Podcast Summary
Exploring the Unseen Corners of Our World: From the lack of biodiversity in emojis to the discovery of parrots dunking food and a massive sun hole, this episode underscores the importance of exploring various aspects of our world and expanding our understanding of it. The Tiny Desk Contest also highlights the power of creativity and the potential for new talents to be discovered.
While there are fascinating discoveries happening in the realm of science, some important aspects of our everyday experiences are being overlooked. For instance, a recent study revealed the lack of biodiversity in emojis, which might seem trivial but speaks to the importance of representation in digital communication. Meanwhile, in the natural world, a group of parrots has been discovered to learn how to dunk their food before eating it, showcasing the intriguing adaptability of animals. Lastly, a massive hole in the sun, larger than 60 Earths, was identified, underscoring the vastness and complexity of our universe. Although these discoveries may seem unrelated, they highlight the importance of exploring various aspects of our world and expanding our understanding of it. Additionally, the 10th annual Tiny Desk Contest, where unsigned musicians submit their original songs for a chance to perform a Tiny Desk Concert and embark on a tour with NPR Music, showcases the power of creativity and the potential for new talents to be discovered. This reminder to appreciate the unique aspects of our world, both in science and art, is a valuable takeaway from this episode of Shortwave.
A weaker magnetic field in a coronal hole lets solar winds escape at higher speeds: Coronal holes on the sun, with weaker magnetic fields, allow faster solar winds to reach Earth, leading to stronger auroras but potential disruptions to satellite communications.
A coronal hole on the sun, which is currently making headlines, is a less dense area where the sun's magnetic field is weaker, allowing solar winds to escape at higher speeds. This can lead to more intense solar winds reaching Earth, causing stronger auroras but potentially disrupting satellite communications. However, the current coronal hole is not expected to cause significant issues. On a lighter note, another interesting finding is that Goffin's cockatoos, a type of parrot, have been observed dipping their food in water before eating it. This behavior may help soften their food or improve its taste. These discoveries highlight the fascinating phenomena occurring in our universe and the intriguing behaviors of animals on our planet.
Cockatoos in captivity dunk their food in water: Cockatoos in captivity exhibit an unusual behavior of dunking their food in water to improve texture or aid digestion, adding to our understanding of their cognitive abilities.
Cockatoos in captivity have been observed dunking their food in water, which is an unusual behavior for birds. This behavior, known as food dunking, was first noticed by researchers at the Meserely Research Institute in Austria when they saw a cockatoo softening its rusk (hard dry toast) in water before eating it. The researchers were intrigued by this observation and found that seven out of eighteen cockatoos exhibited this behavior. Although food dunking has been observed in other bird species, it is not common in cockatoos, and the reasons for this behavior are not yet fully understood. The researchers believe that the cockatoos might be softening their food to improve its texture or to aid in digestion. This discovery is significant because it shows that cockatoos in captivity are capable of spontaneous foraging innovations, which adds to our understanding of their cognitive abilities.
Emojis don't accurately represent nature's biodiversity: Research shows emojis underrepresent plants, fungi, and microorganisms, limiting their potential as a tool for biodiversity awareness and communication, especially to diverse audiences.
Our digital communication through emojis does not accurately represent the biodiversity found in nature. A study published in the journal Eye Science revealed that while animals are well-represented in emojis, plants, fungi, and microorganisms are underrepresented. For instance, there are many more known species of arthropods (insects and crustaceans) than vertebrates, but the opposite is true in the world of emojis. This disparity could limit the potential of emojis as a tool for raising awareness and communicating about biodiversity, particularly to diverse audiences. While it may seem trivial to some, the researchers argue that a more representative set of nature and animal emojis could make a significant impact in promoting understanding and appreciation for the natural world.
Supporting Public Media: A Call to Action: Listeners' donations keep public media running, creating an informed public. Every contribution matters, regardless of size.
Public media, including NPR, relies heavily on the support of its listeners to continue providing news and podcasts. The hosts expressed their gratitude to current supporters and encouraged those who aren't yet supporters to get involved. They emphasized the importance of creating an informed public and emphasized that every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. The episode was produced by several individuals and sponsored by the Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance and Enbridge. The NPR series "Black Stories, Black Truth" was also mentioned, highlighting the importance and complexity of Black experiences in America. Overall, the message conveyed the interconnectedness of community, support, and quality media production.
