|
beam the Science NEWS |
|
Latest Events |
|
Past Events |
|
Latest Sci News |
|
Burning Sci Qns? |
|
Contact Info |
|
Papers & Qns |
|
Home |
|
Services |
|
About |
|
The Oddest Creatures in 2008
The year 2008 saw the discoveries saw some weird creatures that you can hardly imagine. This is not a science fiction, a horror story or Harry Potter series. These creatures usually do not look weird, but it is their interesting instincts and size.
Bone-breaking Frog With Claws
Click to Enlarge
Green Moving Thief
The World’s Smallest Snake
A 1000kg Rat Discovered?
Original unedited script by Pang
|
|
This frog, with its scientific name as Trichobatrachus robustus, is not only hairy, but also has cat-like extendable claws. These claws are found in its hind legs only and are initially surrounding by connective tissues and not shown. The sharp point of each claw is attached together with a small piece of bone at the tip of the frog’s toe by collagen. David Blackburn and colleagues at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology believed that when the frog is in danger, it pulls the claw downwards, breaking away the sharp point from the bone tip, causing the claw to cut through the toe pad, coming out from the hind legs at the underside. You can enlarge the second picture to see the position and the size of the claws.
|
)
|
This fantastic leaf-shaped sea slug, named Elysia chlorotica is not only a great survivor, without having to look for food for years, it is also a shrewd thief. Mary Rumpho of the University of Maine, is an expert on this species already known that it ‘stoles’ chloroplasts from the algae it eats as food, and stores them in the cells that line its gut. This enables young slug to survive for years after feeding algae for two weeks as it can use the ‘stolen’ chloroplasts to make food from sunlight. However, in the latest discovery by Rumpho and her team, they found out that the gene for photosynthesis, which belongs to the a species of algae that the slug often feeds on, can actually be found in the slug’s own DNA! This provides strong evidence that the slug has actually ‘stolen’ the DNA from the algae too! Another suggestion is that the slug may have been infected by a virus which brings the genes into its cells but there is no evidence for that. More interestingly, the algae genes are also found in the sex cells of the slug, implying that they will be passed on to future generation, enabling its babies to be able to photosynthesize as well. |
|
This is not a worm, but a snake! Can’t believe it? It belongs to a species called L. carlae discovered by Blair Hedges, an evolutionary biologist at Pennsylvania State University on the island of Barbados. This belongs to a family of thread snakes that look like earthworms.
|
|
This is again not a science fiction or fairy tale. This rodent, named Josephoartigasia monesi is discovered by scientists in Uruguay. Though it is larger than a bull, there is no fear of this giant rat because it lived 2 millions years ago and now it has become a fossil. Its skull is 53cm long and you can see the size of its skull in comparison to our modern day rodent in the diagram. Despite its large size, it has small teeth and scientists believed that they might usually eat soft vegetables and fruits which is unlike modern rats with sharp teeth. This is larger than Phoberomys pattersoni, a guinea pig discovered previously with a mass of about 700kg. Our modern day largest rodent is a guinea pig with the mass of only 50kg, named capybara which lives in South America.
|
|
Preparatory Courses for Next Year Sec 1 and 3 Students ~~20 Nov 09 Look under Latest Events
Tuition Timetable 2010 This is the timetable for all existing and new classes in 2010. ~~9 Nov 09 Look out for it under Latest Events.
Updates to the Timetable for Tuition Classes Do find the latest timetable under Services. ~~11 June 09
The Alternative Energy Scripts are Out! ~~10 June 09 Check it out under Past Events!
2008 School Exam Papers for Sec 3 and 4 Physics are Out! ~~7 May 09 Check it out under Papers & Qns!
Timetable for Tuition Classes is Out! ~~6 May 09. Check it out under Latest Events!
|