Twins!

Genes dictate so many things about us - eye color, skin color, hair color, genetic defects can lead to disease, etc.  The list really goes on and on.  However, there is another factor that goes into "who we are" - nurture.  Where we grow up, how our parents raise and love us, and the type of life we are exposed to.  What is interesting about identical twins is that they share genetic material and are typically raised in the same environment, yet they grow to be two very different people.  Scientists have been studying twins trying to understand how this comes to be.  It's fascinating!

National Geographic has dedicated a large article to twins in their recent issue.  A summary of the article was published today on the Daily Mail.  Check it out!

National Geographic Article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/twins/miller-text

Daily Mail Article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079492/National-Geographic-twins-Johanna-Evas-beaming-eyes-painting-beautiful-picture-sisterly-love.html

A really old mattress...

Scientists claim to have found the oldest mattress ever in South America.  Unsurprisingly, it is made of grass and leafy plants, but was ~ 12 inches in height.  I think it sounds a bit cozy, if not maybe a little itchy.  A top sheet made of similar materials is also probable, as is the idea that entire families slept on one mattress.

Here's the article from National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111208-oldest-mattress-africa-archaeology-science/

Moon Landing C Rock

I thought I'd heard most of the "Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were standing on a sound stage" theories, but this one was new to me.

In one photo from the their famous landing, you can see a rock that clearly has the letter C on it (shown below).  Conspiracy theories say this rock was a prop and the C was its code letter (just as if there was a Rock B and Rock D, etc).  Unfortunately, this one was left turned towards the camera.  NASA says it was a piece of hair or imperfection with the camera lens.

Just some references for the "C Rock"...

http://www.braeunig.us/space/hoax.htm
http://www.studyphysics.ca/apollo2.pdf
http://www.conspiracy-theories-hoax.com/apollo-moon-landing-hoax-camera-problems.html

PSA: Neti Pots

I know Neti Pots are popular these days, but this article reminds you to use only bottled, distilled, pre-boiled, or sterilized water with them.  Otherwise, you possibly run the risk of infecting yourself with N. fowleri.  The link is still unconfirmed, but the CDC is investigating two recent deaths.

On my main blog, Amedeo, I did a whole post about N. fowleri and how it kills its victims.

News article about Neti Pots: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2074957/Deaths-brain-eating-amoeba-linked-sinus-remedy-colds.html

N. fowleri explanation on Amedeo:  http://www.amedeo-amedeo.com/search/label/Amoebas

Leukemia and Down Syndrome

I learned in my reading last night that children with Down Syndrome are at a greater risk of developing leukemia than the rest of the population.  The risk is ~ 20-fold greater.  I had no idea.

The paper I was reading was looking for genes on chromosome 21 that might play a role in leukemia susceptibility.  Children with Down Syndrome have trisonomy 21 - three copies of chromosome 21.  Typically, a human should only have two copies of this chromosome.

Because the paper is still unpublished, I can't report it here (yet), but here's a link to a more general overview about this topic.  Granted, it's from 1987, but it's still informative.  I also gave a link to a 2008 paper from The Lancet that discusses new breakthroughs in research on this topic.


LINK: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2955886 (1987 paper)

LINK: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=bercovich%20the%20lancet%202008 (2008 paper)

Waking up from a Coma

Coma = a state of extreme unpresonsiveness; there is no voluntary movement and in deep comas, there is no response to painful stimuli.

Human consciousness can be thought of a spectrum with fully awake and alert at one end and death at the other.  Other forms of altered consciousness on this spectrum?  Confusion, drowsiness, stupor and coma.

Some people can be comas for years.  It is very rare that someone in a coma for that long will wake up, but here's a remarkable story.  Patricia White Bull slipped into a coma while giving birth to her son Mark via C-section in 1983.  She woke up, quite suddenly, on Christmas Eve 1999.  That's sixteen years later.  Her youngest was in high school, her family had moved and her husband had divorced her.  However, he said he's willing to get back together if she is.

About Comas: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/coma


Patricia White Bull's Story: http://www.canadafreepress.com/2000/0002.htm
Patricia White Bull's Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/591847.stm

LEGO Bricks

I learned today that the word LEGO is a combination of two Danish words: leg godt.  It means "play well."

Oddly, "lego" also means "I put together" in Latin.

You know what "volvo" means in Latin?  I roll.  Just so you know.

LINKY for LEGO: http://aboutus.lego.com/en-US/group/default.aspx
About LEGO: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllego.htm

I love Mario.  He's oddly cool in LEGO format, too.

Anti-Nausea

I have many many pregnant friends, but this is the first I'd heard of this...  Obviously, talk to your doctor before you do anything, but B6 and Unisom together make an effective treatment for morning sickness.

I was looking for a better reference for this, but Pfizer doesn't market Unisom for nausea so I'd have to dig a bit deeper.  This article discusses the issues with a pregnant woman and some OBs.  I'd like to add more information to this short little blurb, but here's what I have so far.

LINK: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=3658783

Jack Russell Terriers...

...were originally bred by the Reverend Jack Russell in Devon, England.  Clergymen of the English country at the time were blessed with money and a lot of free time.  According to Bill Bryson in his recent book "At Home," this led to a lot of clergy putting their brains towards other pursuits aside from churchly responsibilities.  Some were mathematicians, others studied animals, some published novels, etc.  Jack Russell gave us a dog.

 

Bryson, Bill.  "At Home." 2010 Anchor Books, Random House.  New York, New York.

Photo of the Day

I change my computer's wallpaper every few weeks.  I like variety.

One of the best places for computer wallpapers?  National Geographic Photo of the Day.  Every day, another gorgeous photo is uploaded.

Today's is tempting for a holiday change...
LINK: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/?source=NavPhoPOD

Happy Black Friday and welcome to the Christmas season!

The Alchemist Code

Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton, the king of apples and gravity, has several journals full of alchemy experiments?

Did you know that alchemists wrote their experiments in code (such as "The Red Dragon devours the White Eagle") so that only those who were worthy would understand what that meant?

Alchemy is generally regarded with disdain.  Yes, many charlatans cropped up during this time claiming things that could never happen, but in truth, alchemy paved the way for chemistry.  It had a rather interesting history that I'd love to explore a bit more.

LINK, PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/newton-alchemist-newman.html

LINK, Google Books: http://books.google.com/books/about/The_foundations_of_Newton_s_alchemy_or_T.html?id=wwc4AAAAIAAJ

How long...

Let's say you put some bacteria in a jar.

They double in number every day.

After twenty days, you have a full jar.

On what day was the jar half empty?




neeteniN :rewsnA  (Thank you to boreddotcom for the backwards writing!)


 

The Octopus! It's really cool.

Did you know that the makers of cameras studied octopus eyes to improve their lenses?  True story.

The octopus is fascinating.  I listened to a podcast a few weeks ago about them and spent the majority of that evening telling my husband stories.  If you want to listen to the podcast, search for it on iTunes under "How Stuff Works - Stuff You Should Know" or read the article that it was based on called "How Octopuses Work."

You'll learn about how strong an octopus's arm is, how its nervous system works, how they live, and even some crazier tidbits.  For example: the brown octopus can change to resemble a sole fish, lionfish or sea snake.  Why?  Depends on the predator coming at it.  A damselfish's enemy is the sea snake.

LINK: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/marine-life/octopus.htm

Food cravings and cancer?

I read this article back in August and have been meaning to follow up on it.  Sadly, I haven't had time yet, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway.

In short, a woman craved lettuce (upwards of four heads a day) and her husband (a scientist) worked out that she might be eating so much lettuce to make up for a nutrient that is commonly lost in breast cancer patients.  Turns out, he was right.  His wife did have early breast cancer, she was treated, and is now doing very well!

LINK: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2021027/Breast-cancer-symptoms-Elsie-Campbell-diagnosed-develops-LETTUCE-addiction.html

Ancient Beer!

Did you know that Dogfish Head Brewery has an "Ancient Ales Series" of beers?

The recipes all come from ancient times!

Midas Touch: The recipe was determined from pottery found in the tomb of King Midas's father.

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/midas-touch.htm

I totally want to try it.