Saturday, February 14, 2009

Day 270: Radicals, antioxidants, peroxides and action potentials

All right, so the good stuff.

So the crazy mechanism from yesterday's post has to do with radicals. (Free) Radicals are unpaired electrons. Electrons like to be in twos. So when they're alone, they do crazy things (like a girl after she's been cheated on). Free radicals are what cause wrinkles and other fun things in your body.

Antioxidants. Now these suckers are cool. They're magical compounds that have the ability to pair up with these radicals without turning themselves into a radical. That's why everyone oohs-and-aahs about them. They do amazing things for your skin and for your body. Eat 'em (they can be found in most berries and fruits), slop 'em on your face, do anything with them really.


Peroxides. Where have you heard that before? Say, hydrogen (peroxide)? Or benzoyl (peroxide)? The fancily random things about peroxides is, they're very good at making radicals. And sometimes, we want those crazy things. Like that huge zit that's forming right now? Yeah, right there. If you put some benzoyl peroxide on it, the radicals created will pair off and kill things and chop things up and again, other things a woman scorned will do. It's pretty cool.

Lastly, action potentials. As my physiology professor put it yesterday, "it's amazing that your entire perception of things is based on action potentials." And she's right. Action potentials are electrical messages sent throughout axons which are in your neurons.


The connecting link between all the action potentials

What this means is that little electrical impulses are firing all the time -- to let you (and your body) know what's up. For example, when you press on your skin, those are action potentials firing. When you're smelling something, action potentials. Sight, action potentials. And yes, even feelings in the limbic system are based on action potentials.

I don't know, I may have just geeked out hard core just now but I really love this stuff. And I thought you would all enjoy a non-how's-Jessica-doing-in-school entry. And maybe you learned something, and who doesn't love that? :)

3 comments:

Jess said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I find this fascinating. Sometimes, science is SO COOL!!! Sigh.... if only my brain were better suited to it.

c.bellardo said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I def. don't find it fascinating. But I love you Rev! And you should keep up the ood work!! I'm glad you do. Trust me, if I put a clip of Mas v. Perry up there you guys would find it not interesting. We should all skype soon.

c.bellardo said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

and I meant good, not ood.