ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

---

• The mountains of Pluto are snowcapped, but not for the same reasons as on Earth
• Astronomers solve dark matter puzzle of strange galaxy
• Customers prefer partitions over mannequins in socially-distanced dining rooms
• Earphone tracks facial expressions, even with a face mask
• Scientists engineer bacteria-killing molecules from wasp venom
• The black hole always chirps twice: New clues deciphering the shape of black holes

The mountains of Pluto are snowcapped, but not for the same reasons as on Earth Posted: 13 Oct 2020 10:43 AM PDT In 2015, the New Horizons space probe discovered spectacular snowcapped mountains on Pluto, which are strikingly similar to mountains on Earth. Such a landscape had never before been observed elsewhere in the Solar System. Scientists determined that the methane snow could only appear at the peaks of Pluto's mountains high enough to reach this enriched zone that the air contains enough methane for it to condense.

Astronomers solve dark matter puzzle of strange galaxy Posted: 13 Oct 2020 09:41 AM PDT Astronomers have found that the total number of globular clusters around Dragonfly 44 and, therefore, the dark matter content, is much less than earlier findings had suggested, which shows that this galaxy is neither unique nor anomalous.

Customers prefer partitions over mannequins in socially-distanced dining rooms Posted: 13 Oct 2020 07:58 AM PDT Restaurants have had to get creative to enforce social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, including utilizing mannequins. Others were more conservative and opted to place plastic or glass partitions between tables. A researcher found out which socially-distanced dining room consumers prefer.

Earphone tracks facial expressions, even with a face mask Posted: 13 Oct 2020 07:17 AM PDT Researchers have invented an earphone that can continuously track full facial expressions by observing the contour of the cheeks - and can then translate expressions into emojis or silent speech commands.

Scientists engineer bacteria-killing molecules from wasp venom Posted: 12 Oct 2020 01:42 PM PDT Scientists have engineered powerful new antimicrobial molecules from toxic proteins found in wasp venom. The team hopes to develop the molecules into new bacteria-killing drugs, an important advancement considering increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The black hole always chirps twice: New clues deciphering the shape of black holes Posted: 08 Oct 2020 05:37 AM PDT Gravitational-wave scientists reveal that when two black holes collide and merge, the remnant black hole 'chirps' not once, but multiple times, emitting gravitational waves -- intense ripples in the fabric space and time -- that inform us about its shape.

You are subscribed to email updates from Strange & Offbeat News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States