As if the astronomical community can’t get any more exciting since Pluto’s status as a planet was questioned, now a new Earth-like planet is discovered outside our Solar System.
By: Vanessa Uy
It’s official, an Earth-like planet was discovered using a Chilean astronomical telescope system designed specifically to hunt small extra solar bodies. This Earth-like planet, the smallest so far discovered outside our Solar System, is located 20 light-years from us. This planet is five times the diameter of the Earth, which makes it’s the pull of gravity on its surface several magnitudes stronger than that found on ours. Astronomical instruments have detected large bodies of water on the surface of this new planet and also the presence of an Earth-like atmosphere. Since this new planet is too far away for conventional photography, only computer- generated models are published. Except these models are generated using the data gathered when observing the new planet.
Even though the new planet’s orbit is very close to its parent star which allows it to have a “year” of just 13 Earth days. Despite of this, the new planet lies within the “Goldilocks Zone” of its parent star which means the new planets surface temperature might be similar to Earth’s. The “Goldilocks Zone” is the technical term coined by the astronomical community to describe the region of a star’s orbital zone that’s neither too hot nor too cold from the “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” nursery tale. In our own Solar System, this averages around 93,000,000 miles or 150,000,000 kilometers from the Sun’s surface. Since the new planets parent star is much smaller than our Sun, its “Goldilocks Zone” is also much closer and hence the shorter it’s orbital period will be.
This is quite different than from just five years or so ago where our extra solar planet detection technology can only detect “gas giants” (i.e. Jupiter-like planets with no detectable solid surface) the size of Jupiter or larger. The only way to find out if there is life on this newly discovered planet or how the life forms compare to Earth’s is via space probes. Since the new planet is located 20 light-years from us, it might take a very, very long time for a space probe to reach it using our current rocket technology. How long does the trip lasts? Several million years is one guess.
Showing posts with label Science and Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science and Technology. Show all posts
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Review of Research Papers / Publications on Science Education, Part I
Vanessa Uy
Science Education: Where Do We Start?
By: Roger Osborne
The Australian Science Teachers Journal, August 1981
Roger Osborne was very insightful in noting that the students / pupils might have misconceptions about science which they might have picked-up early on. These ideas should be corrected by the teacher-at-hand. Because they might be dangerous to the life of the individual if he or she stake their lives on a certain uncorrected misconception.
A few months ago, my playmate’s younger brother once thought that as long as there is an electric fan turning in an air tight, hermetically sealed room, a person or an animal can still live. Even though all the oxygen contained in the air sealed inside, is consumed by the respiration process of the person or animal therein. To remedy this misconception, my playmate and I, both aspiring scientists, made an experiment. Using common household materials: a large jar about one gallon in volume, a basin filled with water large enough to fit the inverted jar, a styrofoam float, a candle and an “unfortunate” grasshopper set up so that the jar faces down with an air pocket. Inside, the floating candle burned. Accelerating oxygen consumption while a small battery operated fan whirls. The grasshopper died after several minutes after the candle flame was snuffed out due to the oxygen being exhausted even though the fan is still running. Basing on what we’ve learned so far about respiration, the grasshopper didn’t die because of the candle’s flame but due to lack of oxygen, and the fan is useless as a life support device at this point.
Science Education: Where Do We Start?
By: Roger Osborne
The Australian Science Teachers Journal, August 1981
Roger Osborne was very insightful in noting that the students / pupils might have misconceptions about science which they might have picked-up early on. These ideas should be corrected by the teacher-at-hand. Because they might be dangerous to the life of the individual if he or she stake their lives on a certain uncorrected misconception.
A few months ago, my playmate’s younger brother once thought that as long as there is an electric fan turning in an air tight, hermetically sealed room, a person or an animal can still live. Even though all the oxygen contained in the air sealed inside, is consumed by the respiration process of the person or animal therein. To remedy this misconception, my playmate and I, both aspiring scientists, made an experiment. Using common household materials: a large jar about one gallon in volume, a basin filled with water large enough to fit the inverted jar, a styrofoam float, a candle and an “unfortunate” grasshopper set up so that the jar faces down with an air pocket. Inside, the floating candle burned. Accelerating oxygen consumption while a small battery operated fan whirls. The grasshopper died after several minutes after the candle flame was snuffed out due to the oxygen being exhausted even though the fan is still running. Basing on what we’ve learned so far about respiration, the grasshopper didn’t die because of the candle’s flame but due to lack of oxygen, and the fan is useless as a life support device at this point.
“Who Really Invented Radio?”
By: Vanessa Uy
The working title of this article should have been “Please, For The Love Of God Tell Me Who Invented Radio!” If you’re among the sorry, countless individuals who thought that Marconi solely invented radio, this article is not for you. For those with a passing interest for Nikola Tesla, you would find this either enlightening or a bit humbling. So without further ado, let me take you on a journey.of exploration.
Our story starts in the latter half of the 19th Century. The chaps, most of them from the United States, have a very interesting story on how they invented radio. One of them is Nathan B. Stubblefield of Murray, Kentucky. He began working on experiments and devices related to radio as early as 1892. His notable public demonstrations, like the one he performed on May 30, 1902 did not go unnoticed by serious publications and journals like Scientific American. But today this Murray, Kentucky native is a relative unknown to anyone not from his hometown.
At about the same time, Dr. Mahlon Loomis created a crude tuned-antenna circuit. Despite his prolific genius, he never received the grant he sought from congress. If he did, the invention of radio might have advanced a few decades. Even in Virginia, Dr. Loomis is probably known only to history buffs.
Two electricians that are being conveniently left out by the Tesla advocates are Oliver Lodge, whose patent anticipated Tesla’s in 1898 and John S. Stone, a month earlier than Tesla in 1900.
In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell created a device called a photophone. It worked by using a voice signal to modulate a light beam, but this was never more than a technological object d’art exhibited at world fairs. It’s the same principle behind fiber optic laser telecommunications.
One of more significance was the wireless telephone patented in 1886 by Amos Emerson Dolebear, a physics professor who demonstrated it publicly in the United States, Canada, and Europe. At about the same time, John Trowbridge at Harvard was doing extensive experiments in both induction and earth-or water-conduction wireless apparatus. Thomas Edison, the noted superstar inventor and de facto anti Tesla, developed wireless telegraph / telephone systems to communicate with moving trains during the 1880’s. Granville Woods and Lucius Phelps also developed a similar wireless communication system.
A chap called Alexandr Popov, who the Russians claimed invented radio, is also a viable candidate. When the former Soviet Union launched one of her first space probes to explore the far side of the moon. A crater was named after him.
When the United States Supreme Court entered into “The Great Radio Controversy” in October of 1942. A can of worms was opened, luckily its influence only affects history academics and Tesla fans. Though the invention of the radio had long been famously attributed to Gugliemo Marconi, the Supreme Court justices were intrigued by patents and scientific publications which pointed to Nikola Tesla as radio’s true creator. In June of 1943, the Court decided that Nikola Tesla had, in fact, invented modern radio technology. They ruled that Marconi’s patent were invalid and had been “anticipated.” Tesla was vindicated-though far from victorious. Some five months before, alone and destitute in a New York hotel room, the great inventor had passed away. His papers and notes were confiscated by the United States Alien Property Office, and are now housed in the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. I hope to visit there someday.
It’s not easy, but basing on existing proof. I pick Nikola Tesla as the true inventor of radio. To me Stubblefield, Loomis, and Lodge, as well as the others mentioned still await more proof in order to rise above their present status as mere “hometown heroes.” Which is also the similar predicament of Alexandr Popov.
Despite having a heavy metal band named in his honor and being portrayed by David Bowie in the magic show movie called “The Prestige”, Tesla is still a relatively unknown genius even today. Ask most accomplished electrical / electronics engineers today about who invented radio and most of them will answer “Marconi.” It’s one of those things that make you a bit sad, doesn’t it?
The working title of this article should have been “Please, For The Love Of God Tell Me Who Invented Radio!” If you’re among the sorry, countless individuals who thought that Marconi solely invented radio, this article is not for you. For those with a passing interest for Nikola Tesla, you would find this either enlightening or a bit humbling. So without further ado, let me take you on a journey.of exploration.
Our story starts in the latter half of the 19th Century. The chaps, most of them from the United States, have a very interesting story on how they invented radio. One of them is Nathan B. Stubblefield of Murray, Kentucky. He began working on experiments and devices related to radio as early as 1892. His notable public demonstrations, like the one he performed on May 30, 1902 did not go unnoticed by serious publications and journals like Scientific American. But today this Murray, Kentucky native is a relative unknown to anyone not from his hometown.
At about the same time, Dr. Mahlon Loomis created a crude tuned-antenna circuit. Despite his prolific genius, he never received the grant he sought from congress. If he did, the invention of radio might have advanced a few decades. Even in Virginia, Dr. Loomis is probably known only to history buffs.
Two electricians that are being conveniently left out by the Tesla advocates are Oliver Lodge, whose patent anticipated Tesla’s in 1898 and John S. Stone, a month earlier than Tesla in 1900.
In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell created a device called a photophone. It worked by using a voice signal to modulate a light beam, but this was never more than a technological object d’art exhibited at world fairs. It’s the same principle behind fiber optic laser telecommunications.
One of more significance was the wireless telephone patented in 1886 by Amos Emerson Dolebear, a physics professor who demonstrated it publicly in the United States, Canada, and Europe. At about the same time, John Trowbridge at Harvard was doing extensive experiments in both induction and earth-or water-conduction wireless apparatus. Thomas Edison, the noted superstar inventor and de facto anti Tesla, developed wireless telegraph / telephone systems to communicate with moving trains during the 1880’s. Granville Woods and Lucius Phelps also developed a similar wireless communication system.
A chap called Alexandr Popov, who the Russians claimed invented radio, is also a viable candidate. When the former Soviet Union launched one of her first space probes to explore the far side of the moon. A crater was named after him.
When the United States Supreme Court entered into “The Great Radio Controversy” in October of 1942. A can of worms was opened, luckily its influence only affects history academics and Tesla fans. Though the invention of the radio had long been famously attributed to Gugliemo Marconi, the Supreme Court justices were intrigued by patents and scientific publications which pointed to Nikola Tesla as radio’s true creator. In June of 1943, the Court decided that Nikola Tesla had, in fact, invented modern radio technology. They ruled that Marconi’s patent were invalid and had been “anticipated.” Tesla was vindicated-though far from victorious. Some five months before, alone and destitute in a New York hotel room, the great inventor had passed away. His papers and notes were confiscated by the United States Alien Property Office, and are now housed in the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. I hope to visit there someday.
It’s not easy, but basing on existing proof. I pick Nikola Tesla as the true inventor of radio. To me Stubblefield, Loomis, and Lodge, as well as the others mentioned still await more proof in order to rise above their present status as mere “hometown heroes.” Which is also the similar predicament of Alexandr Popov.
Despite having a heavy metal band named in his honor and being portrayed by David Bowie in the magic show movie called “The Prestige”, Tesla is still a relatively unknown genius even today. Ask most accomplished electrical / electronics engineers today about who invented radio and most of them will answer “Marconi.” It’s one of those things that make you a bit sad, doesn’t it?
Review of Research Papers / Publications on Science Education, Part III
Vanessa Uy
Students’ Perceptions about Science: The Impact of Transition
From Primary to Secondary School
By: Wendy Speering and Leone Rennie
Research in Science Education, 1996
While evaluating Speering and Rennie’s paper. I found out that there is a method of teaching science that is only familiar in elite schools and on special genius-level classes that could advance science education here in the Philippines. This method is called a “master class”. Dismissed as an elitist method suitable only for those learning institutions with more money than common sense. I believe this method could work here, and is a good value-for –money program. For example, if the topic for discussion will be about sound and acoustics, I would invite a famous musician or a recording engineer whose job is related to my science topic and give a lecture to my class. I believe this method could make my students value science because most of our kids today think that science only belong to the textbooks as opposed to real life. And these are also very high -paying jobs that could catapult the practitioner into celebrity status, thus allowing the guest speakers to meet their fans at the grassroots level.
Students’ Perceptions about Science: The Impact of Transition
From Primary to Secondary School
By: Wendy Speering and Leone Rennie
Research in Science Education, 1996
While evaluating Speering and Rennie’s paper. I found out that there is a method of teaching science that is only familiar in elite schools and on special genius-level classes that could advance science education here in the Philippines. This method is called a “master class”. Dismissed as an elitist method suitable only for those learning institutions with more money than common sense. I believe this method could work here, and is a good value-for –money program. For example, if the topic for discussion will be about sound and acoustics, I would invite a famous musician or a recording engineer whose job is related to my science topic and give a lecture to my class. I believe this method could make my students value science because most of our kids today think that science only belong to the textbooks as opposed to real life. And these are also very high -paying jobs that could catapult the practitioner into celebrity status, thus allowing the guest speakers to meet their fans at the grassroots level.
First Woman in Space
Was the Soviet Space Program a milestone for feminism or an esoteric footnote in history to be gawked at by academics?
By: Vanessa Uy
In today’s world where feminism is a living / breathing ideology, Why is it that virtually no one knows who is Valentina Tereshkova. Most feminists worth their salt within a stone’s throw from me don’t even know her. Even more surprising is that a majority of those who knew her exploits are men over 32. Isn’t that weird? She started working as a mill hand in Soviet Russia. Then probably served the mandatory required military service, which is quite common in the former Soviet Union. During her military service, Valentina Tereshkova became a skilled skydiver which didn’t go unnoticed by the powers- that- be in the Soviet Space Program. On June 1963, the then 26- year- old Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space almost 20 years ahead of the next woman astronaut, an American named Sally Ryde. Valentina Tereshkova made 48 orbits in the Vostok VI spacecraft. Later she became the bride of cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev.
In the beginning of the 20th Century, almost yesterday in terms of advancement of women’s causes, feminists in England are brandishing their allegiance to Marxist-Leninist Socialism in the hope of advancing their cause. Isn’t Valentina Tereshkova the proof of Socialism’s amicability with feminism or is she just a casualty of the Catholic Church’s exercise of “Posse Comitatus” on Left-leaning views?
By: Vanessa Uy
In today’s world where feminism is a living / breathing ideology, Why is it that virtually no one knows who is Valentina Tereshkova. Most feminists worth their salt within a stone’s throw from me don’t even know her. Even more surprising is that a majority of those who knew her exploits are men over 32. Isn’t that weird? She started working as a mill hand in Soviet Russia. Then probably served the mandatory required military service, which is quite common in the former Soviet Union. During her military service, Valentina Tereshkova became a skilled skydiver which didn’t go unnoticed by the powers- that- be in the Soviet Space Program. On June 1963, the then 26- year- old Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space almost 20 years ahead of the next woman astronaut, an American named Sally Ryde. Valentina Tereshkova made 48 orbits in the Vostok VI spacecraft. Later she became the bride of cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev.
In the beginning of the 20th Century, almost yesterday in terms of advancement of women’s causes, feminists in England are brandishing their allegiance to Marxist-Leninist Socialism in the hope of advancing their cause. Isn’t Valentina Tereshkova the proof of Socialism’s amicability with feminism or is she just a casualty of the Catholic Church’s exercise of “Posse Comitatus” on Left-leaning views?
Review of Research Papers / Publications on Science Education, Part II
Vanessa Uy
Student’s Preferences for Different Contexts for Learning Science
By: Jung-Suk Choi and Jinwoong Song
Research in Science Education, 1996
Choi and Song’s research paper has a scope that’s not only limited to teaching natural science subjects, like biology and physics. It can be applied to social science subjects as well, like Political Science. One evergreen topic that is often discussed in a political science class is feminism, which most middle-class-unmarried twenty-something college women can relate to. As a “cause celebre”, these women are within their rights to question our present patriarchal status - quo which to every quid pro “for blurry” quo, the dismay of a male professor not mindful of these things. Like the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Roe versus Wade abortion issue. An intellectual discussion that parallels in formulating a theory that works in uniting Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity with Quantum Mechanics. All sides of the issue must be put into account. Like is it better to abort a life not yet human than to subject that said human to a life of socio – economic scapegoat. In this post 9 / 11 word, majority of the civilized world rejected the ”Taliban”. I hope that through education, we will reject the path of barbarism.
Student’s Preferences for Different Contexts for Learning Science
By: Jung-Suk Choi and Jinwoong Song
Research in Science Education, 1996
Choi and Song’s research paper has a scope that’s not only limited to teaching natural science subjects, like biology and physics. It can be applied to social science subjects as well, like Political Science. One evergreen topic that is often discussed in a political science class is feminism, which most middle-class-unmarried twenty-something college women can relate to. As a “cause celebre”, these women are within their rights to question our present patriarchal status - quo which to every quid pro “for blurry” quo, the dismay of a male professor not mindful of these things. Like the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Roe versus Wade abortion issue. An intellectual discussion that parallels in formulating a theory that works in uniting Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity with Quantum Mechanics. All sides of the issue must be put into account. Like is it better to abort a life not yet human than to subject that said human to a life of socio – economic scapegoat. In this post 9 / 11 word, majority of the civilized world rejected the ”Taliban”. I hope that through education, we will reject the path of barbarism.
Problems Facing Science Education In The Philippines
By: Vanessa Uy
Isn’t the working title of this article, seem so ironic? I would not be surprised that right now in a remote corner of our country, a science teacher is being burned on the steak a la Giordano Bruno. In order to formulate a viable solution, lets examine the dilemma faced by our science educators.
The problem facing science education in the Philippines is that there is an incoherence of the three levels of curricula. It is a threefold problem first caused by a lack of a concrete educational philosophy / aim / mission of our own. Second, some subjects are not in harmony to our Filipino culture. Third, some curriculum planners have more than enough resources but lack creativity in formulating brilliant solutions to mundane problems.
Maybe there will be enough brilliant people who are fed up by these second hand tragedies that they would create an educational “renaissance” here in our country. But the main obstacle is the first problem mentioned. Most of what we know (i.e. being taught in schools) about philosophy is the Western Judaeo-Christian sort. Every intellectual worth his or her salt knows that this is inferior compared to the best the East or Orient has to offer like Sun Tsu or Deepak Chopka. (Is this just a quirk of genetic memory that I’m kind of uncomfortable with most of the teachings of “The Holy Bible”, or a topic to be discussed in the near future?). We need first to grow as a society to solve problem number one. A solution whose critics say “a big waste of time that we do not have. Problem number two is being solved at present but at a pitifully slow rate. Its solution is hindered by politics, incompetent powers-that –be, and by book publishers (Attention Vibal Publishing!) who conduct their business like Arab dictators. Problem number three may be waiting to be solved by the new generation of curriculum planners, but when? Should we wait until the government’s jingoism suits our fancy? The need is immediate, and I think this is the right time that the teacher should apply their leadership skills. Teachers should also display integrity and genuine sincerity to the well being of their students / pupils so that they will be able to influence them the value of hard work and intelligence and all those teaching strategies / techniques will come naturally, like water flowing downhill.
Isn’t the working title of this article, seem so ironic? I would not be surprised that right now in a remote corner of our country, a science teacher is being burned on the steak a la Giordano Bruno. In order to formulate a viable solution, lets examine the dilemma faced by our science educators.
The problem facing science education in the Philippines is that there is an incoherence of the three levels of curricula. It is a threefold problem first caused by a lack of a concrete educational philosophy / aim / mission of our own. Second, some subjects are not in harmony to our Filipino culture. Third, some curriculum planners have more than enough resources but lack creativity in formulating brilliant solutions to mundane problems.
Maybe there will be enough brilliant people who are fed up by these second hand tragedies that they would create an educational “renaissance” here in our country. But the main obstacle is the first problem mentioned. Most of what we know (i.e. being taught in schools) about philosophy is the Western Judaeo-Christian sort. Every intellectual worth his or her salt knows that this is inferior compared to the best the East or Orient has to offer like Sun Tsu or Deepak Chopka. (Is this just a quirk of genetic memory that I’m kind of uncomfortable with most of the teachings of “The Holy Bible”, or a topic to be discussed in the near future?). We need first to grow as a society to solve problem number one. A solution whose critics say “a big waste of time that we do not have. Problem number two is being solved at present but at a pitifully slow rate. Its solution is hindered by politics, incompetent powers-that –be, and by book publishers (Attention Vibal Publishing!) who conduct their business like Arab dictators. Problem number three may be waiting to be solved by the new generation of curriculum planners, but when? Should we wait until the government’s jingoism suits our fancy? The need is immediate, and I think this is the right time that the teacher should apply their leadership skills. Teachers should also display integrity and genuine sincerity to the well being of their students / pupils so that they will be able to influence them the value of hard work and intelligence and all those teaching strategies / techniques will come naturally, like water flowing downhill.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Does NASA Have a Problem?
After the headline grabbing antics of astronaut-gone-amok Lisa Nowak and the shooting incident in their Houston, Texas facility, is NASA infected by the proverbial “Andromeda Strain?”
By: Vanessa Uy
Female NASA astronaut wearing adult diapers for a non-stop 900 mile or so drive armed with an Airsoft/BB gun in the name of vendetta seems like a stuff made for cheesy network TV Serials that’s likely to be found in NBC’s fall lineup, but no. This incident really happened and it’s been a source of fodder for Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien’s starting monologues of their respective shows. Unsolicited comments of NASA staff point the finger at the inhuman levels of competition to be next in line for the next shuttle mission as the likely cause for Lisa Nowak’s bizarre behavior.
The cutthroat competition between aspiring astronauts to gain merits is an unfortunate side effect for an institution that extols excellence above all else. I have relatives who have yet to turn 25 who have graduated from the prestigious Admiral Farragut Academy and I can safely say they won’t be on the shortlist for future missions to the planet Mars.
Also the recent incident of hostage taking and shootings on NASA’s Houston, Texas facility might cause almost anyone to wonder the existence of the fabled “Andromeda Strain.”
By: Vanessa Uy
Female NASA astronaut wearing adult diapers for a non-stop 900 mile or so drive armed with an Airsoft/BB gun in the name of vendetta seems like a stuff made for cheesy network TV Serials that’s likely to be found in NBC’s fall lineup, but no. This incident really happened and it’s been a source of fodder for Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien’s starting monologues of their respective shows. Unsolicited comments of NASA staff point the finger at the inhuman levels of competition to be next in line for the next shuttle mission as the likely cause for Lisa Nowak’s bizarre behavior.
The cutthroat competition between aspiring astronauts to gain merits is an unfortunate side effect for an institution that extols excellence above all else. I have relatives who have yet to turn 25 who have graduated from the prestigious Admiral Farragut Academy and I can safely say they won’t be on the shortlist for future missions to the planet Mars.
Also the recent incident of hostage taking and shootings on NASA’s Houston, Texas facility might cause almost anyone to wonder the existence of the fabled “Andromeda Strain.”
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
So What Is This Polonium Business Anyway
Since the sensational media focus on Alexander Litvinenko’s assassination by polonium 210 isotope poisoning, the element not only gained a much needed fame but also notoriety, despite the general public’s ignorance on the legitimate uses of the element.
By: Ringo Bones and Vanessa Uy
So what is polonium by the way? First let us examine it from a rational point of view. Back in 1898, when the groundwork for 20th Century nuclear physics was already underway, Pierre and Marie Curie did some experiments with pitchblende, an ore where they extracted the element uranium. The Curies found out that pitchblende was more than four times more radioactive than uranium on a pound-for-pound basis. Armed with this finding, they concluded that pitchblende must contain unidentified elements more radioactive than uranium. As uranium was discovered before, the Curies took the opportunity to explore the yet unknown properties of pitchblende. Laborious chemical separations of the constituents of pitchblende were carried out, resulting of the discovery of two new radioactive elements by the Curies in 1898: radium and polonium.
Despite the resulting fame in honor of their work on radium and polonium, Marie Curie and her daughter Irène and son-in-law Frédéric, all died as victims of the effects of radioactivity. Even their notes, after all this time, can only be handled behind a radiation proof glass, associated shielding and robotic arms used to handle highly radioactive materials. A “testament” to the persistence of radioactive contamination.
Technically, the chemical nature of polonium is known largely from observing extremely small amounts of the element through chemical reactions via radioactive-tracer techniques in which polonium is mixed with tellurium as a coexisting reactant. The available quantities of natural polonium that can be used for scientific study, is extremely small: over 25,000 pounds of pitchblende ore must be refined to obtain just a gram of polonium. Since the half-life of the most abundant isotope, Po210, is only 138.7 days, thus its scarcity is inevitable. One method of producing the isotope for industrial use is by bombarding bismuth209 with neutrons to form bismuth210, which decays by the loss of an electron to give polonium210.
Polonium has legitimate uses. Our favorite use for it is in removing dust from records/vinyl L. P. s (We still have them, we still use them, we still love them and they sound way, way better than CDs, I-pods or downloads especially on snare drums and cymbals!). Using “Nuclear Products Company 3R500 Staticmaster” this is a polonium-treated jaguar-hair brush that eliminates static and dust from records. We swear by this domestic static electricity neutralizer. You might criticize us for using a cancer causing apparatus composed of an endangered species material. As Michael Fremer expressed his sentiments on the February 1998 issue of Stereophile: “When clean records are at stake, who cares?” Remember the 139day half-life, the “Staticmaster” needs “recharging” from time to time.
By the way, polonium is also used as an alpha - particle source for scientific use. Since alpha - particles have very weak penetrating power. They can’t even go through a piece of paper thus polonium is only dangerous when taken internally either by ingestion, inhalation, or injected into the human body.
We hope that the incident with Alexander Litvinenko doesn’t make our powers-that-be legislate irrational laws brought about by fear and lack of understanding of the element polonium.
By: Ringo Bones and Vanessa Uy
So what is polonium by the way? First let us examine it from a rational point of view. Back in 1898, when the groundwork for 20th Century nuclear physics was already underway, Pierre and Marie Curie did some experiments with pitchblende, an ore where they extracted the element uranium. The Curies found out that pitchblende was more than four times more radioactive than uranium on a pound-for-pound basis. Armed with this finding, they concluded that pitchblende must contain unidentified elements more radioactive than uranium. As uranium was discovered before, the Curies took the opportunity to explore the yet unknown properties of pitchblende. Laborious chemical separations of the constituents of pitchblende were carried out, resulting of the discovery of two new radioactive elements by the Curies in 1898: radium and polonium.
Despite the resulting fame in honor of their work on radium and polonium, Marie Curie and her daughter Irène and son-in-law Frédéric, all died as victims of the effects of radioactivity. Even their notes, after all this time, can only be handled behind a radiation proof glass, associated shielding and robotic arms used to handle highly radioactive materials. A “testament” to the persistence of radioactive contamination.
Technically, the chemical nature of polonium is known largely from observing extremely small amounts of the element through chemical reactions via radioactive-tracer techniques in which polonium is mixed with tellurium as a coexisting reactant. The available quantities of natural polonium that can be used for scientific study, is extremely small: over 25,000 pounds of pitchblende ore must be refined to obtain just a gram of polonium. Since the half-life of the most abundant isotope, Po210, is only 138.7 days, thus its scarcity is inevitable. One method of producing the isotope for industrial use is by bombarding bismuth209 with neutrons to form bismuth210, which decays by the loss of an electron to give polonium210.
Polonium has legitimate uses. Our favorite use for it is in removing dust from records/vinyl L. P. s (We still have them, we still use them, we still love them and they sound way, way better than CDs, I-pods or downloads especially on snare drums and cymbals!). Using “Nuclear Products Company 3R500 Staticmaster” this is a polonium-treated jaguar-hair brush that eliminates static and dust from records. We swear by this domestic static electricity neutralizer. You might criticize us for using a cancer causing apparatus composed of an endangered species material. As Michael Fremer expressed his sentiments on the February 1998 issue of Stereophile: “When clean records are at stake, who cares?” Remember the 139day half-life, the “Staticmaster” needs “recharging” from time to time.
By the way, polonium is also used as an alpha - particle source for scientific use. Since alpha - particles have very weak penetrating power. They can’t even go through a piece of paper thus polonium is only dangerous when taken internally either by ingestion, inhalation, or injected into the human body.
We hope that the incident with Alexander Litvinenko doesn’t make our powers-that-be legislate irrational laws brought about by fear and lack of understanding of the element polonium.
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