A new study recently published presents for the first time an accurate three dimensional analysis of venomous snake bites using slow motion filming at a rate of one thousand frames per second.
The study examined 36 different species from several families of venomous snakes, including vipers and cobras.
The experiments were conducted in a dedicated facility, where each snake was presented with “simulated prey” a heated medical gel imitating an animal.
The findings were impressive and revealed clear differences between different groups of snakes.
For example, vipers attacked at a higher speed than others and even adjusted their angle if the strike was not accurate.
The cobra, on the other hand, chose to move more slowly and then perform a series of multiple bites. The study, beyond the amazing and rare visual analysis it reveals, emphasizes how attack strategies vary not only between species but also depend on additional factors, providing a physiological and evolutionary basis for understanding the exceptional efficiency of venomous snakes.
In another study, researchers found that some species of bats in North America emit a greenish glow photoluminescent when illuminated with ultraviolet light, a phenomenon not previously documented in a controlled way.
The researchers examined 60 samples from six different species and found that each one, without exception, glowed in the same body regions, including the wings and hind legs.
In all cases the glow was always green, in almost identical shades, with no differences between species or ages.
This uniformity challenges hypotheses such as mate recognition or interspecies communication, as otherwise some variation between species would be expected.
Researchers suggest that this trait may actually be an evolutionary remnant with no clear function today, or one that is not yet understood.
The next phase of the research will require observation of the bats to understand whether the glow serves any role or is simply a retained phenomenon.
Finally, in a surprising piece of news, the world’s smallest beer bottle has been revealed.
The company presents a bottle just 12 millimeters tall, the size of a grain of rice, containing a single drop of lager (0.05 ml).
The project was developed as part of a campaign to encourage responsible and moderate drinking, with the tiny bottle created using precise glass blowing techniques, in collaboration with a miniature artist who also included a label and a cap.
The miniature bottle will now be displayed in a museum, alongside a competition to create an even smaller version.