Article:
Solar-Powered Hornet Found; Turns Light Into Electricity
Published by National Geographic News
Author: Matt Kaplan
URL: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/101221-solar-power-hornet-science-animals/
Summary/Description:
This article basically explains that the this species of hornet generates electricity for unknown purposes, but it is know HOW they produce electricity. Scientists first started observing these hornet because of their abnormal activity patterns. Unlike other hornets this species is most active during the afternoon. Scientists soon found that the brown sections of the exoskeleton contain melanin, the pigment which, in humans, turns dangerous UV light into heat in addition to determining skin color and tans. Thanks to the unique structure of the exoskeleton only one percent of the light that hits the hornets' body in the brown parts is reflected. The yellow part of the exoskeleton, which contains the much rarer pigment xanthopterin (No, I cannot pronounce that properly, but I think it's "zanth-op-ter-in"), is where the important action takes place. This xanthopterin, when put in a liquid solution exposed to light, generated electricity at .335 efficiency (Human artificial solar cells produce between 10 and 11 percent).
Reaction:
I was impressed by this. I mean, an electric hornet? How could that not be cool? Still, it gives no reason for the insects producing the electricity, which is what I would really like to know about. It may take extensive study, but knowing why it is produced may lead to further discoveries, and if the military is interested enough, possibly lead to weaponization, the latter of which I do not approve of. Learning why the hornets produce the electricity would be more useful to everyone than what has already been learned, because our solar power cells are already more productive than these hornets. Biologists should look at creatures with similar niches, just to see if there are any other odd adaptions that were missed and should be looked in to.
Thoughtful questions:
- Is this discovery really noteworthy? Why or why not?
- Do you think there are other animals with electricity producing chemicals? If so, how many?
- Could this be beneficial to humans? (Meat + Dairy + Electricity farm anyone?)
- Do you think that we could genetically alter ourselves to produce xanthopterin? I am serious; after all, it would be useful to walk outside and photosynthetically charge your phone, wouldn't it?
If you had $500, an army, and a few other nonsensical things for you to have, where would you go on your rampage?
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting article. I found it interesting that hornets can generate electricity better than humans can. It's interesting how these hornets can adapt to their environment so that they can produce electrical energy. One thing that I wish I knew was what they use that energy for. I think they use that energy as a way to have energy instead of eating.
Question:
1. This discovery is very noteworthy. If we can somehow harness this electricity than we will have much more power at our disposal. Also if we study them then we can look at the process by which they harness electricity then we will be able to harness electricity better.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI think that it is amazing that an organism that works off of instinct, rather than thought can produce electricity. It is even more incredible when you find out that the way they make their solar-powered electricity is more efficient than our way. If we could find a way to be more efficient with solar energy production, then solar power might have more uses than just charging calculators. While it is interesting to know that a species has started producing solar power with their bodies, it confuses me as to why. I don't see the purpose that any animal would need electricity if all they do is eat and reproduce. Perhaps these hornets have started a utopian society tucked away in nests we will never find...
Answer to Thoughtful Question:
4. Science these days is crazy, so someone at some point will find a way to alter our genetic codes in such a way. It would probably be done in a "Jurassic Park" manner, where we take the DNA of the hornet and splice it with a fetus. From there we just allow it to reproduce. Next step would be to find a mosquito in amber so we can also become velociraptors. Until then, finding a way to put xanthopterin into a battery-recharge unit so that it creates electricity will be fine.
Answer to Nonsensical Question:
Canada, since they would never expect it. Think about, what was the last bad thing that happened to Canada (other than Justin Bieber)? And we live right next to them, so they would never think "oh the US is going to attack us." Then boom, we hit them like Chris Brown.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting! Whenever I think of electricity and insects, fireflies come to mind (Even though technically that isn't even electricity, but that's still what comes to mind), but to think these creatures have adapted this strange ability to create solar energy on their being, it is truly fascinating. I also wonder, though, how they came about evolving this ability... Could it be some kind of radiation happening in their environment? Or maybe it's just a mutation in their DNA? Definitely something to look into.
Answer to a Question:
3. Well, as you said, we can already obtain and surpass the amount of energy being created by these hornets by similarly using solar panels. Rather than spending time and money looking for ways to harness the hornets' energy, we can put it towards creating more efficient solar panels. Maybe we can even find a solution to the problem of creating that same energy at night.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool. I guess this is as close to a pokemon I can get, but I guess you can't really teach them moves. Evolution still baffles me sometimes and especially when I see something like this. They are like little solar panels that fly around. I think we should study them to see if we can develop a new solar panel that is more efficient. I would love to see how or why they have evolved in this way.
Answer to Question:
1. I think this finding is worth noting because a lot of people like me are fascinated by genes and evolution. It might also give us some insight into what could make an organism do that. Who knows maybe humans can be genetically reprogramed to do this.