Look Into My Eyes

Who: Ko Nishino. Shree Nayar, a computer scientist at Columbia University in New York City.

What: It is possible to pin-point exactly what a person is looking at with a computer program developed by Shree Nayar.

When: March 7th, 2007

Where: Columbia University, New York City.

Why: With a computer program it is possible to view exactly what a person is looking at. This could help historians learn more about history because old photographs that were taken can be looked upon and see the reflecting light off of the people in the photo's eyes. By viewing the people's eyes you find out more about what the setting looked like because when the light reflects off of the person's eyes it shows exactly what they are looking at.

My Opinion:

My opinion about this topic is that it's interesting and cool. If there were such thing as computers that could give you a warning by giving you a beep if your looking away or making a noise just by scanning your eyes, it would be cool. Video games could also get better which many people would be excited about. Shree Nayar said that there could be even better exsisting games if the video game could scan your eyes to see where exactly where you're looking. I didn't know that our eyes were like small round mirrors, that sounds interesting to me. Being able to tell where someone's looking can also help to see whether someone is telling the truth or not. When someone tells a lie they tend to look in another direction or there body reacts in a different way. If I could ask my friends a question and be able to tell exactly when they are lying, all my troubles would be over! I hope that the program Nayar developed will one day be able to be viewed by the public.


http://www.sciencenewsforkids.com/articles/20070307/Feature1.asp

A New Basketball Gets Slick

Who: The NBA, and the scientists in Texas.

What: A new synthetic basketball has been developed that may be better than the leather basketballs used in the NBA.

When: November 8, 2006

Where: Texas

Why: The NBA and scientists from Texas tested the new platic like basketball compared to the old leather ball to see which one was better.

My Opinion:

In my opinion, I think that the NBA should just stick with the old leather ball because when the leather balls gets all sweaty when the basketball players play the game, it gets much stickier and bouncier. But when the leather ball is dry it is not as sticky or as bouncy as the synthetic basketball. The NBA doesn't know whether they should try a new basketball or keep the old one because they both have some negative effects but complaints have started to come up from the leather basketball. I think they should still keep the leather basketball until the entire NBA starts complaining.

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.com/articles/20061108/Note3.asp

Chewing For Health

Who: Ron Ream, a food scientist in Plano, Ill.

What: Gum can be healthy for you so teachers and schools may start to change their minds about the gum chewing rule.

When: April 4, 2007

Where: Florida

Why: If we chew gum after meals the gum stimulates saliva and helps fight cavities and bacteria.

My Opinion:

My opinion about these positive effects of gum chewing is that I'm really happy they figured it out. When the scientists did the study on the gum when people took a test and the people who chewed the gum did mostly better than the people who didn't chew gum while taking the test. If teachers and schools would allow students to be chewing gum while taking standardized tests or tests given out by the teachers the school could probably do better by a huge percent. The gum helps your scores by how it cant boost you flow of blood. Blood carries oxygen which fuels brain cells which is probably why 40% of participants who took a test did better than the participants who didn't chew gum. Since whatever you put into gum can go through your cheeks into you bloodstream. If you put an allergy medicine in gum for example you would probably feel better sooner because the medicine can go through your cheeks to the bloodstream better than the stomach can. I hope that by the time I'm in highschool I will be able to chew gum during the SATs.

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.com/articles/20070404/Feature1.asp

Greek Cruise Ship Sinking

Who: The Sea Diamond cruise ship.

What: The Greek cruise ship, Sea Diamond, sinks off the island of Santorini, Greece.

When: April 6th, 2007

Where: Santorini, Greece

Why: The cruise ship hit a volcanic reef that was formed 3,500 years ago and needed to evacuate the cruisers immediately. Two people were not found.

My Opinion:

My Opinion on this story is that it's sad. The cruise ship called the Sea Diamond hit a volcanic reef formed over 3,500 years ago and sank. Approximately 1600 passengers were rescued, but two poor souls were never found. I highly doubt that they escaped because how would they? In the room the passengers who were never found were staying in, water filled up quicker. This cruise ship sinking wasn't as bad as the Titanic, but why are cruise ships still sinking? It was said that the crew member didn't even know what to do when they ship was sinking. With that said I think that more safety precautions should be taken because how could a captain hit a crater and not know when it was also said that the cruise had the latest technology? The crater had also been there for over 3,500 years. How could you miss it?


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17980169/