25Apr 2017 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

Is Fish Really Brain Food?

Food, People
[caption id="attachment_17712" align="alignright" width="440"] A lovely, healthful salmon dinner. Maybe add a small baked potato.[/caption] It’s been years since I’ve heard anyone describe fish as brain food. But they did. And there was no disproof that the saying was correct. So what’s the verdict? Is there any validity to the idea that fish is good for the central nervous system and specifically for the brain? Fat and Cholesterol Fish is low in calories. Fish is low in fat, especially saturated fat. The varieties of food fish highest in fat contain no more than about 15% fat. In fact, fish is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Most fish are relatively low in cholesterol. The overall conclusion is that fish is a suitable dietary addition for those who wish to reduce their…
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20Oct 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Red and Yellow Makes Orange?

Physics
[caption id="attachment_9630" align="alignright" width="440"] Paints and pigments including red and yellow.[/caption] It seems simple enough: red and yellow makes orange... Color is a funny thing. If we combine opaque red paint and opaque yellow paint in the correct quantities, we get orange paint. Or do we? Consider this. If the red paint contains an opaque pigment responsible for its color, and if the yellow paint contains an opaque pigment responsible for its color, and the two are such that there is no chemical reaction between the pigments, we do not actually form orange, do we? It’s just a mixture of red and yellow. As Simple as Red and Yellow Makes Orange? In reality it is simply a larger batch of the two paints in the same container. So it must…
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20Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

Components and Functions of Neurons

Biology
The brain is the cognitive center of the higher animals, and humans. The brain is compared to a computer central processing unit (CPU). The brain has a complex substructure. These include macroscopic, microscopic, and submicroscopic features. Of special significance are neurons. These are typically illustrated in Figure 1. What are it's component parts? Notably axons, dendrites, synapses, and receptors. Components of Neurons A neuron is a nerve cell. It receives signals via chemicals called neurotransmitters. It then transmits the signals, electrically. A neuron consists of a cell body or soma, dendrites, and a single axon. It is one of many units that makes up the brain. Axons An axon is a fiber rather like a cable. It carries electrochemical signals from the soma to other neurons. The axon is surrounded…
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