Megan+Mc.

**Whalecopters?!**
The ocean covers majority of the planet and honestly we don't know to much about it, for that matter we know more about the planets up in space then we do our own deep blue! One species that can be quite rare to see is a whale, the largest being the blue whale was once 100 feet(30 meters) long. If you ask me these creatures are magnificent! Photo below of whale "blowing", and also a video.

As of today there is something going on called a "whalecopter" ,drones are giving whales "breathalyzer" tests. How and why you ask? Well scientists have a small remote control hexacopter to fly over the endangered species to collect breath samples from the spout. To do so they wait until the whale opens it's bl ow hole to exhale air explosively being called "the blow". Now we all ask why? What does a gush of steamy water mean to scientists? Well with the sample that comes from "the blow" scientists can now analyze whales DNA hormones and bacteria to find out whale family history. As well, whales, similar to us, can become prone to respiratory tract infections which can be analyzed through the breathalyzer test, also the stress le vels of the mammal can be analyzed through the moist air of the whale. Just in the past few months the hexacopter was tested and collected samples from multiple whales. The copter also captures photos from quite an amazing angle illustrating the beauty of these animals. The pictures to the left is what a hexacopter looks like.
 * So what is a "whalecop**** ter"? **media type="youtube" key="LajBrMPY1jU" width="436" height="248"

It is noticed that whales most definitely miss out on their vegetables, so scientists recently collected poop samples in search of DNA that may have to do with the microbes in their guts. What was found were genetic codes for proteins in aide of the digestion of meat similar to carnivores. Whales have multiple stomach chambers again, similar to those carnivores, this impacts the microbial populations that help whales digest chitin (a carbon compound in tiny crustacean skeletons, part of a whales diet). Below is a image of two whales surrounding their prey.
 * Whale diet **

Scientists plan to pack up their hexacopters and head back out to the ocean to collect more samples to compare them to the recent ones they found. The hexacopters really allow scientists and marine biologists to study these enormous creatures without putting themselves in danger.media type="youtube" key="Ln8AX7n4ftA" width="560" height="315"
 * What's next?**[[image:smithlhhsb122/wikipost.jpg width="353" height="210" align="left"]]

Another video of an interesting interview with a unexpected guest.media type="youtube" key="T2Xsfb4cT9Y" width="560" height="315"

Further reading/viewing https://www.sciencenews.org/article/whalecopter-drone-swoops-shot-and-shower http://globalnews.ca/video/2291112/raw-noaa-hexacopter-captures-endangered-killer-whales http://www.whoi.edu/news-release/whalecopter http://www.news1130.com/2015/10/21/vancouver-teams-up-with-washington-state-to-research-killer-whales/

Sources Cited http://www.whoi.edu/news-release/whalecopter https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/dont-judge-whales-gut-microbiome-diet-alone https://www.sciencenews.org/article/whalecopter-drone-swoops-shot-and-shower http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2015/08/drones-give-whales-breathalyzer-test

**The evolution of earth**
I chose to talk about the evolution of our own planet earth. We've talked about animals, humans, fashion, cars and technology evolving but I think we sometimes forget that without the evolution of earth we would not be capable of evolving at all. It is quite incredible to believe that what we live on was first born as a cloud of dust and rocks. And of course for earth to evolve it needed energy and power, the sun being the provider.

Development of earth
The earth began using the sun for nutrients, also known as photosynthesis in plants. The first organisms did not release oxygen when the took in the nutrients, sooner than later they started producing oxygen which is quite beneficial for us today. About 4.4 billion years ago earth was slowly forming and it developed a core with multiple layers, another turning point on earth is when it divided up into tectonic plates 3 billion years ago. Ocean, continents, atmosphere and biosphere were environmentally developed as well. The earth is really all about rocks it's how it all started some of the oldest rocks being 4 billion years old and the youngest ones still forming to this day.The rocks really show the story of planet earth, and there is most definitive many undiscovered rocks hiding deep beneath the earth.



The earth may seem big but...
media type="youtube" key="17jymDn0W6U" width="560" height="315"

It is quite amazing to know that this is only as far out as we know about for now.

Now on to the good stuff
The earth formed quite amazingly but so did we, it all started with a few cells which were quite simple which then developed into bacteria and much more complex things. And then our cells begun to divide, which is where the sex comes in, they were not sure how but cells were multiplying. Algae being one of the first organism which clearly showed specialized cells were being developed. Once again something amazing occurred cells were not just singular anymore they were becoming multi ce llular.

Our world was once one, the supercontinent, everything separated, life formed, and here we are today. The topic of the earth evolving can go much more into depth than any specific thing evolving, there is so much history and life to look into but somehow we are here today still studying the planet earth discovering something new each and everyday.

Human beings, very quickly took over and powered earth here's a quick video of mankind evolving as he arrives on earth.media type="youtube" key="WfGMYdalClU" width="560" height="315"

It's crazy to even begin to think about the damage we've done to our earth we need to continue to treat it as environmentaly benificial as possible because our earth must continue to evolve as the years go on. As much as we destroy our earth there are few out there that have helped piece together the history of planet earth, as well we humans have not been here as long as some organisms, not even a fifth of a million years we have still much to discover and create in this world.



Sources: http://www.bbc.com/earth/bespoke/story/20150123-earths-25-biggest-turning-points/ http://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/AllegreSHS.pdf http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/rose-center-for-earth-and-space/David-S.-and-Ruth-L.-Gottesman-Hall-of-Planet-Earth/how-has-the-earth-evolved http://www.britannica.com/science/geologic-history-of-Earth

Further readings: http://www.bbc.com/earth/bespoke/story/20150123-earths-25-biggest-turning-points/ http://www.britannica.com/science/geologic-history-of-Earth http://www.nap.edu/read/12161/chapter/3#12

Wikipost #3- Nervous system: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A hot topic not to long ago was the ALS bucket challenge, when people would dump ice cold water over them to stimulate wh at another with ALS may feel( a quick numbing pain). This brought awareness, and raised a great amount of money to the disease, so I chose to go a bit deeper into the topic and find out what exactly the cause media type="youtube" key="TCY0_tP_cbk" width="560" height="315" align="left" s are and who may get the disease along with how it is developed.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also known as Lou Gherig's ( He was a famous baseball player who got ALS) disease is a neurological disease that very quickly attacks nerve cells, the disease is considered under "motor neuron disease" because it shuts down the motor neuron cells which are responsible for controlled muscle action. Our motor neuron cells are located in the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord, which contribute each and everyday to us being our voluntary actions, and muscle contraction. When we wake up we are sending a signal to do so, we chose to get up and move, so our brain (motor neurons) sends a message to our spinal cord from there they are transmitted to our muscles.

What happens with ALS disease is that our motor neurons from the brain stop sending the signals to the lower motor neurons such as the spinal cord and then to our muscles, they quickly die off. With that happening muscles and what not began to weaken very easily. And eventually the ability to send messages is completely gone, causing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Well more than 12 000 in the US have been diagnosis, and there is no one in particular who is prone to the disease, all people of different backgrounds can become diagnosis. But they do say it is quite common in older (60-70 years) men.
 * Who gets ALS?**

Some symptoms include cramps, tight muscles, or weak muscles, and these symptoms may sometimes be overlooked. Another more severe symptom could be trouble swallowing or speaking. There is no actual test that can diagnose someone with ALS, but is mostly dependent on the symptoms. The symptoms can eventually become deathly such as incapability to breath leading to death.
 * What are the symptoms, and how does someone become diagnosed?**

with a professional test three is also no cute for ALS, but there has been a treatment //A neuron// called Riluz ole, which is defined to reduce the damage of motor neurons, and kind of slow the whole process down. But sadly once the disease starts it almost never stop progressing.
 * Is there a cure or treatment?** So far along with being unable to diagnose someone

ALS actually has t wo different types the more common affecting 95% of the population is sporadic, in the case where i t may affect anyone. The other being familial, meaning the disease is inherited, only accounts for 5% of the population. It is said after being diagnosed you may only have 2-5 years left, many have lived on after 5 years. ALS association is a nonprofit organization that helps raise awareness to the disease, so don't let the ice bucket challenge be the only knowledge you have about ALS! Below is a video that further explains in detail the progression and how ALS effects our motor neurons. media type="youtube" key="JNZcC_3YLuo" width="560" height="315" align="center"

Sources Cited alsa.org www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_ALS.htm www.mayclinic.org livescience.com www.als.ca Further Reading alsa.org alsbc.ca asha.org health.howstuffworks.com