Today I am writing about the lung condition of pleurisy.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura—the thin layers of tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the inside of the chest. When these layers become inflamed, they can rub together as you breathe, causing sharp chest pain.

The main symptom is a sharp or stabbing pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply, cough or sneeze. The pain may spread to your shoulder or back. You may also have a cough, fever or breathlessness, depending on the underlying cause.

Chest pain is not something to self-diagnose. Other conditions, including a blood clot in the lung or a heart problem, can cause similar symptoms.

I could not find any figures about how common it is.

How do you get this well it often follows a viral infection, but it can also be linked to pneumonia, autoimmune conditions or other illnesses. Finding the cause matters because treatment depends on what is triggering the inflammation.

How is it treated you wonder well a healthcare professional may examine your chest and arrange tests, such as a chest X-ray or blood tests. Treatment may involve pain relief and treatment of the underlying condition. Antibiotics are only useful when a bacterial infection is involved; they do not treat viruses.

Rest may help while you recover and of course take pain relief.

If you think you may have this seek prompt medical assessment for new or unexplained chest pain, even if it seems mild. Call your local emergency number for sudden or severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, or chest pain with sweating or pain spreading to your arm, jaw or back. Coughing up blood also needs urgent medical attention.

I decided to write a about about the South Pole, this is the southernmost point on Earth, located deep within Antarctica.

The South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth, located deep within Antarctica. It lies on a vast sheet of ice, surrounded by a frozen landscape that stretches towards the horizon. Unlike the North Pole, which sits over the Arctic Ocean, the South Pole rests on a continent. At this unique spot, every direction leads north.

The first team to reach the South Pole was led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. He arrived with four companions on 14 December 1911.

During the famous race to the South Pole, Robert Falcon Scott and his four companions reached the Pole but died on the return journey in 1912. Their deaths occurred after reaching their destination, not on the way there. Amundsen and his four companions all returned safely.

Life at the South Pole is shaped by extreme cold and unusual seasons. The sun stays above the horizon for roughly half the year, followed by months of darkness. The air is exceptionally dry, and the landscape has no trees or ordinary gardens. Although penguins are closely associated with Antarctica, they live mainly near the coast rather than at the South Pole itself.

Despite its remoteness, the South Pole is an important place for scientific research. Researchers at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station study the atmosphere, ice and universe. Their work helps us understand our planet and the space beyond it. The South Pole is more than a point on a map: it is a remarkable example of Earth’s extremes and humanity’s curiosity.

Today I am writing about two very old cats starting with Flossie, the oldest living cat in 2026, and Creme Puff, the oldest ever recorded

As of October 2026, Flossie is the oldest verified living cat. The British tortoiseshell was born on 29 December 1995, making her 30 years old. Guinness World Records first recognised her as the world’s oldest living cat in 2022.

Flossie lives in Orpington, England, with her owner, Victoria Green. Although she is deaf and has limited eyesight, she remains affectionate and enjoys eating, sleeping and gentle play.

The other one was Creme Puff, a domestic cat from Austin, Texas, is widely recognised as the oldest cat ever recorded. She was born on 3 August 1967 and lived until 6 August 2005—an extraordinary 38 years and 3 days.

She belonged to Jake Perry, who also cared for another exceptionally long-lived cat named Grandpa Rex Allen. Creme Puff’s lifespan was remarkable because most pet cats live for roughly 12 to 18 years, although some reach their twenties.

Her story is a reminder that genetics, attentive care, a safe home and regular veterinary support can all contribute to a cat’s wellbeing. Even so, reaching Creme Puff’s age remains exceptionally rare, which is why her record continues to capture the imagination of cat lovers around the world.

Here are this week’s links

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/10/sharing-my-world_01788353466.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/10/just-bit-of-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/10/tuesdays-four-on-thursday.html

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Today’s post is about huge herbivore dinosaurs can you imagine an animal longer than a bus, with a neck stretching towards the treetops and feet built to carry an enormous body. Some of the largest dinosaurs were herbivores: animals that ate plants rather than other animals. The biggest belonged to a group called sauropods, recognised by their long necks, long tails, small heads and four sturdy legs.

Among these giants were Argentinosaurus and Patagotitan, which lived in what is now Argentina during the Cretaceous Period. Estimates suggest that these enormous dinosaurs grew to around 30 metres or more in length and weighed many tens of tonnes. Their exact sizes remain uncertain because fossils are incomplete, and scientists must reconstruct much of their bodies from the bones available.

Other famous sauropods included Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus. Brachiosaurus had forelegs longer than its hind legs, giving its body a distinctive upward slope towards the shoulders. Diplodocus had a remarkably long tail and a more lightly built frame. Although both were huge plant-eaters, their different body shapes likely helped them feed in different ways.

Keeping such enormous bodies fuelled meant eating large quantities of vegetation. Sauropods used their teeth to crop or strip plants, generally swallowing their food without chewing it thoroughly. Their long necks allowed them to reach a wide area of vegetation without constantly moving their heavy bodies. Plant material was then processed in their digestive systems.

Not every large herbivore was a long-necked giant. Triceratops carried three horns and a broad bony frill, while Ankylosaurus had protective armour and a heavy tail club. These dinosaurs were smaller than the largest sauropods but still impressive animals. Together, they show that prehistoric plant-eaters came in many forms—from armoured browsers to some of the largest land animals ever to walk the Earth.