Recent comments in /f/askscience

TheMooseIsBlue t1_j796zmh wrote

Reply to comment by Ech_01 in What causes the onset of puberty specifically? by Voomit

This is like a game of wack-a-mole. One thing is triggered by another, which was triggered by another, but we still can’t seem to get to the why. I interpret OP’s question to be “why does it start at the age it does,” so why doesn’t this cause and effect chain start at like age 5 or age 20 or age 50?

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tyler1128 t1_j795cvh wrote

Reply to why you DON'T develop resistance to some medications? by sadra-the-legend

We do know that SSRIs cause a withdrawal of sorts if stopped abruptly, this implies some sort of adaptation in the brain's serotonin system, or some other downstream effect. To really answer why you don't generally grow resistant to SSRIs would require to understand exactly why SSRIs work for depression, and we don't yet. One hypothesis is not that the additional serotonin is the direct way they work, but that the presence of more serotonin downregulates certain serotonin receptors and that downregulation is ultimately what gives it therapeutic benefit.

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rpsls t1_j78n559 wrote

Reply to comment by CrazyisNSFW in Why do some allergies get worse over time and some better? And how does allergen desensitivity work without making the reaction worse? by DontDoDrugs316

You definitely do react to allergy shots. The first shots gave me giant welts on the underside of my arm. But you take antihistamine with it, and the reaction doesn’t turn into an over-reaction. It’s a very specific dosing regimen (injected into a specific spot) to ensure that the immune system can see it, but not overreact. That’s the level at which the immune system starts to slowly see it as normal and non-threatening.

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CompetitiveYou2034 t1_j78jst4 wrote

Reply to comment by LightningRodofH8 in How could a high-altitude surveillance balloon be captured? by aggasalk

[Moot response, written after balloon is popped over the Atlantic ocean.]

> The balloon is carrying 1,000 lbs of equipment ....

The capture planes were cargo aircraft that carry many tons. 1,000 lbs would not be a problem, dragged by a wire behind a heavy lifter.

Unfortunately for today's events, those capture planes are in a bone graveyard or sold for scrap. Worse, the pilots trained in such maneuvers are long retired or gone.

If it was deemed needed, the Air Force could easily recreate the 1960s air skyhook capability.

My predictions are:

-- the Chinese will not be brazen enough to repeat the spy balloon anytime soon. Therefore. no need to recreate skyhook.

-- if they do send another, the US will shoot it down in Alaska or over the Pacific ocean as it enters US adiz.

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