Energy and Place:
Essential Questions:
1. How does energy production impact place?
2. How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions regarding energy production *In defining “impact” you can think about it in terms of the impact on the culture, the health of individuals, the land, the economy, technology and scientific progress, future generations, and/or the sustainability of the resources of a specific location or the planet as a whole?
1. How does energy production impact place?
2. How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions regarding energy production *In defining “impact” you can think about it in terms of the impact on the culture, the health of individuals, the land, the economy, technology and scientific progress, future generations, and/or the sustainability of the resources of a specific location or the planet as a whole?
Project Reflection:
The motion for our debate was “Natural gas found in shale formations and coal bed methane formations is a cheap, clean and abundant source of energy that should be a cornerstone of our energy portfolio for the next several decades”. I was the moderator for the debate, so I had an unbiased position to the motion. My position in the debate was designed to lead the panelists through the debate in an organized manner. Both of the sides argued professionally and logically. The side supporting the motion, gave the strong arguments about natural gas being cleaner for the atmosphere and emitting less greenhouse gases than coal and also lacking the potential of nuclear disasters that nuclear energy has. The opposition gave the strong arguments about the potential environmental effects. The extraction of natural gas and hydraulic fracturing impact environments and can effect human populations due to things like ground water contamination. Also, natural gas isn't a long-term solution as we will deplete the resource within the next few hundred years. So if looking for a sustainable solution for energy, natural gas may not be perceived as the answer.
To further develop my understanding of energy issues, I would spend more time researching alternatives such as renewable energy. I would attempt to get a better understanding of how much of our energy need renewable energy could cover and do more specific research the best alternative would be. Prior to my research, I was neutral to the motion. I didn't yet have enough background on the topic of natural gas to meet our energy needs. Following the Joint Scientific research and the knowledge I gained from class time, I developed a support for the motion and believe that natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal and could be utilized to provide energy. I would support the motion "Natural gas found in shale formations and coal bed methane formations is a cheap, clean and abundant source of energy that should be a cornerstone of our energy portfolio for the next several decades”. However I have reservations concerning the sustainability of it.
The motion for our debate was “Natural gas found in shale formations and coal bed methane formations is a cheap, clean and abundant source of energy that should be a cornerstone of our energy portfolio for the next several decades”. I was the moderator for the debate, so I had an unbiased position to the motion. My position in the debate was designed to lead the panelists through the debate in an organized manner. Both of the sides argued professionally and logically. The side supporting the motion, gave the strong arguments about natural gas being cleaner for the atmosphere and emitting less greenhouse gases than coal and also lacking the potential of nuclear disasters that nuclear energy has. The opposition gave the strong arguments about the potential environmental effects. The extraction of natural gas and hydraulic fracturing impact environments and can effect human populations due to things like ground water contamination. Also, natural gas isn't a long-term solution as we will deplete the resource within the next few hundred years. So if looking for a sustainable solution for energy, natural gas may not be perceived as the answer.
To further develop my understanding of energy issues, I would spend more time researching alternatives such as renewable energy. I would attempt to get a better understanding of how much of our energy need renewable energy could cover and do more specific research the best alternative would be. Prior to my research, I was neutral to the motion. I didn't yet have enough background on the topic of natural gas to meet our energy needs. Following the Joint Scientific research and the knowledge I gained from class time, I developed a support for the motion and believe that natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal and could be utilized to provide energy. I would support the motion "Natural gas found in shale formations and coal bed methane formations is a cheap, clean and abundant source of energy that should be a cornerstone of our energy portfolio for the next several decades”. However I have reservations concerning the sustainability of it.
Producing Live Cells with Bioprinting:
Within the past few years scientists and research teams have used printers to print mini livers, tissue, and cartilage. 3D printers and regular inkjet printers have both been used to print live cells. Bioprinters are able to create living tissue by printing cells in layers, allowing scientists to arrange the cells however they want. Although 3D printing has been around for almost 30 years, financial and technological restraints have prevented it from being utilized to print tissue until now.
Xu Mingen, a researcher at Hangzhou Dianzi University in China said: “it takes the printer under an hour to produce either a mini liver sample or a four to five inch ear cartilage sample.” At Hangzhou Dianzi University, they are able to print live cells with a 90% survival rate. They have also suggested the potential of successfully printing living organs within the next twenty years.
Bioprinting provides the possibility of more successful implants. The cells printed are personalized and eventually will be made to be accepted by the body more reliably. The rate of rejection will decrease and the transplant lists would be reduced. Long transplant waiting lists could be eliminated through the printing of customized of cells. Essentially one day instead someone having to wait on a list for a transplant to become available, they could get the perfect organ, made of their own healthy cells, printed for them.
Other uses for the printing of live cells are clothing and food, such as artificial meat. The possibility of printing food has been suggested to help decrease shortages. And printing animal products such as leather may eventually prove to be a better financial and humane choice. If leather could be printed, there would be no reason to spend money on animals and then have to kill them.
When 3D printing was originally used to generate tissue, polymer structures were shaped like the desired organ and then live cells were put on the outside. Now, researchers are striving to print tissue thick enough to replicate complete organs. Fundamentally, once scientists are able to print healthy cells as thick as the natural organ, any organization of specialized cells could be printed. Currently one of the biggest challenges scientists are facing with printing thick enough tissue is the creation of blood vessels within them. Every cell needs oxygen and nutrients to live and complete its regular tasks. Manufactured cells cannot obtain these need nutrients without blood vessels. Until blood vessels can be put inside the tissue, the printed cells will not be able to function as regular-sized organs.
The “ink” used in bioprinting is live cells. They cells remain alive through the entire process. Bioprinting isn’t the creation of cells, but the strategic placement of them. Anything can be scanned into the computer and then the shape can be replicated. There are many different technologies and techniques currently being used to print live cells, including ink jet printers, 3D printers, and laser technology. Ink jet printers have proven to be successful at printing thin layers of cells whereas 3D printers allow the cells to be arranged around each other. Recently, laser technology has been utilized by Shaochen Chen, a professor in the Department of NanoEngineering at the University of California, San Diego.
Another application of bioprinting is its use in more accurately manipulating cells to research diseases and pursue cures. The manufactured tissue can be constructed within wells, mature, be infected with disease, and then researchers can attempt to cure it. It is helpful in more accurately observing how live cells react under certain conditions. Printers, which can manufacture cells rapidly and be easily accessed, have the potential to be an excellent research tool. Although bioprinting and bioengineering may take several decades before it can be completely utilized, at the current rate of advancement, it holds the promise of helping the world.
URLs:
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/3-d-printing-creates-living-tissue-cells-holds-promise-medical-research/2013-08-23
http://www.scpr.org/events/2013/10/22/1212/next-3d-bioprinting/
http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/chinese-scientists-are-3d-printing-ears-and-livers-with-living-tissue/
http://www.ascb.org/ascbpost/index.php/compass-points/item/164-3d-printing-cell-biology-and-beyond
http://www.livescience.com/39885-3d-printing-to-deliver-organs.html
http://www.explainingthefuture.com/bioprinting.html
http://www.webpronews.com/the-amazing-history-and-future-of-bioprinting-infographic-2012-07
Xu Mingen, a researcher at Hangzhou Dianzi University in China said: “it takes the printer under an hour to produce either a mini liver sample or a four to five inch ear cartilage sample.” At Hangzhou Dianzi University, they are able to print live cells with a 90% survival rate. They have also suggested the potential of successfully printing living organs within the next twenty years.
Bioprinting provides the possibility of more successful implants. The cells printed are personalized and eventually will be made to be accepted by the body more reliably. The rate of rejection will decrease and the transplant lists would be reduced. Long transplant waiting lists could be eliminated through the printing of customized of cells. Essentially one day instead someone having to wait on a list for a transplant to become available, they could get the perfect organ, made of their own healthy cells, printed for them.
Other uses for the printing of live cells are clothing and food, such as artificial meat. The possibility of printing food has been suggested to help decrease shortages. And printing animal products such as leather may eventually prove to be a better financial and humane choice. If leather could be printed, there would be no reason to spend money on animals and then have to kill them.
When 3D printing was originally used to generate tissue, polymer structures were shaped like the desired organ and then live cells were put on the outside. Now, researchers are striving to print tissue thick enough to replicate complete organs. Fundamentally, once scientists are able to print healthy cells as thick as the natural organ, any organization of specialized cells could be printed. Currently one of the biggest challenges scientists are facing with printing thick enough tissue is the creation of blood vessels within them. Every cell needs oxygen and nutrients to live and complete its regular tasks. Manufactured cells cannot obtain these need nutrients without blood vessels. Until blood vessels can be put inside the tissue, the printed cells will not be able to function as regular-sized organs.
The “ink” used in bioprinting is live cells. They cells remain alive through the entire process. Bioprinting isn’t the creation of cells, but the strategic placement of them. Anything can be scanned into the computer and then the shape can be replicated. There are many different technologies and techniques currently being used to print live cells, including ink jet printers, 3D printers, and laser technology. Ink jet printers have proven to be successful at printing thin layers of cells whereas 3D printers allow the cells to be arranged around each other. Recently, laser technology has been utilized by Shaochen Chen, a professor in the Department of NanoEngineering at the University of California, San Diego.
Another application of bioprinting is its use in more accurately manipulating cells to research diseases and pursue cures. The manufactured tissue can be constructed within wells, mature, be infected with disease, and then researchers can attempt to cure it. It is helpful in more accurately observing how live cells react under certain conditions. Printers, which can manufacture cells rapidly and be easily accessed, have the potential to be an excellent research tool. Although bioprinting and bioengineering may take several decades before it can be completely utilized, at the current rate of advancement, it holds the promise of helping the world.
URLs:
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/3-d-printing-creates-living-tissue-cells-holds-promise-medical-research/2013-08-23
http://www.scpr.org/events/2013/10/22/1212/next-3d-bioprinting/
http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/chinese-scientists-are-3d-printing-ears-and-livers-with-living-tissue/
http://www.ascb.org/ascbpost/index.php/compass-points/item/164-3d-printing-cell-biology-and-beyond
http://www.livescience.com/39885-3d-printing-to-deliver-organs.html
http://www.explainingthefuture.com/bioprinting.html
http://www.webpronews.com/the-amazing-history-and-future-of-bioprinting-infographic-2012-07
Project Reflection:
The chemistry of materials has shaped our past, present, and will shape our future in many different ways. Having an understanding of the chemistry of materials has helped us refine products to be more efficient and make tasks easier. It has allowed us to advance technology. Being able to manfucture better materials for the purposes they served has been, and will continue very beneficial. One example of this is understanding chemical bonds and being able to create them. Polymers need to be covalently bonded, allowing for the creation of materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene. These materials are synthetic polymers used to create things like plastic wrap and playground slides. So the next time you're wrapping leftovers or embracing sliding down a colorful tube, remember to embrace the chemistry of materials and how it shapes our lives.
The interaction between the molecules of a material are a big factor in determining its properties. How tightly they are packed, the length of the chains, the structure of the molecules, the components of it, as well as the percentages of components of it can all help determine the properties of a material. An example of the structure of matter determining a material's properties would be the amount of initiator added to a polymer to alter the chain length. Longer chains result in more intermolecular attraction and stronger chains. There are many characteristics of materials that can be adjusted to modify properties. Another example of adjusting the structure of matter to alter its properties would be alloys. Specifically, stainless steel is a silver and copper alloy. Unlike pure steel, it isn't soft and is used for multiple purposes today. It is even strong enough to use in the construction of some bridges. The structure of matter on the atomic, molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic levels determine the properties of the material.
The chemistry of materials has shaped our past, present, and will shape our future in many different ways. Having an understanding of the chemistry of materials has helped us refine products to be more efficient and make tasks easier. It has allowed us to advance technology. Being able to manfucture better materials for the purposes they served has been, and will continue very beneficial. One example of this is understanding chemical bonds and being able to create them. Polymers need to be covalently bonded, allowing for the creation of materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene. These materials are synthetic polymers used to create things like plastic wrap and playground slides. So the next time you're wrapping leftovers or embracing sliding down a colorful tube, remember to embrace the chemistry of materials and how it shapes our lives.
The interaction between the molecules of a material are a big factor in determining its properties. How tightly they are packed, the length of the chains, the structure of the molecules, the components of it, as well as the percentages of components of it can all help determine the properties of a material. An example of the structure of matter determining a material's properties would be the amount of initiator added to a polymer to alter the chain length. Longer chains result in more intermolecular attraction and stronger chains. There are many characteristics of materials that can be adjusted to modify properties. Another example of adjusting the structure of matter to alter its properties would be alloys. Specifically, stainless steel is a silver and copper alloy. Unlike pure steel, it isn't soft and is used for multiple purposes today. It is even strong enough to use in the construction of some bridges. The structure of matter on the atomic, molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic levels determine the properties of the material.