December 18th

Antibiotics of the Future: There are tons of different kinds of bacteria out there, and most of them are vaguely similar to us. When I say this, I don't mean that bacteria have faces and emotions and feelings or anything like that, but I mean that the same theory of survival of the fittest applies to bacteria as well. For bacteria, there are all different sorts of medicines that doctors are creating to fight off against bacteria, so it's only the strongest bacteria which will survive. If survival of the fittest happens for bacteria as well, that means that the bacteria will become tougher, and capable of withstanding current medications. So, doctors have some new ideas on how to make medicine stronger. One way is by using traces of silver in medicine due to silver's microbial properties, meaning that it would be easier to penetrate the outer layer of certain bacteria. Another possible way to improve antibiotics is by enduring that the antibiotic remains in the blood stream, so that the bacteria is killed, and the patient doesn't have to take as many doses. There's also a few new ideas that doctors have which may be effective in killing bacteria. These ideas include confusing the bacteria that are attacking the body, and mapping the bacteria's genome to make antibiotics which could successfully kill the bacteria. But, these new ideas still have to be refined. For instance, the antibiotics that confuse bacteria give patients of getting gastrointestinal problems, or C. difficile, a severe diarrhea which is lethal to its victims. Doctors are creating more efficient ways to make people feel better when they are sick, but doctors still have some refining to do with their techniques so that patients don't get sick from the medical practices. 

December 14th

Audi RS7 Is A True Fair-Weather Friend talks about the 2014 Audi RS7. This is a bright red German sports car which has a fastback roofline, 21-inch forged wheels, and much more. This car is one of the ultimate sports cars out there, starting at $104,900, but it has one main flaw, like many other sports cars is its performance in the cold. When it is cold outside, there is a lack of grip and traction, so when the car is being used on ice, or when the wheels are icy, or even when it is just really cold outside, this car would look silly, due to its lack of grip. When driving this car out in the cold, it is not even half as cool as it is when driving it in normal weather. When the weather is suitable, this car has 560 horsepower, 5700-6600 rpm, a 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, and it takes 11.6 seconds for it to reach the distance of a quarter mile. The driver can also conveniently switch between seven different speeds in the seven speed gearbox, as well as using an eight speed torque converter, which helps when driving the car during a race. This car can shift seamlessly and fast. During sharps turns, this car is also capable of throwing 85% of the engine torque to the back, and 70% to the front. This car is a monster out on the tracks, except for when it's cold and snowy outside.

December 4th

For the Starving, 'Eat Local' isn't an Option talks about how eating local has constantly been a goal for Americans. Everybody stresses eating food from local farmers. But, Americans have never been "local." Ever since colonial America, people have eaten local produce, but alongside the local produce, there are imported goods such as rum, wine, molasses and sugar. So, a US citizen's diet has never been "entirely local." But, due to recent studies, people are finding out that although most people believe it is healthier to eat local foods, it is actually not very effective for the environment, or for the poor. Most long distance food shipments also only contribute a little bit to the environmental impact made on the world from growing food. 25% of America's crop is imported, so no matter how hard we try, it would be difficult to eat a 'local only' diet. And, this idea of eating "local foods' is diverting our attention from world hunger. Although some people live in societies where there is food that it available to everyone, there is also places, where food is not openly available at markets or stores. So, people who are starving due to lack of food are being ignored because of our efforts to turn away from eating imported goods. There are 842 million participants in the United Nations World Food Program , and 827 million people in the program live in developing countries where reasonable amounts of the population are undernourished. If you calculate the amount of money required to help feed just the starving children in the world, it adds up to $3.2 billion. So, Americans should put their minds to helping these starved people out there who do not have food available, instead of trying to eat food that is made locally, because no matter what you eat for dinner, whether it is local or not, it is still going to be dinner, one meal that you eat on one day of your life.