Issues in Chemistry

Producing Clean Water in an Emergency

McGill University (2011, February 25). Producing clean water in an emergency.ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 27, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2011/02/110223151941.htm

Disasters such as floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes often result in the spread of diseases like gastroenteritis, giardiasis and even cholera because of an immediate shortage of clean drinking water. Now, chemistry researchers at McGill University have taken a key step towards making a cheap, portable, paper-based filter coated with silver nanoparticles to be used in these emergency settings.

In my thoughts...

It is a fact that in emergency settings we need something to immediately provide our basic needs, such as clean water to drink. With this new breakthrough there are some issues that we need to talk about. But first let us take a look into the relevance of this new insight into our own settings.

For example here in the Philippines, the occurrence of disasters such as floods and earthquakes really resulted to a more big problem when people are gathered together in an evacuation area. There is a need to supply all of them with safe and clean drinking water to avoid diseases. Good to know that there are group of researchers who are looking for a device to address this problem in a state of emergency situation. By using the paper-based filter coated with silver nanoparticles.

But the main issue accompanied by this is that, would it be possible for the Third world countries like the Philippines to make used of this new discovery? In the Philippines we know that silver is considered as one of the precious metal although if we have to make used only a fraction or minute particles of silver to be coated into a paper to be use as a filter in emergency situation this would still implies that we need to spend money in order to have this and I guess ordinary people who are usually victims of calamities would find it hard to afford this.

And probably we can adhere to Theodore Parker when he said that “ As society advances the standard of poverty rises”. 

Issues in Physics

Big science in a small space

http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.085003

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore in California was designed with a specific goal: to use high-powered lasers to ignite a fusion reaction that releases more energy than the one million joules needed to start it.

In my side:

Yes it is fact that we really need to have some devices that will help the scientists to have a better energy research and to study the structure of stars. But at stake of this present study would result to some advantages and disadvantages.

Let me discuss some of the advantages of the fusion process.

• The fuel for fusion reactions are readily available. Deuterium and Tritium are virtually inexhaustible.
• Unlike the burning of coal or other fossil fuels, fusion does not emit harmful toxins into the atmosphere. The combustion of most fossil fuels involves some form of the reaction.
• Fusion produces only helium, a gas that is already in abundance in the atmosphere and will not contribute to global warming.

But then there also noted disadvantages of the fusion process. But if we eventually can do it, the reactor's inner shell is likely to become mildly radioactive over time and would have to be disposed of accordingly when the reactor is no longer in service. This would also causes a problem for the handling and disposal of that waste. Also, there are by-products created by the regular fusion process, in the form of radioactive materials. There may be other issues, but identifying them will have to wait until this developing research study will be successful.

A simple Thanks

Hundreds, thousands or even millions of thanks are not enough for me to express my thanks and gratitude to my dearest rotary family, the Rotary Club of Ishinomaki South, Japan and Rotary Club of East Davao.

Rotary changed my life. You honed me to become a more responsible individual of our society. You gave me the inspirations and clear examples for me to achieve the dreams and aspirations I have in life with the desire to help, serve and learn and to do service above self.

It is always my pride and honor to carry the name “rotary scholar”, who knows the ideals of rotary and practice the true essence of service. And though no person may be able to change the world , I want you to know that you made a significant difference in my life.

Once again thank you, doumo arigato gozaimashita!

Biotechnological Innovations

The field of biotechnology is constantly advancing. From finding ways to slow down the process of food spoilage, advancements in genetic engineering, to adapting organisms to clean up contaminated environments, new applications and biotechnological inventions are continuously being developed to help improve our world.

Oil-Eating Bacteria to Clean up Oil Spills

The oil-spill has been one of the biggest issues the environmental, health, agricultural and financial sectors have been tackling, and scientists in Europe have sequenced the genome for an oil-eating bacterium, which could lead to faster, more efficient ways to clean up oil spills.

That certain bacteria have the ability to metabolize oil isn’t a new discovery of course. Back in 1989, bacteria were used experimentally in attempts to clean up the 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez after it ran aground off the coast of Alaska. Though it made little to no difference back then, now that researchers have a complete blueprint for the oil-hungry bacteria: Alcanivorax borkumensis, they’ll have the ability to optimize the conditions for these bugs, enabling them to soak up the hundreds of millions of liters of oil that enter our waters each year.http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17230&ch=biotech

In my side

The Guimaras oil spill is the second such incident in the Philippines in the last eight months. In December 2005, a power barge ran aground on the nearby coast of Antique, dumping 364,000 litres of bunker oil. This oil spill severely polluted 40km of Antique’s coastline and decimated more than 230ha of pristine mangrove forest. Rehabilitation costs are estimated at US$ 2 million, and clean up efforts have not yet been completed and we know that oil spills are most destructive when they reach the shoreline,.Critical habitats such as coral reefs and mangrove forests are being affected and will take years to repair.
Oil Spills can affect the:

• Marine Life: Birds are the most vulnerable to the effects of an oil spill. When birds dive for food, they ingest oil (through the water and on the food they pick up) -- an extremely toxic substance. The oil also coats a bird's body, leading to a loss of thermal insulation and affecting their ability to fly. If mammals have fur, they are impacted by losing thermal insulation (causing them to freeze to death) and affecting their buoyancy (causing them to drown). For mammals that don't have fur, such as dolphins and orcas, oil fills their "blow hole", causing them to suffocate and drown. Oils toxicity effects fish, poisoning fish that is eaten by us, and by other aquatic life.

• Beyond Sea Life: Oil spills persist in the environment for years, and eventually making their to shores and smothering the roots of swamps and wetlands (killing the animal and marine life who inhabit these ecosystems).
• Economics: There is a massive cost associated with oil clean ups and remediation. Tainted waters and shores also affect tourism, pollutes fisheries (decreasing our fish supply and increasing the level of toxicity in the fish we eat), and diminishes coastal property values. In addition, industries that rely on sea water, like power plants and desalination plants, are deeply effected by oily water.

Now ,with the latest innovations in the field of biotechnology the oil-hungry bacteria: Alcanivorax borkumensi could be a great help to speed up the clean up of the oil spill in Guimaras Island in the Philippines by employing hundreds or thousands of this oil-hungry bacteria to ocean especially nearest to the affected places.

Innovations in Chemistry and Physics

The term innovation refers to a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental, radical, and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations. A distinction is typically made between invention, an idea made manifest, and innovation, ideas applied successfully.

Superhalogens: New Class of Magic Atomic Clusters Discovered

Virginia Commonwealth University (2011, February 12). Superhalogens: New class of magic atomic clusters discovered.ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 25, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2011/02/110211124613.htm

An international team of researchers has discovered a new class of magnetic superhalogens -- a class of atomic clusters able to exhibit unusual stability at a specific size and composition, which may be used to advance materials science by allowing scientists to create a new class of salts with magnetic and super-oxidizing properties not previously found.

Unlike conventional superhalogens that are composed of a metal atom at the core and surrounded by halogen atoms, the magnetic superhalogens discovered by this team are composed of stoichiometric metal-halogen moieties at the core to which an additional halogen is attached.

The new chemical species known as magnetic superhalogens mimic the chemistry of halogens which are a class of elements from the periodic table, namely, iodine, astatine, bromine, fluorine and chlorine. The word halogen means "salt-former," and when one of the elements above combines with sodium, they can form a salt.

Specifically, the cluster is Mn_xCl_2x+1, where x = 1, 2, 3, and so on, have manganese and chlorine atoms as a core to which only one chlorine atom is attached. The manganese atoms carry a large magnetic moment and therefore make these superhalogens magnetic.

"One can now design and synthesize yet unknown magnetic superhalogens by changing the metal atom from manganese to other transition metal atoms and changing chlorine to other halogen atoms. In addition to their use as oxidizing agents, being magnetic opens the door to the synthesis a new class of salts," said lead investigator Puru Jena, Ph.D., distinguished professor of physics at VCU.

According to Jena, superhalogens are like halogens, in the sense they form negative ions, but their affinity to attract electrons is far greater than those of any halogen atoms. Negative ions are useful as oxidizing agents, for purification of air and in serotonin release for uplifting mood.

"Superhalogens can do the same thing as halogens can do, only better," said Jena. "The ability of superhalogens to carry large quantities of fluorine and chlorine can be used for combating biological agents as well."

"In addition, superhalogens, due to their large electron affinity, can involve inner core electrons of metal atoms in chemical reaction, thus fundamentally giving rise to new chemistry," said Jena.

In October, Jena and his colleagues reported the discovery of a new class of highly electronegative chemical species called hyperhalogens, which use superhalogens as building blocks around a metal atom. The chemical species may have application in many industries.

In my point of view:

The discovery of this superhalogens can help the scientists to create salts with magnetic and super-oxidizing properties which can help us in many aspects/fields.

1. One of the application of this discovery might be the use of the magnets in the medical sciences which is very affective. We can use magnet therapy for the pain management without any use of the medicines. The magnets can stimulate the nerves in the human body and increase the blood circulation, which carries oxygen to the tissues. The magnet are used to heal the pains and the wounds of the athletes. Doctors uses the magnets to cure arthritis, gout, spondilitis and other problems related to the nervous system. Magnetic mattress are used for relaxing the body. In MRI we use the magnets. Magnets are used to cure the depression, headaches and migraines.

2. We can use the salts that has super-oxidizing properties to clean our teeth.
3. In baking industries we can use the “improvers,” or oxidizing substances, enhances the baking quality of flour, allowing production of better and larger loaves. Relatively small amounts are required, generally a few parts per million. Although such improvers and the bleaching agents used to rectify excessive yellowness in flour are permitted in most countries, the processes are not yet considered as universal.
   4. Other by products of this research can be use for purification of air and in serotonin release for uplifting mood of an individuals.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Science and Technology

 Technology can be defined as science applied to practical purposes. Nowadays, when the rapidness of development and research is so impressive, it is easy to think about the advantages of modern technology. Nevertheless some people argue that science can destroy mankind. It is also obvious that we are close on an era where technology is limited only by our imagination. Therefore the most frequently asked question is: Does technology go the right way and will it save or ruin our civilization?

First let us take a closer look about what does science and technology brings us. In the field of medical science it is very progressive and largely available. Without the needed technology a lot of people would struggle with their health. In addition it saves many innocent lives and advances in medicines like fetal and organ transplants led to longer life expectancy. The point is to spread it and reach with medicine help to the poor nations of the Third World. Secondly, the advanced technology improves our means of communication like fax machines, cellular phones, web connections and other newest inventions in the field of communications that led to rapid information exchanges from any part of the world. Advances in the field of transportation system led to greater mobility. Technology also improves industry that led to economic growth. In short technology improved our standard of living.
On the other hand technology if abused can cause environmental degradation. Technology produces by – products that pollute and destroy the ecological balance in nature. Technology is also responsible for the depletion of natural resources through unmindful exploitation of nature.

 Science has been responsible for pollution and has given us the nuclear bomb which threatens our very existence. But in this also the fault lies not with science, but rather with mans intention to misuse the discoveries of science. Science is not inherently good or evil. It is a way to acquire knowledge systematically, which is only a tool.

Technology is not at all bad as long as humans establish proper goals. Technology when applied should take into consideration aspects of human life and environment. Science can be used for the good of all if used. A common chain linking everything above is the human factor. The role of humans in this is the most important of all and if anything goes wrong, we can only blame ourselves, Science when improperly used can be molded into a potent force capable of wiping out life and its traces of the surface of earth. Think about it.... we all have a role to play.

Technological Innovations in Science and Technology

ATM Machine

Technological change refers to the process by which new products and processes are generated. When new technologies involve a new way of making existing products, the technological change is called process innovation. When they include entirely new products, the change is referred to as product innovation. The invention of assembly-line automobile production by the Ford Motor Company is a widely cited example of the former, while automated teller machines (ATMs) and facsimile machines can be seen as product innovations.

Generally speaking, technological change assists economic growth and general well-being by enabling better utilization of existing resources and by bringing about new and better products. Besides benefits to suppliers or inventors of new technologies via disproportionate profits, new technologies have benefits for consumers (e.g., innovations in health care) and for the society (e.g., better oil-drilling techniques enabling less wastage and a more effective utilization of the oil in the ground). Current technologies also make the development of future technologies easier by generating new ideas and possibilities.

Innovations in Health Care

Changing technologies, however, can have negative consequences for certain sectors or bodies. Examples of negative aspects include pollution (including environmental, noise, and light pollution) associated with production processes, increased unemployment from labor-saving new technologies, and so forth.

This suggests that society must consider the relative costs and benefits of new technologies. Let us also be concern with scientific discoveries and inventions , weigh their value to the individual and society and let us be united to perceive the price of progress and modernity.

Science and Scientific Progress

“ Science is an attempt to make the chaotic diversity of our experience correspond to a logically uniform system of thought” - Albert Einstein

iamkaripotter@gmail.comThe world has changed. Who brought about the changes? How were these changes achieved? These are only some of the questions that we need to answer as we discuss the past, present and the future of science here in the Philippines.

According to Aristotle, a great Greek philosopher, human beings by nature desire to know. They seek the truth. They explore the environment to gain knowledge of the underlying structure and composition of the material of the world. In investigating the environment, they develop a particular approach of interpreting and understanding the world. This is science.

Looking back at the past, records show that there are three groups of people settled in the Philippines: Negritos, Indonesians and Malays. Filipinos considered them as their ancestors. Like other people of the world, our ancestors believed in superstition and magic charms. Our ancestors practiced a certain degree of science when they practiced herbal medicine, observed the skies and heavenly bodies, prepared their own system of weights and measures, practiced engineering in their ditches as in the world famous Banawe Rice Terraces.

Those are the glorious past of science and technology among our ancestors. As the world keep on moving we are now at our present generation. We are very lucky to to have been born at a time when a lot of great comfort have been provided to us.

Try to look around you. What do you see? A pencil, an eraser, a ball pen, electric fans, clothes, shoes, toothpaste, soap, and etc. Almost everything around you are products of technology. Technology is applied science. And we can say that technology is older than science, our ancestors first fashioned tools from rocks to cope with their environment, that was technology in the primitive form. Our ancestors drank wine even before the process of fermentation was known.

We should be very thankful that so many things have been invented/discovered for our convenience. From almost all aspect of our lives. From the time that we were awake every morning until we retires for the night, we are using the product of science and technology. Thus, we can say that science/technology has a vital role in everyday living. Certainly, our present day life is more comfortable than what it was several years ago. Thanks to the application of scientific principles for practical use.

The advancement of today’s present world were the result of the merging of scientific knowledge with technical know-how. For example: Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric lamp, on the work of Faraday and Henry, Graham Bell, the inventor of telephone on the work of Helmholtz,and the atomic bomb the on the work of Einstein.

Science and technology have greatly influenced human activities. Advances in the communications that lead to rapid information exchange. Advances in transport systems led to greater mobility. Advances in medicine led to longer life expectancy. In short technology improved our standard of living, health, transportation systems, communications and etc. But technology if abused can cause environmental degradation. But technology is not at all bad-as long as humans establish proper goals. Technology when applied should take into consideration aspects of human life and the environment.

As the main preoccupation in today's world is science and technology. Is scientific technology boon to mankind? Or , is it humanity's bane? Curse or blessings, hope or despair, scientific technology poses today's greatest challenge. Every machine, electric device, or electric gadget invented can both humanity's gain and humanity's ruin.