7 fascinating science facts

2. Xenobots

Scientists have created tiny living robots out of frog cells called xenobots. Xenobots can swim, self-repair and even move particles around. They could potentially be used to clean up pollution or deliver drugs to specific parts of the body. A xenobot’s lifespan is about two weeks, after which time it dissolves. This means no waste left over after their useful lifespan. They can also be ‘programmed’ to flock to certain colours of light, which makes it useful to gather them together for collection. Scientists are also able to tell what the xenobots are up to without needing to monitor them. They do this by setting up checkpoints of different coloured light, which when passed through by a xenobot causes a chemical reaction within the xenobot which can be detected by the scientists’ sensors. Scientists can check the readings from these sensors at a later date and know where the xenobots went in their absence. 

3. The secret behind why dogs tilt their heads

There are different theories about why dogs tilt their heads when hearing certain words. One idea is that dogs are processing familiar words. For example, when they hear the familiar word ‘walk’ or ‘treat’, they know it corresponds with something positive (the walk or the treat), and so they pay special attention to the word. They do not understand the exact situation or why the word is being said at a specific moment, and so they concentrate harder (as evidenced by tilting their head) so they can try to gain more clues about the current situation. Their owner could indeed be using the word to indicate the dog is shortly about to receive a benefit, or the word could have no potential for action and could be used just in passing conversation (or the dog may have misheard the word). 

Another theory is that the tilting of the head has been developed as a social cue. People like it when dogs tilt their heads - they find it cute and appealing, and so it benefits the dog to repeat the action. The tilting of the head could improve the dog’s chances of receiving a benefit. For example, a dog who tilts his head at a trigger word could be more likely to receive the benefit, persuading the owner with its cuteness. If the owner says ‘treat’ and the dog is indifferent or there is no excitable reaction in the dog, the owner would be less motivated to actually give the treat to the dog. 
It has also been speculated that dogs have preferred or a more efficient ear. So, a dog may tilt his head to one side or the other because whichever side may allow him to hear the word better. 

4. Crocodiles detect infant cries

A recent study showed that crocodiles are sensitive to the sound of crying infants. The scientists who ran the experiment played audio of crying infants from different subspecies of primate, including human, chimpanzee and bonobo. The study found that crocodiles were indeed attracted to the sound of crying infants. The majority of the crocodiles responded to the sounds by investigating the source of the crying, which were speakers playing the audio from the different species of primates. 

Some of the crocodiles even bit at the speakers, an eerie behaviour which may not actually be what it initially seems. Crocodile mothers pick up their pups with their mouths, and so a crocodile biting the speaker may simply be a parental impulse, where the crocodile is trying to pick up the infant. However, the head researcher of this project, Dr. Michael Grunwald, did state that he highly doubted this, and that an aggressive action was more likely to be true. 

It's has been theorised that crocodiles developed this sensitivity to infant cries as a predatory technique. If an infant animal falls in crocodile-infested waters, a crocodile would be able to detect and locate it through its crying. This is an interesting discovery because crocodiles and mammals diverged evolutionarily millions of years ago, and so the fact that crocodiles can detect the cries of a different species is surprising. 

5. AI identifies endangered animals and combats poaching

A UK-based company have combined the range of satellite communications with the power of AI to create camera systems which can track endangered animals with a high degree of accuracy. Endangered species can be difficult to track, with rangers having to cover large areas to try and monitor elusive creatures. The AI camera systems, which are developed by Archangel Imaging can detect and identify specific species, such as the spotted leopard. This gives park managers a more comprehensive understanding of the number of these animals and their behaviours. 

The camera systems can also help prevent poaching by monitoring large areas and notifying rangers upon detection of a poacher. Poachers often study the patrol routes of park rangers, and so by having a permanent AI camera system in place that notifies rangers via phone app notifications, rangers are aware of poacher movements within minutes instead of hours, and can effectively cover a much larger area than ever before. Because these parks usually have little to no internet availability, satellite technology is an essential piece of the puzzle for making the technology work, allowing the camera systems to communicate with rangers.

The camera systems can also help prevent poaching by monitoring large areas and notifying rangers upon detection of a poacher. Poachers often study the patrol routes of park rangers, and so by having a permanent AI camera system in place that notifies rangers via phone app notifications, rangers are aware of poacher movements within minutes instead of hours, and can effectively cover a much larger area than ever before. Because these parks usually have little to no internet availability, satellite technology is an essential piece of the puzzle for making the technology work, allowing the camera systems to communicate with rangers.

6. Trained rats can detect landmines

Landmines are a serious problem in many countries, with an estimated 100 million still active in the world today. The devices have devastating impacts for communities, with most of the fatalities inflicted by them against civilians. Due to their incredible sense of smell, rats are undergoing training in several countries to detect landmines. In nations like Malaysia, which face significant mine-related challenges, authorities employ rats to sniff out these dangerous devices so they can be safely disarmed. Rats, known for their intelligence, are easily trainable and suitable for this purpose, and their widespread availability is another bonus. And because they’re so light, they can traverse mines without triggering them. The rats used for this task weigh only 1.3 kg pounds, while it takes about 4.5 kg of pressure to activate a land mine. We should all be grateful towards our furry companions and the good work they do!  

7. Using CRISPR to engineer crops

CRISPR editing is a tool used by scientists that allows them to modify DNA within living organisms. DNA acts as the blueprint of the body, telling all tissue, muscle and organs how to grow. The entire set of DNA within the body is called the ‘genome’, and the genome is made up of parts called ‘genes’. Scientists use CRISPR technology like a pair of scissors to edit specific genes in the body. They can ‘snip’ certain sections of DNA to remove, alter, or add different DNA sequences. 

This is a very exciting technology with many potential use cases. Agriculture is one of the fields in which CRISPR can be beneficial - scientists can edit out deficiencies in crops, editing the genes to fortify them against pests and disease. They can also expose plants to extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and drought conditions, in order for the plants to develop mutations that resist these conditions. Once these mutations have formed, the scientists can redevelop them and engineer them into other plants using CRISPR.  

Another use case is creating crops that grow well in specific types of soil. This could optimise crops for specific farms, where crops would grow especially well in their native soil. CRISPR can also be used to improve the nutritional content in fruits and vegetables, such as scientifically engineered tomatoes with higher levels of antioxidants.