Class response- Symbiosis

In class we have been learning about symbiosis and symbiotic relationships. Symbiosis is a close relationship between two organisms in which one organism livers near, on or even inside another organism and in which at least one organism benefits. The three types of symbiotic relationships are: commensalism, mutualism and parasitism.
Commensalism is a reltionship in which one organism benefits while other is not harmed. An example of commensalism is the relationship between a bird and a tree because a bird uses a tree as a home for it's nest and the tree doesn't benefit or get harmed.
Mutualism is a form of symbiosis in which both organisms benefit. An example of mutualism is the relationship between a dog and a human because the human provides the dog shelter and food and in return the dog gives the human love and companionship. This is a good example because both the organisms benefit.
Parasitism is a form of symbiosis in which one organism benefits but the other one is harmed. An example of of parasitism is the relationship between lice and humans because one organism, the human, is harmed while the organism, the lice, benefits because it drinks the blood of the human.

Current event- Mimicking robot

Who- A research team at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and David Hanson, an American robot designer who is known for A Zeno robot he made at Hanson Robotics.

What- The research team and David Hanson created a robot, named Jules, that can mimic the facial expression you have on your face. This project has been going for the last three years and contains 34 motors. Jules has cameras in her eyes which she uses to scan a picture of the person's face and then try to copy the facial expression.

Where- At the Bristol Robotics Laboratory in England.

When- The creation of the robot started three years ago and finished a couple of weeks ago.

Why- Jules was created because the research team wanted to create a lifelike head and face that can it can interact with humans. Even though this still is not possible, Jules can mimic ten different facial expressions.

My opinion- I think Jules is a excellent robot and i think its really cool how technology can do such amazing things. Before we know it we will be able to interact with robots as easily as we can interact with other organisms!

Source-
http://www.geek.com/articles/news/jules-robot-mimics-emotions-in-real-time-20081117/

Curent event- Which came first? the chicken or the egg?

Class Response- Energy roles

Right now in class we are learning about how organisms get their food and what their role is in the ecosystem. organisms can either be producers, consumers or decomposers. Here is some information on them:

Some organisms, like trees and almost all types of plants, can make their own food and they are called producers. Producers use a source of energy, like sunlight, to make their own food. Producers are at the bottom of the food chain and they are the source of all food in an ecosystem.

Consumers- Consumers are organisms who get their food directly or indirectly from producers. Because they can't make their own food they rely on producers for food and energy. There are three different types of consumers. The three types are:
Herbivores- organisms who only eat plants. Some examples are grasshoppers and rabbits.
Carnivores- organisms that only eat other animals. Some examples are spiders and snakes.
Omnivores- organisms eat both plants and animals. Some examples are bears and humans.

Decomposers- After animals die, organisms called decomposers eat their dead matter. Decomposers, such as as molds and mushrooms, are very important to the ecosystems because they get rid of animals' dead bodies. They also return the important materials of the dead animals back to the soil and water.

Current event- Solar powered MP3

Another new type of MP3 player has been created. This time it's a solar powered MP3 ceated by a company called Hong Kong Electronics Fair Autumn Edition in Singapore. The MP3 player, called Shiro SQ-S, has a 1.8-inch LCD display and a built-in FM radio and a 16GB of storage space. it also comes in three different colors and has a circular leypad like the Ipod. You can also watch videos and view photos on it. Also to charge your Shiro SQ-S fully all you have to do is leave it outside for a sunny day for four hours and if your Shiro SQ-S need more power but it's a cloudy day there is also a USB port.

I got my information from: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/zd/20081013/tc_zd/232954

Class response-Layers ot the atmosphere

In school for a couple of weeks we have been about the weather. A couple of days ago we learned about the layers of the atmosphere. There are four main and important layers of the atmosphere. The names of those layers are:troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere and the thermosphere. The troposphere is the most lowest layer of the atmosphere and the most closest to the earth. This is where most of the weather occurs and most of the clouds are here. The troposphere is 12-15 km above the ground. The second layer that is the closest to the ground is the stratosphere. The lower part of the stratosphere is VERY cold but the temperature gets warmer and warmer as you reach the top because that's where the ozone layer is. The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to 50 km above ground. The third layer that is closest to the ground is the mesosphere. The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere with temperatures near -90 degrees Celsius and protects the earth from meteors. The mesosphere rises from about 50 km to 80 km above ground. The outer most layer of the atmosphere is the thermosphere. The thermosphere has no definite end. It just keeps going and going and going. It is broken up into two layers called the ionosphere and the exosphere. In the ionosphere gas molecules are electrically charged and all the satellites are in the exosphere. Here is a diagram that show all the layer of the atmosphere: (if you click on it, it will enlarge!)

If you want to learn more about the atmosphere you can go to this website: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmos/layers.htm

Extra Credit!!

Desert Places
by: Robert Frost

Snow falling and night falling fast, oh, fast
In a field I looked into going past,
And the ground almost covered smooth in snow,
But a few weeds and stubble showing last.

The woods around it have it--it is theirs.
All animals are smothered in their lairs.
I am too absent-spirited to count;
The loneliness includes me unawares.

And lonely as it is that loneliness
Will be more lonely ere it will be less--
A blanker whiteness of benighted snow
With no expression, nothing to express.

They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars--on stars where no human race is.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my own desert places.

This wonderful poem called “Desert Places” by Robert Frost uses weather by describing snow in the first verse. He talks about how snow falls so fast at night and covers everything in sight. Robert Frost’s knowledge of snow really enhances the poem because it describes how it covers everything and if he didn’t know anything about snow the poem wouldn’t have been that excellent. This poem wouldn’t have been as amazing as it is now if Robert Frost didn’t talk about snow because this entire poem talks about how the snow covers everything. If Robert Frost didn’t talk about snow in his poem the no one would be able to understand what he is trying to say. In this poem some literary devices used are personification and imagery. Personification is used when Robert Frost says “night falling fast” because night is a non-living thing and it is given a human characteristic. Imagery is used in this poem when Robert Frost mentions “the ground almost covered smooth in snow” because you can imagine that in your mind. This poem however does not expand my knowledge of snow because it describes snow and I already know a lot about it.