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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Are music cravings no different than food cravings?

« on: 23/07/2013 01:21:00 »

When I have a song stuck in my head ...

The Germans have a good word for it ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohrwurm

Earworm... I'd say that's a pretty accurate description for the more annoying songs that might get stuck in our head :{D~

I think what I'm more curious about is about the songs that aren't stuck in your head because they are annoying, but the ones that stick around because you enjoy them so much.

If the brain likes a song and therefore the song provides dopamine and makes you feel good (or any other emotion chemical), is the brain intentionally making the song 'get stuck' for you to provide it the dopamine it wants? Like if you had the best meal of your life, and your body/brain/tongue set themselves to make you want that meal again?

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Physiology & Medicine / Are music cravings no different than food cravings?

« on: 22/07/2013 15:28:33 »

When I have a song stuck in my head, my logic has always been "Just listen to it and it will become unstuck; you'll be satisfied."

When I REALLY want a certain food, I can tell that my body, brain, and tongue are working together to tell me "Hey, we want the nutrients (or junk) this food provides, go get us some."

So I wonder, are music cravings no different than food cravings? Music makes us feel emotions, and emotions are just chemicals (just like food is just fuel and nutrition). So is a song being stuck in your head just your brain telling you "Go listen to this because we want more dopamine to get through the day?"

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Does the brain thrive on the jealousy of others?

« on: 28/06/2013 21:51:16 »

Thanks for posting, Europan Ocean :{D~

Nature doesn't really care about fairness. As for my four questions, I'd be grateful if anyone could answer them or provide some research they've read about. I've looked those questions up and haven't found anything, sadly :[

Most of the search results I'm getting are 'why jealousy is bad' and 'jealousy is a natural response.'

Edit: Eh, I'll just strike out my other questions and hope someone here can answer the first.
That's the one I'm most interested in :{D~

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Physiology & Medicine / Does the brain thrive on the jealousy of others?

« on: 27/06/2013 11:17:03 »

Main: Does the brain thrive on the jealousy of others? For example, say you have two monkeys and one is given a treat while the other is given nothing (or something bad or not as tasty) and is visibly upset by this. Does the monkey that was given a treat feel any sort of positive chemical reaction in the brain just from knowing another monkey is jealous of him?

Or is the non-jealous monkey going to have a negative brain reaction that will cause him to refuse the treat because the jealous monkey is upset?

Basically, I want to know just how cruel humans are on that level. We're pretty scummy and arrogant as it is, but I've always wondered if we actually evolved to smile harder inside just from knowing there's someone deeply jealous of us. That would almost be impressively cruel nature :{o~

2.) Does the brain suffer damage or abnormalities when jealous? Is the upset monkey going to be less likely to survive in some mental aspect?

3.) Since human history is full of so much fear and jealousy, what is the evolutionary benefit of over-selfconsciousness of insecurities and hyper-awareness of unfairness?

4.) Is jealousy deeply embedded into the nature of all/most living things (primates in particular), or is it only as much of a mess a culture makes it/allows it to be?

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Physiology & Medicine / Does it make sense to name genes after talents/skills/interests?

« on: 19/06/2013 15:10:51 »

I get that there are genes that cover large/general areas of aspects of what make each of us up as individuals, but whenever I hear the cliche line "*insert talent here* is in your blood" or "*insert interest here* is in our family's blood" I wonder if that can be considered scientifically true.

I love writing. Now, there's probably a gene in me that leads me to want to express myself, a gene for wanting to succeed so the connection of 'books = money = success' is probably in there somewhere...

But is it fair to say that I have a 'writing' gene?
And most of us on the forums; do we have a 'interest in science' gene?

Extra thoughts:
- Could we pin-point where they are and what they look like?

- Are there genes that only I have or that only you have? Liking your own smell, for example?

- Random: Could gene therapy be used to insert such specific genes? Could I take a sports-lover's 'love for a certain sport' gene and suddenly give a hoot about it? :{O~

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The Environment / If wind goes on forever, is today's wind the same there's always been?

« on: 19/06/2013 02:33:49 »

I was interested by the thread 'Why does the wind blow?' and some odd questions came to mind:

1.) If wind is powered by the sun and never really 'stops;' it just keeps going, then does that mean the breeze I feel outside has been around before there was even life on this planet?

2.) Are there ways humans and animals add new wind currents that also go on forever, or does an electric fan or beat of a wing only go so far before 'dying?'

3.) Do all small winds eventually become hurricanes and tornadoes? Is it an endless cycle of 'breeze to medium, to heavy, to extreme, back to heavy/medium/breeze again?'

Thank you for humoring me and random thoughts :{D~

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Physiology & Medicine / Why do we divide into groups?

« on: 17/06/2013 17:16:01 »

I often think that divisive terms are our worst enemy; that we should all be settled with the term 'human' above all specifications that make us create mental walls from one another. Such as race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. I think those specifications are useless when the bottom line is that we are all human.

So I imagined in my head something like a 'human pride parade' and my cynicism still led me to thinking 'Nope, there would STILL be dividing/group-separating thoughts in the human brain if an event like this ever happened.'


I just have a few questions:

1.) Why do we divide into groups (even amongst the most similar of us)? It seems all it has ever caused is war and inequality. And forgetting that we're all humans behind these online usernames.

2.) Is this as young as civilization (because societies always seem to have to put people into classes which probably just leads to even more specific sub-groups), or is this something old enough to be permanently embedded in us?

3.) Does this happen in the non-human kingdom? Is it more similar or different to the way we've done it?


Okay, I lied; one more question: While I doubt humans will last that much longer--If there exists a 'closed-minded/divisive/grouping' gene, would humans eventually breed this out and gradually divide into groups less over time? Will we ever, at our genetic core, see the furthest-from-the-majority description of a person as 'just another human like you or me?'

Or is that only likely when we're 100% mixed in race and one big global super-country? :{o~

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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / Do skeletal remains have a purpose or function?

« on: 20/03/2013 13:11:39 »

I was thinking about an old thread I made about whether or not precious minerals have a purpose outside of humans using them for jewelry, and it got me thinking about other things in nature that just seem to be 'there.' Like bones. Human bones, dinosaur bones, acres and acres of cemeteries, millennia of history in the animal kingdom.

Most organisms feed off one another to the bone, and then that's it. The planet has life that makes use of itself with food chains and ecosystems, and yet produces things that just fill space, like gems and bones. All just laying there or buried. For millions of years. I'm confused! :{D~

Main question(s):
- Do skeletal remains have a purpose or function (outside of humans uses)?
- Would bones and gems be considered pointless or 'scientifically just filler matter?'
- Does everything have to have a purpose or can the planet loiter if it wants to?

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Physiology & Medicine / What traits are passed on, genetically?

« on: 24/01/2013 16:12:03 »

Hermit’s back! And I’m confused again! Well, more curious than anything ;{D~

I’ve been thinking about the wonders of how our DNA combinations make a new human(s) with traits from both, and wondering just how far this goes in less heard-of cases. I’ll just get right to my questions.


1.) A couple have a kid. Both of the mates have no thumbs, from an accident. Would their kid have thumbs? Or thumb problems? Would that be passed on?

2.) Same scenario, only both the mates have surgically added extra fingers to their hands. Would their kid have extra fingers? Or finger problems? Would that be passed on?

3.) A couple have a kid. Both of the mates got gene therapy so they gain a benefit/immunity internally. Would their kid have this as well? Would it be passed on?

3.) Same scenario, only both the mates’ gene therapy did something that shows physically on their body. (Like purple polka-dots!) Would their kid have this as well? Would it be passed on?


I suppose the main/general question behind all of these comes back to the question in the title. We can lose and gain things internally and externally that aren’t what we were born with. Is there ever a case where such things get passed on? Or will our offspring always turn out like we turned out as infants?

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The Environment / How crazy is this idea concerning sea level?

« on: 05/10/2012 11:03:17 »

I understand seal level is only one problem involved in the vicious cycle of climate change, but I wondered how implausible this random idea is:

What if we sent fleets of energy-efficient remote-piloted vessels designed to go to all the world's ice caps, suck in the water beneath them, and spray it out onto the ice caps at colder temperatures? Wouldn't that (SLOWLY) lower the sea level and reconstruct the melting ice caps?

And what if we had similar vessels going out and desalinizing ocean water like crazy as well? So we could have a less harmful sea level and more usable water for ourselves.

Now attack the crazy hermit with science! :{D~

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Is curiosity exclusive to mammals?

« on: 26/09/2012 23:36:31 »

Good point! I'm sure our ancestors survived to pass on their genes thanks to that curiosity; among other important things.


I wonder what that says for organisms that don't show that curiosity, though.

I guess some have just evolved and adapted to an environment where there's either no point or no safe time to stop and focus on anything but fight or flight.

Is anything you see at a zoo capable of curiosity? Do they ever look at all the humans passing by like 'What the hell are THOSE things?' Not saying they can think and ask something like that as a human could, but you get what I mean.

Because that comes back to my cat; I wonder how much of his (or any zoo animal's) curiosity is from his core instincts... and if any comes from him being a domestic cat with all sorts of weird stuff to stalk and test-pounce in a safe environment where food or becoming food is no issue :{o~

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Is curiosity exclusive to mammals?

« on: 20/09/2012 04:16:59 »

I sometimes wonder what my dog and cat see me as. I must be this strange tall 'thing' that provides them with food and affection. And especially for the cat, everything in my house must be a constant 'What is THAT? What is THAT?' for him; shortly before pouncing everything thing he sees.

This gets me thinking:

How much brain power does it take to wonder? Does it take any?

How did curiosity survive as a trait? Wouldn't just fight or flight be smarter in the wild?

Main-Main question: Is curiosity exclusive to mammals?

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Does better sex mean better offspring?

« on: 19/09/2012 16:33:59 »

I love how many more responses I get when my science questions happen to be about sex. I applaud you for it! It's good to show interest in what we're naturally interested in :{D~

I'm very interested in bizerl and Edge03zn's thoughts on the subject. Those are all good points, and I really do wonder if they could lean my question's answer towards 'yes.'

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Does better sex mean better offspring?

« on: 17/09/2012 21:41:41 »

So you're all mostly saying that good sex usually means good relationship, and good relationship means better parenting, and that means better offspring?

Okay :{o~


I was curious though, since we're naturally equipped with sexual pleasure to motivate us to procreate, is there any connection between the quality of a 'good session' and the quality of the partner's reproductive organs THAT particular session?

Is the male's sperm healthier or more lively? Are the female's parts going to take in the very best of the bunch, or just more at once?

Whether they were good, calm, loving parents or not--Would you have turned out slightly better developed when you were born if your parents were both amazing in bed? :{o~

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Physiology & Medicine / Does better sex mean better offspring?

« on: 17/09/2012 09:52:28 »

Does higher quality/more satisfying sex for both partners (or even just having a healthy sex drive) have any effect on the offspring?

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General Science / Can any sky happen anywhere?

« on: 15/09/2012 12:19:11 »

I saw a really pretty sunrise where I live, and it got me thinking about skies and their locations.

I've seen some pictures of some REALLY beautiful skies and always wondered if those sorts of images were exclusive to those locations. For example, could anywhere have aurora borealis, or only places near the Poles? That's just one example, though.

Main question: Can any sky happen anywhere?

I understand some night skies are impossible in places with lots of light pollution, so I guess don't count those :{o~

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Where in our brain does the attraction to horror come from?

« on: 10/09/2012 23:50:33 »

It's neilep! Hello again :3

The whole 'everybody's different and that's all there is to it' I understand. I was just curious if there was something deeper about this particular interest from brain to brain. Such as if a person gets enjoyment out of skydiving. We can say 'hey that's just what they're into,' but I sometimes wonder where in their brain the desire for that kind of thrill comes from. Wanting to dig a little deeper for curiosity's sake is one of MY brain's features :{D~


@cheryl j: That's a good point. The unknown/unexpected, be it in real life or in media, is a powerful hinge in our brains that can swing for strong pleasant or unpleasant emotions. Not knowing a good joke is why we laugh so hard the first time. The constant mystery of 'what the hell is going on' in horror where almost nothing is explained is what hooks our attention to possibly find out later; even if that means sitting through the most unsettling and eerie of moments to get there.

The fact that media is media and not reality certainly does add comfort for scary stuff. I wonder if the ACTUAL best example for my question would be for someone who actively goes into the woods at night just for that same unsettling 'horror mode' feeling. But that's really pushing it. Doesn't happen enough to discuss it.

...Right? :{o~

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Physiology & Medicine / Re: Where in our brain does the attraction to horror come from?

« on: 10/09/2012 10:56:48 »

Interesting theory! I wonder how many people who read scary books have a lot of feelings of guilt in their personal lives. I'm not sure how conscious their decisions to do that are, though. Humans are mostly selfish, so I doubt the thought 'I'm such a bad person, I'm going to read a scary book where 'the bad entity' haunts a person like a big jerk and gets justly killed in the end' would happen on anything but a subconscious level :{o~

I'm also curious if people like me (who don't go out of their way to indulge in the genre) are just less aware of or have a lower standard for what warrants the feeling of guilt. Or if they're just too selfish to even let guilt register at all.

Makes you wonder how the brain's attention to guilt is doing in the gene pool. Seems to be dwindling these days. Assuming your theory is correct, I hope scary book lovers can still find good stuff to read!

Thanks for the posts, grizelda. I guess we're the only ones interested in this question so far :{D~

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Any big changes going on in our solar system?

« on: 09/09/2012 23:08:40 »

Thank you for explaining that, Evan :{D~


And waytogo, I'm glad you noted it wasn't necessarily 'doom' what's going on with the moon in that link.

If things continue as they are, what's the moon's future? I wasn't specific in my first post, so we don't have to be here either. So, in the next *long span of time* ?

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: What does nature do with cut grass blades?

« on: 09/09/2012 23:00:58 »

I see. Thank you :{D~