Short Wave News Round Up: Chocolate, A Solar Valentine And Fly Pheromones
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Feb 17, 2023 Curious about the health benefits of chocolate? The hosts unravel the truth behind those sweet claims just in time for Valentine's Day. They also explore a spectacular solar flare that painted the sky with beautiful northern lights, impacting communication. And, in a twist of romance, discover how tsetse flies use pheromones to attract mates, shedding light on a unique aspect of love in the insect world. Join in for a fun and enlightening dive into these delightful science stories!
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Chocolate's Health Benefits
- Chocolate has been touted as a superfood, potentially lowering cardiovascular disease.
- However, the FDA states that only high-flavanol cocoa powder (at least 4%) may offer such benefits, not regular chocolate.
Valentine's Day Solar Flare
- A major X-class solar flare erupted on Valentine's Day, disrupting radio communications in South America.
- A subsequent coronal mass ejection caused beautiful auroras.
Tsetse Fly Pheromone
- Tsetse flies transmit diseases to humans and cattle in Africa.
- Scientists identified a pheromone, methyl palmitoleate (MPO), that acts as an aphrodisiac for these flies.