Awareness Article has now been assigned and will be due on June 9th, 08.
Please note that with exams and final course assignments I will be inundated with marking. As a result, any Awareness Articles (incl. #1-#5) will not be marked after Wednesday, June 11, 2008.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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Science Experiment
March 14, 2006
gcchaps
http://youtube.com/watch?v=773Rv8pZeOs
In this experiment, an egg is put on the top of a narrow-necked bottle. The egg does not fit through. Matches are lit and dropped into the bottom of the bottle, the egg is placed back on top, and the egg drops through. Why? This is because the matches heat the air inside the bottle. The air expands and some escapes out the top. When the matches go out, the air cools again and contracts. This creates a lower pressure inside than outside, and the pressure forces the egg into the bottle. Turning the bottle upside down and blowing into it will create a higher pressure in the bottle, and the egg will come right back out.
Ksenia C
http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Experiments/ExpEggInaBottle.htm
http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/egginbottle.html
Science of Music: Why does my singing sound so great in the shower?
Exploratorium
http://www.exploratorium.edu/music/questions/shower.html
Many people like to sing in the shower, probably because it sounds so good. The hard tiles in the shower don't absorb sound, so it bounces back. Since the shower is small, the sound waves bouncing around sound more powerful. The voice rebounding so many times helps blur out the bad notes and stretches out the good ones. Next time you sing in the shower, try to remember that you're not as good as you think you are, to avoid possibly embarrassing situations.
Kayla F
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_5_35/ai_n13659693
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_09/b3973415.htm
Title:NOAA Reports No Tornado Fatalities Since March, A Record
Date:July 5,2005
Auther: David Jorge
Source:www.sciencedaily.com/ - 124k
Summary:
No one has died from a tornado since March in the United States--a first since official records began in 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. normally, during the most active tornado months of April, May and June, 61 percent of all tornado fatalities or an average of 52 deaths occur.
Killer tornadoes, however, are possible given the right atmospheric conditions. One such scenario is during a land-falling tropical system. Parts of the Gulf Coast, for instance, will have an increased tornado threat as Tropical Storm Cindy moves ashore.
The previous low mark was one tornado-related fatality during the same period in 1992.
Despite this record, the U. S. has experienced a normal number of tornadoes with 665 reports in the first six months of the year. However, 2005 is well below last year's record-breaking total of 964 tornadoes from January through June. Tornadoes have caused a total of five fatalities this year so far--four in January and one in March.
The busiest time of year so far in 2005 was the first 10 days of June with 177 tornado reports, surpassing the total for the entire month of May nationwide.
"This is truly a unique situation and one that we are very happy to report," said Dan McCarthy, NOAA Storm Prediction Center warning coordination meteorologist. "The ingredients needed in the atmosphere never really came together, preventing development of our normal springtime pattern that makes long-track tornadoes and tornado outbreaks possible during these prime months for severe weather."
However, McCarthy cautions that tornadoes can occur anywhere any time of year with the right atmospheric conditions. "We are entering the prime time of year for tropical storms. We had 300 tornadoes last year during the tropical season, so be prepared, pay attention to weather forecasts and be safe," he advised.
One way to stay safe is to monitor NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards, which provides immediate broadcasts of warnings and information pertaining to severe weather and civil emergencies. Receivers can be purchased online and at most electronic retailers.
NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.
By:Shabonah A.B
Title: Green tea may help snorers sleep easy
Date: May 20, 2008
Author: Amy Norton
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/05/20/2250087.htm?site=science&topic=latest
Compounds called polyphenols in green tea may help to prevent obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA is a common disorder in which soft tissues in the throat temporarily block the airway during sleeps, causing loud snoring, gasping, oxidative stress and daytime sleepiness. If OSA is not treated, it can cause high pressure, and memory and learning difficulties. Dr David Gozal reported that when rats were exposed to oxygen deprivation over 14 days, it caused oxidative stress in their brains. However, this did not happen if they had given water containing green tea. Besides, these rats were appeared to have better memory and learning abilities when they got green tea than just the plain water. Gozal said the regular cup of green tea could be beneficial to snorers who have difficulties to deep and easy sleep. However, he said he needs more definite proof that can show it.
Additional sources:
http://www.green-tea-expert.com/benefits-of-green-tea.html
http://www.nosnorezone.com/snoring-reasons.html
Hyegee
Title: Huge Hidden Biomass Lives Deep Beneath The Oceans
Author: Catherine Brahic
Date of Article: May 22nd 2008
Source: http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/deep-sea/dn13960-huge-hidden-biomass-lives-deep-beneath-the-oceans.html
John Parkes, a geobiologist at the University of Cardiff, and his team have made a discovery of life living 1.6 kilometers beneath the sea floor. This region’s temperature averages 100 degrees centigrade. The rocks found beneath the sea are “teeming with life”. Where these tiny one cell organisms came from is still a mystery. One speculation is that they were buried deeper and deeper by compacting sediment which eventually landed them deep beneath the ocean floor. Another hypothesis is that they were sucked by hydrothermal vents. Since there are no known predators, the organisms might be sending all their time repairing broken molecules instead of reproducing, which could mean that they are as old as the sediment itself, which is 111 million years old. This finding could lead to the discovery of life on other planets because it is now true that organisms can thrive at very high temperatures at very high pressure.
Additional Sources:
http://www.marinebio.com/Oceans/TheDeep/
http://people.whitman.edu/~yancey/deepsea.html
Submitted by: C Samphir
Title: Apparent Problem With Global Warming Climate Models Resolved
Author: N/A
Date of Article: May 30, 2008
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080530144943.htm
It is predicted that atmospheric temperatures will rise faster than surface temperatures. The opposite was previously believed by experts but now it is proved that that assumption is false. They proved this by measuring wind changes rather than temperature measurements. This was measured in the Tropics which are experiencing the fastest warming on earth. Since 1970, temperatures in this region have risen .65 degrees every decade. This is caused by the increase of gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide. Instrument designs over the years, and changes in technology have been blamed for false data that has been collected. But some still believe that weather balloon temperatures are accurate. Now, scientists believe that using wind to measure change in temperature is a much better way.
Additional Sources: http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/tropics-oceans.html
http://www.mindfully.org/Air/2005/Global-Warming-Tropics13aug05.htm
Submitted by: Heather Maxted
Summary: #5
Title: Scientists Remove Thousands of Aspen Trees to Glimpse Forest's Future
Author: John San
Date of article May 28, 2008
Summary Date: June 2, 2008
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080523095759.htm
Additional source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041203095938.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519092205.htm
Abstract
The main goal of the U.S federally funded experiment Forest Acceleration Succession Experiment (FASET) is to determine how much heat-trapping carbon dioxide forests of the upper Midwest states will remove from the air in the future years. Forest can help offset human-caused climate warming and scientist want to know how big a role the forest in this American Region will play. Scientist began a study at the University Of Michigan Biological Station U-M forest ecologist, Christoph Vogel and his co- workers believes that the Great takes – area forests will play on increasingly important role in removing CO2. CO2 is the gas which is involved in global worming. FASET will determine how much CO2 that forest will remove in the future. In forest, as the aspen and birch trees die there is an increased growth rate of pine oaks and Maple trees and leads to a more complex layer of canopy. The FASET experiment is designed to speed up this transition. The scientists are speeding up the natural process. In the coming years the CO2 in the treatment area will be compared to the CO2 update in a control (untreated) area (about a mile away). Vogel and his co-workers predict that the carbon storage rate of the treated area could increase by as much as 40 percent. FASET results will be of interest to forest ecologists , climatologist and policy makers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4571640a7693.html
http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200823/1159/New-Zealand-hosts-World-Environment-Day
Title-Kicking the carbon habit
By PAUL GORMAN - Fairfax Media | Thursday, 05 June 2008
This article speaks of how New Zealend is trying to make a difference in the amount of emissions it as a Country produces. Although New Zealend is a very small country they are making a "World Enviorment Day" This will hopefully be a positive impact on the amount of Co2 emissions realesed into the atmosphere. Many people who were polled said that if gas prices where higher they would no longer drive to places that where in walking distance, instead they could possibly bike or walk. There are many alternatives to make emissions less and New Zealend is searching for more ways to do so ."about 100 cars passed me in the space of 10 minutes. Only a dozen were carrying any passengers." This qoute alone shows how poeple are ineffieciently using their resources. Many of these people are probaly going to the same place but are taking many different trips to get there. I personally think that this day will be a step foreward in lowering Co2 emissions and making our earth a healthier and safer enviorment.
Mike
Title: Lifestyle creating more type 1 diabetics
Author: Helen Carter
Date of Article: Tuesday, June 3rd 2008
Source:http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/06/03/2263808.htm?site=science&topic=latest
Researchers have found that the number of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Australia has doubled over the past two decades. It was found that in the past people with intermediate or low risk human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes were less likely to get diabetes during their childhood. Now children with HLA are more likely to have diabetes. It is found that environmental factors such as obesity, reduced exercise and lack of Vitamin D could be contributing to the risk of getting this disease. The average age to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes has dropped from 8 and half years old to six years old.
Additional Sources:
http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=08053039
http://www.insidermedicine.ca/Archives/Type_1_Diabetes_on_Rise_in_Young_Children_877.aspx
Submitted By: Ellen
Title- Samsung develops 256GB solid state drive
Author- Brooke Crothers
Date of article- May 26, 2008 2:12 AM PDT
Source- http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9952007-7.html
Samsung make a solid hard disk drive. This hard disk drive is world’s fastest and smaller drive. In addition, because of use Nand flash memory(You can see SD card, CF card, Sony memory stick…), you don’t need to worry about your important file even your drop it. Like today’s Laptop and desktop computer’s hard disk drive is too unstable. If you drop the disk or computer, you can’t use hard disk anymore and lost your data and you can’t recovery your file. However this driver can keep safe your file. Because of small size, we can reduce the laptop computer size, save area to put more DDR ram, cooler, hard driver, CPU. We can buy this solid disk drive next year, However this perfect item’s problem is expensive price. This is VERY HIGH NANO TECHNOLOGY! Also made by Korea!
Additional Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/podcasts/showandtell/site/2008/04/11/st.ssd.cnn?iref=videosearch
(movie)
http://www.zdnet.co.kr/etc/eyeon/digital/0,39036960,39169198,00.htm
(long one)
Submitted by : Dante
Title: Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?
By: Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross
Date: Sunday, 15 April 2007
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/are-mobile-phones-wiping-out-our-bees-444768.html
Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious 'colony collapse' of bees
But some scientists suggest that the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world's harvests fail.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing them from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.
The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world's crops depend on pollination by bees. German research has long shown that bees' behaviour changes near power lines.
Additional Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/business/27bees.html?ei=5088&en=3aaa0148837b8977
http://pollinator.com/downforcount.htm
By: Stephanie. W
Title: Acid Rain Has a Disproportionate Impact on Coastal Waters
Author: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Date of Article: September 15, 2007
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070907175147.htm
The article I chose talks about how acid rain affects the ocean’s natural habitat. Scientists have found that along with the big problems that affect the ocean such as Carbon Dioxide, that acid rain is also playing a part in the acidification of the ocean. Acid rain is created by air pollution attaching to moisture in the air. Sulfur dioxide, ammonia and nitrogen oxides are the main components in acid rain that make it the most acidic. When acid rain mixes with the ocean water, it lowers the pH of the water and reduces the ocean’s capability of storing carbon. The acid rain also affects the habitat and living animals in the ocean. It affects sea urchins, corals, and plankton. Scientists believe that by the end of the century that there will be a 100 to150 percent increase of acid in the water. If we do not stop our ways the ocean will be useless.
Additional Sources:
http://www.healthgoods.com/education/environment_information/acid_rain/acid_rain.htm
http://www.ypte.org.uk/docs/factsheets/env_facts/acid_rain.html
Submitted by: Elizabeth Wood
How do CDs work?
Source: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd3.htm
Article Title: “How CDs work”
Date, N/A, but the site is pretty new.
Author: How Stuff Works Inc.
We see CDs all the time now days, but most people don’t know anything about how they work.
A CD is made of three main layers, and a label. The label is on top, and a layer of acrylic for protection is after the label. After that, there is a layer of thin aluminum and lastly, the thick material that we see, the polycarbonate plastic.
The information is stored in a spiral track, a really, really thin and compressed spiral track. When the article was published, the layers where 0.5 wide and 1.6 microns apart. A micron is a millionth of a meter. This is so compressed, that is you stretched the entire spiral out, you’d have a 0.5-micron wide track 5 Km long.
These tracks have little bumps, 125 nanometers high (a nanometer is a Billionth of a meter!).
To read these, a laser points at the track, and senses the difference in the reflections, because in the bumps, the reflection is different than in the normal parts.
These bumps represent bits. There are many types of formats for this information; the most commonly know one is the CD ROM.
Other sites:
http://express.howstuffworks.com/express-cd.htm
http://www.record-producer.com/learn.cfm?a=3081
Matias
Title: Diving, Rolling, and Floating, Alligator Style
Author: Science News for Kids
Date: March 26, 2008
Source: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20080326/Note2.asp
In this article it reveals the secret tactics of the alligators super stealth moves. It wasn’t until now that a team of scientists at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City discovered the alligator’s unique ability. They revealed that alligators shift their lungs around in order to move in their desired direction. While moving their lungs they are able to control their buoyancy, for example: to dive downwards they move their lungs towards their tail, to surface they are moved towards its head, and to roll they use their muscles to push their lungs to their side. In order to move the lungs around like this, alligators have a special muscle that does the job. The large muscle connects the alligator's liver to the bones at its hips. When the alligator wants to dive the muscle pulls the liver down towards its tail, and the lungs follow. This causes more airflow into the lungs, and when the muscle relaxes, the liver slides up, squeezes the lungs, and pushes the air out.
All in all, these bad boys don’t need fins in order to move, they have their own secret weapon to help them silently sneak up on prey, which is equally effective.
Amanda
Title: New ‘Super Paper’ is Stronger than Cast Iron
Producer: NewScientist.com News Service
Author: Jon Evans
Date of Article: June 6, 2008
Source: http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14084-new-superpaper-is-stronger-than-cast-iron.html
The Article “New ‘Super Paper’ is Stronger than Cast Iron” discusses newly invented Nanopaper’s development and applications. This Nanopaper is produced from cellulose, the biological material found in conventional paper, which also happens to be the most common organic compound on the planet. Cellulose provides structure for plant cell walls by forming fibers 5000 times thinner than human hair, and these fibers form strong networks. However, these networks are damaged during the paper manufacturing process and others that use the material as cheap filler substance. Using enzymes and a mechanical beater, the cellulose disintegrates into the fibers gently, rather than destroying the network. This leaves the fibers floating in water which, when removed, leaves the fibers with strong hydrogen bonds. The Nanopaper’s strength is 214 Megapascals, almost as strong as steel (250MPas) and far stronger than cast iron (130MPas) and regular paper (1MPa). This strength lies not only in the original strength of the fibers, but the nearly perfect networks that can shift to displace stress easily. Such material could reinforce conventional paper, produce extra strong tape or create durable synthetic replacements for biological materials.
Additional Sources:
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci1213042,00.html
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1694/79/
Submitted By: Andrew
Title: Thousands Dead, Missing in china Earthquake.
Author: David Biello.
Date of Article: May 13, 2008.
Source: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=thousands--dead-in-china-earthquake&page=2
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake that is the worst earthquake in China rocked western China on May 12. Wang Zhengygo, disaster relief division director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said that 11,921 people died so far (May 13). More than 26,000 people have been injured and at least 9,400 remain trapped in such levelled buildings. The hardest hit area is the city of Mianyang, also Chengdu experienced its own smaller quake-magnitude 3.9. Rescuers and troops worked to clear roads. More troops and rescuers (including the European Commission) continued to pour into the region as world leaders offered aid. Earthquakes are initiated by the release of energy stored in rocks clustered around a fault and it stop when there is not enough energy to keep them going. The Richter scale has no upper limit; the most devastating earthquakes’ magnitudes are 8.0 or higher, moderate quakes register at 4.5 or greater, and 2.0 or less are referred to as “microearthquakes”.
Additional Sources:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=rescuers-in-race-to-find-earthquake-survivors
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=death-toll-may-climb-in-c
Submitted by: Rebecca.
Tittle: Tanning bed dangers
Source: CNN
Added On June 6, 2008
Soonah Kim
Many women doing tanning bed these day because they can tan quicker than tanning outside and it’s easy to use. But the doctor disagrees about using tanning bed. It’s easier to exposure to our skin cancer. Especially 18 to 20 years old young woman has more possible to get melanoma. The doctor suggests that be patience to use tanning spray and lotion instead of tanning bed. This is scary because I liked to do sun tanning and many women that I know that they are doing tanning bed too. Skin cancer isn’t common thing in Korea but I thought I should tell them that tanning bed is bad for our health.
Link : http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2008/06/06/hfh.fortin.indoor.tans.cnn
Title: Why does food get stale over time?
Author: James BeMiller
Date published: April 24, 2008
Source: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=experts-why-does-food-get-stale
Bread starts to stale as soon as it leaves the oven and starts to cool, how quickly it stales depends on the ingredients put in to it. There are pockets of carbon dioxide which are produced by fermenting yeast. This makes it a foam like texture. The most important part is when the starch molecules crystallize because of lack of water molecules. Foods that don’t rely on moisture usually don’t go stale. You can de-stale your bread by microwaving it, this may be because it causes minor yeast activity, but once the bread cools downs it will be back to being stale.
Additional sources: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_stale_food_get_hard
Shenaz
Title: Bacteria Thrive in Inner Elbow; No Harm Done
Author: Nicholas Wade
Date of article:May 23, 2008
Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/23/healthscience/23gene.php
Additional source: http://www.physorg.com/news131798075.html
http://www.bodyandfitness.com/Information/Health/Research/friendly.htm
The crook of your elbow isn't just a plain patch of skin. It is a piece of highly covected real estate, a special ecosystem, a bountiful home to no fewer than six tribes of bacteria. Even after you showered, ther are still one million bacteria in every square centimeter. However they aren't bad bacteria, because they are helping to moisturize the skin by processing the raw fats it produces. There are at least 20 different niches for bacteria or more on human skin. Microbiologists believe that humans and their commensal bacteria are continually adapting to one another genetically.
KAYLA LEE!!!!!!!
The tornado touched down north of the Trans-Canada Highway around 6:30 pm on June 22, 2007 and slowly moved southeast where it picked up a tractor-trailer before it headed south and severely damaged the town's flour mill causing over $1 million in damage. After hitting the flour mill it headed southeast towards Elie, where it destroyed four houses, flipped over cars, and destroyed most of the elie city. This tornado was an F5 tornado, no one was killed or injured.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/09/18/tornado.html
Title:Cellphone Addiction Affects Teenagers’ Sleep
Author: ScienceDaily
Date of Article: June 9, 2008
Source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609071341.htm
A recent study with Dr. Badre has shown that if you have more than 15 calls and/or send 15 text messages in a day you are going to be more restless and are more careless of your lifestyle. They also have difficulty falling asleep and have a hard time to be asleep when they are. The addiction to the cellphones is becoming more common now because the peer pressure of teenagers, etc. Although it’s not true in many cases, there is a higher percentage that those who are addicted to the cellphone are going to smoke, do drugs and/or drink alcohol. In a teenager’s life, sleep is very important. It’s recommended for us to have 9 hours of sleep. When you do skip sleep, it makes you cranky and clumsy. When you skip for two nights, you will have trouble with thinking and doing things. After five nights, the person will start to hallucinate. So, stop staring at your cellphone and go to bed!
Other Sources:
Why Do I need to Sleep - http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/sleep.html
Title: Milk into Plastic
By: Solarseth
Date Made: December 21, 2007
Source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmopPijhXXI
For this experiment you will need milk, vinegar, and a stove. To start the experiment off you will need to turn on the stove and heat the milk till it is warm, but not boiling. Once the milk is heated, turn off the stove and add the vinegar slowly while stirring. Then put the substance under a swifter and a plastic will be formed called accent. So your probably asking yourself why does this happen. Well there is an acid in vinegar called citric. Citric acid promotes coagulation of the casein particles. These are the visible white clumps that you filtered out. Addition to the heat actually helps polymerization of the protein. So when heated the particles are larger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIvAl4lu1uA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECjMHWM6dSg
By Sonja
Title: Why the Brain Follows the Rules
Date: June 10, 2008
Author: Caroline Zink
Source: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=why-the-brain-follows-the
Humans are very social beings so when someone breaks the rules then we get upset. The article uses the analogy, when we are standing in line we expect others to stand in line also and when they don’t we get upset. These are called social norms. The reason for social norms is that we are afraid that if we do not follow the rules then we will get in trouble. Studies have shown that when we take away peoples fear of punishment they are not worried about following the rules. An exception that researchers found is that there are some people who will always comply with social norms, while others despite the threat of punishment refuse to behave(i.e. In our classroom). Researchers found in their many studies that the frontal lobes and orbitofrontal cortex are both responsible for the fear of punishment. These studies are not all conclusive because we just don’t yet understand the brain. The brain is the most complicated organ in the body and most difficult to understand. In addition fairness plays a big role and evaluating risk.
Additional sources:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/brain.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain
Darren
Title; Cracking a Safe with Dynamite
Date; June 18th, 2008
Source; Mythbusters
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dxgPX5-cmvc
In the video, the Mythbusters try to prove that they can open up a safe by drilling a hole in the top, filling it with water, and then inserting a stick of dynamite. They think that the water will keep it from destroying the contents inside, and the waves of pressure will force the door open. The first flaw in the myth, is that water is continuously leaking out of the safe, making it impossible to fill it up all the way. Once they find a way to seal the safe completely, the fill it again, and then insert their stick of dynamite. The explosives knock the door off - the desired effect - but blew up all the contents of the safe in the process. Proving that it’s impossible to blow up a safe without damaging everything inside.
- Daniela Cianflone
*I forgot to sign my last three awareness articles. Sorry.
Title: Air Pollution
Author: Richmond, Elliot
Date of article: October 16, 2008
Source: http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SciRC?locID=winn39111&bi=SU&bt=%2522Pollution%2522&c=5&t=1&ste=21&docNum=CV2642050207&st=b&tc=63&tf=32
Air pollution is the contamination of air by unwanted gases, smoke particles, and other substances. Air pollution has been around since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.However, air pollution was considered a local problem. The burning of fossil fuels produced the most smoke, so some cities restricted the type of coal that could be burned to hard coal, which burns cleaner than soft coal. More efficient burners were installed and devices were attached to smokestacks to remove soot. Diesel locomotives replaced steam locomotives, which had burned coal or oil to heat the water to make the steam. These changes all led to a gradual reduction in smoke pollution during the last half of the twentieth century.
Additional sources:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/out-ext/effe/health_effects-effets_sante-eng.php
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html
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