Winter 2012
How Can Differentiating Between Types of Alcohol Dependence Lead to Better Treatment Strategies?
Afflicting 4% of the population worldwide, alcohol dependence is characterized by a sustained period of heavy alcohol use that leads to tolerance and results in withdrawal when consumption is stopped (1).
The Mammalian Diving Reflex
On a cold September night in Colorado, 21-month-old Gore Otteson fell into a freezing river. When his family pulled him out, he was unconscious, his heart had stopped, and he was no longer breathing.
The Threats of Overfishing: Consequences at the Commercial Level
According to marine ecologists, overfishing is the greatest threat to ocean ecosystems today (1). Overfishing occurs because fish are captured at a faster rate than they can reproduce (2).
The Decline of Reefs: Effects of Increased Carbon Emissions on Coral Ecosystems
Often coined the rainforests of the sea, coral reefs are one of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems. Though they only cover between 260,000 and 600,000 square kilometers (less than 1% of the Earth’s surface), they house approximately one-third to one-fourth of all marine species.
Cryogenesis: A Review
Despite the popular myth, Walt Disney’s body was not frozen. In fact, Disney died a year before the first man was cryogenically preserved.
Underwater Animal Extinction
An animal is declared extinct when “there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual (of the species) has died” (1). Although extinction is a natural biological process, the rate of extinction and the endangerment of animal and plant species is occurring at an alarming rate due to the growing human population.
Puny but Prevalent: A Planet Powered by Phytoplankton
What are phytoplankton? The marvelous little creatures floating silently near the surface of the sea seem to have a presence quite detached from our own; indeed, the typical person may easily overlook the significance of these tiny critters.
Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico: How Midwestern farming practices are creating a ‘Dead Zone’
Human activity in the Midwestern United States impacts not only the surrounding land but also the water in rivers and streams, which run all the way into the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil Spills: Severity and Consequences to Our Ecosystem
Oil spills are a byproduct of human activity in which oil is leaked “from ships, shore facilities, pipelines and offshore platforms” (1). Despite popular belief, the largest contributors to oil spills are not tankers, ships that carry large amounts of oil, but rather automobiles, boats, industrial plants, and machinery.
