#Microbial balance | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mariasont · 26 days

Note

Hello baby borl can you write a spencer reid x reader where they are kind of awkward but they still are relatively outgoing but they never EVER make the first move so they just vaguely flirt with him but very awkwardly like... maybe they have an obscure favorite animal and they tell him about it and then they compare him to it and its funny bc its like.. a slug or a spider (an animal that many ppl dont like and dont find attractive)

Arachnophobia - S.R

a/n: i dont know if baby borl was a misspelling or not but i am obsessed with it and i will now be referring to everyone as that from this point forward

ALSO thank you so much for the request i <3 an awkward reader truly

masterlist

‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧

pairings: spencer reid x reader

warnings: spider! ah!, reader climbing on a chair like that's a little dramatic if you ask me, spencer being a little shit, fluffy fluff, cuties being awkward, comparing spencer to a female spider!

wc: 0.9k

"Oh my god!"

You didn't mean for your scream to be as loud as it was, it was more instinctive than anything, not having enough time to stifle it as you hopped upon the closest desk chair. Unfortunately for you, that chair happened to belong to the object of your affection—Spencer Reid, resident boy genius and pretty boy.

Pretty boy was the understatement of the century. He was the embodiment of aesthetic perfection in your eyes, a vision of loveliness that seemed almost otherworldly.

But that all receded to the edges of your brain, your gaze laser focused on the teeny tiny crawler scuttling across the carpeted floor beneath you.

"Is there a reason you're standing on my chair?"

Spencer's eyes were trained on your shoes, a frown forming as he undoubtedly considered the microbial invasion spreading from your soles to his well-maintained seat.

You couldn't say anything, mouth snapped shut as you just pointed to the hairy thing. He quirked an eyebrow, following your gesture before a soft chuckle escaped him, head shaking in the process.

You narrowed your eyes, not finding the same humor in the situation as he was. "Spencer, it's not funny. Get it please?"

"Well since you asked so nicely." He moved towards a box of tissues on his desk. But you grasped his wrist to stop him, your balance faltering, and a tiny squeal escaped you as you teetered on the edge of the chair.

His hold on your hip was immediate, the closest thing in order to stabilize you is how you rationalized it, saving you from an imminent face-to-floor meeting.

"Sorry," you said sheepishly, a low buzz spreading from your head to the spot where his hand enclosed around. "Don't kill it."

He gave you a pointed look, but then grabbed a plastic cup by the water cooler. You missed his hands on you the second he was gone.

He crouched down to where the spider was crawling around, carefully shoveling it into the cup.

"Don't hurt its legs!"

"I feel like there is a lot of protesting coming from someone who can't even put their feet on the ground right now."

That shut you up. A soft pout found its way to your lips as you folded your arms defensively. His smirk grew at the sight, and you couldn't stop the delightful warmth that bubbled up inside your chest, sticky and potent.

"Once the spider is at a safe distance then I'll come down," you said with a shrug.

He expertly secured the paper over the clear cup's mouth, trapping the spider inside. "All clear."

You watched his hands warily, your lips forming a tight line as you stayed put, eliciting an exasperated eye roll from him.

"It's not going to hurt you."

"You don't know that."

He angled the cup towards the light, inspecting the bug with a squint.

"It's unlikely you'll ever be bitten by a spider. They aren't interested in humans. They don't seek us out like mosquitoes or ticks do." He moved the cup in your direction. "This is just a common house spider, known scientifically as Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Completely harmless."

"It doesn't look completely harmless to me," you countered, wrinkling your nose and leaning back.

You almost lost your balance. Again. His hands found your waist. Again.

"How about you come down now?"

"Right, sorry I know you're probably freaking out about my outdoor shoes on your chair."

His hand moved to grab yours as you stepped down. "I'm more concerned about the potential of you cracking your skull."

You beamed, a wide smile lighting up your features as you planted your feet firmly on the carpet. "Eh, I'm pretty much indestructible."

"Tell that to the spider."

You tried to glare at him, but you were sure it came off softer around than edges than you intended, because you weren't really annoyed. Spencer's ease in teasing you was a recent development, it had taken ages to get to this point. The roles used to be reserved, but then you fell in love with him, and now every word you spoke had been nothing but overthought and stiff.

"He is a little cute actually." You stepped closer, gingerly at that, maintaining a safe distance just in case Spencer decided to pull any funny business.

"Well, he's a she."

"Oh, how impolite of me," you said, as you crouched down to bring yourself face-to-face with the spider.

"Interestingly, the female common house spiders are known for its problem-solving abilities when capturing prey. If the first attempt doesn't work, it will try different strategies, which shows a level of adaptability and intelligence."

"Awh, she's kind of like you, isn't she?"

You wanted to slap a hand over your face. You sounded like an idiot. His eyes narrowed, and then that charming little smile broke through, a little uneven, making him all the more appealing.

"That feels offensive."

You couldn't help but laugh, your eyes crinkling in response. "It's not, I swear, that was supposed to be a compliment."

"I'd be careful with those compliments, wouldn't want to inflate my ego too much."

Maybe tomorrow you'd tell him how you feel. Probably not.

taglist: @hotchhner @khxna

#spencer reid x reader #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid x awkward reader #spencer reid #spencer reid fic #criminal minds #criminal minds x reader #spencer reid x you

381 notes · View notes

plaguedocboi · 8 months

Text

Waterfalls! These gorgeous, powerful features of nature have been oddly lacking in my past lists, I think in part because their danger has always seemed more “obvious” to me. But doing the research for this list has reawakened my phobia of the water. Some of the later entries (numbers 9 and 10 especially) brought back anxieties that I thought I had gotten over long ago, but it was kind of thrilling. Like watching a particularly scary horror movie. Let’s get into it!

1. Underwater Waterfall, Mauritius

No, it’s not really a waterfall. It’s just an optical illusion caused by sand falling off the island’s slope down into the deeper water below. But it looks cool and scary, and the drop-off is 2.5 miles deep so that’s pretty impressive and I think it deserves at least a mention.

2. Blood Falls, Antarctica

There’s nothing particularly dangerous about this one, it just looks incredibly creepy. Obviously, it’s not actually blood, it’s just water that’s very rich in iron. But the really fascinating part of this waterfall is that its source seems to be a subglacial lake that contains a unique microbial ecosystem which has been isolated for two million years! These microbes are like nothing else we’ve ever observed in nature before. They live in an incredibly cold and extremely saline lake, and metabolize sulfur and iron ions with no oxygen present. They are being used as a model to study what life on ice-covered alien planets could be like.

3. Khone Falls, Laos

This waterfall is not nearly as famous as some of the others on this list, which is surprising because it’s the widest waterfall in the world, with an average width of six miles! Although not particularly tall, it is the second most powerful waterfall in the world, more than double the power of Niagara Falls! The Khone falls divide the Upper and Lower Mekong river, making travel by boat between the north and south impossible. What makes it kind of unsettling to me is that during the rainy seasons the falls are basically swallowed up by the river, turning them from a spectacular waterfall to a series of massive rapids.

4. Huntington Gorge, Vermont

When water levels are low, this river is a popular and scenic swimming spot, and the canyon has an almost otherworldly quality with its unique bends and overhangs. Unfortunately, these very features are what makes it so dangerous. Much like the infamous Strid, the gorge is full of holes, steep drop-offs, and powerful currents hidden beneath the water, which can suck people in and trap them against the cliff walls. Over fifty people have died here since the 1950s, and many more have been injured. With proper precautions, one can safely explore the gorge and swim in the river, but don’t forget that this water has swallowed up many people before you.

5. Victoria Falls, Zambia

I’m sure most of you already know about Mosi-oa-Tunya, more widely called Victoria Falls, as the largest waterfall in the world. Formed as the Zambezi river pours into a series of massive gorges, this curtain of water spans nearly a mile and falls 300 feet with such force that columns of rising spray can be seen for miles around. Despite this, the pools around the lip of the falls can be relatively tame, and locals have fished while balancing on the edge of the cliff for generations. The safest and most famous of these fishing holes is the Devils Pool, which allows you to literally swim right up to the edge of the world’s biggest waterfall. The pool is actually very safe when the correct precautions are taken, and I can only find one death attributed to the pool specifically, when a tour guide in 2009 fell while trying to help a man who had slipped and was dangling off the edge (and, honestly, I was expecting a lot more deaths given the amount of clickbait articles advertising it as the most deadly swimming hole in the world). Although that was the only death from the Devils Pool, there have been many other deaths at Victoria Falls, mostly tourists who underestimate the power of the river or get too close to the edge. So if you ever visit this spectacular waterfall, please observe it from a safe distance and follow all the rules.

6. Huka Falls, New Zealand

This is not a traditional waterfall, but rather a series of small waterfalls along a narrow stretch of the Waikato river, creating an incredibly turbulent chasm that ends in a whirlpool. The 300-foot wide river is funneled into a 50-foot wide stream, causing a torrent of water that flows at a rate of 58,000 gallons per second. Obviously, this is not an area that you should get in the water, but not everyone takes that advice. There have been multiple deaths at this waterfall, and a few narrow escapes, including two swimmers who, incredibly, survived after trying to raft down the falls on pool toys. Please, for the love of god, don’t do that.

7. Niagara Falls, US/Canada

These falls are the only place on this list that I’ve visited, and I can tell you they are certainly an incredible sight, but also rather intimidating due to their sheer size and power. These three massive waterfalls are fed by the Great Lakes and, combined, have nearly 700,000 gallons of water thundering down every second. There is also a permanent whirlpool in the river that has existed for over 4,000 years and reaches depths of 125 feet! Besides being huge and awe-inspiring, these waterfalls are known for their appeal to daredevils who have gone over the edge in barrels or, in one case, a giant rubber ball. But these famous success stories are punctuated with tragedy. Roughly 20-30 people die at Niagara Falls every year. Most of these, sadly, are suicides, but others are failed attempts to replicate the successful daredevils of the past, and others are accidental. An estimated 5,000 bodies were recovered at the bottom of the falls between 1850 and 2011.

8. Murchison Falls, Uganda

Also known as Kabalega Falls, this is the worlds most powerful waterfall. Formed as the Nile River flows from Lake Kyoga to Lake Albert, this waterfall is so strong it literally causes the ground to shake around it. Here, the Nile is constricted from a river nearly 400 ft wide to a passage only 20 ft wide, creating an incredibly turbulent and violent tunnel of water that tears its way into the pool below at 79,000 gallons per second. And this is no ordinary pool. Waiting below the falls is the highest concentration of large crocodiles observed anywhere in the world, waiting for any dead or stunned animals caught in the falls to wash into their lair. Although the waterfall and surrounding park are now a beautiful tourist attraction and wildlife refuge, the history of the falls includes tales of human and animal sacrifices, thrown in alive to appease the gods that some believed resided beneath the raging waters.

9. Bath Fountain, Jamaica

This is just a random little waterfall along a hiking trail, but the video triggered some intense bathophobia in me for the first time in a while. Like, I was scared to get in the shower after watching this. Proceed with caution:

youtube

10. Kipu Falls, Hawaii

This one scares me because, despite my research, I can’t actually figure out what the hell is happening here. Multiple people have died here; all tourists, all drownings, all of seemingly very unclear causes. Kipu Falls is a beautiful and popular swimming spot, and locals frequently dive off the top of the falls with seemingly no danger. However, five deaths over the course of five years from 2006-2011 challenged its reputation of being a safe swimming hole. All the articles I could find seem to repeat the same information; there is no current in the pool and the waterfalls are not especially powerful. Despite these established facts, all five deaths were the same. Someone jumped in, surfaced, and then were dragged back down to the bottom of the pool and held there until they died. This has resulted in a lot of speculation, including everything from a hidden whirlpool current to evil spirits. I’m just. Really unsettled by the lack of information on this one. Every article I found was published in 2011 and I couldn’t find any updates, which hopefully means people aren’t still dying here, but… what the fuck???? Was going on????? Sorry guys this one might not be as dangerous as some of the others but it freaks me out a lot so it’s getting a higher rating. I want to know what’s going on but I’m sure not going to investigate it myself.

#long post #water rating #bathophobia

624 notes · View notes

tribbetherium · 9 months

Text

Insects, just as on Earth, have become tremendously successful on HP-02017: overshadowed by the hamsters and their spectacular descendants, but nonetheless unimaginably numerous, diverse, and vital to the balance of the countless ecosystems and biomes that have flourished across the planet for millions of years, from cold polar tundras to temperate forests to scorching deserts and, in the Middle Temperocene, a time of flooded coasts and expanding oceans thriving with life in its sunlit shallows, even the seas itself.

Many dipteran flies and a few hymenopterans too have taken up partial residence in coastal areas, convergent with Earthly brine flies, whose larvae live in shallow, salty tide pools and whose adults gather in massive swarms by the beach, where they in turn feed a wide array of wildlife such as ratbats, pterodents, rattiles, shrabs, squoads and more. But few live out in the open ocean, a realm whose arthropod inhabitants are instead governed by the shrish, their numerous basal krill ancestors and loads upon loads of nondescript zooplanktonic crustaceans. Yet the presence of coast kudzu, an unconventional, fast-spreading sea grass that floats entirely on the surface and can blanket whole square kilometers of ocean surface in favorable regions, provides a suitable habitat for the most unlikely of marine insects: the kudzu seatle (Thalassoscarabus spp.)

Descended from freshwater diving beetles that likely in turn descended from the darkling beetle Tenebrio molitor, one of the planet's earliest colonists, the kudzu seatle's ancestor was among the many victims of coastal storms that were swept out to sea and became unwitting pioneers. While many unfortunately perished and a lucky few made it to oceanic islands where they flourished, others, of more salt-tolerant strains, remained out at sea, some making it to the patches of coast kudzu where their descendants have flourished ever since.

Kudzu seatles spend much of their time clinging among the tangled floating forests of leaves and stems, to rest, hide themselves from predators, and to lay their eggs. Their eggs, laid in clusters of up to a hundred at a time, are attached to the stems of coast kudzu, where they hatch within a few days' time into small, bristly larvae that cling to the coast kudzu with their six thoracic legs to feed on microbial aggregations, algae, plankton and organic detritus, but are capable of swimming actively through jerky wiggling motions of their abdomens. When at rest, the larvae cling near the surface and extend an abdominal breathing tube to the surface, in order to breathe air, quickly diving and holding their breaths when disturbed by waves and ascending once more as the surface calms. As the larvae grow, they become ever more voracious, soon after graduating to feeding on the coast kudzu itself in its later instars. Once it reaches a full size of roughly two inches, it stops feeding and prepares itself for its transformation.

Yet in the open sea, there are few, if any, places for a larva to safely hole up in and become immobile for a prolonged period of time. As such, the kudzu seatle has an unconventional adaptation: a motile pupa, capable of swimming actively through contractions of its abdomen and possesses a specialized reserve of fat to fuel its motility, separate from its energy sources that guide its transformation as it does not eat for the two-week duration of its pupation. It now breathes at the surface through two thoracic tubes, and spends much of its time at the surface, diving back down when disturbed by vibrations and shadows.

At last, after an average of 14-16 days, the adult finally ecloses as a mature beetle, clinging to the surface of the coast kudzu to allow its elytra to harden. The pupae, guided by hormonal and light triggers, all emerge simultaneously just after sunset where they are much safer from predators. By dawn their exoskeletons will have hardened, their elytra now serving as oxygen tanks where they store bubbles of air, and now, swimming along with the aid of bristly legs and possessing excretory organs derived from their gut lining that clear their bodies of excess salt, the adults begin the final phase of their life cycle, being active hunters of zooplankton and larval shrish and pescopods, as well as feeding on the sap of coast kudzu as a supplement of energy-rich carbohydrates, throughout their adult life that can last as long as six months to a year depending on the species and local climate, throughout which they constantly mate and reproduce incessantly, with each female able to produce as many as 600-1000 eggs in a lifetime.

Various species of kudzu seatle are found across the oceans of HP-02017, such as the most common coastal kudzu seatle (Thalassoscarabus larsoni), which is predominantly a omnivorous plankton-feeding denizen of shallow tropical seas, to the larger pelagic kudzu seatle (T. shocirus) that is a more active hunter of smaller invertebrates in coast kudzu patches in open waters far from shore, to the forest kudzu seatle (T. puget) that thrives in the "emergent layer" of seagrass forests and experience massive population booms each summer that become a feast for predators of all kinds. The latter species, ranging around the shores of South Ecatoria, are very familiar to shore-dwelling calliducyons such as the baywulves and riveners as their breeding explosions seasonally blanket the surface with millions of larvae, many of which wash ashore and are considered a seasonal treat by the ocean-side foragers: though "sea bug season" does not last, as, while the larvae and particularly the fat-rich pupae are a favorite of theirs, the hard-shelled adults they eventually metamorphose into are considered bitter, chewy and highly unpalatable. Due to the somewhat shrimplike appearance of the larva and pupa, the calliducyons do not distinguish them from shrish and merely consider them as just another species of shrish, or "seaswimmer bug": though the resemblance of the adult to terrestrial beetles has not gone unnoticed by the riveners who call it in their dialect as "sea land bug", the paradoxical statement of which is the subject of local rhymes, songs and amusing folk stories.

----------

#speculative evolution #speculative biology #spec evo #speculative zoology #hamster's paradise #ask #spectember

78 notes · View notes

science-lover33 · 9 months

Text

The Human Microbiome: Your Body's Little Ecosystem

Within each of us exists a fantastic and complex microscopic universe known as the human microbiome. This ecosystem of microorganisms that inhabits our body plays a fundamental role in health and homeostasis. Today, we will fully explore this fascinating microbial world and its influence on our physiology.

What is the Human Microbiome?

The human microbiome is a profoundly intricate biological system integral to our health and well-being. This term, "the human microbiome," encompasses a diverse consortium of microorganisms that have firmly established themselves within and upon our bodies. This assemblage comprises a wide array of microorganisms, encompassing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and various other microbes, each with their specialized ecological niches within our anatomy.

Upon a deeper examination of the human microbiome, we uncover a meticulously organized distribution of these microorganisms. They do not merely coexist haphazardly within us; instead, they strategically colonize specific regions of our body. For instance, they form robust communities within the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the gut harboring a densely populated microcosm. Similarly, they stake their claim on our skin, and even the respiratory tract serves as a habitat for these microbial entities.

The human microbiome's remarkable aspect lies in the intricate and dynamic interactions it maintains with our own organism. These microorganisms are not passive bystanders; they are active participants in the intricate orchestra of physiological processes. They exert influence over our digestion, bolster our immune system, and wield the potential to affect our mental and cognitive faculties. This complex web of symbiotic relationships between our human cells and these microorganisms constitutes an ever-evolving interplay that exerts a profound impact on our overall health.

The human microbiome is not a mere collection of microbes; it is an entire ecosystem nestled within us, a thriving and dynamic world with the potential to significantly modulate our health. Comprehending the intricacies and subtleties of this microscopic community represents an ongoing and critical pursuit in the realms of scientific and medical research, with profound implications for the fields of medicine and biology.

Solid Scientific Evidence

To support the importance of the human microbiome, here are three relevant scientific references:

Title: "The Human Microbiome: A Key Contributor to Health." Autores: Sender, R., Fuchs, S., & Milo, R. Revista: Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2016. Abstract: This article reviews the role of the human microbiome in health and disease, highlighting its influence on digestion, immunity, and nutrient synthesis. It also emphasizes its contribution to metabolic and autoimmune diseases.

Títle: "The Human Microbiome: Gut Microbiota and Health." Autores: Marchesi, J. R., Adams, D. H., Fava, F., Hermes, G. D., Hirschfield, G. M., Hold, G., ... & Rook, G. A. Revista: The Journal of Infection, 2016. Abstract: This study focuses on the intestinal microbiota and its relationship with human health. Explore how alterations in the microbiome can contribute to gastrointestinal, inflammatory, and metabolic disorders.

Títle"The Skin Microbiome: Impact of Modern Environments on Skin Ecology, Barrier Integrity, and Systemic Immune Programming." Autores: Kong, H. H., Andersson, B., & Clavel, T. Revista: World Allergy Organization Journal, 2016. Summary: This article examines the skin microbiome's influence on skin health and immune response. It highlights how modern environmental factors can upset the microbial balance and affect the skin's health.

Future perspectives

Studying the human microbiome is a constantly evolving field that promises new therapeutic strategies and a deeper understanding of human health. As we continue to investigate this small ecosystem, doors are opening to personalized interventions to promote health and prevent disease.

Would you like to learn more about this fascinating subject? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments!

#science #biology #college #education #school #student #medicine #doctors #health #healthcare #nursing #nurses #higher education #microbiome #molecular biology

73 notes · View notes

borderlinehot · 10 months

Text

skincare cheat sheet

✨acne prone skin✨

look for ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, retinoids. benzoyl peroxide & sulfur both have anti-bacterial properties that can help kill the bacteria as well as being anti-microbial which can help reduce the growth of bacteria and soothe the skin. my skin personally likes sulfur whenever i have a breakout.

*minimize your skin routine* this is super important because if you are prone to acne you may or may not know what is causing your breakouts!! it could be a product in your routine that is clogging your pores, it could be hormonal, it could even be that your skin barrier is so dry and it's prompting your body to over create more oil which is causing you to breakout more often. i recommend plugging in all of your current products into the skin safe website and checking out if any are comedogenic. try resetting your routine and start out with a non-comedogenic face wash, moisturizer & spf. stick with that for atleast 2-4 weeks and then start slowly introducing other things that will contribute to reaching your skin goals.

pimple patches <3 (not the star face ones) i'm a huge lover of pimple patches, i love using them because not only do they distract me from picking my blemishes but they also help in aiding my blemishes as well. i recommend panoxyl patches because they actually work. they don't slide off, they stay on even after i've applied my products and they are more affordable than others. i've tried the starface ones and while they are cute.. they're ineffective. they do not suck up anything and half the time they will fall off your face even without product. and they're expensive. if you do enjoy the star shaped patches but want some that are actually effective i recommend amazon! i purchases pink stars that work just as well as my panoxyl ones and are just as affordable!

hydrate & moisturize!!! drink your water and moisturize your face, this is said all the time but it truly does make a difference.

pay attention to your diet. what you may be putting into your body may be a sign of what it showing on the outside. fried foods, dairy, carbs, and sugar can all contribute to acne. i'm not saying you can't have these ever again but they should be enjoyed within in reason. it's all about *balance*

visit a derm. if you have the luxury of visiting a derm, please do so. a derm can help you figure out the root cause of what's causing your acne along with guiding you on what to do next.

source: a girl who has been boderline hot her whole life that suffered from acne growing up

83 notes · View notes

illarian-rambling · 3 months

Note

Is there anything from your WIP that you want to talk about/give a more detailed explanation of but haven't had an opportunity to?

Probably the whole "in the beginning" sequence if I'm being honest. The base worldbuilding. So let's do it!

Before there was anything, there was nothing. There was darkness, silence, and the endless void. It couldn't have been called happy, this void, but perhaps it was content.

Then, a spark came into the universe. Now, we had something. There was light, sound, and chaos. There were stars and young planets and baby galaxies just beginning to glow.

In eons hence, these two forces would be called many names, but for simplicity's sake, we can call them End and Beginning. Each was a collection of minds, a colonial organism on a massive scale. For a while, there was balance between the two. The minds of Beginning resided in the stars and churned out planets, some of which harbored early, microbial life. The minds of End resided in the dark inbetween, and made sure Beginning didn't overstep its bounds. However, in time, End grew bitter. It didn't like this bright, noisy, chaotic universe. It wanted things to go back to how they were before.

And so it began to exterminate Beginning.

Stars bled out and died as the universe was plunged into war. Beginning tried to fight back, but it was a creative force, not a destructive one, and it was no match for End's gluttonous march. Billions upon billions of galaxies were destroyed, consumed by the nothing that was there first, until finally, there was only one lonely mind of Beginning left.

We can call this mind the Creator. While its brethren were being devoured, this single mind in its yellow star set to work creating sentient life. It split off two aspects of itself to do this; one to create the body, the other to forge the soul. The Illarians call these aspects Tsa and Ayu. The dwarves call them the Prime Twins. But either way, humans and dwarves were not the first people they created. First came the Araunians.

As End closed in above, chewing through the nearby stars and the more distant planets in the solar wheel, the Araunians split and morphed into the varied peoples that crowd Illaros today. Humans and goblins, sirens and selkies, and only one race of elves so far. All of these disparate people had one thing in common though; they had gods.

Through the power of their souls, divine sparks given to them by the Creator itself, the gods these peoples imagined sprang into reality. The Illarian, the Aderenon, the Nabafyrian ancestors, the Great Anglerfish, and many more. These were the children of mortality, grandchildren to the last mind of Beginning left living. This mind, the Creator, had only one message for the powerful new gods: "Get out there and fight that fucking thing!!"

The gods are not bound by the rules of creation and destruction, but instead can levy both equally. They rushed to fight End, to push it back from where it had besieged them and their makers, and they have been fighting for every moment since then. Through their efforts, the mortals of Illaros have been able to grow, develop, and evolve. The Creator has survived as the last of its kind. And though the universe is so terribly empty, it will never be nothing again, so long as the gods of Illaros defend all of something.

Without any true stars besides the sun though, what do the people of Illaros see in the night sky, you might ask? Well, they see what they think are stars---bright, white, untwinkling lights. In truth, these are the eyes of End, everwatching and everwaiting to devour the last bastion of life in all of the universe.

Thanks for the ask! I figured I'd brought End up enough that yall were owed a bit of an explanation. Hope this is interesting!

(As another side note: the words Illaros (the planet everyone lives on) and Illarian (the human gods) are so similar because they're both human words that stem from the same root. 'Illa' means horizon in Janazi (human language) and is an important concept to the seafaring people. A person from Illaros would be called Illari, though no such word exists on Illaros today, because they don't know about other planets yet, so why would they specify)

(Again, thanks for listening to me rant about worldbuilding)

(Have a bitchin day <3)

(Whoops here's my tag list @amandacanwrite @elsie-writes @riveriafalll @kosmic-kore @kaylinalexanderbooks @bard-coded @carrotsinnovember @patternwelded-quill @somethingclevermahogony @whatwewrotepodcast @goldxdarkness @the-angriest-author @mk-writes-stuff)

#writing #writerscommunity #writblr #my ocs #author #writeblr

17 notes · View notes

entheognosis · 2 months

Text

Excerpt:

The researchers argue that even before humans arose, Earth’s biosphere—the global system of all life on the planet—may have displayed some of the hallmarks of planetary intelligence in a nascent form. Ancient microbial life caused profound changes in Earth’s atmosphere, like the Great Oxygenation Event 2.4 billion years ago. These changes then fed back on life, enabling new forms of oxygen-using biology and more complex ecosystems. In this way, the researchers argue the ancient biosphere “recognized” planetary states like global chemical balances and collectively responded in ways that altered those states, making the planet more stable and favorable for life in the long run. This could be seen as a very simple form of global information processing and adaptive behavior.

#reality sandwich

17 notes · View notes

gutfoundation · 4 months

Text

The Role Of Gut Bacteria In Weight Loss: All You Need to Know

Explore the intricate connection between gut bacteria and weight loss in our latest blog post. Delve into the fascinating world of the microbiome and discover how the trillions of microbes residing in your gut can influence your body weight. Uncover the latest research findings, practical tips, and insights into harnessing the power of a healthy gut for effective weight management.

#Gut bacteria #Microbiome #Weight loss #Gut health #Probiotics #Digestive system #Healthy lifestyle #Weight management #Metabolism #Microbial balance #gutfoundation

0 notes

arcadiumknight · 3 months

Text

It’s been so long that I’ve used Tumblr, but I wanted to get back on here to post my writing like I used to before. This one I wrote back in August of 2020 and have been mostly holding onto it since.

Gold Flowers

In the dark and damp happenstance I watch the Devil grow

They saw me dance and thought perchance “it is time for me to know

How emotions feed the oceans of this universal trance”

With weary eyes and teary cries they desired my vessel by ignorance

In the end, the Devil descends to achieve what we all crave

A home of warming relief, a sea of freeing waves

All is deceasing, but by releasing my words while my body is young

I end up postulating plans no one understands because they believe I’m speaking in tongues

The Devil scales in numerous tales from microbial to planetary dimensions

We get it correct, but not perfect, about their true intentions

It is no secret or denying it, the Devil has had their misdeeds

But from what we know and what we have seen, they are no different than we

Breaking down and building up could be balanced peacefully

If more time was taken, not forsaken, thinking cohesively

Using perception of perspective is a comprehensive power

Let me use it, not to abuse it, but to turn mold into gold flowers

8 notes · View notes

naturalrights-retard · 4 months

Text

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

Your gut is home to bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea and eukarya; bacteria make up the vast majority of microbes in your microbiome

While your highly acidic stomach may host only about 1,000 colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria per milliliter (mL), your large intestine is home to up to 1 trillion CFU/mL

Bacteroides are the dominant microbe in your large intestine; the composition of these microbes, and those elsewhere in your gut, are linked to health conditions like obesity, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation

Your age, health status, diet and environment all influence the numbers and diversity of microorganisms in your gut

A healthy gut microbiome depends on the consumption of whole, fermented foods and the avoidance of unnecessary antibiotics and other environmental assaults; spore-based probiotics are one option to help

The human gut is finally receiving the respect it deserves — and so are its trillions of inhabitants.1 You are, at your core, a microbial being,2 and while microorganisms are found everywhere from your skin to your mouth and even your blood,3 it's your large intestine where your body's largest bacterial ecosystem resides.4

If you treat it and the rest of your microbiome well, good health — both mental and physical — is likely to result. By nourishing this complex microbial community, you can even influence your gut-brain axis, which regulates digestion, mood, immune function and much more.5

The Number of Microbes Living in Your Gut Is Staggering

Your gut is home to bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea and eukarya. The latter two resemble bacteria but are distinct groups of microorganisms. Bacteria, meanwhile, make up the vast majority of microbes in your microbiome. Three main phyla or groups of gut microbes make up the human microbiome and serve diverse structural, protective and metabolic functions:6

Bacteroidetes — Porphyromonas, Prevotella and Bacteroides

Firmicutes — Ruminococcus, Clostridium, Lactobacillus and Eubacteria

Actinobacteria — Bifidobacteria (the most prevalent type)

Broken down, the average person may host the following quantities of bacteria in different body regions.7 Remember that this is just an average — your age, health status, diet and environment all influence the numbers and diversity of microorganisms in your gut.8

Mouth — 100,000 colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter (mL)

The digestion process begins in your mouth when you chew your food, making it easier to break down in your gut. Your mouth contains an impressive number of microbes to maintain oral health but if they become out of balance, disease may result.

For instance, the bacteria in your mouth are thought to play a role in blood pressure via nitric oxide (NO), a soluble gas stored in the lining of your blood vessels, called the endothelium. However, antiseptic compounds in mouthwash may destroy beneficial oral bacteria that are important for maintaining blood pressure, thereby contributing to high blood pressure levels.

In one study, the use of the mouthwash twice daily was associated with a significant increase in systolic blood pressure after one week, while once the mouthwash was stopped, "recovery from use resulted in an enrichment in nitrate-reducing bacteria on the tongue."9

Differences in more than 10 species of bacteria living on the tongue were noted after mouthwash use, including lower microbial diversity after one week of use.10 As noted in a Frontiers in Bioscience review, nourishing and protecting your oral microbiome may reduce your risk of multiple diseases:11

"Recent studies show that one approach to reducing the risk of chronic infections, such as caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, and halitosis, is to control the ecology of the oral microbiome instead of completely removing both the harmful and beneficial microorganisms.

This is based on the knowledge that oral diseases are not caused by a single pathogen but rather by a shift in the homeostasis of the entire microbiota, a process known as dysbiosis."

Pseudomonadota, which are present in higher concentrations in the mouth than in the gut,12 also play an important role in producing short-chain fatty acids and boosting the growth of beneficial gut microbes.13 Fusobacteriota represent another prominent type of microbes in the body. While they can help stimulate inflammatory responses to fight pathogens, they may also drive inflammation and are linked to periodontal disease.14

Download this Article Before it Disappears

Download PDF

Esophagus — 10 Million CFU/mL

Firmicutes tend to be particularly abundant in the esophagus. While relatively low in numbers compared to elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract, Firmicutes are useful for helping to break down sugars and carbohydrates from the foods you eat.15

Interestingly, Firmicutes, which are centrally involved in glucose and insulin metabolism, belong to the phylum most adversely affected by the artificial sweetener sucralose.16 Animal studies suggest the sucralose-altered gut microbiome could be involved in inflammation of the gut and liver, as well as cancer.17

Stomach — 1,000 CFU/mL

Your stomach's low pH levels limit the growth of microbes. But even in this high-acid environment, some microorganisms survive. Actinomycetota tend to be the dominant microbes in the stomach, along with Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Peptostreptococcus and Lactobacillus.

Lactobacillus has been dubbed a "psychobiotic"18 because of its effects on mental health, particularly anxiety and depression. Lactobacillus bacteria — found in many fermented foods — helps dampen stress responses and prevent depression and anxiety, in part, by modulating your immune system.19

Small Intestine — 1,000 CFU/mL to 100 Million CFU/mL

The concentration of microbes in the small intestine gradually increases, starting with 1,000 CFU/mL in the duodenum — the first part of the small intestine — and rising to 100,000 CFU/mL in the second part, known as the jejunum. In the third part, the ileum, there are about 100 million CFU/mL.

Firmicutes are abundant in the small intestine, but actinomycetota, which help break down complex carbohydrates and produce vitamins B12 and K2, are another dominant species. They also help protect against pathogens.20

Bacteroides are also found in the small intestine. They also play a role in breaking down complex carbohydrates and producing vitamins, as well as helping to regulate the immune system.21

Large Intestine — Up to 1 Trillion CFU/mL

Bacteroides are the dominant microbe in your large intestine, the area of your body with the highest concentration of bacteria. Bifidobacteria are also present. The composition of these microbes, and those elsewhere in your gut, are linked to health conditions like obesity and inflammation.

As noted in a review published in Nutrients, obese individuals tend to have higher proportions of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and lower proportion of Bacteroidetes and Bifidobacterium compared to normal weight individuals.22

Studies have also linked specific strains to specific health problems. For example, high levels of Bacteroides vulgatus, which is abundant in the human gut, appear strongly associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and altered metabolism. Low levels of certain bacteria in the Firmicutes phylum, including Blautia and Faecalibacterium, have been linked to the accumulation of trunk-fat specifically.23

Your Gut-Brain Axis Is an Information Highway

Gut microbes' effects don't only apply to your gastrointestinal tract. They interact with your central nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, a two-way information highway that involves neural, immune, endocrine and metabolic pathways.24 By promoting proinflammatory cytokines, bacteria may also play a role in damaging the integrity of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and the blood-brain barrier.25

There are also 10 gut microbiota genera with a significant link to Alzheimer's. Six are negatively associated with Alzheimer's, meaning they're less common in people with Alzheimer's than in those without the disease and may therefore have a protective effect.

The remaining four are positively associated with Alzheimer's, meaning they're more abundant in those with Alzheimer's disease, making them a risk factor for the condition. Specifically:26

Bacteria protective against Alzheimer's include Firmicutes phylum (Eubacterium nodatum group, Eisenbergiella and Eubacterium fissicatena group) as well as from Actinobacteria (Adlercreutzia, Gordonibacter) and Bacteroidetes (Prevotella 9)

Bacteria associated with Alzheimer's include Firmicutes (Lachnospira and Veillonella), Actinobacteria (Collinsella) and Bacteroidetes (Bacteroides)

What's Hurting Your Microbial Health?

Researchers are only beginning to tap the surface when it comes to unveiling the complex relationship microbes have with human health and disease. But it's known that microbial diversity in your gut is a good thing, while decreased diversity in the gut microbiome has been linked to chronic conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

In general, gut microbial diversity decreases with age,27 but even younger people are being affected. The overuse of antibiotics, elective C-sections and processed foods have been described as primary factors "driving the destruction of our inner ecology."28 C-section delivery is associated with an increased risk of immune system and metabolic disorders, possibly due to altered microbes.29

Dramatic increases in chronic diseases, including Type 1 diabetes, asthma, obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease and inflammatory bowel disease, are also linked to the loss of bacterial diversity in our guts — caused by the overuse of antibiotics.30 Consumption of whole foods, meanwhile, is linked to higher gut microbiota diversity,31 as is consuming herbs and spices, for instance.32

But processed foods, which are devoid of fiber needed to feed a healthy microbiome, contain chemicals such as the herbicide glyphosate that also disrupt microbes.33 From EMFs and air pollution34 to antibacterial soap, your microbiome is under constant assault from the world around you.

How to Optimize Your Gut Microbiome

Avoiding antibiotics, including those found in conventionally raised meat, is key to keeping your microbiome health intact. Ultraprocessed foods, artificial sweeteners, chlorinated and fluoridated water, elective C-sections and antibacterial products are other culprits that can worsen your microbial health.

A healthy gut microbiome depends on the consumption of fermented foods. A study assigned 36 adults to consume a diet high in fermented foods or high-fiber foods for 10 weeks. Those consuming fermented foods had an increase in microbiome diversity as well as decreases in markers of inflammation.35

If you do take antibiotics or are looking for another supportive measure for gut health, consider spore-based probiotics, or sporebiotics. These are part of a group of derivatives of the Bacillus microbe and have been shown to dramatically increase your immune tolerance.

Spore-based probiotics do not contain any live Bacillus strains, only its spores — the cell wall or protective shell around the DNA and the working mechanism of that DNA. As such, they are not affected by antibiotics and may be able to reestablish your gut microbiome more effectively when taken in conjunction with the antibiotic.

In your gut, the Bacillus species also convert sugar into vitamin C, a nutrient well-known for its anti-infectious effects and, according to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, a long-time mentor of mine, sporebiotics also massively increase reproduction of acidophilus, bifidus and other beneficial microbes in your gut via the electromagnetic messages they send out.

This is entirely unique. When you take a regular probiotic, they primarily take care of themselves. Bacillus spores, on the other hand, enhance many other beneficial microbes. Bacillus spores also create 24 different substances that have strong antimicrobial properties. But they do not kill indiscriminately the way antibiotics do. As noted by Klinghardt:

"Seeding the gut with things that make it stronger, more resilient towards the offenses we present to it is a huge key to our time. We need to live through this insane time, and we need to use all the tools that give us more resilience, which is for me like a holy war.

Resilience means immune tolerance — tolerating the stresses of our time, and any tool that does it, that is healthy, that doesn't have side effects, is important to have in our tool chest. [Sporebiotics] is one of the major ones."

8 notes · View notes

scuttling · 2 years

Text

Wish You Were Here

Fandom: Criminal Minds Pairings: Aaron Hotchner/Female Reader Word Count: 1002 Tags: Some typical case talk, Hotch on vacation, not much else Summary: Just a blurb based on the prompt 'wish you were here' to get me creating again. 🤍 Overthinking is my enemy.

It’s day five of a serial murder case in Central Florida, and the weather is humid, the air thick and stifling. Aaron is standing—quite literally—in a swamp, his feet shoved into borrowed wading boots, his sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up. Mosquitoes buzz around their faces, and Morgan repeatedly slaps at his arms and mutters when he is bitten by yet another; apparently they’re sweet on him. Reid crouches down and lifts a muddy, slick clump of seaweed out of the water with a stick.

“Sargassum. Chinese herbalists often prescribe it in powdered form and recommend drinking it as a tea,” Reid tells the group. “Some species have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anticoagulant properties.” He looks up, squinting against the brilliant sun overhead, and the seaweed—sargassum—slides off and falls back into the water, which splashes him in the face. He grimaces, and Morgan smacks himself on the arm again and curses like a sailor. Aaron sighs.

“Would it have had any impact on decomposition?” he asks as patiently as he can; he can’t imagine having Reid’s brain, knowing so much, and being expected to use it specifically for their benefit, nothing more. He knows Reid appreciates his patience, can tell by his light shrug as he comes to standing, his own rubber boots stretching up his long legs and stopping mid-thigh.

“Not to my knowledge. Whatever caused the accelerated decomposition, it wasn’t this.” He swipes the back of his hand over his face, wiping away the dirty swamp water, and Aaron pulls his phone out of his pocket to update the other half of the team. He pauses when he notices that a text message was delivered ten minutes ago, then drags his finger across the screen to unlock it—and he smiles for the first time in five days when he sees the photo attached.

It’s nothing unexpected or urgent, just you and Jack sitting on the bleachers at one of his soccer games, your heads together and grins on your faces. Jack has a green smear of a grass stain on his uniform, and you look lovely as ever, glowing in a blue sundress with little white flowers on it, your signature iced coffee in your hand.

The caption is simple and effective: Wish you were here!

Morgan slaps a mosquito on the back of his neck; Reid loses his footing and grabs onto a nearby sheriff’s deputy for balance, takes them both down in a splash of brackish water and mud.

Aaron sighs for what feels like the hundredth time today, missing his son and his girlfriend and their uncomplicated, happy little slice of life.

He wishes he was there, too.

“Jack, sweetie, come tell Dad goodnight; he’s only got a moment.” You duck down into the video chat frame, your phone propped up against a box of pasta, and Aaron can almost smell your fragrant, homemade marinara from Oregon. He is stressed, exhausted while the team hunts a preferential sex offender who has just kidnapped his third young boy—a home-cooked meal, a glass of wine, and a night in with his two favorite people sounds like absolute heaven right now.

Jack rushes into the kitchen, stops next to you out of breath, with a smile on his face.

“Hi, Dad. Taylor’s spending the night, we’re playing Minecraft!”

“That’s great, buddy. I can tell you’re having a lot of fun. Listen, I’m not sure if I’ll be home tomorrow or not, so make sure you have your homework done and your gear ready for practice Monday, okay?” Jack crinkles his nose and dismisses Aaron with a wave of his hand.

“I did that already, don’t worry. We have a system.” He looks up at you, and you smile, setting your hand on the top of his head. “Goodnight and stay safe, Dad. Love you.”

"Love you." He scurries away, leaving as quickly as he came, and Aaron huffs a tired laugh down the line. “We have a system.”

“We do have a system, for your information, and it’s a pretty great one,” you reply playfully, stirring your sauce. He takes in what he can see of your outfit—leggings and one of his t-shirts, oversized even on him—and can just imagine the two of you on the sofa, you cuddled up to his side. “He asked to invite Taylor over to play for a couple hours, and I told him he could, but first he’d have to straighten up his room and do his homework.”

“And that worked?” he asks, taking a sip of coffee—it’s going to be a long night; you turn to face the camera and give him a soft wink.

“Almost. But he’s a bargainer just like his dad, asked if Taylor could sleep over instead.”

“And you gave in like the marshmallow you are.” You scoff in false indignation, and he laughs, can’t help himself. “Best step-mom-to-be ever.”

"Best husband-to-be." Prentiss steps up behind Aaron, a signal that his short-lived break has come to an end.

You sigh affectionately, and he can almost guess exactly what you’re thinking:

Wish you were here.

It takes five long minutes for you to find the perfect postcard. And then…

“Ten dollars?” Aaron says, incredulous, when he flips it over to examine the price tag. “You could get this back home for fifty cents.”

“Maybe in 1980,” you reply with a laugh, and he slowly raises a brow in challenge. “Even stamps cost more than fifty cents now, Aaron. And besides, it’s perfect. They’re going to love it.”

He looks down at the piece of card stock in his hand, at the crisp cyan of the ocean, the dreamy blue of the sky, the green palm trees, and the gold lettering stretched across the middle of the scene; it reads ‘Dominican Republic’—the only potential honeymoon destination you could both agree on—and he buys the card and watches over your shoulder as you scrawl a message onto the back in black ink.

Dear Jess and Jack, we love and miss you.

Wish you were here!

Taglist: @arsonhotchner @mrsh0tchner @ssahotchie @sleepyreaderreads @mintphoenix @meghannnnnn @disgruntledchowchow @azenpal @g-l-pierce @my-rosegold-soul @ssamorganhotchner @heliotropehotch @angelhotchner @qtip-blog @gspenc @wishuhadstayed @averyhotchner @dadbodhotch11 @itsmytimetoodream @unicornprancing @thinking-bucky @mugi-chwan95 @madamsnape921 @hxtchncr @ssahotchnerxx @vintagesubmariner @skyewardolicitycloisdelena91 @hotchnerxo @ashhotchner @hotchs-bitch @jaspxr

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner fanfic #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfic #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x female reader

297 notes · View notes