Reindeer Eyes Turn Blue in the Winter

A golden eye from a summer reindeer (right) and a blue peeper from a winter reindeer (left) (source)

According to the Live Science article, reindeer eyes change color between the summer and winter months.

In the summer, the eyes are a golden, and in the winter they're blue.

This isn't due to an actual change in the color but rather because of a change in internal pressure within the eye that then compresses the collagen fibers in the reflective layer of the eye which then either reflects more light out of the eye - in the summer to protect against the long days of near total sunlight - or reflects more light within the eye - in the winter during the sun-less days and nights...which then makes the eyes change color to the observers.

Nature is phenomenal, and the fact that those sorts of genetic differences were selected for it stunning.

 

Chemist Breaks Down How At-Home Covid Tests Work | WIRED

I'll be very happy when we don't have to take Covid tests anymore.

But I've taken a half dozen of these at home tests over the past year or so. I don't enjoy jabbing the long cotton swab into my nose - but the idea of then jabbing that swab into the back of my throat makes me want to gag.

There's a huge amount of serious science happening here that explains how the rapid covid tests work. Cool stuff happening there.

Pee a Rainbow: Scientist Snaps Shot of Colorful Urine

I apologize in advance, but urine for a treat today.

An article at LiveScience shows the above rainbow of urine colors collected in a week at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, WA.

Thankfully, there's also an explanation of what can change the urine that color.

Next up, a poop rainbow.