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Comics by Colleen Butters Perfectly Describe What It Is Like to Deal with Depression

Hi there! I'm working on posting some new material after having a long absence. I had to put myself together. I'm working on myself personally. Maybe I'll share my sources and "journey". The main thing is I was overloading and not taking care of myself. For my health I have been using nerdfitness.com. I'm a lurker but it is great for finding motivation and advise. For managing my life I am using Todoist. It is a great tool for keeping track of the things I need to do and accomplishing my goals. I am tweeting more so that you know where I am at with my tasks so keep up with me there as well @wehavescience. Keep an eye out for my next blog post.

chibird

Do you have a theory? Probably not.

Do you use the word theory on a regular basis? Did you know that 'theory' is different from 'scientific theory'?

According to Oxford Dictionaries a Theory is:

A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained

Basically if you have an idea of how a system works then you can guess the outcome of a specific event or the reason for something happening.

In science that would be a hypothesis.

According to Dictionary.com a Hypothesis is:

a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts

A hypothesis and the general use of theory are very similar. they mean you are working from some background to make an educated, or what you hope is educated, guess.

According to Dictionary.com a Scientific Theory is:

systematic ideational structure of broad scope, conceived by the human imagination, that encompasses a family of empirical (experiential) laws regarding regularities existing in objects and events, both observed and posited. A scientific theory is a structure suggested by these laws and is devised to explain them in a scientifically rational manner

English: Flowchart that shows how an idea moves from hypothesis to accepted theory, with room for revision. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is different from everyday use of the word theory for the simple reason that research has already been put to the guess and scientists have found that it is true under specific criteria.

Why is it important? We hear about the climate-change deniers and creationists denying a theory because it is just a "theory." There are other arguments in the news that you can find using the same excuse. People who question a scientific theory that has been brought to them do not understand the meaning of the word. It is a scientific theory because there is a lacking of evidence to deny its existence. (I didn't use the phrase 'evidence has proven' because no such thing exists in science.)

Next time you here an argument against a scientific theory pay attention to the use of 'theory'. It may change your view on the debate.

See my full blog at: http://wehavescience.blogspot.com/

#wehavescience!#science #learning #awareness

deliabusbgay

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Been playing with this concept for a while.

spooniestrong

I love this. So much.

awkward-fallen-angel

this should be posted everywhere

#mental health #stigma #steriotypes

Do you use aluminum foil? Why?

Aluminum foil is a common modern piece of technology found all over the place. Many people use it at home and at work. I work in a laboratory and we use aluminum foil all the time.

I'm going to focus on why we use aluminum foil when we cook. If you have ever baked something you have most likely covered what you were baking with a sheet of aluminum foil. For example, we are told to cover lasagna with aluminum foil so that it cooks more evenly.

Here I am using the aluminum foil to insulate the hotplate at work to get it to heat to temperature faster. (Photo by me: I'm not a photographer)

Aluminum foil conducts (directs the heat) more evenly over the surface of the dish you are covering by allowing the heat to flow through it and into the item it covers. Aluminum foil also insulates the dish, it reflects the heat back onto it and does not allow water vapor and hot air

to escape. You see this when you remove the aluminum foil and there is a rush of steam. This is also why you sometimes want to remove the foil before the dish is done so that the top will get a little crispy. You can do the same with boiling water. Put the lid on top of a kettle and the water will boil faster because the heated air and water vapor can't escape.

The aluminum foil is acting as an insulator. For example, aluminum foil can be used to insulate houses. It will reflect the infrared heat coming from the sun to keep the home cooler in the summer and reflect the infrared hear coming from the house to keep it warmer in the winter. Infrared (radiation) is emitted by most objects. It is energy. When you heat up an item, the molecules inside of it get excited and emit infrared radiation. When the infrared radiation strikes another object, those molecules get excited as well (heat). This is also why you cover your food with aluminum foil to keep it warm.

At home experiment: Hold a piece of aluminum foil close to your face, without touching. Soon you will feel the warmth of your own infrared rays bouncing back from the foil.

Sources:

The Physics of Foil. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2014, from http://www.insulation4less.com/Insulation4lessTechnicalArticles-2-The-Physics-of-Foil.aspx

Aluminum Foil Insulation. Aerolam insulations Private Limited. N.p.. Web. 27 Aug 2014. http://www.aerolaminsulations.com/aluminum-foil-insulation.php

#WeHaveScience!#physics #cooking #learn #awareness

Do you wash your hands properly?

If any of you pay close attention to the news, earlier this year you may have heard about this study that found only about 5% of people wash their hands effectively. Battle of the sexes: who washes more? Women. That doesn't mean that we women are cleaner. The average person who washes their hands with soap is only about 67%. That's not very high especially since the majority of them aren't even doing it right.

I'm going to stop with the numbers now. The point of this is to gross you out and make you more aware. Here is the proper way to wash your hands:

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

The most important things to take from this is: soap, 20 seconds, rinse, and dry. Remember that a wet environment is a good breeding ground so do not let any moisture remain or you need to do this all over again. If you need a timer just do what they teach kids in Kindergarten: sing the ABC's slowly or sing the Happy Birthday song twice. Or come up with your own and share!

Sources

”Hand Washing Practices in a College Town Environment” Carl P. Borchgrevink, PhD, JaeMin Cha, PhD, SeungHyun Kim, PhD. Journal of Environmental Health.

See more tips staying hygienic at: http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/

#hygiene #health #hand sanitizer #center for disease control

Hi everyone! I haven't dropped off the planet. Just trying to get my life in order with all the things that have been going on this year. I just finished watching the SpaceOut that DNews hosts every month on Google+ and YouTube. Each month they sit down with NASA and do a live, yes live, discussion. This month focused on Mars since the anniversary of Curiosity's landing is approaching. Keep an eye out for it on their channel and I hope you had a good hump day. (Camel)

http://wehavescience.blogspot.com/2014/07/spaceout-with-dnews.html

#space #science #wehavescience #learn #inform

Occupation: Medical Professional, Academic, Civil Rights Activist, Chemist, Scientist

Birth Date: April 11, 1899

Death Date: April 19, 1975

Eduction: University of Vienna, De Pauw University, Harvard University

#history #activist #pioneer #chemistry

I am wanting to write about Pancreatic cancer because my grandma passed away due to it earlier last month. I grew up with her as my next door neighbor and we were really close. In fact it has only been the last couple of years that I have been moved away from that area.

In October 2013 I got a phone call from my mom informing that my grandmother was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic cancer. This was a complete shock. She wasn't sick and she seemed healthy. The only thing that gave them a sign as to anything was going on was discomfort in her abdomen (that was a tumor in her liver).

http://training.seer.cancer.gov/module_anatomy/images/illu_pancrease.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After her diagnosis she was given two options, go through chemo and possibly live for another year or don't. It was a big "don't". Without the treatment she wasn't expected to make it to the end of the month.

Now your looking for the date of this post, which I started writing Sunday morning April 6th. She lived comfortably with hospice care until a couple of days before she passed. At that point she was on morphing and sleeping most of the time.

This is actually a common story with Pancreatic cancer and probably one of the better ones.

Basically the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are as follows:

Pain in the abdominal area

Discolored stool (poop) or urine

Bloating

Loss of appetite

And many more!

Not all of these symptoms will manifest. Many times none will show until the advance stages. This is the point at which patients will go to the doctor with an illness that has been going on for weeks.

The first steps to a diagnosis is:

Taking family medical history

A physical (the doctor my feel a lump in the abdominal area or swollen lymph nodes)

Lab tests

After the doctor receives the information from all of the following they will want some imaging; CT scan, MRI, Ultrasound, or PET scan.

Once the image is studied, pancreatic cancer as a diagnosis is likely but not absolute. The only way to be positive is to take a biopsy of the mass.

Pancreatic cancer has been stumping doctors for years and is the fourth most common cancer related death in the United States. Below I have provided an inspiring video of a High School student discovering a way for early diagnosis.

Sources

Dr. Berry (2013, July 18). SYMPTOMS OF PANCREATIC CANCER | SYMPTOMS OF PANCREATIC CANCER. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://symptomsofpancreaticcancer.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/symptoms-of-pancreatic-cancer/

American Cancer Society web site: "Detailed Guide: Pancreatic Cancer."National Cancer Institute: "Islet Cell Tumors."Reviewed by Sujana Movva, MD on March 27, 2014

Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Early Detection. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/pancreatic-cancer-diagnosis

Dr. Mercola (2013, March 4). New Test for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/03/04/andraka-new-pancreatic-cancer-test.aspx

#pancreatic cancer #cancer #health #awareness

Hi peeps!

I finally got a new computer. I had a Macbook that I bought when I graduated from High School. It was getting slow and constantly freezing. I was getting to frustrated to use it anymore. So my husband built me a computer. If you want the details for it let me know, sorry I'm not an expert in computers like my husband is.

My goal is to get back into weekly postings with a future surprise in store for you.

Basket of Vasa Bottled Water (2 of 3) - Starbucks (Photo credit: djwaldow)

"Tapped" is a documentary about overpriced bottled water and the possible health hazards and environmental hazards that come from drinking bottled water. I recommend watching this documentary because people should be aware of where the products they are consuming come from and the ultimate price, not just money, that comes from consuming them.

When you are watching this documentary I want you to keep in mind that a great majority of it is opinion and statements. There is not enough scientific evidence to the claims they are making about the health hazards of drinking bottled water and living near one of the factories. They say in the the documentary that drinking bottled water and living near a plastic factory increases cancer risks, reproductive difficulties, and more. These are large claims about complex issues that are usually caused by more than one factor. Not enough information is known about any of this. There could just be a correlation. A number one rule in science is that correlation does not mean causation and therefore claims like this don't hold much weight.

They also started blaming the bottling industry on the plastic in the oceans. Companies have no control over where people put their trash. It is the consumers job to dispose of their plastic waste appropriately.

At the same time it is important to be aware of these concerns. We are running out of drinkable water and companies like these don't help. The more people that are aware of what is going on then more research will be put into it so that we can once and for all come to an answer and regulate these things properly. It is peoples awareness of issues that allows research to be done properly.

Going Plastic-Free in Asia: Plastic Water Bottles

Bottled Water Statistics

Our Fragile Water Supply Must Be Protected and Conserved

#health #awareness #companies #drinking water