https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7 Cheyenne McDougal en-us 2017-10-02 21:54:25 UTC 2023-07-18 17:43:15 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Xmastree.png cheyenne_mcdougal227 https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193226652 Trees create their own energy through photosynthesis. The leaves of trees absorb light energy from the sun. The process of photosynthesis then transforms the absorbed light energy into chemical energy. This energy is stored within the tree as carbohydrates until the the leaves or or other tree parts are consumed by another organism. That organism then gets the energy created by the tree. Trees also collect water for themselves through the use of their roots. ]]> 2017-10-02 22:22:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193226652 cheyenne_mcdougal227 https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193227386 Humans are constantly looking for sources of clean and renewable energy. Much of the energy we use today comes from nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuel. Not only will these sources eventually run out, they also have a drastic negative impact on our environment, such as burning fossil fuels causing excess pollution and getting in the way of our ability to breathe clean air. If we can use our knowledge of trees and how they create energy in order to create clean, green energy for ourselves, we can put the use of nonrenewable energy to rest (at least somewhat). We can also take a trick from the trees playbook when it comes to collecting water, since the amount of viable drinking water compared to the amount of water on our planet is very low. This idea can also help us provide homes for nature's creatures. Many animals often make homes in trees and those homes are being destroyed by deforestation. If we create artificial homes for animals using our knowledge of trees, we will be providing creatures a home to grow in. ]]> 2017-10-02 22:29:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193227386 cheyenne_mcdougal227 https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193228346 Employing the ideas of biomimicry, humans could create a "tree" that provides energy and water for the human population. This would be a man-made structure, that looks like a tree (for aesthetic value) and is able to collect energy from the sun. This invention would have "leaves" that can soak up the sun's light energy and convert that energy into chemical energy that can be used by humans as a clean energy source. These "trees" would also have man-made roots that soak up rainwater that could then be filtered and cleaned in order to make it suitable for human use. These man-made trees would help humans become more sustainable. We could rely on these contraptions for energy instead of relying on other nonrenewable sources. Since the sun's energy will never run out (barring the end of the world) this type of energy would be sustainable for eternity. The "trees" would also be made to resemble and carry-out the same functions as real trees. This being said, animals could make their homes in them, creating an ecosystem for animals who may struggle to find a home due to the loss of real trees. ]]> 2017-10-02 22:40:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193228346 cheyenne_mcdougal227 https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193268146 The first prototype contains piping to act as roots to collect water, a water filtration system to filter and clean the water collected by the roots, and abstractly shaped solar panels to collect light energy from the sun. ]]> 2017-10-03 04:42:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193268146 cheyenne_mcdougal227 https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193268503 The second prototype contains all of the same things as prototype A. However, this prototype contains the addition of burrow holes for animals to use as a habitat in order to promote balance among humans and animals and fight against the impacts of deforestation. ]]> 2017-10-03 04:47:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193268503 cheyenne_mcdougal227 https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193268652 The final prototype contains the modification of the solar panels. Instead of using abstractly shaped solar panels, the panels are shaped to provide more surface area for sunlight to hit. This prototype keeps the animal burrow holes, root-like piping, and water filtration system from previous prototypes but contains the addition of a water reserve. Previously the filtered water had no destination. With this prototype the water will go into a water reserve which can then be used a variety of methods. ]]> 2017-10-03 04:48:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cheyenne_mcdougal227/vt18lw853zx7/wish/193268652