Biology

#1240 Why is an overdose fatal?

Why is an overdose fatal? It depends on the type of drug, but opioids, which are the most common form of drug, cause death because of a lack of oxygen. When we talk about an overdose, we are typically talking about someone who has taken too many of a particular type of drug. This could […]

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#1235 Is earwax actually wax?

Is earwax actually wax? No, ear wax isn’t actually wax. It is similar in consistency and texture to wax, which is why it is called wax, but it isn’t actually wax. Let’s look at what earwax is and what wax is. Earwax is technically called cerumen, which is the Latin word for wax. It is

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#1230 Why do we yawn?

Why do we yawn? There is no single clear reason why we yawn because we yawn at many different times for many different reasons. Yawning is an involuntary response, in that it happens without us thinking about it and we cannot stop once we have started, just like sneezing. In a yawn, we gradually open

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#1221 Why does copper kill bacteria?

Why does copper kill bacteria? Copper can kill bacteria by pulling electrons away from the bacteria’s cell wall, breaking it. There are several materials and chemicals that are good at killing bacteria. Of all the metals, only copper, silver, and zinc can kill bacteria. Some plastics have been engineered to kill bacteria and there are

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