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Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities
Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 50 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.
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Comments
i really enjoyed your
i really enjoyed your website. There is a lot of useful information. I want to work with small children , and the information you provide is very useful. thanks Shannon
the classic prisoner's dilemma
I think the one who is apprehenned first will get the best deal and serve less time.
Brains...
Dear all at Serendip
I have very much enjoyed looking around your website, especially your section on the brains of different animals. I am currently studying for my Masters in psychology, focussing my research on how educating children about their brains can aid their education. I can't find any copyright information on your website, so I wanted to ask whether I could use your picture of a frog's brain for my project. If successful, the resources created by my project will be available for everyone to use (in a non-profit capacity, of course!).
Many thanks
Tegan
Serendip and copyright
With regards to melatonin, and some notes on the 'Nocebo'-effect
I have just read Kathryn K. Ho's experiment using melatonin. The article in question gave a broad account of the effects of melatonin, before Kathryn went on to "conduct an experiment" where she, her parents and her younger siblings took melatonin for a single week and found no effects.
Melatonin has been shown to have several beneficial effects, including its use as an anti-cancer agent, and is certainly marketed to aid with sleep. However, it is strongly believed in the field of circadian research that melatonin is only useful as a supplement in the elderly (at least over 60). Kathryn rightly stated that melatonin production declines with age, and explains, at least in part, some of the sleep disruption that the elderly suffer from. It is logical that melatonin supplements would help those with a melatonin deficiency, in much the same way that someone with a perfectly balanced diet has no need of a multi-vitamin.
However, it would be interesting to know, if Kathryn and her parents (and maybe a larger sample population) took melatonin chronically every night, are they less at risk of developing certain cancers? (such as those associated with night-shift work: breast and colorectal cancers being named examples). There is some evidence now that melatonin may protect those at risk of developing neurodegenerative disease as well.
I find it interesting that Kathryn mentioned the 'Nocebo' effect. While it was probably the case that the melatonin was not doing anything for her as I assume she is not over the age of 60, there are recent studies to suggest that the Nocebo-effect is particularly relevant in chronic pain management. A very recent study (Irene Tracey's lab in Oxford, UK) connected patients to an IV drip of a well-known efficacious pain medication. They turned on the drip without telling the patients, and monitored their pain on a brain scan. The pain decreased somewhat without the patients knowing about the drug. When the doctors told the patients they were turning on the drip (even though it was already on), the pain decreased dramatically (remembering that the pain measured was not even reported actively by the patients). The doctors then told the patients that they were turning the drip off (even thought they left the drug running) and the pain measured in the patients was actually worse than before the experiment.
I hope that this highlights some of the importance of taking the right supplements for your age and diet (for example, often, taking vitamin C is a waste of money, as most of the drug is released into the urine anyway). Consult your GP about the right supplements for you. I'm not sure I would report melatonin as quite the wonder-drug that Walter Pierpaoli does in his pop-science book 'The Melatonin miracle:...' but there are almost certainly no detrimental effects of taking melatonin at night before sleep, so it can't do too much harm (except the hole in your wallet!) I also hope that you realise the importance of keeping an open mind with taking medications, as the placebo effect is physiologically very strong, as are the negative effects of feeling negative about a treatment! As a final note, I would like to say that there are some people who are 'larks' and some who are 'owls'; our circadian rhythms do not all run at the same time. All you can do for this in order to get more sleep is plan your day better and begin a regiment of trying to shift to the average 12pm-8am sleeping pattern. It is also vital for your body systems that you are exposed to a good amount of strong light (think sunny daylight) during the day - even going outside on a cloudy day is better than sitting at a computer screen all the time!
I used your information for poetry
Hello. I just wanted to send you a message to thank you for the information you make available. I am a writer, author, and poet and I was able to write one of my poems based upon the information you have on your site. Thank you again. The poems is listed below in case you want to read it.
Respectfully,
Deneene A. Collins
Rain On My Brain
Thoughts spinning like a vortex;
a tornado in my cerebral cortex
No damage was done to my intellect
attributed to how my skull protects
So no matter how life's weather
tries to drive me insane
Typhoons full of doom
are nothing more than rain on my brain
Responsible for my highest brain function
is my cerebrum
It's the largest part of my brain,
therefore making a spacious thought plain
for the falling of smart rain
The place of thought and action;
divided into four sections
The skies of men's minds
send out probes
to inquire of my lobes
like the production of crystals
from sweet sugar cane
Little liquid miracles
are the rain on my brain
Associated with reasoning is my frontal lobe
The realm of planning on my mental globe
Where speech, movement, and emotions abide
Solutions to problems this brain part provides
When movement, orientation, and recognition is vital
along with the ability to perceive stimuli
There is a portion of my brain that is not shy
which is a lobe called parietal
There is a section of my brain that is highly visual
Processing sight; it is the lobe called occipital
Interpreting the images of sight
like a translator in the mind's eye
and with it I see
all things vividly
Infinite photos in aquatic frames
are visions of rain falling on my brain
My temporal lobe speaks volumes
perceiving and recognizing the auditory
It is like the ears that inhabit my brain's columns
and holds captive experiences in my memory
It is auditory sensory
further speech capability
An acoustic receptor singing the refrains
of life's multiple songs
over and over all day long
Just like the melody of rain on my brain
My cerebral cortex is highly efficient
due to the wrinkles that increase its surface
Tons of neurons are held within it
making its gyrencephalization
or cortical folding relevant
My cerebrum has two halves
which are the right and left hemispheres
of my brain's potent mass
Each side functions differently
While the left hemisphere is associated with logistic abilities
the right hemisphere is all about creativity
These two hemispheres are divinely connected
by what is called the corpus callosum
a truly brilliant bundle of axons
There is a gray surface of the cerebrum
a little thicker than the average thumb
The white nerve fibers underneath
carry signals within the brain
and between the brain and body
To me, it is similar to the rain
carrying signals from high places to the ground
Almost as profound
as rain in drought drizzling on parched grain
or as phenomenal as rain on my brain
Man is considered an animal
classified as a mammal
Our animalistic instinct is not hid
when we don't keep a lid on our psychological id
And though at times we can be savage
our intelligence gives us an advantage
We have a neocortex
for processing information that is complex
Just like dolphins and primates
but superiorly, I hope you can relate
On the level of our exceptional DNA
by which we are both wild and tame
In an asphalt jungle and concrete rain forest
where rain falls upon our brains
Even though the cerebellum is known as the, "little brain,"
It is not small in concept by any means
It's the center of posture, balance, movement, and coordination
It is the mind's Mecca of regulation
And then there is the Limbic System
buried in the cerebrum
Known as the "emotional brain"
The thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus
it contains...
More than that it has
a much welcomed clashed
Guarding it from things insane
known as rain on the brain
Finally, there is the Brain Stem
underneath the Limbic System
Responsible for basic vital life functions
breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure
are some of them
Made of the pons, medulla, and midbrain
And while poetry, wisdom, insight, and intellectuality
are not considered anatomical parts of the brain
they are and always will be
the refreshing ambiance in every season
Falling with reason
as rain upon our brains
by Deneene A. Collins
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2011
modern brain size comparison figure
Hello! I've been trying to navigate your website with no luck. Any chance I can use your comparative modern vertebrate brain size figure in a paper on evolution of life on earth? Also any chance you've got a sharper image?
Permission
Sure, happy you found it useful. We don't have a hi-res version for print however.
Ann
@Deneene
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/
/bb/neuro/neuro01/web1/Rana.html
Time to update your 'research', buddy.
This article is outdated and full of fallacies.
Sides of the Brain
Our names are Alexalis and Nicole, and we are doing a research project in our school. Our project is based on the brain. We have been studying the left and right side of the brain specifically. We have found a lot of information on each side, for example how the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body. We also did research on how the left and right side of the brain affect illusions.
On your website we found a lot of interesting facts on it and we were wondering if you could answer some questions:
- Which hemisphere of the brain is affected by illusions the most?
- What are some other differences between the hemispheres?
- How does illusions work ?
If any informative kits, we would really appreciate it. Thank You.
Frontal Lobe Cancer
Boyfriend is a former navy seal and was exposed to muster gas in first gulf war. I took him to the hospital other day because he was shaking. Was told he was having a grand mal seizure. His legs and feet sometimes gets numbs. He sometimes has short term memory problems, sometimes he does not "see" items that are right in front of him. We are looking for info about what is occurring as well as quality of life issues, given, that he was told he has a year or so to live. Any info appreciated
Life Science
Reply to woman whose boyfriend is sick with cancer: Recently reading about nutrition and although the information does not claim any cures for disease or cancer it has alot of eye-opening info. There is no date or address or publishing info on this book which is very unusual it only has Published by LIFE SCIENCE. It was bought this summer at a book fair and is actually six books in a volume called: Vol III: THE BASIC HEALTH LIBRARY it is in paper back style and old enough that some of the pages are yellowing around the edges. What it does stress is having a life style of eating Fruits and Vegetables, but not in our usual way of cooking but in their natural state, consumed raw. "Cooking destroys the nutritive values of food. It renders all foods INORGANIC in short order! Cooking destroys enzymes totally within moments of the application of heat. The constituent minerals (mineral salts) are broken down by heating into their inorganic components. Cooking coagulates proteins, renders them largely indigestible and de-aminizes the amino acids. It renders proteins inorganic---Cooking destroys co-enzymes (vitamins) though not as readily as it destoys enzymes and proteins." The book makes alot of good points and does refer to Rodale Press Inc for info on Organic Food directory. Some of the articles are penned by MD's. I myself am taking the suggestions of this info and eating raw fruit one kind maybe with alittle leaf lettuce or celery. (these two are compatable with fruit) no breakfast as the body has enough to go on from supper. So for lunch fruit fresh not cooked or canned or processed in any way and supper a large salad with bibb or romaine not iceberg, with 3 other fresh vegetables. It's worth a look, you learn things you didn't know before (unless u r already into it) They say not to use any condiments of any sort and to feel better on this way of eating with out any loss of nutrients, the carrot has 20 out of 24 amino acids! and celery has 13! It takes awhile for the body to adjust because of all the good things it gets into the body it starts passing out all the garbage, but after awhile your whole body and brain feels way better. Good luck don't forget we have a kind and loving heavenly Father who we can go to the throne of grace thru Jesus our Savior. The book also states that research said that Schizophrenia is a disease of protein imbalance in the brain and that witness the near 100% restoration to mental wholesomeness thru fasting. If you have not read Hulda Clark PHD book on cancer that would be worth getting also. Take care good luck! You can go to AmazingFacts.org for some really good scripture study lesson from the King James Bible press the free button!
Enjoy
Website offer easy, clear explanations. It is a joy to use as a study cortical plasticity. Thank you!
hello
i think your website is interesting. please fix the gramatical errors. this is a very large and well put together database and i appreciate your contribution to my knowledge.
How to post
I have a lot of knowledge of CSF leaks, but tried to post a response to a question, but it did not show up. Seriously, I have a great deal to contribute here, so please let me know how to post to: CSF leaks and Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. Thanks.
Comments are moderated
Hi Jack, Welcome! We are happy that you're contributing to the discussion about CSF leaks. Your post did go through - it was just delayed by our moderation process.
We keep spammers off of Serendip by *both* an automated spam detection service *and also* a human moderator. Comments are published after passing through both tests; we try to minimize the delays as much as possible. So thanks again for your comments, which appear here: /exchange/node/1688#comment-125990
and hope you continue to share your experiences with the community here.
Ann
perfect!
i cant even explain how great your article was in explaining what truly goes on in a "trip" internally and externally. This article must reach the masses of the youth, cause it explains both truth's of a trip. the amazing feeling and its horrible cost. I can honestly say this is the greatest article i've read about this subject. i hope one day this can be shown to all the youth to prevent this sad epidemic.