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Club Spotlight: Slackline Club
What are these people doing? On the way to class, one might pass students walking on (or falling off of) lines strung between trees on Kafadar Commons and wonder that very thing.
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Scientific discoveries this week: 11-1-10
Woods Hole, Massachusetts – A 10-million-year glaciation may have been the driving factor in the evolution of mammals on Earth. Bio-geochemist Noah Planavsky at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts discovered that a phenomenon known as “snowball Earth” could be the cause of a rapid increase in atmospheric oxygen that allowed mammals to develop. Snowball Earth is the idea that in the past the entire earth was wrapped in an ice age, and most land masses were covered in glaciers. The glaciers would have advanced and receded over time, grinding down the land masses and releasing massive amounts of phosphorous into the oceans. This phosphorous would cause algae blooms which would in turn produce organic matter and oxygen.
Molecules move in response to light
Molecules of a substance known as methyl red respond to polarized light by moving in a way as to block the light. Ms. Yu-An Lo, of the Metallurgy and Materials Engineering department, has been researching these molecules for her Ph.D. and has discovered some unique properties. The molecule, Aminoazobenzene derivatized-methyl red, is dissolved into a solvent and then deposited onto a silicon dioxide (glass) substrate. The glass with the methyl red is then heated and allowed to cool, in a process called thermal relaxation. After the thermal relaxation, the glass is then exposed to filtered, polarized light and allowed to rest. In a matter of seconds, the molecules of methyl red will orient themselves to oppose the polarized light, evidenced by the glass plate turning black. The glass is then rotated and the same effect is observed.
Mines health insurance may face changes
Pending the results of the November 2 election, the Colorado School of Mines may not be able to require students to purchase health insurance plans. Colorado constitutional amendment 63 would allow individuals and families to opt out of health insurance plans, choosing instead to be uninsured. Amendment 63 is a response to Massachusetts’ moves to make health insurance mandatory for everyone and allowing the government to choose the type of health coverage you purchase. Colorado amendment 63 would allow Colorado residents to choose whether or not to purchase health insurance.
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A presentation on entrepreneurialism in academia
“Today’s economy is not paying the bills” explained Juan E. Gilbert, Ph. D. He explained that, to compensate for shrinking revenues, universities have begun encouraging professors to focus their research on marketable products. Dr. Gilbert clarified, “Anybody could have done it but anybody didn’t.” An early success that alerted universities of this potential was Gatorade.
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The 411 on Sigma Kappa
As you may know, Sigma Kappa is one of the three sororities on campus. Our chapter, Zeta Pi, was founded on January 26, 1980 making us the first sorority on the Mines campus. The values that we live by in our everyday lives consist of personal growth, friendship, service and loyalty.
ASCSM discusses future campus plans and proposed Colorado amendments
The future of the school dominated the discussion at the fifth ASCSM meeting of the semester. Chris Cocallas, Director of Capital Planning and Construction, and John Bristow, Parlimentarian of ASCSM, brought issues fundamental to the school to the attention of the ASCSM Senate. ASCSM also passed a resolution pertaining to crosswalks.
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Men’s Soccer defeats UCCS 4-0
The Colorado School of Mines (CSM) men’s soccer team resoundingly defeated the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Mountain Lions 4-0 October 15.
The game began in exciting fashion, when CSM freshman forward Baski Baker scored in the fifth minute. He was assisted by fellow freshman forward Tesho Akindele, in a play which was more effective than beautiful. This was Baker’s eighth goal of the 2010 season.