Category Archives: Uncategorized
2010: International Year of Biodiversity
2010 is the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity. With conservation targets failing to be met and the loss of species and biodiversity ever increasing, it is an opportune time to take action: on both small and large scales.
Here is the Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, introducing the International Year of Biodiversity:
The action website Countdown2010.net list the objectives of the IYB as to:
- Raise awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity for human well-being and promote understanding of the economic value of biodiversity
- Enhance public knowledge of the threats to biodiversity and means to conserve it
- Encourage organizations (and through them individuals) to take direct or indirect biodiversity conservation activities
- Celebrate the achievements of Countdown 2010 partners and other stakeholders
- Reporting on the possible failures for not achieving the Target
- Prepare the ground for communicating the post-2010 target(s)
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To find out more about what is going on and what you can do, visit the main two websites:
– Official International Year of Biodiversity website
– Countdown2010: Save Biodiversity
How can this event tie in with the IB Biology course?
Could it be a focus for future Group4 or Extended Essay projects?
Cell Respiration 2010
Cell Respiration for Core, AHL and the SL Option C.
Here is the class presentation on SlideShare – a 100 slide monster for Spaced Learning!
– Complete all the questions on Essential Biology: Cell Respiration
There are loads of links and videos on the main page for respiration, so please click here.
Here’s one of my favourite cell biology videos: ATP Synthase
Happy New Year – And A Partial Lunar Eclipse!
Happy New Year!
There was a partial lunar eclipse last night. Here is some footage from India:
For more eclipses in 2010, visit Eclipse.org.uk. There are four this year, including a total solar eclipse on July 11th and a total lunar eclipse on December 21st. If you look at each event on eclipse.org, you can see animations of what to expect where you are.
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NewScientist also have a review of the top ten space stories of 2009, with The Guardian making predictions for the year ahead.
Have a great year!
Virgin Galactic Goes Live – with cool soundtrack
Start saving those pennies for a trip to space, courtesy of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Two – whichwas rolled out on a chilly unveiling in the Mojave desert this week. Here’s a short video showing a simulation of what one of the trips would be like, with what looks like some footage of SpaceShipOne’s journey to the edge of the atmosphere in 2004, as well as some dodgy camera-phone footage of this unveiling, apparently from Arnie’s phone.
Watch out for The Fuse in 2010 – the band whose music is featured on the video – they rock!
One might question the tactfulness of the unveiling of the spaceship so close to the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Is it really appropriate to encourage the super-wealthy to burn up fuel and money (US$200,000 a ticket!) on a joyride to space? There is a section on their official website that deals with the environmental issues, claiming that the carbon footprint per passenger is less than a London-New York flight.
On the other hand, given the chance would you turn it down? This project represents the cutting-edge of engineering and design, and there will be a lot to learn from their industrial experiences. It is also good to see some human ingenuity and adventure make the headlines, too.
Here’s a tour of SpaceShipTwo with Richard Branson, from Associated Press:
And an old (2008) video from Wired.com talking about the project:
So what do you think? Do you think it’s a good idea? Would go if you were given the chance? How do you feel about this kind of high-profile project? Would it inspire you to take on science or engineering as a career?
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For more information on the The Fuse and their music, check out their website: http://www.thefusemusic.com/
Cell Division (mitosis) and Tumours
The presentation has been updated to include a lot more information on tumours – though it is not all essential for the exams, it is a good health class and an introduction to some degree-level cellular biology concepts. There are loads of links to videos and animations if you click on the shadowed images.
Essential Biology 2.5: Cell Division (mitosis)
Here’s a lovely mitosis video:
Defense Against Infectious Disease (Core & AHL)
Standard Level: Essential Biology 6.3 Defense Against Infectious Disease
Higher Level: Essential Biology 6.3 & 11.1 Defense Against Infectious Disease
Core content:
Additional Higher Level:
The Click4Biology pages are here: Core – – AHL
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A separate post on HIV/AIDS will follow.
Cockermouth Floods 2009
Cumbria Floods Donations
This is not a science post, but if you’ve heard about the big floods that ran through Cockermouth, Cumbria (in the UK), over the last week then here is a chance to help out. There are some class project ideas at the end of the post.
Cockermouth is my home town in the UK and is the point where two rivers (the Cocker and the Derwent) meet. In the recent huge ranfall, both rivers bust their banks and flooded the whole Main Street and Market Places, as well as many residential areas. Some major bridges were destroyed, effectively turning the town into an island. Many people have been evacuated from their homes and the clean-up operation will take a long time. More damage was sustained by towns across Cumbria, including Workington and Keswick, and a policeman lost his life, trying to save others. The emergency services responded fantastically, saving many people – and their pets!
Here’s a video explaining why Cockermouth was hit so hard:
Cockermouth Aftermath
See some photo sets of the damage here:
BBC News – Escape to Cumbria –
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Being on the other side of the world (Indonesia – which has more than its fair share of disasters recently), all I can think of to help is to encourage people give donations if they can. If you want to help out, please visit the Charities Aid Foundation website for the Cumbrian Community Foundation. I’d encouarage local IB schools to get involved in the clean-up operation, too.
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Science/ Engineering links
Recent flooding and natural disasters give us a lot to think about as global citizens and scientists. Here are some ideas for projects and activities you could do in class related to the theme:
– How do flood defenses work?
– Design a flood-protection system
– How do we predict rainfall and rising water levels? How accurate are these predictions?
– How do emergency services respond to these events? How are they coordinated?
– Create a post-flood plan for a damaged town.
– What are the health risks of large-scale flooding? How can they be reduced?
Interdisciplinary Group 4 Project (IB) idea:
“How can science prevent, mitigate and aid recovery following natural disasters?”
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One more Science link: Did you know that Cockermouth and the surrounding area were home to John Dalton, the father of atomic theory?
Virtual Urchin – Tutorials from Stanford
Here are some flash tutorials from the team at Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford. They make good use of the properties of the sea urchin’s gametes for studies and learning experiences:
Fertilisation and Development
“Gametes of sea urchins yield exceptional experiences in the classroom; teachers and students alike are riveted by being able to observe fertilization, cell division and embryonic development. The gametes are easy to use, the developmental stages are readily seen with the microscope and the rapidity of fertilization and early cell divisions allows the student to ask questions and obtain answers within the bounds of a normal classroom schedule. The utility of urchins for inquiry-based science is unrivaled.”
Head on over there to have a go at some of their labs, including a neat microscope tutorial, practice with microscope measurements, fertilisation and development and a ocean acidification investigation.
1/4 Million Views on ScienceVideoResources!
Wow – 250,000 views and counting.
Looking at the stats, most people come here for the post on Eaten Alive: Parasites and the Body (over 8,000 views), with protein synthesis, our IB Biology course and cell respiration following closely behind. Thanks to everyone who has visited and left a comment so far!
If you like what you see, you can make a difference with Biology4Good. Also, please leave a comment and let me know where you’re from and what you use the site for.
To celebrate, here’s Hans Rosling, my favourite TED presenter and GapMinder master, sharing new facts, data and visuals on HIV – just in time for AIDS Day on the 1st December:
neat clip of a National Geographic photographer’s greatest moments:
The Immune System – Phagocytosis and Clonal Selection
Here are some very clear clips for the immune responses to infection, starting with a really well done explanation of Burnet’s Nobel-winning clonal selection theory:
If you like that, check out some more of the videos from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.
Try this animation and quiz: McGraw Hill Online Centre
And another Nobel-winner, the cellular response from CancerResearch.org
Clonal Selection
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Phagocytosis in action:
Neutrophil (phagocyte) chasing a bacterium:
The humoral, though not funny, response – from the LifeWire
How does the leukocyte know where to go? Chemotaxis – from Wisc-online
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Once you’re sure of how it all works, can you narrate this medical animation?
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And for another of the body’s defenses: Natural Killer Cells
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Loads more links to clips at North Harris College.
i-Biology 