520 Reading journal#5

Activated my schemata, Darwinism，the evolutionary theory, is memorized as established by Charles Darwin only. Due to the fact that we were educated to admit human beings, animals, insects, reptiles and fishes are all evolved from their ancestors step by step in our secondary schools, I only remembered the theory was stated by Darwin, and that is why we call it Darwinism.

However, this article leads me to a new era. Darwinism was put forward at least by Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace together, if not completely by Alfred Russel Wallace. The article, The Man Who Wasn't Darwin, describes Wallace’s long tough discovery life in Singapore and many other Asian countries. In the article, there are many sentences and ideas that refer to Wallace’s opinion about adaptation and evolution. The sentence, “When he published a full treatise on natural selection, in 1889, with characteristic humility he titled it Darwinism”, stated in the last part of article convinces me a lot. My prior knowledge is so strong that I have to doubt the authenticity. On the other hand, this article is published in National Geographic magazine which makes me trust it. Before I look into more reference, I won’t make any decisions about which one is correct and which one is untrue. It still comes to my mind and challenges my knowledge, but it is a good challenge which can push me to read more.

Another point is that the conflict between my old and new knowledge reminds one article in my TOEFL test. It was about Darwinism too, but it contrasted with Darwinism, which thought species can evolve even in a short period instead of such long time in Darwinism. The article listed some experiments and phenomena to demonstrate its idea. Although I still believe in Darwinism in the theory level, I admire that it used examples and statistics to challenge the theory which dominated for long time. I mention this because it contained evidence, not only personal opinions.

It is related to our real life. People can express any ideas to convince others, only if they can explain them. Like my final university paper, I had to experiment all the hypothesis to get statistics, and then I have right to write down my own opinion based on my results. It is the way that scientists do. I don’t think these are necessary during our daily expression, nevertheless, I have to say we need enough reasons to support you. I should do as what I think, because I always cannot give strong reason when I try to explain something. The only thing I did was “because I think so”

The Man Who Wasn't Darwin

By David Quammen
National Geographic Contributing Writer
Photograph by Robert Clark

520R - Journal # 4

What is your first reflection when you are asked the questions of “Nano”? I’m pretty sure a great group of people will have iPod Nano in their mind, so do I. However, what is the precise meaning of nano?

Fortunately, Jennifer Kahn, in his “Welcome to the World of Nanotechnology”, shows us a perspective picture of nanotechnology. Nano is short for nanometer, one-billionth of a meter. Generally, nanotechnology is to use some technique to reorganize the structure of substances or to induce substances to grow under controlled conditions. Compared with other high-tech, the entry cost of nanotechnology is low enough to attract global investment and research. Scientists have focused on various fields of application, such as anti-rusting electrical wire, strain-resistant bulletproof vest, antibacterial refrigerator, etc. Although lots of them require a quite long way to research, we should feel pleased because they will come true finally. I’m not sure if the entire of the product is made by nanotechnology and nanomaterials, but some nano-goods are available in the market. I have an experience recently. Because of the decoration, my father chose a new kitchen table board which is made from so called nanomaterial. As I major in food science, I know if the board is exactly from nanotechnology, it can keep the sanitation quite well, for bacterial is not small enough to enter the board. I always think nanotechnology is so far away from me, my daily life, and that’s why I suspect it. Nevertheless, I should believe in it, because when I spilt water onto the board, the water separated into small drips and each one looked like a ball which never happened in a normal material board.

That the heath's goal is to identify cancers early should be the greatest dream of nanotechnology which uses nanomarker to track early cancer cells and use other related methods to kill the cancer cells. It sounds excellent and I totally believe that one day it will come into my life just like the nanoboard did to me.

Like medicine, many new technologies have adverse effect to human beings, so does nanotechnology. Scientists are afraid that nanopartical can spread through all of the human body and cause some damage to our organs, even though the evidence is not sufficient. What’s I hope is that more studies and research are undertaken and ultimately we can use this spectacular technology in our daily life.


Welcome to the World of Nanotechnology
By Jennifer Kahn
National Geographic

520R-journal#3

Neil Shea, in his Crystal Palace, tells me a lot of knowledge of crystal as well as remind me of the disaster that those natural resources could have.

By the time I read the article, I had never imagined the crystal can grow into such large and numerous scales. The longest crystal can reach almost 38 feet and the documented number of giant crystals has been 149. Scientists estimate the stable environment would be the main reason to produce these unique crystals, including temperature, water and minerals. At as high as 136°F, crystal began to grow surrounded by mineral-rich water in which the high temperature was converting some mineral to selenite the source of crystal. Growing in silence for millions of years, crystal was formed gradually.

I have to agree that scientists expertizing in diverse fields have studied the crystal palace, such as uranium-thorium, microbes and their history. It is a good job that we can learn much more information from the appearance of the twinkle crystal. However, as I’m worried when I read the first part of this valuable crystal, the author also mentions that someone has tried to steal the priceless treasure. This is only one small part that the crystal cave is experiencing. The change of the natural condition will be a cataclysm for crystal. Evaporated water, cooled temperature and exposure to the gravity threaten the health of the crystal. They may over time bend or even crack. It will be fatal for this precious natural treasure. This reminds me of the bad effect of human beings’ mining or discovery. Although the study of the natural resources can increase our knowledge and speed our civilization, it will be the end of the development of the resources themselves. We can find this phenomenon everywhere. People always cheer when they find a new ancient trace or tomb, and then countless researches are coming and exploit everything out of their original environments. Scientists are trying to find out ways to protect against from those damages, but they seem useless. Fresh mummy becomes dry and colorful decoration turns into gray. This is a dilemma. Without researches, we understand nothing from the facts, but on the other hand, our treasures are slipping away.


I’m sure we can find final methods to preserve our unusual treasures, and I believe in our scientists. Maybe we can announce a policy which we cannot exploit the resources that we still don’t know or can not find ways to protect them until our technology is advanced enough.

Photograph by Carsten Peter, Speleoresearch & Films
The reading material is from
Crystal Cave by Neil Shea
National Geographic,November 2008