Ethan and Aidan are 16 months old and and are already facing government issues. Ethan and Aiden Dvash-Banks are twins and their parents are a married gay couple. Even though the couple shared a surrogate and one of the parents is a U.S citizen (the other is an Israeli citizen) the government decided to only give one of the boys citizenship. Both of the parent’s names are on the children’s birth certificates but the government ruled that only the child with the DNA of the american citizen would become an American citizen. The other child was denied citizenship. Both of the children should be eligible for citizenship because they both have an american father. They are treating this married gay couple as if they are unmarried. This indicates that the government has anti LGBT views. This story shines a bright light of the discriminatory undertones of the american government. “That is something that keeps us up at night – the safety and well being of our child,” says Andrew (the father with U.S citizenship). The fact that the government has made a father scared for the well being of his child is frankly, horrific. All of this just because the government is biased against gay marriage and/or gay people who choose to have children. This government decision could pull this family apart.
Mini-Rain Forests in Seattle by Marcus Henry
Do you love exotic plants? Are warm climates just the thing for you? Well, Seattle employees are in luck. Amazon has just opened mini rainforest spheres in Seattle, designed to be places that workers can go to to take a break and get away from their desks. The mini-rainforest is contained in three different spheres. There is a total of 40,000 different plants from more than 30 countries. Amazon has even put Wi-Fi in the spheres and they will also monitor the visitors so they don’t stay for very long.
From Sheep to Monkeys: cloning animals By Jane Bolton and Kiele Snyder
From sheep, to monkeys, cloning is becoming more a more advanced. This raises many ethical concerns, chief among them is one question; will humans be next?
Dolly the sheep was the first animal to be cloned in 1996. And now, twenty-two years later, the first primates- long-tailed macaques monkeys- have been cloned using an advanced SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer) technique.
First, scientists reconstruct an unfertilized egg. This means, removing the source of the genetic information, the cell of the egg, and replacing it with another nucleus cell. The stimulation of this cell results in the development of embryo. Once the embryo is developed, it is transferred to a surrogate mother. This enable it to clone, or genetically match, more animals, including these monkeys.
By cloning monkeys, who are in the same family as humans, scientists have breached the barrier that prevented them cloning people. But even so, it would take much time before finally perfecting the technique.
“Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua were the result of 79 attempts. Two other monkeys were initially cloned from a different type of cell, but failed to survive,” reports the BBC.
Meanwhile, scientists are studying the cloned monkeys and trying to learn and understand human diseases like cancers and immune disorders. So far, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua are growing normally as they continue to be bottle fed.
This experiment could mean the end of cancers and immune disorders or the beginning of something else.
Works Cited
Kolata, Gina. “Yes, They've Cloned Monkeys in China. That Doesn't Mean You're Next.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/science/cloned-monkeys-china.html?hpw&rref=science&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well.
Christensen, Jen. “Monkeys Cloned Using Technique That Created Dolly the Sheep.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 Jan. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/health/cloned-monkeys-study/index.html.
Briggs, Helen. “First Monkey Clones Created in Chinese Laboratory.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/health-42809445.
Today in History: A Viet Nam story by Gabbi McVey
This day in 1970, U.S. Navy Lt. Everett Alvarez Jr. spends his 2,000th day as a POW (Prisoner Of War) in Southeast Asia. He was the POW of the longest amount of time ever, being released in 1973, eight agonizing years later. His bravery and courageous conduct modeled for the POWs that came in after him. He was nearly starved to death, shackled to his cell, was isolated, but he still kept his strength and courage, especially when the newer POWs came. He later, then became the Deputy Administrator for the Veterans Affairs Department under Reagan’s Presidency. This man has showed raw bravery and courage the time he spent as a POW. As of today, Everett has his own company called Alvarez LLC.
World War II Mysteries by Roman Corl
Throughout World War 2 there have been some strange and bone chilling mysteries and I’m here to tell you three mysteries of World War 2. Starting off at number 3 is the Battle of Los Angeles. It was in the early morning hours of February 25, 1942 just three months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The U.S. had just entered World War II and the military was on high alert when it responded to what was believed to be another unprovoked attack above the skies of California. Witnesses reported a large, round object, glowing pale orange, in the skies above Culver City and Santa Monica, cruising along the Pacific coast.
Number 2 is the Nazi ghost train. In the final days of World War II, in April 1945, with Soviet forces fast approaching, Nazi soldiers loaded valuables onto an armored train in Breslau (now Wroclaw), Poland. The train departed and headed west toward Waldenburg (now Walbrzych). It’s about a 40-mile trip and, somewhere along the way, the train, with all its valuable cargo, vanished in the Owl Mountains. Reportedly, the train was filled with Nazi treasure, including gold and precious metals looted from Jewish families. Over the years, many have tried to find the legendary ghost train, but none have. Historians claim that there is no definitive proof that the train actually ever existed. While it is true that, during the war, Nazi Führer Adolf Hitler ordered the creation of a network of underground tunnels in the Owl Mountains, as part of Der Riese, a Nazi secret facility, there is no concrete indication that a train was ever hidden inside.
And finally for Number 1, we have the Pearl Harbor ghost plane. One of the most intriguing ghost plane reports of World War II, this story involves the P-40 fighter that got shot up and crashed near Pearl Harbor. Doesn’t sound too mysterious, right? Only this plane was witnessed a year after the Japanese attack and, when investigated, no pilot’s body was found in the cockpit. There you have it. Three strange mysteries about WW2.
Whittling by Noah Anders
Have you ever heard about whittling? Whittling is where you have a knife and sticks. If you want to do it, use any type of wood. But hardwood is difficult. And hardwood can bend your knife because it tends to be a harder wood. But the best wood is softwood. The softest woods are pine, balsam, and cedar.
To whittle, you swipe the knife along the wood, removing a layer at a time. Never swipe towards you. Always swipe away from you.
You have to be careful with a knife. But if you follow some basic safety rules, whittling can be so relaxing.
Hamilton, the Musical by Sigurdur Steinsson
Every generation has one- that one popular musical of their childhood. Well, watch out millennials, because Hamilton is taking this world by storm.
Alexander Hamilton, the Musical is composed by Lin Manuel Miranda. Miranda as well as composing the play wrote the lyrics, and plays Alexander Hamilton in the play.
This musical was inspired by a 2004 biography written by Ron Chernow. It is about the orphan founding father Alexander Hamilton and his life. The musical includes 48 songs from different time periods/ music genres, including Hip-hop, rap,, the blues, and many more.
This play made its off-broadway debut in February 2015; in August of that same year it transferred to Broadway, where it was received with enthusiasm.
In 2016, Hamilton got 16 Tony nominations, winning 11, including Best Musical. In that same year, it was nominated for a Grammy and a Pulitzer prize for drama.
Hamilton has grossed $100 million in ticket sales. On average, one ticket costs $1,200 making it the most expensive Broadway musical.
The Temporary in TPS By Jane Bolton
On December 9th, 2019, around 263 thousand Salvadorans will have to leave the U.S. or risk being deported. TPS, temporary protected status, was granted to Salvadorans in March, 2001 after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in January, 2001. Since then, they have built their homes, businesses, and families in America. And now, they have to leave.
Karla Alvarado has lived in the U.S. for 20 years. She went to college, earned her degree, and holds a position as a nurse. Now she faces the reality as a Salvadoran immigrant under temporary protected status.
“It’s definitely heart-wrenching, I’m having anxiety like I’ve never had before. I’ve been here since I was 9; I don’t know anything else. I am American and this is my home,” said Alvarado in Newsela.
The Department of Homeland Security says that “original conditions caused by the 2001 earthquakes no longer exist." But, although the earthquakes might have ended, conditions in El Salvador haven’t gotten better. Sending TPS Salvadorans and their children back to El Salvador would mean sending them back to gang violence, low job employment, and a weak economy.
In fact, gang violence has only increased since 2001. And, according to Newsela and other reports, “El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in the world, measured by its homicide rate.”
TPS also ended for 1,000 Sudanese, 5,300 Nicaraguans, and 58,700 Haitians. Congress is currently discussing whether or not to terminate or extend TPS for five other countries: Syria, Nepal, Honduras, Yemen, and Somalia.
Jill Marie Bussey, director of advocacy for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network says in Newsela, “They’ve explained to us that this administration wants to put the T — temporary — back in TPS.”
Works Cited:
Newsela | Sign In, newsela.com/read/immigration-el-salvador/id/39391/.
Park, Madison. “Protected Status for 250,000 Salvadorans Is Ending. These Immigrants Might Be Next.” CNN, Cable News Network, 10 Jan. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/01/09/politics/temporary-protected-status-countries/index.html.
Links to Sources
https://newsela.com/read/immigration-el-salvador/id/39391/
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/09/politics/temporary-protected-status-countries/index.html
Mammoths May Once Again Walk the Earth by Marcus Henry
It’s very likely that you have heard of the wooly mammoth they found in Siberia, very well preserved. This wooly mammoth could bring back the entire species. One wooly mammoth. Not even alive anymore.
If you’ve read my articles (and I sure hope you have), you’ll know that this is possible. Any Jurassic Park fans would be amazed. I mean, just imagine, massive beasts traversing the planet once again. Massive beasts all over the world, their classic trumpeting call echoing over the world. Humans would also have a great food source. One mammoth could last a family years!
The plan is to develop an embryo with DNA and inject it to an elephant for the animal to be birthed. However, it is unlikely that a living cell can be found, even though the creature is so well-preserved. Bringing back the woolly mammoths would be amazing, so long as they don’t break out and kill us all like in Jurassic Park.
Telescope Preview By William Kelliher
Ever wondered what the edge of the universe looks like? Well, if you have, History Channel has a new show that will blow your mind.
The new show, Telescope, is going to be released next year. It shows the view of the new space telescope: the James Webb Space Telescope. It may be able to see the edge of the universe, farther than the Hubble.
So imagine white light shining on a crystal. You think of a rainbow, right? Well astronomer Frederick William Herschel wanted to see if those colors would have different temperatures. He measured the heat of the colors and came to a startling discovery: they had different temperatures! He also made another discovery: the space next to the red light had LOTS of heat! He ran some tests and discovered that the spot next to the red light wasn’t just space, it also had a radiation in it that was found in heat! He gave it the name “infrared light”.
Infrared cameras are sensitive to light and heat because infrared waves are released from things, so the telescope can’t get too close to the sun and have a shield to block the sun’s rays. or else the camera couldn’t see anything. But if it gets too far away, Earth would lose communications with it. Since it is sensitive to light and heat, it will be able to detect stars and planets with ease.
Works Cited
Garner, Rob. “James Webb Space Telescope.” NASA, NASA, 22 Jan. 2015, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/main/index.html.