Homework 14: Colonization and Zombies

1) Check out the Leonid shower tonight, if the sky happens to be clear enough to catch something interesting. The general direction to look is the constellation Leo, which may be in the general direction of Northeast. You don't have to be able to recognize Leo because the meteors will be spread out over a fair area. If this seems unrealistic, then find 2 videos of the Leonid shower (at least, to include at least one that you would consider "worth it to have checked out"), or some other planet, moon, or other astronomical phenomenon. (a) Describe. (b) Then relate to the concept of colonization somehow. Or if you prefer, discuss colonization in the context of some other planet, moon, part of the Earth, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yENQo3sh7po
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL58ygztOzs&NR=1

Answer a1)
I watched these two videos on youtube taken of meteor showers. I’ve seen a few showers myself. While they are pretty there isn’t much to describe about them. The meteors look like streaks of white light racing across the sky. People always tell you to make a wish on a falling star. Guess they kinda do look like falling stars.

Answer b1)
Humanity has problems. Regardless of rather we are on Earth or Mars we will take those problems with us. We lack self-control and discipline. So many of us just can’t say no. Thus we have over population, pollution, and general wastefulness. I think the ability to colonize would only give humanity another way to run from its problems. What? Earth is destroyed? That’s okay we still have Mars. What? Mars is gone too? All well, who’s next?

2) Term projects - if you do not know when your presentation is, let me know. Work more on it...the closer you get to finishing it, the better off you'll be! Post new material on your blog. Also, start preparing your presentation. One way to do that is to use your project write-up as a guide, and make slides that will step us all through it (just a suggestion).


Note: for the presentation remember to show the video on how to construct the water filter (source: The Colony, Discovery Channel)

Funny water filter tid-bit: use bras to stain impurities from water. They are usually thick and can catch a lot of junk.

Note: These are the things we need to keep in mind
Power
Food
Water
Shelter
Comfort

How to Find Water in the Wild Article: Cleaning Water:
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/how-to-find-water.htm

Your body can go at most 3 days without water. The body needs minimum two quarts of water a day on average.

You don’t want to drink water directly from an unfiltered source as that water may have bacteria and other harmful things.

One simple way to collect water is to make a belowground still. To construct one you need some basic tools: plastic sheeting, a digging tool, a container, a drinking tube and a rock. (Explain how it works and demonstrate using the image)

A filter (as described in the video) can be used to filter the water. Alternating layers of coarse and fine materials to filter out bacteria and solid matter. Even if you filter, always boil the water.
Boil water for at least 10 minutes to remove most bacteria. Either a fire or purification tablets will be needed to purify water. If using a fire, containers such as aluminum/tin cans, plastic bottles (filled to the brim, capped, and dropped into hot coals), and glass jars can be used (when suspended directly over the fire with the flames just touching the bottom of the container).

If you dig a hole in moist soil and wait a while it will fill with groundwater.