- casualSTEM
- Posts
- Bee Student | Motherless Mice | Nano Traps
I just finished a book featuring a dog named after the time of day he was found. Unlike a broken clock though, he was right more than twice a day. It got me thinking of some cool pet names I’ve come across recently…
Six thirty, a dog
Quesadilla, a cat
Broccoli, my future robo-vac
What’s your favorite name for a pet?
-Steve
Get the coolest STEM news in 5 minutes every Saturday, Join The Convo!
Bee Student
Bumblebees teach each other how to look busy…and actually get things done. Researchers observed bee colonies using social learning to solve puzzles.
Sugar could be accessed by rotating a box lid with buttons
Trained “demonstrator” bees worked while their friends watched
Observer bees went on to solve the puzzle 98% of the time
Groups presented with 2 correct solutions ultimately all chose 1, confirming a social influence. Meaning any changes in colony behavior may be caused by new individuals, not necessarily an objective change in preference. Next up, buzzness school.
Motherless Mice
Two fathers gave birth to several baby mice. To do so, scientists cultivated an egg from male stem cells.
Male mouse skin cells were converted to stem cells
Chromosomes → deleted Y, copied X and paired back
New XX stem cell programmed to become an egg
The male egg produced 7 baby mice that lived normal healthy lives. This processes might eventually treat X chromosome diseases and allow male couples to have children from their own cells. Pretty sure it won’t work for computer mouses though.
Nano Traps
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria may have met its downfall - self-assembling nanonets. Researchers designed a trap to make these bugs more vulnerable to treatment.
Made of short peptides with ~15 residues
Dormant until specific bacteria is detected
Grows rod-like structures connecting bacteria to each other
Once enough bacteria are connected, the tangled mess is immobile, unable to replicate, and primed for treatment. An important tool added to our defense against antibiotic resistance. And a cool scene if they ever remake Osmosis Jones.
Clickables
How to get rid of bed bugs with science
Walk 60+ lbs. lighter with a packable exoskeleton
Bird-sized carnivorous ant fossils in North America
World Nature Photography Awards - def a wizard, not a crab
Automatic drone loading coming to a parking spot near you
st3v on site
Hive Minds
As it turns out, the bees have been studying st3v at Bee’s Knees all along! They surprised him this morning with fresh espresso and royal PB&J.
Catch up on Bee’s Knees here: A collection of st3v's coffee shop shenanigans
Forward to a friend!
Did someone forward this to you? Join The Convo!
Missed last week’s Convo?
Catch-up here: 💬 Mushroom OS | Pee Shooter | Nanosniff
I'd love to hear from you!
Reply to this email or reach out on Twitter @_steveburgess. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
Reply