Alex+Fredericks

~ **//__ALEX FREDERICKS'__//** WIKI PAGE ~ // ​BIOLOGY 111 //

__MOSQUITO BITES ITCH, BUT WHY?__
 Have you have ever been biten by a mosquito and have then wondered why it itches? Here is your answer. At first the female mosquito pierces the top layer of your skin with her proboscis, a straw-like part of her mouth that allows her to drink your blood (Disguisting!). Once the proboscis breaks through the epidermis, the mosquito uses it to find a blood vessel in the layer underneath. When the mosquito finds the blood vessel she coates it with a "anti-conagulant" which keeps the blood flowing untill she is done. This is when your body's defense system kicks in. A histamine is made to fight the forgien substance which creates a large, swelling, red bump. When your blood vessels expand the nerve cells around the bite become irritated which then causes that annoying itch!

Mosquito having itself a meal.

SOURCE: [] //CDC/ James Gathany (picture)//

__ MALE MOUSE SCENT INTRIGUING, EVEN MIND EXPANDING __ A male mouse won't just attract a female mouse, he will make her brain grow. Just a whiff of the male's scent causes the female's brain to sprout new neurons. This growth makes the female even more attracted to the male. Another intresting fact is that the more dominant the male mouse the more brain growth. Both the olfactory bulb (which processes smell) and the hippocampus (which is invloved in memory) are linked in the brain of female mice. So guys your natural odour might just get you that girl..



//Picture Reference :// [] Information Reference : NewScientist, July 7-13, 2007 pg 18

__ Its In The EYES __

Did you know that your eye colour is made of a combination of black and yellow melanin, this different combination of melanin results in different shades of blue and brown, including hazel and green. Now, have you ever seen a parent and their child have almost the same eyes? Well I'm sure you probably have this is because the colour of your eyes depends on the genes of your parents.



__ INTERESTING FACTS __ - 8% of the worlds population has blue eyes - It is possible to have two eyes of different colours, this is because either an injury in the womb or faulty pigment development. - Babies eyes change from blue to their natural colour by the age of 3.

//Image:// [] Information: []

__"DEJA VU" DID THAT ALREADY HAPPEN?__ Did you know that the strange feeling you get when you feel like something has already happen or is about to happen is called "Deja vu", the word is literally french for already seen. Now before you go on and tell everyone that you are somesort of super human just because of "Deja vu" you should probably read this. Scientifically speaking the strange experence is not some sort of premonition or prophecy but your brain giving you the impression that something has been recalled. One intresting and strange theory suggested by author Anthony Peake is that, Deja vu happens because we are all living our lives not for the first time but atleast a second. Information: []

__**// THE SCIENCE BEHIND SUPERMAN //**__

media type="youtube" key="5EpOt4LZK8E" height="344" width="425" superman posses such as X-ray vison, being healed by the sun, moving faster then a speeding bullet, ect... I highly suggest that you check out this video and the rest in the series on youtube.__**
 * __This 6 part video elaborates and explores the special powers that

VIDEO SOURCE : [|//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EpOt4LZK8E//] //The documentary is a property of British Sky Broadcasting. Superman and all related characters are a property of DC Comics. Superman film series and soundtrack are property of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Smallville TV series is a property of The CW Television Network. All rights reserved.//

__**// EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON HUMANS //**__ So you have just been exposed to uranium at the local power plant and your thinking one of two things. 1. Oh dear god I am going to die. 2. YES!! I will now become a superhero. - There is only truth in the first of the statements...__SUPER HEROS DO NOT EXIST__ (sadly) However, exposure to radiation does not usually cause an immediate death. You can look at examples of people who have survied the ever present radiation in locations such as Hiroshima and Chernobyl. These survivors may encounter deadly conditions such as cancer, irreversable damage to organs or limb and birth defects. Movies and the media portray radiation as something that will turn you into a zombie or monster, ( "The Hills Have Eyes", "The Amazing Colossal Man") but we must remember that the effects of radiation are deadly and do appear in realistic situations.

Picture Reference : [] Information Reference : []

**//7//** __STEPS__ __TO LIVE A LONG LIFE__

1. ** Move Your Body - exercise is important to your physical heath.**

2. ** Retire, Don't Expire - retire before you have nothing left to live for.**

3. ** Get Your Rest - sleeping helps repair muscles and the mind**

4. ** Live, Love, Laugh - enjoy life and don't dwell on the hardships.**

5. ** Eat Less Meat - Americans who avoid meet and dairy live 10 years longer on average.**

6. ** Floss Daily - flossing reduces harmful, disease causing bacterica present in the mouth.**

7. ** Stay Connected to People - keep in contact with friends and family to keep strong emotional health.**



Information Reference : [] Picture Reference : []

__STRANGE LOOKING ANIMALS__
 * This is a look at some of the strangest looking animals I have seen,**
 * __Here is my top 5.__ **

Matamata Turtle

Monkfish

Almiqui

Proboscis Monkey

Blobfish

Picture Reference : []

**__THE OIL SPILL__** THAT AFFECTED //( AFFECTS)// LIVES

The wreck of the Exxon Valdez, in 1989, was the worst ever oil spill in the history of the U.S. Close to 11 million gallons of crude oil leaker out of the damaged ship. Hundreds of volunteers came out to Alaska to help scrub the oil off of the beaches. However the real problem was getting oil out from the surface of the water and off of the creatures.

The soultion to help this oil drenched creatures was to use a soap detergent to wash off the oil off. These animals, mostly birds are cleaned by this detergent. Even in today's time animals are still afftected...

__**VIDEO ABOUT THE OIL SPILL AND BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCE**__ media type="youtube" key="YkzB1ZYcTwM" height="344" width="425"

Information Source : National Geographic : Eyewitness to The 20th Century. Video Source : []

__ BIOLOGY USED TO MAKE "AVATAR" __
 * The movie Avatar is an amazing visual experence, but who would have known that many of the plants and animals in the movie seemed very simliar to our planet. It is true that glowing plants and 6 legged horses do not exist on our beautiful planet. However the creator of the movie //James Cameron did reach out to// botantists//, anthropolgists and biologists// to get crediable information. The world of Pandora is believable in a sense because of the research done before. I highly suggest that everyone should check out this amazing movie.


 * CHECK OUT THIS LINK TO AVATAR DISCOVERY VIDEO : [|//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onLajIT5k6c//]

**