I often run across obscure stories or links which are hot off the presses, and post them in individual threads. To cut the number of threads, and keep new stuff in one place, I'm just going to use a single thread from now on.

To start, here's a link regarding a new species of katydid which has bright pink eyes:

http://www.livescience.com/animals/new- ... 01005.html

One from a couple weeks ago, the largest spider web (25 meters!) and the application of that same web in biomaterial research.

http://www.physorg.com/news203924732.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notro ... -material/


http://www.nephilidae.com/mk/articles/K ... on2010.pdf

HUGE web, little spider. Cool stuff.

Another interesting story covering transgenic silk worms making spider's silk which is much better!

http://www.physorg.com/news204989817.html

I can't imagine wearing silk myself, but a spider silk shirt, maybe.

Definitely cool stuff. I like the one thread thing. One place to go and easy to find stuff later that I cannot remember exactly what it was.

Oh Christian--not wear silk. There is no fabric more sensuous, comfortable and practical. Cool in summer, warm in winter. OTOH, as a fabric it has a curious limitation. When wet is it very fragile, hence one "squeezes" out water rather than "wringing" it when washing. When dry it is very, very tough. So this story is very exciting. Besides the obvious with micro surgery etc, it could add a whole new dimension to the clothing industry of "natural" fabrics.

How about self-medication in monarch butterflies? There seems to be some support showing the animals selecting which plants to lay one based on health conditions.

This is the layperson version:
http://www.physorg.com/news205989285.html


This is the abstract with article link for those with access:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... x/abstract

Transgenerational medication. Now that is very interesting. Makes one wonder what kind of natural selection process lead to that development in this butterfly.

Nice article on Centruroides margaritatus venom being used for medical research.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-10-sco ... ients.html

I don't know if this one works, it's from The Scientist:

http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57729/

Insects as food is argued AND maggots used in art and education:

http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57760/

Fun fun!

New species of psuedoscorpion in hometown proud Wyoming!

And it's Cokendolpher's work!

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-pse ... video.html

http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/p ... orpion.htm

Cute little buggers.

Very cute! I love those guys.

Just don't look right without a tail.

Nice find Christian.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... light.html

Based on this:

http://www.americanarachnology.org/JoA_ ... v38n3.html

I need to read it more carefully, but it sounds a bit thin to me. Where's Kari when we need 'im?

Thanmks, Christian, for choosing to put this all in the ame thread. a great 'go to' thread for me.

Sure!

How about a new theory on the 8 foot sea scorpion's diet?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 173039.htm

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-spi ... laria.html


http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/ ... .2010.1233

Jumping spiders, saving one stinky person at a time...

Very interesting. Thanks.

This one was in the news today, but I'd place it under "odd news"....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_mazda_recall

I saw that today as well, made me smile a bit.

Sombody just sent me that, and I was rushing over here to share it only to find Anette beat me to it!

Wade