Today's interesting fact for the day has to do with the Octopus.
The octopus along with squid are considered to have the most complex brains in the mollusc phyla.
The octopus's brain seems to co-operate with neural ganglia in it's legs, the brain giving the leg ganglia general instructions and the leg ganglia determining how to do what the brain has asked, working more or less independently.
The alimentary canal (digestive tract) passes through the octopus's brain.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Today's interesting fact has to do with Gallons, Quarts, Pints and liquid Ounces.
Most people know that the British Pint (20 British Ounces) is larger than the American Pint (16 American Ounces).
Most people automatically understand therefore, that the British Quart, (2 British Pints) is larger than the American Quart (2 American Pints), and the British Gallon is larger than the American Gallon.
But how many people know that the American liquid Ounce (29.5735296 ml) is larger than the British liquid Ounce (28.4130742)?
To make things slightly more complicated, in the US they also have what is called a US label ounce, which is 30 ml in size.
Most people know that the British Pint (20 British Ounces) is larger than the American Pint (16 American Ounces).
Most people automatically understand therefore, that the British Quart, (2 British Pints) is larger than the American Quart (2 American Pints), and the British Gallon is larger than the American Gallon.
But how many people know that the American liquid Ounce (29.5735296 ml) is larger than the British liquid Ounce (28.4130742)?
To make things slightly more complicated, in the US they also have what is called a US label ounce, which is 30 ml in size.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with our sense of smell.
Our sense of smell affects us much more than you might think, even odours that are below our perception.
This was shown in a recent study of students living in several dorm rooms.
If the researchers released the sent of lemon oil just under the students perception in their kitchens, the students were far more likely to clean the kitchens than if the sent wasn't there.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Been ill for the past week so haven't posted. Sorry folks, especially Nick.
Still, here we go again.
Today's interesting fact has to do with why we yawn.
There have been many theories as to why we yawn, from threatening possible enemies, to increasing the oxygen we get into our blood, to helping us to wake up. But lately someone looked at the roof of our mouths with specialist equipment and watched what happens to blood flow, temperature and air flow when we yawn.
The examination of the resultant data suggests that while some of the other suggestions may have some validity, perhaps the biggest reason we yawn is to cool our brains.
The soft palette at the top of our mouths are full of blood vessels that can be used to transfer warmth from the brain into our breath as we breathe out and then colder air coming into our lungs during the yawn then reduces the blood temperature further which then further cools the brain.
And this also explains why we get brain freezes when we accidentally place ice cold foods or drinks on that soft pallet.
Still, here we go again.
Today's interesting fact has to do with why we yawn.
There have been many theories as to why we yawn, from threatening possible enemies, to increasing the oxygen we get into our blood, to helping us to wake up. But lately someone looked at the roof of our mouths with specialist equipment and watched what happens to blood flow, temperature and air flow when we yawn.
The examination of the resultant data suggests that while some of the other suggestions may have some validity, perhaps the biggest reason we yawn is to cool our brains.
The soft palette at the top of our mouths are full of blood vessels that can be used to transfer warmth from the brain into our breath as we breathe out and then colder air coming into our lungs during the yawn then reduces the blood temperature further which then further cools the brain.
And this also explains why we get brain freezes when we accidentally place ice cold foods or drinks on that soft pallet.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Horseshoe Crab.
The Horseshoe crab is considered a living fossil. Fossils that looks almost exactly like the Horseshoe crab show that an animal with the same body and structure first appeared about 450 million years ago and has hardly changed in all that time, which is far longer than most species of plants or animals, including humans can ever hope to exist.
The Horshoe crabs blood is blue, because it is based around the copper atom instead of an iron atom.
The Horseshoe crab is considered a living fossil. Fossils that looks almost exactly like the Horseshoe crab show that an animal with the same body and structure first appeared about 450 million years ago and has hardly changed in all that time, which is far longer than most species of plants or animals, including humans can ever hope to exist.
The Horshoe crabs blood is blue, because it is based around the copper atom instead of an iron atom.
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Nectarine.
A lot of people think that nectarines are different species of plant than peaches.
Many people think it is a cross between a peach tree and a plum tree.
But there it is only a single gene difference between the two that changes the fuzzy skin, into a smooth skin.
Sometimes a peach tree will have a mutation on a branch, and that branch will then have nectarines on it.
A lot of people think that nectarines are different species of plant than peaches.
Many people think it is a cross between a peach tree and a plum tree.
But there it is only a single gene difference between the two that changes the fuzzy skin, into a smooth skin.
Sometimes a peach tree will have a mutation on a branch, and that branch will then have nectarines on it.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
You get two today, because I missed yesterday.
Today’s interesting fact has to do with Orcas.
Orcas, or Killer Whales, have sometimes been referred to as the wolves of the sea.
I've read many times, that Orcas have never killed and eaten humans.
Some writers have speculated if this has to do with their great intelligence, supposing that the only time they would do this would be if they found a single human, where no other human would notice the attack.
Today’s interesting fact has to do with Orcas.
Orcas, or Killer Whales, have sometimes been referred to as the wolves of the sea.
I've read many times, that Orcas have never killed and eaten humans.
Some writers have speculated if this has to do with their great intelligence, supposing that the only time they would do this would be if they found a single human, where no other human would notice the attack.
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Sharks.
A sharks teeth are constantly replaced throughout life.
Shark teeth are dropped off and fall to the ocean floor.
Fossilised sharks teeth can be found in a large number of ancient sea beds.
Sharks do not have bones but instead the skeleton is made from cartilage.
A shark's jaw has at least one layer of tiny hexagonal plates, crystals of calsium salt, that provides additional strength.
A sharks teeth are constantly replaced throughout life.
Shark teeth are dropped off and fall to the ocean floor.
Fossilised sharks teeth can be found in a large number of ancient sea beds.
Sharks do not have bones but instead the skeleton is made from cartilage.
A shark's jaw has at least one layer of tiny hexagonal plates, crystals of calsium salt, that provides additional strength.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Beaver and it's teeth.
Beavers teeth are strong and grow continuously throughout its life.
Otherwise they would be worn down from all the chewing of wood.
Their incisors are orange, because they have large amounts of iron in their enamel, to make them harder and less likely to wear down.
Beavers teeth are strong and grow continuously throughout its life.
Otherwise they would be worn down from all the chewing of wood.
Their incisors are orange, because they have large amounts of iron in their enamel, to make them harder and less likely to wear down.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Dogs and their sense of smell.
A dog's primary method of viewing the world is its sense of smell.
Dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors whereas a human only has 6 million.
A dog’s olfactory cortex uses about 12.5% of a dog’s brain, whereas that of a human is less than one percent.
Dogs can tell if a how long a scent has been on the ground and can easily work out which way a scent trail goes.
In effect scents give dogs a sense of time.
When I was young, I read Tarzan novels.
Tarzan, because he was raised by an unidentified species of great ape (can't be gorillas because they had a language) he was supposed to be able to use and process scents as well as a dog could.
But to do that, he would have had to have a massive restructuring of his brain and nose.
A dog's primary method of viewing the world is its sense of smell.
Dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors whereas a human only has 6 million.
A dog’s olfactory cortex uses about 12.5% of a dog’s brain, whereas that of a human is less than one percent.
Dogs can tell if a how long a scent has been on the ground and can easily work out which way a scent trail goes.
In effect scents give dogs a sense of time.
When I was young, I read Tarzan novels.
Tarzan, because he was raised by an unidentified species of great ape (can't be gorillas because they had a language) he was supposed to be able to use and process scents as well as a dog could.
But to do that, he would have had to have a massive restructuring of his brain and nose.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Stock Market.
It has been estimated that over 90% of the trades that are done on the stock market these days are computer controlled.
These computers use algorithms that are specially created for optimum purchase and selling of stock certificates.
The computers used are so fast that microsecond differences in the timing of bids can make or lose millions.
Optical fibres are used to send the signals to and from the markets.
These fibres have traditionally been run along railroad tracks.
But railroad tracks when they go into cities and towns can be forced to wander.
A company recently laid an almost straight optical fibre cable 1300 kilometres from the New York Stock Exchange to the Chicago Stock Exchange, to save microseconds for their customers’ computer trades to allow them to beat their competitors’ bids.
It has been estimated that over 90% of the trades that are done on the stock market these days are computer controlled.
These computers use algorithms that are specially created for optimum purchase and selling of stock certificates.
The computers used are so fast that microsecond differences in the timing of bids can make or lose millions.
Optical fibres are used to send the signals to and from the markets.
These fibres have traditionally been run along railroad tracks.
But railroad tracks when they go into cities and towns can be forced to wander.
A company recently laid an almost straight optical fibre cable 1300 kilometres from the New York Stock Exchange to the Chicago Stock Exchange, to save microseconds for their customers’ computer trades to allow them to beat their competitors’ bids.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with Hair.
Many men lose their hair, either in part or totally.
The reasons for this have been studied for years, and only recently have they worked out what might be the process of hair loss.
They've known for years that hair follicles get smaller and smaller, producing thinner and finer hair until it seems there is none.
Most women and men, who don't lose their hair, have hair follicles that renew themselves mostly in their original form.
What causes these follicles to renew themselves is a small quantity of stem cells located at the root of each hair follicle.
Very recently researchers at Yale have identified that there is a signal that goes from adipose precursor cells in the tissue surrounding the hair follicles to the hair stem cells.
Before hair growth starts, the layer of fat under the skin thickens.
This thickening produces molecules that then stimulate the hair stem cells, to regenerate the hair follicle.
If you feel a part of a scalp that has hair, you will notice that the thickness of the tissue between the outer layer of the skin and above the skull is slightly thicker than that where you don't have hair.
If they can get the fat cells to signal the hair stem cells they may be able to reverse the hair loss.
That is of course, if human hair and skin, works the same as the mice they have been studying.
We chrome domes can only hope.
Many men lose their hair, either in part or totally.
The reasons for this have been studied for years, and only recently have they worked out what might be the process of hair loss.
They've known for years that hair follicles get smaller and smaller, producing thinner and finer hair until it seems there is none.
Most women and men, who don't lose their hair, have hair follicles that renew themselves mostly in their original form.
What causes these follicles to renew themselves is a small quantity of stem cells located at the root of each hair follicle.
Very recently researchers at Yale have identified that there is a signal that goes from adipose precursor cells in the tissue surrounding the hair follicles to the hair stem cells.
Before hair growth starts, the layer of fat under the skin thickens.
This thickening produces molecules that then stimulate the hair stem cells, to regenerate the hair follicle.
If you feel a part of a scalp that has hair, you will notice that the thickness of the tissue between the outer layer of the skin and above the skull is slightly thicker than that where you don't have hair.
If they can get the fat cells to signal the hair stem cells they may be able to reverse the hair loss.
That is of course, if human hair and skin, works the same as the mice they have been studying.
We chrome domes can only hope.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with Cancer.
Cancer has been in the news lately.
It used to be said that one in four would develop cancer in their lifetime.
This has changed to one in three, now that people are living longer.
All men for example, if they live long enough, are thought to develop at least a benign form of cancer of the prostate, and as men are living longer, this skews the statistics.
One recent announcement has given many suffers hope, some researchers have modified the DNA of an Adenovirus so that it targets cancer cells and kills them, but healthy cells are left alone.
It has been suggested that the virus could target any cancer cell.
If this works correctly, then cancer could be a thing of the past.
If this virus mutates to target healthy cells when it is used in patients, it could kill the patients and create a pandemic.
It will be interesting to find out what happens.
Cancer has been in the news lately.
It used to be said that one in four would develop cancer in their lifetime.
This has changed to one in three, now that people are living longer.
All men for example, if they live long enough, are thought to develop at least a benign form of cancer of the prostate, and as men are living longer, this skews the statistics.
One recent announcement has given many suffers hope, some researchers have modified the DNA of an Adenovirus so that it targets cancer cells and kills them, but healthy cells are left alone.
It has been suggested that the virus could target any cancer cell.
If this works correctly, then cancer could be a thing of the past.
If this virus mutates to target healthy cells when it is used in patients, it could kill the patients and create a pandemic.
It will be interesting to find out what happens.
Friday, September 02, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Honey War.
The Honey War was a bloodless territorial dispute in the 1830's between Iowa and Missouri.
Before it was settled, a Missouri tax collector had three hollow trees in Iowa containing honey bee hives cut down to collect the honey in lieu of taxes.
A Missouri sheriff was arrested by a Iowa sheriff while attempting to collect taxes.
Militias assembled at both sides of the border of the disputed territory.
And the US Supreme Court ended the affair by confirming the original boundary.
The Honey War was a bloodless territorial dispute in the 1830's between Iowa and Missouri.
Before it was settled, a Missouri tax collector had three hollow trees in Iowa containing honey bee hives cut down to collect the honey in lieu of taxes.
A Missouri sheriff was arrested by a Iowa sheriff while attempting to collect taxes.
Militias assembled at both sides of the border of the disputed territory.
And the US Supreme Court ended the affair by confirming the original boundary.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Today’s interesting fact has to do with the Giant Panda and Bio fuels.
I remember when I was at High School I was watching the TV with my parents; I think it was the news.
The program was asking what good are Pandas and the politician being interviewed stated that if Pandas died out we wouldn't have lost anything.
I've occasionally remembered this interview in the past, especially whenever someone, whether on the TV, Radio or in person, asked the same question.
The WWF has campaigned long and hard to keep Pandas as a species alive and we might be very glad they did.
It is just in science news yesterday and today that they have found a species of bacteria that allows almost total conversion of woody plant material into sugars that can be used to produce bio fuels.
These bacteria have been successfully bred in the lab, don't require high temperatures or pressure and it looks like they may easily adapted to an industrial process.
What most of the articles I've read over the past two days, don't mention where they found the bacteria.
It was in the faecal material of Pandas.
The bacteria live in the guts of Pandas and allow this extremely specialised mammal to live on a diet of mostly woody stems by converting them into sugars.
From these sugars they can create the plastics, oils, and fuels, indeed all the materials we create from fossil fuels.
So, what good is a Panda?
If it turns out to be the salvation of our way of life, including cars, heat and light, perhaps the Panda's existence has no payable price.
It makes me wonder if any of the extinct animals we have lost, could have given us some other priceless gift, if we had left their environments that kept them alive alone.
I remember when I was at High School I was watching the TV with my parents; I think it was the news.
The program was asking what good are Pandas and the politician being interviewed stated that if Pandas died out we wouldn't have lost anything.
I've occasionally remembered this interview in the past, especially whenever someone, whether on the TV, Radio or in person, asked the same question.
The WWF has campaigned long and hard to keep Pandas as a species alive and we might be very glad they did.
It is just in science news yesterday and today that they have found a species of bacteria that allows almost total conversion of woody plant material into sugars that can be used to produce bio fuels.
These bacteria have been successfully bred in the lab, don't require high temperatures or pressure and it looks like they may easily adapted to an industrial process.
What most of the articles I've read over the past two days, don't mention where they found the bacteria.
It was in the faecal material of Pandas.
The bacteria live in the guts of Pandas and allow this extremely specialised mammal to live on a diet of mostly woody stems by converting them into sugars.
From these sugars they can create the plastics, oils, and fuels, indeed all the materials we create from fossil fuels.
So, what good is a Panda?
If it turns out to be the salvation of our way of life, including cars, heat and light, perhaps the Panda's existence has no payable price.
It makes me wonder if any of the extinct animals we have lost, could have given us some other priceless gift, if we had left their environments that kept them alive alone.
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