Moon Base in 2024

Earlier this month NASA announced plans to construct a base at one of the moon's poles. The poles are in near constant sunlight, which will allow for solar power generation at the base.

Construction will begin in 2020 with 4-person crews making 7-day visits to the moon until a functional base is completed in 2024. After that the base would be continually manned with rotating crews similar to how the International Space Station operates.

Before that, NASA will develop a new spaceship, the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The CEV will be shaped like the Apollo capsules but 3 times larger. It should be ready by 2010 and will replace the current space shuttle fleet. When the CEV returns to earth it will deploy three parachutes and set down on dry land.

Next, NASA will develop a lunar lander. The lander and the CEV will be put into Earth's orbit separately. They will attach in space before making the 3 day trip to the moon. In the moon's orbit the Lander and the CEV will detach with the lander going to the moon's surface.

More at   NASA: The Vision for Space Exploration

Moose

Last May, papers on Rhodnius Prolixus by Dr Gary Chiang, Rita Tory (Redeemer 2006) and Matt Klingenberg (Redeemer 2006) were presented at the Canadian Society of Zoologists meeting at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. While in Alberta, Gary took this photo of a Moose.

Moose, the largest member of the deer family, are referred to as elk in Europe and Asia, where they inhabit the forests of northern Asia and Europe from Siberia in the east to Norway in the west, the Baltic region, and northern China. In North America moose are found in wooded areas of Canada and the northern United States.

Bull moose have the enormous antlers that can exceed 1.5 m (60 in) in width and 22.7 kg (50 lb) in weight. New antlers begin to grow in early April and are shed after the mating season in late September. The antlers are covered with a soft, nutrient-rich skin called velvet, which when it is shed is often eaten by the bull.

Copy Cat Kittens

Copy Cat, the world's first cloned cat, has had a litter of three kittens. The kittens were born in September and appear healthy. However, Copy Cat is not the first cloned cat to give birth. In New Orleans, two cloned wild African cats successfully mated to produce kittens.

Roslin Institute in Edinburgh cloned the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997. It died prematurely from progressive lung disease at the age of six.

Copy Cat was cloned in 2001 at Texas A&M University, which has also cloned cattle, swine, goats, horses and a deer.

The vast majority of cloning attempts fail. Copy Cat was the only live birth of the 2 pregnancies from 87 cloned cat embryos transferred into surrogate females. Also, cloning cannot be relied upon to create an identical copy of an animal. Because fur patterning is determined in the womb rather than by genes, Copy Cat does not look like her genetic mother.

Ebola Killed 5000 Gorillas

A report in today's Science magazine extrapolates that the Ebola virus has killed more than 5000 gorillas in West Africa. Ebola could be a more important factor in the decline of great apes (by almost 50%) across central Africa in the last two decades than the bushmeat trade or deforestation. The basis of the report was a study of a group of western gorillas in the Lossi Sanctuary in northwest Republic of Congo.

There are two species of gorilla: the western and eastern gorillas. Nearly all gorillas found in zoos are western gorillas. Mountain gorillas studied by Dian Fossy and featured in 'Gorillas in the Mist' are a sub-species of the eastern gorilla.

Ebola haemorrhagic fever is one of the most virulent viruses ever seen, killing 50-90% of victims. The World Health Organization says that it killed 1200 people infected between its discovery in 1976 and 2004.

The story is on Science Magazine's most recent podcast (mp3 - 42 minutes) that also includes stories on 'Cratering and Water Flows on Mars' and 'Entrepreneurship in a Science Career'

Honey Bee Bomb Squad

The Stealthy Insect Sensor Project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory has trained honeybees to sniff out explosives ranging from dynamite and C-4 to the Howitzer propellant grains used in improvised explosive devices in Iraq.

Pavlovian training techniques were used to teach the bees to stick out their proboscis when they smell bombs. The scientists hope the bees can be used to detect explosives in airports and at roadside security checks.

Marathon Runners Risk Skin Cancer

A new study by dermatologists at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, found that white marathon runners seem to face an increased risk of skin cancer because of long sun exposure. The 210 marathon runners in the study had more abnormal moles and lesions than a control group, and 24 were referred for surgical treatment. The highest rate of referral, 19%, was among the runners who trained more than 43.5 miles per week.

The annual Toronto Marathon is in aid of cancer research.

Dark Chocolate Improves Heart Health

A new study reveals that eating a few squares of dark chocolate every day can improve heart health. Diane Becker, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University presented findings at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association that a chemical in cocoa beans has a similar biochemical effect to aspirin and can reduce the likelihood of blood clotting. Previous research had already shown this effect with much larger quantities of dark chocolate, which has high levels of antioxidants called flavonoids.

Stern Review

The U.K. government commissioned a report on the Economics of Climate Change. The author Sir Nicholas Stern, a former chief World Bank economist, released his report October 30; it can be read online at www.sternreview.org.uk.

His conclusions were:

• There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now.
  
• Climate change could have very serious impacts on growth and development.
  
• The costs of stabilising the climate are significant but manageable; delay would be dangerous and much more costly.
  
• Action on climate change is required across all countries, and it need not cap the aspirations for growth of rich or poor countries.
  
• A range of options exists to cut emissions; strong, deliberate policy action is required to motivate their take-up.
  
• Climate change demands an international response, based on a shared understanding of long-term goals and agreement on frameworks for action.

Redeemer Science Division Newsletter

The inaugural edition of the Newsletter from the Sciences Division at Redeemer University College is available for downloading from Fall 2006 Newsletter (4.15mb). Its purpose is to keep you informed of the latest information from the Science students (past and present) and Faculty. This Newsletter will celebrate the activities of the Division, the research projects of faculty members, and the accomplishments of our students.

Summer Research at Redeemer

Five students from the Redeemer University College Sciences Division enjoyed an opportunity to pursue a research project in more depth this summer by joining with a professor. The students were all supported by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and two of the students were also supported by HRSDC (Human Resources Skills and Development Canada Summer Career Placement Program).

Four of the students received Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) worth $4500 each, plus additional salary for the summer term. Every year since 1999, Redeemer professors have hired students to join them in summer research under the USRA program of NSERC.

Quite regularly, summer student research has resulted in coauthored publications with Redeemer professors in high quality refereed journals. We expect to see further articles forthcoming based on the success of the research this past summer as well.

Eric Windhorst worked with Dr. Edward Berkelaar to study selenium accumulation by wheat seedlings. Eric grew plants hydroponically, and exposed them to precise amounts of selenium. He then harvested plants and exposure solutions, prepared them for analysis, and analysed them for selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Art Smit worked with Dr. Derek Schuurman, assisting with research into a robust approach to robot and computer vision for position measurement in the presence of occlusions.

Marieke Van Walderveen worked for Dr. Gary Chiang. She isolated Malpighian tubules (a.k.a., insect kidneys) from different species of insect and measured how much of the organic anion, salicylate, they secreted. This work was done in Dr. Mike O’Donnell’s laboratory at McMaster University.

Loretta VanderSpek also worked at McMaster under the supervision of Dr. Wytse van Dijk and McMaster’s Dr. D.W.L. Sprung. Her project involved a theoretical study of electron transport through layered semiconductors. She looked at such transport when the device or junction was biased by a voltage. Her work included mathematical analysis, computer algebra and programming, and graphical displayof the results.

Matthew West did mathematical research with Dr. Vander Meulen, exploring a relatively new branch of mathematics called qualitative matrix theory. In brief, Matthew explored properties of matrices which are determined by the pattern of nonzero entries in a matrix. His work with Dr. Vander Meulen will be presented at a workshop at the American Institute of Mathematics this month.

A Christians' Guide to Defeating Evolution

Dr. Gary Chiang has published his second book on evolution. With chapter aims and questions, this workbook is designed to facilitate group study of what the science of biology can tell us about evolution. Gary took the gorilla picture this summer while vacationing in Australia with Jennifer.

Read the Preface at Christians' Guide to Defeating Evolution

HIS341 History of Science

Dr. Jitse van der Meer devoted much of last summer to revise his course HIS341, the History of Science. Although students were quite satisfied with the course, he has increased its diversity and changed the format to a seminar style in which readings and study guides are available on the web. Thus, class time will be totally reserved for discussion.

Science Made Easy

Dr. Henry Brouwer has completed Science Made Easy, a set of 4 DVD's of 300 science demonstrations to assist elementary teachers with doing science activities. The DVD's can be bought through the Redeemer University College Bookstore.

Six of the demonstrations, including a Alka-Seltzer rocket and a Dust explosion, can be seen at Sample Demonstrations.

Dr. Brian (Howie) Aukema

B.Sc., Honours Biology, RUC, 1996
MS, Entomolgy,
U. of Wisconsin,1999
MS, Biometry/Statistics, U. of Wisconsin, 2003
PhD, Entomology,
U. of Wisconsin, 2003

Brian has taken on a Redeemer science graduate, Matt Klingenberg, for a Master’s program at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC. When Brian came to Redeemer, he studied the blood-feeding insect, Rhodnius, with Dr. Chiang and ecology with Mrs. Chiang. He now has an appointment with the Canadian Forest Services, and adjunct faculty status at UNBC where he is studying the ecology of insects. Way to go Brian; and way to go Matt!

Rita Tory

Rita Tory reports that she was accepted into the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of UBC for a Master's program, co-supervised by Dr. John Hill from the iCapture Center at St. Paul's Hospital and Dr. Kishor Wasan, the chair of the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She will be looking at the mechanism of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) in cellular drug transport of hydrophobic drugs.

In May 2006, Rita had the poster of her thesis projects presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

Insect Biotech Canada Conference

Steve Vander Klippe who graduated in 2005 and is now studying medicine in Ottawa will be happy to know that Dr. Chiang has found the origin of the large electrical potential recorded from the rear of Rhodnius. Steve did an independent study on the anatomy but was unable to find the organ that produced this activity. Dr. Chiang used electrophysiological equipment (new to Redeemer) to discover that it is generated by the egg-laying apparatus. This finding was reported by Dr. Chiang at the Insect Biotech Conference held in St. Catharine’s, Ontario.

Insect Biotech Canada is a non-profit biotechnology research and development consortium with its head office at Queen's University. The IBC has brought together Canada's top researchers in insect physiology, biochemistry, insect virology and molecular biology in an integrated and co-ordinated organization. The network focuses on the application of biotechnology to the creation of environmentally acceptable and economically feasible methods of insect pest control.

Matt Klingenberg

Matt Klingenberg reports that for his Master’s program at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC, he is enrolled in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science department investigating the spatial dynamics of the weevil Hylobius warreni within regenerating stands in the Central BC area. This weevil is of concern to the forestry industry since it attacks the young reforested trees. We assume Matt is working on the ‘lesser of two weevils’.

In May 2006, Matt had the poster of his thesis projects presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

We would love to include other alumini updates in our newsletter. Please contact Jennifer Chiang

Richard Oosterhoff This Summer

Richard Oosterhoff, who graduated from RUC in 2005 and is now studying at Notre Dame, worked with Dr. Jitse van der Meer in the summer of 2005 and again this summer. They havewritten a response to a book by Peter Harrison from Oxford University in which he proposes that a turn to literal interpretation of the Bible was a major factor in the rise of modern science. This response is to appear in Science and Christian Belief, a faith and science journal published in England.

Koala Bear

Koalas depend on eucalyptus trees for shelter and food. They sleep about 20 hours a day and sit and munch food for 1 to 3 hours a day.

When large numbers of koalas are trapped in small pockets of vegetation they have been known to eat themselves out of eucalyptus leaves and then suffer a population crash. Culling is often proposed as a solution to such overpopulation but because of their icon status this option is not used. Instead the government has implemented expensive sterilization and relocation programs. (photo by Vanessa Chiang, Redeemer 2005)

Shroud of Turin

In his 2004 book Overcoming Prejudice in the Evolution / Creation Debate: Developing an Integrative Approach to Science and Christianity Prof. Gary Chiang has a chapter where he uses the study of the Shroud of Turin as an example of how the prejudices of scientists more than the scientific evidence itself lead to acceptance of a theory.

The chapter on the Shroud can be downloaded from crucifixionshroud.com/academic-portal/APSscience.html

Tasmanian Devil

Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous and scavenging marsupial now restricted to Tasmania. Its the size of a small dog with large males weighing up to 12 kg, and standing about 30 cm high at the shoulder. Devils have been extinct on mainland Australia for some 600 years, before European settlement, ousted by the dingo brought into Australia by Aboriginal people.

Tasmanian devils are wholly protected. Starting in the the mid-1990s and becoming more prevalent in recent years they have been suffering from the fatal condition Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Although the current disease shouldn't lead to extinction, there is a concern that if the population is diminished and the introduced fox increases in number, it may be difficult for them to recover again. (photo by Vanessa Chiang, Redeemer 2005)

Presenting Our Graduates

At the Twenty-First Convocation Ceremony we were privileged to celebrate together as 13 students were recognised for having successfully completed their Science studies at Redeemer.

Bachelor of Science - Honours
Matthew Klingenberg, Felix Lam, Rita Tory

Bachelor of Science - Four Year Major
Stephanie Carlisle, Art Smit, Marieke Van Walderveen, Steven Veldkamp

Bachelor of Science - Four Year General
Mark Benschop, Erin Ensing, Aaron Gysbers, Melanie Hotke, Robyn Jones, Jakob Van Dorp

Congratulations to you all and God's Blessings as you journey forth