Touchpoint 1
Indian Ocean temperature anomalies predict long-term global dengue trends
What is it?
Researchers believe the surface temperatures of the Indian Ocean can predict the magnitude and timing of a Dengue breakout in India. These outbreaks can have a direct impact on India’s economy.
Potential message for students:
Is this correlation or causation? If ocean temps are going up, could that be triggering something that, in turn, triggers the Dengue? Is this study a good use of research funding?
Touchpoint 2
New Study: The price tag of phasing-out coal
What is it?
Everyone agrees that coal is not great for the environment. A new study predicts it will cost $2 trillion to phase out coal and that coal mine workers will need to be compensated since they are out of a job.
Potential message to students:
Is phasing out coal unfair to developing countries that are trying to bring power to their citizens? Should only the richest countries have to get rid of coal? Do you think the $2 trillion is better spent improving plant technology to not release pollutants from coal?
Touchpoint 3
Teens Are Stinky. Biology and Chemistry Explain (At least Part of) It
What is it?
Teens have 42 smelly chemicals. Many of these chemicals are not present in infants and only appear during puberty. Some researchers think odor is a way of separating teens from parents so they will be able to move out and exist without parental help.
Potential message to students:
Do you buy the “leave the nest” idea of why teens smell? Almost nothing in nature happens by accident, so what other reasons do you think there are for these smells? Do you think they attract a partner?