Abby and Brittany Hensel are conjoined twins, a medical phenomena in which two babies are born anatomically connected to one another. The sisters shot to fame in 2012 when they became stars of their own reality show, titled “Abby and Brittany,” which detailed their interconnected journeys as they graduated college and attempted to establish their […]
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Some of the richest, most intense flavors are achieved by blooming, or tempering, spices. Integral to South Asian cuisine but applicable to many areas of cooking, the technique involves frying aromatic ingredients in fat before adding them to a dish. To understand how this works, we need to take a closer look at the chemistry
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As humans, we often naturally fall into the assumption that the world around us exists exactly as we see it. In reality, it appears that we see the world very differently from some of our animal counterparts, and in some cases, our perceptions are quite limited in comparison. The naked human eye can only detect
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Looking for an unconventional career? Meet Stuart Williams, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Louisville who conducts research about whiskey. Williams is interested in the study of colloids, a type of mixture in which solid particles are suspended in fluid. He learned from a colleague that whiskey contains colloids, and that piqued
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Helianthus annuus, commonly known as sunflowers, were named for their tendency to turn towards the sun throughout the day, almost as if they’re sentient. This phenomenon, known as heliotropism, is not unique to sunflowers; most species of legumes also turn towards the sun. However, since the head of the sunflower is so prominent that you
Here comes the sun: How sunflowers tilt toward the light Read More »
There are few things more poetic than a flower blooming. Artists clamor to capture graceful petals peeling back into a blossom, yet despite mankind’s affinity for flora’s beauty, little is known about how it comes to be. It was initially suspected that petals would bend outwards because of internal stress building against the midrib (the
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Upon first sight, transparent animals seem like ethereal creatures from alternate dimensions of the universe. However, thousands of species of transparent animals inhabit regions all across the world — mainly in marine habitats. These animals lack pigment, allowing light to pass through them and scatter instead of reflecting, which gives them their transparency. From the
A closer look at transparent animals — if only we can look! Read More »
As spring approaches, albeit slowly, the threat of allergies encroaches. Seasonal allergies, often due to pollen, leave the afflicted congested, with itchy eyes and more. These symptoms all stem from a common denominator: pollen, or in other words, plant sperm. The immune system is primed to maintain balance in the body by removing potential threats,
Tree sexism: Why — Achoo! — allergies get so bad Read More »
When considering endangered species, people often think of animals like the white rhino, polar bear, or dodo bird. What people often fail to consider is the fact that plants can be equally as susceptible to being endangered or going extinct, often from human impacts. Plants are just as vulnerable as animal species to the impacts
Seed banks: So humans can stop & smell the roses for generations to come Read More »