Unique Science
@uniquescience.bsky.social
This page is devoted to unique science be it life sciences or physical sciences. Oddities from mathematics are encouraged. Sources must be cited and be reputable in any post to reduce misinformation. Replies with unique science may get promoted to feed.
Meet bdelloid rotifers which are the "ancient asexuals". They are tiny and tough. There are only females and they reproduce asexually. They can survive extreme droughts, radiation, and being frozen for a long time. www.science.org/content/arti...
August 24, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Meet bdelloid rotifers which are the "ancient asexuals". They are tiny and tough. There are only females and they reproduce asexually. They can survive extreme droughts, radiation, and being frozen for a long time. www.science.org/content/arti...
Female fireflies, of the genus Photuris, attract males of other species of fireflies using the luminous signaling similar to female signaling. However, this firefly preys on the males. Also called "femme fatale". They are only about 10% successful. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Deceptive Seduction by Femme Fatale Fireflies and Its Avoidance by Males of a Synchronous Firefly Species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Predatory female fireflies of several species in the genus Photuris attract males from other firefly species by responding to their flash signals, and then, the females try to capture and feed on the ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
July 21, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Female fireflies, of the genus Photuris, attract males of other species of fireflies using the luminous signaling similar to female signaling. However, this firefly preys on the males. Also called "femme fatale". They are only about 10% successful. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Researchers have created an artificial cell that feeds, grows, and reproduces. But whether to call it "alive" is another issue.
Kate Adamala - "...I’m hesitant to call this ‘alive.’ There’s no clear line, as much as we would love it to be.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Kate Adamala - "...I’m hesitant to call this ‘alive.’ There’s no clear line, as much as we would love it to be.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This Cell Feeds, Grows and Reproduces. And It’s Manmade.
From chemical building blocks, scientists have created synthetic cells that have most of the hallmarks of life.
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Researchers have created an artificial cell that feeds, grows, and reproduces. But whether to call it "alive" is another issue.
Kate Adamala - "...I’m hesitant to call this ‘alive.’ There’s no clear line, as much as we would love it to be.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Kate Adamala - "...I’m hesitant to call this ‘alive.’ There’s no clear line, as much as we would love it to be.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The ballista spider, recently discovered in the far north rainforest of Queensland, Australia, has evolved a unique hunting technique. Lures green tree ant with a pheromone into a web line under tension. Ant bites it and catapults upward stuck to the line.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
Newly discovered spider uses 'ballista' web to capture prey
A bizarre species of spider from the rainforests of Far North Queensland springs a nasty surprise.
www.abc.net.au
June 27, 2026 at 9:23 PM
The ballista spider, recently discovered in the far north rainforest of Queensland, Australia, has evolved a unique hunting technique. Lures green tree ant with a pheromone into a web line under tension. Ant bites it and catapults upward stuck to the line.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
Researchers have been able to train mosquitoes to be attracted to deet instead of repeled! If its detection is associated with food, it can become an attractor.
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
Associative learning switches DEET valence from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti
Highlighted Article:Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are able to associate DEET, the gold standard of repellents, with food, and once this association is learnt, become attracted instead of repelled.
journals.biologists.com
June 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Researchers have been able to train mosquitoes to be attracted to deet instead of repeled! If its detection is associated with food, it can become an attractor.
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
A bean plant can release a chemical response upon being eaten by a caterpillar. This chemical is an attractant to wasps that prey on the caterpillar. It is as if the plant calls in an aerial attack to repel the caterpillars.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A plant immune receptor mediates tritrophic interactions by linking caterpillar detection to predator recruitment
A plant receptor detects caterpillar attack and triggers emission of chemical cues to attract predatory wasps.
www.science.org
June 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
A bean plant can release a chemical response upon being eaten by a caterpillar. This chemical is an attractant to wasps that prey on the caterpillar. It is as if the plant calls in an aerial attack to repel the caterpillars.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Elysia marginata is a sea slug that can autotomize, i.e. separate, their head from their body. It has not evolved this trait to avoid predation since it is a time consuming process. Disconnects its heart and stomach and 85% of its body. Survives on photosynthesis.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elysia_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elysia_...
Elysia marginata - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
May 18, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Elysia marginata is a sea slug that can autotomize, i.e. separate, their head from their body. It has not evolved this trait to avoid predation since it is a time consuming process. Disconnects its heart and stomach and 85% of its body. Survives on photosynthesis.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elysia_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elysia_...
Tomato Clownfish appear to selectively choose when to lose their striped colorations to fit into a social hierarchy.
www.npr.org/2026/05/04/n...
www.npr.org/2026/05/04/n...
The secret behind clownfish stripes and more fishy fascinations : Short Wave
We reeled in science reporter Ari Daniel for this episode who grants us three wishes in the form of three fishes. He takes us on a trip around the world to learn about how a clownfish in the western P...
www.npr.org
May 6, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Tomato Clownfish appear to selectively choose when to lose their striped colorations to fit into a social hierarchy.
www.npr.org/2026/05/04/n...
www.npr.org/2026/05/04/n...
Sea Angels are a free-swimming, mostly transparent, sea slug where their foot has evolved into wings. Polar ones can reach about 5cm in length and they co-evolved with their prey sea butterflies. They possess a noxious molecule for protection and are hermaphodites.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_angel
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_angel
Sea angel - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
April 30, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Sea Angels are a free-swimming, mostly transparent, sea slug where their foot has evolved into wings. Polar ones can reach about 5cm in length and they co-evolved with their prey sea butterflies. They possess a noxious molecule for protection and are hermaphodites.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_angel
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_angel
There is evidence supporting that nesting birds, Eurasian blue tits, have exhibited adaptive behavior of placing discarded cigarette buds in their nests to repel parasitic insects and arthropods. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Urban blue tit nests and cigarette butts: accidental litter or adaptive behaviour?
Birds are known to be able to actively shape their environment through their choices of habitat, behaviour or metabolic activities. Life-history theor…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 7, 2026 at 3:53 PM
There is evidence supporting that nesting birds, Eurasian blue tits, have exhibited adaptive behavior of placing discarded cigarette buds in their nests to repel parasitic insects and arthropods. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
An experiment has provided strong evidence of a bonobo ape named Kanzi, who has extensive sign language skills, can mentally represent pretend objects.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Evidence for representation of pretend objects by Kanzi, a language-trained bonobo
Secondary representations enable our minds to depart from the here-and-now and generate imaginary, hypothetical, or alternate possibilities that are decoupled from reality, supporting many of our rich...
www.science.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
An experiment has provided strong evidence of a bonobo ape named Kanzi, who has extensive sign language skills, can mentally represent pretend objects.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The rockhead poacher fish has a hole in its head that is used as a percussion instrument according to researchers. Other fish have evolved similar capabilities - toadfish has swim bladder that vibrates and catfish rub bones together.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Why This Fish Actually Needs a Hole in the Head
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:09 PM
The rockhead poacher fish has a hole in its head that is used as a percussion instrument according to researchers. Other fish have evolved similar capabilities - toadfish has swim bladder that vibrates and catfish rub bones together.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Blue-spotted salamanders are able to withstand temperatures down to 25 deg F. This is below freezing. This story also reports that the alaskan wood frog can survive being frozen for months. It's heart actually stops.
www.npr.org/2025/12/27/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/27/n...
These salamanders supercool themselves to handle the snow
Blue spotted salamanders can supercool themselves so they can walk over ice and snow during their spring migrations.
www.npr.org
December 27, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Blue-spotted salamanders are able to withstand temperatures down to 25 deg F. This is below freezing. This story also reports that the alaskan wood frog can survive being frozen for months. It's heart actually stops.
www.npr.org/2025/12/27/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/27/n...
Plenarian flatworms can have their heads cut-off and it will regrow its head. The oddest part is that it can remember things when it had its old head.
now.tufts.edu/2013/07/18/f...
now.tufts.edu/2013/07/18/f...
Flatworms Lose Their Heads but Not Their Memories
Automated testing apparatus made it possible to track how quickly and for how long each flatworm overcame its aversion to the blue light in order to get foodMED
now.tufts.edu
December 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Plenarian flatworms can have their heads cut-off and it will regrow its head. The oddest part is that it can remember things when it had its old head.
now.tufts.edu/2013/07/18/f...
now.tufts.edu/2013/07/18/f...
Some chemical atmospheric constituants of an exoplanet orbiting a pulsar have been identified. And they say this planet is lemon-shaped and bathed in gamma radiation. A "black-widow" binary star system. Compliments of JWST.
A Carbon-rich Atmosphere on a Windy Pulsar Planet
doi.org/10.3847/2041...
A Carbon-rich Atmosphere on a Windy Pulsar Planet
doi.org/10.3847/2041...
A Carbon-rich Atmosphere on a Windy Pulsar Planet
A Carbon-rich Atmosphere on a Windy Pulsar Planet, Zhang, Michael, Beleznay, Maya, Brandt, Timothy D., Romani, Roger W., Gao, Peter, Beltz, Hayley, Bailes, Matthew, Nixon, Matthew C., Bean, Jacob L., ...
doi.org
December 21, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Some chemical atmospheric constituants of an exoplanet orbiting a pulsar have been identified. And they say this planet is lemon-shaped and bathed in gamma radiation. A "black-widow" binary star system. Compliments of JWST.
A Carbon-rich Atmosphere on a Windy Pulsar Planet
doi.org/10.3847/2041...
A Carbon-rich Atmosphere on a Windy Pulsar Planet
doi.org/10.3847/2041...
Yum, some pond frogs can prey on murder hornets. They seem impervious to the hornet's venom. Such venom can kill small mammals.
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Pond frog as a predator of hornet workers: High tolerance to venomous stings
Some animals use stingers to repel attackers, and some predators have evolved tolerance to such stings, enabling them to consume venomous prey. For example, social wasps, such as hornets, use modifie...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Yum, some pond frogs can prey on murder hornets. They seem impervious to the hornet's venom. Such venom can kill small mammals.
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Electrostatics is used by a parasitic nematode called the roundworm. They leap into the air and successfully land on their prey 80% of the time with electrostatics present and only 5% without it.
naturally.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/science/worms-static-electricity.html
naturally.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/science/worms-static-electricity.html
October 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Electrostatics is used by a parasitic nematode called the roundworm. They leap into the air and successfully land on their prey 80% of the time with electrostatics present and only 5% without it.
naturally.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/science/worms-static-electricity.html
naturally.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/science/worms-static-electricity.html
Outfitted with a high tech sensor, a Greater Noctule Bats has been observed to pursue a European robin at an altitude of 4,000 ft. The data indicates the bird was captured at 3,000 ft and consumed in-flight by the bat.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/s...
Bats Catch Migratory Birds and Eat Them in Midair
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Outfitted with a high tech sensor, a Greater Noctule Bats has been observed to pursue a European robin at an altitude of 4,000 ft. The data indicates the bird was captured at 3,000 ft and consumed in-flight by the bat.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/s...
T_F = 40 + N_15
Or
T_C = 5 + N_8
Dolbear's Law shows that temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius can be determined by measuring the number of cricket chirps per 15sec, N_15, or 8sec, N_8.
www.cbsnews.com/video/why-cr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolbear...
Or
T_C = 5 + N_8
Dolbear's Law shows that temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius can be determined by measuring the number of cricket chirps per 15sec, N_15, or 8sec, N_8.
www.cbsnews.com/video/why-cr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolbear...
Why crickets are as good as a thermometer
The chirping of crickets in your backyard can be a soothing seasonal sound, but did you know it's also an accurate way to tell the temperature – if you know the mathematical formula? Robert Krulwich a...
www.cbsnews.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:05 AM
T_F = 40 + N_15
Or
T_C = 5 + N_8
Dolbear's Law shows that temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius can be determined by measuring the number of cricket chirps per 15sec, N_15, or 8sec, N_8.
www.cbsnews.com/video/why-cr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolbear...
Or
T_C = 5 + N_8
Dolbear's Law shows that temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius can be determined by measuring the number of cricket chirps per 15sec, N_15, or 8sec, N_8.
www.cbsnews.com/video/why-cr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolbear...
A chimaera fish called ratfish has a structure protruding from its forehead. This artifact is used to secure a mate during sex and is an evolved structure that originates in the mouth of the dental lamina. www.scientificamerican.com/article/this...
Behold the Gloriously Weird Spotted Ratfish. It Has Teeth on Its Forehead for Sex
Researchers have finally traced the origin of the spotted ratfish’s bizarre forehead teeth, which are used for mating
www.scientificamerican.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A chimaera fish called ratfish has a structure protruding from its forehead. This artifact is used to secure a mate during sex and is an evolved structure that originates in the mouth of the dental lamina. www.scientificamerican.com/article/this...
Science magazine has reported on the unique Bumblebee Catfish in South America. This particular species waits until sundown to begin climbing rocks at a waterfall for migration.
It appears they can climb by creating a pressurized air bubble under their belly.
www.science.org/content/arti...
It appears they can climb by creating a pressurized air bubble under their belly.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Thousands of climbing catfish filmed scaling waterfalls
New footage provides rare insight into the daring migration of an enigmatic fish
www.science.org
August 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Science magazine has reported on the unique Bumblebee Catfish in South America. This particular species waits until sundown to begin climbing rocks at a waterfall for migration.
It appears they can climb by creating a pressurized air bubble under their belly.
www.science.org/content/arti...
It appears they can climb by creating a pressurized air bubble under their belly.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Four radioactive wasp nests were recently discovered at the Savannah River site. This article did not convey level of radioactivity or isotopes. Wasps were killed and bagged as radioactive waste. Source is currently unknown or not disclosed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/s...
‘Hot Wasps’ Found at Nuclear Facility in South Carolina
www.nytimes.com
August 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Four radioactive wasp nests were recently discovered at the Savannah River site. This article did not convey level of radioactivity or isotopes. Wasps were killed and bagged as radioactive waste. Source is currently unknown or not disclosed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/s...
What to do with a taxidermist badger? Strap it to a remote control car and attach a speaker. Then, see if the long-billed curlew bird will eavesdrop on prairie dog predator alarm calls to hide. Yes, it does!
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
Why eavesdropping on prairie dogs pays off for this bird : Short Wave
Why did the ornithologist strap a taxidermy badger to a remote controlled car and drive it around the prairie? To interrogate the secret world of animal eavesdropping in the grasslands, of course! Tod...
www.npr.org
July 2, 2025 at 1:56 AM
What to do with a taxidermist badger? Strap it to a remote control car and attach a speaker. Then, see if the long-billed curlew bird will eavesdrop on prairie dog predator alarm calls to hide. Yes, it does!
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
Australian Bogong moth has been measured to use both light from the Milky Way galaxy and the Earth's magnetic field to migrate. This was done by testing the moths in a simulated environment free of magnetic fields. Neural activity was consistent with behavior.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bogong moths use a stellar compass for long-distance navigation at night - Nature
Every spring, Bogong moths use the starry night sky as a compass to navigate up to 1,000 km towards their alpine migratory goal.
www.nature.com
June 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Australian Bogong moth has been measured to use both light from the Milky Way galaxy and the Earth's magnetic field to migrate. This was done by testing the moths in a simulated environment free of magnetic fields. Neural activity was consistent with behavior.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In the world of psychological illusions, some features with unusual lighting can appear as convex instead of concave. This phenomena is called Relief Inversion. Here is a NYT article discussing it and showing images of Moon craters with unusual lighting. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Do You See Craters or Bumps on the Moon’s Surface?
A picture taken recently by a Japanese company’s spacecraft shows how your interpretation of objective reality can be tested by the power of illusion.
www.nytimes.com
June 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
In the world of psychological illusions, some features with unusual lighting can appear as convex instead of concave. This phenomena is called Relief Inversion. Here is a NYT article discussing it and showing images of Moon craters with unusual lighting. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...