Sarah Bellum says:

Cyber-Lingerie

Today’s post shows how the Internet is changing the way we shop for intimate apparel.

Check out this virtual dressing room from KnickerPicker (I love that name!) The website lets you try on lingerie before you buy it (sort of.) It’s a lot of fun, even though they only have 3 different models to choose from. (I just wish they sold Spanx bodysuits, I’d love to see how they help shape the different models.)

What do YOU think? Are these 3 models close enough to your body type to be helpful, or is this just another marketing gimmick? Leave a comment and let the rest of the Beauty Brains community know what you think.

Sarah Bellum says:

I can’t let this Valentine’s Day pass without sharing this story with the Beauty Brains community, even though it doesn’t exactly fit with Mid Brain’s “Science of Valentines Day” theme.

Realdoll is a company that sells lifelike (I repeat, lifelike) male and female rubber companions (aka, dolls) for a mere $5,000. (No, that’s not a typo – I said $5,000!) No written description that I can provide could possibly do justice to this concept. To get the full impact you’ve GOT to see the Realdoll website and this bizarrely captivating video featuring interviews with 4 people who are in, uh…relationships with dolls. Needless to say, this is all very NSFW. If you’re under 18, don’t even THINK about clicking on these links. Seriously. We will hunt you down and tell your parents, you little brats.

*Sigh* I miss my Barbies. Happy Valentines Day, everyone!

The Beauty Brains are counting down to Feb 14th with Science of St. Valentines Day posts. It’s here!

Today is February 14th and the roses you just received are ruining our planet. Happy Valentines Day!

The Telegraph reports that Andrew Sims, policy director for Britain’s New Economics Foundation, says that flying flowers into Britain from around the world is causing an increase in greenhouse gasses, which leads to global warming.

According to figures cited in the article:

• Fresh flowers flown into Britain have traveled an average of 33,800 miles.
• The amount of flowers imported from Africa has increased 39% to 17,000 tons/year.
• Imports of roses from Ethiopia have grown from zero to 130 tons/ year since 2003.
• Britain imports more than £315 million of flowers/year.

There are no specific details on how much effect flying flowers really have on global warming, but if you’re an environmentally conscious romantic you might ask for some silk flowers instead of the real thing. Or, you could grow them at home yourself with this Indoor Hanging Flower Garden.

Do you like flowers for Valentines Day or are you more of a candy gal? Leave a comment and share your fave gifts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

The Beauty Brains are counting down to Feb 14th with new Science of St. Valentines Day posts. Only 1 day left!

One of the Beauty Brains’ basic goals is to make science fun and interesting, especially to our younger readers. So here’s a fun website that features science ideas for preschoolers.

They posted a very cute article about Valentines Day science experiments that was just so precious, we couldn’t resist sharing with the rest of our community. Scroll down to see our five favorite ideas, then follow the link to read the rest of their list.

1. Seeking scents

Get two boxes of candles that smell very different. Blindfold the kids and have them match the candles by their scent.

2. Coloring carnations

Show the kids how to put white carnations in a cup of water with red food coloring. In a few days the carnations will absorb the dye and turn red.

3. The squirting heart

Demonstrate how hearts work by filling a clear balloon with red colored water. Then stick a straw in the balloon and squeeze. The water pumps out just like blood squirting from an artery.

4. Candy box quiz

Use an old Valentine chocolates box (the kind with individual compartments) to create a matching game. In each compartment of the box glue a number. Then make small heart shapes with a corresponding number or dots on the paper.

5. From the heart

Give the kids a pack of candy valentine hearts (the kind with sayings on them) and ask them to graph different things with the hearts like colors, flavors, and messages.

Do you have any fun Valentine’s Day experiments to share with the Beauty Brains community? Leave a comment!

The Beauty Brains are counting down to Feb 14th with new Science of St. Valentines Day posts. Only 2 days left!

Valentines Day may be more dangerous than you realize – especially if you kiss someone who’s eaten a food you’re allergic to!

NBC11.com reports that food allergies send over 30,000 people to the emergency room each year and a significant number of those cases are caused by loose lips.

Careless kissing

Dr. Suzanne Teuber of the University of California, conducted a study of 379 patients with food allergies and found that as many as 5% had an allergic reaction after kissing someone who eaten a food which they were allergic too. The risk is even greater on February 14th because more kissing occurs on Valentines Day than any other day of the year. (Ok, I just made that last part up but you have to admit, it’s sounds like a plausible statistic.) Seriously though, if you have severe food allergies you really do need to be careful about accidental cross-contact. Here’s what you should watch out for:

Top 8 food allergies

1. Peanuts
2. Tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc.)
3. Fish
4. Shellfish
5. Eggs
6. Milk
7. Soy
8. Wheat

And while we’re listing Valentines Day dangers, let’s not forget that some people are allergic to flowers too. Oh yeah, and I’m pretty sure that chocolate causes cavities. And you might get hit by a bus on the way to a romantic dinner. And…aw, forget it. I’m staying home by myself and locking the doors. Be careful out there!