Each Friday we publish a recap of the most exciting science news for the week. Enjoy!
- Biology - Four new species of legless lizards have been identified in California, one of which was discovered under the sand dunes near the Los Angeles Airport. All of these lizards belong to the family Anniella, and even though they look a lot like snakes, they are not actually snakes. Read how they differ from snakes and see some pictures of these cute reptiles here.
- Astronomy - The Curiosity rover has failed to report significant amounts of methane on Mars, bringing into question whether or not there is any kind of life on the red planet. On Earth, 95% of atmospheric methane is produced by microbial organisms, often found in the digestive tracts of animals. In the past, telescopes and satellites have reported small, but significant amounts of the gas on Mars. However, the robot working at ground level has made no such detection. Read more here.
- Chemistry - The songs of certain songbirds have been altered by ingestion of low amounts of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), a chemical used to make electrical devices. This chemical was banned in 1979, but high concentrations still exist in certain areas. The birds ingest PCB by eating contaminated bugs. "The chemicals appear to mimic hormones and interfere with development in the part of the bird’s brain that governs song and song structure,” said the lead author of this study. Go here to see a video of this study.
- Biology - Last, but not least, my Portland home is making national news because of a rare bumblebee sighting on Mt. Hood. The western bumblebee mysteriously disappeared about 15 years ago west of the Cascades. This sighting gives biologists hope that perhaps this species will rebound and repopulate. To find out more about how important pollinators are in our world and to see a really cool video about the western bumblebee go here. Or just read the article here.
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