Consider how the work of the scientists they chose has influenced the modern world. Why does their research matter to us as individuals? Are there any connections to the natural-science topic you identified in your news article?

When responding to your peers’ posts, consider how the work of the scientists they chose has influenced the modern world.

Why does their research matter to us as individuals? Are there any connections to the natural-science topic you identified in your news article?

POST 1:

“The science daily article I chose was  “Teens who use cannabis frequently more likely to have premature baby”. I believe the major historical scientific discovery that is the foundation relating to this story is the DNA molecule discovered by two Cambridge University scientists James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. This DNA molecule is the blueprint that carries genetic information to one generation of living things to the next. It is speculated that Watson and Crick was significantly aided by another DNA researcher Rosalind Franklin who did not receive any credit. The two were also trying to beat many other scientist who were working on figuring out the structure of the DNA molecule. Without this discovery we would not understand genetic inheritance. How does it related to my news story? Without this discovery we would not understand how a fetus can be affected by the mother in the womb or how we can pass down our genes to our children. “

POST 2:

“Hello Fellow Earthlings,

Because my article focuses on coastal overtopping (flooding) and how weather (fueled by climate) figures into how, why and when overtopping happens, I had to take a broad look back at the natural sciences and found names most of us will recognize, and a few I’ve never heard of.
The info I gathered came from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Britannica, University of South Florida Climate Ethics, climate.NASA.gov and the UCAR Center for Science Education (UCAR = University Corporation for Atmospheric Research).

Researchers from my article added a newer equation in figuring out and predicting coastal overtopping with a study of ocean waves. So, a big shout out to Sir Issac Newton, who, in 1687, said that ocean tides result from the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon on the oceans of the earth.
Ancient Greeks knew much about tides but didn’t understand the “why” of the daily rising and falling of sea waters.
High and low tides are caused by the moon. Large storms and rising sea levels today can “affect the effect,” if you will, of tides. A storm reaching land during a high tide cycle will cause more flooding.

That the Moon basically always keeps the same face of its surface turned toward Earth in a “tidal lock” is attributed to tidal friction. The theory of tidal friction was first developed mathematically after 1879 by English astronomer George Darwin, son of Charles Darwin. However, that theory was actually “predicted” by German philosopher Immanual Kant in 1754. Kant is one of the most influential figures in modern Western philosophy.

Aristotle is considered the “founder” of meteorology and what is now called the hydrologic cycle. That’s the continuous circulation of water within the Earth’s atmosphere, land and surface water, driven by solar radiation.

As for climate change, which figured heavily in into the study, data and predictions in my article, I was surprised to find out how early it showed up in scientific observation.

In 1859 Irish physicist John Tyndall showed that gases, including carbon dioxide and water vapor can absorb heat. He realized that any change in the amount of Co2 in the atmosphere would change the climate. His was foundational work.

Guy Stewart Callendar (British, 1898-1964) was a steam engineer and inventor who worked on a theory that linked carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere to global temperature.This theory was earlier proposed by Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist and Nobel Laureate. Callendar was the first to demonstrate, in 1938 (!) that Earth’s land temperature had increased over the previous 50 years.

Interestingly, Callendar figured global warming would be beneficial because it would stop a “return of the deadly glaciers.” He thought it would prevent another ice age.

How often do you check the weather report? Thank Admiral Robert FitzRoy. He invented the weather forecast in the 1860s and achieved celebrity status for his pioneering weather predictions. He also was roundly jeered at and faced a lot of skepticism from the public and governments. During his era there was no daily weather forecasting. People relied on “weather wisdom” — observations gathered from looking at clouds and animal behavior, noting the seasons, etc.

FitzRoy was Charles Darwin’s captain on the HMS Beagle during its famous 1830s circumnavigation and he became what would be an expert at the time, predicting storms and analyzing atmospheric data he gathered at sea with what would now be outdated instruments.

It’s amazing to me how scientists, chemists, and amateur scientists have all contributed to the knowledge that current researchers are using to try to save the planet. It really does take a village.

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