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Category Archives: Strange Science
Strange Science: Radium Water
In the early twentieth century, before the days of energy drinks, people turned to an unusual source to give themselves more energy–radium water. Marie and Pierre Curie had discovered the radioactive element known as radium in 1898. It had its … Continue reading
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Tagged Radioactivity, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Why Do Male Cats Have Nipples?
Did you know that male cats have nipples? Did you ever wonder why? The reason for this is that when kittens are first embryos, they start out without any characteristics that will determine their biological sex. And nipples are part … Continue reading
Strange Science: Ripening Fruit
Many fruits have a literal sweet spot–that point when they’re just the right amount of ripe to taste their most delicious. Eat them before then, or after then, and you might be disappointed. Ethylene is the naturally occurring chemical that … Continue reading
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Tagged Botany, Food Science, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Suppression of Fear
Scientists at Texas A&M University have recently identified a portion of the brain in rats that inhibits fear, which may ultimately lead to new ways to treat conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The nucleus reuniens, a small brain region … Continue reading
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Tagged Psychology, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Gifted Children and Future Success
Johns Hopkins University began a study of gifted children in 1971. The study has continued since then, moving to Vanderbilt University in the interim. Through this long term study, the scientists involved have been able to track the trajectories of … Continue reading
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Tagged Psychology, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Bees and Eclipses
The 2017 North American eclipse was a boon for more than just astronomers interested in studying the eclipse. For entomologists, they took the opportunity to study the behavior of bees during an eclipse, and learned something interesting: when the world … Continue reading
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Tagged Entomology, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Human Mutation
Just how far-fetched are superheroes? What about mutants? The answer is: maybe not as out there as you think! While humans might not develop the power of flight or telekinesis, there are a number of physical and mental mutations that … Continue reading
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Tagged Biology, Mutation, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Self-Organizing Mouse Stem Cells
Mice are frequently used in laboratory settings, but now it’s their stem cells that are being studied, rather than their behaviors. Scientists in Switzerland have found that if stem cells from mice are placed into a growth-promoting broth, they will … Continue reading
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Tagged Biology, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Molecular Gastronomy
When you hear the words “molecular gastronomy,” you probably think of something like the picture to the left, where it’s all about weird combinations and fancy plating. Molecular gastronomy is, in reality, the science of investigating the physical and chemical … Continue reading
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Tagged Chemistry, Food Science, Physics, Strange Science
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Strange Science: Processing Human Waste on Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level and one of the most ascended peaks in the world. It also has a problem. Human waste, left behind by hikers. If a hiker takes approximately 2 months to climb Mount … Continue reading
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Tagged Biology, Engineering, Strange Science
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