7 1 4

5 ;  

   8

 

5
ib er s, De ar BB su bs cr ng ga zin e is ma ki Ba to Ba la ni ma e. zin ga ma e to yo ur fa vo rit so me ch an ge s on called cti se w ne a is ges Among the chan sc ie nt ifi c . It de al s wi th P se ud os ci en ce io ns th at pt an d mi sc on ce no tio ns , my th s, we ha ve , so Al e. at on e tim we re po pu la r ct io n to se C yb er wo rld ex pa nd ed ou r ct io n. se ity tiv ac d lin ke in cl ud e a we bwi ll th es e ch an ge s We ho pe th at mo re es di stu e nc ur sc ie he lp ma ke yo re fu n! En jo y! re le va nt an d mo Th e Ed ito r

FOR LOVE OF DIAMONDS These brilliant gems are not only for fashion but find many uses in other industries as well. CHEMISTRY: BUILDING BLOCKS OF MODERN CIVILIZATION Understand the significance of chemistry throughout mans history. NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY: TOWARDS A SAFE ENERGY SOURCE Is nuclear technology a boon or bane of science? Read on.

MEDICINES POTENT MIXTURES AND SOLUTIONS Chemistry plays a major role in our existence through important medical applications.

4 - / 7 ) 4  . - )6 7 4 - 5
3 Science & Technology News 5 Filipino Scientists and Inventors Medical Facts and Fallacies 9 Livelihood Technology / Id Like to Know 10 Cyber World 14 Earth Care 16 Investigatory Projects 19 Pseudoscience 23 More Activities To Do 24 Mind Games

BOARD OF ADVISERS Violeta Arciaga, Jaime F. Bucoy Jose C. Calderon, Victoria V. Cervantes, Juanita M. Cruz, Belen P. Dayauon CONSULTANT Merle C. Tan, Ph.D. DIWA OFFICERS Saturnino G. Belen Jr. President Amada J. Javellana Executive Vice President Enrique A. Caballero,Reynaldo M. de la Cruz, Carlo F. De Leon,William S. Fernando, Jose Maria T. Policarpio, Elma L. Ropeta, Lourdes F. Lozano Vice Presidents EDITORIAL BOARD Lourdes F. Lozano Executive Editor William S. Fernando Managing Editor Alvin Fl. Julian Magazine Editor Virgie B. Naigan Art Director SilvanoC. Santiago Cover Design Jose Valeriano P. Linay Layout Design Jun Mediavillo Illustrator

BATO BALANI for Science and Technology is published bimonthly by Diwa Scholastic Press, Inc. Bato Balani is one of Diwas Scholastics Enhancement Materials (SEM). The SEM trademark refers to a new genre of scholastic publication, comprising a selection of premium - quality magazines for greater learning. All rights reserved. All articles in this publication may be reprinted provided due acknowledgement is given. All communications should be addressed to THE PRODUCT MANAGER, G/F Star Centrum, Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City,Philippines, Telephone numbers 843-4761 to 66.

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Predict Diabetes

Antibodies May
and colleagues at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, said. Juvenile diabetes, which affects about 10 percent of the 16 million Americans with diabetes, is an auto-immune disease. These diseases are caused when the bodys immune system mistakenly turns on healthy cells. In the case of diabetes, the cells that are attacked are the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Antibodies are used by the immune system to mark the cells, bacteria

ASHINGTON - Antibodies that

or viruses, to be attacked. Eisenbarth and colleagues studied 934 young children, screening their blood for anti-insulin antibodies when they were between seven and ten months old. Four of five children who consistently tested positive for the antibodies developed diabetes, but only one of 929 children who lacked the antibodies did.
Reuters

attack insulin-producing cells can be measured in

young children and may be a good test for predicting who will develop juvenile diabetes, according to a group of researchers at the University of Colorado. Four of five babies who tested positive for the antibodies before they were a year old developed type-I diabetes by the time they were three, George Eisenbarth

New Compounds
Inhibit
produces three essential enzymes that direct the takeover. Two of thesereverse transcriptase and proteasehave proved susceptible to inhibitor drugs. Mutations in the AIDS virus, however, have made some

in Lab
the virus. Although the researchers so far have confined their experiments to cells in laboratory dishes, the compounds are the first to clearly render integrase incapable of splicing viral DNA onto host-cell DNA. Scientists at Merck Research

hen

the

human

strains resistant to these medications.

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) invades a cell, it

Laboratories in West Point, Pa., now report the discovery of two new compounds that sabotage the third viral enzyme, called integrase. By blocking integrase, these compounds interfere with the replication cycle of HIV-1, the most common strain of

From Science News, Vol. 157, No. 5, January 29, 2000, p. 68.

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Margarine with Stanol Lowers Cholesterol

reports that eating three servings a day of a margarine-like spread containing a plant substance called stanol can reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent. There was also no ill effects found from using it. More than 300 people with mildly elevated cholesterol levels participated in the multi-center study. Three groups ate margarines fortified with three different quantities of stanol, a plant product that inhibits absorption of cholesterol by the body. Another group ate regular margarine. After eight weeks, all

OCHESTER, MINN. A new study

those who ate the fortified margarine lowered their total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C so called bad cholesterol). Those who ate the regular margarine had a slight increase in cholesterol levels.

The greatest reduction in the study 6 percent TC and 10 percent LDL-C was in the group which ate the spread containing one gram of stanol. This is the same quantity found in the product now on the market in the United States. Tu Nguyen, M.D., a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and principal investigator of the study, said the results confirm that consumption of plant stanol-fortified foods is a useful tool for lowering serum cholesterol in the population. Mayo Clinic

Sugar Preserves Life

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Is life possible without water?

W
may be.

ork by scientists to resuscitate mammalian cells subjected to freezing or drying suggests it

and transportation in basic research and biomedicine. Some organisms astound us with their abilities to survive, even thrive, in the most extreme and unlikely conditions. Trehalose was originally identified as a life-preserving molecule in organisms such as bakers yeast and tardigradesbizarre microscopic bugs that can lie dormant in a mummified state for decades without any water. These organisms naturally synthesize trehalose, which preserves the structural integrity of cells, allowing them to revive and fully function when conditions become more hospitable.
Nature Biotechnology

In one remarkable experiment, cells were revived after desiccation for five days following treatment with trehalose, a simple sugar molecule that allows certain forms of life to exist entirely without water. The work suggests that trehalose will be an extremely useful additive for protecting mammalian cells during drying or cryopreservation, with implications for cell and tissue storage

,4 

16) *7 ) )+)

* J= EIJ
Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History. In 1981, she worked with the Polynology Section of the National Museums Botany Division. Basically research-oriented, her projects are concerned mainly with the study of pollen grains. Dr. Bulalacao has also served as project leader in several studies on allergy-causing pollen grains. She has so far authored pioneering scientific articles on pollen morphology and taxonomy, including The Philippine Pollen Calendar and Leguminosae. She also conducted a field-test using the Burkard Trap, a new pollen sampler which is considered highly efficient. It is used in many parts of Europe and the United States. It aims to standardize pollen sampling in the Philippines.

r. Lolita Bulalacao has dedicated her life to botanical research and finds fulfillment

in advancing her contributions to science. She graduated from the Univesity of San Agustin, Iloilo City with a degree in Science and Education. She finished her masters and doctorate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Sto. Tomas. She pursued her postgraduate studies in Polynological

+0

1 /
Fallacy:To treat a choking
victim, make him drink water to clear the air passage.

Fact:A rescuer should not interfere

with the victims own attempt to expel the food by coughing nor should he/she give any liquid to drink. There are some recommendations presented by the American Heart Association and these are widely accepted throughout the U.S. These techniques would readily assist the choking victim in expelling the obstruction from the air passage.

If a persons airway is only partially obstructed by a foreign object, a forceful cough is the most effective means of dislodging the obstruction. A good slap on the back may assist the victim in coughing up the foreign material. Back blows may be applied when the victims airway is completely obstructed. Four sharp blows are delivered with the heel of the hand between the victims shoulder blades. Back blows can be delivered with the victim standing, preferably leaning over. If the victim is lying down, he should be rolled into his side to administer the back blows. Another technique is the manual thrusts. A quick thrust to the victims upper abdomen or lower chest will create an artificial cough by forcing air out of the victims lungs and thereby blowing the foreign body out of the airway.

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+ 0 -

1 5 6 4 ;

By Ernesto Buensuceso Ferreras Jr.

iamonds are said to be forever (In fact, the word is derived from the Greek word adamas, meaning invincible). Well, not quite, for diamonds do get burned, that is, at temperatures about 800oC in the presence of oxygen, forming carbon dioxide. We usually think of diamonds as gems, or expensive brilliant stones. Diamonds are crystals and not all diamonds are gems. They occur in various forms: the diamond proper, bort, ballas, and carbonado. The true diamond is a crystalline gemstone; bort is a hard and dark imperfectly crystallized diamond; ballas is a hard, compact, spherical mass of tiny diamond crystals; and carbonado is an opaque, black form of diamond. Diamonds in Industry Bort, ballas, and carbonado find wide industrial applications. A diamonds hardness is indeed unique. In

fact, it is the hardest substance in nature, rated 10 in the Mohs scale. Because of its hardness, diamonds are excellent in grinding, cutting, and boring other hard materials in stonecutting, metal, ceramic, glass, and concrete industries. A dentists drill, one tool you may come to hate, may be studded with diamond bits to cut through your tooth efficiently. A diamond stylus is small, yet strong enough to withstand abrasion and pressures that build up in the grooves of disks and records when you play video and music countless of times. Industrial diamonds, either natural or synthetic, are also used in oil-rig bits to crack and drill hard rocks. In carving, sharp diamond tips remove thousands of tiny chips from glass to create an image. Diamondtipped saws slice slabs of marble for use in buildings.

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Other practical uses of diamonds are in electronics and research. Because diamond is the best thermal conductor, diamond thermometers can instantly detect minute temperature changes. For instance, thin diamond disks are installed in telescopes to help measure the temperature of stars. Light from stars strikes the disk and the disk transfers the tiny heat increase to a detector. Miniature transmitters used to carry electronic signals in telephone and television have heat sinks made of gold-plated diamond cubes, which remove the heat and prevent the transmitter from burning up. In medicine, doctors remove cataracts with sharp diamond knives, slicing through tissue without tearing it. From Carbon to Diamonds You may wonder what natural processes can do to elements in the course of time. The diamond you may come to hold in your hand was formed from about 70 million to 1 and billion years ago. Diamond is the mineral form of carbon, the same element that forms coal and graphite. What makes carbon a diamond is the way it was formed millions of years ago. Under the intense heat and pressure of the Earths liquid magma, carbon atoms made strong bonds with four other carbon atoms. Then they crystallized in the isometric system and formed a tetrahedron (a solid with four faces) or an octahedron (a solid with eight faces). (Carbon atoms, crystallizing in the hexagonal system, form graphite.) Crystals in the isometric system have three axes of equal length that are perpendicular to one another while in the hexagonal system, crystals have four axes. Tiny droplets of the other materials that surrounded diamond crystals were sometimes locked inside, giving diamonds color. For instance, nitrogen produces yellow stones and boron turns some diamonds blue. Diamonds were formed in the upper mantle, beneath the Earths crust. They were brought to the Earths surface by volcanic activity in an underground column, or pipe, of diamond-bearing rocks called kimberlite. In the course of time, water may scatter the

stones for hundreds of kilometers. Diamonds found in the sand and gravel deposits of streambeds are called alluvial diamonds. Their origin is traced upstream to a volcanic source. Diamonds are also mined in beaches where they had been washed from inland. Synthetic Diamonds As industries expand, demand for industrial-grade diamonds keeps on increasing. However, diamond mines cannot meet demand. So, scientists found a way to produce diamonds artificially. The first synthetic diamond was made by General Electric in 1954. Scientists made the diamonds by compressing carbon under very high pressure and temperature. Synthetic diamonds are produced from graphite, which is placed together with a metal solvent, between tungsten-carbide pistons. The pistons compress the graphite to a pressure of about a million pounds per square inch, then heated to a temperature from about 1370oC to 1930oC. Thousands of diamond crystals grow to micron size in a few minutes. Diamond coatings can be produced by heating carbon dioxide over a metal surface with a series of lasers. One-carat diamonds of gem quality are also produced but are more expensive than natural diamonds. Scientists usually use these diamonds for research. For example, adding small amount of boron turns synthetic diamonds into semiconductors. A Diamond is Forever What makes a diamond expensive? Diamonds are priced according to the four Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. The first criterion is color. Completely colorless diamonds are generally the best-quality diamonds and the most valuable. However, few diamonds are completely colorless. Diamonds with yellow or brown

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+ 0 -

1 5 6 4 ;
discovered is the Cullinan, weighing 3,106 carats. It was cut into nine large gems and 96 smaller stones. The largest cut diamond, the 530-carat Star of Africa, came from the Cullinan. A diamond is said to be a symbol of love and commitment. Its sparkling beauty makes it a gem of choice for engagements and weddings. To most people, a diamond gem speaks of loves durability. In this essence, diamonds are forever.

tinge are regarded as imperfect. There are also green and blue diamonds that are rare while the red diamond is the rarest diamond of them all. Diamonds have the property to reflect light greatly, to bend light rays, and break up light into the colors of the spectrum. In fact, the index of refraction and the dispersion of diamond are higher than any other natural, transparent, colorless stone. To enhance the diamonds refraction level, different styles of cut are made to bring out the beauty of the finished diamond. The four common shapes are pear, emerald, marquise, and brilliant. The round brilliant cut is the most popular with 58 precisely determined facets. This gives the diamond its greatest possible brilliance. The clarity of a diamond can be affected by various kinds of flaws. A flawless diamond is one which has no visible imperfections. Heavily flawed diamonds have defects visible to the unaided eye. Among these flaws are inclusions (other substances enclosed in the crystals), small bubbles, and small fissures or cracks. Carat is an old term referring to the uniform weight of a carob seed, a seed from an evergreen tree found in Europe. The weight of the diamond is measured by the carat. One carat has been set at 1/5 gram. If you can afford it, a completely flawless, colorless diamond is a good investment, although it is really expensive. But when you buy, beware of imitation diamonds. How do you distinguish the real diamonds from imitations? Real diamonds, because they are excellent conductors of heat, feel cold whereas imitations are warm to touch. Some diamonds have become more famous than their owners. The Koh-i-noor, often called the worlds most famous diamond, was once owned by an Afghan prince and is now in the British crown jewels. The Hope Diamond, a blue 45.52-carat stone, was once owned by King Louis XIV of France and is now the property of the Smithsonian Institution. It passed ownership by different persons associated with a history of murder, suicide, and scandal. The largest diamond ever

1). How are synthetic diamonds produced? 2). Distinguish a real diamond from the artificial ones. 3). Why do diamonds sparkle?

Dispersion the separation of light into colors arranged according to their frequency. Index of refraction of a material is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the material. Mohs hardness scale devised by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs to indicate relative hardness of substances on a rating of 1 to 10, with 10 being the hardest.

REFERENCES Encarta 97 Encyclopedia. 1993 1996. Microsoft Corporation. Ward, Fred. January 1979. Diamonds: The Incredible Crystal, National Geographic. World Book Millennium 2000. 1999. Chicago: World Book, Inc.

&

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3 9D=J?=KIAIDOFAHJA IE
A disorder characterized by high blood pressure, hypertension generally includes systolic blood pressure (the top number, which represents the pressure generated when the heart beats) consistently higher than 140, or diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number, which represents the pressure in the vessels when the heart is at rest) consistently over 90. Hypertension has no identifiable cause. It may have genetic and environmental factors, such as salt intake or others.

Francis Nio Rubrico Our Lady of Snows Institute Dumarao, Capiz

Hypertension may also be caused by another disorder. This may include adrenal gland disorder, tumors, kidney disorders, renal vein thrombosis, renal artery, occlusion (renal artery stenosis), renal artery embolism, renal failure, use of medications, drugs, or other chemicals, pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, radiation enteritis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and other disorders. Lifestyle changes may be helpful in controlling high blood pressure. Lose weight if overweight. Excess weight adds to strain

on the heart. In some cases, weight loss may be the only treatment needed. Exercise to improve cardiac fitness. Dietary adjustments may be beneficial, especially a decrease of sodium in diet. Salt, MSG, and baking soda all contain sodium so it will be best to regulate intake of foods with sodium. Follow the health care providers recommendations to modify, treat, or control possible causes of hypertension.

PANGASINAN
oconut plantations are found almost everywhere in the Philippines. Many Filipinos depend on coconuts for their livelihood. Copra and coconut oils are products exported to European countries and the United States. Coconut products are so much in demand especially those made in the towns of Lingayen and Calasiao, Pangasinan. It is quite popular and its market extends as far as Manila. A good quantity of this is exported abroad to Filipinos living in Guam, Hawaii,

*K =O

and the Pacific Coast of the United States. The product is adequately prepared in thin sticks and wrapped in cellophane paper.

Materials: ripe coconut 3 cups of brown sugar Procedure: 1. Grate a ripe coconut. 2. Add the brown sugar. 3. Cook slowly and stir continuously until the right consistency is reached. To avoid becoming granulated, it is suggested to add half a teaspoon of calamansi juice. 4. The cooked product is placed in a low table called dulang in Pangasinan. It is spread here and rolled over to be cut nicely into bricks. This should be done while it is hot and soft. 5. Allow the bucayo to cool before wrapping.

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'

Logical

I
first.

n this issue of Cyberworld, we are going to look

)H?DEJA?JI
(step-by-step sequence) of a program can be shown graphically. Through a flowchart you will be able to see what a program is supposed to do. Some conventional symbols used in flowcharting are listed below. When writing a flowchart make sure to start at the top of the page and end at the bottom. This is the convention for writing flowcharts. Writing flowcharts takes a little practice to get used to it. But after a while, it becomes as easy as writing a letter. Here is a sample flow chart. Try to decipher what the flowchart is for.

into the fascinating world of programming. At the end of six issues you should be able to have some working knowledge on how to make a computer

program. Who knows, you might even become a great programmer someday. Before a house is built, an architect must design the plans of the house. Similarly, before a computer program can be created, a flowchart must be designed

What is flowcharting? Flowcharting is a method by which the logical flow Process Box Input/Output Box (I/O Box) Decision Box Flowlines Connectors Terminal Symbol

The rectangle represents an action, computation or process that needs to take place. The parallelogram is used when a value has to be entered or something has to be displayed on screen. The diamond is used to signify that a decision has to be made. Each decision can have only two possible outcomes, either true or false. These arrows point in the direction of the next action to be performed. Think of these as directional signs that point you in the right way. These circles indicate a jump in the program. Sometimes your program needs to jump to another part of the flowchart. These ovals will signify the beginning or end of the program. Simply write START or END inside the oval.



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www.batobalani.com
ST A R T

Would you like to become Interactive?

atobalani magazine is now on the internet. In the Batobalani website are archives of current and past issues as well as a variety of activities and additional topics for the inquisitive student of science. In subsequent issues of the magazine, we will discuss the different activities we have prepared for you. One useful feature in the website is a feedback or response page. This allows you to send us your comments and even contribute your own article. By simply typing it in or pasting it on the dialogue box. You will need to have a computer unit with a modem and a valid account with any authorized internet service provider (ISP) such as Mozcom, Infocom, Philonline, or any other ISPs. To write us, simply follow these steps: 1). On your computer, open up an internet browser program. For most of you, this would be Microsofts Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigators program. Make sure you are connected to your Internet Service Provider. 2). On the address window of your browser program, type www.batobalani.com, then hit the enter key. 3). You will see Batobalanis homepage on your screen. Also, you will see a menu of sections you can go to on the lower right side of the screen. Choose Feedback and click the left button of your mouse. 4). The feedback page will show you different boxes for you to fill in. Go ahead and fill the information. You may skip the items that you cannot fill up. Then on the Message box, type in your message or your opinion or even a simple hello. 5). Once youre finished with your message, hit the send button by clicking the left button of your mouse. Presto! Youve sent us your message. There are many other interesting things you can do inside Batobalanis website. Feel free to explore. If you have questions or need further instructions, why dont you try sending it to us using the feedback page. We hope to hear from you soon!

E nter 2 nos. X, Y

X*Y=Z

D isp lay C

END

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By Marissa F. Ayson

he study of chemistry can help one understand what substances are made of and why they behave as they do. These substances are encountered everyday; water for cleaning, tilling the soil in the garden, food to eat, taking an antibiotic to control an infection, clothes to wear, and cosmetics to apply. Everything in life is related to chemistry. Even life processes are chemical processes. The study of chemistry can give one an appreciation of the intricate structure of matter and a perspective of mans place in the universe. Material Chemistry The world is made of stuff called matter. Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and the changes that matter undergoes. There is a close relationship between the behavior of matter and its structure. The use of chemistry is illustrated in each of the following: 1. Edible chemicals. The human body is a conglomeration of chemicals. It is made up of water (biggest percentage),

minerals (inorganic) and organic compounds (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids). We need food for growth, for the replacement and repair of tissues, and for energy. Chemicals are added to food to improve nutrition. Vitamin C is an antioxidant along with Vitamin E. Vitamin E is also known as free radical scavengers. Free radicals are produced in oxidation and they promote the growth of cancer cells. Some chemicals are added to enhance flavor, and retard spoilage. Artificial sweeteners have been used as sugar substitute to reduce calorie intake. 2. Polymers. These are giant molecules and are usually referred to as macromolecules. They are naturally-occurring molecules and by studying the nature of these molecules, new products with similar properties have been duplicated and improved in the laboratory. They are synthesized by combining many small molecules.+ CH2=CH2 + CH2Some products of polymerization are plastic bags, bottles, toys (polyethylene), indoor-outdoor carpeting, simulated wood furniture, nonstick coating utensils (Teflon), yarns, wigs, adhesives,

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textile coatings, chewing gum resin, paints, etc. 3. Alternative sources of energy. The increase in demand for energy is largely due to an increasing world population. The oil deposit is being depleted so other sources of energy must be tapped. The use of nuclear power plant, steam from geothermal plants, alcogas (using ethyl alcohol) and biogas (gas emitted by animal waste and other biological wastes), wind power, solar energy, and the hydroelectric power plant are the contributions of chemistry to humanitys quest for other sources of energy. 4. Wonder drugs . With the advancement in science, the cure and prevention of many diseases were discovered. People suffering from cancer have now found a new hope for a longer life. Tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera and other diseases have become curable. Vaccines were developed to prevent the onset of many diseases like chicken pox, hepatitis, measles, and tuberculosis. 5. Atomic bomb . Albert Einstein showed that matter can be changed to energy using the formula E = mc2. With this discovery the atomic bomb was made. 6. Agriculture. Chemicals have been used to kill insects. These chemicals are called pesticides. The chief competition of man for food are the insects, carriers of a large number of diseases that make us miserable: malaria, H-fever, typhus. Human race has been battling insects for thousands of years now. 7. Genetic Engineering . Researchers have linked specific genes to specific diseases. The ability to use this information to diagnose and cure genetic diseases appears to be within the grasp of man. Scientists have been able to identify and isolate genes with specific functions by determining the location of a gene on the DNA molecule. Cloning is another realization. The successful cloning of Dolly (a lamb) is one of the breakthroughs of modern science. Although there is a premature graying of the clones hair, the result is still very promising and has caught the world in awe. 8. Household Chemicals . A modern home is stocked with a variety of products that help keep ourselves, our clothes, and homes clean and free of disease-causing microorganisms. These products are

made up of chemicals some of which can be harmful. Soap is the most widely used among all these products. There are water and fabric softeners, detergents, bleaches, all-purpose cleaning products, and other organic solvents like alcohol for household use. Modern chemistry has also provided us with a vast array of cosmetic products. What The Future Holds For Us The knowledge of chemistry has given major contributions to modern civilization. However, man has to pay a price for all these convenience he now enjoys. The greatest impact is the worsening conditions of our water supply and the atmosphere. The presence of these chemicals is responsible for the increase of diseases in recent years. More people are dying from different diseases. Elimination of air and water pollution would not be very easy. The invention of the nuclear bomb can totally eliminate mankind. In a brief analysis, the things that have made life easy for us are the very same things that, if left unchecked, can totally destroy us.

1.Enumerate the products that have been discovered from the knowledge of chemistry. 2. What molecule was used to study the possibility of cloning?

Free radical- A reactive neutral chemical species that contains an unpaired electron Polymer- A molecule with a large molecular mass; a chain formed of repeating smaller units. REFERENCES 1. Hill , John W. Chemistry for Changing Times. Macmillan Publishing Company. 1992. 2. Merrill CHEMISTRY. An Educational Program.GLENCOE. 1993

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!

By Mary Ann Aleli V. Barbieto

"

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n an age when our virgin forests are vanishing at an astonishing rate by giving way to skyscrapers and rolling concrete fields, the quality of our air is rapidly deteriorating. If we continue to destroy our forests and replace them

and fast-growing trees like Eucalyptus and Gmelina. Of course, Luntiang Pilipinas does not plan to do all of that themselves. They plan to solicit the help of the citizens in whose community the parks will be built. After all, aside from giving their communities clean air, the parks would be an ideal place for the children to play and a place where neighbors can meet and gather. All they have to do is tend to the young saplings that Luntiang Pilipinas will provide through their tender stages for about three years. When a community decides to sponsor a forest park, Luntiang Pilipinas will provide them with technical, material and moral support. That means that they will

with cities that house a large number of smoke-belching vehicles and factories, soon the air will become too polluted, and many people will get sick. Some people have voiced concerns that the air will not be clean enough for future generations to breathe. So now, a group of people have bonded together and started a unique reforesting concept growing forests right in the middle of our cities! Just recently, Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste has founded Luntiang Pilipinas, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the reforestation of our urban areas. She believes that tree planting is essential to mans survival. As we all know, trees continually recycle our air, inhaling the by-products of our respiration (carbon dioxide) and exhaling the oxygen that we need. They also act as the earths lungs, cleaning the air by filtering out the impurities found in it, like carbon monoxide found in the fumes emitted by vehicles. Without trees, we would not be able to survive. Thats why Luntiang Pilipinas has focused on planting and propagating forest parks within our cities. These would be areas of greenery in the middle of our urban areas like Makati, Quezon City, Pasay, Taguig, etc. The goal of Luntiang Pilipinas is to establish 1,500 forest parks in urban areas. These forest parks are areas planted with at least 100 trees that are populated by forest trees such as Narra, Mahogany and Acacia,

supply the community with the seedlings, fertilizers, and basic information needed while caring for the young saplings. The trees could be planted in an open area where they are no more than four meters apart, or along a 100 meter strip of roadway, where they will be planted on both sides and at two meters apart. Then, when the trees have grown, the community will be given a numbered official signboard, signifying that they are part of the proposed 1,500 forest parks nationwide. Happily, the project has been successful, and has so far established several little parks scattered all over the country. These little parks will hopefully be little steps towards a cleaner, greener nation. Luntiang Pilipinas hopes that they shall inspire other people in the countryside to plant trees, too with the hope to reforest the denuded mountainsides and landscapes.
Reference: Luntiang Piilipinas homepage (www.geocities.com/Wellesley/9181/index.htm)

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#

I N

C O O P E R AT I O N

W I T H

T H E

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLGY

CIBUGARVI: A HOUSEHOLD

1 5-+61+1,warm climate. Some ants live underground and build earthen moulds. Others live inside trees and hollow parts of certain plants. They can be a menace in our kitchen and on the dining table. With the aid of protozoa in their bodies, termites digest wood, paper and other materials containing cellulose. They do much damaged by tunneling through the woodworks in houses. They destroy furnitures and damage sugar and orange trees. Cockroaches are the most primitive among insects. More than 3,000 species live in tropical regions. They are also abundant in and around dwellings in temperate areas. They may contaminate food with the filth they carry around. These insects become pests once they are allowed to proliferate. To control REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE variety of dangers they pose to the environment. They may cause air widespread use of synthetic ones.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the potential of garlic vine as an insecticide against ants, cockroaches and termites. Extracts from garlic vine leaves were mixed with cigarette butt extract. The mixture was made into a solution with water and was sprayed into ants, termites and cockroaches at varying concentrations. The extract was also mixed with chalk to produce Cibugarvi chalk. Compared to a commercial insecticide, the Cibugarvi insecticide proved effective in controlling ants, termites, and cockroaches. Within 5 to 9 minutes, the insects were killed by the Cibugarvi spray. Cibugarvi then may be a better alternative to costly chemical insecticides.

chemical insecticides. Among these are the

pollution and deplete the ozone layer. Some plants produce a distinctive odor or chemical that is annoying to insects. Realizing the potential of plants in controlling insects, botanical insecticides are now being considered instead of the

This study uses garlic vine and cigarette butt extracts to control insects pests in the house. Garlic vine is known to drive out snakes, Is it possible for insect to find the plants smell annoying as well? The nicotine in cigarettes produces a suffocating smell. Is it possible that this smell can also be offensive to insects?

INTRODUCTION Ants live almost everywhere on land, most numerous in regions with

them, chemical or synthetic insecticides are usually used in many households. But there are many disadvantages in using

The garlic vine (Pseudocalyma alliaceum) was introduced to the

$

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Table 1a. Cibugarvi insecticide spray: duration of effectivity No. of Sprays 3 5 7 9 Effectivity time (minutes) Ants Cockroaches 10 15 8 13 6 11 5 9 Termites 12 9 6 5

Philippines from Guatemala. It is an ornamental plant with dark green, glossy leaves and two ovate leathery leaftlets between them. Its purple blossoms are five-lobed and funnel-shaped, with a faint garlic scent. It bears flowers several times a year, mainly between July and March. Fertilized flowers subsequently turn into flat, narrow capsules six to twelve inches

No. of Sprays 3 5 7 9

Effectivity time (minutes) Ants 18 12 8 6 Cockroaches 17 15 13 11 Termites 15 10 8 6

long. The garlic vine is a hardy plant that thrives in poor, sandy soil and requires little care. The seeds readily germinate and wood cuttings readily produce roots. Since its leaves dont fall off easily, the vine makes an excellent

Table 2a. Use of Cibugarvi chalk Pest Percent mortality after 20 minutes Ants 37 65 58 137 Cockroaches 52 90 71 135 Termites 62 110 54 140

canopy.

Total Mean 279 74.3 348 87.0 366 91.5 1,011 84.3%

MATERIALSAND METHOD: Garlic vine leaves (300g) cigarette butts (300g), mortar and pestle, beakers, graduated cylinder, bottle cover, alcohol lamp, tripod, wire gauze, spray bottle, piece of cloth, ants, termites and cockroaches, chalk

Table 2a. Use of commercial magic chalk PREPARING THE CIGARETTE Pest Percent mortality after 20 minutes Total Mean 32 50 61 63 80 108 438 70 52 134 130 138 272 68.0 330 82.5 359 89.7 961 80.1% 2. BUTT EXTRACT 1. Ants Cockroaches Termites Collect enough cigarette butts (at least 300g.) Place them in a beaker. Put 25 mL water into the beaker with the cigarette butts.

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%

-4)

 5+1

3.

Heat and allow to boil for 10 minutes.

1.

Pound the chalk into powder form.

For the pesticidal chalk, treatment with the Cibugarvi chalk caused a mortality rate of 84.3% after 20 minutes, while the commercial magic chalk resulted in 80.1% mortality. Between the Cibugarvi insecticide and commercial insecticide, our result show that their difference in effectivity

4.

After boiling allow it to cool, then take the cigarette butts out.

2.

Soak the powdered chalk in the Cibugarvi extract for 30 minutes.

5.

Extract its juice and set it aside. 3.

Remove the chalk and let it dry for 48 hours under the sun.

PREPARINGTHE GARLICVINE EXTRACT 1. Prepare 300g of garlic vine leaves. 2. Cut the leaves into small pieces then pound with a mortar and pestle. 3. Soak the pounded leaves in 25 mL of water for 25 minutes. 4. Take the leaves out from the container and extract the juice. 5. Mix the garlic vine juice with the cigarette butt extract. We will call this Cibugarvi extract. To avoid smelling the obnoxious odor of the extract, cover your nose with a protective nose mask or a handkerchief. To preserve some of the extract, use pieces of chalk to absorb the extract. We will call this as Cibugarvi chalk and will be equivalent of the commercial magic chalk.

Ants, termites and cockroaches were collected and placed in a glass jar covered in stockings. Round bottle covers were prepared. On these covers were placed one to five termites and ants, and one to two cockroaches. Colonies of insects were also sprayed. The insects were treated with sprays of 3, 5, 7, and 9 Cibugarvi insecticide. Another group was treated with commercial insecticide. The insects were observed for dizziness or immobility. Treatment and observation were done for three weeks.

time was from one to eight minutes. SELECTED REFERENCES: The World Book Encyclopedia. 1989. World Book Inc. Vols. 4, 15 and 19. Young Peoples Science Encyclopedia. 1972. Childrens Press Chicago, Vol. 2.

RESEARCHERS: Melvin Del Velle Ada Marie Gallego Malvin Misael Torralba

ADVISER:

RESULTAND DISCUSSION The Cibugarvi insecticide took less time to effectively kill the ants, termites and cockroaches. Increasing the amount of Cibugarvi sprayed on the insects further lessened the time to eradicate the insects. Table 1 shows time of effectivity

Mrs. Remedios U. Cardino Divine World College of TagbilaranTagbilaran City

PREPARINGTHE CIBUGARVI CHALK

of Cibugarvi extract compared to the commercial insecticides.

&

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The Physics of

6 K?D6DAH=FO
Joe Bert G. Lazarte

quick to invoke the language and symbols of science. However, their explanations involve serious misrepresentations of modern physics. Touch therapy should have been more accurately called no-touch therapy, since the practitioners hands do not actually make contact with the patient. Instead, it is claimed that the patients energy field, (qi or aura) is smoothed by the hands of the therapist or shifted from one place to another to achieve balance. The energy field is said to extend several inches outside the body, and the patients field interacts with the field of the practitioner. Practitioners claim to be able to feel the energy field and often use hand-held pendulums to locate the chakras, or vortices, in the field that must be smoothened out to promote healing. The bodys energy field is said to be electromagnetic.

iofield therapeutics, more commonly known as

However, B. Brennan, author of Hands of Light (1987) wrote that if there is such a field outside our body that can be felt tactually or that can apparently cause a pendulum to move, then why hasnt anyone claimed to detect the energy field with any instrument that is not hand-held and more accurate? To put it bluntly, everything about touch therapy has been nothing but speculations. In other words, the public is spending billions of dollars annually for such cures, all with assurances that it is based on science when it is not. In the United Kingdom alone, there are 8,500 registered touch therapists, and tens of thousands in the U.S. The Philippines is no exception. The presence of touch therapists within the vicinity of Quiapo Church and in Luneta Park manifest the obvious victory of a pseudoscience over human intelligence. Here, what can be clearly seen as hocuspocus becomes instant healingand also a very lucrative business.

touch therapy, has been in vogue for years now.

Purveyors of such alternative cures have been

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'

7+ -)4+0- 1564;

6 M=H@I= 5=BA- AHCO 5 KH?A T

he last 100 years have uncovered a host of new discoveries and inventions in the field of chemistry. Because the study of chemistry encompasses the entire physical universe, it is essential to the understanding and appreciation of other sciences. Since the early 1900s, nuclear energy has been the focus of intensive research and has become a major source of the worlds electric energy fifty years hence. All over the world, countries have adopted this new technology as a highly efficient and relatively safe source of energy. In the Philippines, the Bataan nuclear power plant was under construction in the early 70s to the mideighties, when anti-nuclear groups lobbied and rallied against its completion. It was, consequently, mothballed. As a result of the countrys aborted nuclear power program, the Philippines experienced several years of chronic power shortage in the late 80s to the early 90s.

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As a result of the proliferation of nuclear plants, many secondary issues came up. And while nuclear physics concentrated its researches on nuclear fission and fusion in laboratories, power plants and military facilities, its effect on its surroundings and the environment was left unaddressed. NUCLEAR DISASTERS In the spring of 1979, an accident in the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor focused the worlds attention on the hazards of nuclear power plants. While no significant radioactivity was released to the environment, it caused extensive debates over nuclear safety and shifted the attitudes of governments and the public on nuclear power. This cautious outlook influenced the anti-nuclear movement in the Philippines, causing the cessation of the countrys nuclear power program. In April of 1986, a major nuclear accident happened in Chernobyl, USSR. The devastation caused hundreds of thousands of displaced residents and polluting food sources in Europe and Asia. The effects of this latest nuclear disaster remains to be felt even now, and scientists continue to monitor the damage it has wrought on the people and the environment. NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY Nuclear chemistry is one of the latest subgroupings of nuclear science that centers its attention on the safe and efficient use of nuclear power and the disposal of nuclear wastes. Since the utilization of nuclear power depends heavily on the chemical preparation and reprocessing of fuel, the treatment and disposal of nuclear waste and the resolution and control of corrosion and heat transfer, nuclear chemists have their hands full ensuring the safety of the operators, the

populace and the environment. Nuclear waste refers to the entire array of radioactive materials created by or as a byproduct of nuclear technology. A large variety of wastes require safe disposal to prevent interaction with the human body and other animal and plant life. These include mill tailings, the residues of uranium ores that have been crushed, ground and chemically treated to extract the uranium. Among possible solutions for disposing of nuclear waste is the incineration of contaminated soils and other solid wastes at extremely high temperatures, producing a vitrified, or glassy, slag that, while still radioactive, can be more safely stored; and the treatment of liquid waste by mixing it with cement and burying it in concretelined pits. Nuclear chemistry tries to find ways of dealing with these issues by studying the natural and induced transformations of the atomic nucleus. By learning more about its characteristics and behavior, nuclear chemists hope to find a way to be able to break down nuclear matter into safe, and, possibly, inert matter.

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lexander Flemings discovery of the penicillin in 1928 paved the way for a new class of drugs and treatments that proved to be invaluable for quite sometime. Many bacteria and virus strains, however, have already developed resistance to most antibiotics. In fact, the antibiotic arsenal is almost empty. For example, some strains of bacteria no longer respond to vancomycin, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium that live on soil, and the drug of last resort that doctors thought could beat any bacterial infection. In its World Health Report 1996, the World Health Organization stated that too few new drugs are being developed to replace those that have lost their effectiveness. In the race for supremacy, microbes are sprinting ahead. Scientists, however, are unfazed. They continue to dredge through all the available resources, uncovering new methods and discoveries along the way. Certain drug companies and research labs have started searching for new drugs. They have developed new approaches in doing so. One such approach is genomics, which involves tinkering with the genes of disease-causing microbes to determine hidden weaknesses, thus finding new targets for drugs to attack This technique has helped in making medicine against HIV infection. Researchers are also turning to new natural sources. In the past, people relied on antibiotic compounds produced by microorganisms (like penicillin), but now they are considering other array of living creatures-plants, bees, grasshoppers and algaeeven crickets (which many Pampangos love to eat), to name a few. For example, researchers discovered that shark stomachs contain a compound called squalamine, which has antibiotic properties. But the problem is that it takes months, even years, before a new drug or cure is developed and certified potent and safe. People and patients, however, cannot wait, which explains the furor whenever a supposed new cure is announced to the public. In developing countries like the Philippines, there is a great tendency to turn to alternative and

ENJKHAI= @5 KJE I

Medicines potent

Joe Bert G. Lazarte

herbal medicine. You just have to see the vendors of herbs and barks beside the Quiapo church, and realize you have a thriving, if not lucrative, business. But it takes more discerning power to know which new drugs or supposed medicines are backed by solid research. Food supplements that purport to be cure-alls, such as the chronic craze for teas and natural juices such as Banaba, Noni, and certain Chinese herbal teas, should be taken cautiously because more studies are still needed to certify their potency. It is only a matter of time, however, before more reliable and potent medicine is developed. What is important is that new methods of research may bring about better forms of treatment-and fresh hope for people.

1). Cite the contributions of chemistry in the field of medicine.

genomics -alteration of the genetic structure of a pathogen to uncover hidden weaknesses.

References Wonders Rollback Malaria. January 2000. Scientific American Magazine Beating Bacteria. February 2000. Scientific American Magazine

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-:61 /7150-4
This model gives a spectacular demonstration of how a soda-acid fire extinguisher works. Materials: tin can small jar block of wood nail sodium bicarbonate powder water cup or bowl vinegar 4. Fill the small jar with vinegar and place it in the can. Do not allow the vinegar and bicarbonate solution to mix at this stage. Remove some of the sodium bicarbonate solution if you find that there is too much of it in the can. 5. Place the can on a firm surface and carefully push the lid in place. The fire extinguisher is now ready for use. 6. Pick up the extinguisher but make sure to point it away from you. When you tilt the can and the vinegar spills out of the jar, the two liquid will mix. The acetic acid in vinegar will react with the bicarbonate to form carbon dioxide gas. This forces a jet of the foaming liquid through the hole in the can lid.

.EHA

Procedure 1. Find a tin can with a tight-fitting lid, and a small jar that will fit inside the can. 2. In the lid of the can, make a hole about 1/8 inch (3 millimeters) across. Do this by placing the lid on a block of wood and hammering a nail through it. 3. Dissolve sodium bicarbonate powder (available from drugstores) in water in a cup or bowl. Keep stirring the solution until the sodium bicarbonate powder is completely dissolved. Pour some of the solution you have made into the tin can.

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As 0 6 As It /-65
Nicholas was assigned to do the camp fire. While he was boiling water in a kettle, he placed a weather thermometer to measure the waters temperature. To his amazement, however, he noticed that the water was not boiling even when it reached the 100 degrees Celsius reading. He was quite sure that there was nothing wrong with his thermometer. There must have been something wrong somewhere else. Can you explain to Nicholas why the water is not yet boiling?

icholas went hiking in Mt. Makiling together with some of his friends. When they reached the mountain peak, they started setting up their tents and prepared their lunch.

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ACROSS 1 Acid formed by fermented sugar, occur naturally in sour milk 4 Opposite of near 7 _ _ _de, positively charged electrode 8 Sweetened drink (suf.) 9 Ribonucleic Acid 10 Positively charged atom 13 Paper used to indicate acidic and alkaline solution 17 Lead (symbol) 19 Osmium (symbol) 21 I n v o l u n t a r y r e s p o n s e t o a stimulus 26 _ _ _d, dry 28 _ _ _ _tu _ _, cartographic lines going from east to west 29 Star in the center of the solar system 30 Anno Domini 31 Capacity to work 32 Consume food
1 7 9 13 15 17 20 26 29 31 27 18 21 30 14 2 3

5 5 9
4 8 10 11 12 17

4 ,
5 6

15

16 22 22 28 30 37 32 23 24 19 25

DOWN 1 White rendered fat of a hog 2 _ _ _als, history of events recorded every year 3 carbon-rich fossil fuel 4 Energy-rich oily substance 5 Trouble 6 Payment for the use of property 10 Platinum (symbol) 11 Room (abbr.) 12 Not in 14 Indium (symbol) 15 Neptunium (symbol) 16 Arsenic (symbol) 18 strong salty solution 19 Compound of elements with oxygen 20 Turns red litmus to blue 22 Piece of cloth used as symbol or emblem 23 Woman of good breeding 24 Extra Terrestrial 25 Form of energy 27 Move swiftly on foot

"

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