We Are Made of Star-Stuff

sciencenote:

New research shows that drinking alcohol leads to the release of endorphins in areas of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward. (Credit: iStockphoto)

“This is something that we’ve speculated about for 30 years, based on animal studies, but haven’t observed in humans until now,” said lead author Jennifer Mitchell, PhD, clinical project director at the Gallo Center and an adjunct assistant professor of neurology at UCSF. “It provides the first direct evidence of how alcohol makes people feel good.”

“This indicates that the brains of heavy or problem drinkers are changed in a way that makes them more likely to find alcohol pleasant, and may be a clue to how problem drinking develops in the first place,” said Mitchell. “That greater feeling of reward might cause them to drink too much.”

The researchers found that endorphins released in response to drinking bind to a specific type of opioid receptor, the Mu receptor.

This result suggests a possible approach to improving the efficacy of treatment for alcohol abuse through the design of better medications than naltrexone, said Fields, who collaborated with Mitchell in the design and analysis of the study.

cwnl:

White Dwarf Star

After a sun-like star nears its slated collapse and death, the star will now begin to shed its outer layers as a diffuse cloud called a planetary nebula.

Eventually, only about 20% of the star’s initial mass remains and the star spends the rest of its days cooling and shrinking until it is only a few thousand miles in diameter.

It has become a white dwarf.

(Source: ikenbot)

thejessethompson:

Some stars over two pine trees near our house. Taken about a week under a second quarter moon.

Gorgeous.

the-fangirl-who-waited:

Clear your schedules for this once and a life time event called  The Transit of Venus. 

A Transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes directly between the sun and the earth. This alignment is rare, coming in pairs that are eight years a part but separated by over a century.

The most recent transit of Venus was a thrilling sight in 2004.  After the June 2012 transit of Venus (the last one in your lifetime), the next such alignment occurs in 2117.  

How to view:

Do not be lulled into thinking you can view with regular sunglasses or the naked eye! You need the same protection as if a total solar eclipse was occurring due to the fact it’s basically the same thing, just with Venus.

If you want to see such an incredible event, buy a set of Solar viewing glasses. Also on the list of devices that work are:

• Number #14 And below Welder’s Glasses.
• Solar Telescope 
• Solar Telescope Filters

If you would like more information on this once and a life time occurrence, please visit transitofvenus.org

(Source: moriartyyy)

nebulasresolution:

Image Credit & Copyright: Ivan Eder

From Sagittarius to Scorpius, the central Milky Way is a truly beautiful part of planet Earth’s night sky. The gorgeous region is captured in this wide field image spanning about 30 degrees. The impressive cosmic vista, taken in 2010, shows off intricate dust lanes, bright nebulae, and star clusters scattered through our galaxy’s rich central starfields. Starting on the left, look for the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae, the Cat’s Paw, while on the right lies the Pipe dark nebula, and the colorful clouds of Rho Ophiuchi and Antares (right). The actual center of our Galaxy lies about 26,000 light years away and can be found here.

(via expose-the-light)

(Source: )

Me. :)

(Source: ditadahmer)