Mushroom Growing Out Of An Ancient Ant's Butthole Is New Fungal Species
The oldest known example of a fungus parasitizing an ant has been revealed. The fungus – a new species named Allocordyceps baltica – was preserved in a 50-million-year-old piece of amber erupting from the rectum of an unfortunate carpenter ant. The vegetative part of the fungus is present in the ant’s abdomen and neck, and researchers say that it can be used as a reference point for the origin of fungus-ant association.
Black Holes Swallowing Neutron Stars Whole Seen For The First Time
From two galaxies 900 million light-years from Earth, astronomers have for the first time observed gravitational waves from the final interaction between a black hole and a neutron star merging. The two detections are the first of their kind, and show the black holes swallowing the neutron stars whole. A co-author of the paper on these findings describes the event as “like Pac-Man”.
Scientists Create First Human Breast Milk From Lab-Cultured Cells
A US company called BIOMINQ claim to have produced the first human cell-cultured breast milk, saying that it is a good alternative for people who are unable to breastfeed. Made using human mammary cells, the milk contains macronutrients found in breast milk that are not currently present in formula options. The lab-made milk also lacks environmental toxins and medications that may be present in normal human breast milk.
Brand New Type Of Optical Illusion Tricks The Brain Into Seeing Shimmering Rays
Researchers have produced a new optical illusion called “Scintillating Starburst” that can cause observers to perceive shimmering rays emanating outwards from the centre of the image. Made of concentric star polygons, the image shows how our brains can “connect the dots” in the pattern, with the appearance of the rays attributed to interplay between the central and peripheral vision.
Much-Anticipated Pentagon UFO Report Concludes: We Don't Have A Clue Either
The highly anticipated report on UFOs (or UAPs, unidentified aerial phenomena) has been released by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Military personnel have reported 144 UAPs over the past 17 years, and only one can be explained with high confidence – described as a “large, deflating balloon.” Extra-terrestrial origins for the UAPs cannot be ruled out, but there is no evidence for this to be the case either.
THIS WEEK IN IFLSCIENCE
