Mysterious Undersea Circles Finally Explained

After 22 years speculations regarding the mysterious, strangely appealing circles on the seafloor, the mystery has finally been solved.It turns out that the undersea circles are created by a newly discovered pufferfish species to attract female mates.

In 1995, a number of divers found attractive, strange circular structures on the seafloor near Japan’s Oshima Island. These circular pattern formations would then disappear after a while and new ones would appear after some time.

All those years, no one really knew who/what formed them or how they were created. Finally, scientists made an intriguing discovery. The beautiful undersea formations were created male pufferfish thought to be a new species in the Torquigener genus.

According to scientists, the male pufferfish creates the circular structures, which are actually nests, to woo female pufferfish.

The Actual Creation Process

The male pufferfish which measures about 13 centimeters (less than 5 inches) long flaps its fins while swimming along the sandy seafloor in a circular manner to create peaks and valleys.

He does this by swimming towards the center of the circle in a straight line, and then back around in a circular motion.

He also carefully decorates the peaks of the ridges with shells and coral fragments. The result is amazingly unique circular patterns.

These formations are said to measure approximately 7 feet (2 meters) in diameter and take about 10 days to complete.

Once complete, the female pufferfish come to inspect them. If they feel pleased with the structures, they lay their eggs. According to Hiroshi Kawase, the Coastal Branch of Natural History Museum and Institute’s
curator, no one really knows what the females are attracted to in these beautiful formations.

Female Lays Eggs

Once the female deems the formation satisfactory, she then lays her eggs in the fine sediments at the center of the circle and then vanishes.

The male then fertilizes the eggs externally.

Interestingly, once the female leaves, the male takes up the parenting role where he remains in the nest, perhaps to guard the eggs until they hatch which takes about six days.

Once they hatch, the male repeats the same process all over in another place mainly because these formations don’t stay intact for long as the underwater currents washes them away pretty quickly.

Also, the fact that all the fine sediment within the area is used up prompts him to look for a fresh place to construct another nest.

Small Fish, Large Formations

Initially, scientists assumed that only a much bigger fish would be able to make such large formations. No one would have really thought that such a small fish would be able to make such an amazingly large structure.

However, some scientists suggest various possibilities such as improving the visibility of their nests for females to find them easily or poor visibility at depth.

Formations Similar to Bowers

Bowerbirds are known to build display sites “bowers” to show-off before mating. This behavior is also exhibited in some other animals.

Pufferfish formations are now considered as very rare in biology. And the fact that such a small animal is capable of creating such large nests makes it very interesting.

Additionally, why the male pufferfish tediously spends about 10 days to create a large nest and repeat the process over and over makes it even more intriguing.

All in all, it’s good to know that this decades long mystery has finally been solved.

Featured image by Animal Wire

Why Do We Feel Nervous

It happens all the time. The butterflies in your stomach when out on your first date, when attending a job interview, preparing for an exam, getting married, meeting a business client for a business deal…the list is endless.

Of course, these events are normal parts of life and are natural reactions to stress. However, apart from being normal, they all have something in common- they invoke the feeling of nervousness.

Whenever you feel nervous, your heart starts beating at a faster rate…you start fidgeting…and butterflies fill up your stomach. Of course, we often assume it’s normal since it’s something that we have no
control over.

But even so, why exactly do we feel nervous? What is the science behind why we feel nervous?

According to science, the feeling of nervousness is basically a natural reaction to stress and a part of the flight or flight response.

When stressed, the neocortex triggers hypothalamus, which is a part of the limbic brain, and a signal is misperceived as though you are in some sort of danger, specifically because your brain does not consider your current condition as “normal.”

As a result, the hypothalamus triggers the fight or flight response which is regulated by a part of the autonomic nervous system referred to as the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal-cortical system.

The sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream, causing an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

At the same time, the hypothalamus releases the corticotrophin-releasing factor into the pituitary gland which consequently triggers adrenal-cortical and causes the release of a number of hormones.

The brain then sends a signal from the pituitary gland to the adrenal glands which release the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline’s main function is to redirect blood and energy to various parts of the body that will be required to take swift action. They include the heart, muscles, and processes such as digestion.

When blood flow is redirected from the stomach, the blood vessels in this region close, thereby causing a tingling sensation or what many people referred to as” butterflies in the stomach.”

So basically, the fight or flight response prepares your body for stressful situations which as a result cause the feeling of nervousness.

Surprisingly, each type of stress represents a nervousness or “threat” level ranging from mild to life threatening. This means that the weaker the perceived threat, the less intense the reaction to stress will be and vice versa.

According to James Stoiz, a social worker who specializes in anxiety, it’s actually good to have some level of nervousness.

“Nervousness is what keeps us from walking into the street with our eyes closed,” said Stoiz.

So how can we control our nervous feelings?

Well, according to Stoiz, there are several ways in which we can effectively control our nervous feelings regardless of the situation. He recommends regular physical activity such as exercises, deep breathing
exercises, counting down from 10, and visualizing success.

For example, Olympic athletes use mental imagery or “cognitive specific imagery” to lessen the feeling of nervousness before a competition.

Nothing kills confidence than being nervous. It’s quite an overwhelming feeling.

The good news however is that you can easily learn how to combat it to help enhance your confidence and increase your chances of success in many stressful situations.

Can You Really Get a Penile Fracture?

Can a penis really break- considering that it has no bones?

Well, every part of the body is prone to injury, and the penis is no exception. It actually breaks just like bones and even gives out a popping sound.

So what exactly is penile fracture and how does it happen?

Penile fracture a severe form of injury to an erect penis that occurs when a membrane known as tunica albuginea tears.

Tunica albuginea is a special type of membrane that surrounds the corpora cavernosa, a highly specialized spongy tissue situated at the core of the penis that fills up with blood during an erection.

When the membrane tears, the blood that is confined in the corpora cavernorsa leaks out to surrounding tissue, resulting in swelling and bruising.

In most instances, penile fracture occurs when the penis is subjected to a sharp, blunt force trauma. This mostly occurs during sexual intercourse in a situation where there is continuous thrusting and the penis
slips out and hits a solid structure (woman’s thighs or pelvis) instead of penetrating the normal location.

This often occurs during intercourse with the woman on top position. Actually, the woman on top sex position is said to be one of the most dangerous sex positions as it increases the risk of penile fracture.

Usually, there is a popping or cracking sound during fracture and may be accompanied by severe pain in the penis. The penis may also swell with some purple discoloration as blood leaks to surrounding tissue. Loss
of erection following the injury may also occur.

Immediate treatment is often needed since such injuries tend to be serious, otherwise the person may experience immeasurable pain, not to mention future complications such as erectile dysfunction, chronic curvature of the penis (in some cases a 45-degrees angle).

When proper treatment is obtained, most affected men often recover from the injury within a short time.

How Common is Penile Fracture?

As scary as it seems, penile structure is not very common.

In fact, since the first case was recorded in 1924, only 1600 cases have been recorded so far. In these cases, woman-on-top sex position isn’t the only cause of this condition. Other cases have been as a result of
aggressive masturbation, being thrown against the knob of a saddle, rolling over in the morning onto an erection, rolling out of a chair onto the floor, including others.

Who is Highly Likely to Get Penile Fracture?

Of all the cases recorded, statistics show that young men in their 20s and 30s are at a higher risk of getting penile fracture as they tend to engage in vigorous sexual activity compared to their older counterparts.

This does not however mean that the problem does not occur in older men. The number is however low mostly likely due to decreased frequency and vigor of sexual activity, and their erections are not as firm and
rigid, which reduces the chances of fracture.



From the look of things, penile fracture is real and even though it’s not very common, the risk is still there. It’s a dangerous problem that may render a man’s penis functionless especially if not promptly treated,
not to mention having to endure many side effects.

The good news is that it can be prevented, moreso by exercising caution during sexual activity.

China Developing Stealth and Fastest Drones to Evade Anti-Aircraft Weapons

China is currently investing billions of dollars to upgrade old equipment and for the development of new weapons, including stealth drones.

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC), the country’s largest missile maker, is in the process of developing stealth drones with unsurpassed stealth abilities and unmatched speed- drones that can evade radar detection and anti-aircraft weapons.

According to Wei Yiyin, the Deputy General Manager of CASIC, the company is more focused on developing long-endurance stealth drones and near-space drones.

“Drones have become indispensable weapons in modern warfare, the reason being they play a very crucial role in high-resolution reconnaissance, long-distance precision strikes, aerial combat, and anti-submarine operations, Wei was quoted saying.

The Deputy General Manager further added that within the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), CASIC will strive to develop technologies for long-endurance drones, complete the design of high-speed combat/reconnaissance drones with the aim of deploying them domestically and sell them in international markets.

The development of stealth drones is a great advancement for the country’s highly ambitious military modernization program.

China’s heavy spending on defense weapons has however raised concerns, especially due to Beijing’s firm approach to disputes in Taiwan, South, and East China. The country has however insisted that it has no hostile intent whatsoever.

The plans to develop multipurpose and stealth target aircraft to be used for training are also underway, said Wei.

Cruise Missiles…

All Drones developed by CASIC are said to resemble a cruise missile, unlike other Chinese drones which look more like fixed-wing planes with landing gear.

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp company is China’s sole producer of cruise missiles.

One report revealed that all CASIC drones are launched and retrieved after descending by parachute.

The company’s newest drone, the WJ-SIX00A/D is said to have a super-fast cruising speed of up to 700km/h. Chinese drones on the other hand can only go up to 280km/h, which is a clear indicator of just how powerful CASIC drones really are.

The WJ-SIX00A/D model is also said to have excellent stealth capabilities and appears as a bird on military radars, said CASIC’s Unmanned Aircraft Institute.

A Great Technological Advancement

As military reforms are drastically changing armed forces around the world, it’s only natural for China to develop high-tech drones with great stealth capabilities and supersonic speeds with the aim to enhance their national defense.

Without a doubt, China has taken its research on military drones a step higher with the aim of taking market share from Israel and the United Stated with its more advanced, cheaper technology.

The country is also willing to share its technology with willing countries internationally, an action that the West is reluctant to take.

China operates stealth drones which are designed and developed with the latest and greatest technology.

The drones are quite stealthy, which is a technique for having more success against high-tech air defenses. Their massively high speed also gives them the ability to urgently reach and deliver weapons and sensors to very crucial time-sensitive combat situations much faster.

With the development of a number of stealthy drones in various stages underway, the China’s future defense capability is certainly bright.

Researchers Create an Interactive Glowing Gold-Leaf Tattoo

DuoSkin, a customizable wearable designed and created by MIT Media Lab, is the most recent thermochromic pigment invention that has got everyone excited.

The customizable wearable which is in the form of a tattoo, is made of thermochromic pigment, a layered adhesive, a silicone interface, and gold leaf. When heated, this tattoo changes color via programmable thermochromic pigments.

So how does this mechanism work?

Asta Roseway, a research designer at Microsoft and student Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao worked with Media Lab on the project. The two place gold leaf underneath the thermochromic layer, where gold leaf is the conductive material as well as the resistive heating element.

When connected to a small battery, the gold leaf (layer) heats up, allowing the thermochromic layer to change color.

The duo also attached an Arduino mini underneath the wearer’s sleeve to be used as a microcontroller that processes the sensor data. This way, the wearer can touch or rather control the tattoo like a button to change color or even change songs.

Usually, it takes approximately 30 seconds for the color to fully display and another 50 seconds for the pigment to change back to its original color. According to Hsin-Liu Kao, 30 seconds delay is due to the fact that pigments are typically slower as compared to regular displays, although they tend to have an ink-like effect and are more textured.

Additionally, the researchers developed a smartphone app that would enable the wearer to control the content displayed. The wearer can use the app to update their “skin status.” They also utilized the NFC technology found in Android phones and Windows to “communicate” with the tattoo.

The inspiration for their invention comes from the highly popular stick-on body jewelry.

“I like to call the tattoo “hybrid body crafting,” said Hsin-Liu-Kao. According to Lao, the main aspect of their invention is to imitate body art with the idea to make it difficult to distinguish from real tattoos. Their goal was also to make this capacitive touch slider much more aesthetically appealing.

Thermochromic pigments have evolved steadily since they first hit the mainstream in the 1970s, which lead to the invention of mood rings. Nowadays, they are used in many creative and fun applications, one of them being the DuoSkin.

The DuoSkin is one incredible invention that has basically changed the way people view thermochromic pigments. What’s even more interesting is the fact that these tattoos are able to withstand some exposure to water, just like normal tattoos.

Scientists Discover Ways to Generate Electricity From the Human Body

The human body could be turned into a power station, scientists have discovered.

As strange as it may seem, it’s unbelievably true.

So how is it possible?

Scientists have in the past found ways to harness electricity from the wind, human waste, solar energy, among others. They have even discovered alternative ways in which we can charge our smartphones.

One of their latest discoveries is piezoelectricity which is electricity resulting from pressure. In this form of electricity, small amounts of energy are produced when pressure is pushed out of shape.

According to scientists, one way to utilize this form of electricity is through artificial pacemakers. Artificial pacemakers typically turn off after a few years when their batteries run out. However, scientists say it’s now possible for pacemakers to operate for a lifetime if it harnesses energy from the heartbeat.

Scientists have revealed that the same innovative technology could be used to generate electricity outside the body.

According to Professor Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia Institute of Technology, a flexible, foldable, and wearable power source could allow people to generate electricity from their own bodies while walking.

A wearable power source referred to as a “power shirt” is currently being developed. The power shirt is woven from pairs of coated fibres including some tiny strips of gold and zinc oxide.

During movement, these fibers rub against each other, thus producing electric currents.

Pizzicato energy is another form of energy produced when a device consisting of a central hub and an outer ring is fixed onto the knee. As a person walks, the outer rings continuously rotate and the 72 spectra around it swiftly pluck four piezoelectric arms on the central hub, generating an electric current.

Scientists have also discovered the possibility of harnessing electrical energy from our own footsteps.

Enough Electrical Energy to Power iPhone 5C

In theory, electricity generated from our brains could charge an iPhone 5C In 70 hours.

While there are no proven ways to harness electricity from our minds, it would be a huge breakthroughs for scientists should this incredible technology become a reality.

How can the Brain Can Produce Electricity?

According to scientists, the human brain consists of 100 billion electrically conductive “wires” (neurons) and that 1% of these wires are firing at any moment.

Therefore, should the 100 billion neurons fire at the same exact time, about 0.0085 Watts of electrical power would be produced. This is enough electricity to power an energy-saving LED bulb.

iPhone 5C holds a charge of 5.7 4 Watt hours. This simply means that it would take approximately 70 hours to fully charge the iPhone.

Of course, this is not the most efficient way of charging the handset considering it takes less than 3 hours to charge it. However, it’s a clear that our bodies hold a significant amount of electrical charge that can be utilized in various ways.

It may not seem like the most effective and efficient way to harness electricity but with more research, this could become beneficial in many ways.

For example, a model in the Science Museum’s Atmosphere gallery indicates the possibility of harnessing electricity from footsteps in the walkway leading to the Olympic park- enough electricity to light the walkway eight hours each day.

The future certainly looks bright.

Shockwave Therapy: A Potentially New Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

Shockwave therapy could be helpful in men with erectile dysfunction,' basic research and clinical trials have suggested.

According to numerous studies, low-intensity shock wave therapy could be effective in restoring the erectile mechanism so as to enable natural or spontaneous erections. This therapy has been successfully used to help patients with kidney stones, heart complications, fractures, as well as joint inflammation.

Unlike other ED treatments such as pills, penile injections, and vacuum erection devices which only work on as-needed basis, this type of therapy works in a way that enables men to achieve firm and long-lasting erections on their own.

How does Shock Wave Therapy Work?

When sexually stimulated, the penis fills with blood and becomes firm due to the widening of the arteries. This allows for easy vaginal penetration.

In cases where there is reduced or restricted blood flow to the penis, a man may not achieve a strong erection or may be unable to have one at all.

Shock wave therapy utilizes energy from acoustic waves which promote the formation of new blood vessels, thus increasing blood flow into the penis in a process known as neovascularization.

To administer shockwave therapy, the doctor uses a wand attached to a machine to send small shocks directly to the shaft. This emits energy that targets deep tissues in the penis where they cause microtrauma and mechanical stress. The stress and microtrauma trigger a series of biological reactions which result in the release of angiogenic factors, which in turn trigger neovascularization.

The aim of this therapy is to fix the root cause of erectile dysfunction, not just alleviate the symptoms.

The treatment therapy includes 12 weeks of continuous sessions with each session going for 15-20 minutes. The treatment itself is not painful, although the patient might experience a slight tingling sensation. The patient does not need anesthesia, and the procedure itself is not invasive.

Therapy a Good Choice for ED Caused by Vascular Complications

Research has also indicated that shockwave therapy is only a good option for men whose ED has been caused by vascular problems (impaired blood flow to the penis), not as a result of other issues such as neurological or psychological, or even after undergoing a major pelvic surgery.

In other words, the treatment only works effectively in men whose erectile dysfunction is as a result of impaired blood flow to the penis.

This treatment therapy was discovered just a few years ago and is still in its experimental stage. However, basic research and clinical trials have shown some encouraging results.

With more comprehensive research and clinical trials, this form of therapy could be the new permanent treatment for one of the most common and devastating male health problems.