Thunder-resistant trees in Panama, a bird arms race in Australia, hydrogen-powered trains in Germany, and more in this month’s Quick Picks
Australia
one “Innovation arms race” may be brewing The story of a Sydney suburban man and a cockatoo raiding a rubbish bin. Humans keep trying new defenses, such as placing bricks or rubber snakes on litter box lids, but birds continue to develop strategies to open them.
Brazil
Teeth fossils reveal that Brasilodontosaur, a rodent that lived 225 million years ago, oldest known mammalThe lack of fossil evidence made it difficult to classify the animal, but new analysis suggests its teeth belonged to mammals rather than reptiles.
Denmark
Denmark becomes first United Nations member state Payment for “loss and damage” caused by its greenhouse gas emissions. Its $13 million donation will go toward recovery efforts in countries most affected by climate change.
Germany
this World’s first commuter train line powered entirely by hydrogen Work is underway in Lower Saxony. Emitting only water and steam, the trains are a green alternative to diesel fuel.
Indonesia
Skeletal analysis reveals Earliest known amputation of a limb: 31,000 years ago, a child on the island of Borneo had the lower half of his leg surgically removed. The bones showed signs of healing, suggesting the child survived the operation.
Panama
A multi-year study along the Panama Canal shows Lightning shapes the composition of the forest By killing certain tree species more frequently than others. Species with dense wood and large water-carrying tissues can thrive even when struck by lightning, whereas palm trees (which lack these characteristics) almost always die when struck by lightning.
This article was originally published in Scientific American 327, 6, 22 (December 2022) under the title “Quick Hits”
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1222-22a
