Top online stories of the year, and revisiting digging donkeys and baby minds
Science Magazine Podcast
Deep Dive
Why is the study of corpse-eating pets important for forensic investigations?
The study helps forensic investigators understand how pets like dogs, cats, and even hamsters can interfere with evidence at crime scenes, causing damage to bodies and potentially obscuring crucial details. It provides a flow chart to guide investigators in assessing pet interference and correcting for it.
What did the cave art study reveal about children's involvement in ancient art?
The study identified scribbles in a Spanish cave that were likely made by children around 14,000 years ago. The height and patterns of the drawings matched what modern child development experts would expect from young children, suggesting that children's art has been a part of human history for millennia.
At what temperature does using a fan become ineffective or even harmful?
Using a fan becomes ineffective or harmful when temperatures exceed a certain threshold, as it can blow off evaporating sweat and replace it with hot air, making the user feel hotter. The exact temperature varies depending on humidity, but recommendations range from 32°C (89°F) to 40°C (104°F).
What is the Ig Nobel Prize, and why is it significant?
The Ig Nobel Prize is an annual award that celebrates quirky and unusual scientific research. It often highlights bizarre experiments that might not be taken seriously otherwise. This year, the prize included categories like botany (for plants imitating plastic plants) and anatomy (for studying hair swirl direction by hemisphere). The Ig Nobel's receive more nominations than the Nobel Prizes.
How has Eric Lundgren's research on donkey wells evolved since 2021?
Lundgren's research has expanded to question the importance of native vs. invasive species in ecosystems. He argues that invasive species like donkeys, which dig wells in deserts, may be filling ecological roles previously held by extinct species like mammoths. His latest work suggests that focusing on ecosystem functions rather than species origins is more ecologically sound.
What significant developments have occurred in rabies research since Katie Hampson's 2022 appearance?
Hampson's research has focused on scaling up dog vaccination programs and integrating One Health approaches to rabies surveillance. There has been a shift in global funding for rabies vaccines, with Gavi, the vaccine alliance, now investing in human rabies vaccines. However, COVID-19 disruptions have led to an increase in rabies outbreaks in places like Indonesia and the Philippines.
What is Ashley Thomas's latest research on babies' understanding of social relationships?
Thomas's latest research explores how babies use physical cues, such as size, to predict caregiving relationships. In experiments, babies observed puppet shows where a small character interacted with a large and small character. The babies associated the larger character with caregiving, suggesting an early understanding of social hierarchies based on size.
- Top online stories included a study on corpse-eating pets and its impact on forensic investigations.
- A study explored the optimal temperature for using fans to cool down.
- Ancient cave drawings possibly made by children were analyzed.
- The Ig Nobel Prizes, recognizing unusual scientific achievements, were discussed.
Shownotes Transcript