eznews.inA recent study from Queen Mary University of London has revealed that bumblebees can learn to differentiate between flashing light durations, a skill previously unobserved in invertebrates. Researchers, led by PhD student Alex Davidson, trained the bees using a method involving sugar solutions to associate specific flashing patterns with rewards. Remarkably, over 80% of the bees successfully identified the correct flash duration even without the sugar present, suggesting a complex cognitive ability despite their tiny brains, which contain fewer than one million neurons. This finding not only highlights the bees' unexpected intelligence but also raises questions about the evolutionary significance of such skills. The study's coauthor, Elisabetta Versace, noted that understanding these abilities could inform the development of efficient artificial neural networks. The research, published in *Biology Letters*, opens new avenues for exploring cognitive traits across species. 
Published: Nov 12 2025, 3 pmeznews.inWhen shining a light in your garden at night, the dots of light reflecting back are likely the eyes of wolf spiders, which possess a unique feature known as the tapetum lucidum. This reflective layer behind their retinas enhances their night vision, allowing them to hunt effectively in low light conditions. The tapetum lucidum not only causes their eyes to glow when illuminated but is also found in various other species, including cats and great white sharks. As wolf spiders (_Lycosidae_) are primarily nocturnal hunters, their large posterior eyes are particularly adept at spotting prey in dim environments. Therefore, if you notice a multitude of glowing eyes in your garden, it’s a reminder that these creatures are observing you. In related news, researchers recently discovered what is believed to be the world's largest spider web, created by approximately 111,000 spiders in a cave near the Albanian-Greek border.
Published: Nov 08 2025, 7 ameznews.inSailors' eyeballs, or _Valonia ventricosa_, are fascinating algae found in tropical and subtropical oceans, notable for being among the largest single-celled organisms on Earth. These unique blobs can range in size from a pinhead to a large eyeball, depending on the contents of their vacuoles. As coenocytic organisms, they consist of a mass of cytoplasm containing multiple cell nuclei without cell walls, and are rich in chloroplasts, enabling photosynthesis. Interestingly, if one of these algae is popped, it can lead to the growth of new organisms, as only one nucleus is needed for regeneration. Commonly referred to as bubble algae or sea grapes, they exhibit a variety of colors, from bright green to silvery, due to their distinctive cell wall structure. Divers often encounter these curious blobs while exploring coral reefs, but caution is advised against popping them.
Published: Nov 07 2025, 11 pmeznews.inA recent reanalysis of data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft has revealed that heat is escaping from both the north and south poles of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting the moon is in thermal balance. This finding increases the likelihood that its subsurface ocean is a stable, long-term feature, potentially enhancing the prospects for life beneath its icy surface. The study indicates that the heat loss from the north pole is consistent with geological activity, contributing to a total energy output of approximately 54 gigawatts, aligning with the estimated internal heat generation. Lead author Dr. Georgina Miles emphasized the importance of understanding Enceladus's energy dynamics in the search for extraterrestrial life. The research also provided new estimates of the ice thickness above the ocean, reinforcing the moon's potential as a key target in astrobiology. The study is published in *Science Advances*.
Published: Nov 11 2025, 7 ameznews.inResearchers at Queen Mary University of London have identified a potential "seventh sense" in humans, termed "remote touch," which allows individuals to detect objects buried in granular materials, akin to how certain birds locate prey in sand. In a study presented at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning, volunteers demonstrated a remarkable 70.7% accuracy in identifying hidden objects using only their fingertips, achieving this at distances of up to 6.9 cm. This ability relies on sensing minute displacements in the surrounding material. The implications of this discovery extend beyond human perception; it could enhance robotic systems designed for delicate tasks in challenging environments, such as archaeological digs or extraterrestrial exploration. The research highlights the synergy between psychology and robotics, suggesting that insights from human sensory experiences can inform the development of advanced robotic technologies. The findings are detailed in IEEE Xplore.
Published: Nov 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inResearchers are exploring the evolutionary purpose of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms, which has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like depression and anxiety. A recent genetic study revealed that psilocybin has evolved independently in different mushroom species, suggesting it serves a significant function for the fungi. One leading hypothesis posits that psilocybin acts as a chemical defense mechanism to deter predators, such as insects and slugs, while another suggests it may aid in spore dispersal by altering the behavior of animals that consume the mushrooms. Despite its apparent advantages, the rarity of psilocybin-producing mushrooms raises questions about its evolutionary benefits. Experts agree that further research is needed to fully understand the reasons behind the production of this compound, but its repeated emergence in nature indicates it likely confers some selective advantage to the fungi.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 5 ameznews.inIn a fascinating discovery, researchers have revealed that the ant-mimicking spider, *Toxeus magnus*, exhibits a form of maternal care akin to that of mammals by producing a nutrient-rich "milk" for its young. After the spiderlings hatch, they rely entirely on this milk, secreted from the mother’s epigastric furrow, for sustenance until they reach the subadult stage. This behavior, observed in a breeding nest containing both adults and juveniles, suggests a form of social living previously unrecognized in this species. The study indicates that such lactation-like provisioning may have evolved in response to ecological pressures, such as predation risk and food scarcity, prompting mothers to adapt their physiology and behavior to ensure the survival of their offspring. Remarkably, the spider milk contains nearly four times the protein of cow's milk, highlighting the unique evolutionary traits of this invertebrate.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 2 ameznews.inDuring the lockdown in 2020, many sought companionship in pets, including the author, who was tempted by a wild mouse that wandered into their home. However, they refrained from adopting the mouse, knowing it would likely lead to chaos. Fast forward five years, and the author now has a domesticated animal curled up on their desk, prompting a reflection on the domestication process. Unlike simply keeping wild animals, domestication involves mutual benefits between species, as seen with wolves evolving into dogs and cats adapting to human settlements. A recent study suggests that ancient South American hunter-gatherers may have kept foxes as pets long before dogs arrived, evidenced by a burial site in Patagonia. Additionally, a 1959 experiment on silver foxes demonstrated rapid domestication through selective breeding for tameness. However, not all animals can be domesticated due to specific traits, leaving some, like house mice, better suited for urban environments than companionship.
Published: Nov 11 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA new study suggests that auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia may stem from "noisy" signaling in the brain's motor system rather than solely from the auditory system. Researchers found that while patients with schizophrenia often struggle to distinguish their thoughts from external voices, the underlying issue may involve a misfiring of a signal known as the efference copy (EC). This signal, which typically directs precise auditory feedback during speech, was found to be imprecise in patients experiencing hallucinations, leading to misinterpretations of sounds. Using electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity in 40 schizophrenia patients, the study confirmed that those who hear voices exhibited a noisy EC, activating unrelated neural responses. This breakthrough suggests that treatment approaches should focus on the connections between motor and auditory systems, marking a potential paradigm shift in understanding and addressing auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. The findings are published in PLOS Biology.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 3 ameznews.inA recent study from École Normale Supérieure in Paris has revealed that the brain employs distinct mechanisms when recalling familiar images compared to viewing them in real-time. Researchers, led by Anthony Clement and Dr. Catherine Tallon-Baudry, examined 28 volunteers using EEG technology while they visualized a map of France and focused on specific regions. The findings indicated that different brain areas were activated during mental imagery tasks, particularly in the left inferior frontal gyrus, which is linked to language processing and internal attention. This contrasts with the brain's response during direct visual perception, suggesting that spatial attention in mental imagery does not rely on the same neural pathways as visual attention. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, raises questions about the evolutionary reasons behind these differing processes and their implications for understanding conditions like aphantasia, where individuals lack the ability to visualize.
Published: Nov 07 2025, 4 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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