The phenomenon chameleon

Everybody knows about it, but most people aren’t aware of how it’s possible. The mysterious skin change of chameleons.

As one of my readers wanted to know how it works, I did some research and now am able to uncover this phenomenon for you!

Chameleons own special small muscles which are responsible to cover or uncover colour pigments beneath. The different colours are created by three different colour pigments: xanthophore, which is responsible for red and yellow colours, guanophores, which create blue shadings and melanophores that influence the intensity of the colour. With these layers of pigments it is possible to create turquoise, blue, red, yellow, orange, pink, green, brown and black. Even patterns, consisting of different shadings, dots or stripes are feasible.

The pigment layers can produce diverse colours within themselves, enabled by the dye in the inside of every cell- the cytoplasm. Furthermore the composition of the pigment layers can even create more colours, whichs intensity is then determined  by the last layer.

Unlike most people think chameleons don’t use their colour changing ability primarily for adaptation to their environment for protection purposes, but to communicate. First of all it is their main tool for courtship.

Is there any love at first sight?

It’s a topic one hears about almost every day – love – and the famous love at first sight.

As one reader, dear Ella, asked me to detect this phenomenon, I will try to find some answers and would appreciate it if you would share your experiences with us! I have made the experience of liking someone instantly and I know some people who have made it too, hopefully she is also reading this post;)!?

Being absolutely theoretical: How could this work? How can one love someone although one doesn’t even know this person? If one believes in fate, the explanation is clear. One meets the person one is meant to be with (at least for now). But what if there is no such thing as fate? Are there any other solutions to this mystery?

So one reader, Anna, suggests generally liking someone has a lot do with the smell of a person. There are people who you can smell, with whom you connect, and others who you wouldn’t want to get close with. This smelling theory has a logical background. Biologically it is better to have couples who differentiate in there genetic substances. This is for the reason, that genetic variability enables populations to adapt to changes in their environment, what supports evolution. People who have different smells are said to have very diverse genetic substances. So maybe the smell has an impact on love at first sight to promote evolution?

Then there is also the theory that love at first sight is all about hormones. These hormones are probably also present to biologically help a person to find a partner and reproduce. First of all there are pheromones. These are exposed in the smell and increase our sexual attractiveness towards others. Consequently they are the first cause of a chain reaction. What follows is phenylethylamine. This hormone arouses a high level of activity and euphoria. It is said to be as effective as a drug or extreme sports. What follows is dopamine. This hormone rewards us in our brain, which is the reason you want to see this person again.

So the hormones are one thing, but they don’t explain why one falls in love with a certain person. Is it just physical attractiveness? Or probably the hormones and the smell altogether? Doing research I once again noticed: There seems to be no clear answer. So what do you think? I am interested in what you have to say:)!

A question to you!

After blogging for quite some time now I would like to get a little feedback from you, my dear readers!

What is it that you want to read about?

Is there any specific theme or phenomena that you always wanted to comprehend? Or would you simply like me to focus more on human, animal, or any other phenomena? Personally, I am really interested in human phenomena, but I see that there are often a lot of comments on one article, but none on the other, so please help me to improve.

I am really interested in what you have to say and thankful for any contribution:)!

The mistery of snapping fingers

Hey folks,

today my boyfriend asked me how the  sound when snapping fingers is created. I thought that this might interest you too:).

Guess what?

It’s not the friction that creates the sound. The sound has nothing to do with the fact that the middle finger rubs against your thumb. It has nothing to do with the acceleration and speed when snapping fingers. You can snap as slow as you want-the sound will still emerge. Responsible for the sound is only the fact that your middle finger pads on the palm near the base of your thumb.

Try it yourself, without touching your palm no sound arises.

Another thing, do you also have problems with snapping with your left hand? Or if you are a lefty with your right one?

I simply can’t create a sound with mine.. Interested in what you have to say:).

Tingling that troubles our sleep

Ever woke up in the middle of the night because of a leg or arm that went to sleep? Ever felt that ugly feeling that your extremity doesn’t belong to you anymore?

After a night struggling with sleepy extremities I needed to know what was disturbing my sleep and here is what I found out:

Unlike most people think it is not the blood disruption what causes this feeling, but the incidence that the nerve pathway is interrupted. This can go so far that the extremity is unable to receive any signals from our brain. Here is where the blood comes in – any position that causes the nerves to be interrupted of course also disturbs the blood stream, what enhances the process. Fortunately mother nature foresaw the human habit of turning themselves while sleeping and constructed our system in a matter that it can react to any disruption by telling ourselves to change position. When the interruption is resolved tingling sets in, now why is that?

When the nerve pathways are uninterrupted they need some time to operate correctly. They therefore send pointless signals to our brain, what we perceive as tingling. So next time, don’t be afraid-it’s only in our head;)!

An immortal Rose?

Ever heard about the Rose of Jericho!?

Absolutely amazing.. It is a rose domiciled in the deserts of Israel, Jordan, and parts of northern Africa. Looking like a dried up bunch of branchlets, it blooms when you put it in warm water, bringing forth juicy green leaflets. It flourishes for one week, then it needs to dry up again. After a rest of one week it is possible to do the process all over again.

Most people think that the rose is used to being dried out and therefore can survive numerous periods of dryness, instead the rose is actually dead! It only sucks up water what causes tension and changes the colour of the leaves.You can very often find the Rose of Jericho at Christmas markets, so if you are still looking for a nice present, have a go;)!

Beware of big noses and ears!

Last week I was in the underground train and in front of me approximately 10 people over the age of 70. All of them had amazingly huge ears and especially the men also had big, swollen noses, with a reddish touch and great porosities.

So I asked myself, if there is something true about the rumour that ears and noses continue growing!?

Doing some research, I found out that this phenomenon isn’t entirely resolved. But the most common theory is that noses and ears don’t grow by cell division, but by the fact that cartilage substance is produced throughout our life. This expands our noses and ears. Another factor is, that skin and tissue loosen its tightness and flag. Therefore these organs seem even bigger. Studies have resolved that noses are growing 1 mm every ten years. But no need to freak out people, once we have reached this age having bigger organs will simply be normal;)!