Why Do We Cry?
Why does your face leak when you’re sad or emotional? Is there a psychological cause for this physical reaction? How does crying involve both communication and stress reduction? Mitchell Moffit explains in this episode of ASAPScience.
Call Me Stormy
Finding righteous currents in turbulent times
Archive for the tag “biology”
The Science of Cats
Why do cats always seem to land on their feet? Is catnip an aphrodisiac for them? AsapSCIENCE offers the straight, scientific scoop on cats in this episode.
Count the Chromosomes
Chromosomes are fascinating little things, and today, Hank Green explains why more of them doesn’t mean more complex, and why different organisms have different numbers of chromosomes. The short answer: mistakes happen.
The See-Through Brain
Scientists have come up with a way to make whole brains transparent, so they can be labelled with molecular markers and imaged using a light microscope. The technique, called CLARITY, enables its creators to produce the detailed 3D visualizations you see in this video. It works in mouse brains and human brains. Here, the team uses it to look into the brain of a 7-year-old boy who had autism.
Owls in Their Element
How do owls turn their heads around as much as 270 degrees? And what’s with their superpower hearing abilities? Emily Graslie, host of The Brain Scoop, shares the lowdown on these solitary, nocturnal creatures — sometimes feared by the superstitious, although also revered as wise and noble.
Dishes and Membranes
In this edition of Bite Sci-zed, Alex Dainis explains how humble dish detergent relates to every one of your cells.
A Cure for Villainous Viruses
Viruses are among humanity’s greatest threats and it seems like they’re always one step ahead of us. But this week, biologists say that they’ve discovered a new weapon we can use against some of our most nefarious virus enemies — including Ebola and Rabies — and it comes from our friends the plants. Hank Green shares the encouraging news.
Why Are Leaves Green?
Here’s one of the first videos from MinuteEarth, a new spin-off from the Minute Physics folks.
Earth’s Most Resilient Creatures
It’s not the cockroach, but tardigrades, also known as water bears and moss piglets. These tiny creatures can withstand radiation, extreme temperatures and pressures greater than found in the deepest ocean trenches. They can survive without water or food for up to 10 years, and even have lived through the vacuum of Outer Space. Alex Dainis of Bite Sci-zed explains why she has a crush on the lowly tardigrade.
Mitosis: A Pinch to Grow On
Alex Dainis of Bite Sci-zed explains mitosis, the process by which our one original cell splits apart and multiplies, eventually creating the trillions of cells found in our bodies. A little pinch allows each new cell to spin off, paving the way for growth to occur.
