Articles written by Erin Byers

What is Helium

About me - Erin Byers

Writing is just one of my many passions. Photography ties for first. I am a combat medic in the Army, and I currently work in the medical research field. I have a menagerie of interests and hobbies. Photography, paintball, traveling, animals, medical science,

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Pets & Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians Introduction to pythons: 2 of 11
What is thirty-three feet long, hunts by ambush, and is brown and black all over? Do you give up? The answer is a Python reticulatus, commonly known as the reticulated python. It is also considered to be the world's longest snake! The reticulated python is just one of many species of snake belonging to the Pythonidae family. ... More..
Pets & Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians Discovery of soft shell turtles: 1 of 5
Anyone that has seen a soft shell turtle knows that this is not the stereotypical turtle. Soft shell turtles lack the hard shell that their relatives possess. Hard shells, or carapaces, are covered by hard plates called scutes. Keratin, the same material that is found in human hair and nails, is what these hard plates consist... More..
Pets & Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians Snake facts: Why snakes have scales: 2 of 9
Ponder this question, "Do snakes have skin or scales?" References to "snake skin" are commonplace, yet snakes appear scaly. In fact, snakes have both skin and scales! Scales essentially grow out of the snake's skin, covering their entire body. Scales are what we see when we look at a snake, and what gives each species their i... More..
Health & Fitness > Vitamins & Dietary Supplements The benefits of vitamin B-12: 1 of 3
The world of vitamins seems to be a complex alphabet comprised of strange letter and number combinations. In a sense, it is a complex alphabet. Vitamin B12, one of the eight B vitamins (yes, eight), is a water-soluble vitamin that aids in metabolism and in the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It also plays an important r... More..
Pets & Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians Interesting facts about alligators: 6 of 13
Do you know the origin of the word alligator? A lot of people think of a voracious swamp dwelling reptile. The word alligator was actually derived from the Spanish word, el legarto, which means the lizard. When Spanish settlers came to Florida, they encountered a large, unfamiliar reptile which they believed to be a huge liza... More..
Pets & Animals > Rodents Mongolian gerbil: Natural habitat: 2 of 4
Walk into any local pet store and you will see an array of rodents available to choose as a pet: hamsters, Guinea Pigs, mice, and gerbils. Do you ever wonder where these animals live in the wild? Definitely not in your backyard! Gerbils are popular pets, and the most common type is the Mongolian Gerbil. We can thank Dr. Victo... More..
Health & Fitness > Healthy Cooking & Meal Planning How to eat the right fats: 6 of 11
Did you know that each gram of fat contains 9 calories? Heart disease is the number 1 killer of Americans. It is possible that these facts cause many to avoid eating fats completely. Avoiding fats altogether is not a healthy option. Fats are necessary in order for our bodies to function properly. Fats are essential in the pro... More..
Style & Beauty > Jewelry Ethnic tribal jewelry: Add some tribal tradition to your style: 4 of 7
Wood? Bone? Animal hair? These are not common items that would consider wearing around their neck or dangle from their ears. These items seem to be of no value to most people. However, these items have been fashioned into symbolic and meaningful jewelry for centuries. These items, along with leather, shells, metal, and beads,... More..
Pets & Animals > Rodents Tips for raising pet mice: 4 of 5

Mice, oftentimes considered pests, are almost irresistible when perusing the cages of a pet store. They are small, furry critters with interesting personalities. Mice fit into many people's budget, as they are less expensive to purchase than most other pets in the store. Here are some tips to get you started as the proud owne... More..