Friday Facts: Week #3

Greetings everybody, HAPPY FRIDAY! Hope you all had a good week. Here is the 3rd segment of Friday facts. Enjoy! 

An African elephant can weigh up to 7 tonne. It is nothing when compared to the magnificent blue whale (which is the largest creature ever known to have lived on Earth), an adult can weigh up to 200 tonnes, so it is no deception that elephants weigh less than the tongue of a blue whale.

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Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree) is a unique species of tree which is described as a 'living fossil' because it is the sole survivor of an ancient group of trees older than the dinosaurs, it dates back to about 270 million years ago.

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The maple syrup urine disease (also known as branched-chain ketoaciduria) is an inherited disorder which affects infants. It is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder affecting branched-chain amino acids. The disease is identified by lethargy, seizures, poor feeding, dehydration, vomiting and neurological decline. Maple syrup urine disease affects an estimated 1 in 185,000 infants worldwide and if it's left to progress it can induce seizures, coma and death. The symptoms involve urine and ear wax with an odor similar to that of maple syrup.

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 A day on Earth was not always 24 hours. 900 million years ago the length of the day was only about 18 hours. Records of ancient tidal patterns found in sedimentary rocks and the dates of lunar eclipses let astronomers come to the conclusion that the distance between the earth and the moon has changed over time. It was concluded that the earth and moon are moving apart at a rate of about 3.82cm (about 1.5inch) per year. Additionally seasonal patterns within the tide cycles (which indicate the passage of a year) were examined to calculate the speed at which the moon was orbiting the earth millions of years ago. The moon was in a tighter orbit, hence orbiting the earth more quickly than today.

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They say time heals all wounds and new research from the University of California, Berkeley, signifies that time spent in dream phase of sleep (REM sleep) can help us overcome painful experiences. Norepinephrine is the brain chemical most associated with stress, and during REM sleep there is a decrease in this chemical and activity in the amygdala (the part of the brain that processes emotion and memory). Dreaming is thought to be a form of overnight therapy for painful ordeals.

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Thank you for stopping by. Hope you have enjoyed this weeks Friday facts segment! Would you like us to mention a fact in next week Friday facts? Make sure to leave a comment and come back for more articles!! 

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