Tusk Titles | Poop Fuel | SuperConcrete

Anyone else can't stop smelling all the flowers despite intense allergies? You'd think evolution figured this one out!

-Steve

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Tusk Titles

We call them elephants, but they refer to each other by name. Researchers discovered the floppy-eared behemoths gossip in low-frequency rumbles.

• Machine learning helped ID specific name sounds

• Then played the names back to elephants

• Individuals responded more to calls originally directed at them

Call-patterns were not consistent across different groups, indicating elephant names may be on an individual relationship level. We still have much to learn about their intricate nicknamed lives. They really have great memory for all those names, including their own!

*rumbles in elephant-speak*

Poop Fuel

The poop-to-protein pipeline could be shorter than we think. Scientists grew microalgae using frass as fertilizer.

• Frass = insect poop

• Frass + water - solids = fertilizer

• Insect farming is less resource intensive than livestock

Microalgae grown with frass performed similarly to those grown with chemical fertilizer. More research will inform the scalability of this sustainable alternative to protein. And if it tastes better with hot sauce.

Protein #2

SuperConcrete

Cities may charge themselves in the future. MIT researchers developed a supercapacitor from concrete and carbon black.

• Supercapacitor = stores + releases energy faster than a battery

• Carbon black = conductive material used as reinforcement filler

• Adding water enables energy storage

Concrete supercapacitors could lead to EV-charging roads and solar-storing homes. Further research will improve structural integrity and review how to offset concrete’s high CO₂ emissions. Maybe the Flintstones were ahead of their time.

yabba dabba doo!

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “What type of music do bees listen to?”

In the hive, it’s good vibezzzz only.

st3v on site

Graffiti de Elefante

Throwback to some cool elephant graffiti I saw in Bogotá, Colombia! What do you think they’re saying?

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