Sam Blogging

we-are-star-stuff: Ever wish you could see sounds? Now you...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:18:31 -0400

Ever wish you could see sounds? Now you can.

The call of a white beaked dolphin.

The song of a humpback whale.

The sound of crickets chirping.

The song of a Northern Cardinal forms a looping vortex of yellow and purple.

The baritone song of the Northern minke whale.

Sounds like these – being sounds – are obviously usually heard, not seen; but the notes and tones seen here have been converted into a visual medium by Mark Fischer, a computer programmer and expert in marine acoustics, using a tool known as a wavelet transform.

Historically, wavelet transforms have been used to convert time-series data like acoustic pressure signals (some of them at frequencies outside the range of human hearing) into more analyzable, and therefore useful, forms. Recently, they’ve been used to this end in research surrounding whale communication and the calls of birds and insects.

Often these audible → visible conversions result in a black and white image. Here, they’re beautifully color-coded. Violets correspond to high frequencies, greens and blues to medium ones. Low frequencies are depicted in red.

See more of Fischer’s work on his website.

quantumaniac: Introduction to How Marijuana Works Marijuana...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:18:09 -0400

quantumaniac:

Introduction to How Marijuana Works
Marijuana is the buds and leaves of the Cannabis sativa plant. This plant contains more than 400 chemicals, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant’s main psychoactive chemical. THC is known to affect our brain’s short-term memory. Additionally, marijuana affects motor coordination, increases your heart rate and raises levels of anxiety. Studies also show that marijuana contains cancer-causing chemicals typically associated with cigarettes.

Marijuana plants contain more than 400 chemicals, 60 of which fit into a category called cannabinoids. THC is just one of these cannabinoids, but it’s the chemical most often associated with the effects that marijuana has on the brain. Cannabis plants also contain choline, eugenol, guaicacol and piperidine. The concentration of THC and other cannabinoids varies depending on growing conditions, plant genetics and processing after harvest.

Marijuana in the Body

Every time a user smokes a marijuana cigarette or ingests marijuana in some other form, THC and other chemicals enter the user’s body. The chemicals make their way through the bloodstream to the brain and then to the rest of the body. The most powerful chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is primarily responsible for the “high” associated with the drug.

The most common way of using marijuana is smoking. Smoking is also the most expedient way to get the THC and other chemicals into the bloodstream. When the smoke from marijuana is inhaled, the THC goes directly to the lungs. Your lungs are lined with millions of alveoli, the tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs. These alveoli have an enormous surface area — 90 times greater than that of your skin — so they make it easy for THC and other compounds to enter the body. The smoke is absorbed by the lungs just seconds after inhaling.

You can also eat marijuana. In this case, the marijuana enters the stomach and the blood absorbs it there. The blood then carries it to the liver and the rest of the body. The stomach absorbs THC more slowly than the lungs. When marijuana is eaten, the levels of THC in the body are lower, but the effects last longer

Marijuana and the Brain

THC is a very potent chemical compared to other psychoactive drugs. An intravenous (IV) dose of only 1 milligram can produce serious mental and psychological effects. Once in your bloodstream, THC typically reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled and begins to go to work.

Marijuana users often describe the experience of smoking marijuana as initially relaxing and mellow, creating a feeling of haziness and light-headedness. The user’s eyes may dilate, causing colors to appear more intense, and other senses may be enhanced. Later, feelings of a paranoia and panic may be felt by the user. The interaction of the THC with the brain is what causes these feelings. To understand how marijuana affects the brain, you need to know about the parts of the brain that are affected by THC. Here are the basics:

Neurons are the cells that process information in the brain. Chemicals called neurotransmitters allow neurons to communicate with each other.

Neurotransmitters fill the gap, or synapse, between two neurons and bind to protein receptors, which enable various functions and allow the brain and body to be turned on and off.

Some neurons have thousands of receptors that are specific to particular neurotransmitters.

Foreign chemicals, like THC, can mimic or block actions of neurotransmitters and interfere with normal functions.

In your brain, there are groups of cannabinoid receptors concentrated in several different places. These cannabinoid receptors have an effect on several mental and physical activities, including:

Short-term memory

Coordination

Learning

Problem solving

Cannabinoid receptors are activated by a neurotransmitter called anandamide. Anandamide belongs to a group of chemicals called cannabinoids. THC is also a cannabinoid chemical. THC mimics the actions of anandamide, meaning that THC binds with cannabinoid receptors and activates neurons, which causes adverse effects on the mind and body.

High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors exist in the hippocampus, cerebellum and basal ganglia. The hippocampus is located within the temporal lobe and is important for short-term memory. When the THC binds with the cannabinoid receptors inside the hippocampus, it interferes with the recollection of recent events. THC also affects coordination, which is controlled by the cerebellum. The basal ganglia controls unconscious muscle movements, which is another reason why motor coordination is impaired when under the influence of marijuana.

The “Munchies”

One peculiar phenomenon associated with marijuana use is the increased hunger that users feel, often called the “munchies.” Research shows that marijuana increases food enjoyment and the number of times a person eats each day.

Until recently, the munchies were a relative mystery. However, a recent study by Italian scientists may explain what happens to increase appetite in marijuana users. Molecules called endocannabinoids bind with receptors in the brain and activate hunger.

This research indicates that endocannabinoids in the hypothalamus of the brain activate cannabinoid receptors that are responsible for maintaining food intake.

Other Physiological Effects of Marijuana

In addition to the brain, the side effects of marijuana reach many other parts of the body, which include:

Problems with memory and learning

Distorted perception

Difficulty with thinking and problem solving

Loss of coordination

Increased heart rate

Anxiety, paranoia and panic attacks

The initial effects created by the THC in marijuana wear off after an hour or two, but the chemicals stay in your body for much longer. The terminal half-life of THC is from about 20 hours to 10 days, depending on the amount and potency of the marijuana used. This means that if you take one milligram of THC that has a half-life of 20 hours, you will still have 0.031 mg of THC in your body more than four days later. The longer the half-life, the longer the THC lingers in your body.

The debate over the addictive capacity of marijuana continues. Ongoing studies now show a number of possible symptoms associated with the cessation of marijuana use. These symptoms most commonly include irritability, nervousness, depression, anxiety and even anger. Other symptoms are restlessness, severe changes in appetite, violent outbursts, interrupted sleep or insomnia. In addition to these possible physical effects, psychological dependence usually develops because a person’s mind craves the high that it gets when using the drug.

Beyond these effects that marijuana has, marijuana smokers are susceptible to the same health problems as tobacco smokers, such as bronchitis, emphysema and bronchial asthma. Other effects include dry mouth, red eyes, impaired motor skills and impaired concentration. Long-term use of the drug can increase the risk of damaging the lungs and reproductive system, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It has also been linked to heart attacks.

Although marijuana is known to have negative effects on the human body, there is a raging debate over the use of medicinal marijuana. Some say that marijuana should be legalized for medical use because it has been known to suppress nausea, relieve eye pressure, decrease muscle spasms, stimulate appetite, stop convulsions and eliminate menstrual pain. Because of its therapeutic nature, marijuana has been used in the treatment of several conditions including: cancer and AIDS (to supress nausea and stimulate appetite), glaucoma (to alleviate eye pressure), epilepsy (to stop convulsions) and multiple sclerosis (to decrease muscle spasms).

Source: HowStuffWorks

Ok, yeah, this may not be good for me….

viedomestique: Jacques Tati par Yale Joel, 1958.

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:35:26 -0400

viedomestique:

Jacques Tati par Yale Joel, 1958.

Photo

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:35:10 -0400

sagansense: thescienceofreality: posssitive-vibrations: love...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:32:46 -0400

sagansense:

thescienceofreality:

posssitive-vibrations:

love my new book

So pretty, I need this in my life.

Another one I have had for awhile that I’ve been working through every so often. There’s a lot of awesomeness in this book.

photojojo: What happens when you combine professional wake...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:09:16 -0400

photojojo:

What happens when you combine professional wake boarding with one of the world’s premier light painters? Some rather incredible imagery, to say the least.

Patrick Rochon teamed up with Red Bull and a few professional wake boarders to produce the series. Along with the photos, there’s an exceptional video detailing the process behind the complex shoot.

Wake Boarding Collides With Light Painting

via John Nack

buzzfeed: Hey, cups are hard guys.

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:08:37 -0400

buzzfeed:

Hey, cups are hard guys.

Photo

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:07:43 -0400

dezeen: Market Hall by Robbrecht en Daem and Marie-José Van...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:06:50 -0400

dezeen:

Market Hall by Robbrecht en Daem and Marie-José Van Hee

Photography by Hufton + Crow

Whaoooooo

inspirationfeed: If you’re looking for quality retro graphics,...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:06:30 -0400

inspirationfeed:

If you’re looking for quality retro graphics, then you came to the right place. Whether you’re working on a project or just practicing, the following resources are bound to save you time. Today we collected forty-five free vintage design resources consisting of icons, patterns, graphics, vectors, PSD files, posters, badges, characters, and more. All downloads are open for personal use, however please double check if you’re planning to use them commercially.

Source: inspirationfeed.com

buzzfeed: Get your snack on.

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:05:51 -0400

buzzfeed:

Get your snack on.

Photo

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:06:32 -0400

WANTED: Astronauts for one-way trip to Mars

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:05:51 -0400

alexob:

A non-profit organization that aims to land four astronauts on Mars in 2023 has signed its first deal with a supplier for the ambitious space colonization effort. They are now starting their search for the astronauts that will live on Mars.

To apply for a position on Mars click here.

pappubahry: Jupiter’s moon Io, photographed by Voyager 2, 10...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:05:08 -0400

pappubahry:

Jupiter’s moon Io, photographed by Voyager 2, 10 July 1979.

The end of this blog’s Io-thon follows on from yesterday’s post. The photos used in this gif were taken with longer exposures than yesterday’s, so there is a better contrast between Io and the background. Two volcanic eruptions are clearly visible in the top-left: I think that they are from Amirani and Maui. There’s also an eruption on the right-hand side, but as its only lit by reflected light from Jupiter, it requires a lot of brightening to see (NASA’s photojournal shows it here).

You can also see a volcano in the south, tall enough to stay in sunlight even as the surrounding areas fall into darkness.

Yesterday I mentioned the bright spot glinting near the equator. I asked Jason Perry (who used to write an Io blog) about it on Twitter and he said that it “looks like specular reflection off of glassy, cooled lava near Hi’iaka Patera.” So there you go.

AAAHHHH

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:04:57 -0400

AAAHHHH

colliderblog: A nice shot of the ATLAS mural at CERN done by...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:03:36 -0400

colliderblog:

A nice shot of the ATLAS mural at CERN done by the artist Josef Kristofoletti.

Hope to post some photos of ATLAS soon. I got a couple but was photobombed by some workers with a crane as they were working on it.

visualgraphic: Wedding Invitation by Jefferson Cheng

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:03:26 -0400

visualgraphic:

Wedding Invitation by Jefferson Cheng

88floors: Submerged Churches. These churches from all over the...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:02:37 -0400

88floors:

Submerged Churches.

These churches from all over the world are not victims of natural disaster, they all sit in the valley of a reservoir. Many reservoirs were created in valleys with small towns or villages nestled in them, the benefit of having reservoirs always outweighed the cost in relocating a small population. In many of these settlements the religious buildings were the tallest and once the valleys were flooded they could still be seen poking out of the water in a surreal post apocalyptic manner. Lots of them still survive, making more of an appearance every time the water level drops.

Among these examples are Ladybower, Graun, Panta de Sau, Tehri and Potosi

Kinda want to go diving to see the rest of those flooded towns.

magicalnaturetour: “I’m Batman!!!!” by Eduardo Lins Look at...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:01:41 -0400

magicalnaturetour:

“I’m Batman!!!!” by Eduardo Lins

Look at those ears!!

enochliew: Acutor by Jaeryong Lee The designer found beauty in...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:01:11 -0400

enochliew:

Acutor by Jaeryong Lee

The designer found beauty in the sawdust created by sharpening pencils and hence came up with a sharpening solution to have it on display rather than hidden.