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Bunsen and BEAKER

Jun 22 • 7 tweets • 3 min read

Invasive species are a heck of problem.
They usually have few predators and displace organisms native to the area.
Scientists have found a way to fight against these horrors with….um…horror.
Read on!
#Science
🧵

Mosquito fish, as invasive species, have little to fear. Once out of their natural habitats of North America they strut around rivers and lakes with the confidence of Beaker being protected by Bunsen.
They reproduce quickly AND stuff there just doesn’t eat them.

Named the mosquito fish because they nibble on mosquito larva- they were introduced in Australia (why is it ALWAYS Australia pick a different country folks) to help with mosquito population. Well that backfired and now these fish are freaking pests.
Small, adorable, annoying.

So some scientists watched one too many movies about dystopian futures and decided - let’s make a robo-fish to hunt them down.
The tech didn’t work, but they did make a robo-fish that mimicked the natural predator.
(The Largemouth Bass)

When the robofish was in the same area as mosquito fish it seriously affected their mental health. Think if Jason from Friday the 13th worked beside you at work.
The mosquito fish were so stressed they lost weight and couldn’t reproduce well.
Terror worked.

So instead of mass trapping or poisoning, scientists and conservation officers now have one more tool.
Robotic fish made to mimic the predators of mosquito fish that are so terrifying, it literally stresses the fish to smaller numbers.

If you liked this thread:
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Bunsen and BEAKER

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There are chemicals that take FOREVER to break down, they are in thousands of consumer products, AND they are inside you and me.
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These “forever” chemicals are called polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS for short. They are found in too many consumer products to name and help make surfaces resist stains, water, and grease.
Unlike pizza boxes, Beaker’s fur resists water naturally with body oils.

It’s shocking but PFAS are found everywhere in nature.
They take, well- to be blunt- an undetermined amount of time to breakdown.
They are in our water.
They are in our food.
They are in our blood.
98% of us have them inside us.
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There are radio telescopes all over the world that see AMAZING things invisible to our eyes.
•
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2. Radio waves have SO little energy.
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(That’s a famous Carl Sagan quote- and while it might be a BIT off- it’s pretty close to how LITTLE energy these waves have)

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Hey, you want to get a dog.
That’s great!
WAIT!
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🧵 #Dogs

1. Potty training a puppy is HARD. Not as hard as potty training a person, but it’s up there.
You must take your puppy out:
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After and before they eat or drink.
After they wake up
After they have an accident.
Repeat regardless of weather.

2. The first nights in your house your puppy/dog will have a rough time.
They will cry through the night. They will not stop crying.
If you are crate training, it will be a rough go.
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The story starts sad. I’m sorry but this is how it starts.
Sometimes to get to the good parts you have to cry.
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She was dadguy’s best friend.
The family was devastated.

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🧵

1. Time
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You must have HOURS set aside each day to have a puppy/dog.
Time is critical.

2. Money.
A healthy dog requires little besides food and love. (We will get to that later.)
An injured or sick dog can easily cost you thousands in one vet visit alone.
Can you afford this? Can you afford insurance?
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