This week in science, there are many new and exciting things going on!
A lady had her cranium replaced with a 3D printed plastic one (3D plastic prosthetic parts are the future!), amber pieces that were fossilized bits of various animals reveal that lyme disease has been around longer than we originally realized, a robotic velociraptor runs faster than Usain Bolt, an extinct animal has been found alive and well in New Zealand, and NASA is planning on sending humans to Mars by 2035.
So many wonderful things in the world of science! I was sad that I could only choose two or three to write about, but that is exactly what I had to do.
Lyme Disease Older Than Previously Thought
And, actually, it’s quite a bit older than previously thought.
1975 was when we first learned about Lyme Disease (Lyme Disease is a disease that is carried by ticks and is actually a major problem here in TN, along with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which also comes from ticks), but the discovery of a 15 million year old tick has shown us that Lyme Disease has been around far longer than even us.
George Poinar, Jr., of Oregon State University, made the discovery.
What Causes Lyme Disease..?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria?from the genus?Borrelia; ticks are used as vectors of the bacteria and it is transferred by bite to another host.
Symptoms
- fatigue
- fever
- headache
Basically, flu like symptoms. However, if you have found a tick on you and you began to feel these symptoms, seek medical help immediately as Lyme Disease can affect the heart, nervous system, and joints. But that’s IF you don’t receive the antibiotics for it.
NASA: Humans Can Go To Mars In 2035
Also this week in science, NASA has released statements that it has recommitted itself to having people on Mars in 2035.
There is a slight catch, however — It will require the world to work… together!?*DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNN!*
3 Crucial Questions Could Be Answered With Trip To Mars
NASA asks three crucial questions that could possibly be answered by a trip to Mars. Those questions are:
- Are we alone?
- How did we get here?
- How does the universe work?
NASA’s chief scientist, Ellen Stofan, has stated that one nation cannot do it alone — it will require more than one nation working together for this endeavor.
The capacity necessary for humans to collect information concerning Mars exceeds the ability of the rovers, according to Stofan. We need to have humans do it, as they did on the moon, because the rover may miss something that a human eye would not.
Stay tuned for next week’s writing of “This Week In Science!”
Edited by D.H.
