2644 - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge

1 0 · journal of Student Research Abstracts
2655
USING THE MICROBIAL LAVA LAMP, WE STUDIED THE EFFECTS OF YEAST
Denis Pavlov, Kyle Wallace, Igor Sheynkman, Marcus Burns. Teacher: Mr. Stone. Reseda High School
Police Academy Magnet, 18230 Kittridge St, Reseda, CA 91335.
First, we make solution I, which will be used to make beads: pour about 30 milliliters of alginate solution
(41-46°C or 105-l15°F) in the mixing chamber, add 8.5-9.0 grams of glass powder, add 1 milliliter of Glo­
Sperse pigment using a plastic pipette, add 1 gram of dried yeast, close the mixing chamber and don't stop
shaking it until the beads are made. In the meanwhile we prepare the chloride solution: fill up 2/3 of the cup
with 5% calcium chloride solution. Now, let's make the beads: fill a pipette with our solution I, start dropping
it, one-by-one, in the chloride solution about an inch above the cup, when solution I is used up, let the beads
stay in the chloride solution for about 5 minutes and then rinse them about 5 times. After we are done with the
beads, we need to make our next solution, where we will have our beads go up and down: fill up 3/4 of the 2liter
bottle with tap water, add about 1/2 of cup of granulated sugar, add about 1/4 of a teaspoon of active dry
yeast, add the beads, stick the bubbler on top on the bottle or a fermentation airlock (which should already have
1 milliliter of water). Wait about 5 minutes and you will see the yeast metabolize and produce bubbles. After
counting we get 1 bubble in a minute. Then we do exactly the same thing over again, except, instead of active
dry yeast, we used bread machine yeast, and instead of getting 1 bubble in a minute, we got 2 bubbles a minute.
That proves that by using bread machine yeast instead of dry active yeast, the number of bubbles increases
twice.
2656
REACTIONS OF GORDIAN WORMS TO VARIOUS STIMULI IN THEIR
HABITAT.
A. Arroyo, A. Campos, V. Lopez, S. Salvi, A. L. Rodriguez, and A. T. Flagan (teacher). Ramona Convent
Secondary School, 1701 W. Ramona Rd, Alhambra, CA 91803.
Worms play a significant role in improving the soil by allowing air and water to reach deeper into the
ground. The purpose of this experiment was to see the different reactions of gordian worms to various stimuli
in their habitat. We polluted the gordian worms' habitat with everyday products, such as Canola oil, vinegar,
Ajax, sugar, hand soap, Windex and starch. Litter and pollution make up the chemicals that greatly affect the
well-being of the gordian worms in their habitat. Even a few chemicals can alter the welfare of the gordian
worms. If land, air and water pollution from our wastes continue, gordian worms will die off and possibly other
creatures as well. Their significant roles in the environment would eventually end, which will affect not only
the gordian worms and other animals, but humans as well. We basically tested to see the gordian worms' reactions
to pollutants of everyday products in their habitat.
2657
IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.
P. Castaneda, K. Canon, A. Ho, A. Sanglimsuwan, and A. T. Flagan (teacher). Ramona Convent Secondary
School 1701 West Ramona Road, Alhambra, CA 91803-3099.
Almost all organisms are "dependent" on other organisms to survive-and certainly all organisms need substances
such as nutrients, water, and gases frorri the environment. By studying ecology, biologists have come
to recognize the interdependence of organisms and the physical environment. However, with the era of industrialization,
people have been polluting the physical environment lately by dumping non-biodegradable waste
and toxic materials. The purpose for this experiment was to "demonstrate" how pollution can affect an organ-