The Sneezing Sponge

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Sea sponges are renowned filter feeders, straining tens of thousands of leters of water through their bodies every day to collect food. But they can also hoover up particles that clog their internal filter systems. Luckily, though, they have a way to rid themselves of this accumulated mucus, sneezing. In current biology, you might have heard the term crocodile tears to describe an insincere expression of emotion - but perhaps banobo tears would be more accurate. The chimpanzee may voluntarily control their emotional expressions in order to solicit consolation from its peers.

00:47 Evidence of a proton’s charm

For decades, scientists have debated whether protons have ‘intrinsic charm’, meaning they contain elementary particles known as charm quarks. Now, using machine learning to comb through huge amounts of experimental data, a team have shown evidence that the charm quark can be found within a proton, which may have important ramifications in the search for new physics.

Research article: The NNPDF Collaboration

News and Views: Evidence at last that the proton has intrinsic charm

11:26 Research Highlights

How sea sponges ‘sneeze’ to clean their filters, and why bonobos’ infantile behaviour helps them receive consolation after conflict.

Research Highlight: How a sponge ‘sneezes’ mucus: against the flow

Research Highlight: Bonobo apes pout and throw tantrums — and gain sympathy

13:52 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the repeated evolution of the crab body-shape, and why demanding work can lead to mental fatigue.

Discover: Evolution Only Thinks About One Thing, and It’s Crabs

Nature News: Why thinking hard makes us feel tired

Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.

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