Science

Refine Search

What does oxytocin do?

Oxytocin is often referred to as the love hormone, because it is present in both males and females and affects sperm movement and testosterone production. Non-pregnant rats and sheep that are given oxytocin show rapid behavioral changes that are maternal in nature. Synthetic oxytocin is manufactured to help speed up labor for women who aren't having strong enough contractions. Oxytocin is released naturally when the neurons in the brain's hypothalamus region are stimulated.

Continue Reading

How do glaciers change the land they cross?

The most famous example of glacial erosion occurs on the Matterhorn in Switzerland. The Matterhorn displays cirques, aretes and horns, all of which are caused by glaciers. Cirques are rounded hollows like bowls with steep faces that can be seen after glacial melt. Aretes are narrow ridges caused by two glaciers eroding away rock at the point of meeting. Horns are sharp pointed peaks left behind when a number of glaciers erode the edges of a mountain until only aretes are left leading up to the top.

Continue Reading

What is the purpose of a control in an experiment?

Most experiments aim to prove if a method or material is better or worse than an existing method or material. The two experiments being compared to each other can't be done at different times or different locations, or there is a significant risk of there being confounding variables. Most experiments have both an experimental group testing the new variable and a control group that employs the normal settings running simultaneously to return valid results.

Continue Reading

Why is biology important?

People can use biology to understand large ecosystems or the smallest cell. It is a branch of science that allows humans to explore issues such as genetic engineering, stem cell research applications and global warming.\nBiology helps humans live healthier and longer lives. With biology, scientists are able to understand disease and illness work and find treatments, vaccines and cures. Scientists understand how nutrition and exercise benefit health and longevity and maximize physical performance.\nBiology includes the study of plants. Scientists use the knowledge to improve soil quality and cr..

Continue Reading

What is the main component of gastric juice?

The mucus makeup of gastric juice protects the lining of the stomach from the acidic environment; the hydrochloric acid is found in solutions of approximately 0.5 percent, creating a pH between 1 and 3. The highly acidic content of the stomach inhibits and destroys bacterial growths that are associated with eaten food. The enzyme amylase, which is produced in the saliva, travels down to the stomach and helps in digesting carbohydrates.

Continue Reading

How can you identify a pulled groin muscle?

Pulled groin muscles are typically tears of microfibers in the adductor muscles, reports Mount Sinai Hospital. Adductor muscles are responsible for bringing the legs back to the body's midline as one would in a kick or a running motion. This muscle group is comprised of five muscles: pectineus, brevis, longus, gracilis and magnus. The adductor longus composes the muscles grouped from the pelvis to the thigh bone, while the adductor gracilis and adductor magnus extend all the way from the pelvis to the knee.\nStrains and tears are more likely to occur during long sprints and when the muscl..

Continue Reading

What is homosalate?

As an active ingredient in sunscreen, homosalate is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use as a UVB blocker at a concentration of up to 15 percent. The FDA considers homosalate non-toxic and non-sensitizing. It is most often found in sunscreens offering a maximum of SPF 30 protection.Homosalate is an effective sunscreen ingredient because it is able to block light in the wavelengths between 295-315 nm. However, this range is too narrow to include much UVA protection. Also, because of this narrow range, homosalate is not considered sufficient protection from the sun ..

Continue Reading

What were some of the worst earthquakes in history?

The Chilean earthquake hit Chile on May 22, 1960, and was magnitude 9.5. It killed around 1,655 people, injured 3,000 and left a million people homeless. It not only ravaged Chile but killed people and caused millions of dollars worth of damage in Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines and the West Coast of the United States.\nThe Honshu earthquake happened on March 11, 2011, and was a magnitude 9.0. It killed at least 15,703 people, and like the Chilean earthquake, it caused damage that was felt as far away as the West Coast of the United States and Hawaii. This quake was followed by a devastating ts..

Continue Reading

What is the function of the stratum granulosum?

University of Leeds notes that the stratum granulosum consists of three to five layers of cells stacked on top of each other. These granules contain lipids, or fats, that serve as the skin's water sealant. When keratinized cells lose their nuclei and other cellular organelles, granules move toward the outermost layers of skin. The stratum granulosum is the third layer of the epidermis that lies below the stratum corneum and stratum lucidum.\nThe stratum granulosum marks a transition from living skin cells to completely dead skin cells of the outermost layer of the epidermis. Just below th..

Continue Reading

How do objects become charged?

Objects can be charged by friction, which occurs when two objects rub against one another and exchange electrons. For example, when a person in leather shoes walks on a wool carpet, the leather loses electrons to the carpet. As a result, the person becomes positively charged. Whether an object gains or loses electrons depends on its electronegativity, or degree of attraction to electrons.

Continue Reading
Showing 2491 to 2500 of 10000 (1000 Pages)