The Beauty of Chaos

TED Animations of unseeable cell biology by Drew Berry

2012-01-22T01:50:00.000+08:00

Hi,
We have no ways to directly observe molecules and what they do -- Drew Berry wants to change that. At TEDxSydney he shows his scientifically accurate (and entertaining!) animations that help researchers see unseeable processes within our own cells.

Cheers

TED Talk- The hidden beauty of pollination

2012-01-22T01:39:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Pollination: it's vital to life on Earth, but largely unseen by the human eye. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images from his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.

cheers

Biology- e-learning portal --Ecology, habitats & evolution

2012-01-22T01:09:00.000+08:00

Hi Students,

Here is the sixth list of sites you can go to to learn science in a fun way.
The site is good for quick revisions and introductions to the topics.

Topic: Ecology, habitats & evolution

1 compétition for ressources
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/competition_resources/index.html

2 habitats
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/habitats/index.html

3 studying habitats
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/habitats_studying/index.html

4 interdependence
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/interdependence/index.html

5 population size
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/KS3%20LOs/biology/pop_size/index.html

6 adaptation and survival
http://kerala.skoool.in/content/ks3%20LOs/biology/adap_survival/index.html

Cheers

Biology- e-learning portal --Photosynthesis and plant organs

2012-01-22T01:04:00.001+08:00

Biology- e-learning portal --Circulatory system and blood

2012-01-22T00:55:00.000+08:00

Biology- e-learning portal --Nutrition, digestion and alimentary canal

2012-01-22T00:45:00.001+08:00

Biology- e-learning portal --cells, organelles and organisation of living things

2012-01-22T00:34:00.000+08:00

Biology- e-learning portal --Respiration and Breathing

2012-01-22T00:14:00.002+08:00

What did you give your girlfriend on Valentine's Day?

2011-12-31T07:50:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Do you guys remember how I usually start the topic on plant reproduction?

What is the usual gift do boys give to their girlfriends? Colourful, fragrant, large, showy and un-private sex organs - of plants of course!

Below is a good illustration of what I mean.

Happy New Year

C.K. Williams' poetry of youth and age

2011-12-29T23:03:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Poet C.K. Williams reads his work at TED2001. As he colors scenes of childhood resentments, college loves, odd neighbors and the literal death of youth, he reminds us of the unique challenges of living.

Cheers

V S Ramachandran on The neurons that shaped civilization

2011-12-29T22:27:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Fascinating world of neuroscience.

Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviours, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.

We are all interconnected by our neuron-created consciousness says Dr Ramachandran.

Cheers

Don Norman on 3 ways good design makes you happy

2011-12-29T21:48:00.000+08:00

Hi,
In this talk from 2003, design critic Don Norman turns his incisive eye toward beauty, fun, pleasure and emotion, as he looks at design that makes people happy. He names the three emotional cues that a well-designed product must hit to succeed.

Cheers

Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty

2011-12-29T21:39:00.000+08:00

Hi,

How do we feel beauty?
What is considered beautiful?

TED collaborates with animator Andrew Park to illustrate Denis Dutton's provocative theory on beauty -- that art, music and other beautiful things, far from being simply "in the eye of the beholder," are a core part of human nature with deep evolutionary origins.

Cheers

Baba Brinkman-Learn about human evolution through rap?

2011-12-29T20:10:00.001+08:00

Hi,

Baba Brinkman is a Canadian actor and rap artist and former tree‑planter who has personally planted more than one million trees. Baba has received international acclaim for his rap comedy theatre shows, which cover topics as diverse as evolutionary psychology, the Canterbury Tales, democracy, and civil disobedience. Last year he won the Scotsman Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe for his "Rap Guide to Evolution," which is transferring to New York in 2011. When he is not on tour, Baba resides in his hometown of Vancouver.

"Worst comes to worst" by Dilated People

"Survival of the fittest" by Mobb Deep

Cheers

A child is born

2011-12-29T19:44:00.001+08:00

Hi,

Swedish photographer, Lennart Nilsson, spent 12 years of his life taking pictures of the foetus developing in the womb. These incredible photographs were taken with conventional cameras with macro lenses, an endoscope and scanning electron microscope. Nilsson used a magnification of hundreds of thousands and worked right in the womb. His first photo of the human foetus was taken in 1965.

6 months.
There are still 8-10 weeks ahead, so the little human is getting ready to leave the uterus. It turns upside down because it will be easier to be born this way

26 weeks

20 weeks: Approximately 20 cm. Woolly hair, known as lanugo, covers the entire head

19 weeks

8 weeks: Approximately 14 cm. The foetus can now perceive sounds from the outside world

The skeleton consists mainly of flexible cartilage.
A network of blood vessels is visible through the thin skin.

16 weeks.
The foetus uses its hands to explore its own body and its surroundings.

10 weeks.
The eyelids are semi-shut. They will close completely in a few days.

Eight weeks.
The rapidly-growing embryo is well protected in the foetal sac.

40 days.
Embryonic cells form the placenta. This organ connects the embryo to the uterine wall allowing nutrient uptake, waste elimination and gas exchange via the woman's blood supply.

5 weeks: Approximately 9 mm. You can now distinguish the face with holes for eyes, nostrils and mouth.

four and half weeks

four weeks

The brain starts to develop in the human embryo.

8 days.
The human embryo is attached to a wall of the uterus.

5-6 days.
The clump has developed into an embryo, containing many more cells,
and has entered the womb

The winning sperm

The fallopian tube

Will they have a date?

An egg

Sperm in the fallopian tube

The miracle of a baby!

Cheers

Hallelujah Chorus from Alaska

2011-12-29T18:20:00.000+08:00

Hi,

This video from the Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska , was a school computer
project intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area. Much to the villagers' shock, over a million people have viewed it.

Considering this video was intended for an audience of about 200 is it worth its while.

UN says to reduce meat consumption to save the planet

2011-12-29T17:47:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Man's impact on the planet can be divided into two categories:

1) Energy in the form of fossil fuels and

2) Agriculture, especially the raising of livestock for meat and dairy products.

* Both GHG emissions and land use depends strongly on Diet. Animal Product, both Meat & dairy, in general require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives.
* More than fossil fuels, agricultural activities directly influence ecosystems by occupying large land areas and using huge quantities of water.
* Animal products are important because more than Half of the world's crops are used to feed animals, not people.

The report recommends that :
*Decoupling growth from environmental degradation is the number one challenge facing governments.

"A Substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products."

Cheers

Junk email or priority emails

2011-12-29T16:26:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Junk mail will become priority mail. In five years, unsolicited advertisements may feel so personalized and relevant it may seem spam is dead.

Cheers

Mobile phones and global societies

2011-12-29T16:20:00.000+08:00

Hi,
The digital divide will cease to exist. In our global society, growth and wealth of economies are decided by the level of access to information. And in five years, the gap between information haves and have-nots will cease to exist due to the advent of mobile technology.

cheers

Mindreading is coming your way within five years

2011-12-29T16:15:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Mind reading is no longer science fiction. IBM scientists are researching how to link your brain to your devices, such as a computer or a smartphone, so you just need to think about calling someone and it happens.

Cheers

You will never need to remember a password again

2011-12-29T16:09:00.000+08:00

Hi,

You will never need a password again. Your biological makeup is the key to your individual identity, and soon, it will become the key to safeguarding it.

Cheers

Your body will become an energy-generating machine

2011-12-29T15:56:00.000+08:00

Hi,

It happens all the time; you forget your cell phone charger at home, and your smartphone battery runs out after hours of email and Angry Birds. But what if you could recharge your cell phone using power you’ve generated simply by walking?

Cheers

Madagascar-a jewel in biodiversity

2011-06-07T12:24:00.000+08:00

Hi,

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) drew attention to Madagascar's natural wealth in biodiversity yesterday, 6/6/11. More than 600 new species discovered between 1999 and 2010.
The full article and pictures with the descriptions of their fantastic beauty can be found in the link: madagascar biodiversity:600 species discovered
" We as a species, the human race, we don't understand the complexities of the natural world around us,

yet we people are the one species with the most power to destroy or protect what's there" said Mr Richard Hughes, WWF's Madagascar's regional director.

These beautiful animals and plants which are unique to Madagascar which are already endangered because of deforestation and destruction of their habitats.

The vital nutrients by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-29T01:26:00.000+08:00

Hi,

The classes of food such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibres, water and vitamins are explained by Leslie Samuel. Detailed explanations on their importance in our bodies.

The vital nutrients by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-29T01:19:00.002+08:00

Hi,

The classes of food such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibres, water and vitamins are explained by Leslie Samuel. Detailed explanations on their importance in our bodies.

Following digestion of a meal by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-29T01:11:00.000+08:00

Hi,

This video is excellent. Watch the functions of the digestive system and a journey through the digestive system.

Cheers

The skin by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-29T00:54:00.000+08:00

Hi,

View this vivid video in which Leslie explains the structure of the skin and how it performs its various functions.

Cheers

Endocrine system by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-29T00:31:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Endocrine system and hormones are very clearly explained in this video.

Cheers

Cellular Respiration-energy in a cell, by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-29T00:04:00.000+08:00

Hi,

The first part of the video contains a very detailed description of the process. Parts of it are not required in our syllabus for O or N Levels but very interesting anyway.

Aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration (alcoholic fermentation in yeast cells and lactic acid formation in muscle cells) found in the last one third are very good

Cheers

Photosynthesis- energy in a plant, by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T23:18:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Watch this video for a very detailed description of the process.

Cheers

Organisms and their environment by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T23:04:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Part 1 Levels of organisation,

Part 2 Ecology and ecosystem

Cheers

Nutrition, food chains and energy flow

2011-05-28T22:39:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Part 1
Types of nutrition in organisms, energy flow:

Part 2
Flow of energy in the food chain and material cycles in nature:

Cheers

Methods in Biology by Leislie Samuel

2011-05-28T22:01:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Watch the two videos below by Leslie Samuel teach characteristics of living things:
1-organisation
2-reproduction
3-growth and development
4-adjusting to the environment
5-adaptation and evolution

Part 2, Methods in biology:

cheers

Water and life processes by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T21:10:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Water is important to life processes. View the entertaining video.

Cheers

Biological molecules with Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T20:01:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Biological molecules and their structutes.

Cheers

The unit of life, by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T19:36:00.001+08:00

Hi,

A very good introduction to cells, the units of life. A very warm and funny teacher presents the topic.

Cheers

How the eye works by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T19:25:00.000+08:00

Hi,
Watch this vivid and clear explantion of how the eye works.

How Blood Flows Through the Heart , by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T19:08:00.002+08:00

This is a vivid video on how blood flows through the heart.

Cheers

The Cardiac Cycle by Leslie Samuel

2011-05-28T18:47:00.003+08:00

Watch this very good video on the cardiac cycle.

The Cardiac Cycle | Interactive Biology, by Leslie Samuel

cheers

Nuclear energy is safe?

2011-05-28T18:15:00.000+08:00

This article is about depending on nuclear power and the dangers that goes with production and distribution of the energy.

The accident at an earthquake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant in March made many countries review their plans to build and operate nuclear plants.The people are asking the authorities to reconsider the ethics in having nuclear plants. They are also clamouring to review the present safety measures especially if the plants are old.

Nuclear plants cost a fortune to build, but not much to run. So despite a steep tax on nuclear fuel, they are a cheap and reliable source of power that emits almost no greenhouse gases.

Cheers

Forests are not to be treated as infinite

2011-05-28T17:02:00.003+08:00

Hi,

This is a very good article on valuing the rainforests that we still have with us.

Cheers

Useful bacteria are important in sewage treatment plants

2011-03-28T00:42:00.002+08:00

Hi,

Sewage treatment plants and how they work is important in our syllabus.

Another treatment plant

Cheers

Euthrophication a form of water pollution

2011-03-28T00:34:00.002+08:00

Hi,

Euthrophication occurs in water bodies such as rivers, lakes and ponds. It results in smelly water bodies which have bacteria growing in large numbers in it and it is devoid of fish, and other aquatic animals and also submerged plants such as hydrilla.

Excess fertiliser usage by farmers and runoff from animal farms and raw sewage from human settlements cause euthrophication.

Respect for ecological systems is of utmost importance in us leading eco-sensitive lifestyles.

Bio-accumulation or biological magnification

2011-03-28T00:24:00.001+08:00

Hi,

Bio-nondegradable substances in water bodies accumulate in the bodies of organisms along the food chains. The top predators will end up with the highest levels and usually lethal concentrations of these poisonous chemicals.

Water pollution is disastrous for fauna and flora that live in rivers, lakes and ponds.

Lets respect the habitats of all fellow earthlings.
Cheers

The story of DDT

2011-03-28T00:14:00.001+08:00

Hi,
DDT was one of the most used chemical pesticides used by man. It is now banned in most countries for use on crop plants.

When it was first invented, it was thought to be safe and it was used on crops, people, on walls and cupboards to kill ants and household pests and mosquitoes.

In the book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson raised the alarm at the abandon with with people were using the pesticide as it was already noticed that all insects, including the useful ones, as well as birds were dying in large numbers.

DDT which is now banned was even sprayed on children.

Respect of all living things, flora and fauna, will stand us in good stead.

Cheers

Bophal Industrial disaster, 1984

2011-03-28T00:00:00.001+08:00

Hi,

Bophal Industrial disaster in 1984 is yet another ecological catastrophe which changed the world. Union Carbide, an American pesticide company tried to cut production cost by reducing number of qualified employees. The poorly trained employees could not run the pesticide company and a huge explosion in the middle of the night caused thousands of deaths.

Not feeling cheerful even today, 26 years later,

Chernobyl nuclear powerstation disaster 1986

2011-03-27T23:47:00.002+08:00

Hi,

Nuclear energy and nuclear power-stations became popular in the 1970s.
In 1986, a power-station in Soviet Russia at a place called Chernobyl was once of the 10 worst ecological disasters that change the world.

A colourless, odourless and highly radioactive gas and dust was produced at the nuclear power-station station which rose high up into the air and within 1 month, one-third of the people who worked and lived in the vicinity had died of radiation sickness.

Radioactive particles in the air will get distributed far and wide by the wind and will finally settle down when the rain washes the air. Once on the ground, it will be absorbed by the plants and it will pass through the food chain. It will end up in vegetables, fruits, milk and meat.

Radioactive iodine is particularly harmful as it gets concentrated very quickly in the thyroid glands. These glands are very active in babies and children as the hormone, thyroxine controls metabolic rates and growth. Thyroid cancer will cause death in children exposed to radioactive iodine.

Even up to now, 25 years later, the place is still out of bounds and uninhabitable.

Oil tanker disasters caused great damage to coastal life

2011-03-27T23:30:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Oil tankers wrecks have caused great damage to coastal life. Here is Torrey Canyon Disaster which occured in 1967.

We have to learn to take care of our oceans, seashores and other ecosystems.

2011-03-27T23:21:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Minamata disease is caused by mercury poisoning. It occurred in Japan in 1952 to 1960.

In 1952, a company involved in making plastic products dumped its waste water into the Minamata River. Buy the time they were stopped in 1966, 400 tons of mercury was was dumped.

Minamata disease caused nerve problem and involuntary nervous twitches and loss of balance when walking. Severe birth defects was seen in children born to mothers who consumed tainted fish and other seafood from the region. Even small amounts bio-non degradable substances get concentrated into lethal concentrations due to bioaccumulation.

Cheers

Designer Babies

2011-01-23T19:33:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Will parents be able to pre-determine and design the perfect baby for themselves?

Attributes such as the colour of eyes and skin, IQ, EQ, height and absence of known genetic diseases be chosen by the parents.

Cheers

Witricity is electricity without wires and cables

2011-01-23T14:17:00.003+08:00

Hi,

Nikola Tesla dreamed of this technology one hundred years ago. He built coils and towers to demonstrate this, ie transfer of electricity without cables. However, the public and the government were not ready for his discoveries. Now we have Eric Giler taking it up again.

You may want to view my other post on Nicola Tesla at http://asal-sakti.blogspot.com/2009/11/nikola-tesla-inventer-extraordinary.html

Thank you Eric Giler.

Cheers

Cheers

Why can't we look at the sun?

2011-01-18T22:32:00.001+08:00

Hi,

We have been told since young not to look directly at the sun, especially during solar eclipses. Discovery News explains why.

Cheers

Why is the sky blue?

2011-01-18T20:32:00.000+08:00

Hi,

All children ask this question sometime in their lives.
The sky is blue as more of the blue colour in the light spectrum is scattered by the atmospheric gases.
Why is leaf green? Why is the sea blue?
Get the explanations from this Discovery News video.

Cheers

Can sound waves move your hair?

2011-01-18T20:15:00.002+08:00

Hi
We learn in elementary physics that sound waves are vibrating air molecules and wind is air molecules in motion.

This fantastic video which demonstrates these two concepts.

Cheers

Double rainbows explained

2011-01-18T20:03:00.003+08:00

Hi,

Cheers

2011-01-16T10:59:00.000+08:00

Hi,

(Photo Sarath Eraminigammana)

A very sad picture of a baby elephant found dead stuck atop a tree was captured at Habarana, Sri Lank on Thursday 13 Jan.

It had been swept away by the floods at Hathareskotuwa. Villagers say that its mother was seen roaming the area looking for her baby.

The recent heavy floods, massive landslides and heavy snowstorms in Sri Lanka, Australia, North America and Brazil is blamed on La Nina. Hope she will be spent out soon.

May peace return.

Videos on health worth watching

2011-01-16T10:35:00.001+08:00

Hi,

videos worth watching:

1) High blood pressure, ignore it at your own risk. No symptoms but it can be lethal if lifestyle is not changed accordingly.

I just shared a video with you from http://www.chicagotribune.com
Here is the Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/vid

2)Loose weight eating "resistance starch". This is carbohydrate that does not breakdown into sugar and hence it acts like fibre. It makes you feel full after a meal, happy AND loose belly fat.

3)Watch out for the new universal flu vaccine. A single vaccine can protect you from all strains of flu, H1N1, Bird Flu, common flu, permanently. But we have to wait about 5 more years before it will be available at the GPs.

Happy Ponggal,

Cheers

Swimming Santa Claus promotes protecting the ocean

2010-12-26T18:44:00.000+08:00

Hi,

"Here's something you don't see every day: a Chinese Santa Claus recently appeared underwater at an aquarium in Shanghai.

The Santa, decked out in red and white garments, was swimming alongside fish to promote saving the ocean. The unusual act has drawn significant attention."

Happy Boxing Day
Cheers

AirPod-a car that runs on thin air

2010-12-26T18:30:00.000+08:00

Hi,

"There are cars that run on gas, electricity, vegetable oil, even human waste, and now there is a car that runs on air.

The AirPod has been created in the UK and runs on compressed air. This CNN video demonstrates how the three-wheeled, two door, steering wheel-free vehicle zips around. (It is also oddly reminiscent of a car from "The Jetsons," but that was probably not planned.)

Compared to a standard car, the AirPod emits a fraction of the pollution, can reach up to 50 mph, and will cost around $10,000. Motor Development International hopes that the AirPod will be the future of urban transportation."
(source:The Huffington Post, Joanna Zelman on 22nd Dec 2010)

Merry Christmas

Cheers

Lunar eclipse on Dec 21st 2010

2010-12-22T18:51:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is blocked by the earth's shadow as the earth passes between the moon and the sun. Dec. 21st is also called the winter solstice, the longest night of the year(in the northern hemisphere).

The first video shows the shadow falling on the moon from the left hand side of the moon and progress over the moon as the satellite revolves around the earth. Then the red coloured moon is due to the diffused light(penumbra) falling on the moon from the sun. Then the moon lights up from the left side again with direct light from the sun as it emerges from the shadow of the earth.

The second video is an incredible time lapse video of the total lunar eclipse from KxbTV on YouTube, produced by Kareem Brown.

Cheers

Thinking your way thin-Imagination Diet

2010-12-22T17:50:00.000+08:00

Hi,

The better you are at imagining yourself eating what you crave for, the easier it is for you to lose weight.?!

Cheers

The 20 Most Popular YouTube Cooking Videos

2010-12-21T10:48:00.001+08:00

Hi,

"More Americans are turning to YouTube to learn how to prepare all kinds of foods."

They are accessible at the following website:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/13/youtube-cooking-videos_n_795629.html#s205135

Three samples are given below:

Cheers

Richard Sears on Planning for the end of oil

2010-12-16T00:16:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Would we stop using oil because we run out of oil? No says Richard Sears. We stopped using stones for making tools because of new ideas and innovations. In the same way....

Cheers

Dan Ariely on Are we in control of our decisions

2010-12-15T23:14:00.001+08:00

Hi,

Shock of shocks, we are mistaken if we think that we are in control of our own decisions.

Listen to a witty and very entertaining behavioural economist, Dan Ariely, giving us many examples of our visual illusions, counter-intuition, and irrationality.

Cheers

Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation

2010-12-15T22:40:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Listen to this speaker and his jaw-dropping contention that carrots and sticks do not work any more with knowledge-based workers. It destroys creativity.

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think.

Cheers

Chip Conley on Measuring what makes life worthwhile

2010-12-15T21:55:00.000+08:00

Hi,

"Happiness is not about what you want but about wanting what you have."

Abraham Maslow " If the only tool you have is a hammer, everthing starts looking like a nail"
When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.

Cheers

"(Nothing But) Flowers" by David Byrne

2010-12-15T20:58:00.001+08:00

Hi,
David Byrne sings the Talking Heads' 1988 hit, "(Nothing But) Flowers." He's accompanied by Thomas Dolby and Ethel.He sings about going back to pristine environment during the time of Adam and Eve.

Do not forget to turn on the lyrics in English.

Cheers

What's wrong with our food system?

2010-12-15T20:44:00.000+08:00

Hi,
11-year-old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food -- far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production.

Cheers

Meet Eco Joe

2010-12-13T23:00:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Everyone counts when it comes to environment sustainability.

Cheers

Sweat the small stuff

2010-12-13T22:58:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Another video on how you can be pro-active in saving the environment.

Cheers

Cancun Climate Summit, 2010

2010-12-12T14:12:00.001+08:00

Hi,
World ministers met at Cancun from 29Nov to 10 Dec 2010 .....

Cheers

Human Genetics shows the migration pattern of human species

2010-12-08T22:14:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Using DNA from thousands of people from all around the world, Dr Spencer explains how our ancestors migrated around the world starting 60 thousand years ago.

Cheers

Small indoor plants help to clean and refresh air in rooms

2010-12-05T21:37:00.000+08:00

Hi,
I love growing small plants in my room.
Listen to Kamal Meattle explaining how 3 common types of small in door plants, the money plant, the mother-in-law's tongue and the areca palm help to clean and enrich the air in office buildings.

Cheers

Amazing time-lapse video of child from birth to 10 years old

2010-12-05T20:59:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Watch this amazing time-lapse video of a child during its first 10 years of its life.

Cheers

A cool trick with hot water at -40 degrees centigrade

2010-12-03T17:05:00.000+08:00

Hi,

At around -40 degrees centigrade, water freezes immediately.

Watch this amazing demonstration.

How is it that we do not freeze too when we step outside the heated homes?
Homoeostasis is the answer. Cold blooded animals will freeze up. Warm blooded animals like us and the other mammals and of course the birds have inbuilt mechanisms to keep our body temperature constant whatever the outside temperature.
We have to get the energy from our food through the process of respiration.

Cheers

Jessica Jackley speaks about microfinance and povery, money and love

2010-12-01T11:06:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Jessica Jackley speaks how she was moved to give the poor dignity, respect, optimism, hope, solutions, resources, strength and capital.

She co-founded of Kiva.org- and how her work with micro-loans has brought new power to people who live on a few dollars a day.

Cheers

Creative houses from reclaimed stuff by Dan Phillips

2010-12-01T10:50:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Listen to the very funny Dan Phillips create a very liveable home.

Cheers

Bring on the learning revolution by Sir Ken Robinson

2010-12-01T10:41:00.000+08:00

Hi,

The witty speaker talks about creating the love of learning and personalised learning conditions. We should identify our kid's natural talents and grow it every child.

He sprouts poetry and analyses words. Very beautiful and thought provoking.

Cheers

Shimon Steinberg talks about Natural Pest Control

2010-12-01T10:28:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Watch Shimon Steinberg using bugs instead of pesticides to protect plant crops.

Scientists in Israel learn about the natural enemies of our crops. Insects, spiders and mites are grown in large farms and sold to commercial farmers to grow organic vegetables.

Cheers

The brain in your gut by Heribert Watzke

2010-12-01T10:17:00.000+08:00

Hi,

How cooking our food has transformed us and unleashed our human potential.

Cheers

My green school dream in Bali by John Hardy

2010-12-01T10:08:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Building a green school (with bamboo stems) which has no walls, populated by smiling students learning in a painless breezy surroundings.

This school of the future is almost romantic if not functional. Beautiful in every way, architecturally, educationally, environmentally and futuristically.

Cheers

Single Use Plastics- refuse

2010-12-01T09:51:00.000+08:00

Hi,

The next environmental crisis is brewing. Lets stop it with some education.

Please add the 4th R to reduce, recycle and reuse. It is refuse

Cheers

A breakdancer to watch out for when he grows up

2010-12-01T09:08:00.000+08:00

Hi,

What a marvellous dance. It showcases his physical fitness and mental agility.

cheers

10 Ways to imporve student achievements and create learners

2010-11-28T22:20:00.000+08:00

Hi,

I reproduce here a portion of the article from Huffington Post, Nov 28, 2010.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pam-lowe/top-10-ways-to-improve-st_b_786205.html

Top 10 Ways to Improve Student Achievement and Create Learners
Disclaimer: This is by no means all that schools should be doing. Note that these are broad actions; there are many more detailed actions that need to be taken.

1. Share a Vision -- Review your school's Mission Statement. Your new vision should be tied to your district's Mission Statement, but build up on it. The vision should describe why it is important to achieve your mission statement while looking to the future. It should portray what will be achieved if the school is successful in achieving its goals. Everyone should be invested in the vision with a total buy-in from the entire school. You have to keep your eye on the prize and never veer from your vision.

2. Your School Should Be a Change Agent -- Change agents are passionate and driven about their vision. They make the tough decisions keeping what's best for the students in focus. When complaints about change and improvement come rolling in, and they will, pay close attention to your leadership and their decisions. If the leaders of a district do not want to upset the teachers or parents by moving forward, then your district's chances of improving are minimal at best. It's then that you find out what your leadership is made of in your school; from your school board on down to the principals.

3. Analyze Data -- Everyone involved must be data analysis; from the administration to the teachers. The secret to data analysis is to do something with the data. Many schools analyze the data and do not do anything with it. Celebrate your strengths, keep the focus on improvement and draw up plans on how you're going to improve on your weaknesses and implement it.

4. Introduce Students to Their Data -- As obvious as this may sound, many times teachers take on the burden of the responsibility and do not allow students to take ownership of their education. Involve students by sharing their data with them from standardized test data to classroom data.

5. Increase Rigor -- Schools are looking for miracles and the cure is right under their noses. Schools can do everything else in this list, including reducing class size, but if a school does not increase the rigor in instruction and learning, they are spitting in the wind. The key is recognizing the difference between hard questions and complex questions. Many teachers will tell you that they have rigorous assignments, when in reality, they do not. This one thing will make the biggest impact in not only learning, but in scores. If schools were to increase the rigor and complexity, the scores would take care of themselves.

6. Teach Students the Levels of Rigor -- Teach students the difference between recall, application, and strategic reasoning. When students learn the difference between how much thinking is required to answer questions at each level, it assists them in not only answering questions, but also in their learning. I've taught the levels to my former students and it was a defining moment in their careers as learners. This strategy paired with the above mentioned increasing rigor in instruction and assignments is a powerful combination.

7. Expectations -- Expectations go hand-in-hand with increasing rigor. Students will rise to expectations. Make sure the expectations are not set too low and demonstrate an expectation that all students can achieve the objectives of courses.

8. Teach Students How to Learn -- Students are taught what to learn. In order for them to be successful as learners, they also have to discover how to learn and to develop an appetite for learning. I'm convinced that one of the reasons some students do not succeed in college is that they sail through high school learning the prescribed curriculum, but never learn how to learn.

Students, at an early age have to be taught how to:
• self-regulate their learning
• set their own academic goals
• develop strategies to meet their goals
• reflect on their academic performance

9. Teachers as Learners Environment -- Teachers are all about instructing their students. Teachers should also invest in themselves. I'm referring to teachers actively pursuing knowledge because they want to know more. The best teachers continue to grow and don't rely solely on school designated professional development hours as their outlet to learn new concepts and ideas about education. This could include reading professional development books, blogs, or articles online. One powerful way to continue to grow as an educator is to join an online personal learning network and/or develop one on Twitter.

10. Teach Smarter and Not Harder -- Incorporate research-based teaching and learning strategies. In order to grow the district and its teachers need to be on top of the latest developments in research-based strategies.

Cheers

The Science of Happiness

2010-11-28T21:43:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Most of us have heard of Charles Darwin's "The survival of the fittest". Not many of us have heard of him also saying "Sympathy is our kindest instinct".

Now scientists in UC Berkeley are reporting that compassion and happiness are linked. Compassion strengthens our immune system, makes us more intelligent, helps in our survival as an individual as well as a species.

Cheers

300 years of fossil-fueled addiction

2010-11-21T08:29:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Condensed history of man's affect on the environment.

Cheers

The Story of Stuff

2010-11-21T08:13:00.000+08:00

Hi,

It is school holidays again. Good time to relax and do things that really matters.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to lead in this field. I hope he will bring in renewed interest in everyone taking sustainable resources and environment seriously.

Cheers

Living with Asthma

2010-11-17T19:31:00.001+08:00

Hi,

About managing asthma...

Cheers

The animators of life

2010-11-17T19:11:00.000+08:00

Hi,
Visualisation of cellular biology at molecular level (Biovison), representation of activities inside a cell as a cinema is jaw-dropping. It looks almost like entertainment and not biology.

Enjoy.

Cheers

The Story of Cap and Trade

2010-11-17T11:01:00.000+08:00

Hi,

Lets learn more about how stuff is produced and sold to you, the conusmer.

Cheers

The Story of Cosmetics

2010-11-17T10:50:00.000+08:00

Hi,

More stories to raise your awareness level of what you do to the planet when you purchase your favourite cosmetic stuff.

Cheers

The Story of Bottled Water

2010-11-17T10:42:00.000+08:00

Hi,

We need to realise what we are doing to our environment with our purchase of bottled water which is 1000 times more than the clean safe tap water!

Cheers
Happy Hari Raya Haji

Electronics Takeback

2010-11-17T10:24:00.001+08:00

Hi,

We throw away our electronics after they breakdown or when newer models are available. What happens to this mountains of e-wastes?

take it back, make it green, recycle responsibly

Are you pro nuclear energy?

2010-07-31T08:32:00.006+08:00

Hi,

Are you against nuclear energy?

We need electricity. Clean energy is what we want. Energy from burning coal produces carbon dioxide. Energy from nuclear sources produces nuclear wastes which emit lethal radiations for tens of hundreds of years. It has to stored safely, usually buried underground.

Listen to this debate and make up your own mind.

Cheers

Plastic bags pollute the environment

2010-07-31T08:20:00.002+08:00

Hi,

Australia, South Africa, India, China, Italy, Bangladesh and Taiwan have banned, or instituted partial bans on plastic bags to combat the serious environmental threats they pose. Ireland imposes a tax on each bag, which is another way to slow down their use (after the tax, consumers’ usage dropped 90%). In March 2007, the City of San Francisco was the first major United States city to ban plastic bags, and Oakland soon followed suit

Read the full article at http://www.peachygreen.com/going-green/oregon-considers-plastic-bag-ban

Cheers

Molecular Genetics, cell divisions, ecology, selection

2010-07-13T15:14:00.008+08:00

Hi Students,

Below are a few links I found very useful in understanding concepts in Molecular Biology and genetics. Difficult concepts in cell division are also dealt with.

Ecology, bioaccumulation and bio-magnification are also dealt with in the powerpoints slideshows listed below.

(1) http://www.slideshare.net/msthomas79/genetics-3177596?from=share_email

(2) http://www.slideshare.net/orodina/nucleic-acids?from=share_email

(3) http://www.slideshare.net/chalkie28/gcse-inheritance-and-selection?from=share_email

(4) http://www.slideshare.net/boo5000/unit-1-ecology-powerpoint-goal-5?from=share_email

(5) http://www.slideshare.net/MrJewett/biomagnification-bioaccumulation2?from=share_email

(6) http://www.slideshare.net/walajtys/biology-chapter-13-genetic-engineering?from=share_email

(7) http://www.slideshare.net/maxedmond/dna-strucutre-and-replication?from=share_email

(8) http://www.slideshare.net/msthomas79/genetic-engineering-3177598?from=share_email

I will go through these slideshows in class. You may want to browse through them for better understanding.

Cheers

I do not know if this can be recycled

2010-07-08T09:43:00.003+08:00

Hi,

We are sometimes not sure which items to place in our recycling bags or bins.

Zerowastesg has compiled a list of 70 common waste items and checked with the National Environment Agency (NEA) on whether these items are acceptable for recycling through the NRP or recycling bins.

Click at this link http://www.zerowastesg.com/our-initiatives/can-recycle/and find out for yourself.

The recyclables and those that cannot be recycled through the NRP or recycling bins are given. Point and click your cursor on the image and you can see the description of the item with comments from the NEA.

Please do not forget to share this information with all your friends and family.

Cheers

Mental health and nature deficit disorder are related?

2010-06-15T18:56:00.016+08:00

I read "Can playing in the dirt make you smarter?" and was even more convinced that a daily dose of nature is important in our mental and physical well-being. It is even more important in Singapore as we live in high-rise apartments and do not come into contact with soil and gardening is not in our list of things to do everyday or even on weekends.

Linda Buzzell, a psychotherapist, wrote about this in http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-buzzell/garden-guide-can-playing_b_591254.html

"The science supporting the mental health benefits of gardening and outdoor activities in general just gets stronger with each new study. We need to help our kids -- and ourselves -- recover from what author Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods) calls "nature deficit disorder."

These studies encourage all of us to support our local communities by building a school garden at every educational institution in our area, increasing the availability of community gardens for everyone who wants a plot of soil to dig their fingers into and -- perhaps most important -- shrinking our lawns and growing some of our own food."

The original article is found at www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100524143416.htm

I also wrote about this in this blog earlier, in May. It is found at http://asal-sakti.blogspot.com/2010/05/fun-filled-carefree-and-myopia-free.html

Cheers

Giant solar Flares predicted in May 2013

2010-06-08T19:24:00.005+08:00

Hi,

In 1859, a geomagnetic storm sparked by a huge solar flare swept over the Earth. Telegraph wires shorted out and set houses on fire. A brilliant aurora was seen in Hawaii—so bright that "people could read newspapers by [its] red and green glow."

Scientists predict that in May 2013, the sun's solar cycle will peak at about the same level as in 1859.

Next week, scientists will meet at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum to talk about how to monitor and predict so-called "space weather"—solar flares, interplanetary magnetic fields, etc.

They predict a marked increase in solar storms over the next few years. According to NASA scientist Richard Fisher: "The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity."

This is bad news for anyone who likes electronic things.

We're so dependent on technology hooked up to satellites, which can be disabled or destroyed by huge waves of charged particles spit out by the sun during a solar storm: GPS, cell phones—even credit card transactions use a satellite. A severe solar storm will knock out commercial satellites, blow down transformers, power lines, "leaving millions of people in northern latitudes without power."

Is your crazy behaviour due to toxoplasmosis?

2010-06-05T08:59:00.003+08:00

Hi,

I was very shocked by an article I read in The Economist June 5th 2010.
Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite carried by cats and rats and mice. It is like Plasmodium that causes malaria in human beings. However Toxoplasma affects cats and rodents in its normal life cycle. However, if it gets into humans, it forms cysts in the brain, liver and muscles.

Its effects on the rodents is a bizarre and fatal attraction to cats! Infected rats have been shown to be attracted to the smell of cats. These rodents wander around the cat to draw attention towards them so that they will be eaten!!

In this way the parasite makes the rodent complete its life cycle.

Of course humans are not preys of cats. However when the parasites infects the brains of humans, it produces a number of strange and crazy problems.

(1)Schizophrenia is a form of severe mental problem or madness. Scientists in Johns Hopkins University proved that people who suffer from schizophrenia are 3 times more likely to be infected with toxoplasma.

(2)Scientists at Charles University in Prague proved that people involved in road accidents are 3 times more likely to be infected with toxoplasma. This is due to reduced reaction times and short attention spans of the drivers.

(3)Dopamine is a chemical molecule produced by nerve cells. It has psychotic effects. Infection with toxoplasma produces a reduction in "novelty-seeking" effect. When blood tests were conducted in different countries, the British had a infection score of only 6.6% and we all know that the Brits are calm and not easily excited (-0.8). On the other hand the French has a infection score of 45% and they are known to be outgoing and excitable.

As every science student is taught from the beginning, correlation is not causation. It could be that the symptoms are found to be more common amongst the susceptible or due to some third as yet unidentified variable.

Read more about this very ubiquitous creature at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii

Cheers