December 31, 2015

Did you know clams can see? Well...not exactly with eyes. Bivalves in general do not have highly evolved sensory organs. However the clam has iridophores decorated on its flesh. These spots have lenses that direct light into the mantle, which allows the clam to detect any shadows overhead and close their shells before a predator can attack.

December 30, 2015

Did you know that there is a kangaroo mouse? They actually exist. The pygmy jerboa is a desert mammal with a tail that can grown longer than the body. During the summer, it digs burrows and creates a hole plug to keep out the hot air. It can't be kept as a pet since the pygmy jeroba is a endangered animal, but you can watch cute videos of it on youtube. ^.^

December 29, 2015

Did you know a skin gun has been developed? Our skin is the largest organ of our body. Extreme injuries, like burns, to it can lead to serious infections. So the SkinGun was made. It uses a patient's own skin cells and sprays them onto the damaged area. Within just days, new skin forms. Although synthetic skin also has been developed, it can take weeks to be completed and is usually fragile. So hooray for the SkinGun!

December 27, 2015

Did you know a moray eel has two sets of jaws? One is for grasping the prey and the another is for pulling it down the throat. Whelp...can't exactly escape from that...

December 26, 2015

Did you know that an octopus has three hearts, nine brains (ok maybe not brains like the way we think of a brain but ganglions), and blue blood? Two of the hearts are branchial hearts, which pump blood through the gills. The third heart is the systemic heart, which pumps blood through the body. There is a central brain and eight ganglions (large bundles of nerve cells). Each ganglion is located at the base of an arm. Their purpose is to control movement. The blue blood is caused by red blood cells using copper instead of iron to bind oxygen molecules. So while mammals use hemoglobin, the octopus uses hemocyanin. (Another example of an animal with blue blood is the horseshoe crab.)

December 25, 2015

Happy Holidays everyone! To celebrate the holidays, the ending of this year, AND the end of finals...I have two facts!

1) Did you know there is a toad who carries eggs IN her back? The female surinam toad carries the fertilized eggs on her back. They fuse into her skin forming little pockets, where the tadpoles then hatch and mature in. When the little guys finally develop into toads, they swim out of their mother's back. Some people find this a little creepy, but I think it's cool.

2)Did you know that newborns aren't bathed as soon as they're born? When a baby is born, there is this white coating called vernix. This layer forms during pregnancy and provides a barrier against the fluids in the uterus. After birth, it acts as antioxidant, skin cleanser, moisturizer, temperature regulator, and safe antimicrobial for the baby. Washing it off not only causing the baby's skin to dry, but it also allows for microorganisms to immediately begin colonizing...and some we don't want.

December 24, 2015

Did you know that Koreans celebrate the Winter Solstice (Dongji) with red bean porridge? Dongji (동지) is a celebration of the longest night of the year. After this day, the hours of daylight will begin to increase. A sign that spring is coming! So they make patjuk(팥죽), which is made of red beans and rice flour dumplings called saealshim (새알심). Oooo! I want to try some!

December 23, 2015

Did you know slugs can eat the Portuguese Man of War? The sea swallow (also known as Glaucus atlanticus) is a small sea slug that feeds on the colony. The sea swallow consumes the venomous tentacles and stores the poison in sacs on the tips of its cerata (finger-like projections). Because of that, the venom becomes concentrated allowing the slug to deliver an even more painful sting than the Man of War. Ouch!

December 22, 2015

Did you know that male gentoo penguins can propose to females using stones? These penguins actually build their nests from a large circular pile of rocks. The rocks are carefully guarded and disputes over good ones are quite common. (Unfortunately I don't think we can use engagement rings to build houses...though we could use them to buy houses. :P)

December 21, 2015

Did you know that some people with two different colored eyes may have Waardenburg syndrome? This condition is the result of a genetic mutation. It is autosomal dominant. Individuals with the syndrome may have hearing loss in one or both ears. They also may pale blue eyes or two different colored eyes. Another common trait is a patch of white or gray hair. However these traits vary from individual to individual. Thanks to Stef Sanjati, a Youtuber, for her video.

December 20, 2015

Did you know that you could make a desert out of pandan leaves? (In Bangladesh, pandan is called ketaki.) The pandan plant looks more or less like grass. However it is widely used in Southeast Asian cooking as flavoring. In fact, it can be used for rice dishes, cakes, and drinks. What do I want to try? Thai pandan custard! This lovely green custard is made from pandan leaves, coconut milk, cream, sweetener, and eggs. However until I can find a place that serves the custard, I'll settle for some pandan ice cream. I've been putting off my trip to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory...

December 8, 2015

Did you know that the material in an atheroma is mostly macrophages (white blood cells)? When a person consumes a high amount of cholesterol, it can trigger an inflammatory response within the intima, the inner wall of an artery. White blood cells attempt to digest the cholesterol and become foam cells. The foam cells then die and release their contents along the artery wall, forming the atheroma (deposits along an artery's wall). The material hardens into a plaque, leading to a narrower lumen and higher blood pressure.

December 7, 2015

Did you know that there are sea animals that gaze at stars? It only looks that way because the eyes of a whitemargin stargazer are located on the top of its head. This fish buries itself underneath the sand and silt on the ocean floor, waiting to ambush its prey. The eyes and mouth are not covered. Did anyone ever watch the Spongebob Squarepants movie? There was a fish, like the stargazer, that used a lure in its mouth to attract prey. So you're swimming around and then see this tasty little treat. Just as you are about to take a bite, these beady eyes in the sand are staring right at you. Before you know it, you're inside a mouth.

December 4, 2015

Did you know that an aortic aneurysm is not the same as an aortic dissection? An aneurysm is the bulging of a blood vessel. You can think of it as weakened portion of a garden hose. The weaker the walls of the hose, the bigger the bulge, and the more likely it will burst. A dissection is when layers of the blood vessel tear. The blood then begins to separate the layers from one another. Although an aneurysm and a dissection are two separate conditions, they can be related. One condition can lead to the other.