Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay - 567 Words

During the 1930s prejudice and racism was spread through the U.S. For example in Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird, the small town of Maycomb struggles with these aspects. Each character of the novel has a strong personality. Scout Finch is tough, always has an opinion, and is a tomboy. On the other hand Boo Radley stays hidden most of the time, but we all know he is actually a friend to Jem and Scout. Then there is Tom Robinson, a hardworking, strong, and innocent man. But what do all these characters have in common? They can all be analyzed as mockingbirds. Throughout the novel each of their innocence is destroyed in some way. In Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird several of these characters become a symbolic mockingbird including†¦show more content†¦Scout, Jem, and Dill then discuss why Boo stays hidden. This is when Dill explained, â€Å"Maybe he doesn’t have anywhere to runoff too† (Lee 192). Dill suggest that Boo might have been through a l;ot and doesnâ €™t have any loved ones to go to. We then realize Boo symbolizes innocence being destroyed because when he was little he has had no one to care for or love. One of the most memorable scenes is when Atticus and Heck Tate realize that Boo killed Bob Ewell. They discuss whether or not to expose him but Scout comes in and states â€Å"well, it’d be sort of like shootin a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?† (Lee 370). Scout believes that by exposing Boo to the public after all these years of him locked in his house, it would be like killing an innocent mockingbird. At this moment Boo Radley officially becomes a mockingbird. The most evident mockingbird is Tom Robinson. He was being accused of raping a white woman, when he has a wife and kids he loves. Atticus helped Tom through the trial and towards the end he concluded to the courtroom, â€Å"as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you†¦ you know the truth† (Lee 273). Att icus explained that even if Tom is black, that does not mean he is a liar, and he is a truthful man. Tom being accused is destroying his innocence because Mayella Ewell is lying to everyone about Tom. Most importantly when Tom is killed,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird1210 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom who and what surrounds us, things that help to form our identity. Prejudice is an integral theme in Harper Lee’s, To Kill A Mockingbird. Prejudice is evident throughout the novel, not just in the appalling racism but also through, prejudice against different sexual orientations, gender constructs and feminism. Society had certain constructs that had to be met. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee breaks the bounds to overcome barriers, and challenge social constructs. This feature article delvesRead More Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1367 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird In the early twentieth century, the United States was undergoing a dramatic social change. Slavery had been abolished decades before, but the southern states were still attempting to restrict social interaction among people of different races. In particular, blacks were subject to special Jim Crow laws which restricted their rights and attempted to keep the race inferior to whites. Even beyond these laws, however, blacks were feeling the pressure of prejudiceRead More Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird Essay1391 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird In the novel by Harper Lee named, To Kill a Mockingbird, there is one main tragic event that occurs. The feelings and expressions dealt with in the novel are seen through the eyes of the main character, named Scout. In the novel Tom Robinson is a black male accused of rape in Maycomb County. During the same time period as the novel there were many historical events that were almost identical in setting and conclusion. There were many things that happenedRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird816 Words   |  3 PagesThe novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee focuses on many themes but courage is mostly shown in the novel. In the novel, there are many examples where the characters have shown courage even when he/she knows that he/she is going to lose it. Atticus Finch is a great example of showing courage in the novel. He shows great courage because he defends a black man even though he knows he is going to lose the case. Another example of showing courage is Mrs. Dubose. S he shows courage because she wantsRead MoreEssay on Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird1054 Words   |  5 PagesHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Courage is the quality of mind that enables one to face danger with confidence, resolution, and gain a firm control of oneself. Many of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird showed courage in their own way. Courage can come in many different forms: physical, mental, emotional and moral. Courage is not the only main theme displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird; prejudice and education are also very important themes exhibited throughout the progression of theRead More Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird The United States has been dealing with the issue of racism ever since Columbus landed on Plymouth Rock. The Indians were the first to endure harsh racism in this country. Pilgrims moving west ran them off their land wiping out many tribes and destroying many resources in their path. However, when many think of racism today, the issue of blacks and whites is the first to come to mind. African Americans have come a long way in today’s society as comparedRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee is novel set in a three year period through the ‘great depression’. Atticus Finch (Jem and scouts father) is originally portrayed as a friendly and understanding person, though when he attends court defending a ‘black man’ as his job, suddenly he and his family begin to suffer racial hatred from their community. The story features on the themes of racism, community morals and the r ealisation of certain truths whilst growing up. It is a fascinating novelRead MoreEssay on Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird2478 Words   |  10 PagesHarper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird During the 1930s, during the time when the novel was set, society was very different to what it is now. To Kill a Mockingbird is Harper Lees story about life in a small town in Southern America during the 1930s. The story is based in the state of Texas, Alabama, in this state slavery was very common and because of this it became to be known as the Slave State. The story involves Atticus Finch a lawyer who must defendRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay3848 Words   |  16 PagesHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird The story of To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during the 1930s in a small town in Alabama in the southern United States - much like the town where the author Harper Lee herself grew up. To understand what the book is saying about racism, you need to know something of the history of race relations in the southern USA. Plot ---- The novel is about three years in the life of the Finch family: Atticus and his son JemRead More Mythology and Archetypes in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird2536 Words   |  11 PagesMythology and Archetypes in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird      Ã‚  Ã‚   Of all the various approaches to criticism, the Mythological/Archetypal achieves the greatest impact over the entire literary scope, because the themes and patterns unearthed apply universally to all works, yielding results that can be applied to a great many texts. This is because the very nature of the Mythological/Archetypal approach is the exploration of the canon for widespread and pervading symbols, plots, and

Hunting the Amyloid Protein free essay sample

As I peered down into the circular frame of the microscope, I found myself staring at nothing. Again. My eye ached from squinting. Maybe I wasnt cut out for this sort of thing. Then, as I anxiously fiddled with the black knob, a blurry dot slowly shifted into focus. I had found it: a grayish pinpoint in the center of a cluster of bacteria – the infamous amyloid protein. My mentor, Claire, looked down at me, hunched in my swivel chair, my lab coat wrinkled and stained, hair wildly tangled. â€Å"Good work, Olivia. Whats next?† When I applied for the internship, the Buck Institute of Research sounded impressive in title alone. My biomedical consultant father proudly announced that it was the first independent research facility in the country focused solely on aging and age-related disease. As fascinating as my physiology class was, I found myself aching for scientific exploration beyond the boundaries of Room 182. We will write a custom essay sample on Hunting the Amyloid Protein or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Approaching its entrance, I caught my first glimpse of the Buck Institute, a stark-white structure embedded in a barren cow pasture. As I walked through the asymmetrical modern doors, I was promptly handed a freshly pressed lab coat with my last name stitched into the fabric. I had been assigned to the Alzheimers division, my task, to find the amyloid protein – the sticky deposits associated with Alzheimers. On Monday, I became acquainted with my new friends – the 2 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, and 25 mL pipettes. Tuesday, it was the sterilized test tubes, the Bunsen burner, the Florence flasks. Wednesday, I confidently mastered the grumbling centrifuge. And by Friday, I had memorized the various methods of replicating frozen bacteria, the building block of cell research. My mentor referred to the procedure as â€Å"the necessary evil.† In order to get to my designated work space in the basement, I was forced to pass the laboratory mice. Every morning, I mentally prepared myself for the reverberations of thousands of mice squealing, squirming, munching. I speculated about the anarchy behind the high cement walls. My nose was also punished; death hung in the static air of the fluorescent-lit hallway. â€Å"We kill about 300 mice a day. Its quite sad, but we need them fresh,† Claire explained. I thought about the mice often. I reluctantly accepted that I could not help them. I spent the following four weeks  ­desperately hunting the amyloid protein. Articles, newspaper clippings, and research notes were piled high on my lab bench. I caught myself daydreaming on multiple occasions, not about boys but of my inevitable encounter with the protein. I was a woman obsessed. At dinner, my brother would roll his eyes when I brought up the various techniques used in cell crystallization. Even my father was beginning to respond to my inquiries about AB toxic secretions with a slight tone of irritation. The more I settled into my quest for the protein, the more doubts I began to have. The mice, the pipettes, the cells, the post doctorates – it seemed like everyone and everything had a future‚ while I did not know mine. I was given a short-term goal of finding the protein, but that was all I had. I dwelled on my imminent future – how would I know what I was supposed to do? I was freed from my self-torment the day I discovered the pesky amyloid protein. â€Å"Whats next?† surprisingly became the most rewarding question I had ever faced. It had taken me four weeks, two days, five hours, and 21 minutes to realize that I was the scientist. The architect, the director, the composer – I was the scientist! I knew from that moment that I had no predetermined protocols to follow. They were mine to create. My educational journey would not be limited to my physiology class – the mouse hair follicles, the patterning grooves of the frontal lobe, or the electrically excitable neurons. The possibilities were infinite. Since conquering the furtive protein, I have felt a bit like Marie Curie. Like her, my passion for science shapes who I am. The future rests in my steady, rubber-gloved hands.

Things Fall Apart Analysis Essay Example

Things Fall Apart Analysis Essay Claire Stevenson HUM 211 Prof. C. Agatucci Things Fall Apart Novel Analysis 8 February 2010 Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Francis Abiola Irele. New York: Norton, 2000. A. ) How did things fall apart for Onkonwo and for the Igbo people? (*) Onkonkwo is a respected leader in the Igbo culture. At first he becomes very popular with his wrestling when he defeats Amalinze the Cat. This brings great honor to his village. Unlike his father, his goal is to gain titles for himself, and become a good man. He resents his father and wants to prove himself different. He controlls his wives and children greatly. Because he is looked up upon in their community, he is asked to take care of a young boy named â€Å"Ikemefuna. † (From Mbaino to avoid war). He becomes close to him. (especially Onkonwo’s son Nwoye). As the book goes on, Onkonkwo gets to the point where a lot of things disturb him. He goes against the Week of Peace when he beats one of his wives. Then he shoots a gun at his second wife named Ekwefi. When its time for Ikemefuna to be killed, Onkonkwo was not supposed to participate in the murder—and he did. We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When Nwoye realizes this, he is very sad and not happy with his father. Not feeling good for what he did, he goes to his best friend Obierika. Obierika basically tells Onkonkwo the earth goddess will seek renenge on him. During the funeral of Ezeudo, Onkonkwo’s gun goes off and kills Ezeudo’s son. This was a crime so Onkonkwo and his family had to move away. His old home is destroyed and burned down by come men in his village. While living in his new village, some missionaries come to talk about Christianity. Onkonkwo didn’t believe in it—and Nwoye did. The family ends up moving back to Umuofia and many things have changed and Onkonkwo doesn’t necessarily approve. Destruction arises due to the Igbo people not liking the extreme Christian convertion, and the problems the missionaries have brought upon the village. The leaders of the village, including Onkonkwo are thrown in jail and soon bailed out by the people of Umuofia. A meeting was held the next day and court messengers come to breat it up. Onkonkwo decapitates the leader of the group. No one tries to catch the messengers as they try to get away. Onkonkwo then is depressed again, and knows they will have to surrender for his actions. He commits suicide by hanging himself. B. ) Analyze at least one other aspect of the novel—character, setting, plot event, use of oral tradition, narrator, etc that you believe is significant to better understanding the novel. Be sure to develop and illustrate your points with specific examples from the novel and be sure to explain why you think this aspect of the novel is significant to notice and examine in helping us better understand and interpret the meaning of the novel. *) The character I am choosing to analyze is Onkonkwo—the protagonist in Things Fall Apart. He is a very powerful character in his novel, being respected by society, controlling his family, a leader of Umuofia, a great yam farmer.. etc. His major problem is he doesn’t want to fail in something and he doesn’t want to show he can’t do something. He does not display affection toward anyoneâ⠂¬â€including his family and friends, even if he is thinking and feeling it. He is not very smart when it comes to certain things—and goes against his people’s traditions and his gods. Ex: He was not supposed to participate in the murder of Ikefemuna and he did because he didn’t want to be a weak man. He also lets his gun go off during the eldest man in the villages funeral and kills the dead mans son. He had to move away due to this action. Furthermore, he beats his wife during the Peace Week, which betrayed his people and gods. He was so strong minded that he was making the wrong decisions at times. Onkonkwo helped me better understand the meaning and significance of the novel because he made me realize how that African society worked. He linked together the people, the gods, and the beliefs of everyone in the book. It was also brought to my knowledge how important gods, and traditions were to African people. I also realized the consequences of certain actions, and how they didn’t beast around the bush at all. Everything was straightforward in their culture. Onkonkwo was a very legitimate example to me in terms of how this African society went about certain actions, traditions and beliefs. He was a character that had many good and bad aspects throughout the novel. I now better understand the ways of African culture and traditions. Things Fall Apart Analysis Essay Example Things Fall Apart Analysis Essay Claire Stevenson HUM 211 Prof. C. Agatucci Things Fall Apart Novel Analysis 8 February 2010 Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Norton Critical Edition. Ed. Francis Abiola Irele. New York: Norton, 2000. A. ) How did things fall apart for Onkonwo and for the Igbo people? (*) Onkonkwo is a respected leader in the Igbo culture. At first he becomes very popular with his wrestling when he defeats Amalinze the Cat. This brings great honor to his village. Unlike his father, his goal is to gain titles for himself, and become a good man. He resents his father and wants to prove himself different. He controlls his wives and children greatly. Because he is looked up upon in their community, he is asked to take care of a young boy named â€Å"Ikemefuna. † (From Mbaino to avoid war). He becomes close to him. (especially Onkonwo’s son Nwoye). As the book goes on, Onkonkwo gets to the point where a lot of things disturb him. He goes against the Week of Peace when he beats one of his wives. Then he shoots a gun at his second wife named Ekwefi. When its time for Ikemefuna to be killed, Onkonkwo was not supposed to participate in the murder—and he did. We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Things Fall Apart Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When Nwoye realizes this, he is very sad and not happy with his father. Not feeling good for what he did, he goes to his best friend Obierika. Obierika basically tells Onkonkwo the earth goddess will seek renenge on him. During the funeral of Ezeudo, Onkonkwo’s gun goes off and kills Ezeudo’s son. This was a crime so Onkonkwo and his family had to move away. His old home is destroyed and burned down by come men in his village. While living in his new village, some missionaries come to talk about Christianity. Onkonkwo didn’t believe in it—and Nwoye did. The family ends up moving back to Umuofia and many things have changed and Onkonkwo doesn’t necessarily approve. Destruction arises due to the Igbo people not liking the extreme Christian convertion, and the problems the missionaries have brought upon the village. The leaders of the village, including Onkonkwo are thrown in jail and soon bailed out by the people of Umuofia. A meeting was held the next day and court messengers come to breat it up. Onkonkwo decapitates the leader of the group. No one tries to catch the messengers as they try to get away. Onkonkwo then is depressed again, and knows they will have to surrender for his actions. He commits suicide by hanging himself. B. ) Analyze at least one other aspect of the novel—character, setting, plot event, use of oral tradition, narrator, etc that you believe is significant to better understanding the novel. Be sure to develop and illustrate your points with specific examples from the novel and be sure to explain why you think this aspect of the novel is significant to notice and examine in helping us better understand and interpret the meaning of the novel. *) The character I am choosing to analyze is Onkonkwo—the protagonist in Things Fall Apart. He is a very powerful character in his novel, being respected by society, controlling his family, a leader of Umuofia, a great yam farmer.. etc. His major problem is he doesn’t want to fail in something and he doesn’t want to show he can’t do something. He does not display affection toward anyoneâ⠂¬â€including his family and friends, even if he is thinking and feeling it. He is not very smart when it comes to certain things—and goes against his people’s traditions and his gods. Ex: He was not supposed to participate in the murder of Ikefemuna and he did because he didn’t want to be a weak man. He also lets his gun go off during the eldest man in the villages funeral and kills the dead mans son. He had to move away due to this action. Furthermore, he beats his wife during the Peace Week, which betrayed his people and gods. He was so strong minded that he was making the wrong decisions at times. Onkonkwo helped me better understand the meaning and significance of the novel because he made me realize how that African society worked. He linked together the people, the gods, and the beliefs of everyone in the book. It was also brought to my knowledge how important gods, and traditions were to African people. I also realized the consequences of certain actions, and how they didn’t beast around the bush at all. Everything was straightforward in their culture. Onkonkwo was a very legitimate example to me in terms of how this African society went about certain actions, traditions and beliefs. He was a character that had many good and bad aspects throughout the novel. I now better understand the ways of African culture and traditions.

An Account of the Anatomy and Physiology of Congenital Heart essays

An Account of the Anatomy and Physiology of Congenital Heart essays Congenital heart disease (or CHD) is a range of heart disorders, of varying degrees of severity, which are present at birth. CHD affects about eight in every one thousand live babies that are born and is caused by factors operating early in pregnancy. These factors include viral infections (e.g. Rubella), diabetes, maternal radiation and drugs (such as thalidomide, warfarin and phenytoin). CHD is also a feature of Downs syndrome (approximately 30% of sufferers have CHD) and other chromosomal defects. The diseases include the hole in the heart (septal defects), patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary stenosis (valve narrowing), aortic stenosis and fallots tetralogy. In the developing embryo, two endothelial tubes run in the belly and fuse in the neck region to form the single heart tube. Venous inflow and arterial outflow are at the caudal (tail) and cephalic (head) ends of the heart tube, respectively. The tube is divided into five segments: sinus venosus, atrium, ventricular inlet component, ventricular outlet component and arterial segment. During the fourth week of gestation, complex looping of the heart tube provides the basis of adult cardiac structure, with the ventricle lying beneath the atrium. The four-chambered structure requires separation of the atrial and ventricular components (and also the division of the arterial segment into the aorta and pulmonary artery). These separations occur during the fifth and sixth weeks of gestation and it is this process which is most prone to erroneous development. By the end of the eighth week, cardiovascular development is complete and no further changes take place until birth. CHD offers many clinical manifestations, heart failure being the most obvious. If this occurs in the neonatal period/ first month of independent life, it presents a medical emergency and may be caused by almost any major cardiac defect. In the preterm baby, heart failure is usually the res...

Top university rankings

Top university rankings University Oxford Tops Top places institutions struggle to obtain the highest places in the world scale rankings, since having all possible awards and honors; they struggle for the world’s recognition. It is something like sport race in academic circles. Having established huge research base and lecturing staff these educational giants compete in the quantity of trans-border students, researches and international prospect. There are the queues of students, who want to enter universities with the position in the top possible ranking and only the best of the best achieve this. Lucky owners of diplomas from these universities have all doors to successful carrier open before them. For the last five years California Institute of Technology occupied the leading place in regard to Times Higher Education table of the best universities. This year Oxford took the first place and made California Technology Institute to be put to a lower position (2nd place). New view on the British education Since the European Union membership referendum of the United Kingdom of 2016 there appeared a threat that it would reflect the attitude of many countries in regard to many spheres of the UK. And this point also has to do with education, as now the treatment of the UK education and its institutions by the international students can greatly change. The referendum seemingly already disturbs some incertitude in this sector and new changes appear in it. For example, the ability for some researchers and lecturers to cooperate with other European scientists underwent some shifts. Now it is not so easy for them to lead the mutual work in many educational aspects and scientific researches. The possibility to carry out some international education conferences and symposiums between the British institutions and those, which are located in other states in Europe is significantly lower, that before. Of course, as of now, this point is not of a great concern, but nevertheless, it visibly brought new issues and troubles. This year the British are the best The results shown this year in regard to the best institutions board of the Times Higher Education of world-wide leaderboard of universities undoubtedly make the United Kingdom proud. Oxford University, the oldest in regard to the English speaking world, became the first in the world ranking, leaving behind other institutions, and in particular, California Institute of Technology, which was the 1st past year. It should be noted that this year’s rankings results also showed the streaming moving up of Asian universities, coming to 25 best in the world. This means that institutions of the US and those in Europe, which so long possessed the superiority in regard to education, gave way to Asian universities concerning some points. These shifts cannot leave indifferent even the biggest skeptics, which prove that new times sometimes bring unexpected and unpredictable things. Oxford is the leader University of Oxford is known to be the university with the richest far-back history in English speaking world that was founded in about 1096 and since then remained one of the best institutions worldwide in all times. Thousands of trans-border multicountry students come to it for one of the best possible educations on the globe each year. Placed always in the top 10 universities in the world scale, it proved to provide the front-rank education, study conditions, scientific researches etc. at any time. In 2017 Oxford is the first in line worldwide not only in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, but also in the Forbes's World University Rankings. Oxford was also recognized as one of the world’s â€Å"six super brands† in regard to World Reputation Rankings. And concerning the World University Rankings (QS) in relation to Subject, Oxford University obtained the first position in the list in relation to the Humanities disciplines, such as English Language and Literature, History and Geography. It can be stated that, no matter what time is nearby and what attitudes the world’s society can have, the rooted traditions prove to be the best. This is what can be said of the University of Oxford – the one that was always the leader and remains the one, no matter what.

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Essay - 9

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness - Essay Example Having being founded in 1984, the company has extensively invested in geothermal energy under the leadership of John Watson, the current chairman and CEO. Chevron success has not only been based on the product diversification but also due to merger and acquisition strategies that it has adopted. Some of the notable companies that Chevron has acquired include Texaco in 2000, GM Ovonics, Unocal Corporation and ATLAS Energy Incorporation among others. Chevron Corporation is an international company that has established outlets in many countries that includes Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cambodia, Liberia, Kuwait, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine and Malaysia among may other countries. In this way, the company has been able to effectively distribute its brands resulting to high sales and sustainable profit. In order to ensure that the company meets the needs of all its stakeholders, Chevron supports diversity while at the same time it fosters inclusion. The company has rich diversity of ideas that has been generated by experienced and skilled workforce. Most importantly, the company has maintained The Chevron Way, which indicates that Chevron learns from and respect the cultures in which it operates. Additionally, the company is committed to being recognized as a global leader that backs its strategies with quantifiable results. During its operations, Chevron undertakes its operations in a way that indicates respect for its emp loyees as well as the world community. One of the company achievements is that it was the first major energy firm to involve sexual orientation in its nondiscriminatory working policies. In 2012, Chevron was honored as the top corporation by Women Business Enterprise National Council due to its ability to provide adequate opportunities to women entrepreneurs. Similarly, the company was recognized in 2012 and was awarded Diversity Leader Award due to it commitment to diversity as well

How Dangerous Nuclear Reactors Are Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How Dangerous Nuclear Reactors Are - Essay Example The most important thing is to have a thorough understanding of exactly what happens inside of a nuclear reactor. The kind of physical process that occurs within a nuclear reactor is called nuclear fission, and it is one of two common forms of nuclear reaction. The other is called nuclear fusion, and that is what is used in most modern atomic bombs, and won’t be discussed extensively here. Each kind of reaction revolves around changing a single atom – fission is the splitting of one atom into two, whereas fusion is the combining of two atoms into a new one. Every atom is made of three parts: neutrons, protons, and electrons. Each of these has a charge – protons are positively charged, and attract negatively charged electrons. Neutrons have no charge. Neutrons are naturally occurring parts of atoms that exist in every element – usually, there are just as many neutrons as there are protons in any given element. They are very heavy and give most elements about half of their total weight. If you look at your body in terms of atomic weight, about half of it would be made of neutrons. The three parts of atoms, protons, electrons, and neutrons, exist in a balance of atoms that make up the things that we see around us. They exist in a balance because whenever they become unbalanced, they break down or recombine in a more balanced form. Think of a coin standing on its edge – in small change will cause it to fall so that one of the two sides is flat against the ground, but once it falls it won’t move or change as easily as it originally did. Atoms are like this – they are in a stable situation because if they weren’t, they couldn’t last very long. Changing one of the elements, either protons, neutrons or electrons, however, creates an unbalanced atom that wants to change to become balanced again.