science news in ultra-brief

The science news of May 15, 2020 is:

In weather:

• A team of American meteorologists are pleading for the creation of a new meteorological category: hailstones “gargantuan”.
• Only a dozen thunderstorms causing this oversized hailstorm have been recorded since the turn of the century in the United States.
• The formation of these hailstones within stormy super-cells remains mysterious: it could depend on the duration of the presence of ice in these cells which, by swirling, would agglomerate small frozen drops.

In paleontology:

• One study looked at limb proportions, body mass and gaits of over 70 species of theropod dinosaurs, including the rex.
• Conclusion: theropods of small and medium build are generally provided with rather long legs which allowed them to run faster.
• In those who weighed more than a ton and had oversized lower limbs, the maximum running speed was limited by body size and leg length, but they were still very enduring.

In food:

• As in every year for more than 15 years, an American NGO has delivered its list of the 12 foods richest in pesticides to avoid.
• The NGO recalls that it is important to consume food from organic farming.
• According to the World Health Organization, pesticide residues in food can have adverse health effects, including cancer, impaired fertility, the immune system or the nervous system.

In weather:

• May 11th, 12th and 13th was cool all over France, justifying the saying “ice saints” marking the end of winter for gardeners.
• From the Middle Ages, sayings are a good way to memorize the seasons at a time when the weather forecast boiled down to a few indicators such as song […]

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