Was Dunkleosteus terrelli the Most Dangerous Predator in the Ocean?

Approximately mouth size of Dunkleosteus terrelli

compared to a standing man, credit to Tumblr

Dunkleosteus sp was a prehistoric fish, its size quite big, length reached 33 feet (10 m) and weight size is 8,000 pound (4 tons).

The fish is bigger than average size of shark. Size of shark is 15 feet (5 meters) and weight is around 2000 pound (1 ton).

The different between Dunkleosteus terrelli and other predators is its biting force. One of the strongest biting force ever lived in the world, at least in the ocean.

Mouth of Dunkleosteus terrelli, credit to Carnivoraforum

Dunkleosteus sp biting force, especially of its the fang tip, 80,000 pound per square inch (psi). As comparison, other animals biting force are following:

- Dinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, biting force of 8,000 pound per square inch (psi).

- Great white shark, biting force of 4,000 pound per square inch (psi).

- Saltwater crocodiles, biting force is 3,700 pounds per square inch (psi),

- Hippopotamus, biting force of 2,000 pound per square inch (psi).

- Jaguar, biting force of 1,500 pound per square inch (psi).

- Polar bear, biting force of 1,200 pound per square inch (psi).

- Lion and tiger, biting force of 1,000 pound per square inch (psi).

- Gray wolf, biting force of 400 pound per square inch (psi).

What mean of biting force? An animal with biting force of 200 pound per square inch (psi) could tear down its preys into pieces of steaks.

Dunkleosteus sp biting force of 80,00 per square inch (psi) will divide the sharks into two parts immediately.

The predator terrorized any marine creatures about 400 million years ago.

Yes, Dunkleosteus sp is the most dangerous predator in the ocean, however, the fish extincted along time ago.

Why do Americans Find Difficulty to Retire at 65 Years Old?

M any Americans can’t afford to retire early,

credit to GoBankingRates

Human Lifespans increase worldwide, even in the countries we never heard before, from developing countries to industry countries.

Four Asian countries, they are Japan, Singapore, Macao and Hong Kong included top 10 countries with the highest life expectancy in the world recently.

The retirement age followed the life expectancy. As an example that Japan retirement age increased from 55 years to 68 age years old.

However, government allows Japanese to claim social security benefit as early as 60 years old age.

How about in America? If you read newspapers or magazines, young Americans “dream” to retire before 40.

In fact, around 64% women and 57% men took social security benefit before 62 years old. Since 2014 (5 years ago), the number is declining.

The declining to take early retirement could be due to American lifespan, increasing from 78 years to 84 years for men, and from 80 to 87 to women.

However, the main reason is FINANCIAL. More than 50% of American will brook when they retire, especially at early age or before 65.

Other financial matters will be faced by people to retire early, some of them are following:

- Not saving anything or nor saving enough (30% have less than US$ 5 thousand when reach retirement age)

- Have mortgage to pay

- Have to pay student loan

How about in your country? How old is retirement age?

Is a New Guinea Singing Dog Living the Longest?

A puppy of New Guinea singing dog, 

credit to Wikimedia Commons

If you never hear about breed of New Guinea singing dog, you might not alone. It is because this breeding is very rare, one of the rarest dogs in the world, approximately 100 live nearby human.

Name was taken from dog’s behavior, singing howl and from its origin that is New Guinea. It is said that dogs are friendly to humans.

The scientists didn’t know the population of New Guinea singing dog in their native of highland New Guinea. Recently, just two photos captured the dogs in the wild habitat.

Female and puppies, credit to San Diego Zoo

Surprisingly, the New Guinea Singing Dog lives the longest compared to other breeds. Average lifespan is 18 years old. As comparison is following:

1. Dog breed with average lifespans 17 years old: Chihuahua

2. Dog breed with average lifespans 16 years old: Toy poodle. Jack Russel terrier, and Cockapoo.

3. Dog breed with average lifespans 15 years old: Lhasa apso, Dhih Tzu, Australian Shepherd, Beagle and Maltese.

You may see the New Guinea Singing Dog in the zoos in some countries. The list provided by “the New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society as of 2015,” number of zoos by countries are:

1. USA, 13 zoos such as zoos in Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Idaho, California and so on.

2. United Kingdom, two zoos in North Devon and Staffordshire

3. Germany, two zoos in Neumünster and Geilenkirchen.

4. Czech Republic, one zoo in Zlin

Have you seen the New Guinea Singing Dog in zoos or wild?

What Does Bacteria of Listeria monocytogenes do on Pregnant Women?

Bacterium of Listeria monocytogenes in 3D, credit to 123RF

Listeriosis is an infection caused by bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Infection to human through consuming the contaminated foods.

Infection caused by Listeria is serious, may cause sepsis (disturbing bloodstream), meningitis and encephalitis.

Listeriosis may also affect on chests, abdomen, joints and bones. Other parts of body could be infected by Listeria monocytogenes as well.

Around 1600 people infected by this bacteria each year in the USA. Of those infected needs hospital cares, then 260 died.

Higher risk individuals include older people (65 years old or more), weakening immune systems people (HIV/AIDS patients), pregnant women and newborn kids.

The pregnant women is most vulnerable to be infected by Listeria sp when in sick condition. Bacteria cause stillbirth, miscarriage and fetal loss.

Infected newborn babies face a life threatening, around 3% will die.

Recently, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found Listeria monocytogenes infection in several states such as Michigan, New York and New Jersey caused 8 persons hospitalized and one died.

For details please read this article:

CDC investigating listeria infection link to deli meats and cheeses

What do Old Ladies do in New York?

Image of Ladies’ Lunch, credit to The New Yorker

I read the short story with title “Ladies’ Lunch” written by Lore Segal, an Austrian-American author. The story is about five women growing older in New York city, then they have meet every other month to tell their story.

They are in 80’s, came from many places in the world; “their origins in California, County Mayo, Tehran (Iran), Vienna (Austria), and the Bronx” (Segal, 2017).

Actually, the story is deeply human and a mirror of our future lives when growing old. None of us can be liberated or exiled from aging and weakening.

Kids look at their parents no longer who they once were. The important things that children still take care of their parents and show their kinship.

The old ladies tried to help each other, but they cannot due to their own physical condition. They just listening when one of their friends told that she got hip replacement at 82-year-old.

Unfortunately, the recovery is not that much as surgeon cheery projection. The friend need caregiver to take meal, shower, dress, and any other simple things.

The plot and pacing of story is brisk and tidy, have spirit of eternal battle with liberty in “growing” physical and mental weakness. Narrative is wonderful that revealing in dialog.

I consider this story is good because will relate to ourselves in the near future, thus I recommend to you as must read story.

Reference

Segal, L. (2017). Ladies’ Lunch. The New Yorker, February 27, 2017 issue. Retrieved from http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2017/02/20/lore-segal-ladies-lunch/

Does The North Atlantic Right Whale Face Extinction?

Mortality due to human activities

The North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis had been hunted intensively by human for commercial purposes.

The North Atlantic right whales have been hunted down for long time period, around 40 years or from 1890 to 1930. Hunting for their:

- meat

- oil

- baleen

Whaling license is terminated since 1930, and even USA government prohibits individuals or institution or human vessels to approach North Atlantic right whale within 457 m or 1500 ft distance. 

However, whale population is not recovered as normal as before 1890. Eubalaena glacialis is about 411 only in current estimation.

Surprisingly, mature female is predicted 90 to 100 only. No breeding was detected for last year, 2018.

Whales in the ocean (credit to Google)

Low breeding rate combined with mortality due to human activities such as ship strikes and entanglement, lead whales to nearly in extinction phase.

The North Atlantic right whale is considered as most endangered species compared to other whales.

Luckily, scientists have been detected totally 7 whale’s babies this year (2019), included 3 in recent weeks.

The mature whales come to breeding ground in coast off Georgia and Florida during winter season. Temperature is quite higher in southern part compared to northern part of America.

In spring and summer, whales and their calves goes back to their feeding ground in New England, Northern America, includes Canada.

Unfortunately, it is predicted that the North Atlantic right whales would extinct by next 20 years if these things continue to happen:

- High mortality of whales due to human activities.

- Lower breeding rate

Human activities included, but not limited to:

- entanglement of fishing gear

- ship strikes

- vessel noises

Have You an idea to prevent the North Atlantic Right Whale from extinction? 

Is Avocado Considered as a Super Food?

Avocado, medium and small sizes

Avocado is one of my favorites food. I eat the fruit simply by mixing it (avocado’s flesh) with condensed milk (produced by Nestle).

Sometimes, I mixed avocado flesh, milk (chocolate condensed milk) and ice cubed altogether, by using electrical mixer, like making a juice drink.

The price is a quite little bit expensive compared to other fruit for me. A medium size for a whole avocado cost US$ 3 (£ 2.67).

Flesh of avocado, look like a butter

Avocado flesh is creamy and butterly texture. If we eat first time, the taste is little bit bitter, actually mild sweet, especially when we eat ripe fruit.

We slice, dice or cube the avocado flesh. The medium size could weight around 150 gram or 1/3 pound in serving.

Small size of avocados

Is Avocado Considered as a Super Food? Yes, it is because it riches of nutrients:

-Fibre, potassium, Omega 3, magnesium and folic acid

-Vitamints: A, B, C, D, E and K

-Copper and iron

-Mono saturated fat, very few fruit contain this nutrient.

A "good fat" in avocado could reduce bad cholesterol level, thus lower the risk of stroke and heart attack. 

There many other health benefit by eating avocado regularly as said by nutritionists.

Have you ever tasted avocado?