I’ve always wondered about this. If I try to tickle myself, it doesn't really produce the same sensation as when someone else does it.
Is it because the brain can predict the sensation when we do it ourselves, or is there more biology behind it?
I've been thinking about how much of science is basically its own language.
We use abbreviations so casually that we sometimes forget how confusing they can be for someone who encounters them for the first time.
From the short forms we use in labs, research papers, protocols, to even reports. Some of them become so familiar that we barely even think about what they mean anymore.
It made me wonder: would it actually be useful to simply decode some of this scientific shortforms? Not just for the general public, but also for students who are encountering these terms for the first time.
So I'm experimenting with a short-form series called Science Decoded, where I take one science abbreviation and explain not just what it stands for, but what it actually means and why it's useful.
For instance, this week's episode, I used SOP as my example.
What scientific abbreviation did you initially find confusing? Or is there one that you learned only after entering your field? I'd love to hear them. 👇
I recently came across some fascinating research on plant behaviour that made me rethink how we perceive plants.
Experiments involving trees growing towards supports, and acacias responding to herbivory, raise some really interesting questions about plant cognition and awareness.
To be clear, this doesn't prove that plants are conscious. But I found the science fascinating enough to make a short video about it.
https://youtube.com/shorts/cAsMoOnfIBE?si=lTP28XLxMNAsbSWA
Curious to hear what you think: where do you draw the line between complex biological responses and cognition?
Source: Lahey, S. (2026), Popular Mechanics.
A recent study found that some ceramic mugs can release lead and cadmium, with the amount varying between mugs. Interestingly, some decorative areas around the rim showed particularly high lead migration.
What caught my attention was that the Netherlands recently tightened its safety requirements for food-contact ceramics, lowering the allowable migration limits for lead and cadmium.
This doesn't mean ceramic mugs are inherently dangerous. The concern is certain glazes and decorative coatings and how much of these metals can migrate into food or drinks.
I made a short video breaking down the science behind this:
https://youtube.com/shorts/6zPJcQcZ_tE?si=Bo-sKkv9MrlQ9rsa
Original research: Migration kinetics of cadmium and lead from ceramic mugs
While reading about the science behind breast milk for World Breastfeeding Week, I came across something I found fascinating.
Breast milk contains Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), special sugars that babies don't digest. Instead, these sugars feed beneficial bacteria in the baby's gut, helping establish a healthy microbiome and supporting immune development.
I also learned that breast milk isn't just a source of nutrition. It contains antibodies, immune cells, hormones, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria, making it one of the most complex biological fluids our bodies produce.
It's amazing how much biology is packed into something we often take for granted.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Q17hV3KwbyM?si=j1tKEhRl-udODvJ1
Last week, I ran a poll asking people which biology topic they'd like me to explain next, and "Why doesn't the heart ever get tired?" received the most votes.
It turns out the answer isn't just "because it has lots of mitochondria." Cardiac muscle is uniquely adapted with specialized cells, a remarkable ability to use multiple fuel sources, built-in pacemaker cells, and even tiny resting periods between every heartbeat.
I compiled what I learned into a beginner-friendly article for anyone interested in physiology or simply curious about how the human body works.
I'd love to hear your thoughts or corrections from those with a background in physiology or cardiology.
🔗 https://biodiaries.com/how-does-your-heart-never-get-tired-of-beating/
2 buildings are being constructed at the same time and our street (dead end) is a mess. They have completely blocked the street.. we cannot pass through that to reach the main road let alone take our vehicles.. if we ask the people working there they say ‘ you can complain to the owner’.. the owner isn’t picking our calls!
I'm planning my next biology deep dive for a general audience and wanted to get an unbiased opinion.
Which of these topics genuinely sounds the most interesting to you?
If none of these grab your attention, what's one biology topic you've always wanted explained in simple terms?