Índex per October/November 2025 a Brainspace

The good news is there is lots of new technology being developed to help. We have clean sources of energy such as wind, solar, and geothermal power, and electric cars and buses that run without harmful emissions. But that’s not all. Two new technologies could be promising tools in our fight to stop global warming – and they rely on the natural power of rock! SPEEDING UP NATURE Rain combines with CO2 in the atmosphere, bringing carbon down to the soil. As the carbon dioxide comes into contact with certain kinds of silica-rich rock, such as basalt, it gradually mineralizes and is permanently locked away in solid form. This process is called “rock weathering,” and it already removes about 1 billion tonnes (1.1 billion US tons) of CO2 from the…

In 2019, a baby zebra was born in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve that was so oddly coloured it looked like a different species. The foal had a dark coat and white polka dots! Named Tira after the guide who first observed it, this cute little oddball baby soon became quite famous. Tira’s polka dots were caused by a rare genetic mutation called pseudomelanism. There are lots of other mutations that can cause specific variations in colouring in animals, leading red birds to turn yellow, lobsters to look blue, and black crows to sport a patch of white feathers. Here are a just a few: What happened to Tira? Scientists were not too hopeful about Tira’s future, because herd animals with odd markings stand out from the crowd, making it…

THE HOATZIN: THE STINKBIRD OF THE AMAZON Deep in the steamy jungles of South America, near rivers in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, live the hoatzins (Opisthocomus hoazin). Don’t stand too close, though. Often called "stinkbirds," hoatzins give off a stench like cow poop that helps keep predators away. While most birds can’t digest leaves, hoatzins have stomachs that work a little like a cow’s, using bacteria to ferment their leafy diet. These birds have a striking, prehistoric look with spiky crests, bright blue faces and red eyes. Baby hoatzins have two tiny claws on each wing, similar to Archaeopteryx, a bird from the dinosaur era. These claws help them climb trees before they learn to fly. MARY RIVER TURTLES: AUSTRALIA’S MUD ROCKERS Meet Elusor macrurus, an ancient turtle species…

As technology advances, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic online content and deepfakes (realistic-looking fake photos and videos that are generated or altered by artificial intelligence (AI). While some deepfakes are harmless sources of entertainment, other AI-generated content is created to spread misinformation or to scam unsuspecting people. It is always important to proceed with caution when you’re online. How to spot deepfakes Freaky fingers AI is notoriously bad at depicting hands in photos and videos. Notice an extra finger where it shouldn’t be or unnatural-looking skin tone? AI is likely the culprit. Sloppy shadows & reflections If the shadows on someone’s face and body don’t look natural or don’t appear in places you would expect, you’re likely looking at a deepfake. Is the person wearing eyeglasses?…

From tropical forests to frozen tundra, from the deep ocean to scorching deserts, planet Earth is covered by a huge variety of landscapes. All these environments present unique challenges to the animals that live there. Conditions like drought, heat, cold, and pollution can make it difficult for animals to survive. Some parts of the world have such extreme conditions that it may seem impossible for anything to live there… but life finds a way! Meet the extremophiles: creatures that live in planet Earth’s most inhospitable places! Amazing acidophiles On the island of Hokkaido, in northern Japan, there is a region of volcanic hot springs known as the “Hell Valley.” As its name might suggest, these springs are not the most comfortable place to live. The spring water is over 50°C…

Fall harvest is the best time for fresh food, and our favourite activity here at Brainspace is heading to the apple orchard! Apples are filled with different enzymes, so small that they can’t be seen. One enzyme is called polyphenol oxidase and it contains 4 atoms of copper per molecule. When you cut or bite into the apple, you break the skin and the inside of the apple touches the air. This lets oxygen from the air get in, which kick-starts the browning process. The polyphenol oxidase enzymes get to work. The polyphenol oxidase reacts with the oxygen and together they create melanin: a brown substance similar to what gives human skin its colour. It doesn't look appetizing but the browning apple is safe to eat. However, there is a…

Solar and wind generators only produce energy when it’s sunny or windy. That energy needs to be stored somehow to keep it steadily available. Batteries have their own environmental problems, requiring mining of several minerals and a manufacturing process that produces waste and emissions. Plus, they are not that great at storing large amounts of energy for a long time. YOU KNOW WHAT DOES HOLD ENERGY – IN THE FORM OF HEAT – FOR A LONG TIME? SAND. Yep, plain old sand. In Finland, engineers have developed large “batteries” made of sand! You can’t power your phone with sand batteries, but they can help towns and industries reduce emissions and maintain a steady supply of heat from renewable energy. HOW DOES IT WORK? The battery itself is surprisingly simple. A…

LAUNCH ZAPPER TO VIEW Have you bathed, watered a plant, cooked food, had a drink, washed dishes, gone swimming or done anything else related to water today? Think of the clean clothes you're wearing, the paper you wrote on, the electricity you used. All of these, and so many other parts of our daily lives, either directly or indirectly require water. And though it is limited in supply, water is everywhere: snow-capped mountains, lakes, streams, puddles, plants, the air around us and even in you! Your body is roughly 60% water! We can't live without it. THE WATER CYCLE: TRANSPIRATION: plants release water EVAPORATION: water becomes vapour and rises CONDENSATION: water is cooled and becomes a droplet PRECIPITATION: water falls to the earth again Try the experiment to create a…

LAUNCH ZAPPAR TO VIEW SLOTHS, MOTHS AND ALGAE High up in the rainforests of Central and South America, three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus) love to hang out and eat leaves. Once a week, they climb down from the trees to poop on the ground! Predators lurk below, so why do they risk it? Scientists discovered a special partnership between sloths, moths (Cryptoses spp.) and algae. Moths lay their eggs in fresh sloth poop on the forest floor. The adult moths live in the hair of sloths. Their poop helps algae grow on the sloth’s hair. The green algae provides camouflage for the sloth and a boost of nutrition when the sloth eats it! OXPECKERS OR ACROBATS? The acrobatic oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus and Buphagus africanus) and their rhinoceros buddies share a special…

LAUNCH ZAPPAR TO VIEW I spy There are many stories of large, hairy, apelike creatures that walk on two very big feet. In North America, these beasts are known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch. In 1958, huge, unexplained footprints were found in northern California – from Bigfoot? Then, in the same area in 1967, two men saw the creature itself lumbering into the woods. They quickly made a shaky, grainy film. Sightings keep happening. In 2008, two men in the U.S. state of Georgia shared a photo of Bigfoot’s dead body stuffed in a freezer. In 2016, a man flying a drone over Idaho filmed a strange, hairy beast running into a clump of trees. So Bigfoot must exist, right? Not quite. The children of a Californian logger admitted their father…

Explorers of weird and wonderful creatures under the sea couldn’t find a better neighbourhood than a thermal vent. This environment is home to some of the strangest, most fascinating creatures on the planet. A thermal vent, or hydrothermal vent, is an opening on the seafloor that releases mineral-rich water that has been heated by the magma beneath the Earth's crust. These vents are usually found near tectonic plate boundaries where cold seawater seeps into the crust, heats up, and then rises back out. Hydrothermal vents are among the most extreme environments on Earth. Water temperatures can exceed 400°C (752°F), the pressure is immense, and they often contain a punishing fluid mix of minerals and toxic chemicals. So if you were to trick-or-treat down in the depths who might answer the…

Have you ever worn a mask on Halloween? If so, you’ve joined in a tradition that dates back thousands of years. In fact, the oldest known mask is thought to be 9,000 years old! From ancient times, and in cultures around the world, masks have played many roles. DISGUISE Venice, Italy, is a city with a long tradition of mask-wearing, especially during “Carnevale.” Venice’s Carnevale was made official in 1296 and certainly existed in some form before that. During Carnevale, the focus was on partying, dancing and excess. People wore masks to disguise their identity, so they could shake off the strict social rules they normally lived under. Rich and poor, women and men, citizens and foreigners could mingle, and political criticism and parodies were allowed – but only during…

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT KEEPS YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET OR ELECTRIC CAR RUNNING ALL DAY? THE ANSWER IS LITHIUM – A SOFT, SILVERY METAL SO LIGHT IT CAN FLOAT ON WATER. LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN OUR MODERN WORLD. A New Element Lithium was discovered in 1817 when Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson found the metal hidden inside a rock called petalite. He named it lithium after the Greek word lithos, meaning stone. Scientists found the new element very interesting: lithium turns grey when it reacts with air and, when placed in water, it reacts dramatically. Tiny pieces fizz and spin on the water’s surface. Lithium is highly explosive and even fine particles can easily ignite. Today, labs store lithium in mineral oil…

SINK or FLOAT EGGS-PERIMENT YOU WILL NEED 2 GLASSES FILLED WITH WATER 2 EGGS 2 TBSP SALT PROCESS Add the salt to one of the glasses of water. Stir until the salt dissolves completely. Gently place an egg in each of the glasses. Observe. Wash your hands after touching uncooked eggs. The shell may carry bacteria that can make you sick. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? The egg sinks in water because it has a greater density than the water does. The egg floats in salt water because salt adds density to water, and the egg isn’t as dense as salt water.…

The surface of the earth breaks and a small brown insect emerges. It shakes the soil from its wings and takes to the skies, joining billions of bugs just like it. Their upcoming journey will cover up to 11,000 kilometres (621 miles), a distance they have never travelled before, to arrive at a destination they have never visited. Researchers have known for some time that Bogong moths use Earth’s magnetic field to find their way. But the moth has also revealed it has another far more extraordinary trick up its sleeve: it can navigate using the stars. Scientists say it’s the first known insect to do so. WHILE SOME INSECTS, LIKE CERTAIN DUNG BEETLES, USE THE MILKY WAY FOR SHORT-RANGE ORIENTATION, BOGONG MOTHS ARE THE FIRST KNOWN TO USE THE…