Tuesday, 20 December 2022

Why do We rarely Spot White Doves in Nature? - Science 30

I don’t know whether I have seen a wild dove or not. I do believe that I saw domestic doves only.



Image 1- A white dove on the ground

They are raised by someone and business for pets purposes, and for commercial or profits goals.

Some small private companies provide “release services” of white doves for occasions in our city. The occasions include:

- wedding
- funeral
- and other specific events



Image 2- We saw doves at this tree sometimes

Back to the question Why do We rarely Spot White Doves in Nature?

First, white dove is albino which happen very rare in nature. Then the white color is easy target for predators.



Image 3- A white dov, illustration

Hence, its is understandable that we highly probably doesn’t observe this wild critter in nature.

Moreover, there are several species of doves in our state. 4 species are seen commonly in our neighborhood: Eurasian collared doves, white wings doves, ringed turtle doves and mourning doves.

Have you seen wild albino doves in nature?

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Sunday, 18 December 2022

Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 3 - Alzheimer's 11

You may read previous posts (Part 1 and 2):

- Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 11

- Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 11



Image 1- Brain health of book part.

Dr. Marwan Sabbagh is medical doctor who practicing in geriatric dementia. He worked with the talented chef Beau MacMilan, a Food Network star.

Chef MacMillan created and developed the do-able recipes by using the brain-boosting ingredients.

Besides Mediterranean diet recipes, the book also include Vitamin B-rich recipes and Folate-rich recipes for cognitive health.

High-spice recipes, brain-boosting juices, green-tea treats to get antioxidants into diet.



Image 2- Walking path, illustration



Image 3- Blue sea crab, illustration only

Turmeric, cinnamon, and berry recipes to prevent inflammation. Many fishes (seafoods) recipes to get good fats.

So, about 100 recipes in this book that created from many kind of brain-boosting ingredients and super food for brain.

The recipes for brain health include drinks, breakfasts, main dishes, salads and soups, also snacks and starters.

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Thursday, 15 December 2022

The Tabasco Pepper Plant in the Yard – Food 33

We use Tabasco pepper for cooking purposes frequently, especially for certain traditional foods. As you know, it makes our food tastes spicy.



Image 1- Fruit of Tabasco pepper

Some people grow Tabasco pepper as a garden plant in our neighborhood. Fruit looks pretty with several colors, depend on its maturity:

- red
- orange
- green

First, peppers start with green color, then turn to be orange. The most ripen Tabasco pepper is red.



Image 2- A Sunflower and several Tabasco pepper fruit



Image 3- The Tabasco sauce, sold in Walmart grocery



Image 4- Cardinal Loves to consume Tabasco

Process of color changes from green to orange and to red takes more than two months, about 80 days.

Moreover, our state has sauce made of Tabasco pepper. The brand called as “Tabasco.” It is quite popular in our state and even in some foreign countries.

I was not aware that people said Tabasco pepper sauce become hotter over times. Quite surprising for me, actually.

Have you tasted Tabasco pepper or Tabasco pepper sauce? What do you think?

# Previous posting:

Tuesday, 13 December 2022

Brain Changes during Reproduction Process – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 2

Body requires adaptation during pregnancy for offspring’s demand by modification behavior of emotional and foraging.



Image 1- Areas of amygdala and hippocampus (credit to Google)

Many animals such as Deer mouse of California with scientific name Peromyscus californicus have experienced parenting neuroplasticity until late adulthood,

Unexpectedly, these experiences happen to both male and female even though male never got pregnancy.

Brain plasticity during reproduction period in animals has multiple purposes either relate to baby directly or not.



Image 2- Christmas decoration, illustration

Few examples of brain plasticity with relate between parents to their baby include:

- sensitivity to baby’s odors.
- to care of offspring



Image 3- A house decoration at our neighborhood

However, parents for some animals to adapt long-fasting, a kind of Ramadhan fasting. Sure, they will loss weight, but improve some their physiology conditions.



Image 4- Street in the morning, illustration

Other critters have developed their brain plasticity during reproduction process:

- to protect memory deficits
- to improve of maternal visual system

# To be continued to part 2

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Friday, 9 December 2022

A Pheasant in Neighborhood – Nature 45

Quite surprising that we met with a pheasant when we were walking in our neighborhood area recently.



Image 1- A pheasant, lonely

Morning walking or jogging for 35 minutes is our routines, almost daily. Sure, we encounter a lot of critters.

It was the first time to see a pheasant. Since this critter is normally a wild animal, and it should be live in areas such as:

- farmlands with multiple crops
- woodland edges
- brushy meadows
- and open areas



Image 2- Amaryllis flowers



Image 3- Decoration at neighborhood

We assumed some people must be raising this critter close by. People raise pheasants for several purposes: just for pets, a source of food, and return their back to nature.

In case of introducing to the wild, the pheasants then for hunting purposes. It is quite popular in several parts of America.

Have you seen a pheasant? Where?

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Tuesday, 6 December 2022

Leprosy is One of the Oldest Ancient Diseases - Part 2 - Healthy Life 27

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Leprosy is One of the Oldest Ancient Diseases - Part 1 - Healthy Life 27



Image 1- Miniature roses

A healthy person is also can be infected by leprosy if the person breaths in the air that contaminated with bacteria. The bacteria cause leprosy is called Mycobacterium leprae.

CDC mentioned that a person will not get infection through:

-Hugging and Shaking hands
-Sitting next each other in subway or bus
-Sitting together in the dinner table.
-Not passing on from mother to her baby during pregnancy



Image 2- Foggy, illustration



Image 3- A gift, illustration

There are about 200.000 cases per year in the worldwide, sure, mostly in developing countries.

Leprosy is rare in the US, but it still exist, and there are about 200 new cases per year.

Finally, this disease is curable with multiple antibacterial drugs. The treatment is amazingly effective.

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Sunday, 4 December 2022

Why are We Worry with Human Extinction? - Science 29

Human extinction has been discussed since many decades ago, and even lead to worry in recent days.



Image 1- Illustration only

The fact that our world just reaches 8 billion people this year. This number is projected to increase in coming years.

World population is projected by United Nation (2022):

- in 2030 hit 8.5 billion people
- in 2050 reaches 9.7 billion people
- in 2100 hit 10.4 billion people

So, why are we worry with human extinctions?



Image 2- Neighborhood in the morning



Image 3- One corners of our small city

Yes, population seem increasing year by year, but it will reach peak in 2100. Since then, world population is expected to decrease.

We are witness decreasing population in many countries such as Japan and South Korea. No growth in China anymore, population will decrease next several years.

Moreover, in term of biology, surprisingly, men sperm production is decreasing since decades ago:

- between 1973 to 1999, about 1.2% reduction of sperm count per year
- since 2000, about 2.6% reduction of sperm count per year

Acceleration of sperm reduction has been occurred all over the world. If this trending continue, human extinction is highly possible in the future.

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The Eggs of Apple Snail on the Rock of Lake - Nature 145

When we visit  lake by the capitol of our city, we saw plenty of pink things like worms around the lake. Image 01 - Eggs on the rock We took...