Hawaiian Bobtail Squid

THE LIGHT ORGAN OF THE HAWAIIAN BOBTAIL SQUID

           A NOCTURNAL hunter, the Hawaiian bobtail squid creates its own light—not to be seen, but to be unseen—to blend in with the ambient moonlight and starlight. The animal’s secret is its partnership with light-emitting bacteria. That partnership may also hold secrets that could benefit us, but in a seemingly unrelated way. It may benefit our health.

      Consider: The Hawaiian bobtail squid lives in the clear coastal waters of the Hawaiian Islands. Light from the moon and the stars would normally make the silhouette of the creature stand out to predators below. The bobtail squid, however, emits a glow from its underside that mimics ambient night light in both intensity and wavelength. The result is stealth—no silhouette, no shadow. The squid’s “hightech” apparatus is its light organ, which houses bioluminescent bacteria that produce just the right glow to camouflage their host. The bacteria may also help to regulate the squid’s sleep-wake pattern. This interests researchers because the bobtail squid may not be the only creature where there is a link between bacteria and circadian cycles, or daily rhythms in activity. In mammals, for example, bacteria that play a role in digestion may also be associated with circadian rhythms. Disturbances of these rhythms have been linked to depression, diabetes, obesity, and sleep disorders. Hence, the study of the squid’s bacteria-host system may furnish insights into human health. What do you think? Did the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

Wings of Soaring Birds

The Upturned Wing Tip of Soaring Birds

       AJET plane in flight creates rapidly spiraling swirls of air at the tips of its wings. These vortices cause drag, increasing fuel consumption. They also buffet planes that may be following closely. Thus, flights departing from the same runway must be sufficiently spaced to allow time for the vortices to dissipate.  Airplane engineers have discovered a way to reduce these problems. Their solution? Winglets, inspired by the upturned wing-tip feathers of soaring birds, such as buzzards, eagles, and storks.

Consider:   During flight, the feathers on the wing tips of those large birds bend upward until they are almost vertical. This configuration balances maximum lift with minimum wing length. It also improves performance. Engineers have designed airplane wings with a similar shape. Using innovative wind-tunnel testing, they found that if the modified wings were precisely curved at the tip and properly aligned with the airflow, they improved aircraft performance—nowadays by up to 10 percent or more. The reason? Winglets minimize drag by reducing the size of the vortices. Moreover, winglets also create a form of thrust that “counteracts some of the normal drag of the airplane,” says the Encyclopedia of Flight. Winglets thus enable airplanes to fly farther, carry a greater load, have shorter wings—which also facilitates parking—and save fuel. In 2010, for example, airlines “saved 2 billion gallons [7,600 million L] of jet fuel worldwide” and contributed to large reductions in aircraft emissions, says a NASA news release. What do you think? Did the upturned wing tip of soaring birds come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

Crocodile's Jaw

 CROCODILE'S JAW

     THE crocodile has the most powerful bite ever easured for animals that are now living. For example, the saltwater crocodile, found near Australia, can bite nearly three times as hard as a lion or a tiger. Yet, the crocodile’s jaw is also incredibly sensitive to touch—even more sensitive than the human fingertip. How can that be, considering the crocodile’s armored skin? The crocodile’s jaw is covered with thousands of sense organs. After studying them, researcher Duncan Leitch noted: “Each of the nerve endings comes out of a hole in the skull.” This arrangement protects the nerve fibers in the jaw while providing sensitivity that in some spots is greater than instruments could measure.  As a result, the crocodile can distinguish between food and debris in its mouth.  That is also how a mother crocodile can carry her hatchlings in her mouth without accidentally crushing them. The crocodile’s jaw is a surprising combination of power and sensitivity. What do you think? Did the crocodile’s jaw come about by evolution? Or was it designed? 

Greater Wax Moth

Remarkable Hearing of the Greater WAX MOTH

     THE greater wax moth can hear high pitched sound better than any known creature in the world. Yet its ears are very simple in structure, each being about the size of a pinhead.

Consider:  For years, the greater wax moth’s hearing has been a subject of study. More recently, scientists at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, tested the moth’s hearing with a wide range of

sounds. They measured the vibrations of these tympanal membranes and recorded the activity of their auditory nerves.  The “eardrums” still responded when exposed to sounds at a frequency of 300 kilohertz. By comparison, bat echolocation has been recorded at up to 212 kilohertz, the hearing of dolphins peaks at 160 kilohertz, and humans do not hear beyond 20 kilohertz.  Researchers would like to use the superior hearing capability of the greater wax moth as the basis for new technology.

How? “To help make better, and smaller, microphones,” says Dr. James Windmill of the University of Strathclyde.  “These could be put in a wide range of devices such as mobile phones and hearing aids.”  What do you think? Did the remarkable hearing of the greater wax moth come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

Cat Whiskers

The Function of Cat Whiskers

           DOMESTIC cats are mostly nocturnal. Whiskers apparently help them to identify nearby objects and catch prey, particularly after dusk. Consider: Cats’ whiskers are attached to tissues that have multiple nerve endings. These nerves are sensitive to even the slightest movement of air. As a result, cats can detect nearby objects without seeing them—obviously an advantage in the dark.  Since whiskers are sensitive to pressure, cats use them to determine the position and movement of an object or of prey. Whiskers also help cats to measure the width of an opening before they attempt to go through it. The Encyclopedia Britannica acknowledges that “the functions of the whiskers (vibrissae) are only partially understood; however, it is known that, if they are cut off, the cat is temporarily incapacitated.”  Scientists are designing robots equipped with sensors that mimic cat whiskers to help the robots navigate around obstacles. These sensors, called e-whiskers, “should have a wide range of applications for advanced robotics, human-machine user interfaces, andbiological applications,” says Ali Javey, a faculty scientist at the University of California, Berkeley.  What do you think? Did the function of cat whiskers come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

Plants

THE MATHEMATICAL ABILITY OF PLANTS

   

     PLANTS use a complex process called photosynthesis to extract energy from sunlight to create food. Studies on certain species have revealed that they perform yet another feat—they calculate the optimum rate at which to absorb that food overnight.

        Consider: By day, plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into starch and sugars. During the night, many species consume the starch stored during the day, thus avoiding starvation and maintaining plant productivity, including growth. Moreover, they process the stored starch at just the right rate—not too quickly and not too slowly—so that they use about 95 percent of it by dawn, when they start making more. The findings were based on experiments on a plant of the mustard family called Arabidopsis thaliana. Researchers found that this plant carefully rations its food reserves according to the length of the night, no matter whether 8, 12, or 16 hours remained until dawn. Evidently, the plant divides the amount of starch available by the length of time remaining until dawn, thus determining the optimal rate of consumption. How do plants ascertain their starch reserves? How do they measure time? And what mechanism enables them to do math? Further research may shed light on these questions. What do you think? Did the mathematical ability of plants come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

Ant

WAS IT DESIGNED?

                                         THE ANT'S NECK

           MECHANICAL ENGINEERS marvel at the ability of a common ant to lift weights many times heavier than its own body. To understand this ability, engineers at Ohio State University, U.S.A., reverse engineered some of the ant’s anatomy, physical properties, and mechanical functions by means of computer models. The models were created using X-ray crosssectional images (micro CT scans) and simulations of the forces an ant generates when carrying loads. A critical part of the ant’s anatomy is its neck, which has to bear the full weight of loads grasped in its mouth. Soft tissues within the ant’s neck bind with the stiff exoskeleton of its thorax (body) and head in a manner that mimics the interlocking of fingers in folded hands. “The design and structure of this interface is critical for the performance of the neck joint,” says one ofthe researchers. “The unique interface between hard and soft materials likely strengthens the adhesion and may be a key structural design feature that enables the large load capacity ofthe neck joint.” Researchers hope that a clear grasp of how the ant’s neck functions will contribute to advancements in the design of man-made robotic mechanisms. What do you think? Did the ant’s neck with its complex and highly integrated mechanical systems evolve? Or was it designed?