Tag: Biology facts

On average, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next, with the rest lost as heat. This makes understanding each step vital, especially what is the second nutritional level, which comprises the primary consumers that feed on producers.

While some people believe humans are strictly carnivores due to our history of hunting, our biological classification is a topic of scientific consensus. The proper term for humans who eat both meat and plants is 'omnivore'. This classification is supported by our anatomical features, digestive system, and long evolutionary history of consuming a varied diet.

Over 75% of the body's energy is consumed by the digestive system, a complex network of organs that break down food to extract nutrients. This vital process unfolds in a predictable series of steps, revealing what are the three stages of food and how they fuel our entire being.

While eggshells and coral are primarily composed of calcium carbonate, the main mineral that gives vertebrate animal bones their hard structure is actually calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite. This critical distinction explains why animal bones function differently than other calcium-rich materials.

Over 99% of all human food is derived from plants and animals, the products of living organisms. However, the notion that does all human food come from living things is a common misconception, as some critical components of our diet originate from non-living sources.

Over 90% of the Earth’s biomass consists of plants, and the pigment responsible for the success of nearly all of them is chlorophyll. This green molecule is central to the process of photosynthesis, prompting many to ask, "Do greens have chlorophyll?" The answer is a resounding and fundamental yes.

The human body stores up to 90% of its total energy in the form of lipids within adipose tissue. Contrary to what the misleading question suggests, this fact reveals that the statement 'Are lipids a poor source of stored energy?' is unequivocally false. Lipids are, in fact, the most efficient and concentrated form of energy storage available to our bodies, providing more than double the energy per gram compared to carbohydrates and proteins.

According to a 2017 study published in *Experimental Eye Research*, tears were found to contain several vitamins, including B vitamins and vitamin E. This discovery challenges the common misconception that tears are just salty water, prompting a deeper look into the question: do tears have vitamins?

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Yet, despite its importance, some nutritional misconceptions persist, such as asking, is iron a type of carbohydrate? The answer is a clear and simple no.

Monosaccharides, like glucose and fructose, are often misunderstood despite being the fundamental units of all carbohydrates. In fact, not all sugars are monosaccharides; many are more complex disaccharides or polysaccharides. This article clarifies common misconceptions by explaining what is definitively true and false about these simple sugars.