Chromosomes are fascinating little things, and today, Hank Green explains why more of them doesn’t mean more complex, and why different organisms have different numbers of chromosomes. The short answer: mistakes happen.
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Scientists have come up with a way to make whole brains transparent, so they can be labelled with molecular markers and imaged using a light microscope. The technique, called CLARITY, enables its creators to produce the detailed 3D visualizations you see in this video. It works in mouse brains and human brains. Here, the team uses it to look into the brain of a 7-year-old boy who had autism.
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How do owls turn their heads around as much as 270 degrees? And what’s with their superpower hearing abilities? Emily Graslie, host of The Brain Scoop, shares the lowdown on these solitary, nocturnal creatures — sometimes feared by the superstitious, although also revered as wise and noble.
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In this edition of Bite Sci-zed, Alex Dainis explains how humble dish detergent relates to every one of your cells.
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Viruses are among humanity’s greatest threats and it seems like they’re always one step ahead of us. But this week, biologists say that they’ve discovered a new weapon we can use against some of our most nefarious virus enemies — including Ebola and Rabies — and it comes from our friends the plants. Hank Green shares the encouraging news.
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Here’s one of the first videos from MinuteEarth, a new spin-off from the Minute Physics folks.
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It’s not the cockroach, but tardigrades, also known as water bears and moss piglets. These tiny creatures can withstand radiation, extreme temperatures and pressures greater than found in the deepest ocean trenches. They can survive without water or food for up to 10 years, and even have lived through the vacuum of Outer Space. Alex Dainis of Bite Sci-zed explains why she has a crush on the lowly tardigrade.
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Alex Dainis of Bite Sci-zed explains mitosis, the process by which our one original cell splits apart and multiplies, eventually creating the trillions of cells found in our bodies. A little pinch allows each new cell to spin off, paving the way for growth to occur.
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Do cats prefer sardines or sweets? Bytesize Science explains why cats, unlike humans and other mammals, are indifferent to sweet flavors.
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The cell membrane, like a good jacket, protects the cell from everything outside of it. How is it simultaneously sturdy, flexible and capable of allowing the right things to pass through? Ethan Perlstein introduces the scientists who have changed the way we study the membrane and the cell as a whole. Much of this research focuses on the amazing qualities of lipids. H/T TEDEducation
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