By Rémy Murray (Year 7)
Scientists have found some really strange and cool things recently that sound almost made up. From giant insects to robot monks, these discoveries are helping us learn more about the world and the creatures living in it.
Ancient “Dimpled” Koala
Scientists in Western Australia found fossils of an ancient koala species that looked different from koalas today. The koala had strange “dimpled” features on its skull, which made it unique. What shocked scientists most was that this species may have lived only a few thousand years ago, which means humans could have actually seen them. Discoveries like this help scientists understand how animals changed over time and why some became extinct.
Robot Monk in Seoul
At Jogye Temple in South Korea, a robot monk called Gabi was welcomed into a Buddhist group. During the ceremony, the robot promised to follow orders and not hurt other robots, which many people thought was funny and interesting. The robot cannot really think like a human, but it can help teach people about Buddhism and technology. This shows how robots are becoming part of everyday life in surprising ways.
Monster Stick Insect
Scientists in Queensland discovered a giant new stick insect called Acrophylla alta. It is around 40 centimeters long, which is about the size of a human arm. That makes it one of the biggest insects found in Australia. Even though it looks scary, it is harmless and mostly hides by pretending to be a stick or branch, so predators do not notice it.
Fused Comb Jellies
Marine biologists found out that comb jellies can do something really weird. If two of them get injured, they can actually join their bodies together and become one living creature. Their body systems even start working together after they fuse. Scientists think this is amazing because it could help us learn more about healing and how living things repair themselves.