The Hedgehog in My Honey

Scattered items they may seem, but they have something in common. I collected the item and put them in the figure shown below:

The image shows chestnuts and a chemical molecule both looking like a hedgehog. The amazing thing is that the molecule also functions the way a hedgehog protects itself. The story of the fox and hedgehog is alive. The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing- how to protect itself from the predators such as foxes. As soon as a fox gets near a hedgehog it shall stay back because the hedgehog will show shoot up its scaring prickly spines. The predator stays away.

Some plants use same strategy to protect themselves. They roll-up like a hedgehog does.

But what does this buzz have to do with all this info? The next section shall reveal the analogy. Now, a Cornell food scientist has identified an antimicrobial compound in a honey that makes it a promising candidate as a natural preservative to prevent food-borne illness and food spoilage. This amazing compound has the shape of what the authors describe as a rotary hair brush. The unique chemical structure of the compound allows it to create hairpins, which are then twisted into a helical structure. These pins are aggressive and can penetrate the membranes of other bacteria and thus creating a passage for itself. They work as a hedgehog does by piercing the enemy. To me they look like a helical hedgehog.

Honey has many more secrets remain to be uncovered. Its healing power reminds us to be real bees and realize that we too have great potentials to be discovered. Instead of cheating the quality of honey, let us mine out the valuable secrets hidden in the golden drops. Another lesson is the to appreciate the unity of our universe. Honey, plants and hedgehogs defend themselves using same strategy. Are they talking to each other?

I dedicate this post to Sara Jacobovici for her continuous support and prompting me to write and keep on writing. Her inspiration goes beyond description.