Picture of the Day: the Black Swallower

These fishes really have the guts but sometimes they swallow more than what they can digest.

I am talking about the black swallower (Chiasmodon niger), which is a species of deep sea fish notable for its ability to swallow fish larger than itself. It is capable of swallowing bony fish up to 10 times its mass and 2 times its length.

It has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical waters at a depth of 700-2,745 meters.

Most specimens of this fish have been collected after one attempted to swallow prey too large for it to handle, and the prey could not be digested before decomposition set it. The release of gases forces the black swallower to the surface.

This particular specimen was found washed up on the shore in 2007. The black swallower measures 19cm long. The fish in its stomach is a snake mackerel measuring 86 cm.

Heavy Cell Phone Use Could Increase Cancer Risk

Scientists have long been worried about the possible harmful effects of regular cellular phone use because so far, studies on the subject have been rather inconclusive. Cell phones are however classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans — by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Why should we be concerned?

There are reasons why people are concerned that cell phones might have the potential to cause certain types of cancer or other health problems.

First of all, cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (radio waves), a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held.

Secondly, the number of cell phone users has increased rapidly. In Nigeria alone, there are well over 100million mobile phone subscribers according to the Nigerian Communications Commission. Globally, the number of cell phone subscriptions is estimated by the International Telecommunications Union to be 5 billion.

Lastly, the number of cell phone calls per day, the length of each call, and the amount of time people use cell phones has also increased.

New Findings

A new Tel Aviv University study has some news on the relationship between heavy cell phone use and cancer risk. To explore the relationship between cancer rates and cell phone use, Dr. Yaniv Hamzany of Tel Aviv University and his colleagues looked for clues in the saliva of cell phone users. Why the saliva? The cell phone is placed close to the salivary gland when in use, he and his fellow researchers hypothesized that salivary content could reveal whether there was a connection to developing cancer.

By comparing heavy mobile phone users to non-users, they found that the saliva of heavy users showed indications of higher oxidative stress — a process that damages all aspects of a human cell, including DNA — through the development of toxic peroxide and free radicals. More importantly, it is considered a major risk factor for cancer.

The researchers examined the saliva content of 20 heavy-user patients, defined as speaking on their phones for a minimum of eight hours a month. Their salivary content was compared to that of a control group, which consisted of deaf patients who either do not use a cell phone, or use the device exclusively for sending text messages and other non-verbal functions.

Compared to the control group, the heavy cell phone users had a significant increase in all salivary oxidative stress measurements studied. And although these results don't uncover a conclusive "cause and effect" relationship between cellular phone use and cancer, they add to the building evidence that cell phone use may be harmful in the long term, and point to a new direction for further research.

What can cell phone users do to reduce the risk?

Concerned cell phone users need to reduce their exposure to radiofrequency energy.

If possible landline phones should be used and if not available, cell phones should be reserved for shorter conversations.

The use of hands-free device, which places more distance between the phone and the head of the user, is also recommended.

Sperm Quality Decreases With Age

When it comes to reproductive health, women have always been in the lime light and it’s as if men have been relegated to the background. A study by Bronte Stone at Reproductive Technology Laboratories in Los Angeles and his colleagues has something to say about men’s reproductive health: men's sperm quality seems to deteriorate after the age of 35 and the proportion of sperm carrying an X chromosome also seem to increase, meaning the older the man, the more likely he is to have daughters.

Bronte Stone and his colleagues analyzed sperm samples from 5081 men aged between 16 and 72. They found deterioration in sperm quality and quantity after age 35. Previous studies had suggested that the decline doesn't start until about age 40.

The message here is that men should be aware of age-related changes in their reproductive system and if they wish to become fathers they shouldn’t leave it too late.

Picture of the Day: Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko

Uroplatus phantasticus otherwise known as the Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko is an incredible master of disguise with a body that superbly resembles a dead leaf. Its twisted body, veined skin, and tail which look remarkably like it has been rotted by decay all help this reptile blend into the foliage of its habitat.

The satanic leaf-tailed gecko varies in colour, but is often mottled brown. Geckos possess no eyelids, just a transparent covering over their eyes, and so they use their long, mobile tongues to wipe away any dust or debris that gets into the eye.

It is endemic to forests of Eastern Madagascar and the adult size is 2.5 to 6 inches in total length, including the tail

A nocturnal reptile, the satanic leaf-tailed gecko moves about its rainforest habitat at night feeding on insects.

It is regarded as an expert at avoiding predators, not only through their incredible mimicry, but through a number of behaviors. They can flatten their body against the substrate to reduce the body’s shadow, open their jaws wide to show a frightening, bright red mouth, and voluntarily shed their tail in order to trick a predator.

Habitat destruction, deforestation, and collection for the pet trade all threaten the existence of this incredible animal. The geckos can only inhabit a very specific environment and are not tolerant of any degradation of its natural habitat.

Having Bad Sleep at Night? Blame it on the Moon

At first glance it appeared more like Astrology than real science. The belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena such as moon cycle and events in the human world may appear absurd to some but a recent study is suggesting otherwise.

Many people complain about poor sleep around the full moon, and now a report by chronobiologist and sleep researcher Christian Cajochen at the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel in Switzerland offers some of the first convincing scientific evidence to suggest that this really is true.

Cajochen and his colleagues had earlier completed a lab study on sleep years before. They therefore reviewed the results for possible evidence of effects the moon had on people. The scientists found that the lunar cycle seems to influence human sleep, even when one does not see the moon and is not aware of the actual moon phase.

Data from the research show that around the full moon, brain activity related to deep sleep dropped by 30 percent. People also took five minutes longer to fall asleep, and they slept for twenty minutes less time overall. The study participants felt as though their sleep was poorer when the moon was full, and they showed diminished levels of melatonin, a hormone known to regulate sleep and wake cycles.

The moon's hold over us is however masked by the influence of electrical lighting and other aspects of modern life.

The researchers say it would be interesting to look more deeply into the anatomical location of the circalunar clock and its molecular and neuronal underpinnings. And, they say, it could turn out that the moon has power over other aspects of our behavior as well, such as our cognitive performance and our moods.

Picture of the Day: the Naked Man Orchid

Orchis italica is a fascinating looking orchid commonly known as the Naked Man Orchid. On close examination, it resembles just what its name implies.

This pretty orchid has flowers borne in a dense spike which vary from pale to dark pink. They sometimes have darker spots on the lip and the hood has dark pink veins.

The Naked Man Orchid can grow up to 50 cm in height and is widespread throughout the Mediterranean often forming dense colonies.

Did you also notice that some petals are better endowed than others?

New Technology Allows Crops to Take in Nitrogen from the Air

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient needed by all plants to thrive. A nitrogen-deficient plant is generally small and develops slowly because it lacks the nitrogen it requires to manufacture adequate structural and genetic materials.

Although 78% of our atmosphere is nitrogen gas, this form of nitrogen must be transformed to usable forms before it is available for plant uptake. However, only a very small number of plants, most notably legumes (such as peas and beans) have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria. The vast majority of crops obtain their nitrogen from the soil and this means a reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

A major new technology has been developed by The University of Nottingham, which enables all crops to take nitrogen from the air rather than expensive and environmentally damaging fertilizers. The method discovered by Professor Edward Cocking involves putting nitrogen-fixing bacteria into the cells of plant roots. His major breakthrough came when he found a specific strain of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in sugar-cane which he discovered could intracellularly colonize all major crop plants. This ground-breaking development potentially provides every cell in the plant with the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The implications for agriculture are enormous as this new technology can provide much of the plant’s nitrogen needs.

Rare Condition: The Walking Dead

There are indeed certain things that beat the imagination. There are people who go through terrible sufferings and sometimes wish they were dead. That’s explainable. But a situation where one thinks and strongly believes that he is dead beats the imagination.

Imagine waking up to discover you were dead. A man identified as Graham suffering from a rare condition that caused him to think he was dead has spoken about the experience to NewScientist magazine.

The rare condition known as Cotard’s Syndrome, Cotard Delusion or Walking Corpse Syndrome is a mental disorder in which people hold a delusional belief that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying, or have lost their blood or internal organs. In rare instances, it can include delusions of immortality.

Some Reported Cases

 In 1788, Charles Bonnet reported one of the earliest recorded cases of Cotard’s Delusion. An elderly woman was preparing a meal when she felt a draft and then became paralyzed on one side of her body. When feeling, movement, and the ability to speak came back to her, she told her daughters to dress her in a shroud and place her in a coffin. For days she continued to demand that her daughters, friends, and maid treat her like she was dead. They finally gave in, putting her in a shroud and laying her out so they could “mourn” her. Even at the “wake,” the lady continued to fuss with her shroud and complain about its color.

Some 100 years later, French neurologist Jules Cotard saw a patient with an unusual complaint. Mademoiselle X, as Cotard called her in his notes, claimed to have “no brain, no nerves, no chest, no stomach and no intestines.” Despite this predicament, she also believed that she “was eternal and would live forever.” Since she was immortal, and didn’t have any innards anyway, she didn’t see a need to eat, and soon died of starvation. Cotard’s description of the woman’s condition spread widely and was very influential, and the disorder was eventually named after him.

In Graham’s case mentioned above, he felt like his “brain didn't exist anymore.” He insisted that the tablets administered by the doctors weren't going to do any good because he didn't have a brain. “I'd fried it in the bath”, he said. The feeling prompted him on occasion to visit the local graveyard. "I just felt I might as well stay there. It was the closest I could get to death. The police would come and get me, though, and take me back home”, he said

Symptoms

The central symptom in Cotard's syndrome is the delusion of negation. Those who suffer from this illness often deny that they exist or that a certain portion of their body exists. Cotard's syndrome has been found to have three distinct stages. In the first stage referred to as Germination, patients exhibit psychotic depression and hypochondriacal symptoms. The second stage called Blooming is characterized by the full blown development of the syndrome and the delusions of negation. The third and Chronic stage is characterized by severe delusions and chronic depression.

People with the Cotard Delusion often become withdrawn from others and they tend to neglect their own hygiene and well-being. The delusion makes it impossible for patients to make sense of reality, which results in an extremely distorted view of the world.

Neurologist took a peek into the brain of Graham mentioned above, monitored metabolism across his brain and found some explanation. It was discovered that metabolic activity across large areas of the frontal and parietal brain regions was so low that it resembled that of someone in a vegetative state.

Treatment

There are several reports of successful pharmacological treatment. Monotherapeutic and combination strategies are both reported. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers are used. Many report positive effect with electroconvulsive therapy, mostly in combination with pharmacotherapy