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High school is done… now what?
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Millions of new high school graduates will soon be heading to college. Here are five tips for the summer ahead. Cue the Pomp and Circumstance.For most high school seniors, it's that time of year – the time when funny hats are thrown into the air to signal the end of sheltered bubbles and parental control, and the beginning of the path to expanded horizons. But if you were like me, the standard graduation song that everyone hears takes a back seat to your soon-to-be fight song that makes you distinct. Before you can step foot onto the college campus of your choice, however, you must spend three months in educational limbo. Sure, you'll be working, possibly taking a summer class or two and enjoying your weekends (be careful, kids), but through ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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1478 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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What causes the rattle in a rattlesnake's tail?
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Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes native to the Americas known for their loud rattling tail. The tip of their tail, known as the rattle (middle), vibrates to deter predators or serves as a warning to passers-by. The rattle is composed of a series of hollow, interlocked segments made of keratin, which are created by modifying the scales that cover the tip of the tail. The contraction of special "shaker" muscles in the tail causes these segments to vibrate against one another, making the rattling noise (which is amplified because the segments are hollow) in a behavior known as tail vibration. The muscles that cause the rattle to shake are some of the fastest known, firing 50 times per second on average, sustained for up to three hour ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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5983 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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Confusing cat-like animal from Madagascar
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The fossa ( Cryptoprocta ferox) is carnivorous mammal endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family. Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a close relationship with viverrids (e.g. bearcat). The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. Adults have a head-body length of 70–80 cm (28–31 in) and weigh between 5.5 and 8.6 kg (12 and 19 lb), with the males larger than the females. It has semi-retractable claws (meaning it can extend but not retract its claws fully) and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down tre ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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6119 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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What does a box and these fish have in common?
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Their name and shape!Ostraciidae is a family of squared, bony fish closely related to the pufferfishes and filefishes. Members of this family occur in a variety of different colors (e.g. right - Hawaiian Blue Boxfish, Ostracion meleagris and the Yellow Boxfish, Ostracion cubicus), and are notable for the hexagonal or "honeycomb" patterns on their skin. Boxfish swim in a rowing manner. Their hexagonal plate-like scales are fused together into a solid, triangular or box-like carapace, from which the fins, tail, eyes and mouth protrude. Because of these heavy armoured scales, Ostraciidae are limited to slow movements, but few other fish are able to eat the adults. Some boxfish also secrete poisons from their skin into the surrounding water, fu ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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6163 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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Are women better than men at sensing emotions?
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A new psychology study suggests that women are better than men at reading people's thoughts and emotions, just by looking at the eyes. Researchers from around the globe tested the way genes influence a person's cognitive empathy; their ability to accurately recognise another person's emotional state. 90,000 people were shown different photographs of people's eyes and asked to determine their mood. Results showed that women more consistently picked the correct feeling when the participants had to select what emotion they perceived when shown a visual of a person's eyes. This is the first big study on cognitive empathy and its relationship to gender. The international research team has also identified a potential genetic region that influences ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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6251 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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Is handedness determined by genetics?
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Approximately 10% of the world population is left-handed. What causes this anomaly?While there are several theories that try to explain this trait -- such as the positioning of the baby during the final trimester, hormone exposure during pregnancy, or epigenetic factors -- the most consistent and hardwired explanation boils down to plain old genetics. In other words, the reason you're right-handed or left-handed is because it's written in your DNA. Research suggests that handedness displays a complex inheritance pattern. For example, if both parents of a child are left-handed, there is a 26% chance of that child being left-handed. A large study of twins from 25,732 families also indicated that the heritability of handedness is roughly 24%. T ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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5501 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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Apple made a game console back in 1996, and it was terrible
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Ever heard of the game console, Pippin? Neither did we!The Apple Bandai Pippin, stylized "PiP P!N", was a multimedia technology console, designed by Apple. The console was based on the Apple Pippin platform – a derivative of the Apple Macintosh platform. The system was based on a 66 MHz processor and a 14.4 kb/s modem. It also featured a 4×-speed CD-ROM drive, and a video output that could connect to a standard television display. Between 1996 and 1997, Bandai manufactured fewer than 100,000 Pippins, but reportedly sold 42,000 systems before discontinuing the line. Due to its failure, much like the Apple Newton, only 18 games were officially released in the US. Watch a video of its unboxing from 1996, and a preview of a few games. ...
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Biology Forums Blog |
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8147 |
bio_man |
6 years ago |
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