Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Causes and Effects of Nuclear Energy

Causes and Effects of Nuclear Energy Energy is life, as life on this planet depends upon a fixed amount of energy (citation) . Modern industrialized energy sources, such as coal and petroleum, were originally utilized for their seeming promise of high energies yielded per unit volume. Now, there is a much cleaner source of energy, it is called Nuclear power. It originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission (The Nuclear Energy Institute (2012). Power plants use fission processes to generate heat for producing steam, which is used by a turbine to generate electricity (The Nuclear Energy Institute (2012). This electricity is consumed by people. This essay will firstly discuss the environment as for cause for nuclear energy, and then detail its subsequent negative biological and environmental effects. Para 1 (Benefits) To begin with there are many causes of nuclear power, but the key focus is that nuclear power does not emit carbon dioxide; it is reliable and is very efficient compared to other sources of power such as fossil fuel and coal. No carbon emissions this the big selling point to environmentalists about nuclear power plants are that they are said to emit almost no carbon dioxide. Some prominent environmentalists have embraced nuclear power because they see the imminent threat of global warming outweighing the potential threat of localized nuclear meltdowns. But how true is the claim. Reliability of nuclear power plants need little fuel, so they are less vulnerable to shortages because of strikes or natural disasters. International relations will have little effect on the supply of fuel to the reactors because uranium is evenly deposited around the globe. As stated by The Nuclear Energy Institute 2012 one disadvantage of uranium mining is that it leaves the residues from chemical processing of the ore, which leads to radon exposure to the public. Safety the results of a compromised reactor core can be disastrous, but the precautions that prevent this from happening prevent it well. Nuclear power is one the safest methods of producing energy. As stated by The Nuclear Energy Institute 2012 each year, 10,000 to 50,000 Americans die from respiratory diseases due to the burning of coal, and 300 are killed in mining and transportation accidents. Transition However, Nuclear Power Plants also have negative characteristic. Specifically, Nuclear Power Plants use uranium, one of the rarest elements in nature and a non-renewable source. Secondly, Nuclear power plants are also very expensive to build. Furthermore, failures in the cooling system can cause potentially hazarders steam explosions. Lastly, too much exposure to radiation can be fatal or cause cancer, and even exposure to small amounts radioactive waste can be lethal. Para2 On the other hand, nuclear power negatively effects the environment as it is a catalyst for the devastation of nature resulting from meltdowns and waste disposal. Meltdowns occur when there is a loss of coolant water in a fission reactor, the rods would overheat. The rods that contain the uranium fuel pellets would dissolve, leaving the fuel exposed. The temperature would increase with the lack of a cooling source. As stated by Apikyyan and Diamond 2009. When the fuel rods heat to 2800Â °C, the fuel would melt, and a white-hot molten mass would melt its way through the containment vessels to the ground below it. Thus would lead to grammar-rays being exposed in the air which travel, if any living thing around the radius of three hundred and twenty one kilometres would get affected. Waste Disposal the biggest stumbling block in support of nuclear power is the question of what to do with 20-30 tons of radioactive waste that each reactor accrues annually. Currently, waste is stored at nuclear plants across the country as new waste storage schemes are devised then fought over, scrapped, revised and fought over again. Stated by the daily green 2012.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said that waste can continue to be stored at plants almost 60 years after they shut down. Para3 The energy of nuclear detonation effects the environment in three ways, which are: blast radiation, nuclear radiation and thermal radiation. The distribution of radiation depends on the kind of nuclear weapon and the place of a blast. As stated by Weart (year) For a low altitude atmospheric detonation of a moderate sized weapon in the kiloton range, the energy is distributed roughly as follows: 50% as blast; 35% as thermal radiation; and 10% as residual nuclear radiation. The second main kind of nuclear weapon is based on the fusion reactions. Thanks to these reactions a large amount of energy is produced. These kinds of bombs can be several times more powerful than fission bombs. This is explained by the fact that the fusion reaction can produce a larger amount of energy per same mass. The bombs which are based on the use of fusion reaction are named hydrogen bombs, thermonuclear bombs or fusion bombs. Only several countries in the world possess this kind of nuclear weapon. The fiss ion mechanism is used in order to start the process of fusion in these kind of bombs, according to Rhodes When the fission bomb is detonated, gamma and X-rays emitted at the speed of light first compress the fusion fuel, then heat it to thermonuclear temperatures Conclusion To conclude the effects of nuclear power is to dangerous in the long term as it will affect the environment and the people. The danger caused by the use of nuclear energy is the main argument of the opponents of this use. At the present moment nuclear energy is one of the most dangerous and destructive energies in the world. Nobody can guarantee that it will be used only for peaceful goals. Distressing facts from our history, such as Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing or Chernobyl tragedy prove this. Antagonist of the nuclear energy use note that solar, wind or other renewable fuels are more effective and less dangerous types of fuels if to compare them with nuclear energy. References List Apikyyan, S Diamond, D. (2009). Nuclear Power and Energy Security. (1st ed)N.P. Springer Publishing. The daily green (2012). Nuclear Power, retrieved from http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/nuclear-power-pro-con#ixzz2CLcUCD4F The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) (2012). Retrieved from www.nei.org. Rhodes, Richard. (1986). The Making of the Atomic Bomb. New York: Simon and Schuster. U.S. Department of Energy (2012). Retrieved from www.nuclear.energy.gov/ Weart, Spencer R. 1988. Nuclear Fear: A History of Images. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Natural Resources Defense Council (2012). What if the Fukushima nuclear fallout crisis had happened here? Retrieved from )http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/fallout/ Nuclear Power and Energy Security edited by Samuel Apikyan, David Diamond World energy consumption has developed dramatically over the past few decades. This growth in energy demand will be driven by large increases in both economic growth and world population coupled with rising living standards in rapidly growing countries. This proceeding examines the status and future of nuclear power because of a belief that this technology is an important option for the regional and the world countries to meet the future energy needs without emitting carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants. The objectives, addressed to government, industry, and academic leaders, discusses the interrelated technical, economic, environmental and political challenges facing a significant increase in the global nuclear power utilization over the next half century and what might be done to overcome those challenges. U.S. Department of Energy 2012. Electricity drives the U.S. economy. It powers our homes, offices, and industries; provides communications, entertainment, and medical services; powers computers, technology, and the Internet; and runs various forms of transportation. Electricity and the many technologies that it powers enhance the quality of life for our customers and contribute to the progress and success of our nation. Even as electric utilities and power suppliers work hard to meet the increasing demands of consumers, they are strongly committed to reducing the environmental impact of electric generation. As an industry, the electric power sector has implemented flexible and cost-effective voluntary programs to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for several years.

Monday, August 5, 2019

Sustainable Product Design And Materials Recycling Environmental Sciences Essay

Sustainable Product Design And Materials Recycling Environmental Sciences Essay Over the last three decades, environmental issues have become a significant concern for all societies. With growing awareness of environmental issues, for instance, Air Pollution, Global Warming, Water Pollution and Ozone Depletion, sustainability has been gaining increasing attention in recent years. (Roy, R. 2000) However, according to Tseng, M. et al. (2012), currently it is generally not sustainable that models of consumption and the Manufacturing systems which based on traditional activities and business technologies. Therefore, sustainability has captured the attentions of most designers, regardless of their specialism. In other word, designers have to consider the sustainable aspects of their practices in order to adapt to a sustainable future. The choice of recycled materials used to make product is important, allied with the way in which they are used. (Manheim, J. 2009) The literature review is based upon the examples from Internet and books that were found to have relevanc e to the topic of sustainable product design and recycled materials. And this literature review will aim to bring together the most key examples and developments in recycled materials and sustainable product design from recent years in order to establish what the present state of the art is. (G.D. Hatcher et al., 2011) In the final part, it will demonstrate the significance and limitations of sustainable product design made from recycled materials and from this provide suggestions as to where the research should go next. Sustainable product design and materials recycling A sustainable product design also known as eco-design, green design or design for environment, and it depends on two things: what types of designs are made, and in what quantity they are made (Matthew, S. and Andrew, S. 1997). In other words designing with recycled materials is actually depending on the type of waste objects that you have access to. While from the environment aspect, Lennart (2007) suggested that a sustainable product is a product, which will give as little impact on the environment as possible during its life cycle. And sustainable products applying environmental criteria aimed at the prevention of waste and emissions and the minimization of their environmental impact, along the material life cycle of the product. (Weenen, J. C., 1995) Sustainable product design can be characterized by several factors; for instance, recycling materials through the design for environment is one of key factors, which includes design for remanufacturing, design disassembly and for sust ainability. Employment of cleaner production principles of preventive strategy and source-oriented approaches are equally essential in sustainable design practices (Tseng, M. 2012). It is generally useful to define a sustainable product or at least to have some measures of degree of sustainability. It is agreed that the principles of eco-design can be considered the running of resources in the environment. Recycled materials include collecting a large number of already made products and materials from various sources and reducing them to other standardized raw materials objects; original product form and function is totally discarded or partial changed. The main consideration of sustainable product design made from recycled materials is to facilitate the reduction or changing process, and involves approaches such as (1) modifying the materials mix, (2) recycling for disassembly, (3) designing for recycling process compatibility, and (4) adopting materials coding systems. (Fuller, D.A. and Ottman, J.A. 2004) Designer and artist worked with recycled materials Julia Manheim is a famous designer and having gained an international for her work. In the early 1970s, her concern for the disposal of materials started and found that she was fond of collecting piles of Guardian newspapers and disliked anything to going to waste. (Manheim, J. 2009) She collected various waste materials in her life such as chocolate wrappers, burnt film, toothbrush heads, plastic carrier bags, etc. then made them into creative jewelries. Her research is about how to recycle existing materials in different approaches to give it a second life and a new meaning. Accordingly, this might be achieved by altering it, using it in different ways, cutting it up, adding to it, covering it up, or casting it in another recycled material. These are all methods of reusing and reinterpreting what is here already, rather than having to start from scratch. Also she started to develop a sensibility for looking at and seeking the potential in old product and then changed it into the ne w one. It seems that intervention can be minimal, and materials do not always need to undergo a total transformation to become to a new thing; they just require handling with sensitivity and an awareness of their inherent properties. The product made from recycled materials can be equally unusual and creative if the recycled elements are easily identifiable. It depends on how inventively the materials are reused and put together. (Lea, V. 1997) Fashion designers are also chasing this eco-trend, take Gary Harvey, for example, he can recycle waste materials from his life such as a piece of old jeans, newspapers, some trench coats, army jackets or wedding dresses and turn them into new amazing dresses with eco-conscious. Gary Harvey is the former Creative designer of Levi Strauss and Dockers Europe director for Levis. An impressive creation was made from cans, cardboard boxes and bottle tops. People admire him about designing a surprising dress made from old jeans, newspapers, or even juice packages. Some people may have a question about the wearability of a designing dress out of waste materials. However, this dress is an environmentally friendly dress, which people can be worn for special occasions. It will help people spread the information of helping the environment and with unique style. His most recycled materials were from everyday life which made me consider how everyday domestic objects, found around the house or at a local shop, can be used to make sustainable product. In addition, I started pay attention to the relationship between my recycled objects and fashion. The Nike shoes are successful example of an eco-design product which is environmentally and sustainably. Steve Nash who is the All-Star Guard for the Phoenix Suns and Nike has made up a team to produce the Nike Trash Talk, the first Nike performance basketball shoes completely produced from manufacturing waste materials. The emphasis of this design was aim to create a sustainable, high-performance basketball shoe. Nike used manufacturing waste materials, such as, leather materials and synthetic leather waste from the products factory floor for the upper replace using toxic adhesives; used zigzag stitching to sew the upper together. The mid-sole was made up of scrap-ground foam from factory production materials. Nike recycled waste materials from their own manufacturing-with a low-toxin, environmentally preferred rubber to make an outsole which contains 96% fewer toxins. Even the shoelaces and sock liners were made from environmentally preferred materials. Finally, the shoes were pack aged in a fully recycled cardboard shoebox. The company tends to encourage the designers to design more sustainable products. Significance and limitations Girlamy (2008) suggested that recycling materials and transforming them into new sustainable products is a win-win trend. Designers and artists who designing sustainable product out of recycled materials are taking an object at the end of its useful life and changing it into a helpful raw material to make another new object. (Manheim, J. 2009) As a consumer, you are helping the development of eco-friendly environment when you support businesses that remanufacture products such as clothing and furniture made from recycled materials. Scientists are finding our planets landfills are filling at an alarming rate; many of the landfills filled with waste materials will remain for thousands of years. As a consequence, it will be disastrous if we do not follow the trend of using sustainable product made from recycled materials. Material recycling reduces the demand for raw materials and thus protecting the environment and preserving resources. It reduces the pollution of air and water allied with energy usage. The consumer in turn is rewarded by gaining some products which are special and exquisite when they choose a sustainable product with recycled materials. This is because, products made from waste materials are often handcrafted and manufactured by a fair trade organization that provides a fair wage and favorable working conditions for their workers. But there are clearly very few truly sustainable designs. As discussed above, humans have received a considerable number of benefits from sustainable product design, and the demand for sustainability to designer is increasing. However, sustainable product design has its limitations. In particular, an eco-friendly advantageous change in one aspect of a Green design may have contrary environmental influences elsewhere in its life cycle which may outweigh any benefits. For example, the avoidance of potentially toxic materials may decrease a designs lifetime and therefore require it to be replaced more frequent, consequently, eco-designs may consume more energy and generate more pollution than it saves. (Roy, R. 2000) The designers should not only consider the sustainability in their design activities, but also need to grasp the economic, technical, social and cultural background of their designs in various areas. In other words, designers need to consider long-term benefits rather than current benefits. Sustainability should also be of concern not only to the designers, but also to every company or organization. This is because, sustainable product design is an integrated design process driven by whole-system thinking.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

The Power of Models and Modeling Essay -- Science Agriculture Essays

The Power of Models and Modeling Models have evolved since the turn of the century. There are models for most any item or system that exists. Developments in mathematics have enabled the world of models to explode. Now most everything can be modeled using some sort of mathematics. Agriculture is field that must rely on predictions. The Farmers Almanac is a source of information that allows one to predict upcoming events. The data in the Almanac is used to model events, especially hydrologic events that can occur in the future. The models that are created today are complex and involve numerous computations that only a computer can do. These models are used in a wide variety of tasks. Models have long been a vision to people, now they are a reality, and have been used to create systems that produce cost-efficient and effective answers to everyday problems. RESTRICTIONS ON MODELING As with life, models come with restraints. These constraints must be weight to see the proper â€Å"give and take† ratio to ascertain a compatible model. There are numerous restraints exist among modeling. The obvious is the budget of the project. The more money available, the precision of the model increases. The use of complex mathematical relationships with multiple iterations leads to the need of vast amounts of computer time. The trade off is the computer time and cost is marginal compared the salary of an individual that is capable to do these mathematical computations. Educated personnel with extensive knowledge and understanding of the model are necessary to determine if the data created makes sense. Finally a model is of no use if there is not real world data to simulate. Simulation of this data checks the validity of th... ...Drainage and Uncontrolled Drainage. Paper No.87-2548. Presented at the ASAE Int’l Winter Meeting in Illinois, December 15-18, ASAE, ST. Joseph, MI (Parsons 1987) Kuo, Wen-Ling, Tammo S. Steenhuis, Charles E. MuCulloch, Charles L. Mohler, David A. Weinstein, Stephen D. DeGloria, and Dennis P. Swaney. 1999. Effect of Grid Size on Soil Moisture for a Variable –Source-Area Hydrology Model. Water Resources Research, Vol. 32, No11, 3419-3428. (Kuo 1999) Muà ±oz-Carpena, Rafael, John E. Parsons, J. Wendell Gilliam. 1998. Modeling Hydrology and Sediment Transport in Vegetative Filter Strips. J. of Hydrology. 214, (1999): 111-129 .(Muà ±oz-Carpena 1998) Skaggs, R. W., M. A. Breve, and J. W. Gilliam. 1995. Predicting Effects of Water Table Management of Loss of Nitrogen from Poorly Drained Soils. European Journal of Agronomy, Vol 494: 1-11. (Skaggs 1995).

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Affirmative Action Essay -- Government Affirmative Action Essays

Though Affirmative Action is a current controversial issue, it is far from new; its decree has been long in the making. Perhaps it originates from amendments 13-15, the series of amendments that outlawed slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and forbid racial discrimination when voting, respectively (Sykes 1). The Supreme Court’s decision in 1896, in the case of Plessy V. Ferguson, mandated separate but equal treatment for African Americans (Sykes 1). However, in 1954, the Supreme Court’s decision from Brown v. Board of Education replaced that of the Plessy v. Ferguson trial. President Lyndon Johnson was the first to use the term â€Å"Affirmative Action† in the Executive Order 11246 of 1965 (Sykes 1). This order required federal contractors to use affirmative action to make sure people were treated equally, â€Å"without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin† (Cahn 1). Two years later, Johnson amended it to incl ude women (Cahn 1). By 1971, President Nixon issued a Revised Order No. 4 that required contractors to adopt an â€Å"acceptable affirmative action program† (Cahn 1). Over the past three decades, many debates continue as to whether or not affirmative action still belongs in America. Affirmative action is an issue that evokes strong emotions for both supporters and non-supporters alike. Those against affirmative action argue that affirmative action does not help minorities but rather degrades them. They argue that affirmative action sends minorities the message that they can only succeed if they are given extra benefits; thus, resulting in damaged credibility. Often cited as example of affirmative action victims are that of Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell. Critics of affirmativ... ... http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/voices/200304/0414action.html Sherman, Mitchell. â€Å"Equal Employment Opportunity: Legal Issues and Societal Consequences.† Public Personnel Management. Washington: March-April 2008. Print. Stevenson, Daniel C. â€Å"Affirmative Action Remains Imperative.† The Tech. Boston: 7 March 1995. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www-tech.mit.edu/V115/N9/danspew.09o.html Sykes, Marquita. â€Å"The Origins of Affirmative Action.† 2004. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www.now.org/nnt/08-95/affirmhs.html Tomasson, Richard F., Faye J. Crosby, and Sharon D. Herzberger. Affirmative Action: The Pros and Cons of Policy and Practice. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2001. Print. Yetman, Norman R. Race and Ethnicity. 2007. found in: Jackson, Robert Max. Social Foundations of Public Issues. USA. McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print. Affirmative Action Essay -- Government Affirmative Action Essays Though Affirmative Action is a current controversial issue, it is far from new; its decree has been long in the making. Perhaps it originates from amendments 13-15, the series of amendments that outlawed slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and forbid racial discrimination when voting, respectively (Sykes 1). The Supreme Court’s decision in 1896, in the case of Plessy V. Ferguson, mandated separate but equal treatment for African Americans (Sykes 1). However, in 1954, the Supreme Court’s decision from Brown v. Board of Education replaced that of the Plessy v. Ferguson trial. President Lyndon Johnson was the first to use the term â€Å"Affirmative Action† in the Executive Order 11246 of 1965 (Sykes 1). This order required federal contractors to use affirmative action to make sure people were treated equally, â€Å"without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin† (Cahn 1). Two years later, Johnson amended it to incl ude women (Cahn 1). By 1971, President Nixon issued a Revised Order No. 4 that required contractors to adopt an â€Å"acceptable affirmative action program† (Cahn 1). Over the past three decades, many debates continue as to whether or not affirmative action still belongs in America. Affirmative action is an issue that evokes strong emotions for both supporters and non-supporters alike. Those against affirmative action argue that affirmative action does not help minorities but rather degrades them. They argue that affirmative action sends minorities the message that they can only succeed if they are given extra benefits; thus, resulting in damaged credibility. Often cited as example of affirmative action victims are that of Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell. Critics of affirmativ... ... http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/voices/200304/0414action.html Sherman, Mitchell. â€Å"Equal Employment Opportunity: Legal Issues and Societal Consequences.† Public Personnel Management. Washington: March-April 2008. Print. Stevenson, Daniel C. â€Å"Affirmative Action Remains Imperative.† The Tech. Boston: 7 March 1995. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www-tech.mit.edu/V115/N9/danspew.09o.html Sykes, Marquita. â€Å"The Origins of Affirmative Action.† 2004. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www.now.org/nnt/08-95/affirmhs.html Tomasson, Richard F., Faye J. Crosby, and Sharon D. Herzberger. Affirmative Action: The Pros and Cons of Policy and Practice. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2001. Print. Yetman, Norman R. Race and Ethnicity. 2007. found in: Jackson, Robert Max. Social Foundations of Public Issues. USA. McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Writing an Essay :: writing, education, process

Just about any state exam requires an essay. Writing an essay can be very difficult for some. There are simple steps to help with essay writing. However, the best way to write an essay that will pass the test, is to practice, practice, practice. By practice, I mean several things. Anything that is worth having doesn't come easy. That applies to education as much as it does to anything else in life. To enroll in college courses, one must be able to write a decent essay. To write a decent essay, one must practice. To practice writing, one must read. Reading and writing are dependent upon one another. To be an effective writer, one must also write. Reading is the best way to be prepared for any topic that might be given on an essay. You don't know which topic will be given on a test, so there is no way to "study" for it ahead of time. However, if you read a variety of materials, you will be prepared to write on just about any topic. Read the newspaper, read instruction manuals, read food labels, read clothing labels. Anything that has writing on it, READ IT!! This will help prepare you to respond to an unknown topic. You don't have to be an expert on any one topic, but you might need to be somewhat informed on current events, and you need to be able to comprehend the expectations of the topic assigned. To become a better writer, one must practice writing. Writing is not a skill that develops out of thin air. It is a skill that takes practice. When you read things, practice taking notes about them. Think about what the author is trying to convey. Create alternative versions. Write about your opinion of the article, manual, food, clothing, whichever item you are reading. Write letters to your friends or family. You don't really have to mail the letters to them, unless you want input from them. Practice writing with pen and pencil. Many essays require pencil. Practice writing on a computer. Have someone look over your writing and give you ideas. There are proofreading services that offer discounts to students. Now we are down to the actual process of writing an essay.

Consumer behavior Essay

1. Why would someone shop on the internet ? buy an ipad ? eat at T. G. I. Fridays frequently ? -Because of the fast-paced world that we live in it would be more practical to shop through the internet because of its accessibility. Through online shopping customer can get the product and avail the services they need in just a simple click of button it saves them time and energy. An ipad is a tablet computer developed by Apple. It is smaller than a typical laptop, but significantly larger than the average smartphone. The iPad does not include a keyboard or a trackpad, but instead has a touchscreen interface , which is used to control the device. Due to it’s portability, accessibility, ease of use, and the great applications you can avail with it millions of people around the world are ipad user and hundreds are still planning to get their self one, so they can ride along in the bandwagon and be one with the trend. Having an ipad can also defined one’s social status so, even though it is expensive with it’s benefits and the image it can give to a person we find iPAD’s as a practical thing to buy. T. G. I. Fridays is an American restaurant chain focusing on casual dining. It offers it’s customers good food and an American dining experience though it maybe expensive compared to other restaurant but, it is a great place to relaxed after a hard days work. a) Why would someone else not make those purchases? -Other People find it much more complicated to shop through the internet and prefer the old fashion way of shopping, some find iPad’s expensive and impractical and other people find eating at an expensive restaurant just a waste of time and money and they just prefer to eat home cooked meal. b) How would you choose one outlet, brand and model over the others? – If they have a good ambiance and feel of their store, the sales person offers good service and if their product are worthy and reasonable enough for their price. c) Would others make choice the same way ? -I guess not, because other people prefer to go with products with cheaper prices.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

High school graduates should take a year off before entering college Essay

A woman takes a selfie from a high angle A selfie is a type of self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often associated withsocial networking, like Instagram. They are often casual, are typically taken either with a camera held at arm’s length or in a mirror, and typically include either only the photographer or the photographer and as many people as can be in focus, which is more commonly known as a ‘group selfie’ Contents History The first known selfie, taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839 Robert Cornelius, an American pioneer in photography, produced a daguerreotype of himself in 1839 which is also one of the first photographs of a person. Because the process was slow he was able to uncover the lens, run into shot for a minute or more, and then replace the lens cap. He recorded on the back â€Å"The first light Picture ever taken. 1839.† Early Edwardian woman taking her picture in a mirror roughly 1900 Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia taking one of the first teenage self-portraits The debut of the portable Kodak Brownie box camera in 1900 led to photographic self-portraiture becoming a more widespread technique. The method was usually by mirror and stabilizing the camera either on a nearby object or on a tripod while framing via a viewfinder at the top of the box. Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna at the age of 13 was one of the first teenagers to take her own picture using a mirror to send to a friend in 1914. In the letter that accompanied the photograph, she wrote, â€Å"I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror. It was very hard as my hands were trembling.† The concept of uploading group self-taken photographs (now known as super selfies) to the internet, although with a  disposable camera not a smartphone, dates to a webpage created by Australians in September 2001, including photos taken in the late 1990s (captured by the Internet Archi ve in April 2004). The earliest usage of the word selfie can be traced as far back as 2002. It first appeared in an Australian internet forum (ABC Online) on 13 September 2002. Um, drunk at a mates 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie. Popularity The term â€Å"selfie† was discussed by photographer Jim Krause in 2005, although photos in the selfie genre predate the widespread use of the term. In the early 2000s, before Facebook became the dominant online social network, self-taken photographs were particularly common on MySpace. However, writer Kate Losse recounts that between 2006 and 2009 (when Facebook became more popular than MySpace), the â€Å"MySpace pic† (typically â€Å"an amateurish, flash-blinded self-portrait, often taken in front of a bathroom mirror†) became an indication of bad taste for users of the newer Facebook social network. Early Facebook portraits, in contrast, were usually well-focused and more formal, taken by others from distance. In 2009 in the image hosting and video hosting website Flickr, Flickr users used ‘selfies’ to describe seemingly endless self-portraits posted by teenage girls. According to Losse, improvements in design—especially the front-facing c amera copied by the iPhone 4 (2010) from Korean and Japanese mobile phones, mobile photo apps such as Instagram, and selfie sites such as ItisMee—led to the resurgence of selfies in the early 2010s.