Plants in the order Brassicales make compounds called “glucosinolates” that have a distinct mustard “bite”. These aptly named “mustard plants” produce these compounds to fend off insects and other herbivores, but we use it in things like horseradish, wasabi, and of course - mustard!
What do broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts and cabbage all have in common? They are all the same species!
Facts about the circadian clock:
Every organism has one from algae to elephants and us!
Your brain has a master clock that makes sure the rest of your body keeps track of time. This master clock is made up of 20,000 neurons!
Your body clock changes as you grow. When you are born the clock tells your body to sleep 16-20 hours a day. This drops to 11 hours between 1-4 years old, 9-10 hours for teenagers and 7-9 hours as adults.
Sunlight activates the clock so if you wake up feeling groggy, open those blinds and soak in some rays as soon as possible. This will trigger the master clock to turn off the production of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep.
Plants can tell time too. Have you ever noticed that sunflower heads face eastward in the morning, follow the sun west during the day and then return east at night. This tracking is due to the clock anticipating when the sun is coming up and prepares the plant for the next day's rays. Check out this video to see a sunflower in action!