Buzz
Now that the weekend is upon us, it's the perfect time to relax and catch up on the week's events. Click here to get all the important updates, or keep reading for a dose of the unusual and fascinating.
It might be a little out there, but this week saw some noteworthy food-related records. From the most expensive melons to the highest number of cheese-rolling victories, and even the largest gin and juice, it's been quite the week. There were also some exciting scientific breakthroughs, with new findings in paleontology, physics, cosmology, robotics, and evolutionary biology.
10. The Oldest Dandruff Ever Discovered Was Found On Dinosaurs
Although dinosaurs vanished millions of years ago, our understanding of these ancient creatures continues to grow. A new study published in Nature Communications reveals the earliest evidence of how these prehistoric reptiles shed their skin. This discovery is based on the oldest known dandruff, found on a 125-million-year-old microraptor.
Paleontologists uncovered well-preserved flakes of fossilized skin that closely resemble the dandruff seen in modern birds. Further analysis revealed additional skin flakes from two other feathered dinosaurs—beipiaosaurus and sinornithosaurus—and an early crow-sized bird, confuciusornis. All fossils were found in Northeastern China.
The study proposes that dandruff in dinosaurs evolved to help them manage another innovation—feathers. This theory is supported by the fact that feathered dinosaurs shed their skin in small fragments, similar to modern birds, unlike modern reptiles which shed their skin in larger, complete patches.
There appears to be a notable difference between dinosaur and bird dandruff. The ancient skin cells contained corneocytes filled with keratin, while modern bird dandruff cells are richer in fat, aiding in heat regulation during flight. Dr. Maria McNamara, the study's lead author, suggests that feathered dinosaurs may have had a lower body temperature than birds, potentially exhibiting a “transitional metabolism between a cold-blooded reptile and a warm-blooded bird.”
9. A Pair of Melons Sold for $29,000
An auction in Hokkaido made history by selling two Yubari melons for 3.2 million yen ($29,300), setting a new record.
The winning bidder was Shinya Noda, the president of Hokuyu Pack, a fruit and vegetable packaging company. Eager to celebrate his company's 30th anniversary, he made a record-setting bid. The melons will remain on display until the end of the month, after which they will be sliced into small pieces and given away as gifts to customers.
These melons are a special hybrid cantaloupe variety grown exclusively in Yubari, a small city. While they are usually expensive, they rarely cost more than $100. What makes the ones sold at auction so valuable is that they are the first melons of the season. Despite over 500 melons being sold at the auction this year, only the first pair fetched the record price. These melons serve as status symbols, showcasing prosperity and the strong Japanese economy.
The previous record was set in 2016 at another Japanese auction, where a different pair of these extravagant melons sold for three million yen.
8. The Enigmatic Wolf-Dog of Montana
Wildlife experts in Montana are puzzled by a mysterious, wolf-like creature that was killed by a farmer on his ranch. In a press release, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) identified the animal as a 'young, non-lactating female' and a canid, a member of the dog family. Tissue samples were sent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for DNA extraction and comparison against known species markers to determine its identity.
The farmer shot the animal on May 16 as it approached his livestock. MFWP released the images of the creature a few days later. At first glance, it appears to be a wolf, but experts noted a few discrepancies. The coat is unusual, the ears are too large, and the legs and paws are too small. Additionally, the canine teeth are too short, and the claws are too long.
Since the images surfaced online, people's imaginations have run wild speculating on the origins of the strange creature. Some have suggested it could be a mythological beast like a werewolf or chupacabra, while others have proposed it might be a dire wolf that survived extinction. More plausible theories include it being a new wolf breed or a hybrid of dog, coyote, and wolf.
7. Scientists Create Real Flux Capacitor
Fans of the Back to the Future movies will remember that the time machine’s key component was a device called a flux capacitor. Now, physicists have come up with a real version of it.
Unfortunately, this new flux capacitor isn’t designed for time travel, so you won’t be able to travel back in time to date your mother. Instead, it’s a cutting-edge electronic circulator that can direct microwave signals.
The concept comes from a collaboration between Australian and Swiss scientists, who detailed their proposed designs in Physical Review Letters. Their invention would be constructed from a superconductor and include one of two potential circuits. One of these circuits features a three-pointed star design, reminiscent of the iconic flux capacitor from the movie.
Professor Jared Cole from RMIT University in Melbourne explained it as 'quantum ‘tubes’ of magnetic flux [that] move around a central capacitor through quantum tunneling, overcoming barriers that are classically insurmountable.'
The device is intended to produce an effect known as broken time-reversal symmetry, which, despite the name, has no connection to time travel. In reality, it means signals would only move in one direction through a circuit. In the near future, this technology could enhance Wi-Fi and radar, with the ultimate goal of becoming a crucial part of quantum computers.
6. Cockroach Milk: The New Superfood
Many fitness fads can appear extreme or downright repulsive, but there's always a group of individuals willing to give them a shot in hopes of a healthier or slimmer body. The latest trend, however, is one that will likely make most people turn away. A team of researchers in India believes that cockroach milk could soon be the next superfood.
This research was conducted by the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore. Although the study was done two years ago, it is only now gaining attention. The paper claims that the cockroach produces a milk-like substance consisting of protein-rich crystals that contain three times the energy of the same mass of dairy milk. This liquid is produced solely by Diploptera punctata, also known as the Pacific beetle cockroach or beetle mimic cockroach. Uniquely, it is one of the few viviparous species of cockroach, meaning it gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
While researchers are praising the potential benefits of cockroach milk, they are not yet recommending that humans consume it. The safety of drinking this substance for humans is still uncertain. Additionally, there are practical challenges, such as how to obtain it on a large scale and, more importantly, convincing people to drink something referred to as 'cockroach milk.'
5. Flippy The Robot Returns to Cooking Burgers
After a rocky start, Flippy, the burger-flipping robot, is back on the job at CaliBurger in Pasadena, California.
Developed by Miso Robotics, Flippy was initially viewed as a practical alternative to human short-order cooks. Many of them quit after just a few weeks due to the demanding nature of the job and the constant heat, forcing the restaurant to spend extra resources to recruit and train replacements. With the added benefits of reliability, no need for breaks, and consistency, Flippy seemed worth its hefty $100,000 price tag.
Flippy made its debut in March, generating significant buzz and media coverage. However, it only lasted a single day before being pulled due to technical difficulties caused by both the robot and its human coworkers. While Flippy could cook up to 200 burgers an hour, it had issues with placing the cooked patties onto trays and occasionally missed the mark. At the same time, its human colleagues, who were tasked with preparing the patties and assembling the burgers, were not trained to work with the robot and struggled to keep pace.
After spending several months fine-tuning the system, the burger-flipping robot has returned. Things are now running much more smoothly, and CaliBurger has announced plans to introduce 50 more Flippys across its locations by 2019.
4. How Climate Change is Impacting Zombie Ants
A recent study published in the journal Evolution explores how ancient climate shifts influenced the behavior of the parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps. This fungus is infamous for producing spores that lead to the creation of zombie ants. The infected ants are driven to climb trees and bite down on leaves, where they eventually die, and the fungus grows out of their heads, positioned perfectly to release spores that will spread and infect more ants.
This phenomenon occurs in South America, but the study shows that in Japan, where the leaves wither and fall, the fungus behaves differently. Zombie ants in Japan climb higher up trees and latch onto twigs instead of leaves, sometimes even wrapping their limbs around them for added stability. Lead author Raquel Loreto suggests that this behavioral change may be an evolutionary adaptation resulting from ancient climate change.
A similar behavior has been observed in zombie ants in South Carolina, North America. Interestingly, weather patterns also influence the fungus’s development. Ophiocordyceps in tropical climates mature in one to two months, while those in temperate zones may take up to a year to reach maturity, aligning their lifecycle with that of their prey, as ants hibernate during the winter.
3. Will Sexual Activity on Mars Result in the Creation of New Species?
At some point in the future, humanity will likely settle on another planet, with Mars standing out as the most promising choice. However, this ambitious plan presents numerous challenges that we must tackle before people can live, sleep, eat, and reproduce on other worlds.
A recent study published in the journal Futures delves into the social and biological hurdles of human reproduction on Mars. While reproduction is crucial for any long-term colonization effort, we still don't know if it's even feasible under Martian conditions.
We already know that long-term space travel can lead to serious health issues for even the healthiest adults—such as muscle and bone loss, vision problems, and even changes in brain structure. What remains uncertain is whether a fetus or infant could survive in the low-gravity environment of space.
Ethical concerns may have to take a backseat, as the study suggests gene editing could be the key to ensuring survival for Mars-born babies. However, this raises a profound dilemma: as successive generations are genetically altered to adapt to life on Mars, they may become so distinct from Earthlings that they would eventually be classified as a separate species.
2. Cheese-Rolling Champion Breaks Record
In an exciting moment at the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in Gloucestershire, 30-year-old Chris Anderson shattered the record for most cheese wins, taking home 22 rounds of cheese over the course of 14 years.
For those who are unfamiliar with the quirky tradition of cheese-rolling, the challenge is to chase a wheel of double Gloucester cheese as it races down a steep hill. The winner takes home the 3.6-kilogram (8 lb) wheel of cheese as their prize.
What started as a small local tradition has expanded over the years, now attracting thousands of spectators. Despite its growing popularity, it remains a semi-official event, largely due to the notorious injury rate. It doesn’t take long before participants lose their footing and tumble down the hill, and this year, the hill was even more treacherous due to heavy rain, making it slippery and muddy. Few manage to make it down without a few scrapes and bruises.
Anderson, who serves with the 1 Rifles infantry regiment, paid the price for his record-breaking feat. Over the years, he’s endured a broken ankle, bruised kidneys, a concussion, and even tore his left calf during the very race that secured his world record. Anderson expressed that he was 'happy' with his achievements, declaring that he had nothing left to prove, although it remains unclear whether this means he is retiring from the cheese-rolling competition.
1. Snoop Dogg Mixes the World’s Largest Gin and Juice
For nearly a quarter of a century, Snoop Dogg has been singing the praises of 'Gin and Juice.' The iconic song, released as a single from his 1994 debut album, was Grammy-nominated and remains one of the most legendary rap tracks in history. After performing at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival, Snoop made history by crafting the largest gin and juice ever mixed.
Guinness World Records officials were present to verify the record-breaking cocktail, which measured more than 500 liters (132 gallons). Snoop was joined on stage by fellow rapper Warren G and renowned chef Michael Voltaggio, who collectively mixed 180 bottles of gin, 154 bottles of apricot brandy, and 38 jugs of orange juice. The giant concoction was completed with a colossal straw, an umbrella-sized parasol, and a sword-styled garnish of melon and pineapple.
