WEIRD SCIENCE 
							
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		French, Spanish and Japanese are spoken faster than German, Vietnamese and Mandarin, with English somewhere in the middle. Aaron Amat/iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Michelle Devereaux, Professor of English and English Education, Kennesaw State University And by Chris C. Palmer, Professor of English, …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Female pearl octopus nest at the Octopus Garden off California. Credit: © 2019 MBARI – By Amanda Kahn, Assistant Professor of Invertebrate Ecology at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San José State University And by Jim Barry, Marine Ecologist, MBARI, San José State University …	
	        
        				
						
			            			
																												
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Shelter animals often display problematic behaviors. Can they be retrained? Shlomit Flaisher-Grinberg – By Shlomit Flaisher-Grinberg, Associate Professor of Psychology, Saint Francis University   Published: 2023 Aug 24 – Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		New findings offer insight into male reproduction and other markers such as cancer risk.  Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Aug 23 – In what might be a surprise for some, the male sex chromosome is far more complex than its female counterpart. This …	
	        
        				
						
			            									
																						
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		The microscopic larvae the trial participants were inoculated with.  James Cook University  View gallery – 4 images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Aug 21 – For many, the idea of having a few dozen hookworms set up shop in your gut sounds more like …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Researchers have developed a device made from plant materials that removes microplastics from water.  Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Aug 16 – Researchers may have found an effective, green way to remove microplastics from our water using readily available plant materials. Their device …	
	        
        				
						
			            															
																
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Scientists may soon be able to tell who’s in this family unit with only footprint detective work.  Depositphotos  View gallery – 3 images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Aug 20 – With grim predictions that all polar bears may be wiped off the planet …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		While apples aren’t considered a superfood, they are considered a functional food. Caterina Oltean/500px Prime via Getty Images – By Janet Colson, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science, Middle Tennessee State University Published: 2023 Aug 10 – We’ve all heard that an apple …	
	        
        				
						
			            																					
										
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		A spider seemingly defeated by a parasitic fungus. Roberto García-Roa, who won another category, scored the runner-up in the “Plants and fungi” category with this image.  Roberto García-Roa  View gallery – 9 images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Aug 17 – They’re not always …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Dogs are particularly good at detecting disease with their keen sense of smell.  Depositphotos.  View gallery – 4 images – By Paul McClure 2023 Aug 15 – It’s been estimated that dogs smell up to 10,000 times better than us. That’s in part because …