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On October 19, South Australian veterinarian Dr. Andrew Melville-Smith experienced a bizarre incident when his Tesla Model Y was struck by an unidentified object while driving near Spencer Gulf. The impact caused significant damage to the car's windscreen, which melted and sagged inward, leading to speculation that it could be the first recorded case of a meteorite hitting a moving vehicle. Melville-Smith described the event as a "deafening explosion," initially believing they had crashed. The South Australian Museum has requested access to the car for analysis, although experts remain skeptical about the meteorite theory, citing the lack of a visible fireball and the unusual nature of the damage. Some suggest it could be space debris instead. Despite the uncertainty, Melville-Smith credits the car's self-driving technology for preventing a potential crash during the incident. 
Published: Oct 30 2025, 10 pmeznews.inWi-Fi has become an essential part of daily life for many, yet few know its true origins. Contrary to popular belief, Wi-Fi does not stand for "wireless fidelity," a notion stemming from its phonetic similarity to "hi-fi," or high fidelity. Phil Belanger, a founding member of the Wi-Fi Alliance, clarified that Wi-Fi is not an acronym and has no inherent meaning. The term was created by the marketing firm Interbrand, which sought a catchy name to replace the technical IEEE 802.11. After presenting ten options, "Wi-Fi" was chosen for its memorable quality, evoking the idea of high-quality, cable-free connections. The misconception of "wireless fidelity" arose partly from a previous tagline used by the Alliance, which was later abandoned as Wi-Fi gained popularity. Despite its lack of a formal definition, the name has become synonymous with reliable wireless connectivity. 
Published: Oct 30 2025, 8 ameznews.inA newborn Spix’s macaw hatchling at Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium is igniting hope for the species, which was declared extinct in the wild around 2018/2019. Once native to Brazil's dry tropical forests, the Spix’s macaw (_Cyanopsitta spixii_), known for its vibrant blue plumage, has been the subject of conservation efforts after the last wild sighting in 2000. The zoo's breeding program, which has seen 100 eggs laid without fertilization, celebrated a breakthrough with the 101st egg, attributed to a dietary change. The chick, hatched on September 21, 2025, is being hand-fed by specialists and will not be released into the wild but will contribute to breeding efforts aimed at increasing the captive population. Despite past reintroduction attempts in Brazil, the species remains classified as "extinct in the wild" by the IUCN Red List, underscoring the challenges ahead for its survival. 
Published: Oct 31 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIn 2017, a striking helicopter video captured a saltwater crocodile effortlessly carrying a freshwater crocodile in its jaws, highlighting the dominance of apex predators in the animal kingdom. Saltwater crocodiles, the largest reptiles on Earth, exemplify this status, with one named Lolong recorded at over 6 meters long. These formidable hunters, alongside lions, tigers, bald eagles, and polar bears, play crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance. Apex predators, which have no natural enemies, face significant threats from human activities such as poaching and habitat destruction. For instance, tiger populations have plummeted by nearly 96% since 1900, while polar bears are at risk of extinction by 2100 due to climate change. Meanwhile, orcas, known for their sophisticated hunting techniques, have emerged as formidable threats to even the great white shark. The survival of these apex species is vital for the health of their ecosystems. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 4 ameznews.inIn a fascinating study published in *Ichthyology & Herpetology*, researchers have uncovered the reasons behind the Asian Common Toad's dramatic color change during mating season. Males transform from brown to bright yellow for up to two days, a strategy that enhances their visibility to females amidst the chaos of the Grand Annual Orgy. The study reveals that this vibrant coloration helps females quickly identify males, reducing the likelihood of male-male mismatches in the frenzied breeding environment. Using a toad-vision simulator, the team demonstrated that males were significantly more likely to engage with brown models than yellow ones, indicating the effectiveness of this visual signal. Interestingly, the yellow hue does not indicate the male's fitness, as size and strength were found to be similar across color variations. The mating frenzy, which can lead to chaotic "mating balls," lasts just two days, after which females quickly retreat to avoid the relentless advances of males. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 5 ameznews.inAs Halloween concludes, wildlife experts are urging the public to reconsider the practice of discarding pumpkins in woods, a trend fueled by social media. While some believe this act benefits local wildlife, it poses significant risks, particularly to hedgehogs, which are trying to gain weight for hibernation. Consuming pumpkin can lead to diarrhea and dehydration in these animals, potentially proving fatal. Additionally, discarded pumpkins can attract rats and disrupt soil balance due to their rotting nature. Paul Bunton from The Woodland Trust emphasized that the myth of pumpkins aiding wildlife is misleading. Instead of dumping them, experts recommend composting at home or donating to local gardens or farms. This approach not only protects wildlife but also promotes environmental health, ensuring that hedgehogs and other creatures are not adversely affected. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 12 ameznews.inBefore launching spacecraft to other worlds, space agencies prioritize sterilization to prevent the contamination of extraterrestrial environments with Earthly life. However, some bacteria, like *Tersicoccus phoenicis*, discovered in NASA's clean room during the Phoenix lander mission, have shown resilience against sterilization processes. This bacterium can enter a dormant state under harsh conditions, making it difficult to detect and raising concerns about its potential survival in space. Researchers from the University of Houston have found that resuscitation-promoting factors from related species can revive this dormant bacterium, suggesting that dormancy may be a common trait among Actinobacteria, which includes pathogens like tuberculosis. The implications of these findings extend beyond space exploration, potentially affecting health standards in hospitals and food industries. Experts emphasize the need for further research to understand the behavior of these bacteria in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 3 ameznews.inIn a rather unusual discussion at the Australian Senate in 2016, biosecurity officials revealed the startling and somewhat humorous truth about honeybee reproduction: male drones, or bees, die after mating due to a violent process that involves their endophallus exploding inside the queen. During an inquiry into the biosecurity risks of importing bee semen, NSW Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan inquired about the harvesting process, leading to the revelation that bees do not survive mating. Tim Chapman from the Department of Agriculture explained that the act of mating is so intense that it results in the drone's death, as the endophallus is ejected from its body. This explosive mating ritual is not only fatal for drones but can also be exacerbated by extreme heat, causing them to "explosively ejaculate to death," according to researchers from the University of British Columbia. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 12 ameznews.inAs Halloween approaches, researchers are raising alarms about the mysterious decline of "zombie worms," or _Osedax_, known for their unique ability to consume whale bones. A recent study led by Fabio De Leo from Ocean Networks Canada revealed a concerning absence of these creatures in a decade-long experiment involving a humpback whale carcass in Barkley Canyon, British Columbia. Despite their gruesome feeding habits, which involve boring into bones and relying on symbiotic bacteria for digestion, zombie worms play a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity within deep-sea ecosystems. Their disappearance could disrupt the connectivity of these habitats, potentially leading to a loss of various _Osedax_ species. Researchers suggest that climate change, particularly the expansion of oxygen minimum zones due to ocean warming, may be the underlying cause of this alarming trend, threatening the delicate balance of whale-fall ecosystems along the northeast Pacific Margin. 
Published: Nov 01 2025, 1 ameznews.inDogs with blue fur have been spotted in Chernobyl, but researchers from the Dogs of Chernobyl program assure that the unusual coloration is not due to radiation exposure. Instead, the dogs were likely rolling in a blue chemical substance from a nearby broken portable toilet. Dr. Jennifer Betz, Veterinary Medical Director for the program, confirmed that the dogs appear healthy and that the dye is mostly harmless, provided they do not ingest it. This incident follows a similar occurrence in 2021, when blue dogs were seen near an abandoned chemical plant in Russia, attributed to copper sulfate. The Dogs of Chernobyl initiative, part of the nonprofit Clean Futures Fund, has been monitoring and sterilizing the descendants of pets left behind after the 1986 nuclear disaster, having sterilized over 1,000 animals since 2017. The region continues to support a thriving wildlife population, including wolves that have developed protective mutations against cancer. 
Published: Oct 29 2025, 9 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
