Agriculture plays a part in our every day lives and it is useful to learn and know about the environment around us. This science project will assess the growth rate of several different types of grass seed. It is suitable for 7th grade or 8th grade students but high school students in agriculture or horticulture classes may enjoy and benefit from doing this experiment.

Go your local lawn and garden store and pick up these items:

4 pots

Soil

Annual rye grass seed

Fescue grass seed

Blue grass seed

Bermuda or any other type of seed they may have available

Fertilizer

You will not need large quantities of any of these items so if you can buy a quarter of a pound of each or less just for your project it would be best. If you tell the people working at the store they may even have a little from an open bag that you could have especially if it is for school purposes. You will also not need much fertilizer.

Put each of your pots on a plate so that the water and soil do not drain all over your counter. If you have a few old aluminum pie plates they will work as well. Put soil into the pots and fill about 2/3 full. Then in each pot sprinkle a different grass seed. You can sprinkle at least a tablespoonful or two of the seed into the pot to make sure you have success. Sprinkle about 1/4 inch more soil on top of the seed.

Place all the pots in the same place with the same amount of light and temperature. Water each with about cup of water. If you can use a sprinkling can to lightly sprinkle the top of the soil to moisten that would be best. You do not want to soak the seeds and drown them.

Get some graph paper and each day for the next two weeks watch your pots. When you notice any germination note what type of seed it was and how much you see. Did only one blade of grass show up? Do you see many? Continue watching over the next few days to see if other varieties start to grow and how fast each one does.

Which grass seed germinated the fastest? Did any other seed pass up the first one when it started growing? This is a great science project for 7th grade 8th grade or high school students to learn about growing things.

Lesa Bolt is a contributor to http://scienceprojects.fetching.us

Newts are a type of amphibian that look a lot like salamanders. However, unlike salamanders, newts spend most or all of their life in the water. They are descended from salamanders, but branched off around sixty million years ago. Now, they're found in many temperate parts of the world, including Asia, Northern Africa, Europe, and North America.

Some types have a terrestrial form (referred to as an eft), that lives on land to find a new home, then come back to the water when mature. Newts are popular among pond owners. They're charming, cute little creatures in their own right. However, having a population of newts also means that your pond is very healthy, since these creatures have somewhat specific living requirements. If you're thinking about colonizing your pond with newts, or setting it up to attract these little creatures, here's some information that might help.

Newts are often food for other creatures. This means that having newts might draw some impressive looking birds to your pond, but it also means you'll have to pay attention to what's living in and around it if you want to keep your newt population alive. Carnivorous fish often pick off these little lizard-like creatures, making it hard to keep the population up. As well, if there are any ducks frequenting your pond, they may eat the vegetation your newts are laying their eggs in, giving them no place to breed. This doesn't mean you have to chase off all predatory birds or remove newt-eating fish from your pond. It does mean that it's a good idea to try to provide habitat and other conditions that encourage a thriving population that won't be damaged by predation.

Another danger that can kill stocked or native newts is the pump of a small pond. If you have a smaller pond which requires a pump for circulation, newts can be sucked into the pump and killed. Even if you use wire mesh, these pumps can kill very small newts. You can solve this problem by using an ultra fine mesh, or by placing your pump underneath a weighted upside down pot with a hole cut in it. Remember to use mesh over this hole as well. These methods will cut down on the number of newts you lose, and on unpleasant filter cleaning.

Newts can live in fairly shallow ponds, and prefer slopes with lots of plants. High density weeds will encourage them. A good environment for newts will help you develop a breeding population that will stand up to even predatory fish and birds. While tadpoles and young newts may fall prey, a pond that can support them will encourage their numbers to increase. Expect to see baby newts around April and May, if your animals are breeding. You can either make your pond suitable for the local species of newt that you'd like to attract (specific conditions vary by species) or purchase newts and stock your pond. The second is more expensive, but also gives you a better chance of seeing these animals live and grow in your waters.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For pond maintenance, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading pond supplies specialists.

Common people don't consider dreams as important manifestations of our psychology and of course, they cannot imagine that the information we can obtain through dream interpretation surpasses our expectations.

However, I feel that I have the moral obligation to explain that they must care for their dreams as much as they care for their daily lives, because the dreams' messages give them a map, while they live in the darkness of ignorance, surrounded by infinite hidden dangers and their daily life depends on their decisions and actions.

How can they act in the darkness and avoid the dangers they cannot see?

They cannot avoid anything that they cannot see. This is the reason they fall in the traps on the way and they suffer very much throughout their lives.

Dream interpretation is a science. We can read the content of the psychic sphere of each person translating their dreams' messages, predict the future and change the future when it is negative if the person changes their behaviour. This is possible because everything in our planet is related to our behaviour; we can learn about the content of other people's psychic spheres, how we can solve all the problems of our daily life, cure all the diseases and achieve much more.

This is a treasure that has been underestimated for so many years, and it has only recently started to have certain meaning in our civilization because the psychological diseases have greatly increased and psychotherapy has now become a necessity for everyone.

It really is indispensable for all; however, people don't have time and not everyone can afford to pay for the several sessions of treatment with a psychotherapist...

Therefore, this underestimated treasure can save the poor population that desperately requires psychotherapy and a map in the darkness of ignorance where they live! Everyone sees dreams without exception. This is free and safe psychotherapy for everyone!

We only need to learn the meaning of the basic dream symbols and how to decipher the meaning of the other symbols by ourselves to have this treasure for life.

However, only the correct method of translation of the dream symbols can provide guidance and cure. Inaccurate methods can only confuse and mislead desperate patients.

The only correct method of dream interpretation was discovered by the famed psychiatrist and psychologist Carl Jung. His work is very complex; however, I furthered his research and greatly simplified it. I also clearly explained all the obscure points he could not see as clearly as I did. This was possible thanks to the information I obtained from recent scientific discoveries made in my time and by continuing his research through dream interpretation into the unknown region of the human psychic sphere.

The knowledge of the human being is all about the world one lives in. One doesn't really know anything about one's psychic world, the meaning of life and death and infinite more wisdom, which are all beyond one's comprehension.

Through dream interpretation, one can verify this truth, by discovering the wild side of the conscience and learning how to eliminate its poisonous influence with the guidance of the wise unconscious that works like a doctor.

This way one can transform the world into a better place where one will be able to live happily, evolve completely and reach much higher levels of intelligence.

The light of wisdom will finally put an end to the darkness of ignorance, saving humanity from eternal suffering without solution!

Prevent Depression and Craziness through the scientific method of Dream Interpretation discovered by Carl Jung and simplified by Christina Sponias, a writer who continued Jung's research in the unknown region of the human psychic sphere.

Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com and http://www.booksirecommend.com

Click below to download your copy of the Free ebook
Beating Depression and Craziness

Sometimes the classic science experiments / demonstrations are classic for a reason. They're just wonderful at grabbing the attention of students and getting them to think about their world. Such is the case with the delightful "Rising Raisins" and the awesome "Soda Pop Bottle Fountain". By combining the two, the kids will be begging for more.

First, the "Rising Raisins" have been in print forever, usually just as a diversion or bed time sleep inducement. For this activity it will be used to enhance observation skills as well as a spring board for a discussion of density. Feel free to adapt the activity and questions to suit the age of your students.

Though soda will work for this activity, I always use seltzer water. Soda has a tendency to get sticky upon drying while seltzer water will just evaporate with no mess. No mess, that's for me.

You will need a sealed two liter bottle of seltzer, a tall clear container, raisins, other testable items.

Ask the student to inspect the sealed bottle. What is seen? (Clear liquid) Are there any bubbles? (No) Now, open the bottle and ask what is seen and possible reasons for the occurrence. (Lots of bubbling, foaming over. Also, sound is heard. This could be caused by a reduction in pressure once the bottle is opened.) Where did the bubbles usually form? (On the bottle's walls) I wonder if bubbles need someting on which to form?

Now, pour the seltzer water into the tall clear container. No doubt, more bubbles will form on the container's wall. Show a raisin and have the student predict what will happen when it is placed in the container.

When added, the raisin will sink to the bottom. There, bubbles will form in its nooks and crannies. This will cause the raisin to float to the surface where the bubbles will pop. The raisin will sink again and the process will continue until little gas is left in the seltzer water.

At this point, the experiment can go in two ways. One is for the student to suggest other items that might sink and float like raisins. What are the characteristics of these items that allow the activity? (Lightweight, not really smooth, etc.) Objects may include pieces of broken spaghetti, macaroni, straws, penny, marble, etc. Students can categorize objects that move and those that don't, then create possible reasons for their activity or inactivity.

Older students may be engaged with a discussion of density once they understand it fundamentally. Why did the raisin float? (It had bubbles around it.) Why didn't the bubble surrounded penny float? (Too heavy) Is the raisin's mass more or less at the top? (Same - the mass of the raisin itself remains the same just as your mass remains the same if you are on the ground or jumping into the air.) Continue questioning and move to questions about density. If we were to find the mass of the raisin and the mass of the same volume of water, which would have more mass? (Raisin - it sinks in water). If we were to find the mass of the raisin and its bubbles and the same volume of water as the raisin and bubbles which would be greater? (Water - the raisin/bubbles float because they have less mass combined as the same volume of water). And so goes it... As an inquiry questioning device to check understanding of density, the "Rising Raisin" is a winner.

Next time, we'll take the bubble formation ideas and use them in creating the "Awesome Pop Bottle Fountain." Have fun!

Tom Smith, an elementary science teacher, owns and operates Wonder Workshops, an online mecca of hard to find retro toys, puzzles, magic tricks, puppets, books, and DVDs all based in science, math, and problem solving. He also presents hands-on science workshops around the country for teachers and parents. Be sure to visit the store and workshop site at http://www.wonderworkshops.com. You'll be glad you did.

Introduction

This is an introduction to quality assurance of chemical measurements. Quality assurance is defined as the records kept on the results of the routine analysis of quality control samples. Many laboratories mistakenly assume that merely running quality control samples constitutes an adequate quality assurance program. This is incorrect. In fact, without proper and ongoing documentation of quality control sample results quality assurance does not even exist.

This is not a lesson in statistics, however, a knowledge of statistics is required. Neither is this an analytical chemistry lesson, but without some knowledge in chemical analysis there is really no need to read further.

Quality Control

Quality Control consists of either the analysis of samples of known quantities for the purpose of verifying a method's accuracy or the repeat analysis of a sample to determine the methods precision. Quality control samples may be relatively clean interference free matrices, or complex matrices that duplicate the sample. Results may either be recorded as absolute or relative percent recovery.

Blanks consist of all reagents used in a test and may contain everything in the sample except the analyte of interest. The purpose of the blank is to assess laboratory contamination. High, or variable blank values indicate a contamination that needs to be located and eliminated.

Blank Spikes are blanks to which a known amount of analyte has been added. Blank spikes largely determine whether significant analyte is lost during sample processing. Since the blank matrix is interference free a high blank spike result is further indication of contamination, or an inadequate calibration.

Blank Spike Duplicates measure the ability of a method to duplicate analytical results in an interference free matrix. Bad precision indicates either loss of analyte (lower than expected recovery) or contamination.

Matrix Spikes are real samples to which a known amount of analyte has been added. Subtracting the amount of analyte determined in an unspiked portion enables calculation of the percent analyte recovered from samples of that matrix.

Matrix Duplicates are repeat analyses of a sample matrix used to evaluate precision. If the amount of analyte is expected to be near or below the Method Detection Limit (MDL), Matrix Spike Duplicates are often run allowing precision to be evaluated.

Method Detection Limit (MDL) is a statistically determined number that represents the lowest concentration of analyte that can be detected with the confidence of not being a false reading. One popular calculation of MDL multiplies the standard deviation of seven replicate tests by 3.14. The replicate tests should be blank spikes with an analyte concentration 3-5 times the calculated MDL.

It is important for all users of this statistically derived MDL to realize the great inaccuracies associated with this number. The MDL that is determined by analysis of replicates made on purified water only applies to the purified water. This number generated also only applies to the analyst that made the determination and the instrument that was used. Also, statistically speaking there is no real accuracy or precision associated with this number, as variability can be as high as 100%.

Minimum Level, or reporting limit is the lowest calibration standard, or a concentration of 3.18 times the MDL. The minimum level is approximately 10 times the standard deviation of the noise and represents the point where data has an accuracy and precision of within about 30 % of its true value.

A more accurate determination of the minimum level is to plot RSD and Recovery of collected multiple laboratory data and determine the lowest point where both accuracy and precision are within 30%.

Calibration is a representation of a response that is in proportion to an amount. In modern instrumentation the calibration is an electronic signal relative to an amount of analyte. A graphical plot of concentration versus signal is represented by a calibration curve, which is hoped to be linear, but may be second or third order depending on the measurement method and concentration range. Calibration could, however, also represent mass measured on a balance or volume measured with a burette.

Conclusion

Measurement techniques are moving more and more towards instrumentation leaving behind chemical methods such as gravimetric precipitations and volumetric titrations. The problem introduced by strictly instrumentation analysis is that instruments require known calibrants that responses of unknowns can be compared to. As the classical volumetric and gravimetric chemical approaches to analysis and measurement are gradually forgotten we are gradually losing the ability to prepare new calibration standards for our instruments. Also, classical techniques are more accurate and precise in high purity chemical assays while instrumentation is best at trace analysis. A laboratory does itself service by maintaining classical methods using instrumentation for trace analyses such as environmental testing, or the verification of the purity of precipitates.

William Lipps
http://www.oico.com
(979) 690-1375 ext. 230
wlipps@oico.com

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