Dark chocolate is good for your heart. You're welcome.

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology has published a paper that seems too good to be true: dark chocolate is good for you. No really, science says so. Dark chocolate helps restore arterial flexibility while also preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels. Both of these are significant factors that contribute atherosclerosis. What's more, increasing the flavanol content of dark chocolate does not change this effect.

I find it gloriously hopeful that these recent results were obtained after only eight weeks. Imagine the benefits gained from a lifetime of chocolate indulgence.



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/…/140227092149.htm

Thank heavens for blue-sky dreamers

Here's a cool little listicle of the five strangest contraptions ever designed in Toronto. Where would we be without people willing to experiment? These are some crazy contraptions, but my heart is with the iconoclasts. I'm still hoping for an Avro-dream revival.

http://www.blogto.com/city/2014/02/the_5_strangest_machines_designed_in_toronto/

Diversity is the spice of life

Word to the wise: If you’re making decisions today (especially *those* kinds of decisions), you should choose the most far-out option. Do it to mix things up a little. Do it for the surprise element. Do it for posterity.

And happy Valentine's Day.

"Mixed genes: Interactive world map of human genetic history reveals likely genetic impacts of historical events"

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/…/140213142305.htm

The Rogue of X-Frogs

Took a trip today to the Canadian Museum of Nature and was fascinated by the frog exhibit they currently have on. So many beautiful creatures, some of them deadly. This little guy is the Blue Poison Dart Frog, mostly found in South and Central America and Hawaii. One of the poisoniest creatures on earth, its glands contain batrachotoxin, a toxin that blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death. It's the Rogue of x-frogs.