Latest news with #Latin-based
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Skeleton panda sea squirt discovered in Japan: Meet Clavelina ossipandae
Source: Wikipedia In the vibrant waters off Japan's Kumejima Island , scientists have discovered a bizarre new marine species that's got the internet buzzing. The skeleton panda sea squirt , officially named Clavelina ossipandae. This tiny, transparent creature looks like a baby panda dressed up as a skeleton. With black eye-like spots and white "ribs" running across its body, it's one of the strangest yet cutest sea creatures ever found. And now, it's making waves in both the marine biology world and social media. The discovery was formally published in Species Diversity by Naohiro Hasegawa and Hiroshi Kajihara, describing Clavelina ossipandae as a transparent colonial ascidian with white 'rib‑like' vessels and panda‑face markings based on specimens collected off Kumejima Island, Okinawa. Here's everything you need to know about this weird panda-like sea creature that's equal parts creepy and adorable. What is the skeleton panda sea squirt? Found in: Coral reefs near Kumejima Island, Japan Scientific name: Clavelina ossipandae Size: Around 2 cm Discovered by: Dr Naohiro Hasegawa, Hokkaido University (officially described in 2024) The skeleton panda sea squirt is a newly discovered species of colonial ascidian, a marine invertebrate also known as a sea squirt. These filter-feeding animals may look simple, but they're vital to ocean ecosystems. This particular species earned its nickname because of its striking appearance: two dark round patches that resemble panda eyes and white streaks that mimic rib bones. They live in colonies of up to four zooids (individual animals) and are only around 2 centimeters long. Despite their small size, their bizarre appearance made them stand out to divers and eventually scientists. Why does the skeleton panda sea squirt look like a panda skeleton? The creature's 'skeleton' effect comes from white blood vessels that run horizontally across its translucent body, almost like ribs. Meanwhile, dark pigmentation at the top of its body looks like eyes and a nose, giving it the panda vibe. The name ossipandae is Latin-based: 'ossi' means bone and 'pandae' refers to panda, making the name literally translate to 'panda bones.' These markings likely have no specific function, but they've sparked curiosity among scientists and artists alike. It's a rare example of marine life resembling terrestrial animals in such a surreal way. How was Clavelina ossipandae discovered? The first photos of this panda-like sea creature were actually shared on social media by Japanese divers back in 2017. For years, marine enthusiasts spotted these strange little animals off Kumejima's coast. But it wasn't until 2018 that Dr Naohiro Hasegawa noticed them while browsing diver blogs. He was intrigued enough to start collecting samples in 2021. After a thorough study, the species was finally described and named in the scientific journal Species Diversity in early 2024. This is a great example of citizen science in action, divers and hobbyists unknowingly helped identify a new species just by sharing underwater snapshots. Habitat and behaviour of the skeleton panda sea squirt These sea squirts live at a depth of around 10–20 metres near coral reefs, where ocean currents are strong. They attach themselves to hard surfaces like rocks or coral and feed by filtering plankton and bacteria from seawater, kind of like natural water purifiers. Though small, they play an important role in marine ecosystems by helping maintain water quality and supporting biodiversity. Why this discovery matters New marine species are always exciting, but this one is visually unique, increasing public interest in ocean life. Citizen science success: Casual diver photos led to real scientific discovery. Biodiversity indicator: Discovering such species tells us that coral reefs still hold many secrets and need to be protected. In a time when marine life is under threat from climate change and pollution, the discovery of Clavelina ossipandae is a reminder of how much wonder is still hidden beneath the waves. The discovery of the skeleton panda sea squirt might sound like something out of a Pokémon game, but it's very real and seriously cool. Whether you're a marine biology nerd or just here for the panda aesthetics, this weird little creature proves that nature always has a few surprises left. So the next time someone tells you sea squirts are boring blobs, hit them with this fun fact: one of them is literally dressed like a panda skeleton. Also read| NASA's X-59 supersonic jet could fly you from New York to Paris in half the time
Local Spain
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Spain
11 common and comical Spanish-English false friends to watch out for
Even though most people would say that Spanish and English sound nothing alike, there's a huge number of Latin-based words in the English language, which in turn means that (at least on paper) they often resemble words in Spanish. This is both a help and a hindrance, as language learners can often assume that just because the words sound similar, they have the same meaning. Often that is indeed the case, but not always. The following are some of the most frequent false friends Spanish natives learning English fall for, although in many cases the language trap can also apply to English natives learning Spanish. Watch out for these! Mixing up embarazada in Spanish with embarrassed in English This is perhaps the most well-known Spanish-English false friend, as well as being one of the funniest. English and Spanish learners sometimes mistake embarazo (pregnancy) or embarazada (pregnant) with embarrassment and embarrassing because they sound so similar. Incidentally, mixing up the words could end up being a bit embarrassing in itself. Mixing up carpeta in Spanish with carpet in English Anybody who has taught English to Spanish kids will probably be familiar with this one. It's not the Spanish equivalent of 'the dog ate my homework', kids just assume that folder in English is carpet, like carpeta in Spanish. Equally, asking your Spanish interior designer friend if a carpeta would look good under your living room coffee table might get you a few weird looks. Mixing up constipado in Spanish with constipated in English Even though the Spanish are fairly straight-talking people, they don't usually speak up about their blocked up bowels, unless they fall for this false friend. A constipado is a common cold in Spanish, so it makes sense they sometimes say constipated in English. Estoy constipado/a is also a way of saying that you are congested. English natives should remember estreñido/a is the Spanish adjective to describe having trouble going to the toilet, otherwise they'll get the wrong medication from their Spanish doctor. Mixing up emocionado in Spanish with emotional in English Even though they wear their hearts on their sleeves, Spaniards rarely tear up when they find something exciting. This false friend arises from the double meaning of emocionado in Spanish, which can be both excited and moved. Mixing up sensible in Spanish with sensible in English There's another false friend both English and Spanish speakers should watch out for here as sensible is another way of referring to someone/something that's sensitive or emotional. Sensible doesn't mean responsible in Spanish as it does in English, the word for this is sensato. Mixing up lentillas in Spanish with lentils in English Make sure not to put lentejas (lentils) in your eyes rather than lentillas (contact lenses). Mixing up molestar in Spanish with molest in English Oh dear, here's one to be careful with. Molestar is to bother someone in Spanish and not to sexually harass as molest is in English. Mixing up casualidad in Spanish with casualty in English Even if you're a forensic scientist who finds cadavers particularly interesting, it's not advisable to shout this out in public. Casualidad is coincidence in Spanish, although the word sounds a lot more like casualty in English. Mixing up éxito in Spanish with exit in English It's always useful to have an escape route handy, but it still sounds pretty weird to wish someone all the exits they deserve. Éxito is the Spanish word for success, so English natives should remember that asking ¿dónde está el éxito? means 'where is the success?' when they should be saying la salida (exit). Mixing up bombero in Spanish with bomber in English Where there's smoke there's fire, but usually you call the firemen and not the air force. A bombero is a firefighter in Spanish, a bomber is a bombardero. Mixing up preservativos in Spanish and preservatives in English There's no denying you need chemistry in love, but we're not too sure where preservatives fit in the whole equation. Spanish speakers sometimes assume preservativo (condom) is translated into English as preservative. Equally, an English native might mistakenly enquire at their local vegan store in Spain if the food they've just bought contains contraceptives. The correct term to use would be conservantes.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Italy bans gender-neutral symbols in schools in latest culture clash
MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's education ministry on Friday instructed schools to ban the growing use of gender-neutral symbols, saying they were unclear and flouted the rules of Italian grammar. The move risks exacerbating tensions between the right-wing government, which portrays itself as a guardian of traditional values, and LGBTQ and womens' rights advocates. "The use of non-compliant graphic signs, such as the asterisk (*) and the schwa (ə), is contrary to linguistic norms and risks compromising the clarity and uniformity of institutional communication", the ministry said in a statement. On taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked controversy when she said she wanted her official title of prime minister "presidente del consiglio", to be preceded by the masculine article "il", rather than the feminine "la". In Italian, as in other Latin-based languages, nouns and adjectives take a feminine or masculine form, while in cases of plural nouns involving both genders, the masculine form takes precedence. Some see this as an expression of male dominance and support the introduction of gender-neutral noun endings, such as asterisks or the so-called "schwa", a sort of inverted 'e'. The Accademia della Crusca, an institution that acts as the guardian of the Italian language, has in the past suggested avoiding the novelty of gender-neutral symbols in official documents.
Reuters
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Italy bans gender-neutral symbols in schools in latest culture clash
MILAN, March 21 (Reuters) - Italy's education ministry on Friday instructed schools to ban the growing use of gender-neutral symbols, saying they were unclear and flouted the rules of Italian grammar. The move risks exacerbating tensions between the right-wing government, which portrays itself as a guardian of traditional values, and LGBTQ and womens' rights advocates. "The use of non-compliant graphic signs, such as the asterisk (*) and the schwa (ə), is contrary to linguistic norms and risks compromising the clarity and uniformity of institutional communication", the ministry said in a statement. On taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked controversy when she said she wanted her official title of prime minister "presidente del consiglio", to be preceded by the masculine article "il", rather than the feminine "la". In Italian, as in other Latin-based languages, nouns and adjectives take a feminine or masculine form, while in cases of plural nouns involving both genders, the masculine form takes precedence. Some see this as an expression of male dominance and support the introduction of gender-neutral noun endings, such as asterisks or the so-called "schwa", a sort of inverted 'e'. The Accademia della Crusca, an institution that acts as the guardian of the Italian language, has in the past suggested avoiding the novelty of gender-neutral symbols in official documents.
Los Angeles Times
17-12-2024
- General
- Los Angeles Times
A Word, Please: 5 language resolutions for the new year
Even if you know a lot about grammar, there's always more to learn. And what better time than the start of a new year? Here are some language resolutions to consider for 2025. 1. Challenge a long-standing language belief by checking a dictionary. Unless you have a Ph.D. in linguistics, chances are you've fallen victim to some misperceptions. Think 'since' can't mean 'because'? Think 'between' is never for groups of three or more? Think a university can't 'graduate' a student? A quick check of a dictionary will dispel all these beliefs. 2. Learn one new grammar term. Up your grammar game with a bit of advanced jargon. I suggest 'modal auxiliary verb.' You use them every day, anyway, so why not? The most common modal auxiliary verbs are 'must,' 'can,' 'should,' 'would,' 'may' and 'might.' They're similar to the two regular auxiliary verbs — 'be' and 'have' — in that they team up with other verbs (think: 'I have walked' and 'I am walking'). But modal auxiliaries express possibility (may, might), necessity (must), permission (may), ability (can), etc. Congratulations. You just learned a new grammar term. Did you already know about modals? Try looking up predicate nominatives, copular verbs or subordinating conjunctions. 3. Learn to conjugate one verb in a new language. I've talked to a lot of people over the years who've tried and failed to pick up a foreign language. When I ask how they studied, the answer is often some app or language software marketed to adults with the promise of 'easy, practical' learning. That is, handy phrases that go in one ear and out the other. In my humble opinion, there's a better way: grammar. At least in the Latin-based languages I've studied, if you can't say 'I am,' 'you are,' 'he/she/it is,' 'we are' and 'they are,' you don't have a foundation to build on. Start with just one verb and you'll be well on your way to forming your first sentences. 4. Learn an irregular past form. Not sure if it's right to say, 'I have swam' or 'I have swum'? Do 'drank' and 'drunk' or 'hanged' and 'hung' or 'woke,' 'awoke' and 'awakened' trip you up? Resolve to learn just one. Check the main form of the word — 'swim,' 'drink,' 'hang,' 'wake' — in a dictionary, then look at the bolded forms that immediately follow. Under 'drink,' for example, you'll see 'drank,' which you know is the simple past tense because those are always listed first, after which you'll see the past participles indicated with 'drunk or drank,' meaning both are acceptable with the auxiliary 'have': I have drank and I have drunk. If that's not advanced enough for you, memorize the past forms of both 'lie' and 'lay.' For the most proper use of 'lie,' the simple past is 'lay' (yesterday I lay), and the past participle is 'lain' (in the past I have lain). For 'lay,' both past forms are the same (yesterday I laid, in the past I have laid). 5. Use 'me' in a compound object. You'd never say, 'Thanks for visiting I' or 'Send the memo to I,' so why do you say, 'Thanks for visiting Beth and I' and 'Send the memo to Tom and I'? Somewhere along the line, too many of us got it into our heads that 'me' is wrong anytime another person is involved. But that's not true. The object of a verb (like 'visit') or a preposition (like 'to') doesn't change form just because it's more than one person: Try dropping the other person from your sentence to see whether 'I' or 'me' works alone. Then add the other person back in. Between you and me (not I), it's not exactly wrong to use 'I' in an object position. But it's a shame if you do so because you were trying (and failing) to use proper English. June Casagrande is the author of 'The Joy of Syntax: A Simple Guide to All the Grammar You Know You Should Know.' She can be reached at JuneTCN@
