Boeing Starliner and Carpenter Ants Quiz

A decision made by NASA in August 2024, to bring the Boeing Starliner back to Earth without its crew members.

The Boeing Starliner is a spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

The International Space Station is a large laboratory in space where astronauts live and conduct research.

Concerns about the Boeing Starliner's safety led NASA to decide against a crewed return.

The original mission of the Starliner was to test its safety and capabilities for eight days.

Unplanned events that occurred during the Boeing Starliner's test flight to the ISS, including helium leaks and thruster failures.

The planned process by which astronauts Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth.

The mission that was delayed due to the Starliner's docking with the ISS.

The new roles Wilmore and Williams will take on after their unexpected stay onboard the ISS.

The initial launch date of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which was delayed due to the Starliner's docking.

A type of ant native to the southern United States, known for their teamwork and ability to build complex nests.

Florida carpenter ants have a unique behavior of assisting injured nestmates by removing damaged limbs, similar to a surgical procedure.

The upper leg segment in insects.

The lower leg segment in insects.

Florida carpenter ants don't have special glands to fight infections, highlighting the remarkable nature of their 'surgical' behavior.

The second-largest diamond ever discovered, weighing in at a massive 2,492 carats.

The largest diamond ever discovered, weighing 3,106 carats, found in South Africa in 1905.

A diamond mine in Botswana known for producing exceptionally large diamonds, including the recent 2,492-carat discovery.

A diamond weighing 1,758 carats, discovered in the Karowe mine and sold to Louis Vuitton in 2019.

Lucara Diamond is a company that specializes in mining, sorting, and selling diamonds. They operate the Karowe mine, where the world's second-largest diamond was discovered.

Herculaneum was a bustling Roman city that was buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius. It was a popular destination for Roman citizens who sought out relaxation and leisure. The city features numerous preserved attractions like bathhouses, theaters, and luxurious residences, which were rediscovered centuries after the eruption.

The preservation of Herculaneum's buildings, artifacts, and human remains offered valuable insight into the daily lives of the city's residents. This information helps us paint a picture of Ancient Roman life and its customs.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius had a devastating impact on the city of Herculaneum. The eruption led to the burial of residents, homes, and the entire city under a thick layer of volcanic ash. This event effectively froze the city in time.

The excavation of Herculaneum led to the discovery of numerous skeletal remains, including those of women, children, and babies, who sought refuge in boat houses. Men, both young and old, were found on the beach. This suggests that people were trying to escape the impending disaster by sea but succumbed to the eruption.

Even today, ongoing excavations at Herculaneum continue to uncover new discoveries that unveil more about the city and its people. These finds include a blue-walled shrine and a banquet hall decorated with vibrant paintings. These revelations broaden our understanding of Roman art and culture.

Elephants communicate by using unique vocalizations to identify specific individuals, suggesting they have a system of personal names.

Unlike dolphins and parrots, who imitate calls, elephants use a distinct method for identifying each other, similar to how humans use names.

Elephants have complex communication skills, showing empathy and intelligence. The way they name each other further highlights their sophisticated social structure.

Researchers like Dr. Joyce Poole have observed elephants calling to each other and only one individual responding, suggesting that they are specifically addressing that individual with their vocalization.

Researchers believe that the ability of elephants to assign individual names is a remarkable discovery, marking them as the first non-human species known to exhibit this capability.

The Cullinan Diamond is the world's largest diamond ever found, weighing in at over 3,100 carats.

The Cullinan Diamond was cut into 9 large gems and almost 100 smaller ones. Experts spent months determining its value and it's expected to be worth tens of millions.

Diamonds are formed deep underground under extreme pressure and heat when carbon atoms bond together. They are brought closer to the surface by volcanic eruptions.

The largest piece of the Cullinan Diamond, called Cullinan I, is part of the Sovereign's Scepter with Cross. Another large piece, Cullinan II, is the centerpiece of the Imperial State Crown. Both are part of the British Crown Jewels.

Diamonds are extremely old, with some being over 3 billion years old. Most natural diamonds are at least a billion years old.

The ancient Roman seaside resort of Herculaneum, located on the west coast of Italy, was buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

The beach was opened to the public on June 19, 2024, allowing visitors to experience the beach as the ancient Romans did.

The restored beach, which was replaced with dark material, allows visitors to "see the site from the same position as the ancient Roman people."

Visitors enter the beach through a tunnel, as if transported back two thousand years in time.

The restoration allows visitors to experience the beach as the ancient Romans did.

Elephants seem to use unique sounds, like 'rumbles,' as names for each other, similar to how we have personal names.

Researchers used a computer program to analyze elephant calls, figuring out which elephant was being addressed, and it correctly identified the receiver about 28% of the time.

Elephants responded more strongly to calls that were meant for them, suggesting they recognize their own names.

Researchers noticed that elephants reacted more strongly to calls addressed to their babies, suggesting names might be especially important for close relationships.

This study is an important step, but more research is needed to understand how, when, and why elephants use names. Future studies will investigate if names relate to food, water, or locations.

The liquid equivalent to blood in insects, responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen.

The ants in Group 1 were left to fend for themselves, without any help from their nestmates. This resulted in significantly lower survival rates for ants with both femur and tibia injuries compared to ants in Group 2.

The researchers believe the ants can differentiate between serious and less serious injuries by assessing "blood" flow. The femur has more muscle tissue, slowing down blood flow, giving time for amputation, increasing survival rates. The tibia has less muscle tissue, allowing infections to spread quicker.

This method of removing a damaged limb is an extreme measure taken by ants to prevent the spread of infection. It involves multiple ants working together and can take more than 40 minutes.

The study demonstrates that ants can diagnose and treat injuries by removing infected femurs and cleaning wounds on tibias, showcasing their incredible medical capabilities.

The scientists are planning to investigate whether other ant species also exhibit similar surgical behaviors, expanding the understanding of this unique medical practice in insects.

The ants worked together to remove the damaged femur, showcasing an incredible level of cooperation within the colony.

The scientists believe that ants can recognize and treat infections, showcasing their impressive medical abilities.