Latest news with #NaturalHistoryMuseumofDenmark
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Two birds that can poison you with just a touch
Researchers have discovered two unusual bird species in New Guinea that are unlike most others. These birds don't just stand out for their bright colours or where they live– they carry a deadly neurotoxin in their feathers. The toxin is strong enough to harm humans on contact. While birds are usually seen as symbols of peace and beauty, this new finding shows that some can be surprisingly dangerous. The dangerous feathers Two newly discovered bird species– the regent whistler and the rufous-naped bellbird– have been found in the rainforests of New Guinea. These birds may look beautiful, but what sets them apart is the presence of a powerful poison called batrachotoxin in their feathers. While the toxin is dangerous to humans, the birds themselves are unaffected by it, making them rare and risky creatures in the wild. 'We managed to identify two new species of poisonous birds on our most recent trip. These birds contain a neurotoxin that they can both tolerate and store in their feathers,' explained Knud Jønsson, Natural History Museum of Denmark, as quoted by India Today. The toxin that kills Batrachotoxin is a powerful poison that affects the muscles. It keeps sodium channels in the muscles open, which can lead to muscle spasms, seizures, and even heart failure if the dose is strong enough. This is the same deadly toxin found in poison dart frogs from South and Central America. 'The bird's toxin is the same type as that found in frogs, which is a neurotoxin that, by forcing sodium channels in skeletal muscle tissue to remain open, can cause violent convulsions and ultimately death,' explained researcher Kasun Bodawatta, as quoted by India Today. Although the exact amount of toxin found in these birds may not always pose an immediate risk to humans, the fact that their feathers carry such a deadly substance is a significant finding for scientists. How do these birds survive the poison? What makes these birds truly special isn't just the poison– they've also evolved a way to survive it. Scientists found that the birds have genetic mutations in their sodium channels, which stop the toxin from harming them. Interestingly, these mutations are different from those in poison dart frogs, meaning the birds developed this resistance on their own. This is an example of convergent evolution, where different species come up with similar ways to solve the same problem, even if they live in different places. Why this discovery matters While these birds don't pose an immediate threat to humans, their discovery is still important. It helps scientists better understand how toxic substances interact with living creatures. By studying how these birds store and tolerate batrachotoxin, researchers might uncover new insights into how toxins affect the body, and how some animals evolve to resist them. 'Obviously, we are in no position to claim that this research has uncovered the holy grail of shellfish poisoning or similar poisonings, but as far as basic research, it is a small piece of a puzzle that can help explain how these toxins work in cells and in the body,' explained Knud Jonsson. A rare discovery with far-reaching implications Toxic birds are very rare, and this discovery gives scientists a fresh look at how animals adapt to their surroundings. The fact that these birds can carry a deadly toxin without getting sick themselves raises big questions about evolution and how some species develop survival skills. Even though these birds may not pose an immediate danger to humans, studying them could help researchers understand how toxins work in the body and might even lead to new ideas in medicine and science.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient wasp snatched prey like Venus flytrap, scientists say
An ancient wasp may have zipped among the dinosaurs, with a body like a Venus flytrap to seize and snatch its prey, scientists reported Wednesday. The parasitic wasp's abdomen boasts a set of flappy paddles lined with thin bristles, resembling "a small bear trap attached to the end of it," said study co-author Lars Vilhelmsen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Scientists uncovered over a dozen female wasps preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. The wasp's flaps and teeth-like hairs resemble the structure of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, which snaps shut to digest unsuspecting insects. But the design of the wasp's getup made scientists think its trap was designed to cushion, not crush. Instead, researchers suggested the flytrap-like structure was used to hold a wriggly insect still while the wasp laid an egg, depositing a baby wasp to feed on and drain its new host. "We imagine it would have waited with the apparatus open, ready to pounce as soon as a potential host activated the capture response," lead researcher Qiong Wu said, according to the BBC. It's a playbook adapted by many parasitic wasps, including modern-day cuckoo and bethylid wasps, to exploit insects. But no known wasp or any other insect does so with bizarre flaps quite like this one. Researchers from Capital Normal University in Beijing said "nothing similar is known from any other insect," according to the BBC. "I've seen a lot of strange insects, but this has to be one of the most peculiar-looking ones I've seen in a while," said entomologist Lynn Kimsey from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with the research. Scientists named the new wasp Sirenobethylus charybdis, partly for the sea monster from Greek mythology that stirred up wild whirlpools by swallowing and expelling water. The new study was published in the journal BMC Biology and included researchers from Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China. It's unclear when the wasp went extinct. Studying unusual insects like this one can help scientists understand what insects are capable of and how different they can be. "We tend to think that the cool things are only found today," said Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who had no role in the study. "But when we have this opportunity, we see that many really exceptional, odd things already happened." Freed Israeli hostages call for end to war, to bring remaining Gaza hostages home What is the future of the Kennedy Center? Elton John, Brandi Carlile on their dream collaboration
CBS News
31-03-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Scientists discover ancient wasp that snatched prey like a Venus flytrap, name it after mythological sea monster
An ancient wasp may have zipped among the dinosaurs, with a body like a Venus flytrap to seize and snatch its prey, scientists reported Wednesday. The parasitic wasp's abdomen boasts a set of flappy paddles lined with thin bristles, resembling "a small bear trap attached to the end of it," said study co-author Lars Vilhelmsen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Scientists uncovered over a dozen female wasps preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. The wasp's flaps and teeth-like hairs resemble the structure of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, which snaps shut to digest unsuspecting insects. But the design of the wasp's getup made scientists think its trap was designed to cushion, not crush. Instead, researchers suggested the flytrap-like structure was used to hold a wriggly insect still while the wasp laid an egg, depositing a baby wasp to feed on and drain its new host. "We imagine it would have waited with the apparatus open, ready to pounce as soon as a potential host activated the capture response," lead researcher Qiong Wu said, according to the BBC . It's a playbook adapted by many parasitic wasps, including modern-day cuckoo and bethylid wasps, to exploit insects. But no known wasp or any other insect does so with bizarre flaps quite like this one. Researchers from Capital Normal University in Beijing said "nothing similar is known from any other insect," according to the BBC. "I've seen a lot of strange insects, but this has to be one of the most peculiar-looking ones I've seen in a while," said entomologist Lynn Kimsey from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with the research. Scientists named the new wasp Sirenobethylus charybdis, partly for the sea monster from Greek mythology that stirred up wild whirlpools by swallowing and expelling water. The new study was published in the journal BMC Biology and included researchers from Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China. It's unclear when the wasp went extinct. Studying unusual insects like this one can help scientists understand what insects are capable of and how different they can be. "We tend to think that the cool things are only found today," said Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who had no role in the study. "But when we have this opportunity, we see that many really exceptional, odd things already happened."
NBC News
31-03-2025
- Science
- NBC News
A Venus flytrap wasp? Scientists uncover an ancient insect preserved in amber that snatched its prey
NEW YORK — An ancient wasp may have zipped among the dinosaurs, with a body like a Venus flytrap to seize and snatch its prey, scientists reported Wednesday. The parasitic wasp's abdomen boasts a set of flappy paddles lined with thin bristles, resembling 'a small bear trap attached to the end of it,' said study co-author Lars Vilhelmsen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Scientists uncovered over a dozen female wasps preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. The wasp's flaps and teeth-like hairs resemble the structure of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, which snaps shut to digest unsuspecting insects. But the design of the wasp's getup made scientists think its trap was designed to cushion, not crush. Instead, researchers suggested the flytrap-like structure was used to hold a wriggly insect still while the wasp laid an egg, depositing a baby wasp to feed on and drain its new host. It's a playbook adapted by many parasitic wasps, including modern-day cuckoo and bethylid wasps, to exploit insects. But no known wasp or any other insect does so with bizarre flaps quite like this one. 'I've seen a lot of strange insects, but this has to be one of the most peculiar-looking ones I've seen in a while,' said entomologist Lynn Kimsey from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with the research. Scientists named the new wasp Sirenobethylus Charybdis, partly for the sea monster from Greek mythology that stirred up wild whirlpools by swallowing and expelling water. The new study, which was published in the journal BMC Biology, involved researchers from Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China. It's unclear when the wasp went extinct. Studying unusual insects like this one can help scientists understand what insects are capable of and how different they can be. 'We tend to think that the cool things are only found today,' said Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who had no role in the study. 'But when we have this opportunity, we see that many really exceptional, odd things already happened.'
Arab News
30-03-2025
- Science
- Arab News
A Venus flytrap wasp? Scientists uncover an ancient insect preserved in amber that snatched its prey
NEW YORK: An ancient wasp may have zipped among the dinosaurs, with a body like a Venus flytrap to seize and snatch its prey, a new study says. The parasitic wasp's abdomen boasts a set of flappy paddles lined with thin bristles, resembling 'a small bear trap attached to the end of it,' said study co-author Lars Vilhelmsen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Scientists uncovered over a dozen female wasps preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. The wasp's flaps and teeth-like hairs resemble the structure of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, which snaps shut to digest unsuspecting insects. But the design of the wasp's getup made scientists think its trap was designed to cushion, not crush. Instead, researchers suggested the flytrap-like structure was used to hold a wriggly insect still while the wasp laid an egg, depositing a baby wasp to feed on and drain its new host. It's a playbook adapted by many parasitic wasps, including modern-day cuckoo and bethylid wasps, to exploit insects. But no known wasp or any other insect does so with bizarre flaps quite like this one. 'I've seen a lot of strange insects, but this has to be one of the most peculiar-looking ones I've seen in a while,' said entomologist Lynn Kimsey from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with the research. Scientists named the new wasp Sirenobethylus charybdis, partly for the sea monster from Greek mythology that stirred up wild whirlpools by swallowing and expelling water. The new study was published in the journal BMC Biology and included researchers from Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China. It's unclear when the wasp went extinct. Studying unusual insects like this one can help scientists understand what insects are capable of and how different they can be. 'We tend to think that the cool things are only found today,' said Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who had no role in the study. 'But when we have this opportunity, we see that many really exceptional, odd things already happened.'
