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.

November 29, 2015

Did you know that there is an island full of cats in Japan? Aoshima, also called Cat Island (キャット島), is an island in the Ehime prefecture where cats outnumber humans 6:1. The cats were originally raised on boats to get rid of mice. However after World War II, many of Aoshima's human residents left the island for employment in the mainland. Now these kitties make use of abandoned houses and schools...and with very little predators, these guys are multiplying. But Aoshima is not the only cat island. There are 10 others.

November 23, 2015

Did you know that goosebumps were inherited from our more hairy ancestors? Whenever we feel a chill, the muscles around our hair follicles contract and cause the hairs to stand up. This is also called the pilomotor reflex. In animals, this creates an extra layer of air that can be used for insulation. The thicker the layer of hair/fur, the more heat retained. Maybe if I had that, I wouldn't had complained so much about the South Bend chills.

November 19, 2015

Did you know that there is wine ice cream? That's right! This lovely dessert isn't wine-flavored ice cream...it contains the real deal. It is 5% alcohol by volume. A little lower than the usual bottle, but I don't mind having my dessert and drink in one. Oh! This also means you can't buy the ice cream unless you're 21 and over.

November 17, 2015

Did you know that the diaphragm is the one usually behind hiccups? The diaphragm is a muscle located below the lungs. It contracts when you breathe in and relaxes when you breathe out. But sometimes it can get irritated like when you eat too fast. It causes the muscle to contract in a jerky way and the air rushing in becomes blocked by the closing of the epiglottis (located by the vocal cords). So you end up making a hic sound. :P

November 1, 2015

Did you know that a day after a baby is born, the baby is screened for PKU? PKU stands for phenylketonuria. It is a genetic disorder that results in the buildup of phenylalanine because of a dysfunctional enzyme. Leaving the condition untreated can cause developmental problems in children. PKU is an autosomal recessive disorder. For those of you who didn't take genetics, it means you need two parents to each contribute a copy of the mutated gene. Now how does one go about treating this disorder? You have to avoid foods high in protein. For babies, it means limiting the amount of breast milk and formula milk. However a dietician and physician will help plan out your diet, and recommend formulas and supplements.