Why do snakes have scales? Detailed answer

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Why do snakes have scales? Detailed answer

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Why do snakes have scales?

Snakes are reptiles, and like all reptiles, they have dry, scaly skin. Relatives of snakes are lizards, alligators, crocodiles, sea and land turtles. Since there are more than 2000 species of snakes in the world, it is not surprising that they live everywhere: on earth, underground, in trees and in water, inhabiting almost all regions of our planet, with the exception of the polar regions and some islands.

As noted earlier, snakes have no legs (although pythons and boas have the remains of hind legs), and plates (or scales) located on the belly help them move. They are quite wide, and the snake moves them in such a way that the edge of the plate is repelled by some unevenness on the surface of the earth. Pushing off several plates at the same time, the snake moves forward.

All snakes, both old and young, molt periodically. Even the film covering the eyes gives way to a new one. In the process of molting, the skin of the snake is turned inside out. The snake gets rid of it by rubbing against any bumps or stones. Moulting in snakes occurs several times a year.

Author: Likum A.

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Where was the candle invented?

The first lighting device used by man was a burning wooden stick, which was taken out of a fire. The first lamp was a recessed stone, shell or skull, filled with animal or fish oil as fuel, and with a wick of reed, reed or cord woven from wood fiber.

Candles have been around for a very long time. They were crude cylinders of wax or other greasy substance that surrounded a wick of wood fiber or a piece of twisted cloth. Candles made of beeswax appeared a very long time ago, and we find mention of them from Roman authors.

The quality of the candles has remained constant for many years. Until the middle of the XNUMXth century, candle making was the responsibility of housewives. It was done like this. Fat, which was obtained from sheep or bulls, was melted in a large saucepan. A loosely twisted thread of cotton, which was twice as long as the candle itself, was hung on a twig and the ends were woven together. A number of such threads were dipped several times in the melted tallow and allowed to cool after each dive.

When the layer of fat reached the desired thickness, the candle was ready. Sometimes melted lard was poured into cylindrical molds where a wick was inserted, but more often candles were made by dipping.

Modern factories where candles are produced have significantly improved their quality. Now the wick is made from a slightly twisted cotton thread and uses beeswax, paraffin, lard and other fat-containing substances.

They are processed in such a way that the candle gives as much light as possible and less soot. In ancient times, candles smoked heavily and emitted an unpleasant odor, as the lard contained glycerin. Modern manufacturers have learned to get rid of it.

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Cigarettes and alcohol lead to dementia 13.07.2013

In people who smoke and drink a lot, dementia occurs much faster, according to a study by psychiatrists at University College London (UK).

Many people know about the dangers of smoking and alcohol, about the dangerous diseases that bad habits cause. However, people do not always think that by smoking another cigarette or drinking another glass, they bring themselves closer to dementia or, simply speaking, dementia. Researchers have shown that smokers who also abuse alcohol develop dementia 36% faster than those who do not smoke and drink moderately.

Prior to this, researchers have already noted that smoking and alcohol separately contribute to the development of dementia. However, for the first time, psychiatrists drew attention to the combination of these factors, and found that the effect is really detrimental.

The research team evaluated 6473 adults (4635 men and 1838 women) aged 45 to 69 over a 10-year period. All participants were asked questions about their drinking habits and smoking frequency. Next, the researchers assessed cognitive functions - the ability to reason, solve simple mathematical problems, memory, speech development, etc. Similar cognitive tests were conducted three times during the ten-year study.

It turned out that in smokers who abuse alcohol, cognitive decline occurred 36% faster than in non-smokers and moderate drinkers. Simply put, their brains wore out faster. We can say that in ten years of research, the brains of heavy drinkers smokers were "worn out" as if 12 years had passed.

Scientists hope that the results of their study will make people think. The influence of alcohol and smoking is detrimental not only to the lungs and liver, but also to the brain. The combination of smoking and alcohol accelerates the development of dementia, and it is unlikely that anyone at a relatively young age of 60 wants to forget where they put the keys or the name of their grandson, just because in their young and mature years they could not refuse themselves in an extra glass and a cigarette.

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