Moustronauts | SweatPlants | Coral Hero

Ever have to fight the urge to put googly eyes on everything?

-Steve

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Moustronauts

Mouse embryos were cultivated on the International Space Station (ISS). JAXA scientists studied these embryos to see how space impacts mammalian pregnancy.

• JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

• 720 frozen embryos sent to ISS

• Cultured in microgravity and simulated Earth gravity

Surviving space embryos developed as normally as the earthbound control group. While promising, this is one of many tests required before we understand the safety around space pregnancy. Conspiracy theory: moon cheese mission.

One teeny tiny step for mouse-kind

SweatPlants

Scientists found a plant that “sweats” to drink more water. The tamarix aphylla desert shrub uses salt to hydrate with air.

• 1 of its 10 salts, lithium sulfate, absorbs H₂O at 50% humidity 

• Salty leaves collect 10x more water than bare ones

• Native to salt-rich Middle Eastern coastal flats 

Excess salt is excreted on leaves in water droplets that later evaporate, leaving behind a crystal-crusted plant. Researchers are reviewing similar plants to learn how we can better combat water scarcity. No word on if you should scatter salt in your garden.

Salty salad

Coral Hero

Heat-trained algae could save the Great Barrier Reef. Researchers developed heat-tolerant microalgae to help dying coral battle global warming. 

• Coral rely on symbiotic microalgae to survive

• Lab microalgae were gradually exposed to high temps for 10 yrs.

• Then paired w/ bleached coral, prompting recovery & heat tolerance

Newly revived coral continued growing during 2 years of surveillance. Next up: testing in controlled ocean environments before expanding to global reef revival. Kinda like if algae came with A/C.

Microalgae -> macro results

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Would you rather be a...”

I should have known smart readers, such as yourself, would never choose to be a “brainless jellyfish”!

st3v on site

Salt Waterer

And just like that, st3v made caring for succulents even easier.

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