Podcast Summary
Discovering new robots and rethinking black holes: Progressive's name your price tool lets you set your car insurance budget and get coverage options within it. A new robot called M4 can change shape and move in multiple directions, challenging our understanding of mobility. A study suggests black holes might not be as dangerous as we thought, while killer whales pose a real threat to humans.
Progressive's name your price tool allows you to set the budget for your car insurance and provides coverage options within that limit. Meanwhile, in science news, we discussed a variety of topics, starting with a new robot called the multimodal mobility morphobot or M4. This robot, described in the journal Nature Communications, is unique due to its ability to change its shape and move in multiple directions. Next, we talked about space, specifically a study that suggests black holes might not be as scary as we thought. Lastly, we discussed killer whales and their potential threat to humans. While the space story might not be as scary as previously thought, the killer whale story is indeed a cautionary tale. Remember, you can support the podcast by visiting progressive.com for car insurance or checking out Integrative Therapeutics, Indeed, and Amgen's offerings on their respective websites.
Meet MorphoBot: The Adaptive Robot Inspired by Animals: MorphoBot, a transformative robot, can perform eight tasks and adapt to various environments inspired by animals' versatility. Funded by NASA, it can fly like a drone and move like a cart, with potential uses in space exploration.
Researchers have developed a transformative robot named MorphoBot, which is designed to adapt to various environments and situations in real-time. This robot, which is about the size and weight of a medium-sized terrier, can perform eight specific tasks, including rolling, crawling, crouching, balancing, tumbling, scouting, flying, and transporting objects. It draws inspiration from animals and their ability to repurpose their limbs, such as meerkats standing on their hind legs, birds crawling off inclines, and sea lions using their flippers for both swimming and walking. The MorphoBot's wheels have propellers that rotate in different directions, allowing it to fly like a drone or move like a cart. Funded by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this shape-shifting robot could have significant applications in space exploration.
Detecting the largest gravitational waves ever: Scientists detected the largest gravitational waves yet using a network of 68 pulsars, observing changes in their ticking to decipher slight variations caused by the waves.
Scientists have detected the largest gravitational waves yet, which are similar in size to the entire Milky Way galaxy. These waves are created by heavy objects that distort space and time, causing it to wiggle like Jell-O. Although they were first discovered using lasers and mirrors on Earth, the longest wavelength, galaxy-sized waves cannot be measured here. Instead, researchers used a network of 68 pulsars, which are fast-spinning stars that emit regular radio signals. By observing changes in the pulsars' ticking, researchers were able to detect these gravitational waves as they caused slight variations in the pulsars' signals. While the discovery is exciting, the meaning behind these waves is still not fully understood. Scientists are continuing to study their properties and the implications they may have for our understanding of the universe.
Mystery of Orca Attacks in the Strait of Gibraltar: Scientists are unsure why orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar are attacking boats. Two theories suggest a traumatic experience or playful behavior. The significance of this behavior being limited to this area adds to the intrigue.
The universe continues to surprise us with unexplained phenomena, from potential collisions of massive black holes to mysterious orca attacks. In the case of the orcas, scientists are still unsure why these animals are attacking boats in the Strait of Gibraltar. One theory suggests a traumatic experience with a boat or fishing net may have led a female orca to teach her pod to retaliate. Another theory proposes the orcas are simply playing and enjoying the sensation of boat rudders. Regardless, the significance of this behavior being limited to one specific area adds to the intrigue. Ultimately, the cause remains a mystery, and scientists continue to study the situation to better understand these intelligent marine mammals.
Orca whale encounters with boats increase off Iberian coast: Since 2020, over 500 boat encounters with orcas have been recorded off the Iberian coast, emphasizing the need for boaters to be cautious in this area.
Orca whale encounters with boats have significantly increased off the Iberian coast since 2020, with over 500 recorded incidents. This trend doesn't show signs of slowing down, making it essential for boaters to be vigilant in this area. This news was discussed on NPR's Shortwave podcast, which also featured a conversation with R Shapiro about the study. The podcast is produced by Carly Rubin and Megan Lim, edited by Sadie Babitz, Rebecca Ramirez, Brent Bachman, and Christopher Intagliata, and fact-checked by Britt Hansen. EasyCater and BlackRock's podcast, The Bid, were among the show's sponsors. In other news, the new NPR podcast Wild Card features people reflecting on how their perspectives have changed over the past decade.
