Since 2002 an insect dubbed the Emerald Ash Borer has been responsible for killing hundreds of millions of North America’s ash trees. Entomologist Michael Dominique and some other clever scientists have developed fake female EA Borers that are remarkably similar to the real bugs with respect to size, color and odor. About 4,000 volts will zap any male EAB that touches one of the battery powered counterfeits. So far, the femme fatale has been extremely effective with a 100 percent contact kill.
In 1913 a prominent Norwegian family presented the Edinburg Zoo (Scotland) with a king penguin. In 1972 the King’s Guard made a king penguin (named Nils Olav) as its official mascot and promoted the bird to rank of brigadier. The name and rank have been passed down and the brigadier regularly “inspects” a line of British soldiers for “acceptable appearance.” I understand that Nils utters loud squawks and brays when rendering his opinion of the troops and only the platoon sergeant can accurately interpret what the penguin says.
In case you are running out of ways to spend your money: I offer a new product from Microsoft and MIT Media Lab where temporary “tattoos” made of gold leaf can turn a portion of your skin into a technological interface. The application lasts about 24 hours.
In New Zealand bats are often called pekapeka (not to be confused with paprika) where Maori folklore consistently associates the little mammals with death and horror. Meanwhile in China, the swooping of bats nearby is considered to be a portent of good luck.
It was not a bat, but it was an asteroid measuring approximately nine miles in diameter that smacked into earth in a sea just off the coast of what is now the Yucatan Peninsula. The rocky mass was traveling about 45,000 mph when it struck our planet some 66 million years ago. Scientists estimate that at least 75 percent of all life on earth died as a result of this collision, including all the large dinosaurs. The impact is said to have caused surface winds of more than 600 mph and blasted a hole nearly 20 miles deep while spewing tons of sulfur into the atmosphere that fell back to earth in toxic acid rains. Nearly all photosynthesis processes ceased. Most picnics were cancelled (I’m guessing). Well, tell your bat friends they are more likely to be welcomed in China than in New Zealand – and have a great week
James White is a retired mathematics teacher who enjoys sharing fascinating trivia. He can be reached at [email protected].
