Kristina Mitrovic

Patrick Youell

Science

3/29/2015

During 2014 there were many events that happened all around the world. The top three most important news stories were the curiosity rover, Ebola outbreak that took place In Africa,and the Rosetta probe.

Rosetta probe (Figure 1) is a space probe that was launched 2004 on March 2^nd, with the goal to investigate the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet. The probe was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket. On August 6^th 2014, the probe reached the comet orbit and became it’s first satellite. Right away it started to make many high resolution photographs in order to determine the best position for landing. Location named J was chosen. Philae lander (Figure 2) detached from Rosetta on November 12^th 2014 but it didn’t land on planned position. It bounced twice and landed more than 1 km far from J. Unfortunately, the landing position was in a shadow, and solar panels were able to collect solar energy only 90 minutes instead of 6-7 hours like previously was planned. The second problem was that one of three Philae “legs” was not in contact with comet surface. The lander was supplied with ten instruments in order to complete it’s mission: research of the nucleus, determination the chemical compounds present and study of comet activities and development over time. 1

Ebola outbreak

Ebola started in 1976 in Africa. It is a disease that causes fever and bleeding. Along with those symptoms come vomiting, diarrhea, and red eyes. During 2014, there was a outbreak. This disease started spreading so vigorously that it killed more than 8,000 people. There are 21,689 people that were affected in 2014 and there is still no cure. Imagine all those people that are living and fighting this disease right now? Doctors tell us that there is 86 people with the disease, 59 died. At the moment they are working on a vaccine that might be the answer to the problem. This is the most important news that was in 2014 because it affects people. It is a dangerous disease and because of it 8,000 people died. It is important to know how to protect yourself from this disease, to be able to survive.

 Did you know what the curiosity rover does, and why it is on Mars? The curiosity rover, that landed there on 2012, show spikes of methane which means there is a possibility for life there. Even if  scientists still aren't sure of cause, one of the possibilities is that it might be bacteria like organisms there. To support their theory, they found out that 95%  is from microbial organisms. Scientists are now putting curiosity rover to test weather of not life on mars is possible. 

These were one of the most exciting things that happened in my opinion, all three of these events brought some kind of change to our world, and I think everyone should read and know about it :)