ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

---

• Toads surprise scientists by climbing trees in UK woodlands
• 150 southern fin whales observed feeding together
• Porosity of the moon's crust reveals bombardment history
• A new giant dinosaur gives insight into why many prehistoric meat-eaters had such tiny arms
• Smart textiles sense how their users are moving
• Quantum physics: Record entanglement of quantum memories
• Scientists invent 'quantum flute' that can make particles of light move together
• Gecko feet are coated in an ultra-thin layer of lipids that help them stay sticky
• Shapeshifting microrobots can brush and floss teeth
• 8000 kilometers per second: Star with the shortest orbital period around black hole discovered
• Link between recognizing our voice and feeling in control
• Who's really in control?

Toads surprise scientists by climbing trees in UK woodlands Posted: 07 Jul 2022 11:21 AM PDT Volunteers surveying dormice and bats in trees have made the unexpected discovery of over fifty common toads in nest boxes and tree cavities at least 1.5 meters high.

150 southern fin whales observed feeding together Posted: 07 Jul 2022 11:18 AM PDT After blue whales, fin whales are the largest whales in the world -- and human beings have hunted both species to near-extinction. After the ban on commercial whaling in 1976, the stocks of these long-lived, but slow-growing creatures are rebounding: researchers have witnessed large groups of up to 150 southern fin whales in their historical feeding areas -- more than has ever been documented before using modern methods. Given these whales' key role in nutrient recycling, other species in the Antarctic ecosystem, like the krill, could also benefit from their rebounding numbers.

Porosity of the moon's crust reveals bombardment history Posted: 07 Jul 2022 11:18 AM PDT Researchers find that, early in its history, the moon was highly porous, which was likely a result of early, massive impacts that shattered much of the crust. They reached their conclusions with simulations and data from NASA's GRAIL mission.

A new giant dinosaur gives insight into why many prehistoric meat-eaters had such tiny arms Posted: 07 Jul 2022 11:18 AM PDT An international team has discovered a new big, meat-eating dinosaur, dubbed Meraxes gigas, that provides clues about the evolution and anatomy of predatory dinosaurs such as the Carcharodontosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex. Meraxes measured around 36 feet from snout to tail tip and weighed approximately 9,000 pounds.

Smart textiles sense how their users are moving Posted: 07 Jul 2022 11:17 AM PDT MIT Media Lab researchers developed a novel fabrication process to create smart textiles that comfortably and snugly fit the user's body, enabling very precise pressure sensor data that can be used to analyze and classify the wearer's postures and motions.

Quantum physics: Record entanglement of quantum memories Posted: 07 Jul 2022 07:09 AM PDT Researchers have entangled two quantum memories over a 33-kilometer-long fiber optic connection -- a record and an important step toward the quantum internet.

Scientists invent 'quantum flute' that can make particles of light move together Posted: 06 Jul 2022 01:54 PM PDT Physicists have invented a 'quantum flute' that, like the Pied Piper, can coerce particles of light to move together in a way that's never been seen before.

Gecko feet are coated in an ultra-thin layer of lipids that help them stay sticky Posted: 06 Jul 2022 05:54 AM PDT Researchers view, for the first time, the protein and lipid molecules on the surface of the microscopic structures that give geckos their grip. The new images, created using a synchrotron microscope (powered by a particle accelerator), open the way to better biomimicry and provide a fascinating insight into biological evolution.

Shapeshifting microrobots can brush and floss teeth Posted: 05 Jul 2022 04:41 PM PDT A robotic microswarm may one day automate the routine of rinsing, brushing, and flossing teeth. A multidisciplinary team developed the technology, which employs a magnetic field to direct the iron oxide nanoparticle-based microrobots into antimicrobial bristle- and floss-shaped arrays.

8000 kilometers per second: Star with the shortest orbital period around black hole discovered Posted: 05 Jul 2022 01:22 PM PDT A newly discovered star only takes four years to travel around the black hole at the center of our galaxy.

Link between recognizing our voice and feeling in control Posted: 05 Jul 2022 06:07 AM PDT Being able to recognize our own voice is a critical factor for our sense of control over our speech, according to a new study. If people think they hear someone else's voice when they speak, they do not strongly feel that they caused the sound. This could be a clue to understanding the experience of people who live with auditory hallucinations and could help to improve online communication and virtual reality experiences.

Who's really in control? Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT Researchers studied the effect of the 'attitudes' of a semi-autonomous telepresence robot on its human operator. They found that when a person controlled only a part of the body of a semi-autonomous robot, its expressed opinions affected him or her. This work may help assist in the development of new semi-autonomous robots to perform labor more efficiently.

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