THE LOOP
Missa

Language in Nature

Language is not unique in nature, every animal has some kind of language. Even insects such as bees and ants know how to communicate, informing one another where there is food. Zoologist have discovered that green monkeys use various calls each with different meanings and identified that one call means “Careful! An eagle” while a slightly different call means “Careful! A Lion!”. When the researchers played a recording of the eagle warning call the monkeys stopped what they were doing and looked to the sky searching for the eagle. When the same group heard the lion warning call, they scrambled up a tree. Sperm Whales have the ability to produce more distinct sounds than green monkeys which has led to a diverse communication system. This system has even influenced the way clans are formed. Scientist have found that different sperm whale clans have their own distinct dialects, essentially whales that speak the same language stick together. There are even studies of ‘lost’ whales having to learn a new dialect to join the clan.

 

Jessica

Yosemite

This weekend my friends and I went to Yosemite! We were very fortunate the park was open after the recent fires. Shout out to those brave firefighters 🙌🏻 We came across a lookout on the trail to Upper Yosemite Falls and got to see an amazing view of Half Dome. While attempting to take a photo with the beautiful view in the background, a strong gust of wind picks up and takes my hat over the edge and disappears down the side of the cliff. (RIP SlideBelts hat) But regardless of the missing hat, we had a great time exploring Yosemite! We headed back to camp for dinner, s’mores by the campfire and a few card games. I highly suggest the card game ‘What Do You Meme’ if you want a good funny game to play. Overall it was a great way to escape the city life and enjoy the company of friends. Always make sure to make time to get out there and enjoy the outdoors!

 

megan

Be The Meg You Wish To See In The World

This weekend, I saw the big shark movie of the summer, The Meg. As a Meg myself, I was of course empowered by the prehistoric behemoth. Here are some ways you, too, can embody The Meg in your everyday lives:
1. Rise above it - If you are facing a challenge, like living at the bottom of the Marianas Trench for example, keep your massive chin up and push through it
2. Keep people guessing - People love surprises, so show up unannounced to a social gathering! It's totally okay to crash a party...or a boat!
3. Go after what you want - Whether it's a promotion at work or a bite of Jason Statham, you should always chase the things you desire at all costs
Follow these tips, and you'll be at the top of the food chain in no time.