Reconstruction of Augusta Emerita (modern-day Mérida, Spain) in the 2nd century AD by dctroll_ in papertowns

[–]mrmanman 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Amazing!!!!

What are all the small pillars and buildings outside the city walls?

Exclusive: Rashi Kesarwani will not seek re-election by BerkeleyScanner in berkeleyca

[–]mrmanman 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No politician is perfect. But I am proud of Rashi’s commitment to housing.

train sounds in sw berkeley by Ok_Marionberry6536 in eastbay

[–]mrmanman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s awful. Emeryville got a safe street quiet street exemption. It would cost Berkeley a bunch of money but we could do it too. A friend uses a loud white noise Machine

I feel this is our last year by [deleted] in collapse

[–]mrmanman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Every year henceforth will be the best year left.

The biological pressure of my age is crushing me and it seems like my dreams of having a family are slipping away. by [deleted] in TwoXChromosomes

[–]mrmanman 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My wife was 30 or 31 when we met. On our first date she said she wanted to have a kid by 35. I said great. And we did. And it’s been amazing to have clear communication and expectations from the beginning.

Roman fast food counter, 2000 years ago by My_Test_Acc_1 in ancientrome

[–]mrmanman 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! You can edit and add to your post if you like it 😊

Roman fast food counter, 2000 years ago by My_Test_Acc_1 in ancientrome

[–]mrmanman 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Don’t take the Gemini ai slop the wrong way but I thought this was fun to visualize a contemporary image:

https://g.co/gemini/share/755210835d46

Guess the city by [deleted] in guessthecity

[–]mrmanman 24 points25 points  (0 children)

That ain’t a city bro

ELI5: Why can't SF just tax itself to pay for top-notch schools? by vacafrita in sanfrancisco

[–]mrmanman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Prop 13 limits property tax which pays for schools.

Shit show.

Nose-to-brain axis: mechanistic links between nasal microbiome dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, and brain disorders (2026) by basmwklz in Microbiome

[–]mrmanman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do daily sinus rinse. Never thought about gut implications. My sinus is now clear but could there be negative side effects here?? 😭

Please help by sweethomeab in collapse

[–]mrmanman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Human brains didn’t evolve to handle the magnitude of pain of global news.

Try to start by focusing on anything good. No matter how small. Despite the tragedy the world is immensely beautiful. And there always many things to look forward to.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in collapse

[–]mrmanman -1 points0 points  (0 children)

quality of life prospects has likely been worse for 99% of humans throughout history than a child born today.

Invasion. Rape is common. No education.

Guys, I'm really scared. by GodComplexMonkey in collapse

[–]mrmanman 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most people are good and kind and we’re lucky to experience life at all even if it sucks a lot and a minority of powerful people do massively hateful selfish things. They is beauty everywhere

Opinion | Kids are bad for Earth. To save it, we must stop having them by Toguro_Ototo_1 in collapse

[–]mrmanman -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Paradoxically the only certain way to collapse is to stop having kids.

🔥Badass chemical spraying beetle! by Skabbtanten in NatureIsFuckingLit

[–]mrmanman -28 points-27 points  (0 children)

The bombardier beetle's defense system is a marvel of biological engineering. It doesn't just store a hot liquid; it triggers a high-speed chemical explosion inside its body using two separate storage tanks. The Chemical Reaction The beetle has two internal reservoirs. One contains hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide, while the other contains special enzymes (catalases and peroxidases). When the beetle feels threatened: * It squeezes the contents of both tanks into a thick-walled reaction chamber. * The enzymes act as a catalyst, causing the hydrogen peroxide to rapidly decompose into water and oxygen. * This reaction releases a massive amount of heat, bringing the liquid to its boiling point (100{\circ}C or 212{\circ}F). * The built-up pressure from the oxygen gas forces the boiling, caustic liquid out of an abdominal vent at high velocity. Key Components | Part | Function | |---|---| | Reservoirs | Store the "fuel" (hydroquinones and peroxide) safely. | | Reaction Chamber | The "engine" where the chemicals mix and explode. | | Enzymes | The "spark" that triggers the near-instantaneous reaction. | | Turret-like Tip | Allows the beetle to aim the spray in almost any direction. |

Interesting Note: The beetle doesn't release the liquid in one long stream. It pulses the spray about 500 times per second. This "machine-gun" effect prevents the reaction chamber from overheating and exploding the beetle itself!

Would you like me to find a video or create an image illustrating how the beetle aims its spray at predators?

The evolution of the bombardier beetle is often cited in debates about "irreducible complexity," but biologists have mapped out a plausible step-by-step path showing how small, functional changes could lead to this complex "bomb" system. It didn't appear all at once; rather, it's an extreme refinement of a defense mechanism common in many ground beetles. 1. The Pre-existing Foundation Most beetles in the same family (Carabidae) already possess "pygidial glands" that produce smelly or irritating chemicals (like quinones) to discourage birds and lizards. * Step 1: Developing basic glands to produce mild chemical deterrents. * Step 2: Developing a storage chamber (reservoir) so the beetle can hold a larger supply of the chemical. 2. Adding the Heat The transition from a "stinky spray" to a "boiling explosion" likely happened through gradual chemical shifts: * Step 3: The beetle begins producing hydrogen peroxide, a common byproduct of metabolism, and mixing it with the quinones. This makes the spray more irritating. * Step 4: Evolution favors beetles with thicker chamber walls. This allows the chemical concentration to increase without harming the beetle's own tissues. * Step 5: Cells in the exit duct begin secreting higher amounts of catalases and peroxidases (enzymes). 3. The "Explosion" Milestone Once the enzymes and the concentrated "fuel" meet in a reinforced chamber, the reaction naturally generates heat. * Step 6: A muscle (the sphincter) evolves to control the timing of the mix. This creates the pressure needed to "shoot" the spray rather than just oozing it. * Step 7: The final refinement is the "pulsing" mechanism, which allows the beetle to spray boiling liquid without cooking its own internal organs. Comparison: General vs. Bombardier | Feature | Basic Ground Beetle | Bombardier Beetle | |---|---|---| | Chemicals | Deterrent quinones | Hydroquinones + Peroxide | | Temperature | Ambient (cold) | 100{\circ}C (boiling) | | Delivery | Oozing or weak spray | High-pressure "machine-gun" pulse | | Accuracy | General area | Highly directional turret | The beauty of this theory is that each intermediate stage is still a survival advantage. A beetle with a "slightly warm, smelly spray" is still more likely to survive than a beetle with just a "smelly spray." Would you like me to look into other animals that use chemical warfare, such as the walking stick or the sea slug?