The useless information thread
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Female Aedes mosquitoes mate only one in their lifetimes, but are pursued by males relentlessly. This led researchers to theorize that the insects have a mechanism of stopping copulation. Using fluorescent sperm and some careful camera work, the team found that when a male Aedes mosquito initiates contact, the female must extend the tip of her genitals by a fraction of a millimetre to initiate the act. Without this subtle movement, the male’s efforts fail.
Nature | 5 min read
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@silvermouse said:
Female Aedes mosquitoes mate only one in their lifetimes, but are pursued by males relentlessly. This led researchers to theorize that the insects have a mechanism of stopping copulation. Using fluorescent sperm and some careful camera work, the team found that when a male Aedes mosquito initiates contact, the female must extend the tip of her genitals by a fraction of a millimetre to initiate the act. Without this subtle movement, the male’s efforts fail.Nature | 5 min read
B!+ch
I know, You're a big dog and I'm on the list.
Let's eat, GrandMa. / Let's eat GrandMa. -- Punctuation saves livesIt'll be fine once the swelling goes down.
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Last direct descendant: Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith was the great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln and the last known direct descendant. He died in 1985, and the family line ended with him.
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@ShawnOL said:
I don't like that so many presidents start construction on the white house (on our dime) just to suit themselves. It should not be allowed unless its actually necessary. And on their own dime.From what I have read it’s not. It’s being done through donations and his own dime.
But just like any house sometimes you have to make improvements on it.2 -
A new study sheds light on how male Onthophagus orpheus dung beetles use their horns to battle for access to females, and how varying horn sizes lead to varying battle strategies. The findings help researchers “see how evolution keeps working, even in a city park.” Shown here is a male O. orpheus with prominent horns atop its thorax. (Photo by Steven King)
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@silvermouse said:
A new study sheds light on how male Onthophagus orpheus dung beetles use their horns to battle for access to females, and how varying horn sizes lead to varying battle strategies. The findings help researchers “see how evolution keeps working, even in a city park.” Shown here is a male O. orpheus with prominent horns atop its thorax. (Photo by Steven King)
Wife always said guys are better at getting into "dung" and starting fights.
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yes
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During World War II, the U.S. Mint changed the composition of nickels to conserve metals for the war effort. From mid-1942 to 1945, nickels were made of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, known as "war nickels."
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100 years ago they were teaching Latin and Greek in high school, now they are teaching remedial English in college.
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With all the talk of the “penny” no longer being minted I find it ironic that the US has never actually minted a penny. The first coin minted in the US was the “flowing hair” cent in 1787 that was designed by Benjamin Franklin. It was called a cent to separate it from the British penny. The first coin issued by the US government was the Fugio cent in 1797. Also a cent. Now even the US mint is referring to them as “pennies”. The US has never made a penny.
If it don’t bother me, it don’t bother me. Just leave me alone.
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@Rdp77 said:
With all the talk of the “penny” no longer being minted I find it ironic that the US has never actually minted a penny. The first coin minted in the US was the “flowing hair” cent in 1787 that was designed by Benjamin Franklin. It was called a cent to separate it from the British penny. The first coin issued by the US government was the Fugio cent in 1797. Also a cent. Now even the US mint is referring to them as “pennies”. The US has never made a penny.Thanks for sharing your two cents er.... um cent and pennie. That's actually pretty neat.
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Looking for a job? Start a flea circus. Here's how:
Training Fleas
“Mr. Bertolotto, the well-known educator of the flea, is now in New York exhibiting his curious success. The insect he employs appears to be the species of flea common to dogs. The first lesson, he says, is to put the fleas in a small circular glass box, where, by jumping and knocking their heads against the glass for a day or two, the idea is finally beaten into them that it is useless to jump. During the remainder of their natural lives—about eight months—they are content to crawl.
The instructor then fastens a delicate pair of wire nippers to the middle of the flea’s body; to the nippers any desired form of miniature vehicle, such as a wheelbarrow, car or wagon, is attached, and the flea trots away with the load. The professor harnesses his insect pupils to perform many curious duties, such as the operation of a fortune-telling wheel, orchestra playing or racing. The fleas are allowed to feed twice daily upon the instructor’s arm.”
--Scientific American Magazine, 18756 -
In my earlier days, I came across what I called 'The Invisible Flea Trick'. It had a small box as a platform, maybe 8"Lx4"Wx2"H, with an open bottom. On the platform was a ladder, 12" tall, with a diving board at the top. Next to the ladder was a small swimming pool with water in it.
The diving board had a small string attached to it, running up the side of the ladder, hidden from the viewers, which would make the board go down and spring back to its resting position. The swimming pool had a spring-loaded flipper under it, which would make the water splash.
The operator would convince the crowd that his trained fleas were circus performers and so tiny they were practically invisible. He would announce that the flea was ready for the act and describe how it was climbing the ladder. Then, once the flea was "on the diving board", you guessed it; he would pull the string, making the board bounce, and flip the flipper to splash the water.
Truth be told, I don't know if this was an actual memory or an idea I came up with as a young hippy. But it would be an awesome thing to pull our with grandkids or the children in the neighborhood, right?
"I could've had a Mi Querida!" Nick Bardis6 -
I've heard or seen on TV stunts like this.
Join us on Zoom vHerf (Meeting # 2619860114 Password vHerf2020 )2 -
Curiosity forced me to look it up.
"Out of the fridge, a stick sits near 4°C/39°F. It feels rigid because many high-melting fats are still solid. Around 15–21°C (59–70°F) the stick yields under light pressure. That’s the common “softened” range for baking. From about 27–30°C (80–86°F) the surface turns shiny and slides. Complete liquefaction commonly lands near 32–35°C (90–95°F). The exact point shifts with brand, season, and butterfat level.
Milk-fat crystals also change form. Freshly cooled butter can hold a brittle form that melts a bit higher. Gentle, slow cooling favors a softer form that melts lower. This is why a stick that was melted and re-chilled may spread sooner than a never-melted stick."
More here: https://kitchprep.com/at-what-temperature-does-butter-melt/
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@Yakster said:
You know it's time to turn on the heater when...The butter won't spread even though you keep the butter dish on the counter.
You know what’s funny about this is I accused my wife of swapping out my brand of butter. Now I realize it’s a lot colder in the house. 🤪😂😂
Regarding a cigar, the pipe and the open road, go forward without hurry, learn the essence of things through frequent experiences, taking advantage of every occasion.
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@silvermouse said:
Curiosity forced me to look it up.
"Out of the fridge, a stick sits near 4°C/39°F. It feels rigid because many high-melting fats are still solid. Around 15–21°C (59–70°F) the stick yields under light pressure. That’s the common “softened” range for baking. From about 27–30°C (80–86°F) the surface turns shiny and slides. Complete liquefaction commonly lands near 32–35°C (90–95°F). The exact point shifts with brand, season, and butterfat level.
Milk-fat crystals also change form. Freshly cooled butter can hold a brittle form that melts a bit higher. Gentle, slow cooling favors a softer form that melts lower. This is why a stick that was melted and re-chilled may spread sooner than a never-melted stick."
More here: https://kitchprep.com/at-what-temperature-does-butter-melt/
Just wondering, seems the wife's better melts faster and at a lower temp then store bought.
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Spain is the world's third-largest producer of pork and pork derivatives.
"I could've had a Mi Querida!" Nick Bardis2 -
@peter4jc said:
Spain is the world's third-largest producer of pork and pork derivatives.Apparently they are prepared to defend it by deploying troops to fight a swine flu epidemic... how you fight that with troops is beyond me
Edit: Duh, read the article if you want to know how to fight swine flu with troops
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-spain-deploys-army-african-swine.htmlA little dirt never hurt1 -
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What'll they think of next, hey?
"I could've had a Mi Querida!" Nick Bardis3 -
@silvermouse said:
Pretty sure she doesn’t understand inherit gene concept.
Regarding a cigar, the pipe and the open road, go forward without hurry, learn the essence of things through frequent experiences, taking advantage of every occasion.
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https://youtu.be/r9BjN_GHIic?si=2KtQTIpT29hhVGQC
https://youtu.be/kfQ36aXMSfY?si=xjahGewcAy97B2Ej
