Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Totem Soup Science - Proof Of Evolution, Right In The Human Body

The human body is a treasure trove of vestigial traits. A vestigial trait is a remnant of something we once had, but no longer need. Basically it is something that has been evolved away, but left a bit of itself behind. To those who cling to the outdated thought of creation, read on with an open mind. Evolution is as much a theory as gravity is at this point. Some of these evolutionary leftovers range from funny to deadly.

1) Plica Semilunaris


The small fold of tissue located on the inside corner of your eye (not the little bump in the very innermost corner, but the small flap right next to it). Your plica semilunari are the vestigial remnants of what are are most commonly found in birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Basically, the remnants of A THIRD EYELID!!! Apparently only one species of primate, the Calabar Angwantibo, is known to still have this third eyelid, referred to as "nictitating membranes". The membrane is typically translucent, and serves to moisten the eye, and clear debris. Just watch your cat blink very carefully, and you may see this neat structure in action!

2. Male Nipples
I really didn't think an image is required for this one. Male nipples, while ridiculous and serve no purpose, seem more aesthetically pleasing than anything else at this point. The biological function of male nipples is indeed a mystery. The story of male nipples begins, where all human life begins, in the womb. All fetuses begin life in the womb as females. In the absence of a fetal Y-chromosome, the embryo will develop into a full-blown female. When a Y-chromosome is present, however, the fetus will produce hormones like testosterone and develop into a male, but the nipples have already developed by this point, and just stick around. This essentially makes them like bulbs on a Christmas tree, fun to look and poke at.

3. Tonsils

These are the immune system's first line of defense, apparently, against ingested or inhaled foreign pathogens. However, the basic immunological roles of tonsils have yet to be understood. Simply put, the function may have once had must be no longer required, due to the frequency of them trying to kill their owner, and being removed.

4. The Ear

Well, not the ear itself, but a lot of the surrounding tissue and muscles. We have the muscles that most monkeys have to rotate and move the ears for better reception, but many of us can't even wiggle our ears. I can, and it's gloriously silly, but is it useful for more than a laugh from my kids? Not really. Also, in about 10% of the population, the outer rim of the ear called the helix can show signs of vestigial features. A thickening of the helix called "Darwin's tubercle" occurs at the juncture of the upper and middle thirds of the ear, a feature common to many mammals. I, personally, have this on one ear and not the other! The picture provided is indeed my ears, and, half vestigial trait it is! The feature is present in approximately 10.4% of the population, making me even more rare.

5. Arrector Pili

GOOSEBUMPS! No, not the books. Arrector Pili are the smooth muscle fibers that contract involuntarily to make your hair stand on end or make your skin bumpy. If you were a more furry creature this could make you warmer in the cold, or look larger to a predator. Clothing, fire, weapons, and the loss of hair (in comparison to our other primate cousins, not your pattern balding), have made this a vestigial trait as well. It serves no purpose in our own species, it has a function in our relatives (other primates), and did so in our ancestors.

6. Coccyx

It is also known as the "tailbone" for a reason. It's, pretty much, whats left from the days when we did have tails...and the unfortunate few that are still born with them. As a point of fact, most mammals have a tail at one point in their life, even if it is only during development in the womb. This includes humans as well. As I stated before, sometimes the tail sticks around even longer...


More vestigial traits listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_vestigiality
But if you Google it, so much more awaits: The Google Results

UPDATE (POST EDIT): http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html



That's it for now!
- The one, The ONLY, Holytotemic

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Monday, October 27, 2014

Totem Soup Nature - Earth's 10 Most Mysterious Lost Worlds

This is one of the most beautiful and scientifically intriguing videos I have seen in a while. Even today, in this age of communication and knowledge, new things are still being discovered on our very own tera. Enjoy the visuals!

Earth's 10 Most Mysterious Lost Worlds:
http://youtu.be/-HhXOz0EsP0

More Information
1. Melville Range - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131025-lost-world-australia-gecko-frog-skink-science-animals/

2. Sima Humboldt - http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/SA/VEN/Bolivar/SimaHumboldt.htm

3. East Scotia Ridge - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/east-scotia-ridge_n_1183476.html

4. Palawan Highlands - https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/complete-projects/palawan-island-philippines/

5. Bosavi Crater - http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8210000/8210394.stm

6. Movile Cave - http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/what-lies-beneath-the-movile-caves-dark-secrets/2003026.article

7. Mount Roraima - http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/tepui-roraima/?ar_a=1

8. Challenger Deep - http://www.extremescience.com/deepest-ocean.htm

9. Son Doong Cave - http://www.sondoongcave.org/

10. Lake Vostok - http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/160667-3500-species-discovered-in-lake-vostok-underneath-miles-of-ice-in-conditions-similar-to-jupiters-europa

Hope you enjoyed the learning experience and visuals as much as I did researching every one of those locations. The poster provided some links on his youtube video post as well, but I am a skeptical man and wanted to look around myself. Its a big world. Keep your eyes open and you may be the next tone to discover the next mystery.


That's it for now!
- The one, The ONLY, Holytotemic

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Friday, October 24, 2014

Totem Soup Science - What is Aquaponics?

 

Here's a good video on aquaponics from TEDx Talks. Simply put, aquaponics, is a food production system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in aquariums or ponds) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. 



That's it for now!
- The one, The ONLY, Holytotemic

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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Totem Soup Update - Something New, Why Not?

With my current issues on Facebook, and the instability that lies therein, I have made a decision. Totem Soup Podcast has been down for almost 2 years now, and I doubt it will ever come back with my work, children, and friend situation. Simply put, the economy really doesn't allow for a social life when you have kids and try to be the best parent and provider you can. I will be wiping out all podcast posts and audio related to it. Everything about the podcast is going and this will be where I post whatever the hell I want. I will keep randomly doing memes, comics, videos, and audio, but none of it will be an officially assembled podcast. This is going to be Totem Soup, meaning whatever is flowing through Holytotemic's brain is going to end up here. I will remain on Twitter and Google+ for sure, because they don't care what name I use, as long as I use them. So coming up you are likely to see new memes, new comics, projects I am working on, and just random crazy. I have used "Holy Totemic" as a pseudonym for 12 years, and I will be damned if Mark Zuckerberg is going to take that from me.



That's it for now!
- The one, The ONLY, Holytotemic

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Totem Soup Update - Go fuck yourself Mark Zuckerberg.

I could not come up with a better headline for this article. For the last 12 years I have gone by the pen name Holytotemic or Holy Totemic, depending on if a last name is required. Not one social media network has a problem with this, except apparently Facebook. I simply don't use my real name online, even friends I have known for years call me my pen name in real life over my real name. So from the time I opened my account (years ago) to about 2 months ago, my name on facebook has been comfortably set as "Holy Totemic". Then my account was disabled...
I have no recourse but to stop using Facebook all together. Mark Zuckerberg, you are scum. The lowest of the low. In the last few years facebook has gone from social media, to a shameless advertising platform. A place where I get the latest updates on what starlet has a sex tape scandal, and my friends and families updates are hidden from me. I can buy advertising, promote my post, but I only see one in ten of my best friends posts. I would gladly give my real name, if I had an option to hide it from everyone unless it's needed for legal reasons. You have taken my freedom of speech, because, let's be honest here, having opinions and keeping a job is a hard position to have in this super free country we live in. So, in closing:


That's it for now!
- The one, The ONLY, Holytotemic

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