Caitlin's Content Curation

Everything on this site is relevant to Grade 10 Science in one way or another. I chose these specific items because I found them interesting and they relate to one of the three science units (bio, physics, chem, E&S). Hint: if you don't know where to start, look at the memes I created. Enjoy!

[open-eyes-dreaming]

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BIOLOGY

A botanist is someone who studies plant biology. Although the context behind this GIF is unknown, we can presume that he is a botanist (either fictional or real) who is studying leaves in a rainforest. Botanists are important because all living things, including humans, rely on plants in one way or another. Fun fact: the botanist in the GIF is touching the dermal tissue of the leaf, which secretes a waxy cuticle that reduces the amount of water which evaporates off the leaf’s surface.

[snailtongue]

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BIOLOGY

These fawns have a genetic condition called albinism. It resulted from a mutation in the gene that codes for the proteins that produce colour in their bodies. Mutations are often caused by mutagens, which are substances or factors that physically damage DNA. Albinism is not harmful to the body, but does disadvantage the fawns by not allowing them to camouflage in green grasses or forests when trying to advance a predator.

[sevyeirekudza]

Leptospermum scoparium ‘Helene Strybing’

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BIOLOGY

Did you know that the most beautiful part of a plant, the flower, does not take part in the maintenance of the plant itself? Its task is reproduction. Although many plants do not produce flowers and reproduce by other methods, such as a cactus, these flowering plants pictured are abundant.

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Job Opening: Applied Physicist

Link here

PHYSICS

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has an opening for an Applied Physicist position. This job consists of exploring and investigating the development of radiation-based systems including detectors. For example, radar antennas use radar technology to send and receive radio waves. According to the job application, the detectors tested by this company contribute to safety and security, supporting federal agencies and other companies. To get this job, you need a PhD in at physics engineering or a similar degree.

[white-moon-light]

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PHYSICS

This cool skirt uses phosphorescence coating to give it that glow-in-the-dark effect! Phosphorescence is a type of luminescence in which light is emitted due to exposure of the source to UV light. What makes it different from fluorescent lighting is that phosphorescence light continues to be emitted for some time in the absence of UV light. 

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PHYSICS

Whether you know what a concave mirror is or not, this has likely happened to you. A concave mirror is a mirror that is curved inward in the middle. When an image is inverted (upside down) in a concave mirror, it means the object was located between C and F, at C, or beyond C. C means the centre of curvature of the mirror, and F is the focal point of the mirror.

Meme made by: Caitlin MacKinnon

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Article: New black hair dye uses no harsh chemicals

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/new-black-hair-dye-uses-no-harsh-chemicals

CHEMISTRY

Scientists in Illinois have developed a new hair dye that produces rich, black-coloured hair. It is made from graphene, a form of carbon that is thin, flexible and binds well to hair. Traditional hair dyes often use harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonia to pry open hair cuticles and allow the dye to enter the hair strands. This is toxic and permanently damages hair, making it fragile.  Chemical reactions between bleach and ammonia produce chlorine gas, which is highly reactive with molecules in the respiratory system and can cause considerable damage. Thankfully, the new graphene-based hair dye is safe from this.

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CHEMISTRY

Why would sulphate (SO4) be checking out magnesium (Mg) when he has copper (Cu)? Well, magnesium is much higher on the reactivity series than copper. If those people in the picture were elements, a single displacement reaction would take place. Magnesium would displace the copper; therefore, magnesium and sulphate would be together as a compound and copper alone :(

Meme by: Caitlin MacKinnon

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CHEMISTRY

This picture is of my mother working as a quality control specialist for a  lubricant factory. The lubricant was used for machinery, such as hydraulic presses. The job consisted of performing various chemical tests (measuring pH level, temperature test, etc) on the lubricant to make sure it would pass the standards for selling to other companies. For example, if the lubricant had a pH below 5, it would not pass quality control as the acidity could corrode the machinery that the lubricant is used on. 

Image source: Caitlin MacKinnon

[cartoonpolitics]

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(cartoon by David Horsey)

E&S

This political cartoon satirically displays Donald Trump’s denial of global warming and climate change. It n highlights the irony of his self proclaimed title of a “stable genius” with his flawed logic. The occurrence of global warming is proven by hard data of the long-term trend of increasing temperatures. Understanding why cold weather does not disprove this means understanding the difference between weather and climate. The normal ups-and-downs of weather do not mean the slow changes to the climate, such as global warming and climate change, are not happening. 

Although politicians are not always scientists, their careers can have a big influence on both the environment and the scientific community. They make decisions on policies that can both harm or improve the earth. For example, Donald Trump has the power to build large-scale oil pipelines, which are detrimental to ecosystems. However, you don’t need to be a President to make a difference. Even municipal politicians can create policies benefitting the environment of their localities.

[npr]

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Scientists Predict King Penguins Face Major Threats Due To Climate Change

Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

E&S

According to this article by the NPR, 70% of the world’s king penguin population could face threats to its habitat by the end of this century. This statistic was discovered through a research project by the University of Ferrara that looks at the effects of global warming on biodiversity. Due to greenhouse gas emissions, the animals’ primary source of food is moving farther away from places where they can breed. Although the researchers are trying their best to promote conservation efforts, they worry that global warming will only get worse, and the effects of it on biodiversity will become massive and irreversible. Emiliano Trucchi, one of the researchers, said that the shortage of penguins will cause a huge disruption to the food chain and  "represent just the tip of the iceberg of what's actually happening with this global warming."

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E&S

These creative LED lights are an environmentally-friendly way to illuminate your home. Changing the way we light our homes is an effective way to solve global warming. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LED lights use about 90% less energy for the same amount of light. Imagine how much energy would be used if the lights in the picture were incandescent! Less energy use reduces the demand from power plants, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Taking the small step of changing your light bulbs can help save our planet, as excessive emission of greenhouse gases causes global warming.

Image source: turnerdevelopment.com