Category: Science

Owl’s About That? Owl Wings Inspire Quieter Airfoil Design

By sdmonitornews on January 25, 2022

The silent wings of an owl has inspired designers of aircraft wings, seeking to reduce noise pollution. (Wang and Liu)

Silent hunters show engineers how plane and turbine props can make less noise.
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Animals Environment Science

The Animals That Disperse Seeds Are Disappearing, Spelling Trouble For Vital Plants

By sdmonitornews on January 23, 2022

An American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) eats hawthorn berries, beginning a process that will eventually spread the plant's seeds locally. The loss of seed-dispersing animals endangers the spread of plants in response to a changing environment. (Paul D. Vitucci)

Extinction and habitat loss have reduced seed dispersal for plants that need to be carried to new ranges as climate changes.
The post The Animals That Disperse Seeds Are Disappearing, Spelling Trouble For Vital Plants appeared first on Zenger News.

Archaeology Environment Science

Risky But Rewarding Food Strategies Gave Early Humans More Free Time

By sdmonitornews on January 19, 2022

Hadza women share a meal of roasted tubers. Combining hunting and gathering with food sharing, group members can risk spending a lot of energy to find food knowing they won’t starve if they return to camp empty-handed, researchers say. (Herman Pontzer, Duke University)

The biggest evolutionary benefit of early human food strategies may have been all the free time.
The post Risky But Rewarding Food Strategies Gave Early Humans More Free Time appeared first on Zenger News.

Archaeology Arts & Culture Science

Experts Study Rare African Parchment In Search Of Clues About The Evolution Of Writing

By sdmonitornews on January 17, 2022

The first page of Vail manuscript MS17817 from the British Library. According to a linguistic expert, “Vai script of Liberia was created from scratch in about 1834 by eight completely illiterate men who wrote in ink made from crushed berries.” (The British Library, CC0/Zenger)

Vai script of Liberia, created from scratch around 1834, said to offer important insight.
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Animals Environment Science

Shellfish Ships: Antarctic Species Under Threat From Crabs And Barnacles Clinging To Ships

By sdmonitornews on January 16, 2022

Non-native species have been getting attached to ships such as the British Antarctic Survey research ship Ernest Shackleton for a ride to Antarctica, posing a threat to local species. (Lloyd Peck)

Hitchhiking invaders are among “the biggest threats” to native marine life.
The post Shellfish Ships: Antarctic Species Under Threat From Crabs And Barnacles Clinging To Ships appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Tarantula Discovered In Thailand Lives Its Best Life Inside Bamboo Stalks

By sdmonitornews on January 14, 2022

Found for the first time in the tropical forests of Thailand is Taksinus bambus, which is the first tarantula known to inhabit bamboo stalks. (JoCho Sippawat)

Related to other arboreal spiders of Southeast Asia, this tarantula makes silky nests high above the forest floor.
The post Tarantula Discovered In Thailand Lives Its Best Life Inside Bamboo Stalks appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Moon Shiver: Terrifying Truth That Shark Attacks Peak During Full Moon

By sdmonitornews on January 13, 2022

Full moons have been found to have an effect on sharks, with a higher incidence of shark attacks being recorded during these lunar periods. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

While it’s still unclear why, 50 years of global shark attack data show that more attacks occur under full moons.
The post Moon Shiver: Terrifying Truth That Shark Attacks Peak During Full Moon appeared first on Zenger News.

Health Care Science

Zika Virus Injection Destroys Brain Tumors In Mice, Study Finds

By sdmonitornews on January 13, 2022

Zika virus, a tropical disease mainly spread by mosquitos, isn’t normally fatal, or even severe, but can cause severe brain defects in fetuses when contracted by pregnant women. Now, researchers in Brazil have found that injecting Zika virus into mice with brain tumors destroys the cancer without causing neurological damage. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

New study on lab mice shows promise for treating cancer in babies.
The post Zika Virus Injection Destroys Brain Tumors In Mice, Study Finds appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Bowled Over: Goldfish Trained To Drive Their Mobile Tank

By sdmonitornews on January 11, 2022

In a recent experiment, six goldfish operated their own vehicle, proving that they were able to navigate even on land. (Ben-Gurion University)

Fish learned how to steer by adapting the way they swim, say scientists.
The post Bowled Over: Goldfish Trained To Drive Their Mobile Tank appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Archaeology Science

A Tall Story: Medieval Warhorses Were No Bigger Than Modern Ponies, Study Says

By sdmonitornews on January 11, 2022

Katherine Kanne examines a horse jawbone for a study on the size of destriers, or medieval warhorses. (University of Exeter)

A network of royal studs sought the varied characteristics needed for warhorses.
The post A Tall Story: Medieval Warhorses Were No Bigger Than Modern Ponies, Study Says appeared first on Zenger News.