Indefatigable

Karnazes has run 135 miles through Death Valley

Dean Karnazes is an indefatigable runner. His feats include running 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days, running 350 miles in 81 hours (nonstop), and running a marathon to the South Pole at -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Karnazes had not run since high school when on his 30th birthday, while drinking at the bar, he suddenly decided to set out and run 30 miles.

Indefatigable (pronounced “in-dih-FAT-ih-gə-bəl”)

Incapable or seemingly incapable of being fatigued; tireless.

Synonyms

unflagging, unremitting, pertinacious

Source

Wikipedia: Dean Karnazes

Pertinacious Athletes

Race Across America starting line

Race Across America is an event for only the most pertinacious competitors. In about 10 days, bicyclists ride from California to New Jersey, only sleeping an hour or two each night. The adversities they ride through are incredible; some riders’ necks give out, and they tape their heads up just to see forward. Their skin is often worn raw by sand and wind. Hallucinations are common. Past competitor Jure Robic recalls how he saw all kinds of objects as monsters and zombies; during the final stretch he thought he was being chased by Afghan horsemen — a hallucination which quickly spread to his team when he yelled “Hurry up, they’re shooting at us!”.

Pertinacious (pronounced “per-tn-AY-shəs”)

1.*Holding tenaciously to a purpose, belief, opinion, or course of action.
2. Stubbornly or perversely persistent.

Synonyms

tenacious, unflagging, resolute

Source

Radiolab: Limits, Photo by: Kayvz

Pullulating with Bacteria

Bacteria Colony

Every day objects usually contain a lot of germs; shopping cart handles, ATM buttons, and remote controls all teem with bacteria. An office phone has about 25,000 germs per square inch. Yet an oft-overlooked source is the kitchen sink, which typically pullulates with around 500,000 bacteria per square inch on the drain. This still isn’t as bad as some school drinking fountains, where researchers have found up to 2.7 million bacteria per square inch on their spigots.

Pullulate (pronounced “POOL-yə-layt”)

1. To put forth sprouts or buds; germinate.
2. To breed rapidly or abundantly.
3. To teem; swarm: a lagoon that pullulated with tropical fish.

Source

USA Today, Photo by: kaibara87

Slake Your Thirst

Want a healthy drink? Slake your thirst with green tea and a dash of lemon. A study at Purdue found that citrus juice increases catechin absorption (green tea’s main antioxidant) by 500% in simulated digestion.

Slake (pronounced “SLAYK”)

1. To satisfy (a craving); quench: slaked her thirst.
2. To lessen the force or activity of; moderate: slaking his anger.
3. To cool or refresh by wetting or moistening.
4. To combine (lime) chemically with water or moist air.
5. To undergo a slaking process; crumble or disintegrate, as lime.

Source

Purdue: Citrus juice, vitamin c…, Photo by: »dolfi«

Salubrious Room Views

The health benefits of being around plants are well documented. Occupants of especially verdant buildings have higher blood-oxygen levels, fewer respiratory symptoms, and greater productivity than on average. It turns out that merely seeing nature can also have a salubrious effect. A 1984 study under psychologist Roger Ulrich found marked differences in the success of gallbladder surgery patients depending on the quality of their room views. Patients with a view of deciduous trees had significantly shorter post-operative stays, lesser need for painkillers, and fewer complications such as severe headache and nausea than those who faced a plain brick wall.

Salubrious (pronounced “sə-LOO-bree-əs”)

Conducive or favorable to health or well-being.

Synonyms

salutary, bracing, wholesome

Source

The Geography of Bliss (pg. 36)