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

« on: 09/09/2012 17:23:46 »

Or even a blade of grass that you just pull out from the ground?

Is that blade now useless, or does it have some use still?

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

« on: 07/09/2012 13:08:26 »

I've never been a fan of the horror genre, but it's been a major genre that a lot of people have shown interest in for a very long time.

To each his own and all that, but I'm more interested in where this interest comes from in the brain. Humans are unique for a lot of different things, such as some people being able to enjoy a hot pepper despite it's defense mechanism trying to hurt us. Or less common things such as being turned on by pain or forced discomfort.

This whole idea of turning something nature typically associates with 'bad, don't do that' or 'bad, run away' into something like 'I think I'm going to go put my mind in a state of panic tonight' by indulging in horror media (movies, games, etc.) is just fascinating to me. You KNOW you're the most well-survived species when you can get enjoyment out of what a rabbit in the woods is constantly on the alert for its life about :{D~

Of course, before civilization, WE were in the rabbit's position more so than ever. So I wonder at what point fear and paranoia became something the brain could enjoy...

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

« on: 04/09/2012 13:42:21 »

I was curious if there was any word on how our solar system is going to look in the next *long period of time*?

Any planets expected to leave us? Anything getting close to colliding with something else? Any chance of a new planet joining the group?

Just from what we can observe so far, of course :{o~

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Physiology & Medicine / Is 'power fantasy' a cultural thing or a deep-rooted male thing?

« on: 01/09/2012 11:06:24 »

I'm curious how much of our interest in action media (or even mythology) where one person can take on impossible odds with little effort or consequence has to do with culture or being something males are chemically/psychologically drawn to.

Even more simply:
- Is power fantasy a thing all humans can like or dislike more because of culture?
or
- Are males of any culture or creed going to find this genre interesting more by instinct?

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General Science / How the HELL are statistics counted?

« on: 01/09/2012 08:45:38 »

I've heard intelligence and cynicism go hand in hand, and I agree with that. Science is wonderful, but the moment you learn about how unscientific your country or the world is, you instantly feel alone and as if science isn't important to the majority.

And you SEE it, too! A site like this one (while I think it's great how populated it is) could be WAY bigger if people were more interested in science.

But what if most people actually are, but were like me a few months ago and didn't know sites like this existed?

I'm as cynical as a semi-suicidal holding on to life because maybe I'm wrong about my country and this world being doomed to every degree. I saw that recent video of Bill Nye (the Science Guy!) commenting on my country (the US) being very anti-science, and I've known this for a while now. It's depressed me to no end, as I'm sure it would anyone on this site.

But recently I've had this question in my head that will not go away: 'All those statistics that say the majority of this state/country/world don't value science-- Where the HELL do they come from?'

I have NEVER been 'counted' for any statistic. How many people can say the same thing? Or if most of it is voluntary, how many people just don't contribute to statistics? And the statistics that you see--How many of those have been bought and paid for to not be accurate?

I could be depressed about nearly every person in my country (especially in the south) being a reality-ignorant bigot with no interest in improving the world-- When the real numbers would actually make me feel a little bit HOPEFUL for a change!

And even more important, the young people who HEAR that the majority thinks science isn't important won't have to grow up believing it when the real stats say most people think every day is going to be our greatest adventure for science pretty soon.

I was tempted to post this somewhere with a political theme, but I think statistics have more to do with math than politics. That and I think there be less trolls in these waters.

Help me out, here. Main questions:
- How is most statistic information about ANY detail about a population obtained?

- Is there a statistic for people like me--the people who AREN'T counted? So if a statistic says 'x of all Americans are religious,' remove 30% of that because there are a LOT of uncounted atheists?

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Physiology & Medicine / How do you measure what germs will make your immune system stronger?

« on: 26/08/2012 21:16:17 »

I need to just have my title as my post instead of have a main question as my title and then ask something else.

How do you measure what germs will make your immune system stronger?

Is there a way to know that if I don't shower today, or if I eat some food I dropped, THOSE risks aren't going to kill me--but make me more resistant? I love the idea of not being so uptight about germs and overkill hygiene because the body needs practice! :{D~

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Physiology & Medicine / Do our dead skin cells (dust) have a function?

« on: 26/08/2012 03:20:12 »

I remember finding out that a majority percentage of the dust in people's houses are dead skin cells from their own skin.

I understand that this particular dust is a result of our skin shedding old cells while creating new ones. But once it's in our house, does it have a natural function? Did it have a function when we were cavemen?

It would be interesting if it actually functions like our own way of marking our territory without even thinking about it. Or, maybe it's completely useless. Equally interesting to me, since I'm just curious :{o~

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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / Do underwater cave 'pockets' exist?

« on: 23/08/2012 18:25:40 »

I find ocean caves really interesting, but I'm curious about something:
Is it possible for an ocean cave to be completely sealed off and the inside isn't completely full of water?

What about a large rock mass sticking out of the water (but a large interior below) in the middle of the ocean, and the only hole is above the surface of the water so none gets in?

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Physiology & Medicine / Why don’t our bodies become adults faster?

« on: 23/08/2012 04:28:19 »

What has determined our physical growth speed from child to adult?

Our childhood stage has numerous important developments going on in the brain (and a longer childhood has been more beneficial to our intelligence when we DO mature into adults), but does that mean everything has to be develop slowly?

Why don’t our bodies become adults faster?