Investigative camera-wielding sharks in the Bahamas, spider-monkey diplomacy in Mexico, carbon dioxide “time bombs” in the Republic of the Congo, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits.
Bahamas
Biologists have attached tiny cameras to tiger sharks to study Caribbean seagrass. The footage expanded his estimate of global seagrass cover by 41%. This bodes well for the climate as seagrasses store carbon.
China
Scientists have struggled to identify the organism behind the world’s oldest skeletal remains, a 500-million-year-old tubular structure. Now, new analyzes of Yunnan specimens (including rare observations of fossilized soft tissue) suggest that the animal is a jellyfish relative that resembles anemones.
Malaysia
Researchers used the skin of Kertam, Malaysia’s last male Sumatran rhinoceros, who died in 2019 to generate stem cells. Converting these cells into viable sperm could help save endangered animals from extinction.
Mexico
Archaeologists excavating the administrative complex of the ancient city of Teotihuacan have uncovered the skeleton of a spider monkey dating back about 1,700 years, which never lived in the area. Experts believe it was a gift from the neighboring Maya, pointing to a previously unknown animal-based diplomacy.
Republic of the Congo
Congo’s peatlands have alternated between releasing carbon dioxide (dry) and storing it (wet) every few thousand years, according to a new study. This could mean that peatlands are climate change ‘time bombs’ set to release accumulated carbon as they dry.
England
A meteorite that landed on a British driveway was found to contain water with hydrogen isotope ratios similar to those on Earth. I support the idea.
This article was originally published in Scientific American 328, 2, 18 (February 2023) under the title “Quick Hits”.
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0223-18a
