Category: Environment

To the best of our knowledge, the mechanical gear—characterized by evenly-sized teeth cut into two rotating surfaces to lock them together as they turn—was invented around 300 B.C.E. by Greek mechanics in Alexandria. Since then, this simple concept has become a cornerstone of modern technology, enabling various machinery and vehicles, including cars and bicycles.

However, it turns out that a tiny, three-millimeter-long hopping insect known as Issus coleoptratus beat us to this invention. Malcolm Burrows and Gregory Sutton, biologists from the University of Cambridge, discovered that juvenile Issus have an intricate gearing system that locks their back legs together, allowing both appendages to rotate simultaneously, propelling the insects forward.

This discovery, published in Science, is believed to be the first functional gearing system ever found in nature. Issus insects, commonly called “planthoppers,” are found throughout Europe and North Africa. Burrows and Sutton used electron microscopes and high-speed video capture to identify the gearing and determine its function.

The gears are essential for coordination: to jump, both hind legs must push forward simultaneously. Since they both swing laterally, if one extended even a fraction of a second earlier than the other, it would push the insect off course instead of jumping straight forward.

The gears provide an elegant solution. High-speed videos showed that Issus juveniles cock their back legs into a jumping position and then push forward, with each leg moving within 30 microseconds of the other. This propels them forward at speeds up to 8-12 miles per hour and exposes them to around 200 G force.

Adult Issus insects lack these gears. As juveniles grow and molt, they do not regrow the gear teeth. Instead, adult legs are synchronized by a different mechanism involving a series of protrusions that push the other leg into action. Burrows and Sutton hypothesize that the fragility of the gearing might explain this—if one tooth breaks, it limits the design’s effectiveness. Juveniles can molt and grow new gears, but adults cannot, hence the alternative arrangement.

A recent study has found that urolithin A, a natural compound found in pomegranates, may enhance memory and potentially aid in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen observed significant improvements in memory in mice with Alzheimer’s who were treated with urolithin A.

Alzheimer’s disease manifests through symptoms like forgetfulness, difficulty with words, and confusion about time and place. The study’s findings suggest that urolithin A could mitigate these symptoms and other consequences of dementia, according to Vilhelm Bohr, Affiliate Professor at the University’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

While the study was conducted on mice, the results are promising enough to warrant upcoming human clinical trials. Previous research from the same team highlighted the role of nicotinamide riboside in facilitating the removal of damaged mitochondria from the brain, a process crucial for addressing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Bohr explained that many patients with these conditions experience mitochondrial dysfunction, hindering the brain’s ability to clear out weak mitochondria. Stimulating this clearance process, known as mitophagy, has shown positive effects on brain function. Interestingly, urolithin A appears to stimulate mitophagy similarly to nicotinamide riboside supplements, potentially offering therapeutic benefits.

Despite these promising findings, researchers are still determining the optimal dosage of urolithin A for humans. Bohr emphasized the need for further investigation but expressed optimism that urolithin A could be used preventively with minimal side effects, as observed in previous studies on related compounds.

The study, titled “Urolithin A improves Alzheimer’s disease cognition and restores mitophagy and lysosomal functions,” has been published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

In 2021, Washington state passed a law banning single-use polystyrene food and drink containers, which has now taken effect.

Polystyrene, made from fragile hollow beads of various plastics, is considered one of the most environmentally harmful plastics. Despite its lightweight, durable, and insulating properties, it remains in use for packaging and other applications. Polystyrene can take over 1,000 years to decompose, releasing microplastics into soil and water throughout that time.

According to Oceana, at least 11 states have enacted laws to phase out expanded polystyrene foam. The environmental group advocates for nationwide bans on the material. Seattle prohibited foam food containers approximately 15 years ago, and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a similar law last year.

Although recycling polystyrene is possible, Washington’s Department of Ecology notes it is costly and most residential recycling programs do not accept it. Food residue complicates recycling further, which is why the ban targets takeaway containers. Polystyrene can also blow around and contaminate other materials during transport and at recycling facilities.

Violators of the ban will face fines but also receive support and resources to help them find alternative container options. Possible replacements include aluminum containers, which are reusable and provide better insulation for food.

A white stork was recently spotted flying over Cheshire, England, marking an event not seen for generations. These birds have been extinct in England for 600 years, dating back to the time of Martin Luther’s reforms. However, they have been reintroduced and breeding in the country for several years due to conservation efforts.

The White Stork Project in southern England, supported by birds donated from the Warsaw Zoo, has played a key role in this reintroduction. The zoo’s storks had been rescued from accidents involving roads or powerlines.

Some of these storks are kept at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, and each year, their offspring are moved to the Knepp Estate and Wadhurst Park in Sussex. Here, they grow up in a natural environment, learning the skills needed to survive in the English countryside.

Cheshire is quite far from the Cotswolds and the Knepp Estate, where the reintroduction efforts are centered. “There are no plans to reintroduce them here in Cheshire, but it was great to see one this far north,” Banks added.

Despite their long absence in England, the white stork is classified as a species of least concern and can be found in regions such as Kenya, Palestine, Turkey, and Kazakhstan.

You can watch a live nest camera of a stork family at the Knepp Estate, courtesy of the White Stork Project, where juveniles can be seen competing for food brought by their parents.