WEIRD NATURE

Storm clouds generate strange gamma radiation

An artist’s impression of the NASA research plane flying over thunderstorm systems to detect gamma ray emissions.  NASA/ALOFT team – By Michael Irving 2024 Oct 03 – Thor and the Hulk may be more closely related than we thought. Thunderstorms are known to produce …

 

Pathogenic microbes blown vast distances by winds, scientists discover

Living microbes that cause disease in humans and host antibiotic-resistance genes carried 1,200 miles. Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes diarrhea, was among pathogens found in airborne dust particles. Photograph: BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images – Microbiology – Damian Carrington Environment editor Last modified …

NASA discovers a new global energy field around Earth

An artist’s impression of the polar wind, which is produced by the newly discovered ambipolar electric field. NASA/Conceptual Image Lab/Wes Buchanan/Krystofer Kim – By Michael Irving 2024 Sep 01 – NASA scientists have discovered a third global energy field around Earth. Known as the …

Fungus learns to drive in “biohybrid” robots

A spider-shaped biohybrid robot is driven by natural impulses from a fungus. Cornell University – By Michael Irving 2024 Aug 31 – Autonomous vehicles are said to be safer than human drivers – but would you trust a mushroom behind the wheel? A new …