Science
Science
What’s Flavoring Your Cookies?
Did you know a group of cats can be called a “glaring” or a “clowder?” Unless they’re feral cats, then it’s a “pounce.” Or in the case of kittens, a “litter” or a “kindle”! Or did you know that McDonald’s developed bubble-gum flavored broccoli in an attempt to get children to eat more vegetables? How about that figs are not fruit but an inverted flower? More fig trivia includes that every fig we eat has a decomposed wasp in it. Figs require a specific kind of pollination that can only come from fig wasps. A female wasp crawls through a hole, and the entrance is so narrow, she loses her wings and then becomes trapped. If the fig is male, she’ll lay her eggs that hatch into larvae, who burrow out, turn into wasps, and fly off, carrying fig pollen with them. If the fig is female – this the kind of fig we eat – the fig wasp pollinates it but can’t lay eggs due to lack of space inside the fig. The wasp dies, and the fig produces an enzyme that digests the wasp completely, so rest assured, any crunchy bits you encounter are seeds, not wasp parts. And yes, this happens every single time a fig wasp flies into a female fig.
By Heather Mitchell Manheim3 years ago in FYI
Accident or Amazing
Life is full of interesting discoveries. From simple things to the greatest inventions, a lot of useful things were created during accidental circumstances. A failed recipe, a broken tool, a misdiagnosis, a wrong turn. We have been programmed to think a mistake is something negative or wrong. There have been endless amazing inventions that began as something else and through a failure or simple error became something entirely different.
By Angie Connolly3 years ago in FYI
It’s Possible to Become Conscious in Your Dreams
Imagine that you could have any experience that you desired. What would you do? Maybe you would jump into the air and take flight, meet your favorite celebrity, or perhaps you would engage in something a bit more risqué. As adults, many of us seem to feel that dwelling on our fantasies is not productive and, therefore, not worth doing. It certainly makes sense not to waste time thinking about something that will never happen, but what if there actually is a way to fulfill literally any fantasy you might have? As it turns out, there is and it’s called lucid dreaming.
By James S. Bray3 years ago in FYI
Science Misconceptions
Folk science and actual science differ considerably in many cases. While they may not have much bearing on every day life, these misconceptions are still troubling and should be corrected by science communicators and educators. While the list is nearly endless, here are just a few science misconceptions.
By Daniel Goldman3 years ago in FYI
How to Kill a Deer with Your Bare Hands
Did the title grab your attention? Then it did its job. This story is not what you think. I am an animal lover. I live in an area that is abundant with fox, coyote, hawks, small game, song birds, and whitetail deer. In fact, rarely a day goes by that I do not see deer, usually no more than twenty feet away.
By Dennis Coleman3 years ago in FYI
Don't Forget Your Hyperbolic Paraboloid Snacks While You Read
Your average, unsullied Pringle is a hyperbolic paraboloid; its equation is (x²)/(a²) — (y²)/(b²) = z/c. Here’s where things get interesting, though (as if hyperbolic paraboloids weren’t interesting enough). Proctor & Gamble doesn’t just shove a bunch of Pringles in a can and call it a day. Rather, they use supercomputers to keep conditions just right to make sure the chips make it from their factory to your house unmolested. ~Source
By Lynda Coker3 years ago in FYI
Are we drinking water older than our solar system?!
Yes! You read the title correctly. When I heard what seems like this insignificant little fact, I was like most people: “It’s interesting but, whatever”, you know. But then after really thinking about it and doing some research, I was mind-blown at the magnitude of its effect that is felt reverberating throughout our entire solar system. Let me explain why.
By Lil Osiris3 years ago in FYI