Spirit Magazine - September 2013 - (Page 37)

The Numbers PHoTograPHY © Ben WeLSH/CorBIS Electric eels generate enough juice to power 10 lightbulbs. That’s about 600 volts—or five times the electricity you’ll get from a wall socket. How does such a slowmoving fish unleash all that energy? “It has specialized organs that contain thousands of electrically excitable cells, each of which can produce 100 to 150 millivolts,” says Bruce Carlson, a biology professor at Washington University in St. Louis. “When the eel feels threatened or is hunting prey, it triggers all of the cells simultaneously, creating a surge capable of lighting up a Christmas tree.” Despite what you’ve seen in cartoons, there is no glow involved, only subtle twitches. You’d be twitchy, too, if you were habitually misidentified. It turns out the electric eel isn’t an eel at all—it’s a knifefish. Shocking, right? september 2013 spirit 37

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - September 2013

Contents
Gary's Greeting
Gary's Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
The Numbers
Business
Chomp, Chomp
"Are You Famous Amos?"
Health
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products and Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards Partners
Route Map
The "If" List

Spirit Magazine - September 2013