The extra-credit paper should address a recent scientific and/or technological advance that impacts, or potentially will impact society. The paper should be at least 2 pages double spaced and typed.  The paper should be based on a recent article(s) in a newspaper or weekly magazine (may use online sources).  The article(s) should be no older than 6 months since publication.  The article(s) should be about how science and technology impacts society.  Science changes our culture in two ways. It injects new ideas into the familiar culture, and it subjects culture to the pressures of technology.  For example, how has the introduction of new medicines that prolonging life change our society?  Pure science articles are less likely to receive a maximum point grade.  An example of an inappropriate article would be the demotion of Pluto from planet status.  This may be very important in the field of astronomy, but would have very little impact on everyday life.