The pick of the science news
A slow demise by teeth and toxins
Australian scientists have identified why the Komodo dragon has such a fearsome bite – it’s thanks to a mixture of teeth and toxins.
The world’s largest lizard, found in Indonesia, has around 60 serrated teeth that inflict deep wounds before venom glands release poisons to fell prey. Scientists at Melbourne University found that although the carnivore’s bite is relatively weak, its venom probably causes shock and prolonged bleeding, which finish its victims off.
“The combination of this specialised bite and venom seem to minimise the dragon’s contact with its prey, and this allows it to take on large animals,” says researcher Dr Bryan Fry.
Life, the universe and everything
Seeking the origins of the universe is a lofty aim, but it's one that's on the European space telescope Herschel'sto-do list, according to manufacturer Arianespace.
Launched last week from French Guiana, Herschelwill observe chunks of ice and dust and detect non-visible wavelengths of light to help us understand how stars and planets are formed.
A companion telescope, Planck, will measure radiation left over from the Big Bang and the mission will also look for water and other potentially life-building molecules in deep space.
"One could get an impression of how life began in the universe and how widely it might be distributed, or whether we are totally alone," says Herschelscientist Martin Harwit.
By numbers
25 million
The number of years ago that the eastern Andes mountains in Colombia started to build, making them older than previously thought
9,830
The number of confirmed H1N1 swine flu cases by Tuesday May 19th, according to the World Health Organisation
Claire O’Connell
e-mail: 1000.claire@gmail.com