Recent comments in /f/askscience

tinkh t1_j975dob wrote

Reply to Can doctors tell when cancer is caused by something specific, such as smoking or chemicals? by [deleted]

We all know when people lie about smoking. The “social smoker”. How we know?

Respiratory and Pulmonology providers. Decreased DLCO that is caused by destruction of the lung surfaces when it is combined with air trapping and obstructive disease showing on Pulmonary Functions Tests which anyone going through lung cancer will know. Through EBUS, Navigational Bronchoscopes, and traditional methods of biopsy, we obtain cells that will be staged and identified. Your carboxyhemoglobin being over 5.0 we know you smoked or were in a house fire. We may not our heads like we believe you, but we absolutely know.

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Shadowfalx t1_j9756f9 wrote

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

You are correct but are missing the forest for the trees as they say.

The original mutation is random, benefiting (or at least not harming) is selected for. So without the random mutation there isn't anything being selected for.

For example, say we need to change gene 1 from A to C for the fever to last 1 hour longer (this is very simplified of course) but throughout history no one has changed gene 1 to C then there will be no longer fever to select for.

We can't see evolution as something that moves creatures along with intent. Nothing is guaranteed since you must first have a random mutation to progress.

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BeneficialWarrant t1_j9746la wrote

Reply to Do arthropods experience emotions and/or pain, and how can we know that? by _Marteue_

As far as I'm aware, we don't have a good way of objectively describing, measuring, or comparing a subjective "experience". We know that they can detect a nociceptive (painful) stimulus and change their behavior to avoid the stimulus. We can even accurately simulate the entire nervous system of some simple arthropods in a computer program and completely understand how they process information and "think". Despite this, I don't think we can know if they suffer.

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AnnoyedPanther t1_j96qxqb wrote

Reply to comment by EsUnTiro 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

As a Sufferer of Secondary Non Focalized Hyperhidrosis I can attest to that. I sweat excessively because of medications I'm on. Unlike most people who will sweat out of focalized point in the body first ie; armpits, forehead, etc. I sweat all over my body at once with minimal effort. My body and the clothes I'm in become soaked. Just the wet skin alone whether it is +30 or -10 degrees triggers cold shock. Your muscles clench, you gasp for air, your heart rate skyrockets, your skin STINGS all over your body and it HURTS. You sweat more because your anxious and it hurts. You just want to curl in a ball and sleep you become so exhausted and quickly. I'ts extremely debilitating.

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grewupnointernetmom t1_j96qck8 wrote

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

Yes you would still have anemia, dependent upon the rate of the bleed. The lost blood won’t be oxygenated and returned to the tissues, the pump (heart) will have to speed up to try to compensate, and other organs such as the kidneys, the brain, etc., will suffer temporary or perhaps permanent damage from a lack of sufficient blood supply.

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