This article first appeared in Issue 14 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.Monarchs are the only butterfly species known to make an annual two-way migration like birds‚ with a round-trip distance of around 8‚000 kilometers (5‚000 miles). Many have wondered how a small insect could survive such a journey‚ but a recent study published in PLOS ONE has suggested that it may come down to wing color.Researchers from the University of Georgia and New Mexico Tech analyzed the wings of nearly 400 wild monarchs‚ collecting them at different stages of their migration and measuring their color proportions. The results showed that the monarchs that migrated successfully tended to have less black and more white pigment on their wings.“We undertook this project to learn how such a small animal can make such a successful long-distance flight‚” said lead author Andy Davis‚ an assistant researcher in UGA’s Odum School of Ecology‚ in a statement. “We actually went into this thinking that monarchs with more dark wings would be more successful at migrating because dark surfaces can improve flight efficiency. But we found the opposite.” Subscribe to our newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month.The authors suggest that as the coolness of the large white spots contrasts with the black along their wing‚ it may create miniature eddies that give the butterflies a boost by reducing drag. As for why the monarchs developed this coloring in the first place‚ it’s proposed that sunlight exposure could play a role.“The amount of solar energy monarchs are receiving along their journey is extreme‚ especially since they fly with their wings spread open most of the time‚” Davis explained. “After making this migration for thousands of years‚ they figured out a way to capitalize on that solar energy to improve their aerial efficiency.”CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews‚ experts‚ deep dives‚ fun facts‚ news‚ book excerpts‚ and much more. Issue 17 is out now.

After living almost her entire life alone‚ Manila Zoo resident Mali the elephant‚ dubbed by animal welfare organizations as the “world’s saddest elephant”‚ has died.The cause of death was congestive heart failure‚ according to Manila Zoo Chief Veterinarian Heinrich Patrick Peña-Domingo. Speaking in a press briefing on Wednesday‚ November 29‚ he also noted a range of health problems in the middle-aged pachyderm‚ including inflammation in the kidneys‚ nodules around her liver‚ and “pus deposits” around her uterus.Mali was seen running her trunk against the wall on Friday‚ Peña-Domingo said – a sign that she was in pain – and by Tuesday she was lying on her side and breathing heavily. Veterinarians administered antihistamines and vitamins‚ but she died later that afternoon. Her death was announced in a Facebook video by Manila mayor Honey Lacuna.Reaching less than 50 years of age‚ Mali lived a significantly shorter life than the average Asian elephant – even those who live in the wild. Born in Sri Lanka at some point between 1974 and 1980 - sources differ - Vishwa Ma'ali‚ popularly known as Mali‚ was orphaned as a baby when her mother died of natural causes. For a short time‚ she lived at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage‚ a captive breeding and conservation institute in Kegalle‚ Sri Lanka - a facility that has faced controversy in the past for its record on animal welfare.But things would go from bad to worse for poor Mali when she was "rescued" from the Orphanage – only to be gifted by the Sri Lankan government to the then-First Lady of the Philippines‚ Imelda Marcos.At her new home at Manila Zoo‚ Mali found herself sharing space with another elephant‚ the elderly ex-circus rescue Shiba. While elephants aren't usually territorial‚ Shiba didn't take well to her new young roommate: “Mali was scared in the beginning‚” former Manila Zoo foreman Marcelino Tasiong told Animal Scene in 2019. “When she joined Shiba‚ the latter was caught off guard‚ and hit her.”After Shiba's death in 1990‚ however‚ Mali would live alone for the rest of her life.With only her keepers and tourists to keep her company‚ animal welfare groups often raised concerns over her living conditions.“I was shocked to learn that Mali has never even received proper preventive foot care‚” wrote Paul McCartney in a 2013 letter to then-president of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III. “Foot and joint problems are the leading cause of death among captive elephants kept on hard surfaces and when this type of care is something that every reputable zoo in the world offers.”Mali's living conditions were “heartbreaking‚” the former Beatle added.Despite such international opprobrium‚ authorities at Manila Zoo continued to claim that Mali was better off remaining under their care‚ as she had never known life in the wild.But life alone was likely “torture” for Mali‚ animal rights group PETA said in a statement Wednesday. “Female elephants… in nature spend their lives among their mothers and sisters‚ protecting one another and raising each other’s calves‚” they said. “Now [Mali] has lost any chance of happiness.”And if you’re hoping for a happy ending‚ or some kind of closure even‚ we’ve bad news: Manila Zoo is planning on getting a “replacement” elephant‚ Lacuna announced earlier today. Let’s hope that‚ at the very least‚ this one gets a friend to live out her days alongside.

In the latest study‚ published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society‚ scientists are exploring the mechanisms behind the formation of twin planets. These unique worlds‚ consisting of two giant planetary bodies orbiting each other‚ can form due to tidal heating (tidal dissipation). The researchers note that understanding the processes behind the formation of such planets is fundamental to deciphering the evolution and possible existence of life in the Universe. Lead author of the study‚ Dr Cecilia Lazzoni from the University of Exeter‚ said: “Binary planets‚ although absent from the solar system‚ may represent an entirely new type of world‚ capable of supporting life even far from their star‚ using energy supplied by the giant planets.” The study relies heavily on the Pluto-Charon system‚ which is analogous to a dwarf planet. Charon is a moon of Pluto and is half the diameter and one-eighth the mass of Pluto‚ making it the largest moon in the solar system compared to its parent body. This feature‚ together with other unique features of the system‚ makes it a valuable object for studying the formation of double planets. The researchers ran a series of computer simulations using improved code based on previous studies of planet formation. They found that taking into account tidal dissipation helps explain the possibility of the formation of double planets in systems consisting of several giant planets. This result will help to better understand the emergence and evolution of exoplanets and their systems. Dr Lazzoni emphasizes: “The study is inspired by the discovery of the potential double planet DH Tau Bb and other similar objects such as Kepler 1625 bi and Kepler 1708 bi. The results of our work will help scientists better understand the conditions necessary to support life outside the solar system.” With the emergence of new data on moons potentially suitable for life‚ such as Europa‚ Enceladus and Titan‚ interest in the study of double planets is gaining greater relevance. This research opens new perspectives in the search for life beyond the solar system by focusing on the unique shapes of planetary systems and their possible habitability. The post Life could exist on Twin Planets‚ scientists say appeared first on Anomalien.com.

It’s a horrible cliché‚ and I feel like I’m about to age five years just by typing it‚ but I do miss the ‘90s. This was the golden era of the FPS‚ when Doom‚ Half-Life‚ Hexen‚ Heretic‚ Quake‚ and all the rest mixed swarms of enemies‚ ultra-smart level design‚ and supremely big guns to pioneer a new genre. Nowadays‚ we have the lovingly observed boomer shooters‚ throwback games that capture the spirit of the grunge decade‚ like Dusk and The Last Exterminator. Combining the hellish atmosphere and aesthetics of Diablo 4 - and of course Hexen and Heretic - with the run-and-gun‚ death-en-masse style of Doom‚ there’s a new‚ beautiful homage to the greatest era in shooter history available to play now on Steam. Continue reading Diablo 4 and Doom combine for gorgeous new Steam FPS game MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best old games‚ Best FPS games‚ Best indie games

A new Destiny 2 Starter Pack is now available‚ pitched as a way for new players or those returning to the Bungie looter shooter to get up to speed. However‚ the bundle’s price has caused outrage among the FPS game’s community‚ with one of its most prominent YouTubers and Twitch streamers‚ Stefan ‘Datto’ Jonke‚ calling it “tone-deaf” in an uncharacteristically angry statement. Following the relatively positive reception to the Destiny 2 The Final Shape delay‚ he slams the new package as “truly baffling.” Continue reading Destiny 2’s new Starter Pack “does not build goodwill” MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes‚ Destiny 2 Lightfall review‚ Destiny 2 builds

Is Unrecord on Game Pass? Technology has arrived at the point where it can be difficult to determine real-life footage from a videogame. Unrecord‚ the bodycam FPS game‚ made headlines earlier this year as the footage looked incredibly realistic‚ to the point where some viewers felt uncomfortable watching the gameplay. Drama‚ the game’s developer‚ assured viewers that the gameplay hasn’t been altered and that the FPS game is being built on Unreal Engine 5‚ which would explain why it looks so realistic. Unrecord doesn’t have a release date just yet‚ but we suspect we’ll hear more about the indie game in 2024. Here’s what we know about Unrecord making its way to Game Pass. Continue reading Is Unrecord on Game Pass? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games on PC‚ Best police games‚ Best upcoming PC games

Stabby social deduction game Among Us has announced the silliest collaboration outside of Fortnite. Players can dress up as characters from Undertale‚ Celeste‚ Untitled Goose Game‚ and host of other indie games. Continue reading Among Us joins forces with Undertale‚ Celeste and other indies MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best games like Among Us‚ Among Us maps guide‚ The best Among Us mods

The Nazis and Soviets sought to erase the mass killing of 33‚000 Jews at Babyn Yar‚ but a new effort seeks to remember the dead even as Russia attacks