Smells Phishy | Fungal Feast | Farmer Ant

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I eat a LOT of bagels. I’ve recently tried a wide variety and fear I’m turning into a bagel snob!

What’s your favorite bagel?

—Steve 🥯 (cinnamon raisin)

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Smells Phishy

If a certain scent motivates you to dismember your queen, wait! This classic phishing scheme is a common tactic of two known hacker groups parasitic ant species.

• Parasitic hackers: Lasius orientalis and Lasius umbratus

• Imposter-queen chemically masks herself w/ host nest’s scent

• Then sprays host-queen with an attack scent

Host ants react by swarming their queen, killing her after several rounds of re-spraying. Thus vacating the throne for their aristocratic social parasite. New queen, who dis?

Human cybersecurity videos are juuust barely better than ant security — here’s why

Fungal Feast

“Pass the fungus, please.” - someone at your Thanksgiving table…soon. A new CRISPR-modified fungus aims to replace meat AND be more environmentally friendly than current alternatives.

• CRISPR = gene-editing tech that enables precise cuts in DNA

• Shrunk cell walls for easier digestion

• Reduced nutrient requirements for identical protein output

The edited version of Fusarium venenatum generates protein 88% faster than its natural origins. Further development is needed, but the final product could require up 70% less land than chicken farms producing the same amount of protein.

Anyone know the formula converting chickens to turkeys? — Protein CRISPR

Farmer Ant

Ants may be the oldest farmers on Earth. Fungi thrived after the Cretaceous mass extinction, and ants capitalized with agriculture.

• Most ant species work with one specific fungus strain

• Leafcutter ants feed leaves to fungi

• Then harvest fungal growths for food

Other ants have similarly specialized farming techniques that co-evolved with fungal species. Researchers are building out gene libraries in hopes of defining exactly which genetic traits correspond between farmer and crop. Unbeleafable.

How many ants does it take to drive a tractor?

Own a Home? Unlock Lower Auto Insurance Rates

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Ant of Thrones

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you get slaughtered by your own colony.” - Cersei Antister

st3v will be back next week!

Sticking with the same home insurance could cost you

Home insurance costs are rising fast, up nearly 40% nationwide in just the past few years. With premiums changing constantly, sticking with the same provider could mean overpaying by hundreds of dollars. Shopping around and comparing multiple insurers can help lock in better rates without losing the protection your home needs. Check out Money’s home insurance tool to shop around and see if you can save.

Shop around

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