Ridiculous question from the internet: If we are just chemicals, molecules, then each molecule must also be self aware, mustn’t it?
Source of said ridiculous question: Quora.com
Science’s answer: Nope. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t say that the molecules in a glass of sugar water were self aware, right? If you were to drink the sugar water, some of the molecules of water and sugar would end up in your brain, but would still not be self-aware. “Self awareness” is the ability to recognize yourself as separate from other similar organisms. Some say that this requires the ability to communicate on some level, since in order to recognize yourself as different from others, you would need a “name” to call yourself. It is believed that, besides humans, apes, monkeys, elephants, dolphins, and magpies are capable of self-awareness. Individual molecules are not.
Welcome to Bad Science on the Internet! Here, we highlight some of the crazy and sometime dangerous stuff people post online, and then give you the facts.
The bad science: Oxygen therapies like oxygen bars and oxygen “shots”
What do they claim? There are lots of claims, including improving general health and energy levels, aiding alertness and concentration, detoxifying the body, boosting the immune system, and treating diseases like headaches, hangovers, and even cancer.
Are they trying to sell you something? Yes! Most oxygen bars will charge you about $1 per minute, while oxygen shots typically cost $5-$10 per shot.
Is any of this true? No, no, no, no, no, no, a thousand times no. Look, we all know that we need oxygen to live, but more is not better – with oxygen or really anything.
When you breathe, oxygen goes into your lungs and is picked up by the red blood cells in your blood. Specifically, it binds to the iron-containing hemoglobin within those cells. There is a lot of hemoglobin in your red blood cells, and this is what makes them (and your blood) red. In a “normal”, healthy person (and unless you are very sick, you are normal, despite what your mommy taught you), the hemogloblin in the blood is at 95-100% saturation at all times. Anything below 90% is a problem, and would require medical intervention. Since hemoglobin is what moves oxygen from your lungs to all the tissues of your body, this means that adding more oxygen into your lungs can not, and will not significantly increase the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and organs of your body. That’s right, that oxygen that you are paying money for just goes into your lungs and, finding no room on the hemoglobin express, goes right back out when you exhale. Given this, it’s not surprising that oxygen therapy has no effects.
On the way to school Oliver and Edward were walking next to the Liten Burial Ground, a local cemetery located in Basingstoke in south central England.
They walked along their daily route to school, but this time, something unusual caught their attention: The boys heard a faded screaming voice coming from one of the graves, but it was too quiet understand the words.
“Do you hear that or am I just going crazy?!” Oliver asked Edward in disbelief.
“Bloody Mary! I do! It sounds like somebody shouting through a glass jar,” said Edward, “What should we do?”
“If we go explore the cemetery now, we’ll be late for class and get in trouble. Let’s tell the headmaster about this. Adults always know what to do.” Said Oliver.
Oliver and Edward ran quickly to their school and approached their school headmaster.
“Mr. Thomson, there are voices coming out from the graveyard!” Oliver cried out to his teacher.
“That’s nonsense! Young men should not be running around and telling lies about the deceased.” Said Mr. Thomson, “For our next class, read the remainder of book of Exodus and then present a summary of it in front of the entire class. Edward, you look guilty, so you’ll help Oliver.” Mr. Thomson added angrily.
“But, Mr. Thomson, we are not lying! There REALLY are voices coming from the cemetery.” Said Oliver with tears in his eyes.
“You should know better than that. Discussion is over!” Said Mr. Thomson to Oliver and Edward and the boys walked away.
***
The boys were not lying – the screaming was the voice of Mrs. Blunden, who had the misfortune of being buried before she was actually dead in Basingstoke England, in mid-July of 1674. Several people that day repeated Oliver’s and Edward’s claims, but by the time the grave was re-opened it was too late. Mrs. Blunden’s nails were covered with blood and her coffin was scratched from the inside in her attempts to escape.Continue reading…
Vampires and zombies and werewolves, oh my! Halloween is upon us, and it’s time to get creepy!
Imagine a world like Sam and Dean’s Supernatural: where every monster, every soul-sucking, flesh-eating creature, every undead lurker you heard about in the shadows of the campfire actually existed. Except, instead of being sustained by magic, it was all scientific! How would that be possible? Let’s have a little fun today and talk about the science behind a few Halloween favorites.
Welcome to Ask a Scientist, where we answer questions from our readers on a wide range of scientific topics. Got a scientific question? Drop us a line.
I see adds for a supplement called Elysium all over FB, and they seem to have real science behind their product. If it safe? Should I be taking it? – M.B. Boston, MA
Great question. First, some background. Many people know Elysium as a mediocre (58% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes) Matt Damon movie from 2013. Classics scholars will remember Elysium from Greek mythology as a heaven-like place where righteous people go after they die. It is likely that the supplement company (the product is actually called Basis) and the movie where both named after the Greek myth.
The Elysium Basis supplement contains Nicotinamide riboside, which is a precursor for a common and essential enzyme cofactor called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and pterostilbene, which is a chemical similar to resveratrol. You may have heard of resveratrol as the “active” antioxidant molecule in red wine. You can buy resveratrol supplements in any health food store. Elysium (the company, not the Matt Damon vehicle) has indeed been all over Facebook lately, and their website is impressive. They list 7 (!!) Nobel Price winners as members of their advisory board, plus a number of other accomplished scientists. Their website is really nice, and they highlight research and discovery efforts much like a biotech or pharmaceutical company would. They have even run a clinical trial with the Basis supplement! Honestly, they have done a great job of providing the appearance of scientific gravitas to their product. However, it’s important to note that their Basis product is really not unique. Many other companies sell nicotinamide riboside supplements, and resveratrol supplements have been available for years.
Ridiculous question from the internet: What were Louie Armstrong’s first words when he stepped foot on the moon?
Source of said ridiculous question: Yahoo Answers
Science’s answer: Louis Armstrong (the musician) never made it to the moon. He was already 68 when Neil Armstrong (the astronaut) stepped onto the moon and said “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” There is some controversy about whether Armstrong included the correct indefinite article “a” before the word “man,” but frankly it’s an awesome quote either way. Had Louis Armstrong made it to the moon, we assume he would have played something jazzy on his trumpet.
Ever wonder if a furlong is longer than a league? [Spoiler: it’s not.] What on earth is an angstrom or a beard-second? Is a parsec really a measurement of length, or did George Lucas just make it up? UYBFS has the facts!
Welcome to “chemicals and society” a new feature at UYBFS where we highlight the current understanding of the biological effects and safety of some of the most common chemicals in today’s society.
Today’s Chemical: Mercury
What is Mercury? Mercury is an element with an atomic number of 80. While mercury is a metal, it is a liquid at room temperature, which makes it both really cool and really useful. Mercury exists in many different forms, and the form that it’s in makes a big difference: the different forms are used for different things, and their chemistry and toxicity varies greatly. Here are the major forms of mercury and their uses:
- Elemental mercury: Used in thermometers, pressure sensing devices (like barometers), dental fillings, industrial processes, and fluorescent light bulbs.
- Mercury salts: This category includes things like mercury chloride, mercury nitrate, and mercury sulfide. These used to be used as medicines (laxatives, Syphillis treatments), for various industrial processes, paints, and cosmetics, but now they are primarily used as disinfectants and pesticides.
- Organic mercury compounds: Once used as pesticides, but not used for much these days. However, this is the major form found in the environment.
How are people exposed to mercury?
