Science research

What is Forensic Science?

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:46:53 +0000

Forensic science has a very high profile on TV and across the media in general. This profile includes both real world references to forensic science in such programs as The First 48, and fictional references to forensic science most notably in shows such as CSI, CSI Miami etc.

However, despite this very high profile, the question “What is Forensic Science” is an extremely common search engine phrase (Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask etc).

What this shows, I think it’s fair to say, is that many people have a general idea of what forensic science is but they would struggle to come up with a definitive definition. The following information is presented with this very much in mind.

Forensic

From the Latin ‘Forensis’, meaning forum, specifically the Imperial Court of Rome.

Science

The systematic formulation of knowledge based on observation, experiment & induction. Science is organized knowledge (Immanuel Kant).

Forensic Science

Forensic science is really just science used in court
(Allan Jamieson, Director of the Forensic Institute, Edinburgh, UK)

Any science, used for the purposes of the law, is a forensic science. (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)

In essence then, forensic science is the application of scientific knowledge in a legal context.

Sources of Scientific Knowledge

There are many sources of scientific knowledge applied in a legal context. These Include:

Chemistry Pathology Toxicology Dentistry Anthropology EngineeringThe Forensic Scientist

By definition, a person who applies scientific knowledge in a legal context is a forensic scientist.

If you would like to find out more about the fascinating world of forensic science, you can do so by visiting the website http://www.all-about-forensic-science.com

By: David A Webb

School Science Projects – What Teachers Really Want

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:31:58 +0000

Looking for a project that can get your teacher’s attention? You need not look any further! And yes, while you’re on the lookout for the best possible project, don’t forget to hop into our library for free guidelines on your projects.

How to Make Your Project Grab Your Teacher’s Attention? To get you started, here are some things that teachers are looking for in good Science projects.

STEP #1: Choose a topic that interests you. Teachers are looking out for science projects that are wholeheartedly done. They can tell a project done well and just for the sake of doing it. It is therefore important to choose a topic that you love.

Your ideas about the following things could turn into science projects:

1. Things That Amaze You: Ever wondered how a huge airplane manages to fly in thin air? Grab some books on that topic from your library, and do some research. There are many like you who are equally confused. Maybe you could look for books on gravity and aerodynamics.

2. Things That You Encounter Daily: Ever wondered how your camera works? Try constructing a pin-hole camera. Or how your car works? Experiment with various home-made models.

3. Things That Others Say: Find out why your parents tell you to exercise or eat your vegetables or go to bed early. Research and learn the positive benefits of these habits on your body. Why do people prefer a particular brand of toothpaste? Is there really a difference? This could give you a practical topic for your project.

If you’re looking for ideas, check out this guide to good Science projects.

STEP #2: Just Do It! Teachers try to determine how much personal effort a student puts in, in order to create the project. Here are a few steps that can enhance your efforts:

1. Collect Facts from Real Life: Look around your home, your neighborhood and the World Wide Web for facts and materials that support your project.
2. Collect Facts from Science: Use science to go about your project.

Ask yourself the following questions:

* Which scientific principle am I trying to demonstrate?
* If I change one parameter how will it affect another?
* If I do things differently how would it affect the result?

3. Collect Facts From Your Own Experiments: Perform a set of actions and write down the results. Let the results be available for your teachers to study.

STEP #3: Make It Presentable Well presented science projects make the first impression on teachers. Make your project simple and clear.

Here are a few ways to make your project presentable:

1. Present Information Clearly: Get rid of all ambiguity by presenting the facts and figures in a neat tabular and graphic form.

2. Present It Using Pictures: Since our minds understand pictures better, a picturesque presentation would make your project entertaining and knowledgeable.

3. Present an account of your experience: Write an account of how you went about creating your project, what hindrances you encountered and how you arrived at the final step.

And yes, there is one thing you could do to boost your confidence. A day before the science fair, run a mock presentation. Have someone ask you some questions and try to answer them. Imagine the judge and your teachers examining and appreciating your project. For more resources on picking a great topic and creating a great project with minimal stress, check out the links below.

Good luck!

By: Aurora Lipper

Top 5 Secrets to Easy Science Fair Projects

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:50:30 +0000

Finding quality scientific easy science fair projects doesn’t have to be a big research chore. Just keep in mind that you will be in competition with every other family who is looking for that special science project to win the fairs with. It is also well to keep in mind that the end goal of all of this is to promote science education and participation. This article will focus primarily on the top 5 secrets to choosing easy science fair projects.

Science Fair Project Secret #1

Project selection is one of the most important activities for science fair success. Confirm that the project you choose is a good match for your child’s grade level and age group. If this is done correctly then your child should be able to complete the project with little or no help from you.

Science Fair Project Secret #2

Confirm that the project you choose has distinct and clear directions.This keeps your child from getting confused about what comes next and allows them a set of mini-successes along the way. For younger kids it will be easier on all involved if the instructions are visual.

Science Fair Project Secret #3

Keep it simple. Choose a project that will allow you to use items found around the house and/or in nature. This will usually mean a project that involves biology, physics and/or space. The reasons for this are to keep the costs down for the project and to allow your child to use items that they would be familiar with (i.e. household items like projectors). This will allow you to minimize or eliminate the frustration element and keep your child excited about participating.

Science Fair Project Secret #4

Confirm project uniqueness. Have you ever been to a science fair and it seems like you have seen the same project with little or no variation again and again? That’s because these tend to be the same projects that you will find on websites and in books that are repeated often. It’s a good sign if you don’t see the one you choose all over the internet.

Science Fair Project Secret #5

Use your library. In today’s world of readily accessible internet and digital downloads there is a lot of information that can be found. You can circumvent all of that by actually going to the library and looking through real books for ideas and projects to use. Your ideal easy science fair projects may all exist in the old well worn book that has been overlooked by others.

This article has attempted to deliver the top 5 secrets to easy science fair projects in a format that should be readily accessible to you the reader. Don’t forget that the most important thing here is that your child learn and have fun doing it. Choosing easy science fair projects is something the whole family can be a part of.

By: Esther Hoover

Science And Nature For Kids

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:24:29 +0000

Why is the grass green? Why is the sky blue? Why is the tree bigger than the other? Why do I feel hungry? These are a few of the hundred questions a child asks his parents day in and day out.

But by condemning children for their incessant questions, you stub out their inquisitiveness that leads to growth of knowledge. Teaching science and nature to kids is a great way to help them explore the world. A world that is far different than what they live in. You may think they get enough of science from their school textbooks. But that is far little than what a malleable kid’s mind can devour.

You do not have to set up a lab or invest heavily in instruments. The world is an open laboratory and the best way to teach your child is to take him out into the world. Stare at the moon and see it change shapes through the month. Makes notes of the same on the calendar and then predict its shape for the coming week.

See flowers bloom and question why flowers droop and wither, See animal and plant behaviour, see fish move swiftly and check how they sleep, how does the washing machine work, how does the fruit mixer grind fruits? What is the material in a sofa or a bed, why is it used?

Science is everywhere, it can be learnt and observed and fed into your child’s mind, leaving them asking more questions than ever before. You don’t have to be a scientist or an engineer to know all the answers but a positive approach towards science is all that you need.

Keep your mind and ears open and teach your children the same. Fuel them to ask questions, relevant questions not just mindless questions. Put science books under their noses and sit and watch discovery and national geographic together with your kids.

Hold mini competitions in your house with questions in regard to general knowledge of science and nature. This will encourage your children to dig into books and learn the nuances of everyday science. Being in-step with science will help your child be updated and walk tall in life.

How do you get a cold? What is the cure to it? How can you avoid getting a cold? Are a few questions you can get your child to ask and answer? Do not spoon feed them, let the mind explore. It helps build logic to form an answer. In this way children can decode science and make sense of the world.

When your children are exposed to the world or in conversation with older people they can be a part of it with their wealth of information which only you can induce them to swallow. Sometimes children get so engrossed in science and nature that they get far ahead in life and take up professions in relation to this field. But it all begins when the tender mind is hungry for knowledge.

By: Jennie Gandhi

2nd Grade Science Fair Projects

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:54:16 +0000

Science projects for second graders help them learn a scientific principle through an experiment or a series of experiments. The project helps them to apply the skills that they have been taught. Through the second grade science fair project, children learn to ask questions, collect relevant data, write conclusions and present their findings in an attractive and effective manner.

While choosing the topic for the second grade science fair project, the raw materials required should be kept in mind. Very good second grade science fair projects can be done using household materials and material, which are commonly and easily available. Expensive laboratory equipment is not necessary for a second grade science fair project.

The entire second grade science fair project has to be thoroughly planned. The reports that are written should be clear and to the point.

Presentation is the key factor in second grade science fair projects and the following should be kept in mind:

1.The child should understand the topic very clearly and should have absolutely no doubts.

2.The child should be able to explain the project without reading it out.

3.The child should be confident and enthusiastic.

4.The child should be able to speak knowledgeably.

5.The child should present the project in a well organized and clear manner.

6.The project should be original and unique reflecting the creativity of the child.

Topics for second grade science projects are innumerable. However, interesting and original projects can be based on these questions: -

- How far can an animal be heard?

- How are diseases transmitted?

- How long are the blood vessels in different animals?

- Do plants lose water through their leaves?

- Which side of a plant leaf takes in Carbon dioxide?

- How do different colored lights affect plants?

- How fast can a rat/guinea pig run through a maze?

- Why is the sky blue?

- How are rainbows formed?

- Why does ice cream melt?

The advantages of doing an experiment so early on are innumerable. Such projects arouse the curiosity of the student. They are also intellectually stimulating as the child searches for answers instead of being spoon fed information. The students conducts the experiment and gets the result and then explores the reason behind the result and the scientific principle or principles involved.

Some experiments are done in groups. In such cases, children learn to co-operate with one other and work together as a team. They learn the importance of team spirit and they learn to adjust and compromise. In case the project has to be done individually, the child learns to be independent and self confident, however, these projects must be very small in scale, because the students are still to young and disorganized to do anything too complex.

These experiments also strengthen the bond between children and parents. The parents and children sit together and discuss various topics and the options available to them. The child feels happy that the parent is involved in his or her school work.

The second grade fair science projects also enable a student to learn a topic thoroughly and as he or she has learn it on his/her own, the child will not easily forget the scientific principle involved. Also, these experiments encourage children to enjoy science and develop a love for the subject.

By: Jordan Matthews

Cancer Cure Possibilities – A Spiritual Outlook

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:14:07 +0000

Is cancer curable? The World Health Organization defines health as physical, mental, social and spiritual well being. Much has been said about the first three aspects of health and rather little of how much spiritual root causes affect our health. The Spiritual Science Research Foundation has investigated the spiritual aspect of cancer disease and the probability of its cure by introducing spiritual healing remedies.

If let’s say there are 10 cancer patients, what are their chances of being cured by spiritual healing remedies? The interplay between the various viewpoints is complex and no one factor can be viewed in isolation. With regards to the 10 cancer patients, following are some perspectives that need to be taken into consideration when looking at their chances of being cured from cancer through spiritual healing remedies.

1. Role of destiny as a causative factor for cancer and the corresponding amount of spiritual practice required

Life threatening illnesses like cancer are invariably destined. Destiny, as the root cause, is spiritual in nature and hence can be fully overcome only through adequate spiritual practice which is a basic type of spiritual healing. Spiritual practice either nullifies destiny, in which case the cancer is cured, or helps insulate a person from destiny of anguish due to cancer.

2. Cancer may be due to:

a. Mild destiny: Early diagnosis of cancer with good prognosis of recovery. Requires a moderate amount (4-5 hours a day) of spiritual practice on a regular basis.

b. Moderate destiny: Cancer detected later when organic changes have well set in. Requires intense amount of spiritual practice (10-12 hours a day) on a regular basis.

c. Severe destiny: Cancer detected late after irreversible changes have set in and has terminal prognosis. Requires intense spiritual practice for a long time and the grace of a Saint or God.

3. Time of beginning spiritual practice

It is always advisable to initiate the spiritual practice early in life as a preventive measure against cancer. Depending on the time when one begins spiritual practice, one can either avoid a destined illness like cancer altogether or substantially reduce its intensity, which is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of spiritual practice done in relation to the severity of destiny.

4. Has organ degeneration occurred?

If organ degeneration has occurred, in almost all cases the changes cannot be reversed with spiritual remedies. The intensity of the illness can however reduce.

5. Give-and-take account with the doctor

By give and take account we mean sum total of positive and negative interplay of actions between two individuals as per the Law of Action (Karma). If the give-and-take account is negative, the doctor may overlook key aspects of the patient’s cancer thus extending the suffering. This is also why sometimes a patient can become even more ill which we may see as negligence on the doctor’s part. If the account is very positive then it would seem that the doctor has a golden touch. The give-and-take account is also the reason why we choose a certain doctor over another.

Summary

1. All major life threatening illnesses like cancer have a spiritual root cause and are destined.

2. The factors affecting cure of cancer are complex and understanding of modern medical science is limited to the physical and psychological dimension.

3. Complementing medical treatment with spiritual practice and spiritual healing remedies enhances cure rates or in cases of severe destiny at least helps to reduce the intensity of the illness.

100% cure is possible if both:

• 100% specific diagnosis of the spiritual root cause is done.

• 100% specific spiritual healing remedy is applied in required quantity and for the required time.

By: Sean M. Clarke

Market Research Panels Are Increasingly Being Found Online

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:12:26 +0000

“Market research” is a term that is heard often in the modern world; but what does it actually mean? Essentially, market research is a form of business research which is conducted in order to discover new, or retrieve existing, information and knowledge for a specific purpose. Market research is broader in scope than other types of research, such as consumer research, as it asks questions about business competitors, market structure, government legislation, economic trends and various other factors that make up the particular business environment under scrutiny.

Market research panels involve longitudinal, statistical studies in which groups of individuals are interviewed at intervals over a specific length of time in order to collect representative data. The developing technology of the internet has made it increasingly possible for companies to conduct market research panels online. This has in turn led to a growth in the number of online market research services being offered, and has thus generated a subsequent growth in the number of existing online market research panels.

As a result, panel science has become increasingly specialised and has resulted in a number of quality control procedures being put in place by leading online panel experts. Panel quality is the key to modern methods of online panel research; many panel providers now create specialist panels in a variety of countries in order to allow clients quick and easy access to niche segments of specific markets.

For instance, if a cosmetics business or company were planning a research project, they’d be able to find cosmetics specialist sub-panels which would make their research more accurate for specific markets. These specialist sub-panels are compiled by leading online market research firms by encouraging panel communities to update their profiles across certain key verticals. Specialist panels can be created to provide up-to-date market research on particular subjects which can be as wide ranging as fair-trade and green consumerism, through to the mobile phone market, video gaming and fashion.

As well as providing specialist panels, many online panel research providers also offer their clients bespoke services; this means they can create the most appropriate panel to suit their customers’ needs. And as panel science advances, so too do the methods by which panels are built. Today, leading online panel experts recruit their panellists from numerous media outlets, including PR, pay per click advertising, banner advertising, emails and referrals.

By: Andrew Regan

Second Grade Science Projects and Ideas

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:31:31 +0000

Second grade science projects are simple and fun to do. You should pick a topic that can hold the interest of the children. At this age they are just learning how to figure things out for themselves, instead of being spoon fed information, and they’re very eager to learn new things. It’s very beneficial to children to start doing experiments at this age; it stimulates their mind and encourages them to think things out.

Some fun experiments for second graders would be to see if a certain type of animal prefers one food over another; such as, do ants prefer sugar over bread? What about white sugar over brown sugar? Other fun 2nd grade science projects is the traditional volcano model, however while this is fun for the kids, it’s not really answering a question. Another idea might be to see if animals behave different when they’re faced with a visual reflection of themselves like a mirror.

If so, what do they do? Try to play with their reflection? Maybe get mad at their reflection? Maybe they even get scared. Does it make a difference if the mirror is up close or a distance away from them? One fun project for young kids might be to see if the shape of a paper airplane affects the distance it will fly. You can test this out by making a long narrow plane and a short stubby plane and seeing which one flies further. There are tons of fun projects for this age group; it’s just a matter of picking one out of many.

By: Dee Schrock

Homemade Electric Car for Science Project

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:57:28 +0000

The buzz about alternative energy and Electric Vehicle (EV) has revived the last few years because of the clear threat that global warming has become. But for hobbyists and innovators, and lovers of life and earth, electric cars have been the gold standard for quite sometime now. Even more so after losing hope in Detroit, which actually recalled perfectly working and sold out versions of its EV and destroyed it for no apparent reason in the early 90s, even more so. It makes good sense too. The earliest cars were EVs and the managed to make motor vehicle history. Their time was up for no good reason when automakers decided to make cars with the internal combustion engines that require fossil fuel, a limited source of energy.

Everything from old Ford Taurus to Opel GT and even full scale trucks has gone electric or hybrid thanks to your owners. You can rest assure though that it takes a lot of time and energy to get it done, but surprisingly not a lot of money. In fact, for what you save on gas after your little science project, the cost of the whole thing will seem negligible. You might want to consider taking help from a friend who lives and breathes engines or a local mechanic if you yourself are a novice, despite your enthusiasm. Just keep in mind that the basic to making your car hybrid is packing it with a load of 12volts car batteries and figuring out a way of using smaller engines that powers it up enough to keep you rolling. And you better have clear diagram on where your wire are headed. But there is more to it than meets the eye. To get a clear idea of what you are doing, you might even want to read up on plans for restructuring your car. Websites such as MotherEarthShopping.com offers them online too. Or you could just Google “hybrid car plan” or “DIY hybrid car” to find other online sources.

But if you don’ want to jump directly into gutting your car’ engines, there’ a perfectly rational and satisfying thing you can do: get yourself a DIY electric car building kit. Not only will this give you a great sense of creation satisfaction, it will also help you better understand how electric cars work. Companies like the Robert Q. Riely Enterprise offers a great range of high end DIY kits which allow you to actually make everything from scratch, but with full detailed instructions. You even have your choice of two or four wheelers that you can take for a real spin around and beyond your neighborhood.

They make for fun and interesting science projects that will serve a real purpose once completed.

By: George Christodoulou

Science Fair Project on Testing Drinking Water

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:28:34 +0000

You are intelligent enough to know that the purpose of most science fair projects is to teach students how to use scientific methods to solve problems on their own. A science fair project can allow students, parents, and teachers to make new discoveries together. One of those discoveries might be how clean your drinking water is.

Students may expect faucet water to be clean, but is it? A science fair project on testing drinking water can help them learn what is in the water they use. This outline will help them and you conduct a drinking water test.

State Your Hypothesis

A good example might be, “If I test drinking water from different sources, which will I find to be the best for my health?” A poor example would be, “If I drink tap water, what happens?”

Background Research

Learn all that you can about what water may contain. Research the effects of various contaminants, minerals, etc.

Develop a Drinking Water Test

What kind of drinking water test will you use? What kinds of drinking water will you test? Will you buy a kit, or simply order appropriate test materials? How will you collect the water to be sure you do not change its content?

What You Need for Drinking Water Tests

Students will need Colorimetric test strips for many drinking water tests. Kits are available from science fair websites. Water Safe Drinking Water Test is an EPA standardized, laboratory certified simple kit that identifies harmful levels of 8 different common contaminants in water: bacteria, chlorine, lead, nitrates, nitrites, pesticides, pH, and water hardness.

Predict Results

Write out a prediction of what you expect. Will your city tap water be the best water for your health? Should your family pay money to drink only bottled water? What do you predict your drinking water test will reveal?

Conduct Your Drinking Water Test

Students may choose from many drinking water tests. Here are a few possible tests. Younger students may want to use only one. Older students may combine a series of drinking water tests.

1. Basic: A basic drinking water test might allow students to test water for alkalinity, chlorine (both free and total), nitrate and nitrite, pH, and water hardness. What is the basic make-up of your water?

2. Bacteria: Along with a basic drinking water test, you might test for bacteria in the water. Water from a drinking fountain may show bacteria that collect on the bubbler and wash into the water.

3. City Water: What is in municipal drinking water? You can use the basic drinking water tests above, but check, too, for metals and sediment. Are corroding pipes contaminating the water?

4. Well Water: Since the government does not test private wells, there may be contaminants in the water taken from them. What might you find? Would you expect more sediment or less? Would your drinking water test be likely to find pesticides if the well is near a farm or garden where they are used?

5. Bottled Water: Is bottled water really pure? Is it better than tap water or worse? Run a drinking water test on it and see what you find.

6. Water Cooler: If your water cooler is typical, a large five-gallon bottle is turned upside down into the drinking water crock. Might there be germs on the bottle top? Will a drinking water test show up these germs?

7. Pet Water Bowl: Pet drinking water tests will show you what your pet’s water contains. The pet bowl should not be cleaned right before the test. Allowing your pet to drink from it will show whether or not the water is still pure enough for humans.

Repeat Your Drinking Water Test

A good scientist repeats tests to be sure the results are the same. You will not have accurate results if you run your drinking water test only once.

Analyze

Analyze the results of your tests. Which water is purer? Which one tastes better, looks better, and smells better? From your analysis, do you think your prediction will hold up?

Arrive at Conclusions

Draw conclusions from your drinking water test. Look at all the evidence and decide what it means in regard to healthy drinking water.

1. Which water contains the fewest contaminants?

2. Which water contains the fewest bacteria?

3. Which water is best for your health?

Prepare Your Display

Decide early how the display will look and leave plenty of time to complete it. Will you have photographs? Will you have clear glasses containing water samples? How will you display used test strips?

Most science fair projects require a display board to communicate your work to others. A three-panel display board that is 36″ tall by 48″ wide when unfolded is standard. On your board, include these elements.

1. Title: Make it catchy – and big enough to read from across a room.

2. Hypothesis and research: Organize your information from top to bottom, left to right, as though you were planning a newspaper page. Put Hypothesis and research information on the left side of your board.

3. Materials and procedures: Place this information just under your title in the middle of the board.

4. Data / Charts / Photos: These go at the bottom of the center part of your board.

5. Results and conclusions: The right side of your board holds the final information about your drinking water test.

A science fair project on testing drinking water can be interesting and exciting, appropriate for any age student. The results may surprise everyone.

By: Anna Hart