Animals

The buzzing sounds made by bees, flies, wasps, and other insects come from the rapid beating of their tiny wings. Some bees beat their wings up to 230 times per second, creating a loud enough sound.

In addition, some bees, especially bumblebees, are able to produce a specific buzzing sound by vibrating the muscles in their thorax during flight. This “function” is needed to pollinate “finicky” plants that release pollen only at a certain frequency of vibration. This is characteristic of tomatoes, blueberries and some other representatives of flora.

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A rare brown-colored Tibetan bear has finally been spotted in India. It was captured by a camera trap in Sikkim.
The animal’s belonging to a particular species was identified by a special yellowish shade of the collar, resembling a scarf. But additional research by geneticists is pending for final identification, the Indian Forest Service said.

The bear roamed the forests high in the Himalayan Mountains, and local nomadic herders have received reports of the mysterious animal stealing butter and sugar from their camps. All of this was further fueled by legends of Bigfoot.

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This is the first time a polar bear infected with bird flu has been reported dead in northern Alaska.

Previous studies have shown that the influenza virus is highly adaptive and capable of exchanging genetic material with related viruses affecting the same cells. This increases the viability of the pathogen and its ability to reproduce.

But in order to adapt to a mammal, the virus needs certain gene changes that have not yet been discovered in the strain. This is possible, however, if mammals feed on infected birds.

Among animals and birds, scavengers are particularly affected by H5N1. Many sea birds have been killed by the virus, and their bodies are eaten by seals and polar bears, among others.

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Many people believe that dogs wag their tails when they are happy, but a new study by European scientists, suggests that there is a lot more nuance to pet behavior than meets the eye.

During their research, experts analyzed dozens of works on dog behavior, which allowed them to put forward two theories of why it evolved in this way. It is noted that the tails of many animals have practical functions, helping them move, maintain balance or swipe insects. But these examples contrast with the behavior of domestic dogs that use their tails primarily for communication.

For example, the experts noted that when the dogs are exposed to some kind of stimulation with positive emotions, such as meeting their owner, they wag their tails more to the right side. Meanwhile, when they are exposed to stimulation that causes rejection, such as when meeting a stranger or a more dominant kin, they wag their tails more to the left side. Scientists say dogs can recognize such nuances in other dogs and even tail-wagging robots.

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In Phuket, popular with travelers, jellyfish that pose a threat to humans have been found in the coastal waters.

They are poisonous nochesvetki jellyfish – Pelagia noctiluca. They were the first to be seen by the hotel staff when they went around the beach.

As experts remind, if a jellyfish comes into contact with human skin, it can result in a severe burn or allergic attack. Sometimes there are even scars. The management of local hotels have already been notified to be ready to help the victims.

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