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Get the Point?

The discus and javelin first appeared in ancient game competitions in 708 B.C. Javelin events included both target throwing and distance throwing using a sling. By 1780, the javelin was adopted as an event by the Scandinavians, and the current one-handed throwing style while running was adopted at this time. In 1953, a hollow javelin was developed ...

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DiscusJavelin
Medicine

Mad Cow Disease

In 1986, the first case of 'mad cow' disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was found in cattle in Great Britain. Irritable personalities, fearful behavior, and a staggering gait preceded ... Continue reading

MadCowDisease
Chemistry

Spontaneous Combustion

Most of us know if we leave oily rags or papers in an enclosed area, we risk a fire. The process of burning is called oxidation. Oxidation is the same process that causes iron to rust or a banana to ... Continue reading

SpontaneousCombustion
Physics

Does Your Brain Do Flips?

You may not be aware of it, but when you look at the world, the image projected on your retina is upside down. This is due to the optics used by our eyes. Our brain compensates for this upside down ... Continue reading

BrainFlips
Medicine

When and Why is Blood Typing Done?

Fans 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 ... Continue reading

BloodTypes

Did You Smell Something?

SmellThere's not a moment of our lives when smells -- or, more precisely, odor molecules -- aren't impacting our brain. It's been estimated that it takes at least 40 molecules of a given odor for us to be aware of a smell. But each one of our receptor cells can fire in response to as little as a single odor molecule wafting through the air. So even if we think we're not smelling anything, our brain may disagree.

Many studies have shown that your brain reacts to smells whether or not you're aware of them. Undetected odors can alter your brain's electrical activity, according to EEG readings, and can trigger measurable physiological reactions such as changes in body temperature and heart rate. In one experiment, the part of the brain that reacted to the odor molecules was a region responsible for focusing attention and directing awareness. It seems that our brain may be aware of smells and attending to them whether or not our conscious mind is paying attention!