What Causes Headaches?

Headaches are fairly common and are caused by tight, contracted muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. These are called tension headaches. They are often related to stress, anxiety, overworking, not getting enough sleep, and missing meals. Some headaches can be triggered by chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). People who drink caffeine can have headaches when they don't get their usual daily amount, these are referred to as "caffeine withdrawal" headaches.

Other common causes of headaches include:

Holding your head in one position for a long time, like at a computer, microscope, or typewriter
Poor sleep position
Overexerting yourself
Clenching or grinding your teeth

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003024.htm

What requires more energy, brain or heart cells? GUEST BLOG

Today's guest blogger is Mandi.

The brain cells need two times more energy than any other cell in the human body. The cells that communicate with each other, neurons, have a high demand for energy because they are always in a state of activity. Even while we are sleeping, neurons are at work fixing and rebuilding components. They manufacture enzymes and neurotransmitters that have to be sent out to the nerve branches. Bioelectric signals responsible for communication throughout the nervous system demand the most energy from neurons. This action alone accounts for half of all the brain's energy. The heart, however, only requires the same amount of energy as other muscle organs.

Soruce: http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/carbs.html

What is Bacopa monnieri?

One of the body building magazines mentioned this as an ingredient - what is it?

This botanical is found in the southern United States and has been tested as a memory enhancer and has been found to improve cognitive function in the older adult (J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jul;14(6):707-13).

In body building, the impact on the thyroid was probably the sought after function. Research in India indicated that this botanical may be used as a thyroid stimulating drug which some body builders may want to use to increase energy(J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):281-5). This product should not be used to self-treat thyroid conditions. The normal thyroid secretes enough hormone and you risk hyperthyroidism if you regularly ingest this plant.

Why Is Yawning Contagious? GUEST BLOG

Todays blogger is Kristen

Yawning has to do with your brain. When yawning it bypasses the known brain circuitry.
This circuitry is called the “mirror-neuron system,” because it contains special type of brain cells or neurons that becomes active when either the owner does it or when he or she senses someone else doing so. Mirror neurons typically happen when a person consciously imitates an action of someone elses. But they seem to play no role in yawn contagiousness.

Source: http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050309_yawnfrm.htm

What is Silly Putty Made Of? GUEST BLOG

Todays guest blogger is Trent.
It said that silly putty was made of polymethylsilicane molecules crossed-linked with boron-based molecules, essentially silicone oil mixed with borax.
Polymethylsilicane sounds impressive but it's simply a polymer, a very long molecule consisting of a series of small identical molecules linked end-to-end in a chain, in other words: plastic. Think of it as a piece of spaghetti. A large quantity of these spaghetti-like molecules flow like a liquid because they are able to slip and slide around each other.

But, mix some of this oily liquid with boric acid (almost the same thing as water with a little Borax laundry booster in it) and some of the Borax molecules will stick to the sides of the long plastic molecules and in so doing create bridges (cross-links) between them that mechanically bind them together. Think of the Borax cross-links as pieces of very sticky rice. These rice particles glue the long spaghetti strands together and prevent them from slipping past one another. If there is a small amount of cross-linking the result is a slimy goo the consistency of honey. If the amount of cross-linking is very high these bridges between the long molecules lock everything up and you have a block of hard plastic. But, if the amount of cross-linking is just right the resulting material is soft enough to mold and you have Silly Putty.

So far so good. The spaghetti and sticky rice analogy gives us an idea of what Silly Putty looks like on a molecular level, but that doesn't explain its unusual abilities to slowly flow like a liquid, stretch to incredible lengths, bounce like a rubber ball and shatter like glass if struck with a hammer.

Source: http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/sillyputty.htm

What is a stress fracture and how does it happen?

A stress fracture is a common overuse injury most often seen in athletes. A stress fracture occurs when the force of an injury is lower than say a car accident or bad fall, but happens repetitively for a long period of time; these injuries are also known as "fatigue fractures." Stress fractures are commonly seen in athletes who run and jump on hard surfaces, such as distance runners, basketball players, and ballet dancers.
Stress fractures are usually seen in athletes who increase their level of activity over a short period of time. The increased demand placed on the bone causes the bone to remodel and become stronger in the areas of higher stress. However, if the response of the bone cannot maintain the pace of the repetitive demands, a stress fracture may result.


Source:http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/otherfractures/a/stressfracture.htm

What is a Coelom and who has one? GUEST BLOG

Todays guest blogger is Taylor.

A Coelom is a body cavity that encloses organs in the visceral layer, allowing organs to develope.The Coelom forms when the lateral plate mesoderm splits and it seperates the body into an inner tube and outer tube. Animals that have Coeloms include earthworms and other annelids. Arthropods and mollusks also have a coelom, however theirs is more simplisitic and reduced.

Source: science.kennesaw.edu/~rmatson/Biol%203350/coelom.html