Sky Island | Mind Mined | Tiny Heist

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Want to help nature?

Me too! I’m cycling up Mt. Washington to raise money for the Tin Mountain Conservation Center, which researches sustainability measures and has provided environmental education to over 75k people.

Plus, I’m wearing a banana shirt on the donation page 🍌.

-Steve

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Sky Island

A sky island in Hyrule Mozambique is home to countless undiscovered species. Southern Africa’s largest rainforest sits atop a mountain surrounded by lowlands.

• Roughly 29 square miles

• Isolation = unique evolution

• New species: birds, chameleons, butterflies, and more

A 2023 expedition set up the first research center inside the forest with the help of 60+ porters. Their work is aiding Mozambique to turn the sky island into a protected area by 2030. Good thing Zelda gave Link a camera.

So THIS is what a sky island looks like

Mind Mined

Neurons are smarter than we thought. Researchers used implants to measure how individual neurons respond to language.

• Location: left prefrontal cortex

• Neurons responded distinctly to context (animals, feelings, names)

• Homophones (flour/flower) still triggered context responses

This suggests language processing relies heavily on context-specialized neurons rather than sound. Future studies will peer into how neurons act while producing language. Good luck, mine are liable to just oh look at cat.

Context clues

Tiny Heist

The greatest genomic heist has been happening for over 40 million years. Bdelloid (“dell-oid”) rotifers survive by “stealing” 10% of their genes.

• 0.5mm long and as wide as one of your hairs

• 450 species, all 100% female

• Stolen genes defend against fungal pathogens

Outsourced genes make up for bdelloid’s lack of genetic diversity resulting from asexual reproduction. Further research could lead to better antibiotics for humans. And competition for tardigrades in my favorite animal’s list!

Grand Theft Genome

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Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Better jelly flavor?”

If grape isn’t your jam, perhaps cotton candy grapes would change the vote spread?

st3v on site

Hey Listen!

While exploring Mozambique’s sky island, st3v discovered a new “butterfly” species!

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