segunda-feira, 12 de outubro de 2015

10 Things You Never Knew About the Clitoris

 

 

October 5, 2015 | By Kristine Thomason

10 AmazingFactsAbouttheClitoris

Brace yourselves ladies, there’s a whole lot to know about the clitoris that they didn’t teach us in health class. While you’ve probably heard the many unfortunate nicknames for this body part (including “the bean”— who came up with that?), and you definitely know a thing or two about the ahem, functions, of the clitoris, you might not know that it actually gets erect, for example.

Yep, “lady boners” (another very unfortunate nickname, sorry) are real.

To help you become a bit more “cliterate,” here are 10 facts about this amazing part of your anatomy.

It’s truly unique

When it comes to climaxing, “the clitoris is really, really crucial,” says Jim Pfaus, PhD, professor and sex researcher at Concordia University in Montreal. But that’s not the only thing that makes it special: the clitoris is actually the only organ in the body with the sole function of providing pleasure.

It’s long been a mystery

Until 1998 most textbooks only illustrated the external glans. That’s when Helen O’Connell, an Australian urologist, revealed through a series of MRI studies that the clitoris is actually a complex, powerful organ system composed of a total of eighteen parts, two thirds of which are interior.

It’s much more than meets the eye

“When people talk about the clitoris, they’re usually just talking about the glans—the very sensitive outside part,” says Rebecca Chalker, PhD, Professor of Sexology at Pace University and author of The Clitoral Truth ($12, amazon.com). But the bump you can see on the vulva is only the tip of an iceberg.

The internal part is connected to the glans by the corpora cavernosa, two spongey areas of erectile tissue. Farther down, the corpora cavernosa branches off into a pair of wings known as the crura which extend into the body and around the vaginal canal like a wishbone. Then, underneath the crura are the clitoral vestibules, or vestibular bulbs. Like much of the clitoris, these sac-like structures of tissue become engorged with blood when you get aroused.

It’s got a lot of nerve

The clitoris is the most nerve-rich part of the vulva, says Debra Herbenick, PhD, a sexual health educator from The Kinsey Institute. The glans contains about 8,000 nerve endings, making it the powerhouse of pleasure. To get some perspective, that’s twice as many nerve endings as the penis. And its potential doesn’t end there. This tiny erogenous zone spreads the feeling to 15,000 other nerves in the pelvis, which explains why it feels like your whole body is being taken over by your O-M-G moment.

Every woman’s is different

Women are all unique, so why would clitorises be any different? Every woman needs a different kind of stimulation to feel satisfied, depending on her unique biology. “Just because it’s sensitive doesn’t mean everyone wants it to be stimulated directly,” Herbenick says. “Some women prefer touching near the clitoris but not on it.” Pfaus agrees: “If she’s too sensitive with direct stimulation, more of that may make her want to kill you.”

It’s the real G-spot

We’ve all heard about the infamous G-spot: Does it exist? Do all women have one? Yes and yes. That’s because the G-spot is actually the clitoris. This notorious pleasure zone became sensationalized back in the 80s which, as Chalker explains, “created this idea that if you could only access the G-spot inside the vagina, it would promote female orgasm.” But we’ve since learned that some women may feel more sensation via the internal shafts of the clitoral complex (hence why some women might like vaginal penetration more than others), while others prefer external touch. One way is not better than another way, Pfaus adds; it’s really about exploring the possibilities to find out what you like best.

It’s very similar to the penis…

“The clitoris and the penis are somewhat mirror images of each other, just organized differently,” Chalker explains. “In fact, up until two weeks of pregnancy, all embryos appear to be female.” It’s not until week eight of gestation that testosterone kicks in and the penis starts to form. “None of these parts disappear, they just get rearranged,” Chalker says. For example the internal part of the clitoris, also made of erectile tissue, becomes the frame of the penis. With this concept in mind, Chalker points out: “If you consider the clitoris only consisting of the glans, then that’s like saying the only part of a penis is the tip.”

…It even gets erect

When we talk about erection, we can’t just talk about the penis,” Pfaus says. “We have to talk about the clitoris.” Sure, it might be less noticeable for women, but it can definitely be observed and felt. This occurs when the vestibular bulbs become engorged with blood during arousal. The blood is then trapped here until released via orgasmic spasms.

Size doesn’t matter

Like men, women can get self-conscious about their sexy parts. But guess what? Just like penises, clits come in all shapes and sizes. And size doesn’t matter for either, Chalker explains.  Think of it this way: since the brain is your main sex organ, the genitals are simply the receptors of pleasure. “It has to do with visual, tactile, and oral stimulation,” Chalker says, “rather that the actual size of the clit. So while glans may vary from woman to woman, this shouldn’t affect the pleasure-potential.” Also worth noting: chances are size doesn’t (or, at least,shouldn’t) matter to your partner.

It can grow with age

Although the size of your clitoris doesn’t impact your sex life, don’t be surprised if it changes dimensions over your lifetime. According to Chalker, due to a change in hormone levels after menopause, the clit may enlarge for many women. So if you notice some differences in the size of your lady parts over time, don’t be alarmed.

http://news.health.com/2015/10/05/10-things-you-never-knew-about-the-clitoris/

NASA reveals roadmap to Mars

 

 

Mars has released a document outlining its steps to Mars

Mars has released a document outlining its steps to Mars (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

That NASA has aspirations for a manned mission to the Red Planet is already well known, but the space agency has now revealed in greater detail how it plans to make such a mission reality. In a document titled "NASA's Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration," the expedition is broken down into three separate phases, painting a picture of the incremental scientific advances needed to land humans on the Martian surface.

"NASA’s strategy connects near-term activities and capability development to the journey to Mars and a future with a sustainable human presence in deep space," says William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA Headquarters.

The first of NASA's steps to Mars falls under the title "Earth Reliant," and centers on research to be carried out on the International Space Station (ISS). In this microgravity test-bed, the agency will continue developing technologies aimed at improving human health to prepare for manned missions to deep space.

In the second stage, NASA will carry out manned missions in cislunar-space, that is the area between the Earth and the Moon or the Moon's orbit. Dubbed "Proving Ground," this phase will entail developing and validating capabilities required to allow humans to live in environments further away from our home planet, such as on a certain dusty, red planet.

The third and final stage, called "Earth Independence," is intended to capitalize on the advances in the previous steps to bring humans to the Mars vicinity, first to low-Mars orbit and possibly one of the planet's moons, and then to touch down on the surface.

Together, the phases are intended to address three hurdles NASA sees as fundamental in getting to Mars: transportation (the ability for humans and cargo to safely travel into deep space), working in space (so crew members and robots can be productive once they get there) and staying healthy (for survival). The agency will discuss the plan with congress and partners in the coming weeks.

The entire Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration document can be read online here.

Source: NASA

 

http://www.gizmag.com/nasa-journey-to-mars-plans/39804/

Chile is creating the largest protected marine park in the Americas

 

 

The largest marine park in the Americas will soon protect the waters aroundChile. Announced by President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, the forthcoming Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park will encompass a whopping 114,872 square miles of ocean. Applauded by non-profit Oceana, the new marine park will protect 12 percent of Chile’s marine surface area from environmental destruction.

green design, eco design, sustainable design, National Geographic, Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park, Oceana, ocean health, ocean conservation

Chile is known as one of the world’s largest fishing countries, making the creation of the Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park a monumental turning point in global ocean conservation. The Desventuradas is known as one of the world’s most pristine and diverse marine environments, explored and documented extensively in 2013 by researchers, scientists and photographers from Oceanaand National Geographic. The expedition revealed gorgeous imagery of the regions’ marine life, vast oceanic terrains, and lurid underwater plant life.

Related: New Zealand is about to create one of the world’s largest marine reserves

Rich kelp forests, underwater mountains, booming fish populations, beautiful coral reefs and deep sea sharks were captured on camera by National Geographic photographers, illustrating the need to protect this area from fishing and further development. Aside from conservation, the marine park proposal will also help to rebuild depleted fisheries and lobster populations in the Juan Fernandez community.

The creation of the Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park will help to preserve the rich biodiversity of South America, acting as a conservation and research center for the scientific communities of the world. By protecting this region from overfishing and pollution, the marine park will help to make steps against the effects of climate change and mass species extinction.

+ National Geographic

+ Oceana

 

http://inhabitat.com/chile-to-sanction-largest-protected-marine-park-in-the-americas

This May Be the Youngest Cowgirl Ever

 

 

150828-youngest-cowgirl-05

Jean Anne Evans began riding horses when she was one month old

Living in the YouTube era, it’s never entirely surprising to see a 5-year-old piano prodigy or a breakdancing toddler go viral—impressive as their talents may be. Half a century ago, those baby Einsteins got their 15 minutes of fame in a more old-fashioned medium: the back pages of LIFE magazine.

Fifteen-month-old Jean Anne Evans was one such child. The Texan toddler was born into a family of ranchers and horseback riders, and first straddled a saddle (with her mother in tow) at the tender age of one month. When LIFE photographer Alan Grant visited her family’s farm near Fort Davis, he found her holding her own atop her 25-year-old horse, Toy Boy.

Despite her prowess, LIFE wrote, she occasionally “betrays her years by dropping off to sleep suddenly in mid-roundup.” Thankfully, her mother’s saddle made for just the place to take a nap.

Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.

http://time.com/4015064/youngest-cowgirl-photos/

7 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

 

485214825.jpg - Phoebe_Lapine / Getty Images

Phoebe_Lapine / Getty Images

1. High in beta-Carotene: A type of vitamin A, beta-Carotene helps keep your eyes and skin healthy. Beta-Carotene also plays a vital role in the immune system and keeps the body protected from foreign agents. Scientists think the beta-Carotene can also help mediate the damage caused by Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.

2. High in Vitamin B3: Also called Niacin, vitamin B3 helps convert sugars, fats, and proteins into calories for the body to use.

It's also important in the repair of DNA in the body and helps reduce heart disease.

3. Tons of Vitamin D. Your body actually produces vitamin D as a reaction to sunlight. Vitamin D plays an important role in your mood and can help with the production of dopamine and works to keep up the body's energy levels.

A lack of sunlight can lead a lack of vitamin D, which in turn can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder - a sort of depression linked to the seasons, particularly winter when there is less sunlight. Eating sweet potatoes, a food packed with vitamin D, can help keep your energy up and elevate your mood. 

4. Antifungal and Antiviral Properties: Sugar compounds called glycosides found in sweet potatoes are particularly unique. They've been shown to have the potential to hunt down and snuff out foreign fungal and viral agents in the body and eliminate them. This means they can assist in preventing diseases caused by harmful biological agents in the body.

5. An Excellent Source of Magnesium: An important part in numerous functions of the body magnesium is mandatory for bone health, reducing blood pressure, and for ensuring proper functions of the endocrine system (i.e., it helps you pee and assists in processing booze).

Magnesium also *ahem* keeps you regular. Sweet potatoes have shockingly high levels of magnesium and are often a prescribed food for patients with heart and circulatory problems as well as endocrine problems.

6. Iron? Sweet potatoes have plenty! It sounds odd to say we need iron - a metal - in our body, but iron is a unique metal in that it has great bonding capacity.

Due to this, iron is able to transport oxygen to cells and acts as a critical part of muscle strength and movement. Iron is also a critical piece of the numerous proteins and enzymes that our bodies produce for everyday functions. Sweet potatoes are packed with iron and offer a delicious way to keep strong.

7. Anti-inflammatories Galore: The sweet potato has the epic ability to repress and reduce the amount of certain inflammatory compounds that develop in the body when it is damaged. The means the sweet potato actively works to reduce inflammation of muscle cells and, in particular, nerve cells. Reduced inflammation around nerve cells means nerves are able to fire electrical signals more efficiently and reduce the pain of diseases like multiple sclerosis.

http://produce.about.com/od/Root-Vegetables/fl/7-Health-Benefits-of-Sweet-Potatoes.htm