Information Atlas

@danielkordan takes us to the stunning Bokty Mountain in West Kazakhstan! 🏞️ Rising 165 meters above the vast plains, this natural wonder is a masterpiece of vibrant layers, giving it the appearance of a giant cake 🍰. The mountain’s striking colors are at their most magical during sunrise and sunset, when they glow with fiery light, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape 🔥.

Unsurprisingly, the experiment didn’t last long, but it left behind a fun and fascinating story. Cats, with their small size and independent nature, just weren’t cut out for the postal service. Still, this creative attempt to solve a problem has earned a special place in history. Today, the tale of Belgian postal cats is remembered as a delightful example of human ingenuity—and perhaps as a reminder that some jobs are better suited to other animals!

The $3.6 million Pagani Utopia hypercar and the F-35 fighter jet both rely on titanium screws to save weight, but there’s a big difference in cost and design. Each screw on the Utopia costs $86, not just because of the material but also because they’re engraved with the Pagani logo and the chassis number of the specific car they’re mounted on—making them truly one-of-a-kind. In comparison, the F-35’s screws cost just $5 each, as they’re mass-produced for efficiency. The scale is also completely different: the Utopia uses about 1,000 screws in total, while the F-35 needs a whopping 48,000. It’s a fun reminder of the unique priorities in luxury car design versus military aerospace engineering!

Merlin the cat from England has set a new world record for the loudest purr by a domestic cat, measuring at 67.8 decibels. This is as loud as an air conditioner and nearly as loud as a shower or dishwasher. The 13-year-old cat can be so loud that his owner has to repeat herself in conversation and sometimes needs to turn up the TV or put him out of the room. Merlin's loud purr is not due to a medical problem and he was adopted from a local shelter. 

In September, a world-first human trial of a drug that can regenerate teeth will begin at Kyoto University Hospital. The drug has shown success in animals, growing new teeth with no significant side effects. Lead researcher Katsu Takahashi hopes the treatment will be available commercially by 2030.

The drug deactivates the USAG-1 protein, promoting tooth growth. The trial will first focus on adults with missing molars, then expand to children with congenital tooth deficiency and eventually to those with partial edentulism. If successful, the treatment could be available for all patients with missing teeth within six years.

Famous womanizer Casanova was a librarian.

Mice Can Sing!

Rodents, often viewed as simple creatures, exhibit surprising complexity in their behavior. Mice and rats display human-like traits such as laughter when tickled, empathy by sensing each other's pain through facial expressions, and even an ability to discern artistic styles like Picasso and Renoir. 

Studies reveal that male mice produce intricate ultrasonic vocalizations, or "songs," to communicate with females. These songs vary in complexity depending on social context: when males can't see females but only smell their urine, the songs are louder and more intricate; however, when in the presence of females, the songs become simpler but longer.

Researchers at Duke University have found that female mice show a preference for more complex mating calls, indicating their effectiveness in attraction. This suggests that male mice invest more energy in attracting females when they can't see them, but once in close proximity, they focus more on mating behaviors. The study aims to explore the brain mechanisms behind these vocalizations and whether mice can learn new songs, potentially shedding light on communication disorders like autism. Published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, this research underscores the complexity of rodent behavior and its implications for understanding animal and human communication.

Turkish pilots flying a Sikorsky S-70 upside down over a bet with American engineers who designed the model of helicopter plane.

Blinking has been shown to actually boost vision, rather than impair it as previously thought. Research has found that blinking increases the power of retinal stimulation, enhances visibility, and helps reformat visual information. Despite the brief blackouts in vision that occur during blinking, neural activity rebounds to a higher level afterward, improving vision. This new study suggests that blinking is useful for more than just lubricating the eyes, and plays a crucial role in enhancing visual perception.

Vigorous exercise can lead to weight gain in mice due to the body compensating for energy used during the activity by reducing other forms of energy use. This study adds to the evidence that animals, including humans, may compensate for extra energy used during exercise by reducing energy expenditure in other ways.

Tooth loss in older adults has been linked to smaller brain volume in a region important for memory, potentially indicating early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Research suggests that poor oral health, including gum disease and tooth loss, may contribute to the development of dementia.