Our Solar System

     The Sun is heavier than the Earth and the pull of its gravity is very strong. It keeps the Earth and the eight other bodies circling in space around the Sun. These bodies are the planets. We can see the five planets with our eyes from Earth - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn but Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto need to be seen using telescope.

     Years ago, many think that the Earth is the center of the solar system and that the moon, sun, and other heavenly bodies revolve around the Earth but, the Polish priest, Nicolaus Copernicus realized what was wrong. The Sun must be the center of everything and not the Earth. 

     The planets are divided into two groups. The small rocky planets and the giant balls of gas. The small rocky planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars while the other group includes Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. 

     The Red Planet. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is covered by a stony desert.The water and oxygen are locked up in the rusty deposits.

     Our galaxy - the Milky Way - is a spiral galaxy with arms extending from the center like a pinwheel. Our solar system is in the Orion arm of the Milky Way. Our Sun is one of about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way. And our galaxy is just one of roughly 100 billion in the visible universe (NASA).

The Origin of the Universe

     Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists including space, time, stars, planets and beyond. It is made up almost of hydrogen and helium. These are the two lightest elements. All the rest of the matter is very rare. The Universe is held together by forces.

     How did the universe originated? Was there any theories about this? Based on my researches, studies and discussions since then, there were theories that explain the appearance of everything from nothing.

     The Big Bang Theory. What was the Big Bang? The Big Bang is the most popular theory about the creation of the Universe. According to it, the whole universe was created in a split second in one huge explosion. All matter was squeezed together into a tiny, super-hot, dense ball that was smaller than an atom. The ball gradually expanded as it cooled, then exploded, releasing energy and matter in all directions. We cannot see the Big Bang because it would have happened billions of years ago. But we can see that the universe is growing bigger.

     The Big Bounce Theory. This is a theory about the formation of the universe. This is a bit the same with the Big Bang. It suggests that another universe went through a Big Crunch and then 'bounced' back and gave birth to this universe (Scientific American). 

     Steady State Theory. This is developed by Fred Hoyle and Thomas Gold in 1949. This theory had no beginning but it created new matter as older galaxies moved apart. The advantage of this theory is that its simple explanation.

     These were the answers of the questions How did the Universe begin, and when? How has it evolved? How will it end, and when?

Coral reefs and Mangroves at Its Best

     Coral reefs are the most beautiful of all marine habitats. They are marine animals. They are so called the "rainforests" of the ocean. Coral reefs are among the oldest type of ecosystem on earth. They are the largest living structure on the planet. They are home to 25% of all marine fish species and people consider them as source of food. They also serve as medicines such that it can treat cancers, HIV, ulcers and other diseases.

     Coral reefs protect the mangrove trees and sea grass bed from erosion by the waves. They are primary producers especially for the fishes. Coral reefs also serve as tourist attraction. They also protect the coast from disastrous hurricanes and tsunamis that sweep off life and properties. 

     Philippines contains in its seas almost all coral species in the world, and these reefs are known for their beauty, variety, and vastness. Diverse all activities of man, coral reef may be on the verge of extinction.

     Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height. Mangroves protect coastal ares from erosion, hurricanes and tsunamis just like the coral reefs. 

     Mangrove trees are also used for house building, furniture, transmission as well as household items. They are also source of firewood since then. They provide nourishment, habitat, and refuge to the larvae and fry stages of fishes. Mangroves refresh the air through the production of oxygen and assimilation of carbon dioxide. They are source of wood and timber, charcoal, alcohol and fishes.

     Both mangroves and coral reefs create biodiversity in coastal ecosystems. We have to take good care of these and use them properly. We need their help in order to have a life. We must be very careful in doing things. We must not be too selfish to think by our own. But we also must think of the little fellows that also needed what we need.

The Earth's Hydrosphere

      Hydrosphere is a layer of water on the earth's surface. It is often called "water sphere" for hydro means water, and sphere. It includes all the water including oceans, streams, rivers, lakes and other kinds of freshwater, groundwater, saltwater and water vapor.

     Water is the most abundant surface of the earth in which it makes our place special. The world’s oceans contain 97% of the water in the hydrosphere, most of which is salt water. Ice caps, like that found covering Antarctica, and glaciers that occupy high alpine locations, compose a little less than 2% of all water found on earth (Wikipedia).

     Hydrosphere is important to us because it affects everything that happens in our lives. Water is everywhere. And its purest form is H2O. One of the importance of hydrosphere is it is a part of living cells. This allows the cell to function normally. Without water, cell would not be able to carry out their normal functions and life could not exist. Another importance is, water provides habitat. The hydrosphere provides habitat for animals and plants like water lilies, corals and fishes.

This proves that hydrosphere provides habitat for the fishes.

     Hydrosphere also helps regulate the climate. It is important because it helps regulate the temperatures on earth so that they stay within a range that is acceptable for life's existence. Another importance is that it helps provide human needs. We use water in many ways. We use it in drinking, washing and in other domestic and industrial uses. 

     These are just a few of the very important uses and functions of the water. 

The Impacts of Science and Technology

     Science means a system of acquiring knowledge and technology means applied science. So, many things will be invented or innovated through science and technology. Science and technology has impacts on our lives, on us human beings. It has advantages and disadvantages.

   There are many advantages of science and technology that can help us men. The advancement of technology helps the lives of the people make easier and has decreased the manual work.

This shows that the computers (with internet connection) help us do our 

researches and also help us communicate with other people throughout the world.

     As seen in the picture above, computers are a big part of our lives especially that it increases the communication between families. Emails and IMs enhance the communications of people. Technology also increased our productivity in agriculture. It also help us cure our diseases through the machines invented by scientists. And as for transportation, we could have had a long period of time to travel from one place to another if cars or planes aren't invented. Access to technology improves education. Almost all of our questions will be answered through the internet.

     

     On the other hand, technology is also misused that could lead up to environmental problems and health issues. This will also require so much of our skills and capabilities, so, this could lead up to increase of unemployment. And unemployment could lead to poverty. It also includes some disastrous disadvantages which can be a great harm for us. For some instances, we get addicted to some particular things and the more we get addicted, the more it can harm to us. 

The increase in transportation technology has brought to stressful

traffic in some areas.

      

     Science and technology also result to laziness, new diseases, and loss of personality. Many new online games as new forms of entertainment will affect the personality of oneself and will cause poor academic performances.

     

      Science makes our life comfortable. In fact, we need it in our daily living. Without science, today would be impossible although there are some disadvantages. We should always keep in mind that inventions, discoveries or innovations must not be abused to lessen the disadvantages of technology because science and technology is a big help to us.