The Bionics Products Blog.: 03/17/21

Wednesday 17 March 2021

Dolphins adapt to survive invasive coastal constructions

Bottlenose dolphins learn to cope with coastal construction activities. That is the conclusion of a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science. The study is the first to provide a longitudinal perspective on the cumulative impacts of coastal construction. Dolphins adapted to the construction of a bridge by establishing feeding locations outside of the construction zone, and by shifting the timings of behaviors to a time in the day when construction activities were minimized.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-dolphins-survive-invasive-coastal.html

Astronomers map silk of cosmic web

An international team of astronomers, including several from the Netherlands, has mapped a piece of the cosmic web without using bright quasars for the first time. Their findings will be published shortly in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-astronomers-silk-cosmic-web.html

Striking new image of the stately galaxy Messier 106 taken with the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope

This spectacular image highlights the majestic spiral galaxy Messier 106 and its diminutive neighbors, as well as a dense field of background galaxies and foreground stars. This may be the best view yet of Messier 106 in its entirety, showing both the warped central disk and the tenuous outer reaches of the galaxy.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-image-stately-galaxy-messier-nicholas.html

Scientists determine the origin of extra-solar object 'Oumuamua

In 2017, the first interstellar object from beyond our solar system was discovered via the Pan-STARRS astronomical observatory in Hawaii. It was named 'Oumuamua, meaning "scout" or "messenger" in Hawaiian. The object was like a comet, but with features that were just odd enough to defy classification.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-scientists-extra-solar-oumuamua.html

A raw diet for under-six-month-old puppies may reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel disease

According to a study conducted at the University of Helsinki, a raw diet from the late stages of suckling to roughly two months of age may reduce the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs later in life.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-raw-diet-under-six-month-old-puppies-inflammatory.html

Novel battery capable of producing hydrogen and electricity quickly while eliminating carbon dioxide

A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a novel system, capable of producing hydrogen and electricity quickly and effectively while eliminating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions significantly.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-battery-capable-hydrogen-electricity-quickly.html

Researchers identify non-coding RNA molecule in trypanosome parasites

Trypanosomatids are single-cell parasites that cause major diseases, such as sleeping sickness and Rose of Jericho, which affect millions of people. Trypanosoma parasites are transmitted to mammals by the blood-sucking tsetse fly. The parasite's stopover in the insect-host consists of two stages. They live in the insect's gut for two to three weeks and then migrate to the saliva glands. When the fly eats its next meal, the parasites are transferred via saliva to the prey, infecting its bloodstream. In this way mammals become host to the parasite, and the disease is spread.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-non-coding-rna-molecule-trypanosome-parasites.html

Technology to detect chemicals in fruit and vegetables

An ITMO Ph.D. student with her colleagues from Russia, Spain and Singapore has developed flexible sensing films based on silver nanoparticles that can be used to identify the presence of pesticide residue on the surface of agricultural produce in minutes. The research results were published in Nanoscale.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-technology-chemicals-fruit-vegetables.html

BMW announces all-electric iDrive 8

In the footsteps of Tesla, BMW will introduce its new iDrive 8 model alongside the BMW iX and i4 fully electric cars.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-bmw-all-electric-idrive.html

When volcanoes go metal

What would a volcano—and its lava flows—look like on a planetary body made primarily of metal? A pilot study from North Carolina State University offers insights into ferrovolcanism that could help scientists interpret landscape features on other worlds.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-volcanoes-metal.html

Apple Maps will now display where to get a COVID-19 vaccine

Your iPhone will make it easier to find a location to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-apple-covid-vaccine.html

Uber grants UK drivers worker status in world first

Uber on Tuesday said it is granting its UK drivers worker status, with benefits including a minimum wage—a world first for the US ride-hailing giant.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-uber-uk-drivers-minimum-wage.html

The potential economic impact of volcano alerts

The Volcano Alert Level (VAL) system, standardized by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2006, is meant to save lives and keep citizens living in the shadow of an active volcano informed of their current level of risk.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-potential-economic-impact-volcano.html

New study investigates how life on land recovered after 'The Great Dying'

Over the course of Earth's history, several mass extinction events have destroyed ecosystems, including one that famously wiped out the dinosaurs. But none were as devastating as "The Great Dying," which took place 252 million years ago during the end of the Permian period. A new study, published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, shows in detail how life recovered in comparison to two smaller extinction events. The international study team—composed of researchers from the China University of Geosciences, the California Academy of Sciences, the University of Bristol, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences—showed for the first time that the end-Permian mass extinction was harsher than other events due to a major collapse in diversity.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-life-recovered-great-dying.html

Researchers discover how 'cryptic species' respond differently to coral bleaching

Certain brightly colored coral species dotting the seafloor may appear indistinguishable to many divers and snorkelers, but Florida State University researchers have found that these genetically diverse marine invertebrates vary in their response to ocean warming, a finding that has implications for the long-term health of coral reefs.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-cryptic-species-differently-coral.html

Astronauts in crewed missions to Mars could misread vital emotional cues

Living for nearly 2 months in simulated weightlessness has a modest but widespread negative effect on cognitive performance that may not be counteracted by short periods of artificial gravity, finds a new study published in Frontiers in Physiology. While cognitive speed on most tests initially declined but then remained unchanged over time in simulated microgravity, emotion recognition speed continued to worsen. In testing, research participants were more likely to identify facial expressions as angry and less likely as happy or neutral.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-astronauts-crewed-missions-mars-misread.html

New research published in Insect Conservation and Diversity indicates that artificial light at night likely interferes with the courtship and mating of bioluminescent fireflies.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-artificial-night-disrupt-firefly.html

Boosting insect diversity may provide more consistent crop pollination services

Fields and farms with more variety of insect pollinator species provide more stable pollination services to nearby crops year on year, according to the first study of its kind.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-boosting-insect-diversity-crop-pollination.html

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