Did you know that we shed different types of tears based on our emotions?
Each type of tear is composed of unique chemicals that give them their variable structure.
According to scientist Claire Phillips, tears of grief contain the neurotransmitter leucine enkephalin which helps relieve the body in times of stress. In such a way, our tear ducts can act as a natural painkiller.
There’s a scientific reason we feel better after we cry.
Lake Hillier in the Recherche Archipelago of Western Australia is known for its pink color.
The lake’s solid bubble-gum color continues to be debated but scientists indicate that the pink body of water is the result of the intermixing of Halobacteria and a salt-tolerant algae species called Dunaliella Salina.
The Halobacteria is known to produce red pigments which when mixed with salt-tolerant Dunaliella Salina, creates a stunning strawberry milkshake color.
Unlike other pink lakes that morph into colors, Lake Hillier retains its pink hue all year round. It’s also safe to swim in.
When viewed from above, the contrast between the pink and dark blue ocean is also striking. You can learn more about the bubblegum lake here.
Vestrahorn mountain in south-east Iceland is one to behold.
Nicknamed “Batman Mountain” for its awe-inspiring beauty, the 1490 foot mountain looks down at the flat black sand of Stokksnes Beach below.
Known for its spiky peaks that resemble the horns on a bull, Vestrahorn is composed of both gabbro and granophyre rocks. But in order to access the photogenic landscape of the mountain beach, you’ll need to make a small payment to the landowner first.
By the looks of it, the experience is worth every penny.
Paleontologists have discovered a 3.8 million-year-old skull in Woranso-Mille, Ethiopia that reveals the face of a male Australopithecus anamensis.
The newfound hominin cranium provides new information about our earliest ancestors.
Hominin bones before Lucy, the 3.2m-year-old iconic skeleton, previously served as a missing link in explaining the human evolutionary tree.
The leading scientist of the study, Yohannes Haile-Selassie, describes the unearthed skull a “game changer in our understanding of human evolution”.
The precious discovery of the Australopithecine as reported via Nature now represents the face of our oldest direct ancestor.
Did you know that you can blow up soap bubbles and instantly freeze them into ice orbs?
If you’re searching for a fun cold-weather activity, this is worth trying out.
Popular Science explains the science behind bubble freeze, in addition to instructions on how to make one.
There’s some interesting science at play here. Every bubble is made up of three individual layers: a thin layer of water molecules squished between two layers of soap. It might look like the entire surface of the bubble is freezing, but what you’re actually seeing is the innermost layer of water—which freezes at warmer temperatures than soapy water—turning to ice within the film.
As the soapy water turns into ice crystals, the inside of the bubble appears to swirl around to create a beautiful effect of a snowglobe — very photographic!
But the ice bubbles don’t last forever, notes bubble photographer Chris Ratzlaff: “Bubbles are such ephemeral things,” he says. “To be able to literally freeze them in time is such a rare experience.”
Enjoy some more bubble freezing videos below:
