Our understanding of the natural world around us is continually evolving, as new ideas and developments supersede those of the past. There were many unbelievable discoveries made in recent year that scientists are incredibly excited about. Including some, that could lead to significant advances in the fields of medicine and robotics.
Chimps Can Learn to Play Rock, Paper, Scissors
a Japanese study showed that chimpanzees have the ability to learn the rules of rock, paper, scissors and perform similarly to a four-year-old child. During the trials, the chimps took longer to learn the relationships between various combinations than children, who usually corrected their mistakes after one wrong choice. The chimps seemed to struggle particularly hard with the idea that scissors beat paper. The research team’s next goal is to teach chimpanzees how to play against one another.
Scientists Discover the Hidden City of Octlantis
The site, dubbed Octlantis, consists roughly of two dozen dens made out of rocks and shells. The cephalopods have been observed assembling together, communicating, and even fighting with each other when one octopus got too close to another one’s den. it is not exactly surprising to scientists, as octopuses consistently rank among the most intelligent animals in the world.
Marine Biologists Find the Spider-Man Snail
A newly-discovered marine snail is drawing comparisons to Marvel’s fictional superhero Spider-Man for its web-shooting abilities. First reported back in April, the worm-snail was named Thylacodes vandyensis after the location where it was discovered, an artificial reef made out of the USNS General Hoyt S. Vanderberg aka the Vandy.
Spider-Man Snail can shoot ultra-resistant spider webs. Any microorganisms that get stuck on the web are pulled in and strained through a filter-feeding system similar to that of baleen whales. It is possible the net also contains certain chemical agents that act as deterrents to predators.
Naked Mole-Rats Have Plant-Like Ability
The naked mole-rat is one of the most bizarre-looking mammals on the planet. This animal has a lifespan exceeding 30 years which is up to ten times longer than that of other rodents. The naked mole-rat has a variety of characteristics. As it turns out, the animal borrows a trick from plants.
The naked mole-rat’s body is capable of metabolizing fructose instead of glucose, a process which requires little to no oxygen. The resulting energy is delivered to vital areas such as the heart or the brain. A transporter molecule named GLUT5 is necessary for this process. While most mammals only have it in their liver and kidney, naked mole-rats have it throughout their entire bodies.
Fire Ants Build Their Own Eiffel Tower
A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology looks at fire ants and how they are capable of constructing tall structures out of their own bodies in order to navigate tall obstructions blocking their path. These ants can build towers which are several inches tall without a leader or coordinated effort through simple trial-and-error. Several researchers have noticed that the ant structures share multiple characteristics with the iconic Eiffel Tower. This is not the first time that fire ants proved their engineering prowess. Back in 2014, another study showed that they can also form rafts which are waterproof and can stay afloat for months.
Tuna Fish Improve Speed and Maneuverability Using Hydraulics
The giant tuna is one of the largest fish in the world, measuring hundreds of kilograms and up to 4.5m (15 ft) in length; it can still reach speeds exceeding 70 km/h (45 mph). The tuna can do this thanks to a newly-discovered locomotion system which is currently believed to be unique among vertebrates. The tuna has a special pair of sickle-shaped fins centered above and below the body powered by a biological hydraulic mechanism controlled by the lymphatic system. The tuna can move the fins at different angles in order to increase its speed or maneuverability through the water, depending on the situation. At high speeds, the fish raises the fins to their full extension by pushing lymph fluid into their channels, thus providing extra stability. At slow speeds, lowering the fins means that the tuna has increased agility and can turn on a dime.
Dragonfly Wings Rip Bacteria Apart
On a molecular level, the surface of dragonfly wings resembles a “bed of nails.” However, although initially we thought that this kind of mechanism kills bacteria by puncturing the cell wall, recent research suggests a different method. The bacterium first attaches itself to the nanopillars using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), natural polymers secreted by microorganisms. It gets stuck on the “nails” and, when it tries to move, the sheer force pulling on the EPSs is enough to rip the membrane apart.
Paleontologists Found an Amphibian Missing Link
Researchers have determined that two fossils belonging to a prehistoric creature represent the missing link between some of the most bizarre amphibians of the Triassic Period and some of the most bizarre amphibians today.
Named Chinlestegophis jenkinsi, the species represents the oldest relative of caecilians, a modern group of limbless amphibians. Found mostly in Africa and South and Central America, caecilians spend most of their time underground, making them very elusive and hard to study.
Monkeys Love Deer
One phenomenon which is exceedingly rare is interspecies sex. However, researchers observed this bizarre occurrence taking place between Japanese macaques and sika deer. The odd behavior was seen on two separate occasions, in two different places, between males and females of both species so it cannot be ruled an isolated incident. First, a male snow monkey was recorded mounting and trying to have sex with two different female deer on Japan’s Yakushima Island.
The second instance occurred in Minoh, Osaka. This time, gender roles were reversed as adolescent female macaques interacted with stags. The monkeys exhibited behavior such as mounting, pelvic thrusting, biting, pulling on the antlers, and throwing tantrums if the deer walked away.
Related Content
Bath timeCases of Animals Saving Humans from Certain DeathAnimal Races From Around the World
Leave your vote
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
