4 Awesome Discoveries You Probably Didn’t Hear About This Week - Episode 18

The video discusses the impact of non-native plants on bird populations, highlighting how these plants fail to support insects that birds rely on for food. It also covers a study on modeling the spread of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in the brain. Additionally, the video explores how mussel shells can serve as indicators of water pollution, particularly from fracking. Finally, it introduces a breakthrough in protein sequencing that could revolutionize biomedical research and disease diagnosis.

What is the main reason non-native plants are considered harmful to local bird populations?

• They attract more predators.

• They require more water.

• They grow too quickly.

• They do not support enough insects.

Which bird species is mentioned as being affected by the lack of arthropods in non-native plant-dominated yards?

• Northern Cardinal

• American Robin

• Carolina Chickadee

• Blue Jay

What do researchers use to simulate the spread of neurodegenerative diseases in the brain?

• Genetic engineering

• Mathematical modeling

• Chemical analysis

• Behavioral studies

What unique feature of freshwater mussel shells allows them to record environmental changes?

• Their color variations

• Their layered structure

• Their size differences

• Their smooth texture

What is the new method called that allows researchers to sequence millions of protein molecules simultaneously?

• Single molecule floral sequencing

• Mass spectrometry

• Gene editing

• Protein folding