Star Heads | Spaceplane | Brainless Jelly

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Star Heads

Starfish are just bodiless heads crawling around the ocean. Not a belated Halloween trick, they just don’t have “body” making genes.

• Studied: Patiria miniata aka bat stars

• Gene expression mapped throughout growth stages

• Unveiling a “blueprint” for creating sea stars

For starfish, this blueprint is 100% genes that comprise the heads of most animals. Scientists will continue researching their genome to learn more alternative evolutionary advantages. Perhaps bodies are overrated?

Heads up

Spaceplane

NASA’s return to the runway is set for April, when its Dream Chaser spaceplane completes a delivery mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

• Launches on a traditional rocket, lands like a plane

• 30’ long with a 23’  foldable wingspan

• Cargo module doubles as solar power generator

To stand out from other reusable spacecraft, Dream Chaser will provide a gentle landing for sensitive experiments returning from the ISS. A concept that could drastically improve future space station deliveries. No word on in-flight entertainment options, yet.

Window seats only

Brainless Jelly

Throwback to another alt-bodied sea creature after meeting our bodiless star above

Don’t tell your brain, but it may not be vital. Researchers observed Caribbean box jellyfish learning without a brain.

• Jelly = roughly the size of a fingernail

• Only ~4k neurons (humans have ~86 billion)

• Neurons clustered in 4 separate sensory structures

Jellyfish learning was measured by collision avoidance in a test tank mimicking their natural habitat. Further research will study how memory works without a brain in hopes of uncovering treatment for dementia. Yeah, but can they play Pink Floyd?

No brainer

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Better classic costume?”

Witches thanked black cats for helping secure this narrow victory. Ghosts have yet to reply to my request for comment…classic.

st3v on site

Wizard of AquOz

st3v is getting closer to a full cast for his aquatic rendition of The Wizard of Oz.

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