Mantis shrimp rushed
The mantis shrimp, which is the same as the pippi shrimp commonly found on the table, has a skill comparable to that of empty-handed crushed stones. Its front claws are extremely strong and powerful, not only can it crush the shellfish, but it can even break through the glass fish tank without being damaged. Biologists at the University of Massachusetts in the United States have discovered the secret. It turns out that the mantis shrimp can instantaneously accelerate to 80 kilometers per hour when encountering a hunting object, and then crash into each other with the momentum of no less than a bullet. In addition, the collision site of the mantis shrimp can be divided into 3 layers, and its special components can withstand the impact of huge forces on the one hand, and on the other hand, it can limit the spread of cracks when fragmentation occurs, so as not to cause serious injury. This principle is expected to be used to make lighter, stronger military and medical materials.
By 2100, emperor penguins could be reduced by 80%
Biologists predict that by 2100, the antarctic emperor penguin population could decrease by 80 percent. At present, there are 3,000 pairs of emperor penguin couples breeding in pairs, but by 2100, as the climate warms and the ice melts, the number of emperor penguin couples may drop to 500 to 600 pairs. The researchers used 20 climate models to predict the fate of the emperor penguins, and found that the ice on the Surface of the Antarctic Ocean is likely to fade in the future during the key breeding period of the emperor penguins. Male emperor penguins incubate eggs on the surface ice for 62 to 66 days each year from May to June, while the female penguins go out to forage for food. Scientists warn that from 2040 onwards, the ice could begin to shrink, and the emperor penguin colony, which has nowhere to hatch eggs, could face collapse.
Can a blind chameleon still change color?
Chameleons can change color as their environment changes, but how do they change their color by sensing changes in their environment? Isn't it through the eyes?
It is true that chameleon discoloration may not need to observe its surroundings through its eyes, but rather by its body sensing the temperature, sunlight, humidity, etc. around it to change color, and many amphibians also have this ability. For example, a certain frog, put it in the bright place body color will become brighter, and then put it in the dark place body color will become darker, this is because a melatonin in the frog body can perceive light and shade.
Data suggest that animal discoloration is mainly controlled by the nervous system and endocrine system, and the specific circumstances vary according to species. The body color of the squid is mainly controlled by the nervous system, and stimulation of the nervous system can cause changes in body color.
Some cephalopod salivary glands secrete serotonin, which helps control pigment cells. The chameleon's ability to change body color depends entirely on the pigment cells within the surface layer of the skin, which are controlled by the nervous system.
So, if you blindfold chameleons, they should also be able to change color.
Ann can tell if I'm male or female
Squids are one of nature's favorite cross-dressing creatures, and they can adjust the color of their skin to make them close to their surroundings, and they can take on different patterns on both sides of their bodies. This is mainly due to the large number of pigment cells in its skin. But it wasn't until recently that ecologists at McGill University in Sydney discovered that male squids actually have the ability to dress up as men and women. After diving to photograph 108 groups of squid living in sydney harbour waters, the researchers found from the photos that if there is a female squid and a male squid in the living community, then for more than 40% of the time, the male squid as a third party will show a typical male pattern on the side of the female squid's body, and dress himself as a "little girl" on the side facing the male squid. This can help them achieve mating needs with minimal cost.
Cover of the sound of the wind
For male palm mantises, falling in love is a big thing that can lose their heads. If the female praying mantis happens to be hungry, it is very likely that she will treat the supplicant as a good meal to the door and bite off its neck. However, a team of researchers at University in Japan recently found that male praying mantises also have a good way to protect themselves. They are adept at using the opportunity of the wind blowing through the forest and the swaying branches to quickly approach the female mantis, during which the swaying of the leaves can mask the sound of the male mantis moving, thereby increasing its chances of success. Researchers point out that the ability to use the wind as a cover is not just for courtship, whether it is a female mantis or a male mantis, the speed of hunting will increase when the wind is loud.
The secret of the yak
Yaks can trudge on a plateau at an altitude of 4,500 meters, while ordinary cows struggle to survive. The results of the yak genome sequencing study reveal the secret. A team led by the School of Life Sciences at Lanzhou University found that yaks and common cattle did not diverge until 4.9 million years ago. Three genes unique to the yak allow it to better adapt to hypoxia at high altitudes, while the other five genes help the yak maximize its energy from food, thereby reducing the impact of highland food scarcity. The researchers hope that in-depth study of these key genes could help humans find new treatments to prevent altitude sickness.
Dinosaurs offload
Although dinosaurs are behemoths, they may not be as stupid and bulky as previously thought. A research team led by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom has developed a new dinosaur weight estimation technology based on the weight measurement results of 14 existing large mammals. Using the new estimation method, the bulky, 26-meter-long long-necked dragons in the dinosaur world may weigh a little more than 23 tons, rather than the previous estimate of about 80 tons. This means that the giant dinosaurs may be lighter and faster than people think.
Learn about birds and reduce accidents
A team of researchers has tested how birds react to a model aircraft to study how to avoid fatal bird strikes. To avoid such incidents, they argue, security officials need to understand the bird's perspective. Although the size of birds is not worth mentioning compared to large aircraft, birds can cause damage to aircraft and even cause them to crash. The study notes that glowing may be a crucial factor in avoiding fatal impacts.
The key to this research is to recognize that birds see the world differently than humans. For example, the Canadian black goose has a wide lateral field of view,
This means that they can see the sides of their heads, and they can see ultraviolet light, but humans can't see this light.
The research team, led by Bradley Blackwell, a wildlife scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, studied Canadian black geese. The FAA received the most reports of aircraft impact incidents between 1990 and 2010, with the birds being the most numerous. They looked at the aircraft from the perspective of a black goose and used their existing knowledge of the black goose vision system to analyze the visual characteristics of the model aircraft.
They found that Canadian black geese reacted most quickly to approaching model aircraft with alternating flashing lights. At the same time, black geese are slow to react to planes without flashes and planes that mimic birds of prey.
Finally, they recommended adding a device on the plane that can emit ultraviolet rays to warn the black geese.
Bird crashes can have disastrous consequences, and not all accidents have been as lucky as the 2009 Hudson River Miracle.
A commercial plane taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport collided with a flock of geese and landed safely on the Hudson River.
According to the U.S. Bird Collision Commission, more than 219 people worldwide have died in wildlife and aircraft impacts since 1988.
The researchers note that while efforts have been made to keep geese and other birds away from airports, there have been few measures to keep birds away from the plane after it has taken off. They hope their research will help solve this problem.
They warned that the radio-controlled model aircraft used in the experiment was smaller and slower than normal, and that the geese used for the test were not wild geese in flight.
Still, they note that studying how birds perceive and react to airplanes can significantly improve the effectiveness of using the aircraft's luminescence to avoid birds colliding with each other.
There are no birds in the wheat fields
Many European poets have praised the lark's melodious voice in their works, but as an integral part of pastoral life, country birds are rapidly moving away from humans. According to the results of the European Bird Monitoring Project, the population of 36 representative country birds has shrunk by almost 50% since 1980, equivalent to the loss of 297 million birds. In the case of larks, for example, the total number has decreased by at least 37 million compared to 30 years ago. The researchers point out that the intensification and specialization of farmland cultivation, the shrinking of shrublands and the marginalization of natural habitats, changes in crop varieties and farming practices, and the extensive application of fertilizers and pesticides are all important factors threatening the survival of rural birds.