Summer Science

Fun video clip on 3 basic questions about the summer.

Music Sounds Different To Different People

Researchers placed auditory implants in ferrets and each ferret responded differently to the same sound because neurons reacted differently each time, an effect applicable to humans. So, human brains process sounds depending on how our ears deliver that sound. This means different people may hear the same sound differently.

Still, this is music no matter what anyone says.

Snakes Hear With Jaws

We know that snakes see heat with their noses and smell with their tongues. Now, we know they hear with their jaws.

Snakes only have an inner ear system. The cochlea - instrumental in hearing - is connected to the snake's jawbone. Vibrations that move a snake's jaw, therefore, allow the snake to hear ... even as minute as that of a rodent. Because snakes can unhinge their jaws one side at a time, they may be able to hear in stereo.

Traffic Jam Physics

A previous post looked at fluid mechanics to explain why traffic jams form. Another study argues we should study wave mechanics.

If a car suddenly brakes, the car behind does as well causing a chain reaction. A backwards traveling wave is essentially created. Traffic density itself is not the cause, rather a sudden interruption in traffic flow.

So what can we do? Be alert and brake slowly.