Let’s talk about Neanderthals
I saw several articles on Neanderthals this week. One showed their continuing influence on modern humans and the other that they were quite sophisticated hunters.
Category: Science
New 16 million year-old spider
I don’t like spiders. But I live in Canberra and we are surrounded by bush so there’s lots of creepy crawlies. Mostly it’s angry-looking black things and huntsmen, which freak me out but I can live with if Other Half shoos them away. So when I read this article about a massive ancient version further north in Gulgong (west of Newcastle), I was very glad it’s dead.
How germ-laden is your phone? You don’t want to know
Your phone is likely to be more germ-riddled than your toilet. Speaking of which, stop using your phone IN the toilet…
Why leaving dog poo lying around is a bad idea
Dog poo left lying around isn’t just disgusting, it’s also potentially dangerous for wildlife and the environment.
We’ve pumped so much groundwater, it has changed Earth’s tilt
What happens when you move too much water around our planet? Like an unbalanced ball, it starts to wobble even more than usual and this affects its tilt.
Old person smell is a thing
Are you imagining that Grandma has a distinctive smell, as do others of her age? No, you aren’t.
Birds are making nests out of anti-bird spikes
Birds are very ingenious creatures and some, especially corvids, are incredibly smart. They have been known to rip anti-bird spikes off rooves but it still came as a surprise when scientists discovered they were making nests out of them *to deter other birds*.
First draft of the human pangenome
Moving on from having sequenced the human genomes from the first time 20 years ago, now we have the first draft of the human pangenome – a much more diverse collection of 47 distinct genomes from different ancestral backgrounds.
Don’t pick your nose, it could cause Alzheimer’s disease
Picking your nose might be more than a habit – it could give you Alzheimer’s disease.
Sleep apnoea causes early cognitive decline
Do you sleep with a snorer? Do they have sleep apnoea? They might be in for early cognitive decline as a result.
Your dying plants might be screaming
New research in tomato and tobacco plants suggests they can generate airborne sounds in response to stress (such as from drought, or being cut) that are loud enough for others to hear.
Pandemic closures saw zoo animals behave differently
We all felt the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns – but what about primates in zoos who no longer saw any visitors?
Why do there seem to be so many new viruses?
Is the incidence of virus outbreaks increasing? Or just it just seem that way?
Leave your ear wax alone!
Do you dig out your ear wax? Don’t! The old adage that nothing smaller than your elbow goes into your ear is absolutely true.
Are we doing sleep wrong?
Sleep is really important for staying healthy – but is there a correct sleeping position? And what does exercise have to do with it?