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  • Spidey Dreams | Batworking | Mobile Moths - The Convo Kit #61

Spidey Dreams | Batworking | Mobile Moths - The Convo Kit #61

Update on the table from last week: Sold! And I didn’t even have to put it back together.

Now if only I can find someone to buy this left-handed ergonomic mouse...

-Steve

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Little spider

Dustin Humes / Unsplash

Spidey Dreams

Spiders may experience REM sleep, previously believed to exist only in mammals and birds. Jumping spider babies' see-through exoskeletons enabled researchers to see their eye tubes moving internally.

  • REM = Rapid Eye Movement

  • Associated with visual dreams

  • Sleeping spider twitches were always accompanied by eye movement

While working on another spider project, the researcher was shocked to find several of them dreaming on a windowsill. More work is needed to fully confirm that this is actually REM sleep, but we're certain that 8 moving eyes and legs is a little creepy.

Batworking

Networking isn’t just for LinkedInfluencers, it’s for eating bugs, too. Bats use echolocation on each other to learn where the best grub is.

  • Bug-seeking echolocation range = 33-49’

  • Bat-seeking echolocation range = 525’

  • “Networking” saves ~40% scavenging time

Large groups of bats spread out just far enough to maximize bug scouting while staying in range of each other. Small groups may struggle to find enough food, so protecting bat roosts is even more important than previously thought. Though Batman seems to prefer flying solo.

Mobile Moths

Some moths regularly traverse long distances, and not just towards the light. A recent study tracked hawkmoths on their migration using mini radio tags.

  • Tag weight = 0.2 grams

  • Straight flight through changing winds suggests an “internal compass"

  • Researchers followed in a small plane for nearly 50 miles

The study shows insect migration is far more intentional than floating in the wind as previously assumed. Something tells me those networking bats already knew this…

Clickables

st3v on site

Batworking

st3v updates LinkedIn

st3v updated his LinkedIn to impress networking bats.

Thank you for reading!

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