Cuban Missile Crisis: How Was Nuclear War Avoided?

 Many people believe that war cannot be avoided. However, this event in history proved that humans themselves are able to prevent human-made conflict: by keeping rational thought. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, John F. Kennedy and his group of advisors made every decision after carefully examining the consequences, and did not act upon anger and impulse. Most wars are started without the realization that there are more peaceful ways in solving conflict. It was all because of the persistence JFK and certain members of his group had held during these two weeks, while many objected and insisted on war due to impulse. Having communicated carefully with the Russians, who also had certain members of the equivalent persistence, a peaceful negotiation was able to take place, preventing nuclear war and preserving world peace.

Fat Man and Little Boy: Justified?

The nuclear bombs that were used during the Second World War had been a very controversial topic since the time it was used. The damages to the Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were devastating. There was an estimated loss of 200,000 lives. Many think the attack was immoral, and that the US didn't thoroughly consider the consequences. Some, however, think that such a damaging attack was the only way to end the war, as it caused the Japanese to finally surrender. There is no exact answer to whether or not the bombing was the "right" and "justified" decision. Regardless, it was destined for countries and societies to discover the power of nuclear science and atomic energy. The usage of the atomic bomb was inevitable. The fact that it was used during a large scale, world-wide war, may have actually cushioned the blow, and helped justify its use. 

The catastrophic damages are undeniable, but it is also an undeniable fact that both US and Japan played major parts in the world wide war, where nations are destined to attempt to destroy and tear each other apart because of their differences. Many people blame the United States for their attack, but at the time, there were many other atomic projects going on in countries like Russia and Canada. An atomic bomb was destined to be created, and it was destined to be used, just like conflict is unpreventable when separate powers exist in the world. We can also compare this to the First World War. Many historians today look back at the causes for that war, and also the ways it was ended (specifically the Treaty of Versailles), and consider those decisions to be mistakes. Just like the atomic bombs, those events were inevitable, and it was only through those events did the world learn not to repeat the mistakes. After the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings, the world sure has learned a lesson on being cautious with unpredictable weapons. Yet, many of us continue to blame the US for the immoral event.

Origin of: Benjamin Button's Head

  How does Benjamin Button (yes, the movie) relate to science? 

The producers of the movie wanted to capture the lifetime of Benjamin Button. However, they also wanted to capture the same essence and character of Benjamin Button, or Brad Pitt, throughout different ages. During the production, the production crew went through a very long process finding a way to make Brad Pitt look old, using technology. They needed to generate a head via computer. To do this, they went through the scientific method, and eventually reached their goal.

First they came up with a few solutions, or, a few hypothesizes, and they tested them. They tried to use the usual pin pointed facial motion detectors to capture Brad Pitt's facial features and expressions. However, their hypothesis wasn't supported. They then had to move onto to a second solution.

The crew eventually landed on a very new technology that uses motion detecting cosmetics, which gave them extraordinary detail of the face and its expressions. This time, they realized this hypothesis might be support in the end and help them in producing the movie. They went further in this hypothesis, performing the "procedure" part of the scientific method. They kept a large database of all of Brad Pitt's expressions, using them to create the older version of him. Eventually succeeding to create a computer generated head of the 70-80 year old Benjamin Button. 

All Quiet on the Western Front Project: Paul Baumer Character Analysis

Paul Baumer is the central character of the book, All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque. Paul Baumer is also the narrator of the novel. Through his narration, he helps us to understand what life was like during the First World War. Paul Baumer is against war. He also changes throughout the novel. “...it has transformed us into unthinking animals in order to give us the weapon of instinct-it has reinforced us with dullness, so that we do not go into pieces before the horror, which would over-whelm us if we had clear, conscious thought.” (273-274) The war causes Paul Baumer to stop thinking and base his actions on his instincts. When he get the privilege to go back and visit his family and his old life, he even starts to struggle. Paul Baumer is a central, changing character in the book All Quiet on the Western Front. His emotions lead us and introduces us to the life style during the First World War.

 

MISSION: YELLOW SUBMARINE

Today was SMASH DAY, the day in science class where we have more fun than usual and perform tasks related to science. In today's mission, we were to create a periscope-like device that would allow us to see inside a castle on land from a submarine under water. (That is, to see inside a cardboard box on a table from underneath the table). We were given 10 sheets of scrap paper, a piece of cardboard, four tiny mirrors, and tape. 

Our group came up with only one plan and stuck to it. We started to put together our periscope, which took more time than we expected. We didn't have time to try the device out. It was only during the "spy time" that we realized how difficult it was to use our periscope. The structure of our periscope wasn't strong enough, and so the device "bent" easily, making the slightest change in the angles of our mirrors which would mean failure. Soon after discovering this, we made a sudden change of plans, and completely changed our design. The communication that we had to decide this modification was rather simple. "CHANGE OF PLANSSS!!!", and we squished our entire paper device into a long rod, attempting to simply look inside from only one mirror that was at the very end of our periscope. It was a really funny scene actually. We really should've planned more carefully at the beginning of the mission, and try to think of different alternatives. 

I do have a few tips and suggestions for those who would like to try this out. Firstly, YOU MUST TRY YOUR PERISCOPE OUT BEFORE YOUR ACTUAL MISSION (especially if you are making it out of unstable material like paper). Secondly, you must remember that sometimes the best solution is the simplest one. It is also very important to keep ideas coming in as you perform the task.

Treaty of Versailles: Germany's Allowed Military Structure

http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Germany%27s_Allowed_Military_Structure

This article provides documents from the Treaty of Versailles, which dealt with the military structure that Germany was allowed after the world war. This part of the Treaty includes three tables. The first table talks about states and establishment of army corps headquarters staffs, and of infantry and calvary divisions. The second deals with the tabular statement of armament establishment. The last table talks about the maximum number of stocks authorized. Each of these tables include details and numbers of the amounts of weapons and divisions allowed.

This document greatly influenced the situation of Germany after World War I. Military structure is one of the most important aspects to the sustainability of a country. The limitations weakened Germany as a whole. With a limited amount of military defense and structure, Germany's original power in the world lowered. Without many weapons and soldiers and much structure, its ability to defend and fight also became much weaker in comparison to the Allies countries. This document symbolizes Germany's defeat. With the Treaty of Versailles signed, Germany, in a way, "agreed" that it has been defeated, and that the war has ended. Germany's people would face humiliation, and the nationalism and patriotism towards the country would be effected. Weakened nationalism weakens the country itself, not only in military terms, but also cultural and economical. This document symbolizes a great change and event in Germany' history.

In class, we have been been split into groups and each group was given a topic to research and explore. Our group's topic deals with the overall picture of the events of World War I.  This document relates to our topic in a cause-and-effect way, as it is the result to all the events of World War I. It was only after all the events occurred, that the Treaty of Versailles was signed and Germany's military structure was limited. You could also consider the Treaty of Versailles to be one of the many events that happened in the first world war. The treaty was the final event that put an end to the war, and changed Germany as a whole.

Hallucinations and Caffeine

tWhat causes some people to see things that are not there, and hear sounds that others can't? 

A recent BBC article reports UK studies on the connection between caffeine intake and hallucinations. The Durham University Team surveyed 200 students, and found a possible link between high caffeine intake and hallucinations. The human body releases a hormone called cortisol when it is stressed. Caffeine intake increases cortisol release in the body, and could be the cause of hallucinations. 

The article is unbiased in that it also provided the perspective of people who doubt the results to the research. However, I found it a little hard to believe because it did not tell us how the students were surveyed. I cannot think of a way to measure and compare hallucination accurately. However, the article was significant. I found the information very interesting and definitely proposed a new view towards the causes of hallucination.  

Read the article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7827761.stm?lsm

Current Event: More Than 1000 Killed in Gaza

On January 14th 2009, the BBC reported that the deaths of the Gaza crisis has passed 1000. The conflict started about 19 days ago when Israel, specifically the Hamas, attacked the Gaza strip, Israel claimed in a campaign that the attack was to end Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.

Egypt is currently making efforts in negotiating a ceasefire. The article includes many statistics about injuries and deaths in the Gaza. Out of the 1000 deaths, more than 300 are children, and about 78 are women. There has also been about 4500 injuries, of which 1600 are children, and 678 are women. The article also talks about the humanitarian concerns towards the crisis.

This article is significant, as it provides many statistics and numbers to make people more aware of the Gaza crisis. The article contains very little bias, almost all of its content is information and numbers. However, there is always bias in an article, as it cannot include every perspective involved in the issue. I feel that the article didn't fully explain the Hamas' motives, but this may not be because of the author's bias. It may simply be the lack of the information.

To read the article on BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7828884.stm