A passion for the natural world drives many of our adventures. And when we’re not outside, we love to immerse ourselves in discoveries about the places we live and travel. Here are some of the best natural history links we found this week.
Recycled shellfish
Making renewable batteries from crab and lobster shells: The chemicals used in batteries, such as lithium, can take thousands of years to break down. Crustacean shells contain chitin, which makes the shells hard. On the same subject : Morning Glory Ministries Biscoe volunteers use extra books to use. Restaurants around the world throw away crab and lobster shells, but researchers have discovered that discarded shells have a potential use.
Addition of acetic acid to the chitin forms a gel membrane that can produce electrolytes for batteries. Such batteries would be safer and more sustainable.
“Both the biodegradability of material … and the performance of the batteries are important for a product that has the potential to be commercialized,” explained materials scientist Liangbing Hu.
Chasing cyclones
Climate scientists chase arctic storms: Scientists fly a small plane through arctic cyclones in northern Norway to see how storms interact with the sea ice. This may interest you : Ben Lucas Appointed General Manager for LEARFIELD’s Rams Sports Properties.
Cyclones affect the sea ice, but the temperature, roughness and movement of the ice also affect storms. “This interaction is probably the weakest link in our forecasting models for Arctic weather and climate,” says meteorologist John Methven.
The ice is too thin to support a weather station, but with increasing human activity in the area, we need more accurate forecasts. To collect data, the flights must take place less than 100 meters above the sea ice.
Wild donkeys in the desert. Photo: Shutterstock
Invasive donkeys
Cougars kill wild donkeys in Death Valley: Across the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, herds of wild donkeys search for water. As they migrate, they trample through vegetation that other species depend on. On the same subject : High-tech battery maker expands San Jose engineering operations. This has caused dramatic changes in the local plant life.
The National Park Service has declared donkeys an invasive species, but footage from cameras left in place shows cougars will track and kill donkeys across wetlands in Death Valley. (Yes, Death Valley has wet areas.)
Researchers studied predator-prey interactions in 14 different wetlands and observed cougars killing donkeys in eight of them. After the killings, other donkeys avoided these areas.
Fossil may be rare complete dinosaur: A dinosaur fossil unearthed in Canada may be a complete skeleton. The fossil juts out of the side of a hill in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta.
The bones belong to a hadrosaur, a large, plant-eating duckbill. The visible parts are complete and even include fossilized skin. The way it sits in the rock suggests that the entire skeleton may lie beneath.
Complete skeletons are incredibly rare. This was discovered in 2021. Paleontologists hope to fully excavate the skeleton during the next two field seasons. The size of the fossil suggests it is a juvenile, which is even rarer. Adult hadrosaur fossils are much more common. The fossilized skin would also give them a good idea of what the dinosaurs looked like.
A cure for the blues?
Visiting canals and rivers can boost your mood: Going to a river or canal when you’re feeling down can cheer you up, according to new research. The combination of blue and green areas with wildlife has a greater effect than green areas alone.
We’ve long known that the outdoors is good for mental well-being, but this study suggests that being near water can also help. The data held across different ages, genders and different mental health conditions.
Lucas, the African penguin, now wears orthotic footwear. Photo: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Bumblefoot workaround
Penguin gets custom orthotics: Keepers at the San Diego Zoo have made a penguin a pair of orthopedic boots. Lucas, an African penguin, has club feet.
Bumblefoot causes redness and inflammation in the birds’ feet. Lucas developed the condition after a spinal infection three years ago. This led to muscle weakness in the legs and the inability to stand properly. Instead of standing on his toes, he sits back on his ankles. This caused many sores on his feet and legs.
“The boots are padded and Velcro in place. They will help Lucas participate fully in the colony and display behaviors more typical of a penguin, such as climbing on the rocks, swimming, nesting and finding a suitable mate,” said vet Beth Big nose.
