WHY are clams used as live sensors?
The water supply systems in Warsaw and some other Polish cities use clams as live sensors.
They are connected to water that needs to enter the city's water supply, and if it contains any contaminants such as heavy metals or pesticides, the clam shells close.
The computer system monitors this thanks to the coils and magnets installed on the flaps and automatically shuts off the water supply until specialists can conduct the necessary tests.
The water supply systems in Warsaw and some other Polish cities use clams as live sensors.
They are connected to water that needs to enter the city's water supply, and if it contains any contaminants such as heavy metals or pesticides, the clam shells close.
The computer system monitors this thanks to the coils and magnets installed on the flaps and automatically shuts off the water supply until specialists can conduct the necessary tests.
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WHY do hedgehogs stomp around at night?
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Hedgehogs are nocturnal predators and sleep most of the day, coming out of hiding only at dusk. In the wild, animals spend their nights searching for food: slugs, snails, worms, bugs, millipedes, and insect larvae.
Even though their owners leave them food, the hedgehogs still try to find their prey in the closet, behind the couch, under the sink, and in other secluded places.
Their long claws result in a stomping sound.
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Hedgehogs are nocturnal predators and sleep most of the day, coming out of hiding only at dusk. In the wild, animals spend their nights searching for food: slugs, snails, worms, bugs, millipedes, and insect larvae.
Even though their owners leave them food, the hedgehogs still try to find their prey in the closet, behind the couch, under the sink, and in other secluded places.
Their long claws result in a stomping sound.
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WHY does an unripe fruit get ripe?
Since it produces its own ripening hormone without the involvement of the mother plant
Ripening of fruits and vegetables is driven by ethylene. This natural plant hormone was discovered in 1912 by Russian botanist Dmitri Nelyubov. Since the gas is produced by the fruit itself, the fruit does not need to hang on the branch.
The plucked fruit can ripen even faster than the unplucked, since the release of ethylene increases with a lack of moisture. And if you put at least one ripe fruit or vegetable among unripe ones, it will ripen even faster - it produces more ethylene than the unripe fruit.
Since it produces its own ripening hormone without the involvement of the mother plant
Ripening of fruits and vegetables is driven by ethylene. This natural plant hormone was discovered in 1912 by Russian botanist Dmitri Nelyubov. Since the gas is produced by the fruit itself, the fruit does not need to hang on the branch.
The plucked fruit can ripen even faster than the unplucked, since the release of ethylene increases with a lack of moisture. And if you put at least one ripe fruit or vegetable among unripe ones, it will ripen even faster - it produces more ethylene than the unripe fruit.
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WHY is our brain detecting pain but not feeling it?
Let's say you sprained your ankle or burned your finger. Nerve fibers immediately send a signal to your brain, which decodes the sensation as pain.
No wonder modern surgery is only possible after the discovery of anesthesia. However, if it is the brain itself that is the object of surgery, it has no need for anesthetics.
Nerve cells of the brain send themselves the same signals as in the case of a broken limb, but there is no data processing center for them. The brain, used to be in charge of the whole organism, has no idea when it should be in pain itself.
Here's the creepy part, but patients are often fully conscious during brain surgery, allowing the surgeons to see if they've gone too deep into our body's main processor.
Let's say you sprained your ankle or burned your finger. Nerve fibers immediately send a signal to your brain, which decodes the sensation as pain.
No wonder modern surgery is only possible after the discovery of anesthesia. However, if it is the brain itself that is the object of surgery, it has no need for anesthetics.
Nerve cells of the brain send themselves the same signals as in the case of a broken limb, but there is no data processing center for them. The brain, used to be in charge of the whole organism, has no idea when it should be in pain itself.
Here's the creepy part, but patients are often fully conscious during brain surgery, allowing the surgeons to see if they've gone too deep into our body's main processor.
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WHY can chess increase IQ?
They mostly refer to schoolchildren and students who have higher IQs without chess. Some studies have shown that subjects who played chess had a greater increase in IQ than those who did not play chess.
On the other hand, studies by the British Institute of Education showed no significant effect of chess on cognitive ability. In any case, the positive effect of this game is small and is probably related to the training of attention and concentration.
They mostly refer to schoolchildren and students who have higher IQs without chess. Some studies have shown that subjects who played chess had a greater increase in IQ than those who did not play chess.
On the other hand, studies by the British Institute of Education showed no significant effect of chess on cognitive ability. In any case, the positive effect of this game is small and is probably related to the training of attention and concentration.
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WHY does the first second on the clock seem longer after a quick eye movement?
Here is an illusion called chronostasis. Its essence is that the first impression after a saccade (rapid eye movement) seems to us stretched out in time.
The most common example of chronostasis is the analog watch with a second hand: if you look at the dial, the first movement of the hand appears to be longer than its subsequent movements.
Here is an illusion called chronostasis. Its essence is that the first impression after a saccade (rapid eye movement) seems to us stretched out in time.
The most common example of chronostasis is the analog watch with a second hand: if you look at the dial, the first movement of the hand appears to be longer than its subsequent movements.
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WHY is the Earth spinning faster?
July 19, 2020 was the shortest day since observations began - the Earth made a revolution around its axis by 1.4602 milliseconds less than the usual 86,400 seconds. Scientists claim that in the year of 2021, each day is 0.5 milliseconds shorter on average due to the acceleration of the planet's rotation.
In recent decades, the average speed of Earth's rotation has steadily decreased, and timekeepers have had to add 27 extra seconds to atomic time since the 1970s to synchronize clocks with the slowing planet. On New Year's Eve 2016, clocks around the world even stopped for a second to allow the Earth's rotation to catch up.
July 19, 2020 was the shortest day since observations began - the Earth made a revolution around its axis by 1.4602 milliseconds less than the usual 86,400 seconds. Scientists claim that in the year of 2021, each day is 0.5 milliseconds shorter on average due to the acceleration of the planet's rotation.
In recent decades, the average speed of Earth's rotation has steadily decreased, and timekeepers have had to add 27 extra seconds to atomic time since the 1970s to synchronize clocks with the slowing planet. On New Year's Eve 2016, clocks around the world even stopped for a second to allow the Earth's rotation to catch up.
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WHY is Mars the Red Planet?
Mars, or the "bloody planet," derived its name from the Roman god of war, has always occupied human minds. In ancient times, people were afraid of Mars, considering it a "bad" planet, and modern man studies this mysterious planet, sending rovers to it and observing it from Earth.
Soil samples of the planet collected by rovers show that it has a high content of iron oxide, or simply put - rust.
Tornadoes constantly rage on the planet's surface, lifting red dust into the atmosphere of Mars, and even in calm weather the dust is suspended in the air - so the planet looks red.
Mars, or the "bloody planet," derived its name from the Roman god of war, has always occupied human minds. In ancient times, people were afraid of Mars, considering it a "bad" planet, and modern man studies this mysterious planet, sending rovers to it and observing it from Earth.
Soil samples of the planet collected by rovers show that it has a high content of iron oxide, or simply put - rust.
Tornadoes constantly rage on the planet's surface, lifting red dust into the atmosphere of Mars, and even in calm weather the dust is suspended in the air - so the planet looks red.
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WHY do we forget dreams?
All of us know about such an interesting property of dreams as the feeling of realism. That is, 99.9% of people don't perceive the non-reality of what's going on while dreaming, feeling confident that everything around them is reality.
So, at the expense of this realism, we run the risk of confusing what was a dream and what was reality while awake.
That's where this very forgetfulness comes in to help us, saving us from mental illness.
All of us know about such an interesting property of dreams as the feeling of realism. That is, 99.9% of people don't perceive the non-reality of what's going on while dreaming, feeling confident that everything around them is reality.
So, at the expense of this realism, we run the risk of confusing what was a dream and what was reality while awake.
That's where this very forgetfulness comes in to help us, saving us from mental illness.
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WHY do midges tend to fly in swarms?
As a rule, it is a mating flight.
A swarm usually consists of insects of one sex and serves to attract the other sex. A swarm probably has a much more powerful pheromone flow, and a group of insects can be seen and heard from afar.
This form of mating behavior is characteristic of many small bipeds, colloquially called midges.
As a rule, it is a mating flight.
A swarm usually consists of insects of one sex and serves to attract the other sex. A swarm probably has a much more powerful pheromone flow, and a group of insects can be seen and heard from afar.
This form of mating behavior is characteristic of many small bipeds, colloquially called midges.
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WHY do legumes make us gurgle?
Indeed, the substances in legumes (oligosaccharides) become food for probiotic bacteria when they enter the intestines. As a result, the stomach begins to bloat, and sometimes with unwanted sounds and smells.
This effect can be reduced by soaking legumes before cooking.
Indeed, the substances in legumes (oligosaccharides) become food for probiotic bacteria when they enter the intestines. As a result, the stomach begins to bloat, and sometimes with unwanted sounds and smells.
This effect can be reduced by soaking legumes before cooking.
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WHY are probiotics useful?
Probiotics are bacteria that are proven to benefit the human body. The most common probiotics are lacto- and bifidobacteria. Other microorganisms can also be classified as probiotics, such as the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii.
In the human gut, probiotics compete with harmful bacteria, suppress their growth and maintain the protective barrier of the intestinal walls. In this way, they reduce the likelihood of inflammation.
Probiotics are bacteria that are proven to benefit the human body. The most common probiotics are lacto- and bifidobacteria. Other microorganisms can also be classified as probiotics, such as the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii.
In the human gut, probiotics compete with harmful bacteria, suppress their growth and maintain the protective barrier of the intestinal walls. In this way, they reduce the likelihood of inflammation.
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WHY does a person count the days by drawing sticks and then crossing them out?
If you count just with sticks, it takes a long time to count them by looking at the drawing. But if you draw 4, and then cross out these 4, then a quick glance is enough to realize that it is 5.
Plus a psychological moment - by crossing out a group of sticks, we as though summarize, finish a certain stage.
Perhaps a person needs to see these groups of days four or three. He crosses them out. Bingo - it's done!
If you count just with sticks, it takes a long time to count them by looking at the drawing. But if you draw 4, and then cross out these 4, then a quick glance is enough to realize that it is 5.
Plus a psychological moment - by crossing out a group of sticks, we as though summarize, finish a certain stage.
Perhaps a person needs to see these groups of days four or three. He crosses them out. Bingo - it's done!
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WHY was the McFlurry cup shape changed because of the hedgehogs?
In the past, the opening in the lid was much larger and more convenient. However, this convenience turned out to be a tragedy for the animals. Hedgehogs are big fans of McFlurry: they would lick off the leftover discarded ice cream.
But when they stuck their heads in the glass, they couldn't always get it back out, which led to trouble.
And after the case when as many as 10 hedgehogs in Scotland were taken to the clinic with the lid on their heads, McDonald's announced a redesign of the cup, which became safer for animals.🦔
In the past, the opening in the lid was much larger and more convenient. However, this convenience turned out to be a tragedy for the animals. Hedgehogs are big fans of McFlurry: they would lick off the leftover discarded ice cream.
But when they stuck their heads in the glass, they couldn't always get it back out, which led to trouble.
And after the case when as many as 10 hedgehogs in Scotland were taken to the clinic with the lid on their heads, McDonald's announced a redesign of the cup, which became safer for animals.🦔
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WHY can't a person sleep standing up?
The human body is too flexible for a person to stand perfectly still, like a statue. In order to maintain an upright position he needs constant work of his muscles (mainly leg muscles), as well as muscle receptors and vestibular apparatus, which signal even the smallest deviations from the upright position.
The brain ensures the coordination of such work, but it cannot do this during sleep, so a person who falls asleep standing up will immediately fall down. But even if you don't let him fall, say, by clutching him in a crowd, he will only sleep for a few minutes.
During one of the phases of sleep (called REM sleep), most of the skeletal muscles are almost completely relaxed. A person in such a state will simply "flow" to the floor.
The human body is too flexible for a person to stand perfectly still, like a statue. In order to maintain an upright position he needs constant work of his muscles (mainly leg muscles), as well as muscle receptors and vestibular apparatus, which signal even the smallest deviations from the upright position.
The brain ensures the coordination of such work, but it cannot do this during sleep, so a person who falls asleep standing up will immediately fall down. But even if you don't let him fall, say, by clutching him in a crowd, he will only sleep for a few minutes.
During one of the phases of sleep (called REM sleep), most of the skeletal muscles are almost completely relaxed. A person in such a state will simply "flow" to the floor.
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WHY is Churchill grumpy in his most famous photograph?
One of Churchill's most well-known photos of him, sullen and grumpy, was taken in 1941 after his speech to the Canadian House of Commons. When Churchill was brought into the room, he told the photographer he had two minutes and smoked a cigar.
The Prime Minister refused the photographer's request to put the cigar away. Then the photographer approached Churchill on the pretext of measuring the light level and took the cigar out of his mouth himself, and the Prime Minister's reaction to this insolence was just caught on camera.
But then Churchill smiled and allowed another picture to be taken, although this benign photo portrait is much less well known.
One of Churchill's most well-known photos of him, sullen and grumpy, was taken in 1941 after his speech to the Canadian House of Commons. When Churchill was brought into the room, he told the photographer he had two minutes and smoked a cigar.
The Prime Minister refused the photographer's request to put the cigar away. Then the photographer approached Churchill on the pretext of measuring the light level and took the cigar out of his mouth himself, and the Prime Minister's reaction to this insolence was just caught on camera.
But then Churchill smiled and allowed another picture to be taken, although this benign photo portrait is much less well known.
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WHY does the brain consume the most oxygen and calories?
The brain contains up to 60% fat. It is the fattest human organ.
It makes up less than two percent of our body, but consumes about 20-30% of the calories in our food intake. Thus, constant malnutrition has a negative effect on a person's intellectual development.
Also the brain consumes 20% of all the oxygen entering the body.
For normal functioning of the brain, a person must breathe fresh air.
The brain contains up to 60% fat. It is the fattest human organ.
It makes up less than two percent of our body, but consumes about 20-30% of the calories in our food intake. Thus, constant malnutrition has a negative effect on a person's intellectual development.
Also the brain consumes 20% of all the oxygen entering the body.
For normal functioning of the brain, a person must breathe fresh air.
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WHY do ice waves or bumps appear on the roads in winter?
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Ice bumps on the road are a consequence of double-wheeled buses and shuttle buses. They begin to form after warming, when there is a "snowy mess" on the road.
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Wheels in more or less random directions roll furrows, they break up into individual segments as they move and begin to grind away at the wheels.
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The wheel runs over such a bump, forms it when it stands. Then, when moving, the wheel usually still skips over, over this ice crust, and such grinding motions form the bumps.
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Another reason is when a wheel pushes snow in front of it, rolls a bump, then self-localizes in that spot, and stuffs the snow with subsequent wheels. This is how the bump is germinated and continues to grow.
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Ice bumps on the road are a consequence of double-wheeled buses and shuttle buses. They begin to form after warming, when there is a "snowy mess" on the road.
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Wheels in more or less random directions roll furrows, they break up into individual segments as they move and begin to grind away at the wheels.
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The wheel runs over such a bump, forms it when it stands. Then, when moving, the wheel usually still skips over, over this ice crust, and such grinding motions form the bumps.
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Another reason is when a wheel pushes snow in front of it, rolls a bump, then self-localizes in that spot, and stuffs the snow with subsequent wheels. This is how the bump is germinated and continues to grow.
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WHY do cats' pupils narrow into vertical slits?
Narrowing the pupils into slits rather than dots gives cats finer control over how much light enters the eye. For an animal with an eye sensitive enough to see with almost no light, it is essential not to be blinded by bright sunlight, and narrowing the pupils into narrow slits gives a greater opportunity to reduce the incoming light and a more accurate ability to dose it.
The reason, however, why the slits into which the pupils narrow are in the vertical plane rather than the horizontal plane, is due to the fact that cats also use their eyelids to reduce the incoming light even further.
Using both of these slits, the vertical pupil and the horizontal eyelid, acting at the right angles one in relation to the other, the cat's eye is able to regulate the entry of light more finely than the eye of any other animal, without the risk of being blinded.
Narrowing the pupils into slits rather than dots gives cats finer control over how much light enters the eye. For an animal with an eye sensitive enough to see with almost no light, it is essential not to be blinded by bright sunlight, and narrowing the pupils into narrow slits gives a greater opportunity to reduce the incoming light and a more accurate ability to dose it.
The reason, however, why the slits into which the pupils narrow are in the vertical plane rather than the horizontal plane, is due to the fact that cats also use their eyelids to reduce the incoming light even further.
Using both of these slits, the vertical pupil and the horizontal eyelid, acting at the right angles one in relation to the other, the cat's eye is able to regulate the entry of light more finely than the eye of any other animal, without the risk of being blinded.
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WHY are planets called as planets while stars are stars?
First and most importantly, stars are capable of emitting light and heat on their own, unlike planets, which can only reflect light rays falling on them from other luminaries, being inherently dark bodies.
Stars show much higher surface temperatures than any of the currently known planets. Their average surface temperatures range from 2,000 to 40,000 degrees, not to mention the layers closer to the center of the cosmic body, where temperatures may even reach millions of degrees.
On the surfaces of absolutely all stars, nuclear or thermonuclear reactions are bound to occur, followed by explosions. In turn, these reactions are not observed on the surfaces of planets, well, only in exceptional cases, and then only on nuclear planets and only super-weak nuclear reactions.
First and most importantly, stars are capable of emitting light and heat on their own, unlike planets, which can only reflect light rays falling on them from other luminaries, being inherently dark bodies.
Stars show much higher surface temperatures than any of the currently known planets. Their average surface temperatures range from 2,000 to 40,000 degrees, not to mention the layers closer to the center of the cosmic body, where temperatures may even reach millions of degrees.
On the surfaces of absolutely all stars, nuclear or thermonuclear reactions are bound to occur, followed by explosions. In turn, these reactions are not observed on the surfaces of planets, well, only in exceptional cases, and then only on nuclear planets and only super-weak nuclear reactions.
WHY shouldn't you kill domestic spiders?
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We all have spiders in our homes and there is nothing we can do about it. This fact might be unpleasant or even phobic to some people, but domestic spiders are completely harmless to humans. For sure, they are efficient killers in relation to domestic insects.
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Spiders act quickly and stealthily. Basement spiders prevent entry of woodlice and other moisture-loving insects into apartments. Spiders hiding in air vents prey on midges and mosquitoes. And those that live under the ceiling rid us of greasy buzzing flies.
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Moreover, domestic spiders are not aggressive towards humans and try their best to avoid meetings with us. In contrast to annoying insects, spiders do not need anything from us: they are our little helpers, "orderlies" of our homes. So even if you catch a spider at home and want to get rid of it - do not kill it, and just let it out on the street. The spider will find a new home and benefit someone.
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We all have spiders in our homes and there is nothing we can do about it. This fact might be unpleasant or even phobic to some people, but domestic spiders are completely harmless to humans. For sure, they are efficient killers in relation to domestic insects.
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Spiders act quickly and stealthily. Basement spiders prevent entry of woodlice and other moisture-loving insects into apartments. Spiders hiding in air vents prey on midges and mosquitoes. And those that live under the ceiling rid us of greasy buzzing flies.
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Moreover, domestic spiders are not aggressive towards humans and try their best to avoid meetings with us. In contrast to annoying insects, spiders do not need anything from us: they are our little helpers, "orderlies" of our homes. So even if you catch a spider at home and want to get rid of it - do not kill it, and just let it out on the street. The spider will find a new home and benefit someone.
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