The Light Bulb

            Many believe that the inventor of the incandescent light bulb was the American Thomas Edison. However, it was not, Edison actually used the work from two Torontonians to further develop the light bulb they created. One night in 1873, medical student Henry Woodward and hotel employee Matthew Evans were playing around with a battery and an induction coil and noticed a spark. This was a physical spark that one can see and also a spark in the world of science and technology. The two then went ahead with the idea of creating electric light and they succeeded when they created an incandescent light bulb. Their light bulb which was able to keep air out and nitrogen in was demonstrated at Morrison’s Brass Foundry in what is now downtown Toronto. In 1874 the two took out a patent for what they hoped to become a consumer product, however, they could not find buyers as the possible financers were worried about the production costs. This led to the separation of Woodward and Evans. Within the next few years in the United States, Thomas Edison bought patents including Woodward’s American patent which was created in 1876. By 1879, Thomas Edison had used the work of others and created a light bulb that could last over 13 hours, with that, many scientists such as Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans were soon forgotten. Woodward and Evans’ incandescent light bulb was the first functional bulb to be created; it’s a pity that not much credit is given to them. Their light bulb consisted of a nitrogen-filled glass tube with a piece of carbon attached to two wires.

            This invention interests me because I see the use of this invention every day in my life. What we see today may not be what was created during the 1870’s, but its design is based off of that. The light bulb has got to be one of the best inventions ever, everywhere you go you see electrical light produced by light bulbs. From the homes of the rich and famous to the street lights on the streets, all of their light bulbs are based upon the light bulb created by Canadians, Woodward and Evans. Without light bulbs, imagine what the world would be like, businesses would have to close earlier and you’d have to forget about 24 hour businesses. Everyone would be forced to go to bed much earlier and cars would not even exist. How would cities like New York, Los Angeles and Toronto have nearly as much night activity as they do today? Less work would be accomplished during 24 hours which means time would be wasted in the world we have today. Without Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans, our lives would be much more challenging and uncomfortable as many aspects of our lives are affected by this Canadian invention. Oil lamps such as Kerosene lamps would not nearly be sufficient for our needs.

            Forgotten scientists like Woodward and Evans should be applauded for their work, even though an incandescent light bulb may seem basic for many of our scientists today. In the 1870’s, the light bulb was cutting-edge technology, imagine how life changed for the people of that time. It must’ve been similar to the changes endured with the invention of the computer, which resulted in a much simpler life. Today, this great Canadian invention is being phased out with the creation of LEDs and Fluorescent Light bulbs, but if Woodward and Evans had not added their contribution to science and technology, would we have the aforementioned newer types of lighting?

Sources Used

The light bulb was invented by Henry Woodward, not Thomas Edison. So why is Edison’s name in all the history books?

http://www.omg-facts.com/Technology/The-Light-Bulb-Was-Invented-By-Henry-Woo/52222

Toronto Invents: The Incandescent Light Bulb

http://torontoist.com/2013/02/toronto-invents-the-incandescent-light-bulb/
Everything Canadian - Henry Woodward: The True Inventor Of The Light Bulb

http://www.thealgomanews.ca/Columns/Other+Columns/Everything+Canadian+-+Henry+Woodward%3A+The+True+Inventor+of+the+Light+bulb.str?12852
The History of the Incandescent Lightbulb

http://www.1on1tutoringlive.com/files/la2.htm

Computer Hardware Engineers

            A computer hardware engineer must consistently use both science and math in their job. The primary focus in this career is to create computers and computer-related parts that are ready to be sold. Technology is increasing at a steady rate because of people such as computer hardware engineers; they are the ones who are constantly working to improve our computers and technology. Without the work of computer hardware engineers, many businesses and government agencies would not be able to function as efficiently as they currently do, as computers play a big role in Canadians’ lives. Their job involves a lot of physics and study about electricity and its components. Their work has helped get this journal to you, whether it is a digital or paper version.

            To become a computer hardware engineer, a 4 year bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or a similar study such as electrical engineering is required.  For advanced positions, a master’s degree may be required, or in some cases such as that of an engineering professor, a PhD is required. A master’s degree takes 1-2 years in addition to a bachelor’s degree and a PhD is another 4 years. Currently, I plan on studying electrical engineering. With a degree in electrical engineering I can get a job as a computer hardware engineer as electrical engineering is quite similar. Many of the same things are taught in both, electrical and computer hardware engineering. Many universities throughout the GTA and Canada offer these programs; however the best universities to study computer hardware engineering include McMaster University and U of T.  In the first year of university you will be amongst other engineering students ranging from chemical to mechanical engineering as they all need the same engineering foundation, after the first year, you will go into the branch of your choosing. A computer engineer should have a liking in technology as they will have to learn about the latest technology constantly.

            Personally, I would like a job which pays fairly well and a computer hardware engineer typically gets paid at least $40,000 annually at an entry-level job. I would appreciate earning that much at an entry-level job as it would greatly assist me in paying off any remaining school bills. Your wages gradually increase and by the time you have 5-10 years of experience on your resume, you could be making $80,000 annually. Senior or supervisory positions can earn well over $100,000 a year but it does not come easily. My two favourite subjects are math and science which have been my favourite for quite a while and which I excel in. I've also had an interest in electrical components for many years, I used to make simple circuits involving LEDs and motors as the loads. All of this makes this career a good choice for myself.

            One of the main benefits I would gain from this career is that I would always be up to date with the latest technology; it would definitely improve my scientific literacy, particularly in the computer and electrical sectors. The variety of possible employers and workplaces entices me, I could be working for the federal government in a development firm or in a research lab. Almost all computer hardware engineers work in urban metropolitan areas which I definitely prefer over rural areas as it is where I have lived all my life. Another fairly good point of becoming a computer hardware engineer is that as long as we continue to use computers, there will be jobs in this sector. With the rate that technology is increasing at, the job availability for this career can only go one way, which is up.

Sources Used

Career Cruising-Computer Hardware Engineer-

https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/profile-at-a-glance/641

What Computer Hardware Engineers Do-

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm

XNA: Hereditary molecules

            Many have heard about DNA, but how many actually know what DNA is. The article “Synthetic XNA molecules can evolve and store genetic information, just like DNA” by Ed Yong is the article upon which this journal is written about.  This article describes the ongoing studies of XNA and compares it to DNA quite often. DNA is one of the types of molecules which carry genetic information, this is what causes living organisms to look the way they are and what make you look different from I. RNA is another type of genetic molecules which have been around for a while but just recently in 2012, a breakthrough in science may have been discovered, the discovery of XNA. Genetic molecules contain hereditary information which can be passed down for generations. Today, “synthetic genetics” is something that exists, this includes XNA molecules which include six different types of hereditary molecules, they differ from DNA and RNA as their molecules contain different sugars. XNA which abbreviates Xeno Nucleic acid is not a naturally occurring molecule hence it being called synthetic.

         This article focuses a lot on Vitor Pinheiro and how he experimented with XNAs. Through his work he figured out how to convert DNA information into an XNA molecule and vice versa. The most focussed on scientist in this article is Vitor Pinheiro, possibly leading the reader to believe he is who had done the majority of the work in discovering XNAs. However, in two other articles (“Synthetic heredity molecules emulate DNA” and “Move over DNA: Six new molecules can carry genes”) he is hardly mentioned, only being mentioned in one of the aforementioned articles. Dr. Phillip Holliger who Pinheiro works under is the man who the other articles discuss.

         Doctor Phillip Holliger who works at a molecular lab in the UK is the one who spearheaded this discovery of XNA molecules. Holliger even has thoughts of there being another world with life forms based off XNA. “We haven’t gone very far from standard DNA chemistry, but the XNAs already have strikingly different properties,” says Holliger. Holliger realizes this is just the beginning of a new discovery as there are other labs in countries such as the U.S. examining these new molecules also.

        I initially found out about the topic on a science website listing the biggest events in science of 2012. The ability of the newly discovered XNA molecules to copy genetic information is what caught my attention and led me to do further research. Previously I did not know exactly what DNA was but through researching about XNA molecules I found out they are both molecules containing different types of sugar. I also learned that RNA is another naturally occurring molecule with the ability to store hereditary information. I always had an interest and wondered how the offspring of organisms resemble their ancestors, and thanks to research about XNA I now have a better understanding.

      A question I have is, can XNAs be placed in human cells? , because with the rate that science is going at, many things that once seemed impossible are now quite possible. The follow up question to this is could XNAs be the answer to genetic cloning? Currently only DNA and RNA are known to contain genetic information in living organisms, maybe scientists will figure out a way to create a species based entirely on XNA molecules. If these XNA molecules could evolve and reproduce on their own, it would be a very big break in the history of science. One of the problems scientists will face if they start working with XNA mostly instead of DNA is they will have to tweak many of their tools and equipment, and make many changes in their techniques.

Sources Used

Synthetic heredity molecules emulate DNA-

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/340076/description/Synthetic_heredity_molecules_emulate_DNA

Synthetic genetic material, XNA, can replicate and evolve-

http://www.genome-engineering.com/synthetic-genetic-material-xna-can-replicate-and-evolve.html

Synthetic XNA molecules can evolve and store genetic information, just like DNA-

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/04/19/synthetic-xna-molecules-can-evolve-and-store-genetic-information-just-like-dna/#.UR_-g6XviSo

Move over DNA: Six new molecules can carry genes-

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21720-move-over-dna-six-new-molecules-can-carry-genes.html

DNA-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA