Will Gerber
wrg1@geneseo.edu
INTD: Science Writing
11/7/16
Dr. Jessica Fenn
The United States holds 5 percent of the global human population, but 25 percent of the world’s prison population. Does our uniquely high prison population have an overall positive or negative impact on life in America?
Racheal Devine about 150 words
INTD: Science Writing
rmd20@geneseo.edu
The Heart of the Antarctic
In The Heart of the Antarctic by E. H. Shackleton in the third appendix, I choose the scientific results of the western journey to analyze. In section three of appendix three is the results from the effect of the summer sun on different varieties of ice and snow. It talks about how when the snow falls in the summer at night it will either become a coating of ice or water. This water will collect into a hollowed hole and eventually from overflowing create a stream that, in this instance, flows to a cliff and roars off of a glacier. Also the noise that the ice falling off a glacier makes when it starts to melt and make icebergs during the summer. This made me think about the natural sounds that could possibly be in Antarctica since there’s not much noise there, relating back to the past reading about sound pollution. This also made me think about in Bromirski’s research on Ross Ice Shelf Vibrations when he talked about how the seasons affect the vibrations, relating to the science and arts.
Hunter Cowles 207 words
hc17@geneseo.edu
INTD: 105-19 Science Writing
In the article “The Heart of the Antarctic,” a research group discovers an organism with remarkable adaptations so it could not only survive, but thrive in it’s very harsh and unforgiving environment. The organism discussed in the article was very similar to a species referred to as the “white crocodile fish”. This fish is the only type of its kind that doesn’t have red blood cells or hemoglobin which facilitates circulation and blood flow in the frigid waters which can fall as low as -1.8 degrees celsius in the winter. A striking disadvantage of this mutation however, is the fact that the icefish must exert a considerable amount of energy just to circulate its blood and maintain homeostasis compared to fish that live in more temperate waters.
I’m very curious to see how manmade climate change would affect these fish due to the fact they are most vulnerable to slight deviations in temperature. Additionally, how much of the population would be able to revert back to their former state (with red blood cells). Climate change and global warming continues to be a major contributing factor towards the loss of species. Many scientists estimate we are losing dozens of species on the daily.
Matt Klein
INTD 105-19: Science Writing
Research Question
To what extent should countries be held responsible for upholding human rights in foreign regions? Can a county overlook responsibility during times of conflict?
Will Gerber
11/7/16
INTD: Science Writing
Dr. Jessica Fenn
Appendix 1 of Ernest Shackleton’s The Heart of the Arctic focuses on the discovery of microscopic living organisms in Antarctica’s frozen lakes. At the time, in the early twentieth century, this was a novel discovery, as people were shocked to find out that life could exist in such a harsh climate.
I thought it was fascinating to read about this discovery from a primary source. Learning about life that can survive in such severe environments puts our human ego into perspective. While we do need to make radical changes to our ways of living in order to save the environment, there is nothing we can do to end life on earth. The Heart of the Arctic blends the arts and sciences with its illustrations, depicting a barren wasteland that is actually a thriving ecosystem.
Matt Klein approximately 250 words
INTD 105-19: Science Writing
The Heart of the Antarctic Response
By Matt Klein
I looked at parts of Appendix IV in Shackleton’s The Heart of the Antarctic. Since I have an interest in physics, I focused on the passages concerning the formation of Antarctic ice and the Southern Lights. The beginning of Appendix IV explained how large ice crystals and hard, compact snow can form from the vaporization and recrystallization of smaller pieces of ice. This process created some beautiful ice crystal structures, some of which gave the scientists some trouble when it formed on their equipment. The section also describes how the salinity and movement of ocean water can lead to stunning ice caves with stalactites and stalagmites.
The end of this section also interested me. It discussed the behavior of the Earth’s southern magnetic pole as well as the Aurora Australis. Since the crew was so near the pole, they had to measure both the horizontal and vertical components of the Earth’s magnetic field to determine the rough location of the pole. The Southern Lights, described as yellowish-green curtains of light, were observed to move in the general direction of the pole. James Murray also described the various shapes of the Aurora.
Appendix IV shows a clear connection between art and the sciences. Through scientific processes, beautiful ice structures and dazzling displays of light are created. However, I’m not sure if this topic can provide a suitable research question. I am curious if there are environment factors such as pollution and global warming that affect the aurorae and the formation of ice crystals, but a quick Internet didn’t reveal any current discussion on the subject.
Who is responsible for limiting the ecological footprint of humans in international waters?
How does the change in frequency of bird calls in urban areas effect the evolution of birds? Will having multiple frequencies cause different species to form?
Logan Steffens
Lts6@geneseo.edu
INTD105
In the heart of the Antarctica, Appendix 1 written by Earnest Shackleton he speaks about the large variety of living organisms that he witnessed in this region such as whales and emperor penguins. Groups of Weddell seals were basking on the ice. After examining an orange colored weed he found fresh water animals. He found several “red, worm-like creatures, which moved like caterpillars and stuck their head out to feed.” He found these to be rotifers and found a variety of other ones as he examined the plants more closely. Shackleton and his crew frequently interact with the penguin colonies and came to learn a lot about them while doing so.
I find it astonishing that animals have evolved to survive in such a harsh and unforgiving environment and also had me thinking about the other animals that live there such as polar bears who are going extinct because of global warming and CO2 emissions.
When considering noise pollution created by human presence and industrial technology, how are humans more exposed to noise pollution affected compared to those less exposed?