Being Vegan: FAQs

A month ago, I went vegan (I know I told some of you guys that it was 3 weeks ago; it was an estimate that I told you). A lot of people have inquired as to why I have gone vegan, and how it is different from   a standard diet (omnivore). I have decided to write and post answers to your questions that have been more thought through and researched, and not what I can remember on a bus.

Let me start off with five general reasons to be vegan written by Lindsay S. Nixon, the author of Everyday Happy Herbivore.

NOTE: THIS IS NOT EXACT TEXT FROM HER BOOKS (EXCEPT 2), 4), AND 5)), IT HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY EDITED FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHILE MAINTAINING WHAT THE FIVE REASONS ARE

1) Health:
Vegan diets have no dietary cholesterol, meaning no chemicals that constrict arteries and increase blood pressure (Heart attack risk is dramatically cut down to natural heart attacks of old age). A low-fat vegan diet is low in calories and high in fiber. Some studies show that a low-fat vegan diet can prevent, cure, and reverse devastating diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer; 15 of the leading causes of death can be reversed, cured, and prevented with a plant-based diet.

2) Wallet:
A vegan diet can be a bargain. Vegan staples like beans, rice, and non-dairy milks will cost you a fraction of the price of meats and dairy products. Plus, eating healthfully will save you health care products in the long run.

3) Animals:
Standard animal treatment is horrifyingly brutal psychologically and physically. The animal's life is usually filled with torture and ends long and painfully. The standard way of getting dairy is keeping a cow permanently pregnant in order to make it produce milk. The cows stand in fenced off areas and have their milk painfully pumped out. They are fed poorly and are treated almost exactly the same way Nazis treated Jewish prisoners at concentration camps. Once the cow dies from exhaustion, the body is thrown away and buried beneath landfills. Most of the cows that are milked last 4 years after they are able to be impregnated. As a consumer picking up the end product, it's easy to be oblivious rather than conscious.

4) Environment:
The vegan diet is the most eco-friendly and sustainable way we can eat.

5) Humanity:
It is said that if the world went vegetarian (Not even vegan), we would almost immediately end world hunger. One acre of land can either produce 20,000 pounds of potatoes, or a measly 165 pounds of meat.

Now, onto the FAQs.

1. Why don't vegans eat meat, and how do you get your protein if you don't eat meat?

To better understand why vegans don't eat meat, it's best to look at the health effects first.
Studies show that, health wise, veganism is a better option. Why? Well, for starters, let's have a look at nutrition. Protein is the first thing most people relate to meat and nutrition, as meat is dense with protein. Not heavily dense, just dense. However, the amount of usable protein is around 20% by weight. Meat protein isn't nutritionally dense either, inflicting a significant amount of calories along with the protein. Meat protein also tends to inhibit colon cancer. How much energy the body puts into processing the meat to get the protein and nutrients is also a drain on how much energy the body has left to use in other activities. Vegans generally have more energy than those of a standard omnivore diet, meaning more energy to put to the immune system, physical activity, brain activity, etc. Meat also has high levels of cholesterol; funnily enough countries that consume the most meat have "Heart Failure" as one of the leading causes of death. Just to add onto the negative health effects of eating meat, studies show that there are bacterial toxins present only in meat which cannot be killed by boiling, refrigeration, microwaving the meat, and other forms of preparing meat. This bacterial toxin is targeted by the human body (as the toxins inflammate the vascular system), but it takes a huge amount of energy for a body to fully remove all of the bacterial toxin from the system. By the time the human body starts to return to it's normal state of being, it's usually time for another meal which strains the body yet again. The process of irradication of the bacterial toxins from the system usually takes 5-6 hours. This process is made harder to complete to the human body as the animal fat increases absorption of the toxins into the blood stream. On top of this the immune system has to fight and kill every other germ in the air, as well as process the meat (Harder to process than plants), grow (unless you're an adult), and do it's normal routine. Also, above all else; as of last year the Health Guidelines updated stating that the recommended guidelines for blood pressure (on a planet where heart failure is a leading cause of death) were too high.

After the largest health study in human history, scientists have found that people on the Standard diet have more cancer cases than vegan diets, and vegan diets deal with cancer more efficiently. Upon studying the fastest growing tumours  such as lymphoma, are most likely to occur in those who live on the Standard Diet, and had an even higher risk for those who consume more poultry. Consuming half a chicken breast can triple your risk of getting lymphoma.
Moving on with cancer; a study by the Peritikin Research Foundation a few years ago decided to put two groups of people on different diets. One group was on a vegan diet while the other was on the Standard Diet. They then drew the blood from both groups and put both kinds of blood in petri-dishes with a cancer growth to test which kind of blood was the least hospitable to cancer and/or how much the blood suppressed cancer growth. The results of the study showed that while the Standard Diet suppressed the cancer by 9%, while those on a Vegan Diet had blood that suppressed cancer by 70%, meaning the test concluded that vegan blood was around 8 times as good as suppressing cancer.

CAUTION: THE NEXT PARAGRAPHS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED AND FRANKLY NOT FOR  MOST AUDIENCES. VIEWER DISCRETION/PARENTAL GUIDANCE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

As of so far, you have read the health affects of Vegan vs. Standard diets. Now, let me answer another crucial part of this question: Where the meat comes from.
As you might have read in the 5 Reasons to Become Vegan, cows are mistreated for milk. However, I am answering the question of where the meat comes from, starting with the life of the cows.
The cows are constantly moving, being deprived of sleep. They are fed small amounts of cow feed and are even sometimes fed cow. The cows grow up being hit and whipped, leaving sores which are not ever treated. Since they are in a confined space, most cows slowly rub their skin off and bleed. This is not treated either. Some of the more aggressive cow handlers will electrocute the cow's head to make it move. If this does not work, they will break the cow's tail. After all this suffering, they put the cows into a large machine that completely encases the cow except for the head and neck. A cow handler will slice the cow's neck and wait for the machine to empty the cow. The machine usually slams a large metal plate against the cow's throat, and then throws the cow onto the floor next to it. The floor is always covered in blood and never cleaned. At this point, the cow writhes around in pain and attempts to call for others to help him like any animal would (instinct). This is usually replied with another cow being thrown onto the floor, just as helpless and also in immense pain; both cows cannot make much of a sound except for incredibly loud squealing. The dying cows will be one of millions to die, and what's left of the bodies will end up in a land fill.

Chickens are born into the mechanical world and left in a small pen with the other chicks. These chicks are soon put on a conveyer belt after they are all fluffy. At the end of the conveyer belt, workers grab the chicks and snip off the beak. This is done to all chickens. The de-beaker has a dull blade mostly and so most beaks will be fractured and imprecise. Since these beaks are still relatively sharp and/or pointy, they peck other chickens and end up causing large infected wounds. These wounds are then rubbed in by the sides of the cages the chickens grow in. They all grow in solitude, and can hear other chickens suffering. Once the chickens get older, they start to rub off their feathers on the edges of the battery cages and this causes irritance. Naturally, they try and stop the infection by pecking at it much like a human would do to a scab. This continuously infects the skin even more until the chicken dies or gets killed. By the way, the handlers simply put the chickens on a conveyer belt hanging by their feet and then they get their throat slit by a chainsaw. They die slowly bleeding from the neck.

Pigs are put under the same conditions as the cows and chickens: They grow up in a dirty filthy area, they unintentionally harm themselves opening their flesh to the bacteria in the air. Handlers hit the pigs repeatedly with a stick in order to make the pig do something. The pigs get an infected and inflamed area and suffer from it. They get impregnated and then the babies are taken away from the mother, which in any species gets the same reaction. The mother and father are then hung from a forklift by their necks and then get slit in the throat. They grunt and whimper until they die.

Meat consumption is energy straining, unhealthy to certain parts of the body, and also comes from horrifyingly brutal lives of animals, while veganism is just healthy, is used to prevent, reverse, and cure most if not all leading causes of death and a healthier lifestyle, and also gives you more energy.

Now, you can gain your protein and nutrients from meat and suffer the side effects and promote the suffering of animals across the globe, or get all your nutrients from plants with no negative side affects whatsoever and promote healthy eating. After all, it is your choice.

Next FAQ tomorrow...

The Age of The Earth/The Actual Year

NOTE: I do not mean to cause any distress/anger/conflict, I am simply conveying scientific findings.

We know that this year is the year 2012. This is based on the christian belief that the Earth is 5000 years old.  This was to explain the large idea when science wasn't that advanced. However, due to radiocarbon dating and other methods, scientists have found enough evidence to state that the Earth is actually in fact +4.5 billion years old. Having that in mind, I wondered: What would the date be if it was based on the actual age of the Earth?

The closest possible answer is 4,564,906,212, meaning that the year is currently (as of 2012) 4,564,906,212.

I got this answer from more sites than I can remember. The first two numbers were easy enough as several sites all stated the crust radiation patterns put the Earth to 4.5-4.7. I then got reinforcements of 4.5 billion when the oldest rock got radiocarbon dated to around 4.5 billion years old. The rest of the numbers were difficult. I got the number 64 million from the age of rare minuscule crystals off a meteorite impact, and fossils of the first life on Earth. 906 thousand years ago was around the time apes started evolving into humans. 212 was added onto the year as that was when modern humanoids and neanderthals existed, and the 12 thousand was around how long human history has lasted for now. I know it's not the most solid date, but it is the closest so far - Believe me, I searched for an hour. Please put your own "Real" Dates in the comments below.

Levitating Water Particles

When you scream, sound vibrations transfer energy in the form of waves. Talking is sending waves at different pitches that ears "feel" and interpret as talking. Some sounds are too high to be heard by human ears, but it still sends energy around. Otherwise, the sound doesn't exist. The U.S Department of Energy took sound energy a bit further and created a machine that produces sound waves at such a frequency (22 kilohertz) from opposite directions that it mimicked microgravity conditions (Micro gravity is a term to express an area that has just above no gravity) and made water float in mid air. The only downside to using waves is that water can only be placed at the nodes of the waves, otherwise it doesn't quite work out well.

Why make an expensive device that holds water? Because the device is great at making efficient medicine! It makes medicine more efficient by evening out the different substances into a chemical mixture. In other words, its the World's Best Test Tube.

For more information, click the link: http://www.dogonews.com/2012/9/17/levitate-water-harry-potter-style-no-wand-or-spell-needed

Mammoths: Coming Soon to Your Planet!

Picture of scientists doing stuff to a mammoth carcass

Since the time of Jurassic Park, people have found it mind-boggling that we can reintroduce a species to the planet. Now, as you read this sentence with in the two weeks or so of me posting this, scientists are combining cells and Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid to try and make the first mammoth egg cell the world has seen within the last few (thousand) years. 

How To Get A Mammoth Egg Cell (Theoretical So Far)

Need:

Bunch of science tools and test tubes, etc..

1 living mammoth cell (Recently found 100m under solid ice, so well preserved it still has fatty tissue, hair, and bone marrow-conveniently)

Steps:

Step 1: Check to see if cells are - infact - living.

Step 2: Extract living cell's Nuclei

Step 3: Extract DNA from an elephant egg cell; elephants being the closest relative to the mammoth.

Step 4: Place mammoth genes into the elephant egg cell.

Step 5: Put egg cell back in elephant and let a male elephant do his stuff

Step 6: Have the elephant give birth to a mammoth (like a human giving birth to a chimp)

Step 7: Success! You now have a mammoth!

There are some factors which make the birth unlikely eg: the mother rejects the egg/the cells are too dead/it just simply doesn't work. People in charge of the project aren't even 100% sure what they are going to do with another species. Either way, the planet might just change in a few years. 

Link to site: http://www.dogonews.com/2012/9/15/perfectly-preserved-wooly-mammoth-provides-new-hope-of-resurrecting-the-mighty-mammal/page/4

My Favorite Element: Titanium

Name: Titanium
Latin Name: Ti
Atomic Number: 22
Atomic Weight: 47.87

The element of titanium was discovered in 1791 in Cornwall by William Gregor (1761-1817) and named after Titans of Greek mythology (Titan meaning first-sons of Earth). It is naturally found in mineral deposites found occasionally in the Earth's crust. It has a high melting temperature of 1660-1670 degrees Celsius and boiling temperature of ~3287 degrees Celsius. It is also as strong (if not stronger) than steel and less than half its weight. It has a low density and high corrosion resistance so it will never rust no matter how long its under water/saltwater. It has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal in the periodic table.

The shape of titanium's crystalline structure is similar to diamond (hexagonal) and is usually alloyed with other metals to improve an aspect(s) of it (e.g: Titanium-Aluminium alloy = lighter). When combined with trace amounts of Ruthenium, Titanium's strength increases by a hundredfold.

Titanium's uses vary but usually appear in things needing a light, strong material. Titanium is used in diving watches, regulators, normal watches, robotics, electronics, bikes, wires, camera cases, jewellery, building materials, springs, cups, pens, pans, glasses, screw drivers, telescopes, handcuffs, oddly shaped computer mouses, engines, shavers, knifes, welding masks, "money clips", cutlery, nuts, bolts, wrenches, and A LOT more. Titanium alloy is commonly used in aerospace facilities and on satellites.

The reason Titanium is my favorite element is because of it's strength and durability which makes it applicable to any situation while looking a bit like an Apple product. I also like how even though its quite expensive (40$ per pound), it's worth how long it will last and how any Titanium product you use can just be cleaned every once and then its ready to use again. I have a diving regulator which my dad gave to me and he's used it for 10 years and it still works fine. The Iron Man suit from Iron Man is made of Titanium alloy and the American Army developed the safest bullet proof vest made of - you guessed it - Titanium!

Science Essay On Earthquake Early Warning Systems

Earthquakes are quite literally quaking of the earth. This has happened over thousands of years and people in the past have thought of many different ways this is caused. When tectonic plates move, giant plates of rock push and pull and slide and overlap; this is where friction and compression and pressure increase until it is released. This releases all the energy contained. Now, since waves are the most efficient way energy goes from point A (disturbance) to point B (any other medium of matter), a wave is how the energy will travel. The wave we are talking about is a mechanical wave, so it can only travel along a medium (basically solids, liquids and gasses). Now, in this situation the plates are transforming (like rubbing hands together) and the jolt sends out a longitudinal wave quickly followed by a transverse wave, since longitudinal waves are quicker than transverse. When the energy enters a building (buildings are a medium), it vibrates because all that movement energy is being forced into something barely containing the energy inside. The energy leaves the building into the air (air is also a medium). If the building was strong enough or flexible enough, it will survive the energy entering and leaving. If not, the energy reduces the building to rubble. This is because the energy is pure movement energy, and it comes from a large source: the Earth’s plates.

Now, as well as knowing what caused them and where, they wanted to know how to stop earthquakes from destroying their homes or at least getting a heads up before everything they had was destroyed. Over years, people devised many methods such as the frogs in a circle with their mouths open to catch a golden sphere from a dragon’s mouth. The way this would work is a wave came from a direction and the wave movement caused the golden sphere to fall and land in one of the frogs’ mouths. The frog that had the sphere showed which way the first wave came from and then safety procedures built off that. This was quite efficient.

The next step would be to locate the earthquake. To do this, they needed to find how powerful the disturbance was from at least 3 different locations. A disturbance is where matter is disturbed and this causes waves from friction, compression and rarefaction. To help locate the disturbance, scientists measure the frequency of the waves caused by the disturbance. They can find the speed of the wave based on frequency, wavelength, and amplitude. After finding the speed, they can tell how far away an earthquake was by how long the wave took to get from the initial disturbance to one of 3 locations. After getting the general distance for each point, scientists get a map of the area including all three locations, and draw circles (the centre being one of the 3 locations) representing the distance of the disturbance in all possible ways. Where all three circle edges overlap in one spot, that shows just where the disturbance happened.

           

The following step to safety was to create a way to either get the people aware and away from anything possible of collapsing, or to build things designed to withstand an earthquake. While some of this is done, a major part of the system (monetary) wants people to buy new stuff which has a “low life time” so you can buy more. This can lead to badly made buildings that look nice but will collapse as soon as look at you or just badly made buildings. Since option number one looked better (and more profitable with all the “buy more earthquake detector kits which will last 3 days before getting boring”), the scientists started designing systems which would warn everyone of an earthquake (and potentially monitor people’s every move) and send off large annoying alarms blaring in everyone’s ear telling them “GET A MOVE ON SLOW POKE OR YOU DIE!”.

One system used is the Quake Guard, and it is used by several countries that lie either right next to or on top of a fault line; such as Japan, Taiwan and Mexico. Quake Guard is an automated system which basically turns a country into a giant nervous system complete with automated brain. When a nerve ending (earthquake detector) receives a painful hit (earthquake) it sends an alarm of sound and electrical signals (literal giant blaring alarms and equally blary light) through the nervous system(wire system) and ensuring the automated computer (brain) does what it needs to do (tell everyone to RUN [not what the human body does]). The Quake Guard also sends out a message to everyone in the country via internet/phone/TV (sort of creepy how they have all phone numbers and email addresses). This system is one of many used around the world. It might save your life one day.

DIY Electro-Magnetism

Guiding Question: How does the size of the nail and number of coils affect the magnetic force of the nail?

Hypothesis: The increased amount of coils will result in a stronger magnet because the copper wire is a conductor.

Variables:

·        Control: Same base components e.g. battery and conductor (copper wire)

·        Manipulated: Length of nail, number of coils, and distance between each coil.

Exploration:

·        Materials:

1.     D-1.5 volt Batteries

2.     Copper wire

3.     Different sized nails (iron, not the ones on your fingers made of keratin).

·        Procedure:

1.     Get a medium sized nail (in comparison to all other nails you have) and wrap copper wire around it so it creates 5 coils on the entire nail. Get the ends of the coil from both sides of the nail and attach each end to the positive side and the negative side to make a circuit.

2.     Test to see if the circuit is complete by testing the electro-magnet on the metal object. If the object is attracted to the electro-magnet, the circuit is complete. If not, check the circuit again.

3.     When you get the electro-magnet working, test to see how quickly the magnet attracts the metal object and how solidly it holds on to the magnet.

4.     Write observations in the table below. Then try the same tests with different variables.

		Small Nail	Large Nail	Circular Nail (Optional)
5 Coils		3 Large nails	3 Large nails
10 Coils		5 Large nails	6 large nails
15 Coils		6 Large nails	9 Large nails

                            

5.     Make a graph based on the table to help with your analysis.

6.     Copy/Paste graph on No. 7

7.     :

Analysis: Based on the graph and table, what can you say about different variables and how they affected the electro-magnet’s power and strength? What could you do to make the electro-magnet more efficient/strong/quick? And is your hypothesis correct?

I can say by the chart that the larger nail gave off a stronger magnetic pull, while the shorter nail gave a slightly weaker magnetic pull. Also, the amount of coils strongly affected the strength of the electromagnet. The more coils, the more paperclips the magnet could pick up. A hypothetical theory I have for the large nail is every 5 coils = 3 more paperclips pulled up. To do this though, the power would have to be a constant charge, giving off constant power.
Conclusion:

My hypothesis was correct; the amount of coils did increase the strength of the magnet. The size of the nail did affect the strength; the larger nail made the magnet stronger. This means the larger the nail, the stronger the magnet. The amount of coils increased the strength of the magnet when there were more coils. 
Further Inquiry:

A further inquiry would be to make an even stronger magnet to pick up paperclips or even something stronger. I would do this by getting a larger nail and adding around 30 coils to make it super strong. Then I would get 2 or maybe even 3 D batteries to power the electro-magnet. All people who view my blog can try this at home, but with an adult since it can get very hot with wires.