Charles Darwin as a Congressman?

James Leebens-Mack, a plant biologist at the University of Georgia in Athens, became upset by the speech Congressman Paul Broun gave against evolution, the big bang theory, and embryology.  What makes this interesting is Broun’s history with science: a medical doctor and a member of the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

The Congressman stated that the big bang theory were ”lies straight from the pit of Hell.” Due to the outrage of many, Leebens-Mack created a Facebook page that encouraged voters to vote for Charles Darwin as a write-in candidate.

The results? Since Broun was running unopposed, he won by a long-shot, but Darwin still got enough votes, over 4,000 in fact, to receive attention across the nation.

My thoughts: I wonder what would have happened had Darwin won against Broun…

Read more here: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/11/would-charles-darwin-have-made-a.html

Can’t Eat Hot Cheetos Without Gasping for Water? Blame it on your parents.

Recently, there has been a study on oral pungency, aka. how spicy or “sharp tasting” people like their food.  Before this study, it was barely known whether genetics had anything to do with it.

Over 100 Finnish twin pairs aged 21-25 were given two types of strawberry jelly: one with and one without capsaicin. The pleasantness and intensity of the jelly was rated. Additionally, they were given a questionnaire to rate the appeal of spicy food. The test subjects were grouped as non-likers, medium-likers, and likers.

The results? Yes, whether you like spicy kimchi or not is influenced by genetics along with the environment.

Future research would be needed since, believe it or not, this is the first work anyone has ever done on why some people have different preferences and attitudes to spicy foods.

My thoughts: This study can totally be turned into an awesome sci-fi movie where the food company genetically modifies people to eat their food only and takes over the whole world! OR food companies modify their products to make it appealing to certain genes. In other words, the manipulation of people by using genetic effects on oral pungency.  Scary.

Attract Men: Don’t Cry In front Of Them

credit: dramahaven.com and kbs Love Rain

Apparently, men will do anything to stop a woman from crying. It emits an odorless odor that turns them off.

Find out more at this link:

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/07/132716595/smell-that-sadness-female-tears-turn-off-men

Hilarious Prize for Hilarious Research

credit: improbable.com

http://improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html

A bra that turns into a protective face mask? Contagious yawning in red-footed tortoise? Just when we thought that science research was all serious and smart sounding, there is also the “lol” ones. The ones that could be helpful, or really have no purpose… You choose after looking at the Ig Nobel Prize Winners.

Floating Slinky?

There is also a complicated explanation to this, which is what I’m trying to figure out… Any help?

How to Attract Men, Scientifically

Picture credit: wvpapach.org

 

Ahem. All women out there, looking for some love in your life? Here’s some good news, men are turned on by the color RED.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9105879/Women-wearing-red-send-signals-that-attract-men.html

The Wonders of Baking Soda

credit to: earth911.com

Acne? Yellow teeth? No need for expensive procedures, just use the mighty baking soda in your kitchen.

Read more here: http://www.naturalnews.com/021618.html

First Impressions are Correct?

Photo Credit: http://www.harveymackay.com

“Science Fact: People can accurately judge your traits within moments of meeting you, and those judgments are lasting, but your attractiveness is something you can influence.”

Credits: Sparknotes.com

Whoa, I guess we should all be careful from now on huh?

Mother Nature’s Warning to Humans

Credits: http://i.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/article/2/0/9/55209.jpg?v=1

Whoa!

thechosenmind

According to many, the most fascinating and mysterious gift from mother nature is the night sky. Just a small glimpse of it enthralls a young toddler and inspires a PhD graduate. The various clusters of stars and planets paints a vivid picture of our past and at the same time keeps us guessing what lies beyond. Just lying down n the ground and observing the night sky makes us wonder about our existence and  how small we are in this vast ether.

Right from the days when Einstein was postulating his theory of special relativity, many have tried to unlock the various mysterious the universe has. What, when and how it all happened still remains a question for which many have given their life to answer. A very rookie step towards approaching the problem is observing the night sky. An observation made by the naked eye is enough to figure…

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