Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces that bind matter in the universe. The other three forces (electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and strong nuclear) are explained through the exchange of force-carrying elementary particles, leading theorists to believe there is a similar quantum explanation for gravity.
The force carriers for the electromagnetic force are photons, while the weak nuclear force has W-, W+, and Z0 bosons as force carriers, and the strong nuclear force has eight types of gluons. On the other hand, the hypothetical carrier of gravitational force is known as the graviton.
The properties of the graviton are deducible in quantum theory. The amount of energy required to summon a force-carrying particle from the vacuum determines how quickly it must be recovered. Since gravity has an infinite range and does not require energy to create a graviton, the mass of the graviton must be zero.
Additionally, gravitons are expected to have a spin of 2, as only spin 2 particles interact with all matter, which is characteristic of universal gravity. This is in contrast to quarks and leptons, which have a spin of 1/2, and the non-gravitational force carriers, which have a spin of 1.
While gravity may not be fully explained by the exchange of gravitons, most physicists believe it can be quantized. String theory offers a potential framework where fundamental particles are envisioned as vibrations of mass-energy strings, with each vibrating string having the properties of a graviton.
However, string theory faces challenges due to its complexity and inability to make testable predictions. Detecting gravitons is difficult due to the extremely weak nature of gravity and the rare interactions gravitons have with matter.
Despite the challenges in detecting gravitons, recent advancements in experimental exploration, such as the discovery of spin-2 particle properties in a liquid analogue system, provide hope for a better understanding of gravitons and the eventual unification of fundamental forces into a single theory.
About our experts
Tony Rothman: A theoretical physicist who has taught at Princeton and Harvard Universities, he has published non-fiction and fiction novels and written various stage plays outside of his academic career. He has contributed to publications like Physics Basics, European Journal of Physics, and Astrophysics and Space Sciences.
Volcanoes have been responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring and deadliest natural disasters in history, from the destruction of Pompeii by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD to the devastating eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in 2010.
There are more than 1,500 active volcanoes around the world, with one eruption occurring on average every week. But which of these eruptions are the most powerful?
Today, we have the ability to observe and measure volcanic eruptions with much more accuracy than in the past. Using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and the Dense Rock Equivalent Scale (DRE), we can compare the strength and destructive power of different volcanoes.
10. Mount St. Helens (1980) – VEI 5, DRE 0.5km3
Eruption of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood, Washington, USA, photographed during the May 1980 eruption. Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Deaths: 57
In the morning of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted explosively. Signs of magma movement had been observed for months prior, but the magnitude of the explosion still took many by surprise. The eruption produced blast winds of up to 1,080 km/h and devastated everything in a 600 km² radius within minutes, making it the most destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history.
9. El Chichon (1982) – VEI 5, DRE 1.1km3
El Chichon volcano spews a column of ash and steam high into the sky above the evacuated town of El Volcan, Mexico, in March 1982. Photo by Getty Images
Estimated deaths: 1,900
El Chichon volcano in Chiapas, Mexico, erupted in 1982 after over 600 years of dormancy, catching many off guard. A deadly pyroclastic flow and sulfur dioxide emissions caused significant damage and casualties near the volcano.
8. Mount Hudson (1991) – VEI 5, DRE 1.6-2.7km3
Aerial photo of Mount Hudson Volcano taken on August 23, 1991. Photo by Norm Banks/US Geological Survey/Wikipedia
…
This massive eruption not only reduced Mount Tambora's elevation by a third, but also spewed huge amounts of ash and gas into the atmosphere, blocking out the sun.
In the long term, this led to massive food shortages worldwide, with 1816 becoming known as “the year without a summer.” It is estimated that at least 71,000 people ultimately died of starvation as a result of the eruption.
SSmart rings are gaining popularity, with Oura being spotted on the fingers of celebrities and elite athletes. It offers all the health-tracking features of a smartwatch in a smaller, less technical device focused on sleep, recovery, and resilience. Can the average person use it?
Now in its third generation, the Oura Gen 3 is the most popular smart ring on the market. It comes in various colors, metals, and sizes, resembling an attractive piece of jewelry, priced starting at £299 (€329/$299), plus a £6 monthly subscription. Following the trends of celebrities doesn’t come cheap.
The sleek titanium rings are available in different colors, finishes, and two shapes: flat top and fully circular. An inner layer of clear plastic reveals components, sensors, and contacts that read metrics like heart rate using three prongs touching the underside of your finger.
How does it feel to wear?
The smooth titanium finish shines in different light and is available in many other colors and finishes, including classic silver and gold. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Unlike other fitness trackers, Oura has no screen, sound, or visible alerts other than occasional lights from its sensors. All interactions happen through a smartphone app. Wearing it on the index finger is recommended for accurate data, but it can be cumbersome when using a smartphone.
The Oura ring, while twice as thick as a traditional wedding band, fits snugly but may be uncomfortable between fingers. It requires careful sizing and removal for regular cleaning and charging.
Oura has a consistent thickness all around, so it fits snugly against adjacent fingers better than other larger rings. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Sleep, sleep, and more sleep
The Oura app syncs data and settings via Bluetooth and displays the information in an easy-to-understand way. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Oura emphasizes thorough sleep analysis and daily recovery. It offers suggestions for improving health long-term. During the day, it tracks activity, compiles an Activity Score from steps, calories, heart rate, and stress levels. It also recognizes activities like walking and cycling.
At night, the ring tracks sleep efficiency, cycles, heart rate, variability, and blood oxygen to calculate a sleep score. It provides trend analysis and insights on readiness and resilience based on biometric data.
The app displays health data clearly with graphs and reports, offering suggestions for improvement. It also includes women’s health tracking, fertility insights, and partnered apps for extended functionality.
Sustainability
Oura will eventually become disposable, as the batteries in the ring will wear out, at which point they can’t be replaced. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Oura Gen 3 is not repairable, and the battery is not replaceable. Sustainability features are lacking, with no recycled materials, environmental impact reports, or recycling programs available.
Price
Prices for the Oura Gen 3 start from £299 (€329/$299), with a range of designs and finishes. A one-month free trial is offered, with a monthly subscription at £5.99 (€5.99 / $5.99). Membership registration is required.
Compared to other similar products, the Oura ring is competitively priced but comes with additional subscription costs.
Verdict
The Oura ring 3 is an excellent option for those wanting to track sleep and overall health without a screen on their wrist. It offers comprehensive data analysis and insightful recommendations for health improvement.
Although the ring has some drawbacks, including cost, subscription fees, and tracking limitations, it provides valuable insights into health trends and data analysis.
Overall, the Oura ring offers a unique approach to health tracking with detailed data and user-friendly features, making it a compelling option for those prioritizing sleep and recovery.
Strong Points: Jewelry-like design, comprehensive sleep & health tracking, smart trend analysis & helpful advice, easy to understand, 5-day battery life, 100m water resistance, an effective health alternative to a smartwatch.
Cons: Expensive, monthly subscription, thick for a ring, limited tracking capabilities.
The Oura ring is packed with sensors and technology. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Smaller pterosaurs may have flapped their wings, while larger ones may have flown.
Terryl Whitlatch
Despite living hundreds of millions of years apart, pterosaurs may be more similar to modern birds than previously thought: the bone structure of these giant reptiles suggests that the largest used wings to fly, while smaller ones flapped their wings to achieve flight.
The discovery comes from a remarkably well-preserved pterosaur fossil unearthed in Jordan, where the mechanism of flight has left traces in the skeleton. Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla At the University of Michigan.
Pterosaurs began flying about 80 million years before birds and bats. During their 150 million year reign, from the Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period, they conquered every continent and evolved into a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Some were as small as a sparrow, while others had wingspans the size of a city bus. Analysis of pterosaur bones has revealed that different pterosaurs used different flight tactics to stay airborne.
Wilson-Mantilla and his team compared the fossils of two different pterosaur species and were delighted to discover that the 3D structure of the bones was still intact, which was a surprise because the hollow, brittle bones of pterosaurs would have easily broken down. Computed tomography scans revealed that the bones of the two reptile species were significantly different.
Large pterosaur, Arambrugiana Philadelphiahad spiral ridges running up and down the inside of their bones, similar to modern birds like eagles that fly with their wings fixed. Inabatanin Arabia The bird, a new species to science, had crossed struts that mimicked those of flapping birds.
The helical spiral helps resist twisting forces during ascent, and the crossed footings resist bending forces of the flaps. Wilson Mantilla.
Because the team found the fossils in what was once a coastal area, Mantilla thinks the soaring pterosaurs may have gained altitude by riding updrafts (currents of warm air rising from the ocean surface). He speculates that these pterosaurs could have also flapped their wings specifically to take to the air, making their soaring trait even more unusual.
The reason why one of these pterosaurs appeared to be flapping and the other was soaring raises new questions about how the more than 100 other known pterosaur species flew. Mantilla next wants to examine fossils from around the world to see if this pattern holds true. Perhaps, like modern birds, only the largest individuals of their species were able to soar.
Seven billion years ago, the universe’s star formation boom began to slow. What did our Milky Way galaxy look like at that time? Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a clue in the form of a cosmic question mark, the result of an unusual alignment in space spanning several light-years.
Galaxy cluster MACS-J0417.5-1154 is so massive that it warps the fabric of space-time and distorts the appearance of galaxies behind it. This phenomenon is known as gravitational lensing. This natural phenomenon magnifies distant galaxies, sometimes causing them to appear multiple times in the image, as Webb saw here. Two distant interacting galaxies (a spiral galaxy seen face-on and a dusty red galaxy seen edge-on) appear multiple times, tracing a familiar shape across the sky. Active star formation and the remarkably perfect spiral shape of the galaxy seen face-on indicate that these galaxies are just beginning to interact. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/V. Estrada-Carpenter, Saint Mary’s University.
“There are only three or four known examples of similar gravitational lensing configurations in the observable universe, so this discovery is exciting as it demonstrates the power of Webb and suggests that we may find more like it in the future,” said Dr Guillaume Despres, from St Mary’s University.
The region has previously been observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but Webb was the first to spot the dusty red galaxy forming an intriguing question mark shape.
This is because the wavelengths of light that Hubble detects are trapped in space dust, while longer wavelengths of infrared light pass through Webb’s instruments and can be detected.
Astronomers used both telescopes to observe the galaxy cluster. MACS-J0417.5-1154The cluster is so large that it distorts the fabric of space-time, acting like a magnifying glass.
This will allow astronomers to see clearer details of the much more distant galaxies behind the cluster.
But the same gravitational effects that expand galaxies also cause distortions, which can result in galaxies appearing spread out in an arc across the sky, or appearing multiple times.
This optical illusion in space is called gravitational lensing.
The red galaxy Webb uncovered, along with the spiral galaxy it interacts with, previously detected by Hubble, is magnified and distorted in an unusual way that requires a special and rare alignment between the distant galaxy, the lens, and the observer — something astronomers call hyperbolic umbilical gravitational lensing.
This explains five images of the galaxy pair seen in the Webb image, four of which trace the top of the question mark.
The question mark points are, from our perspective, unrelated galaxies that happen to be in the right place and spacetime.
In addition to developing a case study for Webb, Niris Noting the ability of their infrared imaging device and slitless spectrometer to detect star formation locations in galaxies billions of light years away, the research team also couldn’t help but notice the shape of the question mark.
“This is really cool. I got interested in astronomy when I was younger because I saw amazing images like this,” said Dr Marcin Sawicki, also from Saint Mary’s University.
“Knowing when, where and how star formation occurs in galaxies is crucial to understanding how galaxies have evolved throughout the history of the universe,” said Dr Vicente Estrada Carpenter from Saint Mary’s University.
“The results show that star formation is widespread in both. The spectral data also confirm that the newly discovered dusty galaxy is located at the same distance as the frontal spiral galaxy, suggesting that the two are probably starting to interact.”
“Both galaxies in the question mark pair show several dense regions of active star formation, likely the result of the gas in the two galaxies colliding.”
“But neither galaxy seems particularly disturbed, so perhaps we are seeing the beginning of an interaction.”
“These galaxies, seen billions of years ago when star formation was at its peak, are similar in mass to the Milky Way at that time,” Dr Sawicki said.
“Thanks to Webb, we can now study what our galaxy was like in its teenage years.”
Team paper Published in Monthly Bulletin of the Royal Astronomical Society.
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Vicente Estrada Carpenter others2024. CANUCS JWST/NIRISS We will use grism spectroscopy to investigate when, where and how star formation occurs in a pair of galaxies at cosmic noon. MNRAS 532 (1): 577-591; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae1368
This article is based on a press release provided by NASA.
Paleontologists have announced the discovery of fossilized bones of a new species of early-branching ceratopsian dinosaur in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Reconstructing your life Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai Image courtesy of Tanaka Kanon.
The newly discovered dinosaur lived on Earth during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, between 113 million and 100 million years ago.
dubbing Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai,animal Measured It is about 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) long and weighs about 10 kilograms.
“This new dinosaur has unique characteristics that make it different from any other dinosaur known to date. CeratopsiansPaleontologist, Hyogo University Tomonori Tanaka and colleagues said In a statement.
“Ceratopsians are a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known for having large horns and frills on their heads, most famously Triceratops.”
“Being a primitive ceratopsian, it lacked the large horns and frills seen in later species. Triceratops.”
Bone fragments Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai They were discovered in the Daisen Shita Formation in southwestern Japan by amateur geologist Adachi Kiyoshi.
“The fossil contains 17 bones, most of which belong to the same individual,” the researchers said.
“Examination of a thin section of the tibia revealed that this was likely a juvenile individual rather than a fully mature one.”
According to the research team's analysis, this new species Aquilops americanusone of the oldest neoceratopsian dinosaurs discovered in North America, followed by its sister species. Auroraceratops rugosus From China.
“Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai “This fossil is closely related to proto-North American ceratopsians and suggests that native Asian ceratopsians may have migrated to North America during the mid-Cretaceous, approximately 110 million years ago,” the authors say.
“At this time, eastern Eurasia and North America were connected by the Bering land bridge, allowing animals to move between the two.”
“Furthermore, extreme global warming has led to the creation of vast forests in the Arctic.”
“The convergence of these two events likely facilitated the spread of ceratopsians from Asia into North America.”
Discovery Sasayamagnome teeth, paper Published in this week's journal Paleontological Papers.
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Tomonori Tanaka others2024. A new species of neoceratopsian (Ornithischia, Ceratopsia) from the Lower Cretaceous Oyamashita Formation (Albian) of southwestern Japan. Paleontological Papers 10(5):e1587;doi:10.1002/spp2.1587
Saline nasal sprays may stop children's sneezing faster
ONFOKUS.COM, Sebastian Court/Getty Images
Saline nasal sprays appear to help speed up cold recovery: In a new study, children who were given the homemade nasal spray recovered from cold symptoms like sneezing and stuffy nose two days faster than those who weren't.
More than 200 different viruses can cause cold-like symptomsTherefore, it is difficult to develop general and effective treatments that target them. As a result, most cold therapies only relieve symptoms but do not shorten the duration of symptoms.
now, Steve Cunningham Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK tested this method on children. They asked the parents of 150 children with cold symptoms to place three drops of saline solution into their children's nasal passages at least four times a day within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, until symptoms subsided. The water-based solution that the parents mixed themselves contained 2.6 percent salt.
Another group of 151 children received standard cold care from their parents, such as prescribing over-the-counter medicines and encouraging rest. All of the children were under the age of seven, and their symptoms were recorded by their parents.
The researchers found that children who started using the drops within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms recovered two days faster than those who never used the drops, and their families were also less likely to develop cold symptoms. But children who started using the drops later didn't get better and were less likely to spread the cold than those who never used the drops.
Cunningham, who will present his findings at the European Respiratory Society meeting in Vienna, Austria, on September 8, says that the chloride ions in saline could prompt cells to produce an antiviral substance called hypochlorous acid, though this may need to be started early in infection, before the virus can take hold, he says.
but William Shaffner Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee are skeptical that this method will actually help cure viral infections. [evidence] They want me to believe that this is an antiviral effect, not just symptom relief,” he says.
Schaffner says the researchers could have also given another group of children regular water drops or a low-concentration saline solution, which would show whether the saline nasal spray targets the virus and speeds recovery or simply keeps mucous membranes moist to ease symptoms, he says.
The researchers Stanford University Aqueous solutions of tartrazine, a common food coloring approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have been shown to have the effect of reversibly transparentizing the skin, muscle, and connective tissue of live rodents.
Diagram of skin tissue cleared by saturating it with FD&C Yellow 5, including the path of photons reflecting off unstained tissue. Image courtesy of Keyi 'Onyx' Li / National Science Foundation.
“We combined a yellow dye, a molecule that absorbs most light, especially blue and ultraviolet light, with skin, a scattering medium; these two individually block most light from passing through,” said study lead author Dr. Zhihao Ou, who conducted the research with colleagues during his postdoctoral research at Stanford University before joining the University of Texas at Dallas in August 2024.
“But when we combined them, we were able to achieve skin transparency in mice.”
To master this new technique, Dr. Ou and his colleagues developed a way to predict how light would interact with stained biological tissue.
These predictions required a deep understanding not only of light scattering, but also of the process of refraction, how light changes speed and bends as it passes from one material to another.
Scattering is why we can't see through the body: fats, fluids within cells, proteins, and other substances all have different refractive indices, properties that determine how much incoming light waves bend.
In most tissues, these materials are so densely packed that differences in refractive index cause light to scatter as it passes through them, resulting in what our eyes perceive as opaque, colored biological material.
The researchers realized that if they wanted to make biological materials transparent, they had to find a way to match the different refractive indices so that light could pass through unimpeded.
Drawing on fundamental insights from optics, the researchers realized that the dyes that are most effective at absorbing light are also highly effective at directing light evenly through a wide range of refractive indices.
One dye that scientists predicted would be particularly effective was Tartrazinecommonly known as FD&C Yellow 5, is a food coloring.
As it turns out, they were right: when dissolved in water and absorbed into tissue, the tartrazine molecule becomes perfectly structured to match the refractive index, preventing light scattering and resulting in transparency.
The authors first tested their predictions on thin slices of chicken breast.
As the concentration of tartrazine increased, the refractive index of the fluid inside the muscle cells increased, matching the refractive index of muscle proteins, causing the sections to become transparent.
Next, the researchers gently applied the temporary tartrazine solution to the mice.
First, the researchers applied a solution to the scalp, making the skin transparent to reveal the blood vessels crisscrossing the brain.
The researchers then applied the solution to the abdomen, where it disappeared within minutes and demonstrated intestinal contractions and movement due to heartbeat and breathing.
This technique allows for the resolution of micron-scale features and improved microscopy.
Once the dye was washed off, the tissue quickly returned to its normal opacity.
Tartrazine appears to have no long-term effects and excess is excreted within 48 hours.
“It's important that the dye is biocompatible and safe for living organisms,” Dr. Ou said.
“Plus, it's very cheap and efficient. You don't need that much of it to work.”
The team has yet to test the process on humans, whose skin is about 10 times thicker than that of mice.
“At this point, it's unclear how much dye or the delivery method is needed to penetrate the entire skin,” Dr. Ou said.
“In human medicine, we now have ultrasound that can see much deeper into the body.”
“Many medical diagnostic platforms are prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to a wide range of users, but this shouldn't be the case for a platform based on our technology.”
of study Published in this week's journal Science.
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Wu Zhihao others2024. Achieving optical transparency in living animals using absorbing molecules. Science 385 (6713); doi: 10.1126/science.adm6869
This article is an edited version of an original release from the National Science Foundation and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Scanning electron microscope image Synechococcus Cyanobacteria
Eyes of Science/Science Photo Library
Despite being one of the simplest life forms on Earth, cyanobacteria are able to predict and prepare for seasonal changes based on the amount of light they receive.
It has been known for over a century that complex organisms can use day length as a cue to future environmental conditions – for example, days shortening before cold weather sets in. Phenomena such as plant and animal migration, flowering, hibernation and seasonal reproduction are all guided by such responses, known as photoperiodism, but this has not previously been seen in simpler life forms such as bacteria.
Luisa Jabbour Later, at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, colleagues artificially Synechococcus elongatus By exposing the cyanobacteria to different day lengths, they found that those that experienced simulated short days were two to three times better able to survive icy temperatures, preparing them for winter-like conditions.
By testing shorter and longer durations, the researchers found that it took four to six days for a response to appear.
Because these organisms can produce new generations within a matter of hours, their cells must pass on information about the length of daylight to their offspring, but researchers don’t yet understand how this information is transmitted.
Cyanobacteria, which capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, have been around for more than two billion years and are found almost everywhere on Earth.
“The fact that organisms as ancient and simple as cyanobacteria have a photoperiodic response suggests that this is a phenomenon that has evolved much longer than we had imagined,” says Jabbour, who is now at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK.
The team also looked at how gene expression patterns change in response to changes in day length, suggesting that photoperiodism likely evolved by exploiting existing mechanisms to cope with acute stresses such as bright light and extreme temperatures.
These findings also have implications for the evolution of circadian rhythms, the internal clocks that regulate day-night cycles, team members say. Karl Johnson At Vanderbilt University.
“I think we’ve always thought that circadian clocks evolved before organisms were able to measure the length of days and nights and predict the changing of seasons,” he says, “but the fact that photoperiodism evolved in such ancient, simple organisms, and that our gene expression results are linked to stress response pathways that seem to have evolved very early in life on Earth, suggests that photoperiodism may have evolved before the circadian clock,” Johnson says.
The yellow food coloring tartrazine changes the speed at which light passes through tissue.
University of Texas at Dallas
Massaging common food coloring into the skin of a live mouse makes the animal’s tissue transparent, allowing researchers to see its blood vessels and organs working — a technique that may one day help doctors peer deeper into our bodies to diagnose diseases.
It’s not easy to see the internal environment of a live animal. If the animal is dead, we can get a better look by sectioning the tissue or using chemicals to remove proteins and fats. In live animals, some things can be seen with a scan or endoscopy, but to see live tissue, you often have to cut it up.
now, Wu Zhihao Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have been able to make mouse tissue transparent by rubbing the skin of live mice with the food dye tartrazine, also known as E102 or Yellow 5. When the skin absorbs the dye molecules, it changes the tissue’s refractive index – the speed at which light passes through the skin.
The dye allowed visualization of organs in living mice.
Zhihao Ou et al. 2024
The mice then became transparent, enabling the researchers to watch peristalsis, the muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract, and to view blood vessels on the surface of the mouse brain.
To understand how this technology works, Oh says, think of carbonated water. Light passing through the liquid changes direction each time it goes from the water to the air bubbles and back again, Oh says. That means the light scatters in all directions and doesn’t penetrate the liquid as easily as it does flat air or water. Biological tissue behaves in a similar way because it contains not only a lot of water, but also other molecules like lipids and proteins, which typically have a higher refractive index than water.
Adding the dye brings the refractive index of water closer to that of lipids and other molecules in the tissue, scattering light less, “which means you can see deeper and probe deeper,” Ou says.
The dye can be washed off and does not appear to harm the rats.
The study gets to the heart of one of the biggest problems in microscopy, Christopher Rowlands “If you tried to see more than a millimetre away from the surface of the tissue, you couldn’t. It wasn’t possible before, and now all of a sudden you can,” he says. “Before you could only see a millimetre, now you can see a centimetre away, and that centimetre makes a huge difference in many applications.”
Rowlands says that tartrazine could potentially be toxic in large amounts if applied to the skin, but neurobiologists routinely stick probes and lenses into the brain and remove parts of the cortex, so using a dye that’s widely accepted as safe for ingestion on the skin would probably be less harmful, he says.
But while the technique makes skin more transparent, it won’t give doctors complete visibility inside a person’s body. “It’s not like Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak,” Rowlands says. “It will make the skin look more glassy than it should.” Even if the effect were to happen throughout the body, Rowlands says, doctors would still be able to see bones and specialized structures inside cells called organelles.
Supermodel Elle Macpherson refuses chemotherapy to treat breast cancer
Australian Press Agency/Alamy
Half of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, but how many of us can confidently reject mainstream medical advice after consulting dozens of doctors?
In a recent interview Australian Women's Weekly Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson revealed that she did just that, telling the magazine that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago but refused chemotherapy, opting for an “intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach” to her treatment.
According to the magazine, MacPherson mulled over her decision for weeks after consulting with “32 doctors and specialists,” and finally, in February 2017, she decided to pursue non-pharmaceutical treatment under the guidance of her family doctor, who specializes in “integrative medicine.”
Fortunately, MacPherson is currently in clinical remission, or as she prefers to say, “perfect health.” It's futile to try to assess the risk of her decision to forego chemotherapy without knowing important details about the extent of her cancer, her coexisting risk factors, and the advice she received. For example, she underwent a partial mastectomy, her first surgery to remove a suspicious lump, but Some doctors said That might have been enough treatment.
Nevertheless, the story has sparked outrage online, galvanizing both the growing number of people who distrust “conventional medicine” and those who seek to defend it from growing attacks.
What's behind this distrust? Some researchers say the COVID-19 pandemic “Scientific skepticism” Heated debates are taking place around the world about the severity of the illness, the merits of lockdowns, and the safety of vaccines. More and moreUsed To hide their anti-scientific views, Conspiracy thinking.
For members of black and minority ethnic communities, Distrust of doctors The reluctance to seek cancer testing and treatment is also being driven by public health and medical institutions. Decades of failure Engaging with them and ensuring equal care in many countries.
In the UK in particular, confidence in the National Health Service's ability to treat cancer has declined. Has fallen in recent yearsand Reports Delaying the start of vital cancer treatment for months.
All of this means that if you're diagnosed with cancer today, your options may seem less clear than they once were. Add to that the typically grueling experience of chemotherapy, and it's no wonder that MacPherson's story of a “non-pharmaceutical” alternative therapy has garnered so much attention.
But it's worth keeping in mind that MacPherson doesn't accurately represent the vast majority of cancer patients. Estimated Net Worth With a net worth of $95 million, she can afford to seek multiple second opinions and even turn down chemotherapy. Her wealth acts as a safety net. Her “ingestible health” company WELCOand her historical romantic ties Disgraced anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield,she From 2018 to 2019McPherson's story gets even more complicated.
For most people, refusing medical care carries real risks. 2017 Study Cancer patients who choose alternative medicines as their primary treatment have been found to have a higher risk of dying within five years than those who choose conventional treatments.
Larger studies The following year, he published a study of nearly two million American cancer patients that found that use of complementary medicines was associated with refusal of conventional cancer treatment and a doubling of the risk of death within five years.
But for now, at least, the advice from organisations like Cancer Research UK is clear: there is no scientific or medical evidence that alternative therapies can cure cancer. At a time when distrust of medicine is widespread, Macpherson's account risks leading people down a dangerous path by trumpeting positive results without important context.
While anyone may be at risk for developing cancer, Macpherson, who was nicknamed “The Body” at the height of her modeling career, had enormous resources at her disposal and was always going to have a better chance than most of us of surviving cancer, regardless of her choices.
Small brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) suffers from white-nose syndrome, which has devastated bat populations across the United States.
piemags/FWL / Alamy Stock Photo
A study has revealed that a decline in bat populations in the United States, caused by the spread of a fungal disease, has resulted in reduced farm incomes and an additional 1,300 deaths of infants under the age of one.
The research found that in counties affected by bat disease, farmers had to increase their use of insecticides by 31% to make up for the decreased insect predation by bats. Eyal Frank, a researcher at the University of Chicago in Illinois, estimated that farmers in these affected counties lost $27 billion between 2006 and 2017 due to reduced crop sales and higher pesticide costs.
Furthermore, the study observed an 8% increase in the number of infant deaths before the age of one in affected counties, which Frank links to the elevated pesticide usage. He expressed concerns about the inherent toxicity of pesticides, even when used within regulated levels, suggesting potential health hazards.
The white-nose syndrome, discovered in hibernating bats in a New York state cave in 2006, has since spread across North America, resulting in millions of bat deaths. This disease has raised questions about the benefits that bats provide to farmers.
By analyzing agricultural census data, Frank compared counties where white-nose disease was detected by 2017 with those where it hadn’t been identified yet. The results indicated a consistent increase in insecticide usage in affected areas each year post-detection of the disease.
In light of the study findings, the potential link between bat deaths, pesticide use, and higher infant mortality rates was examined. While the results point towards a correlation, the exact mechanism through which increased pesticide use might lead to elevated infant mortality remains unclear.
Experts like Roel Vermeulen from Utrecht University in the Netherlands emphasize the need to broaden human health impact assessments to consider the indirect effects of environmental factors like bat population decline. Moving forward, efforts are required to preserve the vital role wildlife species play in maintaining human health and well-being.
Marks & Spencer is utilizing artificial intelligence to offer advice to shoppers regarding clothing choices based on their body type and style preferences in order to enhance online sales.
The 130-year-old retailer is employing this technology to customize consumers’ online experiences and suggest products for them to purchase.
Stephen Langford, the company’s online director, mentioned that M&S is using AI to adjust the language it uses when communicating with shoppers to cater to six different preferences, including emotive, descriptive language, and more direct prose.
One objective is to tailor online interactions with shoppers, prioritizing the products that are most suitable for them – for instance, a male shopper might not be shown the latest sale on bras.
Shoppers can also participate in a quiz about their size, body type, and style preferences to receive appropriate outfit ideas generated by M&S’s AI-driven technology.
Langford noted that 450,000 M&S shoppers have taken the quiz so far, which enables them to select an outfit from 40 million options.
The service combines input from the £7 billion company’s in-house stylists with feedback from shoppers to offer suggestions on how to mix and match various outfits.
While automation of product descriptions using AI has increased from nearly zero to 80% in the past year, Langford emphasized that “humans are still essential in the process to validate the output.”
M&S’s managing director of clothing and homewares, Richard Price, stated that the fashion industry is “accelerating its shift online” with the goal of achieving approximately a third of sales digitally by 2028.
The retailer, which operates 240 full-line stores and 325 food outlets, reported a 41% increase in profits last year, with sales climbing 9.4% to £13 billion.
Online Fashion and Home Goods Sales increased 7.8% M&S acquired over one million customers last year, with two-thirds of them coming through the internet.
The increase in online sales is partly driven by an 80% surge in spending on social media marketing and advertising in the past year, with the company now allocating more funds to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok than to TV, and almost a third of its TikTok revenue coming from entirely new customers.
During the presentation of its autumn range, Price stated that M&S had captured its first share of the women’s wear market in nine years this summer, despite facing challenging weather conditions until late July.
Although the company has traditionally been a leader in categories like knitwear and lingerie, it is gaining market share in other areas like denim, and with the winter party season approaching, it aims to surpass Next as the top seller of occasionwear.
circleTo mention that Astro Bot brings back memories of Super Mario Galaxy is a high compliment. It’s not because it’s a copy, but rather due to the abundance of new ideas that positions this game as one of Nintendo’s top 3D platformers. Traveling around a small galaxy filled with asteroid-style levels, from bathhouses to diorama-sized jungle temples to rainy islands. Each level is brimming with innovative one-shot concepts, like frog boxing gloves, backpack monkeys, and a time-stopping clock that freezes giant speeding darts for you to navigate around. The creativity of this development team truly shines in this game.
Team Asobi, known for producing Rescue Mission for PSVR and the short game Astro’s Playroom packaged with the PS5 at launch, now presents a full-length game with bonus difficulty levels that serve as a stimulating challenge for fans of 3D platforming. The game is incredibly enjoyable and distinct thanks to the lovable blue-and-white robot and its quirky friends, many of whom are dressed as characters from obscure PlayStation worlds. The meticulous attention to detail in these robots, from their movements, expressions, dance sequences, to their tiny pleas for help when in distress, exudes personality.
In Astro’s Playroom, you explore levels inspired by the speed of the SSD and the graphic processing unit’s visual flair, housed within the PlayStation 5 itself. The visual design of the environments is tech-themed, featuring trees made of tangled wires and computer-chip-like patterns decorating every surface. Astro Bot maintains a similar aesthetic while extending beyond it.
In this adventure, your PS5 acts as a robot mothership that crash-lands on a desert planet, dispersing numerous robots across the galaxy. As the lone surviving robot, you journey into each level aboard a rescue ship shaped like your PS5 controller to reunite your allies and reconstruct your robotic crew back home.
An astrobot riding a PS5 controller-shaped ship. Photo: Sony/Team Asobi
At the conclusion of each planetary cluster, a boss reminiscent of a slapstick cartoon is encountered, guarding a section of your spaceship. You then engage in cleaning and reassembling that section using a massive robotic arm, strategically pulling triggers and tilting the controller to clear away debris, cut ice chunks, and align pieces. This interactive process is incredibly fun and tactile, emphasizing the unique and sometimes eccentric aspects of the PS5 controller. Various features of the controller, from the small microphone to the touchpad, are ingeniously utilized in Astro Bot’s gameplay. The protagonist searches for weak spots along walls, clinging to his ship as you navigate through space by tilting the controller like a steering wheel.
The developers’ profound understanding of the PlayStation 5 is evident. Whether constructing a bridge with 100 robots on-screen, witnessing landscapes shattering into tiny fragments, or careening down a waterslide accompanied by inflatable balls, the gameplay is seamless and responsive. Whether testing if a log floats by slicing it with Astro’s jetpack or feeling the impact of each action through vibrations in the controller, every detail is finely tuned. Astro’s movements, jumps, and maneuvers are flawless, showcasing the level of precision in the game. This attention to detail sets this game apart, offering players a luxurious experience akin to five-star service.
The Astro Bot puts Frog’s boxing gloves to good use. Photo: Sony/Team Asobi
Another aspect I appreciate about Astro Bot is its suitability for playing with children. While lacking two-player co-op, it functions well as a game to pass the controller among players. My 7-year-old enjoyed watching me play, while my 5-year-old explored safe areas of levels and handed me the controller when faced with challenges.
Some planets in Astro Bot feature hub areas resembling enclosed playgrounds where players can engage in activities like kicking a ball, battling harmless enemies, jumping into pools, and taking on acrobatic challenges. My kids found the setting charming and dynamic, with references to classic PlayStation games like Uncharted, God of War, and Ape Escape scattered throughout.
Astro Bot, akin to Astro’s Playroom, pays homage to PlayStation’s history and design while expanding beyond a mere tech demo to establish itself as one of the top platform games in recent memory. It truly stands out as one of the finest platform games I’ve had the pleasure of playing. Until now There have been many games I’ve experienced, but being a 90s kid, I’ve played my fair share. The PlayStation hasn’t seen a captivating family game since LittleBigPlanet, and Astro Bot carries on that tradition of playful humor.
The UK government has joined the first international treaty on artificial intelligence in a bid to prevent its misuse, such as the dissemination of misinformation or the use of biased data for decision-making.
The agreement, known as the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, requires countries to implement protections against any threats AI may pose to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Drafted by the Council of Europe, the treaty was signed by the EU, UK, US, and Israel on Thursday.
According to Attorney General Shabana Mahmood, AI has the potential to enhance public services and drive economic growth, but its implementation should not compromise fundamental human rights.
Mahmood stated, “This treaty is a significant step in ensuring that these new technologies can be utilized without undermining our core values, such as human rights and the rule of law.”
Here we present an overview of the treaty and its implications for the use of AI.
What is the objective of this convention?
The Council of Europe aims to address any legal gaps that may arise due to rapid technological advancements. Recent advancements in AI have prompted a global effort to regulate the technology and mitigate potential risks.
The treaty requires AI systems to adhere to principles such as protecting personal data, non-discrimination, safe development, and respect for human dignity. Governments must implement safeguards to prevent AI-generated misinformation and biased data training that could lead to erroneous decisions.
Who is included in the treaty?
The treaty applies to the use of AI by both public authorities and the private sector. Companies and organizations using relevant AI systems must assess their impact on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law and make this information publicly available. Individuals should have the right to challenge AI decisions and file complaints with authorities.
How will this be enforced in the UK?
The UK will need to ensure that existing laws, such as the European Court of Human Rights and other human rights legislation, cover the treaty’s provisions. The government is planning to introduce a new AI Bill for consultation.
Once the treaty is ratified and enforced in the UK, it will enhance existing laws and measures, according to the government.
In terms of enforcement, authorities may prohibit certain uses of AI. For example, EU AI law prohibits systems using facial recognition databases obtained from CCTV or the internet, as well as systems that classify individuals based on their social behavior.
Reader Simon Leech responded cheerfully to Feedback magazine’s call for papers that “the title tells you all you need to know” by saying, “Well, that’s what you wanted!”
“The title says it all you need to know,” says Leach, “but the report also answers every question you could possibly imagine. The final sentence sums it up: ‘The present patient may have thought his penis would not hit the fan, but the freshness of the experience drove him to disastrous results.'” Leach adds: “As junior doctors, we BMJ I think you should try harder, we are all reading this!”
Feedback argues that, whether professional or personal, we should love our vacuum cleaners wisely, but not too much. If you know of another research paper with a title as satisfying as this, please send it to Telltale titles, c/o Feedback.
How to Remove a Cyst
Shiheng Zhao and Pierre Haas grab the reader’s attention with the title of their study. “The mechanism of puncturing the cyst”Once that’s done, they change to a less civilised tone.
Chao and Haas, from two of the three Max Planck Institutes in Dresden, Germany, demonstrate a way of running a discussion that minimizes the unpleasant parts and maximizes the technical parts.
“Similar to poking fruit samples in the supermarket to assess their edibility, indenting biological samples reveals mechanical properties that are intrinsically related to their biological function,” they write.
After that, “Pushing force and debt And the displacement e “Deformation characteristics of the indenter” and “Calculation of the elastic deformation gradient”
If you have an interesting skin condition but your friends hate you for telling them about it, try using Zhao and Haas’s elegant phraseology: A cyst, they point out, is simply “a spherical monolayer of polarized cells surrounding a fluid-filled lumen.”
Meat burger
Hundreds of Hamburgers in the city of Hamburg, Germany, answered a survey about three different types of sausages. They were selected Hamburgers, all of whom belonged to a certain age group.
The senders of the survey, Stephan GH Meyerding and Magdalena Cooper from the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, limited the questions to types of sausage: “meat, plant-based or in vitro salami.”
Of the three types of salami, meat-based is the most traditional, but plant-based versions have also grown in popularity over the past few decades, with test-tube salami made using stem cells being the newest, and still making its way from the lab to the dinner table.
Judging from their data, the conclusion seems clear: “A majority of German Gen Y and Gen Z members prefer vegan meat to real meat, and cultured meat is more popular than beef and pork.”
The verdict seems less convincing than if new studies had been conducted a few years later: “Cultured meat is still unknown and not yet available on the German market,” the researchers say.
Eat the liver
New evidence supports the age-old complaint that children don’t want to listen to adults. “Kids don’t want to eat what they should be eating…” According to the title of Villa Reka Nickel’s study on child nutrition.
During that time, the country’s eating habits and food preparation practices changed dramatically, due to “the obligation to provide public meals and general work obligations”, the study said.
Nickel illustrates their problem with hate using photos, one of which is captioned, “Fried breaded luncheon meat and creamed split peas are one of the school lunch ‘staples,’ but they were never the most popular school lunch.”
There are certain meals that many children are reluctant to eat, and Nikel has investigated this harassment in detail: “In our research, fried liver was one such meal. In Eger, they dealt with this problem by serving only rice if the child did not want liver. In Özd, children were not given this option. When I asked about the possibility of serving children as much food as they wanted, the food service manager in Özd drew my attention to an important fact: ‘It’s illegal. Parents pay for it.'”
Statistics and Baboons
“Can non-human primates perform linear regression on graphs?” ask Lorenzo Ciccione and his colleagues in their study “Baboons as statisticians.” Their tentative answer is that, to some extent, they can, but the extent to which they can “depends on the individual.”
Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.
Do you have a story for feedback?
You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past Feedback can be found on our website.
a The Chinese game Black Myth: Wukong has become a summer sensation, selling 10 million copies in just three days, as reported by developer Game Science. With over a million daily players on Steam, it marks China’s first major success in the console and PC gaming market, typically dominated by mobile games. The game’s popularity as a single-player experience contrasts with previous multiplayer failures, indicating a growing demand for this type of adventure. still The game industry executives may have underestimated the appetite for such immersive experiences.
Goku, the main character of the game, has also sparked interest for other reasons. IGN’s report shed light on public comments by Game Science employees, revealing a concerning pattern of sexism. This led to conversations about gender inequality in Chinese gaming and society as a whole. While some defended Game Science, others criticized the studio for its alleged attitudes. This controversy further fueled the debate in the gaming community.
Black Myth: Wukong’s success has placed it at the center of cultural debates in the gaming world. Recent incidents of limiting discussions around sensitive topics in game demos amplified the scrutiny on the game and its developers. The game’s guidelines reflect broader restrictions in China, raising questions about creative freedom in the country’s gaming landscape. Despite these controversies, the game continues to thrive, attracting attention from global audiences.
Gamers in Shanghai try out Black Myth: Wukong on release day.
Photo: Héctor Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
These events underscore the multi-layered significance of Black Myth: Wukong’s success, highlighting the changing dynamics in China’s gaming sector. With the game’s roots in Chinese cultural heritage, it has garnered support from nationalist sentiments. However, critiques about its gameplay quality raise questions about its lasting impact. Despite differing opinions, the game remains a pivotal example of the evolving gaming industry landscape.
What to Play
Astro Bot: “Overflowing with ideas”
Photo: Sony/Team Asobi
Dive into the imaginative world of Astro Bot on PlayStation 5, a platform game that offers endless fun and creativity. Explore the galaxy as Astro and his robot friends in a spaceship-shaped adventure. Experience the PS5’s capabilities in a captivating storyline. Stay tuned for a detailed review coming soon.
Available: PlayStation 5 Estimated play time: 20+ hours
What to Read
Concorde.
Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony’s cancellation of Concorde highlights the challenges of the gaming industry, with a failed release prompting quick action. The game’s premature end raises questions about market demand and quality standards.
Explore the legacy of Mabel Addis, the pioneering female game designer who revolutionized the industry. Her contributions to storytelling and character development set new standards for interactive entertainment.
Go to the Farm: Stardew Valley.
Photo: Photo from ConcernedApe’s High Score column
leader Adam question:
“I game online with friends regularly, and have been looking for a new story-driven online co-op adventure for a while. I'm struggling to find something to fit in for a short Friday night session. Any suggestions? As a kicker, something where he can act planned and careful, and I impulsively make a mess that he has to clean up, would be ideal.”
Discover exciting co-op adventures like Stardew Valley and Monster Hunter World, offering engaging gameplay experiences where collaboration and chaos collide. These titles provide an immersive escape for short gaming sessions with friends, catering to different play styles and preferences.
If you have a question for Question Block, or anything else you'd like to say about the newsletter, please click “Reply” or email us at pushingbuttons@theguardian.com.
The origins of Cush Jumbo Widely available, with weekly episodes Cush Jumbo is always a joy to be around during press appearances for her films (The Good Wife, Criminal Record, Hamlet), but she’s just as great now that the tables have been turned for her first podcast. She talks to stars like Kate Nash, Harlan Coben, and David Schwimmer about their origin stories, and in episode one, she interviews Anna Wintour, who says she hates people who are ambivalent and recalls being fired from Harper’s Bazaar for not being able to pin a dress on. Holly Richardson
Rebellious Spirit Widely available, with weekly episodes Comedian Akila Hughes returns to her Kentucky hometown and takes on a light-hearted yet serious mission: changing her high school’s racist mascot from a Confederate general to a biscuit. Can she drag her school into the modern era? And what will the change mean for her and the other students? Hannah Verdier
Origins host, Kush Jumbo. Photo: Darren Gerrish/WireImage for Royal Academy
Sarah and Cariad’s Weird Book Club Widely available, with weekly episodes For those who don’t fancy discussing books over cheese and wine, Sara Pascoe and Carrier Lloyd have gone beyond the usual selections for the second season of their book club. First up is Róisín Conaty’s Standard Deviation, a lovely novel by Katherine Haney about an mismatched couple doing their best to raise children. HV
Then and Now Widely available, with weekly episodes Would parenting and childhood have been better when Babatunde and Leonie Aleche were younger? The couple’s new podcast looks at the changes in parenting and is packed with laughs and chemistry. Babatunde is a comedian, but his wife is no less, and doesn’t hesitate to poke fun when needed. HV
Transmission: The Definitive Story of Joy Division and New Order Widely available, with weekly episodes Fans of New Order are in for a treat with this second season, which tells the story of the band’s journey “from black and white to color” with “Power, Corruption & Lies.” Band members and famous fans tell incredible stories about working with Arthur Baker, absorbing the beginnings of Ibiza dance culture, and the new era that saw the birth of World in Motion become a reality. HV
There is a podcast
Star Trek: The Next Generation: LeVar Burton’s Surprising Host at the LeVar Burton Reading Photo: Ronald Grant
this week, Graham Virtue 5 best podcasts Science fictionfrom alternate Marvel universes to star-studded tech thrillers.
Escape Pod The sci-fi stories featured on Escape Pod often depict dizzying or unsettling futures. But this treasure trove of lovely speculative fiction is almost prehistoric for a podcast that first launched in 2005. Each episode delivers a mix of original short stories and fiction gleaned from other sci-fi mediums, delivered in a no-frills audiobook style. With episodes averaging 30 minutes in length, you could cycle through the rise and fall of an entire galactic empire in the time it takes to walk a dog. The back catalogue of over 900 stories is mind-boggling (here Where to start), but the Escape Pod has never lost its DIY origins.
Ad Rusem The world of podcasts is a treasure trove of sci-fi audio dramas with impressive sound design and at least one big Hollywood star. The sleek yet unsettling conspiracy thriller Ad Lucem is a cutting-edge example, though its dark themes and occasional expletives may not be for everyone. Set on the eve of a transformative technology launch in 2032, its roots lie in the touch-deprived trauma of a pandemic. The show asks the question: What if a voice assistant could hug you? Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine and co-creator Troian Bellisario star in the lead roles, but veterans Fiona Shaw and Clancy Brown also deliver flawless supporting performances.
Read by LeVar Burton Actor and director LeVar Burton (pictured above) will forever be associated with science fiction after his lengthy role in Star Trek: The New Generation. But before he played chief engineer Geordi La Forge, Burton hosted the US educational television show Reading Rainbow, helping to improve literacy for generations of primary school children. These two careers came together in LeVar Burton Reads, a collection of fantastical short stories that ran for over 200 episodes before wrapping up earlier this year (finishing with a Ray Bradbury classic). As you’d expect, Burton is a skilled and emotive storyteller, and at the end of each story he also offers his own reactions and reflections, adding to the haunting intimacy of each one.
Marvel’s Wastelanders Tired of superheroes in spandex? Good news. In the world of Wastelanders, most of the Avengers are brutally killed in a surprise attack. Decades later, the United States is a patchwork of villain-ruled fiefdoms in a post-apocalyptic world. This Mad Max version of the Marvel Universe is the grim backdrop for a vivid character study of five aging survivors. Goofy space cops Star-Lord (Timothy Busfield), a bitter circus act Hawkeye (Stephen Lang), The Lone Spy Black Widow (Susan Sarandon), the angry loner Wolverine (Robert Patrick) And the tyrant sidelined Doom (Dylan Baker) The immersive worlds and rich satirical humor make each series enjoyable even before the ragtag band of misfits teams up. One last time.
Clarks World Magazine In the 1940s, science fiction magazines began publishing stories that popularized the genre. Fast forward to today, and science fiction magazines have largely replaced the mainstream of the 1970s. Asimov’s science fiction Digital Anthology Lightspeed Magazine – Create an audio spin-off. Clarks World Magazine The podcast offers a wide scope that broadens the horizons of science fiction and fantasy stories, often shedding light on international tales in translation. Episodes range from 10-minute snapshots to multi-part novellas, and if there’s a captivating sense that anything could happen, Kate Baker, the podcast’s host and narrator since 2009, provides a consistent, delightful flow.
Give it a try…
Football Weekly presenter Max Rushden teams up with comedian David O’Doherty What did you do yesterday? So they ask their famous friends how they’ve spent the last 24 hours.
Miracle Ranch, a California wellness center, promises its patients better, healthier lives through an “alkaline diet.” Chameleon: Doctor Miracle It details the fatal consequences.
BBC satire Everything is news It pairs a former diplomatic correspondent (played by real-life journalist-turned-comedian Helen Price) with a fallen cabinet minister (actor Michael Clarke) to critique the “centrist dad podcast” genre.
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YouTube is taking steps to stop recommending videos to teenagers that promote certain fitness levels, weights, or physical characteristics after experts warn about the potential harm of repeated viewing.
Although 13- to 17-year-olds can still watch videos on the platform, YouTube will no longer automatically lead them to a “maze” of related content through algorithms.
While this type of content does not violate YouTube’s guidelines, the platform recognizes the negative impact it can have on the health of some users if viewed repeatedly.
Dr Garth Graham, YouTube’s head of global health, stated that repeated exposure to idealized standards could lead teenagers to develop unrealistic self-perceptions and negative beliefs about themselves.
Experts from YouTube’s Youth and Family Advisory Board advised that certain categories of videos, harmless individually, could become troubling when viewed repeatedly.
YouTube’s new guidelines, being rolled out globally, target content that idealizes certain physical features, fitness, weight, or social aggression, among others.
Teenagers who have registered their age on the platform will no longer be repeatedly recommended such topics, following a safety framework already implemented in the US.
Clinician and YouTube advisor Allison Briscoe Smith emphasized the importance of setting “guardrails” to help teens maintain healthy self-perceptions when exposed to idealized standards.
In the UK, new online safety legislation mandates technology companies to protect children from harmful content and consider the risks their algorithms may pose to under-18s by exposing them to harmful content.
If you’re considering purchasing new audio equipment, you’re in luck: Sonos is among the brands offering Black Friday sales this year. The sales will be available not only on Sonos’ website but also through retailers like John Lewis, Amazon, Curry’s, Very, and more.
In recent years, Sonos has become one of the top speaker brands globally, known for its aesthetically pleasing products with excellent audio quality. Given their higher price point, the Black Friday sales event might be the perfect time to invest in a Sonos product.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best Black Friday deals, featuring discounts on everything from Bluetooth speakers to soundbars and more.
When is Black Friday 2024?
In the United States, Black Friday occurs annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday falls on November 29th, with Cyber Monday following on December 2nd. Sales for Black Friday often start weeks or even months in advance, so be sure to keep an eye out for your favorite deals.
How to get the best Black Friday deals in 2023
Most sales during this time tend to be genuine discounts, but some may be inflated, especially if the product hasn’t been sold at full MSRP for a while. Here are some tips to ensure you get a good deal:
Research the products you’re interested in and their prices before Black Friday sales begin
Check customer reviews, as some items may be discounted for specific reasons during a sale
Utilize online tools like Camel Camel Camel to view product price history
Compare prices for the same product across multiple retailers
Avoid making impulsive purchases
Bookmark this page to stay updated on Black Friday deals
Where can you find Sonos deals this Black Friday?
Sonos sales in the UK
Sonos Sales in the United States
The best Black Friday Sonos deals we’ve found in 2023
The Sonos Roam speaker is a must-have for any music fan – it’s the perfect balance of stylish, compact, and powerful. With five different color options available, the Roam makes an ideal Christmas gift for home audio enthusiasts.
Get a discount on the Sonos Premium Smart Soundbar and Premium Wireless Subwoofer, designed to deliver ultra-realistic sound and enhance your entertainment experience.
This home cinema audio system includes Sonos’ Premium Smart Soundbar and Premium Wireless Subwoofer, along with two Era 300 Premium Smart Speakers. While it may be a significant investment, this bundle delivers a mesmerizing audio experience with spatial sound and powerful bass.
The Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) offers an immersive performance at a competitive price. This compact speaker features a range of drivers and amplifiers to deliver exceptional audio, creating an immersive listening experience.
This powerful speaker is ideal for streaming music, radio, audiobooks, or creating surround sound. It can be controlled via the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2 and connects to Wi-Fi to fill large rooms with music.
The Sonos Move speaker is waterproof, drop-resistant, voice-enabled, and features an 11-hour battery life. It’s a portable yet powerful speaker, currently on sale at a reduced price from £399.
The Sonos Ray is one of the newest speakers from the brand, aiming to provide Sonos soundbar technology at a more affordable price. Currently, it’s on sale for £219.
The Sonos Arc with Dolby Atmos revolutionizes your entertainment experience with lifelike sound. This smart soundbar offers immersive 3D audio controlled through your TV remote, voice commands, the Sonos app, or Apple AirPlay 2.
Advanced technology delivers exceptional detail and bass, while customization features like Speech Enhancement and Trueplay optimize audio based on your room’s acoustics.
The Sonos SUB (3rd Gen) wireless subwoofer delivers powerful bass specifically designed to complement Sonos soundbars and home cinema systems. This exceptional subwoofer integrates seamlessly into Sonos’ premium audio lineup.
For more great Black Friday deals, check out our dedicated deals pages for the Best Black Friday tech deals, Best Black Friday heater deals, Black Friday Toy Deals, and Best Apple Deals for Black Friday.
We all love summer, so the thought of cold weather can make you a little depressed. Or maybe you enjoy the coziness of winter. Either way, the biggest sale of the year is just around the corner, giving you a chance to offset rising energy costs. This year, Black Friday might be the perfect time to grab a great deal on a heater.
When the house gets cold, you will inevitably need to turn on the central heating. If you have a small house or apartment, or only one room, especially When it’s cold, a space heater can be a cheaper way to deal with a home that can’t stay warm, and if you’re thinking about buying one, you might be happy to know that there are loads of heaters on sale this Black Friday.
Below, we’ve rounded up all the best deals on space heaters, portable radiators, and everything in between at discounted prices. Keep reading to discover our top picks.
When is Black Friday 2024?
In the United States, Black Friday occurs annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday falls on November 29th and Cyber Monday falls on December 2nd. Black Friday sales often start weeks or even months before Cyber Weekend, so make sure you don’t miss out on your favorite deals.
How to get the best Black Friday deals 2024
Most sales this time of year are genuine discounts, but some may be overstated, especially if the product hasn’t been sold at full MSRP for a while. Here’s how to make sure you get a good deal:
Before the Black Friday sales begin, research the products you’re interested in and their prices.
Check customer reviews when there is a sale, some items may be discounted for some reason.
Use online tools such as Camel Camel Camel View product price history
Compare prices for the same product at multiple retailers
Avoid impulse buying
Bookmark this page to stay up to date on Black Friday deals.
Where to find Black Friday heater deals
UK Heater Sales
US Heater Sales
The best Black Friday heater deals we found in 2023
VYBRA VS001W Smart 3-in-1 Air Purifier, Fan, Heater
This cooling fan also has 9 different wind speed options, a quiet motor, and a quiet airflow. It can be controlled with Amazon Alexa or the included remote, but the best thing about this fan is that it’s more than just a fan. It also doubles as a heater and purifies the air with UV rays to kill bacteria, viruses, and germs.
BELDRAY EH3109W Portable Smart Panel Heater – White
This Beldray model comes with plenty of smart features to make life easier. Not only can you adjust your heating from anywhere in the home using your smartphone, but it will automatically switch off if a window is open, helping to save energy. You can also use the timer function to schedule heating levels up to seven days ahead. It’s currently on sale for well under the usual RRP of £219.
RUSSELL HOBBS RHFH1008 Portable Hot & Cool Convector Heater – White
This hot and cold convector has two heat settings and a variable thermostat so you can easily regulate the temperature around you. With 2KW of power, it’s the perfect size for a bedroom or living room, and it’s on sale now at several retailers as part of their Black Friday promotions.
VYBRA NeatHeat VSCH01 Portable Ceramic Fan Heater – White
This Dyson fan heater is specially designed to heat a room quickly and evenly in cold weather. It’s one of the cheaper Dyson heaters but it’s packed with hi-tech features, including intelligent temperature control, a built-in sleep timer and auto-off, and it’s currently on sale at several retailers for around £100 less than the usual RRP of £399.
Best electric blanket deals
Want to save money on your energy bills this winter? Why not consider investing in an electric blanket?
Get extra cozy with this luxurious Lakeland faux fur heated throw.
Nine temperature settings keep you comfortable, while nine time settings and an auto-off function let you relax in peace. Plus, it’s machine washable at 30°C for easy care and long-lasting freshness.
Silent Night Yours and Mine Dual Control Electronic Blanket
A cost-saving alternative to a heater, this cozy fleece electric blanket has two controls, each with three temperature settings.
With ultra-fast heating and overheating safety protection, you can rest assured that you will enjoy uninterrupted comfort.
Looking for more great Black Friday deals? We’ve rounded up a great deals page for you. Best Sonos deals for Black Friday, Black Friday Toy Deals, Best Black Friday tech deals,and Best Apple Deals for Black Friday.
Purchasing a new product from Apple can be costly: whether it’s the latest iPhone, MacBook, or a relatively inexpensive iPad tablet, the well-known tech brand is not typically associated with discounts.
However, one of the rare occasions when Apple reduces its prices is during Black Friday. This massive annual sale often includes Black Friday Apple sales, allowing customers to save some money on both old and new products.
We search the internet for the top deals on Apple devices and accessories and compile them all in one place.
When is Black Friday 2024?
This year, Black Friday falls on November 29th and Cyber Monday on December 2nd. Many deals are revealed before Cyber Weekend, but some shoppers choose to wait for the deepest discounts. However, waiting too long poses a risk of the desired products selling out. It’s crucial to strike the right balance.
How to save money on Black Friday shopping in 2024
With numerous promotions available, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. We recommend preparing a few things in advance. Are you eyeing a specific brand or model? Note down the price before the sale kicks off to ensure you snag a genuine bargain.
Bookmark this page – we will monitor all sale activities throughout the month to bring you the best deals.
Consider subscribing to retailer newsletters to be among the first to learn about discounts. Camel Camel Camel or Keeper are also valuable tools for Black Friday shopping on Amazon, helping you track price changes and ensure you secure the best deal.
Where can you find Apple deals this Black Friday?
Apple Sales in the UK
US Apple Sales
The best Black Friday Apple deals we found in 2023
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch, M3 Pro processor, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2023) – Space Black
The 2023 MacBook Pro is powered by Apple’s M3 Pro processor, delivering exceptional performance for work and play. Enhanced graphics support demanding apps and games, while the Liquid Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion offers incredibly smooth visuals. With ample ports and impressive battery life, Apple has redefined the MacBook Pro, setting a new standard.
If you’re considering investing in a tablet, this iPad is an excellent choice. Featuring a 10.2-inch Retina display, powerful A13 Bionic chip, and ultra-wide front-facing camera, this iPad is compatible with Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is currently discounted by over £50 in Black Friday sales across several retailers.
Another budget-friendly tablet option is the Apple iPad 10.2-inch 256GB version. Equipped with a 10.2-inch Retina display and additional True Tone technology, this model features the A13 Bionic chip, Neural Engine, and Touch ID for enhanced security. With a discount of approximately £50, depending on the retailer, this model is currently on sale in Black Friday deals.
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch, M2 Processor, iOS, Wi-Fi, 256GB (2022) – Space Gray
The 2022 11-inch iPad Pro has been significantly enhanced, now featuring Apple’s M2 processor. Delivering exceptional performance, this iPad boasts a remarkable and advanced display. With features like the Liquid Retina display, wide viewing angle front camera, and impressive rear camera, this iPad Pro offers a professional-level experience for tasks ranging from photography to entertainment and gaming.
The iPhone 14 Plus features 128GB of storage, an advanced camera system, and all-day battery life. Currently on sale at various retailers with discounts, some also offer additional perks like three months of Apple TV+ for free with the purchase of the device.
Another model of the iPhone 14 Plus available on sale is the 256GB variant. Offering all-day battery life, collision detection safety technology, and an advanced camera system, this model is discounted at various retailers.
Another iPhone in Black Friday sales, this iPhone 14 comes with 128GB of storage and is currently discounted to around £649 from the usual £764 at retailers including Very and Amazon.
Select AirPod models are currently on sale at discounted prices, with Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) available at unique new prices from multiple retailers. Designed for an enhanced audio experience, the AirPods Pro offer up to 2x more noise cancellation than the previous generation, making them ideal for commuters and those working in shared spaces.
Watch Series 8 GPS + Cellular, 45mm, Regular – Red
Your Apple Watch Series 8, a reliable health companion, has now been enhanced with more power. In addition to advanced health features, it comes with temperature sensors for deeper insights and collision detection for emergency aid*. Featuring sleep stage monitoring and an upgraded Workout app for improved health, it automatically identifies workouts and tracks blood oxygen, heart rate, sleep, and more for optimal health.
*Emergency SOS requires Wi-Fi calling with cellular or internet connection from your Apple Watch or nearby iPhone.
Looking for more great Black Friday deals? We’ve compiled a fantastic deals page for you. Best Sonos deals for Black Friday, Black Friday Toy Deals, Best Black Friday heater deals, and Best Apple Deals for Black Friday.
I I considered leaving Twitter shortly after Elon Musk bought it in 2022 because I didn't want to be part of a community that could potentially be bought, much less by a guy like him. Soon, the nasty “long and intense” bullying of staff began. But I've had some of the most interesting conversations of my life on Twitter, randomly, hanging out, or being invited to talk. “Has anyone else been devastatingly lonely during the pandemic?” “Has anyone had a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend from middle school?” We called Twitter a place to tell the truth to strangers (Facebook is a place to lie to friends), and the breadth of it was mutual and wonderful.
After the BlueCheck fiasco, things got even more unpleasant: identity verification became something you could buy, which made you less trustworthy. So I joined a rival platform, Mastodon, but quickly realized I'd never get 70,000 followers like I did on Twitter. I wasn't looking for attention. In itself, But my peers were less diverse and less loud, and my infrequently updated social media feeds gave me the eerie, slightly depressing feeling of walking into a mall only to find that half the stores are closed and the rest are all selling the same thing.
In 2023, the network now known as X began. Sharing advertising revenue with “premium” usersthen I joined Threads (owned by Meta), where all I see are strangers confessing to petty misdemeanors. I stayed with X, where everything is darker. People get paid for engagement indirectly through ads. It's also a bit vague. It's described as “revenue sharing,” but it doesn't tell you which ad revenues were shared with you. So you can't measure revenue per impression. Is X splitting it 50/50? Or is it 10/90? Are they actually paying you to generate hate?
Elon Musk: “Infiltrated into far-right politics” Photo: Getty Images
“What we've seen is that controversial content drives engagement,” says Ed Saperia, president of the London School of Politics and Technology. “Extreme content drives engagement.” It's become possible to make a living creating harmful content. My 16-year-old son noticed this long before I did with Football X. People are going to say obviously wrong things for the clicks of hate. David Cameron Similar to Catherine the GreatBut that's nothing compared to the engagement you get when attacking, say, transgender people. High-profile tweets are surfaced directly to the top of the “for you” feed by a “black box algorithm designed to keep you scrolling,” said Rose Wang, COO of another rival, Blue Sky, which serves up a constant stream of repetitive topics designed to annoy users.
As a result of these changes, “the platform has become inundated with individuals who were previously banned from the platform, ranging from extremely niche accounts to people like Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate,” says Joe Mulhall, head of research at Hope Not Hate. We saw the impact of this reality this August when misinformation about the identity, ethnicity and religion of the killer of three girls in Southport sparked overtly racist unrest across the UK the likes of which had not been seen since the '70s. “Not only was X responsible for creating an atmosphere for rioting, it was also a central hub for the organisation and distribution of content that led to rioting,” says Mulhall.
A man named Wayne O'Rourke, a “keyboard warrior,” was convicted of inciting racial hatred on social media after the August race riots. Monthly salary of £1,400 From his activities at X. The vocal Laurence Fox last month Earn a similar amount Posted on X. O'Rourke had 90,000 followers, but Tommy Robinson has over a million followers and presumably makes a lot more money.
Meanwhile, governments have no surefire remedy, even when, as Mulhall puts it, “decisions made on the US West Coast clearly impact our communities.” In April, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sought to suspend fewer than 100 X accounts for hate speech and fake news, mainly as supporters of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro challenged the legitimacy of his defeat. X refused, and also declined to defend itself in court. On Monday, Brazil's Supreme Court unanimously upheld the platform-wide ban, saying the platform “considers itself above the rule of law.” From a business perspective, it's surprising that Musk didn't try harder to avoid it, but there may be other things he values more than money, such as exemption from government and democratic constraints.
Tommy Robinson…Musk has rescinded the ban from X. Picture: James Manning/PA
So is it moral to remain on a platform that has done so much to help bring the politics of division and hate from our keyboards into real life? Is X worse than Facebook or TikTok or (wow!) YouTube? And is it intentionally bad? In other words, are we watching Musk's master plan unfold?
“This is not the first time that extremist content has been circulating online,” Saperia says. “There are a lot of bad platforms, and a lot of bad things are happening there.” X's problem may not be bad regulation, he points out, but bad enforcement. And it's not just X's problem. “Have you seen the UK court system these days? Cases from five years ago are being tried. Without the law, society would be impossible.”
While X may be a catalyst for inciting and rallying civil unrest, from the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol to Southport and beyond, Saperia says it's important to keep in mind that “politics is shifting rightward, but not just because of the media environment, but also for complex economic reasons: the middle-class West is getting poorer.” Donald Trump may have shocked the traditional U.S. media by speaking directly to voters with his crude and increasingly insane messages, but it's naive to think that a complacent public resting on a prosperous future would embrace his authoritarian moves. Whether social media is funding it or not, the anger is there, and “all the mainstream platforms have generally failed at hate speech,” Mulhall says. “They didn't want this content, but they were struggling to deal with it. And after Charlottesville, they made some progress.” [the white supremacist rally in 2017] Or Capitol Hill.”
Still, Hope Not Hate divides far-right online activity into three strains: mainstream platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook that are not interested in fascism but are struggling to eradicate it and perhaps do not invest enough in moderation and regulation; hijacked platforms like Discord and Telegram that started as chat sites and messaging services and became the far-right’s favorite chat apps, probably due to their superior privacy or encryption; and bespoke platforms like Rumble (partially funded by fundamentalist libertarian billionaire Peter Thiel), Gab (which became a center of mainly anti-Semitic hate after the gunman of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting posted his manifesto there) or Parler, which was acquired by Kanye West in 2022 after he was banned from Instagram and Twitter for anti-Semitism.
Synthesis: Guardian Design; X
“Twitter is unconventional,” Mulhall says. “It's ostensibly a mainstream platform, but now it has its own moderation policies. Elon Musk himself is steeped in far-right politics, so it's behaving like it's its own platform, which is what makes it so different. And it's so much more harmful, so much worse. And it's also because, although it has terms of service, it doesn't necessarily enforce them.”
Musk's commitment to free speech is surprisingly unconvincing. He used it to veto Lula's demands in Brazil, but was happy to oblige Narendra Modi's demands in India, where he suspended hundreds of accounts linked to the Indian farmer protests in February. “Free speech is a tool, not a principle, for Musk,” Mulhall says. “He's a techno-utopian with no attachment to democracy.”
But global civil society finds it very difficult to summarily reject the free speech argument because the counterargument is so dark: that many billionaires – not just Musk, but Thiel of Rumble, Parler's original backer, Rebecca Mercer (daughter of Breitbart funder Robert Mercer), and indirectly, billionaire sovereigns like Putin – have succeeded in transforming society and destroying the trust we have in each other and in institutions. It is much more comfortable to think that they are doing it by chance, simply because they love “free speech,” than to think that they are doing it deliberately. “The key to understanding neo-reactionary and ‘dark enlightenment’ movements is that these individuals have no interest whatsoever in maintaining the status quo,” says Mulhall.
“In some jurisdictions, the actions of state rulers and billionaires are pretty much correlated,” Saperia says. We see that in Russia. “Putin is using the state to manipulate social media to create polarization. That's pretty much proven,” Mulhall says. But where tech and politics don't line up, politics doesn't often prevail. Governments seem pretty powerless in the face of these tech giants. “Racial hatred and attempted murder are being nurtured on these platforms,” Mulhall says. “And people don't even believe it's possible to get Musk to Congress.”
Andrew Tait leaves court in Bucharest. Photo: Alexandre Dobre/AP
In Paris, Telegram founder Pavel Durov is under formal investigation over allegations that the app is linked to organized crime, and Musk is named as a defendant in a cyberbullying lawsuit brought by gold medallist Imane Kheriff. The boxer, who was born female and has never identified as transgender or intersex, has faced defamatory claims about her gender with an X from a number of public figures, including British politician J.K. Rowling and Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Andrew Tait has Charged by Romanian authorities He writes about human trafficking and rape, but his online The fantasy of misogyny The policy, which has far-reaching implications around the world, of treating women as a slave class has not received the same condemnation as YouTube, Insta, TikTok and Facebook's bans from their platforms, while the freedom to operate freely on X has lessened the impact of these bans and led to them being reversed. The EU has at least been more successful than the US in holding social media giants to the same corporate responsibility as, say, pharmaceutical or oil companies, but regulations are still scrambling to keep up with a changing reality where the sector is moving from the virtual to the real world at an ever-increasing rate.
But governments don't need to step in and tell us to stop using X. We can do it ourselves. Brazilians who don't use Twitter are migrating to Bluesky, which Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey founded in 2019. “We've had a tumultuous four days alone. As of this morning, we've added nearly 2 million new users,” Bluesky's Wang said Monday. If we all did that (I did!), would the power of X disappear? Or will it just be divided into good and bad places?
Bluesky serves a similar purpose to X, but is designed quite differently. Wang explains: “No one organization controls the platform. All the code is open source, and anyone can copy and paste the entire code. We don't own your data; you can take it wherever you want. We have to acquire your users through performance, or you'll go away. It's a lot like how search engines work: if you make them attractive by putting ads everywhere, people will go to another search engine.”
Paleontologists have unearthed the skeletal remains of a previously unknown species of rock-backed dinosaur at the Lo Hueco fossil site in Cuenca, Spain.
Artist’s Reproduction Cuncasaura Pintikiniestra. Image credit: José Antonio Peñas Artero.
Cuncasaura Pintikiniestra It lived in Europe during the Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago.
This ancient creature SaltasauridaeA superfamily that belongs to the titanosaur dinosaur clade. Lithotropia.
“Titanosaurs were a successful group of sauropod dinosaurs that underwent an important diversification event during the Early Cretaceous, establishing several different lineages, including the lithosaurs,” said Dr Pedro Mocho from the University of Lisbon and his colleagues.
“The Lithostrotians dominated the Late Cretaceous sauropod fauna and were represented by two major groups, Saltasauroidea and Colossals, which included the smallest to the largest terrestrial animals.”
“They survived until the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, after which they became extinct, like all other non-avian dinosaurs.”
Paleontologists found a jointed, partially articulated skeleton. Cuncasaura Pintikiniestra At the Lo Hueco ruins Villalba de la Sierra Formation In Cuenca, Spain.
“Cuncasaura Pintikiniestra “This fossil stands out as one of the most complete sauropod skeletons ever found in Europe, including cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, parts of the pelvic girdle and limb elements,” the researchers said.
“The unique morphology of the caudal vertebrae in particular provides new insights into a historically poorly understood group of non-avian dinosaurs from the Iberian Peninsula.”
This discovery reveals for the first time the existence of at least two distinct saltasauroid lineages in the Iberian region.
“One of these groups is Relaisaurinae“They are relatively well known from the Iberian Peninsula and are characterised by small to medium-sized species that have evolved in island ecosystems,” Dr Mocho said.
“In other words, Late Cretaceous Europe was a huge archipelago made up of several islands.”
“but, Cuncasaura Pintikiniestra It is a medium to large-sized species that belongs to a separate group of sauropods and lived on the Iberian Peninsula about 73 million years ago.”
“This suggests that this lineage arrived on the Iberian Peninsula much later than other dinosaur groups.”
“we Cuncasaura Pintikiniestra “As a representative of the opisthocoelicaudine family Saltasauridae inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere (Laurasia),” the researchers said.
“On the other hand, most of the Late Cretaceous sauropods of southwestern Europe Roecotitan Panda FilandiPreviously discovered at Lo Hueco, the dinosaur belongs to the Relaisaurinae, a group of sauropods thought to have lived only in continental Europe.”
“Our study suggests that Roeco is the only place where both groups are known to coexist, and we propose a new group of titanosaurs, called Roecosauridae, that contains representatives of both lineages.”
“Roeucosaurus may have originated on the southern continent (Gondwana) before spreading around the world.”
of Survey results Published in a journal Communication Biology.
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P. Mocho others2024. Spanish saltasauroid titanosaur reveals Late Cretaceous Europe as a melting pot of endemic and introduced sauropods. Communication Violet 7, 1016; doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06653-0
in paper Published in the journal Nature ChemistryScientists have proposed a new explanation for a series of severe environmental crises known as marine anoxia, which occurred between 185 and 85 million years ago (during the Mesozoic era) when the amount of dissolved oxygen in the oceans became extremely low.
Oceanic anoxia was a geologically abrupt phase of extreme oxygen depletion in the oceans that disrupted marine ecosystems and led to evolutionary shifts. These events, which usually lasted about 1.5 million years, occurred frequently during the Mesozoic Era, between about 183 and 85 million years ago. One hypothesis suggests that anoxia resulted from increased chemical weathering of the Earth's surface on a greenhouse world with high volcanic carbon emissions. Gernon othersA combination of plate reconstructions, tectonic geochemical analyses and global biogeochemical modelling tested this hypothesis. Image courtesy of the University of Southampton.
“Ocean anoxia is like hitting the reset button on the Earth's ecosystems,” said Prof Tom Gernon, from the University of Southampton.
“The challenge was to understand what geological forces pushed the button.”
The researchers investigated the influence of plate tectonic forces on ocean chemistry during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, collectively known as the Mesozoic Era.
“This period in Earth's history is also known as the Age of the Dinosaurs and is well exposed along the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast on the south coast of England, Whitby in Yorkshire and Eastbourne in East Sussex,” Prof Gernon said.
Scientists have combined statistical analysis and advanced computer modelling to investigate how the ocean's chemical cycle may have responded to the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, the giant landmass once home to dinosaurs.
“During the Mesozoic Era, the continents broke apart and intense volcanic activity occurred around the world,” Prof Gernon said.
“As the plates shifted and new ocean floor was formed, phosphorus, a nutrient essential to life, was released in large quantities into the ocean from weathered volcanic rocks.”
“Importantly, we found evidence of multiple instances of chemical weathering on both the ocean floor and the continents, alternating between destroying the oceans — like a geological tag team.”
The authors find that the timing of these weathering waves coincides with most of the marine anoxic events in the rock record.
They argue that phosphorus that entered the ocean through weathering acted as a natural fertilizer, promoting the growth of marine life.
However, this fertilization phenomenon came at a great cost to marine ecosystems.
“Increased biological activity caused huge amounts of organic matter to sink to the seafloor, consuming huge amounts of oxygen,” said Prof Benjamin Mills, from the University of Leeds.
“This process ultimately left large swaths of the ocean anoxic, or 'dead zones' where oxygen was depleted and most marine life died.”
“The anoxic conditions typically lasted for one to two million years and had profound effects on marine ecosystems, the effects of which are still felt today.”
“The organic-rich rocks that accumulated during these events are the source of the world's largest commercial oil and gas reserves to date.”
The findings explain the causes of extreme biological chaos during the Mesozoic Era and highlight the devastating effects of nutrient overload on marine environments today.
“Studying geological events provides valuable insights that help us understand how Earth will respond to future climatic and environmental stresses,” Professor Gernon said.
Overall, the results reveal stronger-than-expected connections between Earth's solid interior and its surface environment and biosphere, especially during periods of tectonic and climatic upheaval.
“It is remarkable how a series of events occurring inside the Earth can have such profound, often devastating, effects on the surface,” Prof Gernon said.
“Continental breakup could have profound effects on evolutionary processes.”
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TM Gernon othersSolid Earth forcing of Mesozoic oceanic anoxia. National GeographyPublished online August 29, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01496-0
This article has been adapted from an original release from the University of Southampton.
NASA announced on Wednesday that the troubled Boeing spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station on Friday and attempt to return to Earth without any astronauts on board. The uncrewed liftoff of the Starliner spacecraft is set to take place, assuming the weather is clear at the landing site in New Mexico. The return journey is expected to last about six hours, with the spacecraft scheduled to land at White Sands Spaceport early Saturday morning.
This return flight marks the final phase of a challenging test flight that did not go as planned. The mission was supposed to demonstrate Boeing’s capability to safely transport astronauts to the space station, leading to NASA certification. However, after encountering issues with thrusters and a helium leak from its propulsion system, the mission had to be aborted, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the space station for an extended period of time.
During a press conference, Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, expressed excitement about Starliner’s return and the lessons learned from this test flight. The spacecraft is set to undock from the space station on Friday evening and land in New Mexico early Saturday morning.
The undocking process will be different without astronauts on board, with precautions taken to protect the space station in case of any malfunctions. After departing from the space station, Starliner will perform a deorbit burn before landing in New Mexico with the help of parachutes and airbags.
A successful return would be significant for Boeing, potentially signaling the safe return of NASA astronauts aboard the spacecraft. However, NASA has requested SpaceX to handle the return flight to minimize risks.
The certification process for Starliner remains uncertain, with NASA and Boeing working together to address issues and improve the spacecraft’s thrusters.
Boeing, along with SpaceX, was awarded a contract under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to develop spacecraft for transporting astronauts to low Earth orbit. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has been successfully ferrying NASA astronauts to the space station since 2020.
The city of Rancho Palos Verdes has already faced setbacks in its potential efforts to mitigate land transfers. Last month, the city Deeper landslides discovered. The region is also experiencing active earthquakes, and officials said earthquakes deeper than 300 feet are fast-moving and penetrate too far underground to dig drains or pumps to remove the water.
Now that a state of emergency has been declared, Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruickshank said the allocated funds will go to support city government and landslide prevention efforts, but won’t go to individual homeowners.
Homeowners whose electricity has been cut off will need to come up with tens of thousands of dollars or more to switch to off-grid alternatives like solar or battery technology, Cruickshank said. He told a local CBS affiliate. He expects the state to cover those costs.
Cruickshank added that typical home insurance policies would not cover the hundreds of landslides, so residents are already responsible for damage to their homes. Documented It is held annually in California.
Tim Kelly, a mechanical engineer who moved to the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes 30 years ago, said he now generates electricity with solar panels and is staying in his home. Kelly attended a rally Tuesday where residents appealed to city officials for a solution.
“We’re resilient,” Kelly said of the community. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Kelly said other homes in the area have shifted foundations and some are cracked and split in parts, but his house is not moving. He added that he and his neighbors have no plans to abandon their homes and are hoping government leaders and scientists can figure out how to best “stop the landslide.”
Kelly said that for decades, local governments have been unable to come up with a long-term solution to stop water from flooding the canyon and flowing into the ocean. Now, the issue has reached a critical point for the city, and time is of the essence.
“Patients are sick,” Kelly said. “You have to do something to bring them back to life.”
Predicted trajectory of asteroid CAQTDL2 over the Philippines
Catalina Sky Survey/ESA
The asteroid struck Earth and burned up in the atmosphere east of the Philippines. Astronomers spotted it just hours before it streaked across the sky in a bright fireball, but many on the ground couldn’t see it because of cloudy skies caused by Typhoon Enteng.
The asteroid, estimated to be about one meter in diameter, was a NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey. It was originally designated CAQTDL2 and was later renamed 2024 RW1.
As expected, the asteroid struck the east of the northernmost island of the Philippine archipelago at around 1645 GMT, 1745 London time, 1245 New York time, or 0045 local time. The impact speed was predicted to be 17.6 kilometers per second, or 63,360 kilometers per hour. Alan Fitzsimmons. That’s average for such an object, says a researcher at Queen’s University in Belfast, UK. “Don’t be fooled by Hollywood movies where you see something screaming into the sky and you have time to run out the house, grab your cat, hop in your car and drive somewhere. You don’t have time for that,” he says.
Asteroid CAQTDL2 can be seen moving across the sky in a purple circle.
Catalina Sky Survey
Luckily, no evacuations were necessary: NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office posted on social media that the asteroid “safely impacted Earth’s atmosphere.”
“Something that small wouldn’t do any damage on the ground because the Earth’s atmosphere blocks that,” Fitzsimmons said. Video shared on social media from Cagayan province in the northern tip of the Philippines shows a flickering green fireball appearing behind a cloud, followed by an orange tail, before disappearing a few seconds later.
☄️? Wow! The newly discovered 1-1.5m diameter asteroid 2024 RW1 (discovered by US near-Earth asteroid hunters) burned up over the Philippines just hours after it was first sighted.
This asteroid was not a danger, but if it had been, it could have been a warning to hunker down and take cover. pic.twitter.com/Fht4yqRsBP
Fitzsimmons said two to three objects this size hit Earth every year, and early detection is becoming more common – astronomers detected the first near-Earth asteroid before it fell to Earth in 2008. 2024 RW1 will be the ninth asteroid to be accurately predicted to hit Earth.
“The really good thing about this is that our survey telescopes are now good enough to detect these objects as they approach and to provide a warning,” he says. “In other words, if this object was bigger and potentially threatening to people on the ground, it would have appeared brighter and projected farther. So this is a really cool demonstration that our current survey systems work really well. Right now, we’re probably averaging about one asteroid per year that gets detected before it hits the atmosphere, and survey systems are getting better and better.”
Not only is Earth developing and improving its early warning systems, but in 2022 NASA’s Dual Asteroid Reorientation Test (DART) spacecraft proved it could potentially save Earth from a catastrophic impact with a larger object. DART struck the 160-meter-wide moonlet Dimorphos, slowing it slightly, demonstrating that in theory such a disaster could be averted. Next month, the European Space Agency will launch the Hera mission to study the consequences of the impact in detail and further our understanding of planetary defense.
Whenever a rocket launch or mission goes wrong, experts always say the same thing: “Space is hard.” As advances in the space industry accelerate, this mantra has only grown more important, if not less, as we face—and, for the most part, overcome—the challenges of spaceflight with increasing frequency.
The situation that has unfolded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) over the past few months is a case in point: Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully completed its first manned flight on June 5, but a hardware problem meant that after arriving at the ISS it was unclear whether the two NASA astronauts on board would be able to safely return to Earth as scheduled.
So after ground tests and much deliberation, NASA reversed course, announcing that its astronauts would stay longer and return instead in February 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft (see “Astronauts stranded on ISS reveal U.S. space program not in peril.”) A potentially catastrophic problem was reduced to a mere inconvenience thanks to NASA’s wise decision a decade ago to hire not one but two companies to build the capsules that would carry astronauts into space. We’d always known space was a tough place, and preparation paid off.
The first ever private spacewalk will likely be the most dangerous one ever.
Hopefully, the thorough preparations will also pay off for the crew of SpaceX’s upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, which, if all goes well, will conduct the first-ever civilian spacewalk, and perhaps the most dangerous one ever (see page 8).
If the flight goes well, it will be another big win for commercial spaceflight, and especially for SpaceX, as it will be the first test of the company’s new spacesuit. Aging spacesuits have been a big problem for NASA and other space agencies for decades. The spacesuits NASA uses are the same ones astronauts wore in the 1980s and are long past their prime. A new spacesuit that is comfortable for civilians to wear, has better mobility, better temperature regulation and is more reliable would be a big win. It would make life in space a little easier.
Shares in AI chip designer Nvidia have been falling overnight following reports that US authorities are stepping up an investigation into whether the company has violated competition laws.
The company’s shares fell 2.4% in after-hours trading, supplementing a fall of nearly 10% in regular trading, sending its market capitalisation down by $279bn (£212bn) to $2.6trn, the biggest one-day fall ever for a US company.
Bloomberg reported that overnight, the Department of Justice sent subpoenas to Nvidia and other tech companies, taking steps to legally compel recipients to hand over information.
Nvidia executives are said to be concerned that the company is making it difficult for customers to switch to other semiconductor suppliers and penalizing buyers that refuse to give them exclusive use of Nvidia’s AI chips.
The moves mark an intensification of the U.S. antitrust investigation and bring the government one step closer to filing formal charges against Nvidia.
Tuesday’s sell-off came amid a market-wide sell-off sparked by weak U.S. manufacturing data that raised broader concerns among investors about the outlook for the U.S. economy. Manufacturing contracted at a moderate pace in August, with new orders, production and employment levels declining, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s monthly survey of factories.
That sent the S&P 500 down more than 2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell nearly 3.3%. Uncertainty spread to Asia, where Japan’s Nikkei fell 4.2% on Wednesday and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index fell 1.9%.
This has exacerbated recent volatile trading for Nvidia and other AI-related stocks, including Google, Apple and Amazon, as investors worry that the real impact — and tangible benefits — of the much-touted AI revolution may still be a long way off.
Founded in 1993, Nvidia primarily designed chips for video games, but during the cryptocurrency boom it realized its processing technology could be used to mine digital coins. Since then, the company has shifted its focus to artificial intelligence, riding a new wave of excitement about the potential of large-scale language models.
The company last week reported a 122% increase in second-quarter revenue, but signs of slowing growth, especially around its next-generation AI chip, code-named “Blackwell,” have spooked investors.
An Nvidia spokesman said: “We win on merit, as reflected in our benchmark results and value to customers, so they can choose the solution that’s best for them.”
Amazon has announced a pay increase of nearly 10% for tens of thousands of UK workers, rejecting attempts by the GMB union to gain negotiating rights over pay and working conditions.
The online retailer said the increase will see the minimum wage rise by 9.8%, to between £13.50 and £14.50 an hour depending on location. Staff with more than three years of service will receive a minimum wage of between £13.75 and £14.75 an hour.
The pay increase will apply to thousands of employees from September 29th, including those working in Amazon’s UK fulfilment centres.
Amazon’s UK workers have recently staged a series of strikes. The company is investing £550 million in pay increases for staff from 2022 onwards, adding that staff receive benefits such as subsidised meals and discounts.
A spokesman said: “That’s why we’re proud to announce that we’re increasing the minimum starting salary for all frontline employees to the equivalent of at least £28,000 per annum and continuing to offer industry-leading benefits from day one.”
GMB organiser Rachel Fagan said: “Forced to act by workers striking, Amazon’s management has done too little, too late. Amazon’s reputation has been tarnished by the way it treats its workers and now management is trying to cover up the facts. Unsafe working conditions, low pay and excessive oversight are ruining the lives of Amazon workers every day.”
In July, GMB narrowly lost a statutory vote at an Amazon warehouse outside Coventry that led to the union’s formal recognition. In a hotly contested vote, 50.5% of workers rejected recognition of the union.
Workers in Coventry have staged a series of strikes over the past 18 months demanding a £15 an hour minimum wage and the right to negotiate directly with management, and last November they were joined on the picket lines by trade unionists from Europe and the US who have been raising similar issues in their home countries.
Amazon, which has a global policy of refusing to work with labor unions, preferring to deal directly with employees, is the retail-to-cloud services group founded by Jeff Bezos in his garage in 1994 and now worth nearly $2 trillion.
Some workers at the Coventry warehouse have accused Amazon of using union-busting tactics, such as displaying QR codes which, when scanned, would send an email to GMB’s membership department to cancel employees’ membership.
The Labour government has promised to make it easier for trade unions to gain recognition as part of a package of measures aimed at increasing the bargaining power of British workers.
More than half of uncollected plastic waste is incinerated
Tim Gainey/Alamy
Approximately 1.5 billion people around the world have no access to waste collection services, making how to dispose of plastic waste a serious environmental issue.
Most of these households resort to incinerating their plastic waste or dumping it in the environment, new analysis argues, arguing that comprehensive collection services are the only way to curb global plastic pollution.
Costas Bellis Researchers from the University of Leeds in the UK used municipal waste data and census data to model plastic waste flows in cities around the world, then used this data to train an AI algorithm to predict how waste is generated and disposed of in more than 50,000 urban areas around the world.
Bellis says this bottom-up approach offers an “unprecedented” look at how plastic waste is processed and why it becomes a pollutant in different countries. “It's never been done before,” he says.
Velis' team estimates that 52.1 million tonnes of plastic waste (one-fifth of the global total) becomes polluting each year. Most of it occurs in poor countries where waste collection is unreliable or not available at all. Rather than being properly treated, most of this plastic waste is burned in homes, on the streets or in small dumps, without any environmental controls.
Researchers estimate that about 57% of uncollected plastic waste is disposed of in this way, while the remaining 43% is dumped into the environment. Burning plastic not only releases greenhouse gases, but also carcinogenic dioxins, particulate pollution, and heavy metals. All of these are harmful to human health..
Low-income countries generally produce much less plastic waste per capita, but much of that waste ends up polluting the environment, whereas in high-income countries, where the majority of waste is collected and treated, littering is the biggest source of plastic pollution.
The findings highlight the need for low-income countries to receive support to establish comprehensive waste collection systems for all their citizens, Velis said. India, Nigeria and Indonesia were named as countries with the highest rates of plastic pollution.
The study comes ahead of a conference in Busan, South Korea, in November to consider adopting the world's first plastic waste treaty. Velis calls for the treaty to include measures requiring countries to steadily increase the proportion of waste treated in appropriate facilities and for high-income countries to increase financial support. “Lack of waste collection is the biggest cause of the decline in plastic waste,” he says. [plastic pollution] “That's where the problem lies,” he says.
Meta’s content moderation board decided that implementing a complete ban on pro-Palestinian slogans would hinder freedom of speech. They supported the company’s choice to allow posts on Facebook that include the phrase “from the river to the sea.”
The oversight committee examined three instances of Facebook posts featuring the phrase “from the river to the sea” and determined that they did not break Meta’s rules against hate speech or incitement. They argued that a universal ban on the phrase would suppress political speech in an unacceptable manner.
In a decision endorsed by 21 members, the committee upheld Meta’s original decision to keep the content on Facebook, stating that it expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and did not promote violence or exclusion.
The committee, whose content judgments are binding, mentioned that the phrase has various interpretations and can be used with different intentions. While it could be seen as promoting anti-Semitism and the rejection of Israel, it could also be interpreted as a show of support for the Palestinians.
The majority of the committee stated that the use of the phrase by Hamas, although banned from Meta’s platform and considered a terrorist organization by the UK and the US, does not automatically make the phrase violent or hateful.
However, a minority within the committee argued that as the phrase appeared in Hamas’s 2017 charter, its use in the post could be construed as praising the banned group, particularly following an attack by Hamas. The phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” refers to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Opponents of the slogan claim it advocates for the elimination of Israel, while proponents like Palestinian-American author Yousef Munayyer argue it supports the idea of Palestinians living freely and equally in their homeland.
The ruling pointed out that due to the phrase’s multiple meanings, enforcing a blanket ban, removal of content, or using the phrase as a basis for review would impinge on protected political speech.
In one of the cases, a user responded to a video with the hashtag “FromTheRiverToTheSea,” which garnered 3,000 views. In another case, the phrase “Palestine will be free” was paired with an image of a floating watermelon slice, viewed 8 million times.
The third case involved a post by a Canadian community organization condemning “Zionist Israeli occupiers,” but had fewer than 1,000 views.
A Meta spokesperson, overseeing platforms like Instagram and Threads, remarked: “We appreciate the oversight committee’s evaluation of our policies. While our guidelines prioritize safety, we acknowledge the global complexities at play and regularly seek counsel from external experts, including our oversight committee.”
If you’re looking to upgrade your home with some new tech gadgets, Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to do so. With a wide range of deals available, you’re bound to find some great discounts on everything from phones and laptops to electric scooters and smart home devices.
Keep an eye out for sales starting as early as November, with Black Friday falling on November 29th and Cyber Monday on December 2nd this year. Sales can start much earlier, so be sure to stay informed and bookmark this page for updates on the best tech deals.
When is Black Friday 2024?
This year, Black Friday falls on November 29th and Cyber Monday on December 2nd. Sales can start much earlier in November, so be sure to keep an eye out for deals throughout the month.
How to save money on Black Friday shopping in 2024
With so many promotions available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Before the sale begins, make note of the prices of items you’re interested in to ensure you’re getting a true bargain. Bookmark this page to stay updated on the best deals throughout the month.
Signing up for retailer newsletters and using tools like Camel Camel Camel or Keeper for Amazon shopping can also give you an edge in securing the best deals.
The Samsung Galaxy A34 5G (Awesome Silver) with 128GB storage and a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display is a powerful and stylish device perfect for capturing every moment with its 48MP triple camera.
This Android 13 smartphone offers 5G connectivity for fast speeds and an immersive experience, making it a great choice for tech enthusiasts.
Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet – £249.99 £134.99 (46% discount)
The Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet boasts an 11-inch screen with 2.4 million pixels for incredible detail in movies and games, along with a powerful octa-core processor and 4GB of memory for responsive performance. It also features Alexa for smart home control and up to 14 hours of battery life.
Ring Video Doorbell – £99.99 £49.99 (50% discount)
If you’re looking to enhance your home security, the Ring Video Doorbell is a great choice, allowing you to see and speak to visitors at your door. With a 50% discount, it’s a must-have smart home device for added convenience and security.
Nordace Siena Smart Backpack – £139.00 £88.99 (36% discount)
The Nordace Siena Smart Backpack is a practical accessory with waterproof fabric, luggage straps, and a USB charging port, making it ideal for commuting and traveling. With a 36% discount, it’s a stylish and functional backpack for various occasions.
Amazon Fire TV 43″ 4 Series 4K UHD Smart TV – £429.99 £299.99 (30% discount)
Upgrade your entertainment experience with the 4K Ultra HD Amazon Fire TV, featuring built-in Alexa Voice Remote for easy access to your favorite content. With a 30% discount, it’s a great deal for enhancing your viewing experience.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Headphones – £249.00 £197.99 (20% discount)
Elevate your audio experience with the Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones, offering up to 30 hours of battery life and convenient features like Speak-to-Chat. With a 20% discount, it’s a great deal for music lovers and audiophiles.
Explore more Black Friday deals, including the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones.
JLAB AUDIO Go Air Sport Wireless Bluetooth Earphones – £29.99 £24.00 (20% discount)
JLab Headphones
The JLAB AUDIO Go Air Sport Wireless Bluetooth Earphones offer powerful sound at an affordable price, making them a great choice for music enthusiasts. With a lightweight and comfortable design, they’re perfect for active users and are currently available at a 20% discount.
Read our full review of the JLAB AUDIO Go Air Sport Wireless Bluetooth Earphones.
Dive into virtual worlds with the Meta Quest 2 VR headset, offering high-resolution display, 3D positional audio, and hand tracking for a truly immersive experience. With a 16% discount, it’s a great investment for gaming and entertainment.
BREVILLE Barista Max Coffee Machine – £449.00 £299.00 (34% discount)
Elevate your coffee experience with the Breville Barista Max Coffee Machine, featuring a grinder and temperature control for a coffee shop-like experience at home. With a 34% discount, it’s a fantastic deal for coffee enthusiasts and home baristas.
Predicted trajectory of asteroid CAQTDL2 over the Philippines
Catalina Sky Survey/ESA
Astronomers have discovered that an asteroid is on its way to collide with Earth at thousands of kilometers per hour, likely somewhere east of the Philippines, over the ocean. Fortunately, this relatively small object won’t pose any harm and will simply burn up in the atmosphere in a fireball.
The asteroid, estimated to be about one meter in diameter, was a NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey. The asteroid has been named CAQTDL2 and is scheduled to impact Earth at approximately 16:45 GMT, 17:45 London time, 12:45 New York time, and at approximately 00:45 local time at the impact site in the Philippines.
It is currently estimated that CAQTDL2 will impact at a speed of 17.6 kilometers per second, or 63,360 kilometers per hour. Alan Fitzsimmons That’s average for such an object, says a researcher at Queen’s University in Belfast, UK. “Don’t be fooled by Hollywood movies where you see something screaming into the sky and you have time to run out the house, grab your cat, hop in your car and drive somewhere. You don’t have time for that,” he says.
Fortunately, no such evacuation is necessary. Although the impact would be dramatic and could shine as brightly as the moon in the night sky, it poses no danger to people on the ground. “An object this small can’t do any damage on the ground because it’s protected by the Earth’s atmosphere,” Fitzsimmons says. “It would just burn up harmlessly and then explode in a very impressive fireball.”
Asteroid CAQTDL2 can be seen moving across the sky in a purple circle.
Catalina Sky Survey
Fitzsimmons said two to three objects this size hit Earth each year, and early detection is becoming more common – astronomers first spotted a near-Earth asteroid before it fell to Earth in 2008. CAQTDL2 is the ninth asteroid to be accurately predicted to hit Earth.
“The really good thing about this is that our survey telescopes are now good enough to detect these objects as they approach and to provide a warning,” he says. “In other words, if this object was bigger and potentially threatening to people on the ground, it would have appeared brighter and projected farther. So this is a really cool demonstration that our current survey systems work really well. Right now, we’re probably averaging about one asteroid per year that gets detected before it hits the atmosphere, and survey systems are getting better and better.”
Not only is Earth developing and improving its early warning systems, but in 2022 NASA’s Dual Asteroid Reorientation Test (DART) spacecraft proved it could potentially save Earth from a catastrophic impact with a larger object. DART struck the 160-meter-wide moonlet Dimorphos, slowing it slightly, demonstrating that in theory such a disaster could be averted. Next month, the European Space Agency will launch the Hera mission to study the consequences of the impact up close and further our understanding of planetary defense.
Yes, hurricanes are getting worse. While there isn’t a significant increase in the frequency of hurricanes compared to 40 years ago, there is evidence that they are becoming more intense and destructive due to climate change. In 2022, it was predicted that the Atlantic hurricane season would be exceptionally severe with storms having more energy than before because of warmer sea levels.
According to the 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, North Atlantic storms are more likely to intensify into “major hurricanes,” making them harder to predict and prepare for. This intensification trend is attributed to the warmer climate.
On a scale of 1 to 5 based on maximum sustained wind speed, hurricanes are classified. Category 5 storms with wind speeds exceeding 262 km/h are the most powerful and can cause catastrophic damage. However, storms of lower categories can also be devastating, as seen with Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Climate change, by raising sea levels and affecting atmospheric conditions, is making hurricanes more destructive. The increase in extreme precipitation, slower storm movement across the Earth’s surface, and longer-lasting torrential rains are some of the impacts observed.
The forecast for the current Atlantic hurricane season suggests an above-average number of hurricanes due to the record heat in the region. The evidence points to hurricanes becoming more powerful, unpredictable, and persistent in a warmer world.
This article is a response to the question “Are hurricanes getting worse?” (asked by Johnny Adams of Peterborough).
If you have any questions, please send them to the email address below.For further information:or send us a messageFacebook,XorInstagramPage (be sure to include your name and location).
HHere’s a fact I’m not entirely proud of: I’ve played every Call of Duty game since the series launched in 2003. I’ve experienced the very good (Call of Duty 4) and the very not so good (Call of Duty: Roads to Victory). There have been times when I was put off by narrative decisions, the mindless bigotry pervasive in online multiplayer servers, and the series-wide “America is the best!” mentality, but I’ve always come back to the games.
In that time, I’ve seen a lot of attempts to tweak the core feel of the game, from perks to jetpacks (thanks, Advanced Warfare!), but after spending a weekend testing the multiplayer beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, I think developer Treyarch may have stumbled upon their best thing yet: something called Omni-Movement.
In essence, this seemingly minor addition allows players to sprint and dive in any direction, not just forward, and also allows for a degree of aftertouch, so you can glide around corners and change direction in the air. Being able to run sideways and jump backwards over couches isn’t all that important in a fast-paced game anyway, but this seems to have really changed the game. The beta test only features three of the full version’s 16 online multiplayer maps and a small selection of online game modes, but it’s already ridiculously fun.
There are always people flying around during the game. AnywhereIn the Skyline map, players dive through windows, run across hallways, and leap off the balconies of a ridiculously luxurious modern penthouse. In the Rewind map, they slide on their backs across the polished floors of a video rental store, pounce on each other from various heights, and dodge gunfire and remote-controlled bomb cars at the last moment. At critical moments, it feels like a giant John Woo shootout, with equal parts balletic choreography and bloodshed.
But rather than feeling chaotic and unbalanced like jetpack-era titles Advanced Warfare and Infinite Warfare, it actually seems to bring more depth and variety to the moment-to-moment experience. The ability to slip under gunfire gives you a way out of encounters that were previously deadly, and it also lets you move very quickly to different cover positions, which is extremely useful in modes like Domination and Hardpoint, where you have to capture and defend specific areas. I like the longer durations between spawns, which allows you to think in more spatially interesting ways.
Why did it take so long? A recent interview with gaming site VGCTreyarch associate design director Matt Scronce and production director Yale Miller said the game’s unusual four-year development cycle (CoD games are typically two-years max) allowed the team to experiment with fundamental elements and refine new features. Omni Movement was born out of that process; the team even read a white paper from the Air Force Academy about how fast a human could run backwards.
Otherwise, the game feels more solid than innovative. Skyline is the most fun map, with sleek multi-storey interiors and hidden ventilation ducts, while Squad is a standard Middle Eastern CoD map with sandy trenches, caves and a destroyed radar station. Rewind is a deserted shopping mall with store interiors, fast food joints, parking lots and extremely long sightlines along storefronts that could be called Sniper’s Avenue. The new game mode, Kill Order, is a familiar old-school FPS staple. One player on each team is designated as a high-value target, and the opponent must eliminate that target to score. This leads to very dense skirmishes and a ton of chases around the map, with HVTs trying to hide in little nooks and crannies. It’s like a Benny Hill sketch, but with high-end military weaponry.
It’s like a Benny Hill sketch, but with high-end military weaponry… Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Photo: Activision
There are also some new weapons, such as the Ames 85, a fully automatic assault rifle similar to the M16, and the Crazy Jackal PDW, a small Scorpion-esque machine pistol like the ones Ernie used in 1980s action movies. The latter has an incredible rate of fire, but is also highly accurate at long range, making it a devastating force in beta matches. It will most likely be significantly nerfed before the game is released. Perhaps the most controversial addition is the body shield. This is a new ability that allows you to sneak up behind an enemy player and take them hostage by double tapping the melee attack button. The victim can then be used as a human shield for a few seconds, and Treyarch says you’ll be able to actually talk to the hostage via the headset’s microphone. This will inevitably lead to the most offensive homophobic trolling imaginable. It’s exactly what Call of Duty needs.
Black Ops 6 looks set to be a strong addition to the series, at least in terms of multiplayer. I’m not proud of the fact that I spent an entire weekend happily recreating my favorite scenes from Hard Boiled, darting sideways through modern interiors and firing shiny fetish rifles at strangers. But I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and for some reason, I have no plans to stop just yet.
Named Haliotis pilimoana, the newly identified gastropod species is found only on the Manawatawi Three Kings Islands, off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
Shell Haliotis pilimoana Manawatawhi Three Kings Islands (AD) and Haliotis virginia (EG). Scale bars – 5 mm in. (AC) and 0.5 mm in. (DG). Image courtesy of Jean-Claude Stahl.
Abalone Family Haliotidae) are herbivorous marine gastropods that inhabit hard substrates in shallow, non-polar regions worldwide.
Several haliotiids are the basis of wild capture and/or aquaculture fisheries.
Additionally, the shells are often used in art, cultural practices, jewelry, and are prized among shell collectors.
Currently, there are approximately 70 species recognized by science, with many subspecies and forms, all belonging to this genus. Haliotis.
Haliotis pilimoana It lives under rocks and in crevices in the Manawatawhi Three Kings Islands at depths of 5-47 metres.
The new species differs subtly but consistently from New Zealand’s native abalone in that its spiral threads are thinner and more numerous. Haliotis virginia are at the same stage of development.
“Haliotis pilimoana Superficially it resembles specimens from the North Island (except near Wellington) population. Haliotis virginia “The shell morphology is similar but differs significantly in that at comparable stages of development, the dorsal surface has consistently thinner spiral threads that are more evenly spaced and closely spaced, and the stigma is more tightly coiled,” said Dr Kelly Walton, a researcher at the University of Otago and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and colleagues.
“These differences are between shells from the northernmost part of the North Island, closest to the Three Kings Islands, and Haliotis pilimoana“The former is obviously a cruder carving.”
“Haliotis pilimoana The mainland population is even more different. Haliotis virginia Average shell shape: Generally, the carapace has a lower profile, more angular carapace margin, and a flatter, wider, and more clearly delimited umbilical edge, especially in the carapace.
According to the study authors: Haliotis pilimoana Has a remnant distribution in or diverged from the Three Kings Islands Haliotis virginia It is unclear what his status will be after the quarantine period.
“The shallow coastal fauna of the Three Kings Islands is highly endemic,” the researchers said.
“The cause of the increase in local endemism in the Three Kings Islands is unknown, but the phenomenon is certainly influenced by successive periods of connectivity and isolation during glacial periods since the Miocene.”
“Strong upwelling can make water quality more stable during glacial cycles.”
“Given the Three Kings region’s small size, easy access from mainland New Zealand, proximity to major shipping lanes and high abundance of endemic species, the area has the potential to benefit from enhanced marine protection.”
Discovery Haliotis pilimoana It has been reported paper In the journal Mollusc Research.
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Kelly Walton others. Haliotis virginia Gmelin, 1791 and a new species of abalone (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Abaloneidae) from New Zealand. Mollusc ResearchPublished online August 30, 2024; doi: 10.1080/13235818.2024.2390476
Around a fifth of Brits believe that extraterrestrials have visited Earth, and an estimated 7% think they have seen a UFO. In the US, the figures are even higher and rising: the number of people who believe that UFO sightings are likely evidence of extraterrestrial life has risen from 20% in 1996 to 34% in 2022. Around 24% of Americans say they have seen a UFO. New Paper of Proceedings of the International Astronomical UnionDr Tony Milligan of King’s College London argues that belief in alien visitors is no longer an eccentricity but a widespread societal problem.
The idea that aliens may have visited Earth is becoming more and more popular. Image by Fernando Ribas.
This belief has now grown to the point that politicians, at least in the United States, feel they must respond.
The Department of Defense’s alleged disclosure of information about UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) has attracted bipartisan attention across the country.
Many of them draw on familiar anti-elitist tropes that both parties are happy to employ, such as the idea that a cabal of military and private commercial interests is hiding the deeper truth about alien visitation.
The truth is thought to involve sightings, abductions, and the reverse engineering of alien technology.
People who believe in a cover-up are even more numerous than those who believe in alien visitations: A 2019 Gallup Poll found that a staggering 68% of Americans believe the U.S. government knows more about UFOs than it is releasing.
This political bias has been decades in the making: Jimmy Carter promised to release the documents during his 1976 presidential campaign, several years after his own UFO sightings were reported. As with many other sightings, the simplest explanation is that he saw Venus.
When Cam Ferguson arrived at a spot near Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in downtown Phoenix, he prepared his usual supplies of cold water, sports drinks, peanuts, and candy about four hours before the first pitch.
The temperatures in downtown Phoenix were expected to reach around 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius) on a Labor Day afternoon, promising brisk business for vendors like Ferguson.
Despite the scorching heat, Ferguson and other vendors at the game were determined to provide some relief for the fans, pointing out the price difference between buying a bottle of water outside versus inside the stadium.
The summer of 2024 in Phoenix was proving to be exceptionally hot, with the city experiencing its 100th consecutive day of temperatures at or above 100 degrees, breaking previous records. Meteorologist Shawn Benedict from the National Weather Service highlighted the significance of this streak.
Experts attribute the escalating temperatures to climate change caused by human activities, leading to extreme heatwaves, wildfires, severe storms, and prolonged droughts. The relentless heat in Phoenix was evident, with temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day since late May.
The upcoming week was expected to bring unseasonably high temperatures across the Western U.S., with extreme heat warnings in effect for cities like Phoenix and Lake Havasu City in Arizona, as well as parts of Nevada and California.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, which includes Phoenix, public health officials reported a concerning number of heat-related deaths so far this year, with many cases still under investigation. The scorching conditions in 2024 were setting records not only in Phoenix but also in other Western states.
Amid the heatwave, California issued red flag warnings due to the increased risk of wildfires. Blazes had already started in some areas, leading to power outages and evacuations. The dangerous heat was a growing concern for residents and outdoor workers alike.
Although Chase Field provided some relief with its air-conditioned facility and closed retractable roof for most games, outdoor workers like Ferguson and landscaping professional Ramiro Lopez had to find ways to cope with the extreme heat during their work shifts.
As the record-breaking summer continued in Phoenix, staying cool and hydrated became essential for survival in the blistering heat. The challenges posed by the relentless heatwave were felt by everyone, especially in low-income communities where access to cooling facilities was limited.
Climatologists emphasized the importance of staying cool and hydrated to mitigate the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
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