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Prokaryotic Organisms

It appears that life arose on earth about 4 billion years ago. The simplest of cells, and the first types of cells to evolve, were prokaryotic cells--organisms that lack a nuclear membrane, the membrane that surrounds the nucleus of a cell. Bacteria are the best known and most studied form of prokaryotic organisms, although the recent discovery of ...

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ProkaryoticOrganisms
Mathematics

Math On the Mind

In the mid-1800's, Paul Broca discovered that there were specialized functions for different regions in the human brain. He identified the third gyrus (the ridges on the surface of the cerebral ... Continue reading

MathMind
Biology

A Tickle is All in the Timing

It's often been noted that no matter how hard you might try, you can't tickle yourself. Why not? Whether it's your finger or someone else's, a prod in the ribs is a prod in the ribs. Why should only ... Continue reading

Tickle
Astronomy

Jumping Starlight

'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are,' says the song by Jane Taylor. But stars don’t really twinkle; their light reaches the earth in a steady way. Why then do we see them ... Continue reading

JumpingStarlight
Astronomy

Big Fish

The phrase 'big fish eat little fish' may hold true when it comes to planets and stars. Perhaps as many as 100 million of the sun-like stars in our galaxy harbor close-orbiting gas giant planets like ... Continue reading

BigFish

Is Catnip a Drug for Cats?

IsCatnipaDrugforCatsMost people think of catnip as having drug-like effects on their cats. Some cats lick it, eat it or just sniff it and owners can see a definite behavior change. Catnip is actually a plant from the mint family. It contains the chemical trans-nepetalactone which causes the cats' odd behavior. It is not a drug; therefore completely safe for cats!

House cats aren't the only animals that go bonkers for catnip; tigers do too. In fact, all animals in the felidae family react to it. Humans and other animals are not affected by the trans-nepetalactone in the catnip. So why does this chemical make members of the cat family go crazy for it? Well, trans-nepetalactone smells just like a chemical found in a dominant female cat's urine. This smell deceives male cats, causing them to try to impress the female by acting crazy. They roll around, jump, stretch out their claws and anything else to get 'her' attention.

Not all cats are affected by catnip though. So, don't think that your cat is not truly a cat if it doesn't act bizarre around catnip. Older cats or kittens may not be affected by catnip. Also, cats may have a crazy reaction to the catnip then walk away and act normal for a while. As soon as their brain 'resets' and the cat goes back to the catnip, the same reaction occurs. The craziness associated with your cat in the presence of catnip can go on as long as the catnip keeps its smell. Although we can't smell it, our cats go wild for it!