Nobody knows why do we need to sleep. So, I am thinking of inventing handwavy pill, which "cures" our need to sleep. However, it does not cure it forever. If taken as prescribed, you can defer your need to sleep by 6 days, you need to sleep every seventh day
In other words, you can go up to 160 ...
Do any of you's suspect that this is impossible? 😂 Surely, lifespan would be drastically cut short? Not to mention the depth of all of the possible very negative effects it could have on the endocrine system...
@AliceD Regarding the megapixels in human eyes question. I really like [your answer](http://biology.stackexchange.com/a/40787/3553) and the approximations seem really reasonable given we ignore the neuro-perception side of the debate.
But I stand by my statement of it being an unscientific question in it's current form because the question isn't clear enough.
My interpretation: I'd assume that we're hacking an eyeball to a memory card and looking for information relayed over each neurone.
If that's the case we would need to move the eyeball because if I recall correctly, the cells detect…
@AliceD in short: how to we realistically test how many megapixels the human eye can see?
@R.Doto In addition to an array of neurological problems (memory loss, confusion, reduced cognitive ability etc) sleep disorders and chronic sleep loss can put you at risk for (from web MD):
Whilst the Russian sleep experiment is a great horror story, it is completely unfounded. The reality of using sleep deprivation as torture is harrowing however http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3376951.stm. Rats can die without sleep after extended periods of time, although this hasn't been recorded as happening …
@goodgravy Exactly. If this man were to create the pill he'd have to cure a big chunk of the most common diseases first! I think he's put of touch with reality. He gives off the feeling of an ambitious hedge fund that'll begin to crumble very quickly.
@AliceD I don't think that your answer should be deleted either. It is clearly helpful and informative. As long as it is clear that you are talking about "milk-like substances" (~nutritional secretions?) I think it is fine, and you provide interesting examples.
@AliceD I've suggested an addition to your answer to provide additional clarity - check whether you want to keep it.
@GoodGravy Good points. I covered the color vision I guess. In terms of optic nerve - there are various stations in the visual pathway and I agree the question targets retina versus subjective percept - bad thing.
I followed that line of asking and focused on retina (photosensitive 'chip') and took a leap to the cortical mechanism of filling in the gaps. The latter is obviously extremely important in smoothing the image. I deliberately left out optic nerve and brain stem (LGN) as the question leaps over those.
A new study suggests that certain intestinal worms increase the number of babies born to women which is mentioned here and here. So does parasitic worm infection play a major role in increasing or decreasing fertility in humans?
A new study suggests that certain intestinal worms increase the number of babies born to women which is mentioned here and here. So does parasitic worm infection play a major role in increasing or decreasing fertility in humans?
