1st solo exhibition "Adventures under the Microscope

Aug 24, 2017- June 2018

 



with my best Science teacher Mrs. Elliot

1st solo exhibition (Irvine High School Science Building)

Aug 24, 2017- June 2018

 

 

 

 

 Preface

Micro-Miracle Have you ever seen probiotics pierce through bacteria? Or have you witnessed the activity yeast cells have from grape juice? We all know that cliché saying: Don’t judge a book by its cover. But does it really just apply to humans? It turns out, ever object and organism has two sets of identities: An identity we see on a daily basis and an identity that is only shown when looked at more closely. The microworld has hidden secrets that can unlock mysteries of the big world!

Lightning-Lighting When you try viewing something under the microscope, you’ll quickly realize you’re unable to unless you have light. Put shortly, the lighter, the more visible the sample will be. Using that fact, I suppose the same thing occurred within my head. In biology class, my head sparked a curiosity on microscopes as I began to experience more labs. In order to go more in depth, I used my microscope to investigate organisms and objects we see on a daily basis. And so, for the past three years, I observed slides with lubricant tear drops, the wings of insects, paramecium, dust, and much more.

Observation and More The fundamental subject of science depends on one thing: observation. Of course, it doesn’t just end with observations! From these observations, there is an opportunity for your own “self-study” by analyzing this new-found information you have gained from your use of the microscope: “what is the scientific origin of a certain feature?” or “why are these structures in this certain shape?” (these questions are only a few examples of the many you can create when looking through different slides under the scope). This gallery here is merely a sample of the thousand pictures I’ve taken under the microscope and posted onto my blog. If you would like to experience the microscopic world for yourself, feel free to also join our club IMC (Irvine Microscope Club).

                One last thing: I just want to give a huge shout-out to Mrs. Elliott who helped me form this gallery and has also taught at this amazing school for forty years!!! Thus, I dedicate this gallery to her!

 

Microscope lover and IMC founder,                                    

 

            Kyu-Been Lee           

                                

My Blog: adventuresinthemicroscope.blogspot.com 

IMC Blog: irvinemicroscope.blogspot.com

 

special dots

For all of you who wear lipstick for makeup, this may not be the brightest news to listen to as the post will talk about what lipstick consists of.

40X

See those colorful spots on the lipstick smudge? Well it turns out . . . those are different types of metals! The FDA released a study in 2009 which showed lead in every lipstick sample that was tested!

100X

The metals include lead (as stated above), beryllium, thallium, and more! According to the University of California, women put on lipstick from two to fourteen times a day, meaning a significant amount of possible lipstick ingestion!

100X

Perhaps in the future, lipsticks should be created with less harmful substances that would also substitute the large amount of metals found in lipstick. For example, Cleopatra of ancient Egypt was said to create lipstick by crushing bugs to obtain the red color!

400X

400X

400X

yellow sponge, square pants

yellow sponge 100X illuminator

yellow sponge 100X illuminator

yellow sponge 40X illuminator

yellow sponge 40X illuminator

To. Nature's Way

8-21-17

To Whom It May Concern,

Hello! My name is Kyu Been Lee, a high school senior at Irvine High School. I want to start off by saying how thankful I am for your products. My dad had suffered Irritable Bowel Syndrome for about 20 years and wasn’t able to solve it despite various attempts. However, after trying Nature’s Way products Primadophilus Bifidus 5 and 90 billion, the syndrome had almost completely disappeared. For that, I wanted to just thank you for creating an amazing product for millions across the world.

            After witnessing the benefits my dad received from the capsules, I decided to try and experiment on the product for a science fair (The title of it was “Epidemiologic experiments of probiotics’ mechanism (direct antagonism) as stability”). I am fond of using the microscope and through research, I learned much about the probiotics’ function, even observing direct antagonism with black mold. I was also able to observe their vitality duration in body temperature.

            Though there are many positives for the product, I also have some concerns. It is true that my dad was able to recover quickly by consuming the 90 billion probiotic capsules. However, I did notice that he didn’t have as much progress when he tried the 5 billion probiotic capsules. To see why, I tried an experiment with the 5 and 90 billion capsules in many different environments (one of the environments was experiment 1-4: 98.6-degree body temperature and a pH level of 2.4). What I saw was that in just 1 hour and 4 minutes, the capsule for the 5 billion probiotics already broke down and the probiotics that escaped the capsule died almost immediately in the low pH. I wondered if an error was made regarding the capsule’s durability because if that was the case, then that also meant that not all of the probiotics were able to reach the small intestine. Would it be possible for me to see a copy of the experiment and the data that was collected? As a student, I do not have access to a lot of scientific equipment and I am interested in the methodology your company used to conduct their experiments. I have attached the data results from my own experiment and the chart with my own conclusions.

 

Thank you for your time.  I anxiously await your response.

Sincerely,

Kyu Been Lee

 

My gmail: solarsea7@gmail.com

My microscope blog: adventuresinthemicroscope.blogspot.com

Science Fair 2016 / Epidemiologic experiments (1) Abstract, Materials, Hypothesis

Science Fair 2016

Epidemiologic experiments

of probiotics’ mechanism

(direct antagonism) and

stability.

 

 

 

Kyu Been Lee

Irvine High School (10^th grade 2016)

Science Teacher: Mrs. Joan Elliott

Project Category: PHYSIOLOGY/MEDICAL BIOLOGY

               Title: Pharmacological effects: Epidemiologic experiment of

              probiotics’ mechanism (direct  antagonism) and stability.

 

 

 

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: There were a few purposes for this project one of which was to prove that one of the probiotics’ mechanisms was direct antagonism. Along with that, the project’s purpose was also to determine the probiotics’ stability in an intestine environment and also whether it is safe in the stomach or not. The final purpose was to study epidemiology to show the efficacy of dietary supplement probiotics.

 

Methods/Materials: To observe direct antagonism, I kept the probiotics’ tester tube with the body temperature(PH7.0) and combined it with cultured pathogens on microscope slides. Through the microscope, magnification by 400x and 1000x (with immersion oil for 1000x), showed real antagonistic action of the probiotics. In order to see the effect of the enteric coated capsule, many different stages were prepared: The first one was by putting a neutral pH(PH7.0) at room temperature and adding a neutral pH at body temperature to make an intestine environment for  the 5 and 90 billion probiotics capsules were observed to see their dissolving situation. Second was making a stomach environment with room temperature and body temperature along with vinegar (pH2.2), lemon extract (2.1), and apple vinegar (PH2.4). Finally, the stability experiments were tested through tester tubes: water at pH7.0 and dissolved probiotics in a body temperature environment. To observe the survival time of the probiotics, continued to observe for at least 24 hours.

 

Results: The experiment’s results showed that probiotics’ antagonism was revealed through observations from the microscope. Enteric coated capsule was not dissolved during those 3 hours where we put them in with pH2.1 and 2.2 liquids. However, when it was with pH 2.4 body temperature environment, the 5 billion probiotics  capsule dissolved in only an hour and 4 minutes.  In the pH7 body temperature environment experiment, capsule completely dissolved in 21 minutes(5 billions).  Also in the pH7 room temperature, it took around 45 minutes(5 billions) and 65 minutes(90 billions) to dissolve the capsule completely. Finally, the stability experiment continued until 30 hours passed and even then the probiotics were still alive and active.

 

Conclusion/Discussion: In the end, my hypothesis was proven correct. Since direct antagonism was shown throughout the experiments between probiotics and pathogens, it showed an efficacy of the probiotics’ important mechanism. The fact that the 90 billion probiotics capsule did not dissolved in a stomach environment during 3hours, but the 5 billion probiotics capsule dissolved completely in a stomach environment even before digestion time was up shows that perhaps Nature’s Way, the company, made an experimental problem with those capsules since through earlier experiments, it also showed that if probiotics were to be in acidic environments, they were to die in minutes. Finally, the stability experiment demonstrated the probiotics’ vitality and efficacy against bowel diseases in the end.

 

Summary Statement: My experiments were done to determine just how probiotics’ dietary supplement worked effectively in the small and large intestine.

 

Help was received: My father had purchased the microscope along with many instruments used throughout the experiments. My mother also supported me throughout the experimental processes.

 

 

Science Fair 2016 / Epidemiologic experiments (2) Procedures

Procedures

 

 

Experiment 1

1-1 Capsule melting time/ Room temp(81.6F/ph7.0 (water))

1)     Condition : room temperature-81.6F, tap water-PH 7.0, 6.73g in the plastic container

2)     Put 3 plastic containers with the same mass of water. Next, add one capsule to each container: 1 expired 5 billion probiotics, 1 new 5 billion probiotics , and 1 90 billion probiotics capsule.

3)     Observe each for 5 minutes to observe any transitions of capsules. (enteric coated capsule has two layers: white part and a  clear inner part)

4)     Write down the changing room temperature for each stage

5)     Cracking time is more important than when it completely dissolves because when the capsule cracks, probiotics spurt out into the liquid.

6)     Continue until the capsules dissolve completely in the water

7)     Take photos each stage for recording

 

 1-2 Capsule Melting/ Body temperature(Average 98.4F/ph7.0)

1)     Condition: tap water-PH7.0, 6.73g in the plastic container, 5billion probiotics capsule, and boiled water to refill the water in order to maintain the body temperature for each stage.

2)     Keep in mind! Measuring the temperature is important. Start the temperature at 98.6 °F. This experiment is an independent variable of the stomach’s environment (the average internal temperature is 37.0 °C (98.6 °F)). An error value of 0.1~0.5 will be allowed because it can be assumed the body temperature is different for each person.

3)     Observe for 3minutes for the transition of the capsule (in this case, condition 3minutes gap because it expects fast dissolving time).

4)     Before observing transition of the capsule for each stage, measure the temperature of water and add water with the eyedropper and keep refilling warm water until body temperature.

5)     Mark the breaking capsule time. Continue to observe transition until dissolved completely.

 


 

1-3  5 billion Capsule Melting Time in ph2.1/ph2.2(room temperature81.5F)

1)     Condition: room temperature-81.6F, lemon extract(PH2.1) 6.73g, vinegar(PH2.2) 6.73g , and 2, 5billion enteric coated capsule

2)     Measure the PH with a PH tester for the lemon extract and vinegar.

3)     Put one container with vinegar and the other with lemon extract, put them at the same time.

4)     Observe the stage every 30 minutes during 3 hours.

5)     Check what phase the capsule is in and write down.
 

1-4 Capsule Melting Time Experiment (Body Temperature Average 98.6F Apple Vinegar PH 2.4) 5billion Probiotics

1)     Condition: body temperature 98.6F(±0.4F), apple vinegar (PH2.4) 6.73g, heated vinegar 100g, 1- 5billion enteric coated capsule, eye dropper, digital thermometer, 1 small plastic bowl, clock

2)     Note: It is very important to keep the body temperature the same. If you are able to keep the same temperature (98.6F), it will have a perfect result. If you don’t have special machine like me, use an eye dropper and add more heated vinegar whenever the temperature falls below 98.4F (nearly every 10-15 seconds).

3)     Prepare 6.73g apple vinegar in the plastic container.

4)     Add 1 5billion probiotics enteric coated capsule.

5)     Record every temperature, and observe phase of the capsule

6)     Cover the container with warm cloth.

7)     Check and write down during those 3hours.

 

 

 

 

1-5 Capsule Melting Time Experiment (body temperature 98.6F, Apple Vinegar PH2.4) 90 billion probiotics

1)     Keep temperature at 98.6F with heated vinegar, apple vinegar PH2.4  500g, one plastic container, thermometer, clock,

90   billion probiotics capsule, eye dropper, clock

2)  Prepare 6.73g apple vinegar in the container. Add 1 90 billion probiotics capsule.

3) Heat apple vinegar on the stove top. Pour the container, and measure the temperature until it is 98.6F.

4) Every 20-30 seconds, observe the temperature, and add some heated vinegar with eye dropper.

5) Watch the transition of the capsule.

6) Record every stage that change.

 

 

Experiment2

Probiotics’ stability in a body temperature environment

4 tester tubes, 4-6.4g water with expired 5 billion probiotics capsule, new 5 billion probiotics capsule, new 90 billion probiotics capsule, Kimchi juice, microscope slide, cover glass, eye dropper, 1 bottle Immersion oil type A, 40swabs, alcohol for cleansing the slides

1)     Fill 6.4g of water in 3 tester tubes, fill 6.4g Kimchi juice in the tester tube.

2)     Break 3 capsules gather only powder of probiotics, Add different subjects in the tester tubes.

3)      To keep the body temperature(98.6F), grab 4tester tubes with left hands. Our body temperature is 98.6F, but the body skin temperature is about 93.2F, but this temperature is also the probiotics’ growth temperature. When you have to use left hand you can keep the tubes between belt of your pants and skin of waist.

4)     Observe the status of probiotics sample from tube with swab. Rub with a swab some probiotics with water on the surface of  the microscope slide, and cover with cover glass.(write down their name tag on the slides)

5)     After watching the microscope, clean up the slides and microscope lenses of every stage.

6)     Use your microscope. From 40x lens to 1000X observe the activities of every subject. (1000X lens need immersion oil)

7)     Note: For metric transfer, according to the degree you can make score 1-10.

8)     During your sleep time, you can cover the tubes by throwing several layers of clothing.

9)     Observe Until stage12.(30hours)

Experiment 3

Survival of Probiotics in the pH2(vinegar)

1)     In the middle of stage 4or 5, collect probiotics(90billion) with moisture from the tube.

2)     Drop the probiotics on the microscope slide.

3)     Add one drop of vinegar(use eye dropper)

4)     Observe the slide from 40X to 1000X

5)     Record the probiotics’ activity and disappearing time.

Note: This experiment can analogize the stomach environment.

 

Experiment 4

Observation of Direct Antagonism  

1)     During  experiment 2 stage 4, fill one drop of 90 billion probiotics onto another microscope slide.

2)     Add a sample of moldy bread, orange, and/or onions.

3)     Observe the reaction and activities of probiotics through the microscope.

 

 

Observation of Direct Antagonism (Experiment 4)

(probiotics, moldy bread, moldy orange, onion black fungi : Aspergillus niger)