Dark Energy: The Mystery of This Millennium :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Dark Energy: The Mystery of This Millennium Billions of years ago, the universe was nothing but an infinitesimally small particle. Then, in less time than the blink of an eye, the universe expanded and increased in size by a factor of 1050. Expansion eventually began to slow down, allowing galaxies, star clusters, and so on, to form. Theoretically, expansion should still be slowing down; but to the contrary, expansion is in fact accelerating (10). Some scientists theorize that an unknown force, called Dark Energy, may be the cause of this accelerated expansion, while others disagree. For some time, exploding stars, or supernovas, were used as a "cosmic measuring stick" (4). That is, scientists used these supernovas to calculate the age of the universe. In 1998, two groups of astronomers surveyed supernovas in very distant galaxies. These supernovas were much dimmer than expected to be, and calculations proved that the stars were over ten billion light years away, much farther away than they should be had the universe been expanding at a slowing rate, or even a constant rate, as previously theorized (5). This discovery proved that the cosmos are not expanding at a slowing or a constant rate, but instead they are expanding at an accelerated rate (4). Since this discovery, scientists have been trying to uncover what it is that accounts for this accelerated expansion. Scientists have calculated the density of the cosmos, and they have also calculated the total mass of all visible galaxies. However, the galaxies make up less than one-third of the density needed to satisfy the current calculations of the early universe (2). Simple logic tells us that there must be something else in the universe, with some kind of mass, which accounts for over two-thirds of the density of the cosmos. The new theory incorporates a different force called Dark Energy. At first, scientists did not know how Dark Energy works or what it is physically made up of. Some proposed ideas of Dark Energy are: a cosmic field associated with inflation, a low-energy field called "quintessence," and the cosmological constant, or a negative pressure, as suggested by Albert Einstein (7). In July of 2003, scientists confirmed that Dark Energy exists, but they still cannot truly explain it (6). They do know that Dark Energy is different from every other kind of energy found. Some say it is a negative gravity (1), while others say that it does not necessarily act opposite to gravity, but, instead, it acts more like a negative pressure (5).

What Impact did Social and Economic change have upon Germany, 1870 – 1914?

The unification of Germany in 1871 acted as a catalyst for industry that enabled a period of rapid growth and change. This growth in industry changed Germany forever socially and economically and it was this change that was to make Germany a great nation, even rivalling Britain itself by 1890. As soon as the Reich was established in 1871, the German economy took off. Germany possessed huge mineral wealth and this was manipulated to build an incredibly strong economy. Germany possessed areas such as Alsace-Lorraine that contained Europe's largest source of iron ore that was essential to its growing steel industries. In fact Germany was totally independent due to the abundance of all resources that were necessary for an industry at the time. Germany was developing industrially at an incredibly rapid rate and this is shown through its outputs (fig. 1). However it was not until later that Germany began to found colonies that showed exactly how powerful it had become. Another resource Germany possessed was manpower and plenty of it (fig. 2). In 1870 Germany's total population was around forty one million, already nine million more than Britain. This total however increased yet further and by 1890 Germany had an even larger population of forty nine million. This huge population provided an incredibly large labour force that could be drawn from as industry continued to grow. The industrialists themselves became very wealthy as industrialisation took hold of Germany. Labour was cheap and so were the raw materials lending to ever increasing profits that rivalled the wealth of the Junkers. Unlike the Junkers however the industrialists did not have any political power and this was what caused future problems. In 1875 there were eight German cartels however as the industrial expansion began to slow and times became ever harder the numbers began to increase. In 1885 Germany boasted ninety such cartels and two hundred and ten just five years later! These cartels began to exercise enormous influence over the development of the Reich and they began to make demands for things such as protective tariffs and later for naval and colonial development. This is where the industrialists began to taste power and the cartels enabled politically minded individuals a chance to have an influence over Germany's ruling and development however minor. This was all the power someone from the middle class could possess due to Germany's static class system. Germany was a conservative state and so naturally change was frowned upon. What remained of Germany's past during the industrialisation was that of the Junkers political monopoly. Bismarck himself was a Junker and one of his main political aims was to maintain the superiority of this upper class. The Junkers also continued to obtain great wealth due to their hold over agriculture. Without the food stuffs that the Junkers provided, Germany would not have been able to grow in the manner that it had. As well as industrialisation, urbanisation was taking place at the same time as Germany's population was moving from rural areas to cities in search of employment. These people that came in search of work became known as the working class, an entirely new level of German society. It was the industrialists however who actively attempted to draw people from the countryside into the cities. Drawing such large numbers into the cities however created problems such as over crowding which in turn created even more problems such as chronic disease epidemics. As more and more people were drawn to the cities the working class itself grew and as it grew so did it's political influence. People within the class began to think of ways to improve their lives and began asking for better conditions such as better accommodation and wages. If managed badly the working class could easily revolt and cause untold problems for the government so the authorities began to pay ever more attention to the growing voice of the working class. Both regional and religious differences were perpetuated within the new German State meaning Germany at this time was not totally unified. Each region had its differences. These differences were normally minor in nature however some were greater than others were such as language or religion. The southern areas of Germany were Catholic and the Protestant members refused to totally collaborate with them. This led to political and social arguments that could not easily be resolved. The authorities had to watch how tensions rose and fell between both sides so as to avert any possible serious problems that may have arisen. At this time industrialists began to make demands for expansion within the navy and the founding of colonies. This would create even more trade because of a captive market that only German industry would be involved in. By obtaining naval contracts and supplying the colonies themselves a company could make a lot of profit. However at this time, countries such as Britain and France had taken all the colonies of worth. The only way Germany would gain such useful assets would be to take them by force from their custodians. This action could easily lead to war however and so called for a more aggressive foreign policy that in the future would contribute to Germany's involvement in world war one. In conclusion the social and economic changes had a massive effect on Germany. Germany began to change into a whole new place and towards the end of the period it also began to develop it's own identity. Although some problems arose none were too serious as to stop Germany becoming a great nation. The leadership Bismarck supplied enabled Germany to pass through troubled times with ease and differences began to become less of an issue as time went on. However it is ironic that while Bismarck suspected Catholics and Socialists of trying to destroy Germany, it was to be the demands of the industrialists and financiers that led to the downfall of his conservative system.

Interactive Learning Essay

E-Learning reaches beyond traditional face-to-face classroom learning environments by combining teaching and the Internet so students have the option of learning in a different modality. E-Learning uses technological devices and computer software applications to deliver the curriculum. The instructor uses the Internet to deliver the curriculum over methods and applications like Web-based training (WBT), computer-based training (CBT), synchronous, and asynchronous classroom modalities, and digital delivery. Students learn through self-paced or instructor-led delivery. E-Learning Purposes and Characteristics The purpose of e-Learning is combining technology and communication to provide an alternate method for students to earn a degree without physically attending a traditional classroom setting or academic institution). E-Learning is available for academic progress from grade school through doctoral degrees. E-Learning teaches sequentially so student learning builds upon the previous curriculum. E-Learning makes learning fun for the students by varying the curriculum. Instructors combine imagery and content that creates student attention and engages interaction so students retain the material . Students receive immediate feedback so they can correct assumptions and misunderstandings. E-Learning encourages students interact with each other by using chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail, and discussion forums to communicate with other students and the e-Learning instructor). E-Learning Benefits E-Learning easily accommodates numerous delivery and learning styles globally. Students have convenience and flexibility within the e-Learning modality that traditional classrooms lack). Students have several options to select among the different e-Learning modalities thereby creating a student-centric learning environment catering to his or her needs urriculum and supporting classroom materials through the Internet. Flex-net classes combine online and face-to-face instruction. Ease of location and convenience is crucial to e-Learning students because the only requirement to attend class is a computer with Internet accessibility and proper hardware and software applications Students can attend class anywhere in the  world that has access to the Internet. E-Learning allows students the ability to work full-time, part-time, or stay-at-home while earning a degree. E-Learning reduces expenses for students because they do not have to pay for gas, parking, or vehicle maintenance Another convenience factor is the pace of the e-Learning classes. Students attend class by setting their own pace of learning. The self-directed learning allows students to complete and submit assignments within the deadlines while maintaining an appropriate comfort level so to reduce unnecessary stress E-Learning Challenges Some of the challenges for e-Learning students are the same as the benefits. These challenges include flexibility, the lack of a traditional classroom, self-motivation, and accountability. Students need a computer with proper hardware, software, and Internet accessibility connections to attend e-Learning courses . They also need a working knowledge of the computer and intermediate to advanced computer skills. Students need self-discipline, time management skills, and good study habits to attend an e-Learning class or they may fail (E-Learning, 2011). Students also needing face-to-face interactions may find that e-Learning is not beneficial because of the lack of communication and interpersonal skills. They cannot work alone because of a lack of self-motivation. Another challenge is the global aspect, as some students may believe this hinders networking opportunities because of professional applications E-Learning Instructional Methods Instructional methods to use within e-Learning include incorporating technology, teaching, and interactive learning specific to the audience into each lesson plan curriculum. The lesson plan needs course related objectives, organized material, and easy navigation. The course should not exceed one hour of CBT . Instructional designers often create a storyboard to organize materials and include student activities like games into the lesson plan. Storyboards allow the designer a visual representation of the web pages of the curriculum so to identify missing content or kinks easily Once the designer creates the storyboard or outline, the presentation can  vary by adding text, audio, video clips, and animation to help students retain information visually and orally . The incorporation of visual and oral content must reflect the subject matter into the context use and expand on existing knowledge levels among the students Quizzes, games, and discussions help students use critical thinking skills to identify the correct response by combining visual representations with content Interactions with different outcomes allow the designer to incorporate web-based games. Students watch a video game and select the appropriate animated action response as a best solution to the learning they receive. These selections create a final game scenario that the instructor grades from correct moves The immediate grade and feedback allow the student to learn and correct mistakes. Conclusion E-Learning eliminates the boundaries of traditional classroom learning to reach a global environment. E-Learning combines teaching, communication, and the Internet so students enjoy learning and engage within classroom activities . Students decide which e-Learning platform to attend based on their learning preferences. Instructors vary the content and incorporate text, video, animation, and audio so students retain content through visual and oral methods The most popular benefits to e-Learning include a globally diverse student body, convenience, flexibility, self-motivation, and self-paced curriculum). The challenges include needing a computer with appropriate Internet accessibility, a working knowledge of the computer, solid study habits, self-discipline, and accountability. The student may fail the course without possessing these items and traits.

Parent-Child Relationship Essay

The relationship between parents and their children is perhaps one of the most important relationships among human beings. The relationship between parents and their children can determine the personal growth of children as it can likewise influence the behavioral adjustments needed on the part of parents in order to meet the emotional needs of their children. Max Apple’s â€Å"Bridging† highlights how fathers oftentimes desire to fill the void left after the death of their wives just to allow their children to recover from the loss and have their lives return to normal. Chapter Six of Art Spiegelman’s Maus offers a glimpse of how children tend to draw hatred towards their fathers for attempting to erase the memories of their mothers. Lastly, Jing-mei Woo’s â€Å"Two Kinds† in The Joy Luck Club features the story of her childhood under the pressure of her mother to chase the American Dream. All of these stories emphasize the relationship between parents and their children and its effects on the personal development of children and the struggles that parents have to face in raising their children. In â€Å"Bridging,† Max Apple tells the story of a widowed father who struggles to persuade her daughter, Jessica, to trust the world after the death of her mother. In an attempt to bring her daughter back to her original emotional state, her father tries to convince her to join the Girl Scouts. However, this first step eventually fails and her father decides to join the Girl Scouts as an assistant leader, hoping that his decision is a good starting point to bring back her daughter’s trust in the world. The story is essentially about how a widowed father is given the chance to accept the necessarily â€Å"changed† relationship with his daughter. Apple’s â€Å"Bridging† explores the parent-child relationship theme primarily from the angle of having to survive a family tragedy for the rest of their lives. Apparently, the father faces the task of serving both as the father and the mother of his daughter. It is perhaps a huge task since he has to at least persuade his daughter that he can also play a motherly image in the hopes of patching up the holes in their family left after the death of his wife. Without a mother, his daughter is deprived of the chance to grow-up under the guidance of two parents. That being the case, there is reason to believe that the father is forced by the circumstances to live-up to the expectations of his 9-year-old daughter, which is exactly why he tried to join the Girl Scouts as an assistant leader. The difficulties of the father in the story, or of any father for that matter, are perhaps more intricate if the daughter is closer to her mother than her father. The father will certainly encounter the trouble of trying to fit the motherly needs of the daughter no matter the costs are. In Chapter 6 of Art Spiegelman’s Maus, husband and wife, Vladek and Anja, respectively, are trying to sneak their way back to Sosnowiec. Art’s father recalls his experience together with Anja while trying to escape from the Nazis. One interesting part of the story is when Vladek burned the diaries of Anja after her death. They contained some of the most important memories of Art’s mother and yet, as things turned out, they were no longer available for him to read and learn more about her. Even though Art was growing getting closer to Vladek during Art’s visits to his father, that recollection—the burning of Anja’s diaries—made Art infuriated at his father. It signifies how a father’s child is suffering a great loss at not being able to learn more about his mother, which is made al the more poignant by what Vladek could only remember from the diary: a sentence that says her son would one day be interested in the contents of the diary and read them. Reading the diary of a person is like reliving the life of that person in many ways. Art could have learned more about Anja after reading her diaries and, in turn, learning more about his history and his self. However, the act of burning the diaries is like an act of â€Å"murder† precisely because Vladek destroyed the remaining memories of Anja, turning her into a barely known human being sought by the one person in this world who feels that she is more than everything in life. The predicament between Vladek and Art relays how the act of depriving a child of the memories of her mother can cast a sharp divide in the relationship of a father and his child to the point of calling the father a â€Å"murderer†. In Jing-mei Woo’s â€Å"Two Kinds† in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, two essential themes come into view: the American dream and the tension between mother and daughter in reaching for that dream. The mother, Mrs. Woo, firmly believes that diligence can eventually lead her daughter to reaching the American dream. However, it is apparent that Jing-mei is not interested at all in pursuing that dream. Her disinterest in pursuing the dream that her mother wants her to attain is best summed up in her expression â€Å"[t]hen I wish I wasn’t your daughter. I wish you weren’t my mother† (Woo, p. 142) after finally breaking her emotions for saying what she wanted to say all along, which is that she does not want to be the daughter her mother is hoping her to become. Jing-mei Woo’s differences with her mother rest on the conflict of their personal interests. The fact that her mother wants Jing-mei to realize her potential in claiming the American dream is the main reason of their misunderstandings as mother and daughter. Their case puts emphasis on the relationship strains caused by no less than differences in personal desires. At first, Jing-mei was still able to tolerate her mother’s deep desires for her and she complied with her mother’s requests despite showing lack of enthusiasm. Their Chinese culture apparently shows in the initial sections of the story, highlighting the two kinds of daughters that Chinese mothers may have: â€Å"those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind† (Woo, p. 142). Towards the end of the story, Jing-mei tries to retrace her memories with her deceased mother by playing the piano. Her act shows that no matter how deep the disagreements may be between parents and their children, there will come a time when the child will eventually learn to appreciate the value of what their parents have always wanted for them to achieve. All of the stories share the common theme of parent-child relationships. These stories teach us that the relationship between parents and their children can influence the perception of these children as they grow into adults. Moreover, parents likewise face the task of addressing the emotional needs of their children in order to ensure their welfare. Personal losses and desires of parents to ensure a better future for their children both play a critical role in shaping the harmonious relationship between children and parents. Works Cited Apple, Max. â€Å"Bridging. † Free Agents. Harper & Row, 1984. Spiegelman, Art. Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History. Pantheon, 1986. Woo, Jing-mei. â€Å"Two Kinds. † The Joy Luck Club. Ed. Amy Tan: Penguin, 2006. 142.

What is Action Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

What is Action Research - Essay Example What lies at the core of this research methodology is the use of scientific study and the researcher ensures that the overall intervention is properly backed up by the theoretical considerations. Due to its very nature, action research therefore can have many applications in real life and within organizational set up too. Organizations can easily use action research to find creative and innovative solutions to their most pressing problems and engage various stakeholders to find out solutions which can help organizations to become more efficient and cost effective. Action research can also play significant role in organizational development and employee’s professional life. It can easily be used in various situations by the employees as well as the managers to overcome organizational problems and achieve the required objectives of the organization. Through following a systematic process of action research, individuals as well as organizations can actually solve their real life problems. This paper will discuss as to what action research is, what its various stages are and how it can actually be used in real life by citing different examples. What is Action Research? As mentioned above, action research is also known by different names including participatory research, collaborative research, action learning etc. Most of different names however, are considered as different variations of the same theme. Action research aims to achieve dual objectives of using practical concerns in solving the problems and on the other hand to further the goals of social science also. As such, in action research, researchers not only aim to tackle the system but also collaborate with people related with the system to change in the desired direction. (Mcniff) The critical difference between this type of research and other types of research is the use of scientific study. While conducting action research, researcher has to base assertions on the theoretical consideration and as such most of the time spent by researchers is on perfecting the methodological tools to better suit the situation being investigated. Action research also seems to challenge the social science research which is mostly based upon sampling by adapting a robust process of conducting research. Action research therefore focuses on continuous process of theorizing and collecting data and making inquiry in the midst of new and emerging structures as a result of the steps taken at the various stages of research. (Whitehead and McNiff) Stages of Action Research There are three critical stages of action research which are: Planning This is the stage of preliminary diagnosis and data gathering as research actively engages into gathering of data and planning for finding out what actually the problem is and how to tackle it properly. This is also called the input stages as at this stage it is felt that there is something out of control and organization should share the same with the researchers and consultants to actively participate into the process of finding out what is actually wrong at the given point in time. Feedback by the researcher is also sought at this stage of the action research. Action Stage This stage is also called transformation stage as it is this stage that the actual learning starts to take place. Actions regarding learning processes are undertaken in order to define action steps and do the action planning. This stage is also considered as the changing stage as it is at this stage that the actual change process is initiated. Result Phase This phase is the final phase and is also called the

Greg is a property developer who specialises in building new houses Coursework

Greg is a property developer who specialises in building new houses and flats. His current project is the renovation of a statel - Coursework Example This report seeks to illuminate the weaknesses and strengths of Mr. Greg’s case of suing Sprewfits’ and his quest to receive compensation for damages upon the breaching of the contract terms. Mr. Greg ripped one of the pipes from the plastic and made an observation based on sight. Section 15 clearly states that if items are bought in a large amount or bulk and tests a sample of the item the supplier has to make sure that all the remaining should correspond with the sample1. The act clearly states that the buyer checks a small number and verifies the delivery goods. Mr. Greg rips one off and verifies it out. Apparently it happens to be one of the best pipes. If Mr. Greg would have checked for a couple more others, there is the probability that he would have seen at least one default pipe and reject the goods, but because of the trust in his supplier, one was all it took. In this case, an assumption was correctly made by Mr. Greg. The product looked okay prompting him to sign the delivery report, from which he made an assumption that all the pipes were all correct; in this case, an assumption of reasonableness. 25% of the pipes proved defective; they were either large or bent beyond use and most of them did not go in line with the sample. This does not make the cut under the contract of sale of goods act, by law these pipes have to be compensated even though there is no legal and direct warranty. Mr. Greg can however, have the terms of the contract withdrawn in case one of the parties takes advantage of the terms of the contract. According to the unfair contract terms of 1979, a contract of terms may be rendered useless or the contract withdrawn if one of the parties seems to make a deliberate breach knowing that the contract covers to protect his breach. The law has the power to render the contract powerless with the fact that Sprewfit intentionally delivered wrong goods as per the contract terms. In this case, Mr. Greg may have the contract nullif ied and have the faulty goods replaced with quality ones. Sprewfit is liable for replacement and compensation of the faulty good to Mr. Greg. According to the Unfair contract terms act 1979, subject to section 2 of the negligence of liability2. The act makes it clear that the a person can not be referred to a contract term when he or she intentionally breaches the agreement; and then claim to have the contract restrict him from liability for negligence, in this case it has resulted in a loss and a damage. This act makes Sprewfits responsible for the results of his act of negligence and is entitled to compensate Mr. Greg on the related sections. Mr. Greg describes the kind of pipes he needed to Ajay as 10mill in diameter, 1000 meters in total length and of high temperature resistance. Section 13 (1) provides that where the buyer is sold commodities by description, the goods must be in line with this description, for instance the Harlington v Christopher Hull case. He did not get that , if in any case the supplier had brought the right pipes and they were damaged then it would be considered as negligence on Mr. Greg’

Plato's View of Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Plato's View of Democracy - Essay Example Many people were wondering how the ideal state could come about. It was argued that it could be a democracy, and this 'idealized world,' could, in name exist. Plato doubted this however. Other people caught onto Plato's ideas about the Greek state quickly. They even adopted them for their own philosophies about the world. In fact, "Jews used Plato's myth [about the demiurge in Timaeus] to imagine how the world could have gotten so out of shape when it was God's wisdom that had planned it." (Mack, 1995) Plato was talking not only about democracy, but about the creation of a polis: "Well, then, said I, is not the city you are founding to be a Greek city" (Hamilton, 2005) Plato insisted that Greeks would run a democratic city in a better fashion than barbarians or non-Greeks, and insisted upon this point with some alacrity. "They will not, being Greeks, ravage Greek territory nor burn habitations, and they will not admit that in any city all the population are their enemies, men, women, and children, but will say that only a few at any time are their foes, those, namely, who are to blame for the quarrel." (Hamilton, 2005) Plato insisted that Greeks would not harm their own land if they were to fight for it and, would indeed not pillage the land. "And on all these considerations they will not be willing to lay waste the soil, since the majority are their friends, nor to destroy the houses, but will carry the conflict only to the point of compelling the guilty to do justice by the pressure of the suffering of the innocent." (Hamilton, 2005) Plato considered that it would be an injustice towards Greek countrymen if Greeks were to commit their own savage acts of war on their own country in pursuit of democracy, saying, "if either party... The Plato's View on Democracy The problems Plato had with democracy were that: there was a fake quality about this notion, and that in fact in Greece not all men were equipped to become faciliators of the state; men needed an oligarchic state because no man was an island capable of helping himself; and that a society in which there is a hierarchy avoids justice, and includes a state which would dissolve into a tyranny because people would not know what would be the right thing to do. "While Plato and Aristotle founded their schools, the Academy and the Lyceum, before the beginning of the Hellenistic period, the Epicureans and the Stoics first appeared in the early decades of that period." (Koester, 1995) Plato does have a way of describing events, but he does so in a mentally rigorous process. "When Plato describes the universe [and how ordered a democracy should be], "he does so in almost entirely mythological terms; so too in his many discussions of the nature and destiny of the soul (Phaedo, Gorgias, Phaedrus, Republic, Laws)." (Tarnas, 1991) In that period, not every man was deemed equal in Plato's eyes. "In the middle period dialogues (Phaedo, Symposium, Republic), Plato set out the character of the ideal society and speculated on the nature of true reality as such. Plato had a very narrow view on democracy, and he can’t be blamed for that seeing as how the people of his time were at times unreliable.