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Showing posts with the label Environmental Science

The Ocean's Hidden Gems: How Trash Becomes Treasure On The Beach

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What Makes Sea Glass So Special: Sea glass starts as regular bottles, jars, and other glass items that end up in the ocean. Over many years, waves crash against these pieces thousands of times.  The constant motion tumbles the glass against sand and rocks. This natural process smooths out all the sharp edges and creates a frosted, cloudy surface that feels soft to touch.

Ants Are Nature's Ultimate Clean Freaks

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The Daily Cleaning Routine That Keeps Colonies Alive: Ants spend up to 25% of their waking hours cleaning themselves and their surroundings. This constant maintenance is not just about looking good - it's a matter of survival.  Every ant in a colony follows strict hygiene rules that would put most humans to shame. They use their front legs to scrub their antennae, which are crucial for communication and navigation.  Without clean antennae, ants cannot detect chemical signals from their colony mates or find food sources.

The Hidden History Of Lyme Disease: How A Small Town Changed Medicine

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The Origins Of Lyme Disease :  Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 in the small town of Lyme, Connecticut, after an unusual outbreak of arthritis like symptoms among children and adults.  Two mothers, Polly Murray and Judith Mensch, noticed these symptoms in their children and pushed for further investigation.  Their efforts led to a collaboration between the Connecticut Department of Health and Yale University.  This marked the beginning of research into what was initially called "Lyme arthritis".