tuesday, september 9, 2003
news
the university daily kansan
3A
Students ready balloon for flight
By Amber Bylarlay
abaylarlay@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
For some students in the department of aerospace engineering the motto is simple: If at first you don't succeed, try again.
Contributed Photo
University of Kansas electrical and aerospace engineering students connected a high-altitude balloon system, HABS, to a weather balloon. The students launched the balloon May 3 and plan to launch another balloon at the end of this semester.
Last semester engineering students created a project that would allow them to test various devices in space-like conditions. However, the students were not able to finish the project. Now a new group of students is continuing this program.
In the students' senior design lab, they created an electrical device that is attached to a weather balloon used to test how well certain technologies work in high altitudes. The device the students created is a high-altitude balloon system, HABS. This system would then carry whatever equipment the students planned to test.
"If you want to take something down the freeway you want to use an 18-wheeler," said Timothy Rink, Shawnee graduate student who worked on last year's HABS. "We built the 18-wheeler, but we didn't
build what was inside the trailer."
The system was expected to carry a transmitter, technology for the KU Balloon Experiment satellite — KUBEsat — and weather-gathering instruments, But Rink said, the equipment to be tested was not ready by the launch date. The HABS is reusable and is attached to the underside of a weather balloon. A payload can then be attached to the system. The payload, or technology that is being tested, is supposed to be attached below the HABS and could be a number of things including equipment that is tested for its ability to function in space-like conditions. Though the HABS does not control the balloon, it does take measurements about atmospheric conditions. The HABS can also trigger the balloon to explode if it goes too high.
explode if it goes wrong.
Students began working on the HABS project during Spring 2003 and launched the first balloon on May 3. Trevor Sorensen, associate professor of aerospace engineering, introduced the HABS idea to his design lab. Sorensen said that because of a power failure the HABS was lost for three weeks.
weeks.
The flight was expected to last for two to three hours and the balloon was only supposed to go as high as 10,000 feet. However, because there was no power to the HABS to make the balloon pop, the balloon rose 100,000 feet. It exploded when the pressure inside
the balloon was greater than the surrounding air pressure. It was found in Missouri.
Sørensen said that students in this semester's design class were working to refurbish the HABS to launch it again at the end of the semester.
Edited by Abby Sidesinger
Pre-meds choose time over money
By Danielle Hillix
dhillix@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Randy Schumacher is a premed student with a soft spot for children.
"I just want to work with children," said Schumacher, Topeka senior. "It doesn't matter how good of a life I am going to lead."
According to a recent study, the medical profession needs more people like Schumacher, who are willing to work odd hours.
Doctors at Northwestern University and Northeastern Ohio University conducted the study, released last week. The study
showed that more medical students were picking their specialty based on the lifestyle it offered rather than passion for the work or their possible salary.
"The medical profession is going to have to come up with some imaginative responses to this trend," said Gregory Rutecki, one of the study's authors.
Researchers conducted the study over six years. Students were surveyed about their specialty choice and the factors that affected it.
Results showed that 55 percent of students' choices related to lifestyle factors, such as family time, on-call hours and work hours per week, and 9 percent based their
decisions on potential income.
Students are choosing the specialities that condense their work day, leaving them with more free time, Rutecki said.
"Students are telling us that they want to work hard during the day; but when they leave the office, they want to be left alone." Ruecke said.
Rutledge said.
This has made some specialties, like optometry and dermatology, popular goals for pre-med students at the University of Kansas, said Paul Crosby, premed adviser at the University.
Doctors within these specialities control their own hours and have limited on-call hours, Crosby said, leaving more time
"People are thinking more about their family life separate from their profession." Crosby said.
This fact points to a potential shortage of on-call specialities. The study showed that the percentage of medical students choosing family practice dropped from 16.1 percent in 1996 to 9.5 percent in 2002. The percentage of students choosing general surgery dropped from 10.4 percent to 7.6 percent.
"It's going to be difficult for the medical profession," Rutecki said. "Something will have to be done."
- Edited by Ehren Meditz
Reusing bottles may be unsafe
By Danielle Hillix
dhillix@kansan.com
dhillax staff writer
Water is good for you. Reusing water bottles is not.
Recent studies by a federal department in Canada showed several health risks associated with the reuse of plastic water bottles. Researchers found bacteria and potential cancer-causing materials in reused single-use bottles. Despite the study results, students continue to use plastic bottles for weeks at a time.
Ian Ostrander, Emporia junior, always carries a plastic water bottle with him.
"All you have to do is refill it and it's just as good as water you would buy from the store," Ostrander said.
Not according to a study conducted in elementary schools in Alberta, Canada.
Alberta, Canada The study, organized by Health Canada, tested the water in plastic bottles reused by school children.
Results revealed bacteria levels that would require a boiling order if the water had come from a tap.
Researchers stated in the study that the bacteria likely resulted when children repeatedly reused the bottles without washing them.
But washing plastic bottles may result in additional problems.
A study conducted at the University of Idaho found that washing plastic bottles intended for single use could produce cancer-causing materials.
Single-use bottles are made from a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate. While safe for single use, the plastic breaks down when used repeatedly. Washing the bottles speeds up this process.
up this process. Researchers found that as the plastic was washed and degraded, it produced DEHA. a
"With any plastic container, you're going to get contaminants."
Richard Ziesen
Richard Ziesen
Director of environmental health at the
Douglas County Health Department
potentially cancer-causing toxin.
Water samples from repeatedly washed plastic bottles frequently contained DEHA, along with other toxins. The more the bottle was used and washed, the more toxins were found in the water
Richard Ziesen, director of environmental health at the Douglas County Health Department, said that with all these health risks, reusing water bottles was a bad idea.
"As a rule, I would say don't do it." Ziesen said.
But toxins and bacteria haven't stopped Ostrander and other students from reusing water bottles.
deents in the teaching "I would be more afraid of bacteria from public water fountains." Ostrander said.
Ziesen said if water bottles were going to be reused, they should be thoroughly washed with a weak bleach solution. But even then, some dirt, bacteria and toxins will remain.
"With any plastic container you're going to get contaminants," Ziesen said. "It's advisable just to buy new bottles."
Buying new plastic bottles does not mean old bottles should be thrown away.
The Community Recycling Center, located in the Wal-Mart parking lot at 3300 Iowa St. accepts plastic bottles labeled with a 1 or 2.
"We're not discouraging recycling in any way," said Ziesen. "But reusing plastic bottles is not a good idea from a health standpoint."
—Edited by Joey Berlin
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