/oss/taxonomy/term/3068/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-did-you-know/turkey-doesnt-makes-you-sleepy <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/facts-and-fiction-of-physiological-phenomena-food-for-thought/">The Skeptical Inquirer</a>.</em></p> <hr /> <p>You may have heard the post-meal sleepies explained by the fact that turkey contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that’s a biochemical precursor for serotonin and melatonin, two things that can make us feel tired. This is technically true, but some other facts can help put the turkey claims into context and better explain our need to nap after a bird-heavy meal.</p> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean M.Sc. 9884 at /oss /oss/article/nutrition-general-science/its-egg-time <p>No, Paul Newman did not really eat fifty eggs in an hour in the 1967 film classic, Cool Hand Luke. But that would hardly be a challenge for Joey Chestnut, the world’s best-known competitive eater. Joey polished off 141 hard-boiled eggs in just eight minutes and holds the world record for this event. That is about 16 pounds of eggs and around 11,000 calories! His girth was visibly greater after the event but as far as his blood cholesterol goes, one can only guess that it spiked but since competitive eating has no rules about any kind of blood testing, one can only guess.</p> Fri, 02 Apr 2021 20:20:39 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8677 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/rabbits-reproduction-and-making-mochi-moon <p><span>Rabbits have an undoubtedly important association with Easter, but they’ve played important roles in many societies through the ages. </span></p> Sun, 01 Apr 2018 15:56:09 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6986 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/tinies-bodies-giant-ears-rabbits-have-super-specialized-physiologies <p><span>We’ve already seen that rabbits and hares have quite interesting physiology, but for certain species of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leporidae">leporidae</a> the adaptations get even more extreme.</p> <p><span>The smallest rabbit in existence is the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_rabbit">pygmy rabbit</a>, who weighs on average only 450 grams! They’re found in the western US and are one of the only rabbit species who dig their own burrows, as opposed to repurposing the found burrows of other animals.</p> Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:54:33 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6983 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/rabbits-eat-their-own-poop <p><span>Rabbits are foraging herbivores, eating mostly grass and weeds. But this fibrous, cellulose rich diet isn’t the easiest to digest, and by the time their dinner has make it through their intestines it still contains many of the nutrients the bunnies need. </span></p> Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:49:27 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6982 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/rabbits-have-hinged-skulls-and-three-eyelids <p><span>Rabbits and hares are pretty cute, but they’re also fascinating. </span></p> Thu, 29 Mar 2018 22:42:34 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6980 at /oss