Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrology

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrology Astronomy and astrology are two distinct subjects: one is a science, and one is a parlor game. However, the two topics are frequently confused. Astronomy, as well as the related field of astrophysics, covers the science of stargazing and the physics that explains how stars and galaxies work. Astrology is a non-scientific practice that draws connections between star positions to make predictions about the future. The work of ancient astrologers formed the basis for the star and navigational charts used by the ancients, as well as some of the constellations we know today. However, there is no scientific basis in todays practice of astrology. Key Takeaways: Astronomy vs. Astrology Astronomy is the scientific study of the stars, planets, and galaxies, and their motions.Astrophysics uses principles and laws of physics to explain how stars, planets, and galaxies form and function. Astrology is a non-scientific form of entertainment that draws connections between human behavior and the alignment of the stars and planets. Astronomy and Astrophysics The difference between astronomy (literally law of the stars in Greek) and astrophysics (derived from the words Greek words for star and physics) comes from what the two disciplines are trying to accomplish. In both cases, the goal is to understand how objects in the universe function.   Astronomy describes the motions and origins of the heavenly bodies (stars, planets, galaxies, etc.). It also refers to the subject that you study when you want to learn about those objects and become an astronomer.  Astronomers study the light emanating or reflected from distant objects.   in astronomy, the bright star Alpha Centauri and its surrounding stars are studied by both astronomers and in astrophysics in order to understand their characteristics. . This is a main sequence star, just as the Sun is. NASA/DSS Astrophysics is literally the physics of the many different types of stars, galaxies, and nebulae. It applies the principles of physics to describe the processes involved in the creation of the stars and galaxies, as well as learning what drives their evolutionary changes. Astronomy and astrophysics are definitely interrelated but are clearly trying to answer different questions about the objects they study. Think of astronomy as saying, Heres what all these objects are and astrophysics as describing heres how all these objects work.   Astrophysics tells scientists about how stars, such as the Sun, work. Astrophysicists may also study how the solar wind interacts with the planets, as shown here. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center Despite their differences, the two terms have become somewhat synonymous in recent years. Most astronomers receive the same training as astrophysicists, including the completion of a graduate program in physics (although there are many very good pure astronomy programs being offered). Others begin in mathematics and gravitate to astrophysics in graduate school. Much of the work done in the field of astronomy requires the application of astrophysical principles and theories. So while there are differences in definitions of the two terms, in application it is difficult to distinguish between them. When someone studies astronomy in high school or college, they first learn purely astronomy topics: motions of celestial objects, their distances, and their classifications. A deeper study of how they work requires physics and eventually astrophysics. Astrology Astrology (literally star study in Greek) is largely regarded as a pseudoscience. It does not study the physical characteristics of stars, planets, and galaxies. It is not concerned with applying principles of physics to the objects it uses, and it has no physical laws that help explain its findings. In fact, theres very little science in astrology. Its practitioners, called astrologers, simply use the positions of stars and planets and the Sun, as seen from Earth, to predict  people’s individual characteristics, affairs and future. Its largely akin to fortune-telling, but with a scientific gloss to give it some kind of legitimacy. In truth, theres no way to use stars and planets to tell anything about a give persons life or loves. Its all very imaginary and fanciful, but some people do derive a lot of satisfaction from fiddling with it. The Ancient Role Astrology Played in Astronomy While astrology has no scientific basis, it did play a preliminary role in the development of astronomy. This is because early astrologers were also systematic stargazers who charted the positions and motions of celestial objects. Those charts and motions are of great interest when it comes to understanding how stars and planets move through space. Astrology diverges from astronomy when astrologers attempt to use their knowledge of the sky to predict future happenings in peoples lives. In ancient times, they did this mostly for political and religious reasons. If an astrologer could predict some wonderful thing for his or her patron or king or queen, they might get to eat again. Or get a nice house. Or score some gold.   The IAU constellation designation for Pisces includes the main pattern plus numerous other stars. The early astrologers used the green outline of the stars as a way to divide the sky up into houses, through which the planets would wander. Pisces is a Zodiac constellation, meaning a region of the sky that the Sun and planets appear to wander through. To astrologers, where a planet or the Sun was on the day of a persons birth had some meaning. But, today, there is NO measurable link between those objects and the person being born. IAU/Sky Telescope   Astrology diverged from astronomy as a scientific practice during the years of the Enlightenment in the Eighteenth Century, when scientific studies became more rigorous. It became clear to scientists of that time (and ever since then) that no physical forces could be measured emanating from stars or planets that could account for the claims of astrology. In other words, the position of the Sun, Moon and planets at a persons birth have no effect on that persons future or personality. In fact, the effect of the doctor assisting with the birth is stronger than any distant planet or star.   Most people today know that astrology is little more than a parlor game. Except for astrologers who make money off of their art, educated people know that the so-called mystical effects of astrology have no actual scientific basis, and have never been detected by astronomers and astrophysicists. Edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Why Men Are Typically Taller Than Women

Why Men Are Typically Taller Than Women While studying genetic factors behind different traits in men and women, University of Helsinki researchers have identified a genetic variant on the X sex chromosome that accounts for height differences between the sexes. Sex cells, produced by male and female gonads, contain either an X or a Y chromosome. The fact that females have two X chromosomes and males only have one X chromosome must be taken into account when attributing the difference in traits to variants on the X chromosome. According to the studys head researcher, Professor Samuli Ripatti, The double dose of X-chromosomal genes in women could cause problems during the development. To prevent this, there is a process by which one of the two copies of the X chromosome present in the cell is silenced. When we realized that the height associated variant we identified was nearby a gene that is able to escape the silencing we were particularly excited. The height variant identified influences a gene that is involved in cartilage development. Individuals that possess the height variant tend to be shorter than average. Since women have two copies of the X chromosome variant, they tend to be shorter than men.

Diabetes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Diabetes - Research Paper Example Based on the level of insulin secreted, diabetes is classified under three types: 1. Type 1 diabetes, which is present from childhood, in which the body secretes little or no insulin. This is also referred to as insulin dependent diabetes and genetics, viruses or autoimmune problems with the islet cells have been proposed as major causes for this type of diabetes. 2. The type 2 diabetes is a more common form of the disease which manifests only in adulthood when the islet cells begin to secrete less amounts of insulin or the body does not respond well to the secreted insulin. Increasing lifestyle changes such as lack of body exercise and food habits have been considered to be the major causative factors along with a genetic predisposition to the disease. 3. The third and an increasing occurring type is gestational diabetes wherein the mother develops the type 2 form of the disease during pregnancy which increases the risk for both the mother and the developing infant. (Diabetes, 2010) Genetic factors In the case of type 1 diabetes, which is present from childhood, studies have shown that more than 20 regions of the genome might be responsible for genetic susceptibility to the disease. Increased risk to the disease has been found to be associated with the genes present in the HLA region of chromosome 6 which includes HLA-DR, DQ, and DP. The various haplotypes of these genes are associated with increased risk for the disease in various populations and the presence of two such haplotypes together further compounds the risk for the disease. In addition, the presence of variants of the INS (insulin) gene located in chromosome 11, also predisposes the individual for the disease. Another gene that have been associated with the disease include variants of the CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated 4) gene which is located on chromosome 2. The genes associated with type 2 diabetes are those which are involved in pancreatic beta-cell function, insulin action, metabolis m of glucose and other conditions such as lipid metabolism and energy uptake and release. Some of the candidate genes for the disease include PPAR?, ABCC8, KCNJ11, and CALPN10. In the case of maturity-onset diabetes of the young, which is the type 2 form of the disease that occurs before 25 years of age, is linked to mutations that occur in at least 6 genes which are associates with beta cell function as all the genes are expressed within the islet cells of the pancreas (Genetics and Diabetes, n.d). Psychological aspects of the disease The initial response of the individual to the disease is associated with shock and anger as it is a lifelong condition and demands a lot of restrictions and a strict life style for controlling the disease. Beginning with food restrictions and following a routine of walking and exercise, the condition also requires continuous follow-ups and is also interlinked with various other illnesses. The long term nature of the disease has also been linked to dev elopment of anxiety and depression which in turn depend on their ability to cope with the limitations imposed by the disease. Such individuals also often feel isolated and dependent on people for their daily activities, which would be more obvious in case of children (Chandra, 1997). Medical and psychological interventions The presence of diabetes needs to be confirmed through proper diagnostic and screening procedures. Diagnostic tests are taken