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Most scientist accept the RNA world hypothesis, which states that RNA was the first biological molecule due to its ability to copy itself and pass along genetic traits. However, Nicholas Hud, a chemist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, wasn’t convinced.
A recent article in WIRED, courtesy of Quanta Magazine, discusses Hud’s experiment with the building blocks of RNA. The experiment made a breakthrough with the discovery of a chemical recipe that points to the existence of a molecule that might pre-date RNA.
Quanta interviewed Stephen Freeland, director of UMBC’s interdiscipinary studies program, for the article. “In my opinion, nothing like this has been seen before,” Dr. Freeland said, before going on to say that the experiment leads to conceptual progress, even if it did not use the exact components of the unknown molecule.
]]>Absolutely nothing!
Except - phenomenal documentaries about both were recently released!
Known respectively as “Mitt” and “The Square”, we at USDemocrazy believe that these documentaries present two important and often misunderstood subjects in a unique and engaging manner.
If you’re part of the politically attentive public, tired of the same shows on TV, or would just like to learn more about either topic, we think you should give either (or both) of these Netflix originals a chance, and here’s why:
1. The Square
Tagline: The People Demand the Downfall of the Regime
Trailer and official website here.
Official description:
As the Egyptian Revolution unfolds, this 2014 Academy Award® nominee for Best Documentary Feature immerses the viewer in the intense emotional drama of young people on the streets of Cairo claiming their rights and creating a society of conscience. As two governments topple, the personal stories of the freedom fighters unfold in an inspiring tribute to the power of citizenship.
Our take on it:
For many of us, the complexities of US politics alone are hard enough to understand. Trying to understand the politics of another nation with an entirely different culture? Talk about difficult!
The Square follows the Egyptian revolution from the early days in the Arab Spring in 2011 when Hosni Mubarak was overthrown to this past summer (July 2013) when former president Mohamed Morsi was overthrown on his 1-year anniversary in office.
The Square takes this very current and (to many) ambiguous subject and simplifies it. How do they achieve this?
Unlike most documentaries, the filmmakers do not schedule interviews with high-profile government officials or sit in on ministerial news conferences. Instead, the documentary follows Ahmed, Khalid, Magdy, Ragia, Ramy, and Aida. The unlikely mix is made up of a young street-revolutionary, a British-Egyptian actor, a Muslim Brotherhood member, a passionate human rights advocate, the “singer of the revolution,” and a journalist.
Capturing intimate discussions in the protest-tents in Tahrir Square and heated late night debates in coffee shops, The Square doesn’t tell you what everyday Egyptians are fighting for – it allows them to tell you.
2. Mitt
Tagline: Whatever side you’re on, see another side.
Trailer here.
Official description:
Following his bid to win the U.S. presidency, most Americans believed they knew Mitt Romney. With unprecedented access, this documentary tracks Romney from 2006 and his first effort to win the Republican nomination, through the 2012 elections, revealing the man behind the sound bites in an authentic view the public rarely glimpsed during the media frenzy of a national campaign.
Our take on it:
“What do you think you say in a concession speech?” The film opens with Mitt Romney sitting with his disheartened family when it became clear that he did not win the 2012 presidential election.
In actuality, filmmakers have followed Romney, his campaign, and his family since his decision to run for the presidency in 2008, up until the night of the 2012 election. Along the way, you see nearly every angle of his two campaigns, from preparing for debates to spending time with his grandchildren, from speaking at fundraisers to praying with his family before dinner, and making the difficult decision to run for the presidency a second time in 2012.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the film is not what it reveals about Mitt Romney, but what the family of an someone running for president has to endure. There are plenty of tears, both of joy and sorrow, confusion, exhaustion, and elation. It shows just how deeply the families of presidential candidates are involved in the process, and the burden they bear.
As the tagline of the film says, whatever side you’re on, see another side. Don’t allow your political and/or ideological affiliation to let you brush this one aside! Though it focuses on former republican candidate Mitt Romney’s presidential aspirations, this film is not about politics.
]]>Over the past year I have given a presentation about using the browser for debugging client-side bugs. Throughout the presentation I would focus on using Chrome, as it's my primary browser and I just don't have the time to use multiple browsers while presenting.
Now, I do suggest to others that they try out other browsers, as it can be very helpful. So here's a screencast where I'll show you a few sample applications, with some bugs, and how you can use the Firefox DevTools to debug them and compare and contrast the different tools.
Now, I've only showed you what I've been using personally within the DevTools, but you can do a heck of a lot more with them, checkout the documentation. Lately, I've been thinking of moving over to Firefox as my main browser as I'm really enjoying the Firefox DevTools.
Thanks for watching!
]]>The following part-time positions have been posted within the past week to UMBCworks. Login to your account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!
9263940 - Substitute - School/Residential Program - Linwood Children's Center
9263922 - Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper - Property Management Associates, LLC
9263890 - Youth Soccer Coach - Soccer Shots
9263861 - In-Home Instructors for Children with Autism - Trellis Services
9263849 - Bilingual Patient Access Associate - Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
The following on-campus positions have been posted within the past week to UMBCworks. Login to your account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!
9263846 - Business Manager - The Retriever Weekly
9263917 - Database Assistant - Office of Technology Development
9263894 - Desktop Support - Division of Information Technology
9263935 - Editorial Assistant for Website Development - Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
9263938 - Student Receptionist - techcenter@UMBC
Sensors and Sensing: From Molecules to Applications
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida International University
The main objective of the REU program is to expose undergraduate students to interdisciplinary research in the field of sensing, monitoring and detection.
During the 10 week program (5/19/14-7/26/14) the participants will closely work with faculty and graduate students on cutting edge research projects that bridge traditional chemistry disciplines. Beside full time research, participants will be involved in weekly seminars and workshops focused on modern problems in the chemistry of sensing, monitoring and detection, ethics in science, professional growth, and the role of the scientist in modern society.
The REU program provides a $ 5,200 summer stipend. In addition, housing and travel, (including travel for presentation of work in conferences) is provided by the program . Sophomore, junior, and rising senior students are encouraged to apply.
DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2014
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