His name was bigger than he was. And actually, he never should have been born in the first place. When Winterhawk's Kule Mule Amos was born in 2007 he immediately gained both popular and scientific attention. Mules just don't give birth to mules.
His mother was Kate, a mule who belonged to Laura and Larry Amos, owners of an outfitting operation. His father was a donkey. Scientists at the University of California begged tor the baby and his mother, but Amos felt that they should be free to roam their Colorado home rather than be locked up in stalls at the university for the rest of their lives.
The reason female mules rarely reproduce is because rather than having 65 chromosomes, female mules have 63 chromosomes, which cannot be split evenly to produce a fertile egg. Somehow, Kate was able to overcome that and produce a viable egg. Although genetic studies on Kate's genome were begun, money and lack of sample materials from Kate prevented studies which might have shed some light on this rare birth.
Partly because of his rarity and partly because of his weak legs, Kule Mule was never used as a pack animal. Nevertheless, people came from around the world to see the little wonder mule.
In 2010, Kule Mule slipped on ice in his pasture during a winter storm. He was unable to get up and died of internal injuries. His malformed back legs may have contributed to his inability to get back up. He has not been forgotten, however. When The Denver Post reprinted an article on social media sites, over 67,000 people clicked on the story in three days. It looks like Kule Mule's story will live on for a very long time.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Earthquake Creates New Island
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake located in the sea near Gwadar, Pakistan, killed more than 500
people and left another 100,000 homeless on September 24, 2013. But it also created something
new.
An island emerged a little more than half a mile (1 kilometer) offshore near Gwadar, Pakistan.
As an island, it does not look particularly attractive. It is actually composed of fine sands, mud,
and a solid rock core. So far it is only about 250 to 300 feet (75 to 90 meters) wide and about 60
to 70 feet (15 to 20 meters) above water.
Unfortunately, the tiny newcomer may not survive for very long. These islands are reasonably
common in this part of the world. Earthquakes often heave up new islands when shallow
pockets of methane or carbon dioxide are released. The islands tend to sink back beneath the
sea as the underlying gases vent. The effect is very much like letting the air out of a baloon.
The movement of coastal plates such as the interaction between the Arabian continental place
and the Eurasian crustal plates also cause sediments on the sea floor to rise above sea level. In
either case these islands rarely survive for long.
In the case of this new island, methane is being released, which means it will likely disappear
back into the sea.
If you’re interested in reading more about this and similar islands, check here.
people and left another 100,000 homeless on September 24, 2013. But it also created something
new.
An island emerged a little more than half a mile (1 kilometer) offshore near Gwadar, Pakistan.
As an island, it does not look particularly attractive. It is actually composed of fine sands, mud,
and a solid rock core. So far it is only about 250 to 300 feet (75 to 90 meters) wide and about 60
to 70 feet (15 to 20 meters) above water.
Unfortunately, the tiny newcomer may not survive for very long. These islands are reasonably
common in this part of the world. Earthquakes often heave up new islands when shallow
pockets of methane or carbon dioxide are released. The islands tend to sink back beneath the
sea as the underlying gases vent. The effect is very much like letting the air out of a baloon.
The movement of coastal plates such as the interaction between the Arabian continental place
and the Eurasian crustal plates also cause sediments on the sea floor to rise above sea level. In
either case these islands rarely survive for long.
In the case of this new island, methane is being released, which means it will likely disappear
back into the sea.
If you’re interested in reading more about this and similar islands, check here.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Are Cane Toads Killing Australian Crocodiles Just by Being Eaten?
Australian dwarf crocodiles, whose normal food sources are rapidly vanishing, have begun
eating cane toads instead. But this new diet is killing them.
The cane toads were introduced in Australia from their homes in Central and South America in
1935 to help control beetles threatening the island’s sugar cane industry. Now it is estimated
that there might be as many as 100 million of these large amphibians scattered throughout
Australia and they are now considered a dangerous pest.
In 2012, many volunteers signed up to cull these toads, which are threatening not only dwarf
crocodiles, but other reptiles as well, including goannas, snakes and quolls. The toads secrete a
toxin from glands located behind their eyes and on their backs.
The deaths of the freshwater crocodiles and other predators may produce a cascade of
unpredictable ecosystem changes. This is typical when a new species is produced into a more-
or-less stable ecosystem. Another example of this problem arose from the introduction of giant
snakes into the Florida Everglades.
Apparently young crocodiles are more vulnerable to the cane toads’ venom than adults, which
will almost certainly affect future populations of the dwarf crocodiles.
The cane toads appear to be expanding south into the dry interior of Australia, where they will
encounter crocodiles and other predators at water holes. There is a bit of hope, however, in that
surviving crocodiles may develop a higher tolerance for the cane toads’ toxin. Some
blacksnakes, which had previously been hit hard by the toads, appear to have developed some
immunity to their poison.
Researchers are carefully monitoring the populations of both cane toads and crocodiles, hoping
to be able to predict the long-term effects of this rivalry on the Australian ecosystems.
You can read more here:
eating cane toads instead. But this new diet is killing them.
The cane toads were introduced in Australia from their homes in Central and South America in
1935 to help control beetles threatening the island’s sugar cane industry. Now it is estimated
that there might be as many as 100 million of these large amphibians scattered throughout
Australia and they are now considered a dangerous pest.
In 2012, many volunteers signed up to cull these toads, which are threatening not only dwarf
crocodiles, but other reptiles as well, including goannas, snakes and quolls. The toads secrete a
toxin from glands located behind their eyes and on their backs.
The deaths of the freshwater crocodiles and other predators may produce a cascade of
unpredictable ecosystem changes. This is typical when a new species is produced into a more-
or-less stable ecosystem. Another example of this problem arose from the introduction of giant
snakes into the Florida Everglades.
Apparently young crocodiles are more vulnerable to the cane toads’ venom than adults, which
will almost certainly affect future populations of the dwarf crocodiles.
The cane toads appear to be expanding south into the dry interior of Australia, where they will
encounter crocodiles and other predators at water holes. There is a bit of hope, however, in that
surviving crocodiles may develop a higher tolerance for the cane toads’ toxin. Some
blacksnakes, which had previously been hit hard by the toads, appear to have developed some
immunity to their poison.
Researchers are carefully monitoring the populations of both cane toads and crocodiles, hoping
to be able to predict the long-term effects of this rivalry on the Australian ecosystems.
You can read more here:
Sunday, September 8, 2013
What Made This Web?
Troy Alexander, a young graduate student, found an entirely new type of web under a tarp near
the Tambopata Research Center located in the Peruvian Amazon. Then he found a few more.
But when he tried to identify the creatures that made them, he found no answer so far. Not even
the scientists know.
The web resembles a circular western horse corral surrounding and protects a tiny spire. It is
about 0.8 inches (roughly 2 centimeters) across. Alexander believes the spire either contains
eggs or perhaps tiny pupae. Seeking answers, he posted photos of his find on Reddit, asking for
help in identifying the maker of the odd web. So far, he has drawn a blank, even from well-
known arachnologists. There were plenty of guesses, however. Some thought it might be a
cocoon, others that it might be a new type of fungus, or a protective defense for spider eggs.
It is entirely possible that whatever made this strange form might be a previously unidentified
species of spider or other insect. Experts believe that there are literally millions of unknown
species of arthropods (spiders and other insects) alone. In a survey conducted in Panama’s
jungle, 25,000 species of insects and spiders, along with other arthropods, were identified.
Surveyors discovered that about 70% of these species were previously unknown.
Based on the results of the Panama survey, insect specialists could have their hands full for years
in trying to identify and study these tiny jungle denizens.
If you’d like to see a photo of this fascinating web, go here
the Tambopata Research Center located in the Peruvian Amazon. Then he found a few more.
But when he tried to identify the creatures that made them, he found no answer so far. Not even
the scientists know.
The web resembles a circular western horse corral surrounding and protects a tiny spire. It is
about 0.8 inches (roughly 2 centimeters) across. Alexander believes the spire either contains
eggs or perhaps tiny pupae. Seeking answers, he posted photos of his find on Reddit, asking for
help in identifying the maker of the odd web. So far, he has drawn a blank, even from well-
known arachnologists. There were plenty of guesses, however. Some thought it might be a
cocoon, others that it might be a new type of fungus, or a protective defense for spider eggs.
It is entirely possible that whatever made this strange form might be a previously unidentified
species of spider or other insect. Experts believe that there are literally millions of unknown
species of arthropods (spiders and other insects) alone. In a survey conducted in Panama’s
jungle, 25,000 species of insects and spiders, along with other arthropods, were identified.
Surveyors discovered that about 70% of these species were previously unknown.
Based on the results of the Panama survey, insect specialists could have their hands full for years
in trying to identify and study these tiny jungle denizens.
If you’d like to see a photo of this fascinating web, go here
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Gigantism - The Tragic Story of a Victim
Las Vegas teenager Tanya Angus was a tall, pretty girl. At 5 feet 8 inches tall, she stood slightly above some of her school friends. But then, in 1999, she suddenly began to gain both weight and height. When she passed away, she stood 7 feet 2 inches tall and weighed nearly 400 pounds.
What happened? Tanya had developed a non-cancerous tumor on her pituitary gland. This resulted in the
development of a rare disorder called acromegaly. Her body was releasing too much growth hormone, and there was no way to control it.
Tanya’s case is typical of adult acromegaly. Victims develop a benign, or noncancerous tumor on the
pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. This gland produces several hormones besides the growth hormone, but in Tanya’s case it was the growth hormone that caused the worst of her medical problems. It was this hormone that caused her bones and other tissues to grow out of control. The pressure created by the growing tumor causes headaches and impaired vision.
Tanya must have gone through hell. She needed specially made shoes and could not wear pullover shirts or sweaters. Jewelers stretched her rings to size 20 and added chain to her necklaces. Eventually she ended up in a wheelchair. She ate one meal per day, but some people believed that she lacked the discipline to control her weight. Her medications caused her face to swell.
Eventually, Tanya became an advocate for others suffering from acromegaly. But her life ended suddenly
when she caught a cold and developed a fatal tear in her heart.
Tanya’s story is one of the courage of a young woman. It also points out that even though acromegaly is a
relatively rare disease, there is much work to be done to find a way to control and secure it for the sake of its victims and their families. I hope someone takes up Tanya’s cause and provides help for those helpless sufferers.
There’s more information about acromegaly at this site
What happened? Tanya had developed a non-cancerous tumor on her pituitary gland. This resulted in the
development of a rare disorder called acromegaly. Her body was releasing too much growth hormone, and there was no way to control it.
Tanya’s case is typical of adult acromegaly. Victims develop a benign, or noncancerous tumor on the
pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. This gland produces several hormones besides the growth hormone, but in Tanya’s case it was the growth hormone that caused the worst of her medical problems. It was this hormone that caused her bones and other tissues to grow out of control. The pressure created by the growing tumor causes headaches and impaired vision.
Tanya must have gone through hell. She needed specially made shoes and could not wear pullover shirts or sweaters. Jewelers stretched her rings to size 20 and added chain to her necklaces. Eventually she ended up in a wheelchair. She ate one meal per day, but some people believed that she lacked the discipline to control her weight. Her medications caused her face to swell.
Eventually, Tanya became an advocate for others suffering from acromegaly. But her life ended suddenly
when she caught a cold and developed a fatal tear in her heart.
Tanya’s story is one of the courage of a young woman. It also points out that even though acromegaly is a
relatively rare disease, there is much work to be done to find a way to control and secure it for the sake of its victims and their families. I hope someone takes up Tanya’s cause and provides help for those helpless sufferers.
There’s more information about acromegaly at this site
Sunday, August 25, 2013
When is a Dead Man Really Dead?
Tony Yahle had been dead for 45 minutes, and hospital staff at Kettering Medical Center were preparing to move his body to the morgue. Then his son stepped up and said, “Dad, you’re not going to die today.” At that second, Yahle’s heart began to beat. Doctors are at a loss to explain his sudden recovery.
It began when Yahle’s family realized he was not breathing and had no pulse. They performed CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive, but all efforts to revive him failed. He was rushed to Kettering Medical Center with no heartbeat or other vital signs. Doctors spent 45 minutes trying to revive him before declaring him dead. It was then that his 17-year-old son shouted, “Dad, you’re not going to die today.”
At that point, Yahle’s heart monitor started showing up tiny electrical signals once or twice a minute. His
cardiologist noticed them and renewed efforts to revive his patient. Gradually, Yahle’s heart rate began to increase. Finally, the cardiologist was able to say that Yahle would live through the bizarre incident.
Yahle later was transferred to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. He woke up five days later.
Eventually he was allowed to go home to rest and recover. When asked, the 37-year-old Yahle said he was feeling fine and planned to return to work the following Monday.
Interestingly enough, as I was preparing this article, I ran across stories of two other people, a man and a woman, who had also suddenly revived after having been declared dead by medical personnel. Both had been dead approximately 45 minutes.
Ordinarily, when oxygen to the brain has been cut off for a much shorter period of time than 45 minutes, there is significant brain damage. In each of these three cases, the victims did not seem to experience obvious damage to their brains. Is there some sort of “magic window” at 45 minutes in which some people can be restored with minimal or no damage?
If you’d like a little more information, you’ll find it here:
It began when Yahle’s family realized he was not breathing and had no pulse. They performed CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive, but all efforts to revive him failed. He was rushed to Kettering Medical Center with no heartbeat or other vital signs. Doctors spent 45 minutes trying to revive him before declaring him dead. It was then that his 17-year-old son shouted, “Dad, you’re not going to die today.”
At that point, Yahle’s heart monitor started showing up tiny electrical signals once or twice a minute. His
cardiologist noticed them and renewed efforts to revive his patient. Gradually, Yahle’s heart rate began to increase. Finally, the cardiologist was able to say that Yahle would live through the bizarre incident.
Yahle later was transferred to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. He woke up five days later.
Eventually he was allowed to go home to rest and recover. When asked, the 37-year-old Yahle said he was feeling fine and planned to return to work the following Monday.
Interestingly enough, as I was preparing this article, I ran across stories of two other people, a man and a woman, who had also suddenly revived after having been declared dead by medical personnel. Both had been dead approximately 45 minutes.
Ordinarily, when oxygen to the brain has been cut off for a much shorter period of time than 45 minutes, there is significant brain damage. In each of these three cases, the victims did not seem to experience obvious damage to their brains. Is there some sort of “magic window” at 45 minutes in which some people can be restored with minimal or no damage?
If you’d like a little more information, you’ll find it here:
Monday, August 19, 2013
Is This a Vampire Cemetery?
Construction workers working on a road near Gliwice in southern Poland uncovered four skeletons. Later, another thirteen skeletons turned up. All seventeen were found with their skulls placed between their knees or hands and stones placed on top of the skulls.
According to archaeologists, this is the way suspected vampires were buried during the 15th and 16th centuries in Poland in order to prevent them from returning to life.
So far, a total of 43 graves have been located at the grave site. The other bodies were not treated in the same way as the seventeen. Since the cemetery was located near an execution site, it is possible that some, if not all, of the victims were actually executed and then buried nearby.
It is interesting that there was no sign of clothing or buttons found on the bodies. It is probable, however, that the bodies were stripped of jewelry, coins, and other valuable items by either the executioners or the people who actually buried the bodies.
The skeletons are being removed from the site for testing designed to determine the ages of the victims and the possible causes of death. Researchers are also studying church and court records to try to identify at least some of the individuals buried in this strange graveyard.
There’s another article, along with a few photographs here:
According to archaeologists, this is the way suspected vampires were buried during the 15th and 16th centuries in Poland in order to prevent them from returning to life.
So far, a total of 43 graves have been located at the grave site. The other bodies were not treated in the same way as the seventeen. Since the cemetery was located near an execution site, it is possible that some, if not all, of the victims were actually executed and then buried nearby.
It is interesting that there was no sign of clothing or buttons found on the bodies. It is probable, however, that the bodies were stripped of jewelry, coins, and other valuable items by either the executioners or the people who actually buried the bodies.
The skeletons are being removed from the site for testing designed to determine the ages of the victims and the possible causes of death. Researchers are also studying church and court records to try to identify at least some of the individuals buried in this strange graveyard.
There’s another article, along with a few photographs here:
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