This is Water: A Unique Commencement Speech.

Congratulations GHS Graduates!

Take a look at this unique commencement speech.  There are some interesting points to keep in mind as you move into your next programs and careers.

More on Methane...smelly farts and exploding intestines!

You never know what you'll find when you start searching the internet for simple things like videos on methane.  If you need a break from studying, give these posts a read:

I mentioned in a post on methane bubbles in ice that methane is actually odourless.  Even though methane is the gas we often associated with farts (possibly because of studies on how much methane cows release), it must not be the methane that makes farts smelly.  Did you know that some scientists have actually studied the volume and "odour intensity" of farts!  Read this post, especially the description of the study to find out more.  If you just can't believe that a study on farts actually got published, you can read the whole article here. 

Like you saw in lab, methane is combustible.  If methane is in your intestines, does that mean your intestines could explode?!  Well, actually, in certain (very limited) circumstances, it can! Check out the summary on how it happens here.

Studies on farts and exploding intestines...who knew?  The question is, who volunteers to have their farts measured...or (even worse) to judge farts for their smelliness!

Fire and Ice

Check out this video about methane being released as permafrost thaws.  Remember, in lab (and in our homes) scent is added to natural gas so we can detect a leak.  Methane on its own is odourless, so one way to test for it is to see if it ignites!

You'll see a demo in chemistry lab this week using methane bubbles; this video shows the same reaction on a much larger scale!

On a non-chemistry note, this also reminds me of a poem I learned in elementary school, "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost.  I knew that English class would be useful!

Three Parent Embyros - What Do You Think?

Scientists are perfecting methods for creating embryos containing DNA from three parents.  It is thought that these techniques will help to prevent several rare genetic disorders passed on through mitochondrial DNA.

Your mitochondria contain a small number of genes and are inherited from your mother.  It is thought that diseases such as muscular dystrophy and some cancers are inherited through these genes.

Scientists have developed techniques for taking chromosomes from a mother’s egg (which house approximately 99.8% of her DNA) and placing them in a donor egg from which the chromosomes have been removed but which has healthy mitochondrial DNA.

See "Three Parent Embryos" for more information.

Acid and Bases - extra help

You've heard about pH in biology, you've calculated it in math, and you're using it in chemistry...acids and bases are everywhere!

Want some more practice on pH to [H+] conversions? Check out this helpful site.

Testing Your Pee? - There's An App For That!!

A new app will be available on iTunes this month that can test your urine for health problems.  The UChek app was developed by Mumbai’s Myshkin Ingawale and uses your smartphone’s camera to test colour changes in your urine at set points in the day.  No need to fret if you don’t have an iPhone – an Android version is in the works!  Check out the details - UChek Urinalysis

A Life-Changing Project

Take a look at this amazing video about Jane Chen whose class project led her to become the co-founder and CEO of Embrace which designs low-cost and low-tech medical technology.  A class project led to the creation of "infant warmers" that can save lives in areas where high-tech incubators are not available. 

Where will your classes and ideas take you?