biophysics
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Fascinating Experiment Suggests Some Humans Can Sense Earth’s Magnetic Field
The ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field—a trait known as magnetoreception — is well documented among many animals, but researchers have struggled to show that humans are also capable of the feat. Until now.
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Your Supercar Has Nothing On This Tiny Chameleon’s Tongue
Rhampholeon spinosus, a lumpy-nosed chameleon that can fit on the tip of your thumb, doesn’t exactly inspire awe at first sight. But don’t let its size fool you: in one respect, this little lizard is among the most powerful machines on Earth. It’s got a tongue that moves like a supercar.
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Frozen Ant Rafts Could Teach Us How To Make Self-Assembling Robots
A writhing mass of fire ants floating across the water is thing of horror and a marvel of engineering. But how do you study the architecture of ever-squirming ants? By flash-freezing them and coating in glue, as scientists did for a recent study. Ant rafts, it turns out, are more complicated than you might think,…