Science 10 wonder project

What is string theory and how can it further our understanding of gravity and space around us?

 

String theory is a concept in theoretical physics, that states that reality consists of infinitely tiny vibrating strings that are smaller than atoms, electrons, or quarks. According to this theory, when a string vibrates, twists, and folds, it produces effects in many small dimensions that humans can interpret, from particle physics to large-scale phenomena such as gravity. String theory has been thought of as a possible “theory of everything”, a single theory that can unite general relativity and quantum mechanics. These are the two theories that underlie almost everything in modern physics. Quantum mechanics is very good at explaining the behavior of very small things, and general relativity works well to explain how very big things happen in the universe, but when they are together, they don’t work well. Some scientists believe (or believed) that string theory could solve the mystery between the two and

overcome one of the biggest remaining unsolved problems in physics. However, after string theory gained attention in the late 1960s and 1970s, its popularity among theoretical physicists diminished, according to a lecture by California Institute of Technology physicist John Schwarz. After countless papers, conferences and dry-erase markers, the breathtaking breakthrough many once hoped for seems further away than ever. So how can String theory help us understand space around us?

In Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, gravity is a force that warps space-time around massive objects. It’s one of the four forces that physicists use to describe nature. But unlike the other forces, gravity is so weak that it can’t be detected on the scale of a particle. Its effects are only noticeable on the scale of moons, planets, stars and galaxies. Theorists can predict what a gravity particle should look like, but when they try to calculate what happens when two such “gravitons” smash together, they get an infinite amount of energy packed into a small space which is a sure sign that the math is missing something, meaning that gravity cannot exist as a particle. One possible solution, is to get rid of the idea of the problematic, point-like graviton particles and use strings. Only strings, can collide and rebound without making physically impossible infinities.

In addition to helping us understand gravity better, string theory was great for its potential to explain so-called fundamental constants like the mass of an electron. The next step that theorists hoped for would be to find the right way to describe the folding and movement of the strings. But that simplicity turned out to come with some unexpected complexity. The math used for string theory didn’t work in our four dimensions (three of space and one of time). It needed a total of 10 dimensions, with six visible only to those little strings, much as a powerline looks like a 1 dimensional line to birds flying far overhead but becomes a 3 dimensional cylinder to an ant crawling on that same powerline.

 

Citations

https://www.space.com/41947-gravitational-waves-reveal-no-extra-dimensions.html

https://www.space.com/17594-string-theory.html

https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/science/physics/string-theory-defining-a-black-hole-193333/

Epigenetics – Sebastian and Maury

Introduction

Epigenetics is a field of study that looks at how gene expressions are changed depending on our ancestry from the past. Some genes may be disabled or enabled depending on factors that affected your ancestors which can pass on to you without directly changing your DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), for example there may be evidence to suggest that you may have inherited habits and lifestyles from your past grandparents these changes are not changed by mutations in your genes, but it is caused because how the genes are expressed. Scientists have noticed that DNA is not the only factor in inheritance and epigenetics can play a role

 

 

  1. Discuss the greatest advancement with regards to your topic and provide examples.

The greatest advancement of Epigenetics is in the medical field. One notable achievement is that Epigenetics can and has been used to help fight cancer. Epigenetic cancer treatments change cells unlike chemotherapy which kills cells. Epigenetic changes can be passed down to other generations, meaning as more and more people get epigenetic treatments for certain diseases and pass them down, more and more people would be more resistant to those diseases.

 

  1. How is this form of biotechnology best used?  Maury

Epigenetics can cause many diseases, but it can also help avoid many diseases in the future for example if you live a healthy lifestyle and you live in a healthy and clean environment this can help future generations and can assist in preventing many conditions. Epigenetics can help us make sure that we try and keep a healthy lifestyle and avoid toxins like BPA (Bisphenol A) and many others which can make us more susceptible to diseases. In the future, this can potentially mean we can make our future generations more resistant to disease. This is how this information can be used to try and improve the lives of our descendants by improving our lifestyles and avoiding toxins.  

 

  1. How is this form of biotechnology changing the world as we continue to advance towards the future?

Epigenetics is being used by scientists to advance medicine. Scientists are researching ways to use epigenetics to help treat certain diseases. Epigenetics is being used to help with cancer treatment. One form of treatment adjusts, or changes, how the cells work by attacking certain enzymes (proteins). Meanwhile chemotherapy and radiation therapy kills cells. In the future, they can be used to reactivate silenced tumor suppressor genes (anti-tumor genes that are inactive) and silence tumor promoting genes (deactivate active pro-tumor genes).

 

Science 10 Paper Airplane Scientific Method

In this assignment I learned how to use the Scientific Method. I used the Scientific Method to figure out what paper airplane is the best between a long and skinny paper airplane and a short and wide paper airplane. what I would like to change for next time is the amount of different planes. I would like to experiment not just size but also what fold method, shape, and weight would make a paper airplane fly farther.

 

resting place of the control plane which was throw by someone wanting to see how high they could get it to fly. May it rest in peace.

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