Invisibility and Ice

I read two articles today. I am trying to get lots of science in before my Lent practice is done. Obviously, I don't have to stop when Lent is over, but I won't be doing this every day. (Speaking of Lent, can you believe that Francis Perkins won Lent Madness? I can't. Totally was not one of the people I picked to go all the way through. I am glad to have learned about her and her work and I am glad that she has been recognized, but I am thoroughly surprised.)

The first article I read was about the summer melt season in Antarctica. If you haven't learned by now, Antarctica is really high on my place I want to go list. Unfortunately, the temperature is increasing in Antarctica which is causing more of the snow and ice to melt during the summer season. I would love to look at the scientific computer models they use to show the extent and implications of this extra water, alas. I do think that everyone should change their habits to be more green so that we can take better care of our planet. I have started a few things, composting, saving cold water from the shower before it gets warm, turning everything off in my house before I leave, riding my bike or car pooling as much as I can, etc. There are more things that can easily be done, I just don't know of all of them at the moment. What do you do to help the environment?

The second article I read today was about using something called a metascreen to cloak objects from microwaves. This is new and cool for two reasons. First, this technique is much thinner than other invisibility techniques, and second, the technique cloaks the object better than previous techniques. The metascreen is made out of copper and polycarbonate film in a certain pattern in order to have the waves bouncing off of the cloaking material cancel each other out. Pretty nifty, huh? Someday, Harry Potter will not be the only one with an invisibility cloak! 

Protein, Penguins, and People, Spy Wednesday's Three P's

Today is Spy Wednesday for Lent Madness! Do not miss it!
The first article I read today is about how protein rich breakfasts can cut down on snacking later in the day. I think this is great research to help people make better food choices. I don't usually have a protein rich breakfast. One of the things that lots of gluten free and or paleo people do is have whatever they want for breakfast, obviously not including grains. I have pretty much always been a cereal girl and have eaten cereal for breakfast most of my life. I have thought about changing my habits since going gluten free, but there is a time issue in the mornings many times. Also, most normal sausage patties or links are not soy free for some reason and so I cannot buy the easy to make breakfast meats.
The second article I read today was about how four different kinds of penguins used to live in Africa instead of just the one species that lives there now. I am very interested in penguins, so I had to read the article. The reason is linked to changing sea water levels by the scientists studying the fossils and not humans. However, the scientist do point out that humans have made the remaining penguin population decline by over fishing of the penguin's natural food source and by oil spills in that region. I hope that humans can work towards managing the area and the fishing better to protect the ecosystem in which penguins live! Penguins!
The third article I read today was about how women make better decisions than men. Of course, once you read the titles of all the articles I read today, you know exactly why I had to read three of them. I wasn't just trying to make you read more here. Though I do promote that as well! Come and read and comment! Now, back to the article. Apparently this is in the situation of women board leaders in charge of corporations instead of men. Having women as leaders is better for the health of the company, despite traditional understandings that men are better. The professors who did this study said that women only account for 9% of board directors "despite evidence showing that their presence has been linked to better organizational performance, higher rates of return, more effective risk management and even lower rates of bankruptcy." Who doesn't like the sound of that? I am definitely all for a higher percentage of women board directors and women's rights and respect across the board. Being that I am a woman, I do have a tendency to think that collaboration with everyone is more likely to make better decisions and have better outcomes.
The three P's of today: protein, penguins, and people! Do not forget any of them ;)

Keeping the Heart of the Matter - Marie Daly

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/schoolprograms/2014-role-models-in-science-engineering.html?pid=366&sid=767:Marie

Today is a history lesson. The first African American woman to get a PhD in the US did so in Chemistry in 1947 from Columbia. Her determination alone is enough to commend her to our eyes. Not many women at the time were able to set out and accomplish that which they wanted to at the time. Even still today, many women do not feel that they are able to accomplish what they want with their lives. For many it is family responsibilities, feeding, clothing, and caring for their loved ones. For others it is the institutions of the world who refuse to allow women to work in certain places or who do not take the words and actions of women seriously. Thankfully, I have grown up in a time and place which has afforded me the ability to be who I want to be and to work for what I want to accomplish. I am very grateful to the women who walked before in me in the world and in my chosen career field. (If you follow Lent Madness, I can tell you I will be voting for Florence Li-Tim Oi.) There are plenty of ways in which the world has worked against these institutions and towards better lives for women. Recently we had the One Billion Rising campaign day, which goes against violence towards women in the world.
I don't know much about Marie Daly, but she obviously followed her heart and I think that is what is great about anybody who makes their own life in this world. Its an especially easy analogy to make considering she studied heart health as related to cigarettes and diet. Marie Daly is not the only woman or man or person who is notable because they followed their heart and made an impact on the world. I am hopeful that in the coming days I will get to think and learn about other new people in science who followed their hearts and made an impact for which we can all be grateful.