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From Nation, For Nation - Pulse of the Nation
The Real Nacho Libre: The Unbelievable Life of Fray Tormenta
Elementary Students Discover Alarming News About Space And EpiPens
Students from St. Brother André Elementary School’s Program for Gifted Learners (PGL) recently teamed up with the University of Ottawa to examine whether EpiPens, the emergency medication used for treating serious allergic reactions, work in space. Believe It or Not!, the students learned that the critical medicine can become poisonous when exposed to conditions on a rocket and high-altitude balloon-something NASA didn’t even know!
A Major Discovery
The budding scientists, ages 9 to 12, collaborated with the university to test a theory, specifically how cosmic radiation effects the molecular structure of epinephrine, according to UOttawa. The stars and the sun release high-energy particles that cause cosmic radiation. Earth’s atmosphere does a good job of protecting the planet from this radiation; however, it can be dangerous if astronauts are exposed to cosmic rays for a long period of time. Cosmic radiation can cause issues such as radiation sickness, cancer, and other diseases.
The PGL and UOttawa experiment was part of the Cubes in Space STEM program that allows student research to take place onboard two suborbital flights organized by NASA. When the team’s samples sent into space were returned to UOttawa and the elementary students, the university analyzed it through its John Holmes Mass Spectrometry Core Facility. The epinephrine came back only 87-percent pure. The remaining 13 percent turned into benzoic acid derivatives, making it poisonous.
Full Professor Paul Mayer of UOttawa’s Faculty of Science’s Department of Chemistry and Bimolecular Sciences, explained that his team analyzed the pure epinephrine and the solution from an EpiPen before and after it flew on a rocket and high-altitude balloon. “The ‘after’ samples showed signs that the epinephrine reacted and decomposed,” he noted, adding, “In fact, no epinephrine was found in the ‘after’ EpiPen solution samples. This result raises questions about the efficacy of an EpiPen for outer space applications and these questions are now starting to be addressed by the kids in the PGL program.”
Listen To The Kids
This experiment by the university team and junior scholars from PGL informed researchers about the effects of cosmic radiation on epinephrine and its ramifications when it comes to space travel and astronaut health.
Meanwhile, the work of the PGL students is still ongoing. They are now collaborating on designing a container to safeguard the EpiPen solution in space so it does not transform into a poisonous, unstable substance.
Mayer believes parents and adults should encourage children to seek answers to puzzles and problems they encounter: “Kids are natural scientists. They are curious and ask questions. We adults just need to facilitate their participation in the scientific process, and then get out of the way and let them explore and learn.”
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From Globe, For Globe - Pulse of the Planet
Check out this "elf" portrait!
Children aren’t the only ones who believe in magical creatures; some high-ranking political figures do too. Last weekend, Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, shared an image of a mysterious-looking creature that he described as an “Aluxe.” In Mayan folklore, an Aluxe is a woodland spirit, according to AP.
A Picture Worth 1000 Tweets
López Obrador, 69, posted a side-by-side picture of two images on Twitter with the caption: “Les comparto dos fotos de nuestra supervisión a las obras del Tren Maya: una, tomada por un ingeniero hace tres días, al parecer de un aluxe; otra, de Diego Prieto de una espléndida escultura prehispánica en Ek Balam. Todo es místico.”
The English translation is: “I share two photos of our supervision of the Mayan Train works: one, was taken by an engineer three days ago, apparently of an aluxe; another, by Diego Prieto, of a splendid pre-Hispanic sculpture in Ek Balam. Everything is mystical.”
The intriguing image on the left, taken at night, shows a tree with what appears to be some kind of creature with glowing hair and eyes. To the casual observer, it looks like an unidentifiable animal, such as a monkey or racoon. To those who subscribe to indigenous beliefs, such as López Obrador, it looks like an elf. The engineer from the Mayan Train Project took the photo in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Internet Goes Wild
Many internet users mocked Obrador’s post, and Mexican novelist Mauricio Schwarz tweeted two-year-old screenshots of the identical photos, which were shared in 2021. He wrote: “Das pena, mucha pena… y el país más… Si te lo crees, eres tonto… si sabes que mientes, eres malévolo… (You are sad, very sad… and the country even more… If you believe it, you are stupid… if you know you are lying, you are malicious…).”
According to Ancient Origins, Mayan tales of little people known as Aluxes have been passed down in Mexico for generations. These spiritual creatures are mischievous and known to cause mayhem and destruction. Humans don’t usually notice them unless a playful Aluxe chooses to become visible.
Cultural Origins
The knee-high sprites are described as having owl-like eyes and may have body parts of other animals, such as iguanas, deer, or macaws. They’ve also been described as appearing sprite or fairy-like or as dark shadows with glowing red eyes. Aluxes live in a variety of places on the Yucatan Peninsula, including forests, fields, and caves. They’re not too picky about their habitat as long as they have food, water, and shelter.
According to Indian Express, while construction work was being undertaken in the area, shelters were allegedly built specifically for Aluxes. The intent was to welcome the creatures, so they could prevent any mishaps from occurring on the project.
In 2010, local Mayan leaders were disturbed that an Elton John concert was being held close to Mayan pyramid Chichen Itza. When a stage collapsed prior to the performance and three people were injured, they blamed Aluxes. Mayans lived on the Yucatan Peninsula and other parts of Central America from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D. Their descendants still populate the area, many of whom carry on the traditions of their ancestors, from the clothing they wear to the food they grow and the religion they follow.
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