HIV makes music?

HIV is a terrible disease that infects 2.7 million people a year in addition to killing 2 million people each year. However against all odds Alexandra Pajak managed to find beauty deep within the genetic make-up of virus. Pajak took as her basic formula that she developed from the National Institutes of Health’s record of the retrovirus’ genome and used the coded letters by assigning them notes on a keyboard. She then assigned pitches for the amino acids and ordered the 20 directly encoded amino acids based on their affinity for water and gave them notes on the A minor scale. Pajak decided to use the A minor scale to emphasize the sadness that surrounds the virus. I found this article very interesting because it took a subject matter that is both dangerous and frightening and made music out of it. Also the fact that Pajak made the songs based of the actual genetic make-up of the virus was interesting. I believe that this music could help to bring awareness about HIV and then people could become more educated about the causes of HIV and how it is transferred from one person to another. Also this awareness could stop the rumors and the shame that is affiliated with HIV.

Political Cartoon

“Love potions could soon help soothe the pains of romance”

     Marriage counselors may have another option to help solve the troubles of a relationship in the near future. The article “Love potions could soon help soothe the pains of romance” was about the discovery of two hormones that could be given to couples to, “rekindle faded passions or diminish problematic feelings” Says Larry Young, expert in the neuroscience of social bonding. The two hormones are oxytocin and vasopressin and are said to be important in forming a close bond with another person. This story also spoke about the possibility of a compatibility test that could be conducted on couples to see if there romance will last. This is an issue because it is talking the human insticts out of romance and possibly turning two people away from each other that might have made a fine couple because a test said that it would not work out.

    The main issue I find with the possibility of a “Love potion” is that the love would not be valid. The love that it would create would simply be added hormones taking affect and would not change the persons view or feelings about their partner. My main concern is that people would start to need this drug in order to feel good about their partner and there for be with their partner. Also these added hormones could cause one partner to not be faithful and that would not help the marriage if not end it. One thing I will take away from this article is that not all of scientific research is used properly. These new hormones will not be used properly and could cause a disaster to the relationships and values that we respect today.