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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Why would cats be scared of cucumbers?

« on: 10/11/2016 20:02:34 »

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that they initially process the cucumbers as a predator (most likely a snake). It's supposed to be fairly traumatic sending them into fight-or-flight when they feel like they are in a safe space.

But since I'm having trouble finding resources to back me up on those points (maybe it was all a dream) here's an article saying it's basically just a cheap jump scare and that any surprise object could scare them just as badly:

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/cats-are-completely-terrified-cucumbers-why/

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Could a person survive being injested by an anaconda?

« on: 07/10/2016 20:09:36 »

Didn't a guy build a suit to allow him to be eaten by an Anaconda on the Discovery Channel? As I recall, he had to bail on it before it really started going at him in earnest. They eat pretty slowly so I'm assuming you'd suffocate or be crushed to death long before you had to worry about digestive fluid or anything like that.

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Marine Science / Is space or sea exploration the better use of our resources?

« on: 08/08/2016 17:53:14 »

Well, if James Cameron keeps cracking the whip, maybe we'll get both sea and space exploration in adequate amounts LOL

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Marine Science / Is space or sea exploration the better use of our resources?

« on: 04/08/2016 17:01:00 »

Thanks, ProjectSailor! I agree that both fields of exploration are important. I sometimes think that we should figure out what's in our own backyard before heading out into the next frontier, but I could be wrong. It just surprises me how much of the sub-ocean world remains to be explored.

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Chemistry / How Does Hydrodipping Work on a Chemical Level?

« on: 03/08/2016 17:36:21 »

My son is getting into cars and he recently shared with me some photos from a Tokyo Auto Show of a process called "hydrodipping". At first, I thought it was simply vinyl but it seems like it's more akin to a paint process using a chemical reaction to transfer a pattern onto a car part, like rims or a steering wheel. I'm still trying to figure it out myself so in case I didn't explain it properly, here's an article that somewhat details the process:

http://macautocollision.com/hydrodipping-offers-bold-new-customizing-solutions/

I think I grasp the mechanics of it but I was curious as to what actual chemical processes were happening to create the transfer. The point in the article to which I'm specifically referring: "An activating agent is then sprayed on the film’s surface that creates a chemical reaction transforming the graphic-emblazoned film into a liquid floating on the tank’s surface. This activator also releases a bonding agent that is crucial for the hydrodipping process." Any ideas?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: What's the best way to create a colour spectrum?

« on: 02/08/2016 17:15:47 »

I don't think this is a naive query at all (but maybe I'm the most naive one here!) I've never set out to create a color spectrum myself but I didn't notice one created by chance while laying on my couch after work. The sunlight was actually hitting a crystal piece from my wife's chandelier and creating a brilliant rainbow across our ceiling. I suspect the scientists above have already provided you all you need to get your spectrum, but on the off chance you have a shard of quartz crystal or something to that effect just lying around, you could hold it up to the sunlight and see if it acts as a prism the way the crystals in the chandelier did for me.

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Can we derive safe medicines from cannabis?

« on: 01/08/2016 23:15:27 »

A cursory Google search provides more than a few studies that would indicate medical marijuana is a viable means of treating a wide variety of illnesses and can even be used as a healthier alternative to prescription painkillers. The addendum to this is the mantra "more research is needed" and in a lot of countries there are actually laws in place to prevent such research from being conducted. However, when research is accomplished, it is in many cases highly indicative of being a viable medicine. I wouldn't consider this site unbiased by any stretch of the imagination but a lot of their research articles directly cite studies.

http://www.marijuanaresources.com/category/research/


Who's funding these studies? That's probably an important question with a much more complex answer.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Why don't ants die in the microwave

« on: 29/07/2016 17:45:47 »

If the microwave was much smaller, would it pose more of a threat to the ant or would the porous exoskeleton still help it to vent the pressure and heat more quickly?

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Do Fish Have Feelings?

« on: 07/01/2016 21:45:14 »

Yeah, you're right, I should have stated my original question a little more clearly; I meant emotions as opposed to actual physical sensations. That's really fascinating about flies and actually makes me feel a bit sorry for any that I smacked with a fly swatter.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Do Fish Have Feelings?

« on: 31/12/2015 17:45:57 »

Thanks for the links! I suspected something similar but there was no real scientific backing for my thoughts. I appreciate the reading material! Following up on the Wikipedia citations earlier today!

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Do Fish Have Feelings?

« on: 30/12/2015 20:12:26 »

I recognize that this is speculative science but I was wondering if there was any evidence of fish displaying emotions? I've seen video of rays that seem to be in a state of play with humans. If anyone has any information on this, I'd be really interested to read it. Thanks!

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Can cookie-cutter sharks inflict fatal injuries on humans?

« on: 30/12/2015 17:24:55 »

They eat other fish. People have found dead fish with perfectly circular wounds in them and it's credited to the cookie-cutter shark.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Can cookie-cutter sharks inflict fatal injuries on humans?

« on: 21/12/2015 19:32:36 »

They're actually located pretty deep but have been known to use those teeth to cut holes into submarines. There's only been one reported attack on a human when one took two chunks out of a training swimmer. He was okay but I can't imagine the wounds were insubstantial.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Can cookie-cutter sharks inflict fatal injuries on humans?

« on: 17/12/2015 19:34:12 »

Here you go:

Maximum length recorded is 56 centimeters so they aren't large, but their "cookie-cutter" jaws seem to be able to really cause some damage.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Can cookie-cutter sharks inflict fatal injuries on humans?

« on: 17/12/2015 18:19:21 »

I just read this article about the cookie-cutter shark that regards it almost comically for its diminutive size. Obviously, human interaction with the cookie-cutter shark is far from frequent, but if such interactions were actually common, how likely is it that a single cookie-cutter shark could actually inflict mortal damage on a swimmer? (Just to clarify, I abhor any mistreatment of sharks and only ask this as a curiosity since I found the tone of the article dismissive of what I would regard as significant damage).
 

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: What is the Benefit of Biofluorescence in Animals?

« on: 19/10/2015 17:11:42 »

Insightful answers! Thanks so much. It perplexed me how a trait would survive that seemed to be so rarely activated (if at all) but the piggybacking theory makes a lot of sense.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / What is the Benefit of Biofluorescence in Animals?

« on: 16/10/2015 17:56:27 »

I'm speaking strictly of "biofluorescence" here, not bioluminescence.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: What is the most asymmetrical animal?

« on: 21/09/2015 18:55:09 »

Yeah, the amoeba would probably be the best answer. Nice thinking, I wasn't thinking outside the multicellular box.

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: What is the most asymmetrical animal?

« on: 16/09/2015 19:29:49 »

The flounder immediately comes to mind, depending on how you look at it. I can't really think of any others off the top of my head. It's interesting that you mention crabs. I'd always noticed the asymmetry but hadn't really consciously thought of it until now.

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Technology / Re: What Would You Like to See 3D Printed in Glass?

« on: 31/08/2015 23:26:46 »

Yeah, that would be an interesting challenge for the 3d printer. The Portland Vase is celebrated enough that I imagine someone will try it.