ScienceIQ.com

Retreating Glaciers Spur Alaskan Earthquakes

Could an extra warm summer cause an earthquake in your backyard? Probably not... unless you live in Alaska. You probably know that friction in the earth's crust causes earthquakes, but did you know that a little extra sunshine might increase your chances of experiencing an earthquake if you live where glaciers are present? That's because as ...

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AlaskanEarthquakes
Geology

Wetter not Necessarily Better in Amazon Basin

June through September is the dry season for the Amazon Basin of South America. Yet the basin's dry season may be getting uncharacteristically wetter, according to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center ... Continue reading

AmazonBasin
Biology

Yes! We Have New Bananas

Did you know that a plant disease determined what banana variety is in your market? Bananas, which originated in Africa and are now grown in every tropical region, are perhaps the most popular fruit ... Continue reading

YesWeHaveNewBananas
Geology

Old Faithful - Thar She Blows!

Hot springs are what you get when you mix ground water with underground volcanic activity. They may be very acidic, containing sulphurous compounds or just mineral laden. Hot springs were the original ... Continue reading

OldFaithful
Biology

The Art of Hunting

Most of us have seen a praying mantis. Two thousand species of praying mantis are scattered throughout the world, ranging in size from less than half an inch (1.27 cm) to more than five inches (12.7 ... Continue reading

PrayingMantis

When and Why is Blood Typing Done?

BloodTypesFans of the popular television show ER know how important blood type is in an emergency. 'Start the O-neg,' shouts Doctor Green, and the team swings into action. Green calls for type O, Rh-negative blood in life-and-death situations when there's no time for blood typing. Since that type contains no A, B, or Rh antigens, it can - in theory - be safely given to all.

Blood carries antibodies against antigens that are not its own. Antibodies are defenses of the immune system. They destroy proteins the body recognizes as foreign. For example, if you have type A blood, you carry no antibodies against the A antigen, but your blood makes antibodies against the B antigen. Receive a type B or type AB transfusion and your own blood will attack the B antigens in the donation. The locking of antibody to antigen causes red blood cells to rupture and clump. Circulating clumps of red blood cells are a life-threatening emergency in themselves.

People with type AB+ blood carry all three antigens and none of the antibodies. They can receive blood from any other type but can donate only to their own type. People with type O- blood make no A, B, or Rh antigens, so they can give blood to all other types without fear of dangerous clumping. (The number of anti-A, anti-B, and anti-Rh antibodies in their blood is small and will do little harm in the recipient.) In practice, O-negative is given far less often than ER would have you believe. For one thing, blood typing can be done in minutes. For another, transfusing blood matched to the patient's own type is far safer than giving O-negative to everyone.