Category: Strange But True

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46,000-Year-Old Roundworms…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

A pair of roundworms was encased in the Siberian permafrost about the time when the Wooly Mammoth roamed freely. After 46,000 years these worms were defrosted in warm water and began to wiggle. This was an indication that life can be paused almost indefinitely. The results were published in “PLOS Genetics”. According to researchers at the Institute of Physiochemical and Biological Problems In Soli Science in Russia, these nematodes (roundworms) were buried approximately 130 feet deep. The findings were verified in Germany where the worms were then shipped. They have a lifespan of a few days and were able to produce new generations while in the lab. The timeframe of when they lived was established by a process called radiocarbon dating. The roundworms were able to achieve cryptobiosis (dormant state) because of a special gene which is also present in contemporary roundworms. The hope is that we may learn to adapt more easily to the extreme effects of climate change and in so doing protect ecosystems from collapsing. Since the permafrost is melting there may yet be many more discoveries of our distant past.

https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1010798https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/46-000-year-old-worm-possibly-revived-from-siberian-permafrost/

Polly wants a Zoom Call…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

Parrots are extremely intelligent birds who require stimuli to keep from feeling lonely. They have memory skills and are capable of puzzle solving which can surpass that of a 6- or 7-year-old child. There are over 20 million parrot pets in the US alone. A pilot study was conducted for 3 months at Northeastern University/Glasgow University in which 18 parrots partook in a video chat experiment. The purpose of the experiment was to see if a zoom call could fulfill their social needs such as living in a flock. The birds were taught to ring a bell after which a tablet was presented with other parrot images presented on the screen. The parrots seem to choose a particular image that was pleasing to them. Instead of aggressive behavior, they began to sing and dance together as if they were in the wild together. The parrots did seem to form bonds with other favorite friends. Their video time had to be limited since they were constantly ringing their bell. It seems being obsessed with being online is not limited to humans.

https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581166

How Chimpanzees Deal with Injuries…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

In a new report from the Loango National Park in West Africa, researchers found that chimpanzees have the capability and understanding of not only making tools but also treating injuries of friends and family members. The study consisted of 45 chimpanzees and was conducted between 2019 to 2021. They observed 76 open wounds on 22 of the apes. In 19 different instances they observed a member of the family catching a flying insect, pressing it between their lips to make a salve and then pressing it into the wound. This action was repeated several times either to the injured chimp by themselves or to another member. The scientists are not sure what the little dark insect was, but they are sure that the chimps were not eating them. The results were published in “The Journal of Current Biology”.

 

https://www.kktv.com/2022/02/09/chimps-spotted-using-insects-medicine-treat-wounds/

Detachable tails aid in Lizard’s survival…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

It is not unusual for some to sacrifice a body part when under attack. Spiders will lose a leg. Crabs will give up a claw, and some rodents are known to shed skin in order to survive. Why is it so easy for a lizard to lose its tail when threatened and yet it remains so strongly attached when under normal conditions? The bones and muscles in the tail are so important for movement and balance and yet can be separated so easily. The vertebrae which extend down the tail is constructed in a way that it has weak areas known as fracture planes. When threatened the muscles along these planes will pull apart and release the tail. There is no blood loss during this process. Since an average lizard will live for four years and it takes 4 months to grow a new tail, it is estimated that they can perform this feat at least 12 times. Unfortunately, we have not yet evolved to mimic this process.