Comments on: I passed 8th grade science! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:02:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: cindy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17964 cindy Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:55:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17964 hey it feels good hey it feels good

]]> By: Josh Beh http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17963 Josh Beh Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:49:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17963 We love science so much it is amazinggg i love itt soo much like u dont even knowww !!!!!!!! SCIENce ROckss my socksss its awesome i wanna be a scienctist when i grow up thankss Byee childreennn =) ,3 We love science so much it is amazinggg i love itt soo much like u dont even knowww !!!!!!!! SCIENce ROckss my socksss its awesome i wanna be a scienctist when i grow up thankss Byee childreennn =) ,3

]]> By: AllanThinks http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17933 AllanThinks Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:09:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17933 <strong>Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?...</strong> I did. The first time was a long time ago. And I just passed again. You Passed 8th Grade Science Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct! Could You Pass 8th Grade Science? But, along with Steve at Modulator and Phil at... Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?…

I did. The first time was a long time ago. And I just passed again. You Passed 8th Grade Science Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct! Could You Pass 8th Grade Science? But, along with Steve at Modulator and Phil at…

]]> By: Genetics and Health » Could you pass 8th grade science? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17958 Genetics and Health » Could you pass 8th grade science? Sun, 30 Jul 2006 12:20:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17958 [...] As I told Bora, I was able to ace this test because my understanding of science is at the 8th grade level. This is where not being as smart as Phil of Bad Astronomy is an advantage. [...] […] As I told Bora, I was able to ace this test because my understanding of science is at the 8th grade level. This is where not being as smart as Phil of Bad Astronomy is an advantage. […]

]]> By: TheBlackCat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17934 TheBlackCat Sun, 30 Jul 2006 03:23:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17934 Sorry, Nigel, I missed your post somehow. -65 mV is considered "standard" for neuron resting membrane potential, but it can vary 20 or more mV above or below that depending on what type of cell it is and how healthy it is. The stellate cells I am currently measuring often rest in the -68 to -70 mV range, but that is considered pretty low. Pyramidals are more in the -60 to -65 mV range. The resting potential can get higher if the cell is less healthy, up to the about -50 mV firing threshold as the cell dies, causing the cell to fire a continuous stream of action potentials. And don't worry, Troy. I won't throw test tubes at you. Small glass needles, perhaps, but not test tubes. All our test tubes are plastic, it would be a waste of time ;) (j/k) Sorry, Nigel, I missed your post somehow. -65 mV is considered “standard” for neuron resting membrane potential, but it can vary 20 or more mV above or below that depending on what type of cell it is and how healthy it is. The stellate cells I am currently measuring often rest in the -68 to -70 mV range, but that is considered pretty low. Pyramidals are more in the -60 to -65 mV range. The resting potential can get higher if the cell is less healthy, up to the about -50 mV firing threshold as the cell dies, causing the cell to fire a continuous stream of action potentials.

And don’t worry, Troy. I won’t throw test tubes at you. Small glass needles, perhaps, but not test tubes. All our test tubes are plastic, it would be a waste of time ;) (j/k)

]]> By: Troy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17935 Troy Sat, 29 Jul 2006 23:52:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17935 While the quiz maker obviously made several mistakes, 0 for the electrical charge of a neuron is actually the best answer because the precision of the responses are integers and -70 mV (which is -0.070 V) as an integer is best described as 0 in the precision given. (I'll duck while you all throw food, test tubes, and bunsen burners at me!) This does illustrate the importance of significant figures and units doesn't it? While the quiz maker obviously made several mistakes, 0 for the electrical charge of a neuron is actually the best answer because the precision of the responses are integers and -70 mV (which is -0.070 V) as an integer is best described as 0 in the precision given. (I’ll duck while you all throw food, test tubes, and bunsen burners at me!) This does illustrate the importance of significant figures and units doesn’t it?

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17932 Nigel Depledge Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:24:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/27/i-passed-8th-grade-science/#comment-17932 Black Cat, you're right about the membrane potential. Earlier, I said it was about -30mV, but this was wrong. Depending on who you ask, it does appear to be around -70 mV. The figure probably varies because either different neurons have different potentials, or because different methods give slightly different results. It has been many years since I was sitting in physiology lectures.... Black Cat, you’re right about the membrane potential. Earlier, I said it was about -30mV, but this was wrong. Depending on who you ask, it does appear to be around -70 mV. The figure probably varies because either different neurons have different potentials, or because different methods give slightly different results. It has been many years since I was sitting in physiology lectures….

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