Manchester is constantly positioning itself at the forefront of scientific discoveries.
Scientists born or based in our city have played truly integral parts in so many major breakthroughs throughout the centuries, including the invention of the first electronic stored-program computer in 1948, the discovery of the electron in 1897, and more recently in the 21st century, the creation of graphene in 2004.
But could this be their most important discovery yet? Probably not… but it certainly grabbed our attentions, that’s for sure.
That’s because scientists from the University of Manchester (UoM), together with the University of Oxford, have uncovered the secrets behind one of nature’s quirkiest plants – the Ecballium elaterium, also known as ‘the squirting cucumber’.
While the name might suggest otherwise, this breakthrough by Manchester‘s-own is no joke.
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Manchester scientists have unlocked the ‘explosive’ secrets of the squirting cucumber / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This cucumber – which has intrigued scientists due to its dramatic seed dispersal method for a long time – spreads its seeds by launching them at high speed in a pressurised jet, sending them more than 10 metres from the parent plant.
For as long as the plant has intrigued scientists, the exact mechanism and its benefits were said to be “poorly understood”.
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But now, through using high-speed videography, image analysis, lab experiments, and mathematical modelling to examine each phase of the seed ejection process, scientists have found that, as the cucumber ripens, fluid from the fruit is squeezed into the stem, causing it to stiffen and straighten, and changing the inclination of the fruit so that it is better suited for launching seeds over long distances.
The internal pressure in the fruit is so high that, once it detaches from the stem, the fluid and seeds within the shell are explosively launched in a powerful jet.
Using applied maths, we have just decoded one of the most rapid motions in the plant kingdom: the squirting cucumber. Published today in PNAS, our work reveals how the stem stiffens to optimise the angle at which the fruit squirts its seeds in a jet of slime: pic.twitter.com/qVLAcNpWpE
This finding has been described as having “important implications” for the understanding of the plant’s population dynamics, could help scientists better understand how plants might adapt to environmental changes such as temperature, rainfall patterns, and soil conditions due to climate change, and even inspire new technologies.
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It also offers insights into evolutionary adaptations related to explosive fruit mechanisms.
Lead researcher Finn Box, from The University of Manchester, said that the Ecballium elaterium’s seed dispersal is a process that’s “almost unheard of in the plant world”.
He added that this particular research is “the first comprehensive mechanical explanation for how the cucumber plant launches its seeds with remarkable speed and precision”.
Featured Image – UoM
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Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Rare bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in more than 30 years
Emily Sergeant
It’s time to say a big hello, as rare bat-eared foxes have now arrived at Chester Zoo.
The two sisters, named Maasai and Malindi, have been welcomed by conservationists after travelling more than 500 miles from a zoo in Paris, and they are the first mammals of their kind to come to Chester Zoo in more than 30 years.
First images show the pair exploring their home in the zoo’s new Heart of Africa habitat – which officially opened to the public back in March, and is the largest zoo development ever undertaken in the UK, spanning more than 22.5 acres in size.
The adorable – but rather unique-looking – bat-eared fox is named after its distinctive oversized ears and is native to the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.
They live for around 13 years on average, and their characteristically large ears help regulate their body temperature and enhance their incredible hearing, allowing them to prey like detect insects moving underground.
The species faces increasing threats in the wild, largely due to the loss of their habitat caused by agriculture, human encroachment, and hunting.
This is why Chester Zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife.
Its teams’ have been supporting everything from the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking in recent years.
Bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in 30 years / Credit: Chester Zoo
“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus,” commented David White, who is the Twilight Team Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Both Maasai and Malindi are settling in well so far, spending much of their time exploring their expansive home and getting to know their new housemates – a family of twelve Cape porcupines. These two species would often come across one another in the wild, so we’ve recreated this right here at Chester.
“In time, we hope to introduce one of the two sisters to a male fox, with the hope that we can contribute to the European conservation breeding programme, helping to ensure there’s a healthy, genetically diverse back-up population in human care.
Emily Sergeant -
28th November 2024 
