Mitochondrial Eve

Because all mitochondrial DNA  is generally passed from mother to offspring without recombination, all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in every living person is directly descended from hers by definition. Mitochondrial Eve is estimated to have lived around 200,000 years ago,most likely in East Africa,when Homo sapiens sapiens were developing as a population distinct from other human sub-species.

Hypothetical picture of "Mitochondrial Eve"

 

Homemade Biodiesel

Visit this link below to obtain "easy" step-by-step instructions on how to create your own biodiesel in your very own kitchen! According to the web site, "Anybody can make biodiesel. It's easy, you can make it in your kitchen -- and it's better fuel than the petro-diesel the oil companies sell you.Your diesel motor will run better and last longer on your home-made fuel, and it's much cleaner -- better for the environment and better for health.If you make it from used cooking oil it's not only cheap but you'll be recycling a troublesome waste product that too often ends up in sewers and landfills instead of being recycled."


http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

Dog Parks: Good for your puppy...and you! :)

Sure, dog parks are beneficial to your dog because they provide a safe space for your dog to run, play, and get exercise. The dog parks also a beneficial for humans as well. Not only do humans benefit from the exercise they receive from walking their dog, but they also make and maintain friendship with people who frequent the park.
There can be some hidden dangers of a dog park that owners should keep in mind in order to protect their dogs. Bacteria from dog waste can cause sickness. The bacteria is sometimes washed into streams which can contaminate drinking water. Visit the website below for more information. Even though this website has a funny name, it contains some very interesting facts that can help dog owners keep themselves, their dogs, and others healthy.
http://www.poopbutler.com/pooper-scooper-health.htm

Amphioxus

Online Britannica explains Amphioxus as small marine animals found widely in the coastal waters of the warmer parts of the world and less commonly in temperate waters. Both morphological and molecular evidence show them to be close relatives of the vertebrates. This creature is considered to be one of the first vertebrates. Below is a picture of an Amphioxus.

Amphioxus

Hitchiti Experimental Forest

This is a view from one of the river trails we visited.

Love a tree, Hug a tree :).

We visited the Hitchiti Experimental Forest in north Macon. We discussed several aspects of the environment in this area and certain species that have an affect on the ecosystem. One of the types of plants we encountered is called a sassafras. The bark of the roots is used to make a pleasant tasting "tea". The powdered leaves are used in Louisiana to thicken soup. Sassafras is derived from an old French word referring to its use in medicine; albidum refers to the light-colored wood. A picture of the plant is attached below.

Sassafras

Sad, Sad Sunflower

   Towards the beginning of school, I planted a sunflower seed. My assignment was to nurture the plant and help it grow. The sunflower progress pretty well, reaching about a foot in height, until one sad day. Recently, I gave my sunflower too much water. I believe this caused the roots to rot and has in turn started to kill my plant. :(
   Don't worry! I planted a Coleus around the same time and it is growing very nicely. I have decided to adopt it as my class project! :)

Don't get too excited. This is not a picture of my actual plant. My  plant is still small (about  6 inches tall) :).

Jackson Springs Park

   Jackson Springs Park is located at 998 Nottingham drive, Macon Georgia, 31211, in the Shirley Hills neighborhood. The park was originally created as a picturesque landscape for the surrounding well-to-do homeowners. The park is also believed to have been one of Andrew Jackson's camping sites (hints the Park's name). 
   While visiting the park for lab, we learned that the park was eventually inherited to the the community of Macon (community here meaning the white mothers and children). This eventually became an issue at the time of desegregation. The City of Macon somehow managed to reissue the land to everyone, making the park public. We also looked at the different types of rocks found in the park. We examined the rocks by breaking off bits of the rocks with a hammer. The sieve was used to collect samples from the creek bed. By looking at the samples we collected in the creek bed, we were able to see different particle sizes that were present in the water.