On this week's news update…

Whale Snot

Drones collect whale snot…

Metallic Asteroid

NASA investigates a metallic asteroid…

Parrot Beak

And a parrot adapts its wounded beak.

First up…

Whale Snot

Whales live in oceans all around the world. Unfortunately, noise pollution and climate change are threatening whales’ health.

Scientists are working to protect whales by monitoring how healthy they are. However, because whales spend so much time underwater, it can be hard for scientists to get close enough to properly study them.

To solve this problem, a team of scientists have developed a surprising solution: a drone that collects whales' snot!

Nicknamed 'SnotBot', the drone is flown over a whale as the whale blows a mixture of air and snot from its blowhole. As the drone is soaked by the whale, it collects some of the snot.

The liquid can then be tested to establish whether the whale is healthy, or perhaps stressed, or even pregnant. Such testing can help scientists understand how whales are being affected by human activity, which in turn helps us to improve ways to protect these majestic giants of the sea!

Next up…

Metallic Asteroid

Over one million asteroids orbit our sun. The rocky lumps are left over from the formation of our solar system, four and a half billion years ago. As these graphics show, most asteroids are made up of rock or clay.

metallic

However, some are 'metallic', meaning they consist mainly of metal. One such asteroid is named 'Psyche'. Psyche orbits the sun between Jupiter and Mars, and scientists believe that it could be the metal core of an early planet!

Now, NASA is preparing a mission to investigate this metal asteroid.

Launching next summer, the advanced spacecraft will orbit Psyche, mapping its metal surface and gathering data that can establish its age. The mission will be NASA's first ever exploration of a metal asteroid, and will help scientists look for patterns to determine if the asteroid might be similar to the metal core deep within planet Earth!

And finally…

Parrot Beak

It's Animal Watch!

Some animals use simple tools to make their lives easier. For example, otters sometimes use stones to pry open mollusks. Parrots, however, aren't particularly well known for using tools.

Most parrots use their large beaks to feed and groom themselves. Sadly, one parrot, called Bruce, lost the ability to naturally groom himself after losing his upper beak in an accident.

However, Bruce has adapted to his unfortunate circumstances by making use of a simple tool.

Bruce has been filmed searching for a small pebble, picking it up between his tongue and lower beak, and then using it to comb through his feathers!

Researchers studying Bruce have been impressed by his abilities to use a simple tool. It’s the first time such behaviour has been observed in a parrot!

That's all for this week, we'll see you next time!