Study Links Full Moon to Increased Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
A Texas A&M University study reveals a 45.8% increase in wildlife-vehicle collisions during full moon nights compared to new moon nights. Conducted by Kentaro Iio and Dr. Dominique Lord, the research highlights the need for heightened driver awareness and could influence future transportation policies. By analyzing a decade’s worth of data, the study underscores the correlation between lunar phases and wildlife activity, emphasizing the importance of tailored safety measures in different regions of Texas.
Neutron Star Mergers Shed Light on Dark Matter
Neutron star mergers provide new physics signals that could shed light on dark matter, according to a study by Washington University in St. Louis. The study, led by physicist Bhupal Dev, establishes constraints on axion-like particles using observations from the 2017 neutron star merger event, GW170817. These particles are prime candidates for constituting dark matter and could bridge the gap between the visible and dark sectors of the universe.