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Bio-Bandage | Cloud Eraser | NOsquitoes
Issue #142
Leap year idea: Why settle for just a calendar day when we could add an actual day to the weekend?!
Looking forward to celebrating our long weekend together in 2028!
-Steve
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Bio-Bandage
Mussels could heal your muscles. Scientists developed an internal bandage using proteins from silkworms and mussels.
Alternative to surgical gauze sponges that need to be removed
Silkworm proteins provide strength and bacteria defense
Mussel proteins provide adhesion and clotting
This biodegradable bandaid dissolves inside the body, significantly reducing blood loss and clotting time. Further testing in humans is needed before your local operating room has these in stock. As long as there are fun pictures on them…
Quick! (vote)What would you call our new leap weekend day? |
Check out last week’s results in “Unnatural Selection” below
Cloud Eraser
Some clouds totally disappear during a solar eclipse, and now we know why!
Clouds vanish rapidly as soon as the sun is 15% blocked
Primarily shallow cumulus clouds
Caused by lack of warm updrafts as the ground cools
Clouds reflect sunlight and help cool the Earth, so we’re glad they reappear after the eclipse. Researchers will continue to study this phenomenon to prevent weather-related disasters due to future climate engineering. And to save the clouds that look like puppies.
NOsquitoes
Drones are airlifting mosquitoes to fight off diseases. These transported bloodsuckers are part of the sterile insect technique (SIT).
One drone can release ~300k insects per day
All SIT ‘squitoes are non-biting sterilized males
Female mosquitoes can only lay eggs once
SIT males continue mating while their partners lay empty eggs, dramatically reducing populations. Field tests currently target mosquitoes that spread diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, zika, and chikungunya. DEET is SO last century.

Hungry for more news?

Clickables
🦘 Get groovy with this year’s “Dance your PhD” champ
🚀 NASA’s lander takes “Break a leg” very literally
🤖 Meet Verdie - cuter than your lawnmower
🌙 Kurzgesagt tells us what the moon smells like

Unnatural Selection
Last week: “Which synthetic brain snack would zombies prefer?”

One of you shared some irrefutable logic last week!
“I don’t think that they would have the dexterity to deal with a lollipop, cupcake is more a jam in your face hole kind of thing” - Dawn
Make sure you vote up top for next week’s “Unnatural Selection”!

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Sometimes sad things happen, even to st3v. But he always feels better with his un-sad bandages: succulents, lofi music, and hanging out with you every week!
Just in case, here are some extra un-sad bandages for you!


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