IN FOCUS
Loudest animal
is recorded for the first time
Scientists have shown for the first time that the loudest animal on
Earth, relative to its body size, is the tiny water boatman, Micronecta
scholtzi. At 99.2 decibels, this represents the equivalent of listening
to an orchestra play loudly while sitting in the front row.

The frequency of the sound (around 10 kHz) is within human hearing
range and Dr. James Windmill of the University of Strathclyde, explains
one clue as to how loud the animals are: "Remarkably, even though 99 per
cent of sound is lost when transferring from water to air, the song is
so loud that a person walking along the bank can actually hear these
tiny creatures singing from the bottom of the river."
The song, used by males to attract mates, is produced by rubbing two
body parts together, in a process called stridulation. In water boatmen
the area used for stridulation is only about 50 micrometres across,
roughly the width of a human hair.
"We really don't know how they make such a loud sound using such a
small area," says Dr. Windmill.
The researchers, who are presenting their work at the Society for
Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Glasgow, are now keen to bring
together aspects of biology and engineering to clarify how and why such
a small animal makes such a loud noise, and to explore the practical
applications.
Dr. Windmill explains: "Biologically this work could be helpful in
conservation as recordings of insect sounds could be used to monitor
biodiversity. From the engineering side it could be used to inform our
work in acoustics, such as in sonar systems."
-Science Daily
1929
Don't tolerate
abuse,
call the hotline
Child abuse is taking place in many parts of the country today. Even
while you read this article a helpless child is being subjected to
abuse, somewhere in this land. Perhaps he or she is suffering silently,
unable to cry out for help, out of fear. You can be their voice.
No child should be robbed of his/her childhood or innocence because
of an immoral or cruel act of a heartless adult. If you are a victim of
abuse or know of any child who is being abused, pluck up courage and
reach out for that phone. A hotline has been set up by the National
Child Protection Authority (NCPA) especially for YOU. However, don't be
hasty to mix up discipline with child abuse. So, be aware, be alert and
be protected. Do not tolerate abuse any more. |