Recent comments in /f/askscience
the_quark t1_jdlarvk wrote
Reply to comment by sciguy52 in How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
And this is why human-to-human transfer of rabies is very rare. Even confused, aggressive, delirious humans don't generally tend to bite as their main attack.
saxophysics t1_jdl559y wrote
Reply to comment by awawe in Could a black hole just be a big neutron star that just has gravity so high light cant escape? by SlyusHwanus
There is a lower bound on the half-life, so I’m assuming this number is using that lower bound. The correct statement would then be after at least 10^38 years
coppersly7 t1_jdky2nz wrote
Reply to comment by dave_890 in How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
What about the video of someone infected throwing water away from them? It looks like he's deathly afraid of the water even though he desperately wants it.
aqjo t1_jdky07o wrote
Reply to How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
If you're curious about these things, check out cordyceps unilateralis, the "zombie ant" fungus. It changes several of ants' behaviors to help with its survival and ability to reproduce. (Has evolved to do so, as others have stated.)
[deleted] t1_jdkxq2p wrote
Reply to comment by sciguy52 in How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
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[deleted] t1_jdkty6m wrote
Reply to Where do rumen bacteria come from? by ryum1503
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jsm1031 t1_jdkte0m wrote
Reply to How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
Just to add, in case anyone is at risk, you do not have to be bitten by a rabid animal to contract rabies. Getting the saliva, or other body fluid in an open wound or break in the skin, or having a bite too small to see can also transmit. Post exposure prophylaxis is usually offered if for instance you found a bat in your bedroom that tests positive even without a recognized bite.
[deleted] t1_jdkqr1r wrote
dave_890 t1_jdkp989 wrote
Reply to How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
More confusion, more agitation, more aggression => a greater likelihood of a biting incident.
The virus paralyzes the throat muscles, preventing the animal from swallowing properly. This produces the "foaming at the mouth", and makes it easier for the virus to spread via a bite.
There's a misconception of "hydrophobia" with rabies, but a rabid animal would certainly drink if it could swallow properly.
[deleted] t1_jdkp3mm wrote
fuckinequality t1_jdkl0r4 wrote
Reply to With the extraordinary amount of precipitation that has fallen on California, would that weight have any effect on the tectonic plates/fault lines and could it cause a major earthquake? by barfly2780
Well.
Perhaps every body should learn to swim.
And then. Let us build giant wind turbines that. Catch and release safely uh. Angry biting fish.
Like. Shoo go away lol idk and some we eat if they are too much idk.
Anyways.
[deleted] t1_jdkks2l wrote
Reply to comment by im_thatoneguy in What happened to the old COVID variants, like Delta? Could they come back? by number1dork
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[deleted] t1_jdkkev0 wrote
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SaltConfiscation t1_jdkkcos wrote
Reply to comment by Alwayssunnyinarizona in What happened to the old COVID variants, like Delta? Could they come back? by number1dork
I understand. I'll check with my doc. Thanks for the response.
[deleted] t1_jdkk19q wrote
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[deleted] t1_jdkjt4f wrote
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sciguy52 t1_jdkixla wrote
Reply to How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
Rabies does not compel an animal to bite. I causes an animal to lose some natural fear of humans which makes them more likely to be near or approach a person. The animal itself is likely disoriented, confused or perhaps delirious (we can't tell what an animal thinks but know what happens in humans). So the animals brain is not working right, it is not experiencing its usual fear of things, and probably is quite confused and just reacts to whatever is near by biting.
Harsimaja t1_jdkhqqm wrote
Reply to comment by porkypuha in What happened to the old COVID variants, like Delta? Could they come back? by number1dork
They outcompeted it by being more contagious. They are, however, less virulent (ie, less nasty should you get it). There may be a trend where these two correlate but it’s very far from a rule.
[deleted] t1_jdkhlya wrote
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awawe t1_jdkgvaz wrote
Reply to comment by djublonskopf in Could a black hole just be a big neutron star that just has gravity so high light cant escape? by SlyusHwanus
>After about 10^(38) years,
Where does this figure come from, given that we don't yet know whether protons decay or not, let alone their half life?
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mfb- t1_jdkg2fd wrote
Reply to comment by D3f4lt_player in Could a black hole just be a big neutron star that just has gravity so high light cant escape? by SlyusHwanus
They will take over only in the sense that they will still be around, there won't be matter left for them to capture - it will all be spread out too far at that time.
glacierre2 t1_jdlb1mk wrote
Reply to comment by aqjo in How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
You can also check toxoplasma gondi, which makes rats like the smell of cat pee (and some studies say makes bikers like speed)