In today’s post:
But first, the video of the week!
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Watch this cute baby penguin trying to make friends. Isn’t it relatable?
5 FACTS
Octopuses have how many brains? 🐙
Octopuses are amazing animals! Here are some fun facts that make them special:
Octopuses have 3 hearts! Two pump blood to their gills, and one pumps blood to the rest of their body. They also have blue blood! Their blood uses a chemical called hemocyanin, which works better in cold, low-oxygen water. 💙
Octopuses have 9 brains! They have one main brain in their head for problem-solving and decision-making. Each arm also has its own mini-brain, allowing it to move, grab, and explore on its own. 🧠
Masters of disguise! Octopuses have special cells called chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores that let them change colors to hide or show feelings. Scientists have even seen them change colors while sleeping, which may mean they dream! 🕵️♀️
Octopuses have more DNA than humans! They have 33,600 genes compared to our 20,300. They can also edit their RNA, which helps them adapt quickly. 🧬
Octopuses have no bones! Without bones, octopuses can squeeze through tiny spaces. Some have even escaped aquariums by sliding through drain pipes! 🦴
Because each of the octopuses’ arms has its own mini-brain, they can continue moving and responding even if they’ve been severed.
SCIENCE QUESTIONS
How powerful is one horse, really? 🐴
What is horsepower? ⚡️
James Watt (yes, the unit “watt” is named after him!) invented horsepower to show how strong steam engines were compared to horses. He measured how much power it took for a horse to turn a mill wheel. From this, he defined 1 horsepower as the power to move 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute.
Today, car makers measure horsepower a little differently, but 1 horsepower is still about 735 watts.
So how strong is a real horse? 💪
Watt’s number was the average power a horse could give all day. But scientists later measured that, for short bursts, a horse can actually produce 15-24 horsepower!
A mill wheel similar to what Watt used to estimate horsepower.
Source: BBC Science Focus
TRIVIA CORNER
How your brain changes over time 🧠
Scientists studied thousands of brains and found five main stages our brains go through as we grow older:
Stage 1: The Learning sponge (Ages 0-9)
From birth, kids absorb everything around them. Their brains grow quickly as they soak up language, sounds, faces, and more. 🍼
Stage 2: Big brain upgrade (Ages 9-32)
Around age 9, the brain cleans up unused connections, like deleting old apps. Our thinking becomes faster and more organized, peaking in our early 30’s. 🧹
Stage 3: Stable years (Ages 32-66)
By 32, the brain rewires one last time. Our personality and intelligence remain stable - we know what we like and how we think. The brain isn’t growing quickly, but it works smoothly. 💪
Stage 4: Early aging (Ages 67-82)
White matter (which helps all the areas of our brains communicate with each other) slowly breaks down. Most people still think clearly, but processing gets slower. ⏳
Stage 5: Late aging (Ages 83+)
The brain loses more connections, making memory and word-finding harder. Some areas weaken while others work harder. 👵🏻
Why this matters
Understanding these stages helps scientists study learning problems, dementia, and find ways to keep brains healthy!
Source: Nature Communications