April 30th – Your two kidneys are large filters within the urinary system. These fist-sized, bean-shaped organs perform many useful functions. Their main job is filtering blood to remove impurities and excess water. Over 1 liter of blood flows through the kidneys each minute! Kidneys also release hormones and help the body maintain a proper …
April 29th – According to the ancient Greeks, the Titan Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mankind. Zeus, to punish him, gave Prometheus to a giant eagle which ate his liver, whereupon it regenerated only to be consumed again. Whether the ancient Greeks knew that the liver can in fact regenerate is …
April 28th – Although there are many causes of food poisoning (including numerous viruses and bacteria, not to mention toxins and pesticides), Bacillus cereus is one of the common ingredients found in spoiled food – and the indigestion caused by its ingestion can certainly be serious! There are two primary types of B. cereus-related illness, …
April 27th – Most cells in the body are experts at specific functions such as generating electrical impulses in the brain, or carrying oxygen through the blood – or digesting your lunch! However, stem cells are very special cells because they have no specialty except to remain ready, willing, and able to become, someday, whatever …
April 26th – The average human body has 40 billion corpulent little cells whose primary job is to make you fat! These portly little adipocytes (Greek for “fat cell”) are just trying to be helpful, of course. The fat they store provides warmth and protection for your body, and even transports essential vitamins such as …
April 25th – Hepatitis A Virus is transmitted primarily by unsanitary food and water (frequently found in developing countries), or by direct contact with an infected person. It is non-chronic and relatively mild, though symptoms can include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, and fever. Vaccines are available. HBV is transmitted by bodily-fluids and is far more serious. …
April 24th – Beauty may be only skin deep, but your skin is more than just another pretty face: it’s your largest organ, and your first line of defense against the outside world! The skin has three layers. The top layer, or epidermis, is made primarily of tough keratinocyte cells that ward off everything from …
April 23rd – White blood cells, or Leukocytes (“white cell” in Greek), are your body’s white knights. If an enemy germ invades you, they ride to the rescue and fight to the death. There are several different kinds of leukocytes, and each has special skills that help protect you. For example, neutrophils race to the …
April 22nd – Smallpox is a deadly disease caused by the variola virus. From ancient Egypt and Greece, to China and the Americas, it has killed countless millions for centuries. Smallpox arrived in the New World with Columbus and Cortes, and it devastated Native American populations who had no immunities to the virus. The disease …
April 21st – The rods and cones in our eyes help us see! The rods enable us to see in low light while the cones enable us to see in color. There are three types of cones: the S-cones (short-wavelength sensitive cones), the M-cones (middle-wavelength sensitive cones), and the L-cones (long-wavelength sensitive cones). Color blindness …
