It's that time of year again when the weather starts to change, and we're more prone to getting sick. One such symptom that accompanies these seasonal illnesses is a sore throat. Sore throats not only feel like you've swallowed sandpaper, but they are also accompanied by coughing, congestion, and the production of mucus, sometimes with spots of blood.

Firstly, mucus plays a crucial role in our respiratory system. It's a slippery, gel-like substance produced by the mucous membranes lining various parts of our body, including the respiratory tract. This viscous fluid serves as a protective barrier against invaders such as pathogens and irritants. It also helps keep these surfaces moist, allowing for proper functioning and efficient air exchang ...

The eruption of Mount Tambora was so massive, it erased summer that year.

The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora was one of the most powerful eruptions in recorded history. The eruption of the volcano, on the island of Sumbawa in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), reached a climax on 10 April 1815 and was followed by between six months and three years of increased steaming and small phreatic eruptions.

The ash from the eruption column dispersed around the world and lowered global temperatures, leading to worldwide harvest failures in an event sometimes known as the Year Without a Summer in 1816. The eruption resulted in a brief period of significant climate change that led to various cases of extreme weather. Several climate forcings ...

The Portuguese man o' war is not a jellyfish! Despite its outward appearance, they are a colony of specialized minute individuals called zooids. These zooids are attached to one another and physiologically integrated to the extent that they are incapable of independent survival.

Anywhere between 1 in 30 million and 1 in 50 million, according to some estimates. In August of 2014, one lucky fisherman captured an extremely rare "calico" lobster in New Hampshire.

Hate winter? Scientists believe they've found the protein that causes winter-specific depression, a psychological condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). According to study conducted by the University of Copenhagan in Denmark, people who develop SAD have less access to serotonin, the brain signalling compound associated with feelings of well-being and happiness, as the days get shorter in the winter months. This is because their brains ramp up the production of a transporter protein called serotonin transporter, which transports serotonin into the nerve cells where it’s not active.

Source: http://sciencealert.com.au/news/20142710-26407.html ...

The cookie cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) is as fearless as they come! This small, 20-inch shark can take on giants like whales and larger sharks, and have even been known to mistakenly try to bite submarines. They dwell in the deep warm ocean and come closer to the surface as the sun sets to grab a quick snack off their unsuspecting prey. Cookie cutter sharks approach their victims from below, latch on with their suction cup style lips, bite and then twist (below). A nice, round hole is left as a souvenir. They get this easy meal by tricking other ocean residents with their distinctive brown collar, which may act as a lure that allows the cookie cutter shark to be seen as a smaller, not-so-scary fish. As frightening as they seem, the ...

A seagull on a glass roof looking really cute.

Seagulls are able to drink seawater to survive thanks to salt glands just above their eyes. These glands eliminate excess salt from the seawater and flush it out of the birds' nostrils in liquid form, an action that's often mistaken for a sneeze.

We know they kind of look and sound like a fancy dessert, but you won't find Little Egg Cowries on a dinner plate any time soon. In fact, you'll have a hard time finding them anywhere, because these spotty little sea creatures are masters of disguise. Through a process known as 'alimentary homochromy', they can change the colour, patterns, and shape of their flesh to perfectly mimic that of the coral and sea sponges around them.