It has become something of an annual tradition that I produce an advent calendar each year with facts, interesting links and videos. Consider it a little festive treat for your brain :) Here is your 2016 advent calendar – check out the doors that are already open, and come back each day for a new treat!
1
Fact:
The coconut crab has the strongest pinch of any animal, except an alligator
2
Video:
Stalk-eyed fly males fight!
3
Link:
Check out this fascinating map showing the effects of global sea level rise.
4
Fact:
Hoverflies might look like bees, but they don’t have a sting and are totally harmless.
5
Video:
The incredible story of Brazil’s Blind Birdman
6
Link:
Try this interactive biomorphs game to play with evolution!
7
Video:
Fascinating talk by Lewis Dartnell – “How to Rebuild the World from Scratch”
8
Fact:
Sea Lions can still get sea sick if they sit on a floating object in rough seas!
9
Video:
Bernie Krause talks about his amazing life recording the sounds of nature
10
Fact:
Sea otters use stones to open clams and mussels, and will keep hold of their preferred…
11
Link:
BBC Earth – Five of Attenborough’s Greatest Moments
12
Video:
Dam Right – Stuart Chapman talks about designing hydropower to minimise eco…
13
Link:
A map of theories in fundamental physics.
14
Video:
The Market Problem – How asteroid mining makes space economically viable.
15
Fact:
Andean condors use their 8 – 10ft wingspan to soar through the air on thermals, almost…
16
Fact:
Llamas, Alpacas and Camels are all part of a family of ungulates. Each wild form ha…
17
Video:
Changing the nature of nature.
18
Link:
Mark my bird – a citizen science project.
19
Fact:
The honey finder bird has a unique mutualistic relationship with local people. It respond…
20
Video:
From the Juno mission – Exploring Jupiters Magnetic Field.
21
Link:
Zooniverse Citizen Science Projects.
22
Fact:
Earlier this year El Nino triggered a super bloom in one of the hottest places on Eart…
23
Video:
See the amazing cooperative behaviour of ants in this cool video.
24
Best of 2016
My favourite stories from 2016.
By:Claire Asher
Claire is a Freelance Science Writer and Communicator, and Innovation Officer for the London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership. She created Curious Meerkat in 2009, and has also written for a variety of publications including New Scientist, BBC Earth, Science, Nature, Mongabay, and The Scientist, as well as contributing to several books.. She completed her PhD in 2013 on the social behaviour of dinosaur ants.