A Warm Cup of Coffee Could Make Your Day Sweeter!

Who: Researchers such as Lawrence Williams of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and John Bargh, the researcher and psychologist from Yale University. For their study, the researchers randomly chose 41 undergraduate students, 27 of whom were female.

What: Scientists from across the country came up with a theory that those who held a warm beverage viewed a stranger with having more warmer personality traits, and were more generous in dealing with others, as opposed to having a cold beverage, such as an iced coffee. Therefore, they held a study in which the 41 students were being tested on. The students were either given a hot cup of coffee or an iced coffee, while giving their names and other basic information. They were then each given a packet of questions regarding another individual in the room. They were asked to rate that person's overall personality such as being generous/ungenerous, happy/unhappy, good-natured/irritable, sociable/anti-social, and caring/selfish. As a result, the subjects that had held the warm beverage rated people as being "warmer". However, on the questions that were unrelated to warmth, the researchers found no difference in the answers between the warm beverage holders and cold beverage holders. In additon, to the beverage study, the researchers also conducted a similar study in which the 41 students either held a hot pack, or an ice pack. They were then offered a gift certificate to give to a friend, or they could recieve a gift for themselves. The majority of those who held the hot pack asked for the gift certificate for their friend, and those who held the ice pack asked for the gift for themselves.

Where: The study took place in an elevator en route to another floor of the building.

When: There is no specific date in the article, however I would have to say that the study took place in late September to early October.

Why: The study was conducted because many scientists agreed with the same theory-that a warm beverage in the morning, gives a person a more positive outlook on the day. Therefore, they decided the only way to be sure if their theory was true or not was to test it in an experiment.

My Opinion: Though I do not drink coffee or any other hot beverage in the morning, I would have to agree with the researchers that a warm beverage does give a person a more generous attitude. I agree because not only is their sufficient evidence to support the theory, I have witnessed it with my own mother. For example, when my mother has a hot cup of coffee, she tends to be less cranky and kinder to my sister and I. However, the days that she has a cold glass of milk, she tends to be more negative and more upset.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/culture/081023-warm-hands.html#comments

Flying Cars Are No Longer Just Science Fiction

Who: Dr. Paul Moller, the president and Chief Executive Officer of Moller International

What: Dr. Paul Moller, who recieved a masters degree in Engineering and a PhD in Aerodynamics, has had the vision since he was 15, to create the first flight vehicle for the general public. That dream eventually turned into the Skycar. Moller International currently has two in-the-making models, the M400 Skycar and the M200x Neuera, or more formerly the Jetson. Both vehicles are able of vertical liftoff, landing, hovering, and cruising. Most importantly, however, in order for all these ammenities to work, the engine and the stability system must be properly working. In addition, like most cars, it can reach speeds of 75 mph to about 100 mph.

Where: Dr. Paul Moller's company, Moller International, is located in Davis, California.

When: The envisionment of having a flying car has been in Dr. Paul Moller for several years now, since he was 15 years old.

Why: Dr. Paul Moller decided that there should be flying cars because they eliminating high spending on gas, and more importantly you save the time you always used to waste in traffic.

My Opinion: I believe the idea of flying cars is fantastic because not only does it have a much lower environmental effect, it is also much less accident prone than the traditional car. In addition, I along with the rest of the world, would love to get where they want, and faster; opposed to wasting hours on end in bumper to bumper traffic.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/081010-sb-flying-car.html

Math Is...

Back in September, I thought math was the simple computation of numbers and variables to find an answer. That bit, of course has not changed; we still have endless equations and expressions, and we still have to find an answer. However, math has become more than simply just finding a value of a variable, an interest rate- more than just an answer. It's become a way of life, a way to find solutions to daily problems without having to always refer back to a calculator, or an elder. These daily problems, we realized this year incorporate many of the math skills we have learned and reviewed this past year. Math is also shaping our modern world in every aspect thought possible-aviation, space travel, technology, medical science, etc. For sure, this year's math curriculum has definitely been one of the most productive years, teaching me skills I will use for years to come, and skills that will affect not only my life, but of our future generation.

Class Response Blog: Kite Flying

On a nice breezy summer day, a common sight is children running around playing kites. Though there are few simple steps to succesfully flying a kite, the science behing the flying is anything but simple. In our science class activity, we experienced hands on the real science that leads to the actual flying of a kite. The real key to flying a kite properly is air pressure. For instance, if the air is going at a rapid pace, there is less air pressure, and more pressure below the kite. Therefore, the kite moves upward. Another key factor in flying a kite, is wind. The wind we receive to fly kites are local winds such as land breezes and sea breezes.

Class Response Blog: The Artic Tale

Of the many millions of years that humans have been residents on our grand Earth, the polar bear has remained one of the most mesmerizing creatures to our eyes. However, until recent studies in the 19th century, humans have had menial knowledge of the rigorous struggles that polar bears go through ever year just to survive. Along with polar bears, another creature that goes through the same treacherous battles yearly, is the walrus. These struggles were demonstrated in the documentary narrated by Queen Latifah, which we viewed in class. This documentary followed Seela and Nanu along with their cubs through a year of life battling winters and peaceful summers.

*Extra Credit*-5/18/08

Of America's numerous talented poets, from 19th century poets to contemporary poets, Robert Frost among heavy competition, will always remain one of the greatest poets the world has ever seen. One of his many poems, "Fire and Ice", I believe is very weather related. Weather is used in this poem because Mr. Frost is summarizing the way many scientists have been for many years, arguing constantly on the way our world will be destructed. Basically, the poet is trying to say that high technology or rocket scientists, will never be the cause of our earth to finally subside, but actually, the most simple element of our earth, that has stayed with us from the beginning- weather- will actually be the cause of our earth's destruction. Though this poem was written in 1920, the issue that fumbled scientists 87 years ago, perplexes our contemporary scientists even more. The types of weather that this poem discussed were perhaps a wildfire or an ice storm.

Although, along with everyone else in the world, I don' t know the way our earth will fall, I still believe that this poem did not further enhance my knowledge in weather because I did however know of the controversy of fire and ice. Without the mentioning of weather in this poem, I believe this poem's meaning could entirely change to a different subject. For instance, the fire and the ice could resemble two cliques in a school fighting over popularity. However, what makes me know that this poem is about weather, is the first line that notes the author's curiosity of our world's destruction.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost:

Some say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice.From what I've tasted of desireI hold with those who favour fire.But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction ice is also greatAnd would suffice.

The Typewriter-It Affects You Much More Than You Think!

When we see a typewriter, we probably think that it's old and that it is useless compared to our highly advanced society today. However, the typewriter plays a huge part in the standard keyboard we have today. In short, the keyboard is an innovation from the typewriter. Many people would say that the typewriter has its many flaws such as not being able to save, backspace, delete work, etc. That maybe true, however, as I said earlier the keyboard in an innovation of the typewriter. Therefore, though the keyboard is much more advanced than the typewriter, without the idea of the typewriter, the keyboard would fail to exist. For example, the entire idea of having keys to press on in order to make a print of letters, comes completely from the typewriter. In addition, if you think about it, the initial purpose of the keyboard is to make print. So next time you see an old, dusty typewriter in your grandmother's closet, know that it's affecting you every time you touch one of the keys on your computer.