Have you ever felt the urge to go to the bathroom just because someone nearby mentioned it? This phenomenon, known as “contagious peeing,” isn’t just limited to humans—it’s been observed in chimpanzees, too. This gives us insight into the social behaviors that have evolved over time.
This week in science, there’s more than just bathroom habits making headlines. Researchers have made exciting discoveries about the world’s smallest penguins. They found that these little birds often “divorce,” which could change how we understand their social structures.
In other wild news, scientists in South America have discovered a rare scorpion that can spray venom. Meanwhile, one of Australia’s largest and deadliest spiders was revealed to be three different species. Nature is full of surprises!
And if you’re fascinated by energy, a team in China has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with their “artificial sun.” This reactor has created fusion conditions that are six times hotter than the sun’s core and maintained this state for over 1,000 seconds, setting a new world record!
What is nuclear fusion? It’s the process that powers our sun and has the potential to provide an endless supply of clean energy here on Earth. To achieve nuclear fusion, scientists need to create plasma, a state of matter where electrons are separated from their atoms. This is extremely challenging, but the team at the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is making significant strides.
Even with these advancements, scientists are still working toward making fusion energy practical for everyday use. Every step brings us closer to harnessing the incredible power of the sun.
In other science news, researchers have uncovered various thrilling tidbits. For example, a new type of magnetism may hold the key to superconductivity. Additionally, the world’s fastest supercomputer, El Capitan, has gone online for classified research, including securing the U.S. nuclear stockpile. And astronomers have detected something mysterious lurking at the center of the Milky Way.
On a cosmic scale, a massive interstellar object—approximately eight times the mass of Jupiter—might have altered the orbits of the outer planets. This is an exciting development in understanding how our solar system formed and evolved.
Lastly, as we look at our own history, new insights into organ transplants have emerged. With more than 46,000 transplants performed in the U.S. last year, discussions are occurring about the possibility of recycling organs. This could change how we approach organ donation and medical practices in the future.
And for those curious about our evolutionary past, it’s believed that the mixing of humans and Neanderthals may have led to problems with blood compatibility. This could have been a factor in Neanderthal decline.
So whether it’s about animal behavior, breakthroughs in energy, or our evolutionary history, there’s always something captivating happening in the world of science!