The Wonders of the Milky Way by Max McGowan

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/early-stars-found-swirling-milky-way-center

The Wonders of the Milky Way

All over the galaxy we can find remnants of stars and other particles that have been around since the beginning of the universe, but recently astronomers have found starts at the very center of our galaxy since the beginning times. In Australia, 23 stars with very low metal content (a sign of very early stars) were found at the center of our galaxy. Such a high number surprised many astronomers because there are a lot of stars and gases in the galaxy’s jam-packed center, finding these stars is like “finding a needle in a haystack.” The star with the least amount of iron had one ten-thousandth as much iron as the sun. That’s like if you took all the iron in the sun and compressed it, you’d get a fist-sized rock. In comparison, if you did the same thing to the low-iron star, you’d get a tiny pebble. All of these stars of which have a very tight orbit around the center of the Milky way. Astonishingly, the oldest star found in the small cluster is estimated to be around 13.2 billion years old

Questions

1. Since we have found such old stars in the middle of our galaxy, is it possible that we could find other interesting things?
2. Do you think since these stars are so old, the if they were to explode from such a far distance, would it affect earth in any way?

Endorphins or Endocannabinoids Give That High by Nick Grove

Endorphins or Endocannabinoids Give That High

Endocannabinoids are, essentially, internally produced cannabis. Cannabis contains cannabinoid molecules. So for the new study,researchers with the Central Institute of Mental Health at the University of Heidelberg medical school in Mannheim, Germany, rounded up healthy lab mice, tested their anxiety levels by putting them in cages with pockets of darkness and light (anxious animals stick to the shadows), and then gave them running wheels. Mice generally like running, engaging in the activity even when they are not being pursued. That suggests, researchers believe, that they gain some kind of reward from it, experiencing the mouse version of a runner's high. That possibility was borne out in the new experiment, when the scientists noted elevated levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids in the animals' bloodstreams after running. The scientists also found that the animals were more tranquil after running, spending more time in lighted areas within their cages something that anxious, twitchy animals won't do and that they were more pain tolerant when exposed to slight physical discomfort.In general, these mice were more chill than before. But when the researchers used drugs to block the workings of some of the animals' endocannabinoid system, so that receptors in the animals' brains couldn't take up the molecules, their post-run cool disappeared. The animals proved to be as anxious after running as they had been before, and very sensitive to pain. Without a working endocannabinoid system, they developed no runner's high. However, when the researchers similarly blocked the animals response to endorphins, while leaving their endocannabinoid system unchanged, the mice enjoyed all of the soothing effects of running. They were calmer in their cages afterward and seemed to experience less pain. Even without the ability to respond to endorphins, in other words, they were more relaxed after running, strongly suggesting that endorphins do not contribute to the high, but endocannabinoids do.

What are other activities do you think release endorphins?

Do you think people that don't exercise are more stressed and uptight then people that do?

If endorphins didn't exist what would daily life be like interacting with others?

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/oct/19/study-endorphins-lack-euphoria-bond-201/

Eating meat and cancer by Grant Evans

Years of evidence and studies have just linked meat eating specifically processed meats to help cause cancer. It has been found that salting, curing, fermenting, or smoking meat can be a Group 1 carcinogen, which includes smoking and asbestos. Although the eating meat is not as risky as smoking but can still cause cancer. Research suggest that 66 out of 1000 people will get bowel cancer the ones eating the most processed meats receiving cancer. Also the eating of red meat is considered probably carcinogenic. Research recommends eating no more than 500 grams of red meat a week. Curing and smoking meat can cause DNA damage and the way some meat is cooked can cause cellular damage.

Do you think that there are other things we do/eat everyday that are bad for us?

Will this limit your intake of meat?

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/eating-meat-officially-raises-cancer-risk

Magnets might "unlock" parlayzed arm after stroke Jake Dunbar

Strokes are very serious and, unfortunately, very common occurrences in the US. A stroke results from either blocked blood flow which cuts off the circulation to the brain or a burst blood vessel which leads to even more extensive damage. Over 90 percent of these stroke victims will encounter some type of limb paralysis which can be anywhere from complete paralysis to moderate paralysis in limbs. Until recently, doctors had tried to strengthen the hindered limbs through exercise but no strength could be gained. In the past month, scientists have discovered a new type of rehabilitation that could allow serious paralysis victims to regain movement in their limbs. While the patient focuses on grabbing an object, magnetic stimulation is applied to the active part of their brain, allowing the action and the active part of the brain to act simultaneously. So far, the results of this have been very positive in serious paralysis victims, however, the procedure does not work as well in moderate cases.

Could this discovery lead to better treatment for completely paralyzed people?

What can we learn about our brain from this new treatment?

What other purposes could magnetic treatment serve?

http://www.livescience.com/52554-magnet-stimulation-unlocks-paralyzed-arm-stroke.html

Colors by Jack Durfee

It is a question that most people have pondered at one time or another. Does everyone view colors in the same way? Of course there are people with color blindness and other disorders that can change their perception of color. People can take Protanope and Deutanope tests that can test their color blindness. We know that each person has a specific set of rods and cones which activate in a certain pattern in our retina that allows us to see color. But amongst everyone else with normal color vision, can we ever truly be sure that we are all seeing exactly the same thing as each other?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evQsOFQju08

Why do you think that color blind people can’t see color?

Does everyone view colors in the same way?

Could you ever describe a color in a way that would make that person see the color in their mind?

Jupiter's red spot by Hannah Zenk

A new collection of photos from the Hubble Space Telescope came out of Jupiter. This is part of a new campaign to take photos of the outer planets yearly. It would help show the changes of the planets. As the new photos of Jupiter came in, scientists noticed some major changes. When we think of Jupiter, we think of the Great Red Spot. This is basically a gigantic hurricane far larger than our entire planet. The new photos show the Great Red Spot shrinking. Scientist have know for a long time that the spot is shrinking but it is shrinking slower than first thought. Then, right next to the Great Red Spot they noticed cyclonic storms, which are circulating patterns several thousand kilometers across. These are waves, made of streams of gas that bobble up and down like waves in the ocean. Similar to baroclinic waves in earth's atmosphere. Which are rapidly rotating stratified fluid.

1. If the Great Red Spot took up a good portion of Jupiter, do you think it would affect us here on earth?
2. Do you think there is any way we could live on Jupiter?
3. Do you think the Great Red Spot will ever go away?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/10/16/jupiter_new_annual_photos_reveal_loads_of_detail.html

Superfluid Helium by Dakota Layman

Superfluid Helium

You may have heard of superfluids before but let me recap by saying that superfluids are made from elements that are gas at room temperature and put at such a cold temperature that they become liquid. But after the point where most elements would freeze, superfluids like helium will continue to stay liquid. These strange superfluids seem to defy physics, although they do technically follow the rules. They can do things like flowing through molecule thin cracks and climbing the walls of their container. Basically the fluid, rather than combining into a solid and staying still, will continue to have some movement no matter how cold they get. They will however be moving little enough to move through molecule thin cracks in their container. Helium becomes a superfluid at around 2-3 kelvin.

What are some ways that superfluids could actually help?

What other elements besides helium can become superfluids?

Is there any other thing that could happen at extremely low temperatures?

http://www.iflscience.com/physics/supercooled-helium-does-things-dont-seem-possible

https://youtu.be/2Z6UJbwxBZI