Teach Us Something!

[Deleted]

What random factoid do you have to share with us today?

Learn a new word recently? Have an awesome infographic you want to share? Want to try to teach us about the complex science you do every day and have us ask a million questions as we stare at you in awe? Have any helpful lifehack tricks? See any informative .gifs lately? Did you see a YouTube video that was informative?

Come share your knowledge!

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[Deleted]

Ooo, this is my opportunity to do a Narcolepsy PSA.
The following chart illustrates the difference between a typical sleeper and someone with untreated Narcolepsy.

[Deleted]

You can use a piece of uncooked spaghetti in place of a match. Much cheaper than buying long stick matches.

[ironbaby]

H and I argued last night about whether cicadas eat, so I investigated:

Cicada nymphs suck sap from the xylem of various species of trees, including oak, cypress, willow, ash, and maple. While it is common folklore that adults do not eat, in reality they do have their own sucking mouthparts, and also drink plant sap.

[TheEleventhHour]

Aug 19, 2015 9:04:50 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

It's by no means life changing, but a fun trivia fact....the saying "mind your p's and q's" comes from when barmaids would tell their customers to mind their pints and quarts. So whenever you tell kids to mind their p's and q's, you're really telling them not to be drunk assholes.

Small children tend to act like drunk assholes so this totally works. 

[singingsea]

Thought this was an interesting read.

The Fermi Paradox, Expanded

[ironbaby]

Aug 19, 2015 9:03:44 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Ooo, this is my opportunity to do a Narcolepsy PSA.
The following chart illustrates the difference between a typical sleeper and someone with untreated Narcolepsy.

So, does an untreated person seriously just fall fast asleep in the middle of activities?

Do you feel rested after a midday REM cycle?

Is there a go-to narcolepsy medicine, or is it more of just figuring out what works for each person?

[bighair12]

My BF sent me this link the other day. I really enjoyed the read on the new take on women and the home. Being a female who is going back to school and going to be the bread winner.

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/the-masculine-mystique/309401/?utm_source=SFFB

[thelittleredm]

This is probably one of my favorite infographics.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 9:11:56 GMT -5 singingsea said:

Thought this was an interesting read.

The Fermi Paradox, Expanded

That's awesome, thanks!

[goldenlove3]

Yesterday while watching John Oliver, I learned that the House can pass a bill and the Senate can then take that bill, change the title, change the content and make it something completely different. I had no clue that happened.

[ironbaby]

thelittleredm, I can't read the infographic. Even when I download it, I can't zoom without it getting blurry.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 9:22:24 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Yesterday while watching John Oliver, I learned that the House can pass a bill and the Senate can then take that bill, change the title, change the content and make it something completely different. I had no clue that happened.

I love how much I learn on LWT. It's one of my favorite shows. 

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 9:26:45 GMT -5 ironbaby said:

thelittleredm, I can't read the infographic. Even when I download it, I can't zoom without it getting blurry.

LINK

[goldenlove3]

Aug 19, 2015 9:29:44 GMT -5 @led said:

Aug 19, 2015 9:22:24 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Yesterday while watching John Oliver, I learned that the House can pass a bill and the Senate can then take that bill, change the title, change the content and make it something completely different. I had no clue that happened.

I love how much I learn on LWT. It's one of my favorite shows. 

Me too!! We're starting to go back and watch older episodes. I don't want to miss anything!

[teraiin]

Probably not the most amazing hack ever but:

For hanging small-ish, but awkward items. Make a photocopy of the back then you can be sure you have the measurements exactly right.

lifehacker.com/5924745/easily-hang-tricky-items-with-a-photocopied-template

[rablissful]

I'm going to be like @wallflwr926 and PSA fibromyalgia.

I wish people would realize it's way more than just being sore. It affects your entire body.

[ironbaby]

Aug 19, 2015 9:30:50 GMT -5 @led said:

Aug 19, 2015 9:26:45 GMT -5 ironbaby said:

thelittleredm, I can't read the infographic. Even when I download it, I can't zoom without it getting blurry.

LINK

Thank you!

And now I am researching the dolphin family trying to figure out why Killer Whales are the largest member of the dolphin family.

Turns out, all dolphins are whales. And some whales are dolphins. Amazing.

[mosdub]

WHOA @wallflwr926! Do narcoleptic sleepers have more REM sleep overall? That pie makes it look like it.

[mosdub]

Aug 19, 2015 9:10:08 GMT -5 TheEleventhHour said:

Aug 19, 2015 9:04:50 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

It's by no means life changing, but a fun trivia fact....the saying "mind your p's and q's" comes from when barmaids would tell their customers to mind their pints and quarts. So whenever you tell kids to mind their p's and q's, you're really telling them not to be drunk assholes.

Small children tend to act like drunk assholes so this totally works. 

This is so true.  Or, drunk assholes act like children.  Either way it helps make dealing with either party more funny to imagine them as the opposite (drunks as toddlers, toddlers as adult drunks) 

[mosdub]

I shared this at some point, but chickens (and many birds) keep their head stable as their body moves because they have limited-to-no mobility of their actual eyeballs.

I could re-word but instead I'll copy-paste:
"If you focus on a word in this sentence while you move your head from side to side, that word stays in the center of your vision because your eyes automatically compensate for your head movement. This is possible because of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, which uses rotation detectors in your inner ear, and the opto-kinetic reflex, which uses motion detectors in the retina of your eye. And, as you can see, it’s entirely subconscious—and very hard to undo. Just try to keep your eyes still in your head as you slowly turn your head. You can’t (or I can’t, anyway).

Birds can’t do this. Birds have larger eyes for their body size than mammals; owls’ eyes are so big that they had to make them tubular, rather than spherical, just to fit them inside their head! And partly because of this, birds can’t move their eyes very much. So instead, to keep the eyes still while the body moves, birds keep their entire head still."

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 9:12:45 GMT -5 ironbaby said:

Aug 19, 2015 9:03:44 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Ooo, this is my opportunity to do a Narcolepsy PSA.
The following chart illustrates the difference between a typical sleeper and someone with untreated Narcolepsy.

So, does an untreated person seriously just fall fast asleep in the middle of activities?No, it's more of a gradual onset, but nothing that a cup of coffee can fix. You're usually just exhausted in general which makes you more likely to fall asleep at inappropriate times.
-If you have cataplexy (sudden loss of motor function), there is usually a certain triggers that will cause you to drop suddenly. However, when this happens they person has not actually fallen asleep and will recover quickly.

Do you feel rested after a midday REM cycle?Because I am medicated I don't experience daytime REM cycles like I used to. I don't typical take mid-day naps. I have never done well with planned naps.

Is there a go-to narcolepsy medicine, or is it more of just figuring out what works for each person?There are several types of medications. I take Nuvigil and there is also Provigil, these are Stimulants. I also used a high dose of Ritalin at one point.
Xyrem (sodium oxybate) is highly effective for people with cataplexy. Some people also do well with SSRIs and SNRIs, which suppress REM sleep. Tricyclic antidepressants also work well for treatment of cataplexy, but the side effects suck.

I don't have cataplexy, so I don't know if i'm giving a completely accurate description.

[joy]

Aug 19, 2015 9:22:24 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Yesterday while watching John Oliver, I learned that the House can pass a bill and the Senate can then take that bill, change the title, change the content and make it something completely different. I had no clue that happened.

I heart John Oliver.

Did you see this week's episode? He made a church.

[chad5285]

This is where the term pu$$y comes from if used in a derogatory manner:

pu·sil·lan·i·mous
ˌpyo͞osəˈlanəməs/Submit
adjective
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
synonyms: timid, timorous, cowardly, fearful, faint-hearted, lily-livered, spineless, craven, shrinking; More

It has nothing to do with a woman being a coward though I guess it's turned into that since this word isn't used often (though it fucking should be because it's amazing)

[bighair12]

@wallflwr926,I had no idea about narcolepsy. Have you like the Nuvigil? I have heard mixed reviews on it from patients.

[chad5285]

Aug 19, 2015 10:04:58 GMT -5 bighair12 said:

@wallflwr926,I had no idea about narcolepsy. Have you like the Nuvigil? I have heard mixed reviews on it from patients.

Obviously not Wallie but MH uses it and he loves it. The only issue he has is some increased anxiety if he doesn't eat when he takes it but other than that he's had no other issues.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 9:50:18 GMT -5 mosdub said:

WHOA @wallflwr926! Do narcoleptic sleepers have more REM sleep overall? That pie makes it look like it.

Yes, one of the defining criteria for Narcolepsy is the rapid onset of REM cycle, within 15 minutes of falling asleep.

Typically, it takes 90 minutes before your brain reachs REM. My brain hits REM sleep within the first 5 minutes of a 15 minute nap.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 10:13:54 GMT -5 chad5285 said:

Aug 19, 2015 10:04:58 GMT -5 bighair12 said:

@wallflwr926,I had no idea about narcolepsy. Have you like the Nuvigil? I have heard mixed reviews on it from patients.

Obviously not Wallie but MH uses it and he loves it. The only issue he has is some increased anxiety if he doesn't eat when he takes it but other than that he's had no other issues.

Overall, it's been a life changing medication for me. I'm happy to hear it works for him too. Does he have Narcolepsy or Shift Work Disorder?

bighair12 - If I don't get a good night's sleep it gives me the jitters. I also have pretty much don't feel hungry ever anymore, so that makes me jittery by the end of the day. H sends me reminders to eat.

I've heard that there is a split betweem Nuvigil and Provigil. People tend to do well on one or the other, but not both. I've been on Nuvigil for 6 years, I think. I can never remember exactly when I started it.

[chad5285]

Aug 19, 2015 10:27:48 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Aug 19, 2015 10:13:54 GMT -5 chad5285 said:

Obviously not Wallie but MH uses it and he loves it. The only issue he has is some increased anxiety if he doesn't eat when he takes it but other than that he's had no other issues.

Overall, it's been a life changing medication for me. I'm happy to hear it works for him too. Does he have Narcolepsy or Shift Work Disorder?

bighair12 - If I don't get a good night's sleep it gives me the jitters. I also have pretty much don't feel hungry ever anymore, so that makes me jittery by the end of the day. H sends me reminders to eat.

I've heard that there is a split betweem Nuvigil and Provigil. People tend to do well on one or the other, but not both. I've been on Nuvigil for 6 years, I think. I can never remember exactly when I started it.

Shift Work Disorder. It's been a lifesaver!

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 10:31:51 GMT -5 chad5285 said:

Aug 19, 2015 10:27:48 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Overall, it's been a life changing medication for me. I'm happy to hear it works for him too. Does he have Narcolepsy or Shift Work Disorder?

bighair12 - If I don't get a good night's sleep it gives me the jitters. I also have pretty much don't feel hungry ever anymore, so that makes me jittery by the end of the day. H sends me reminders to eat.

I've heard that there is a split betweem Nuvigil and Provigil. People tend to do well on one or the other, but not both. I've been on Nuvigil for 6 years, I think. I can never remember exactly when I started it.

Shift Work Disorder. It's been a lifesaver!

My only complaint is that it's expensive. However, I get nervous about a generic version of the medication. Fortunately, it's still under patent for atleast ten years so I don't have to worry yet.