Predicting weather with bug sex

In this scientific study, the authors examined how the weather—or, more specifically, atmospheric pressure changes – affects the sexual behavior of insect species, specifically the curcurbit beetle, the armyworm moth, and the potato aphid. They found that any change in the atmospheric pressure caused the bugs to be less frisky, likely to protect themselves in situations involving high winds and heavy rains.

Potato aphids were less interested in mating
 when pressure changes heralded a storm.

When they measured the male beetles’ response to female sex pheromones under the different conditions, they found a significant decrease in pheromone response when air pressure fell compared to stable or increasing pressure.

Furthermore, 63 percent of males started copulating faster in the presence of females during dropping atmospheric pressure, a condition associated with high rains and winds. By contrast, under stable or rising air pressure conditions, all males showed full courtship behavior.

Additionally, the amount that female armyworm moths and potato aphids showed mate-attracting behavior was also measured under the three atmospheric conditions.

The female armyworms’ calling was reduced during decreasing air pressure, but the potato aphid showed reduced calling during both decreasing and increasing air pressure, two conditions that can occur with high winds. In both cases, reduced calling went hand-in-hand with reduced mating behavior.

Generic bug sex picture

“The results presented show that three very different insect species all modify aspects of their sexual behavior in response to changing barometric pressure,” explained co-author Dr José Maurício Simões Bento from the University of São Paulo.

“However, there is a great deal of interspecific variability in their responses that can be related to differences in size, flight ability and the periodicity of mating.”

More at Nature and Discover, and here's the full study: Weather Forecasting by Insects: Modified Sexual Behaviour in Response to Atmospheric Pressure Changes

Friday links

UPS Trucks (Mostly) Don't Turn Left, Saving Them 10 Million Gallons of Gas Per Year.

Scientists provide comprehensive breakdown of how much people poo in their lifetime.

Famed archaeologist forged murals, inscriptions for decades.

How Do You Make Beer in Space?

Astronauts return to earth with altered DNA.

London Weather in the Late Seventeenth Century.

ICYMI, Thursday's links are here, and include high-tech forgery (a computer-generated 'Rembrandt' painting), Middle School reading lists 100 years ago vs. today (plus a 1912 test for eighth graders in Kentucky), the Florida town where people cut off their appendages for insurance money, and, for William Shatner's birthday a Star Trek/Monty Python mashup.

How Russians In 1960 Imagined the Year 2017

Matt Novak from Paleofuture:

Matt Baillie from the Facebook group Soviet Visuals sent me a tip about the retro-futuristic filmstrip... the illustrations were created by L. Smekhov and written by V. Strukova and V. Shevchenko. 

I’ve included select images from what appears to be the original source (Sergey Pozdnyakov) below, along with some of the translations from the Moscow Times. 

From the Moscow Times:

Then in the film, the Earth itself disappears. In outer space, almost at the speed of light, photon interstellar rocketships set off for the nearest and faraway planetary system, Alpha Centauri.

Of course they've envisioned a way to deal with the harsh winters:

by building an underground paradise:

The Soviets have developed sophisticated weather control stations, which they occasionally have to use to save the world from the remnants of the dirty capitalists:

From the Moscow Times:

Meanwhile, back at the Central Institute for Weather Control, where Igor’s father works, there’s dire news. “We’ve just been informed,” the head meteorologist says, “that the last remaining imperialists, hiding on a remote island, have tested a banned meson weapon. During the test, there was an explosion of unprecedented strength, which destroyed the entire island and simultaneously created atmospheric disturbances around the planet.”

Someone put together a video version of the slide, with horrendous loud music - if you choose to watch it, I suggest that you turn the sound way down or mute it. There are no translations of the slides, but the Moscow Times has the whole set with translations.

Monday links

How to Tell the Temperature Using Crickets. Related: Predicting weather with bug sex.

The world's largest tin soldier collection.

In the past five years, at least six Americans have been shot by bad dogs with guns.

Disney's "Fantasia" was released 75 years ago this month: It Was Initially a Critical and Box-Office Failure.

Mice sing just like birds, but we can’t hear them.

Here's How we Started Measuring the Oceans from Space.

ICYMI, Friday's links are here, and include Halloween and daylight saving time stuff, how bird migration routes incorporate global wind patterns, how to become a stunt driver, why dogs tilt their heads, and why 'Mom' and 'Dad' sound similar in most languages.

Monday links

It's the anniversary of the 20th of July plot, the unsuccessful bomb attempt to kill Hitler in 1944.

The Alameda-Weehawken Burrito Tunnel.

Hellish Weather on Other Planets.

Syfy’s 2nd annual “Sharknado Week” is premiering 7 (seven!) new movies, including, of course, Sharknado 3 with President Cuban and VP Coulter.

Scientists decide there are 4 kinds of drunks.

Salamanders Get Into Groups And Go On Sperm-Release Raids. (and no, "salamanders" is not a fraternity)

ICYMI, last Friday's links are here, and include some really bad taxidermy, a Brooklyn superhero supply store, answering mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes, and a gallery of medieval armor.

Monday links

For his birthday: Dr. Seuss's Little-Known Book of Nudes: The Seven Lady Godivas, plus bonus Seuss links including his "new" book.

Popular Mechanics has the Ridiculous History of Wind Chill.

The Evolution of McDonalds' Grimace: Criminal Mastermind or Lovable Fool?

This Comic Reveals Why Female Superheroes Wear Skimpy Armor.

The time a hacker remotely disabled cars in Texas.

Dead Puerto Rican man is propped up, dressed in Green Lantern costume for his wake. Not the best choice of superhero.

ICYMI, Friday's links are here, and include why coffee makes you poop, an ancient Babylonian customer service complaint inscribed on a clay tablet, how NORAD almost started WWIII (in 1979) with a simulation, and advice from 1713 on sweet-talking your man.

Start your day with a smile - watch this 7 year old deliver the best weather forecast ever

Obviously they should be doing a lot more of this. 

Chicago’s WGN-TV welcomed a special guest meteorologist to the show last week, a local second grader named Charlie Hale. Between the kid’s charisma (read: lots of jumping and Calvin and Hobbes-inspired dancing) and catchphrases complete with jazz hands (“LET ME TELL YOU!”, “LET’S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!”), Hale pretty much OWNS the segment. Let’s just give him all the awards, OK?

via uproxx