Owls use invisible pigment on their wings to send secret message
Using a fluorometer, a device that measures fluorescence, the team detected varying levels of fluorescent pigments—primarily porphyrins—in the owls' inner wing feathers.These pigments emit a striking pink glow under UV light, which owl eyes can detect without artificial aid, unlike humans who require UV illumination.
This discovery highlights a broader biological phenomenon. (Photo: Getty)
Interestingly, the fluorescence is more intense in females and older birds, challenging the common assumption that bright plumage is a male trait used solely for sexual attraction. Instead, the pigment concentration exists on a spectrum influenced by age, sex, and size.advertisementThe researchers propose that the glow may function beyond mating signals, possibly aiding in heat regulation during incubation since females, who incubate eggs, exhibit higher pigment levels.The secretive nature of this fluorescence could allow owls to send signals to each other without alerting their prey, such as rodents, which cannot see UV light.During courtship, males perform flights that might display these glowing feathers, potentially conveying information about health or fitness. However, the exact purpose remains uncertain, and the researchers emphasize that understanding these 'hidden' traits requires further study.This discovery highlights a broader biological phenomenon: many animals possess traits invisible to humans, only revealed through advanced technology.The glowing feathers of Long-eared Owls add a new dimension to avian biology, suggesting that nature's communication channels extend far beyond what we can perceive.Must Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
Long-billed Bush Warbler sighted in India after 46 years
A team of five birders has recorded the first confirmed Indian sighting of the elusive Long-billed Bush Warbler in 46 years, spotting the Near Threatened species in Ladakh's Suru Valley as part of a mission to find the country's 'long lost birds'. The Long-billed Bush Warbler (Locustella major) was sighted on July 15 in dense willow thickets at over 3,200 metres altitude. (Harish Thangaraj) The Long-billed Bush Warbler (Locustella major) was sighted on July 15 in dense willow thickets at over 3,200 metres altitude, three days into an expedition that began on July 12. The team first detected the bird's distinctive insect-like call before making visual confirmation. 'This is a record after 46 years for India,' said expedition member Harish Thangaraj, who recently discovered another rare species—the Sind woodpecker—in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. The last confirmed Indian sighting was in 1979 when Southampton University researchers spotted the warbler near Sankoo in Kargil. The species, historically common in the Dras and Suru valleys until the 1920s, likely declined due to habitat loss as agricultural fields replaced the bushes it depends upon. The expedition team—comprising Lt Gen Bhupesh Goyal, Manjula Desai, Rigzin Nubu, Irfan Jeelani and Thangaraj—conducted extensive research before setting out, scouring past research materials and known publications, analysing Google Earth and Google Maps for possible habitats, and consulting birders who had previously spotted or researched the species. After initially searching the Tulail valley between 2,400-2,800 metres, the team moved to Suru valley, where their persistence paid off. The sighting altitude aligns with recent records from neighbouring Gilgit-Baltistan, where the species has been documented between 3,000-3,100 metres since 2022. Malaysia-based birder James Eaton, who had searched for the warbler across India and Pakistan for over a decade, achieved success in Gilgit-Baltistan's Naltar valley in 2022. This breakthrough prompted other birders to follow, resulting in multiple sightings in 2023, 2024 and 2025 across the region, including locations just 120 kilometres from the Line of Control. The warbler typically becomes active between mid-June and mid-July, using its calls to establish territory and attract mates. It inhabits areas with short grasses and bushes including Rumex and sea buckthorn, favouring sheltered glades with thickets of Ribes Geossularia (wild gooseberry) on spruce forest edges. 'This has been a bird that has always been overlooked by birders and agencies alike,' said Bikram Grewal, author of Birds of India (2016). 'Not much is known about it and its range even.' Formerly known as the Long-billed grasshopper warbler, the species has a limited global range, with historical records from China and Tajikistan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies it as Near Threatened. Birder Shashank Dalvi is known to have spotted two individuals in 2015, however, he was unable to capture photographs as it was a brief sighting. Grewal expects the renewed interest in locating rare species will yield more discoveries. 'We will certainly see more records in Ladakh in coming years as more birders are taking upon themselves to find such species and discover more about their habitat.'
Hans India
29-07-2025
- Hans India
Eating chips, cookies can raise addiction risk akin to substance-use disorders: Study
New Delhi: Your favourite chips, cookies, soda -- ultra-processed foods -- can trigger addictive behaviours that meet the same clinical criteria used to diagnose substance-use disorders, warned a study. Researchers argued that failure to recognise this in diagnostic systems is a dangerous oversight with grave consequences for global public health. "People aren't becoming addicted to apples or brown rice," said lead author Ashley Gearhardt, Professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, US. "They're struggling with industrial products specifically engineered to hit the brain like a drug -- rapidly, intensely and repeatedly," Gearhardt added. The paper, published in the journal Nature Medicine, synthesised evidence from nearly 300 studies across 36 countries. Their findings demonstrated that ultra-processed foods can hijack the brain's reward system, triggering cravings, loss of control, and persistent use despite harmful consequences -- key features of addiction. Further, neuroimaging studies reveal that individuals with compulsive intake of these foods show brain circuit disruptions strikingly similar to those seen in alcohol and cocaine addiction. Notably, medications that reduce cravings for ultra-processed foods have also been found to reduce compulsive drug use, underscoring the shared neurobiological mechanisms. Importantly, Gearhardt and team highlighted that while conditions like nitrous oxide and caffeine use disorder have been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, despite abundant and growing support, ultra-processed food addiction has yet to receive even preliminary recognition as a condition worthy of further study. The manual classifies mental disorders based on limited evidence. "The bar for recognising addiction has been far lower in other cases," said co-author Erica LaFata, assistant research professor at Drexel University's Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science. "It's time ultra-processed food addiction was held to the same scientific standard." The study calls on public health leaders, clinicians, and policymakers to take immediate steps to formally recognise ultra-processed food addiction, fund research, and develop clinical tools for identification and treatment. They also urged the enactment of protective measures similar to those used in tobacco control -- including restrictions on marketing to children, clearer labeling, and public education. "We're not saying all food is addictive," Gearhardt said. "We're saying that many ultra-processed foods are designed to be addictive. And unless we recognise that, we'll continue to fail the people most affected -- especially kids."
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: SAPCC 2.0 aims to strengthen climate resilience, reduce emissions by 2030
The second meeting of the State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) on the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) 2.0 for Chandigarh was held on Friday. Based on detailed climate modelling and vulnerability assessments, SAPCC 2.0 warns of rising temperatures and increased frequency of heavy rainfall by 2050, which could intensify urban challenges such as heat stress and flooding. To ensure accountability, the plan includes a robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER) framework. (HT File) The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Rajeev Verma, chief secretary, at the UT Secretariat. Officials said that the meeting focused on outlining the roadmap for the effective implementation of SAPCC 2.0, following its recent approval by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC), during the National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC) meeting. Developed by the department of environment, UT Chandigarh, SAPCC 2.0 aims to strengthen climate resilience, reduce emissions, and integrate sustainability into governance by 2030. The plan aligns with national priorities, including India's updated NDCs, the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, and Mission LiFE. Key initiatives under SAPCC 2.0 include: Achieving 100% renewable energy under the Model Solar City initiative, expanding electric mobility, promoting green buildings, enhancing rainwater harvesting, wetland restoration and strengthening public health systems. To ensure accountability, the plan includes a robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER) framework. It also proposes the creation of a Climate Change Centre (CCC) to coordinate interdepartmental efforts, manage climate data, and facilitate knowledge sharing. A baseline study on carbon emissions and sequestration potential is also planned to support data-driven policy-making. The meeting was attended by Mandip Singh Brar, secretary home-cum-environment and forest, Diprava Lakra, secretary finance and transport, Saurbh Kumar, CCF-cum-director environment, MC commissioner Amit Kumar (IAS), Ajay Chagti, secretary health, and additional director of environment Anup Kumar Soni, along with other officials from stakeholder departments.
