How does aspirin work? Aspirin works by stopping an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. When our tissue or organs are damaged or infected, they produce prostaglandins. These are fatty acids that act like hormones. Prostaglandins do many different jobs in the body. They are similar to hormones but they are not hormones. Hormones are produced in glands, […]
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What is cotton? Cotton is a fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. About 27 million tons of cotton is produced every year. India is the largest producer, with 6.1 million tons, and it is followed by China, the USA, Brazil, and Pakistan, in that order. A standard t-shirt requires approximately 226
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What causes pins and needles? Pins and needles are caused because the flow of blood to your nerves is restored. Pins and needles are really called paresthesia. The word comes from the Greek para, which means “abnormal” and aesthesia, which means “sensation”. They come after one of your limbs has fallen asleep, which is actually
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Why do we get goosebumps? Goosebumps are a reaction left over from when humans used to have a thick coat of fur. I’m sure you have all experienced goosebumps at some time in your life. It is when bumps appear on your arm that resemble plucked goose skin. In fact, the medical term is cutis
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Why do we still have wisdom teeth if we don’t need them? Because they appear after birth, which means it is very difficult for evolution to select against them. Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that appear at the very back of the jaw. Molars are the large flat teeth that are used
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What were the moa and what happened to them? The South Island Giant Moa was a 3.6 m tall bird that were hunted to extinction by 1445. The Moa were flightless birds that lived in New Zealand. They were very similar to ostriches, but about a meter taller. When they stretched their necks up, the
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Why are people left-handed or right-handed? Because of genetics and environment. There are four types of handedness. People can be right-handed, left-handed, right-handed for some tasks and left-handed for other tasks, and ambidextrous. The majority of the people in the world are right-handed. The number varies from country to country, but it is generally between
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Why can humans throw so fast? Because of several biological changes. To be able to throw, it is necessary to be able to grip the projectile, and then have the elasticity in the muscles to fire it. This rules out all animals that can’t grip a projectile. Some primates have the ability to throw, but
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How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? By dissolving itself and regrowing. Caterpillars start life as an egg. Female butterflies lay eggs on leaves. It varies by species, but a Monarch butterfly lays about 300 to 400 eggs over a two to five week period. Not all of these eggs will survive. Many of them
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Why do we have a coccyx? The coccyx is a series of three, four or five vertebrae at the base of the spine. A coccyx is something we have evolved not to need, but it is a great reminder of our origins. The coccyx is also called the tail bone because that is what it
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