キャメルスパイダーの驚異的なスピード
Camel spiders are fast creatures that live in deserts. They are not actually spiders but belong to a group called "solifuges." They can run over 16 km per hour and use their strong jaws to catch prey. Because of their scary appearance, people think they are dangerous, but they rarely harm humans.
ひまわりは太陽を追いかける
Sunflowers turn their heads to follow the sun. This movement is called "heliotropism" and is most noticeable in young sunflowers. In the morning, they face east, move west with the sun during the day, and return east at night. As they grow, they usually stop moving and stay facing east. This helps them absorb sunlight efficiently and grow better.
クラゲはなぜ光るのか？
Many jellyfish that live in the deep sea produce light through a process called "bioluminescence." This light helps them scare away enemies and communicate with others. Inside their bodies, they have special glowing proteins that react with oxygen to create light. Scientists study this process to use it in medicine and biotechnology.
ペンギンはお腹ですべる！？
Penguins are not very good at walking, but they move quickly on ice using a method called "tobogganing." This means they lie on their bellies and slide forward using their feet and wings. This way of moving helps them save energy and is perfect for life in cold areas. Penguins use it to find food and escape danger.
キツツキはなぜ脳を守れるのか？
Woodpeckers can peck a tree more than 20 times per second. But why don’t they hurt their brains? The secret is in their thick skulls and special shock-absorbing structures. Also, the base of their tongue wraps around their head, acting as a cushion to protect their brain.
ナマケモノのゆっくりした生き方
Sloths are the slowest mammals in the world. They spend most of their time in trees and move only a few centimeters per minute. Their slow movement helps them avoid predators. Also, their digestion is very slow—it can take more than a week to digest a single meal.
隣人からの無言電話、友情の崩壊と嫌がらせのエスカレート
Pauline, a woman in her 50s living in Ludlow, UK, was close friends with her neighbor Yvonne. However, when Pauline became passionate about gardening, Yvonne felt left out and began making silent phone calls and monitoring her. Pauline consulted the police, and Yvonne was fined, but the harassment continued. Eventually, Yvonne trespassed into Pauline's home and attacked her son John with scissors. Fortunately, no one was injured, but Yvonne was ordered to leave.
ハチはなぜ飛べるのか？
In the past, people believed that bumblebees couldn't fly because of their small wings. However, they actually move their wings very fast, creating tiny air vortices that lift them into the air. This allows them to fly even with small wings. Scientists study their flight to improve airplane design.
最強の生物、クマムシ
Tardigrades are one of the toughest creatures on Earth. They can survive extreme cold, heat, vacuum, and radiation. When they enter a state called "cryptobiosis," they lose almost all their water and can live for years. Because of this, scientists believe they might even survive in space.
ゴミ捨て場で見つけた版画、実は有名画家の作品でオークションで650万円超
A man in the UK found a print in a dump 13 years ago. It turned out to be by a famous artist. The print was sold at an auction for about 6.5 million yen. At first, the man hung it on his wall. But after asking an expert, he learned it was valuable. This event shows that valuable things can be found in unexpected places.
タコの驚くべき知能
Octopuses are very intelligent creatures. They can solve problems and use tools. For example, some octopuses in aquariums have been seen opening jars to get food inside. Octopuses are also great at camouflage, quickly changing their color and shape to protect themselves from enemies.
アホロートルの驚くべき再生能力
Axolotls are amphibians with an amazing ability to regenerate. They can regrow not only their limbs but also parts of their heart and brain. Because of this, scientists study axolotls to explore the possibilities of regenerative medicine. Additionally, axolotls spend their entire lives in water and remain in their larval form even as adults.
母犬、瀕死の子犬をくわえて動物病院へ
In Istanbul, Turkey, a stray mother dog appeared in front of an animal hospital, carrying her dying puppy in her mouth. The mother barked as if asking for help, and the staff noticed her. The puppy received immediate treatment and survived. This event showed the mother's deep love and intelligence, touching people around the world.
ラクダのコブの秘密
Many people think that a camel's hump stores water, but it actually stores fat. Camels use this fat as energy to survive in the harsh desert. Burning fat also creates water, so camels can travel for days without drinking.
アメリカの町で空から魚が降る
In a small town in Texas, USA, fish fell from the sky in a rare event. Experts say that strong winds like tornadoes can pick up fish from lakes or rivers and drop them far away. The townspeople were surprised by this sudden happening, but no one was hurt. They collected the fallen fish and talked about the incident.
カンガルーの不思議な育児方法
A baby kangaroo is very small when it is born, only about 2 cm long. Right after birth, it climbs into its mother’s pouch and stays there for several months. Inside the pouch, it grows until it is strong enough to go outside. This way of raising babies is a special feature of marsupials, a group of animals that includes kangaroos.
雪の結晶はすべて異なる形
People say that no two snowflakes are the same. This is because temperature and humidity change as they fall, making each one grow differently. Snowflakes have a hexagonal shape, and their patterns depend on their environment. Scientists say that identical snowflakes could exist in theory, but it is extremely rare in nature.
世界初、豚の心臓を人間に移植成功
On June 15, 2024, a medical team in the United States successfully performed the world's first transplant of a pig's heart into a human. This surgery could solve the shortage of organ donors and has brought great surprise to the medical community. The patient is recovering well, and experts hope this achievement will open a new path for future organ transplants.
