Wired Science

Platelet Structure Platelets are actually not true cells but merely circulating fragments of cells.  But even though platelets are merely cell fragments, they contain many structures that are critical to stop bleeding.  They contain proteins on their surface that allow them to stick to breaks in the blood vessel wall and also to stick to each other.  They contain granules that can secrete other proteins required for creating a firm plug to seal blood vessel breaks.  Also platelets contain proteins similar to muscle proteins that allow them to change shape when they become sticky.  Platelet Function In addition to being the smallest blood cell, platelets are also the lightest.  Therefore they are pushed out from the center of flowing blood to the wall of the blood vessel.  There they roll along the surface of the vessel wall, which is lined by cells called endothelium.  The endothelium is a very special surface, like Teflon, that preven...

A story of an expense Eutrophication The word complexity totally states it's widespread scientific effects What is Eutrophication? Eutrophication is stated as a curse to aquatic life. The process goes on as a story  Here it goes  Farmers greedily thriving to have lush green crops gradually spread fertilizer pellets to fields.These pellets tend to flow with the rain  and trespass the aquatic arena of poor fishes. Here comes the highlight!The nitrate ions in the fertilizers tend to have a combination with water and lush green algae carpets water bodies instead. Algae blocks sunlight This makes water plants to kick their bucket being the scapegoats.Cruel bacteria who don't even leave dead plants for a adequate death attack on those and tend to use oxygen for their survival. The water bodies thus becomes deficient of oxygen and these lead the fishes to a torturous choke death! The story sums up as "death!death and death." Now I feel so ...