The Science of How to Have a Great 4th of July Weekend
The Northern Hemisphere might be melting andexplosive diarrhea is spreadingacross the US…But in grim moments like these, it feels more important than ever to have a laugh and rediscover your sense of. . .
The Northern Hemisphere might be melting andexplosive diarrhea is spreadingacross the US…But in grim moments like these, it feels more important than ever to have a laugh and rediscover your sense of wonder. Consider this yourScience Survival Guideto the July 4 weekend. Whether you're coping with airport delays, hosting a barbeque, dealing with a firework-anxious pet, or trying to avoid an awkward family debate, we've got you covered. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)Science-backed tips and tricks for July 4It's going to get hot this weekend in many places across North America, so it's best to be prepared. Make sure you have lots of water and sunscreen… oh, and make sure you apply your sunscreen correctly. Most of us don't. Are you taking any medications?Some drugscan make you more susceptible to the heat, so be extra careful with them. Even if you stay inside, keep in mind that the Suncan still burn youthrough a window. If you're out in the elements barbecuing,don't wash the raw chicken first. It's a common misconception that you need to, and you don't want to make everyone sick. If you're drinking alcohol during the day, also keep in mind that it can make you more susceptible to the heat. Counting your drinkscan help slow you down, scientists say. At nighttime, when the fireworks start, stay a safe distance, no matter how pretty they are. Evidence suggeststhat loud noises can damage your hearing. If you happen to have a pet that's anxious about the fireworks, scientistsalso have a few tipsto keep them calm. Or maybe it's you who is anxious. Thesocial stressand family drama can be a lot. If you need a safe conversation starter, the ScienceAlert team has you covered. What about dropping one of our favorite science facts and seeing how it lands:Which animal has more bones in its neck, a giraffe or a human? They actually have the same number!- Kate Mallord, CEO(Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images)Spider silkis so incredibly fine, just 2 kilograms of it would extend all the way around Earth. - Peter Dockrill, Managing Editor(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)Less time separates humans andT. rex(66 million years) than T. rex and Stegosaurus (79 million years). - Michael Irving, Copy EditorTyrannosaurus rexroaring – 3D illustration. (Warpaintcobra/Getty Images)The Sun is about 400 times wider than the Moon, but it's also about 400 times farther from Earth, which is why they appear almost exactly the same size in our sky. No other planet in the Solar System has this!- Michelle Starr, Head Journalist(Valentino Grieco/Moment/Getty Images)Your brain is nearly 60 percent fat – it's the fattiest organ in your body. Fatty acids play a key role in how well your brain functions. - Rebecca Dyer, Assistant Editor(Fiordaliso/Moment/Getty Images)Cuttlefish have a remarkable ability to change the colors displayed on their skin. And yet, they are technically colorblind. Their eyes are sensitive to polarized light – an entirely different way of seeing. - Jess Cockerill, Journalist and Editorial AssistantCommon cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). (Schafer & Hill/The Image Bank/Getty Images)If your peripheral vision were as sharp as your central vision, you'd probably need a visual cortex as large as a classroom to process all the information. - Carly Cassella, Senior Journalist(Ilusmedical/Science Photo Library/Getty Images)Voyager 1 has been traveling through space since 1977 and still hasn't made it one light-year away from Earth. In November this year,it will reach one light-day. - Fiona MacDonald, Co-FounderArtist's concept of Voyager. (Stocktrek Images/Getty Images)During pregnancy, a woman's body makes nearly 50 percent more blood and up to 100 times more of certain proteins to deal with the intense physiological demands of growing a tiny human. - Clare Watson, Assistant Editor(Natalia Lebedinskaia/Moment/Getty Images)This article was fact-checked byClare Watsonand edited byRebecca Dyer. While we pride ourselves on our process, we are only human. If you spot a mistake,please let us know.