Say What?
Hematophagous \hee-muh-TOF-uh-gus\ adj.
Blood-consuming. Blood is nutrient-rich, but
hematophagous animals have to eat and
run — or risk being swatted. Blood can also
make for an uncomfortably hot meal, reaching
up to 104° Fahrenheit. A pair of French
researchers used thermal imaging to learn
how female mosquitoes keep from overheating
while feasting. The images revealed that some species use evaporative
cooling, releasing drops of fluid from the ends of their abdomens (shown,
drop in purple). It’s the same principle as sweating, but mosquitoes release
fluid that is composed at least partially of the blood just ingested, the
researchers report in the Jan. 10 Current Biology. — Allison Bohac
Warmer Cooler
SN Online
www.sciencenews.org
LIFE
Plant species grafted
together can swap DNA
via energy-catching organelles. See “Plants swap
chloroplasts via grafts.”
HUMANS
Social networks can spread
users’ emotions. Learn
more in “Catching a mood
on Facebook.”
ATOM & COSMOS
A solar flare set off auroras
around the Arctic Circle.
See “Solar storm.”
Science Past | FROM THE ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 24, 1962
BOILING REACTOR WILL MAKE SUPERHEATED STEAM —
An Argonne National Laboratory experimental reactor
achieved criticality for the first time Feb. 9 at the National
is designed to produce 20,000 kilowatts of thermal power
at its maximum capacity. Nuclear superheated steam
as used in the Borax 5 is expected to increase plant efficiency and eventually reduce the cost of nuclear fuel. The
nuclear cores of the reactor are shown on the cover.
Science Future
March 9–18
The British Science Association’s National Science and
Engineering Week explores the
theme “Our World in Motion”
with events across the United
Kingdom. See bit.ly/zqeESh
March 17–23
Enjoy science demonstrations
and hands-on fun for the whole
family at the San Diego Festival
of Science and Engineering.
Find the schedule of events
at www.sdsciencefestival.com
A 55-year-old man’s risk of dying of cardiovascular disease by age
80 skyrockets from 4.7 percent to nearly 30 percent if he has two
or more major risk factors such as a smoking habit, diabetes or
untreated high blood pressure. SOURCE: J.D. BERR Y E T AL/NEJM 2012
Lifetime risk (%)
30
20
10
0
0 55
80 85
4.7%
90
BODY & BRAIN
Protein-based disease
agents can jump species.
Read “Prions more mobile
than thought.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: C. LAHONDÈRE ET AL/CURR. BIOL. 2012; NASA, SDO, AIA; COURTES Y MARK WI TTON/UNIV. OF POR TSMOUTH
The (-est)
Scientists have uncovered the biggest flying reptile with teeth
found to date. Researchers in the United Kingdom identified
an unclassified fossil at the National History Museum in
London as the upper jaw of Coloborhynchus capito, a pterosaur
hailing from the early Cretaceous. First described in 1870,
the species’ wingspan was believed to top out at about
20 feet. After comparing the fossil with other pterosaurs (some
illustrated below), the team estimates in the April Cretaceous
Research that this C. capito individual sported a skull more
than 2 feet long and a wingspan up to 23 feet, raising the bar
for the potential size of toothy pterosaurs. — Allison Bohac
