Discover 3 recent science news in our #PeerusWhatsNew, now on Medium.
1 A study of Manhattan ants shows that some species have adopted human nutrition.
Researchers found that species of ants living in Manhattan’s most urbanized habitats had a carbon signature associated with human processed foods. Therefore, their organisms were marked with junk foods.
The ants Tetramorium caespitum, a common species in the streets, had a level of carbon 13. This level is close to what is found in human nutrition. These ants also seek to enter homes where they are considered pests.
2 Australian police have relied on data from a connected watch to identify the culprit of a murder.
Based on the data collected by the suspect’s watch at the time of the crime, the cardiac activity and recorded movements apparently contradict the testimony.
Thanks to the connected watch of the victim, the investigators were able to determine the time of death. It remains to be seen whether this information will be retained as evidence.
3 Researchers have made a structure that hardens when stretched and that changes color according to its size, as the skin of a chameleon.
Some biological tissues such as the skin, the intestinal wall or the cardiac muscle have very particular properties: they are flexible but remain resistant when stretched.
This technique can potentially help to create future prostheses and medical implants. This invention could also make it possible to design personalized prostheses, such as implants in veins or eyes.
Try Peerus, a smart and exhaustive way to be up-do-date with the latest scientific advances.
