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1500 questions
18
votes
1 answer
Why is yawning contagious?
Why does yawning seems to be contagious?
Is this similar to laughter being contagious or does it has a different reason?
user1897
18
votes
3 answers
Public database of animal specifications
I'm a math teacher looking for data to help my students interested in biology complete a quantitatively flavored study of animals. (As a math person, I apologize if I'm not using discipline-appropriate vocabulary in my request here.)
I'd like to…
Jared
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18
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4 answers
Why do both the mango and the bee have "Indica" in their binomial name?
In my textbook, it is written that the binomial name of mango is Mangifera indica and the binomial name of a bee is Apis indica. Now in the name the second part is the name of species. But mango and bee are not the same species. One is a tree and…
Asif Iqubal
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18
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2 answers
How do plant galls form?
I am curious how Gall Wasps, bacteria and other organisms induce galls to form.
Specifically, what chemicals induce gall formation?
Dale
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18
votes
2 answers
Why does strenous exercise cause vision of "lights"?
I had a hard climb a week ago. I got so tired then any time I closed my eyes I saw these lights inside my head. I see these lights almost every time that I run fast or some thing like that. What are they and where do they come from?
Here is a…
MySky
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18
votes
2 answers
Black insect with antennas and large abdomen
I found this insect crawling outside near my house, and I have never seen anything quite like it!
It was found in the summer in Denmark.
Length is approx 4 cm (1.5 inc) with the antennae.
What species is this insect from and what is the insect…
Bertus
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18
votes
1 answer
What is the prehistory of amino acids in cells?
As a followup to Why 20 amino acids instead of 64? and What is the smallest number of amino acids required for life?, I am trying to understand the prehistory of amino acids in cells.
All living cells now use 20 (or 22 if you include selenocysteine…
John Smith
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18
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1 answer
What is the name of this fruit?
I have attached a photo. I know the Nepali name for this fruit but not its common name in English and its scientific names. In Nepal we call it as 'lahare Aanp' (meaning Climber Mango). This fruit is a climber type like cucumber.
Does anybody know…
ramro
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18
votes
3 answers
Would a shark whip into a frenzy from smelling its own blood?
Sharks normally respond very quickly to the scent of blood in up to a mile radius, but what if the shark itself simply got injured? Would it respond to its own blood at all?
RayOfHope
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18
votes
1 answer
What is this black and white worm in a white case?
The case is very small and it's an off white color.
The thing living inside can come out of either end. It's a black and white looking worm. It will poke its head out and move everywhere!
They are all over my back porch and some are even coming…
Lynn Porter Ruck
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18
votes
4 answers
Why don't antiseptic agents kill 100% germs?
I've seen innumerable antiseptic, mouthwash, handwash advertisements that claim to be able to eliminate as much as 99.9% of all germs over a surface...but why not the remaining 0.1% (i.e- why can't they eliminate all germs)?
Clarifications:
What…
paracetamol
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18
votes
4 answers
What sea animal is this?
I am in a remote village and a young boy (second pic holding tail) says this thing is his friend. This creature is safe, we held it for pictures and released it after. None of us know what this is and we do not know who to contact. The young boy…
Jude
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18
votes
1 answer
How do we explain the white feathers of an albino peacock?
Peacock feathers are supposed to produce colours by surface structures modulating the light (in addition to the usual absorption/reflection mechanism)... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_coloration
But how does that explain the existence of…
Jug
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18
votes
1 answer
Why are sushi proteins called "sushi"? What are the origins of this name?
Does anybody know why complement control proteins (also short consensus repeats) are called "sushi" proteins? Is there any special reason for their name?
Vii Z.
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18
votes
2 answers
Solving Hardy Weinberg problems
I really fail to understand Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and can't find an easy enough source of information.
Can you help me to understand Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
My goal is to be able to solve the following kind of problem
In a population with…
Thomas
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