A strange video that appears to show an eel shedding off a rather nice striped sweater has been doing the rounds on TikTok‚ and the video’s twist ending has got a lot of people thoroughly confused‚ concerned‚ and disgusted.The video‚ which is filmed beside a rocky coral bank on the seabed‚ shows what looks like a large snake shedding its skin; however‚ once removed‚ the "skin" gains sentience and swims off‚ leaving behind a near-lifeless eel.       IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.What’s really happening though‚ is quite a lot sadder. The stylish striped sweater is actually a banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina)‚ also known as a yellow-lipped sea krait‚ which has used its potent venom to attack and attempt to eat a large Moray eel.But‚ after likely being spooked by the camera‚ the snake regurgitated its meal before fleeing the scene‚ leaving the partially paralyzed eel to die on the seabed. Surprisingly‚ this isn’t the only footage of banded sea krait regurgitating a Moray eel‚ as a similar scene was captured in Palau’s barrier reef by diving company Neco Marine Palau in 2023.      IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.A highly venomous species‚ the banded sea krait spends much of its time in coral reefs in the coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans. But‚ unlike "true" sea snakes‚ banded sea kraits are only semi-aquatic‚ emerging from the water at 10-day intervals to lay eggs‚ shed their skin‚ and digest food. After eating a large meal at sea‚ banded sea kraits will emerge back onto land where they digest their food over the course of several days.Growing to an impressive size of 1.28 meters (4.2 feet) in the case of the females‚ these deadly serpents use their potent venom‚ which is 10 times more toxic than a rattlesnake's‚ to paralyze their predominantly eel-based prey before swallowing them whole. While most snakes consume their prey head-first‚ these guys prefer to tackle their dinner tail-first‚ leaving the eel’s semi-lucid head to put up one hell of a fight.While not classified as endangered‚ banded sea snakes are relatively rare to see and are distinguished by their latterly compressed‚ paddle-like tails and thick black bands on their otherwise white/grey body. They’re in the family Elapidae‚ which consists of around 300 venomous species including cobras‚ coral snakes‚ and taipans.With the ability to hold their breath for up to two hours‚ banded sea kraits have bodies which are perfectly adapted for both sea and land. Their flat tails propel them along in the water while their rough belly scales help them move on land and in trees. They have a salt gland underneath their tongue to expel salt buildup‚ and they can both absorb oxygen and expel the majority of their carbon dioxide through their skin. Some believe that banded sea kraits are harmless to humans as their heads are too small to latch onto human skin‚ but this is very untrue. Not only could a banded sea krait land a good bite on a human‚ it would also take only a fraction of its 10-15 milligram venom store to land you in hospital. They are‚ however‚ said to be a surprisingly docile species with bites mostly occurring when they are accidentally caught in fishing nets.While their IUCN red list rating is of “least concern”‚ sea temperature changes affecting coral reefs‚ coastal construction‚ and the destruction of their land-based homes mean banded sea kraits may one day too suffer the effects of climate destruction.

A distressing story has resurfaced on various news outlets over the last few days‚ concerning a man who was swallowed up by a sinkhole in Florida on March 1‚ 2013. Jeff Bush‚ 37‚ was asleep when a sinkhole opened up beneath his home in Seffner‚ Florida. The hole – about 6 meters (20 feet) across and deep‚ according to The Guardian – opened up beneath his bedroom‚ which was heard by his brother Jeremy‚ and Jeremy's partner Rachel from another room."We heard Jeff scream‚" Rachel told ABC Action News at the time. "We ran down the hallway‚ I flicked the light on and we opened up the door and it's all we've seen was a big old hole‚ and Jeff was gone."Jeremy jumped down into the hole to attempt to rescue his brother but had to be pulled to safety by a Hillsborough County deputy sheriff as the ground around him continued to cave in."The floor was still giving in and the dirt was still going down‚ but I didn't care. I wanted to save my brother‚" Jeremy told The Guardian. "But I just couldn't do nothing." "I could swear I heard him hollering my name to help him."                              Rescuers were unable to locate Bush's body from the sinkhole‚ which swallowed bedroom furniture along with him. The following day‚ engineers determined that the house and ground were too dangerous to make further attempts at rescue‚ and it was instead demolished and the hole itself filled with gravel. A few years later‚ the sinkhole opened once more at the site‚ now fenced off from the public.Florida‚ rich in limestone‚ is especially susceptible to sinkholes."Sinkholes are most common in what geologists call‚ 'karst terrain'‚" the US Geological Survey explains. "These are regions where the types of rock below the land surface can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. Soluble rocks include salt beds and domes‚ gypsum‚ limestone and other carbonate rock."With the rock underneath dissolved away‚ underground caverns are left underneath the surface. When the weakened surface collapses into the cavern‚ it creates a sinkhole. They vary in size‚ from very small to the huge one seen at Xiaozhai Tiankeng‚ known as the Xiaozhai Heavenly Pit. The sinkhole‚ thought to be the largest in the world‚ measures around 537 meters (1‚762 feet) wide and 662 meters (1‚667-2‚172 feet) deep.An earlier version of this article was published in April 2023.

Archaeologists have used the Iliad‚ an Ancient Greek epic poem written in 800 BCE set towards the end of the legendary Trojan War‚ as a guide to locate shipwrecks off the coast of Greece.Researchers from Greece's National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Culture used various historical sources to locate 10 shipwrecks that sunk at points between 3000 BCE to World War II around the island of Kasos. Among these sources was Homer's Iliad‚ which references Kasos as a trading hub that joined the fight against Troy.Vessels found included wrecks from 3000 BCE‚ the classical period (around 450 BCE)‚ Roman times (200 BCE - 300 CE)‚ through the medieval and Ottoman periods‚ as well as one 25-30 meter (82-98 feet) wooden boat with metal components believed to be from around World War II‚ according to a statement from the Greek Ministry of Culture.One of the wrecks found off the coast of Kasos.Image credit: Greek Ministry of CultureThe team has been searching the area since 2019‚ first locating the vessels before photographing them extensively and imaging the area using sonar. They also recovered artifacts and took samples from the wrecks‚ offering insights into the area's history. The researchers found that ships contained goods from Europe‚ Africa‚ and Asia‚ including a Spanish amphora with a seal on its handle dating it to around 150-170 CE‚ and African terra sigillata flasks dating from the Roman era.More details on the finds will be released in due course‚ as well as studies by archaeologists and historians on the topic. A film on the project – Diving into the History of the Aegean – has also been created‚ and entered into several archaeological film festivals.

This coming weekend the Moon will experience an eclipse‚ and in less than three weeks the Sun will be eclipsed by the Moon. The best views for both will be in the Americas‚ but you might be wondering what the view would look like if you were not on Earth but on the Moon. The view a future astronaut might witness.First of all‚ on the Moon‚ the eclipses are reversed. A lunar eclipse for us becomes a solar eclipse for the Moon. And you might be getting different experiences and visuals‚ depending on what you hope to observe and your location.A lunar solar eclipseSo let’s start with a lunar solar eclipse. That means you are on the Moon and the Earth is eclipsing the Sun. This can happen in three ways: total‚ partial‚ and penumbral. Due to the relative size and position of the Earth and the Sun‚ our planet casts a shadow in a specific way. A thin cone where all of the sunlight is blocked is called the umbra‚ Latin for shadow. A larger cone where only part of the Sun’s light is blocked is called the penumbra – Latin for almost shadow.In a penumbral eclipse‚ the Moon only goes through the penumbra. The full moon will look dimmer‚ but its near side will be still illuminated by some sunlight. This is what’s happening this coming weekend. From late Sunday night into the early hours of Monday‚ the full moon will lose its shine as the Moon travels through the penumbra.In a partial eclipse‚ the Moon would travel a little bit into the full shadow. That means that in certain regions of its surface‚ the whole Sun would be blocked. Those regions would be experiencing a total eclipse of the Sun‚ while the rest experienced a partial eclipse.NASA's Surveyor 3 saw the April 24‚ 1967 total lunar eclipse from the Moon.Image credit: NASA‚ Surveyor 3/Acknowledgement: R. D. Sampson (ECSU)The most interesting‚ though‚ would probably be a total lunar eclipse. When the whole Moon is in the umbra‚ something spectacular happens. All sunlight directly coming from the Sun is blocked‚ but we discover that the Earth's shadow is not black. Due to sunlight being scattered in the atmosphere‚ it has a red tinge‚ which makes the silver surface of the Moon glow in that color.An Earth eclipseThe Earth is much bigger than the Moon‚ so its shadow can cover the whole Moon and be seen from a whole hemisphere. This Sunday’s lunar eclipse will be visible from Western Europe all the way to East Asia. A solar eclipse covers a much smaller area of the Earth.In the total solar eclipse of April 8‚ the path of totality will be about 200 kilometers (124 miles) across when the eclipse is at Mazatlán in the Mexican state of Sinaloa‚ and will shrink to 160 kilometers (100 miles) by the time it gets to Newfoundland. In the US alone‚ there are 31 million people already living in the path of totality‚ and it will pass from Texas to New York state via Tennessee. Some areas that will witness it are quite small‚ and so residents are being warned to stock up on water‚ fuel‚ and food for the day.NASA astronaut Don Pettit snapped a total solar eclipse from the International Space Station in 2012.Image credit: NASAFrom the Moon or in space in general‚ the eclipse will look like a dark splotch moving across the surface of the Earth at about 2‚400 kilometers (1‚500 miles) per hour. If you were on the Moon when that happened you wouldn’t see much difference – the near side of the Moon would be in its 14-day-long night while on the blue marble next door a swish shadow traversed its seas and lands.So if you are ever on the Moon‚ you should hope for what on Earth would be a total lunar eclipse‚ to see your surroundings turn crimson. The next total lunar eclipse is next March. The one after will be in September 2025‚ when Artemis II launches. While the astronauts won’t land on that mission‚ it would be cool if they were around the Moon during the eclipse.A great option would be to have astronauts on the Moon on December 31‚ 2028. A total lunar eclipse as seen from the Moon would be a spectacular way to celebrate the end of that year. Come on‚ NASA!

The seemingly inevitable has been confirmed: 2023 was the hottest year on record by a massive margin. Oh‚ but that's not all – last year also witnessed record-breaking levels of greenhouse gas concentrations‚ sea level rise‚ ocean heat and acidification‚ Antarctic sea ice cover‚ surface temperatures‚ and glacier retreat.The findings come from the latest World Meteorological Organization (WMO) State of Global Climate report that found 2023’s global average near-surface temperatures were 1.45°C (2.61°F) above the pre-industrial levels – a shocking indication of how quickly Earth’s climate has changed in recent history.“Never have we been so close – albeit on a temporary basis at the moment – to the 1.5°C lower limit of the Paris Agreement on climate change‚” Celeste Saulo‚ WMO Secretary-General‚ said in a statement. “The WMO community is sounding the Red Alert to the world‚” Saulo said. “Climate change is about much more than temperatures. What we witnessed in 2023‚ especially with the unprecedented ocean warmth‚ glacier retreat and Antarctic sea ice loss‚ is cause for particular concern."The latest WMO report confirms another report published in January 2023 by the Copernicus Climate Change Service‚ which also concluded last year was the hottest year on record.Along with record temperatures‚ 2023 saw the highest recorded concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide‚ methane‚ and nitrous oxide. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere‚ for instance‚ were 50 percent higher than in the pre-industrial era.Annual global mean temperature anomalies (relative to 1850–1900) from 1850 to 2023 using data from six data setsImage credit: WMOEarth’s oceans and cryospheres also took a battering in 2023. Ocean heat content reached its highest levels‚ plus there were more frequent and intense marine heat waves. In July 2023‚ for instance‚ the sea off the coast of Florida reached a potentially record-breaking 38.3°C (101°F)‚ which is about the same as a hot tub. Simultaneously‚ the global sea levels reached a record high since 1993 when satellites started documenting the phenomenon‚ caused by thermal expansion of ocean water as well as the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Antarctic sea ice extent was by far the lowest on record‚ while on the other side of the planet‚ Arctic sea ice extent was well below normal. Earth’s two most significant ice sheets‚ the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Antarctic Ice Sheet‚ also experienced worryingly high levels of melting.The world also saw an uptick in extreme weather and climate events‚ including floods‚ tropical cyclones‚ extreme heatwaves and drought‚ and associated wildfires. An increase in these forms of extreme weather and climate events was seen on all inhabited continents during 2023‚ bringing a notable rise in human suffering due to food insecurity and displacement. The WMO wanted to offer a “glimmer of hope” by showing that renewable energy generation had surged in 2023. However‚ even if this momentum keeps going‚ the planet is not out of the woods yet. “This latest report shows – yet again – how profoundly human actions are reshaping the planet. Climate heating has contributed to a truly remarkable year the world over in which records tumbled like dominoes‚” Dr Ella Gilbert‚ Climate Scientist at the British Antarctic Survey‚ said in a statement to the Science Media Centre.“We are transforming our climate with our actions – but 2023 will be merely a taste of what is to come without concerted‚ ambitious and courageous action on climate change‚” added Dr Gilbert.

Packaged meats aren’t particularly appealing‚ often bearing witness marks of the journey they’ve been on from farm to fridge in the form of gloopy residue. Tempting as it is to clean it off‚ should you wash chicken before cooking it? The science says you could be making things worse.Why is raw chicken dangerous?Raw chicken is a good friend of Campylobacter and Salmonella‚ two kinds of bacteria that are among the most common causes of food poisoning. Chickens‚ among many other animals‚ can show no signs of illness and yet be carrying Campylobacter. The bacteria‚ alongside Salmonella‚ is found inside the chicken in places like the intestine‚ but when these animals are slaughtered‚ it can spread across the meat.All sounds a bit icky‚ so…Should you wash chicken before cooking it?No‚ you should not wash chicken before cooking it. The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention states that “raw chicken is ready to cook and doesn’t need to be washed first”. Bacteria lingering on the meat’s surface will be destroyed in the process of cooking‚ which is why eating raw chicken is never a good idea – no matter how many times some guy hoofing the pink stuff online tells you it's fine.Not only is washing chicken unnecessary‚ but you run the risk of making your chance of infection higher by splashing all that uncooked chicken juice around your sink – something that already happens if we handle chicken and don’t wash our hands properly.Are there really that many people washing chicken?Washing chicken before cooking is such a widespread and potentially dangerous culinary behavior that scientists even tried to tackle the issue head-on.“We wanted to know what effect an educational intervention would have on getting people to stop washing poultry before cooking‚ and what effect any resulting change in behavior might have on reducing contamination in the kitchen‚” explained Ellen Shumaker‚ corresponding author of the study and an extension associate at North Carolina State University. “We also wanted to get a better idea of how‚ if at all‚ washing poultry actually led to increased contamination in the kitchen.”Participants were challenged with preparing a chicken salad using meat contaminated with a harmless strain of E. coli. The test kitchen was then swabbed to see how far the bacteria had spread. It revealed that when it comes to handling meat‚ the real crux is remembering to wash your hands‚ as both the washers and non-washers in the study were found to have contaminated the kitchen surfaces.In the study‚ 35 percent of participants washed or rinsed their chicken. As for the motivation behind chicken scrubbing‚ 30 percent of participants reported that they did it to remove blood and slime‚ and 19 percent did it because their family members wash their chicken.Want to stay healthy? Save yourself a job‚ and water‚ and just cook the damn chicken.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

With the lone possible exception of Friday‚ Monday marked perhaps the week’s lone White House press briefing and Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan certainly made waves for his decidedly anti-Israel pivot to help his boss President Biden stave off further hemorrhaging of pro-Hamas Arab voters (such as arguing Jews meddle in U.S. elections) and telling Peter Doocy his question was akin to the phrase “when did you stop beating your wife”. The question that drew Sullivan’s pompous bit concerned an NBCNews.com story about how Biden has reportedly felt increasingly angry about the state of his reelection fight. Doocy relayed one passage revealed that “when President Biden was told his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas was starting to affect his poll numbers‚ the quote is‚ ‘he began to shout and swear.’”     “So‚ when he does that‚ is he shouting and swearing about Netanyahu or about Hamas or about his poll numbers‚” Doocy asked. The snide foreign policy hack immediately went personal: “This is the ‘when did you stop beating your spouse’ question because I don’t think he ever did that.” Reacting as most would to this sudden turn‚ Doocy reacted with an incredulous look on his face and an‚ “excuse me?” Of course‚ no one followed up on Sullivan’s arrogant answer that runs counter to the years of reporting about Biden having a less-than-clean mouth: [W]ell‚ you — you used that as the premise of your question‚ which is when he does that‚ he — I’ve never seen him do that. Shout or swear in response to that. So‚ from my perspective‚ that particular report is not correct. Doocy’s other question prior to this was relatively benign: “Why did President Biden wait so long — why did he let 32 days pass between phone calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu?” Sullivan brushed this aside‚ arguing “our teams are in contact every single day at every level” with Biden being briefed “daily — twice daily‚ sometimes nine times daily update on what is going on‚ and he reserves his calls for the prime minister for when he believes there’s a key strategic moment that needs to come forward” and “has never declined a phone call from Prime Minister Netanyahu.” The Biden aide had assistance in peddling anti-Israel nonsense during the briefing‚ such as these questions wondering why America’s making it “so hard” to stand up to Israel‚ asking “[w]ho is responsible” for starving Gazans‚ and inquiring as to the Biden regime’s message to Muslims as they mark Iftar during “this particularly difficult year” (click “expand”): NADIA BILBASSY: The head of UNRWA‚ [inaudible] Lazzarini‚ said today that he was denied entry to Gaza‚ the day‚ as you mentioned‚ the report that Northern Gaza is facing imminent famine. So‚ is this an issue that you’re raising with the Israelis? And on another question‚ there is 5‚000‚ according to the ICRC‚ prisoners that’s been missing. Nobody knows anything about them. They’re being held by the Israelis‚ including doctors and journalists‚ and the arrest of one of our colleagues at Al Jazeera this morning as well. What can you do to push the Israelis to at least declare where are these prisoners so their families know where they are? Because most of them‚ according to our knowledge‚ there are civilians. (....) UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So‚ why is it that it seems so hard for this administration to stand up more firmly to Benjamin Netanyahu? He has been ignoring many of your requests. He’s now threatening to launch an offensive in Rafah and the answer from the White House so far has been pretty soft‚ and the U.S. are still sending weapons to Israel. So‚ it seems like there is a big cautiousness from the White House. (....) AURELIA END: Coming back to Israel and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are now — we have now 1 million people faced with the risk of starvation‚ and aid is not getting in at the levels necessary to help those people. Who is responsible for that? And during this call‚ has — was there any kind of commitment from the part of the Israeli Prime Minister to let more aid come into Gaza? (....) ANITA POWELL: [W]hat is the White House planning for Iftar this year? And what is your message to Muslim Americans about this particularly difficult year? Doocy’s Fox colleague Edward Lawrence had the penultimate exchange of the briefing with questions to the ever-inept Karine Jean-Pierre: “When will the President hold another news conference so we can ask a question of him without having helicopter noise or jet noise in the background?” Jean-Pierre fumbled her way through what should have been a simple no: I don’t have anything to — for you to share. Obviously‚ the president — President‚ As you just say — as you was [sic] just saying‚ the President takes questions pretty regularly‚ enjoys having engagement with all of you. I don’t have a press conference to lay out for you at this time. “But is there — is there talk of one‚” Lawrence wondered‚ to which Jean-Pierre doubled down. On a different topic‚ the press corps were so bent out of shape concerned about Gazans (and the Hamas members embedded in their population) that it took until the 29-minute mark (29:27) of the nearly 54-minutes briefing (53:49) for anyone to bring up the roughly 1‚000 Americans trapped in the hellscape that is Haiti. Worse yet‚ 12 reporters — ABC (x2)‚ AFP‚ Al-Arabiya‚ AP‚ Bloomberg‚ CBS‚ CNN‚ Reuters‚ Today News Africa‚ The Washington Post‚ Wall Street Journal‚ and one we couldn’t identify — passed on Haiti. Thankfully‚ NBC’s Allie Raffa broke that by raising this concern to Sullivan (click “expand”): RAFFA: The State Department announced this weekend that more than 30 Americans had been evacuated from Haiti‚ but they were evacuated from a northern city‚ not Port-au-Prince. And today‚ the State Department said that more than a thousand U.S. citizens have reached out asking about their options for departing the island. Are there plans for the U.S. to do more specifically out of the Port-au-Prince area? SULLIVAN: So‚ first‚ my understanding is that more than 1‚000 Americans have been in touch with the embassy to seek more information. Some number of those have asked for information about departing. Others have asked for information about how to remain safely or‚ if they choose to depart in the fu — in the future‚ how they might do so. So‚ the thousand is really a broad universe that encapsulates a number of different categories. Second‚ as you noted‚ we did have our first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haïtien. More than 30 U.S. citizens were on it. And we will look to continue to operate out of Cap-Haïtien for people to be able to leave from there and then‚ third‚ of course‚ if we determine that there is a secure way to move American citizens who want to leave Haiti out of the Port-au-Prince airport or out of some other route‚ we will do so. There’s active planning for that. There’s a- — active analysis of — of the risks of doing so. But we will stay in close touch with every American citizen who wants to be in touch with us in Haiti and continue to look for options to ensure their safe passage out of the country should they choose to leave. To see the relevant transcript from the March 18 briefing (including an important question about White House/Big Tech coordination from ABC’s Selina Wang in light of a Supreme Court case argued Monday)‚ click here.

The Monday edition of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! unwittingly revealed a truth about comedy shows: you can’t trust their man on the street segments. This particular segment saw the show head to South Carolina for a Trump rally in attempt to portray Trump supporters as stupid‚ but the interviewer disallowed a correct answer because someone away from the microphone and camera already said it. The interviewer began by asking‚ “what is the supreme law of the land?” and none of the people being interviewed gave the correct answer: the Constitution. Likewise‚ nobody knew that there are 27 amendments to the Constitution.     She then asked “What are the first three words of the Constitution?” One man said “In God we trust‚” while another guessed‚ “Life‚ liberty‚ and happiness.” The second man’s friend then jumped in‚ “No‚ it's we the people.” The interviewer was not happy‚ ‘“Cause that guy said it walking past you. You heard. You cheated! You cheated like Joe Biden!”  The idea for the segment was that Trump supporters claim to want to make America great again and wrap themselves in the flag‚ so Kimmel wanted to know just how patriotic they really are. The joke was supposed to be that the answer is “not very‚” but the fact that the Trump supporter who was not shown on camera knew the answer to the basic question shows that Jimmy Kimmel Live! was cherry-picking who they did show on tape for the sake of the narrative. Furthermore‚ Biden supporters also wrap themselves in the flag‚ claiming that democracy itself is on the ballot this November. Why doesn’t Kimmel send someone to a Biden rally and see what kind of results he gets there? How many Jimmy Kimmel Live! viewers or Biden voters knew there are 27 amendments to the Constitution prior to the show putting the answer at the bottom of the screen? Surely the lack of civics education is not unique to one side. Here is a transcript for the March 18 show: ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live! 3/19/2024 11:48 PM ET FEMALE INTERVIEWER: We're out here today asking real Americans if they could pass the citizenship test. Do you think you could do it?  WOMAN 1: Sure.  MAN 1: Maybe.  GROUP OF YOUNG MEN: Easily.  FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Number one‚ what is the supreme law of the land?  MAN 2: I don’t know. MAN 3: No! MAN 4: Guns‚ liberty‚ and justice.  MAN 1: I have no idea.  MAN 5: We might fail the citizenship test. MAN 6: Good question. Well‚ I'm not going to answer that one right now.  FEMALE INTERVIEWER: How many amendments does the Constitution have?  MAN 1: Thirty-two. MAN 5: Thirty-two. WOMAN 2: Ten? MAN 7: No. I don't know.  WOMAN 1: 20-something I think. Maybe 13. I'm not real sure on that. I worry about number one and number two.  FEMALE INTERVIEWER: What are the first three words of the Constitution?  MAN 6: In God we trust.  FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Okay‚ so that's four.  MAN 8: Life‚ liberty‚ and happiness. Is that-- MAN 2: No‚ it's we the people.  FEMALE INTERVIEWER: 'Cause that guy said it walking past you. You heard. You cheated! You cheated like Joe Biden! 

If you love cats but have a cat allergy‚ things can be tough‚ especially if you want to live with a cat. Some people aren’t sure if they are allergic to cats‚ so it helps to know what signs would indicate that you might be allergic to felines. Of course‚ any health problems should be addressed by a medical professional‚ so if you suspect that you might have an allergy to cats‚ it’s important that you follow up with your doctor. If you’ve started spending time around a cat and you experience any of the signs below‚ it could very well mean you have a cat allergy. The 6 Signs of Cat Allergies 1. Runny Nose or Sneezing Some of the most common indicators of an allergy to cats is sneezing‚ stuffy nose‚ and runny nose. When you’re exposed to a cat‚ the allergens on the cat become airborne‚ whether it’s from the movement of the cat itself‚ or stirring up allergens in the environment. When these allergens become airborne‚ you breathe them in. In allergy sufferers‚ the body reacts to the presence of the allergen in the nasal passages‚ creating an increase in mucus production and stimulating sneezing in an attempt to remove it. Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock 2. Watery or Irritated Eyes Watery‚ red‚ and irritated eyes are also common signs of an allergic reaction to a cat. These reactions occur in a similar way to nasal irritation. The eyes come into contact with an allergen and a cascade of automatic responses occur in the body‚ causing the eyes to water. Red‚ itchy‚ or watery eyes are all the body’s way of attempting to flush allergens out of the eyes. 3. Skin Rash Histamine reactions to the presence of allergens can occur throughout the body‚ leading to a slew of allergy indicators. While skin rashes and irritation may not be as common as the previous allergy signs‚ they are very common for people with a cat allergy who come into physical contact with a cat. Rashes are likely to worsen with longer contact with the cat‚ so it’s important for someone who suspects or knows they have a cat allergy to wash their skin where the cat contacted them‚ as well as put on clean clothes after handling a cat. Image Credit: Stock-Asso‚ Shutterstock 4. Facial Pain This allergy sign may not sound like something that could happen simply by being exposed to a cat‚ but it actually makes perfect sense. Since exposure to the cat allergen causes multiple reactions within the sinuses of the face‚ like runny nose and sneezing‚ the sinuses may become irritated or inflamed. When this happens‚ it can lead to facial pain‚ especially just above the inner corners of the eyebrows and on both sides of the face beside the nose‚ which is where large sinuses reside. 5. Coughing or Wheezing Coughing and wheezing occur for the same reasons as the nasal and eye reactions. Exposure to the allergen within the respiratory system creates a reaction within the body that causes coughing. However‚ wheezing can also occur when exposed to an allergen. This is because the histamine released by the body to fight the allergen also causes the airways to become irritated and inflamed‚ causing them to become smaller. On top of that‚ there is an increase in mucus production as the body attempts to “trap” and expel the allergen. This increase in mucus within constricted airways can lead to wheezing‚ which can occur on a spectrum from mild to severe. Image Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya‚ Unsplash 6. Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that can lead to death very quickly if left untreated. This is an indicator of a very severe allergy‚ and for people with an allergy this severe‚ the risk of being around a cat is far too dangerous for them. Anaphylaxis causes the airways to completely constrict‚ causing the person to begin suffocating. While there is a component of anaphylaxis that is caused by reactions within the respiratory system‚ it’s actually a multi-organ reaction that is mediated by a variety of factors and responses within the body. No matter the cause‚ anaphylaxis is always considered an emergency. Fortunately‚ this type of reaction to cats is extremely rare. What Causes Cat Allergies? There is a common misconception that people with allergies to cats are allergic to their hair‚ but this isn’t actually the case. Allergies are a response to proteins‚ so what people are actually allergic to is the cat’s dander (dead skin cells)‚ as well as their saliva and urine. When the human body is exposed to an allergen‚ a histamine reaction occurs. This means that the body’s immune system kicks into overdrive and begins desperately trying to flush the allergen from its system. Allergies‚ as we know them today‚ don’t serve an essential function of any kind for people; they are simply the body overreacting to the presence of an allergen. It is also worth noting that different cats can produce different protein profiles. That means that some people will be allergic to some cats‚ but not all of them. If you’re thinking of adding a cat to the family‚ it is worth spending time with them to see if they trigger any allergy signs first. Image Credit: Elya Vatel‚ Shutterstock Can Cat Allergies Be Treated? In some people‚ the more they are exposed to an allergen‚ the less severe the reaction becomes. For others‚ the opposite is true. If you have your heart set on a cat‚ talk to your doctor about allergy testing and the best ways to alleviate your signs. There are plenty of options available‚ from antihistamines to immunotherapy. Apart from treating the allergies themselves‚ there are a number of ways to reduce the allergen load around your home: Keep cats out of your bedroom Vacuum‚ vacuum‚ vacuum Regular grooming – preferably have a friend or family member do this task‚ or even book a regular appointment with a groomer. Although the allergy isn’t to their coat‚ less fur flying around will equal fewer airborne allergens Use air purifiers with HEPA filters Conclusion Dealing with having an allergy to cats can be a real bummer‚ but it’s extremely important to address your potential allergy instead of ignoring it. If you have any of these signs of an allergy to cats‚ make sure to talk to your doctor about management and treatment options. Although severe allergies will often mean that you cannot share your home with a feline friend‚ there are lots of ways to reduce allergens in the home‚ as well as options to relieve your allergy symptoms. Sources Pets‚ Dog and Cat Allergies | Symptoms &; Treatment | ACAAI Public Website Understanding the mechanisms of anaphylaxis – PMC (nih.gov) Featured Image Credit: Ground Picture‚ Shutterstock The post How Do I Know if I’m Allergic to Cats? 6 Signs to Look For (Vet Approved) appeared first on Pet Keen.

Former President Donald Trump is suing ABC News and network anchor George Stephanopoulos for defamation.Last week‚ Stephanopoulos claimed on ABC News' "This Week" that Trump has been found "liable of rape." Stephanopoulos repeated the assertion more than 10 times during an interview in which he tried to use the history of Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) as a rape victim to shame her for endorsing Trump.But Trump has never been found liable of rape.Last year‚ a New York civil jury found Trump liable of "sexual abuse" for allegedly assaulting E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s (Carroll cannot remember the exact year it happened). Importantly‚ the jury specifically found Trump not liable for rape.Now‚ Trump is trying to hold ABC News and Stephanopoulos accountable for purportedly defaming him."[Stephanopoulos'] statements were and remain false‚ and were made by Defendant Stephanopoulos with actual malice or with a reckless disregard for the truth given that Defendant Stephanopoulos knows that these statements are patently and demonstrably false‚" argued a 20-page lawsuit filed in federal court Monday on behalf of Trump.The lawsuit argues that ABC News and Stephanopoulos committed defamation per se and defamation per quod. "[Trump] was accused [on ABC News] of engaging in rape‚ and that is‚ from our estimation‚ a clear defamatory statement that would meet the requirements of serving as a basis for a defamation per se claim‚" explained attorney Alex Brito‚ who is representing Trump in the matter.ABC News is declining to comment on the matter.Trump has previously tried to litigate this very issue.Last year‚ Trump claimed that Carroll defamed him when she declared on CNN the day after a civil jury found Trump liable of sexual abuse that Trump had "raped" her. But a judge dismissed Trump's counterclaim because he found that Carroll's comments were "substantially true." The civil jury's verdict‚ the judge ruled‚ "establishes‚ as against Mr. Trump‚ the fact that Mr. Trump 'raped' her‚ albeit digitally rather than with his penis. Thus‚ it establishes against him the substantial truth of Ms. Carroll's 'rape' allegations."The ruling raised questions precisely because Trump has never been criminally convicted of rape — let alone charged with the crime — and because the civil jury found Trump not liable for rape.Importantly‚ Trump maintains his innocence to this day.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!