The manchineel tree (Hippomane mancinella): Discover the most dangerous tree in the world

Paisaje caribeño

The idyllic beaches of the Caribbean are a dream destination for people from all over the world. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a peaceful and rejuvenating vacation, lying on white sands, listening to the murmur of crystal-clear waters breaking against the shore while savoring a piña colada? It certainly sounds like a dream getaway. However, … Read more

Dendrocnide moroides. The plant that causes excruciating pain

dendrocnide moroides-aguijon del suicidio-gympie-gimpi-australia-gympietides-tricomas-pelos venenosos-dolor insoportable

Australia has become an Internet meme because of the unique creatures that live there, including some of the world’s most venomous and lethal species. This danger has arisen in response to evolutionary pressures and the particular biotic and abiotic conditions of Terra Australis. Even the most adorable animal could pose a serious threat to our … Read more

Is it dangerous to sleep with plants? Here’s what science says

The belief that sleeping with plants is dangerous because they deprive us of oxygen or gas us with the carbon dioxide resulting from their respiration is widespread. Many people do not want to have plants in their bedroom to avoid competing against a living being considered a relentless monopolizer of the breathable air of the … Read more

Discovering ambergris, the scent of the oceans

ambar gris cachalote oro flotante perfumes de alta gama fragancia aroma

You may not be aware of it, but while strolling along the beach you might inadvertently come across one of the most valuable substances in the ocean: ambergris, also known as “floating gold”. It is an amorphous mass of variable size and waxy texture reminiscent of vegetable amber, with colors that can range from black … Read more

The frog with hairs that has the power of Wolverine

Rana peluda

It looks like this frog (Trichobatrachus robustus) has its body wrapped in tufts of hair. These hair-like filaments are very fine, highly vascularized extensions of the skin actually. Their function is to increase the surface area of the skin to increase gas exchange (O2-CO2). Only males possess these extensions and they appear on the hind … Read more

Solenodon and almiquí: small but tough

Solenodonte de la española - almiqui de cuba-solenodon cubanus-solenodon paradaxus-mamiferos venenosos

These tiny mammals are endemic to the island of Hispaniola (Solenodon paradoxus), where they are known as solenodonts, and to Cuba (Atopogale cubana), where they are called almiquí. They are considered living fossils. They resemble shrews. In fact, they are one of their closest relatives along with moles. They measure about 30 cm (plus about … Read more

A stinky plant that produces heat? The strange case of Amorphophallus titanum

flor cadaver - amorphophallum titanicum-flor apestosa-flor que huele mal-que es la termogenesis-espadice-flores masculinas y femeninas

It is one of the most peculiar plants in the world. For example, it has the largest known unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom. Discovered in 1878 by the Italian naturalist Odoardo Beccari, it is popularly known as titan arum or “bunga bangkai”. The latter term, meaning “corpse flower”, is Indonesian, which gives us some … Read more

Amanita phalloides: the most poisonous mushroom in the world

amanita phalloides - seta mas venenosa del mundo - veneno - hongos - fungi

It is popularly known as death cap. Despite its harmless appearance, Amanita phalloides is considered the most poisonous mushroom in the world (or at least one of the most dangerous), and this is no exaggeration. In fact, more than 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings are attributed to it. A small portion of this mushroom can … Read more

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis): the Godzilla of lizards

dragon de komodo-varanus komodoensis-godzilla-reproduccion por partenogenesis

DIET AND LIFESTYLE The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), a truly imposing animal, is the largest saurian in existence today. Adult males can exceed 3.5 meters and their weight can exceed 90 kg. At birth they measure 45 cm and are exclusively arboreal. They feed mainly on carrion, but also hunt and ambush their prey, mainly … Read more

Tear drinkers. The mystery of lachryphagy

lacrifagia-bebedores de lagrimas-encharcamiento-puddling-mariposas-meliponinos-abejas que beben lagrimas-adquisicion de sodio y proteinas

When we come across horses or cows, we often see them trying to get rid of the annoying insects that flutter around their eyes. What are they doing there? Are they looking for something? The next time you witness this phenomenon, remember this term: “lachryphagy”, because you are probably witnessing these insects trying to feed … Read more

Human echolocation: the real BATMEN

daniel kish-ben underwood-brian bushway-ecolocalizacion humana-ecolocacion humana-murcielagos-delfines-ciegos-invidentes

Who hasn’t ever imagined enjoying the “superpower” of bats? These animals (as well as dolphins, various species of whales and some birds) emit sounds in the form of clicks that bounce off surfaces and bodies in the environment. The returned echo is picked up by specialized organs and processed by the brain. In this way, … Read more

The Carrington event: the great solar deflagration

evento carrington-tormenta solar-eyeccion de masa coronaria-richard carrington-viento solar

It was the end of August 1859. Those who looked at the sky from certain latitudes saw strange lights, unusual northern and southern auroras that should not be there, while, at the same time, the Sun was progressively filling with “small” moles. The inhabitants of Cuba or Honolulu could see the spectral lights of the … Read more

West Ford Project: Wrapping the Earth with needles

proyecto west ford - rodear la tierra con agujas - guerra fria - estados unidos - union sovietica - mejora de las comunicaciones - agujas en el espacio

The neurotic fear during the Cold War against enemy attack led the world powers to develop all sorts of extravagant projects to defend themselves and outdo each other. Hypocritically cloaked under the umbrella of scientific research, these preventive measures actually responded to a military emergency. It was in this context that the West Ford Project … Read more

The end of a myth: Medieval armors allowed for agile movements

armaduras permitian movimientos agiles-armaduras de placas-edad media- jean le maingre boucicault-ciencia hiistorica-arqueologia

It is overwhelming to see medieval knights in the movies, loaded with their heavy plate armor and fighting to the death in some crude battle. Canned in kilos of steel, they could at best move around like clumsy robots, right? Well, it’s time to abandon this distressing vision, because these armors were made to provide … Read more

Lukasa: the ancestral African memory boards

lukasa-mbudye-sociedad secreta-tarjeta de memoria africana-africa-conocimientos perdidos-mensajes secretos-pueblo luba

Human beings need to archive information. This may be due to his innate curiosity and his unstoppable desire to know and not to forget. This is why we invented data storage media, designed to replace the oral transmission of knowledge, which is imperfect and subject to alterations. We quickly think of hard disks or USB … Read more

Asteroids, meteors, bolids, meteorites, comets… What are their differences

diferencias entre asteroide, meteoro, meteoroide, meteorito-astronomia-oumuamua-la daga de tutankamon esta hecha de meteorito-bolido de chelyabinsk-cometa Halley

Although space may seem a distressing and empty place, the truth is that it is full of millions of roaming travelers that, from time to time, can be seen from Earth. There are several types of them, and you’ve probably wondered more than once how to distinguish them. Here are some clues: Asteroids: rocky masses … Read more

The lizards that weep blood

lagarto cornudo phrynosoma-mecanismo de defensa-eyaculacion de sangre-mecanismo antidepredador-falso camaleon-zoologia-ecologia-el lagarto que llora sangre

Because of this peculiarity, they look like creatures out of some disturbed mind, but they are very real, both they and their bloody “weepings”. They do not “weep” blood because they have seen something horrifying, but because it is an extremely curious defense mechanism. This behavior has been recorded mainly in some species of horned … Read more

The Turing test: Can machines think?

test de turing-prueba de turing-piensan las maquinas-inteligencia artificial-alan turing-eugene goostman chatbot

With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), our conception of intelligence has been slightly disrupted. After all, AI machines meet the requirements of some of the definitions of “intelligence”, such as solving complex problems. So, can machines think? This question was already proposed in the middle of the last century by one of the fathers … Read more

Types of snakes according to their fangs

vibora-serpiente cascabel-serpiente solenoglifa-colmillo-veneno-tipos de serpiente-denticion serpientes

Snakes have often been associated with evil, either for cultural reasons or, directly, because of our survival instinct. We fear and respect them and the venom they use to hunt and defend themselves. However, as it usually happens, fear is diluted when our knowledge about them increases. In fact, they are not all equally poisonous … Read more