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Why does a toucan need a beak

21.02.2010

The toucans, living in the tropical forests of Central and South America, are known for their huge beaks. Various hypotheses have been put forward about its function.

It can be used to squeeze the juice from fruit, to crack tough nuts, or to crush the shells of eggs stolen from other people's nests. It happens that birds fight with their powerful beaks. By loudly clicking its beak, the toucan can frighten and drive away enemies. In any case, this huge appendage of the head often complicates the life of its owner. Because of the beak, toucans are clumsy in flight. Some species, so that the beak does not interfere in sleep, even sleep on their backs, lifting it up.

Canadian biologists have proven that the beak of a toucan also performs the function of thermoregulation. They placed the bird in an isolated chamber and gradually raised the temperature in it. When the temperature exceeded 25 degrees Celsius, the numerous blood vessels in the beak expanded and the heat began to be released into the air.

Thus, the beak of a toucan (as, for example, the ears of an elephant) serves as a cooling radiator.

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A team of scientists from the New York Center for Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation, led by Dr. Kenneth Hansray, found that when the head is tilted towards the smartphone, the load on the neck and spine increases dramatically.

If the angle of the head forward is 60 degrees (when a person almost touches the chin of the chest), then the neck experiences a load equivalent to 27 kilograms of weight. Even with a head tilt of only 15 degrees, the load will be 12 kg, 30 degrees - 18 kg, and 45 degrees - already 22 kg. For comparison, with an even posture, the load on the neck is only 5,5 kg.

According to the statistics collected by the researchers, the owners of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices spend two to four hours a day with their heads tilted. To avoid harmful consequences, doctors advise you to monitor your posture - when viewed in profile, the ears should be in the same vertical line with the shoulders, otherwise the spine is subjected to additional stress, which does not benefit him at all.

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