Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

How does music affect our cognitive functioning while doing certain tasks and what types of music can lead to optimal performance for those tasks?

How does the cultural misunderstanding of a word affect the evolution of the culture’s language?

-Tremper, 2016/11/07

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

Traversing the Antarctic landscape poses many hazards. The constantly changing weather, the thin ice, and the deep crevasses are only some of the dangers that face a traveler. The hardships take precedence in the section called, “The Bluff Depot Journey”.  The crew was given instructions to leave a depot of stores near the Minna Bluff so that The Southern Party can get supplies on their return journey.

On the way to the Bluff the dogs from the sled had to be dug out of the snow after a heavy storm. They also had to be carful not to fall down deep crevasses that ran parallel to their path. The crevasses were hidden by a snow cap so the danger was even worse.

Although there is no direct relationship that I can draw from this section between the arts and sciences, it does raise some questions. I would like to know what kind of survival training one needs in order to survival such a harsh environment and how the people of the expedition care for the dogs.

How does noise pollution affect the ecosystems of yellowstone national park, and what solutions should we seek in order to reach a balance between human noise and the noise necessary for other live to flourish in the park?

Erik Buckingham

ekb7@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Science Writing

approximately 150 words

Thoughts on “The Heart of the Antarctic Appendix I”

By: Erik Buckingham

In “The Heart of the Antarctic Appendix I” a research team travels to Antarctica and surprisingly finds single celled organisms among the snow and extremely cold temperatures of the continent. They are astonished to find that these organisms have found a niche in such a harsh and difficult climate to live in.

This article had me thinking about how many organisms have adapted so well to the cold that they are becoming extinct because of the destruction of Antarctica and Alaska via Global Warming. Polar bears are quickly becoming extinct and many polar bears seen in the north look skinny and malnourished. It is amazing how organisms have adapted to harsh climates like the single celled organisms in the Antarctic, but I am wondering if the population of these organisms is going to decrease in the next ten years as they are accustomed to the cold climates that are becoming increasingly warmer.

Juniper Tremper
Scientific Writing 105-19
Geneseo, NY
~150 words

Comparing Ice Crusts to Pottery to Jack’O’Lanterns
Juniper Tremper

When you step on snow during certain winter months, you step through a defined layer of ice before sinking your foot into a pit of fine, powdery snow. Or in the Antarctic, due to differences in melting point, a pit full of water. The excerpt “The Effect of Summer Sun on Different Varieties of Ice and Snow” describes the occurence of this phenomenon in Antarctica, and the impact that the heat from sunlight has on the thickness of the ice crust.

Sculpture, ceramics especially, is hugely science oriented because there are extremely particular temperatures necessary to adequately fire a pot without shattering it, and different heat requirements for different glazes. This would likely be an easily accessible opportunity for artists to publicize the effects of the heat on Antarctica’s ice, because a pot fired at all the appropriate temperatures would be visibly distinguishable from a pot fired incorrectly, with the glazes evaporating or melting into each other.

(For a little perspective for people unfamiliar with pottery, this would be roughly comparable to a normal Jack’O’lantern sitting next to a pumpkin with lopsided cuts, and visible internal smoldering.)

Justin D’Souza                                                                                                                   SUNY Geneseo                                                                                                                     INTD 105 Science Writing

National Defense vs. Environmental Protection

In times of war, or times of peace, how much should military testing/national defense be limited in order to protect citizens and the environment?

Robert Romano

11/7/16

Intd: Science Writing

Dr. Jessica Fenn

What role do environmental factors play in the development of cancer and genetic mutations?

Robert Romano

11/7/16

Intd: Science Writing

Dr. Jessica Fenn

Life on Antarctica

Appendix I in The Heart of Antarctica starts out with the image that no life is present in the researcher’s surroundings on Antarctica. Finally, many different variations of algae are found and a very interesting organism called the Rotifer is found in a frozen lake. The Rotifer is a microscopic, worm-like creature and is fascinating because it is unique in its temperature adaptation. The Rotifer can survive in extremely cold temperatures and then it can immediately be placed into a boiling environment and still function properly. Many organisms can withstand harsh temperatures, but the Rotifer is different from other organisms because its body temperature will adapt to the temperature of the environment.

This piece does a great job showing the relationship between the arts and sciences because the magnificent pictures taken of the wildlife in the Antarctic show the beauty of the natural world. A question that I had when reading this piece would be what is the researchers primary focus when studying the Rotifers and what they plan to do with the findings that they have recorded on the Rotifers.

Besides glaciers, how does long term exposure to the sun and global warming affect the wildlife in Antarctica?