A Planet to Call Home?

Read the following article and watch the video:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1205/New-earth-like-planet-discovered-by-NASA-spacecraft-Video

What parameters do astrobiologists look for when looking for a planet that is like Earth and could possibly support life as we know it?
What are five interesting ideas that you read about or watched in the video?

Life on Mars?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/science/space/aboard-mars-curiosity-rover-tools-to-plumb-a-methane-mystery.html

Read the article in the link above.  What evidence (read entire article to be able to answer this question thoroughly) do scientists have that there is life on Mars?  How is this evidence related to our chemistry class and to the scientific process?  What do think about the possibility of life on Mars?

Faster than the speed of light?

Read this article.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110923084425.htm

Summarize the main points in three sentences and comment on what it shows about science and technology.

Blog post for Sept. 6-9: A nano-sized electric motor

A nano-sized electric motor and http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20863-single-molecule-is-tiniest-electric-motor-ever.html

Read the articles in the two links above.

First summarize the facts from the article in 4 clear and concise sentences.

Next, think about the implications of a motors being downsized to molecular dimensions. What kinds of applications would small motors have on the way we live today.

Week of Aug 22-26 Prompt

Click on the link below, read article and watch video.

http://www.news10.net/news/article/150895/2/Questions-raised-over-lobbyists-influence-on-school-lessons

What do you think about this controversy? Should lobbying groups be able to influence your curriculum?

Week of Aug. 15-19 Prompt

Read the article and watch the associated video here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0112-chemistry_of_cooking.htm

Respond to this prompt: In the article and video there is discussion about how one aspect of everyday life is related to the topic of Chemistry. Describe at least three other things in your daily life are related to chemistry. Please do not list, but write complete and coherent sentences.

Introduction to Blogging About Chemistry

Welcome to the Virtually Chemistry blog! The goal of this blog is to make chemistry more relevant to your life!


Every week, you will be required to post comments in response to this blog in response to a reading and writing prompt that I post here. This assignment is worth 5% of your overall grade. If you have computer issues at home, there are computers available in the library and in the pod between the science rooms that you can use. Your prompt should be at least 4 sentences and should not include anything that would be against school rules including derogatory comments, profane language, etc. Just be cool in your response and remember that this is a graded assignment. Your grade will reflect your effort. So look in the right margin/sidebar, click on the current week's post, read it and any links posted there and respond. Happy blogging!