Current Events QTR 2 week 5: Robot probe fails inside New Zealand mine.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/22/new.zealand.coal.mine/index.html
  In New Zealand a robot probe made to find signs of life in a mine fails. There are 29 miners trapped in the tunnel and authorities still dont know if anyone is alive. Authorities are trying to get something like the probe to find signs of life.  Rescue workers are trying to make a hole but it is to dangerous for rescuers to enter because of the toxic fumes. Rescuers will soon be able to take gas samples that could help the rescue. Luckily, the mine is ventilated and has water.
  This reminds me of the Chilean trapped miners. This may also become a big news story like the other one. I think its really sad that no one knows if anyones alive. There has been so many efforts to at least know if there is life! I mean the familys must be terrified! They may never see these men again. I will continue following this story to see what happens.

November 22, 2010 5:04 p.m. EST

Flowers and a note lay at the foot of the Strongman Mine Memorial on Monday in Greymouth, New Zealand.

 

Map: New Zealand coal mine

Current Events QTR 2 week 3: Strong winds, waves push sailboat into Dunedin restaurant.

source: http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2010/november/169835/Strong-winds,-waves-push-sailboat-into-Dunedin-restaurant
  On Friday afternoon in Dunedin a sailboat crashes into a restaurant. The sailboats name is "Porthouse" and is 35 feet. It broke its anchor in strong winds and went into the restaurant. Porthouse went into a restaurant called the Best Western/Bon Appetite Restaurant, located at 150 Marina Plaza. Firefighters were able to get the boat under control and prevent any further damage. The damage cost was about $1,500.
   I think that this was strange. What are the odds that a boat is going to crash into a restaurant? I just hope everything gets fixed and that this doesn't happen again! I wonder how surprised the people eating there would be. If a boat crashed into a restaurant I was in I would be pretty freaked out. I wish that this article had more information because I dont know much from this article.
 boat crashed into dock of restaurant.

Current Events QTR 2 week 2: New volcanic eruptions sends Indonesians fleeing.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/30/indonesia.volcano/index.html
  In Jakarta Indonesia Mount Merapi erupted again on Saturday after it had already done on Tuesday.
You could feel the volcano from 7 miles away! In the main city of Yogakyarta ash clouds covered the skys. The people there had to where gas masks or cover their faces. On Friday a huge blast sent lava and ash clouds into the sky! Residents where evacuated down the mountain to safer ground after all the eruptions Friday. Mount Merapi is one of Indonesias most active volcanos.
  I thought this was tragic. I feel bad for all the people who had suffered in this disaster. I think people need to move away from that area. Its not safe to live near volcanos. I hope that the people living there can know before a volcano erupts so that they can evacuat before hand.

Current events QTR 2 week 1: What kind of beetle? This app knows

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/10/22/citizen.scientists.app/index.html?iref=allsearch
  Instead of scientists having to carry around guides with many pages of photos and information, scientists can use an app on the smart phone! The app is called Project Noah and it helps scientists identify the species of plants and animals that they have found. It also helps find certain species location using "citizen scientists". In December there will be a new update giving users a badge for participation. For example, the "tadpole" badge is given for people who put in their observations. Yasser Ansari is the co-founder of Network Organisms, which was first to launch the app. Ansari hopes Project Noah will connect people because they can submit their data and what they're struggling with.
  I think that Project Noah is a great idea! It’s a lot easier than carrying a heavy guide around with so many pages to flip through to find the information you need. With this you can do all that with a push of a button! If I were a scientists or researcher then I would definitely download this app. It’s amazing how easy and convenient this app is. It’s a great way to connect scientists/researchers to other people. I would highly recommend this app to people all around the world.

Project Noah in action.

current events week 4: Ascent could bring bends, 'chokes' to miners

source:
     http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/11/ascent-could-bring-bends-chokes-miners-to-be-monitored-closely/?hpt=C1
     Health risks could cause problems for the miners in their rescue. The rescue capsule spins so that could cause vomiting and anxiety attacks. Since the miners have been trapped so long they may not be used to the light from the sun and will have to wear special glasses to protect their eyes. The miners have been givin special clothing to keep them healthy. They have been taking vaccines, blood tests, theyve been weighed and urine tests. This was all taken by one of the miners who is a parametic. The pressure from being brought up may cause muscle aches, recpitorial difficulties, increase in blood pressure and lung damage (but the right supply of oxygen will keep lung problems at a minimum. Once the miners are out they will be continuely tested and checked on.
       I think that this is very sad. The miners finally get close to a rescue and find the consiquences. I hope they can stay brave like they have been. Im hoping that none of them come up with problems. I mean all that they have gone through, takes real courage. They have got to stay strong through this. This will be an extremely nerveracking time for them. Think about all those tests and worries they have to go through. But despite all that they are staying brave and everyone is confident that they will be as calm as they can. If I were there i would give them an award after what theyve gone through.
rescue mission.

current events week 7: authorities anticipating second wave of toxic sludge in hungary

sourrce http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/10/10/hungary.toxic.sludge/index.html?iref=allsearch
  Hungarians were evacuated from their homes because of the second strike of toxic sludge flooding. The wall that is supposed to keep it all in is now cracked. Authorities are expecting it to collapse but they dont know when. If it does 500,000 cubic meters of red toxic sludge could spill out! The sludge from Monday has gone into the Danube river (in Europe). Luckily tests show it wont be as big as a threat to the Danube river. The sludge is reaching different areas now. Emergency workers have been trying to lower the toxic levels. But the dust from the sludge may pose a threat. Its so dangerous the cleanup workers might have to were filtering masks!
   I think that this is a desaster! Im afraid it will lead into the black sea! Which could take a very long time to cleanup. This story reminds me of the catastrophic oil spill by BP. It took a very long time to clean up but not as much as we expected. I hope that the sludge will get cleaned before its too late! I cant even imagine what goes on in the minds of the people whos homes are being destroyed and they cant do anything about it. I wish i could do something about it. All we can do is hope that they can get they wall fixed or build a temporary dam in time, before its too late.

cleanup

current events 6: giant new drill joins chile mine rescue

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11366890
    In Chile 33 miners have been trapped under ground for more than six weeks! The miners became trapped on August 5th when main access tunnel suddenly collapsed.There are now three drills for an escape tunnel. The newest drill was borrowed from an oil company. The Chilean president (Sebastion Pinera) is confident with the drills. They plan to rescue the miners in early November. One drill completed a shaft. Although it will take a while to get a wide enough hole. The new drill is very powerful and is hoped to be the first to complete a rescue tunnel. They now have three holes big enough to supply them with food, water and medicine.
   I feel terrible for the poor miners. They have been trapped underground for months in a cold mine. Yet they are very confident and hopefull. I think it takes true courage to be trapped like that! I hope that they will get rescue much later than November. If I could go there I would congradulate them on their bravness and confidence.
rescue drill.