NARRATOR: PRESENTATION OF
SCIENCE TREK ON IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM
FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO
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FAMILIES LEGACY OF BUILDING THE
GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.
BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND BY THE
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN: HOW DO WE
INTERACT WITH THE WORLD?
W E USE OUR FIVE SENSES, SEEING,
HEARING, SMELLING, TASTING, AND
TOUCHING.
BUT HOW DO THEY ALL WORK AND
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
FIND OUT.
SCIENCE TREK IS NEXT.
(MUSIC)
HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, AND
WELCOME TO SCIENCE TREK .
AND WELCOME TO SAINT ALPHONSUS
HOSPITAL HERE IN BOISE.
DOCTORS ARE STANDING BY TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND LATER ON IN THE SHOW WE'LL
LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THE BRAIN.
BUT FIRST, LET'S LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE FIVE SENSES.
SO WHAT ARE YOUR FIVE SENSES?
STUDENTS: SEEING, HEARING,
SMELLING, TASTE, AND TOUCH.
CARTAN-HANSEN: WE ALL USE OUR
FIVE SENSES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
HAPPENING AROUND US.
FOR SOME, THAT MEANS NOT
BECOMING SOMEBODY ELSE'S DINNER.
SO LET'S LEARN ABOUT OUR FIVE
SENSES.
STUDENT: WE SEE WITH OUR EYES.
CARTAN-HANSEN: YOUR EYEBALL IS
ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PINGPONG
BALL.
IT'S COVERED BY THE SCLERA, A
TOUGH OUTER LAYER; THAT'S THE
WHITE PART OF YOUR EYE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIGHT
TRAVELS THROUGH THE CORNEA, THE
FRONT PART OF YOUR EYE.
IT GOES THROUGH THE PUPIL,
THAT'S THE ROUND BLACK HOLE IN
THE CENTER.
A MUSCLE CALLED THE "IRIS," OR
THE COLORED PART OF YOUR EYE,
OPENS AND CLOSES THE PUPIL TO
REGULATE THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT
COMING IN.
LIGHT TRAVELS THROUGH THE LENS
WHICH FOCUSES THE IMAGE ON THE
BACK OF YOUR EYE OR THE RETINA.
NERVE CELLS ON THE RETINA SEND
THE IMAGE TO THE OPTIC NERVE AND
THEN TO YOUR BRAIN.
STUDENT: WE HEAR WITH OUR EARS.
(HARP)
CARTAN-HANSEN: A SOUND
CREATES ENERGY.
THOSE SOUND WAVES ENTER YOUR
EARS AND TRAVEL DOWN THE EAR
CANAL TO THE EARDRUM.
THIS THIN PIECE OF SKIN IS
STRETCHED VERY TIGHT, AND WHEN
THE SOUND WAVES HIT IT, IT
BEGINS TO VIBRATE.
THAT MAKES THREE TINY BONES,
KNOWN AS THE HAMMER, ANVIL, AND
STIRRUP, MOVE, TOO.
THIS MOVES OR TRANSMITS THOSE
SOUND WAVES INTO A SNAIL'S
SHAPED STRUCTURE CALLED THE
"COCHLEA."
THE COCHLEA IS FILLED WITH FLUID
AND 17,000 TINY HAIRLIKE
TISSUES.
SOUND WAVES MOVE THROUGH THE
FLUID AND BEND THE HAIR.
SOMEHOW THE MOVEMENT OF THE HAIR
STIMULATES THE FIBERS LEADING TO
THE ACOUSTIC NERVE, AND THAT
NERVE TAKES THE SOUND TO THE
BRAIN.
STUDENT: THE SENSE OF SMELL IS
PROBABLY OUR OLDEST SENSE.
CARTAN-HANSEN: TINY PARTICLES
TOO SMALL TO BE SEEN WITH YOUR
EYES FLOAT INTO YOUR NOSE WHEN
YOU BREATHE.
THEY DRIFT TO THE TOP END OF
YOUR NASAL CAVITY.
INSIDE YOUR NOSE ARE TWO SMALL
AREAS CALLED THE "OLFACTORY
EPITHELIUM."
THESE ARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR
THUMBNAIL, BUT THEY CONTAIN
ABOUT 20 MILLION OLFACTORY CELLS
WITH TINY HAIRS OR CILIA.
THOSE SCENT PARTICLES STICK TO
THE CILIA AND TRIGGER NERVE
CELLS.
THOSE NERVE CELLS SEND A MESSAGE
TO THE BRAIN WHICH IDENTIFIES
THE SCENT.
STUDENT: YOUR SENSE OF TASTE
BEGINS YOUR TONGUE.
CARTAN-HANSEN: YOUR TONGUE IS
COVERED WITH THOUSANDS OF TINY
BUMPS CALLED "PAPILLA."
INSIDE THOSE BUMPS, ON THE BACK
PART OF THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH,
AND IN THE VERY BACK OF YOUR
THROAT ARE 10,000 TASTEBUDS.
THE TINY CELLS HAVE LITTLE
HAIRS.
DISSOLVED FOOD PARTICLES SEEP
INTO THE HAIRS, AND THE TASTE
BUDS SENSE WHETHER THE FOOD IS
SWEET, SOUR, BITTER, OR SALT.
THAT INFORMATION IS SENT TO YOUR
BRAIN, AND THEN YOU DECIDE IF
THE FOOD IS GOOD OR BAD.
STUDENT 1: DID YOU KNOW MOST OF
YOUR SENSE OF TASTE COMES FROM
YOUR SENSE OF SMELL?
STUDENT 2: SO LET'S SHARE.
STUDENTS TOGHER: HEY!
STUDENT: YOUR SENSE OF TOUCH IS
REALLY A BUNCH OF SENSE THAT
WORK TOGETHER, AND YOU START
WITH YOUR SKIN.
CARTAN-HANSEN: YOUR SKIN IS THE
LARGEST ORGAN IN THE BODY.
THE LAYERS OF SKIN HAVE AT LEAST
SEVEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF
SENSORS.
AND THERE ARE AS MANY AS A
MILLION OF THESE MICROSCOPIC
TOUCH SENSORS IN A SQUARE INCH
OF SKIN.
SOME OF THESE NERVES RESPOND TO
LIGHT PRESSURE; OTHERS RESPOND
TO HEAVY PRESSURE.
SOME ARE ACTIVATED BY HEAT,
COLD, OR EVEN VIBRATIONS.
SO WHEN YOU TOUCH SOMETHING ALL
THAT INFORMATION ACTIVATES THE
NERVES, AND THAT INFORMATION
GOES TO YOUR BRAIN.
YOUR BRAIN IS REALLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR FIVE
SENSES.
THE BRAIN COLLECTS INFORMATION
FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT
SOURCES, AND THAT'S HOW WE MAKE
SENSE OF THE WORLD.
YOU GUYS READY?
LET'S EAT.
STUDENTS: YEAH!
CARTAN-HANSEN: AND JOINING ME
NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE FIVE SENSES ARE TWO
PEDIATRICIANS, DR. NAYA ANTINK
AND DR. BRADLEY BISHOP.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.
DR. NAYA ANTINK: THANK YOU,
JOAN, FOR INVITING US.
DR. BRADLEY BISHOP: IT'S OUR
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
CARTAN-HANSEN: OKAY, LET'S GO TO
YOUR QUESTIONS.
(MUSIC)
KARLI: HI, MY NAME IS
KARLI.
I GO TO SAGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS DO WE REALLY
ONLY HAVE FIVE SENSES?
DR. ANTINK: CARLEY, THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION.
YES, WE HUMANS ONLY HAVE FIVE
SENSES: SIGHT, SOUND, SMELL,
TASTE, AND TOUCH.
SOME ANIMALS HAVE MORE THAN
FIVE, BUT THAT'S PRETTY RARE.
JORGE: HI, MY NAME IS JORGE.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT SENSE DO
WE USE THE MOST?
DR. BISHOP: SO, JORGE, THAT
DEPENDS ON WHAT SENSES YOU USE.
FOR, I BELIEVE, MOST PEOPLE
VISION IS PROBABLY THE MOST USED
SENSE, SINCE WE USE IT ALL DAY,
AS OUR EYES ARE OPEN.
WE DO USE OUR SENSE OF SMELL AND
TASTE AT TIMES, AND OUR SENSE OF
HEARING IS ALWAYS THERE, AS
WELL.
BUT I WOULD SAY THE ONE WE
PROBABLY USE THE MOST AND RELY
ON THE MOST IS OUR VISION.
CADEN: HI, MY NAME IS CADEN.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT MAKES US
HEAR SOUND?
DR. ANTINK: SO THE EAR WORKS
LIKE A CONE TO ABSORB WAVE
LENGTHS OF SOUND.
AND AS THE SOUND COMES INTO OUR
EAR, IT HITS OUR EARDRUM, WHICH
THEN CONVERTS THE SOUND WAVE
INTO A MECHANICAL MOVEMENT THAT,
THEN, GETS TRANSMITTED INTO AN
ELECTRICAL SIGNAL, THROUGH THE
COCHLEA, THAT GETS SENT UP TO
THE BRAIN TO OUR HEARING SECTION
OF THE BRAIN, AND THEN WE HEAR
THE SOUND.
RHONE: HI, MY NAME'S RHONE.
I GO TO JEFFERSON.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DO
TASTEBUDS WORK?
DR. BISHOP: SO TASTEBUDS ARE
VERY SPECIFIC CELLS WITHIN YOUR
TONGUE THAT HELP YOU SENSE
FLAVOR.
WHEN YOU EAT SOMETHING THAT'S
SWEET, LIKE SUGAR, IT ACTUALLY
HAS A RECEPTOR ON THERE THAT CAN
SIGNAL THAT YOU ARE TASTING THAT
SWEET SUBSTANCE.
IT SENDS THAT SIGNAL TO THE
BRAIN.
THE TASTEBUDS WITHIN YOUR TONGUE
CAN SENSE FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY CAN SENSE SWEETNESS, SOUR,
BITTER, AND SALTY.
ROSE: HI, MY NAME IS ROSE.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE
FIRST OF THE FIVE SENSES THAT
DEVELOPS IN AN UNBORN BABY?
DR. ANTINK: WOW, THAT IS A VERY
COMPLICATED QUESTION.
MY THOUGHT WOULD BE THAT SOUND
MIGHT BE THE FIRST SENSE THAT
DEVELOPS, BECAUSE STUDIES HAVE
SHOWN THAT WHEN BABIES ARE BORN,
EVEN ON THE FIRST DAY OF LIFE,
THEY WILL HAVE SPECIFIC SIGNALS
IN THEIR BRAIN THAT GET
TRIGGERED WHEN THEIR MOM SPEAKS
TO THEM.
MOST MOMS, WHEN THEY'RE PREGNANT
ARE TALKING TO THEIR UNBORN
BABIES IN THEIR TUMMY, AND SO
THEY HEAR THOSE SOUNDS EVEN
DURING DEVELOPMENT IN MOM'S
TUMMY.
HYFA: HI, MY NAME IS HYFA.
I GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY.
HOW DO YOUR FINGERS FEEL?
DR. BISHOP: SO WITHIN YOUR
FINGERS YOU HAVE CERTAIN CELLS
THAT ARE SENSORY CELLS THAT CAN
HELP YOU FEEL TOUCH.
DEPENDING ON HOW CLOSE THESE
CELLS ARE TOGETHER HELPS YOU
DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S ANY
TEXTURE TO WHAT YOU'RE FEELING.
IF YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT'S
EASIER TO FEEL SOMETHING WITH
YOUR FINGERS THAN IT IS TO FEEL
SOMETHING WITH THE BACK OF YOUR
HAND, AS FAR AS WHETHER THERE'S
TEXTURE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THESE LITTLE CELLS ARE ABLE
TO SENSE AS YOU TOUCH SOMETHING
IS ABLE TO SENSE THAT PRESSURE
AS YOU TOUCH AND THEN SENDS THE
SIGNALS TO YOUR BRAIN AND LET'S
YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE TOUCHING
SOMETHING.
GEORGIA: HI, MY NAME IS GEORGIA.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHEN YOU SEE
A COLOR HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT
EVERYBODY ELSE SEES THE SAME
COLOR?
DR. ANTINK: SO COLOR PERCEPTION
ACTUALLY IS A DIFFICULT SCIENCE.
WHEN WE SEE A COLOR, WE LEARN
THAT THE APPLE IS RED, AND THE
WAVELENGTH THAT IS EMITTED FROM
THE APPLE INTO OUR BRAIN
TRIGGERS A SPECIAL CELL IN THE
EYEBALL, CALLED A "CONE CELL,"
THAT SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE
BRAIN, AND WE INTERPRET THAT AS
RED.
NOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK THAT
THEY SEE THE SAME COLOR AS OTHER
PEOPLE, BUT THEY MAY BE
COLORBLIND.
AND SO THERE ARE SPECIAL TESTS
WHERE YOU CAN DETERMINE THAT, TO
DIAGNOSE THAT, BY COMPARING WHAT
THE PATIENT SEES VERSUS WHAT THE
DOCTOR OR EVERYONE ELSE SEES.
BUT SO WE REALLY, ACTUALLY,
DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE DO THOSE
TESTS IF EVERYBODY ACTUALLY IS
SEEING THE EXACT SAME COLOR.
MASHA: HI, MY NAME IS MASHA.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHY DO KIDS
LIKE SWEET THE BEST?
DR. BISHOP: WELL, WE DO HAVE THE
SWEET RECEPTORS ON OUR TONGUES,
THE TASTEBUDS THAT TASTE SWEET.
THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE THAT
THERE ARE MORE SWEET TASTEBUDS
WHEN WE'RE LITTLE AND THAT THOSE
DISSIPATE WITH TIME OR THEY GO
AWAY WITH TIME.
AND THERE ARE ALSO THOSE WHO
BELIEVE THAT SUGAR OR THAT
FLAVOR CAN ACTUALLY STIMULATE
OUR BRAIN AND GIVE US
EXCITEMENT.
AND WE ACTUALLY USE THAT IN
SMALL INFANTS; WE USE SUGAR
WATER TO HELP CALM THEM DOWN
WHEN WE'RE DOING PROCEDURES WITH
THEM.
KAYLANI: HI, MY NAME IS KAYLANI.
I GO TO JEFFERSON.
WHY ARE OUR EARS SHAPED LIKE
THIS?
DR. ANTINK: EARS ARE SHAPED LIKE
A CONE TO HELP ABSORB THE SOUND
WAVES AND CHANNEL THEM DEEP INTO
THE EAR TO THE EARDRUM WHERE,
THEN, THEY ARE TRANSMITTED INTO
ELECTRICAL SIGNALS THAT GET SENT
TO YOUR BRAIN.
CARTAN-HANSEN: DR. ANTINK, WHY
DID YOU WANT TO BECOME A DOCTOR?
DR. ANTINK: SO I HAVE ALWAYS
LOVED WORKING WITH KIDS,
SPECIFICALLY, AND ALSO
ADVOCATING FOR HEALTH AND TRYING
TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.
AND SO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE I
THOUGHT THAT BEING A DOCTOR
WOULD BE A GOOD FIT, SO I DID
ALL THE PREREQUISITES AND WENT
TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.
AND FROM DAY ONE, I WANTED TO BE
A PEDIATRICIAN.
AND EVEN NOW, WORKING AT THIS
JOB FOR 11 YEARS, I STILL LOVE
IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
DR. BISHOP: SO I ACTUALLY
DECIDED TO BECOME A DOCTOR
DURING COLLEGE.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO COLLEGE TO
BECOME AN ENGINEER.
I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN MATH.
I REALLY DID LOVE THE SCIENCES.
BUT DURING THAT TIME I ACTUALLY
TOOK A TIME OFF OF COLLEGE, AND
I WENT AND WORKED WENT TO BRAZIL
AND SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN
BRAZIL.
AND DURING THAT TIME I REALLY
FOUND OUT THAT I ENJOYED WORKING
WITH PEOPLE.
AND SO WHEN I CAME BACK AND WENT
BACK TO COLLEGE I REALIZED I
WANTED TO CHANGE MY FIELD.
I NO LONGER WANTED TO BE AN
ENGINEER, AND I WANTED TO WORK
WITH PEOPLE.
AND I THOUGHT THE BEST FIT FOR
ME WOULD BE TO BE A DOCTOR.
(MUSIC)
CARTAN-HANSEN: FEMALES HAVE A
BETTER MORE SENSITIVE SENSE OF
TASTE AND SMELL THAN DO MALES.
MALES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
COLORBLIND; THAT IS, NOT BEING
ABLE TO SEE COLORS LIKE RED OR
GREEN.
BUT FOR ALL HUMANS THE FIRST
SENSE WE DEVELOP IS THE SENSE OF
TOUCH.
AUSTIN: HI, MY NAME IS AUSTIN.
AND I GO TO SAGLE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES THE
EYEBALL ACTUALLY WORK?
DR. BISHOP: SO THE EYEBALL IT
RECEIVES LIGHT.
IF YOU NOTICE, THERE'S A SMALL
BLACK DOT IN THE FRONT OF YOUR
EYE, AND THAT'S A HOLE THAT
ALLOWS LIGHT TO ENTER THROUGH
YOUR EYE.
BEHIND THAT IS A LENS, JUST LIKE
THE LENS OF A CAMERA THAT, THEN,
HELPS TO FOCUS THAT LIGHT ONTO
THE BACK OF YOUR EYEBALL.
AND ON THE BACK OF YOUR EYEBALL
THERE ARE RECEPTORS CALLED
"CONES" AND "RODS" WHICH HELP
YOU PERCEIVE THE LIGHT AND
WHICH, THEN, SENDS THOSE SIGNALS
TO YOUR BRAIN TO HELP YOU SEE.
GUS: MY NAME IS GUS, AND I GO TO
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY.
AND WHEN I WAS ASKING TO DO WAS
HOW CAN YOU SMELL WHEN YOU'RE
HOW CAN YOU SMELL SOMETHING
WHILE YOUR NOSE IS CLOGGED UP?
DR. ANTINK: SO YOUR NOSE HAS
RECEPTOR CELLS THAT SENSE A
PARTICLE, THE SMELL OF A ROSE OR
PARTICLES FROM FOOD AND THAT
TRANSMIT THOSE SENSATIONS INTO
YOUR BRAIN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
SMELL.
WHEN YOUR NOSE IS CLOGGED UP
SOMETIMES SOME OF THOSE CELLS
GET COVERED, AND SO IT MAY BE
DIFFICULT TO SMELL THINGS WHEN
YOUR NOSE IS STUFFY.
CARTAN-HANSEN: MASON WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW: DO ANY OTHER ANIMALS
HAVE SIX SENSES BESIDES THE
PLATYPUS?
DR. BISHOP: SO THE PLATYPUS DOES
HAVE A SIXTH SENSE; IT'S AN
ELECTRORECEPTOR.
THE SHARK ALSO HAS THAT SAME
SENSE.
SO THE SHARK ALSO HAS SIX
SENSES.
THERE ARE OTHER ANIMALS, AS
WELL, LIKE THE PORPOISE, OR THE
BAT WHO HAVE AN ECHO RECEPTOR,
WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO USE LIKE
SONAR TO SENSE OBJECTS THAT ARE
IN FRONT OF THEM.
AND THERE ARE OTHER SENSES, AS
WELL, IN OTHER SPECIES OF
ANIMALS THAT THEY DO HAVE.
AND SO THE PLATYPUS IS NOT THE
ONLY ANIMAL THAT HAS SIX SENSES.
STUDENT: HI, MY NAME IS LOGAN.
I GO TO SAGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS ARE THERE
REALLY AN ANVIL AND HAMMER BONE
IN OUR EAR?
DR. ANTINK: YES.
THERE ARE THREE BONES IN THE
MIDDLE EAR THAT CONNECT THE
EARDRUM TO THE COCHLEA, WHICH
TRANSMITS SOUND WAVES INTO
ELECTRICAL SIGNALS TO SEND TO
YOUR BRAIN.
THOSE THREE BONES ARE THE
HAMMER, THE ANVIL, AND THE
STIRRUP.
DR. BISHOP: AND LET ME ADD TO
THAT.
SO THE HAMMER, ANVIL, AND
STIRRUP ARE JUST THE COMMON
NAMES THAT WE USE HERE IN
AMERICA.
BUT THE LATIN TERMS FOR THOSE
ARE MALLEUS, INCUS, AND STAPES.
CAITLYN: HI, MY NAME IS CAITLYN.
AND I GO TO WHITE PINE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DO OUR
EYES SENSE PERIPHERAL VISION?
DR. BISHOP: SO PERIPHERAL VISION
IS THE VISION THAT YOU SEE ON
THE SIDES, WHICH YOU CAN'T
NECESSARILY FOCUS ON, BUT YOU DO
NOTICE MOVEMENT THERE.
AND IT'S A PERCEPTION OF LIGHT.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY DONE
THROUGH YOUR RODS, WHICH ARE A
SPECIFIC CELL WITHIN YOUR EYE.
SO THE CONES OF YOUR EYE ARE IN
THE CENTER PART, AND THAT'S WHAT
SENSES THE COLOR.
THE RODS ACTUALLY EXTEND FURTHER
PAST THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT GIVES
YOU YOUR VISION AT NIGHT AND
ALSO GIVES YOU YOUR VISION TO
SENSE MOVEMENT WITHIN YOUR
PERIPHERY OF YOUR VISION.
DR. ANTINK: YOU CAN TRY AT NIGHT
TONIGHT LOOKING UP AT THE STARS.
IF YOU TRY TO LOOK AT A STAR
USING YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION,
YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY SEE IT
BRIGHTER THAN IF YOU LOOK AT IT
STRAIGHT ON.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE
MORE RODS ON THE SIDES OF YOUR
EYE TO PERCEIVE THE LIGHT THAN
THERE ARE IN THE MIDDLE WHEN YOU
LOOK DIRECTLY AT SOMETHING.
JACK: HI, MY NAME IS JACK.
I GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHY DO WE
HAVE HAIR IN OUR NOSE?
DR. BISHOP: SO THE HAIR IN OUR
NOSE PROVIDES A VERY SPECIFIC
PURPOSE, BESIDES STICKING OUT OF
YOUR NOSE LIKE YOUR GRANDPA'S
HAIR DOES.
IT'S THERE TO HELP COLLECT DUST,
HELP COLLECT DIRT PARTICLES OR
PARTICLES WITHIN THE AIR THAT
COULD DAMAGE OUR LUNGS IF THEY
WERE TO CONTINUE TO PASS THROUGH
YOUR AIRWAY.
AND SO THE NOSE HAS THESE SMALL
HAIRS IN THERE THAT HELPS TO
COLLECT THAT.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR BOOGERS
ARE FORMED.
AURORA: HI, MY NAME IS AURORA.
AND I'M FROM JEFFERSON
ELEMENTARY.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES YOUR
EYES GET BLURRY?
DR. BISHOP: SO NOT EVERYONE'S
EYES GET BLURRY, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN OCCUR.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WITHIN YOUR
EYE, BEHIND YOUR IRIS, SO THE
HOLE WITHIN YOUR EYE, THERE'S A
LENS.
AND SO DEPENDING ON HOW THAT
LENS DEVELOPS, IT CAN CAUSE YOUR
VISION TO GET BLURRY.
SO IF IT GETS MISSHAPEN FROM
WHAT IT USUALLY WAS, THAT CAN
CHANGE YOUR VISION.
THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE WHO GET
SOMETHING THAT'S CALLED
"GLAUCOMA," SO THEY ACTUALLY GET
A DEPOSIT OF SOMETHING WITHIN
THEIR LENS THAT CAUSES THEIR
VISION TO BE BLURRY AND ALSO GET
OBSCURED.
AND SO THAT IS HOW OUR VISION
GETS BLURRY IS THAT LENS CHANGES
SHAPE AND CHANGES THE WAY IT
REFLECTS THE LIGHT ON THE BACK
OF OUR EYE.
DR. ANTINK: NOW, SOMETIMES MY
EYES GET BLURRY IF I KEEP THEM
OPEN AND DON'T BLINK.
AND IF THAT EVER HAPPENS TO YOU,
I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE
FLUID THAT'S LUBRICATING YOUR
EYE, AND EVERY TIME YOU BLINK,
IT PUTS ANOTHER LAYER OF FLUID
TO HELP LUBRICATE YOUR EYE.
AND IF YOU TRY NOT TO BLINK FOR
A LONG TIME, THEN YOUR EYE GETS
KIND OF DRY, AND SOMETIMES THAT
CAN MAKE MY VISION BLURRY.
EDANA: HI, MY NAME IS EDANA.
I GO TO SAGLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHEN WE TOUCH
SOMETHING, WE CAN FEEL THE
TEXTURE.
WHY CAN WE FEEL THE TEXTURE?
DR. ANTINK: SO OUR SKIN CELLS
HAVE RECEPTORS THAT SENSE WHEN
WE TOUCH SOMETHING.
AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE
TOGETHER.
AND SO WHEN YOU FEEL SOMETHING
THAT'S ROUGH VERSUS SMOOTH, YOU
ARE STIMULATING MORE OF THE
SEPARATE SKIN RECEPTORS THAN A
CONTINUOUS FEELING FROM
SOMETHING SMOOTH.
YOU CAN ALSO FEEL IF SOMETHING
IS SHARP VERSUS SOFT BASED ON
HOW MUCH PRESSURE IT EXERTS ON
YOUR SKIN WHEN YOU TOUCH IT.
AND SOME PARTS OF YOUR BODY HAVE
MORE SENSITIVE RECEPTORS BECAUSE
THERE'S MORE OF THEM IN A SMALL
AREA THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF YOUR
BODY.
(MUSIC)
CARTAN-HANSEN: THE BRAIN
IS THE COMMAND CENTER OF YOUR
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
YOUR BRAIN HELPS FIGURE OUT WHAT
YOUR FIVE SENSES ARE DETECTING.
SO LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT YOUR BRAIN.
THE BRAIN WEIGHS ABOUT 3 POUNDS.
IT'S MADE UP OF 100 BILLION
NERVE CELLS OR NEURONS.
ELECTRICAL IMPULSES PASS FROM
CELL TO CELL.
MESSAGES GO OUT OF YOUR BRAIN,
DOWN YOUR SPINAL CORD, AND OUT
TO YOUR BODY AND THEN BACK AGAIN
ALL IN AN INSTANT.
THE BRAIN, THE SPINAL CORD, AND
ALL THOSE NERVES MAKE UP THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
IT'S YOUR BODY'S INFORMATION
SYSTEM.
STUDENT: SCIENTISTS SAY THERE'S
ENOUGH ELECTRICITY FROM ALL
THOSE MESSAGES IN YOUR BRAIN AND
BODY TO TURN ON A LIGHT IN A
REFRIGERATOR.
CARTAN-HANSEN: THE BRAIN IS MADE
UP OF SEVERAL PARTS.
THERE'S THE BRAIN STEM; IT
CONTROLS YOUR BODY'S BASIC
AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONS, LIKE
BREATHING.
THERE'S THE CEREBELLUM, WHICH
CONTROLS THINGS LIKE MOVEMENT,
YOUR PHYSICAL SKILLS.
AND THEN THERE'S THE LIMBIC
SYSTEM, THAT MAKES UP ABOUT
ONEFIFTH OF YOUR BRAIN.
THERE ARE GLANDS, LIKE THE
PITUITARY AND THE HYPOTHALAMUS;
THEY WORK WITH THE BRAIN STEM TO
CONTROL BODY TEMPERATURE,
GROWTH, AND BLOOD PRESSURE.
THEN THERE'S THE CEREBRUM;
THAT'S THE THINKING, CREATIVE
PART OF YOUR BRAIN.
IT'S ALSO THE BIGGEST PART OF
YOUR BRAIN.
ALONG WITH ITS THIN COVERING,
THE CORTEX, IT'S THE PART OF THE
BRAIN THAT GOVERNS VOLUNTARY
MOVEMENTS.
IT'S WHERE YOU THINK, WHERE YOU
PERCEIVE OR SENSE THINGS.
AND BECAUSE OF YOUR CORTEX, YOU
CAN UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER,
COMMUNICATE AND CREATE.
THE BRAIN HAS TWO SIDES.
EACH CONTROLS THE OPPOSITE SIDE
OF THE BODY.
EACH SIDE ALSO CONTROLS CERTAIN
SKILLS.
THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR BRAIN
CONTROLS MUSIC AND ART, THE
CREATIVE STUFF.
AND THE LEFT SIDE HANDLES
NUMBERS AND WORDS AND
PROBLEMSOLVING.
AND THERE'S A BAND OF CELLS
BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS OR
HEMISPHERES OF THE BRAIN SO THAT
THE LEFT SIDE KNOWS WHAT THE
RIGHT SIDE IS DOING.
STUDENT: THE HUMAN BRAIN IS SO
SOFT THAT YOU COULD CUT IT WITH
A BUTTER KNIFE.
THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR YOUR
HELMET WHEN YOU RIDE YOUR BIKE.
YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR BRAIN.
CARTAN-HANSEN: YOUR BRAIN AND
BODY ALSO PUT OUT CHEMICALS,
CALLED "HORMONES" OR
"NEUROTRANSMITTERS."
HORMONES HELP REGULATE YOUR
BODY'S GROWTH, HELP YOU MATURE,
MAINTAIN YOUR DIGESTION, EVEN
TELL YOU WHEN TO SLEEP.
NEUROTRANSMITTERS ARE CHEMICALS
THAT SEND MESSAGES BETWEEN
CELLS.
SOME NEUROTRANSMITTERS TELL YOUR
HEART TO BEAT OR YOUR LUNGS TO
BREATHE, WHILE OTHERS HELP
REGULATE YOUR MOOD, WHETHER
YOU'RE HAPPY OR SAD.
THESE CHEMICALS PLAY A PART IN
HOW YOU REMEMBER THINGS, WHY YOU
DREAM, WHO YOU ARE, YOUR
THOUGHTS AND YOUR FEELINGS.
YOUR BREATHING AND YOUR GROWING
ARE ALL CONTROLLED BY YOUR
BRAIN.
AND YOUR BRAIN CONTINUES TO
DEVELOP EVEN AFTER YOU'RE BORN
AND CONTINUES TO GROW AND CHANGE
EVEN AS AN ADULT.
YOUR BRAIN IS WHAT MAKES YOU,
YOU.
(MUSIC)
REBECCA: HI, MY NAME IS REBECCA.
AND I GO TO GALILEO STEM
ACADEMY.
MY QUESTION IS HOW DO NERVES
CONNECT FEELING TO YOUR BRAIN?
DR. BISHOP: REBECCA, THE NERVES
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BODY, THEY
DO SENSE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO OUR SENSE OF TOUCH.
WE ALSO HAVE SENSE OF VIBRATION
AND SENSE OF HEAT OR COLD.
AND ALL OF THESE NERVES ARE
WITHIN OUR SKIN.
AS THEY GET TRIGGERED, OR IF WE
TOUCH SOMETHING THAT'S COLD,
TOUCH SOMETHING THAT'S SHARP, OR
TOUCH ANYTHING, THOSE NERVES
THEN SEND A SIGNAL, WHICH
TRAVELS UP THE NERVE INTO YOUR
SPINAL CORD AND THEN UP INTO
YOUR BRAIN.
AND SO THE NERVE CELLS ARE VERY
GOOD AT ALLOWING THAT TO TRAVEL.
THE SPEED AT WHICH IT TRAVELS
CAN BE UPWARDS OF 200 MILES PER
HOUR AS IT TRAVELS FROM YOUR
FINGER TO YOUR BRAIN.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO LAG TIME
FROM WHEN YOU TOUCH SOMETHING TO
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY FEEL IT.
JOSHUA: HI, MY NAME IS JOSHUA.
I GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHY DO WE
HAVE EYELASHES?
DR. ANTINK: WE HAVE EYELASHES TO
HELP PROTECT OUR EYE FROM DUST
AND OTHER PARTICLES IN THE AIR.
YOUR EYE GETS VERY IRRITATED IF
SOMETHING GETS ONTO THE EYEBALL.
AND SO THE EYELASHES HELP TO
PROTECT YOU FROM THAT.
SAM: HI, MY NAME IS SAM.
I GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY.
WHY DO WE HAVE LITTLE BLACK DOTS
IN OUR EYES?
DR. BISHOP: SO THE BLACK DOT IN
THE MIDDLE OF YOUR EYE, OR YOUR
PUPIL, IS ACTUALLY A HOLE THAT
ALLOWS LIGHT TO PASS THROUGH TO
THE BACK OF YOUR EYE SO THAT YOU
CAN ACTUALLY SEE.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE
FLECKS OF BLACK WITHIN THE IRIS,
WHICH IS THE COLORED PART OF THE
EYE, WHICH ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTES
TO THE COLOR OF THEIR EYES.
BUT THE BLACK DOT IN THE MIDDLE
IS ACTUALLY A HOLE AND ALLOWS
THE LIGHT TO PASS THROUGH.
EVAN: HI, MY NAME IS EVAN.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DO WE
DECIPHER DIFFERENT SMELLS?
DR. ANTINK: EVAN, THAT IS A
GREAT QUESTION.
IN OUR NOSE WE HAVE LOTS OF
RECEPTORS THAT SEND SIGNALS OF
SMELL PARTICLES TO OUR BRAIN TO
SENSE THE SMELL.
AND BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCES
WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT SMELLS,
THAT HELPS US DETERMINE WHETHER
WE SEE SOMETHING OR SMELL
SOMETHING AS PLEASURABLE OR
UNPLEASURABLE.
SOMETIMES CERTAIN SMELLS CAN
EVOKE A MEMORY IN SOMEBODY OF A
BAD THING, AND SO THEY CONSIDER
THAT SMELL UNPLEASURABLE, WHILE
THE SAME SMELL MIGHT EVOKE A
PLEASURABLE MEMORY TO SOMEBODY
ELSE, AND THAT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED A GOOD SMELL.
SUMMIT: HI, MY NAME IS SUMMIT.
I GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW DO WE SEE
COLOR?
DR. BISHOP: SO OUR PERCEPTION OF
COLOR OR HOW WE SEE COLOR IS
CONTROLLED BY THE CONE CELLS,
WHICH ARE IN THE BACK OF OUR
EYE.
SO THESE ARE SPECIFIC CELLS THAT
ARE ABLE TO PROCESS THE COLORS
THAT WE SEE, AND THEY THEN SEND
THAT SIGNAL TO THE BRAIN AND
ALLOW US TO SEE THE COLOR THAT
WE ARE SEEING BEFORE US.
CARTAN-HANSEN: ERIC WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW: HOW DO YOUR EARS PICK
UP SOUND WAVES?
DR. BISHOP: SO THE EARS HAVE A
VERY SPECIFIC DESIGN TO THEM.
IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT YOUR
EAR, IT HAS A CUPPING SHAPE,
WHICH HELPS US COLLECT THAT
SOUND WAVE AND THEN CARRY THAT
IN THROUGH OUR EAR CANAL TO THE
MIDDLE EAR.
AND THAT'S WHERE THAT SOUND WAVE
IS THEN TURNED INTO AN
ELECTRICAL SIGNAL THAT THEN GOES
OUR BRAIN.
SAKSHAM: HI, MY NAME IS SAKSHAM.
I GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT SENSE IS
THE LEAST IMPORTANT AND WHY?
DR. ANTINK: SO I THINK IT'S
DEBATABLE AS TO WHICH SENSE IS
THE LEAST IMPORTANT.
TO SOMEBODY WHO IS BLIND,
PROBABLY VISION IS SIGHT IS THE
LEAST IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEIR
EYES DON'T WORK.
BUT FOR EVERY DIFFERENT PERSON,
THEY MAY HAVE CERTAIN STRENGTHS
IN WHICH SOME OF THEIR SENSES
ARE MORE ACUTE OR STRONGER THAN
OTHERS.
SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY
DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER.
DR. BRAD, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DR. BISHOP: I BELIEVE IT IS VERY
DEPENDENT ON THE PERSON.
I KNOW, FOR MYSELF, I WOULD
PROBABLY SAY TASTE IS THE LEAST
IMPORTANT FOR ME.
OR I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TASTE
BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN FOODS
THAT I DO NOT LIKE AND I DON'T
WANT TO TASTE.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE SAME FOR
MOST OF YOU, AS WELL.
BUT THE FIVE SENSES ARE ALL VERY
IMPORTANT IN ALLOWING US TO
PROCESS OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO,
AS WE SAY, WITH TASTE, ALL THE
SENSES ARE KIND OF INVOLVED WITH
THAT.
JUST THE SENSATION OF TOUCH
WITHIN OUR TONGUE, THE SENSATION
OF SMELL WITHIN OUR NOSE.
SO THERE'S ALL THE SENSES ARE
VERY WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER,
AND SO I FEEL THAT THEY ARE ALL
VERY IMPORTANT.
CARTAN-HANSEN: IF SOMEONE IS
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A
PEDIATRICIAN, WHAT SHOULD HE OR
SHE STUDY IN SCHOOL?
DR. ANTINK: TO BECOME A
PEDIATRICIAN, YOU NEED TO GO
THROUGH COLLEGE AND DO
PREREQUISITES FOR MEDICAL
SCHOOL.
THEN YOU GO THROUGH MEDICAL
SCHOOL, WHICH IS TYPICALLY FOUR
YEARS, AND DURING THAT TIME YOU
GET TO PRACTICE DIFFERENT KINDS
OF DOCTOR TYPES.
AT THE END OF THAT YOU DECIDE
WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR YOU WANT TO
BE.
AND IN MY CASE A PEDIATRICIAN.
SO THEN YOU DO A SPECIFIC
TRAINING PROGRAM JUST FOR
PEDIATRICS, WHICH IS USUALLY
ABOUT THREE YEARS.
DR. BISHOP: SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO BECOME A PEDIATRICIAN, OR
JUST A DOCTOR IN GENERAL, THERE
IS A LOT OF SCHOOL THAT DOES
TAKE PLACE.
THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO
HELP PREPARE YOU FOR THAT, TO GO
TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, IS BY
STUDYING A LOT OF THE SCIENCES,
SO BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY,
PHYSICS ARE THINGS THAT YOU'LL
HAVE TO TAKE.
BUT ALSO, THEY ALSO WANT PEOPLE
WHO THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO A
LOT OF SERVICE AND ALSO TO
BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE MEDICAL
FIELD.
THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ACTUALLY
GO AND SHADOW PHYSICIANS, NOW,
IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR MEDICAL
SCHOOL.
AND SO THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS
YOU WOULD NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO
GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL TO THEN
BECOME A PEDIATRICIAN.
CARTAN-HANSEN: I'M SORRY, WE'VE
RUN OUT OF TIME.
MY THANKS TO DRS.
ANTINK AND BISHOP FOR ANSWERING
STUDENTS QUESTIONS TODAY.
DR. ANTINK: THANKS, JOAN.
THAT WAS FUN.
DR. BISHOP: YEAH, WE LEARNED
SOMETHING, TOO.
CARTAN-HANSEN : MY THANKS, ALSO,
TO THE FOLKS HERE AT SAINT
ALPHONSUS FOR HOSTING US.
NOW, YOU CAN LEARN LOTS MORE
ABOUT THE FIVE SENSES AND OTHER
SCIENTIFIC TOPICS ON THE SCIENCE
TREK WEBSITE.
AND WE'LL ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE FIVE SENSES ON SCIENCE
TREK: THE WEB SHOW .
YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A QUESTION
FOR SCIENCE TREK , IT'S EASY,
AND
YOU AND YOUR CLASS CAN WIN
PRIZES.
YOU CAN SEND IT AS AN EMAIL OR
AS A VIDEO QUESTION, RECORD IT
ON YOUR WEBCAM OR CELL PHONE.
AND IF YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR, WE'LL
EVEN LEND YOU A CAMERA.
OUR LAST PRIZE WINNER WAS PAIGE
IN MRS. MANNING-FLOCK'S CLASS AT
WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY.
SO TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THE
FIVE SENSES AND HOW TO SEND IN
YOUR QUESTIONS AND HOW TO WIN,
GO TO THE SCIENCE TREK WEBSITE.
AND EACH WEEK CHECK OUT MY BLOG
FOR THE LATEST SCIENCE NEWS FOR
KIDS.
YOU'LL FIND IT ALL AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCETREK.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
SCIENCE TREK .
(MUSIC)
NARRATOR: PRESENTATION OF
SCIENCE TREK ON IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM
FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO
FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS
FAMILIES LEGACY OF BUILDING THE
GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.
BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND BY THE
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
CARTAN-HANSEN: IF YOU WANT TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC OR
WATCH OUR VIDEOS, CHECK OUT THE
SCIENCE TREK WEBSITE AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCETREK.