Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-many-legs-does-it-take-to-escape-a-predator/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/5orR9Vr5BBM

Summary: Researchers wanted to learn whether using two legs instead of four helps jumping rodents escape their predators

Abstract: Why do animals have such different shapes and sizes? Many animals are hunted by predators. Prey animals have features that help them escape these predators. For example, some animals like frogs have two powerful back legs to jump away from predators. Other animals, like deer, have four legs that help them run away to safety. Some rodents use two legs, while many other rodents use four legs. But which ones are better at avoiding predators? We compared the bipedal kangaroo rat with the pocket mouse, woodrat, and ground squirrel. We created fake predator attacks and measured how each rodent responded. We found that pocket mice and kangaroo rats jumped away the fastest. This might be because both are small and have strong back legs. Woodrats and ground squirrels jumped lower and slower. So, rodents jumping with two legs were better at reacting to attacks. This means using two legs may be an advantage for rodents when avoiding predators.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-predict-extreme-winter-weather/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/aX88S-pYOnc

Summary: Scientists analyzed data to determine what factors affect the formation of a weak polar vortex.

Abstract: Some winter days are so cold and snowy that you feel like you are living at the North Pole. But what causes the weather to be so cold? Freezing temperatures and heavy snow at lower latitudes often follow a weak polar vortex. A polar vortex is a band of strong winds that traps a large mass of cold air above the North and South Poles. When the polar vortex weakens, extreme cold air moves away from the poles. We wanted to work out what factors cause a weak Arctic polar vortex event. We found that warmer ocean temperatures cause air pressure changes. This change in air pressure causes a shift in the polar vortex in the upper atmosphere. Our results can help predict weak polar vortex events in winter. Predicting these events will improve the ability to forecast extreme cold and snow.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-rivers-flow-through-the-air/ or watch at: https://youtu.be/_za5Bb3Q9s8

Summary: Researchers wanted to know how dense atmospheric river clusters form and how climate change might increase their frequency and intensity.

Abstract: In 2022 and 2023, California experienced a series of atmospheric rivers that caused major damage. Atmospheric rivers are huge storms that carry a lot of water through the air. When they hit land, they can cause heavy rain or snow. Atmospheric rivers become extreme events when they are very strong and intense. They can then lead to flooding and landslides. Some happen one after another, forming what's called an atmospheric river cluster. These clusters can be very dangerous because they bring even more rain in a short amount of time. We wanted to look at how these clusters form. We also explored how climate variability could make clusters happen more often. We found that dense clusters (storms that happen close together) bring the most rain. They also cause the most flooding. Changes in temperature and weather patterns might make these intense clusters more frequent. But why do we need to understand more about atmospheric river clusters? So we can better prepare for flooding and extreme weather in the future.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-groups-of-ants-make-shared-decisions/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/kvr4f2NfooE

Summary: Researchers wanted to discover which group decision-making strategy weaver ants used when transporting their prey back to the nest.

Abstract: Have you ever noticed that animals living in groups tend to work together? For example, African elephants typically walk in a line for safety and follow the age and experience of the oldest and largest female. This is called “follow the leader” strategy. But what about the humble ant? Ants often work together to transport large food items back to their nest. Since ants can’t talk to each other to make decisions, they must rely on other senses to work as a team. We wanted to find out how weaver ants cooperate to move large items. So, we observed ants in the lab trying to move objects. We discovered that no single ant takes the lead. Instead they pool their opinions to decide on which direction to go. This is known as the “wisdom of the crowd” strategy!

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Read this article at:  https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-does-limiting-sugar-early-in-life-affect-adult-health/ or watch at: https://youtu.be/pL6MsH4OHmc

Summary: Researchers exploit the end of World War II sugar rationing to examine the link between limited sugar exposure up to age two and health problems as adults.

Abstract: What do soda, ice cream, and candy have in common? They all contain lots of added sugar! While sugar makes foods taste great, too much added sugar can negatively impact a person’s health. For instance, studies link high added sugar levels to type 2 diabetes and hypertension. These diseases often occur later in life.

Because of World War II, the United Kingdom rationed several foods, including sugar, from 1940 to 1953. In September 1953, sugar rationing ended. This event likely caused diets to be lower in sugar before and higher after that date. We looked at the data and noticed that there was indeed an increase in the amount of sugar people ate right after the sugar rationing ended. 

We wanted to understand how being in a place with either very little or a lot of sugar early in life affected a person's health as an adult. So, we studied adults born in the UK around the end of sugar rationing who were later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. For this group, we found that restricting sugar until age two decreased the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and hypertension. It also delayed when these diseases started.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-did-mammals-evolve-to-live-in-the-sea/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/a5DHR61VJOM

Summary: Researchers compared neuropeptides in cetacean and land mammal DNA to explore how mammals evolved to live underwater.

Abstract: Marine mammals are well adapted to living in the sea. For example, whales and dolphins are excellent divers, hold their breath for long periods, and can sleep underwater. However, this was not always the case. In fact, whales and dolphins (collectively known as cetaceans) evolved from mammals that once lived on land! How did cetaceans develop these abilities to live underwater? A group of chemicals called neuropeptides may hold the answer. These chemicals play important roles in numerous bodily processes including sleep, feeding and the maintenance of blood pressure. 

We compared the neuropeptides found in cetaceans with those found in land mammals. We wanted to see how they are different. We found that marine mammals have lost the ability to make many of the neuropeptides that land mammals still have. So, differences in neuropeptides may explain how cetaceans adapted to live in a marine environment.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/which-chemical-makes-ants-walk-like-zombies/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/-u5sFXvMWYY

Summary: Researchers wanted to see how Ophiocordyceps infects ants, causing them to turn into "zombies", through the release of chemicals like aflatrem, which impacts their movement and alters their genes.

Abstract: Have you ever seen an ant acting strange? Sometimes, ants are infected with a fungus called Ophiocordyceps that can change their behavior. The fungus causes them to walk like a zombie, climb up nearby plants, and bite to hang on tightly. It does this so that the wind will help spread its infectious spores. But how does this happen?

Our previous research discovered that Ophiocordyceps fungi can make a chemical similar to one called aflatrem. Since these types of chemicals are known to cause trouble with walking in other animals, we wondered if it might be causing the zombie walk in ants, too. To test our hypothesis, we injected ants with aflatrem and found that it makes them move more slowly. It also causes them to stagger like they are dizzy! We also discovered that aflatrem can change how much some genes are turned up or down in the ants. By making it harder for ants to walk, we think the fungus uses aflatrem-like chemicals to keep the ants from leaving once they are in the perfect spot for the biting behavior. This helps the fungus to spread its spores better.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-can-fossils-tell-us-about-growing-up/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/CCO7RT8lOnU

Summary: A new fossil find shows that the ancestors of mammals grew up more slowly in the Jurassic Era than they do now.

Abstract: Did you know that some animals like crocodiles and sharks keep growing larger as they get older? Mammals are not like that. We only grow during the first part of our lives. We were curious about how this trait evolved, so we used X-rays and 3D imaging to look at two small mammal-like fossils from the Jurassic. The fossils were from a juvenile and an adult. We found they grew more slowly than mammals do today. This helps us better understand the evolution of mammals.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-storms-impact-coastal-ecosystems/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/5dfmaWT2T5E

Summary: Researchers investigated the impact of tropical cyclones on five coastal ecosystems.

Abstract: Climate change is making tropical cyclones stronger. It is also making them more common. We know tropical cyclones can cause a lot of damage to houses and buildings. But what about coastal ecosystems? We depend on coastal ecosystems for protection and food. It's important to understand how increasing storms could impact them.

We collected data from the literature on 97 storm landfalls. We looked at things like death and diversity. Then we calculated the impact on five different coastal ecosystems. We also looked at what caused the impact; for example, wind or waves. We found that tropical cyclones harmed all five ecosystems. But they harmed mangrove forests the most. Mangrove forests were most often harmed by wind. We need to know more about what storm traits can cause impacts. Only then can we manage and preserve these ecosystems better.

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Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-green-is-liquefied-natural-gas/  or watch at: https://youtu.be/L36aSPTkVKc

Summary: Researchers wanted to measure the total carbon footprint of LNG production.

Abstract: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is an important energy source for some countries. Sometimes it’s claimed to be cleaner than coal since it produces less CO₂ when burned. Yet LNG comes mostly from shale gas, which is made up almost entirely from methane gas. And the process of extracting, cooling it to liquid form, and moving it releases some of this methane to the atmosphere. So is LNG really a cleaner alternative to coal? To find out, we calculated the carbon footprint of LNG and its production. It turned out LNG has a larger footprint than coal! This is because of methane emissions during different stages of gas and LNG production. Methane is over 20 times more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com