Mia Rozenbaum

Life By Greta Keenan and Mia Rozenbaum Scientists have discovered a gene that, when inactivated, can give flies super sticky powers. The gene, found in vinegar flies and named spidey, after Spider-Man, is responsible for producing their protective waxy coating – switching it off makes flies extra sticky. The lipids that make up this waxy layer normally act as a raincoat and protect flies against various exterior elements, including microbes and environmental stress.

During a marine expedition along the Mexican coast, divers spotted a whale shark in poor shape. He was caught up in a boat rope so tightly attached, it was digging into its skin. The divers slowly approached the animal to try and cut the rope with a knife and free the poor fish. Regardless of the 15 centimeter (approx. 6 inch) thick skin whale sharks use as shields, the rope left impressive marks once removed.

Would Black Beauty have made the cut? It turns out mares prefer stallions with deep whinnies. Female horses look for the strongest stallions, but when their view is obscured, they depend on voices to size up potential mates. In the wild, horses live in harems of adults and juveniles led by a stallion. When the young reach sexual maturity, they usually move to another group to mate.