The Dolphin Institute - Dolphin Research Echolocation is the process of detecting and identifying objects by emitting sounds, such as the broadband clicks used by dolphins, and listening to the echoes returning from objects reflecting those sounds. A recent discovery we made is that dolphins appear capable of directly perceiving the shapes of objects through echolocation. Prior to this finding, it had been generally assumed that dolphins learned to identify and recognize objects through echolocation by a process of associative learning-by comparing the echoes returning from targets with the visual appearance of those targets. Instead, our work has shown that echolocation can yield an immediate perception of the shapes of objects without any intervention by associative learning. Click here to see a virtual reality VRML of the experimental setup of this study. Pack, A. Back to Top Dolphin Programs | Whale Programs | Education Programs | Our Research | Resource Guide Copyright © 2002, The Dolphin Institute
Cancer in a Can: The Shocking True Story of how Pringles are Made To understand the nature of Pringles and other stackable chips, forget the notion that they come from actual potatoes in any recognizable way. The Pringles Company (in an effort to avoid taxes levied against “luxury foods” like chips in the UK) once even argued that the potato content of their chips was so low that they are technically not even potato chips. So if they’re not made of potatoes, what are they exactly? The process begins with a slurry of rice, wheat, corn, and potato flakes that are pressed into shape. This dough-like substance is then rolled out into an ultra-thin sheet cut into chip-cookies by a machine. According to io9: “The chips move forward on a conveyor belt until they’re pressed onto molds, which give them the curve that makes them fit into one another. Those molds move through boiling oil … Then they’re blown dry, sprayed with powdered flavors, and at last, flipped onto a slower-moving conveyor belt in a way that allows them to stack. Acrylamide is Not the Only Danger
Dolphins by Name Bottlenose dolphins can recognize and respond to their own “signature whistles,” strengthening the evidence that these whistles function like names. Bottlenose dolphin.VINCENT M. JANIK, UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWSOne of the most fascinating aspects of language is the ability to name individuals, objects, and places with a signature sound. While human language skills may be unique, African Grey parrots and captive bottlenose dolphins have been taught to link specific sets of sounds with objects—a rare ability in the animal kingdom. In the first few months of life, each bottlenose dolphin develops what’s known as a “signature whistle”—a collection of notes unique to each dolphin. In order to get a clearer sense of who calls whose whistle and under what circumstances, King and her collaborators first recorded calls of dolphins off the coast of Florida and a few dolphins in captivity. S. S.
Star Wars home of Anakin Skywalker threatened by dune 19 July 2013Last updated at 15:35 ET By Simon Redfern BBC News Continue reading the main story Sand dunes migrating over the Tunisian desert are poised to bury a famous Star Wars film set. The buildings of the fictional city Mos Espa featured in The Phantom Menace, "Episode I" of the Jedi saga. Sited on the planet Tatooine, this was the home of the young Anakin Skywalker, later to become Darth Vader. Scientists have used the dwellings as a fixed geographic reference to measure the migration of giant wind-blown crescent-shaped dunes, or barchans. They have published details in the journal Geomorphology. Homes are rarely built in dune fields, and this study illustrates why. Wind-blown sand can build huge mounds in arid deserts, with sand grains pushed up the shallow rear slope before falling down the steep front slope in the lee of the wind. Crescent-shaped dunes glide across the face of many planets, from Mars to Tatooine
China bans new government buildings in corruption curb 23 July 2013Last updated at 13:18 ET Luxurious building projects have fuelled public anger about extravagance and corruption China has banned the construction of government buildings for five years, according to state media. The move comes as part of a campaign by President Xi Jinping to show that the ruling Communist Party (CPC) is cracking down on corruption and waste. Glitzy new government buildings, sometimes in impoverished areas, have been a source of public outrage. The directive forbids luxury makeovers and expansions done under the guise of repair work, Xinhua news agency said. Continue reading the main story It may not look like a royal palace but this was apparently a state-owned drugs factory Officials at the Fuyang government building in Anhui province have been hit by corruption scandals Government buildings in Ordos were built to serve 1.5 million people but the city is largely empty Chandeliers
Animal Intelligence: Birds That Use Tools Animal Intelligence: Birds That Use Tools RELATED TOPICS: Animals The aptly named Dr. RELATED Animal Intelligence: Birds That Use Tools More Video Video by Topic Popular Topics Video Series See All Video Topics » Similar Videos for: Animal Intelligence: Birds That Use Tools Sign In Not a memeber? Email address or Password is incorrect Want the Full Story? Healthy Brain - 22 Ways to Overclock Your Brain “I just found out that the brain is like a computer. If that’s true, then there really aren’t any stupid people. Just people running DOS.” - Anonymous The brain is a three-pound supercomputer. It is the command and control center running your life. Your brain is more complicated than any computer we can imagine. It’s simple, your brain is at the center of everything you do, all you feel and think, and every nuance of how you relate to people. No matter what your age, mental exercise has a global, positive effect on the brain. 1. Research suggests that people who get plenty of physical exercise can wind up with better brains. So, play a sport, train for an event such as a marathon, triathlon or “fun run,” or work out with a buddy to help keep things interesting. 2. It isn’t just physical exercise that gets those brain cells jumping. 3. Our brains are wired to be curious. 4. 5. Eating at least three servings a week of fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and tuna is a good start. 6. 7.
Dolphins can remember their friends better than most humans I like seeing the research done, with funding for the technology to track and actually prove (in scientific sense) that dolphins have social memory. But the key is word is "demonstrated" long-term memory. I have witnessed horses remembering other horses, dogs, people and places at least a decade later. I have heard reports of cows and water buffaloes totally remembering their owners from years ago (as in owners who treated them badly for instance.) I am sure other people who own or work with animals have similar anecdotes. All of the studies in animal intelligence, communication abilities, the fact that they have emotions and personalities and feel pain — it's great that science finally catches up.
Thresher sharks stun prey with tail slaps 10 July 2013Last updated at 17:42 ET By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC News The scientists analysed the footage to confirm that the tail slaps would stun several prey at once Thresher sharks use their impressive tails to stun lots of prey at once with sharp overhead "tail slaps", scientists have confirmed. The sharks' scythe-like tails make up half the length of their body, so it had long been suspected that the animals used them as hunting weapons. Footage of the predators using their tail to stun and kill sardines has finally confirmed this. The findings are reported in the journal Plos One. Dr Simon Oliver, founder of the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project and a researcher based at University of Liverpool, filmed pelagic thresher sharks as they hunted off Pescador Island in the Philippines. "It was a massively exciting moment for me to come across his behaviour," said Dr Oliver. 'Medieval war machine' Continue reading the main story Biggest, fastest, fiercest
Why do writers drink? Recent research suggests that Dylan Thomas might not, after all, have drunk himself to death. What his doctor in New York took to be delirium tremens and treated with morphine may have been bronchitis and pneumonia, which morphine injections only made worse – after the third of them, he went into a coma. Still, there's no doubt that Thomas had been drinking heavily in the days leading up to his admission to hospital – indeed for large periods of his life. The previous day he'd opened a bottle of Old Grand-Dad whiskey and offered a glass to the maid cleaning his hotel room. Then, after more drinks with his lover Elizabeth Reitell, he left his bed at 2am and went to a bar, telling her on his return that he had drunk 18 straight whiskies. Thomas was prone to exaggeration. Thomas's death is the stuff of legend, and it's no surprise to hear that a TV film, with a script by Andrew Davies, is being made about it, to coincide with the centenary of the poet's birth next year.