Fungal Maps | Cockroach Farm | Carnivorous Bees - The Convo Kit #25

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Fungal Maps

If you unfold all fungi roots in the world’s topsoil, they would stretch across almost half our galaxy. SPUN scientists will map portions of this network to better understand its positive carbon impact.

• SPUN = Society for the Protection of Underground Networks

• Estimated global fungal carbon storage: 5.5 billion tons

• Sharing shrooms: Fungal networks act as “nutrient highways” between fungi

Scientists will gather samples from ten carbon-storage hotspots, starting next year in Patagonia. Machine learning will be used to determine how integral this network is and enable us to better protect it.

More info on the largest social network here.

Cockroach Farm

The number of current humans is less than the number of cockroaches produced in China, annually. Notoriously resilient, cockroaches are used in a variety of products including food, medicine, and cosmetics.

• 6 billion cockroaches produced in 2018 at a Xichang farm

• 1 mother and her offspring can inbreed 300,000 cockroaches per year

• Cockroaches’ diet of kitchen leftovers reduces community waste

If this makes you squirm, you’re not alone. Many farms are kept secret to limit negative attention. An outbreak once resulted in over one million cockroaches infesting a local town. On the bright-side, now they have a moat full of cockroach-eating fish.

Check out more details, pics, and videos here.

Carnivorous Bees

Some bee species have kicked the honey habit in favor of meat and flesh. Don’t worry, unless you’re a zombie, these vulture bees only feast on rotting carcasses.

• Vulture bee microbiomes share similarities with hyenas and vultures

• Stingers lost their value and were phased out in evolution

• Fast food: Vulture bees can turn 2 frogs into skeletons in just 6 hours

Flesh is consumed on-site, then regurgitated into storage to prevent rotting. We currently know of three carnivorous bees, trigona hypogea, trigona crassipes, and trigona necrophages. Other meat eating bees consume a mixed diet, carrying both pollen and flesh on cargo runs.

UnBEElievable close look at vulture bees specialized features here.

Artificial heart

Surgeons at Duke University have successfully implanted an artificial heart into a patient with heart failure. The heart, CARMAT’S Aeson, is one of two existing artificial models on the market.

• TAH = Total Artificial Heart

• Aeson price: $190,000

• Human heart price: $1.4 million

Aeson adjusts variable heart rate based on patient activity, where the other TAH beats at a fixed rate. It is capable of fully replacing donor hearts for patients in need, but also serves as a temporary wait-list solution.

Images of the artificial heart available here.

Carbon Fiber Rocket

Rocket Lab’s future reusable rocket, Neutron, hopes to launch within 24 hours of landing. The medium-lift rocket will release orbital payloads from a mouth-like opening before returning to the launch pad.

• Reusable goal: 10 launches

• Powered by 7 Archimedes engines

• Payload capacity: 8 tons (15 tons on the final launch)

Neutron’s carbon composite structure features a slightly wider build to create atmospheric drag and reduce fuel use during landing. Rocket Lab is projecting the lighter weight to offset this same drag while escaping the atmosphere.

Watch the high-tech video featuring rocket specs, SpaceX digs, and eating a hat. Or read about it here.

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