Ah, Binghamton University — the place where curiosity goes to thrive, and where research projects sound suspiciously like plotlines rejected from Stranger Things. When Brennan Cowden dropped the July 21, 2025 article “Weird Science! 7 Strange But Fascinating Discoveries Made at Binghamton,” it wasn’t just an article. It was a window into a world where biology, physics, and human ingenuity collide to make you say, “Wait, someone got grant money for THAT?” Buckle up, because these seven discoveries are the kind of weird that makes you both grateful for science and slightly concerned about what researchers do when no one’s watching.
1. Light Makes Mexican Jumping Beans Jump – and No, They’re Not Tiny Gymnasts
You thought Mexican jumping beans just… jumped. Like magic. Or maybe you believed it was some quirky seed phenomenon. Nope. Turns out these beans are nature’s Airbnbs for moth larvae. That’s right, there are squatters inside — tiny larvae that don’t pay rent but do perform stunts when things get too hot.
Enter Binghamton biologist Lindsey Swierk, who discovered that the larvae are not only heat-sensitive but light snobs. They can tell the difference between colors and temperature variations, reacting with jumps to avoid being cooked alive. Imagine if humans could just hop away every time the sun got a little too intense — sunscreen sales would plummet.
Also, this means your childhood toy was basically a survival game for an insect. Congrats, you were a tiny god of life and death for a bug every time you left that bean on a sunny windowsill.
2. Wrinkly Fingers Are Basically Nature’s Barcodes
Next, Associate Professor Guy German dove deep into something we all take for granted: prune fingers after a bath. You know, the weird wrinkly texture that makes you look 90 years old in 20 minutes. The prevailing myth was that water just swelled the skin. Wrong. German discovered it’s actually your blood vessels contracting under the skin, which makes those wrinkles form in the exact same pattern every single time.
Translation: your post-shower fingers are unique little barcodes of your vascular system. Why does this matter? Well, beyond making your next bath a CSI episode, this could have implications for medical science, grip research, and maybe even security (biometric finger-wrinkle scans, anyone?).
Also, hats off to the kid whose innocent question kicked off this research. Proof that science often begins with a five-year-old asking, “But why?”
3. The Spit Battery: Finally, Something Useful for Saliva
Who needs lithium-ion when you’ve got spit? Assistant Professor Seokheun Choi is developing a paper-based battery powered by bacteria that activate with just one drop of saliva. It’s like MacGyver meets a toddler drooling on electronics.
The beauty of this invention is its practicality — especially for developing countries where traditional batteries are expensive and polluting. Imagine powering small devices with nothing more than your mouth. Sure, it’s not the sexiest way to charge your phone, but as a backup? Revolutionary.
Also, just wait for the marketing: “Lick it to light it.” Apple is shaking.
4. Windows Were the Original Flex
Remember how you take glass windows for granted? Binghamton graduate student Allen Loomis wants you to know that in the 16th century, clear glass panes were basically the Birkin bags of architecture. Most windows back then were wooden lattices or oiled paper — functional, but hardly Insta-worthy.
Only the wealthy could afford transparent glass, and entire houses would be built with ostentatious windows just to catch the eye of Queen Elizabeth I. Today, we complain about streaks on our double-glazed sliders, but back then, glass was literally a status symbol. Makes you wonder what architectural trends of today will seem ridiculous in 400 years. (“Did people really install infinity pools during droughts?”)
5. Fire Ants: Nature’s Ultimate Team Players
Move over Avengers, fire ants are the real masters of survival. When floods hit, these tiny demons from hell lock onto each other to form a living raft. Assistant Professor Rob Wagner discovered that these rafts don’t just float — they tighten under pressure, outlasting man-made materials.
It’s like the ants collectively said, “We’re not dying today,” and evolved to become better engineers than humans. Their raft-building reflex is so strong, it makes our emergency response systems look like wet tissue paper.
Next time you step on an ant hill, remember — they could probably organize, retaliate, and float their way into your nightmares.
6. Scuba-Diving Lizards and Their Bubble Helmets
You’ve seen scuba divers, but have you seen scuba lizards? Lindsey Swierk (clearly Binghamton’s MVP of weird animal research) discovered that water anoles create giant bubbles over their nostrils to breathe underwater. Think of it as a DIY scuba tank, except way cooler and with zero equipment cost.
These bubbles let the lizards stay submerged for up to 20 minutes — long enough to avoid predators and make other reptiles jealous. Some anoles even outperform man-made tech with this trick. Humanity, take notes: evolution just invented rebreathers without a patent.
7. Medieval Medicine: The OG Wellness Industry
Finally, let’s talk medieval medicine. You probably picture plague doctors, leeches, and a general vibe of “please don’t die.” But historian Meg Leja says people in the Middle Ages were actually pretty innovative. Many of their remedies mirror today’s wellness trends — like crushing peach stones with rose oil for headaches. That’s not so different from modern essential oils and detox creams.
So the next time someone rolls their eyes at your “all-natural” headache balm, just remind them you’re practicing a medieval self-care routine. Bonus points if you say it while wearing a cloak.
The Weird, the Wonderful, and the WTF
Binghamton University has cornered the market on discoveries that are equal parts “Wow!” and “Why?” These findings remind us that science isn’t just about the big flashy breakthroughs — it’s also about the small, quirky observations that change how we see the world (or at least how we see our bath-wrinkled fingers).
From bean-hopping bugs to spit-powered tech, this is proof that curiosity doesn’t just kill cats — it fuels innovation. And while some of these discoveries sound like side quests in a video game, they have real implications for survival, sustainability, and understanding life itself.
So here’s to Binghamton, where the science is weird, the researchers are brilliant, and the rest of us just try to keep up.
💥 Final Thought: If this is what they’re finding now, I can’t wait for next year’s headline: “Binghamton Discovers Pigeons Secretly Run the Stock Market.”