How are we able to perform a body transplant when we can't repair spinal injuries? | AskScience Blog

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Wednesday, March 29, 2017

How are we able to perform a body transplant when we can't repair spinal injuries?

How are we able to perform a body transplant when we can't repair spinal injuries?


How are we able to perform a body transplant when we can't repair spinal injuries?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 10:50 AM PDT

So as many of you have probably heard, the first attempted "head transplant" is scheduled to occur later this year. I haven't been able to find scientific articles on the subject but it seems they plan to fully connect the nerves/veins/etc, and the spine. However to my knowledge we still haven't figured out how to repair a typical spinal injury, so how can we, even if just in theory, expect to fuse two different spines to any extent?

submitted by /u/xxNightxTrainxx
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Why are most of the large impact craters on the moon located on the side facing the Earth? Wouldn't the other side be less shielded?

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 03:30 AM PDT

Would a typical modern adult human who'd never seen or heard of a snake before instinctively know it was dangerous and which end to be worried about?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 10:29 AM PDT

I think that's the whole question, but please ask any questions for clarification.

submitted by /u/autoposting_system
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Ask Anything Wednesday - Economics, Political Science, Linguistics, Anthropology

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 08:05 AM PDT

Welcome to our weekly feature, Ask Anything Wednesday - this week we are focusing on Economics, Political Science, Linguistics, Anthropology

Do you have a question within these topics you weren't sure was worth submitting? Is something a bit too speculative for a typical /r/AskScience post? No question is too big or small for AAW. In this thread you can ask any science-related question! Things like: "What would happen if...", "How will the future...", "If all the rules for 'X' were different...", "Why does my...".

Asking Questions:

Please post your question as a top-level response to this, and our team of panellists will be here to answer and discuss your questions.

The other topic areas will appear in future Ask Anything Wednesdays, so if you have other questions not covered by this weeks theme please either hold on to it until those topics come around, or go and post over in our sister subreddit /r/AskScienceDiscussion , where every day is Ask Anything Wednesday! Off-theme questions in this post will be removed to try and keep the thread a manageable size for both our readers and panellists.

Answering Questions:

Please only answer a posted question if you are an expert in the field. The full guidelines for posting responses in AskScience can be found here. In short, this is a moderated subreddit, and responses which do not meet our quality guidelines will be removed. Remember, peer reviewed sources are always appreciated, and anecdotes are absolutely not appropriate. In general if your answer begins with 'I think', or 'I've heard', then it's not suitable for /r/AskScience.

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Ask away!

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
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Has materials science improved enough in the last 30 years that a Venus lander would survive much longer?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 06:09 PM PDT

Vega 2 was launched at the end of 1984. That was about 33 years ago since the last lander was sent to Venus. No lander has lasted very long due to the conditions on Venus but with more than 3 decades having elapsed, have there been any signficant improvements in materials science that would allow a lander to survive on Venus in spite of the conditions (pressure, heat, corrosive nature of sulfuric acid)--particularly much longer than previous landers achieved?

submitted by /u/JMV290
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Why do photons have no reference frame?

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 07:04 AM PDT

Suppose the following:

  • a person named Bob is wearing a watch,
  • we have the ability to launch Bob at the speed of light along a "boomerang" path,
  • Bob's inertia is 0 kg m2 (for simplicity's sake),
  • and from Bob's reference frame, traversing the path requires one hour.

From what I understand, regardless of how much earthly time Bob requires to traverse the path, Bob's watch will indicate the same exact time upon arrival as it did upon departure due to time dilation.

While Bob is traveling the speed of light, he notices that his watch stops ticking. This is because the watch was configured for earthly time. Because Bob doesn't experience earthly time, his watch thus doesn't tick. However, suppose that Bob brought watch parts with him on his journey and that during the journey, he assembles a new watch to keep track of time in this new reference frame. Once he completes his journey, his watch will no longer tick for the same reason that his first watch didn't tick during the journey. That is, once the journey is complete, the second watch is traveling at the speed of light relative to the reference frame in which it was built. If Bob were to be launched again in the same manner, then the second watch would begin to work again.

I don't understand why I keep reading that photons don't have a reference frame. With the logic that is used to back that claim, couldn't it be said that Earth has no reference frame from a photon's perspective? That sounds contradictory.

Considering that traversal of the path isn't instantaneous, it stands to reason that Bob isn't "frozen in time".

What am I missing?

submitted by /u/bacondev
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Can psychoactive substances directly affect organs besides your brain?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 10:44 PM PDT

So obviously the brain is like the control center where most of the effects of drugs take place resulting in different behavior of your entire body. However I wonder if some organs can pick up the effects from substances in some cases such as for example can your stomach 'get high' or can your eyes hallucinate, etc?

I'm wondering cause I was thinking about the effects of my morning coffee on my metabolism. There ought to be local control mechanisms for each of your organs that have their own reflexes and reactions to stimuli.

Thanks

submitted by /u/slowbrowsersarefunny
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I just had a friend tell me that the same equation used to find the escape velocity of Earth is the same equation used to find the velocity an electron needs to break out of an orbital. Does this mean the force holding an electron in an orbital is similar to the force of gravity on Earth?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 04:53 PM PDT

If the same equation is used for both problems, then i imaginne something has to be the same or similar for that to work. The only thing I could think of is the forces being the same or similar. Is my assumption correct?

submitted by /u/ProdigyLightshow
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Why the density of water is highest at 4℃?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 11:46 PM PDT

Can depression affect someone's memory?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 06:14 PM PDT

What are (latest known) neuroscience or neurobiology mechanisms of symptoms of schizophrenia? What are some (newer) significant study materials or research literature discussing the previous question?

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 06:43 AM PDT

Would pi be as difficult to perfectly describe using a different number system?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 07:58 PM PDT

Such as base-12 or base-8 or something? Or are irrational, infinitely extending numbers just inherently that way?

submitted by /u/Seanay-B
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Since all mammals have serotonin transmitters, would all mammals "trip" off of LSD?

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 01:47 AM PDT

I ask this because humans think on such a higher level than anything else thus we can have "trips" but could something like a dog or fox with less complex brains trip off of LSD?

submitted by /u/TubbyMcFuckles
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Why does every dietary supplement package say "do not use as substitution to regular meals"?

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 04:26 AM PDT

This being my first post ever, it might be a little bit sloppy written. (sorry for bad English)

It all comes down to molecules of macro and micro nutrients. Isn't it all the same protein if I eat a boiled egg/drink a glass of milk or have a protein shake? Vitamins and minerals can be taken care of with one pill a day and there are plenty of dietary supplements that help increase and/or control intake of certain macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, fiber and protein). Also, all the Omega 3, amino acids and others can be taken via capsules or powder. There seems to be no need for real food...

So, my questions are: 1) Why aren't supplements recommended to be used instead of a meal? and 2) Would a person be able to live off just supplements if taken smart and with caution and calculation, and if not, why?

submitted by /u/c-proteus
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How would the wolves that dogs evolved from compare to the wolves of today?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 08:37 PM PDT

And, is there any way to know? I'm familiar with the genetics and theories about wolves gradually developing a symbiotic relationship with humans, but I've been around tame wolves before, and it just seems like a stretch to me that they were the precursor to man's best friend. Is it possible that ancient wolves were more docile and gregarious towards humans than the wolves of today?

submitted by /u/Nacho_cheese_pizza
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Do any painkillers block the burn of spicy food?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 10:59 AM PDT

In the lastest video of a popular web series featuring celebrities eating hot wings, the celebrity seems to be barely affected. He later admits he's wearing a fentanyl patch. Would this block the "pain" of the capsaicin?
Would any other drugs (either medical or recreational) block the effect of capsaicin?

submitted by /u/teridon
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Why do we have diminished appetite and a taste aversion to food when we're sick?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 02:49 PM PDT

Last week I was sick and, in addition to having little appetite, any food I ate tasted horribly. Wouldn't my body be more receptive to food when I'm sick and need the nutrition? It seems counterproductive.

submitted by /u/SifPuppy
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Is it theoretically possible to Blue shift a radio wave to a Gamma Ray by using the Doppler Effect?

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 01:31 AM PDT

In trials of psychological interventions, what is used as a placebo? Is there a "sham talk therapy"?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 06:55 PM PDT

Could a black hole of electrons ever form?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 08:51 PM PDT

How would a Vantablack coating affect a laser cutters ability to cut?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 06:12 PM PDT

If you were to coat an object with Vantablack and then try to cut it with a laser cutter, how would the coating affect the lasers ability to cut?

submitted by /u/A_Bowman
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Does the taste of a fruit reflect its nutrition?

Posted: 28 Mar 2017 07:58 PM PDT

I ate a pretty disappointing cantaloupe today, and it got me wondering if taste is an indicator of a healthier (or in any way better) fruit.

Is a really sweet and ripe cantaloupe actually better than a bland and firm one, or do we just like it more?

submitted by /u/maarrz
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