What is consciousness? According to Merriam-Webster, consciousness is “the quality of state of being aware especially of something within oneself, the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought, the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes.” An often quoted way to describe consciousness […]
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Do goldfish really have a short memory? No, goldfish don’t have a short memory. Although it depends on what we mean by memory. The idea that goldfish only have a very short memory seems to be widespread. It may stem from wishful thinking because we keep them in tiny tanks, and if they have long
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Can sharks really smell blood from a mile away? Sharks do have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, but they can’t smell blood from a mile away. The basic problem with the myth that sharks can smell blood from a mile away is that the chemicals required for scent don’t travel that far, even in
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What is the difference between brown eggs and white eggs? There is no difference in the egg itself, but brown eggs come from a different breed of hen and are usually larger than white eggs. As with brown and white pasta and brown and white rice, many of us think that brown eggs must be
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Why can’t we walk in a straight line with our eyes closed? We can’t walk in a straight line with our eyes closed because our brain depends on visual cues, and without an external reference point, small random errors in the body’s sense of “straight ahead” build up over time, and the brain has nothing
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Why do apples ripen other fruits? Apples ripen other fruits because they release ethylene gas. If you have a bowl of fruit on your table, you may find that all of the fruit ripens much faster if you have apples in the bowl. You can also ripen fruit like avocados more quickly if you put
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How can you focus on smart contact lenses? Smart contact lenses have sensors that can track your eye movements and the dilation of the pupil. They can automatically adjust their focus until you are able to see them. And they project the image directly onto your retina. If you are like me, your eyes are
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How does kidney dialysis work? Kidney dialysis works by filtering the blood to remove excess water and toxins in cases where the kidneys have failed. Most people have two kidneys, although we can function perfectly on only one. The second one is basically an evolutionary backup in case one of them fails. This is called
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What is compost? Compost is a mix of materials that can fertilize plants and improve the condition of soil. It is also an excellent form of waste management. It is difficult to get accurate figures on how much food is wasted every year because there is no true way of measuring it. I live in
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What is a whale fall? A whale fall is when a whale dies and falls to the bottom of the ocean, providing a sudden food source. A whale fall has different stages that can last for several years. A dead whale can provide an enormous amount of food for other sea life. It is difficult
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