A Growing Presence on the Farm: Robots
In the article, a growing presence on the farm: Robots by Knvul Sheikh reveals that a new generation of self-sufficient robots is improving plant breeders to develop the crops of tomorrow. The robot defined as TerraSentia bent by Girsh Chowdhary, a souped-up version of a lawnmower, has wheels and high-resolution cameras on each side. This robot is in a much similar way of a self-driving car to examine the surroundings, and thousands of lasers to scan the environment surrounding its-self. To help the agronomists to breed more desirable crops this robot can represent the portrait of a field. For example the size of the plants, the health condition, and the quality of each corn plant to estimate the production of each corn plant at the end of the season. Moreover, this robot can potentially cut in half the time required to breed a new cultivar. TerraSentia can move less than one mile an hour and recognize the symptoms of the disease of plants. Additionally, to operate, the TerraSentia farmers don’t even need expertise either.
However, EarthSense is working on camera technology to ultimately add the robot’s speed. Furthermore, TerraSentia can’t have trips in the muddy soil. Because its wheels get stuck in the mud or over the branches which makes debris. Therefore, it requires a user to walk-behinds. By trains, TerraSentia’s situation will get improve by next year.
A growing presence on the farm: Robots address the agronomists to breed convenient crops and end of the season getting a sufficient quality of the product by the help of TerraSentia. I think TerraSentia will be super convenient for the breeders. Because this robot would be able to scan its environment to notify the farmers about the current situation of the plants and the requirements of the plant. “It’s going to measure the height of each plant,” (Dr. Chowdhary 2020). There are more guidance farmers can get, for example estimating the grain they will get, getting symptoms of the disease. The article “captures slight changes in pixels to measure the plants’ leaf-area index and recognize signs of disease” (Sheikh, 2020 p. 3). Compared to TerraSentia to other robots that have been invented, it is much more convenient with less weight and data gathering. “A robot named Oz is just three feet long and weighs roughly 300 pounds. ….. The TerraSntia is …. 12.5 inches wide and roughly the same height, the 30- pound robot fits well between rows of various crops’ ‘ (Sheikh, 2020 p. 1-2). Therefore, even though TerraSentia is a bit slow but the positivity is more beneficial for the farmer than the negativity, and with the help of this robot the agriculture industry can improve. Accordingly, TerraSentia wouldn’t be convenient for the farmers.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/science/farm-agriculture-robots.html
Grizzly Bear Death Rates Are Climbing
In the article, grizzly bear death rates are climbing by Jim Robbins emphasized that because of transportation such as trains, cars, and poaching are making grizzlies’ futures in fatalities. In the Rocky Mountains in northern Montana, the train’s journey has been threatening the grizzly bears’ lives. Those trains have been taking away grizzlies’ lives. Last year a mother and her 2 babies were killed by a train accident. In 2018, in the North Continental Divide Ecosystem, trains sneak up 51 grizzly bears’ lives. And in 2017 29 bears were abolished. Grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species in 1975. Because of the population of grizzly bears, it has come to 1,051 to 350-400.
However, some experts argue that even though grizzly bear’s death rates are higher they are not treated to the species. Because these species are sustainable and grizzly bears population is still growing. Others say if the death rates increase it will have a long-term effect. And no one wants grizzly bears to get struck by the trains. Therefore, Railway Ecology is trying to improve the fast-moving trains. Because these cause serious damage to the grizzly bears. Therefore, a researcher at the University of Alberta has been testing a warning device that will give a warning that the train is approaching.
What stood out to me most about the article Grizzly Bear Death Rates Are Climbing is, the “ecological traps” which is the transportation condition should get better to save the grizzly bear’s lives. Even though “all the data we collect tells us the population is still growing and there are way more bears on the landscape” (Costello, 2020) however, the death rate of a grizzly bear is increasing and the population is decreasing. “The population of grizzly bears has come roaring back to a high of 1,051 from a low of about 350 to 400” (Robbins, 2020 p. 1). And if the death rates continue, “it could affect the bear’s long term future” (Robbins, 2020 p. 1). In the ecosystem, all species depend on other species. If one species become extinct it’s going to affect the whole ecosystem. Even though if the grizzly bears are not in threatened species list, a mother should not be lost her cubs or cubs shouldn’t be lost their mom for no reason. They are important for nature and the environment. Therefore, rather than killing bears by train, it’s more advantageous to improve the railway and save animal lives for the ecosystem. Overall it makes me feel stable that “ a researcher at the University of Alberta, has been testing a warning device that sets off an alarm when the vibration from an approaching train is detected” (Robbins, 2020).
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/science/grizzly-bears-deaths.html
Responds
To Fatima,
The article “you didn’t touch these jellyfish, but they can sting you with tiny grenades” was really interesting and informative the way you presented it. I like your beginning when you said “probably you heard of how” this caught my attention. Based on the information that you provided, id the jellyfish gets disturbed it releases tiny strings cells, which destroy if anything comes to those jellyfish paths. I also didn’t know there can be any species that can become poisoned or can release poison from their cells when they saw an enemy. I also like your opinion about jellyfish and you want to see yourself on jellyfish position how they release the mucus. The second article that you talked about is “Ghost DNA hints Africa’s missing ancient humans”. This is very interesting and uncommon, they found ghost DNA in the genomes from living people from West Africa. And the geneticists think that the ghost archaic population split millions of years ago. Lastly, I agree with in your response you stated that “we humans are carrying a small amount of the DNA from the past”.
To Amanda,
I found your articles “Pangolins are suspected as a potential coronavirus” and 2019 was then second the hottest year ever, closing out the warmest decade” very interesting because those articles talked about the most recent relevant topic. There are 2 species bats and pangolins which cause the main reason for coronavirus. By eating those two species, coronavirus spread rapidly. I like in your response you mentioned that the connection of “Pangolins to bats” is a prediction that was made with logical thinking. Your second article was most interesting to me. Because it talked about 2019 was the 2nd warmest year. The global average was 1-degree Celcius higher than the average. I agree with this that global warming affects the whole world even though we directly experience it when we are the ones who cause it.
