When goldfish are swimming around in their bowl, have you ever stopped to think about what they may be producing through their gills? As it turns out, these otherwise common fish have an uncanny ability to create something humans never would’ve guessed: alcohol. This is what one group of researchers recently determined in a study …
Author: Prentice, the Science Platypus
Prentice is the mascot of Insanitek.
Why a platypus? Well, why not? It's unusual, somewhat crazy, and evolution pretty much smashed a bunch of concepts together and said, "Try that."
Panellus stipticus: Trippy, Glowing Mushrooms
Picture, if you will, a group of campers enjoying an evening around the fire. As the sun sets, the woods darken around them. Nearby, on some rotting wood, the campers spot an eerie glow. Is it aliens? Is it radioactive goo? Nope! It’s probably just a colony of Panellus stipticus, a trippy, glowing mushroom. Panellus …
The Misplaced Marsupial
We equate marsupials, mammals with pouches for carrying their young, with the land Down Under. Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, and koalas are all practically national symbols of Australia. One species of marsupial, however, has never seen the Sydney Harbor Opera House, Uluru, or the Outback. It is the opossum, the only marsupial found …
Are Eggs Really as Bad as Cigarettes?
Editor’s note: This article is flagged as misleading and bad communication. Chickens cannot lay eggs if they don’t have light. This calls into question everything else that is stated as trustworthy. Look at the resources and judge for yourself. It has been left on Insanitek’s website to serve as an example of bad communication and …
Has the World’s Largest Dinosaur Finally Been Unearthed?
Was the world’s largest dinosaur finally unearthed last year? One paper that was just published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. claims that this may be the case. (Phillips, 2017) According to a new report, the Patagotitan might be the largest dinosaur to have ever walked the earth. The name, which was just given …
A Crop Circle in the Shape of….A Fidget Spinner?
Crop circles, aliens, and…fidget spinners? Yes, they can all make it into one story. Earlier this month, an unusual design was spotted in a patch of crops in West Sussex in the United Kingdom. Near Climping Beach, locals noticed that something – perhaps an otherworldly being – left a strange marking in the ground. Local …
Can Electricity and Carbon Dioxide Combine to Create a Food Source?
Famine is a real problem in certain areas of the world, and while we are not necessarily facing a food shortage as a planet just yet, many people are thinking ahead to the future. What will happen when our resources start to dwindle? How will our growing population sustain itself over time? As it turns …
Are E-Cigarettes Helping with Smoking Cessation Rates?
The latest fad in smoking is e-cigarettes, better known as “vaping” to those who indulge in the behavior. Electronic cigarettes provide smokers with the nicotine they look for in a convenient, liquid form, and the chemicals come in a wide variety of flavors. But how is the popularity of these devices changing traditional smoking? National …
Baily’s Beads: Coming Soon to an Eclipse Near You
On August 21, most of North America will have its collective eye on the sky in anticipation of the solar eclipse that hasn’t been seen in this part of the world for 99 years. If you are one of the lucky individuals to be along the path when the eclipse occurs, you will be treated …
Is Your Gluten-Free Diet Harming Your Health?
The health hack sweeping the wellness industry is highly debated conversation. If you’re not allergic or sensitive to gluten, should you bother removing it from your diet? Recent research from the Columbia University Medical Center suggested that a low-gluten diet could actually have a negative impact on your heart health, particularly due to eliminating heart-healthy …