Estrogen and Neuronal Physiology, why am I sometimes irrational?

I came across this thought reawakening byway of a paper 'Acute effects of Estrogen on Neuronal Physiology' by Catherine S. Woolley, via the Department of Physiology at Northwestern University. This paper is largely the source of my researching all the facts they present in the paper and worth the read. As I am a woman, and thus invested, whom is also highly introspective, I can gauge my rationale disruptions literally around my estrus cycle, and as a thinker, I find it forever annoying that there is a clear variance sometimes in my ability for rational thought. SO, I decided to see what sort of information was available regarding this area and hormones effects on my oh so precious brain.

And oh what a fascinating journey it has become. I knew already that both the brain and ovaries produce estrogen, but have learned that the amazing temporary organ, the placenta, also produces estrogen as part of its function. Additionally, some types of estrogen in minute quantities are also produced in the liver, the adrenal glands, the breasts, and fat cells! Not only does estrogen, as well as testosterone, effect our sexual cycles and natures, along with androgens, but they do many other 'jobs' as well. Its effects spam mood, serotonin, breast cancer, promoting wound healing, and so on. But I digress... But, what of MY mind?

Bios Urn - Be reborn as a Tree!!!

This wonderful innovation was put together with the minds of Martin Azua and Gerald Moline, unfortunately, their site is not is english, but nonetheless, I'm quite certain adaptations will take place in our red, white and blue neck. The product as is, is a biodegradable coconut shell, peat and cellulose, along with a tree seed of your choice, and, ahem, your remains.

Yes!!! Finally an afterlife I can get behind. Of course, being forever inquisitive my first thought was; but what exactly remains that a tree might be able to use? Followed by; is this legal? All the while quite convinced that I will be being planted as a tree no matter what.

In pursuit of my questions I discovered a number of things, cremation is a process of burning organic material, most of which dissipates, and the remaining chemicals include any metals we have amassed (lead, mercury, etc.) as well as phosphorus, carbon, and calcium (largely the remnants of bone only). This wonderful essay discusses the remnants far more knowledgeably than I. And Time also wrote an informative discussion on the topic as well.

I'm sold. Grow me up as a tree, let my yard be speckled with loved ones, let life be reborn instead of wasted in boxes-

Mercury ~ Why the drama?

This weekend was wonderful. I enjoyed Saturday night in Boston at Improv Asylum on the North end, followed by unauthentic pizza that was deliciously greasy and ended at a nearby hookah bar with a glass of amaretto. It was fantastic. As I recently have been trying to legitimately heal an unstable relationship with the person I enjoyed this with, this was all particularly beneficial.


I know this has nothing to do with Mercury :)

Mercury; well, I know that a friend of mine, Eric, has a small jar of Mercury. He broke a bunch of thermometers as a teen and compiled the element into a rather impressively large blob of liquid metal. Very cool to look at and manipulate by rotating the jar.

Yes, I am aware now that I should not have been turning a jar of Mercury around in my palms, reveling is such a dangerously toxic element's beauty.

Mercury is interesting for numerous reasons. It is one of only six liquid metals and is the only one that remains a liquid at room temperature, which makes it uniquely variable in it's uses. Mercury was named after a planet, but it's chemical name is Hg which is derived from the Latin hydrargyrum (meaning watery & silver). It has one of the narrowest temperature ranges in it's liquid state and is worth discussing because it is a really beautiful element. cont...

Quantum Mechanics & General Relativity

So, I've been reading about Quantum Gravity (a convergence of both Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity) and it inspired me to learn more about Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity and though I had a gist of the two; I wanted to take the time to look at the fundamentals as opposed to my generalist understanding of each.

The Small ~ Quantum Mechanics
A theory initiated in order to better explain the fundamental properties of matter. In early 1900's while studying the interactions of matter and radiation; scientists ran into an issue. Neither Classical Mechanics nor Electromagnetism solved certain radiation effects on atoms. Particularly, scientists were perplexed by the nature of light; as was discovered by Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826) through analyzing peculiar lines in the spectrum of sunlight. These lines were recorded as existing; but, no one could explain their origination. Same such occurrences were seen through radiation experiments with atoms.

Did You Know? ~ Molecular nanotechnology

Is a process in which atom's are built and multiplied - into almost any form. They can combine to become any type of matter; that is available to replicate. It could be used medically to eradicate cancer cells/other disease or human afflictions. It could create unlimited food and resource supply. It could be the next progression of humans; no longer being controlled by our environment, but actually being in control of it.

If we are going to 'live on' mastering our lives biologically, the earths eco systems and our environment, are necessities. I find this science absolutely amazing. There is concern however, primarily because you they can be programmed or designed to replicate themselves (for the purpose of mass production or modifying of unforeseen qty, as in cancer cells)

~Kelly

H2O behaving badly

This article from Scientific American, on waters' molecular behavior when compromised by opposing influences, is of particular interest. For a behavior to be attributed to an element, entices colorful connotations, however unreasonable they might be.

Willy Wonka in Space?

Basic sugar molecules were recently found in space; near a ripe star birthing location in space that could host life due to the fact that Glycolaldehyde is a componant of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid consists of a nitrogeneous base, a ribose sugar and a phosphate)

Click title to read article source.

KAS

Atoms Poetry

In ninety four combinations, they lie
Intrinsic partners of opposites, attracted
Keeping order, Energy's fury wizzing by

Life, the remnant of stars passing
Death, the birth of new
The same amount, reused

To attract and never touch
The delicacy's of balance
The energy- always enough

It pains me to think
That in terms such as this
Our lives are but combinations- of unrest

Hadron Collider & Higgs Boson (God Particle)

So, it's October… The Hadron Colider was up for only a few days in early September prior to having an issue with one of the magnets that caused the shut down. As this was an unbelievably complex/large mechanical, electronic and magnetic machine created for a purpose that has not yet been successful at this level: issues were not unexpected. But, now we hear that it will not be up and running until next year.

Can I wait a year to find out about the creation of microscopic black holes , extra dimensions , super symmetric particles and dark matter? Well, of course. And, I am sure it will be just as exciting and wonderful when it does begin producing (hopefully) the many answers we are looking for. Besides, I don't think the questions are going anywhere in the interim.

Of all the possible discoveries (or up close and personal experiences such as the microscopic black holes) There is something that is generating the most anticipation~ the 'God Particle' or Higgs Boson. The Higgs Boson is proposed as the missing link within particle physics that will hopefully help explain the ability of massless particles to become particles with mass. Hence the 'God Particle' as it the link between massless and mass (and you need mass for life.) Hmm.. You say. Well, if a particle is massless; something must affect it in order for a change to occur in order to make the particle portray a mass. This missing (hypothetical) massive scalar elementary particle would hopefully answer this question. It may also allow us to visualize the particle. As an important component of particle physics, its discovery would lead to many new understandings (as well as new and exciting questions of course) that will expand our knowledge of the material world.

For example, it will assist in our understanding of why particles such as quarks and electrons have varying amounts of mass.

The Higgs Boson Theory is that a large collection of particles, like a field, exist all over and cause particles to be restricted in their movement; particles passing through this field are affected in different manners. Some particle's zip right through, with little resistance and in turn little mass. Yet others are caught up in the resistance and are slowed and infringed in their passing through, leading to a larger recognizable mass.


~KAS

Particle Collider - Heat'n up!

Amazing - This advance will help our kind learn the truth in the theory's as have been proposed by various Physicists, the most important being the Big Bang Theory.

~KAS