Fact: Pigeons have a sixth sense which allows them to detect the Earth's magnetic field.
Fact: Increased blood flow to the brain causes "ice-cream headaches".
Why it's a Mind Blow: Normally on Daily Mind Blow, I share one discovery, revelation, or incite per day. Today, you'll note two facts in the summary. Why?
Well, today is sort of a double mind blow. Both discoveries, in their own right, are pretty cool. Who among us hasn't grabbed our head after gulping a slushy and said in frustration, "why does that happen?" Likewise, I'm sure you've gazed at a flock of migrating geese in the fall and wondered just how they know where to go every year.
In the first instance, scientists have discovered that increased blood flow and dilation in the anterior cerebral artery is the culprit behind brain freeze. The body, detecting a temperature threat to the brain, sends in the blood. This, in turn, increases pressure in the blood vessels. Hence the pain.
In the second case, scientists have actually mapped the specific neurons in the brains of pigeons that fire in response to fluctuating magnetic fields. This magnetic sense is not present in humans, but may be present in several other species and families of animals. Using the Earth's magnetic field, these creatures are most likely able to find and "map" specific locations.
Amazing! Just two examples of those baffling "why is the sky blue" questions answered just this week. And although they are unrelated, the fact that science is revealing so much so quickly is the real mind blow of the day. So many answers, every hour it seems, and we are here to see it all! What a treat!
Sources:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=blood-flow-fingered-in-ice-cream-he-12-04-25
http://news.discovery.com/animals/pigeons-gps-120426.html
No comments:
Post a Comment