By: FSB Team
Valentine’s Day is all about love and devotion. Here are some fun facts about symbols and icons we associate with the holiday!
1. What is a turtle dove?
A longstanding symbol of love, European turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) are from the same bird family (Columbidae) as the pigeons on New York City streets. However, they are smaller than many other doves, weighing only 3-6oz.
Turtle doves are the only long-distance migratory dove species in Europe. They typically appear in Northern Europe at the end of April and then in September, they head to West Africa, where they spend the winter. Sadly, the species is on the list of endangered species. Their decline has been attributed to a combination of hunting and changing farming practices which have made the seeds and shoots they feed on scarcer. Fortunately, the population has started to grow following a hunting ban introduced in 2021.
2. What is broken heart syndrome?
Not only can a romance gone bad make you sad, but it can also affect your health. Broken heart syndrome (aka stress cardiomyopathy, takotsubo syndrome, or apical ballooning syndrome) is a weakening of the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber. According to Harvard Medical School, the syndrome is usually the result of severe emotional or physical stress, such as a sudden illness, the loss of a loved one, or a serious accident. More than 90% of reported cases are in women ages 58 to 75.
The syndrome briefly interrupts the way the heart pumps blood. A person suffering from broken heart syndrome may think they are having a heart attack, or they may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, cold sweats, or lightheadedness. Fortunately, the syndrome is temporary; most people recover with no long-term heart damage.
3. What conditions are required to form a diamond?
Diamond, one of the most iconic symbols of love, is the only gemstone containing a single element — Carbon. The presence of trace elements, such as nitrogen, sulfur, and boron can result in diamonds that are shades of yellow, green, and blue.
Extreme conditions are required for a diamond to form—725,000 pounds per square inch of pressure and a temperature of 2200 degrees Celsius. These conditions cause the carbon atoms to bond tetrahedrally, creating rigid three-dimensional crystals. Graphite, like diamond, is formed from crystallized carbon. However, it consists of stacked layers of graphene, a carbon allotrope consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
4. What are the health benefits of dark chocolate?
Chocolate is a Valentine’s Day staple, and as it turns out, dark chocolate can be good for your health. Dark chocolate and cocoa contain flavanols, which are compounds found in plants that have anti-inflammatory effects and act as antioxidants, protecting against cell damage caused by free radicals. Milk chocolate and white chocolate also have flavanols, but much lower levels. The higher the cocoa content, the more flavanols the chocolate contains. Research has shown that flavanols can improve brain function, reduce stress, and increase heart health. Researchers observed that most of the benefits related to chocolate consumption were associated with a cacao content of at least 70%. However, chocolate also contains fat and sugar, which can be detrimental to one’s health when consumed in excess, so it is best to enjoy chocolate as part of a balanced diet.
5. Why do roses have “thorns”?
Who can imagine Valentine’s Day without roses, a quintessential symbol of romance? These enduring symbols of love range from compact, miniature roses to climbing species over twenty feet tall. There are over three hundred species, most of which are native to Asia, but there are species native to Europe, North America, and Africa, as well.
Most roses have sharp growths along their stems which are commonly referred to as thorns, but they are actually prickles, which are outgrowths of the stem’s epidermis (thorns are modified stems). In 2024, a team of international researchers found that an ancient gene family known as Lonely Guy (LOG) which evolved 400 hundred million years ago is responsible for prickles on roses and other plants. The gene activates a hormone known as cytokinin which is important for functions on a cellular level, including cell division and expansion, which affects the plant’s growth.
Sources:
https://www.operationturtledove.org/turtle-doves/what-is-a-turtle-dove
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/takotsubo-cardiomyopathy-broken-heart-syndrome
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-heart-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354617
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-heart-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354617
https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/how-to-make-your-own-diamonds/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/your-brain-on-chocolate-2017081612179
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/roses/rose-facts/
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/01/science/rose-thorn-prickles-evolution-study/index.html
Featured Image Source: Francisroses
The Fieldston Science Bulletin 
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