Whaddya Know: A Sciencey Smorgasbord! 🧠️
Science updates this week: Exploration of bike safety measures, investigation into the behavior of orange felines, and uncovering the potential link between gum disease and heart rhythm.
Hey there, peeps! Dani and Sasha here, your intrepid explorers of the strange and wondrous realm of science! We've got some fascinating facts to share with you this arvo, so grab a bevvy, take a load off, and prepare to be amazed!
First up, let's talk about those fabulous furballs we love to call our feline friends. Have you ever wondered why the ginger kitties reign supreme among our finicky feline family members? we've got the answer!
The mutation responsible for orange fur in cats lies on the X chromosome, making it a sex-linked trait. Yep, you guessed it - male cats, with their X and Y chromosomes, are more likely to be all ginger and glorious, while females need to snag the mutation on both X chromosomes to be completely orange. The result? a whopping 80% of orange cats are dudes! Fun fact: Even our pals at NPR have fallen under the spell of orange cats. Juana, Emily, Regina, and even your humble hosts here have embraced the orange! 🐾🐱
Now, let's shift gears and get on our two-wheelers, as we've got to discuss a important safety issue for bike enthusiasts everywhere. Our team of computer scientists in Seattle has created ProxiCycle, a nifty sensor system that helps cyclists stay one step ahead of reckless motorists.
By attaching a sensor to the left handlebar and deploying it on 15 bikes for two months, they've amassed a plethora of data on close passes cars make to cyclists. And guess what? They found that close passes could possibly predict collisions! If this sensor becomes more widely used, it could make a huge difference in promoting safer biking in the future.
Now, buckle up, because we're hearting this next tidbit as heart health issues and gum disease have long been linked. According to a recent study in the journal Circulation, gum disease may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular, rapid heart rhythm that affects around 10 million U.S. adults.
When researchers infected mice with a bacteria associated with gum disease, they found that these mice developed AFib more easily than those without the bacteria. Furthermore, mouth bacteria were seen migrating to the heart in both mice and humans. So, what's the takeaway here? Take care of those pearly whites - it might just help keep your heart healthy! ❤️
And that's all the time we've got for today, folks! Join us next time for another scintillating science smackdown. Until then, keep learning, keep questioning, and, as always, stay curious! 😺💡✨
- In our upcoming discussion, we'll delve into the science community news, exploring how a specific medical condition related to the heart might be connected to health-and-wellness practices, such as gum disease.
- The technology sector is also working to improve health and wellness, with computer scientists developing ProxiCycle, a system that aims to ensure safety for cycling enthusiasts by predicting potential collisions with motorists.
- In addition to our fascination with felines, we'll also share some intriguing science community news featuring Orange Tabby cats and the unique reasons behind their dominance in the feline family, highlighting a fun connection between science, genetics, and news.
