Life Sciences at Pinelands High School

Are you washing and drying your hands wrong?

BBC News: Are you washing and drying your hands wrong? I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Are you washing and drying your hands wrong? - http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170519-does-it-matter-how-you-wash-and-dry-your-hands

www.bbc.com Hot water or cold? Soap or handwash? Towels or hot air dryers? The post-bathroom ritual is a vital task – but is there a best way to do it?

Oh my goodness this is incredible!

What is color? Enchroma glasses, neuroscience, and the mystery of color

INCREDIBLE blog post about vision & colour perception. Wow!! http://ow.ly/AYwi30aQYct

blakeporterneuro.com If you are interested, I am running an experiment in conjunction with this post. Both color blind and normal vision people can participate. Click...

Instagram photo by AsapSCIENCE • Jan 31, 2017 at 5:17pm UTC

Fruit and veg before & after human intervention http://ow.ly/7zet308zJOo

instagram.com See this Instagram photo by • 12.4k likes

Orcas reveal the origin of menopause - BBC News

Orcas reveal the origin of menopause http://ow.ly/cKIO307ZLKK

bbc.co.uk By studying the long lives of killer whale families, researchers say they have solved the evolutionary mystery of the menopause.

Is it true that periods synchronise when women live together? - BBC News

Is it true that periods synchronise when women live together? http://ow.ly/wcPQ307ZLnQ

bbc.co.uk There are many who believe that women's periods sync together when they live in close proximity. But could it just be down to chance?

Recruiting prawns to fight river parasite - BBC News

I got this in Lake Malawi, so I applaud this research! Recruiting prawns to prevent Bilharzia http://ow.ly/8EvB307ZKVU

bbc.co.uk Making sure certain rivers are fully stocked with prawns could prove to be an important contribution to fighting schistosomiasis.

South Africa's battle with the bottle - BBC News

South Africa's battle with the bottle http://ow.ly/uDDC307ZKJ5

bbc.co.uk South Africa knows it has a huge problem with drink-driving and is considering some tough measures to tackle it, writes the BBC's Pumza Fihlani.

France becomes first country to ban all plastic cups and plates to save environment

C'mon SA, let's do the same!

www.independent.co.uk France has passed a new law to ensure all plastic cups, cutlery and plates can be composted and are made of biologically-sourced materials. The law, which comes into effect in 2020, is part of the Energy Transition for Green Growth – an ambitious plan that aims to allow France to make a more effecti...

Ginkgo 'living fossil' genome decoded - BBC News

What a fascinating tree... the Grade 11's only learn briefly about it.

www.bbc.co.uk The genetic code that underpins the Ginkgo tree has been laid bare by a team of researchers led from China.

9 Months Of Pregnancy In 4 Minutes

Pretty cool.

brightside.me This is how your baby appears.

Saw this on Bored Panda. This is such a great poster!

Smoking 'causes hundreds of DNA changes' - BBC News

So smoking does cause cancer.

www.bbc.co.uk Smoking leaves an "archaeological record" of the hundreds of DNA mutations it causes, scientists have discovered.

The Stikeez situation

Really Pick and Pay??

www.aquarium.co.za The announcement of another Pick ‘n Pay Stikeez drive has raised concerns among members of the public and environmental organisations. The issue is the fact that more unnecessary (and essentially single-use) plastic waste is being introduced into the environment via a major national retailer, utilis...

Deal expected on phasing out 'disastrous' greenhouse gases - BBC News

Come on World!
Deal expected on phasing out 'disastrous' greenhouse gases...

Grade 11's this fits under the "other" greenhouse gases we spoke about this week.

www.bbc.co.uk US Secretary of State John Kerry tells delegates meeting in Rwanda that hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases were "disastrous for our climate" and should be rapidly phased out.

Sleep 'prioritises memories we care about' - BBC News

To us Life Sciences teachers: keep striving to engage students and bring meaning to this incredible subject. To all our students: keep loving Life Sciences and get enough sleep!

www.bbc.co.uk Researchers discover that during sleep, thoughts your care about are more likely to enter your memory.

Giraffe genetic secret: Four species of tallest mammal identified - BBC News

Sure is one of the coolest animals out there! In addition they are so often used in examples comparing theories of Lamarck vs Darwin... The giraffes, deservedly, apparently just got a little more complicated... (Don't tell the Grade 12's😀)

www.bbc.co.uk It is a famous, gentle giant of the African savannah, but the giraffe's genetics have only just revealed that there is not one species, but four.

How Lobsters Eat Jellyfish Without Harm From Venomous Stingers

Fascinating. http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/28/how-lobsters-eat-jellyfish-without-harm-from-venomous-stingers/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_tw20160830voices-lobsterjellyfish&utm_campaign=Content&sf35246555=1

voices.nationalgeographic.com Hiroshima University scientists examined lobster f***s to discover that the crustaceans surround their servings of jellyfish in protective membranes that prevent the stingers from injecting their v…

MPs call for ban on plastic microbeads in cosmetics - BBC News

Not yet illegal in South Africa... Perhaps at least for now become aware and stop buying such nasty products!

www.bbc.co.uk MPs are calling for a ban on plastic microbeads found in many cosmetics and toiletries.

momondo presents: The DNA Journey

In the current conversations around race, you may not be who or what you think you are! Also watch other videos at Momondo.co.za

momondo.co.za Would you dare to question who you really are?

A super fun pavement chalk outdoor lesson yesterday for Mr Taylor's students. Large scale biological diagrams (drawn by the students) were used to revise the excretory system! Good luck for your test tomorrow Grade 11's!

All hail the humble moss, bringer of oxygen and life to Earth

Mossworld! The ultimate pioneer!

theguardian.com A reconstruction using geological evidence, fossils and ancient spores has revealed the crucial role of moss in creating the conditions for life as we know it

Not quite as exciting as a dissection, but a good experience in class collaboration.

The Grade 10's have been learning about the skeletal system, specifically this week researching diseases of the skeletal system. This class is putting some finishing touches (like presentation notes, pictures and references) to their Slides for a class presentation tomorrow.

Using Google Apps they can simultaneously edit documents as they collaboratively research and prepare to report back their findings.

Grade 11's have been learning about excretion this week. Always fun is a kidney dissection!
Thanks to Dr Jean Watermeyer for guiding the class through another fun lesson!

400-year-old Greenland shark ‘longest-living vertebrate’ - BBC News

Wow, imagine only reaching puberty at 150 years old!

www.bbc.co.uk Scientists say they have found a Greenland shark that is about 400 years old - making it the longest-living vertebrate known.

Injured Tortoise Receives World’s First 3D Printed Shell

Isn't is awesome when we can use technology for good?!?!

boredpanda.com When Freddy the tortoise was caught in a bush fire in Brazil, his chances of survival were slim. But thanks to a group of pioneering surgeons known as The Animal Avengers, Freddy not only survived his ordeal - he is also now the proud owner of the world's first 3D printed shell!

Hunting osprey footage viewed 13m times on Facebook - BBC News

Hunting osprey footage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36320841

www.bbc.co.uk Footage of an osprey grappling with a large trout captured for a BBC One documentary series has been viewed on Facebook more than 13m times.