Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Moooo? Are you from Boston by any chance?

Being engaged to a Speech-Language Pathologist has allowed me a better understanding of communication and language and the importance therein. This, however, is just ridiculous.

"Um Yah..." Science

U.C. Berkeley News has an article on their website pertaining to Trap-Jaw Ants. This ant genus of ants from South and Central America can close its mandibles(jaw-like parts) at a speed of up to 145 mph. This is the world record for "the fastest self-powered predatory strike in the animal kingdom." While this is interesting enough, I often wonder who funds these scientists. With the all the disease and mayhem in this world, you think the Ant-Jaw-Speed-Experiment Funds could serve a better purpose in the fields of say Cancer Research, Inexhaustible Fuels, and other clearly more important fields of study - with more far reaching effects. While I am fascinated by ants for their complex society mechanisms and seriously doubt anyone can utilize the knowledge of how fast an ant can cleave a grasshopper for the betterment of our world. (via)

On a lighter note: They did take some great video that shows the ants using their spring loaded jaws of doom as a defensive tool: springing themselve high into the air to avoid predetors!