The changing face of Iowa: wind turbines

It’s windy in Iowa. (I didn’t have to tell you, did I?)

It’s hard to miss Iowa’s new wind turbines. They continue to spring up in Western Iowa along Interstate 80 in areas including one called Windy Hills. The turbines are on both sides of I-80 in Adair , Cass , and Pottawattamie Counties. 

Today we find that Mid-American Energy has over 100 turbines in Pottawatamie County alone where many of the pictures above were taken at the Walnut Wind Project.

Money is blowing in the wind.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists each turbine will net the landowner $2,000 -5,000/year in royalties. That’s great news in counties where the average farm is near 440 acres and the crop value per harvested acre has been running between $205 – 225/acre.

How are we doing in terms of absolute capacity compared to the rest of the country? We’re doing well; currently we are even with California in absolute capacity. DOE puts us 3rd in the nation; citing Dirk Lammers Yahoo says 2nd, where Texas is first. 

•  Iowa has 2862 MW of capacity (with our population of 3 million that’s about 1 kW/person)
• California has 2868 MW with their population of 36 million
• In Iowa we’re producing 10% of the nation’s wind power. I’m impressed!

Resources for further information

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (US DOE)
• energy matters (Australia)
• Wind Power A to Z
• You Tube videos on wind energy

photos by James G. Lindberg

Beer, breweries, and food science

Do you think you know everything there is to know about beer? Maybe, maybe not, but you will have a chance on Wednesday night to find out.

Dr. Robert Bates is a food scientist and one smart guy. He will be visiting Simpson College to talk about:

• The Chemistry and Alchemy of Brewing
• Wednesday, March 18, 2009
• 7:30 pm
• 215 Carver Science Center (on the map)
• Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa

Dr. Bates retired in 2003 after a 35 year career at the University of Florida in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He is such a popular speaker that he has been on tour for the American Chemical Society giving many talks each year. He is visiting as a guest of the Ames Section of the ACS, Iowa State, and Simpson; his local host at Simpson is Professor Cliff Meints of the Chemistry Department (515/961-1828 or cliff.meints@simpson.edu).

Here is the press release on the talk:

Beer making, one of the oldest examples of biotechnology, is a fascinating study of chemistry, biochemistry, and engineering. It combines well recognized and controllable reactions and operations with complex, poorly understood phenomena, including the psychosensory response. Surprisingly, some of the most sophisticated science and technology are employed in the efficient production of mass advertised, mediocre beers. In contrast, traditional alchemy-driven methods can produce exceptional yet under-recognized beers. Fortunately, there is an achievable balance between these extremes. This presentation will cover the brewing process from raw material selection and preparation through fermentation to consumption. Emphasis will be on major pathways employed by brewers to produce a wide range of beers. These are exciting times for brewers and beer connoisseurs in the U.S. Future industry developments of relevance to consumers will be mentioned. With dedication and practice, the average chemist can brew above-average beers; so can the experienced kitchen alchemist.

It’s a short trip. Take advantage.

photo by flickr by pete4ducks

Chocolate? Not always

Will it melt in your mouth or stick to the roof of your mouth?

Maybe they hoped you wouldn’t notice, but The Hershey’s Company changed the formulation for some but not all of their candy. The news broke in September, 2008. Now Hershey’s has changed the names of some of their products because they can’t call them milk chocolate. What’s that slogan again? Is it, “If it’s Hershey’s, you’d better read the label?” I am not sure I have it quite right, but it’s something like that. I’m afraid, we’ll just have to read the label carefully. With an American icon like Hershey’s, I shouldn’t have to do that. Some of it’s milk chocolate; some of it ain’t.

Chemists use the term formula to describe the mixture of particular materials (ingredients) and amounts that go into various products, especially those that are sold to the public. It might be food, paint, steel, medicine, paper, ink, glue, or plastic. The term formulation describes the process of putting it together. Every commercial product has its own formula.

By law you can’t call a product milk chocolate unless it contains cocoa butter. In 2007, according to the New York Times (and elsewhere) in spite of lobbying by U. S. manufacturers to cheapen the ingredients, the FDA held their ground on chocolate.

On Friday when I told a friend of mine about the recent changes in some chocolate-like candy, she talked about her perception of the difference between real chocolate and the chocolate-like candy that looks like chocolate but now lacks the name. She talked about the oily film that formed on the roof of her mouth with some products. We talked about some of the better chocolates including European chocolate. She asked me what brands. When I suggested Lindt’s as one, she happily showed me the Lindt chocolate her husband had given her for Valentine’s Day. Lately I have found European chocolates Lindt, Toblerone, and Ritter Sport and American chocolate Ghirardelli in a lot of local grocery stores.

Of course you can always find great chocolates at Chocolaterie Stam right here in Des Moines too.

If you see a little chocolate on the Purple Wren’s beak this week, it came from Chocolaterie Stam on Ingersoll.

Real chocolate costs a little more, but after all it’s not my lunch, it’s dessert!

photo by flickr by fensterbme and eszter

Go see the eagles

No matter where you live in Des Moines, it’s a short trip to see eagles. They live year round on the Des Moines River just east of Principal Park.

You can park south of the Des Moines River near S. E. Livingston and E. 6th and walk onto the E. 6th bridge. Then look east toward S. E. 14th or look up. They are in the trees, they fish, and they soar (like eagles should). It’s always good to get outside, even or maybe even especially in the winter. It’s your big chance. They are bald eagles.

If you are looking for a bald eagle with a white head, you may or may not see one. Many are immature. (Note: you may not want to call a bald eagle immature to its face. Even the immature subadults make a crow look small.) Wikipedia has a pretty nice article with several more photos.

You won’t see an eagle as close as in the photo on the right (taken by Timothy K. Hamilton in Alaska), but they are still impressive.

• really big, even from a great distance (Adults have a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet.)
• a very slow and powerful flapping of the wings

Eagles are known for their keen vision (as in eagle eye), dive speed (would you believe 200 mph?), and sharp, strong talons. It doesn’t even have to reach up to adjust its binocular vision. Bald eagles don’t like to be in populated areas so we are lucky to have them close enough to watch. And when you check ‘em out, remember that they can see you a lot better than you can see them.

photos by Flickr by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton and by James G. Lindberg

Senior Health Fair 2

The Senior Health Fair was time well spent today at Des Moines University! I expected as much. I walked away from the Fair with a message that I knew, but it was a message that I have been conveniently choosing to ignore for about a year – more on that in a minute.

DMU had a host of golf carts greeting and carrying visitors to their Student Education Center. Once inside there was a welcome area and 40 stations set up throughout the building. The set up was roomy, efficient, and welcoming. I even had the chance to say hi to DMU’s President, former Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad. I found

• “vendors” of which half were promoting free services such as Aging Resources of Central Iowa, Alzheimer’s Association, SHIIP, Senior Services of Polk County, and DART who provided free transportation to the Health Fair

• health oriented information on cholesterol, infectious disease, Alzheimer’s, heart health, several cancer types, alternative health care, and coal burning effects

• lots of medical screening and testing of blood glucose, cholesterol and lipid levels, body-mass index, blood pressure, bone density, depression, vision, skin cancer reviews, vascular disease, balance, strength, flexibility, and review of medicines.

• the very popular Booth 33 offered demonstrations of osteopathic manipulative medicine

• and finally perhaps most valuable, the check out station (if you wanted).

At the check out station each person had the opportunity to assemble all of the testing information. While there were plenty of opportunities to talk with DMU medical students and budding practitioners backed up by faculty at each of the earlier stations, I for one didn’t need an ear trumpet to hear the final message.

Being a typical American when I hear the words health care, I think about doctors, problems, and disease. In the U. S. we have come to rely on a medical system that will “fix it” for us: an active medical system, a passive us.

In an article on the Center for Disease Control website we can read that chronic, not infectious disease will be the main contributor to a shortening of life. One of the CDC conclusions (1): prevention of chronic disease requires personal responsibility. That means more responsible eating and exercise. OK. OK. I got the message. From what I could see, the DMU Senior Health Fair was full of pretty healthy people looking for feedback, accepting personal responsibility, and getting a message. Messages are pretty individual and each participant got their own.

My message: health care starts with self care.

No one would have gotten any message except for the service of the dedicated medical students and their faculty. Des Moines University is a great resource and provided a great service through their annual Senior Health Fair.

photo by James G. Lindberg

footnote (1) Other conclusions in the article from CDC were also noteworthy. Are healthy, affordable foods available? Are safe, affordable exercise options available? Does the community address social determinants of health such as education, housing, job opportunity, and racism. But that is another story altogether so I’ll skip it.

Des Moines, Boulder, Copenhagen, Grinnell

It’s a very small world.

John Nielsen, international visitor and chemist from the University of Copenhagen, is visiting Grinnell College this week. As we talked this afternoon I found we had some unusual chemistry in common. On a hunch I pulled out the framed group photo on the right and asked, “Are you in this picture?”, to which a surprised John replied, “I have that picture hanging in my office.”

And here is where we get to Des Moines!

The photo was taken at a 2001 conference honoring Des Moines native Marvin H. Caruthers,

• Johnston High School (’58)
• Iowa State University (B.S., 1962)
• Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado,
• winner of the 2006 National Medal of Science presented by President George W. Bush in 2007,
• co-founder of Applied Biosystems and Amgen, the world’s largest biotech company
• given the National Academy of Sciences Award for Chemistry in Service to Society in 2005 and
• one of the world leaders in biotechnology.

Caruthers has been fortunate enough to be able to reap and share significant financial rewards for his work. In 2007 in honor of his late wife (Jennie Smoly Caruthers), he contributed $20 million dollars to the University of Colorado to encourage collaborative work in biotechnology.

If you look at the photo in this linked story, you will find two local boys, Marvin Caruthers and Douglas Dellinger. Doug Dellinger is a graduate of Hoover High School, Drake University, and the University of Colorado where he earned his Ph. D. under Caruthers while John Nielsen was a post-doctoral student in the same lab.

It’s good to live in a state with only 3 million people. It’s easier to keep track.

photos by Jim Lindberg

Senior health fair

If you’re 50 or older, grab your ear trumpet, and listen up!

Des Moines University is holding a Senior Health Fair for those 50 and older. It’s

• Free
• Saturday, November 1
• 8 am until noon
• Student Education Center (Building 4 on the map)
• 3300 Grand Avenue

Des Moines University is a great medical resource that finds many ways in which to serve our city. Founded in 1898 Des Moines University is led by former Governor Terry E. Branstad. DMU has programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, health care administration, public health, and more. Hundreds of their graduates practice in the Des Moines area.

It is not often that you will hear the words philanthropy and medicine in the same sentence, but make no mistake; DMU’s Senior Health Fair is a philanthropic contribution from the institution and the people that make up its community. I will attest. The DMU Senior Health Fair is a rare and valuable opportunity. You will have a chance to sit with current DMU students, their teachers, and other health professionals for

• free screenings of blood pressure, blood glucose, and bone density
• free review of your current medicines
• free osteopathic manipulation
• free foot and ankle screening
• flu shots (free if you can’t afford it, otherwise for a suggested donation)

The people you will meet and talk with are knowledgeable, kind, and generous with their time. I have gone several times, and I’ve always learned something that helps me stay healthier. I’ll be there. Look for me.

photo by flickr by fozzman

What do I do with this?!

We’re all aware that compact fluorescent bulbs save energy and save money. It is less widely known that they should be recycled.

The Home Depot has established a national recycling program for compact fluorescent bulbs, cell phones, and old batteries. I checked it out this afternoon at The Home Depot at 3700 University in West Des Moines, and they make it easy. Just inside the main entrance they keep a cardboard box at the return desk. Place the worn out bulbs in the box, and you’re on your way. The alternative is to drive out to the Metro Waste Authority Regional Collection Center; it’s near Bondurant. See my earlier post. It’s very likely that you will find The Home Depot stores a lot closer to home. They are located all over the Metro. You’ll find some of the the local Home Depots at

• 2335 SE Deleware in Ankeny
• 4900 SE 14th Street in Des Moines
• 5222 NW 62nd in Johnston
• 10850 Plum Drive in Urbandale
• 3700 University Avenue in West Des Moines

The reason that the bulbs should be recycled is that compact fluorescent bulbs sometimes called CFLs contain a small amount of mercury (4 to 5 mg). It would take about 1000 CFLs for enough mercury to weigh as much as a nickel. While that is not a lot of mercury, mercury is toxic and capable of significant environmental harm. As a nation we have been pretty successful in having the money saving, energy efficient CFLs widely used but less successful in recycling them.

A chemist or toxicologist might tell you that mercury (whose chemical symbol is Hg) is a neurotoxin and that the damage accumulates. Mercury is a liquid metal. (Yes, it’s the same stuff that many of us played with when we found it as kids, and that turns out to be not such a good idea.) If the CFLs are discarded in the trash, the mercury will accumulate in the landfill with the potential to enter the air, land, the rivers, and the water supply. It is a lot easier and cheaper to recycle the bulbs now than to clean up the mess in the landfill later. Recycle ‘em.

photos by Jim Lindberg

Black Henna Tattoos, Hair Dye, and Household Products

There are two kinds of “henna” used in temporary, henna tattoos. The authentic henna is a natural, plant product long used for dyeing skin and hair. The specific chemical reaction linking the dye (lawsone) to the protein in skin or hair is known. These reddish, brown henna tattoos enjoy a certain popularity because they are painted on, and they disappear after a few days as the skin sloughs off.

Then there is the other “henna,” sometimes used in temporary tattoos. It is known as black henna and contains a synthetic (as opposed to natural) chemical called PPD (para-phenylenediamine). Unfortunately about 7% of the population is allergic in varying degrees to PPD; most reactions are mild, a few severe, and there may be unexpected consequences. The FDA approves PPD in hair dyes but not for uses where it is directly applied to the skin (as in tattoos). The on-line news service msnbc reported an article from the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine about a poor soul who was one of the allergic 7%. She got a black henna tattoo, and you’ve got to see the photo. The original msnbc article proved so popular that they linked a second related article later in the day.

Interestingly enough PPD is also found in 2 out of 3 hair dyes. Remember how the FDA approves PPD in hair dyes but not for uses where it is directly applied to the skin (as in tattoos)? Isn’t that a laugher? When is the last time anyone dyed their hair without the dye touching the skin? While few people are allergic enough to produce serious damaging reactions, the PPD used in hair dyes is linked to increasing numbers of allergic reactions. Are you curious whether your hair dye contains this chemical PPD? The US government’s NIH (National Institutes of Health) will tell you. It’s a very long list. The manufacturers of hair dyes intended for home use print a warning. They suggest an allergy test where the person would apply a spot of the solution to their arm and leave it for 48 hours, watching for irritation. If it is not irritated, they say to proceed. I’d bet a lot of money that the level of compliance (that is, running the test before you dye at home) is very low.

While that NIH site lists a lot of household products, it is not very helpful. The site lists many products in the major categories along with their formulations (composition), but the list of products is incomplete. In addition, the safety information is presented in a way that any useful information for the consumer is obscure.

photo by flickr by Wah

Science Lecture Series at Saylorville Reservoir

Spacious Skies is the topic Friday July 19th at 7 pm at the Saylorville Visitor Center. Craig Johnson, the Executive Director of The Iowa Academy of Science is the speaker. Johnson, a local celebrity around Waterloo-Cedar Falls and in Cedar Rapids where he was a long-time broadcast weather reporter, now writes weather columns for Waterloo-Cedar Falls newspapers under the titles Weather Whys Guy and Ag Weather. The talk Friday is part of a series sponsored by the Iowa Academy of Science. The Visitor Center is near the east end of the Saylorville Dam. (Saylorville Lake map.)

For this and other events at Saylorville, check the calendar. If you don’t know the way and you’re coming from Des Moines, take Beaver Avenue north to N.W. 66th and turn east (right) then left onto Toni Drive then a little left onto N.W. 37th then (just past the dam access) you will see signage telling you to go left on N.W. Horseshoe Road (a little loop) to the Visitor Center.

Guest Writer: James G. Lindberg (Jim) is the Purple Wren’s sweetie and is a visiting chemistry professor at Grinnell College and retired from Drake University.

Next Page »