Latest news with #biologist
Forbes
19 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The World's Strongest Bird. Hint: It Can Carry Up To 30 Pounds While Flying
Most birds are known for their speed and agility, not their strength. But there are a few species ... More that have both. Here's the bird that rules the roost when it comes to measuring strength in flight. The world's strongest birds, as measured by how much they can carry, are all flightless. The ostrich, for instance, can carry a human on its back. In fact, there are some farms in Africa where you can ride an ostrich, although the practice is generally discouraged. However, the more interesting question — at least in the eyes of this biologist — is which flight-capable bird is strongest. To be able to fly, you must first be light. This is why flight-capable birds have evolved in a specialized way to reduce their weight. Bird bones, for instance, are hollow and filled with air spaces connected to the respiratory system, which makes them lightweight yet strong. Many birds have fused or reduced bones to minimize weight and improve aerodynamic efficiency. They lack heavy teeth, using lightweight beaks instead, and they often have only one functional ovary to reduce internal mass. Even feathers, which seem delicate, are made of keratin and are engineered for both insulation and lift without adding unnecessary bulk. All of these adaptations work together to reduce weight while maximizing flight capability. The challenge then becomes how to maximize muscle density and efficiency while retaining a light, aerodynamic build. This is a problem that the harpy eagle — which can be found in southern Mexico, Central America and South America — has solved. Here is the story of the harpy eagle and why it earns the title of world's strongest flight-capable bird. The harpy eagle, widely regarded as the strongest flight-capable bird, can lift prey weighing up to ... More 30 pounds — nearly twice its own body weight. The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) stands out due to its extraordinary strength. With a wingspan of up to seven feet and weighing between 13 and 20 pounds, the harpy eagle is built for power. What may be most impressive about the harpy eagle is its grip strength. It has talons as large as a grizzly bear's claws and can exert a pressure of over 500 pounds per square inch — strong enough to carry prey weighing up to 30 pounds. That's almost double its own body weight, a feat nearly unmatched in the aerial world. Living in the dense tropical rainforests of Central and South America, the harpy eagle hunts monkeys, sloths, and other medium-sized mammals that few other birds would attempt to target. It perches high in the canopy and swoops down to attack its prey. Despite its size, it can maneuver skillfully through the forest. (Sidebar: The harpy eagle doesn't just hunt monkeys — it's been known to attack humans. Learn more about the first scientifically documented case of an Amazonian harpy eagle attack on a 29-year-old woman.) Unlike soaring birds of prey that rely on long-distance gliding, the harpy eagle relies on brute strength and ambush tactics. A harpy eagle feeds on a rabbit — though it's capable of hunting much larger prey, including monkeys ... More and sloths. The harpy eagle isn't the only bird worth mentioning in the 'strongest flying bird' category. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) also boasts impressive carrying capacity and flight strength. Weighing up to 14 pounds with a wingspan of about six to eight feet, bald eagles can lift prey weighing about as much as it does. Some videos document instances of bald eagles attacking and carrying small deer. While the bald eagle may not have the sheer strength of a harpy eagle, they are known for their stamina — often carrying heavy fish over long distances. Their talons are designed to pierce and grip slippery prey, and their large wings allow them to soar for hours using thermal currents, conserving energy while still transporting meals. Another contender is the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo). Though primarily nocturnal and not typically thought of in terms of strength, this owl is one of the largest and heaviest in the world. With a wingspan of nearly six feet and a weight of up to 10 pounds, it can lift prey close to its own body weight. The Eurasian eagle-owl primarily feeds on mammals and birds, including rabbits, foxes, and even other raptors. Its silent flight, thanks to specialized feather structure, gives it the element of surprise, allowing it to overpower animals nearly its own size. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Invasive goldfish seem to be thriving in a central P.E.I. pond, and naturalists aren't happy
A P.E.I. watershed group and a provincial biologist are urging people to think carefully before buying goldfish, or at least before releasing them into the wild. The fish are invasive, and they seem to be reproducing in a freshwater pond north of Charlottetown. CBC's Sheehan Desjardins reports.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
The extraordinary promise of gene editing
Biologist whose innovation saved the life of British teenager wins $3m Breakthrough prize US doctors rewrite DNA of infant with severe genetic disorder in medical first Support the Guardian:
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
What colour do YOU see? This fire truck isn't actually red - how mind-boggling optical illusion tricks your brain
From the cigar nestled in the brickwork to 'The Dress', many optical illusions have left viewers around the world baffled over the years. But the latest illusion is arguably one of the most bizarre yet. Dr Dean Jackson, a biologist and BBC presenter, has shared a strange illusion on TikTok, which tricks your brain into thinking a fire truck is red. At the start of the video, Dr Jackson shows a picture of a red fire truck on a road. He then adds a cyan filter, before asking what colour you think the fire truck is. While your inital reaction is likely 'red', Dr Jackson explains that the fire truck is actually now grey. 'Red light cannot pass through a cyan filter, it just can't,' he explained. 'So now there is no red light in that picture, I can promise you. And yet your brain is still telling you that it's red.' @beatonthebeeb There is no red in this picture! #opticalillusion #mindgame ♬ original sound - Dean Jackson The strange optical illusion occurs because our brains are confused by what our eyes see. The back of the human eye contains two types of photoreceptor which allow us to respond to light shining in. While 'rods' are sensitive to motion, 'cones' are sensitive to light, with each responding to a different colour. In Dr Jackson's video, the cyan filter only lets through cyan-coloured light, meaning anything else should appear grey. But when our brain recognises that a fire truck is usually red, it can interpret the grey light to appear this way. '[Your brain] is overcompensating for the filter. The parts that you're being told are red are actually this colour,' Dr Jackson explains, as a grey square flashes up on screen. To prove this is the case, Dr Jackson then moves the grey square over the top of the picture, confirming that it's the same colour as the truck. 'There's no red in that picture anymore, it's all gone,' he said. The video has garnered huge attention on TikTok, with hundreds of amazed viewers flocking to the comments. 'That square turned red when you moved it in front of the photo,' one baffled viewer commented. Another added: 'The block and the truck are fading grey and red, grey, red. It keeps going.' And one wrote: 'The grey turned to a red/brown colour as soon as it was in place. stayed grey when it first went through the cyan filter but changed when in place.' In repsonse to these comments, Dr Jackson reassured that the square was not changing colour. 'I promise you it didn't change colour,' he replied to one user. 'It's your brain doing it. The brains are remarkable organ.' WHAT IS THE CAFÉ WALL OPTICAL ILLUSION? The café wall optical illusion was first described by Richard Gregory, professor of neuropsychology at the University of Bristol, in 1979. When alternating columns of dark and light tiles are placed out of line vertically, they can create the illusion that the rows of horizontal lines taper at one end. The effect depends on the presence of a visible line of gray mortar between the tiles. The illusion was first observed when a member of Professor Gregory's lab noticed an unusual visual effect created by the tiling pattern on the wall of a café at the bottom of St Michael's Hill in Bristol. The café, close to the university, was tiled with alternate rows of offset black and white tiles, with visible mortar lines in between. Diagonal lines are perceived because of the way neurons in the brain interact. Different types of neurons react to the perception of dark and light colours, and because of the placement of the dark and light tiles, different parts of the grout lines are dimmed or brightened in the retina. Where there is a brightness contrast across the grout line, a small scale asymmetry occurs whereby half the dark and light tiles move toward each other forming small wedges. These little wedges are then integrated into long wedges with the brain interpreting the grout line as a sloping line. Professor Gregory's findings surrounding the café wall illusion were first published in a 1979 edition of the journal Perception. The café wall illusion has helped neuropsychologists study the way in which visual information is processed by the brain. The illusion has also been used in graphic design and art applications, as well as architectural applications. The effect is also known as the Munsterberg illusion, as it was previously reported in 1897 by Hugo Munsterberg who referred to it as the 'shifted chequerboard figure.' It has also been called the 'illusion of kindergarten patterns', because it was often seen in the weaving of kindergarten students.
CBC
10-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CBC
P.E.I.'s spring vegetation presents opportunity for foragers, says biologist
'A few basics is all you really need to know' Springtime is a great time of year to forage for local plants and vegetation, says Kate MacQuarrie, a naturalist and biologist on Prince Edward Island. "Everything is starting to emerge, and all that fresh growth is so delicious and nutritious," said MacQuarrie. "There are some things that we can only find this time of year, and so much is coming on tap that all my spare time is spent eating wild." Foraging has grown in popularity in recent years, MacQuarrie said, noting that interest has been especially high since the COVID-19 pandemic. Political uncertainty and movements that support eating local ingredients have also gotten more people interested in foraging, she said. MacQuarrie said that about 1,000 people participated in her workshops and field courses last year, which provide education about foraging. Media Audio | Island Morning : Foraging grows in popularity amid high grocery prices Caption: Islanders who may be feeling the pinch of grocery prices might want to give foraging a try, according to Kate MacQuarrie, a naturalist and biologist on P.E.I. We speak with her about getting out your foraging gear this season. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Foraging 101 Foraging doesn't have to be complex, MacQuarrie said. "A few basics is all you really need to know," she said. MacQuarrie said, noting that it can be as simple as picking up a tasty-looking plant while out on a walk. Always, always verify with a human before you consume something — Kate MacQuarrie Foraging doesn't require much investment, but there is one essential component, MacQuarrie said. "Knowledge is the only thing that you need to take with you," she said. While there are apps that help identify plant species, MacQuarrie said it's not a good idea to rely on them. "The best apps for plants have been shown to be about 85 per cent accurate," she said. Plants to look for on P.E.I. There are a variety of plants on P.E.I. that are good for foraging. Some of the highlights in season now include fiddleheads, cattail shoots and watercress, MacQuarrie said. "One of the things I've been using a lot lately is alder pepper," she said. "Alders grow all over P.E.I. and those male catkins that appear in spring — you take them, you dry them, they've got an incredibly complex piney, citrusy, peppery, spicy scent and flavour. It's just amazing." MacQuarrie said one of her favourite things to forage for are service berries, which are also known as Saskatoon berries — though they won't be in season until later this summer. While it's true that P.E.I. plants can be delicious, MacQuarrie said it's important to keep the environment in mind and not over-harvest an area for a particular kind of vegetation. "I recommend not taking more than one in 10 of whatever you find. Leave lots for reproduction of the organism and for other foragers that may come after you," she said. "Sustainability is really part of the core of foraging."
