**Pineal** The pineal gland (sometimes referred to as the *third eye* - as it can be seen as a kind of atrophied photoreceptor) is a small endocrine gland located deep in the center of the brain. The role of this tiny organ was shrouded in mystery for a long time. René Descartes regarded the pineal gland as the seat of the soul and the place where all our thoughts formed. Its function was discovered last of the endocrine organs. It was only in 1958 (after the publication of this paper) that the hormone secreted by the pineal gland, melatonin (responsible for controlling the circadian rhythm), was first isolated.  *Pineal gland* *Evolution of the human spine in children:*  **Cantilever Bridge** A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using cantilevers, structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end. The first cantilever bridge was built in Germany in 1867.  *Diagram of the human hip:* / It is estimated that the evolution of human bipedalism began as far back as 12 million years ago. The coccyx may consist of three to five vertebrae, therefore an individual may have anywhere from 32 to 34 total vertebrae along the spine. Approximately 1 in 4 adults in the US suffer from varicose veins. Varicose veins happen when faulty valves in the veins allow blood to flow in the wrong direction or to pool.  *Diagram of varicose veins* *Diagram of the problematic vein crossing the author is talking about:*  The problematic area the author is referring is commonly known as the inguinal triangle (or Hesselbach's triangle). This area represents a area of potential weakness in the abdominal wall through which herniation commonly occurs.  More recent studies have further explored the so called Obstetric Dilemma, in other words, why is childbirth such a difficult process in humans - risky for both the mother and the fetus. A [study by Jonathan Wells et al.](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.22160) pointed out that evolutionary scars from adapting to walking upright might not explain the whole problem. The researchers found evidence that the switch from a protein rich Hunter-gatherer diet to a carbohydrate-rich farmer's diet might have caused an increase in childbirth mortality. The two main factors that they point to are: - A farming diet seems to be correlated with a shorter stature which itself is correlated with narrower hips - A farming diet rich in carbohydrates would yield larger and fatter babies. This would make babies harder to deliver. **Blue Baby Syndrome** Blue Baby Syndrome is a condition that affects babies which is characterized by an overall skin color of blue or purple tinge. The bluish appearance (caused by poorly oxygenated blood) is most noticeable where the skin is thin - lips, earlobes and fingertips. The most common reason for this syndrome is a congenital heart defect. The philosopher is Sir Richard Frances Burton, and this is an excerpt from "The Kasîdah of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî" (1880) [[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kasidah)]. Curiously, Burton claimed this was a translation of a Persian poem by Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî. In fact, no such person or poem existed, and Burton wrote the poem himself in order to share Sufist thought with a Western audience. An excerpt shortly before the quoted: > Two-footed beasts that browse through life, by Death to serve as soil design’d, Bow prone to Earth whereof they be, and there the proper pleasures find: > > But you of finer, nobler, stuff, ye, whom to Higher leads the High, What binds your hearts in common bond with creatures of the stall and sty? You can read the full poem at [Guternberg Project](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6036).