Weird Questions We Didn't Know Needed Explanations

Asked by Redditoru/DayLight707:

What is the “pins and needles” feeling that happens when you cut off circulation to a body part?

Answered by Redditoru/Wrest216:

It is not actual blood circulation (if it were, limbs would die). It isnerves being compressed and cut off.Sitting in a position that compresses nerves stops signal transmission. Nerve cells try to send signals first, but they stop without feedback. This causes the "numbness" or "this body part fell asleep" we all feel.

When the compression stops, nerves sense this. They start a chain of "testing" signals to all affected cells to check if they are still there. This feels painful because nerves use pain as a signal. Brain sensory organs stop this test firing pattern after about 30 to 120 seconds and resume normal function. That time in between is quite painful. Each sensation feels like a nerve "thread ending" being tested.

Asked by Redditoru/ZuluPapa:

Does sipping water versus 'chugging' water affect how the body processes it?

Answered by Redditoru/ethrael237:

After you swallowwater, it goes to your stomach. There, it slowly leaves for yoursmall intestineto be absorbed and enter your bloodstream. It takes 10 to 40 minutes for water to reach the small intestine and get absorbed. This speed depends on the amount of water, thetemperature (cold water releases slower), and what else is in the stomach. But, generally, it does not matter if you chug a bottle in 10 seconds or sip it over 10 minutes. It reaches your bloodstream about the same time.Cold water releases slower if there is food in the stomach, etc. But, drinking a bottle fast in 10 seconds or slowly sipping it over ten minutes puts it in your bloodstream about the same time.

Asked by Redditoru/SixthGrader:

Why must we "fall" asleep? Why can't we just choose to sleep?

Answered by Redditoru/Hypermeme:

Sleeping changes our physiology.. Your core body temperature drops, which lets certain proteins work differently than they do during your "waking temp," for example. We do not want easy control over this.. The process of getting sleepy is highly controlled by your circadian rhythm and other hormone systems. We need to burn energy to feel tired (when you use ATP and create adenosine, which signals fatigue in humans).

We lack voluntary control over sleep because it is chemically controlled. Adenosine, melatonin, hypercretin (orexin), and others control it.

We need to burn energy to feel tired. Using ATP makes adenosine, which signals fatigue in humans.

Asked by Redditoru/bennyunderscore. Adenosine, melatonin, hypercretin (orexin), and others.

If a heart is a muscle, why doesn’t it ever get tired of beating but things like my arms and legs do?Answered by Redditor:

If the heart is a muscle, why doesn't it get tired of beating like my arms and legs do?

Answered by Redditoru/siddster:

Cardiovascular physiologist with extensive exercise physiology experience here.

Cardiac muscle differs from skeletal muscle. While some contractile proteins share similarities, heart cells have different energy production and consumption methods.

Cardiomyocytes resist fatigue because they hold nearly twice the mitochondria. Mitochondria power aerobic cells. We see this in citric synthase content.Mitochondrial.Content.

The heart uses fuel flexibly. It consumes glucose, free fatty acid, and lactate.Lactate.Yes, it uses lactate, just like skeletal muscle. This happens especially during high-intensity exercise.

Cardiomyocytes have good blood flow. More mitochondria let them pull oxygen and use it for aerobic respiration. Even at rest, heart muscle extracts most usable oxygen from blood. Thus, improving flow, not extraction, helps oxygen delivery.

Asked by Redditor.u/Standby4Rant:

What percentage of my weight do I lift during a push-up?

Answered by a formerRedditor.:

... Researchers found the answer depends on the exercise variant and the exercise stage. For example, in aTraditional.push-up, the number is about 69% at the top and 75% at the bottom.

The study also checked a "modified push-up." This version, where knees stay on the floor, is an easier exercise. Surprisingly, even here, you lift a lot of body mass: 54% at the top and 62% at the bottom.

Asked by Redditor.u/Theblankuser:

How do we hear voices in our head, and how are they made?

Answered by Redditor.u/AirtimeAficionado:

An internal monologue suggests corollary discharge—simulating sensory effects of actions—happens without the original motor signal. We don't fully grasp the exact mechanism, but mirror neurons might be involved. This imagined speech comes from a merePrediction.prediction of sensory input from a simulation in the right parietal lobe's proprioceptive regions.

The actual voice one hears does not process in the brain's auditory areas. Complex planning in the prefrontal cortex connects with Wernicke's area, a language center in the temporal lobe, which assigns language to thoughts. This likely sends the information to internal projecting mirror neurons in the frontal lobe, Broca's area, another language center that handles syntax and controls mouth movements for speech. Here, the corollary discharge simulation occurs.

This process creates the "sounds" of internal speech. Since the meaning of this internal speech is already known, audial processing and interpretation do not need to happen. Therefore, the corollary discharge only produces the recognizable interpretations of speech that allow for more complex thought.This process creates the recognizable interpretations of speech that allow for more complex thought.This allows for more complex thought.

Redditor and u/SwissStrikeru/SwissStriker:

One part of the brain plans body movement; another part compares that plan to what is actually happening. Inner monologue is the brain planning to speak, starting from language comprehension and working backward. This means the brain does not need to produce the speech at all.

Redditor askedu/Machipero:

Can a venomous snake commit suicide by biting itself?

Redditor answeredu/DijonMustardIceCream:

I have seen snakes bite themselves on several accounts (usually the lower body or tail). Some instances show snakes biting other snakes, one even hitting another directly on the head right at the brain.Rattlesnakes ... [don't show] any adverse effects or even reduction in growth when bitten by other rattlesnakes.

Redditor askedu/baranxlr:

Why don't humans have mating seasons?

Redditor answeredu/atomfullerene:

Many animals have mating seasons because offspring born at certain times of the year have a better chance at survival.Survival.For example, deer mate in the fall and give birth in late spring. This ensures they have food and time to grow before the harsh winter. Tropical fish spawn when the rains end the dry season, giving their young access to shelter and food in flooded forests along river banks.

Redditor askedu/infernograve:

Do giraffes get struck by lightning more often than other animals?

Redditor answeredu/electric_ionland:

This article talks about how four-legged animals face greater lightning strike risk because ground current can hit vital organs. It also explains how large animals like giraffes and elephants have higher chances of deadly strikes. They are tall, so lightning might jump directly to their head even under a tree.Four-legged animals face greater lightning strike risk because ground current can hit vital organs. Large animals like giraffes and elephants have higher chances of deadly strikes. They are tall, so lightning might jump directly to their head even under a tree.Tall.Even under a tree, there is a chance lightning could jump directly to their head.

The other issue is that the large distance their legs span increases the risk.The voltage and current passing through them are shown in this figure. The article lacks hard numbers on strike frequency for each species.This figure shows the animals going through this. The article lacks hard numbers on strike frequency for each species.