Thank you, Biofuel

Oh Biofuel, you are so important. We need you. You allow us to put to rest a bit more of our over-use of fossil fuels. We continue to change our machines so that we can support more of you, but, alas, this is taking quite a while. We're on our way though, don't you worry. Thanks for what you do, you invaluable fuel.

Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve is the most recent common ancestor of humanity. This title is not to be confused with the original ancestor of humanity.


She is believed to have lived in East Africa some 200 thousand years ago. All humans today are related back to her through their maternal line. 

Above is a rendering of migratory movements of humanity with accompanying dates.


Much controversy and a few fallacies exist in regard to Mitochondrial Eve. To put in your two cents or just get informed about the issue, visit here.

Amphioxus

What an interesting little creature. This little guy is believed to hold key information about the evolution vertebrates and, thus, humanity.

It remains a little incredible to me that humanity evolved from something even more insubstantial that this creature. But my opinion, at this point, is rather inconsequential, I suppose. 

These creatures, also known as lancets, are usually found buried in sand in temperate to tropical seas. They share some features with vertebrates, such as a nerve cord, a tail that goes past the anus, and similar muscular arrangement.

Doggie Parks and Pollution

This lab was extremely convenient for me to attend since I live right across from Macon's magnificent Dog Park. I often glance out of my kitchen window and am greeted with the site of perfectly contented puppies playing in the distance. But enough about my life, on to the content of the lab!

We examined the water found in the little stream that runs through the heart of the park. After hearing about the possible dangers and extra contaminants urban creeks are susceptible to, we took samples from different locations along the stream and from a contributing creek as well. 


The topic of community was also discussed, for dog parks lend themselves to the creation of friendships and neighborly bonds. 


Here is a link to the park's Facebook page.

Darwin's Dilemma

What an interesting video. I know that a few of my classmates were distinctly offended by it, but I was rather intrigued. Having grown up in a public school, I was never, officially, presented with any credibly scientific reason to accept Intelligent Design as truth. I must confess that I am obviously disposed to - at the very least - be quite interested in the video's content because of my beliefs as a Christian, namely, my belief in God as Creator.


The video was, admittedly quite a shock, though, as the last thing I expected to be presented with in college was an argument for Intelligent Design. I suppose a preface to the film, should you decide to show it again, would be prudent.

Experimental Forest? What's the experiment?

The afternoon we spent at the Hitchiti Experimental Forest was probably my favorite lab experience. The forest was beautiful and the day mild, which made for a lovely adventure. We were introduced to wild ginger; I had never seen it growing before. Also, we discussed pine beetles and their effect on the pine population of the forest.

(Disclaimer: This is not actually a picture of the forest, rather, it is a depiction of the effect of the southern pine beetle.)


After learning about these pesky beetles, we ventured further into the forest and discovered a sponge-like moss and hugged a few trees.


Finally, (my favorite part) we made it to the river and I chose to hop across the rocks of the river with a few classmates. I succeeded, thankfully, and probably due to a minor miracle, to not fall into the river. Score.

A Singularly Lovely Lake

May I introduce you to the majestic, the magnificent, Lake Mineral Wells. Though I have never visited this lake, it is located near the town of Mineral Wells, which is where my Happy Place is - my Grandparents' house. My mom and aunt grew up going to the lake, and I've heard many a story about the summers they spent there. 

Jackson Springs

What a beautiful spot hidden away in the heart of Macon. I loved getting to see this charming little park.

The lab was, however, not focused on the beauty of the park but, rather, the geology found therein. We discussed the composition of various types of rocks and searched the area for a variety of samples. The bridge holds different types of rock, including:

Granite

and

Gneiss

We also traveled a tree-covered path to the river and took further samples, examining them as they were gathered.

A Monument of National Proportions

Visiting the Indian Mounds was a completely new experience for me. Although I have been in Macon for two and a half years, I had never gone to the Indian Mounds before.


During this lab we walked into the forest and examined a river that had gouged a track in the land. This was most interesting, as it revealed the levels of sediment in the bank of the river. Shades of lightest beige to rustic red could be found there. We even matched the soil samples to hues in a soil color book.


I also enjoyed the short term class pet we gained during our tromp through the woods. The unnamed turtle is hopefully still carrying on.

We finished the lab by climbing a slightly winding staircase to a breath-taking view. After being regaled with a bit of Macon's history, we descended the stairs and the lab concluded.


For more info about the Indian Mounds visit here.

Macon's makin' vegetables!

Well, at least the community garden is! 


Vegetables and a sundry of herbs and such grace a patch of raised beds behind Centenary Methodist Church. This community garden is tended to by residents of the area, and they're even so generous as to also work a small area outside the fence for anyone to pick from (the plot inside the fence is meant only for those who've put in the work of raising the plants). This project is aimed at teaching city dwellers how to garden - and the value of doing so. We even got to hear about the program from one of its directors! 


For more information about Macon's community gardens, visit MaconRoots.


We visited for more purposes than talking about the gardens, though. Soil was the central point. We took samples of dirt using the "split spoon corer" and sifted some soil as well. Also, bucket full of mud (or should I say, sandy loam) made it into the mix.

Negative feedback loops - Blood sugar style

Negative feedback loops make homeostasis possible. I can't imagine what a mess we would be if they didn't exist. 

One example of a negative feedback loop is our body's ability to monitor the levels of glucose in our blood. But how does this even work?

Basically, the pancreas houses receptors for monitoring these levels. Two hormones are released at different levels by the pancreas based on what its receptors are communicating. Either insulin, which helps reduce glucose levels, or glycogen, which increases glucose levels, is sent to the liver. The liver is the place where these reactions take place, since it is the store house for glycogen.

The graph below is an interpretation of the data gathered in class. I couldn't have handled pricking my finger this many times in an hour. Props, Dr. Rood. 

Sunflower Baby

Oh, my baby sunflower. It's been through a lot...or, rather, they've been through a lot.

I started out with three beautiful sprouts. (What a proud mother I was!) Watching them grow from little seeds to vibrantly green leafed stalks was incredible. In experiencing this, I was moved to amazement at how growth even takes place! Water + soil + seeds + sunlight = a plant! I know that chemical processes that make this possible are occurring, but I'm still in awe. 

BUT...on to the bad news. My three little seedlings were coming along just swimmingly (at least six inches tall!) when a tragedy occurred. Two of their stalks, to their demise, were accidentally bent. I'm still mothering one little plant and I'm very thankful for it. 

Vertisols

I never knew a soil type could be so interesting! Vertisols, apparently a capable of some pretty cool things - and they make up only about two percent of the U.S.'s soil.  They shrink, creating wide cracks, when it's super dry, but when they come in contact with moisture again they swell back to a smoother state. What adaptation! I must confess, though, that another reason I find this soil type particularly fascinating is because it exists mostly in Texas. I have an undying love for all things associated with Texas and soil is no different.

For more info visit here.

Fun Foliage of Mercer U

First, my favorite tree: the weeping willow. I know we didn't go over this one in the lab, but it is on Mercer's campus too. I promise!

Mexican petunia

Crepe myrtle

I wish I had a picture of my front yard for this one! We have a row of large crepe myrtles down by the road and they're quite beautiful, if I do say so myself. Perhaps their success is what gave my mother license to monitor the crepe myrtles in the yard of our church. She even accused some of the men who did the yard work, albeit jokingly, of crepe myrtle murder!

Dogwood!

My family also has a few of these around the yard back at the homestead in Alabama.

The apparently deadly angels trumpet...yikes!

Awesome elephant ear! 

I remember these being in the yard of my family's house in Paraguay. Good times.

Live oak. Magnificent. 

This is one of my favorite trees. I love how much character they have!

Howdy! It's a hickory!

Lovely larch.

Camellia. The state flower of Alabama!

Hydrangea

My sister-in-law used these in her bridesmaids bouquets and they were absolutely gorgeous!

This was probably my favorite lab. My parents are for some reason connoisseurs of landscaping and plants and such, so I had heard of many of this foliage before.

Maps, maps, maps!

This is an example of an isarithmic map, also called a thematic map.

Above is an example of a cloropleth map.

The dot density map.

My Happiest Happy Place

My happy place is my grandparent's house in Texas. I spend at least a week out there every summer with the rest of my family. I love my family and this place makes me think of them.

Lions and TIGERS and Bears, oh my!

For almost as long as I can remember tigers have been my animal of choice. When asked at a summer camp during my elementary school years what animal nickname I would like, I cheerfully responded with, "White tiger!" I know, what a fierce and daring young girl I must have been! Alas, I was not outwardly, but my inward self earnestly desired that I would be. But I digress; on to the tiger.

While researching for a third grade project about this great beast I discovered that they are some of the only felines that actually enjoy the water. My eight-year-old mind found this fact most fascinating and it has stayed with me ever since.


There is some very bad news, though. These amazing animals are endangered and some sub species are even extinct! For more information about the sad situation tigers are now facing, visit Tigers in Crisis.

How can we let such precious animals slip out of this world forever?


Oh, and on a much lighter note, if you've ever wondered if tigers like catnip, here's your answer: