Why » Nature

Why is the skeletal system important?

Hari — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:06:05 +0000

The skeletal system of the body consists of bones. The tissues like ligaments, cartilage, and tendons are present connecting the bones in the body. The teeth also form a part of the skeletal system; although they are bones, they are not defined as a major part of the skeletal framework of the body. The main function of the skeletal system is to give strong support to the body. The absence of a skeleton in the body, if imagined, would give us a picture of the body as a heap of mass. Hence, the skeletal system provides support.

Another function of the skeletal system is that it protects the internal organs present in the body. The body tissues that are weak and fragile are protected by the skeletal system. The organs like the lungs, heart, spinal cord, eyes, and brain are protected by this system. The eyes and brain are protected by the cranium or skull. The lungs and heart are protected by the ribs. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae.

Other important function of the skeletal system is the movement of the body. The bones that form the skeletal system attach to the muscles that surround them. This will aid the body in making all types of movements. The muscles are attached to the bones with the help of tendons. Babies after they are born will have around 300 bones. As the baby grows, the small bones fuse together to form 206 bones in the adult.

The joints in the body are made by the joining of bones. Every bone has in its ends a smooth substance known as cartilage. These cartilage-covered bones in the joints are connected by a thin layer of fluid that is slippery in nature called synovial fluid. This fluid acts like the oil in the car which helps in lubrication. This arrangement is present to help the bones not to scratch or toggle with one another during the body’s movements. These bones are made to exist together with the help of ligaments. The height of the body is reached with the growth of the bones. The skeletal system is important as it allows our body to stand upright.

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Why are raspberries blue?

Hari — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:44:52 +0000

Blue raspberry is the usual flavor that is used for candies, syrups, and other foods. This flavor is extracted from the juice that is made from the plant by name Rubus leucodermis. This plant is also called a white bark raspberry. The raspberry flavor, which is artificial, is taken from the juice extracted from the white bark raspberry fruit. This particular flavor lies between a sour and tangy flavors. This flavor when added to the food items will offer a blue color to the food. The color of blue raspberry allows the flavor to be distinguished from the drinks which are flavored by strawberry. The coloring done to the food will aid in dying the mouth with a blue color.

The color blue was chosen as the different colors were used already for something else. They are: lemon, strawberry, grape, berry, orange, lime, cherry, and watermelon. When it was thought seriously about the color that has to be used for raspberry, probably it became a coin-flip decision to keep it as blue because several red shades are already there in the market in use.

Except for certain blueberries, blue corn, and bluefish, there are no blue-colored plants and animals that are edible. The food scientists were not able to find sources in nature that are blue in color for coloring food items. The foods that are dyed with the blue coloring are also not found much. But, in the middle of the 20th century, the lack of blue-flavored foods was solved by the advent of the ice pop, which was used for blue treats. The flavors that were used for ice pops included: cherry, watermelon, strawberry, and raspberry. The ice pop barons started to use blue dyes. They had introduced “blue raspberry” as a synthetic blue food coloring agent. Though the fruit’s original color is blue-black, the synthetic coloring agents added to the flavor makes the food colored as dark blue. Hence, fruit is also called blue raspberry.

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Why is lead “Pb”?

Hari — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:43:06 +0000

Lead was already known by ancient people, and it was mentioned in the history which existed 7,000 years ago. Lead is mentioned in the book of Exodus. The Latin word that is present for lead is “plumbum” or “Pb.” The term “plumbum” means “soft metals.” Lead is the bluish-white metal which is malleable, soft, ductile, and a poor conductor of electricity. Lead is resistant to corrosion, and it is a bluish-white, shiny metal that gets tarnished to a dull gray. Lead is the metal that has zero Thomson effect and is also considered a cumulative poison. Lead is the metal that is used as the sound-absorbent and X-radiation shield. Lead is utilized in fishing weights, to cover the candle wicks, acts as a ballast, as coolant, and for batteries. The lead oxide is used for making flint glass and leaded crystal. The metal alloys are used for making the solder, shot, bullet, type metal, plumbing, pewter and anti-friction lubricant. Lead can be made from galena (lead sulfide) through the process of roasting.

Recently, lead was added to ceramic materials, caulking, solder, gasoline, and paints. The lead element is sometimes indicated with the planet Saturn’s symbol. Lead or plumbum is one among the metals of alchemy. Galena is not just the source of lead, which has the composition as PbS (lead sulfide). The other sources of lead are: anglesite, which is called plumbic sulfate or PbSO4 which is called plumbic oxide or Pb3O4, Cerussite, which is called as plumbic carbonate or PbCO3 . The crust of the Earth is comprised of about 0.0013 per cent lead, and this metal can be mined and later refined easily. Most of the lead obtained in the United States is by the process of recycling, while it can be obtained conventionally by roasting the galena in the air that is hot. The trilead tetraoxide, which is otherwise called red lead, is utilized in making red-colored paint which is applied to steel structures to prevent rust formation. The chemical symbol for plumbum or lead is Pb. Hence, lead is called Pb.

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Why do ladybugs bite?

Hari — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:38:03 +0000

It is said that some ladybugs bite. The domestic ladybugs, or lady beetles, mostly found in North America are not found to bite. The Asian origin, multicolored lady beetles are found to bite. Northeast Asia is the habitat that is the original for the Asian lady beetles. The Asian lady beetles generally are found to hibernate in winter at home. The lady beetle has the ability to cause allergic reactions in some people. If the lady beetle infests a person for a long period, then it can cause itchy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, upper respiratory symptoms, and persistent or severe asthma.

The Asian lady beetle will have a unique head that is separated from the part of the body having wings. The Asian lady beetle sits on the skin, and it is there looking for food and moisture. When it is sitting on the skin, the humans will feel as if it is biting. But it may not bite. Some lady beetles bite and some do not. These beetles have spurs on their legs which could poke, prickle and scout for a meal. These beetles tend to check whether the skin is the source for their food. If the person has sensitive skin, then he/she might feel the pain. No toxic substance is involved in this prickle. They do not carry any disease.

The Asian lady bug seems to nibble or bite humans. The lady beetles are not very aggressive on humans. They do not break open the skin by biting nor do they suck the blood. The pain that is experienced will be only for short period. If the bite bothers the person, then an antiseptic can be applied. When these lady bugs are irritated, they leave a faint, foul-smelling fluid. This is done as a defense mechanism. This fluid might stain the clothes of the humans when it is released from its legs. This fluid might cause allergies. But, biting is rare and the stinging sensation might be due to the spurs.

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Why do ferrets smell?

Hari — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:36:23 +0000

Ferrets are born with scent sacs that are present in the anal region. The ferrets are also found to have musk glands present all around the face and less distributed all over the body. The scent sacs that are present near the anal region are not considered to be the exact reason for the ferret’s smell. The ferret’s smell seems to come from the musk glands present in the skin. The actual ferret aroma is obtained from the ferret’s face itself. It is reported that the ferret’s smell can mimic the scent of curry or a sweet, musky odor that is corn based for some people. Some people are reported to dislike the odor as ferrets smell unpleasant to them. The ferrets will have individual smells of their own, and the odor changes with the health status and the age of each ferret.

The ferret’s smell is contributed to strongly by the hormones rather than the scent sacs. The ferret that has not been neutered will have a staunch smell compared to the neutered ferret. The male ferrets at the time of the breeding season are found to stink. This is due to the production of more musk at this time by the male ferrets. The male ferrets splash their urine on their bodies to smell attractive for the female ferrets. The smell of the ferrets can be avoided by spaying and neutering them. The ferret can be made not to smell by altering them.

The ferrets available for sale are spayed and neutered by the pet suppliers. They generally do this alteration six weeks prior to their shipping. They also issue a certificate to the purchasers that the ferrets are fixed. If the neutered ferrets have a strong and unusual smell from the beginning even after surgery, they might not lose the odor at sexual maturity. They might not produce any smell at their young age. The retained testicles and ovaries will still produce hormones that are responsible for the ferret’s smell. So the veterinarian must be careful to check whether the organs are completely removed when they alter the ferret. Otherwise, the hormone production will again cause the smell in the ferrets.

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Why is a sapphire blue?

Hari — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:10:56 +0000

Sapphires are precious gemstones that are commonly associated with a blue color. This is also true for other gemstones like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds wherein they are also identified with specific colors like white, red, and green, respectively. But unknown to many people, these gemstones, including sapphires, may actually come in different colors. As for sapphires, other than blue, there are also stones that come in shades of black or gray. Some sapphires are even considered colorless. The color or hue of blue sapphires is said to be caused by several imperfections on the corundum stone. This stone is also the source for red rubies. All reddish and/or pinkish impurities of this particular stone are classified as rubies, while those that come in different colors, including blue, are called sapphires.

The bluish hue in corundum stones is said to be caused by the presence of iron and titanium. If these are dominant in the stone, then it will result in a bluish or grayish hue. And since many corundum stones are found with a bluish hue, more blue sapphires are available in the market making people think sapphire stones always are blue. Not many are familiar with colorless or black and gray sapphires. It is also said that the most precious of all sapphire stones are those that have a cornflower blue color.

Blue sapphires may also come in other similar colors depending on their color saturation and tone. With blue being considered the main or primary hue for these particular stones, other hues may also develop like purple, green, and violet. Blue sapphires having a somewhat purplish tone are considered more valuable when compared with blue sapphires that have a greenish tone to them. So when somebody wants to purchase sapphire stones or jewelry, for example, they should at least have some idea of which color hue or saturation is of the best value. It is also for this reason that some people consult with the experts first before making any decision on purchases involving blue sapphires.

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Why do steroids shrink testicles?

Hari — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 11:58:39 +0000

Many people understand steroids as something to do with bodybuilding. Indeed, people who want to have bigger muscles take anabolic steroids for this particular purpose. It is also common for those who want to build bigger muscles and join bodybuilding competitions to take steroids for faster muscle-building effects. Some people even try to take too much of this type of drug just to bulk up faster. But as with any other drug, steroids also have serious side effects.

One such side effect is testicle shrinkage. It has been medically documented that men taking steroids regularly have experienced atrophy in their testicles and even their penises. Although this may be the worst news for any man, many still continue taking steroids to build muscle faster.

In terms of testicle shrinkage, what actually happens is that the testicles themselves basically shut down the production of testosterone. Normally, the cells in men’s testicles produce the testosterone their bodies need. When these men go to the gym and exercise, they will need more of this testosterone in order to build more bulk in their muscles. But the testicles won’t be able to produce enough testosterone to make muscle building faster. So for this reason, men will try taking anabolic steroids. These steroids will then act to produce more testosterone in the bloodstream making them readily available for muscle building.

The more testosterone present in the bloodstream, the faster the muscle built up. However, this whole process of artificial testosterone production will eventually shut down the body’s natural way of producing it. Over a prolonged period of using steroids, the testicles will basically stop producing testosterone which will literally make them shrink in size. With testosterone already present in the bloodstream, the testicles are somewhat signaled to stop their own production. Over time, the testicles and even the penis will atrophy and become smaller because of regular steroid intake.

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Why do bugs die on their backs?

Hari — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:31:48 +0000

Dead Bug

The bugs that are found dead on their back in the house are poisoned. The presence of poison is found to be causing the muscle spasms to occur and making them to turn over. If a bug is flipped over, it can become upright by its own strength. But poison will not allow the coordination of the muscles to happen which will prevent the bug from turning upright. When they die, they turn on their back. The dead insect will lie in a position with the legs positioned upwards. This position is generally considered a problem for the bug because of the pain due to its reduced muscle coordination. The bugs while lying on their backs will possess failed nervous systems.

Generally, when a bug is made to position itself on its back, it can become upright again with the help of its legs. It might not roll back to its right position on its abdomen as it might have become very weak or due to its nervous system not functioning properly. Because of these reasons, the bug is stuck on its back.

In this flip position, the bug will not be in a position to get the desired nutrients; it will not be able to protect itself from predators if it is lying without any movement on its back. If the bug cannot turn upright, it will not be able to flip back again. There might be many things that are responsible for making the bug lie on its back and not turn over. The insecticides and pesticides will hinder the neurotransmitters in the bug, and they will stop the functioning of the nervous system. The insecticide will make the insect to undergo convulsions which will cause the bug to kick its legs upwards without any control and get struck like that. As the nervous coordination of the bug gets reduced, the bug will lose the ability to get all its legs into one position and roll over to the upright position. Based on the intensity of the poison, the bug will be killed within few hours or days.

Any injury or a state without food can also make a bug turn on its back and not position itself upright. Another reason for it not to be able to come back to its original state is probably it has reached the end of its lifespan and has lost its strength to gain its coordination abilities.

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Why do skunks spray?

Hari — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:15:40 +0000

The skunks spray for various reasons. The skunk carries out its defense mechanism to protect its young from predators like wolves, coyotes, badgers and any other natural predator. Humans are sometimes considered predators and discouraged from coming closer to it. If the skunk is shocked or surprised, it might spray as a reaction response. The skunk might get startled when it is staying beneath the house and when anyone stomps on the floor with high-heeled shoes or walks on the floor loudly. The skunk sprays because it hears the sound and considers the noise as a threat to its survival.

There are two anal glands situated on either side of the anus of the skunk. These glands secrete a chemical substance that consists of sulfur. The odor of this chemical is generally unbearable. The spray from the skunk is aimed at any animal that is observed as a threat to it. The spray of the skunk is found to stop the animal from doing its activity of frightening the skunk. Stopping the grizzly bear was found to be done by the skunk very often.

The usual process of a skunk in frightening the predator is first to give a proper warning before it sprays. It will stomp its front feet to give a warning that it is irritated. After that, the skunk will place its body by turning around towards the side where the threat is located. If the predator or any threat still moves towards the skunk even after getting a warning signal from the skunk, an oil stream is sprayed by the skunk on the predator or threat. The skunks have the ability to spray the oil to a distance of ten feet. The skunks were reported in some cases to have sprayed a threat even at a distance of 20 feet very accurately. The chemical quantity that has to be used in each of the sprays can be controlled by the skunk. Therefore, a skunk sprays to avoid predators.

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Why do voices change?

Hari — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:10:05 +0000

The voices of boys and girls will change as they reach puberty. The boys will have some changes in their voices as they grow during their puberty stage. There will be a crack observed in the voice of the boy, and this brings a change in the voice. At this stage, the physical appearance also changes along with the voice. These sudden changes in a boy’s voice will be a source of discomfort, and he will struggle initially to manage with it. His speech will generate various, different, odd sounds from the boy.

The noise that is created when the boy speaks is caused by the larynx. As the body passes through puberty, the size of the larynx grows larger and thicker. Though this takes place in both boys and girls, it occurs prominently in boys. The voice of girls will become deeper or more shrill two or three times, and the change in the tone will be noticed clearly. The voice of boys will change to grave. The voice is generated by the larynx which plays an important role in sound creation. The muscles called vocal cords are responsible for stretching the larynx like rubber bands.

When anyone starts to speak, the air will start rushing from the lungs and vibrate the vocal cords, which causes the sound of the voice that is generated by the larynx. The sound pitch is represented by the extent of the contraction of the vocal cord muscles when the air through the lungs will reach them. If the rubber band is stretched, it gives the sound that is high-pitched while the thicker rubber band will give a low-pitched, twang sound. Similarly, the same happens with the vocal cords.

During the early age of the boy, the size of his larynx will be very small, and the vocal cords in it are thin and small. Hence, the voice of a boy will be in a higher pitch than the adult’s. As the boy reaches puberty and grows older, the size of the larynx increases and the vocal cords will become lengthy and thick. Hence, the voice of the boy changes to a low-pitched one. Accompanied with the enhanced size of the larynx, the bones of the face will start growing. The cavities present in the nose, sinuses, and the backside of the throat increase. This will create a large space in the face which gives opportunity for the voice to resonate more.

As the body of the boy or girl will begin to get adjusted with the changed larynx, the voice might crack. This growing process will go on for a few months’ duration. Until that period is over, the boy or girl will make some different sounds in their voices. Later on the change in their voice stops.

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