On this week’s news update…

Snakebot

A snakebot gets ready to explore the Moon…

Cockatoo Tools

Cockatoos try out some tools…

Synthetic Skin

And using synthetic skin to research mosquito bites!

First up…

NASA is a world leader when it comes to designing robots for lunar exploration.

The space agency recently launched a competition that asked students to help design new robots to explore the Moon.

They were looking for robots that could navigate the extreme terrain of the Moon and send helpful data back to scientists on Earth.

Meet COBRA the snakebot!

Taking inspiration from nature, students from Northeastern University studied the movement of real snakes to create the winning robot.

COBRA can move in a sideways motion and slither like a real snake to climb steep terrain.

And when it needs to go downhill, it rolls—allowing it to travel using minimal power.

This winning design offers a unique solution for exploring some of the Moon’s deepest and hardest-to-reach craters.

Up next…

ANIMAL WATCH

It’s Animal Watch!

Cockatoos are birds known for their distinctive looks.

Goffin’s cockatoos

Recently, scientists have been observing how Goffin’s cockatoos solve problems using tools.

These brainy birds were presented with a puzzle box containing their favorite food: a cashew nut.

The nut was placed in the box behind a thin layer of material, and the birds were given two tools to reach their prize—one rigid tool to pierce the thin material, and another flexible tool to knock the nut out.

These clever cockatoos cracked the puzzle, using the right tools in the right order.

Another challenge saw the tools placed on a table and the puzzle box at the top of a ladder.

This bird rose to the challenge, selecting both of the tools it needed before climbing the ladder—showing that these animals know how to pick the right tools for the job!

And finally…

Mosquitoes are small insects that can sometimes spread diseases like malaria.

insect repellents

In an effort to stop mosquitoes from biting people, scientists developed sprays called insect repellents.

These sprays are tested by human volunteers in labs, where they are bitten by mosquitoes.

Now, scientists have developed a new way to research insect repellents that doesn’t require people.

Instead of using human volunteers, scientists have created patches of synthetic skin using a 3-D printer.

Each patch has tiny passageways that are filled with blood, which attracts the mosquitoes.

By putting a variety of insect repellents on different patches and recording how the insects feed, scientists can test the repellents without anyone getting bitten!

The less the mosquitoes feed on a patch, the more effective the repellent.

The better the repellent, the greater the potential for preventing the spread of diseases.

That’s all for this week—we’ll see you next time!