Useless or Useful?

The video above is a commercial created by Honda to market the newly re-designed Honda Accord. The video extremely innovative because rather than showing the new features of the car or the sleek design, Honda developed a commercial which was more entertaining than informative. Although the benefits of the car were not provided through the commercial, Honda was able to fulfill the purpose of a commercial; make your targeted audience remember your product. The creative domino effect of car parts bouncing into other car parts to ultimately turn on the Honda Accord, the company's product, made the audience not only pay heed to the commercial but also made the viewer remember the product. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest commercials because of its creativity and innovation.

A Detailed Outline of How to Reduce the Effects of Pollutants

What You Can Do About Car Emissions [home page on the Internet]. Washington (DC): National Safety Council; 6 Mar. 06. [cited n.d.]. 1 p. Available from: http://www.nsc.org/ehc/mobile/mse_fs.htm. The article details an outline of how one can reduce harmful emissions through the usage of new car technology. The introduction provides a thorough understanding of the harmful effects caused by car emissions. The source also explains exactly how pollutants (hydrocarbons, nitrous oxide, and carbon monoxide) affect our health and environment. After explaining the source of these major pollutants, the article demonstrates a method to reducing the harmful emissions, mainly through the transportation sector. Such methods include, reducing the number of vehicles used in the planet, traveling at moderate speeds, using clean fuels, and providing support for other environmentally friendly programs. Although the site has an obvious bias towards the environment and a slight antipathy towards high rate gas consumers, I believe this article is very reliable, especially since it was published by the National Safety Council. Since the source is linked to the government, the facts and claims of the article must be true and therefore it gives the article enormous credibility. Furthermore, the manner in which the article details the harmful effects of car emissions allows for even abecedarians to full understand the severity of the problem.

My Top 10 Science Stories of the Year

1. Conservation Gets a Green Light









I have thoroughly been interested in products that could save our environment for the past three years and the introduction of a mandate to switch to fluorescent light bulbs is very appealing because it could significantly reduce our nation's carbon emissions by 158 million tons. This is definitely a simple change to different technology which will not only help save our environment but also help save money. According to Discover magazine, "Compact fluorescent lightbulbs, for example, use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescents and last 10 times as long. If the bulbs were adopted worldwide". I am a major advocate for this product and a supporter of passing a law to prevent the use of incandescent lightbulbs.







2. Can Vitamin D Save Your Life?



This article intrigues me because although I am not a health junkie per se I do find health and fitness important due to my past experiences as an athlete. Albeit I frequently eat fried foods, I do find it necessary to fulfill the the needs of eating a proper diet. The news of Vitamin D not only providing support to the immune system but also aiding the stomach in digestion is very important because it will provide another source against fighting the many diseases plagued by our world. I, for example, do not have a strong immune system and must continually take supplements such as kombucha and acai to help protect myself from infections, however, this new finding may help me in my quest to develop a stronger immune system.







3. Australia Faces a Waterless Future



Imagine a world without water. It's not even possible to fathom living without water for even one day since it essentially the basis to life. Without water all living organisms would be extinct and the earth would be a replica of Venus. Scientists have recently evaluated Australia's water droughts and have concluded that the continent may soon run out of water due to global warming. Futhermore, they said this result could make the rest of the world face unprecedented water droughts as well. This news evidently shows the disastrous effects of pollution and further determines the need to become more environmentally friendly.


4. Soot Began Harming Arctic A Century Ago

This news further indicates the disastrous effects of carbon emissions. However, this story focuses on carbon emissions (soot) from factories, rather emissions from cars. Scientists have discovered that soot has been a major cause for global warming due to its ability to retain a great amount heat. Joe Mconnell backed this claim of soot by stating, “Even the tiniest amount of black carbon will change quite dramatically the reflectance properties of the snow." This topic relates to the aforementioned top stories of 2007 since it also affects our earth's climates and ultimately our lives.

5. First Step to Wireless Electricity

The world just keeps on becoming more wireless. Beginning with infrared technology in the 20th cetury and then the development of bluetooth technology which made sharing information from one device to another easier and faster than one could imagine, scientists have now developed the early phase of wireless electricity. I have always thought of a world where no wires exist and the discovery of wireless electricity could possibly make this dream come true.

6. First New Class of HIV Drugs in 10 Years

HIV could be described as the 21st century bubonic plague. The search for a cure for HIV has been an ongoing struggle for more than 25 years, however, recently scientists at Pfizer have developed a drug which will prevent the spread of HIV in an infected person. Futhermore, there are also about 6 other drugs in Phase II trials which could also help inhibit the spread of HIV.

7. Astronauts’ Image Tarnished

Although this story is not a life changing event or a new discovery which changes the way we view a certain aspect of science, this satirical story is important because it demonstrates that even the most accomplished people have faults. Furthermore, this story also indicates the recent plight of NASA and demonstrates the need to revamp the space program.

8. 248-Dimensional Math Problem Solved

I didn't even know 248 dimensions could even exist. The fact of solving such a problem fathoms me due to my lack of patience, however, I truly admire the mathematicians who were able to solve the world's most difficult math problem. In addition to accomplishing a great feat, the mathematicians also believe their success is important because they believe that this problem will unlock many truths about the real world. This could be true since math and nature closely intertwined.

9. Robotic Ankle Takes First Step
This is an amazing development since it could possibly restore many amputees ability to walk. Instead of describing the development, I thought it would be better to show a video instead. The video is not solely for Hugh Herr's prosthetic ankle, however, it does have an overview of the product. Enjoy!




10. And Here's Why You Have an Appendix
I knew the appendix served a purpose. There's no way that our bodies posses a tissue that serves absolutely no purpose. Finally scientists have discovered that the appendix is indeed important because replineshes the intestines after the body has fought infectious diseases such as cholera. Although humans posses vestigial organs, I knew there had some significance and thus William Parker has finally answered one of my most sought after questions.