The Mystery of Left-Coiled Snails
Jeremy the Lefty Snail has passed away, but his genetic information is still alive. Jeremy became famous for his shell that had coiled left instead of right, a rare occurrence in snails. Dr. Davison had discovered him and wanted to know if the cause of the left-coiled shell was due to genetics or was an accident. This would be answered through observing his offspring, but consequently, his organs also had turned counterclockwise, which made it hard to mate with right-coiled snails. Fortunately, left-coiled snails were found through the help of social media and they were sent to Dr. Davison who hoped to have Jeremy produce offspring. After the offspring was produced, it was observed that they all had right-coiled shells. Shortly after, Jeremy passed away, but his genes have been passed on and his shells has been preserved in the University of Nottingham.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/science/jeremy-lefty-snail.html
Illuminating the Deep Seas
Bioluminescence seems to be science fiction – how could an animal (octopuses, jellyfish, sea creatures, etc) produce light out of its own body? Scientists do know that animals use this trait to “lure, intimidate, stun, mislead and find mates,” and have found out recently that around 76% of the sea creatures observed made their own light. This new finding shows that bioluminescence is much more common than what people had thought before, although it is rare for terrestrial creatures to use it except for a few such as: fireflies, beetles, millipedes, and worms. Bioluminescence is not new and can be traced back before the age of dinosaurs; it is still observable in primitive creatures today. Of course, this finding could not be made without advanced cameras and technology “has begun to rival that of the human eye and will eventually surpass it,” according to Dr. Haddock of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California. The next time a shimmer appears in the water, it could possibly be a sea creature making use of its unique light-making ability.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/21/science/the-deep-seas-are-alive-with-light.html
Corridors in the Forest
Ecologist Thomas Lovejoy conducted an experiment in the 1980s where he asked loggers, who were cutting down trees in the Brazil’s Amazon rain forest, to leave small islands of forests to observe how animals situated in them to see how they would survive. Unfortunately, even the largest “forest island” of 250 acres had the number of bird species decline in half in 15 years, meaning that other animals in smaller areas would die off due to lack of population and disease. Recently, however, there is a possible plan to slow down extinction threats which uses “corridors” to connect one fragment of a forest to another: this can help existing population to interact with each other and also provides more space and allows them to adapt to climate change. Fragmented forests that have been connected using corridors have shown to help populations survive 13 times as long as it would without the corridors. However, these forest corridors should not be the permanent plan to help solve deforestation and to stop extinction; instead, it should be used as a way to slow down the rates, and provide a temporary solution to a big problem, providing time for more permanent and better solutions to take place.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/climate/rain-forest-corridors-species-habitats-extinctions.html
Encoding Information into DNA
- Chose a more relevant title; “We need more space!” They Said
DNA stores genetic information, which encodes for protein synthesis, hormone secretion, cell activity, excretion, and everything else imaginable; it is the blueprint of human bodies.
- Avoid using “our” and “you”; DNA stores our genetic information, which encodes for protein synthesis, hormone secretion, cell activity, excretion, and everything else you can think of; it is the blueprint of our bodies.
Recently, the famous motion picture of a galloping horse filmed in 1878 by Eadweard Muybridge was encoded in the DNA of a living cell.
Dr. George Church, a geneticist at Harvard, and Seth Shipman, a geneticist as well, assigned each black-and-white pixel to a DNA code for each shade of gray using only four molecules: adenosine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.
The implications are endless, with one being that we can observe individual cells and the neurons of the brain.
Many people underestimate how much data DNA can store in a small space; DNA will never become obsolete like floppy disks and ancient flash drives because it has been here for quite some time and information from them can be retrieved even if it was made millions of years ago.
Although this may seem like a small and slow step, it’s important to remember that recently, in addition to the high expenses, people thought it would take years to sequence the genome.
- Instead of ordering the reader to do something, state it like a fact, don’t just tack the expenses part to it at the end of the sentence; Although this may seem like a small and slow step, remember recently that people thought it would take years to sequence the genome in addition to the expenses.
Encoding Information into DNA
DNA stores genetic information, which encodes for protein synthesis, hormone secretion, cell activity, excretion, and everything else imaginable; it is the blueprint of human bodies. Recently, the famous motion picture of a galloping horse filmed in 1878 by Eadweard Muybridge was encoded in the DNA of a living cell. Dr. George Church, a geneticist at Harvard, and Seth Shipman, a geneticist as well, assigned each black-and-white pixel to a DNA code for each shade of gray using only four molecules: adenosine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. The implications are endless, with one being that we can observe individual cells and the neurons of the brain. Many people underestimate how much data DNA can store in a small space; DNA will never become obsolete like floppy disks and ancient flash drives because it has been here for quite some time and information from them can be retrieved even if it was made millions of years ago. Although this may seem like a small and slow step, it’s important to remember that recently, in addition to the high expenses, people thought it would take years to sequence the genome.
“We need more space!” They Said
DNA stores our genetic information, which encodes for protein synthesis, hormone secretion, cell activity, excretion, and everything else you can think of; it is the blueprint of our bodies. Recently, the famous motion picture of a galloping horse filmed in 1878 by Eadweard Muybridge was encoded in the DNA of a living cell. Dr. George Church, a geneticist at Harvard, and Seth Shipman, a geneticist as well, assigned each black-and-white pixel to a DNA code for each shade of gray using only four molecules: adenosine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. The implications are endless, with one being that we can observe individual cells and the neurons of the brain. Many people underestimate how much data DNA can store in a small space; DNA will never become obsolete like floppy disks and ancient flash drives because it has been here for quite some time and information from them can be retrieved even if it was made millions of years ago. Although this may seem like a small and slow step, remember recently that people thought it would take years to sequence the genome in addition to the expenses.
Iceberg Sets Sail
- Use active voice in your title; The Iceberg is Setting Sail
In early July, an iceberg more than 200 meters thick broke away from a region known as the Larsen C Shelf.
- Reorder your words; In early July, a more than 200-meter-thick iceberg broke away from a region known as the Larsen C Shelf.
Scientists expected this roughly 6,000 square kilometer iceberg, which is about the size of Wales, to break away after observing the development of a large crack in the ice shelf.
In past years, there have been many reports of encounters with such big icebergs, one of which was said to be around 32,000 square kilometers large by the US Navy, but was never verified.
These events, however, are a natural behavior of the ice shelves, as they like to maintain equilibrium from the accumulation of snow and the buildup of ice.
Two other ice shelves, known as Larsen A and Larsen B, are smaller, and its signs do not seem to appear in the case of Larsen C, such as the thinning of the ice shelves and the large volume of surface meltwater.
As of now, researchers and scientists still have much to learn and are currently studying the properties of the Joerg suture zone to find out what caused the iceberg to break away.
Iceberg Sets Sail
In early July, an iceberg more than 200 meters thick broke away from a region known as the Larsen C Shelf. Scientists expected this roughly 6,000 square kilometer iceberg, which is about the size of Wales, to break away after observing the development of a large crack in the ice shelf. In past years, there have been many reports of encounters with such big icebergs, one of which was said to be around 32,000 square kilometers large by the US Navy, but was never verified. These events, however, are a natural behavior of the ice shelves, as they like to maintain equilibrium from the accumulation of snow and the buildup of ice. Two other ice shelves, known as Larsen A and Larsen B, are smaller, and its signs do not seem to appear in the case of Larsen C, such as the thinning of the ice shelves and the large volume of surface meltwater. As of now, researchers and scientists still have much to learn and are currently studying the properties of the Joerg suture zone to find out what caused the iceberg to break away.
Good work!
The Iceberg is Setting Sail
In early July, a more than 200-meter-thick iceberg broke away from a region known as the Larsen C Shelf. Scientists expected this roughly 6,000 square kilometer iceberg, which is about the size of Wales, to break away after observing the development of a large crack in the ice shelf. In past years, there have been many reports of encounters with such big icebergs, one of which was said to be around 32,000 square kilometers large by the US Navy, but was never verified. These events, however, are a natural behavior of the ice shelves, as they like to maintain equilibrium from the accumulation of snow and the buildup of ice. Two other ice shelves, known as Larsen A and Larsen B, are smaller, and its signs do not seem to appear in the case of Larsen C, such as the thinning of the ice shelves and the large volume of surface meltwater. As of now, researchers and scientists still have much to learn and are currently studying the properties of the Joerg suture zone to find out what caused the iceberg to break away.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40321674
A Bright Future with Our Sun
The sun is a vital part of our lives, and studying it has brought many revelations.
Though the sun may seem special at first, it is a “solar-type” star and functions like many other stars.
Many stars follow a cycle, which depend on luminosity, or the brightness of the star, and rotation, or how long it takes for a point on the star to circle completely around it.
- I removed the part about the Rossby number because you never mention the Rossby numbers again; Many stars follow a cycle, which depend on luminosity, the brightness of the star, and rotation, how long it takes for a point on the star to circle completely around it; together, the two make up the star’s Rossby number.
Our sun has an eleven-year cycle during which the magnetic poles flip.
- Remove this sentence and put it elsewhere; The solar minimum is when activity is low and the solar maximum is when activity is high.
Learning about the sun’s cycle can help us predict its activity and the effect it has on the earth.
Part of the sun’s cycle involves solar minimums and solar maximums, which dictates the activity on the sun; during the solar maximum, a time for high activity, the surface is covered with sunspots.
- Added in the sentence I removed; During the solar maximum, the surface is covered with sunspots.
These sunspots are dark and are phenomena that can erupt to affect satellites and even power grids on Earth.
Although much has yet to have been discovered, the future is looking bright.
A Bright Future with Our Sun
The sun is a vital part of our lives, and studying it has brought many revelations. Though the sun may seem special at first, it is a “solar-type” star and functions like many other stars. Many stars follow a cycle, which depend on luminosity, or the brightness of the star, and rotation, or how long it takes for a point on the star to circle completely around it. Our sun has an eleven-year cycle during which the magnetic poles flip. Learning about the sun’s cycle can help us predict its activity and the effect it has on the earth. Part of the sun’s cycle involves solar minimums and solar maximums, which dictates the activity on the sun; during the solar maximum, a time for high activity, the surface is covered with sunspots. These sunspots are dark and are phenomena that can erupt to affect satellites and even power grids on Earth. Although much has yet to have been discovered, the future is looking bright.
A Bright Future with Our Sun
The sun is a vital part of our lives, and studying it has brought many revelations. Though the sun may seem special at first, it is a “solar-type” star and functions like many other stars. Many stars follow a cycle, which depend on luminosity, the brightness of the star, and rotation, how long it takes for a point on the star to circle completely around it; together, the two make up the star’s Rossby number. Our sun has an eleven-year cycle during which the magnetic poles flip. The solar minimum is when activity is low and the solar maximum is when activity is high. Learning about the sun’s cycle can help us predict its activity and the effect it has on the earth. During the solar maximum, the surface is covered with sunspots. These sunspots are dark and are phenomena that can erupt to affect satellites and even power grids on Earth. Although much has yet to have been discovered, the future is looking bright.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/science/sun-cycles-solar-maximum-minimum-corona.html
Problem: Plastic, Cause: Human
1. Plastic has been a problem in the oceans for a long time, but lately, it has gotten worse.
2. Captain Charles Moore is the founder of a non-profit organization, Algalita Marine Research, and he and his team have been searching for “garbage patches.”
3. These large accumulations of debris have been documented in the North Pacific, but are now found in the South Pacific, Arctic, and Mediterranean.
4. Captain Moore transports groups of scientists to places where garbage patches are located.
5. By studying these areas, they hope to learn more about how it affects marine life.
- Combine sentences 4 and 5
6. Lanternfish, which are an essential part of many animals’ diets, are ingesting plastic, and this may trigger a domino effect all the way to the top of the food chain.
7. Christiana Boerger, a marine biologist in the US Navy, said that the plastic problem is “out of sight, out of mind.”
- Not a really important fact in sentence 7)
8. She’s also reported seeing many species of fish that have “more man-made plastic stomach than their natural food.”
- You have established the fact that they are ingesting plastic, don't beat a dead horse : )
9. The surface of the problem seems to be the waste in the ocean, but the roots of the problem lead to humans.
Here is the reformed paragraph, read it write down the corrections and learn from them : ) Problem: Plastic, Cause: Human Plastic has been a problem in the oceans for a long time, but lately, it has gotten worse. Captain Charles Moore is the founder of a non-profit organization, Algalita Marine Research, and he and his team have been searching for “garbage patches.” These large accumulations of debris have been documented in the North Pacific, but are now found in the South Pacific, Arctic, and Mediterranean. Captain Moore transports groups of scientists to these patches are located where they study the debris and hope to learn more about how it affects marine life. Lanternfish, which are an essential part of many animals’ diets, are ingesting plastic, and this may trigger a domino effect all the way to the top of the food chain. The surface of the problem seems to be the waste accumulating in the ocean, but the roots of the problem lead to us, humans.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40584629
NASA to the Sun
The exploration of the Sun announced by NASA is a big step into understanding the star of our solar system and helps to learn how to improve equipment for further space exploration.
- What equipment? Equipment that will be used to continue and further space exploration.; The exploration of the Sun announced by NASA is a big step into understanding the star of our solar system and helps to learn how to improve equipment.
The spacecraft is called the Parker Solar Probe, named after an astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who helped discover the phenomenon about the sun and developed theories too.
- The spacecraft is called the Parker Solar Probe, named after an astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who helped discover phenomena about the sun and developed theories too.
The probe will travel into the Corona, or outer layer of the Sun, and will be exposed to extreme temperatures. If this succeeds, scientists will be able to observe the surface of the Sun closely.
- Do not capitalize the words sun and moon... except when those names appear in a context in which other (capitalized) celestial bodies are mentioned; The probe will travel into the Corona, or outer layer of the Sun, and will be exposed to extreme temperatures. If this succeeds, scientists will be able to observe the surface of the Sun closely.
Observing the Sun up-close and personal helps scientists understand things about gases and magnetic fields at high temperatures rather than making similar simulations on Earth.
- Do not capitalize the words sun and moon
This mission will also help expand knowledge on space weather and how the Sun gets radiations to build up that can potentially interfere with satellites and penetrate Earth’s protective shield.
- Radiation is not countable as it is being used, so do not use "s"; This mission will also help expand knowledge on space weather and how the Sun gets radiations to build up that can potentially interfere with satellites and penetrate Earth’s protective shield.
The high temperatures are a big obstacle and hopefully, the Parker Solar Probe will be able to stand the heat.
Colossal Giants in the Ocean
Whales are the largest animals in the world to have ever existed and it took millions of years to get that way.
- Rhetorical questions in writing mostly annoys readers, don't write questions in any form of writing unless it is necessary for the purpose of the writing; Whales are the largest animals in the world to have ever existed, but how did they become so big?
They’ve become huge very recently – only within the past 4.5 million years – due to climate change.
Whales started as land mammals, but over some millions of years, they adapted to their environment, developed fins, and soon, relatively speaking in evolutionary terms, were marine mammals.
- Be a bit more descriptive: relatively speaking in evolutionary terms, b/c soon is not a few million years, plus it's a bit humorous.
They also learned how to filter-feed, which allows them to consume large amounts of zooplankton and krill in one big gulp.
- Not filer-feed, filter-feed
At the same time, runoff from glaciers and seasonal upwelling cycles brought nutrients, which allowed populations of zooplankton and krill to grow which essentially allowed whales to feed more and grow.
- What does this sentence have to do with whales? Every sentence should have a connection to its main idea. So, you should combine the two sentences, just like on the SAT : )
- At the same time, runoff from glaciers and seasonal upwelling cycles brought nutrients, which allowed populations of zooplankton and krill to grow. -This essentially whales to feed on more prey and grow.
This just goes to show that evolution and adaptation is something to be worth noting over the course of millions of years.
- Use "are" instead of "is"
- Go back to the original source and check it for additional info to add to your article summary; multiple sources add improtant info and are more credible.
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1855/20170546
Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/science/whales-evolution-oceans.html
Don't Sleep and Drive
Students in America are infamously known to sleep very late, pull all-nighters, and complain about their sleep schedules.
Not only does sleepiness diminish their well-being, but it also increases their chances of being at risk and injury, such as driving in the morning.
- Not only... but also requires two nouns, or noun "Not only "this", but "that"; Not only does sleepiness diminish their well-being, but also increases their chances of being at risk and injury, such as driving in the morning.
One quarter of sixteen- to eighteen-year-olds reported that they have driven while being very sleepy, and had a hard time their eyes open.
- Since you used "to", you do not need a hyphen. Between "time" and "Their" you need a verb;One quarter of sixteen- to eighteen-year-olds reported that they have driven while being very sleepy, and had a hard time their eyes open.
Driving after sleeping for four to five hours puts you at the same risk as driving with a legal alcohol limit.
The reason why teens sleep later is because they don’t get sleepy until much later on in the night, and this is all because of biology.
Students also do better on tests and do well in classes given in the afternoon than in the morning.
It’s important that schools take into account the biological makeup of the average teenager and start acknowledging it.
