Friday, July 19, 2013

Speech Reflection

I think that the part of speeches that I struggle with the most is portraying the right message.  I feel that sometimes I talk about a certain topic, and then end up on a topic that doesn't really relate as much as I thought it did.  Also, I struggle with moving around the room during my speech.  It has been said that movement throughout the speech keeps your audience engaged.  I always plan on moving around, and then during my speech I freeze up and end up staying in the same spot swaying and awkwardly looking at the audience.  I plan on working on these problems during CAS100A here at Penn State, and hopefully I overcome these issues!

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Researchers: New planets might support life


Recently, astronomers have discovered a star system with up to seven planets in which three of them could possibly host life.  These planets are 22 light years away. Scientists call this zone, the “habitable zone”, which is the area near a star in which a planet could possibly be able to support liquid water.  Known planets that are located near this habitable zone are Venus and Mars.  Speaking on the topic, Guillem Anglada-Escude from the University of Gottingen, Germany, said “The discovery is the largest number of “habitable zone” planets ever found within a single zone.  Anglada-Escude led the team of astronomers that made the discovery.  It has been said by Sara Seager, a professor of planetary science at Massachusetts Instituteof Technology that “As soon as our telescopes and data analysis tools have become sophisticated enough to find them, habitable planets are popping up everywhere.”

CNN.com Elizabeth Landau

            I think that this topic is very interesting, because it holds a new possibility for the future.  Maybe someday humans will be able to live on planets, like the fantasies young children have been imagining for years.  This new discovery puts the human race a step closer to a huge moment.  The thought that we already have astronauts in space still is exhilarating for me.  It’s amazing how we can develop our world, because our technology is developing along with it.  I am amazed to think what the next big discovery will be in the technology world!