Sunday, February 20, 2011

Extreme Conditions/Extreme Environments

An extreme environment is an environment which exhibits harsh and challenging environment conditions. These  conditions can be in the climate, landscapes and especially in certain extremes of temperature exceeding the boundaries of what a human can comfortably tolerate.


Examples of extreme environments include but are not limited to;  AntarcticArctic, some desertsjungles and volcanoesunderwaterupper atmosphereouter space, other planets. 


It is pretty amazing how certain organisms such as the white crabs in the hydrothermal vents are able to survive in such extreme environments.  


this picture, although beautiful, is an example of an extreme environment, in which some animals such as certain whales and marine mammals or fish may be able to survive, but a human cannot.



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This is an image of the hydrothermal vents..another extreme environment

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It is amazing how although scientists cannot live in these environments, they are still able to study them and come up with new inventions and means of exploring these environments.  As time goes on exploration will only get better and better

Deductive and Inductive Reasoning

Inductive and deductive reasoning are two methods of reasoning used to form a conclusion based on certain information that is assumed to be true. Inductive and deductive reasoning are used in research to establish hypotheses.


Inductive reasoning is also known as induction and inductive logic.  Inductive reasoning is a kind of reasoning that constructs or evaluates inductive arguments. Inductive reasoning suggests the truth, but do not ensure it.

For example one could say that since all life forms we come across need water to exist, all life depends on liquid water to exist.
Deductive Reasoning is a type reasoning which constructs or evaluates deductive arguments. Deductive arguments try and show that a conclusion can be made from a set of premises or hypotheses. A deductive argument is valid if the conclusion does follow necessarily from the premise.  An example is all human beings drink water.  I am a human being.  Therefore, I drink water.  I used myself as an example, but any person or name could have been used there as an example of deductive reasoning.  

Both inductive and deductive reasoning are similar in the fact that they are means of obtaining information and gaining knowledge.  Not only are these good techniques to use for scientists or people in a job field that requires these types of reasoning, but they can be used in everyday life as well.  For example.  Every Freshman at Mercer lives in dorms.  I am a freshman.  Therefore I must live in a dorm.  Or, all students at Mercer are expected to be on time for classes.  I go to Mercer.  Therefore I am expected to be on time for class.  

It is important for people to be able to use these types of reasoning and gain knowledge in doing so.  I feel like the difference between the two isn't as important as simply knowing what they are and how to use each as a tool.