ScienceIQ.com

Why does popcorn pop?

Popcorn is the most amazing food! It all starts with a kernel only several millimeters in diameter which explodes into a 40-50 times bigger fluffy, tasty, white wonder. The kernel is made of three parts: the pericarp, the endosperm and the germ. The pericarp is the outer shell, which is air-tight and extremely tough. The endosperm is mostly ...

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WhyDoesPopcornPop
Biology

What Is Coral Bleaching?

Certain types of stressors, such as increased sea surface temperatures or toxic exposures to oil, can cause coral polyps to lose their pigmented zooxanthellae, or to 'bleach.' Bleaching occurs ... Continue reading

WhatIsCoralBleaching
Biology

Vibrational Energy

Why is hearing such a rich and powerful sense? Maybe because it alone of all the senses has the power to fill our entire body with vibrational energy. We sometimes think of hearing as one of the ... Continue reading

VibrationalEnergy
Mathematics

Mobius Strip

A Mobius Strip is an amusing three-dimensional object whose surface has only one side. Huh? Well, most objects you can imagine have a surface with two sides. For example, an ordinary piece of paper ... Continue reading

MobiusStrip
Engineering

Hydropower Basics

Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is called hydropower. Hydropower is currently the largest source of renewable power, generating nearly 10% of the ... Continue reading

HydropowerBasics

Pass the Iodized Salt Please

IodizedSaltHave you ever wondered why common table salt contains iodine? It's because iodine is essential to your health. A diet lacking in sufficient quantities of iodine will lead to the production of a goiter and other serious health problems. Iodine is used by our bodies, and particularly by our thyroid gland, to produce the hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine, which help to regulate heart rate, body temperature and energy levels. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ that lies in front of the windpipe, just below the voice box.

Iodine is found in such foods as fin fish and shellfish, dairy products and meat, poultry and eggs and in varying degrees in fruits and vegetables. Your body only needs a small amount to stay healthy, about 150 micrograms per day. However, even healthy diets may lack sufficient levels of iodine.

In the late 1800s, goiters were a common problem in some areas of the United States, especially in the mountainous regions. It was discovered that the level of iodine in the food from these areas was low. To combat this health problem, manufacturers began adding either potassium iodide or potassium iodate to common table salt. Some scientists are of the opinion that modern diets now provide enough iodine. Whether that is true or not, iodizing salt seems like a small premium to pay for good health. In fact, iodine deficiency is still a major health problem in the Third World.