main types of Asian carp that are invading the waterways are: grass, bighead, and silver carp. The carp were initially brought to America to control algae and other plants in sewage treatment lagoons. Asian carp are not from North America and compete with the native species for food and habitat. The bighead and silver carp are the most dangerous to the ecosystem because they eat massive amounts of plankton, which play a key role in the food chain.

A consequence of these quickly breeding carp species taking off would be the elimination of native fish populations. This could hurt the $7 billion fishing industry of the Great Lakes. The Obama administration has spent $200 million on protective measures, such as electricity gated waterways between the Mississippi River (which is full of carp) and Lake Michigan. The amount of carp in the Great Lakes may be higher than scientists originally thought. New equipment is being created to determine if rivers are suitable for carp breeding.

The article was factual and informative. It was to the point and did not use any analogies, metaphors or similes to reinforce its topics. The conversation like syntax as well as the clear, simple diction made it easy to follow and understand. The organization was key to this article. It started with background information, followed by the issues of invasive carp, what is being done to control them, and what the future looks like. Judging by the style of the article, it is meant to quickly inform the public of the invasive carp situation that looms.

Growing up next to Lake Superior has allowed me to hear about other invasive species scares throughout years, such as lampreys, zebra mussels, and many more. I think all of these invasive species invasions should be taken very seriously because our food chain/ecosystem is not made to control these invasive species from growing out of control. I would hate to see native species go extinct because humans transported species here in non-natural ways.

Questions

1. The article mentions permanently cutting off the waterway that connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan as an invasive carp solution. Should humans have the right to cut off/reroute natural rivers just so species cannot travel into the Great Lakes? Why or Why not?

2. In the news you often hear about new invasive species. Are there any cases where humans should not interfere with invasive species and let them proliferate? Explain.

3. If you caught/found an invasive species, what would you do with it? Does it depend on what the organism is?

"Baby 'cured' of HIV: New details offer hope for other patients"

Recently a 3-year-old girl was labeled the first human to be cured of HIV through genetic therapy. A mix of three different antiretroviral drugs was prescribed at only a few days old. After stopping the treatment for 18 months, there was no longer any HIV present in the little girl. The cocktail of drugs as well as the early treatment is figured to work because it stopped HIV from being able to latch onto the immune system and take over. Infants born with HIV is very rare in the United States, but around the world about 1000 people are born with HIV each day. The new early treatment strategy could play a big part in helping to eliminate other HIV infected babies.

Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-baby-cured-of-hiv-report-20131023,0,2346578.story#axzz2ibMz98mM

"Yeti bear: Yetis are real – but not magical, says British geneticist"

Two pelts believed to be from Yetis in the Himalayas were sent to Oxford University. At Oxford, geneticists found the DNA sequences of the pelts and they were a 100% match.... to a bear. It was not a regular bear though. It matched a DNA sample of an ancient bear 40,000 to 120,000 years old at the time where bears split into separate polar and brown species. The pelts are evidence that a brown bear, polar bear hybrid is living in the rugged Himalayas and may be what people have been considering a Yeti.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1017/Yeti-bear-Yetis-are-real-but-not-magical-says-British-geneticist-video - The Christian Science Monitor

"What's the Best Cure for a Hangover? Sprite Of Course"

A study published in the journal Food & Function suggested that one of the most effective remedies to a hangover is Sprite. It was found to work because it increases ALDH activity, which breaks down acetaldehyde, a byproduct of ethanol metabolism. Acetaldehyde is what causes headaches and nausea. So next time you need a hangover cure, try a carbonated citrus soda.

What's the Best Cure for a Hangover? Sprite Of Course - Counsel & Heal

"Physicists one step closer to creating real-life lightsabers"

A team of MIT and Harvard physicists accidentally found lightsaber like properties when attempting to develop photons to be used in a quantum supercomputer. No lightsaber has been produced but it is the beginning steps to understanding how to make one. The creation of a real life lightsaber would be just in time for the new Star Wars movies coming out.

"Most of the properties of light we know about originate from the fact that photons are massless and do not interact," Lukin said. "What we have done is create a special type of medium in which photons interact with each other so strongly that they act as though they have mass, and bind together to form molecules."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57605327/physicists-one-step-closer-to-creating-real-life-lightsabers/

http://www.geek.com/science/new-form-of-photon-based-matter-is-essentially-a-lightsaber-1571956/