A tiny fish as loud as a jet engine

Danionella cerebrum, a 12mm translucent fish, can produce sounds exceeding 140 dB, comparable to the noise of a passenger jet at 100m. Originally identified in the 1980s, but officially recognised as a separate species in 2021, Danionella cerebrum is distinguished from Danionella translucida by subtle differences observable only under a microscope.

High-speed video recordings of Danionella cerebrum show that a rib near the swim bladder is moved by a special fatigue-resistant muscle into a piece of drumming cartilage. This accelerates the cartilage with a force of over 2,000g, striking the swim bladder to produce rapid, loud pulse which create calls using muscle contractions.

Interestingly, the rib is much harder in males, making them louder than females.

World’s shortest commercial flight

The airplane flight between the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray, northern Scotland, holds the world record for the shortest commercial flight — of just under two minutes, covering just 2.7 kilometres (1.7 miles)!

The few people living on Orkney archipelago have only two options, a ferry ride over rough waters, or an incredibly short flight in a small plane. The second option is the most popular — because the ferry can often face disruption due to rough waters.

For Orkney Islands residents, the flights are subsidised by the Scottish Government, while tourists can expect to pay between £17 to £45.

Gaoqi Ling — China’s ‘Knife Edge Mountain’

China’s Danxia Park is famous for its unique landforms, particularly the multi-coloured, “Rainbow Mountain”. Among the other intriguing natural formations there is Gaoqi Ling.

Originally a watershed, Gaoqi Ling had its steep ridges shaped by the water washing over them and then smoothed out by rain and wind. The sharp ridges are often compared to a giant knife edge or the spine of a sleeping dragon with its ribs extending outwards.

Gaoqi Ling offers stunning views of Danxia Park, but some sections of its ridge are considered dangerous because there is no fence or cable to stop daredevils from slipping down the smooth sides of the mountain. Many still take the risk because it is said to bring good luck.

Innovative speech-enabling device

Jun Chen, an assistant professor of bioengineering at UCLA, developed a non-invasive speech-enabling device after experiencing vocal cord fatigue from lecturing. Collaborating with colleagues, he created an innovative throat patch that uses AI to decode muscle movements into speech.

In a study published in the Nature Scientific Journal, Chen and his team described their 7.2-gram, self-powering patch, made of five thin layers that respond to throat muscle movements, with then produce electrical signals that are translated into speech using machine learning technology. The algorithm was about 95% accurate in translating these signals into speech, both voiced and voiceless.

Despite the study’s limitations, the patch is seen as promising, as the current alternatives are often invasive and expensive.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 27th, 2024