cases
Development of Cartography
Mark Newman and Michael Gastner have developed a means of mapmaking that perfectly distorts images. They use a variable, such as cancer in New York State and depending on how many people in a given area have cancer, their area in the state grow proportionally. Their maps are ones in which there are minimal local distortion, lines stay very true to their original form. The uses are endless for this type of technology once it is produced efficiently.
1.) Name one function that having a map like this could facilitate? Explain
2.) The presidential race of Gore vs. Bush total votes per state were put into this algorithm and worked out. If a conventional map showing states votes was used it would heavily favor Bush, however what factors led this altered map being very much equal between red and blue territories.
3.) The functions of this technology is not limited to the previous, name and describe an environmental use of this mapmaking and how it would be beneficial?
Save the Gulf of Mexico
In the Gulf of Mexico, plant nutrients, especially nitrate, have created coastal dead zones. They fertilize algae growth and then cycle to oxygen depletion. The reason for this is far north, in the great plains where the overuse of fertilizers is causing this massive flow. Fertilizer applied to crops is the greatest contributor to the pollution that has created the dead zone. Because antipollution practice usually fails, organizations like the Sand County Foundation of Madison Wisconsin is setting performance goals that need to be met by local farmers. This is the answer, but who pays for all of these new regulations? Should the farmers or should a government agency pick up the tab. If this continues without extensive action what may the result be on the environment?
Seminal Discovery
It has become evident from Harvard researchers that a gene responsible for semen viscosity has evolved more rapidly in primate species the promiscuous females than in monogamous females. To test this, nine primates were tested representing the major mating systems. Gorillas have one partner, chimps have a multitude and humans fall somewhere in between. Accordingly chimps are evolving at the fastest rate. Do you think the same goes for humans around the board. The more a female is sexually active, the more likely their kin will be sexually prepared? Will this development lead to a Darwin type of evolution, a survival of the fittest?
Color at Night
Geckos have the ability see colors at night, where humans go color blind. We, like most vertebrates use two systems of light sensitive cells in our eyes. Lizards lack one of our mechanisms the rods and therefore are more apt to using their cones. Can the same thing be said about deep sea fish? May use of color vision help them to distinguish a predator from prey?
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