The topic of thermoregulation is not often in the news, which is strange as most of our daily live activities are close connected to this system. Here a few news items which give you a sneak preview of this fascinating system:
Blood vessels in their heads kept big dinos from overheating
dinosaurs came in many different forms. All, it turns out, had the same problem of staying cool. Now, scientists have analyzed fossilized traces of blood vessels in the skulls of big-bodied dinos. This revealed how the giants had avoided heatstroke. (source: sciencenewsforstudents.org) https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/blood-vessels-their-heads-kept-big-dinos-overheating
How puffins stay cool
Tufted puffins regulate their body temperature thanks to their large bills, an evolutionary trait that might explain their capacity to fly for long periods in search for food. (source: www.myvetcandy.com) https://www.myvetcandy.com/newsblog/2019/11/28/kzygn836jwkaae820yh87rr75lbdll
The Challenges of Cold Weather Running
As ultrarunners, most of the time we are worried about hot weather rather than extremely cold weather – and for good reason. Thermoregulation of body temperature in warmer weather is problematic. While running, about 75-80% of the energy that we use goes towards heat production rather than mechanical energy (i.e. movement). As our core temperature heats up, performance declines. read original article: https://ultrarunning.com/featured/the-challenges-of-cold-weather-running/
Why are bird eggs in cold climates darker colored?
Bird eggs come in a dizzying array of colors. But from a global perspective, that diversity follows a simple pattern, new research shows. The colder the climate, the darker the egg. Read full article: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/why-are-bird-eggs-cold-climates-darker-colored
Zebra Stripes May Help Beat the Heat
A gangrene-inducing bite in Africa, 40 years of curiosity, and backyard experiments her daughters still complain about have all come together to tell Alison Cobb one thing: Stripes help zebras keep their cool. Read full article: https://www.insidescience.org/news/zebra-stripes-may-help-beat-heat
Turtle embryos play a role in determining their own sex
In certain turtle species, the temperature of the egg determines whether the offspring is female or male. But now, new research shows that the embryos have some say in their own sexual destiny: they can move around inside the egg to find different temperatures. Read original article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190801131435.htm