ScienceDaily: Quirky - September 04, 2024
Top quirky research news
Gigantic asteroid impact shifted the axis of Solar System's biggest moon
Around 4 billion years ago, an asteroid hit the Jupiter moon Ganymede. Now, a researcher realized that the Solar System's biggest moon's axis has shifted as a result of the impact, which confirmed that the asteroid was around 20 times larger than the one that ended the age of the dinosaurs on Earth, and caused one of the biggest impacts with clear traces in the Solar System.
How bright is the universe's glow? Study offers best measurement yet
Over billions of years, the universe's stars and galaxies shined their light into space, leaving behind an imperceptibly faint night light known as the cosmic optical background. NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has traveled to the edge of Earth's solar system and captured the most accurate measurement of this glow to date.
Image: Hasby Hagid/Shutterstock.com
50-year generation gap in Minnesota's longest-lived fish
The bigmouth buffalo is a fish that's native to Minnesota and known for its longevity. Researchers wanted to find out more about the species, especially how they migrate, spawn, and how often their offspring live into adulthood.
New species of Antarctic dragonfish highlights its threatened ecosystem
A new species of Antarctic dragonfish, Akarotaxis gouldae or Banded Dragonfish, has been discovered in waters off the western Antarctic Peninsula. The species, named in honor of the recently decommissioned Antarctic research and supply vessel (ARSV) Laurence M. Gould and its crew, exemplifies both the unknown biodiversity and fragile state of the Antarctic ecosystem.
Doughnut-shaped region found inside Earth's core deepens understanding of planet's magnetic field
A doughnut-shaped region thousands of kilometers beneath our feet within Earth's liquid core has been discovered, providing new clues about the dynamics of our planet's magnetic field.
What a submerged ancient bridge discovered in a Spanish cave reveals about early human settlement
Geologists examined a submerged 25-foot bridge to tackle a long-lasting archaeological controversy: When humans settled on the islands in the western Mediterranean. Their findings narrow a historical gap between the settlement timelines of the eastern and western Mediterranean regions.
Dancing galaxies make a monster at the cosmic dawn
Astronomers have spotted a pair of galaxies in the act of merging 12.8 billion years ago. The characteristics of these galaxies indicate that the merger will form a monster galaxy, one of the brightest types of objects in the Universe.
Ancient gene gives spiders their narrow waist
An ancient gene is crucial for the development of the distinctive waist that divides the spider body plan in two, according to a new study.
Scientists discover how starfish get 'legless'
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about how sea stars (commonly known as starfish) manage to survive predatory attacks by shedding their own limbs. The team has identified a neurohormone responsible for triggering this remarkable feat of self-preservation.
Ancient sea cow attacked by a crocodile and sharks sheds new light on prehistoric food chains
A new study showing how a prehistoric sea cow was preyed upon by not one, but two different carnivores -- a crocodilian and a shark -- is revealing clues into both the predation tactics of ancient creatures and the wider food chain millions of years ago.
Supercomputer simulations reveal the nature of turbulence in black hole accretion disks
To understand the mysteries surrounding black holes, researchers at Tohoku University have created a simulation of accretion disk turbulence that possesses the highest-resolution currently available.
Land-sea 'tag-team' devastated ocean life millions of years ago reveal scientists
A 'tag-team' between the oceans and continents millions of years ago devastated marine life and altered the course of evolution on Earth, according to a new study. Scientists say a string of severe environmental crises which happened between 185 and 85 million years ago triggered mass extinctions among ocean-living species.
Researchers map 50,000 of DNA's mysterious 'knots' in the human genome
Innovative study of DNA's hidden structures may open up new approaches for treatment and diagnosis of diseases, including cancer.
Can fungi turn food waste into the next culinary sensation?
Fungi can transform plant and animal products into delicious foods like cheese, miso and beer. A researcher argues that a type of filamentous mold -- Neurospora intermedia -- could also turn food waste into culinary treats. Currently, only Indonesians have discovered this secret; they grow the mold on leftover soy pulp from making tofu to create oncom. A new study suggests that it can transform many types of food waste into novel and tasty foods.
This tiny backyard bug does the fastest backflips on earth
Move over, Sonic. There's a new spin-jumping champion in town -- the globular springtail (Dicyrtomina minuta). This diminutive hexapod backflips into the air, spinning to over 60 times its body height in the blink of an eye, and a new study features the first in-depth look at its jumping prowess.
How beetle juice led to the discovery of a virus and solved the mystery of a superworm die-off
Scientists have discovered a virus that caused a nationwide die-off of superworms, a common food for birds, reptiles, other pets and, more and more so, even for humans as an alternative protein source. In doing so, they pioneered a different way to search for and identify emerging viruses and pathogens in humans, plants and animals.
Dark matter could have helped make supermassive black holes in the early universe
Supermassive black holes typically take billions of years to form. But the James Webb Space Telescope is finding them not that long after the Big Bang -- before they should have had time to form. Astrophysicists have discovered that if dark matter decays, the photons it emits keep the hydrogen gas hot enough for gravity to gather it into giant clouds and eventually condense it into a supermassive black hole. In addition to explaining the existence of very early supermassive black holes, the finding lends support for the existence of a kind of dark matter capable of decaying into particles such as photons.
Bacterial cells transmit memories to offspring
Bacterial cells can 'remember' brief, temporary changes to their bodies and immediate surroundings, a new study has found. And, although these changes are not encoded in the cell's genetics, the cell still passes memories of them to its offspring -- for multiple generations.
Bats are surviving and thriving on nothing but sugar
Love is blind for male fruit flies who will choose sex over safety
Male fruit flies will become oblivious to physical danger as they become more engaged in courtship and sex.