Recent comments in /f/askscience

malefiz123 t1_j951ofy wrote

Reply to comment by WAGUSTIN in Why are fevers cyclical? by Key-Marionberry-9854

> Plasmodium*, the family of protozoa responsible for malaria, also displays this strategy, and also has a characteristic presentation of cycling fever (which is two or three days depending on the specific species).

An infectious disease specialist at my hospital said he never saw this kind of precise cycling in malaria patients, even though he treated hundreds of them. It seems to be one of the text book myths that float around medicine since forever.

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freshmountainbreeze t1_j94yulb wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Was reading something related to Rock Salt mining. In places like the Himalayas where rock salt mining is done in cold temperatures, a lot of miners report burns. Why is it so that salt burns in a colder surroundings? Would it be the same reason why the salt ice challenge was so dangerous? by vvdmoneymuttornot

The top of the shaker is often covered with water droplets where I live due to the salt residue collecting moisture from the extremely humid air.

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giskardwasright t1_j94uub2 wrote

Reply to comment by LivingDegree in If a human being is bleeding internally say in their mouth or stomach would they still have a risk of anemia? by Robbeee

To add to this we can tell on lab tests if it's chronic or acute anemia through red cell morphology. A slower chronic condition genetally results in red cells smaller than average size with less hemoglobin (microscopic hypochromic) where in an acute bleed situation the cells are normal sized and filled properly, just not enough of them. We can also tell how hard the bone marrow is working to replace cells by the presence and number of nucleated or immature rbcs.

I know you didn't ask, but I don't get to nerd out about this stuff often and I find it fascinating.

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redd-zeppelin t1_j94u582 wrote

Reply to comment by ramriot in Was reading something related to Rock Salt mining. In places like the Himalayas where rock salt mining is done in cold temperatures, a lot of miners report burns. Why is it so that salt burns in a colder surroundings? Would it be the same reason why the salt ice challenge was so dangerous? by vvdmoneymuttornot

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet%E2%80%93Nepal_salt_trade_route

"Throughout history, Nepalis and Tibetans have traded with each other via a number of mountain passes.[1] Two of the most important goods traded were salt from the lakes of Tibet (e.g. Namtso), and rice from the Middle Hills of Nepal.[2][3] For centuries, the barter of grain and other agricultural products from Nepal with salt and wool from Tibet formed the basis of a trade that has traditionally been in the hands of various, mostly Tibetan-speaking communities.[4]"

Salt mining has been a part of the traditional Tibetan economy for centuries, which I believe is what OP is talking about. I do know there is also a large industry in Pakistan now.

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DieFlavourMouse t1_j94sroa wrote

Reply to comment by Nyrin in Was reading something related to Rock Salt mining. In places like the Himalayas where rock salt mining is done in cold temperatures, a lot of miners report burns. Why is it so that salt burns in a colder surroundings? Would it be the same reason why the salt ice challenge was so dangerous? by vvdmoneymuttornot

Thank you, there's a lot of great information I your response. "eutectic frigorific mixture" is quite a fascinating concept. But can you explain a bit more of what you meant by "... frostburn with no sensitivity to know you're even being burned"? Why do we sense this phenomenon differently than other types of burns?

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