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March 29, 2024, 09:01:59 pm

Author Topic: Share interesting science!!!  (Read 14954 times)  Share 

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TheAspiringDoc

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Share interesting science!!!
« on: January 13, 2016, 01:09:43 pm »
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So I was thinking we could have this thread were we all just post interesting science stuff (not necessarily in the scope of the VCE, but defs good if we can try and relate to it as it will  make the whole experience more interesting!) and have discussions about it and stuff?

Feel free to post anything from one sentence to ... however big   ::)

Maybe it's worth us tagging our posts (e.g. bio, physics, chem)


TheAspiringDoc

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2016, 01:28:02 pm »
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Okay I'll start us off :)

Biology

Some salamanders - those of the family plethodontidae -can breathe through their skin and don't have lungs (well they develop them as embryos but yeah).

 The fact that lungless salamanders can live in a very diverse range of thermal conditions puzzles scientists because theoretically lungs' enormous surface area is important in thermoregulation.

Plethodontidae are relatively small, are "thread" shaped, and have a low rate of metabolism - all of which serve to compensate for the lack of the favourable SA over which gas exchange can occur : volume ratio which is usually provided by the lungs of an organism.

It has been found that during embryonic development, lungs in plethodontidae do start to form, but never fully mature and are only of minor importance in the family's gas exchange methods.

Most of their gas exchange occurs due to high levels of vascularisation (vessel formation) in the skin, mouth, pharynx and larynx.

All of this is effectively caused by the activation and expression of a gene which codes for a protein that makes cell membranes more permeable for gases (which obviously helps with the gas exchange)

keltingmeith

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2016, 01:28:41 pm »
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If you shine a gin and tonic under UV light, it fluoresces (or "glows"). Prettiest alcohol evar.

Syndicate

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2016, 01:46:57 pm »
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Physics

sub::AstroPhysics

The rate of Dark Energy acclerated expansion is increasing every second, and has influenced many scientists to believe that the universe is going to rip apart, rather than the old theroy, which states that the universe is going to deflate/ come back like a spring does (F = -kx) :o

It is also known that due to the strechting, many planets and stars are moing further away from one anoher, which was observed during a red-shift examination, and thus proved that the acceleration is increasing, rather than decreasing.

Interesting to know, how the universe is going to conclude  :P
« Last Edit: January 13, 2016, 01:48:48 pm by Syndicate »
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pi

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2016, 01:52:37 pm »
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Used this cheeky bugger in the ExamPro study guide: Tardigrades.

They are perhaps the most durable of known organisms. They can withstand temperature ranges from 1 K (−272°C) to about 420 K (150°C), pressures about six times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches, ionizing radiation at doses hundreds of times higher than the lethal dose for a human, the vacuum of outer space (tested on the FOTON-M3 mission in 2007), and they can go without food or water for more than 10 years.

Who wants one as a pet now? :P (unfortunately you won't be able to see it as they're about 0.5mm long in size!)

source: wikipedia (obviously I used a more reputable source for the book!)

Y'all should consider liking a page such as https://www.facebook.com/IFeakingLoveScience if you want lots of good fun facts and links!
« Last Edit: January 13, 2016, 01:54:41 pm by pi »

TheAspiringDoc

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2016, 02:13:11 pm »
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UV light has a wavelength <400nm. Due to its high frequency, it is considered to be quite dangerous. 

There are three classes of UV, distinguished from each other by their wavelengths.

The highest frequency (shortest wavelength) UV class, UV-C (<290nm) can not pass through our atmosphere. This leaves UV-A and UV-B. The skin reacts differently to each type of UV radiation.

Mast cells that reside in the dermis of the skin are affected by UV radiation, and they release histamine, which causes inflammation and explains the redness of the skin following overexposure to UV.

pi

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2016, 02:23:57 pm »
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To tack onto that^

Indeed there are three types of ultraviolet radiation, but only two reach the earth's surface (UV-A and UV-B)as UV-C is filtered out by the ozone layer so isn't clinically relevant.

Of the two that are, UV-A mostly causes skin ageing and can also be a 'minor' risk factor for various skin cancers, whilst UV-B causes redness and sunburn and is a major risk factor for all types of skin cancer.

What's cool is that the glass we use for windows and the like block UV-B (but not UV-A!). So to put that into an AN perspective, while we're all studying next to our windows, we're 'enjoying sunlight' and also reducing our risk of sunburn and skin cancers. However, this does not prevent long term damage from UV-A, hence sunscreen is always advised :P

qazser

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2016, 02:25:38 pm »
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Here's one i read ages ago off fb.

It takes longer for a photon to travel from the core of the sun to its surface than from the sun to earth.
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geminii

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2016, 05:07:45 pm »
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Biology

There's enough DNA in an average person's body to stretch from the Sun to Pluto, and back - 17 times.

There's a shark called the Goblin Shark. When it is about to bit something, opens what seems to be its mouth, but then its actual mouth pops out of its mouth...confusing, I know. But amazing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q3BD7gjncQ

The Komodo Dragon only has to create a tiny cut in its prey to kill it. The bacteria in its mouth is so toxic that its prey becomes infected and dies within a few days.


Chemistry

When Helium is cooled to the lowest temperature possible (-273 degrees Celsius), it becomes a liquid - and an amazing one at that! It starts flowing AGAINST gravity, up through the test tube and spilling out!
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blacksanta62

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2016, 08:34:11 pm »
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This is an interesting post. Anyone else like reading medical reports (Doc), breakthroughs in science etc?
This is one of my favorites:
Biology: Saliva contains the chemical opiorphin which is approx. six times as strong as morphine. A natural painkiller which can be isolated and could potentially be used in the future. Tests are being carried out on rats and you can find the article here: http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/11/15/21008.aspx

Keep calm and read on!
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TheAspiringDoc

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2016, 09:01:23 pm »
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This is an interesting post. Anyone else like reading medical reports (Doc), breakthroughs in science etc?
This is one of my favorites:
Biology: Saliva contains the chemical opiorphin which is approx. six times as strong as morphine. A natural painkiller which can be isolated and could potentially be used in the future. Tests are being carried out on rats and you can find the article here: http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/11/15/21008.aspx

Keep calm and read on!
I can't seem to find any info on why such a substance would be present in saliva yet?

very interesting though!

blacksanta62

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2016, 09:13:07 pm »
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This was brought to my attention by a friend so It was a shock to me too. Let me know if you find anything. I already knew it contained enzymes (amylase), mucus, water etc but not a pain killer. It is also believed but I don't think proven (I'll link it) that licking wounds aids in healing quicker. It's thought that the saliva cleans of antigens and whatknots  ::) but I can't find the link to this study :( I'll keep looking

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080723094841.htm
« Last Edit: January 15, 2016, 09:14:55 pm by blacksanta62 »
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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2016, 09:14:16 pm »
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Zoology??

friendly fact: did you know bears have huge shuddering orgasms that can last up to 30 minutes? 

I wish to be a bear

but on a more serious note..or rather, less serious?...mosquitoes have shovel shaped penises that can scoop out rival sperm from inside a female mosquito ..the more you know  :o
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TheAspiringDoc

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2016, 09:16:52 pm »
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Zoology??

friendly fact: did you know bears have huge shuddering orgasms that can last up to 30 minutes? 

I wish to be a bear

but on a more serious note..or rather, less serious?...mosquitoes have shovel shaped penises that can scoop out rival sperm from inside a female mosquito ..the more you know  :o
um righty oh  :o

well why would that first one be evolutioarily important?

Callum@1373

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Re: Share interesting science!!!
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2016, 09:23:04 pm »
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Anyone heard of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)? New form of technology where you take adult cells, add (4 I believe) gene sequences which encode the instructions for a cell to have stem-cell like capabilities, culture it and harvest it and grow new stem cells. The induction rate is only really between 0.01-0.1% but new research is finding ways to reach greater efficiency. This would allow for us to test drugs on an individual patients cells before they let the drug actually enter the body, can mean tissue regeneration is made up of a patients OWN cells, and can allow for quicker discovery of drugs for diseases by creating say neurons from the skin cells of a patient with Lou Gehreg's disease for example. Amazing possibilities  ;D I'm doing a speech on iPSCs at the National Youth Science Forum, really interesting stuff.
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