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ruthlesslistener · 1 year

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How accurate/believable do you feel the bug behavior is in hollow knight? And if you find it inaccurate/unbelievable do you find that it affects the enjoyability of the story told? I really enjoy stories that center on fictional creatures (which I believe is called fantastical xenofiction?) but I always find myself anxious bout making stuff believable since I know nothing about regular biology, and it feels like most writers of xenofiction whether more humanoid or animalistic have a degree or at least some advanced schooling in biology that informs their writing.

Oh my friend, don't worry at all about biological or behavioral accuracy in Hollow Knight, because there is very little of it present and the fact that they are an advanced species means that it merely has an influence on their behavior, such as Leg Eater and Divine's cannibalistic courtship, Flukemarm's family system, or Willoh eating other bugs. Hollow Knight appears to be set in a completely alternate universe where invertebrates filled the niche of the large vertebrate species we see today (bc why else does gruz mother have bone in it), so while there are species that are analogous to the ones on our planet, it's not entirely 1:1. That's part of my enjoyment of it, actually- we're given just enough similarities and tidbits for us to base them off of irl creatures, but they're also different enough from our bugs that personal interpretations have a lot of breathing space. Their species will infer how they view and act in the world, which is something we see in the above examples, but because they evolved to live in civilizations, how much of that base instinct ends up persisting in the society is variable and up to headcanon. That's why I like it so much- because the game makes it very clear that these civilized bugs are very much not human, and builds the world and the culture of each tribe around it. The spiders and mantids of Deepnest and the Fungal Wastes being eager or unbothered by killing/eating other sapient bugs makes sense, but does not detract from the fact that both tribes harbour sympathetic or deeply honourable characters. Hollow Knight embraces the fact that each species of bug has different needs while also sticking fast to the anthropomorphic characteristics that makes them so relatable, making it a believable alternate society setup that does not discriminate which tribes are 'good' or 'bad'. Which was actually what threw me off in Bug Fables more than the inaccurate biology, as in Bug Fables, the socialized bugs were all herbivorous while the 'evil', feral bugs (with the exception of one, the tarantula sorcerer) were all carnivores. That just doesn't make any sense to me, and it bothered me more than all the other biological inconsistencies in the game- because I can assume if bugs have developed a new language and civilization, their biology wouldn't match the bugs in our world. Having consistency in worldbuilding rules is much more important than biological accuracy.

I also don't think that a background in biology is a necessity in order to enjoy xenofiction. Much of what I learned about bugs and snakes is information that I learned in my free time rather than learn in the classroom (though some of my classes did indeed inspire or reinforce some of the stuff I've made up, such as wyrms being simultaneous hermaphrodites due to mate scarcity). Having a background schooling in biology will make understanding your research easier, yes, but learning how to read scientific papers is a skill that every biology student needs to learn, no matter how long they've been in school. If you're determined enough (and curious enough), then you too can do the research necessary to flesh out the biology and behavior of fictional species! All you need is plenty of curiosity and free time, and the patience to chew through some tough, dry words to get to the meat of the good stuff. As long as your worldbuilding is consistent, the amount of biologically accurate material in your writing is more of a secondary thing to worry about.

(If you want a tip though, do a deep dive into the evolution of reproductive behaviors to help you get a basic idea of how different social structures evolve. Sex is a pretty key factor to how animals behave and evolve, with resource scarcity/location, scarcity of mates, difficulty of rearing young, tertiary sex ratio differences, and the harshness of the environment all leading to different social structures, physiology, and behavior. It's pretty fascinating stuff, and is a great help in determining how a fictional society might work.)

#hollow knight #speculative biology #xenobiology #worldbuilding #^ tagging it multiply bc i feel like this is important #also you dont have to go too in depth in the whole sex thing (like female choice or sperm competition or w/ever)#its more just that how a species breeds will infer how they work socially and what pressures will be placed upon them #lots of our complex behavior (esp. with mate choice) is bc of how taxing it is to rear our young #and how scarce the resources were during our evolution #so understanding how a species might react to their environment and how they reproduce will let you infer how they react to different stimu #anon #reply

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harold2sco · 3 years

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Pre-Birth Wounds

Let’s discuss the concept of “Pre-Birth Wounds.” This is a subject that many people never take into account, yet it greatly affects the quality of your existence on Earth.

Most people have been taught to believe that the path of an individual’s life unfolds after birth. Yet, I'm going to assert that this is not the case; that the factors shaping and molding you appear much earlier.

One thing that we've failed to do in many societies is care for mothers during their time of pregnancy. And, by caring, I mean nurturing them, empowering them physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

See, the females of our species literally take it upon themselves to onboard new Souls into the planet. They become vessels of pure cosmic energy and divine creation.

Women essentially bring forth and perpetuate humanity. Therefore, it's important that each mother is surrounded by energies that fulfill her, that remind her of this divine essence.

Because everything that goes into her goes into the baby and, consequently, goes into our human species. So we are creating the template for who and what we are through her.

This is the time period for a woman, during her pregnancy, when we need to fill her with Love, good energy, everything we want to reproduce and experience more of in our world.

But that doesn't happen very often. In fact, many women during this time period are treated harshly. An expecting mother may be pushed by the social system to work non stop like a machine; to surround herself with harmful chemicals in the environment.

Many of our money-driven societies are set up to be this kind of dog eat dog world. Everyone is scratching and clawing to get “Theirs,” and a pregnant woman must often do the same.

Therefore, subconsciously, she will be worried about survival and safety. This woman may also be related to toxic people or have a partner who hasn't done his own self healing.

Both people in that relationship then, who are psychologically battered, will push each other's buttons nonstop. They may have arguments, experience ongoing feelings of despair and disappointment. In extreme cases, physical violence might become a factor.

Just imagine what all this could be doing to an unborn child. In the womb, we are vessels of pure potential that are being impressed upon constantly by what the mother is experiencing.

And, at the core level, we're all energetic beings surrounded by others who carry their own electromagnetic and etheric fields. We constantly mix and commingle with people and are exposed to their emotional baggage.

Through that process, our own energetic sovereignty is often breached. These disruptive frequencies can then throw our lives completely out of balance. And a baby, being exposed to this, may begin to feel unsafe, under attack, unwelcomed in this world.

Studies have been done to follow the children of parents who, early in life, went through a prolonged period of starvation, torment, terror, or suffering. The children of these people often grow up, well into adulthood, feeling that they are never safe, or will somehow be attacked.

They may even develop to be much smaller and less physically capable than the offspring of people who didn't go through such an enormous hardship. Some of these adult children will hoard things. They may feel inappropriately attached to physical objects.

Others will eat to the point of becoming obese. Because, buried inside of their neural circuitry, is a fear that there will never be enough; that what they have will run out, or that they are in danger of losing bare essentials.

The people themselves are usually not able to identify these underlying fears without help or long periods of introspection. That’s because, in the womb, we don't have language yet.

We don't understand words, reason, or verbal cues. But we do have an emotional, energetic experience which, in itself, speaks volumes. The nervous system memory morphs into a belief structure that makes sense out of fears implanted before birth.

You see, thoughts, experiences, life events, emotions, are not words. Words are simply tools we use to transmit our own internal experience into the minds and bodies of other people.

They are secondary symbols, not the experience itself, which is fundamental. In fact, think of it this way. Every emotion is simply a sensory-based representation of some “Thought or information level Frequency.”

The emotion is, therefore, a thought, in the body. The mother will have certain thoughts in response to her environment. These ideas will be translated into a language that the very cells of her unborn child can understand.

Many of these destructive ideas are not hers. Because thoughts aren’t only generated inside of our heads. We transmit them out into the surrounding world.

Therefore, people around the pregnant mother will give their energy to her. If they are petty, “Small-Minded,” or suffer from self-hate, she gets that as well.

This becomes a dangerous cocktail that is mixed together and absorbed by the baby, a being that is pure potential, at its most vulnerable and impressionable state in life.

I’ll give you another example of how this plays out. Studies have also been done to follow the lives of children who were adopted through foster care. Many have gone into the system because their parents were drug addicts or lived a very destructive lifestyle.

Regardless, during those first few weeks of life, there is an incredible bonding process taking place between child and mother. Musch of our development is reliant upon going through this connective process.

Any newborn who is torn away from his or her mother during that time, endures a tremendously traumatic experience. The mother is probably in extreme distress, which her child can feel.

The baby also experiences a sensation of being “Torn Away” from its safety net. Emotionally, that bond is being ripped apart. This leaves an enormous wound and void within the child.

The infant may be placed in a foster home within weeks. Sometimes he or she will be passed right into the arms of a waiting family.

The new “mother” and “father” will very often go on to adopt the baby as their own. Therefore, the child would only really know and remember his or her adopted family.

Yet, following the same children throughout life, it is very very common for them to have attachment issues, fears of abandonment, oppositional and defiant behavior.

Young boys and girls like this may constantly feel the need to make others react, just to prove that they exist. These children will create, through their behavior, situations that cause peers, classmates, and even other adults to push them away.

All of this, and more, can be caused by an emotional/psychological/ Spiritual injury inflicted on the child either before birth or shortly after. The baby, teenager, adult, will go through life wanting to connect; wanting to feel complete and to bond with other people.

The problem is that he or she simply won't know how to accomplish this. Because the traumatic event wouldn’t be stored in regular memory. It would not exist in words or rational thought, but in the energy system of that being.

Even those of us who were raised by “birth parents” may pick up similar wounds in the womb, shortly after birth, and all throughout life. Just imagine what you might be carrying around, stuck in your system, right now.

It could show up as pain, injury, body dysfunction, weight gain, destroyed or abusive relationships, an inability to succeed and thrive, perpetual poverty, you name it.

There are nearly infinite manifestations that can come from experiences and harmful energies trapped in the human system.

You may be able to talk these things through with a traditional therapist and, over time, work them out. However, there is another way to do the same thing that most people never consider.

That is to cancel out the frequency of abandonment, fear, or whatever else is stuck inside of the body. Once that’s removed, the human being is designed to operate perfectly.

You can accomplish this by applying, to the “wound,” a higher, cleaner, restorative vibration.

Here’s a metaphor to help explain how it would work. Imagine that there is a clog in the drain of your bathroom sink. It has built up over a long period of time. The blockage may contain hair, grime, sludge, hard mineral deposits, all backed up in your piping.

You could go underneath the sink and disassemble everything. You can pull it apart, pipe by pipe, to pinpoint where the exact location of each sticking point is. That might work, at least to some degree, but only after you’ve put in a great deal of effort.

However, what if you instead found some natural solvent; what you might call a “High Frequency” You could run that through the pipes, dissolving the sludge, grime, and build up.

This describes the work that I do with people, connecting them with powerful Divine, healing energies that transform every aspect of their lives. IT’s a way of working with the very intelligence of Nature, the intelligence that created your entire body and everything in existence.

By bringing that level of information in, no kind of dysfunction or disruption can stay put. That’s one of the quickest ways to clear problems out, by working at the energetic level.

The REAL power is in your inborn ability to dissolve toxic experiences, not reminisce about them. This is how we, as humans, Truly Evolve to transcend the difficulties that attach to us throughout life.

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sciencespies · 4 years

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Debunking the viral tales of wombat 'heroes'

https://sciencespies.com/biology/debunking-the-viral-tales-of-wombat-heroes/

Debunking the viral tales of wombat 'heroes'

Wombats may not usher other animals into their burrows, but their warrens still protect other species in bushfires. Credit: Liv Falvey/Shutterstock

If you’ve been following the bushfire crisis on social media and elsewhere, you may have seen reports of benevolent wombats herding other animals to shelter into their fire-proof burrows.

These stories went quickly viral—probably reflecting the appetite for good news after the horrors of the bushfire crisis. However the accounts are not entirely accurate.

Wombats do not heroically round up helpless animals during a bushfire and lead them to safety. But wombats do help other animals in a different way—even if it’s not their intention.

Accidental heroes

Wombats can emerge as accidental heroes during a bushfire, by providing a safe refuge underground for other wildlife.

Wombat warrens—networks of interconnecting burrows—are large and complex, and considerably shielded from the above-ground environment. Small mammals are known to use wombat burrows to survive an inferno.

One study of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, for instance, found warrens with 28 entrances and nearly 90 metres of tunnels.

What’s more, temperatures deep within burrows are very stable compared to surface temperatures, with daily temperature fluctuations of less than 1℃, compared to 24℃ on the surface.

This thermal buffering would help a great deal during intense fires, and you can understand why other species would want access to these safe havens.

youtube

Wombats aren’t benevolent. They’re accidental heroes.

The wombat sharehouse

By placing camera traps outside 34 wombat burrows, a 2015 study showed a surprising variety of animals using southern hairy-nosed wombat burrows. Researchers observed ten other species, six of which used them on multiple occasions.

The intruders ranged from rock wallabies and bettongs to skinks and birds. Little penguins were recorded using burrows 27 times, while the black-footed rock wallaby was observed using wombat burrows more often than wombats—nearly 2,000 visits in eight weeks! They were even observed using the burrows to specifically avoid birds of prey.

But wombats aren’t alone in providing real estate for other species. Hopping mice, echidnas, sand swimming skinks, barking geckoes and numerous invertebrates were found using the warrens of bettongs and bilbies in arid Australia.

Anybody home?

It’s also important to recognize wombats don’t have “a burrow”. Rather, they have multiple burrows within their home range. In fact, a 2012 study tracked one wombat to 14 different burrows.

While wombats are often regarded as quite sedentary, another study found the average home range size of common wombats is 172 hectares.

They spend a few nights sleeping in one burrow, before moving onto another.

Since each wombat has multiple burrows, many can be vacant within a home range, and abandoned burrows are common in some areas. A 2007 study showed that even among “active” burrows (those with signs of recent use), only one in three are actually occupied by a wombat at any given time.

Australian black-footed rock wallabies often use wombat burrows as makeshift lodges. Credit: Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock

This means, at times, other species may not need to share burrows with wombats at all. It’s vacant real estate.

So how might a wombat react to an uninvited guest? This is difficult to know, and likely depends on who’s visiting. Wombats prefer not to share burrows with other wombats, although burrow sharing can be common when wombat populations are very high in one place.

In her book Wombats, Barbara Triggs recalls a fox being chased from a burrow by an angry wombat. Meanwhile, the crushed skulls of foxes and dogs in wombat burrows suggest not all intruders are welcome.

That a suite of species use wombat burrows suggests wombats may not notice or care about squatters—so long as they don’t pose a threat. But more research is needed on the fascinating interactions that take place in wombat burrows, particularly during fire.

The battle is not over

While empirical studies are needed, the available evidence suggests wombats may well provide an important refuge for other wildlife during fire.

In any case, it’s important to recognize that surviving fire is only half the battle.

Wombats and their house guests face a medley of challenges post-fire—not least avoiding predators in a barren landscape and eking out a living in a landscape with scarce food.

Explore further

Australian-first ‘hospital’ burrow a design-led solution to saving wombats from extinction

Provided by The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Citation: Debunking the viral tales of wombat ‘heroes’ (2020, January 15) retrieved 15 January 2020 from https://phys.org/news/2020-01-debunking-viral-tales-wombat-heroes.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

#Biology

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jkl-fff · 5 years

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Trollhunters, what could’ve been cool for Troll society ...

(A follow-up to this post: https://jkl-fff.tumblr.com/post/186912327594/trollhunters-au)

World-building in an original way, I fully acknowledge, is not easy. This is probably why most sci-fi and fantasy series don’t have original species and cultures so much as they have … humans wearing funny clothes and/or with animalistic features, and human cultures with a few tweaks (usually European-based ones, if we’re being brutally honest). And when they do have something original— something entirely non-human—it usually is relegated to being something of a backdrop in front of which the completely human characters play out completely human dramas.

It’s understandable, but a bit frustrating, too, because we either get something that lacks creativity … or we get something purely superficial—some premise that might be interesting, but will never be explored because the writer(s) never extrapolated it beyond being a background detail. Can’t have the story or the audience look too closely at the species or the cultures then, because they’ll turn out to be internally inconsistent to the point of ludicrousness. This is actually one of my biggest pet peeves in most sci-fi and fantasy series … Or perhaps not a “pet peeve” per se so much as a disappointment; potential was had, but the potential was wasted.

Well, anyway, here’s some musings I had about what Trolls could’ve been from Trollhunters if we’d committed a little more to having them be truly different from Humans.

Trolls have asexual reproduction, and thus genders that do *NOT* refer back to a female-male binary (if “gender” is even still the right word anymore when all reference to biological sex is removed? but that’s a queer theory question for the queer philosophers to discuss another time). Why? Well, they seem to be silicon-based instead of carbon-based. Also, magic. Let’s embrace those two weird and wonderful premises!

Instead of via sperm and ovum gestation like for plants and animals, new Trolls are born when a parent (neither mother nor father) carves their new child (neither son nor daughter) out of some material … and then places a piece of their own soul-crystal (also called a grunk-nuk) in them. The material is usually stone, but could be wood, metal, plastic … or any solid substance with a sufficient amount of silicon in it. This is why Troll physiology is so diverse (body shape, number of limbs and horns, and eyes, etc.). What springs to life (once the grunk-nuk has diffused enough crystal particles through the body) is fully-formed *physically*, but *mentally* is like a newborn that will now need to be taught how to speak, take care of itself, and be a productive member of their tribe and society. Naturally, the parent is primarily responsible for “raising” the child until the child is deemed to have reached maturity, like with Humans (if babies started off as big and strong as adults).

Grunk-nuks grow over time, being (soul) *crystals*, but slowly. Thus Trolls reproduce slowly. And drunk-nuks are the source of a Troll’s life, that’s why Trollhunter Rule #3 is so effective in stopping them; kicking someone in the grunk-nuks will cause a great deal of debilitating pain, can stun them to the point of temporary paralysis … or even outright kill them. (This is *usually* if not *exclusively* why grunk-nuks are placed *inside* the crotch between the legs and tail, where they’re less exposed.)

Furthermore, UV radiation reacts destructively to grunk-nuks (quickly via short-term exposure to direct sunlight or slowly via long-term exposure to reduced sunlight or manmade UV radiation), which is why they can’t go out during a clear day. Also why they petrify upon dying. Also thus, the older a Troll gets (if they don’t reproduce), the larger their grunk-nuk becomes. Meaning these (like Vendel or Gunmar), possess greater magical power (and are believed to be wiser, though that’s technically just a stereotype … this is colloquially called “having big grunk-nuk energy”). However, this does also make such Trolls weaker against daylight *if* they don’t find a magical means to reinforce their constitutions and/or protect themselves from it (like Gunmar does both in seeking Eternal Night, and in using magic to make it so only the Eclipse Blade can kill them).

With regards to “gender” (or whatever the best identity-term is), that has more to do with tribe than anything else. Meaning most tribes have an expected/assigned-at-birth “look” (the materials used to make their children’s bodies, the shape those children’s bodies will be, any etchings to make “tattoos”, presence and placement of moss/fungus/plants to make “hair”) along with language/accent, clothing styles, and behavioral/social norms. Troll tribes, thus, tend to be quite homogenous (the Quagawumps, the Krubera) … but don’t have to be. Trollmarket is quite a diverse melting pot, for example, being a metropolis society made up many different and commingling tribes whose residents are freer in how they act and design their children (Khanjigar, notably, carved Draal like no other Troll ever had … Draal was Assigned-Warrior-at-Birth, basically). BUT, as with Humans, assigned gender can be bucked; AAARRRGGHH!!! is the Troll equivalent of genderfluid because they deliberately present far differently from the average Krubera.

Sexuality as Humans think of it isn’t a thing for Trolls, what with them being asexual by nature. However, they can and do pick lifemates, can and do express intimacy with them by giving physical pleasure … it just isn’t in the ways Humans give *sexual* pleasure. For example, kissing isn’t a thing among Trolls, though they have an equivalent: pressing foreheads together and/or tenderly touching each other’s faces and hands. Tracing along another Troll’s etchings is considered quite intimate, as is grooming their “hair”, buffing/polishing their features (fangs, horns, crags, etc.), and all other displays of emotional attachment (think the Love Languages). This means, happily, that Blinky and AAARRRGGHH!!! are extremely gay by Troll standards, just as they are by Human standards. And why not? They’ve been lifemates since Trollmarket was founded centuries ago.

Changelings are Trolls made of clay moistened with Human blood. This is why, with a Familiar, they can take an entirely Human appearance (even surviving direct sunlight) and appear more humanoid than other Trolls. It’s also why they’re considered “Impure”; being made out of Human remains (and even made to have Human biologies, including those *weird* Human sexes) they’re deemed to be practically Human. It’s a weird kind of racism *and* sexism all rolled into one.

In terms of diet, Trolls can eat anything to maintain physical form, but *need* to drink Heartstone silicates to maintain mental health (which is why Troll settlements are built around Heartstone clusters). Otherwise, they’ll either start to get more feral, aggressive, etc. OR go into a kind of hibernation. They don’t excrete waste like Humans do, but shed used materials off their skin like a kind of dust or stone flakes. When in times of sickness, it becomes like a paste or mud. As such, they don’t have privates to cover with clothing, nor need it to protect them from the environment, but will wear clothing for social reasons (flaunt wealth, show importance, the fun of fashion, etc.)

So … yeah! Let me know what you think about these ideas!

#trollhunters #alternate universe #biology #gender #sexuality #blinky #aaarrrgh #submission

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spiritionary · 7 years

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Floralings

Basic description: I am using the Guild Wars 2 race ‘Sylvari’ to give a general idea of what they look like, but that is merely because it is the best I can start with. They look like if you turned whatever they would have otherwise been born as, into a creature that is primarily plant-like, only retaining vague echos of its heritage.

Basics and Identity

The Floralings live in a nameless (I will eventually make a post on this place) world where they act as the groundskeepers. They seem in some ways very similar to dryads, or other nature spirits, however have many unique characteristics which make them distinct from these species. I consider them to be Fae, and they have, in my experience, considered themselves as such. Though they did not directly know the term Fae, they considered themselves kin with the species of Fae that I introduced them to, as well as myself. Because of the unique phenomena of how they are created, they can have any gender, so long as conditions listed below are met.

They spend much of their days tending to the forests in which they are born, clearing out things like felled trees and growing new plants and flowers to help feed whatever wildlife might exist there, maintaining a delicate balance. They greatly enjoy dancing, be it with one another, alone, or with those outside their species. Most likely due to the way they are born, they do not seem to have much of a preference for what kinds of creatures they hang out with, with the possible exception of those who endanger their purpose. They are generally a pretty kind species towards almost anything they encounter, especially if you are willing to participate in their dances. That seems to be the only real requirement for whether they’d rather be around you or be alone. They are very social creatures, which made learning about them quite easy.

Culture and Society

Floralings aren’t an inherently violent species, which is a somewhat unique trait for the world they live on, which contains its fair share of fighting for survival. They will fight, if something endangers their work or their lives, but they seem to otherwise be rather pacifist, if not merely friendly. It is worth noting that the reason they did not understand the term Fae is likely because they speak a different language. Their language is native to their home and I did not know the word for Fae in said language. At first I had to employ the use of a translator, however, eventually myself and one of the key Floralings that I got information from learned to speak one another’s languages a fair degree. Their communications seemed largely, if not entirely, verbal.

Due to the unique nature and conditions of their birth, they do not have a formal society, as much as they have gatherings. I was unable to determine if Floralings have an instinctual knowledge of how to do their job, or if other Floralings seek them out and teach them. I got the impression, from my time with them, that it may be a combination of the two. Because of the language barrier, it was hard to explain to them about human society, there were many concepts that I was unable to relate and communicate and that kept me from learning about any social structure or government they might have. That said, they did not seem to have enough lengthy interaction that they would benefit from such things. I suspect that their leanings were egalitarian, if anything.

Their species seemed to value their instinctual drive to protect their forests. I would like to say that they had a taboo against harming the flora or fauna, but I don’t think that would be entirely accurate. The Floralings I met were nice and pleasant to be around, they were capable of grasping concepts that require a certain degree of intelligence or sentience, but I don’t think it had really occurred to them that they could cause harm to their environment. So… while I would like to call this a taboo, I did not get the sense that they were really capable of considering this enough to make it off limits.

Spirit Biology

Now for the thing you have likely all been waiting for, biology. Floralings seem to be born by exposure to a certain amount of a specific energy I know very little of (This is the conclusion I came to with my translator). Their existence is well documented to those who came to these forests, but not those who are native to them. Either a native or a visitor will reproduce, and their child may be born with plant-like traits that change the very nature of how their body seems to function. Should it be a native, the natives who gave birth to them shall eventually forget of the child’s existence, it will be as if they had no memory of having the child. We have not determined if this is some kind of mercy, or if the mere knowledge of what happens is just too complex and they just dismiss it.

Floralings are fairly capable of existing on their own, they lay roots as they sleep and that is when they nourish themselves and gain the energy they will need for the next day. The only thing they don’t seem capable of absorbing during this phase is water, which they will later drink in their waking hours. They do not seem carnivorous and do not like salt or anything in general that a plant might react to or not be able to grow in. This has lead to the conclusion that, though a Floraling may look like something such as a fox or a human or a bird, they are most assuredly, plant-like first and foremost.

Floralings seem to produce fruits which are quite sweet. These fruits are grown on various parts of their body, often somewhere on the upper body. Each Floraling seemed to have a specific place or set of places they’d grow from. They possess some healing properties and may be grown through the excess energy that they do not use throughout the day that they had gathered prior. If they give it to you, they either have reason to suspect that you are near death, otherwise sick, or they consider you either a close friend or a potential mating partner. They seem to still possess some mating drive, and the fruits may be a way that Floralings determine compatibility. Their own version of ‘chemistry’.

Floralings are considered a phenomenon for the following reason. They phenomena doesn’t seem to make them excessively fertile or infertile, but they rarely have Floraling children, a fact that they don’t seem to be aware of or care about. Their children are often born with the traits that they may have possessed had they not been exposed to what makes them Floralings. They will wander off and join any nearby society that seems appropriate. The children will have no knowledge of the Floralings. This even happens if the Floraling mates with an outsider, except in very unique circumstances, where the child will have the traits of an outsider (someone who seems exempt from some of the above-mentioned laws of the world they live in, like their forgetfulness.)

Floralings are extremely rare outside of their natural habitat, but it has been theorized that only a certain number of them are supposed to exist at a time. Any that are born in excess of this number, often take a journey to another world. They are treasured friends and honest creatures that will show you almost any loyalty you show them. Not much is known about this process, but, due to their highly adaptive nature (a trait they often displayed) they likely become caretakers of anything that resembles their home and behave pretty much the same as they do in their home.

Be wary of taking hold of their hand, though it’s not entirely compulsory, if you have no desire to resist their dance, you will often not, as both natives and outsiders alike have observed. Should you dance with them, you may find your memory, if you are not Fae, disappearing. If this happens you may wake up in the middle of their home with no memory of the dance, besides a feeling of fatigue at how draining it can be. (Personally, I enjoyed it, but that was largely because I could keep my memory of it.)

Submitted by @gavre-eon

—> Have questions? Send them to us at SpiritFAQ!

#faefolk #fae #nature #astral #friendly #neutral #social #wild #gavre-eon #submission

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coolcarmenabby11 · 6 years

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50 Reasons Indoor Mold Should Alarm You (Especially Around Kids)

Every Home Has Indoor Mold Spores

Have you personally experienced indoor mold? Maybe you have without realizing it.

Did you know that exposure to mold can lead to allergies, infections, and even neurological conditions?

Yup, those sound like some serious issues, and they are. However, mold doesn’t affect everyone the same.

Those who have asthma, allergies, or weak immune systems like children and the elderly, are far more likely to see adverse health effects.

Since molds survive in humid conditions or areas with moisture, controlling any water leaks or damage in your house is essential to avoid mold or mildew growth.

Ever Wonder How Mold Gets Into Your System?

Air quality is a very big contributor to your overall health and well being. After all, breathing is something we tend to do often.

Both indoor and outdoor air is filled with a massive amount of particles that could be a potential health risk. But as long as it’s kept to a minimum those particles usually aren’t a threat.

Mold, which is a type of fungus, reproduces in a way that could seriously increase this health hazard, especially when found indoors.

Molds and mildew distribute airborne spores in order to spread, which can be inhaled in huge amounts. Although mold spores aren’t always dangerous, most have allergenic properties and some even produce toxins, making them threatening when found in high concentrations.

No matter what your thoughts are about mold, it is a crucial piece of the environment. Spores can be found almost anywhere and will always grow under the right conditions. It usually grows on dead and decomposing organic materials outdoors, though.

Since mold loves warm, humid, damp spaces, it can often be found in areas like basements and showers that generally tend to have more moisture.

Many types of mold can commonly be found growing on cardboard, wood, paper products, wallpaper, and ceilings. Check these areas every now and then to stay a step ahead.

Who is Susceptible to Mold Risks?

Mold, like anything, will affect every person a little differently. In high enough concentrations, mold will most likely present at least a few symptoms. But those with impaired or weakened immune systems will usually have more serious reactions to mold exposure.

Some common symptoms of mold and mildew are allergic reactions and lung infections when inhaled, or skin inflammation when contacted directly.

This leaves young children, those with certain medical conditions, pregnant women, and elderly people in a dangerous position when reacting to the effects of these fungi.

Other Ways Mold Can Affect You

So what are some of the common reactions that people may have when exposed to indoor mold? Below are the most frequently reported symptoms that most people experience:

Allergy Like Symptoms

Have you been suffering from irritated eyes, headache, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, fatigue, or a sore throat that seems to be un-explainable? Most types of mold are extremely allergenic. That means when you inhale high concentrations of mold spores you will usually present with allergy like symptoms. You should have your home inspected by a mold remediation specialist if you think you might be reacting to the presence of mold in your house

Development of Asthma Symptoms

This is a very common occurrence among infants and young children exposed to mold. Studies show that the presence of mold and high amounts of moisture in homes often aggravates symptoms in asthma sufferers. Obviously this could be extremely dangerous for those with a predisposition to breathing troubles.

Respiratory Inflammation and Infections

Many respiratory infections including sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia are common symptoms of mold exposure. Because these are common symptoms to other illnesses, people are usually treated for other sicknesses unsuccessfully before realizing they have mold in their home.

Neurological Symptoms

Certain molds produce harmful toxins under the right conditions. The most well-known is probably black mold, which may look slimy and dark green or black, and produces mycotoxins that are harmful to humans. These tricky chemical substances can cause serious neurological problems when they enter your system. Some of these include brain fog, memory problems, headaches, light sensitivity, and tingling sensations in the extremities.

Are All Types of Mold Bad?

The word “Mold” might remind you of many important uses for certain types of fungus.

The truth is despite all the good things that we rely on mold to provide for us, like antibiotics, cheeses, edible mushrooms, and composts, it’s highly suggested that any indoor mold growth be contained and removed completely.

Any type of mold could quickly become dangerous if given a chance to grow in your house, so it’s best to take steps to get rid of it.

Some Common Types of Indoor Molds Include:

Aspergillus

This is a type of mold that is very common and found almost everywhere throughout the world. Exposure to this mold will usually only invoke minor reactions in healthy adults, but some people could develop serious symptoms. You can expect to find Aspergillus growing in areas with heavy water damage and warm climates. Something of note is that this mold does produce mycotoxins which can be harmful to humans.

Cladosporium

This happens to be the most commonly found outdoor mold, but as mold spores are airborne, Cladosporium can often find its way into a home or building. You can look for this type of mold growing on porous surfaces and areas with moisture, like wood in a basement. Many people report having asthma symptoms around large amounts of Cladosporium.

Penicillium

This common type of indoor mold likes to grow on softer surfaces like fabrics or wallpaper. It almost always accompanies water damage, so you’ll normally find it in decaying buildings or areas with heavy water leaks. Some species can produce mycotoxins, but most people only experience allergy symptoms when exposed to Penicillium.

Stachybotrys

This is the scary one. Stachybotrys, or the common black mold, is indeed very toxic and produces airborne mycotoxins. Some bad cases surrounding black mold have included symptoms like breathing problems, memory loss, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and coughing blood. The good news is that Stachybotrys is not found as commonly as other indoor molds because it requires far more moisture than most. Control the moisture in your home and you likely won’t be dealing with black mold any time soon.

Taking Steps to Avoid Indoor Mold Exposure

Mold is very picky about where it grows. That means as long as you don’t provide spores with moisture, you can usually guarantee that your home stays mold free.

If you have visible mold in your home you should contact a professional mold remediation company like us as soon as you can.

Mold specialists have the tools and know how to spot hidden mold and contain it from spreading throughout your home.

However, prevention goes a long way. Here are a few tips to help you inhibit mold from taking up residence inside your home.

Check around A/C units, windows, and doors to expose any water leaks.

Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity level low, especially in basements and crawlspaces.

Check for roof leaks before and after every storm.

Routinely investigate pipes and plumbing for any leaks.

Circulate the air throughout your house with fans.

Seal wood, grout, concrete, and other porous materials with water-proofing chemical s to prevent indoor mold growth.

Clean high moisture areas like bathrooms with mold killing cleaning solutions often.

Ensure materials like carpets are dried completely if exposed to moisture.

Fix any and all water damage right away. Don’t chance giving indoor mold spores the fuel they need to grow.

DIY Mold Clean Up

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the first quick fix you’ll probably discover when searching for how to kill mold is to spray it with bleach.

This can sometimes work, but it’s usually not recommended because chlorine bleach is an extremely harsh chemical that has the ability to kill surface mold, but won’t penetrate porous materials to kill mold at its source. Not to mention the harmful fumes associated with bleach and the possibility of damaging more than just the mold.

If you’re thinking about using an over the counter mold removal product, consider that these solutions are usually only intended to be used on small mold remediation projects like you find on bathroom tile. Killing mold completely consists of reaching deep down to the roots and killing the fungus while also fixing whatever water source the mold is using as fuel.

How Does Professional Mold Remediation Work?

So what do you do if you’re dealing with more than just the average spot of shower mold?

For more serious mold problems, the mold removal process needs to be thorough and intensive to get rid of the infestation for good. Usually the process can be broken down into 5 distinct steps that will remove the indoor mold from your home entirely.

Mold remediation specialists understand how mold spreads and where it grows. They know what steps to take to stop the mold from returning. When you hire a professional, this is usually how it will go:

Inspection

Many mold remediation companies will offer free visual inspections to help identify if you have a mold problem and the extent of it. This may take some time. Mold likes to grow out of sight and in dark areas, so it usually takes serious effort to find it all. This is also the time that any sustained water damage or moisture issues can be addressed and fixed.

Containment

Containing the mold is an especially important step. The contaminated areas will need to be contained to stop any chance of it spreading. That’s because mold reproduces by releasing airborne spores that travel through your home quickly and easily. There’s no point in trying to kill mold in one area only to find that it sprouts up again in another, unless you want to play a real life game of Whack-A-Mold.

Removal

The next step is to remove any materials that have been contaminated by mold. Mold will grow into porous materials like wood. That means it’s difficult to remove or kill every bit of mold that might be present in your home. Any porous materials that could be harboring mold roots need to be disposed of properly and replaced with new materials. Depending on the extent of the mold damage, another option is using anti-microbial.

Cleaning the Air

Since the air in a moldy home could be riddled with indoor mold spores, it requires filtration to be replaced with fresh air. There’s only one type of filter with the ability to trap mold spores. HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Air) Vacuums are rated to catch 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns in size, meaning it will suck up any mold spores that might be flying around your home.

Lab Testing and Results

Even though it’s recommended that any mold growth in your home be removed no matter the type of mold, it’s always a good idea to have it tested. This can tell you if the mold was toxic or not. It also normally gives you more insight as to what conditions caused the fungus to take a liking to your home.

You Can Beat Indoor Mold

Mold may sound like some sort of scary monster, but if you’re serious about prevention you can stop it from grabbing a foothold in your house. The best approach is to keep a routine cleaning schedule and solve any water damage issues or leaks without hesitation. This includes regular checkups on hidden, out of sight or hard to reach areas in throughout home.

Keep in mind that just because you may have cleaned a spot of mold doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. Indoor mold growth is caused by damp and humid conditions. Moisture control will always be the most important action against mold and mildew. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you have water damage that has gotten out of hand and transformed into a mold issue. Mold remediation is no joke, as your health and home are at stake. Reputable professional mold remediation companies are there to help you tackle mold issues that may be too much to handle by yourself.

If you want help from an award winning mold remediation company, reach out to us anytime. We have qualified technicians on call 24/7 for emergencies and free visual mold inspections.

480-712-8648

The post 50 Reasons Indoor Mold Should Alarm You (Especially Around Kids) appeared first on Carpet Cleaning Pros Phoenix.

from Carpet Cleaning Pros Phoenix http://www.carpetcleaningprosphoenix.com/indoor-mold/

#Carpet Cleaning Pros Phoenix

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carpetcleaningprophoenix · 6 years

Text

50 Reasons Indoor Mold Should Alarm You (Especially Around Kids)

Every Home Has Indoor Mold Spores

Have you personally experienced indoor mold? Maybe you have without realizing it.

Did you know that exposure to mold can lead to allergies, infections, and even neurological conditions?

Yup, those sound like some serious issues, and they are. However, mold doesn’t affect everyone the same.

Those who have asthma, allergies, or weak immune systems like children and the elderly, are far more likely to see adverse health effects.

Since molds survive in humid conditions or areas with moisture, controlling any water leaks or damage in your house is essential to avoid mold or mildew growth.

Ever Wonder How Mold Gets Into Your System?

Air quality is a very big contributor to your overall health and well being. After all, breathing is something we tend to do often.

Both indoor and outdoor air is filled with a massive amount of particles that could be a potential health risk. But as long as it’s kept to a minimum those particles usually aren’t a threat.

Mold, which is a type of fungus, reproduces in a way that could seriously increase this health hazard, especially when found indoors.

Since mold loves warm, humid, damp spaces, it can often be found in areas like basements and showers that generally tend to have more moisture.

Many types of mold can commonly be found growing on cardboard, wood, paper products, wallpaper, and ceilings. Check these areas every now and then to stay a step ahead.

Who is Susceptible to Mold Risks?

Some common symptoms of mold and mildew are allergic reactions and lung infections when inhaled, or skin inflammation when contacted directly.

This leaves young children, those with certain medical conditions, pregnant women, and elderly people in a dangerous position when reacting to the effects of these fungi.

Other Ways Mold Can Affect You

So what are some of the common reactions that people may have when exposed to indoor mold? Below are the most frequently reported symptoms that most people experience:

Allergy Like Symptoms

Development of Asthma Symptoms

Respiratory Inflammation and Infections

Neurological Symptoms

Are All Types of Mold Bad?

The word “Mold” might remind you of many important uses for certain types of fungus.

Any type of mold could quickly become dangerous if given a chance to grow in your house, so it’s best to take steps to get rid of it.

Some Common Types of Indoor Molds Include:

Aspergillus

Cladosporium

Penicillium

Stachybotrys

Taking Steps to Avoid Indoor Mold Exposure

Mold is very picky about where it grows. That means as long as you don’t provide spores with moisture, you can usually guarantee that your home stays mold free.

If you have visible mold in your home you should contact a professional mold remediation company like us as soon as you can.

Mold specialists have the tools and know how to spot hidden mold and contain it from spreading throughout your home.

However, prevention goes a long way. Here are a few tips to help you inhibit mold from taking up residence inside your home.

Check around A/C units, windows, and doors to expose any water leaks.

Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity level low, especially in basements and crawlspaces.

Check for roof leaks before and after every storm.

Routinely investigate pipes and plumbing for any leaks.

Circulate the air throughout your house with fans.

Seal wood, grout, concrete, and other porous materials with water-proofing chemical s to prevent indoor mold growth.

Clean high moisture areas like bathrooms with mold killing cleaning solutions often.

Ensure materials like carpets are dried completely if exposed to moisture.

Fix any and all water damage right away. Don’t chance giving indoor mold spores the fuel they need to grow.

DIY Mold Clean Up

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the first quick fix you’ll probably discover when searching for how to kill mold is to spray it with bleach.

How Does Professional Mold Remediation Work?

So what do you do if you’re dealing with more than just the average spot of shower mold?

Inspection

Containment

Removal

Cleaning the Air

Lab Testing and Results

You Can Beat Indoor Mold

If you want help from an award winning mold remediation company, reach out to us anytime. We have qualified technicians on call 24/7 for emergencies and free visual mold inspections.

480-712-8648

The post 50 Reasons Indoor Mold Should Alarm You (Especially Around Kids) appeared first on Carpet Cleaning Pros Phoenix.

from Carpet Cleaning Pros Phoenix http://www.carpetcleaningprosphoenix.com/indoor-mold/

#Carpet Cleaning Pros Phoenix

0 notes

houseoftech-blog · 7 years

Text

We might have better lab mice if we paid more attention to their guts

Before any medication, vaccine, or other drug therapy reaches human use, it goes through extensive testing in the lab—often in animals, and typically in mice. This step in the evaluation process is extremely important. The way a drug affects a cluster of cells in a Petri dish often has little to do with the way it will behave inside a living organism, where multiple organ systems are at play.

Mice, being mammals, have a physiology relatively similar to our own, so their reactions to drugs often are as well. But that’s not always the case.

In a study out today in the journal Cell, researchers say they’ve figured out one possible reason for this variation. Their microbiomes—the collection of bacteria in animal guts that scientists are currently obsessed with—vary wildly depending on whether they were raised in the lab or in the wild.

So their gut microbes are different, what’s the big deal? The microbes that live in our intestines aren’t just there because it’s cozy; they also do a lot for our health. They help digest the food we eat, of course, but they also influence how our immune systems react to various infectious bugs and pathogens, as well as other diseases like cancer. And recent research suggests that they might also play a role in even lesser understood conditions like Alzheimer's and autism.

The researchers wanted to figure out just how big of a difference this change in microbiome could have. So they exposed two groups of mice—mice with typical lab microbiomes and lab mice with microbiomes resembling those seen in the wild—to a high dose of the influenza virus. Turns out, 92 percent of the lab mice with wild microbiomes survived the infection whereas only 17 percent of the lab mice with typical lab mice microbiomes did.

They also induced other diseases, including colorectal tumors. The lab mice with wild microbiomes had fewer and less severe tumors than those with the lab microbiomes.

“We hypothesized that this might explain why laboratory mice, while paramount for understanding basic biological phenomenon, are limited in their predictive utility for modeling complex diseases of humans and [other mammals],” says Stephan Rosshart, a fellow at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and an author of the study.

Rosshart and his colleagues also showed that they could isolate the microbiomes found in wild mice and introduce them into laboratory mice, meaning that they could, in theory, do future experiments on mice with these wild gut bacteria. However, Rosshart and Barbara Rehermann, lead author of the study and director of the immunology section at NIDDK, say that’s not the ultimate goal. Rather, they say, researchers should use the wild microbiome as an additional component to their research. By directly comparing the two groups to other disease processes, like the researchers did in this case, the results could help pinpoint more exactly what protective mechanisms the wild bacteria have.

They also think a better understanding of mice gut microbiomes could help researchers figure out why they are sometimes unable to reproduce certain experiments. For example, if two scientists from different institutions order the same genetically identical mice from the same place, those two animals should have the same response to a particular drug, but they often don’t.

That could be because the mice go through different environments en route to their new homes, which can alter the diversity of bacteria in their guts. This difference could alter the outcomes of the studies that the researchers do on them.

Rosshart says that wild or natural microbiomes are likely more resilient to small environmental changes like a temporary modification in housing. That’s because this collection of bacteria often have a higher diversity of microbe species. That makes it harder for one bacterial strain to take over and wreak havoc on the fragile ecological system.

Mouse studies are crucial to drug and vaccine development. Since they are the step directly before human testing, their effectiveness is even more critical. It is imperative that scientists come to understand why mouse models react the way they do. source

https://www.popsci.com/lab-mouse-microbiome#page-2

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