HOW HIGH IS THE OCEAN?

A well known Irving Berlin song asks "How Deep Is The Ocean?" However, more recently, scientists have been singing a different tune: "How High Is The Ocean?"

A recent report states that computations of global sea-level increases in the period 1900 to 1990 have been over-estimated by as much as 30%.* That could be good news. However, since 1990, according to the report, it is estimated that sea levels significantly have accelerated, creating fresh concerns. That is not so good news.

According to the report, there may be several possible causes for the recent sea level increases, including global warming, changes in patterns of ocean currents, and melting of ice sheets in Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctica.

Part of the challenge in attempting to more accurately measure global sea level changes is selection of measurement models and methodology. One cannot sail the oceans with a mammoth yardstick. Generally, it seems that reliance has been placed on records from regional ocean tide gauges, which then are averaged. However, the report asserts, such simple averages are not accurate. Therefore, new estimates have been developed using modeling of the physics behind sea level "finger prints", using simulation and statistical methods.

Perhaps another cause of ocean level increases has been overlooked: all the trash that is polluting the seas. According to another report, it is estimated that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of waste plastic floating on the oceans, weighing 270,000 metric tons.** The smallest pieces of plastic are said to sink or become eaten by fish and other sea creatures.

Maybe it is time for a new ballad: "How Trashed Is The Ocean?"

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* Reuell, "Sea Level Correction", Harvard Gazette,
January 20, 2015

** "The Trash Man", Science News,January 24,2015,p.4

TENSION

News media tend to report frequent instances of tension in the world--whether tension between countries or political groups or in businesses, schools or even families. Such tension is not necessarily beneficial or good.

There is tension in water, too--a physical phenomenon called "surface tension." Because water molecules are more attractive to each other than to other molecules. water molecules are forced inward so as to contract water surfaces.

Surface tension enables me to carry my morning full cup of coffee from the kitchen to another room without disaster to flooring and furniture and causing serious spousal tension. Other examples of surface tension include beading of rain drops on leaves, slow drops of water from a leaky faucet that should have been repaired long ago, and the ability of insects literally to walk on a pond surface util grabbed by a frog or a fish.

Now, Yale engineers have discovered that surface tension of a liquid can strengthen a solid.* Ordinarily, substituting some liquid particles for particles of a solid can be expected to weaken the solid. However, researchers have discovered that, if the embedded liquid drops are sufficiently small, their surface tension creates a stiffness in the liquid that makes the solid more strong. Using silicone as a solid, the embedded liquid made it up to 30% stronger, it was reported.

Apparently, size does matter in the case of surface tension--the smaller the better.

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*McCray, "Engineers Use Liquid Drops To
Make Solids Stiffer", Yale News,
December 15, 2014.

CHOCOLATE AND WATER

Who can resist chocolate, particularly when it may be beneficial for health! For example, according to one website, "There have been many studies linking cocoa and dark chocolate with health benefits. Cocoa and chocolate contain a large amount of antioxidants (flavonoids). Cocoa and dark chocolate may keep high blood pressure down and reduce the blood's ability to clot, thus the risk of stroke and heart attacks may be reduced."*

Now, a recently reported study of adults ages 50-69 suggests that high doses of cocoa flavanols (antioxidants) increased blood flow to the portion of the brain (hippocampus) associated with learning and memory. Enhancement of cognition by munching chocolates may be helpful to aging baby boomers. At the very least, perhaps chocolate can teach old dogs new tricks.

As discussed in several prior postings, it is well established that drinking adequate amounts of water has substantial health benefits. So, sweetening the palate with some chocolate brain food, followed by a cool glass of water, and both your body and your mind may thank you--along with those pesky taste buds.

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*www.cacaoweb.net
**"Cocoa Antioxidant Sweetens Cognition in
Elderly",Science News, December 27,2014,p.5