Most displayed 144 to 169 eyespots—and within that acceptable range, hens relied on some other cue (still unknown to science) to rank their suitors.
Dakin, R., and R. Montgomerie. Peahens prefer peacocks displaying more eyespots, but rarely. Animal Behaviour (published online April 12)
Ash Under Scrutiny
Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano disrupted European travel last April, when airlines shut down for a week to avoid the ash plume. Now a battery of chemical and physical tests backs up that decision. Earth scientists conclude that the ash particles were unusually sharp, and hard enough to sandblast and obscure cockpit windows. Their glassy composition and powdery texture would have also damaged planes by melting in the interiors of jet engines. Had the ash fallen out in high concentration, its chemical coating would have threatened drinking water and its small size would have posed a breathing hazard. The authors suggest that their straightforward procedures could be used to quickly assess the health and mechanical risks of future eruptions.
Gislason, S. R., et al. Characterization of Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash particles and a protocol for rapid risk assessment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108:7307–7312 (May 3)
Nearly half of meat in U.S. supermarkets is contaminated with the infectious bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, a recent study reports. Ninety-six percent of those bacteria are antibiotic-resistant and more than half can withstand at least three different drugs. Each kind of meat has its own signature S. aureus genotypes, suggesting that the bacteria originated with the animals themselves rather than with human handlers. Researchers drew these conclusions from 136 samples of meat and poultry—including five species and 80 brands—purchased from grocery stores in five cities. Although cooking kills even superbugs, their prevalence in food suggests that the public-health implications may warrant further study.
Waters, A. E., et al. Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in US meat and poultry. Clinical Infectious Diseases 52:1227–1230 (May 15)