Spider’s only “balloon” in light winds, which are not enough to account for their lofty flights. Now, researchers at the University of Bristol, have shown that spiders can sense the charge in the air, and use it to determine when to launch.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/the-electric-flight-of-spiders/564437/
The current scientific research publishing model was started by Robert Maxwell. He realised that, because scientists need to be informed about all significant developments in their field, every journal that publishes academic papers can establish a monopoly and charge outrageous fees for the transmission of knowledge. He called his discovery “a perpetual financing machine”. He also realised that he could capture other people’s labour and resources for nothing. Governments funded the research published by his company, while scientists wrote the articles, reviewed them and edited the journals for free. Now new plans hope to change all that making all science information free. https://sci-hub.tw/
A team of scientists at the University of Manchester has solved a key flaw in solar panels after 40 years and 270 papers. After hours of operation solar cells drop from 20 to 18 percent efficiency and for years no one could figure out why.
Source: Solar cell defect mystery solved after decades of global effort
In out-of-lab trial, the fungus reduced a mosquito population to almost nothing in 45 days
via Gene-Hacked Fungus Tested Outside The Lab Effectively ‘Collapses’ Mosquito Population.
The giant Jupiter anticyclone, first observed in 1870 was large enough to swallow four Earths. It has been shrinking by about 230 km per year, but getting taller. It is also losing some of its red.
via Jupiter’s Great Red Spot keeps getting less great and less red | New Scientist.
https://petapixel.com/2018/10/01/time-lapse-of-neurons-growing-wins-2018-nikon-small-world-in-motion/
Prehistoric petrified forest remains buried under water and sand more than 4,500 years ago has been uncovered by Storm Hannah.