Photo via Creative Commons by Ramesh NG Have you ever wondered why you feel happy, sad or angry? I’m here to explain these phenomenons with a bit of science and fun. Before we begin, you’ll need a basic knowledge of something, namely diffusion. Let me explain this a bit. If you’ve ever had a tea party, you’ll know the conversation scenario goes something like this: Host: “Good day, Sir/Ma’am. Would you like some tea?” Guest: “Yes, please.” Host: “And how many lumps of sugar would you like?” Guest: “Seven, please.” Please do NOT go pouring seven lumps of sugar into your tea. This is merely an example. Anyway, the point is, the guest goes pouring their sugar into their cup of tea. The sugar cube, as you may realize, has a large amount of particles in a relatively confined space, or high concentration. The tea, however, does not have sugar in it, so there is a low concentration of sugar particles in the tea. Therefore, the sugar’s particles will spread out from their high concentration into the low concentration in diffusion or what we call dissolving. The molecules don’t shrink or change; they just spread out. So today we’ll use this to learn about the properties of certain specialized molecules rarely heard about: the Feelings Molecules. There are a few main types of those molecules: Happiness molecules: Happiness molecules can be gained in a variety of ways (fun time with friends, etc.), but the point is that happiness diffuses! If one is very happy, they want to spread the happiness to others. However, the molecules in this case do not need to spread out on contact, and can travel in many complicated ways. Unlike regular molecules, Happiness molecules can travel through people’s Thought passages, and actually try to do so. You may think that “Hey, then how come you don’t get less happy if your molecules diffuse to other people?”. Well, this is because after a certain point, a balance of happiness molecules is reached between the both of you, and then they start passing back and forth between you both, so you do not keep losing them. Anger molecules: Anger tries to diffuse very fast. If you’re angry, you may feel like hitting or punching something and diffusing the anger you feel. This is especially why you shouldn’t stand near someone while you’re angry. 🙂 Fright molecules: More fright molecules means more fear. Fear, however, does NOT diffuse throughout others, and just stays confined to your body. The only way to get rid of fright molecules is to overpower them with some one of the other types mentioned. Now, really, the “overpowering” is just diffusion of other molecules into the area of the fright molecules. Complicated, right? Tension molecules: These molecules are from anxiety, nervousness, etc. For example, an oral report will most probably increase your tension because the number of tension molecules increases. Tension molecules usually do diffuse. You can spread anxiety to others and make them nervous, but you may feel better if their happiness molecules pass to you! These are the main properties of the four Feelings molecules. You may wonder about molecules like sadness molecules as well, but they really don’t exist. Sadness is caused by a lack of happiness molecules from the regular healthy amount. A regular decline of the happiness molecules can lead to depression, so that’s why they should always be kept up. I hope you enjoyed reading! Here’s your “professor,” signing out!
Young Bloggers
Rain
Photo by Alex Adkins via Creative Commons It rained. Or rather, it poured. Large grey clouds darkened the sky, their heavy droplets collecting in puddles and soaking the ground, wind altering the direction of their descent as gravity pulled them towards the earth. From through the house window, I thought to myself, It sure is dreary out there. But upon further inspection, I found that this might not totally be the case. The wind seemed to be whistling a tune, accompanied by the soft percussion of rain hitting the ground and splashing in puddles. Dancing to that tune were the trees, swaying back and forth, rejoicing in the water that so eagerly rushed down to quench their thirst. The frogs too, could be heard from inside the house, their chorus befitting the scene. And the frogs too, were rejoicing in the long – needed downpour. When one looked up at the sky, one could see the clouds. On this particular occasion, they weren’t just a simple, massive screen of grey, hiding the sun and the bright blue of the atmosphere. For though they were dark and foreboding, they had a certain beauty about them as well. They were fluffy and rounded, and if one could have touched them, they might have felt soft like a chick’s down. I moved to a different window, looking out upon a different part of our yard. The geese frolicked and squawked in the field. A few stragglers had been left behind in the pond, and were rushing to catch up with the rest of the gaggle. Even the horses, soaked as they were, did not seem unhappy. They stood under a tree, tails stock still, for the rain had chased off any flies. Their eyes were bright, as if excited by this storm. The pond sent waves crashing against the shore, sticks and algae being stranded on its gravelly beaches. No fish jumped, but that may have been because of the lone white egret that swam about in the water, daring a silly fish to show itself. If there had been such a silly fish, it didn’t jump out of the water to taunt the bird of prey. And all the while the rain came down, splashing upon the ground. Finally, I decided to don a raincoat and feel what it was like out there for myself. After pulling on my boots, I ran out the door. Immediately, a pleasing smell filled my nose. It was the smell of rain. It was comforting and nice, but not sharp enough to feel like an assault. Along with the sound of the wind and the frogs, I could now fully hear the rain, pattering softly onto the earth and my raincoat. It was cool out there, but pleasantly so, not quite cold, but then leaning more to that side. Underneath my layers, I felt that even if we were to set the thermostat at exactly this temperature, it would not be the same. There was something very vague about the entire feel, but detectable as the soft caress of nature upon my surroundings. I lifted my head to the sky, blinking constantly as water hit my eyes. The water did not hurt at all, rather felt quite nice. I opened my mouth and stretched my tongue out, yearning for a taste of this caress of nature. And it tasted unlike most water. Once again, it had nature’s faint touch to it, like the secret ingredient in a recipe, but this was truly a secret ingredient. I could not place the taste as anything my tongue had experienced before. But it was good. I sighed as my mother called me in for dinner. I thought to myself, Well, I suppose that upon further inspection, the rain may not be so dreary at all. I put my hand on the doorknob, and drank in the last of this beautiful image.
5 Ways Children Can Make a Difference
By now, we all know about the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. 17 students and teachers are now dead, and many more are injured. I, for one, am tired of hearing about so many children that are dying, in addition to other mass shootings in our nation. However, for those like me, it is difficult to support the fight for gun control. As a kid, I cannot do much–one of the major things being voting. Another problem is that sometimes adults do not take children seriously. I find it hard to speak up and raise my voice. I know that this is true for many kids with strong opinions. It can be scary to fight the standard, especially when your elders belittle you or weaken your voice. I’ve compiled a list of things you, as a younger person, can do–not only for gun control, but for any political topic. 1. Social Media I know that many of the younger children may not have social media or even phones, but if you are a bit older, this can be really important. So many people are on social media, such as Instagram, Twitter, and others. If you really want to spread your opinions, social media can be a great place to start. Not only is there a lot of publicity, but you can keep as much of your identity as you want secret. People may take you more seriously, and might even listen to you. 2. Write to Politicians In our society, politicians have all the power. They write the laws and approve them. They are the ones that can make a difference. By writing to senators, congressmen, even the president, you can change a vote. By knowing what the people think–what the future people will think–politicians can work to fulfill the ideas so many citizens are behind. 3. Write to Magazines And/Or Newspapers Although most publications want more professional writing, there are plenty that do accept submissions from children. There are also many that will take letters to the editor. You can always find out how to submit letters on the magazine’s website. As for writing sources written by kids, you can find a list of good publications at this link: https://www.authorspublish.com/15-magazines-that-publish-writing-by-children-and-teens/ Some of them have age limits or writing guidelines, so make sure to read those before publishing anything. 4. Express Your Opinions Through Art Forms (Including Dance, Drama, and Singing) If you are not into writing, or you are into artistic expression, this can be a great way to show a story or point of view. Many artists create work that showcases the political environment of the world at present. For inspiration, look at pieces created by artists. This can include fine art, photography, and plays. 5. Talk About It Talking to people in power can be really useful. Even if it is just your parents or someone else in your family, discussing your opinions can make a difference. Giving older people new ideas can help them spread the word. They might also give you new ideas to think about, and therefore expand you political insight. In addition to talking to authority, you can also strike up a conversation with other kids. Children have more flexible minds, so they might be less stubborn and be willing to listen to you. Who knows, you might even have them question their ideas, and change for the better. I have an African proverb on the calendar in my room that says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito…” You are never too young to change the world. Remember to keep on fighting for what is right, and don’t ever back down from it.
