#or biochemistry

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

sick of this anti-aging obsession. let's go in the opposite direction. i want more characters who are hardened & grizzled & have a face lined with the harrowing tribulations of time--and then halfway through the narrative u find out they're 27

[reasonsforhope]

"A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a real-time air monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants that are present in a room in about 5 minutes.

The proof-of-concept device was created by researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering and the School of Medicine at Washington University...

The results are contained in a July 10 publication in Nature Communications that provides details about how the technology works.

The device holds promise as a breakthrough that - when commercially available - could be used in hospitals and health care facilities, schools, congregate living quarters, and other public places to help detect not only the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but other respiratory virus aerosol such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well.

“There is nothing at the moment that tells us how safe a room is,” Cirrito said, in the university’s news release. “If you are in a room with 100 people, you don’t want to find out five days later whether you could be sick or not. The idea with this device is that you can know essentially in real time, or every 5 minutes, if there is a live virus in the air.”

How It Works

The team combined expertise in biosensing with knowhow in designing instruments that measure the toxicity of air. The resulting device is an air sampler that operates based on what’s called “wet cyclone technology.” Air is sucked into the sampler at very high speeds and is then mixed centrifugally with a fluid containing a nanobody that recognizes the spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. That fluid, which lines the walls of the sampler, creates a surface vortex that traps the virus aerosols. The wet cyclone sampler has a pump that collects the fluid and sends it to the biosensor for detection of the virus using electrochemistry.

The success of the instrument is linked to the extremely high velocity it generates - the monitor has a flow rate of about 1,000 liters per minute - allowing it to sample a much larger volume of air over a 5-minute collection period than what is possible with currently available commercial samplers. It’s also compact - about one foot wide and 10 inches tall - and lights up when a virus is detected, alerting users to increase airflow or circulation in the room.

Testing the Monitor

To test the monitor, the team placed it in the apartments of two Covid-positive patients. The real-time air samples from the bedrooms were then compared with air samples collected from a virus-free control room. The device detected the RNA of the virus in the air samples from the bedrooms but did not detect any in the control air samples.

In laboratory experiments that aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 into a room-sized chamber, the wet cyclone and biosensor were able to detect varying levels of airborne virus concentrations after only a few minutes of sampling, according to the study.

“We are starting with SARS-CoV-2, but there are plans to also measure influenza, RSV, rhinovirus and other top pathogens that routinely infect people,” Cirrito said. “In a hospital setting, the monitor could be used to measure for staph or strep, which cause all kinds of complications for patients. This could really have a major impact on people’s health.”

The Washington University team is now working to commercialize the air quality monitor."

-via Forbes, July 11, 2023

-

Holy shit. I know it's still early in the technology and more testing will inevitably be needed but holy shit.

Literally, if it bears out, this could revolutionize medicine. And maybe let immunocompromised people fucking go places again

Also, for those who don't know, Nature Communications is a very prestigious scientific journal that focuses on Pretty Big Deal research. Their review process is incredibly rigorous. This is an absolutely HUGE credibility boost to this research and prototype

[beakers-and-telescopes]

OKAY THIS ARTICLE IS SO COOL

I'm going to try to explain this in a comprehensible way, because honestly it's wild to wrap your head around even for me, who has a degree in chemistry. But bear with me.

Okay, so. Solids, right? They are rigid enough to hold their shape, but aside from that they are quite variable. Some solids are hard, others are soft, some are brittle or rubbery or malleable. So what determines these qualities? And what creates the rigid structure that makes a solid a solid? Most people would tell you that it depends on the atoms that make up the solid, and the bonds between those atoms. Rubber is flexible because of the polymers it's made of, steel is strong because of the metallic bonds between its atoms. And this applies to all solids. Or so everybody thought.

A paper published in the journal Nature has discovered that biological materials such as wood, fungi, cotton, hair, and anything else that can respond to the humidity in the environment may be composed of a new class of matter dubbed "hydration solids". That's because the rigidity and solidness of the materials doesn't actually come from the atoms and bonds, but from the water molecules hanging out in between.

So basically, try to imagine a hydration solid as a bunch of balloons taped together to form a giant cube, with the actual balloon part representing the atoms and bonds of the material, and the air filling the balloons as the water in the pores of the solid. What makes this "solid" cube shaped? It's not because of the rubber at all, but the air inside. If you took out all the air from inside the balloons, the structure wouldn't be able to hold its shape.

Ozger Sahin, one of the paper's authors, said

"When we take a walk in the woods, we think of the trees and plants around us as typical solids. This research shows that we should really think of those trees and plants as towers of water holding sugars and proteins in place. It's really water's world."

And the great thing about this discovery (and one of the reasons to support its validity) is that thinking about hydration solids this way makes the math so so so much easier. Before this, if you wanted to calculate how water interacts with organic matter, you would need advanced computer simulations. Now, there are simple equations that you can do in your head. Being able to calculate a material's properties using basic physics principles is a really big deal, because so far we have only been able to do that with gasses (PV=nRT anyone?). Expanding that to a group that encompasses 50-90% of the biological world around us is huge.

[gurgurvi]

breaking bad

[thelailasblog]

[locke-writing]

Okay, look, I've been in college for two years and my Biology professor has pretty significantly rooted this educational science game called Labster into her course.

I was not expecting to be playing Portal all day for school.

Yeah, this is a full, 360 sci-fi free roam lab environment that you can pretty much do whatever you want in. You know those cruddy flash game experiments you used to do in middle school? Those are a thing of the past.

And check this: the entire lab is being run by this super cool AI droid named Dr. One

She floats around and directs you around the lab depending on the lesson you're taking and sounds eerily similar to GLaDOS. It turns out that Dr. One also has a lore page and that she was created originally for "unethical purposes."

Also, this environment is extremely detailed and even runs shaders and ambient occlusion in your web browser.

That's pretty nuts, considering the only time we ever see these things are built into genuine video games, not a web browser lab. It runs incredibly smoothly on my GTX 1050.

This is insanely impressive and I actually enjoyed my homework today. 10/10, would play this in my free time.

[nihilistem]

adhd study affirmations + tips to stray from discouragement by a stem student with adhd.

you’re not always going to be consistent. you’re not always going to be motivated. you’re not always going to be efficient. and that is okay.

edit : thank you so much to whoever blazed this post. It means the world to me.

and the fact that you even got this far is an accomplishment in and of itself. In this line of work, people aren’t always the kindest to neurodivergent people especially since our symptoms can often hinder our performance academically.

if you’re good to go after reading the above, I’ve also made a post regarding adhd study tips that I haven’t seen anywhere else. (Part 2 is here!) But, if you’re burned out like me, feel free to keep reading.

honestly, these might serve a bit more as reminders because they’re kinda simple but even I needed this, so, here we go.

do not seek advice from anyone neurotypical unless it genuinely helps you. I cannot tell you the amount of time and tears I could have saved if I just considered the fact that just because popular self-improvement tips or study techniques didn’t work for me, it doesn’t mean I’m stupid or useless. It simply means our brains isn’t motivated by the same things neurotypical ones are, and therefore a lot of popular self-improvement videos or study tips aren’t going to work for you because 90% of the time, they’re not designed to work for neurodivergent people. So if you’d like to seek help in this area, look for tips and videos that ARE for neurodivergent people.

you might experience burnout a lot more than others. again, that is fine. if this doesn’t apply to you, great! Feel free to skip to the next tip/affirmation. If this does apply to you, read this carefully; if you’ve had any sort of streak in studying right now, chances are you know at least a portion of your studies were led purely on interest, curiosity or even novelty, as these are what keep us engaged in our studies. Knowing this, it is natural for you to experience burnout more frequently than others due to the possible hyperfixations that have been forming around your work. If you get burned out, please remember to take a break for a day and make sure it is efficient. Like your studies, your breaks are the key to having efficient study sessions in the future. So please treat yourself, especially if you’ve been working extra hard!

do not admire studious fictional characters unless it genuinely helps you or they too are neurodivergent. I know this technically could have been thrown in with tip number 1 but I felt like this tip alone is so important, because nowadays I see a lot of study tips with the title, ‘how to study like (insert studious fictional character here)’ and when I look at the post it kinda repeats the same few study tips I see all the time like ‘stay organized’ or ‘time block your day’ and I feel like admiring fictional characters who do things that don’t work for you can be damaging for your mental health, because we’re already told by neurotypical people all around us that we’re slow or lazy just because we don’t do things the way they do, and I think idolizing neurotypical people that make us feel bad at the end of the day just further promotes that kind of toxic thinking.

expect that a routine/schedule/technique that has been working for a while now may not continue to work in the future. things will always have to be new for us to be interested or engaged, that being said, if you expect this in the future you won’t be frustrated with yourself because you already had this in mind. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It doesn’t mean you’re useless. It just means that you’ve done what you could, and now it’s time to move on to another routine/schedule/technique.

keep doing the things you love alongside work. I find that because our symptoms may cause us to fall behind on our studies, we tend to neglect our other needs as human beings just to make up for the fact that we simply do not learn or pick things up the same way neurotypical people do. Your hobbies and interests need to be part of your day, just as your studies do, even if you may take longer to learn things or remember important concepts in your studies. Neglecting your hobbies or interests can lead to even more frequent burn outs and even a relapse in depression and anxiety, so please take care of yourself and recognize that you need and deserve these things just as much as anyone else.

regularly discover what works for you on your own. here’s the thing; neurodivergent or not, no two brains work the same. Of course it is good to try out advice or tips you find online because they’re backed up by experience, but they’re backed up by that person’s experience with working with their own brain. So naturally, you need to find what works with your brain. Be open to trying everything, even the tips that are discouraged like listening to lyrical music while studying. That was the only way I learnt that this tip actually does help me at times, even when many people have said that it negatively affects your focus.

that’s all I have right now guys, I think I’m experiencing burn out or probably falling back into depression again so more than anything this also served as a reminder for me, but I really hope it also helped you guys nonetheless.

As always, tell me if you guys would like more posts like these and I’ll be happy to make more <33 please take care of yourself guys, and remember that your studies is just one aspect of your life. There are other aspects that need your care and attention too.

[violent138]

Companies that hire Gotham grads: "What do you mean you finished all your work? Didn't I just give it to you?"

Gothamite: "Oh it was easy, it's all in the report. If you have any more questions, I'll be in the break room, testing out the new explosive I made while I was waiting."

Manager: "Yeah sure, you've earned a brea-- wait what?"

[souvenir116]

transcript etc 😁

[hellsite-proteins]

Hi, im sorry if this violates no nsfw but i thought i might try coz its been an old meme; delete if you dont want to ans it, no pressure!

I've come to make an announcement: Shadow the Hedgehog's a bitch-ass motherfucker. He pissed on my fucking wife. That's right. He took his hedgehog fuckin' quilly dick out and he pissed on my FUCKING wife, and he said his dick was THIS BIG, and I said that's disgusting. So I'm making a callout post on my Twitter.com. Shadow the Hedgehog, you got a small dick. It's the size of this walnut except WAY smaller. And guess what? Here's what my dong looks like. That's right, baby. Tall points, no quills, no pillows, look at that, it looks like two balls and a bong. He fucked my wife, so guess what, I'm gonna fuck the earth. That's right, this is what you get! My SUPER LASER PISS! Except I'm not gonna piss on the earth. I'm gonna go higher. I'm pissing on the MOOOON! How do you like that, OBAMA? I PISSED ON THE MOON, YOU IDIOT! You have twenty-three hours before the piss DROPLETS hit the fucking earth, now get out of my fucking sight before I piss on you too!

tbh i'm not going to be super strict about the no nsfw thing, but i also don't entirely trust the internet and wanted to make sure no one would submit anything truly vile. this is more comedic than anything else though, so you're all good!

letter sequence in this ask matching protein-coding amino acids:

IvecmetmakeanannncementShadwtheHedgehgsaitchassmtherfckerHepissednmyfckingwifeThatsrightHetkhishedgehgfckinqillydicktandhepissednmyFCKINGwifeandhesaidhisdickwasTHISIGandIsaidthatsdisgstingSImmakingacalltpstnmyTwittercmShadwtheHedgehgygtasmalldickItsthesiefthiswalnteceptWAYsmallerAndgesswhatHereswhatmydnglkslikeThatsrightayTallpintsnqillsnpillwslkatthatitlksliketwallsandangHefckedmywifesgesswhatImgnnafcktheearthThatsrightthisiswhatygetMySPERLASERPISSEceptImntgnnapissntheearthImgnnaghigherImpissingntheMNHwdylikethatAMAIPISSEDNTHEMNYIDITYhavetwentythreehrsefrethepissDRPLETShitthefckingearthnwgettfmyfckingsightefreIpissnyt

protein guy analysis:

if you've been here long enough or have a general idea of what proteins are supposed to look like, i'm sure you could write this analysis from looking at the picture for about two seconds. all i have to say is this: why is it so spread out??? the answer, of course, is that all of the many polar and charged residues are way too hydrophilic to make anything real, and instead are just flopping around uselessly with all the water. proteins were never meant to have this much entropy, and this chaos is downright infuriating

predicted protein structure:

[nightbunnysong]

Strategies for enhancing collagen synthesis

A biochemical perspective

Collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of skin, bones, cartilage, and connective tissues. Its production naturally declines with age, leading to wrinkles, joint pain, and other signs of aging. This article explores specific, scientifically-backed methods to boost collagen production, with a particular focus on the biochemical processes involved.

1. Bone broth

A DIRECT SOURCE OF COLLAGEN PRECURSORS

Bone broth is a direct dietary source of collagen. This nutrient-dense liquid, derived from simmering animal bones and connective tissues, is rich in collagen, gelatin, amino acids (such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline), and minerals. When ingested, collagen from bone broth is broken down into its constituent amino acids, which serve as building blocks for collagen synthesis in the body.

Biochemical mechanism

The collagen in bone broth is primarily composed of type I, II, and III collagen. Upon ingestion, it undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis in the stomach and intestines, producing peptides that are absorbed into the bloodstream. These peptides, especially glycine and proline, are crucial for collagen synthesis. Glycine provides the basic structural unit, while proline and hydroxyproline confer stability to the collagen triple helix by facilitating hydrogen bonding.

Scientific support

Research suggests that consuming bone broth can increase the levels of collagen-derived peptides in the bloodstream, which may be utilized by fibroblasts in the skin and other tissues to enhance collagen synthesis. A study published in Nutrients found that participants who consumed collagen peptides from bone broth showed improvements in skin elasticity and hydration, indicative of enhanced collagen production.

2. Vitamin C

THE COFACTOR FOR COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays a critical role in collagen synthesis as a cofactor for the enzymes prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase. These enzymes are responsible for stabilizing the collagen molecule by hydroxylating proline and lysine residues, which are essential for the formation of stable collagen fibrils.

Biochemical mechanism

Vitamin C donates electrons to the iron-containing active sites of prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase enzymes, converting Fe3+ back to Fe2+ and thereby maintaining enzyme activity. This hydroxylation process enhances the thermal stability of the collagen triple helix and is essential for the secretion of mature collagen from fibroblasts.

Scientific support

Studies have demonstrated that vitamin C supplementation can significantly increase collagen production. For example, a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that daily supplementation with vitamin C led to higher levels of procollagen mRNA in the skin, indicative of upregulated collagen synthesis.

3. Jumping rope

STIMULATING COLLAGEN VIA MECHANICAL STRESS

Exercise, particularly high-impact activities like jumping rope, has been shown to stimulate collagen synthesis in connective tissues. The mechanical loading experienced during jumping rope promotes the production of type I collagen in tendons and type II collagen in cartilage.

Biochemical mechanism

The mechanical stress from jumping rope induces microtrauma in collagen fibers, which stimulates fibroblasts and chondrocytes to upregulate collagen synthesis. This process is mediated by the mechanotransduction pathway, where mechanical forces are converted into biochemical signals, leading to the activation of signaling molecules such as integrins and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). These signals enhance the transcription of collagen genes (COL1A1, COL2A1) and increase the production of growth factors like TGF-β (transforming growth factor-beta), which further stimulates collagen synthesis.

Scientific support

Research in sports medicine indicates that regular mechanical loading, such as through jumping rope, leads to adaptive remodeling of collagenous tissues. A study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that athletes who engaged in high-impact exercise had significantly higher collagen content in their tendons compared to those who did not.

4. Nettle (Urtica dioica)

AN HERB RICH IN ESSENTIAL COLLAGEN-BUILDING MINERALS

Nettle is an herb rich in silicon, sulfur, and other minerals essential for collagen synthesis. This plant is traditionally used in infusions and teas to improve the health of skin, nails, and hair, indirectly contributing to collagen production.

Biochemical mechanism

The silicon present in nettle plays a key role in cross-linking collagen, enhancing the strength and stability of collagen fibers. Sulfur is involved in protein synthesis, including key enzymes in collagen production. Nettle is also rich in antioxidants that protect collagen from oxidative damage.

Scientific support

Studies suggest that supplementation with nettle can improve collagen quality. A study published in The Journal of Herbal Medicine found that using nettle-based supplements led to increased collagen synthesis and improved skin elasticity.

5. Green tea

A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT FOR COLLAGEN PROTECTION

Green tea is rich in catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has potent antioxidant properties. These compounds not only protect existing collagen from oxidative damage but may also stimulate the production of new collagen.

Biochemical mechanism

EGCG in green tea inhibits the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade collagen in the skin. Additionally, EGCG has been shown to upregulate the expression of collagen genes and enhance the proliferation of fibroblasts.

Scientific support

A study published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry demonstrated that green tea catechins can prevent collagen degradation and stimulate new collagen production in the skin, particularly in response to UV exposure. This makes green tea an excellent natural choice for promoting collagen health.

[callmedaleelah]

— Pinnacle [ tsukishima kei university au series ]

— you know how to ball i know aristotle ; well, that’s what taylor swift said but now you realized that tsukishima knows how to ball and knows aristotle

author’s notes : no mention of (y/n), written in second person pov, semi alternative universe, timeskip!tsukishima, college life, not proofread, english is not my first language

[ masterlist ] | [ ask daleelah go to box box 🐭 ]

Lunch had turned into a surprise outing with Yamaguchi taking the lead. He drove you and Tsukishima through the city streets, his cheerful demeanor setting a warm atmosphere inside the car. Tsukishima, sitting in the passenger seat, was quieter than usual, staring out the window as if lost in thought. But you could feel the undercurrent of something else between them, the playful tension, the inside jokes they often exchanged.

"So, Tsukki, still not going to tell me what made you smile this morning?" Yamaguchi teased as they stopped at a red light, his tone light and full of mischief.

Tsukishima barely glanced at him, adjusting his glasses with his usual air of nonchalance. "I don’t remember smiling," he replied curtly.

"Oh, come on!" Yamaguchi laughed. "You’re telling me I imagined it? You never smile at anything, so when you do, it's impossible to miss."

You couldn't help but chuckle from the back seat, watching the two banter like old friends. There was something comforting about how natural they were together—how even Tsukishima, who usually seemed so guarded, let his walls down around Yamaguchi, even if it was just a little.

“Was it something you saw on your phone?” Yamaguchi continued, pressing the issue. “Or someone?”

Tsukishima’s eyes narrowed just slightly. “Stop asking me dumb questions,” he said flatly, and you couldn’t help but smile at the way he brushed Yamaguchi off without losing his cool. It was part of his charm—his sharp, almost indifferent demeanor that only made the moments where he let his guard down feel more significant.

Yamaguchi glanced at you through the rearview mirror, his grin widening. “What do you think? Tsukki’s hiding something from me, right?”

You felt heat rise in your cheeks, caught off guard by being dragged into the conversation. “I—uh, maybe? I mean, it’s hard to tell with him…” you trailed off, not wanting to push too hard. But you couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. Was Yamaguchi teasing him about what happened that morning? About the way Tsukishima had helped you at your dorm, bringing you the things you needed? The thought made your heart race.

Tsukishima’s gaze flicked back toward you for a brief second, but he quickly turned his attention back to the road ahead as the light changed. He seemed unfazed by the conversation, yet there was a tightness in his posture that you couldn’t ignore.

You finally arrived at the sushi restaurant, the scent of fresh seafood and rice filling the air as you stepped inside. Yamaguchi had picked a spot that was bustling with energy—a small, cozy place filled with locals, its reputation evident from the crowd waiting for tables. You appreciated the atmosphere right away; it felt like the kind of place where you could relax and enjoy a good meal without worrying about anything else.

Yamaguchi led the way, making sure you and Tsukishima followed closely. “My dad told me about this place,” he said, grinning as he glanced over his shoulder. “He’s friends with the owner, so I figured we’d give it a try.”

You nodded, feeling more at ease with every step. Yamaguchi’s enthusiasm was infectious, and you found yourself looking forward to the meal more than you expected.

When you were finally seated at a small table near the back of the restaurant, Yamaguchi pulled out a chair for you with a grin. “Ladies first,” he said, his voice teasing yet polite.

Your cheeks flushed at the gesture, but you sat down with a shy smile, thanking him quietly. Tsukishima, on the other hand, seemed indifferent to the whole thing, simply taking his seat across from you without a word.

The menus were passed around, and soon enough, the table was filled with a variety of sushi dishes—beautifully arranged rolls and slices of fresh fish, each plate more enticing than the last. Yamaguchi, ever the social butterfly, immediately started offering pieces of his sushi to everyone.

“Here, you’ve got to try this one,” he said, sliding a plate toward you with an encouraging smile. “It’s amazing.”

You hesitated for a moment but quickly joined in, offering a piece of your own sushi in return. Tsukishima, surprisingly, followed suit, though with less enthusiasm. He simply pushed a plate toward you with a quiet, “Try it.”

You couldn’t help but feel a flutter in your chest at the gesture. It was such a small thing, but the fact that he was participating at all felt significant. You took a piece of his sushi and offered him one of yours in return, your fingers brushing slightly as you passed the food between you.

“It’s good,” Tsukishima said after a few bites, his tone casual but genuine. It wasn’t much, but coming from him, it felt like a compliment.

Yamaguchi, on the other hand, was full of praise for everything—he complimented the food, the restaurant, even your outfit. “That’s a cute set,” he said, gesturing to your clothes with a grin. “White really suits you.”

You ducked your head, feeling your cheeks heat up again. “Thanks,” you mumbled, trying to play it off, but you couldn’t help but notice the way Tsukishima’s gaze lingered on you for a moment longer than usual. He didn’t say anything, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

As the meal went on, the three of you continued to share food, exchanging bites of sushi like old friends. It felt intimate in a way that surprised you—like a subtle bonding experience that brought you all closer together. Yamaguchi kept the conversation light and fun, making you laugh with his playful comments and compliments.

At one point, he leaned in closer, smiling at you with that charming grin of his. “What perfume are you wearing? It smells so nice—very fresh.”

You blushed, feeling a little shy but flattered nonetheless. “Oh, it’s nothing special,” you replied, glancing at Tsukishima, who was watching the interaction with an unreadable expression. “Just something light.”

Yamaguchi nodded appreciatively, sniffing the air playfully. “Well, whatever it is, it suits you.”

Tsukishima shifted slightly in his seat, his eyes flickering between you and Yamaguchi. You couldn’t quite tell what he was thinking, but there was something there—something almost protective in the way he watched you. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it made your heart skip a beat.

Yamaguchi continued, playfully. “And these earrings,” he pointed out with a grin, “they really complement your eyes and face.”

You felt your cheeks heat up further, and though you mumbled another thank you, you couldn’t help but steal glances at Tsukishima. Every time Yamaguchi paid you a compliment, Tsukishima seemed to subtly react—his hand adjusting his glasses, his gaze flickering over to you briefly, and that small hint of a smile. It was enough to make your heart race.

As the meal continued, you found yourself relaxing, enjoying the camaraderie. Yamaguchi was the glue, keeping the conversation light and fun, while Tsukishima contributed in his quiet, sarcastic way. The three of you exchanged bites of sushi like old friends, and for a brief moment, it felt like you’d known them forever.

Once you finished eating, Tsukishima excused himself to the restroom. While he was gone, you pulled out a small tube of hand cream from your bag, offering it to Yamaguchi, who had been complaining about dry hands. He took it gratefully, rubbing some onto his palms.

“This smells amazing,” Yamaguchi said, sniffing his hands with a wide smile. “So subtle and fresh.”

You smiled, feeling a bit proud of your choice. As you helped him apply it properly, Tsukishima returned from the restroom and saw the interaction from afar. His steps faltered just slightly, curiosity tugging at him, though he kept his usual calm composure. Still, there was a tinge of something else—a subtle twist of emotion—as he watched you help Yamaguchi.

When he approached the table, Yamaguchi was quick to show off. “Hey, Tsukki, smell this! It’s really nice, right? I think you’d like it too. You’re always complaining about your calloused hands after volleyball practice.”

Tsukishima raised an eyebrow and glanced at you, seeing the tube of hand cream still in your hand. You offered it to him, your voice a little shy, “You can try it if you want.”

He hesitated for a moment, then held out his hand. You squeezed a small amount onto his palm, and as you helped him rub it in just like you did with Yamaguchi, your fingers brushed against his skin. The contact was brief, but it sent a wave of heat up your face, and you noticed a slight blush creeping across Tsukishima’s cheeks as well.

As the three of you prepared to leave, Tsukishima cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the conversation. “Hey, Yamaguchi give me my car key, I’ll drive you back to the dormitory,” he said, his tone casual. “I need to head back to my apartment afterward.”

You blinked in surprise. So it was his car all along? You hadn’t known that before. And he didn’t live in the dorms either? It was such a small detail, but it made him seem even more impressive—like he had his life together in a way that felt almost unattainable.

Yamaguchi didn’t seem fazed by the information. “Sounds good to me,” he said with a grin, tossing you a playful wink as he stood up from the table. “I’m just along for the ride.”

As the three of you walked back to the car, you couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions. On the one hand, you were grateful for the time spent with them, for the laughter and the bonding over sushi. But on the other hand, you couldn’t shake the feeling that Tsukishima was slipping further away from you—like he was something you could never quite reach, no matter how close you got.

Your mind spun with the realization. Tsukishima didn’t just have his own car—he lived independently. He was an athlete, excelling in volleyball, and he was academically brilliant. He seemed to have everything figured out. He had his life together in a way that you could barely comprehend, and it made you feel strangely overwhelmed.

The ride back to the dormitory was quiet, the sun beginning to set in the distance. Yamaguchi hummed softly to himself in the passenger seat while you stared out the window, lost in thought. Tsukishima drove with his usual calm demeanor, but there was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there before.

And then, a nagging thought crept into your mind—Tsukishima was so put together, so perfect. How could he not have someone special in his life? A partner? The more you thought about it, the more your heart sank at the possibility.

You didn’t even realize that your smile had faded.

“Hey,” Tsukishima’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts. You looked up to see him glancing at you through the rearview mirror. “Are you listening?”

You blinked, realizing that you had been zoning out. “Oh, sorry,” you said quickly, trying to cover your embarrassment. “I was just… dozing off a bit.”

Tsukishima scoffed lightly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Were you that full after all that sushi?” he teased, his tone light and almost playful.

Your cheeks warmed at his words, feeling embarrassed. Did he think you ate too much? Did he think your portions were excessive? The thoughts spiraled in your head, but then you caught yourself. Why did his opinion even matter so much to you all of a sudden?

You laughed awkwardly, trying to brush it off. “I mean, the sushi was really good.”

Yamaguchi chuckled from the passenger seat. “Can’t argue with that.”

Tsukishima adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering on you for a second longer before he spoke again. “I mentioned earlier… I have a copy of my notes from Professor Regenstein’s class. They might help you with your studies.”

You blinked in surprise, touched by the offer. “Oh, really? That would be so helpful. Thank you so much,” you said, your tone sincere.

Yamaguchi let out a laugh, playfully nudging Tsukishima’s shoulder. “Look at you, Tsukki—so thoughtful.”

Tsukishima rolled his eyes, his usual unimpressed expression returning, but there was a faint hint of warmth behind it that didn’t go unnoticed.

When you finally arrived at the dormitory, Tsukishima parked the car and turned to you. “I’ll drop you both here,” he said simply. “I need to head back to my apartment.”

You nodded, feeling a little disappointed but understanding. “Thanks for the ride,” you said softly, giving him a small smile as you unbuckled your seatbelt.

Yamaguchi was quick to hop out of the car, stretching his arms above his head with a yawn. “That was fun,” he said, flashing you both a grin. “We should do it again sometime,”

You nodded in agreement, feeling a bit more at ease as you stepped out of the car. “Yeah, definitely.”

Tsukishima said nothing more, simply giving you a nod before driving off, leaving you and Yamaguchi standing outside the dormitory together. You watched the car disappear into the distance, a strange ache settling in your chest as you realized how much you had come to care about Tsukishima—even if you couldn’t quite admit it to yourself yet.

sorry for the late post, it’s just when i was sick, my brain got all foggy and i couldn’t focus, so i didn’t feel confident writing cause i was afraid the emotions wouldn’t come through in the story. but i hope you guys like this one!

i’ve also been thinking about starting another fanfic series for a different character, maybe from jjk or haikyuu. what do you guys think? but omg, i'm already busy with this one haha, forgive my wild thoughts 🙈😄😋🙏🏻

tagslist (free to mention) ; @theweirdfloatything @snowthatareblack @ilovemymomscooking @nayiiryun @knightofmidnight @kozumesphone @scxrcherr @leycondones

[sunnysideupsciart]

Do you know that a 3000-year-old honey was still edible? Does honey ever spoil?

[beakers-and-telescopes]

With the fast fashion industry… how it is… finding sustainable ways to make fabric is super important.  Fibers from synthetic fabrics make up 35% of the microplastics that make their way to the ocean.  Natural fibers sourced from plants or animals are much more environmentally sound options, including silk.

Currently, the only way to get natural silk on a large scale is to harvest it from silkworms.  You’ve probably heard about the strength and durability of spider silk (it is 6x stronger than Kevlar!) but as of yet there hasn’t been a good way of getting it.  Raising spiders the way people do silkworms isn’t really an option.  Spiders need a lot of room to build their webs compared to silkworms, and individual spiders don’t produce that much silk.  Plus, when you put a whole bunch of spiders in captivity together, they tend to start eating each other.

Attempts to artificially recreate spider silk have also been less than successful.  Spider silk has a surface layer of glycoproteins and lipids on it that works as a sort of anti-aging “skin”- allowing the silk to withstand conditions such as sunlight and humidity.  But this layer has been very tricky to reproduce.

However, as scientists in China realized, silkworms produce that same kind of layer on their silk.  So what if we just genetically modified silkworms to produce spider silk?

That is exactly what the researchers at Donghua University in Shanghai did.  A team of researchers introduced spider silk protein genes to silkworms using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and microinjections in silkworm eggs.  In addition to this, they altered the spider silk proteins so that they would interact properly with the other proteins in silkworm glands.  And it worked!  This is the first study ever to produce full length spider silk proteins from silkworms.

The applications of this are incredibly exciting.  In addition to producing comfortable textiles and new, innovative bulletproof vests, silkworm generated spider silk could be used in cutting edge smart materials or even just to create better performing sutures.  In the future, this team intends to research how to modify this new spider silk to be even stronger, and they are confident that “large-scale commercialization is on the horizon."

[thatstheproblemwithnapkinman]

something that kind of annoys me is when peoiple genuinely criticise tom taylor's nightwing run by saying "dick is so out of character in those 2 issues where he gets the shit beaten out of him and then falls through his window"

bc

that is taken out of the context of dick recovering from a traumatic brain injury so yeah he's going to be off balance after being whacked in the head MULTIPLE TIMES what are you talking about?!?!

it's ok, just breathe

the panel for reference

Nightwing (2016) #83 pp. 12

don't believe me?

dick gets shot in the head just above his left ear, which you can see in both of these panels and in the cover for nightwing (2016) #50 (if you pretend if's a mirror image bc why is it on the right)

Batman (2016) #55 pp. 21 Nightwing (2016) #50 pp. 2

Nightwing (2016) #50 Cover

you can also see his brain scans in the same issue which nicely show the area of damage and literally list what happened

Nightwing (2016) #50 pp. 2

so he lost bone (skull), blood (obviously), brain tissue (we'll come back to this), cerebrospinal fluid (bc there was a whole in his head), and suffered from severe vascular swelling (we'll return here too)

so, what brain tissue did dick lose?

here's the very basic anatomy of the human brain

John Hopkins Medicine - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/anatomy-of-the-brain (i drew the red circle)

now the ears sit just in front of the cerebellum, roughly somewhere around the red circle which lines up with the brain scan showing the damage is roughly in that notch where the temporal lobe and parietal lobe meet

the temporal lobe is involved with speech, rhythm, and short term memory

the parietal lobe is involved with pain and touch recognition, recognising objects, and oh would you look at that, spatial recognition

dick go shot in the part of the brain that tells the body where it is in relation to objects

no wonder he had a hard time fighting and trying to climb through windows, his coordination was all fucky

now the cerebellum is the part of the brain that affects balance BUT but but but we haven't talked about vascular swelling yet

vascular swelling is where the walls of the blood vessels swell (whodathunk) and this causes a reduction in the blood supply as they swell inwards

outward swelling with increase pressure on the brain which is not good either BUT this reduced blood flow = less oxygen to the brain = damage

there's a reason the symptoms of hypoxia pre-passing out are pretty much limited to your brain bc that's the organ that goes first

so with a decrease in bloodflow to his brain, there is a decent change damage was also done to every single part of his brain

now the blood supply does come in past the cerebellum so tbh there probably wouldn't be that much damage if at all however even with that it would explain how dick was still effected from getting shot

so having learned all that, lets take a look at issues 81 & 83 shall we

in #81...

Nightwing (2016) #81 pp. 5

he gets whacked in the head by heartless, someone with enhanced strength

Nightwing (2016) #81 pp. 12

he passes out because he's been whacked on the head near to where he was shot

Nightwing (2016) #81 pp. 13

this is nicely confirmed by babs

Nightwing (2016) #81 pp. 19

he gets pushed back whilst fighting and due to his injury induced lack of spatial awareness, he falls down the stairs

then in #83, after fighting blockbuster, almost getting shot again, and flying through a helicopter...

Nightwing (2016) #83 pp. 12

he falls through his window

so yeah, i do think this is reasonable for dick to do given he's recovering from a brain injury and has just been hit in the head and probably hit it whilst falling down the stairs

and if you've made it this far, i want to emphasise the 20 million valid reasons to criticise tom taylor's nightwing run, but this just isn't one of them

[thelailasblog]