Category Archives: Science

Cilantro Seeds Diameter Measurement

Here are the cilantro seeds in the self-fallen off group (left), and the pulled-off group (right).   Because the seed weight experiment, done earlier,  suggested, but did not prove that the seeds in the self-fallen-off group were larger than the seeds in the pulled-off group of seeds, I pursued what I had set up to do earlier, and count the number of seeds in the same length, six inches. Problem.  Do these two groups of seeds have a different diameter, as suggested by live visual examination? Hypothesis.  The  cilantro seeds that fell off of the stems have a larger diameter than the cilantro seeds which were pulled off by hand later. DSC03186 The two groups of seeds with the self-fallen-off seeds on the left, and the pulled off seeds on the right (above). Method.  Place a six inch ruler on top of the single layers of each group, and count the number of seeds touching the line within six inches three independent times, once for each of the three placements. DSC03180 Self-fallen-off seeds in a single layer. DSC03181 Self-fallen off seeds in a single layer with a six inch ruler on top #1 DSC03183 Different alignment of ruler for a new measure of the number of seeds in six inches #2.DSC03182 Same as above, but different ruler alignment, #3. DSC03172 Pulled-off seeds in a single layer.  DSC03179 Pulled-off seeds ruler alignment #1DSC03178 Pulled-off seeds ruler alignment #2DSC03177 Pulled off seeds ruler alignment #3 Results.  As counted on the computer screen, I got the following results not nececarily in the same order posted above.  Algnmnt stands for Alignment.  SD stands for Standard Deviation, a statistical determination of data spread.  The measure is the number of seeds in six inches Algnmnt #1           Algnmnt #2          Algnmnt #3         Average        SD Self-fallen                             49                                51                               48                             49.3               1.52 Pulled-off                              52                                54                               53                              53.0              1.00 The means of these measures are different.  There were 49.3 seeds in 6 inches in the fallen-off group, and there were 53 seeds in 6 inches in the pulled-off group.  The standard deviation, a measure of data spread, was larger in the fallen-off group. These results do suggest that the groups do differ in diameter, because the number of seeds in six inches is smaller on the average in the fallen-off group than in the pulled-off group by 3.7 seeds.  The fewer seeds there are,  the larger the diameter.  The actual diameters are inversely proportional to the number of seeds. Conclusions.  This suggests that if this information stands the test of time, then:

  1. The fallen-off group of seeds has a larger diameter, and the hypothesis is supported.  Yes the fallen-off group of seeds are wider.
  2. There may be more variability in the fallen-off group diameter.
  3. The diameter of the fallen-off group of seeds is 0.123 inches and the diameter of the pulled-off group of seeds is 0.113 inches.

Further work. Confirm and refine the results of this and the weight measurement experiments.

  • Explore the diameter by measuring actual print-outs of the single seed layered photos above.
  • Weigh higher numbers of the above seed groups, such as 1000 seeds and 2000 seeds (a lot of counting).
  • Measure the volumes of the counted seed seed groups above.
  • Determine the density of the seeds in weight per seed.
  • Check to see if there is a flotation in water difference in the largest seed group.

Comments.

  • I  consider neither this experiment nor the seed weight experiment to be very important.  I am just pursuing these for demonstration purposes, and for my own entertainment.
  • It looks as if the density of the two seed groups may actually differ. (A new hypothesis.)

Pangea (Pangaea)

Pangea_USGS This is a public domain image of Pangea, by Pangea USGS public domain clipart image @ wpclipart.com.  Pangea was a super-continent which began to form around 300 million years ago, and which began to break apart about 200 million years ago, so it existed for about 100 million years.

800px-Geological_Time_Scale This image is from a Wikipedia article on the Geological Time Scale as viewed on April 21, 2014. Wikipedia reveals that this time frame encompassed land plants, including coal forming ones, and land animals including lizards during the upper Paleozoic Era.  Most fossil fuels formed during the warm and wet  Carboniferous Period of the upper Paleozoic Era

About halfway through the existence of Pangea, the Paleozoic Era became the lower Mesozoic Era, during which time conifers evolved on land and dinosaurs emerged.  The lower Mesozoic encompasses the time of the Triassic, just before the Jurassic, of Jurassic Park fame.

 

 

Chemistry And Biochemistry Are Pervasive

DSC01775 This man is working with viruses at Indiana University, and finding interventions into some of their attacks on humans.  Please note the molecular model in the background to the left of Dr. Kao as we face the picture.

 DSC01776  The first paragraphs of the article.

 DSC01777  Dr. Kao and his lab manager,  discussing matters.  In the background is a bio safety cabinet (hood) for culture work.