When I was asked for what I believe to be the 5 most important values and qualities in life, my response was a far cry from what others of my class had presented. Many placed the need for wealth and power above all else. Others chose friendship and love. Most included 'family ties'. Indeed my 5 values, courage, freedom, respect, challenge and intelligence succeeded in raising an eyebrow among my peers.
Nevertheless I hold true to my believes. I hope for the development of humanity and not as an individual. Those who treasure aspects that concerns only themselves and their family are selfish thinkers indeed.
Conflicts, oppression, corruption. Could they be reduced if society cherishes mutual respect for each other? When one respects another would they impose their ideologies onto another? Would they obtain things that belong to others forcefully? Surely military adventurism would not even be considered. History taught us many things. Hundreds of years of colonisation that causes an uneven level of development would not occur and plague the world as severely as it is today. Why would anyone consciously emphasis the need to treasure ties of kinship if people are born attuned to treating friends and family with respect? Respect on its own constitutes a part of what we call love. Perhaps if one adheres strictly to practicing the act of respecting one another, things would turn out better today.
Yet when respect becomes part and parcel of everyday life in every individual, perhaps freedom could be achieved. Freedom for one to choose his or her path in their lives. Allowing one to develop their forte and their talents, learning about life and carving beautiful memories of their own the way they want it to be. Being able to live their lives rather than to survive and also contribute to the world and improve it as they go along.
Still, the troubles which plague society does not solely arrive from doings of mankind today. Indeed diseases and natural disasters ravage humanity uncontrollably from time to time which mutual respect and freedom in individuals could not remedy. These would pose as challenges for mankind, challenges that would be the drive for mankind to excel. The world had done much to overcome challenges throughout history, with much breakthroughs that pushes the boundaries of humankind. Yet many of us had not grown to take challenge as a drive but perceives it negatively while ironically see stress as the push factor for themselves to excel. Without challenge civilisations would not improve, history itself would be mundane without historical breakthroughs and many great leaders and thinkers would not surface at all.
Historical figures arrive form time to time because of courage to pursue their goals and to solve their problems that plague them. Indeed courage become one of my most important values as a man with all the freedom to work and ponder about the world cannot achieve breakthrough without first working on the dreams. Courage is the most direct and yet vital factor in driving a man to achieving what he hopes to achieve. With respect that leads to freedom for mankind, and courage that enables man to begin tackling challenges, the world would progress as the most innovative of animal species reveal just how much life can go in the universe, but not without one key element that places us among the most innovative and leading specie of animal in the world today.
Intelligence. The one thing we possess more than any other animal on Earth would be the main fuel to drive mankind to greatness. Courage to solve problems would mean nothing without intelligence to go about solving them. Intelligence had propelled us to this day and it would remain as a key factor we must cherish knowingly. It may seem as a load of gibberish talk about mankind and greatness, but mankind itself comprises of billions of individuals, us.
Could a brain perform its functions if the brain cells began shutting down in large numbers? If we lose our direction, we, too, would begin to shut down.
Lacking examples but this is all I could elaborate in 1 hour's worth of time.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Confusing world of Anthropology
I've always had a keen interest in Anthropology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crwPkPWcqBY
I was compelled to share this link after watching the video of an old BBC documentary ''walking with beasts''. This episode, talks about the Australopithecus as our ancestor around 3.5 million years ago. This video is pretty old.
Anyway,it is believed that Australopithecus is the species that led to the evolution of the 'homo' genus, that they gave rise to modern humans(homo sapiens sapiens) and our closely related species such as Neanderthals(homo sapiens neanderthal). I would not touch on this topic as of now, but I will leave some interesting facts behind. Ps: Its not really related to the show.
1: A famous fossil specimen nick named 'Lucy' belongs to this specie.
2: The last Human-Chimpanzee ancestor is predicted to have lived 5-6.3 million years ago.
3: Modern humans inter-bred with at least Denisovans and Neanderthals.
4: Yet a newly discovered hominid specie the Sahelanthropus tchadensis is 7 million years old. Anthropologists are deciding if it is a common ancestor of humans and chimps. If it is not, things would get alot more complicated.
More on Australopithecus: http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crwPkPWcqBY
I was compelled to share this link after watching the video of an old BBC documentary ''walking with beasts''. This episode, talks about the Australopithecus as our ancestor around 3.5 million years ago. This video is pretty old.
Anyway,it is believed that Australopithecus is the species that led to the evolution of the 'homo' genus, that they gave rise to modern humans(homo sapiens sapiens) and our closely related species such as Neanderthals(homo sapiens neanderthal). I would not touch on this topic as of now, but I will leave some interesting facts behind. Ps: Its not really related to the show.
1: A famous fossil specimen nick named 'Lucy' belongs to this specie.
2: The last Human-Chimpanzee ancestor is predicted to have lived 5-6.3 million years ago.
3: Modern humans inter-bred with at least Denisovans and Neanderthals.
4: Yet a newly discovered hominid specie the Sahelanthropus tchadensis is 7 million years old. Anthropologists are deciding if it is a common ancestor of humans and chimps. If it is not, things would get alot more complicated.
More on Australopithecus: http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Longshore drifts and longshore currents
After today, I will start posting on a weekly basis every Saturday. I will also include urls of the websites which I get my information from. I've been a little lazy recently, so this post would be on something I've learned in secondary school, hope it would be useful.
Waves and currents causes transportation of sediments in the coastline (the place where the land and sea meets and interacts) Longshore currents and longshore drifts are terms we need to know regarding this topic. They can be a little confusing.
Longshore currents are flows of water that move parallel to the coast. It is generated by winds, tides and waves that approaches the coast at an angle driving the flow of water along the length of the coastline. Very specifically, it is defined as such... ''the longshore current is the dominating current in the nearshore zone. It is running parallel to the shore. The longshore current is generated by the shore-parallel component of the stresses associated with the breaking process of obliquely incoming waves, the so-called radiation stresses, and by the surplus water which is carried across the breaker zone across the coastline.''
Longshore drift on the other hand refers to the movement of sediments along the coastline. How it occurs is simple. When waves approach the coast at an angle due to wind direction, it carries sediments to the coast at an angle. However gravity only causes the sediments to move downwards perpendicularly to the coastline thus the sediments would travel along the coastline in a zig-zag motion when it is repeatedly carried at an angle and returned vertically downwards. Note: Sediments are carried to the coast when a wave crashes onto the coast, know as a swash. The motion where the seawater retreats back into the sea is known as a backwash. The backwards motion that pulls the sediments back. Longshore currents may result in longshore drift. This is illustrated below: (due to the fact that my 2 mega pixel camera was horrible at taking good photographs and that I could not operate my new scanner I could not draw out the diagrams for use)
The world's longest naturally occurring spit, the 'Dungeness Spit' is found in America. Spits are one type of coastal landform that we see, along with cliffs, beaches, bays just to name a few. It is a result when longshore currents that transport sediments in the sea encounters a place of shallow sheltered water, enabling the sediments to be deposited in those regions. The accumulation of these sediments along the direction of the long shore current creates a narrow ridge of sand we identify as a spit.
Stuff about longshore drift: From my textbook
Photo of spit: http://tidelineconsultingllc.com/
Longshore current definition: http://www.coastalwiki.org/coastalwiki/Longshore_current
More about longshore current: http://www.usoceansafety.com/safety/popup/lscurrent.asp
Photo on longshore drift: http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes/GCSE%20Revision/Glossaries/Glossaries/Glossary%20Extra%20Page%20Links/LongshoreDrift1.gif
Waves and currents causes transportation of sediments in the coastline (the place where the land and sea meets and interacts) Longshore currents and longshore drifts are terms we need to know regarding this topic. They can be a little confusing.
Longshore currents are flows of water that move parallel to the coast. It is generated by winds, tides and waves that approaches the coast at an angle driving the flow of water along the length of the coastline. Very specifically, it is defined as such... ''the longshore current is the dominating current in the nearshore zone. It is running parallel to the shore. The longshore current is generated by the shore-parallel component of the stresses associated with the breaking process of obliquely incoming waves, the so-called radiation stresses, and by the surplus water which is carried across the breaker zone across the coastline.''
Longshore drift on the other hand refers to the movement of sediments along the coastline. How it occurs is simple. When waves approach the coast at an angle due to wind direction, it carries sediments to the coast at an angle. However gravity only causes the sediments to move downwards perpendicularly to the coastline thus the sediments would travel along the coastline in a zig-zag motion when it is repeatedly carried at an angle and returned vertically downwards. Note: Sediments are carried to the coast when a wave crashes onto the coast, know as a swash. The motion where the seawater retreats back into the sea is known as a backwash. The backwards motion that pulls the sediments back. Longshore currents may result in longshore drift. This is illustrated below: (due to the fact that my 2 mega pixel camera was horrible at taking good photographs and that I could not operate my new scanner I could not draw out the diagrams for use)
 |
| I do not own this photograph check links below credits go to the website |
The world's longest naturally occurring spit, the 'Dungeness Spit' is found in America. Spits are one type of coastal landform that we see, along with cliffs, beaches, bays just to name a few. It is a result when longshore currents that transport sediments in the sea encounters a place of shallow sheltered water, enabling the sediments to be deposited in those regions. The accumulation of these sediments along the direction of the long shore current creates a narrow ridge of sand we identify as a spit.
 |
| I do not own this as well. Check links below credits go to the website |
Stuff about longshore drift: From my textbook
Photo of spit: http://tidelineconsultingllc.com/
Longshore current definition: http://www.coastalwiki.org/coastalwiki/Longshore_current
More about longshore current: http://www.usoceansafety.com/safety/popup/lscurrent.asp
Photo on longshore drift: http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes/GCSE%20Revision/Glossaries/Glossaries/Glossary%20Extra%20Page%20Links/LongshoreDrift1.gif
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ocean conveyor belt: Thermohaline circulation
I only know this much about the Thermohaline circulation. Its information would be useful to readers but there are two things I would like to discuss about at the end of my article.
The Ocean conveyor belt or more accurately, the thermohaline circulation refers to the continuous cycle of water in the ocean due to its temperature and salinity. The working principle behind it is that water from different parts of the ocean has differing densities, whereby colder saltier water is denser than warmer less salty sea water. (expansion of liquids) Water which is less dense tends to float while denser water tends to sink, resulting in the movement of water in the oceans to achieve this balance.
How did this different density occur in the first place?
In the North Atlantic, winds blowing over the ocean remove latent heat of vapourisation as the water evaporates, becoming cooler. Less water in the ocean coupled with the same amount of salt causes the water to become denser. In addition, when ice is formed on the ocean in those regions, pure water tends to freeze rather than salt water. Again, less water in the ocean to dissolve the salt would cause the concentration to increase even further. This denser ocean water forms the North Atlantic Deep water (NADW) which flows southwards through deep abyssal plains found along the Atlantic.
Down to the Antarctic this denser ocean water then flows along the Antarctic continent mixing with the Antarctic bottom water to give 'common water' where it splits up to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Following this route.
The Ocean conveyor belt or more accurately, the thermohaline circulation refers to the continuous cycle of water in the ocean due to its temperature and salinity. The working principle behind it is that water from different parts of the ocean has differing densities, whereby colder saltier water is denser than warmer less salty sea water. (expansion of liquids) Water which is less dense tends to float while denser water tends to sink, resulting in the movement of water in the oceans to achieve this balance.
How did this different density occur in the first place?
In the North Atlantic, winds blowing over the ocean remove latent heat of vapourisation as the water evaporates, becoming cooler. Less water in the ocean coupled with the same amount of salt causes the water to become denser. In addition, when ice is formed on the ocean in those regions, pure water tends to freeze rather than salt water. Again, less water in the ocean to dissolve the salt would cause the concentration to increase even further. This denser ocean water forms the North Atlantic Deep water (NADW) which flows southwards through deep abyssal plains found along the Atlantic.
Down to the Antarctic this denser ocean water then flows along the Antarctic continent mixing with the Antarctic bottom water to give 'common water' where it splits up to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Following this route.
The Pacific Ocean having a slightly higher water level than the Atlantic Ocean would flow its upper most water through Indonesia to replace the water from the Atlantic that had travelled along Antarctica. Thereafter it travels North back to Greenland where it all began, starting the cycle all over again.
Ps: Any readers please enlighten me on the terms 'over turning' and 'Haline forcing' I did not use it in my text in fear of being inaccurate! Picture from politicalclimatewordpress.com
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Permian mass extinction in a nutshell
Based on the knowledge acquired from discovery channel, do enlighten me if you happen to know some specific details which I left out.
Trigger: Volcanic eruptions(Siberian Traps) lasting for up to a million years causing large amounts of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide to be released.
Direct consequence: Sulfur dioxide would have caused acid rain that damages the eco system, but the damage would not have been so extensive.
The carbon dioxide released in such enormous quantities would cause severe global warming that kills off 1/3 of land dwellers at that time.
Indirect consequence:The heated planet with its warmer oceans would devastate the 'conveyor belt' preventing proper circulation of oxygen in the ocean. With the absence of oxygen in the ocean marine aerobic life would die out. It also causes purple sulfur bacteria to thrive. Which is, bacteria that survives without oxygen. In addition, these bacteria produces highly toxic hydrogen sulfide which adds on to the devastation done on the marine life of the Permian period.
The heated ocean would also cause highly temperature sensitive methane hydrate, combination of methane and water in its solid form frozen at the bottom of the ocean, to melt releasing methane which is a very potent green house gas. It further aggravates the problem of global warming increasing Earth's temperature even further and wiping out even more life on Earth in the Permian period.
Ps: I will be writing a few posts about the conveyor belt and methane hydrate really soon to further explain how it plays a role in the Permian mass extinction!
Trigger: Volcanic eruptions(Siberian Traps) lasting for up to a million years causing large amounts of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide to be released.
Direct consequence: Sulfur dioxide would have caused acid rain that damages the eco system, but the damage would not have been so extensive.
The carbon dioxide released in such enormous quantities would cause severe global warming that kills off 1/3 of land dwellers at that time.
Indirect consequence:The heated planet with its warmer oceans would devastate the 'conveyor belt' preventing proper circulation of oxygen in the ocean. With the absence of oxygen in the ocean marine aerobic life would die out. It also causes purple sulfur bacteria to thrive. Which is, bacteria that survives without oxygen. In addition, these bacteria produces highly toxic hydrogen sulfide which adds on to the devastation done on the marine life of the Permian period.
The heated ocean would also cause highly temperature sensitive methane hydrate, combination of methane and water in its solid form frozen at the bottom of the ocean, to melt releasing methane which is a very potent green house gas. It further aggravates the problem of global warming increasing Earth's temperature even further and wiping out even more life on Earth in the Permian period.
Ps: I will be writing a few posts about the conveyor belt and methane hydrate really soon to further explain how it plays a role in the Permian mass extinction!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Criteria to be classified as a planet
Why did Pluto lose its status as a planet in 2006? Its old news, but I hope it helps!
There are 3 criteria that determines a planet.
1: The object must have sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome its 'rigid body forces' and assume a hydrostatic equilibrium shape. Hence becoming round.
2: It must orbit around a star, hence our moon cannot be considered as one.
3: It must have 'cleared its neighbourhood around its orbit' of everything except much smaller objects. This rules out Pluto as a planet as its orbit which has Neptune, which is much larger, being in close proximity due to their unique orbits that seem to overlap each other on a 2 dimensional plane.
Source: David A Rothery
There are 3 criteria that determines a planet.
1: The object must have sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome its 'rigid body forces' and assume a hydrostatic equilibrium shape. Hence becoming round.
2: It must orbit around a star, hence our moon cannot be considered as one.
3: It must have 'cleared its neighbourhood around its orbit' of everything except much smaller objects. This rules out Pluto as a planet as its orbit which has Neptune, which is much larger, being in close proximity due to their unique orbits that seem to overlap each other on a 2 dimensional plane.
Source: David A Rothery
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