1. Humans have ten times more bacteria than cells in their body. Our microbiota carry out many important functions such as producing anti-microbials to deter pathogens and secreting enzymes to help us digest food.
2. Many common illnesses such as Type 1 Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis are autoimmune diseases which is when our body rejects our own cells and attacks them.
3. Female kangaroos, koalas and other marsupials have two vaginas.
4. Earthworms have five heart like structures called aortic arches.
5. Some species of fish can change sex. Clownfish are protandrous i.e. change from male to female and blue headed wrasse are protogynous i.e. change from female to male.
6. Toxoplasma gondii is a unicellular parasite with devastating consequences. In America, it was spread by cat faeces contaminating the water supply causing humans to develop severe psychosis and display suicidal thoughts.
7. The biomass of viruses in water alone is larger than the total mass of elephants globally.
8. Oxytocin is a hormone which when inhaled may make us more trusting of others. They even sell it as a spray in the USA! It also plays a role in uterine muscle contraction during childbirth, establishing maternal behaviour and stimulating milk production in new mothers.
9. The world's largest flower is Rafflesia arnoldii and it smells like a rotting carcass.
10. Studies in fruit flies have shown improvements in long term memory formation after a period of "fly rest" which goes to show that 8 hours every night are crucial and all nighters don't work.
I hope you've all learnt something new.
Until next time, take care.
Until next time, take care.
Love,
Mancunian Sheep x
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