Cloud Seeding in China

By: Jamie Campbell

In an effort to end a decade long drought in the Beijing area, the Chinese government has been experimenting with weather manipulation, with mixed results. While the government’s actions do seem to be having an effect, bringing some of the earliest snows on record to Beijing, they are both good and bad. The practice of cloud seeding, adding chemicals to the clouds that make them produce rain more readily, can increase precipitation by up to 20%. The chemicals, in most cases silver iodide, dry ice or liquid propane, can be delivered in a variety of fashions, from planes to China’s preferred method, rockets or artillery. But the results of this manipulation are not all good. The snowstorms have wreaked havoc on the people, traffic and infrastructure of Beijing. The snow causes roads to close, halting business, flights and classes. China is not the only government to experiment with these techniques. As of now, 24 countries practice some kind of cloud seeding, including the USA.

Cloud seeding and weather manipulation in general could have an enormous impact on our lives and our environment. Used responsibly, it could end droughts, stop floods, and redirect hurricanes and other dangerous weather to places where it won’t hurt humans. Unfortunately, this technology could be a most destructive weapon. Imagine, redirecting a hurricane towards an enemy, a hurricane that will release the energy of multiple atomic bombs. And even more, there would be zero accountability. There would be almost no way to prove who, or even if someone had attacked you.

At this point, I support weather manipulation. The benefits, if perfected would be enormous. Weather causes huge amounts of suffering, and used responsively, we can stop a large portion of it. While this technology could theoretically be used as a weapon, our skill is much too low to use it effectively. I feel that the befits of weather manipulation far out way the potential risks.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-11/chinas-weather-manipulation-brings-crippling-snowstorm-beijing

The Shell Super Ship

By: Jamie Campbell

Although a final decision has not been reached, the oil company Shell is considering purchasing the largest ship ever built. At 600,000 metric tons and 480 meters long, it is nearly 3 times the mass of the world’s largest passenger ship. The reason for building this will be to reach oil fields that used to be too far out to sea to access. It size will also allow it to pass through extreme weather, such as typhoons unaffected. As of now, oil platforms are not mobile, and as such, become obsolete when their oil fields run dry. This ship however, could simply move to another site.

This could have an impact on peoples’ lives in an indirect way. While most would never see it, they could unknowingly pump their car full of gas that was reached using this ship. If we were able to reach new oil fields, it could also reduce the price of gasoline, which everyone would notice.

I have mixed feelings about this news. On one hand, I am always excited about new engineering marvels and new ways of doing things. On the other, would rather see the money being spent on this go to alternative fuels so we wouldn’t be using up a limited resource and polluting our atmosphere.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-10/shells-megaships-will-dwarf-everything-high-seas

Swine Flu Vaccine Works in Children

Anna Dye
September 22, 2009
Physics

Studies of the new swine flu vaccine were released this week. In the study, kids aged 10 to 17 were injected with the vaccine, and then the number of antibodies in their bloodstream were counted ten days later. Of the 600 kids tested, around 76 percent had enough antibodies to be considered immune. The other 24 percent were expected to create more antibodies over time. Younger children, 6 months to 9 years, were still treated, but not as well as the older children and it’s recommended that they get a second shot about twenty days later. The second shot is also recommended for people who have never had a flu shot. A nasal for of the vaccine will also be provided, but not recommended for children under 2 or people with asthma.
For months, swine flu has been a scary topic. People go to the hospital for something as little as a sore throat, just in case it’s the dreaded swine flu. With a functional vaccine available to everyone, hospitals will be able to care for the truly sick much easier and much quicker. Schools will also be able to stay open if a student contracts the virus where as they would have had to close just months ago. Science has become very quick in just the past twenty years; before it would take way too long for a vaccine to be formed where now it takes just a few months. Maybe in the future, vaccines can be created before an epidemic is created.
I am really excited that there is a vaccine. While I will most likely not receive it, my brother (who has virus induced asthma) and grandma will be able to. This vaccine can save many, many lives. I am so amazing that this was created so quickly, and that it will be out even quicker.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/science/22swine.html?_r=1&ref=science