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In Russian culture “British Scientists” is a running joke and Internet meme used as an ironic reference to absurd news reports about scientific discoveries, particularly ones that have no practical value. For example, “British scientists debunked the myth that mice love cheese.”
The post In Russian culture “British Scientists,”… appeared first on Crazy Facts.
If you’re even a casual ocean aficionado, you realize that there’s no consensus that space is actually the last frontier.
The world’s oceans hold many similar secrets in their depths, tucked safely out of sight, and even though we’ve lived with these bodies of waters for millennia, we may never uncover them all.
Image Credit: Public Domain
We know that giant squids exist – there have been sightings, drawings, and the like for centuries – but here in the States, we’ve never had one show up on our shores.
The first modern look at these giant cephalopods was back in 2004, in Japanese waters, and then again around the same spot in 2014.
Image Credit: Wikipedia/Stephane Martin
This time, though, NOAA researchers on an exploratory mission in the Gulf of Mexico captured a recording of a juvenile swimming in the waters there.
The video is brief, and like all underwater happenings, a bit eerie. The squid swims straight at the camera, which makes it hard to tell exactly how large it is, though researchers are estimating around 10-12 feet.
Image Credit: YouTube
An adult of the species could grow up to around 43 feet in length – the same as around seven adult American men.
The marine biologists are hoping the squid will come back and they’ll be able to get more footage. Their ROV that captured the encounter, the Medusa, doesn’t use the bright lights that others do in the depths, which could make the squid feel more comfortable.
Here’s hoping we get to see more soon!
As long as I’m watching from a distance, I’m here for it.
If there was one undiscovered or rare creature to be found in the depths, what would you want it to be?
I mean, the obvious answer is mermaids, but…what would you want it to be?
The post Check Out These Images of a Giant Squid in U.S. Waters appeared first on UberFacts.
Some days, driving can seem super relaxing and carefree, but other days, it’s definitely not – and it mostly depends on other drivers, not myself.
For rats, though, I suppose they’re always driving their tiny cars in nice, controlled environments. No rat road rage, no people looking at their phones instead of the light turning green…what a lovely world.
Image Credit: YouTube
Why, you ask, are rats driving cars? Why does it relax them, and how?
If you’re curiosity is piqued, I invite you to keep reading.
It’s researchers from the University of Richmond, in Virginia, where you’ll find these vehicle-driving rodents, and listen – they weren’t taught to drive just to see if they could do it. Scientists there wanted to prove that an enriched environment could improve their cognitive function, sharpening their ability to learn more complex tasks.
Image Credit: YouTube
Dr. Kelly Lambert, one of the study authors, expanded in an interview with IFLScience.
“The findings that the animals housed in a complex environment had more efficient learning in the driving task confirms that the brain is a plastic organ that is molded by our experiences to some extent.
I tell my students that they are accountable for what they do with their brains every day of their lives – more challenging and enriching lifestyles lead to more complex neural networks.”
The study, published in Behavioural Brain Research, explains that the rats were given “cars,” that were basically plastic jars atop electric-powered wheels. They drove forward and steered using a copper bar, a task that’s not hard…if you’re human.
Image Credit: YouTube
The rats had to employ a ton of cognitive, motor, and visuospatial skills, and combine them, too, in order to get to their prize – Fruit Loops.
I get it. I would do some crazy stuff for a bowl of Fruit Loops right now, myself.
There were 11 rats involved in the study – six who remained in their standard environments, and five lucky rats who got an “enriched environment” that resembled a rat’s natural habitat, with awesome toys.
Image Credit: YouTube
The rats living in the enriched spaces performed better at the driving test, and even retained an interest in driving the car after the Fruit Loops were removed from the equation.
On the other hand, the rats who remained in their standard lab cages showed little to no interest in figuring out driving the cars, or the Fruit Loops.
Hormones seem to be part of the equation. The driving rats poop showed increasing levels of dehydroepiandrosterone – which controls stress – and decreasing levels of the stress hormone corticosterone, which suggests that mastering the skill of driving relaxed the rodents.
The study definitely suggests that, for rats, at least, their environment is tied to their mental state.
Image Credit: YouTube
Dr. Lambert, and the rest of the scientists involve, believe we humans could take a few lessons from the results.
“It reminds us that we can use challenging tasks with preclinical animals work to learn more about human challenging behavior and cognitive systems. We also see that the rats had healthier stress hormone profiles with the driving training.
We think this learning task and operating the ROV may be an animal model for agency or self-efficacy – two elements critical for mental health.”
If you’re feeling down and out, unmotivated, or just plain blue, you might want to try giving yourself a new challenge, it would seem.
I mean, it can’t hurt, right?
The post Scientists Claim That Driving Tiny Cars Helps Rats Relax appeared first on UberFacts.
There are so many secrets of our universe that we still haven’t figured out yet. We get a little bit closer every day – and these images from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory are definitely a giant leap in the right direction.
Since 1999, the flagship X-ray telescope has produced over 23 trillion bytes of data. Thanks to the giant orbiting fixture, tons of magical, awe-inspiring images have come our way.
Here’s the latest drop from NASA that’s sure to blow the minds of even the most pessimistic of us.
Photo Credit: NASA/CXC
Eta Carinae is a volatile system in our Milky Way galaxy. Previous eruptions from these two stars once created a ring of incredibly hot gas spanning 2.3 light years in diameter. That’s some pretty serious firepower.
Researchers are keeping track of which stars are up next to transform into supernovas – stars that suddenly become super bright due to a recent catastrophic explosion. This pair is likely high up on that list.
Photo Credit: NASA/CXC
This image was created using data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, Spitzer Space Telescope, Hubble Telescope, and NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The reason it takes so many sources to create one image? Each telescope is detects different elements of the Helix Nebula – so putting the data together provides a more accurate picture of the nebula’s moving parts.
This particular image is around 4 light years in diameter – or roughly 24 trillion miles long.
Photo Credit: NASA/CXC
Galaxies like the one above are formed when collisions alter star formations. The hot gas distributed from this particular collision drags on for over 150,000 light years. That’s a distance that we cannot even begin to understand on Earth.
Photo Credit: NASA/CXC
Messier 82, or M82, is giving scientists a glimpse into the process of star formation.
Here’s more about the image from NASA:
X-rays from Chandra (appearing as blue and pink) show gas in outflows about 20,000 light years long that has been heated to temperatures above ten million degrees by repeated supernova explosions.
Optical light data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (red and orange) shows the galaxy.
This incredible album of images is seriously out of this world. The vast expanse of the universe gives me a little bit of hope during this super dark time. It helps remind me that there are things out there far bigger than our own tiny existence here on planet Earth. Plus, it’s comforting to look at other planets in the solar system and realize that – as it stands – Earth is still pretty hospitable.
If you’re feeling down about climate change, check out these dire photos from Venus. They’re sure to help you appreciate the greenery around us that we take for granted.
What are some of your favorite photos from space? Share them with us in the comments below!
The post NASA Captures Amazing New Images of the Universe That Almost Look Photoshopped appeared first on UberFacts.
Tattoos are very common today. Back in the day, only fun ladies and military dudes (or I suppose convicts) really sported ink on a regular basis, but since the nineties, they’ve continued to trend as a common, if permanent, accessory.
Perhaps that’s why scientists are really just beginning to wonder whether or not there could be any long- or short-term effects of having ink deposited right beneath your skin – and this recent study seems to conclude that one of those effects could be a poor ability to sweat.
Image Credit: Pixabay
The paper was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, and featured a pretty small sample size of 10 participants. The subjects wore tube-lined suits containing warm water, which induced them to sweat – though skin covered by a tattoo or tattoos produced 15% less sweat than skin left unmarked.
This research joins more like it, like another small 2017 study that used an electric current to produce sweat, and found that inked skin produced 50% less perspiration, but is belied by at least one study that found no difference in sweating ability between inked and non-inked skin.
Image Credit: Pexels
There doesn’t seem to be conclusive evidence, nor does the study make any comment on why or how a tattoo could affect one’s ability to sweat.
For now, it seems like you’re safe to continue amassing as much ink as you like, though if this does eventually prove to be an issue, the more tattoos you have, the more trouble you might have cooling off on a hot day.
Image Credit: Pexels
Then again, people with full body tattoos have been staying cool with no trouble since forever, so you’re probably fine either way.
You do you, my friend, and leave the scientists to their business.
The post How Your Tattoos Might Be Messing With Your Sweat Glands appeared first on UberFacts.
Most people have an idea that Vikings were all giants with blond hair, blue eyes, and a thirst for raiding and pillaging foreign lands before returning how to bask in the icy, Nordic cold.
And while the latter may still turn out to be true, a new study is pretty much proving the homogenous physical description in our minds incorrect.
The study, published in Nature, indicates the Viking Empire arched over genetically distinct groups that emerged from different Scandinavian regions – some of which contained Southern European and Asian genes.
Image Credit: Oxford Archaeology
It took the study authors six years to sequence the genomes of 442 Viking-age skeletons that dated from 2400 BCE to 1600 CE. When they were done, they had data that revealed how different factions within the Viking world had trickled throughout Northern Europe.
Author Martin Sikora delved deeper into their research in a statement.
“We found that Vikings weren’t just Scandinavians in their genetic ancestry, as we analyzed genetic influences in their DNA from Southern Europe and Asia, which has never been contemplated before.
Many Vikings have high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry, both within and outside Scandinavia, which suggest ongoing gene flow across Europe.”
Norwegian Vikings mainly traveled to Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, and Greenland, while Swedish Vikings preferred the Baltic countries.
Image Credit: iStock
Danish Vikings headed off to England.
The genetic consequences of those specific raiding tendencies can be seen today, with around 6% of British people bearing Viking genes.
The study also revealed that Vikings likely traveled in family units as they pillaged foreign lands – one of the earliest raise involved 41 men from Sweden traveling to Estonia in the mid-8th century.
Image Credit: iStock
They all perished, and genetic analysis revealed the group included 4 brothers and a bunch of other closely related men.
They also found Vikings with no Scandinavian ancestry at all, so theories arise that certain Northern European cultures were likely assimilated into the Viking world without ever mixing genetically with their overlords.
Image Credit: iStock
So, researcher Eske Willerslev says we need to come to grips with the idea that the Vikings did not all look alike – and they wouldn’t have all passed Hitler’s muster, either.
“Our research debunks the modern image of Vikings with blonde hair as many had brown hair and were influenced by genetic influx from the outside of Scandinavia.”
There you have it, folks – history is not always what we believe, and if you ask me, that’s one of the best things about it.
The post A New Study Busts the Myth That Vikings Weren’t Genetically Diverse appeared first on UberFacts.
Hi there!
There are times when you need to know something for reasons, and sometimes the knowing is enough – but also, being able to kick your friends and family’s butts at Trivial Pursuit has never felt bad, has it?
If the question on the table is “what’s the world’s smallest ocean,” and you find yourself hesitating, don’t worry.
Image Credit: iStock
Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, and geographers take this space and divide into smaller regions of ocean – the smallest of which is the Arctic Ocean.
Small is, of course, relative – it still covers around 5.4 million square miles (around 150% larger than North America).
Image Credit: iStock
It’s located at the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere and is almost completely surrounded by Europe, Asia, and North America.
For most of the year it is covered in ice, though as you may have heard, rising temperatures are melting it at alarming rates.
Image Credit: iStock
The Arctic ocean is 10x smaller than the Pacific Ocean, and it’s also the shallowest of the world’s oceans, with an average depth of around .65 miles (1.04 kilometers, 3407 feet).
For comparison, the average depth of the world’s oceans as a whole is 2.3 miles (3.7 kilometers, 12,100 feet), and the deepest ranges of the Pacific measure around 6.85 miles (11 kilometers, 36,200 feet) deep.
Image Credit: iStock
The gaps in size and depth have led some scientists to suggest reclassifying it as a sea, or simply including it as part of the Atlantic Ocean, but for now, it remains the Arctic Ocean.
It’s the sort of thing scientists love arguing over, as is evidenced by the continued debate in including the so-called Southern Ocean (or Antarctic Ocean) as the world’s fifth ocean.
Image Credit: iStock
Not all members of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) have officially accepted the parameters of that “new” ocean, but listen…it’s all one ocean.
*hums We are the World*
The post Check Out the Smallest Ocean in the World. It’s Also the Most Shallow. appeared first on UberFacts.
Ever since Breaking Bad made science cool again, the internet can’t get enough homegrown science experiments.
What’s even more thrilling is when science happens irl without any real reason, rhyme, or planning.
Especially when they’re less volatile than Coke and Mentos volcanoes.
Here are 14 mildly interesting science experiments that happened in real life completely by accident.
I’m going to start buying marbles in bulk instead of browsing Tiffany & Co.
This is what happens when you heat an ordinary marble over a flame then immediately drop it into cold water from mildlyinteresting
Ever seen something so orb-like before?
This is what happens when you polish a coconut from mildlyinteresting
Ugh, it’s just so pretty.
What happens when you put M&Ms in a dish of water. Diffusion force barriers from mildlyinteresting
That’s a seriously sick pattern.
This Is What Happens When Lightning Strikes A Flag On A Golf Course from interestingasfuck
Taking a negative of a negative feels like you’re diving into some crazy alternate universe.
This is what happens if you take a negative picture of a negative screen. from mildlyinteresting
Cooking under bitingly cold conditions certainly presents its challenges.
This is what happens to food in Antartica at -94°F/-70°C from interestingasfuck
Look at how the light bends!
Apparently this is what happens when light passes through the blinds and hits my trash can… from mildlyinteresting
This is real art.
What happens when wood is burnt with high voltage from mildlyinteresting
Gummy bears melt – who knew?
this is what happens when you leave a pack of gummy bears in an 105 degree car. from mildlyinteresting
They’re going to come after us. With the amount of french fries we’ve all eaten, no one is safe.
What happens when you leave potatoes in the cellar for 6 months from mildlyinteresting
This queen did a real good job.
A friend of mine is a drag queen. This is what happened last night when he took off his makeup. from mildlyinteresting
Who needs a swan sculpture when you could have this?
What happens when water freezes on a spinning wheel. from mildlyinteresting
I’m so ready for this gothic upgrade. Make this my next order. Even if it tastes bad.
This is what happens when you microwave McDonalds fries for 30 minutes (instead of 30 seconds). from mildlyinteresting
This is probably what food is supposed to look like.
Modern tomato vs one grown from 150yo seeds from mildlyinteresting
Well, that was kind of cool! Looks like science is happening all around us – all the time.
What’s your favorite accidental science experiment? Share with us in the comments below!
The post Interesting Science Experiments That Happened Totally by Accident appeared first on UberFacts.
If you’ve ever had a pet, you know there are an overwhelming amount of choices when you walk through a pet store. Toys, supplies, supplements, training, leashes, food…the list goes on and on, and honestly, most of it can feel superfluous.
I mean, people had dogs and cats and birds centuries ago, and I doubt they had this many options.
So, if you’re wondering what exactly your pet needs – and not only that, what items could actually be harmful to your pet once they’re in your home, this veterinarian has a few thoughts.
Image Credit: TikTok
The main points of advice from Dr. Hunter Finn’s first video were mostly treats and chews to avoid.
First up, rawhides with double layered ends – apparently they are choking hazards.
Image Credit: TikTok
I definitely am guilty of buying these!
Next, he says to avoid fatty treats like pig’s ears, because they can upset doggie tums, and in rare but serious cases, can cause pancreatitis.
Image Credit: TikTok
Dr. Finn also says that both raw and cooked bones can break teeth and cause intestinal issues, as well, so it’s best to avoid them.
Image Credit: TikTok
His advice is that if you can’t easily make an indent with a fingernail, it’s too hard.
Image Credit: TikTok
Jerky treats, especially those that originate outside of the US, can also contribute to renal disease in pets.
When it comes to cats, Dr. Finn says to avoid giving them stringy toys when you’re not able to supervise, since they can get lodged and tangled in cats’ digestive tracts easily.
Image Credit: TikTok
If you’re wondering what dental treats would have the best shot at actually combatting your dog’s (or cat’s) terrible breath, Dr. Finn says to check the packaging for the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) stamp, and buy accordingly.
@dr.hunterfinn #petsoftiktok #veterinarian #vettech #veterinarylife I’m on vacation, but promise to make more videos if y’all like these. Cats next.
Our pets are family, after all, so you can’t be too careful.
Make sure you’re following Dr. Hunter Finn on TikTok for more tips and tricks for the future!
The post A Veterinarian Weighs in on What Items to Avoid at Pet Stores appeared first on UberFacts.
I have some excellent AND terrible news for you.
There is a full subreddit dedicated to men (and occasionally others) just being horrifyingly wrong about how female anatomy and biology works. It’s amazing. It’s horrifying. It’s something you won’t be able to look away from.
Here are just a few examples.
I…refuse to comment on this one.
Via: snyiks on Reddit
Only women have genitals, men have penises, you should know this by now.
Via: khodor2012 on Reddit
Not sure that’s how it works.
I hope you thought this when you were like 3, otherwise I’m concerned.
“Can you not?”
Via: Yokiie on Reddit
When the stupidity meets the audacity.
Was this written by a 12th century monk?
I once rubbed some water with a towel and it like…disappeared into the floor.
Via: purplejink on Reddit
The very smallest, in fact.
Trust me, I’m a doctor probably.
It’s amazing when they get corrected and still insist they know more about a body they don’t have than people who have it.
Your mouth takes in liquid and it’s still alive, for some reason.
Sounds like you’ve got some deeper issues to work through, my dude.
Via: versalina on Reddit
Um, isn’t she sleeping with you, man?
I had to fully stop and walk away from the computer for a minute.
Via: ofespii on Reddit
I don’t know what to conclude from any of that except that our sex ed system is CLEARLY in desperate need of repair.
Has anyone said this kind of thing to you before?
Tell us in the comments.
The post 15 Times Men Got Female Biology Very, Very Wrong appeared first on UberFacts.
