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How to Extract DNA from Anything Living

04:45:00

First, you need to find something that contains DNA. Since DNA is the blueprint for life, everything living contains DNA.

For this experiment, we like to use green split peas. But there are lots of other DNA sources too, such as:

Spinach
Chicken liver
Strawberries
Broccoli

Certain sources of DNA should not be used, such as:

Your family pet, Fido the dog
Your little sister's big toe
Bugs you caught in the yard

Step 1: Blender Insanity!

Put in a blender:

1/2 cup of split peas (100ml)
1/8 teaspoon table salt (less than 1ml)
1 cup cold water (200ml)

Blend on high for 15 seconds.

The blender separates the pea cells from each other, so you now have a really thin pea-cell soup.

Step 2: Soapy Peas

Pour your thin pea-cell soup through a strainer into another container (like a measuring cup).

Add 2 tablespoons liquid detergent (about 30ml) and swirl to mix.

Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.

Pour the mixture into test tubes or other small glass containers, each about 1/3 full.

Why am I adding detergent?

Step 3: Enzyme Power

Add a pinch of enzymes to each test tube and stir gently. Be careful! If you stir too hard, you'll break up the DNA, making it harder to see.

Use meat tenderizer for enzymes. If you can't find tenderizer, try using pineapple juice or contact lens cleaning solution.

Why Did I Add Meat Tenderizer?

Step 4: Alcohol Separation

Tilt your test tube and slowly pour rubbing alcohol (70-95% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol) into the tube down the side so that it forms a layer on top of the pea mixture. Pour until you have about the same amount of alcohol in the tube as pea mixture.

Alcohol is less dense than water, so it floats on top. Look for clumps of white stringy stuff where the water and alcohol layers meet.

What is that Stringy Stuff?

DNA is a long, stringy molecule. The salt that you added in step one helps it stick together. So what you see are clumps of tangled DNA molecules!

DNA normally stays dissolved in water, but when salty DNA comes in contact with alcohol it becomes undissolved. This is called precipitation. The physical force of the DNA clumping together as it precipitates pulls more strands along with it as it rises into the alcohol.

You can use a wooden stick or a straw to collect the DNA. If you want to save your DNA, you can transfer it to a small container filled with alcohol.

You Have Just Completed DNA Extraction!

Now that you've successfully extracted DNA from one source, you're ready to experiment further. Try these ideas or some of your own:

Experiment with other DNA sources. Which source gives you the most DNA? How can you compare them?

Experiment with different soaps and detergents. Do powdered soaps work as well as liquid detergents? How about shampoo or body scrub?

Experiment with leaving out or changing steps. We've told you that you need each step, but is this true? Find out for yourself. Try leaving out a step or changing how much of each ingredient you use.

Do only living organisms contain DNA? Try extracting DNA from things that you think might not have DNA.

Want to conduct more DNA extraction experiments? Try out different soaps and detergents. Do powdered soaps work as well as liquid detergents?

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7 Reasons To Exercise That Have Nothing To Do With Losing Weight

03:48:00

Ah, exercise. You’ve probably spent a summer going on sweaty runs, checking out the newest spin studios and maybe even giving boxing a try.

And it was awesome, right?

But as we say goodbye to bonfires and beaches and look forward to sweaters and snuggling, we’re going to guess there’s a tiny part of you jumping for joy over the end of bikini season.

And we get it — even for the very healthy among us, too much salad can get old. But before you break out the paninis, and especially before you freeze your gym membership until next May, hear us out.

Although regular exercise can help with weight loss, it’s not the key to weight loss as we’re often led to believe.

Truthfully, there’s just no way your morning run will make up for the pint of Ben & Jerry’s you ate in one sitting.

According to The Guardian, the authors of a study on the link between diet and exercise explained,

In the past 30 years, as obesity has rocketed, there has been little change in physical activity levels in the western population… This places the blame for our expanding waistlines directly on the type and amount of calories consumed.

Before you get really sad and decide to give up on exercise completely, we actually have some great news: Even though exercise and weight loss may not be all that correlated, there are countless other benefits to getting your cardio on.

Here’s what you should know.

1. Exercise eases anxiety and busts stress.

Anxiety disorders affect a whopping 40 million adults in the US. And one of the best ways to combat it, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is regular exercise.

Whether it’s a brisk 10-minute walk or an hour-long jog, exercise can do wonders for anxiety.

A study conducted out of Princeton University reportedly found mice who had been given the option of running on a little wheel for six weeks were more likely to explore open areas than the mice who remained sedentary, suggesting they were less anxious than their inactive rodent friends.

Humans are not mice, of course, but you get the picture.

2. Exercise protects your heart.

OK, so maybe exercise can’t protect you from the pain of heartbreak. But when it comes to the actual organ in your chest, exercise is pretty damn good for it.

Just like when it comes to easing anxiety, you don’t have to be a marathon runner for exercise to benefit your heart.

UCSF Medical Center recommends a 30-minute brisk walk five days a week for major health benefits.

Think about it. Is taking 30 minutes out of your day to do some good for your ticker that much of a sacrifice? We didn’t think so.

3. Exercise makes you more confident.

If you’re still working up the courage to talk to that guy or girl who lives in your building/works with you/hands you your morning cup of coffee, try exercising.

In addition to the self-esteem boost a pair of toned arms brings, a study on the relationship between work-life balance and exercise found people who exercise regularly are more confident they can handle the many stresses of life.

The lead author of the study, Russell Clayton, said,

Individuals who exercised regularly were more confident that they could handle the interaction of their work and home life and were less likely to be stressed at work.

4. Exercise makes you better in bed.

Yep, you read that right. If you exercise regularly, you probably have a lot to offer in the bedroom.

First of all, sweating releases sex pheromones, the chemicals that help attract the opposite sex.

And once things have escalated with that hottie you picked up at the gym, exercise improves your blood flow, helps prevent erectile dysfunction and leads to lower estrogen levels (high estrogen levels are known for killing sex drive).

5. Exercise kind of gets you high.

We mean high on life, of course. The runner’s high is a real thing! When a group of researchers in Germany set out to discover the relationship between running and endorphins (the “happy” chemical), they found running sends tons of endorphins to the brain, which creates a kind of high.

Plus, researchers at Penn State found physically active people are generally more excited and enthusiastic than people who don’t exercise.

In a statement, study researcher Amanda Hyde said,

…we also found that people have more pleasant-activated feelings on days when they are more physically active than usual.

So if you’re in a funk, try taking a walk around the block. It could do wonders for your mood.

6. Exercise helps with creativity.

Got writer’s block?

It might seem counterintuitive to take 45 minutes to do something else if you have a paper due the next morning, but a sweat sesh could be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing.

A study on the relationship between aerobic exercise and creativity found creativity is maximized for up two hours following exercise.

Even if it’s just a short stroll, you might want to give this one a try before attempting to write that opening paragraph for the fifth time.

7. Exercise helps you get more done.

Along with helping you manage stress and anxiety and boosting confidence — all important when it comes to productivity — exercise literally gives you more brain cells through a process called neurogenesis.

What does this mean? People’s brains are shown to grow more quickly if they exercise regularly.

Plus, exercise has been shown to give you a memory boost, which is always helpful when you’re trying to get stuff done.

Ready to start training for a marathon yet? We thought so.

The World's First 8K TV Will Cost $133,000

03:47:00

9 Houseplants That Clean The Air And Are Basically Impossible To Kill

03:41:00

Pop quiz: which is more polluted, indoor air or outdoor air? 10 times out of 10, indoor air in your house, office or apartment is going to be worse than the air outside. Indoor air pollution has been ranked among the top 5 greatest risks to public health by the EPA, and stagnant indoor air allows pollutants to build up and stick to the things inside of your home.

The things in our homes emit some nasty toxic chemicals like formaldehyde for example. You can also be impacted by pollutants like pollen, bacteria, mold, and various outdoor contaminants that find their way inside. Fortunately, houseplants can help us solve some of these air quality issues. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, these houseplants are basically impossible to kill. Let’s check them out!

1. Garden Mum

This plant was found by NASA to be a real air-purifying beast. It removes ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene from your home’s air. It’s popular and inexpensive, plus they can be planted outside too.

2. Spider Plant

Spider plants are incredibly easy to grow, so if you’re a beginner, this is a great one to start with. It lights bright, indirect light and sends out shoots with flowers on them that will eventually grow into baby spider plants that you can propagate yourself. Before too long, you’ll have more spider plants than you’ll know what to do with.

3. Dracaena

There are over 40 kinds of dracaena plants, which makes it easy to find the right one for you. They remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air. They are toxic to cats and dogs though, so if you have pets, you might want to think twice about this one.

4. Ficus

Ficus trees are a favorite of mine as they are able to grow quite large depending on the type of pot you have them in. They typically stand between 2 and 10 feet tall and have some serious air cleaning abilities. You can also keep it outside in the spring and summer. The ficus removes benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from indoor air.

5. Peace Lily

Not only does the peace lily send up beautiful flowers, but they’re impossible to kill and have great air cleaning abilities. They flower through most of the summer and prefer shady spots with moist but not soggy soil. It removes ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

6. Boston fern.

This plant likes cool locations with high humidity and indirect light. Bathrooms are a perfect spot for these little friends. They remove pollutants like xylene and formaldehyde from indoor air.

7. Snake Plant/Mother-in-law’s Tongue.

I see this one all over the place in offices and restaurants – and for good reason. They’re pretty much impossible to kill. They need water only occasionally and prefer drier conditions. They don’t need much direct sunlight either. They remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from indoor air.

8. Bamboo Palm

Bamboo palms are most effective at filtering formaldehyde. They thrive in full sun and bright light. They grow as high as 12 foot too, making them an incredible presence indoors. They remove benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe is a multi-use plant for sure. It has health benefits when consumed in smaller amounts, helps relieve burns, and cleans your indoor air as well. It removes formaldehyde effectively from indoor air.

All in One {Mashup}

15 Good Conversation Starters to Connect With Anyone

05:24:00

As my kids have gotten older, I’ve noticed my circle of friends has gotten smaller.

It’s not that I’m antisocial now. It’s just that having kids tends to create quick and plentiful connections.

You’re thrown in the path of other adults through your children’s’ school, sports activities, and social events and can make some easy friendships. Once my kids could drive, I didn’t need to attend most of their activities. And once they moved out of the house, these child-related social events dried up completely.

Also, since I work from home, I’m not in an office environment that has other people with whom I could establish friendships. I figured out pretty quickly, if I wanted to broaden my circle, I needed to get out there and make new friends. It’s not as easy as it was in second grade when you just found a kid who looked approachable and said, “Hey you wanna be friends?”

Adults are busy and preoccupied, and most of us are past the time of wanting to foster casual friendships. One of the best ways to determine if someone has friend potential is by having a conversation with them. Not just a casual conversation — but a more intimate, open conversation in which you both reveal elements of your true selves.

This can take some finessing when you first meet someone. You don’t want to scare them away with a probing question like, “So how’s your sex life?” Nor do you want to waste time with too many “What do you think of this weather?” type of questions. Some of the best questions to create closeness and interest are open-ended questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer — and that invite deeper conversation between the two of you.

Here are 15 good conversation starters to foster connection and eventual friendship:

1. Tell me about your upbringing.

You can learn so much about someone when they talk about their childhood and family of origin. This gives you the opportunity to find common ground and similar life experiences. You will likely have the same question sent back to you, so it allows you to openly share parts of your personal life experiences as well.

2. What first attracted you to your spouse/partner?

It’s always fascinating to hear how someone met their love partner. The qualities they found attractive in another person gives you insight into their values and their own personality traits.

3. Tell me about your most memorable, meaningful travel experience.

Travel is always enlightening and expansive. Sometimes a trip is life-changing — it’s more of a journey than a vacation. People always enjoy talking about these experiences and how passionate and alive they felt during them.

4. What are you most proud of?

This is a great question because it invites the other person to freely talk about their accomplishments. We all want to feel valued and useful, and knowing someone is interested in our successes breaks down emotional barriers and discomfort.

5. What is the best life lesson you’ve every learned?

This question often evokes some true “ah ha” moments, as most people don’t take time to think about life lessons. Experience is a great teacher, and over time we all learn from our successes, mistakes, past encounters, and years of experience. Being able to talk about your own life lessons is a sign of emotional maturity and self-esteem.

6. Tell me what’s on your bucket list.

When someone has a bucket list or a list of goals before they die, it shows they are engaged in life and want to experience it to the fullest. The follow-up question to this one is, “What plans are you making to check off the items on your list?” You may find you share many similar items on your list. In fact, you might be creating a new friend with whom you share these bucket list items.

7. You look (happy, sad, bored, uncomfortable). Am I right, and what’s going on?

When you ask someone this question (in a kind, non-challenging way), it shows you can read people or at least want to attempt to understand what’s behind the facade. Sometimes a person can be flooded with emotion, and they just need someone to cue them to open up. Offering a warm and caring space for someone to share how they’re feeling is a great way to start a friendship.

8. What books have you read recently that you really loved?

What we read tells the story of who we are and what intrigues us. When you find you share a common reading list, you immediately have a connection and something to discuss further. You may also learn something new from your new friend, giving them the opportunity to enlighten you, which makes them feel valuable.

9. What’s a typical day like for you?

This question can help you learn much more about how this new person than anything else they might tell you. How we actually spend our time and the actions we take says much more about us than our words do. It also lets you know whether or not this person has time for a real friendship.

10. What do you feel passionate about?

The most interesting people in the world are those who have a passion for something — or for many things. Does this person wake up enthusiastic and excited to begin their day? Do they have something amazing going on in their life? These are the people you want more of in your world.

11. What is the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done?

We’ve all had our times of acting against our true selves — or maybe claiming our true selves after years of pretending to be someone else. These out-of-character times often occur with life transitions or major life events. How the person responded and what they learned from the experience can shed light on who they are.

12. How would the people closest to you describe you?

This is another opportunity to invite your new friend to share something positive about themselves — and maybe a few negative things as well. Sometimes self-deprecating humor comes out in these descriptions. Sometimes people feel uncomfortable sharing anything positive. Be prepared to answer this question about yourself as well.

13. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

This question drills down to the core of our insecurities. What is it we don’t like about ourselves? This is a question for a second or third meeting, after you have some time with this new friend and know they aren’t offended by deep questions. Sharing insecurities and vulnerabilities deepens intimacy and trust in a friendship.

14. What age do you feel on the inside?

I love this question because invariably anyone over 40 feels much younger than they are. Sharing this phenomenon is a great way to recognize and acknowledge the essential person inside the body. We are all aging, but we aren’t our bodies. We are so much more, and we want our true friends to see us that way.

15. If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be and why?

This is a hard question for many people because we so identify with our possessions. It forces us to decipher our values in a nanosecond and define them through the few items we’d choose to keep. This question tells you what is most important to your new friend and whether or not you share similar values.

Having a list of good conversation starters in mind will help you initiate new connections that can lead to strong friendships. When you direct the conversation with these questions, you have a strategy for learning more authentic qualities of person standing in front of you and whether or not you share enough common interests and values to form a friendship.

What conversation starters have you used in the past to build connection with another person? Please share your experiences in the comments below