October+ALS

10/4/2014

What Makes Popcorn Pop?

Popcorn has been a snack for very many years. Native Americans believed that some type of spirit lived inside inside the kernels of popcorn. When the popcorn would get heated, the spirit would get mad and would burst out of the kernel. Well, I have a much more realistic and scientific answer for why popcorn pops. Every kernel of popcorn has a small drop of water inside. As the kernel is heating, the water inside begins to expand. Eventually when it gets hot enough, the water begins to expand. Eventually when it gets hot enough, the water turns to steam. The steam starts trying to to get out of the kernel, so it's almost like pushing on the inside of the kernel. The pressure in the kernel begins to get so heavy that it pops open, forming the popcorn. I found this information at: []

http://www.harbortheatre.net/?page_id=2998

October 13, 2014 Why do humans sleep?

Humans feel more active, energetic, and happy when they get to sleep. When we don't get sleep, it makes us feel grouchy, and tired. There is much more to the answer to this question, this is only the start.

One theory of sleep, is our brains way to rest or file away information and / or memories. Our brains could also file away events and thoughts from days before. Some memories are kept, but others go straight through us. I like to think of my brain as a computer.

Oct. 20, 2014 What causes Acne?

Most teenagers have acne. Some adults usually have acne, but it's more typical for teenagers to have it. Acne is so typical, that it is a natural part of puberty.

Acne is an action of skin that looks like different forms of bumps. These bumps are also known as, pimples, white heads, cysts, or black heads. Most teenagers get acne from a hormonal difference that puberty causes. Also, if your parents had acne, it is most likely that you will as well. The good thing about acne is that for most people, their acne goes away once they are no longer teenagers.

The sort of acne that most teenagers get is called, Acne Vulgaris. I know that the word Vulgaris sounds kind of scary, but don't worry, it just means most common. Most places this type of acne shows up at is on faces, upper backs, shoulders, chests, and necks.

The pores or hair follicles in your skin consist of Sebaceous glands or oil glands. These glands make an oil that anoints your hair and skin. Most of the time, the oil glands create the correct amount of Sebum. Sebum is the oil that is developed from the oil glands. While the teenager's body starts to develop and mature, hormones quicken the oil glands to create more sebum. The pores begin to get clogged if they get too much sebum and dead skin cells. Germs (mostly one called Propionibacterium acnes) can get captured inside the pores and spread, causing redness and swelling. This is the beginning of acne.

If a pore gets plugged but stays open, the top surface can blacken and leave a black head. If a pore gets plugged and closes but lumps out from the skin, it's left a white head. Frequently, the surface of the pore opens, allowing dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria to create their way under the skin - this leaves you with a red lump, also known as a pimple.

To prevent acne, clean your face one to two times a day. To wash your face, use warm water and mild soup. One thing that you should not do is scrub your face hard with a wash cloth. Acne cannot be scrubbed away. Scrubbing your face might cause it to get worse by irritating the pores and skin. Attempt to clean your face as lightly as you can.

I found this information at: [|http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/acne.html#].



Oct. 26, 2014 Why do your ears pop?

The air high above the surface of the earth has less amount of weight than the air close to the surface. This is because the air above the surface is pushing down on it.

As you ascend or go up in something like an airplane, the air pressure goes down, the air that's in your ears will make your eardrum push outward. This increase causes the discomfort you just before your ears pop and also makes your hearing ability to decrease, because the pressure on your eardrums makes the sound more difficult to comprehend.

Your body can make the pressure between your inner ear and the atmosphere equal by letting some air from the inner ear to go through the Eustachian tubes, which are two small tubes that connect the inner ears to the throat, there is one on each side. When they open, you feel the pressure discharge and you hear the difference because it's happening inside your ear.

I found this information at: www.pa.msu.edu/sciencet/ask_st/090292.html