Quirks and Quarks The mystery of the drunken trees, and more…
Nov 21, 2025
Guest
Raquel El Faro Sanchez
Guest
Chris Goldfinger
Guest
Lena Murchikova
Guest
Chelsea Rockman
Guest
Elisabetta Versace
Elisabetta Versace studies bumblebee cognition and reveals that these tiny creatures can be trained to perceive time, which could inspire efficient AI systems. Chelsea Rockman discusses the alarming effects of plastic on marine life, showing how even small amounts can be fatal to animals. Lena Murchikova shares groundbreaking findings of winds from our galaxy's black hole, crucial for understanding galactic evolution. Raquel El Faro Sanchez explains 'drunken trees,' highlighting permafrost instability's impact on carbon storage and forest health.
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Tiny Brains Keep Time
- Bumblebees can discriminate time durations using short and long light flashes, showing temporal processing in tiny brains.
- Elisabetta Versace suggests time-keeping may be an intrinsic neural property that inspires efficient AI designs.
Standardize Global Plastic Monitoring
- Expand standardized monitoring beyond necropsies to assess plastic risk in live animals and other regions.
- Chelsea Rockman recommends global protocols and risk frameworks to inform policy and mitigation.
Our Black Hole Shows Missing Winds
- ALMA imaging revealed a one-parsec conical clearing near Sagittarius A*, indicating past or present wide winds from our central black hole.
- Lena Murchikova says these winds help model black hole-galaxy interactions and past galactic activity cycles.