May 22, 2016 at 02:25AM

Today I Learned: 1) The lac repressor protein, one of the best-studied and most widely-used repressor proteins in biology, operates at *extremely* low copy number, averaging around 10 proteins per bacteria. 2) We now know the details of photosynthesis in somewhat shocking detail, but have you ever wondered how we first learned things like the ratios of the different molecules used and produced in photosynthesis? The first such experiments were performed by putting leaves under water in specially-designed apparatuses that could capture gasses produced and measure their volumes/mass quite accurately. By adding different substances to the water, 18th century scientists could figure out what chemicals were required for photosynthesis (which released oxygen, which they could measure). 3) Star Trek fact: If you're familiar with Star Trek, you've probably seen the Klingon Bird-of-Prey. A lot. It's been the go-to Klingon ship design ever since Star Trek III. Today I learned that the Bird-of-Prey was concepted behind-the-scenes as a stolen *Romulan* vessel by the creators of Star Trek III, and it was assumed to be Romulan for some time. Why? I think because they wanted a ship that didn't look like Klingon ships from the TV series or the first movie, so they decided to make it not Klingon. You know, because each species in the galaxy has one ship. Except humans. Because we're special.