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So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction... Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting, quirky and downright bizarre tid bits from the world of science. And its all completely, totally, 100% true! November Sci-Facts |
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This month lets look at facts that are weird and wonderful, eldritch and eerie, amazing and mysterious...just for the fun of it. |
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Yolk Stroke |
| Almost all the fats (lipids) of an egg are concentrated in the yolk. The yolk is the part of the egg that provides energy for the growing embryo; the fat is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water to provide the energy to drive the growth of the chick. The yolk also provides essential fatty acids and bears the fat-soluble vitamins. As fats are one of the major components of membranes, so they are vital for the production of cells. The lipids will be converted into the structure of tissue.
Unfortunately, the fat content of the yolk can cause problems for the mother bird, particularly if she is a cockatiel. Sometimes the egg is laid internally into the body cavity, because the developing egg isn’t properly positioned into the oviduct; the oviduct may be diseased or damaged. The fat from the yolk is absorbed into the blood vessels from the abdominal cavity, causing clots. These clots can cause strokes if they block a blood vessel supplying the brain, and the avian mother will suffer convulsions, paralysis and probably die. Or, the poor bird may develop peritonitis, diagnosed by a swelling abdomen, lethargy and tail bobbing. The bacterial infection may be treated with antibiotics, but this is usually a fatal condition. So, laying eggs isn’t as easy as one might think... |
| Moon Madness |
| There is a distinct possibility that some so-called werewolves were in fact the tragic victims of rare diseases like Rabies and Porphyria.
Rabies is a strain of virus that produces uncontrollable rages, and it is carried by dogs, wolves and other animals. Rabies is almost always contracted by exposure to a rabid animal. The exposure is usually through a bite, but scratches and saliva contact with broken skin and intact mucous membranes (eyes, nose, and mouth) are also possible routes; one of the most common folk myths suggests that a person becomes a werewolf if they make contact with a known werewolf’s saliva. The virus strikes the central nervous system. Early symptoms may include irritability, headache, fever, dilated pupils, increased saliva production or itching & pain at the site of exposure. The infected person may develop a sensitivity to light, sound and changes in temperature. The most dramatic of all the symptoms are the severe and extremely painful throat spasms suffered by the infected person when trying to swallow. This reaction may occur even at the sight of liquids, and is sometimes described as a fear of water; it is a common characteristic of people with rabies and gave the disease the medical name of hydrophobia. It doesn’t take a great leap of the imagination to see that the hydrophobia would frighten other people, particularly as the victim may be suffering from an increasingly severe mental disturbance. The disease eventually progresses to paralysis, convulsions, delirium and death. It is important to note that by the time any symptoms appear, rabies cannot be successfully treated. Death usually occurs within three to five days of the first symptom. Porphyria is a rare genetic disorder that results in a deficiency of heme, one of the pigments in the oxygen-carrying red blood cells. The most visible symptoms of one disease in this group, porphyria cutanea tarda, are disfiguring blisters that appear when the skin is exposed to sunlight, which cause scarring and skin discoloration. Sufferers may also have excessive hair growth on the face and hands, gum degeneration and neurological disorders. To cope with the condition, sufferers must avoid sunlight and certain chemicals, including many of the ingredients of garlic. Treatment may also include regular blood transfusions. It is not surprising then, that porphyria sufferers are thought to have inspired the folk mythology behind vampires as well as werewolves. Biochemically, porphyria results from genetic defects in the synthesis of heme. The disorder usually results in a build-up of a substance called porphyrin - the chemical from which heme is derived - or its precursors. Porphyria is often accompanied by mental disturbance, from mild hysteria to delirium and manic-depressive psychoses. Even a sophisticated intellect wouldn’t find it difficult to grow fearful of someone suffering from rabies or porphyria. |
| *The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science? Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working in a Pathology laboratory. I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe, from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia…and hopefully entertaining people at the same time. As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time to write! Read previous Sci-Facts: A Rainbow of Emotions Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds! |
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