Because eating it makes us happy. Seriously?Yes, seriously. How does that work?Well, when you eat chocolate, your brain releases dopamine. What's dopamine?It's a type of chemical known as a neurotransmitter, meaning it controls communication within the brain. Dopamine is stored in some of our neurons (brain cells). When something happens that we enjoy or is unexpectedly pleasant, these neurons release dopamine. This causes us to feel good and makes us want to do whatever caused the dopamine release more often. So, what does dopamine have to do with chocolate?As I stated earlier, when we eat chocolate, dopamine is released. Yeah, but why?Well, dopamine makes a connection between an action and a positive outcome, which our brain remembers so we can repeat that action more often. Now, you probably can't remember the first time you ate chocolate, but your brain remembers the dopamine released. It helps that chocolate is often associated with other positive things, particularly love (thanks, Valentine's Day). So, it's just because of the meMories we have associated with chocolate?Not entirely. In fact, a lot of it has to do with the actual eating experience. For example, one popular characteristic of chocolate is that it melts in your mouth. Research has found that our brains react to this sensation the same way they react to a passionate kiss. Additionally, the creaminess of chocolate on account of the added sugar and fat to the essential ingredient, cocoa, is appealing to our senses. See, back when we were hunter-gatherers, sugars and fats were hard to find, so, when we did find them, we were hard-wired to eat as much as possible to ensure survival. Furthermore, the only natural food that has a similar fat-to-sugar ratio to chocolate's is human breast milk, perhaps resulting in our brains recalling the security and satisfaction we felt when receiving our only nourishment as infants. Then there's no chemical in chocolate that makes it addictive?Well, there is anandamide. What's anandamide?Anandamide is a feel-good chemical found in chocolate that is naturally produced in the brain. It relaxes muscles and causes a feeling of bliss. In fact, it is similar to a chemical found in marijuana. However, there are very little amounts of anandamide in chocolate, so we can’t get a chocolate high. This doesn’t mean the anandamide has no effect on us. It does tend to relax us a little, and it’s considered to be the reason chocolate smells so good. So, why does chocolate taste so good?Chocolate tastes good because it releases dopamine in our brains to to our association of it with good memories. Additionally, it has a smooth texture, includes previously-scarce ingredients essential to survival, and smells great because on account of the anandamide. Curious? Here's some more information!
0 Comments
Transposing. It’s called transposing. What's transposing?In the music world, transposing is writing or playing the music in a different key from the original. wait, but if most of the instruments in a band played in different keys, wouldn't It sound awful?You would think so, but that’s not the case. See, transposing instruments are playing the same note, but it's written differently. Huh?Yeah, it's pretty confusing. Let’s look at some examples. The flute, for example, is a concert pitch instrument, meaning it doesn’t transpose. This means that, when a flute plays a C, a C comes out. When an alto saxophone plays a C, however, an E♭comes out. When a typical (B♭) clarinet plays a C, a B♭ comes out. So, each instrument has a Different C?Sort of. It's better to think of there being different names for the same note. So, to play C, a flautist fingers a C, an alto saxophonist fingers an A, and a clarinetist fingers a D. The note would sound the same on all of the instruments, but the note has a different name in each instrumentalist's mind. Doesn't that get confusing?Yes, it does. It helps that there are general rules for transpositions (alto saxophones transpose down a Major 6th, and clarinets transpose down a Major 2nd), but it’s still really confusing for everyone involved. So, why do we still have transposing instruments? Can't we change them so they're all in the same key?We can, and we have. The C clarinet is a thing, and it's C is a C (as opposed the B♭ clarinet we’ve been discussing, whose C is a B♭). Then why do people still use the B♭ clarinet?Well, one of the main reasons is because it keeps the fingering the same within the clarinet family, allowing a clarinetist to easily pick up the contrabass clarinet and play it pretty much perfectly since they play the same notes. But couldn't you just make all instruments C instruments and keep the fingerings Similar?You could, but some instruments impossible to read sheet music for. The piccolo, which transposes a Major 8th (octave) lower, would have no notes on the actual staff. This is the same reason why the contrabass clarinet transposes up a Major 8th (octave) from the B♭clarinet: it's easier to read. It also makes both of these instruments read like their more typical counterparts, allowing for flautists (like me!) to play piccolo and clarinetists to play contrabass. I mean, that makes sense, but why are flutes, Saxophones, and clarinets all in differenT keys? They aren't similar.Well, transposing also makes it easier for woodwind players to switch between instruments as the fingerings remain fairly similar between these instruments. The same goes for brass instruments, as many of them also share fingerings, such as the trumpet and the tuba. While a C on the two instruments won’t sound the same because of their transpositions, it will have the same fingering, making reading the music one less challenge to tackle when switching instruments. So, why don't most instruments cAll notes what they actually are?Most instruments don’t call notes what they actually are because they are transposing instruments, making their sheet look a little nicer and making it easier to switch between instruments in the same family. Curious? Here's some more information!
Because we're thirsty. yeah, but why animal milk?Well, for starters, we don’t drink the milk of most animals. In fact, there are over 5,000 milk-producing mammals on Earth, including everything from camels to dolphins. So, why don't we drink camel milk?Actually, camel milk has been growing in popularity over the past few years. Most notably, the Camelatte, a common drink in Dubai, has made its way to the United Kingdom, where it has flourished. The reason Americans usually drink cow milk is rooted in the fact that they can live in a wide range of environments. Additionally, as cows have traditionally been the primary source of milk in the US, non-cow milk is almost taboo. While cows produce a whopping 83% of the world's milk, they are followed by buffaloes with 13%, goats with 2%, sheep with 1%, camels with 0.4%, and other animals (such as yaks and reindeer) making up the remaining 0.6%. Wait, Buffaloes are the second largest producer of milk?Yes. The water buffalo is the primary producer of milk in South Asia, with 95% of all water buffalo populations residing in the Asian continent. This is because buffaloes are best suited to these wet, tropical regions. what makes an animal a good milk producer anyway?Usually, these animals have docile temperaments, are easy to feed, have large utters, and lactate for long periods of time. For example, while goats are smaller, they also need to move around a lot more and do not produce as much milk, making cows a much better choice for milk production. Why do we need milk in the first place?Well, milk is naturally a very nutrient-rich liquid as it provides newborn mammals with everything they need until they are able to eat real, solid food. But, if milk is for babies, then do we really need it?Technically, no. However, milk isn’t just used for drinking. Most of the world's milk actually goes to making cheeses and butter, which have become staple ingredients in modern society. Additionally, we as a species have used domesticated cattle since about 2000 BC, so we’ve been leaning on their resources for a while. We have even adapted the ability to digest lactose to enable us to consume more milk. So, why do we drink other ANimals' milk?We drink animal milk because it is convenient, provides us with nutrients, and makes things taste really good. Curious? Here's some more information!
|