Just Plain WEIRD #2
Unique physiology allows the Australian marsupial to produce square-shaped feces that may aid communication. Scientists believe the cube shape of the wombat’s poo may aid in communication, as spherical feces are more likely to roll away. Photograph: mlharing/Getty Images/iStockphoto – By Natasha May …
Every year, tens of millions of Americans collectively lose billions of dollars to scam callers. Where does the other end of the line lead? Photo illustration of a call center near Delhi, taken from a closed-circuit TV feed recorded by an anti-scam activist …
Our canine companions aren’t the only animals that may be capable of magnetoreception. A terrier fitted with GPS remote tracking device and camera (Kateřina Benediktová / Czech University of Life Sciences) – By Courtney Sexton SmithsonianMag.Com 2020 Jul 27 – Last week, Cleo …
A coat of sand makes an effective armor. Eric LoPresti, CC BY-SA – Author: Eric LoPresti, Assistant Professor of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Oklahoma State University 2021 Jan 20 – Imagine the texture of a plant. Many may come to mind – …
The grass has a bad rap in the U.S. as an invasive nuisance, but the plant can quickly sequester at least double—and maybe even six times—the amount of carbon as a similar stand of trees. Three species of farm-cultivated bamboo towering in Hawkinsville, …
Multiple queens ensure colonies have a steady output of workers. Ryan Reihart, CC BY-SA – By Ryan Reihart, Teaching Assistant and Ph.D. Candidate of Ecology, University of Dayton 2021 Jan 21 – The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. …
– By Megan Marples, CNN Updated 2021 Jan 19 – Bioluminescent insects have long fascinated scientists, but little is known about how these animals got their light abilities. A 99-million-year-old beetle recently discovered by researchers, however, unlocks a piece of the evolutionary puzzle, …
For 10 consecutive days, from 1/20/21 to 1/29/21, the days are all palindrome dates. – By Leah Asmelash, CNN 2021 Jan 20 – The next ten days are sure to be historic, and it’s not just because of the inauguration. Wednesday marks the …
Moose, a mixed-breed dog from the Nebraska Humane Society, trains in odor-detection work. Bill Cotton/CSU, CC BY-ND – By Glen J. Golden, Research Scientist/Scholar I, Colorado State University 2021 Jan 13 – Editor’s note: As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, scientists are …
If you stop a random person on the street in China, there’s a pretty good chance their surname would be either Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu or Chen. – By Jessie Yeung, CNN 2021 Jan 16 – That’s because those are the five most …
