Today I Learn

2021-05-10 06:35:57 Open / Comment

2021-05-07 17:54:32 ​​What is Proning and How to breathe better when Oxygen level drops?

As the coronavirus pandemic progressed and patients struggled to breathe, hospitals across the world learned that very sick patients were able to breathe better when they were flipped onto their stomachs.

 'Proning' is a medically accepted position to improve breathing comfort and oxygenation in COVID-19 patients.

This positioning, called proning (or prone-positioning), has been used for decades to improve clinical outcomes for those suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the lung condition that patients with severe COVID-19 cases develop. While proned, the patient is made to lie on his/her belly using pillows. One can also lie on their right side( right lateral), left side ( left lateral) or sit at a 60-90 degree angle in the ‘fowler position’.

If Oxygen saturation is (SpO2) drops below 94, timely proning and maintaining good ventilation can save a life. Proning improves ventilation to the lungs, and keeps the alveoli units (tiny balloon shaped structures that are the smallest passageway in the respiratory system) open, thereby easing breathing.

@TodayILearn Open / Comment

2021-05-07 17:54:22 Open / Comment

2021-05-04 18:13:57 @TodayILearn Open / Comment

2021-05-04 18:12:27 ​​Why do Monstera leaves have holes?

Montseras have developed holes because of the lighting conditions they naturally live in. Monsteras grow from the forest floor, vining up to capture the light that enters through the overhead canopy.

The only way plants can survive in such environments is by catching as much of the small rays of sunlight that make their way through the canopy.

The holes in the leaves are due to the conditions in deep jungle which the plant lives in its natural environment.

Most of the time, it is hidden from sunlight by the dense crowns of trees and photosynthesis must be done thanks to the bright sun rays, which only occasionally fall on the leaves.

These rays pass through the foliage of trees in gusts of wind, so that where they will fall is impossible to predict.

Monsteras create holes in their leaves to resist strong winds.

Another key reason is holes to allow a better flow of water to their roots.

In the tropical understory, flecks of sunlight make it through the canopy intermittently and erratically.

The holes allow leaves to spread out over greater areas without needing to expend energy and nutrients growing extra leaf area to fill this space.

That, in turn, may improve the plant's chances of catching sunflecks.

@TodayILearn Open / Comment

2021-05-03 03:15:17 Why do humans have an appendix even though it is unnecessary?

The human cecal appendix is not completely unnecessary.

In humans, the appendix is a small, dead-end tube that connects to the colon near where the small intestines feeds into the large intestines.

Being a dead-end tube, the appendix can obviously not transport food and waste through the intestinal tract.

Furthermore, many people have had their appendix removed and yet seem to suffer no symptoms at all from having no appendix.

This fact may seem to indicate that the appendix is useless; an abandoned evolutionary relict of some ancient predecessor. But the appendix turns out to not be completely useless.

@TodayILearn Open / Comment

2021-04-30 16:14:52 ​​Why Airplanes Use Kerosene Rather Than Plain Gasoline for Fuel ?

From small airplanes like the Cessna to large twin-engine jets like the Airbus A380, all combustion-powered airplanes require fuel to operate.

Like combustion-powered automobiles, they burn fuel to create the power needed to achieve and maintain a safe flying speed. While there are several types of aviation fuel, though, most consist of kerosene.

So, why do airplanes use kerosene rather than plain gasoline for fuel?

Kerosene has a lowering freezing point than gasoline, making it naturally protected against freezing in otherwise bone-chilling temperatures.

But regardless, it takes cooler temperatures for kerosene to freeze than it does for gasoline to freeze. In addition to a lower freezing point, kerosene has a higher flash point than gasoline.

Flash point refers to the temperature at which a combustible chemical or substance ignites and turns to vapor.

With its higher flash point, kerosene offers higher octane ratings to achieve greater power and efficiency when compared to its gasoline counterpart.

In fact, this is the main reason kerosene fuel is used in airplanes. Kerosene has a lower viscosity rating during flight operation than gasoline, meaning it’s more watery and not as thick or “gummy” as gasoline.

Even at high altitudes with naturally cold temperatures, kerosene has minimal viscosity, allowing it to easily travel through the airplane’s engine and connected components.

Considering that large commercial airplanes like the 747 burn roughly 1 gallon of fuel per minute, it’s important for airlines to consider the cost of fuel.

The good news is that kerosene is significantly cheaper than gasoline.

@TodayILearn Open / Comment

2021-04-30 16:14:47 Open / Comment

2021-04-28 03:06:28 Can gravity form waves?

Yes, gravity can forms waves. Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime that travel through the universe.

If you think of gravity as a force acting at a distance, it is difficult to visualize how gravitational waves could form. However, if you use the more accurate description of gravity that was developed by Einstein in his general theory of relativity, these concepts become more logical.

@TodayILearn Open / Comment

2021-04-22 16:56:58 ​​How are Diamonds formed?

The first diamonds to be unearthed by man were discovered in India in the 4th-century BC and were quickly dispersed along the ancient trade route, the Silk Road. Ancient civilizations believed diamonds were gifts from the Gods and that they would bring health, wealth, and strength.

100 miles deep in the Earth, a layer separating our hospitable exterior from the molten core, known as the mantle, is where diamonds were made. Temperatures boiled above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure exceeded 725,000 pounds per square inch.

The extreme heat and pressure combined actually modified graphite, a crystalline carbon, on the atomic level. This restructured graphite’s molecular composition from a hexagonal sheet pattern into a triangular shape, resulting in diamond.

@TodayILearn Open / Comment