4-22-15 Why is a bacteria living and a virus is not? Viruses are considered non-living but bacteria is considered living organisms because viruses require host for their replication but that is not the case with bacteria. A virus is an ultra microscopic, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals. Bacteria are unicellular organisms that are either spherical, spiral, or rod shaped. Also a a virus doesn't show any of the following characteristics of life:
Reproduction
Movement
Communication
Changes as the environment does
Made up of cells
Homeostasis
Energy/Metabolism
Growth/Development
So by the rules of science a virus cannot be a living thing.
4-22-15 The Curse Of The Mummy
In history this week we have been learning about Mesopotamia, and there is this one topic that really interests me, mummies. I did some research and found this thing called the Curse Of The Mummy, and decided to do a wiki on it.It all started in 1923 when King Tutankhamen was discovered by a man by the name of Howard Carter. Today everybody has heard about the young boy, King Tut and his treasures that have toured the globe. Multiple books have been publishedrd of the young boy King Tut and his treasures have toured the globe. Many books have been published and many movies produced. Carter's contributor of the excavation, Lord Carnarvon, had entered the tomb with Carter.
The tomb was nearly intact and had never been broken into. They were the first to enter since it was sealed in antiquity. What happened several weeks afterwards was the following, Lord Carnarvon got a mosquito bite that became infected and this led to pneumonia which he died from. At the time of his death there was a complete black-out in Cairo and Carnavon's dog in far away England started howling at that very moment. This story was spread all over the world and the interest in the "Curse of the Pharaohs" was rekindled. Today, many people probably think there was a curse on the tomb of King Tutankhaumum and that most of the people who entered the tomb died weird deaths. However this is actually not true, What are the facts?
Lord Carnavon had very poor health Lord Carnavon was in poor health for many years before he arrived in Egypt and entered the tomb. A mosquito bite that he had gotten had become infected and because of his poor health it led to pneumonia and he died from this. The occurrence of the lights going out in Cairo was also reported but this was a common occurrence, even today. The newspapers published the text of the supposed curse: "Death shall come on swift wings to him that touch the tomb of a pharaoh". Actually, Tutankhamum's curse was a misunderstanding of a protective spell inscribed on a magic brick from the tomb. Four magic bricks were found in the tomb in niches at the cardinal directions to form a defensive perimeter and support. There was never a curse that was found written in the tomb of Tutankhamen. The curse story was spread by news reporters and others who wanted to make a sensational story regarding Caravan's death.
What about the others that entered the tomb? What happened to them if there was a curse?
At the opening of the tomb, 26 people were present and Only 6 died within 10 years. At the opening of the sarcophagus, there were 22 people present and Only 2 died within 10 years. At the unwrapping of the mummy, 10 people were present and None died within 10 years. In fact the Doctor who performed the autopsy on King Tut's mummy lived for another 20 years. What about Howard Carter who was the first to enter the tomb in 1923. He died 16 years later in 1939.
Viruses are considered non-living but bacteria is considered living organisms because viruses require host for their replication but that is not the case with bacteria. A virus is an ultra microscopic, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals. Bacteria are unicellular organisms that are either spherical, spiral, or rod shaped. Also a a virus doesn't show any of the following characteristics of life:
- Reproduction
- Movement
- Communication
- Changes as the environment does
- Made up of cells
- Homeostasis
- Energy/Metabolism
- Growth/Development
So by the rules of science a virus cannot be a living thing.4-22-15 The Curse Of The Mummy
In history this week we have been learning about Mesopotamia, and there is this one topic that really interests me, mummies. I did some research and found this thing called the Curse Of The Mummy, and decided to do a wiki on it.It all started in 1923 when King Tutankhamen was discovered by a man by the name of Howard Carter. Today everybody has heard about the young boy, King Tut and his treasures that have toured the globe. Multiple books have been published rd of the young boy King Tut and his treasures have toured the globe. Many books have been published and many movies produced. Carter's contributor of the excavation, Lord Carnarvon, had entered the tomb with Carter.
The tomb was nearly intact and had never been broken into. They were the first to enter since it was sealed in antiquity. What happened several weeks afterwards was the following, Lord Carnarvon got a mosquito bite that became infected and this led to pneumonia which he died from. At the time of his death there was a complete black-out in Cairo and Carnavon's dog in far away England started howling at that very moment. This story was spread all over the world and the interest in the "Curse of the Pharaohs" was rekindled. Today, many people probably think there was a curse on the tomb of King Tutankhaumum and that most of the people who entered the tomb died weird deaths. However this is actually not true, What are the facts?
Lord Carnavon had very poor health Lord Carnavon was in poor health for many years before he arrived in Egypt and entered the tomb. A mosquito bite that he had gotten had become infected and because of his poor health it led to pneumonia and he died from this. The occurrence of the lights going out in Cairo was also reported but this was a common occurrence, even today. The newspapers published the text of the supposed curse: "Death shall come on swift wings to him that touch the tomb of a pharaoh". Actually, Tutankhamum's curse was a misunderstanding of a protective spell inscribed on a magic brick from the tomb. Four magic bricks were found in the tomb in niches at the cardinal directions to form a defensive perimeter and support. There was never a curse that was found written in the tomb of Tutankhamen. The curse story was spread by news reporters and others who wanted to make a sensational story regarding Caravan's death.
What about the others that entered the tomb? What happened to them if there was a curse?
At the opening of the tomb, 26 people were present and Only 6 died within 10 years. At the opening of the sarcophagus, there were 22 people present and Only 2 died within 10 years. At the unwrapping of the mummy, 10 people were present and None died within 10 years. In fact the Doctor who performed the autopsy on King Tut's mummy lived for another 20 years. What about Howard Carter who was the first to enter the tomb in 1923. He died 16 years later in 1939.