Interesting Things with JC #496: "Microwaved Grapes" - grapes literally explode in the microwave.

Interesting Things with JC #494: "Genomics and AI" - An exciting development in genomics has been the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and interpret large amounts of genomic data.

Interesting Things with JC #493: "Nutrition and the Aging Process" - proper nutrition is an important factor in reversing the aging process and improving the overall health of our bodies. By making healthy eating choices and incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich foods into our diet.

Interesting Things with JC #492: "Telomeres and Aging" - We might be able to control aging through gene therapy in the near future.

Aguado J, d'Adda di Fagagna F, Wolvetang E. Telomere transcription in ageing. Ageing Res Rev. 2020 Sep;62:101115. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101115. Epub 2020 Jun 18. PMID: 32565330.

Interesting Things with JC #490: "Heart Disease and Gray Hair" - An observational study found that the amount of gray hair in adult men is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Ref - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2017.07.001

Interesting Things with JC #488: "Koalas & Eucalyptus" - Koalas survive on eucalyptus which contains toxins that will poison almost all other living things. Thank you to Rachael Nelson for suggesting today’s topic!

Interesting Things with JC #487: "Belonging" is a distinct and personal experience that stems from a want to connect with others, and a need for positive esteem.

Interesting Things with JC #486: "A Few Fast Facts About Sea Otters" - The fur of the sea otter is the densest of any mammal.

Interesting Things with JC #484: "An Earth-Like Mars" - Paul Smith of the University of Bristol has laid out the foundation for establishing a thriving, contained ecosystem on Mars.

Ref - Smith, P. (2022). Extraterrestrial nature reserves (ETNRs). International Journal of Astrobiology, 1-39. doi:10.1017/S1473550422000398

Interesting Things with JC #482: "Sampson the Shire Horse" was 3,359 pounds (1,524 kg) at the age of four, and is on record as the largest horse in recorded history.

Interesting Things with JC #478: "Dragonfly Fakes Death to Avoid Coitus" - Extreme sexual conflict resolution in a dragonfly to evade male coercion.

Thank you to Rachael Nelson for suggesting today’s topic.

Ref: Khelifa, R. (2017), Faking death to avoid male coercion: extreme sexual conflict resolution in a dragonfly. Ecology, 98: 1724-1726. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1781

Interesting Things with JC #476: "When 2 Hearts Beat as 1" - When long-term, devoted partners are in close proximity, their heartbeats synchronize.

Ref: Ogolsky, B.G., et al. (2021) Spatial proximity as a behavioral marker of relationship dynamics in older adult couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. doi.org/10.1177/02654075211050073

Interesting Things with JC #475: "2 New Minerals Discovered in Meteorite" - The minerals were discovered within a slice of the ninth-largest meteorite ever discovered, the El Ali meteorite, which crashed in Somalia in 2020.

Ref - https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2022/11/new-minerals-discovered-in-massive-meteorite-may-reveal-clues-to-asteroid-formation.html

Interesting Things with JC #474: "Nanorobotic Antibodies" - Professor Yanay Ofran has developed the first nanorobotic antibodies, tailored to combat cancer, now in human trials.

Interesting Things with JC #472: "Black Olives" - Green table olives are made edible by putting them in lye, while black olives turn black by being exposed to air!

Interesting Things with JC #471: "Shrimp Hearts" - Due to the protection offered by the head over the tail, shrimp house their hearts and other vital organs in their head.

Interesting Things with JC #470: "Big Turkey!" - The largest turkey ever measured weighed 86 pounds (39kg) in London on December 12, 1989

Interesting Things with JC #464: "Dog Farts" - All dogs fart. Flatulence is a typical sign of the digestive system processing food, but excessive flatulence may indicate a poor diet or an underlying health concern in your dog.

Interesting Things with JC #463: "Possible Habitable Super-Earth Discovered" - 105 lightyears away from Earth, scientists have discovered two Super-Earth planets near the star LP 890-9. They believe that one of these two planets could support life.

Delrez L. et al, Two temperate super-Earths transiting a nearby late-type M dwarf, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2022

Interesting Things with JC #462: "Aztec Medicines" - The Aztecs are famous for their ancient pyramids and chocolate recipes, but their medicines may have been as advanced as drugs used today.