Articles for author: Maria Faith Saligumba

The Fish That Swallows

The Fish That Swallows Prey Larger Than Itself in One Gulp

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine being able to eat something twice your size in a single bite—no chewing, no slicing, just one mind-boggling gulp. In the mysterious depths of the world’s oceans and rivers, this isn’t science fiction or the stuff of myth. It’s reality for a handful of extraordinary fish that routinely defy the limits of what seems ...

skeletonizing leaf beetle from Java

The Flesh-Eating Beetles Used to Clean Skeletons in Museums

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine stepping behind the velvet ropes of a natural history museum, into a private back room where the secrets of preservation are kept. Here, you won’t find old brushes or harsh chemicals—what you’ll discover is far more alive and astonishing. In rows of glass tanks and plastic boxes, an army of flesh-eating beetles is hard ...

Venus flytrap

The Venus Flytrap Can Count to Five (Kind Of)

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine a plant so clever, so unexpectedly strategic, that it could outwit an insect with nothing but patience and a built-in “counting” system. It almost sounds like the premise of a fantastical story, yet this is the reality of the Venus flytrap—a seemingly simple plant that harnesses a secret mathematical skill. In the heart of ...

Data being tracked through a monitor.

How AI and Big Data Are Revolutionizing Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Maria Faith Saligumba

In recent years, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data has emerged as a transformative force in wildlife conservation efforts. As our planet faces unprecedented biodiversity loss, with an estimated one million species at risk of extinction, innovative solutions are needed more than ever. AI and big data technologies are providing conservationists with ...

Comparison of the size of giant viruses to a common virus and bacteria

The Giant Virus That Blurred the Line Between Life and Non-Life

Maria Faith Saligumba

It was a discovery that rewrote the rulebook of biology and shook the very foundation of what we thought we knew about life. Imagine a creature so mysterious and massive, it defied every definition of a virus. When scientists peered into the murky waters off the coast of Bradford, England in 2003, they unearthed something ...

Kiwi

Why New Zealand’s Forests Sound Like a Sci-Fi Jungle at Night

Maria Faith Saligumba

Have you ever found yourself wandering beneath a canopy of ancient trees, only to be stopped in your tracks by a symphony of sounds so otherworldly, so electrifying, that it felt like you’d stepped into a scene from a science fiction movie? In the darkness of New Zealand’s forests, the air pulses with clicks, chirps, ...

school of fish beside coral

The Relationship Between Global Warming and Coral Bleaching

Maria Faith Saligumba

Coral reefs are often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” due to their immense biodiversity. These underwater ecosystems are built by tiny animals called coral polyps, which form symbiotic relationships with algae known as zooxanthellae. The algae are crucial for coral health, providing nutrients through photosynthesis. Coral reefs not only support a wide ...

Drosophila fly

Drunk Drosophila: Why Fruit Flies Love Happy Hour Too

Maria Faith Saligumba

Picture this: you’re enjoying a warm summer evening with friends, sipping a cool drink, and suddenly, a tiny fruit fly dives straight into your glass. It’s not just after your fruit salad—these little party crashers are after something far more intoxicating. Believe it or not, fruit flies have a real taste for alcohol, and their ...

Ġgantija

The Megaliths of Malta Were Built by Stone Age Overachievers

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine standing on a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, your shadow stretching across ancient stones that have witnessed more than 5,000 years of history. Malta’s megalithic temples rise from the earth like silent sentinels, mysterious and awe-inspiring. These prehistoric structures are so massive, so intricate, that even today, scientists and visitors alike are left breathless by the ...