Jupiter's Shrinking Storm

Jupiter's Shrinking Storm

Top of Mind with Julie Rose - Radio Archive, Episode 1099 , Segment 6

Episode: Common Ground, Bat Longevity, Thermostats and Gender

  • Jun 24, 2019 10:00 pm
  • 18:08 mins

Guest: Glenn Orton, Senior Research Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Jupiter’s distinctive red eye is disappearing. For centuries it’s been the giant planet’s most prominent feature. But within 20 years, solar system diagrams in classrooms the world over will need a revision to erase it. So, that’s a little sad. The really fascinating thing though, is why that spot has stuck around so long, considering it’s just a storm. Can you imagine if a storm system hovered for centuries over one spot on Earth?

Other Segments

Research Shows Bats Demonstrate Surprising Longevity

14 MINS

Guest: Gerald Wilkinson, Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland For most mammals, the larger they are the longer they live. Larger mammals have slower metabolisms and longer lifespans as a result. That's why most pet owners are around longer than their animals. The notable exception to this rule is the bat, which lives much longer than other mammals of comparable size. In fact, researchers recently published that "Nineteen species of mammals live longer than humans, given their body size, of which 18 are bats." Scientists have made some remarkable discoveries as to why bats live so long. Part of it stems from body temperature fluctuation, hibernation, and differing sizes between males and females.

Guest: Gerald Wilkinson, Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland For most mammals, the larger they are the longer they live. Larger mammals have slower metabolisms and longer lifespans as a result. That's why most pet owners are around longer than their animals. The notable exception to this rule is the bat, which lives much longer than other mammals of comparable size. In fact, researchers recently published that "Nineteen species of mammals live longer than humans, given their body size, of which 18 are bats." Scientists have made some remarkable discoveries as to why bats live so long. Part of it stems from body temperature fluctuation, hibernation, and differing sizes between males and females.