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Famous womanizer Casanova was a librarian.
(via Giacomo Casanova - Wikipedia)
Mice Can Sing!
Rodents, often viewed as simple creatures, exhibit surprising complexity in their behavior. Mice and rats display human-like traits such as laughter when tickled, empathy by sensing each other's pain through facial expressions, and even an ability to discern artistic styles like Picasso and Renoir.
Studies reveal that male mice produce intricate ultrasonic vocalizations, or "songs," to communicate with females. These songs vary in complexity depending on social context: when males can't see females but only smell their urine, the songs are louder and more intricate; however, when in the presence of females, the songs become simpler but longer.
Researchers at Duke University have found that female mice show a preference for more complex mating calls, indicating their effectiveness in attraction. This suggests that male mice invest more energy in attracting females when they can't see them, but once in close proximity, they focus more on mating behaviors. The study aims to explore the brain mechanisms behind these vocalizations and whether mice can learn new songs, potentially shedding light on communication disorders like autism. Published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, this research underscores the complexity of rodent behavior and its implications for understanding animal and human communication.
(via Yes, Mice Can Sing. And You Won't Believe How Much They Sound Like Songbirds | HuffPost Impact)
Turkish pilots flying a Sikorsky S-70 upside down over a bet with American engineers who designed the model of helicopter plane.
via reddit.com
Blinking has been shown to actually boost vision, rather than impair it as previously thought. Research has found that blinking increases the power of retinal stimulation, enhances visibility, and helps reformat visual information. Despite the brief blackouts in vision that occur during blinking, neural activity rebounds to a higher level afterward, improving vision. This new study suggests that blinking is useful for more than just lubricating the eyes, and plays a crucial role in enhancing visual perception.
(via Blinking Actually Boosts Your Vision, And We Never Even Noticed : ScienceAlert)
Vigorous exercise can lead to weight gain in mice due to the body compensating for energy used during the activity by reducing other forms of energy use. This study adds to the evidence that animals, including humans, may compensate for extra energy used during exercise by reducing energy expenditure in other ways.
via Why vigorous exercise could inadvertently lead to weight gain
Tooth loss in older adults has been linked to smaller brain volume in a region important for memory, potentially indicating early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Research suggests that poor oral health, including gum disease and tooth loss, may contribute to the development of dementia.
(via Tooth loss linked to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease | New Scientist)
Total Solar Eclipse Photo with Passing Plane Goes Viral
The first mobile phone call was made on this day in 1973. Martin Cooper, using a prototype of the Motorola DynaTAC, placed a call from the streets of New York to Bell Labs in New Jersey. The device was 9 inches tall, had a talk-time of 35 minutes, and took 10 hours to recharge.
Birds make an 'after you' gesture to prompt their mate to enter nest
Japanese tits use wing fluttering as a gesture to prompt their mate to enter the nest first, indicating a form of communication through gestures in birds. This behavior suggests that birds may communicate in a more complex way than previously thought, and could provide insight into the evolution of communication in a broader context.
The Most Photographed Places in the World were Revealed
Getting in 9,000 to 10,000 daily steps can reduce the risk of death by more than a third and cardiovascular disease risk by at least 20 percent. Even smaller increases in daily steps show benefits.
Muhammad Ali, scored his first "knockout" as a toddler by accidentally punching out his mother's tooth at just 18 months old.
The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey, the longest suspension bridge in the world, has opened, providing a quick six-minute commute across the Dardanelles Strait.
The bridge is significant both symbolically and engineering-wise, with a total length of 15,118 feet and a longest span of 6,637 feet. The 1915 Çanakkale bridge cost €2.5 billion to construct.
In the future, engineers may need to explore new designs for even longer bridges, such as a hybrid design combining suspension and cable-stayed bridge types.
(via The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge sets engineering records | Popular Science)
Felines for Fee Forgiveness!
A library in the US is offering fur-givness.
(via US libraries accept pictures of cats for book fees)
Meet the Real-Life Versions of Dune’s Epic Sandworms
Dogs may ‘picture’ objects in their minds, similarly to people
Researchers used EEG testing to measure brain waves in dogs and found evidence suggesting that dogs can differentiate between words for different objects. The study indicates that dogs may have the ability to understand words and their corresponding objects, similar to how humans do. This research sheds light on canine cognition and language learning, showing that dogs may have some level of language comprehension. The study highlights the unique communication abilities of dogs and other animals, providing insight into the evolution of language.
During a severe drought in California 100 years ago, the city of San Diego hired a rainmaker named Charles Hatfield to induce rainfall. Hatfield's methods seemed to work, as San Diego experienced record-breaking rainfall after his intervention. However, the heavy rainfall led to devastating floods and the city refused to pay Hatfield for his services, leading to a lengthy legal battle. Despite the controversy surrounding his methods, Hatfield's rainmaking career continued until his death, and his legacy has sparked ongoing debates about the effectiveness of cloud-seeding and rainmaking techniques.
“I do not make rain. That would be an absurd claim. I simply attract clouds, and they do the rest.”
Charles Hatfield
(via When San Diego Hired a Rainmaker a Century Ago, It Poured - JSTOR Daily)
Recent studies suggest that the long-standing recommendation of consuming eight glasses of water daily might be excessive.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have revealed that the prescribed intake of two liters of water daily often surpasses individuals' actual requirements. Considering that approximately half of one's daily water intake is obtained from food, scientists estimate that people typically only need around 1.5 to 1.8 liters of water per day.
(via Scientists say eight glasses of water a day may be too much)
Surgeons Use Apple VR Headset During Spinal Operation
Many people tend to brush their teeth for less than the recommended duration, typically ranging from 45 to 70 seconds per day. However, brushing for less than two minutes implies missing out on the full advantages of fluoride toothpaste. Hence, if one opts to shorten their brushing time, it's advisable to spit out the toothpaste rather than rinsing immediately.
via Should you rinse after brushing your teeth?