How do genetics influence kid’s snacking patterns?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteKID’S high preferences towards sweet and fatty snacks have long been every parent’s huge concern. Researchers from University of Guelph, Canada, discovered how genetic variants in taste receptors related to sweet preference, fat taste sensitivity and aversion to bitter green leafy vegetables influence the snacks chosen by preschoolers. The findings show that approximately 80% of […]
How do babies distinguish between two different languages?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRESEARCH shows babies begin to learn language sounds before they’re even born. In the womb, a mother’s voice is one of the most prominent sounds an unborn baby hears. By the time they are born, they recognise mother’s language and are capable of distinguishing between languages they are exposed to. Language learning depends on the […]
What is the toughest animal on earth?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHIS small 1.0 mm animal can survive both the hottest and coldest environments on earth, and can even stand high levels of radiation. Do you know what that is? This incredible creature is tardigrade, or commonly known as water bear. Most organisms need water to survive, in which water supports the metabolism in cells. But […]
What makes a tattoo permanent?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteHAVE you ever really thought about the chemistry of tattoos? What exactly is in those inks, and how safe are they? Tattoo application uses a mechanised needle to puncture the skin and inject ink into the dermis or second layer of skin just below the epidermis. The process involves damaging the skin, causes a tiny […]
Why is the octopus brain so extraordinary?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWHAT could octopuses possibly have in common with us? After all, they do not have lungs, a spine or even the ability to talk like we do. But what they do have is the ability to solve puzzles, learn through observation, and even use tools. And what makes octopus intelligence so amazing is that it […]
Why do human forget?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE brain, with its 100 billion neurons, allows us to do amazing things like learn multiple languages, or build things that send people into outer space. Yet despite this astonishing capacity, we routinely can’t remember where we put our keys, we forget why we went to the grocery store, and we fail when trying to […]
What animal dies and comes back to life?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWHAT? Is it true that an animal comes back to life after death? The answer is yes. Mind blowing right? There are a few animals that have this unique ability. One of it is the, Rana sylvatica, a species of wood frog whose special abilities boggle the mind of scientists. “The tiny amphibians can survive […]
Why do human cry?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTEARS well up in people’s eyes for a slew of reasons. We can cry out of sadness, fear, frustration, anger, or even joy. But why do streams of liquid leave our eyes? For the most part, tears help maintain healthy eyes. For instance, basal tears flow continuously from the lacrimal glands, or the tiny almond-shaped […]
What is a Chinese lunar calendar?
Reading Time: 2 minutesIN 2018, Chinese New Year begins on February 16 and also marks the beginning of the Year of the Dog. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival is traditionally a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It is also a time to bring family members far and near together […]
Why do we get brain freeze?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDO YOU ever get a headache after drinking really cold water or eating an ice cream? That headache is called a “brain freeze”. Brain freeze is really a type of headache that is rapid in onset, but rapidly resolved as well. Our mouths are highly vascularized, including the tongue, that’s why we take our temperature […]