Day 14, making a model of the Fast Plant flower.

Making a model is a way to deeper learning of a subject, because it provides fine motor skill interactive engagement during which each physical interaction is connected to a mental concept. This is a model of the Fast Plant flower, Brassica rapa. The model starts with the center tube called the stigma that contains the plants embryos. The yellow pipe cleaners are the plant filaments. The yellow cotton balls are the Anthers. The yellow leaves around the stigma and anthers are the pedals. While making the flower, it is noted that the four pedals are across for each other and that is why the plant was give the name Cruciferous for "cross-bearing". There are two shapes of leaves, the cotyledon leaves at the bottom followed by the true leaves with veins. These are the basic part of the flower. The bee collects pollen from the anther and carries it to the stigma of another plants. The pollen travels down the stigma and combines with the ovule to form a seed. Five and six year olds can make this model with help for an adult.

Day 13 in the life of the Fast Plant

The buds grew out in two days. First the cotyledons, then two levels of true leaves, and now the buds appear. It seem like that just as soon as the plant got the feedback that it was alive and growing, it started getting ready to reproduce. Like it know that it better hurry up and starting that process if the species was going to continue. The buds are a new organ different than leaves and more complex. Rudolf Claudius in 1865, stated that: “The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum.” The word entropy mean disorder. In other words, everything breaks down; cars get rusty, houses fall apart, toys break, bedrooms get messy, and socks become mismatched, etc. Plant defy this nature law of the universe! While everything else in the universe breaks down, life builds up. Not only has this plant made simple leaves, but now it is making an even more complex shape, the flower. This life is smart enough to know about entropy and prepare to make another generation before it breaks down. How did this happen? How did atoms develop this anti-entropy ability? Is this happening in other parts of the universe?

The Fast Plant Light Box

No light - no life. Light is to plants as food is to us, neither can live without energy. Plants are superior in that they get their energy directly from the sun - we get our indirectly through plants or animals. The Fast Plant is hungry for light all the time, because it is genetically coded for fast growth and "eats" light 24/7 to grow. The light that keeps the plant and us alive comes from the sun. However, we have learned to make our own light from electricity using a compact fluorescence light bulb that mimics natural daylight. With the light box, the brightness and time of indoor light can be controlled. The light box can make the sun stand still as far as the Fast Plant is concerned.

Day 11 in the life of the Fast Plant

In just one day, a third set of leaves formed on the plant. The stem and leaves are made of a chemical called carbohydrates. Carbohydrate come from the words carbo and hydrate meaning carbon-water. That is because scientist first analyzed the chemical as C(H20) and they thought it was made of carbon atoms and water atoms. Today, we know the formula is not that simple, but the ratio is still the same, one carbon atom for each water molecule. Where did the plant get the carbon and water? The plant absorbs carbon dioxide CO2 from the air and H2O from the soil. The plant then uses light to combine the carbon and water and give off the O2. How does the plant know how to do that? Who taught the plant to do chemistry?

Day 10 in the life of the Fast Plant

A collection of atoms, called a seed, knew how to grow by combining water, air, and fertilizer toward the light. This plant was made from just water, air, and fertilizer using light as an energy source by combining small atoms and molecules into larger molecules forming plant structure.  First two smooth cotyledon leaves emerged, then two true leaves, and now the start of a third level of true leaves can be seen. The DNA in the seed provided the information needed to form these collection of cells into stems and leaves.