Electric Eels

The Surprising Power of an Electric Eel’s Shock

By: Carl Zimmer

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/science/the-surprising-power-of-an-electric-eels-shock.html?ref=science

In the late 1700s, scientists began to consider the fact that the electric eel’s shock may contain the same substances as lightning. An Italian physicist, named Alessandro Volta, began to experiment with electric eels. He found that electric eels have a stack of muscles, which may allow them to store electric charges. Volta stacked metal sheets made of copper and zinc. In his experiment, he found that these metal sheets could store a huge amount of energy. This experiment was the predated version of batteries. Recently, doctor Catania found that electric eels use small shocks to lure their victims out and later use large shocks to paralyze them. He found that the paralysis could be transferred within three milliseconds. Catania also found that the shock alter the connection between muscles and the spine. Electric eels search the bottom regions of their habitat for prey. Naturally, prey hide from their predator. However, the electric eel has the ability to send a doublet, causing the prey to flail around because of increased electrical activity in the area.

            Electric eels have the same ability as a Taser. They possess special qualities that could be used for other purposes. Scientists have also found that five other species exist that are similar to electric eels. Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in biology. However, they do not know how electric eels paralyze their victims. Perhaps, trying to discover how they conduct paralysis, can lead to many new secrets. It is exciting to witness how fish how evolved to produce electricity in order to survive.

E.P.A.'s failure

“E.P.A. Postpones Setting Standards for Biofuel Blends”

By: DIANE CARDWELL

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/22/business/energy-environment/epa-postpones-setting-standards-for-biofuel-blends.html?ref=science

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had announced that it would postpone the decision to determine the amount of biofuel that would be mixed with vehicle fuel. The agency will not be setting the “Renewable Fuel Standard” this year, but will begin working for next year. In previous years, the Environmental Protection Agency had promised to decrease the amount of usage of biofuel. This event is now part of the economic, legal, and logistical challenges the agency has faced after requiring increased amounts of ethanol to be used in vehicle fuel under passed energy laws. However, this decision was made when America’s demand on foreign oil and prices were high.

            Since the country has not set a standard, refiners are not using the proper amount of biofuel and other substances to properly produce vehicle fuel. Many people began to protest against the agency. They want the rule the agency has set to change because they are not able to follow their own guidelines. Some people believe the Congress should intervene in this matter and make reforms. However, people are pleased that the Environmental Protection Agency did not make a rash decision. Instead, they decided to postpone this situation instead of quickly making a decision that would have negative effects.

            Vehicle fuel is the main source that powers transportation. The one agency that was created to decide the amount of substances that should be required for the protection of the environment has failed. If people cannot trust the agency to fulfill their intended job, how can they trust future decisions? The people need to take a stand and personally address this issue.

No Technology

I wake up every day at six o’clock to run three miles for cross-country practice. Due to this event, I decided to wake up at six o’clock and watch the sunrise. I found a chair to sit on and waited impatiently for the sun to rise. I made sure to get my sweater because it was cold early in the morning. As I was waiting, I heard the sound of trucks. I realized that some people are driving trucks during the night, while we are peacefully sleeping. I began to stare at the stars and try to find a pattern. I ended up finding a few constellations. Finally, the sun came up. At this time, there were no clouds and the sky could not be any clearer. As the sun came up, the color of the sky began to shift from black to blue. Eventually, the color of the sky was a blend between orange and pink. It was amazing to see the color of the sky change because we are used to seeing it blue or black. Also, the birds began to chirp signaling the start of a new day.

Almost everyone does not realize the events that occur while we sleep. People work all night long in order to obtain money to take care of their family. We wake up every morning, go to school, return home, and repeat the cycle almost every day. By waking up in the morning, people can realize many wonders. Astronomers use technology to determine patterns in the sky. I sat there with nothing to do and began to make my own patterns, which was pretty exciting. The greatest part of watching nature was looking at the sun. The sun helps sustain all life on Earth. During the day, we cannot look at the sun for more than two seconds. Due to this event, we do not see the wonder of looking at the sun. However, when a person sees the sunrise, they know that it is an amazing wonder.

Silk Road 2.0

“Man Charged With Operating Silk Road 2.0, a Black Market Website”

By: Benjamin Weiser

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/07/nyregion/man-charged-with-operating-silk-road-2-black-market-website.html?ref=technology&_r=0

            Recently, a man was arrested for starting an illegal online website meant to become the better version of the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a black market website that illegally sold drugs and other items using Bit coins. The new and improved Silk Road was

“designed to enable users anywhere in the world to buy and sell illegal drugs and other illegal goods and services anonymously and beyond the reach of law enforcement,” the complaint said (Weiser, 1).This new website is supposed to serve the same purpose as the original Silk Road.

            The man behind the website, Blake Benthall, was arrested and the website was shut down. This task was completed with the help of an undercover homeland security agent. The agent infiltrated the website and obtained access to the website’s private areas and was in regular contact with Blake Benthall. The agent said that Benthall would use the pseudonym “Defcon.” The website has managed to make about eight million dollars in the monthly sales and has about 150,000 active users.

Benthall is being charged with conspiracies of narcotics trafficking, computer hacking, and money laundering. In recent weeks, the website has made listing for 14,000 drugs, one-hundred grams of afghan heroin brown power, a fake Danish passport, and a fake New Jersey driver’s license.

The black market is a factor that will be difficult to erase. Many people do not agree with all the laws the government has passed. Due to this event, they try to find alternatives to obtaining items that the government will not allow them to have. This may not be the end of a website that will sell illegal items. People will try to find a way to make money illegally because they know people will pay for secret products.

Class of 2035

            Technology has significantly improved over the past decade. No one can predict the changes that will occur in technology in twenty years. I believe that schools will not exist in twenty years. Scientists will create a device that will allow us to access the information we need. Perhaps, they might create a chip that transfers the amount of knowledge we would receive from school each day in a few seconds or they would provide everyone with every single piece of information at one time.

Once this device is created, people will laugh when they hear the term “school” or “student.” The future generation is the one that will not be able to imagine people going to school every day in order to obtain a few pieces of information for over eighteen years of their life. In addition, the concept of a teachers will not exist. Every person will know how to perform any task. This idea does not revolve around school teachers only. For example, musicians will not be needed because every person will know how to play every single instrument.

Students will not read at all. Scientists will input all the information from as many books as they can find into the minds of every person. Since every person knows everything, minor equality will be reached. By minor equality, I mean all students will achieve a 2400 on their SAT score and no one can refer to another person as unintelligent. However, the way people use their knowledge in their lives would be up to them because scientists cannot change an individual’s thought process, yet.