TechnoTourist’s Engineering Expeditions

Home to more than four-thousand animals and comprised of six-hundred species, the Bronx Zoo, located in the Bronx borough of New York City, covers two-hundred sixty-five acres of land. There are many different exhibits, such as: African Plains, Congo Gorilla Forest, Jungle World, Tiger Mountain, and Madagascar! Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to visit Tiger Mountain and Madagascar.

The Monorail

The twenty minute guided monorail tour through Asia gives you an exciting glimpse of the wildlife that exists in this vast area. From tigers to herds of Asian deer and antelope, forty acres of natural habitat is dedicated to this ride. While the monorail costs extra (only $4, which is included in their Total Experience Ticket), it is definitely worthwhile to catch glimpses of these magnificent animals. When I rode, there were even babies roaming around in the exhibit.

African Plains

Boasted to be as "close to the Serengeti as you can get", this exhibit features many animals native to Africa. Gazelles, zebras, giraffes, lions, and more can be viewed from relatively close up. Although lions are seen as social creatures for living and hunting together, it usually takes a pack about six attempts to catch a meal. A lion's roar can be heard from up to five miles away, and while at the exhibit, you are definitely within range to hear them roar!

Congo Gorilla Forest

This six-and-a-half acre rainforest is home to gorillas and monkeys. There is a small movie theatre that plays a short movie on Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) efforts. At the end of the exhibit, you can choose a Congolese species to protect using the admission fee (included in their Total Experience Ticket also).

Gorillas live in close-knit clusters of about thirty animals. Since gorillas have a low birthrate of every four-to-six years, it is a challenge for conservation efforts to replenish the population. Luckily, the gorillas can live relatively long lives, up to about fifty years old.

The Bronx Zoo was thoroughly enjoyable and would take more than a day to explore the whole area. Although smaller than The San Diego Zoo, there are still a lot of exhibitions and activities in each of the featured areas.

Resources:

http://www.bronxzoo.com/

What do teeth-whitening treatments and an old diesel submarine have in common? How about wound disinfection and extended underwater operations? The answer is available at the Submarine Force Library & Museum in Groton, Connecticut. Located on the Thames River, this U.S. Navy facility bills itself as "the world's finest collection" of submarine-related materials. But you don't have to comb through old manuals for the answer to this submariner's riddle. Just step outside and take a look at the placard next to the Navy's first midget submarine.

What's in the Bottle?

Hydrogen peroxide, a powerful bleaching agent and antiseptic, has a great many uses. That brown bottle in your upstairs bathroom contains the same substance that is used as a rocket propellant. Before the U.S. Navy launched its first nuclear-powered submarine in 1955, hydrogen peroxide was used in the propulsion system of a non-commissioned experimental submersible. As a placard next to the USS X-1 (SSX-1, SS X-1) explains, "a unique engineering feature was a closed-loop hydrogen peroxide system that allowed the use of the diesel engine under the water independent from an external air source".

Oxygen and Energy

More specifically, this special hydrogen peroxide system generated the oxygen that the submarine's diesel engine needed while the ship was submerged. As with other internal combustion engines, diesel engines release energy in a series of explosions as diesel fuel reacts chemically with oxygen in air. (Older diesel engines were louder and dirtier than their modern-day successors, of course, but the basic principle of operation was the same.) When hydrogen peroxide decomposes exothermically, the result is water and oxygen gas. By using the oxygen that its closed-loop system provided, the USS X-1 could operate underwater for longer periods of time than conventional diesel-electric submarines and at greater speeds.

Tragedy Averted

Unfortunately, periodic problems with the submarine's propulsion system culminated in the explosion of a hydrogen peroxide storage cell in May 1957. The bow section of the ship was damaged, but no injuries occurred. Later, the U.S. Navy converted the USS X-1 to a diesel-electric drive and relegated it to conducting oceanographic research for the U.S. Naval Laboratory. Plans for a hydrogen-peroxide propelled submarine that could spend extended periods of time at sea went down the drain like so much mouthwash.

Additional Readings:

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org

/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/SubmarineUSSNautilus/SSX1/index.htm

Located on the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut, the Submarine Force Library & Museum bills itself as "the world's finest collection" of submarine-related materials. As the only submarine museum operated by the U.S. Navy, this fantastic facility is home to 33,000 submarine artifacts, 30,000 photographs, 20,000 documents, and one nuclear-powered submarine.

When TechnoTourist visited the Submarine Force Library & Museum last week, the younger members of our party were less interested in the library and more interested in the museum. Specifically, they were drawn to the dark hulking shape of the USS Nautilus (SSN 571), America's first nuclear-powered submarine. It was easy enough to understand why.

About the Nautilus

Now a floating museum, the USS Nautilus first set sail on January 17, 1955. Later, the submarine became the first vessel to make a submerged transit across the North Pole. Powered by a S2W pressurized water reactor, the 320-foot long ship pushed the limits of speed and endurance. On February 4, 1957, she logged her 60,000th nautical mile, a feat which matched the achievement of the fictional Nautilus described in Jules Verne's 1870 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.

Aboard the Nautilus

After crossing a parking lot, a walkway, and some railroad tracks, TechnoTourist boarded the USS Nautilus and descended into the belly of the beast. This floating museum isn't handicap-accessible, and navigating its narrow corridors isn't for the faint of heart. The ship's lighting and use of glass partitions made photography difficult, but here are some pictures from our trip.

Crew's Quarters

The crew's quarters were, in a word, cramped. As you can (hopefully) tell from this picture, the bunk beds are close and the sink and mirror are even closer.

Navigation Center

Photographing the navigation center was even more challenging, and the only picture of any quality is of this plaque.

Here, to the best of my ability, is what I think it says.

"The navigational equipment assisted the navigator in determining the geographical location of the ship. The installed systems included a radio direction finder set – AN/BRD-6B, a LORAN C Receiver Set – AN/WPN-4, and a LORAN A Receiver Set – AN/ (model number illegible). Additional special equipment such as an inertial navigation system was installed based on mission demands.

The quartermaster of the watch also maintained a manual plot on the MK-19 plotter as a backup to the more modern electronic navigational means. Also contained within the area is the main induction fan and the ship's low pressure blower, a two-speed rotary fan that was used to both ventilate the ship and blow air into the ship's main ballast tanks."

(After) Life Support

This final picture isn't meant to mix religion with engineering.

But if you're wondering why the mannequin chaplain looks like he's about to go scuba diving, it's because he's wearing an emergency air breathing (EAB) apparatus. If breathable air aboard the USS Nautilus was in short supply, crew members could literally plug an air hose into an EAB manifold.

As for the "afterlife support", the chaplain aboard the USS Nautilus wasn't actually a member of the clergy. Space aboard the Nautilus was so scarce that submariners had to fill this role themselves.

Resources:

http://www.ussnautilus.org/aboutus.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nautilus_%28SSN-571%29

Originally a church built in 1772, the Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, New York became camp for about 800 loyalists during the Revolutionary War. The church was enclosed by a log stockade from 1777 to 1785. When the stockade was removed, the building resumed its use as a church until 1844.

The fort was sold to the state for $800 and used during the Civil War as an armory. Eventually, it was given to Schoharie County for historical use. The Schoharie County Historical Society was formed to operate a museum at the old fort. By 1899, a catalog of 2,500 items was published.

There are multiple exhibits that populate this historical site. This including the William Badgely Museum and carriage house (1972), Shaeffer-Ingold Dutch barn, a one-room school house (1900), and many other curious exhibits. It also holds an exhibit of 20^th century communications where many old radios and other forms of communication are gathered in one exhibit.

The fort complex also holds one of America's oldest fire engines; Deluge No.1, from 1731 joins thousands of other antiques and artifacts from the war. For the history buffs, a research library is available. There are also many costumed people around to assist with the learning experience.

There have been significant artifact additions since the catalog of 2,500 items was initially created. There are collections of many different historical items such as guns, weapons, arrowheads, buttons, electronics, etc. A lot of items have been donated by certain families whom were also included in the main exhibit. There are also a lot of documents that were collected and preserved delicately under glass exhibits.

The Old Stone Fort also has a one-room schoolhouse that is meant for kids to play with. There are articles of clothing for kids to try and imitate being in the schoolhouse during those times as well. At another exhibit, there is a treasure hunt for one of the rooms with a checklist of items to find.

There are a lot of events that take place at the fort. When I visited, there were costumed militia-men ready to take pictures. There are also featured re-enactments that are listed under events on their main website. If you are observant when you visit, you will see the cannonball hole from the rear of the building.

Resources:

http://www.schohariehistory.net/OSF.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Stone_Fort_(Schoharie,_NY)

Home to over four thousand animals, the San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. This large zoo sits on one hundred acres of land and contains more than eight hundred different species. But this zoo specializes in more than just unique animals, it also comprises of a multitude of plant species.

There are many different modes of transportation to get around the park. This zoo offers Skyfari – an overhead gondola lift, guided tour buses, and of course, the journey via foot. There are many different specialized exhibits that feature monkeys, pandas, polar bears, and big cats.

Panda Research Station

The Panda station was one of the best exhibits to be at. There is a long line to get into the exhibit, but it is well worth the wait. The San Diego Zoo is one of only four zoos in the United States that display giant pandas. Although you have to be really quiet as to not disturb these gentle creatures, they are very cute to watch. There is also a keeper who lightly talks about each panda and their history with the zoo. There is also a Giant Panda Discovery Center, which is located nearby the research station and has interactive exhibits.

Cat Canyon

Since I love big cats, there is no mystery as to why this exhibit was my favorite. At times it is hard to take pictures of these elegant and beautiful creatures as they tend to lie in caves, far away from the onlookers. Cat Canyon is home to many species of the big cat, such as: snow leopard, leopard, and jaguar. Oh, and those black cats you call panthers, they are not a separate species. "Panther" is a general term that is often used to describe pumas, jaguars, and leopards. These cats appear black, but it is just that they have a black-on-black coloration. Both their fur and their rosettes are black.

Polar Plunge

This polar bear exhibit is a frequently visited display that has both an underwater observatory and above water display. Every couple of minutes the polar bears are brought in and out of the exhibit. This gives the zoo keepers an opportunity to hide "treats". When the bears come out, they are lured to the "treats". Once in a while, snow is added to the polar bears exhibit for special occasions.

The San Diego Zoo was a fascinating place to learn about many different species of animals. On the zoo's website, animal cams are available for a select few animals.

Resources:

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Zoo

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/livecams/