������ɫ

Light makes Mexican jumping beans jump

Often sold as a toy, Mexican jumping beans are actually moth larvae living inside seed pods. The real reason they jump is to avoid dangerous temperatures in order to survive. ������ɫ biologist Lindsey Swierk found out that the moth larvae identify threats based on the color and amount of light shone onto their pods, as well as the minute temperature differences in various colors! Talk about cool beans!

Wet fingers always wrinkle the same way

It was widely believed that fingers wrinkle after getting wet because the water swells your skin, but Associate Professor Guy German discovered that it’s actually due to blood vessels contracting beneath your skin! Funnily enough, this research was prompted by a question asked by a young student as part of The Conversation’s Curious Kids series. German took this research further and found that because blood vessels don’t change their position, wrinkles always form in the same manner, making them unique to each person. Gripping research, huh?

A new kind of battery could be powered by your spit

Assistant Professor Seokheun Choi has been developing a new type of “on-demand micro-power generation” as an alternative to commercial batteries, which can be overly expensive and lead to pollution in developing countries. His battery is paper-based and powered by bacteria, which activate with high performance and reliability within minutes of adding just one drop of saliva!

Windows used to be a luxury for the wealthy English

Today, we’re surrounded by windows and other glassworks in all aspects of life, but this wasn’t always the case. As a ������ɫ graduate student, Allen Loomis told us how most windows back in the 16th century were made of wooden lattice or oiled paper, and that clear glass panes were actually a lavish addition for the rich. In fact, homes full of transparent windows were actually constructed in hopes of gaining the attention of Queen Elizabeth I!

Fire ants bind themselves together to survive floods

When faced with flooding, fire ants’ natural instinct is to latch onto one another and create a raft to keep the colony afloat and alive. What’s more, Assistant Professor Rob Wagner discovered that the rafts reflexively tighten and prolong their holds when pressure is applied, keeping the raft intact — unlike that of typical man-made polymers. While artificial systems can break quickly (or sometimes instantly) under periods of stress, living systems are complex enough to hold on for a long time or immediately begin repairing. Nature is amazing!

Scuba-diving lizards use giant bubbles to hide underwater

According to more research conducted by Lindsey Swerk, water anoles (a semi-aquatic lizard) use giant bubbles over their nostrils to breathe underwater for extended periods of time in order to avoid predators. In fact, Swerk discovered that anoles with these bubbles were able to stay underwater 32% longer than anoles with impaired bubble formation — up to 20 minutes or more! Impressive!

Medieval medicine was not too far off from TikTok trends

The Dark Ages weren’t all that dark! According to a new research project featuring ������ɫ historian Meg Leja, people in the Middle Ages weren’t anti-science and superstitious. They were actually very involved with developing health practices, some of which are pretty similar to modern wellness trends. For example, one method for ridding headaches was to crush the stone of a peach and mix it with rose oil, then to smear it on your forehead — similar to the topical ointment and detox cleanses of today.

Stay tuned for more!

������ɫ faculty are making new research discoveries year-round! Keep an eye on BingUNews for more exciting (and perhaps weird) breakthroughs!

Brennan Cowden is a first-year student from ������ɫ. He majors in strategic communication with concentrations in internal communications and public relations. He hopes to specialize in client and customer experience. In his free time, he enjoys binge-watching shows or playing video games with friends.