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SCIENCE27 - Sense of Smell in Animals

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Pat and I were recently intrigued with headlines about certain animals being able to detect human diseases (like cancer) with their sense of smell.   We wanted to learn more about this, so I decided to research the subject and write this blog, starting with a better understanding of the overall sense of smell in animals.   After a short introduction, I will discuss how various animals smell, then identify the “best” smellers in the animal kingdom, before talking about how some animals can detect human diseases, and finally how artificial intelligence is helping make animal detection of human diseases even better. As usual, I will list my principal sources at the end.   Introduction Animals have evolved highly specialized senses of smell (olfactory systems) tailored to the specific demands of their environment and survival strategies.  Animals use smells to "talk" to each other and to protect themselves in the world.   Some animals have noses for sm...
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HISTORY123 - Ancient Roman Aqueducts

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My previous blog on the history of ancient Roman roads introduced me to another subject of incredible Roman engineering and construction , aqueducts , which I could hardly wait to explore.  So, this blog will cover the history of ancient Roman aqueducts.   After a short introduction, I will start with water management systems before the Romans; then the history of Roman aqueducts to include those built for the Roman capital, the city of Rome; aqueducts across the Roman Empire, with examples; engineering and construction; inspection and maintenance; management; water uses; decline and legacy; and conclusions . As usual, I will list my principal sources at the end.   Introduction The Ancient Romans constructed aqueducts in their capital city of Rome, throughout their  Republic . and later  Empire , to bring water from outside sources into cities and towns.  Aqueduct water supplied public baths, latrines, fountain...
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