Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Corn Fuel

Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops, such as corn. It can also be made from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses. The use of ethanol can reduce our dependence upon foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. E10 (also called “gasohol”) is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline sold in many parts of the country. All auto manufacturers approve the use of blends of 10% ethanol or less in their gasoline vehicles. However, vehicles will typically go 3–4% fewer miles per gallon on E10 than on straight gasoline. E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are specially designed to run on gasoline, E85, or any mixture of the two. FFVs are offered by several vehicle manufacturers. To determine if your vehicle can use E85, consult your owner’s manual or check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker. Generally ethanol is cheaper and serves as a replacement for cost benefits and not environmental ones.

Mitochondrial Eve

Mito. Eve is supposed to be the woman that all humans descended from. We are related to her through our mothers and not our fathers ironically. Over time because of humans living in different geographical regions we started to develop certain traits specific to our environment and making us more diverse. Now, though, because of globalization people are starting to reproduce with people of different races which is slowly causing us to all take on similar qualities therefore making us less diverse.
Disclaimer: South Park does not represent the views of Darious Moten

Dog Parks

Dogs have a special place in people's hearts in our country almost to the same extent as our kids. Based on that it only makes sense to have a "playground"(dog park) for dogs and owners to fraternize and have fun. Dog parks are a great way to bring different people of the community together. Whether young, old, black, white, republican, or democrat most people share a common interest in dogs. Besides that it gives the dogs the chance to experience new things and meet other dogs. Overall dogs parks are a good way to bring a community together in harmony.

Burgess Shale

The Burgess Shale is a archaeological site discovered by Charles Walcott in 1909. It is signifiant because of its ability of the fossils to preserve soft tissue. It was found in British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies and is easily the most celebrated of all archaeological fossil sites. The Burgess Shale brought evidence of an organism explosion known as the Cambrian Explosion. The Cambrian Explosion was a rapid increase and appearance of different types of organisms. This played such a big role because the Cambrian Explosion serves as a main supporter for Darwin and his theory of evolution.

Sir Lancelet

Lancelets, also known as amphioxi, are a translucent fish like animal that has no fins or body parts. They also have no bones and gills which are used to eat. Like vertebrates they have hollow nerve cord that runs along their back. The reason lancelets are so important is because they provide clues about the origins of vertebrates. Because they are viewed as the archetypal vertebrate form comparing them to modern vertebrates can show how vertebrates have adapted and evolved over time.