Hi, dear steemians! Welcome again to my blog.

Today I bring to you the fourth episode of my “What I Learnt The Previous Week" series. The topics below represent some interesting discoveries I made within the last week which spanned between 7th - 11th of May 2018.

Again, I'll like to acknowledge @mobbs for letting me be a partaker in this wonderful series he started. I will also like to thank my very own @samminator whose participation I saw and got me interested. Thanks for referring me to @mobbs

MONDAY: Sustainable Light Source through Bioluminescent Algae

This is where I would have to agree that the search for alternative sources of energy generation and the increasing struggle to find greener sources of energy have been uprooting tremendous discoveries in recent years.

It was quite surprising and of course interesting while reading about the promising lighting capacity achievable through the damn tiny micro-organisms like algae, fungi, and bacteria.

This phenomenon is attributed to dinoflagellates algae that emit blue light at night. Although the research in this field has been ongoing for some years now, the idea of harnessing this property of these microorganisms to make Bio-lamps at night is a recent one and is one that is promising.

How is this possible, right?

As I earlier stated, this lightning capability is possible in dinoflagellates algae that emit the blue lights. This concept is basically known as bioluminescence which is the ability of some organism to emit a biological light through a chemical reaction known as chemiluminescence without the release of heat. It is a form of phosphorescence which translates to an emission of light without heat.

The emission is possible when the algae are shaken either by a water current or when a predator swims past them hitting them with a wave. As this disturbance is detected, a chemical action is triggered whereby the pH drops. For this light emission, two molecules known as Luciferase - which is an enzyme, and Luciferin - usually produced by photosynthesis makes this possible.

The pH drop caused by the disturbance activates the enzyme (Luciferase) and is binding to Luciferin to release the energy which we see as "Blue Light". However, this is still theoretical and is yet to be performed experimentally.

So, how could this make us Biolamps, ain't it?

First, why this is a promising phenomenon is the fact that algae gain their energy from two inexhaustible sources - the Sun and CO₂. The CO₂ is a neutral source of energy for them while they use the sun to produce energy through photosynthesis which they use to perform some cellular stage processes. They hence recharge during the day and emit strong blue light at night.

But, how can we make Biolamps if we earlier stated that the light is triggered only when there is a disturbance that initiates the chemical reaction that results in the light emission?

Also, we know that the light that would be emitted by the algae will only last for some short period while the effect of the disturbance lasts. So, how do we sustain the light to make Biolamps?

The answer to these questions are what the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is working on in their research to make us light our cities with these bioluminescent microorganisms. They believe that if they can detect the particular gene that emits the light in the plant, then, by transferring the gene to some other photosynthetic plant that could emit light all night long is achievable and then, we can just grow the micro algae in saltwater in a closed container that could be hung as a Biolamp, hence, lightning up our cities.

How awesome will that be?

You can read more about Bioluminescence here and more on the Research work here

TUESDAY: Could you Believe That Children are Less active at Full Moon

On seeing this post, I was like, what? Full Moon and human being? What could be the correlation? Because the only thing that comes to my mind after hearing a full moon is either a turn of a new month and maybe thoughts of Ramadan, which we are currently observing.

But to think that children could really show diverse characters due to the emergence of Full moon piqued my interest. Part of the noticed change that this phenomenon changes is their sleep pattern, their blood pressure and also their blood sugar levels.

The possibility that the lunar cycle holds some powers have been a topic of discussion in past decades but it has always been thwarted for a superstitious notion because there weren't any scientific research or findings to back it up. But I guess someone was convinced about its possibility and went on to perform some underground research so as to prove this notion.

It was in the scientific journal Clinical Obesity that the new study was published that the emergence of a Full moon affects a lot of physical response of children. The research was conducted on 795 children between the age of eight and eleven where their blood samples were taken and analyzed.

In the analysis, it was found out that children slept more during a full moon with a 4.1 mins increase recorded. Also, their blood pressure had a roughly 1% increase and the blood sugar level rose by 2%. They also noticed that they had a lower physical activity level with a difference of about 8% recorded.

The whole changes can be traced to the fact that the moon affects our sleep. It was said that the amount of light that our brain is exposed to during the day and evening affects to a large extent how long we sleep. At full moon, there would be as much as 25 times the light that will be in the sky than when there's a cloudy sky. This hasn't been confirmed but was said to be a possible cause.

As I'll always say, Scientific Research would just continue to amaze us and this is one of it.

I am sure you'll want to know more about this topic. You can read more on it here

WEDNESDAY: Ideophobia - "The Fear of Ideas"

Well, I was like, who wouldn't be interested in new ideas and innovation in the world of today? With the growing rate of technology and many research that keeps popping up? But then when I kept reading on this particular topic, I noticed some things are just beyond our control especially ones that have to do with our mental self.

The fear of Ideas, Ideophobia is gotten from the Greek words "idees" and "phobos" which translates to "Ideas" and "deep fear" respectively. The phenomenon in its clearest definition means the fear for leaving one's comfort zone to embrace a new thought or an idea.

Ideophobics are known to witness a high level of anxiety or some irrational level of fear when a new idea is put to them. They fear the possible outcome it could have on their behavior or lifestyle. They are the one that acts according to a popular adage that says, "the devil we know is better than the angel we don't know of"

Causes of Ideophobia

This particular phobia is mostly caused by a past traumatic experience resulting from engaging in something new or a belief that if one tries a new thing out, it could be dangerous. For a business personnel, it could be a new strategy or policy that was introduced which led to catastrophic results or for children who tried a new playing instrument which hurt him/her badly. So, each time some new is suggested to them, they will rather prefer to miss out on the experience than trying it out

Research also revealed that some genetic composition and brain chemistry can play a role in making someone ideophobic. Hereditary issues and people with reduced adrenaline are known to be easily susceptible to this phobia.

Another cause is the mentality planted by older ones that participating in something new could prove harmful or change their culture and practices. This is common in places where culture is held high and means a lot to them. They would find it hard to accept new things, for instance, technology looks alien to some local people and they believe people who introduce it are condemning their old ways. I'll say Africans are known to hold this kind of thoughts a lot.

Symptoms of Ideophobia

The symptoms of this phobia are easily noted when someone is asked or try something new out. They either run their way out of it or shiver like a hen beat by rain. They will sweat and might lose control of themselves in a very bad way.

Ideophobics will never listen to any new suggestions different to what they know of. They would rather bear the loss incurred from the old practice than try out a new one. They always feel threatened by this new idea and would try everything within their power to avoid such idea.

Many of these Ideophobics are always afraid to present their ideas if at all they have one, they fear the reception and what effect it could have on their pride and ego. They therefore are seen as sadists, and archaic - saying the biggest NO to changes.

How to get rid of Ideophobia

As we might have realized, this phobia could be of great negative impact on one's personal or professional life. Anyone that refuse to accept changes would find it hard to survive in a professional world full of changes. People will find it hard to relate to such person because they feel you wouldn't value anything they suggest or bring to you, perceiving you as a proud and ego-filled human being.

The first step in getting rid of this phenomenon is through self-mindfulness so as to be able to differentiate between reality and abstract world. This will make the person realize that we all just try out things without being assured of the end product. This will remove the thought that trying something new can be dangerous.

Again, medications that leave harmful sides effects that could make one highly susceptible to traumas and high rate of anxiety should be avoided. Therapists can help recommend some medicines that will help lessen their inclination to fear with Hypnotherapy being one of the effective options to achieve this.

Other therapies such as Neuro Lingustic programming(NLP), Cognitive Behaviour therapy can also help to improve the patient mental state and make him/her see the real picture of anything that is witnessed.

You can read more about Ideophobia here

THURSDAY: Welcome the "Exodus" - The HTC Blockchain Smartphone

During the week, I was opportune to read about this awesome development in the telecommunication industry. I believe every crypto lovers would also be interested in reading about this impending phenomenal innovation.

The HTC Exodus is a Blockchain Technology based android phone. It will offer us the accountability and security that the various existing blockchain applications offer right from the phone hardware.

The raw data that we put on cloud or external storage devices will become decentralized and stored in a database that is replicated on many servers making it safe and always available..

The Exodus will support cryptocurrencies with a wallet integrated with it without the use of an extra software. It will support Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies along with other decentralized apps. This will enable direct trading of cryptocurrency with peer to peer phone connection without incurring a mining fee

However, the price would be a challenge as its potential price is set at $999..



But owning one would be awesome, right? So, permit me to say I can't wait for the release..... Trust you can't too



You can read more about the features and capability of the "Exodus" here

FRIDAY: Too Much Sex Puts Marsupial on Endangered List

Guys! Guys! Guys! Let's chill on this..I know this is crazy, yes, I do but it's just what it is.

Too much sex has got an animal in the most severe list for any animal to be on - the Endangered Species List! Yes, all for Sex!

The Marsupial, usually found in Australia and the Americas are tiny black-tailed dusky animals usually with a silver-head. They are known for suicidal mating habits that can go on for as long as 14 hours. What? 14 what?!

They were just discovered in 2013 in Queensland state in wet and tall parts of the region. Compared to now and then, the population was said to be 10 times lesser than when they were first discovered. The female Marsupial is known to last for just about 2 years with only half of them breeding giving birth to about 8-14 offsprings while the male doesn't live to see their first birthday.

Other than the marathon sex, climate changes, feral pests and loss of habitat are among reasons why scientists think they might go extinct soon. However, their clinging to each other especially the male always trying to be in the presence of a female, fighting off rivals are always seen to produce a high level of testosterone that stops the stress hormone from stopping thereby killing their organs faster.

They were described as a walking dead by a scientist for this sex behavior that usually leaves them deteriorating so much that they bleed from different parts of their body with their hair also falling off.

With this health-endangering features, unstoppable climatic changes and the loss of their habitat, it will not be long before we witness the disappearance of the silver-headed mouse-like animals and with such, they are inevitably placed on the growing list of Endangered animals.

My Advice thus is "say no to Marathon Sex" - it is Dangerous to your Life!

You can read more about the “Marathon Sex Workers” here

Thanks for Reading

So, guys! This is the summary of what I learned in the previous week. I hope you learned something.

References for further reading

Ref. 1, Ref. 2, Ref. 3, Ref. 4, Ref. 5

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