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

520 reading- journal#2

photograph by Jim Richarson:ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/richardson-photography
Yiqing

October 19,2008

520Reading

Reading Journal

Verlyn Klinkenborg, in his Our Vanishing Night, talked about the causes of light pollution and bad effect on mammals, insects’ species as well as human beings in condition of light everywhere. He wrote light pollution begun in the fast developing society. Because of willing of better lives in the evening, in the darkness, people use more and more lighting in our world. But the bad design and improper usage of lighting bring about light pollution, it is not only wasting energy and missing beauty of natural darkness, but it causes problems.

Light pollution has brought many serious troubles in animals and insects. It affects their wrong judgment of direction which some species treat light as their magnet, safety, behaviors like migration, breeding, nesting and so on. I agree with these points, because I have seen those things happened. As far as I know, some kinds of birds and insects have an instinct called phototoxy, which force individuals to move or fly towards light. I saw a group of birds flied towards powerful lights and made themselves burned. Lots of birds died, but they didn’t stop like some invisible hand was pushing them. What’s more, during some summer night, I had been waken up by noisy that cicada did. I never experienced this strange thing until more and more lightings were turned on in the city. I strongly believe it is not a good phenomenon, since I’m afraid some bad affects might happen in those insects or animals and some days later, I could not see them any more. They may disappear out of the world.

As the author said, I also admit that light pollution makes human beings sicker. The interval of darkness relates to your internal biological clock, which decides our sleeping and waking and even our health. Let’s step back for a moment. Jet lag makes us feel exhausted because of the different daytime and nighttime. The same as light pollution, it confuses your sense of daytime and nighttime. The worse thing is the time lasts longer, and causes worse damage.

Light pollution can bring about many negative effects. However, compared with other pollutions, light pollution can be reduced more easily. Producing good designed lights and using them in a proper way are both good improvements. It can also help us save energy, which will benefit a lot of ways.

In sum, light pollution do happen around us and have already made bad influences. Fortunately, according to the easy solution, I believe light pollution will be overcome as long as we face it and do our best.

reading passage is from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/featurehub

Our Vanishing Night

By Verlyn Klinkenborg

Introduce myself

Hi, I'm from Shengzhou, China. I'm sure that will be a new place for most of you, but someone may know Shaoxin, which my hometown belongs to. My main major is Food Science. I need to metion you I'm not a cook, but I like cooking and good at cooking Chinese food. I'm glad to answer your questions about food or anything else, if I can deal with that.

I like some sports: basketball, pingpong ball and Tae Kwon Do. Last Friday, I played basketball and felt well. I look for some places I can play pingpong ball and some clubs that practise Tae Kwon Do, but I didn't find them yet. I eagerly look forward to them. It will be a better choice to take excises in "Raincouver" than to stay at home all day long.

My purpose coming to vancouver is simple, improving English ability and getting an offer of master school. Although it won't be an easy time here, I will do my best to move on step by step.

Don't be full, my bus

er...
This morning, I was in bad mood. I left my house at 7:00am, but when I arrived at school, it was more tha 9:oo. My bus played a great joke on me. Actually, I "missed" 3 buses. All of them showed: Sorry, bus is full........I asked myself to calm down after 2 passed buses, and push myself to believe that I still have time. However, staring at the third flying bus, I really lost my patience. It would be the fact that I would be late for my first class.

Yes, I was late. Fortunately, I was allowed to take the class instead of staying outside.

Oh, my dear buses, for the coming days, please don't be too full to leave me alone in the darkness and cold. I just need two feet spaces to support my body.

Who can help me

Does anyone can tell me how to put my picture as my portrait?
I studied it for long time but didn't have any result. So I had to put my photo as one picture in blog.Once I know it, I will correct it.

Start a Reading Journal

Yiqing
October 5,2008
520Reading
Reading Journal

It is approaching the end of this weekend and I'm still considering my Reading assignment. This Friday afternoon, I sat in the Lab reading some materials for pleasure to wait for sport activity. I was attracted by one article in National Geography, named as Pandas(named "panadas"). Not only did the cute illustration catch my eyes, but the article itself made me think a lot. After reading, I copied it and brought back planning to use it as my first reading journal, because when I read it, I pushed all my mind to the text and to understand what the author wants to show us, instead of treating it for preparation of journal as my purpose. However, when I took out my binder and checked the requirement, I found that article is not suitable. I have asked myself how to deal with it for a moment, finding a new proper reading about creativity or writing something else.

Actually, I don’t like to search a new right reading now, which lets me feel reading is for assignment. Thanks to kindly Eilidh, I have some choices not depending on the specific reading. What I need to cheer about is my previous reading is not totally meaningless. Let me explain it.

What is the purpose of academic reading? In my opinion, academic reading is one quick and efficient way to understand knowledge or study area that you want to know. For instance, in my college, I need to check a lot of academic materials of Hemp seed protein from researchers and professors; because before that I almost know nothing about Hemp seed protein and my experiment and essay are far away from the purpose. Academic reading is the most immediate way to make up my blank. Relying to(on) available academic reading, I made my plan of experiment in time and I did a good work on my essay at the end of my college. This experience is based on my own language, but I’m sure it is the same thing on all languages including English. Academic reading skill will be particularly important for graduate school, for more researches being(is) required. On the other hand, English academic reading differs from Chinese academic reading on the language level. It will be a great challenge for me to achieve the right level of academic reading, such as complicated structure of sentence, difficult grammar and quantities of professional words. For this moment, I read them very slowly, because it a little hard to understand the meaning in a fast speed, and I always need to read more than one time. I should learn to think and read in English academic way. It won’t be a easy beginning, a really tough thing, but I should and must get over it.

How is about reading for pleasure? It just likes my reading in Friday, without purpose, without compulsion. Reading is for pleasure, for relaxing, for spending time. It doesn’t request too much. If you like it, you can read your favorite part again and again or never look at silly stories. You can not find the word worry in this kind of reading. Pleasure is it reading for.

Of course, I prefer reading for pleasure, for no pressure. However, in the most time(most of the time), I need to do things that I don’t like to do very much, like academic reading. Go to read them and challenge myself.