Humans love to fool each other with optical illusions, but we aren’t the only species that falls for these tricks. Several famous illusions can be found in nature, each helping animals and plants to survive and reproduce. The Ebbinghaus Illusion Which orange circle is bigger? While they don’t look like it, they’re actually both the … Continue reading Illusions in Nature
Why is the moon rusting?
Rust is the result of a chemical reaction between iron, water and oxygen. The Moon only has the first ingredient, which is why scientists were surprised to find haematite [hee-mah-tite; a type of rust] in the lunar soil. As well as having no oxygen or liquid water, hydrogen coming from the Sun makes the Moon’s … Continue reading Why is the moon rusting?
When bodies swap, minds soon follow
Many stories have been based on the idea of two (or more) characters getting their minds and bodies swapped. Often these involve comedic sequences as the pair try and fail to act like each other, but a new study suggests this may not be so difficult after all. Swedish researchers used virtual reality to make … Continue reading When bodies swap, minds soon follow
Poop transplant cures constant drunkenness
Imagine getting drunk without swallowing a single drop of alcohol. Not only is this a real medical condition, but the newest way to cure it is with a poop transplant. Our intestines contain many types of bacteria and fungi, including some which turn sugar into alcohol. This is completely natural and healthy, until they become … Continue reading Poop transplant cures constant drunkenness
Two become one
You probably know a couple who seem inseparable, but even the clingiest human relationships have nothing on anglerfish. When males find their ‘true love’ they bite on and never let go, eventually becoming just a small extension of her much-larger body. It’s been said that maybe only one percent of male anglerfish actually find a … Continue reading Two become one
Return to sender
Space is full of objects travelling from one place to another, but it’s very rare that they ever get sent back. That’s what makes NASA’s latest launch different, as they return a rock to the surface of Mars half a million years after it left. Sayh al Uhaymir 008 (SaU 008 for short) is part … Continue reading Return to sender
Does the Philippines really have “human-sized” bats?
“THERE IS A SPECIES OF BAT TALLER THAN ME. I KNOW ITS VEGETARIAN AND ALL BUT IM ACTUALLY SCARED.” This was just one reaction to a recent tweet about the “human-sized bats” from the Philippines. The idea is understandably freaky, but is it accurate? The tweet included a picture of a flying fox, a type … Continue reading Does the Philippines really have “human-sized” bats?
Scientists accidentally create a new hybrid fish
Unlike in monster movies, successfully combining different species to create a new creature is pretty much impossible, even if the animals are closely related. That’s why scientists were shocked when they accidentally crossbred two completely different fish to create the ‘sturddlefish’. The American paddlefish and Russian sturgeon are two distantly-related species that (as their names … Continue reading Scientists accidentally create a new hybrid fish
Sparrow’s tweet goes viral
You know that feeling when you discover a new song, and suddenly everyone’s playing it? Turns out, this doesn’t just happen for humans – a new tune is currently sweeping across the sparrow colonies of Canada. Like many birds, white-throated sparrows sing to attract a mate. Generally, all males in a particular area will sing … Continue reading Sparrow’s tweet goes viral
Coloured cotton: A rainbow of possibilities
Imagine you’re travelling through farmland and you come across a paddock filled with bright pink fluff. Then you see another with blue plants, followed by a completely orange crop. This might actually happen one day, thanks to the recent Australian invention of coloured cotton. Cotton is a fluffy white crop that produces the world’s most … Continue reading Coloured cotton: A rainbow of possibilities
Lachlan Writes Science 