Science by Email 22 June 2012

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	22 June 2012
News: Blood test inspired by Harry Potter By Patrick Mahony Testing to determine blood type. Do you know what blood type you have? While everyone’s blood might look the same to the naked eye, there are a number of different types. Researchers from Monash University have invented an innovative way to determine blood type, inspired by the Harry Potter books. Blood can contain antigens. These antigens help the body to recognise which are its own cells and those from somewhere else. Some types of antigens are A, B and the Rh factor. Your blood type depends on which of these antigens you have. Why is blood type important? If a patient is given a blood transfusion that contains antigens they don’t have in their own blood, it can cause serious problems. This means a patient needs to be given either a matching blood type, or at least one that doesn’t contain any antigens different to their own. In emergency situations a patient’s blood type might need to be determined quickly. The Monash University scientists invented a type of ‘bioactive’ paper inspired by Tom Riddle’s diary from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The paper is covered with a chemical that repels water, except for areas spelling out letters and symbols for the blood types. Antibodies are then put onto the appropriate letters. An antibody will react with the corresponding antigen: for example, A antibodies react with A antigens in blood. A blood sample is then dropped onto the paper, mixed with the antibodies, then rinsed. If A antigens are present then the blood cells will clump together, leaving a red A after the paper is rinsed. The same thing goes for B antigens and the Rh factor. The scientists who invented the paper hope that it will lead to faster, cheaper screening of blood, not just for type but for diseases as well. More information Harry Potter inspires easy to read blood test Blood types Australian Red Cross Blood Service Careers link Careers in health
You will need these materials.   While the iron heats up, check the labels on the clothes.   Lay a piece of clothing flat on the ironing board. Use the iron to smooth out the creases. Repeat with a different material.   Try this: Smooth it out Safety:This activity uses a hot iron. Younger readers should ask an adult for assistance. See the CSIRO Education safety page for more information. You will need Iron Ironing board Crumpled clothes What to do Turn on the iron, rest it on its end rather than on the hot plate, then let it heat up. Do not leave the iron unattended. Check the labels on the clothes to make sure it’s safe to iron them. The labels should also tell you what type of material the clothes are made of, and how they should be ironed. Take one piece of clothing and lay it flat on the ironing board. Set the iron to the appropriate settings, as indicated by the clothing label. Use the iron to carefully smooth out the creases. Re-arrange the cloth so you can iron the whole garment. After you’ve finished ironing one piece of clothing, try another one made of a different material. Is it easier to harder to get the creases out? What’s happening? Clothes are made of a variety of materials, including cotton, polyester, nylon and wool. One thing these materials have in common is that they are made of polymers. Polymers are large molecules that consist of small molecules, called monomers, linked together like beads on a necklace. Sometimes other small molecules can attach themselves to two separate polymer chains, linking the chains together. This is called cross-linking. Water is particularly good at cross-linking the polymer chains in some fabrics, such as cotton. The rough and tumble of a washing machine means that polymer chains get jumbled up, and the water links them together to hold them this way. When the water dries, the material stays crumpled. Heat causes the polymer chains to loosen up and become more flexible. Pressing the clothes with a hot iron makes the jumbled polymer chains straighten out and form new links between chains. As the clothes cool, they hold their new, smoother shape. Applications Cross-linking polymers is an important step in manufacturing a number of products. This is because cross-linking changes the physical properties of a polymer, such as its colour, strength, elasticity, or stickiness. For example, natural rubber goes brittle when it gets cold and sticky when it warms up. This limits its uses. By cross-linking the rubber polymer chains with sulfur molecules the end product stays rubbery over a wider range of temperatures. By Patrick Mahony Try another Science by Email activity about cross-linking polymers More information What is a polymer? View the online version Quiz questions 1. Where do nudibranchs live? a) on land, b) in volcanoes, c) in the ocean. 2. Does light behave as a particle or a wave? 3. What is the name given to the table that lists the chemical elements? 4. Which organ is directly affected by a stroke? 5. Why are cane toads dangerous to native wildlife? Did you know? CSIRO and University of Western Australia researcher, Julia Reisser, is making the first map of floating plastics in Australian marine waters. The aim is to use the map to help protect sea turtles. Websites   Read it! Did you feel that earthquake in Victoria this week? Read about the basics of seismology. Do it! Learn about the physics of amusement parks and design your own roller coaster. Elements 2, Saturday 23 June at 9.00 am on Network Ten Join Dr Rob as he leaps about the periodic table and SCOPES out all the science behind some amazing elements: carbon, lithium, copper, fluorine and even plutonium! Next episodes: Thursday 28 June, 4.00 pm: Who does that? Click here to have your own episodes of SCOPE to watch whenever you feel like it! Charges apply. Quiz answers 1. c) in the ocean. Nudibranchs are sea slugs. 2. Light can be thought of as behaving as both a particle and a wave. 3. The periodic table lists the chemical elements. 4. The brain is directly affected by a stroke. 5. Cane toads are toxic – native wildlife may become sick or even die after eating a cane toad. Researchers hope to use the cane toad’s poison against itself to stop its spread. Science by Email is a CSIRO publication. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and bankmecu are proud partners of Science by Email. Editor: Jasmine Leong| Manage your subscription | FAQ

 

 

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