Category Archives: Science

Bacterial Counts & Public Health

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In water quality science we can count total coliform bacteria in order to determine the concentration of bacteria pre and post water treatment.  We can also differentiate the types of bacteria there are.  There are 2 main branches of bacteria: autotrophs & heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are bacteria like deadly E. Coli that are harmful for people if consumed.

So by differentiating type of the bacteria and the concentration of bacteria we can theorize what is causing poor water quality and what would be the best treatment to apply to the impaired source of water.  These tools are important because without water that is free from bacterial contamination developers and water suppliers cannot deliver water to the public.  The Total Coliform Rule is one such regulation that dictates drinking water bacterial concentration and steps to prevent bacterial outbreaks. I love when science and the regulatory world work together to protect the public the most.

Public Health & Technology

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With an overall grade D in public water system infrastructure, one has to wonder if the dna technology developments in the first world should be applied to current microbiology methodology to assess drinking water contamination.  Also, are our public monies better spent on evaluating the link between persistent organic chemicals and cancers. 

This week I spoke with a water quality microbiologist who sent me a couple of studies related to the use of qPCR methods to detect bacteria such as Escherichia Coli, Enterococcus, & Bacteriodes in 2 to 4 hours vs. up to 72 hours now.  I also spoke with an environmental regulator who related a study his lab performed to expedite the analysis of enterococcus in recreational waters.

The one positive note both persons shared was that the cost of the technology to analyze dna is much cheaper. But with issues regarding viability and methods that provide good notification thus far, what is the justification?

The Doctor Will See You Now..In Your Toilet?

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Eric Schadt, the director of the Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and chief science officer at Pacific Biosciences (PACB), a DNA sequencing machine maker projects that dna technology will be used while you are going to the bathroom to assess your health profile.  He believes that the use of dna analysis tools will also help us stop the spread of viruses and other environmental pathogens.  He might not be that far at with reports from China that new grads are heading up biotechnology companies who will literally map anything for the right price.

 

 

Higgs Boson Found!

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Did I mention that I love science?!

Thursday night researchers at CERN announced they found the so called “God Particle”. In a one in a trillion shot, they managed to smash two protons together in a 17 mile tunnel called the Haldron Collider and create the “boson” particle The boson particle explains why matter has mass and is the holy grail of The Standard Method in physics. 

The experiment is the brain child of Higgs who with other scientists concieved of the experiment over 50 years ago when trying to conceive how the big bang occurred.  The boson particle may even open up a new field of science called, wait for it, new physics. I know how creative.

Articles I read earlier today do have a point that the last major discovery in physics, quantum mechanics,  has opened up an entire field of products we couldn’t imagine living without today. This blog wouldn’t be possible without those discoveries.

With one writer noting that only $0.20 per $1000 of your tax money (assumming you are in the U.S.) goes to projects at CERN, one could argue that it is definitely money well spent considering the ever reaching aspects of hilumanity.

Stay tuned to what inventions come next!