Recent comments in /f/askscience

Alexander_Schwann t1_jcsdcdb wrote

Reply to What is the ultimate fate of rocky bodies? by spiteful_rr_dm_TA

If the earth manages to avoid being consumed by the Sun dying, it will probably stick around basically forever.

However, eventually (in tens of billions of years) the liquid layers of the Earth's core and mantle will cool and solidify, which will have significant effects on the surface. The Earth's magnetic field will disappear, leaving it unprotected from ionizing radiation and cosmic rays. That will eventually lead to the atmosphere being lost along with all liquid water and Earth will end up looking more like Mars (which we think also once had oceans and an atmosphere). Luckily, we shouldn't have to worry about that for at least 90 billion years.

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VT_Squire t1_jcscxzq wrote

Reply to what effects do dehydration and tiredness have on our perceived hearing? by dombeale

Dehydration, emotional or physical stress, and poor sleep hygiene can all result in reduced blood flow to the broca region of the brain, which is crucial for speech and audio processing. This is most frequently identified due to speech issues like gibberish or slurring (i.e., some of the more extreme/exotic symptoms of ptsd), but it also can manifest as hearing issues. Google up Broca's Aphasia for more information on that. Due to the fleeting and temporary nature in which most experiences of altered hearing occur in otherwise healthy people, this connection usually only registers with people who have another persistent issue which is the underlying cause. You, a little bit outside of the norm with a trained ear and all, seem to have cued in on this. Right idea, right observation.

Try to relax, drink water, maybe try resting the day before a show. Avoid the salty foods, maybe do some pushups to keep your heart-rate going between shows. The best solution is all going to depend on how you're built.

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You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog t1_jcsbaxb wrote

Reply to Why have many plants evolved to need nitrogen-rich soil, when there is so much nitrogen freely available in they air they use anyway? by runningchild

Remember the first rule of evolution (or at least should be the first rule): evolution does not perfect things, it just finds solutions that are good enough.

With that being said, plants simply can’t use nitrogen in its gaseous form. Instead, they can only use ammonium or nitrates. These are continuously produced by bacteria in the soil and taken up by plants through their roots (if you’re curious, look up “nitrogen fixation cycle”).

In an ideal world, plants would just be able to take nitrogen straight out of the air, convert it for their needs, and never worry about having enough. But like it said, evolution uses whatever works. What likely happened was that as plants were first evolving, there were already plenty of bacteria fixing the nitrogen in the soil. So there was no selection pressure to evolve a new nitrogen-obtaining mechanism, when they could simply uptake it in the roots with the rest of the water/minerals they were up taking. Simple, and it works. Not perfect, but good enough.

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