April 3, 2024

Touchpoint 1
New method reveals hidden activity of life below ground

What is it?
Scientists believe there is life deep underground. They recently dug a hole in Death Valley that was half a mile deep and discovered a bacterium living in water. The bacterium has no oxygen down there and instead consume sulfate.

Potential message to students:
Do you think it’s dangerous to pull bacteria from deep in the earth? Do you think it might unleash an old disease? Do you think there are animals that have not been discovered yet that live in the soil full-time?

Touchpoint 2
Vitamin D shows promise in targeting aging’s biological mechanisms, study finds

What is it?
Vitamin D may slow aging by helping DNA to stay more stable as people age. Scientists think it works with the mitochondria and helps the cells directly. It also has benefits for pregnant women who pass Vitamin D to the baby to help it develop once born.

Potential message to students:
Many think people are sicker today than 100 or 200 years ago. Do you think one reason is that we sit inside where our ancestors were always outside farming, hunting and gathering? Do you think a pill is as good as taking a daily walk in the sunshine?

Touchpoint 3
Hair from tiger thought to be extinct found by conservationist on Java

What is it?
A tiger was thought to be extinct. But farmers on an island were reporting livestock being killed. Someone else thought they saw this extinct tiger. Finally, someone was on the island and found some hair stuck to a fence. They tested it and believe the tiger is not extinct after all.

Potential message to students:
How important is it that this tiger is on an island? Do you think if on the mainland, it would have no chance of coming back? Do you think there are other extinct animals that live on isolated islands only away from humans?

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