Scientists warn that Musk’s influence on Trump may result in more stringent regulations for AI technology

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A leading scientist who has worked closely with wealthy individuals to address the dangers of AI suggests that Elon Musk’s influence over Donald Trump’s administration could result in stricter safety standards for artificial intelligence. Concerns about AI were not a prominent feature of Trump’s campaign, but Musk’s support for AI regulation in California demonstrates his ongoing worries about the issue.

Musk has repeatedly cautioned against the uncontrolled advancement of AI, warning of potentially disastrous consequences for humanity. He has advocated for a moratorium on research into powerful AI technologies, emphasizing the need for safety standards to prevent the development of artificial general intelligence that surpasses human intelligence levels.

Max Tegmark, a professor specializing in AI at MIT, believes that Musk could influence Trump to introduce regulations that hinder the advancement of artificial general intelligence. Tegmark sees Musk’s backing of AI safety measures in California as a positive step, even though the bill was ultimately vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Musk’s early support for AI safety initiatives aligns with the efforts of Tegmark’s Future of Life Institute, which advocates for responsible technology use. Musk’s increasing wealth post-Trump’s presidency victory could further bolster his influence in shaping AI regulations.

While Musk has warned of a dystopian future controlled by AI, other experts argue that focusing on catastrophic scenarios may divert attention from immediate concerns like AI manipulation. President Trump’s administration aims to overturn AI safety measures introduced by the Biden administration, citing them as politically biased restrictions on AI development.

These measures include mandatory safety testing for high-risk AI systems that could jeopardize national security, economic stability, or public health and safety.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bluesky welcomes 700,000 new members as X users leave after US election

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bluesky, a social media platform, saw a surge of over 700,000 new users in the week following the US election, as users sought refuge from misinformation and offensive content on another platform, X.

The company reported reaching 14.5 million users globally, up from 9 million in September, with significant growth from North America and the United Kingdom.

According to social media researcher Axel Brands, Bluesky provides an alternative to X (formerly Twitter) with better mechanisms for blocking problematic accounts and addressing harmful behavior.

Brands mentioned, “Twitter users are turning to Bluesky for a more pure social media experience, free from far-right activity, misinformation, hate speech, and bots.”

CEO Jay Graeber stated that Bluesky, initially a project within Twitter, became an independent entity in 2022.

The platform’s growth is attributed to dissatisfaction with X and its owner, Elon Musk, leading to a significant user exodus from X following their rebranding.

Bluesky reported acquiring 3 million new users after X was suspended in Brazil and another 1.2 million after a policy change by Company X.

The platform’s user base is expanding rapidly, with notable figures such as historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat finding appeal in Bluesky’s community and features.

Bluesky is currently the second-largest social networking app in Apple’s US App Store, with a recent increase in monthly active users.

Recent updates to Bluesky, including direct messaging and video features, aim to differentiate it from meta-owned competitors and offer a user-friendly experience.

Overall, the platform is experiencing a resurgence reminiscent of the early days of social media, attracting users with its vibrant and active community.

Prominent figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have found a home on Bluesky, highlighting the platform’s appeal as a space for real connection.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vital Atlantic currents at risk of collapse, warn scientists

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Overview

A recent report has highlighted the concerning state of Earth’s snow and ice, indicating that various key climate tipping points are more likely to be reached than previously thought. These include significant ice melt leading to severe sea level rise and disruptions to crucial ocean currents controlling the Atlantic heat cycle.

The report reveals alarming statistics such as Venezuela losing its last glacier this year, Greenland’s ice sheet losing an average of 30 million tons of ice per hour, and the impending collapse of Thwaites Glacier, also known as the “terminal glacier.” This collapse could potentially result in the rapid disappearance of Antarctic ice.

Compiled by over 50 leading snow and ice scientists as part of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, the report summarizes the conditions for 2024, highlighting the disastrous impact of global warming on the planet’s frozen regions.

Of particular concern is the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which could lead to drastic changes in weather patterns, such as rapid cooling in the North Atlantic and warming in the Southern Hemisphere.

Additionally, the report underscores the rising consensus among scientists that these climate tipping points are now more likely to be surpassed, with the window for mitigating actions rapidly narrowing.

The report’s release coincided with the United Nations’ COP29 climate change conference in Azerbaijan, where global leaders gathered to address pressing environmental concerns. Despite some progress, particularly in carbon credit trading, the report emphasizes that current climate policies are inadequate to meet global climate goals.

While the scientific community continues to sound the alarm about the escalating climate crisis, there are growing fears that world leaders are failing to grasp the gravity of the situation. Urgent action is needed to address the imminent threats posed by melting ice, collapsing glaciers, and disruptions in vital ocean currents.

In conclusion, the report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to combat climate change before irreversible consequences unfold.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Interacting Pairs of Galaxies in the Kaminoke Galaxy Cluster Spotted by Hubble

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This amazing new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the best ever of a galaxy combination called MCG+05-31-045.

This Hubble image shows MCG+05-31-045, a pair of interacting galaxies located approximately 390 million light-years apart in the constellation Coma. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble/RJ Foley, University of California, Santa Cruz.

MCG+05-31-045 It is located approximately 390 million light-years away in the constellation of Coma.

This galaxy pair, also known as IC 3935, AGC 221216, or LEDA 44438, is part of the Coma cluster.

“The Coma cluster is a particularly rich galaxy cluster, containing more than 1,000 known galaxies,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“Some are easily visible with amateur telescopes.”

“Most of them are elliptical galaxies, which are typical of dense galaxy clusters like the Milky Way Cluster. Many elliptical galaxies are created when galaxies come close to each other and collide, stirring them up or They are formed when groups are torn apart.

“Stars in interacting galaxies can stay together, but gas in galaxies is a different story. Gas is twisted and compressed by gravity and is quickly used up to form new stars.” Masu.”

“When hot, massive blue stars die, there is little gas left to replace them with a new generation of young stars.”

“In the case of interacting spiral galaxies, the regular orbits that give rise to their impressive spiral arms are also disrupted.”

“Whether it’s a merger or a simple near-miss, the result is a galaxy with little gas and aging stars orbiting in uncoordinated circles – elliptical galaxies.”

“A similar fate is very likely to befall MCG+05-31-045,” the astronomers said.

“When small spiral galaxies are torn apart and merged into larger galaxies, many new stars are formed, and the hot, blue stars quickly burn out, leaving colder, redder stars like other stars in a coma. is left behind in the elliptical galaxy.” “

“But this process will take millions of years to complete. Until then, Queen Berenice II will suffer from knots in her hair.”

Source: www.sci.news

New research suggests Voyager 2’s approach to Uranus in 1986 occurred during an uncommon solar event

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Uranus in 1986, scientists got their first close glimpse of the giant icy planet. Alongside the discovery of new moons and rings, a puzzling new mystery faced scientists. The energetic particles around Uranus defied their understanding of how magnetic fields trap particle radiation. The cause of that special mystery is a cosmic coincidence, according to a new study. Just before Voyager 2's flyby, Uranus was found to have been affected by an unusual type of space weather that crushed and dramatically compressed the planet's magnetic field. Its magnetosphere.

The first panel of this artist's concept depicts how Uranus' magnetosphere operated before NASA's Voyager 2 flyby. The second panel shows that an unusual type of solar weather occurred during the 1986 flyby, giving scientists a biased view of the magnetosphere. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The planetary magnetosphere (the region around a planet dominated by its magnetic field) influences the environment around the planet, and understanding its properties is important for mission planning.

Voyager 2's close encounter of Uranus reveals a unique magnetosphere that is highly asymmetric and appears to lack plasma, a common element in the magnetospheres of other planets, and has an unusually strong band of high-energy electrons It became.

The signatures from this single measurement have since been used as the basis for understanding Uranus's magnetic field, but these anomalies have been difficult to explain without complex physics.

“If Voyager 2 had arrived just a few days earlier, we would have seen a completely different magnetosphere on Uranus,” said Dr. Jamie Jasinski, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The spacecraft observed Uranus in a situation that has a probability of only about 4%.”

Jasinski and his colleagues reanalyzed Voyager 2 data before the flyby and found that the spacecraft encountered Uranus shortly after a violent solar wind event that ejected streams of charged particles from the Sun's atmosphere.

This compressed Uranus's magnetosphere, creating a condition that only occurs 4% of the time.

In this state, we see a plasma-free magnetosphere with highly excited electron emission bands.

The authors suggest that two magnetospheric cycles may exist during solar minimum due to variations in Uranus' solar wind.

Additionally, the chances of Uranus' outermost major moons, Titania and Oberon, orbiting outside the magnetosphere may be very low, giving scientists the possibility of detecting an underground ocean without interference from the magnetosphere. There is.

“The 1986 flyby was full of surprises, and we were looking for an explanation for its unusual behavior,” said Dr. Linda Spilker, also of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The magnetosphere measured by Voyager 2 is just a snapshot in time.”

“This new study explains some of the apparent contradictions and will once again change our view of Uranus.”

of findings Published in today's magazine natural astronomy.

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JM Jasinski others. Unusual conditions in Uranus' magnetosphere during Voyager 2's flyby. Nat Astronpublished online on November 11, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02389-3

Source: www.sci.news

Physicists Find Indications of Superfluidity in Low-Density Neutronic Matter

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Accurate description of low-density nuclear matter is critical to explaining the physics of the neutron star’s crust, according to a team of theoretical physicists led by Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Alessandro Lovato.

Fore others. We study the crust of neutron stars by simulating neutron matter and then adding “hidden” neutrons that mediate interactions between “real” neutrons. The neural network then constructs quantum wave functions for the normal and superfluid phases of neutronic matter. Image credit: Jane Kim, Ohio University.

The inner crust of a neutron star is characteristic Due to the existence of neutron superfluid.

A superfluid is a fluid that has no viscosity. In a neutron star, this means that the superfluid allows neutrons to flow without resistance.

To accurately predict the properties of neutronic matter at the lowest energy levels in this low-density form, researchers typically perform theoretical calculations that assume that neutrons combine to form Cooper pairs.

“The low-density nuclear material found in the crust of neutron stars exhibits complex and interesting structures that vary greatly with density,” Lovato and colleagues said.

“In the outer shell, the nucleons are bound to fully ionized nuclei. As the density increases within this region, these nuclei become increasingly neutron-rich, so in ground-based experiments they are present at lower densities. It is only possible to directly determine the main nuclides that

physicist used Artificial neural networks do not rely on this assumption to make accurate predictions.

They modified the standard “single particle” approach by introducing “hidden” neutrons that facilitate interactions between “real” neutrons and encode quantum many-body correlations.

This allows Cooper pairs to appear naturally during calculations.

“Understanding neutron superfluidity provides important insights into neutron stars,” the researchers said.

“This reveals phenomena such as its cooling mechanisms, rotation, and sudden changes in rotational speed.”

“Although we cannot directly access neutron star material experimentally, the fundamental interactions that govern the behavior of this material are the same as those that govern the nuclei of atoms on Earth.”

“Researchers are working to create simple yet predictable nuclear interactions.”

“Solving the quantum many-body problem accurately is an important part of assessing the quality of these interactions.”

“Our study uses simple interactions that are in good agreement with previous calculations that assumed more complex interactions.”

Low-density neutronic matter is characterized by fascinating emergent quantum phenomena, such as the formation of Cooper pairs and the onset of superfluidity.

“We used a combination of artificial neural networks and advanced optimization techniques to study this dense region,” the scientists said.

“Using a simplified model of the interaction between neutrons, we calculated the energy per particle and compared the results with those obtained from very realistic interactions.”

“This approach is competitive compared to other computational techniques at a fraction of the cost.”

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Bryce Foer others. 2024. Investigating the crust of a neutron star with the quantum state of a neural network. arXiv: 2407.21207

Bryce Foer others. 2023. Diluting neutron star material from quantum states in neural networks. Physics. Rev. Research 5(3):033062;doi: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.033062

Source: www.sci.news

New Species of Ankylosaurid Dinosaur Discovered by Paleontologists

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new genus and species of Ankylosaurus has been identified from an articulated partial skeleton discovered in southern China in 1986.

artistic reconstruction Huaxiazhou Longshouwen. Image credit: Ye Jianhao.

The newly discovered species was an early member of a family called armored dinosaurs. ankylosauridae.

dubbing Huaxiazhou Longshouwen the ancient animal was about 6 meters (20 feet) long.

In a paper, paleontologist Ziheng Zhu of Yunnan University and colleagues write, “Sclerosaurs were quadrupedal, herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by sagittal osteodermal rows on the dorsolateral surface of their bodies and heavily armored skulls. It is a diverse clade of

“Ankylosaurs lived from the Middle Jurassic to the end of the Late Cretaceous.”

“As a subgroup of the scleractylids, scleractyl dinosaurs are currently found only in Asia and North America. In Asia, they were primarily found in Mongolia and northern China.”

fossilized remains of an adult Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It was discovered in a mineral deposit in 1986. Karabe formation In Longxi Village, Jiangxi Province, southern China.

“This deposit is a series of Late Cretaceous strata, represented by an extensive series of red mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates,” the researchers wrote.

“This series of strata is locally classified as the Karabe Formation, which belongs to the Katsurabo Formation Group.''

“We got some pieces of dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs.”

This specimen dates from the Late Cretaceous Period, 84 to 72 million years ago.

It was excavated by paleontologists from the Guangchang County Museum and consists of a partial articulated skeleton without a skull and mandible.

“Huaxiazhou Longshouwen “This is the second ankylosaurid species discovered in China's Jiangxi province,” the scientists wrote in their paper.

“According to phylogenetic analysis, Huaxiazhou Longshouwen is a basal member of the ankylosaurid family. ”

“Next discovery Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It adds diversity to the Late Cretaceous of China and helps elucidate the evolution of ankylosaurid dinosaurs in East Asia. ”

of paper Published in this month's magazine historical biology.

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Zhu Zihyung others. A new species of ankylosaurid dinosaur discovered from the late Cretaceous period in Jiangxi Province, southern China. historical biologypublished online on November 8, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2417208

Source: www.sci.news

Is the impact of climate change on the food crisis more severe than we realize?

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

РоманЗаворотный/Adobe Stock

You've probably already noticed that the prices of many foods in your shopping cart have increased significantly. In the UK, the price of white potatoes is 20% increase in the past yearwith carrots 38% increase Olive oil rose 40%. And while that means the cost of assembling a roast dinner has soared, specialty items have also seen an even bigger price increase, with you now paying nearly twice as much for a portion of a chocolate bar. It will be.

The drivers of price increases are complex, but one of the biggest drivers is climate change. In the short term, extreme weather caused by global warming is having a devastating impact on producers. For example, in Northern Europe, heavy rains in the spring of 2024 left fields too waterlogged to harvest vegetables or plant new crops. Meanwhile, Morocco, which normally exports many vegetables to Europe, experienced a drought and ran out of water for irrigation. As a result, the prices of potatoes and carrots have soared.

As average global temperatures rise by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the coming years, heat waves, droughts and extreme storms will become more common and intense, causing major disruptions to food production. It will be. But current efforts to compensate for the effects of crop failures, such as clearing forests to grow more crops, are exacerbating many other problems, from biodiversity loss to rising carbon dioxide levels. I am. Are we underestimating the magnitude of the impact, when it's already happening to so many foods? If so, what can we do about it?

Source: www.newscientist.com

Our Sole Encounter with Uranus Occurred During a Peculiar Moment for Earth

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Uranus is more normal than we thought

NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute

Uranus’ strange magnetic field may be much less strange than astronomers first thought, and it could mean that Uranus’ largest moon is much more active and perhaps even has a global ocean It means that there is.

The only direct measurement of Uranus’s magnetic field was obtained by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, which flew close to the planet in 1986. The spacecraft’s measurements suggested that the magnetic field was skewed, meaning it was not aligned with the planet’s rotation, and that it was an anomalous field. It is rich in highly energetic electrons and lacks the plasma that is common in the magnetic fields of other gas giant planets like Jupiter. Astronomers at the time thought the results were so strange that they either invoked complex physics to explain the measurements or simply dismissed them as evidence that Voyager 2’s instruments had gone awry.

now, jamie jasinski Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California reanalyzed Voyager 2 data and found that a rare explosion of solar wind that crushed Uranus’ magnetic field just before the spacecraft arrived may have distorted the data, causing the measurements to I discovered that it was disturbed. This means everything we thought we knew about Uranus’ magnetic field may be wrong, Jasinski says. “This is almost like resetting everything,” he says.

Jasinski and his team found that the solar wind compressed Uranus’s magnetic field to a size that typically occurs only 4 percent of the time. But for the past 40 years, scientists have assumed that is the normal state of affairs. Jasinski says the collapse of the magnetic field explains some of the strange results so far, including the lack of plasma and high-energy electrons.

If there is indeed plasma in Uranus’ magnetic field, and Voyager 2 just happened to miss it, it’s possible that not all of it came from the planet itself. Some may have come from Uranus’ moons, the largest of which are called Titania and Oberon. Until now, these moons were thought to be inert, but new research leaves open the possibility that they may be geologically active after all. This is consistent with recent calculations that suggest there may be a hidden ocean on the moon. “The solar wind may have wiped out all evidence of an active satellite just before the flyby occurred,” Jasinski said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

I have rewritten the title as: “Using Lights on Surfboards and Wetsuits as a Defense Against Shark Attacks”

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A great white shark attacks a dummy seal during an experiment in which lights were used to deter shark attacks

Nathan Hart, Macquarie University

Lighting the underside of surfboards, kayaks, and wetsuits could prevent the majority of great white shark attacks on humans.

It has long been known that sharks often attack humans, mistaking their silhouettes on the water for prey such as seals. Now, researchers have conducted an experiment to see what happens when a decoy seal's silhouette is distorted by illuminating its underside to disguise its shape.

laura ryan Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney spent nearly 500 hours towing seal-shaped decoys around Mossel Bay in South Africa's Western Cape region, where great white sharks (carcharodon carcharius) gather in large numbers to hunt.

The team tested multiple light treatments. I covered the underside of the decoy with dim, medium, and bright LED and strobe lighting, as well as horizontal and vertical strip lighting. Each time we towed with any of the light treatments, we immediately towed the control decoy seal without using any underside lighting. As an additional experiment, we conducted a paired test in which an unlit control dummy was towed 3 meters away from a lit dummy.

Unlit decoys were more likely to be attacked or chased by sharks than lit decoys. The brightest light appeared to be the most effective, with zero predator incidents when the decoy illumination was at its brightest.

Vertical strip lighting was less effective than horizontal strips, Ryan said, perhaps because it broke up the silhouette into long sections that could be identified as seals.

Strobe lighting was less effective than continuous lighting, likely because the sharks could still see the silhouette of their likely prey between flashes.

Ryan said the team expected it would be important to match the decoy's lighting with the background light and make sure it was no brighter than the surrounding underwater conditions, but that wasn't the case.

“The most important thing was that the brightness of the decoy had to be brighter than the background light,” she says. “As long as the lighting doesn't make the silhouette look black, it seems to work.”

The research team has now developed a prototype lighting array to be used as a deterrent for great white sharks. “We are now moving from research to providing protection for swimmers and surfers,” Ryan says. “We took an approach that involved understanding the sensory systems of these animals, how they see the world, and their behavior.”

Ryan cautioned that lighting deterrents have not been tested against other species known to attack humans, such as tiger sharks (Galeocerdo Cuvier) and bull sharks (Porgy whale), each with a different hunting strategy.

david booth The University of Technology Sydney conducts a number of field studies off the Sydney coastline, where sharks, including great whites, are common. Based on these findings, he says he will definitely order a counter-illuminated wetsuit when it becomes available.

“I was surprised to find that ‘destructive camouflage’ was more effective, as I thought low lighting to match the background was most effective,” he says.

“These results apply only to great white sharks, and only to this feeding mode, so it is unclear at this point how broadly applicable they are.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Earth has been warmed by 1.5°C due to human activity since 1700

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice were used to estimate past temperatures

aldiami/Andreas Alexander/Alamy

Humankind has already caused around 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since the start of the industrial revolution, according to new estimates based on temperature data collected from air bubbles trapped in ice.

Measuring anthropogenic global warming typically uses the period from 1850 to 1900 as a pre-industrial baseline. This is because this is the time when temperature records began. 2024 is almost certain to be the first year in which average temperatures rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above this baseline. This single-year data is influenced by naturally occurring factors such as the strong El Niño event, which has pushed up global temperatures.

When you remove this natural variation, scientists believe humans alone have caused 1.31°C of warming since the Industrial Revolution. But by 1850, the Industrial Revolution was already underway, and fossil fuel-powered engines were in use around the world.

Andrew Jarvis Lancaster University and Piers Foster Researchers at the University of Leeds, both in the UK, set out to establish a new pre-industrial baseline using data taken from Antarctic ice core samples. The pair analyzed the composition of air bubbles trapped in ice cores to establish atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from 13 AD to 1700, before humans significantly influenced atmospheric temperatures. This CO2 data was then used to establish the average global temperature over the same period, assuming a linear relationship between CO2 and temperature increases.

Using this new pre-1700 baseline, humanity has caused 1.49°C of warming by 2023, meaning the 1.5°C level has been “effectively reached,” the researchers say in their findings. It is written in the paper to be reported. “We have provided a new, scientifically defensible way to derive a pre-industrial baseline for measuring global warming,” Jarvis told reporters at a press conference.

Jarvis said the new method would also help reduce the uncertainty in temperature estimates based on the current 1850-1900 baseline used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Using ice core data to establish a baseline between 1850 and 1900, the researchers say humans caused 1.31°C of warming. This is consistent with existing median estimates, but the range of uncertainty is significantly reduced, the researchers note.

“The problem with just looking at surface temperature observations is that the further back in time you go, the more uncertain those observations become,” Forster says. “We are now much more confident than before that the current temperature is around 1.3°C.”

Jarvis and Forster hope their new method will be adopted by scientists and policymakers as the primary way to judge humanity's progress against global climate goals. “I think there is still room in the policy and scientific communities to rethink the pre-industrial baseline,” Jarvis said. “We know that the estimates for 1850 to 1900 incorporate warming, simply because that was not the beginning of the industrial revolution. We provide a way to operate from a secure baseline.”

However, new methods may not be future-proof. The linear relationship between CO2 concentrations and global temperatures is likely to break down as the climate changes. For example, if a so-called tipping point is triggered in the Earth system that triggers a series of warming events.

The new methods won't change the effects of climate change that are felt on the ground, Forster said. “The impact on human life from Spain and the hurricanes we are experiencing today is exactly the same whether you call it 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels or 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. is” . Influence is influence. ”

Richard Betts The Met Office, the UK's meteorological agency, said the new method “provides a clear and easy way to provide an up-to-date estimate of the current level of anthropogenic global warming”. Part of the reason is that it can produce “real-time” estimates of human-induced warming, rather than relying on 10-year moving averages as current estimates do.

He said the approach could help provide policymakers with a more up-to-date picture of current levels of warming, but changing the baseline used in the assessment would be an “objective” for climate action. It warned that it could be considered as “moving.'' “Even without changing the baseline, it is clear that current warming is much closer to 1.5°C than expected using older 10-year averages,” he says .

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Insights into Paleolithic Fishing Techniques Revealed by Ancient Carved Shield from 15,800 Years Ago

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists from the Leibniz Center for Archaeology and Durham University conducted a study on a collection of 406 carved schist tablets discovered at the Magdalenian site in Gennersdorf, Germany. These ancient carvings depict fishing techniques and tools used by Paleolithic people, showcasing nets with interlaced diamond and square mesh. This provides valuable insight into the transformation of their culture.

Placket 341 from the Magdalenian ruins of Gennersdorf, Germany. Image credit: Robitaille others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311302.

“Prehistoric fisheries introduced a variety of techniques and strategies for capturing fish. It can be summarized as active fishing, which requires active fishing, passive fishing with trapping methods, or a combination of both,” said Dr. Jérôme Robitaille of the Leibniz Center for Archaeology and colleagues.

“Some methods have been developed for individual fishing, such as fishing, while others have been improved to maximize yields using collective nets and traps.”

“The choice of a particular method was influenced not only by the fish species targeted, but also by the distinct habitats and topography in which particular aquatic resources thrive.”

“Evidence for fishing in the Upper Paleolithic (20,000 to 14,500 years ago) is not abundant, but there is direct and indirect evidence of several fishing methods, including barbed tips and harpoons, bows and arrows, traps, and fishing nets. exists sporadically.”

In their study, the authors analyzed carvings carved into 406 schist plaquettes from the Magdalena site in Gennersdorf, on the north bank of the Rhine River in central-western Germany.

These plaquettes feature a unique artistic style and iconographic theme depicting both terrestrial and aquatic animals and humans.

The new imaging technique allowed researchers to see intricate carvings on the fish, with grid patterns interpreted as depictions of fishing nets or traps.

This discovery suggests that fishing may have had symbolic meaning in the Upper Paleolithic.

These expand the known repertoire of Ice Age art and provide surprising insights into the symbolic and social practices of early hunter-gatherer societies.

“A comparative analysis including other sites from the same period, such as Altamira and Lascaux, highlights Gennersdorf’s contribution to the understanding of Paleolithic art and survival strategies,” the scientists concluded.

“Unlike famous locations known for their vivid depictions of fish, Gennersdorf’s abstract, minimalist style offers a fresh perspective on the sociocultural dynamics of the Magdalene community.”

“Net fishing, which originates from a wide range of economies, reveals the diversity, adaptability, and creativity of prehistoric communities, and their proficiency in utilizing a variety of fishing methods to sustainably exploit aquatic resources.”

“This research not only increases our understanding of the diverse survival strategies of Paleolithic societies, but also contributes to a broader discussion about the complexity and richness of their cultural practices.”

“By highlighting often overlooked aspects of fishing practices and the representation of those practices in art, our research adds to a more comprehensive and dynamic picture of Upper Paleolithic subsistence and contributes to the field. opens new avenues for future research in the field. “

“Clearly fishing plays a more important role in shaping social and cultural practices than hitherto recognized, as evidenced by population patterns around rich fishing grounds, and is therefore a subject worthy of further investigation.” It is.”

of study Published in an online journal PLoS ONE.

J. Robitaille others. 2024. Upper Paleolithic fishing techniques: Insights from carved plates from the Magdalenian site of Gennersdorf, Germany. PLoS ONE 19 (11): e0311302;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311302

Source: www.sci.news

Researches have created a sustainable and eco-conscious fashion solution

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The textile and leather industries pollute water through dyeing and tanning, and plastic pollution from synthetic fibers. In particular, the chemicals used by synthetic chemical manufacturers to dye clothing, especially black dyes for leather, pollute the environment. To solve this problem, researchers at Imperial College, London, bacteria produced Eco-friendly, self-pigmenting, animal-free leather.

Researchers studied a group of bacteria called . Komagata Eibacter We produce an environmentally friendly leather alternative called . bacterial cellulose. They explained that bacterial cellulose is advantageous because it is durable, long-lasting, easily grown from waste materials such as fruit juice, and biodegradable. It is also cheap to produce and is used in many industrial applications, including electronic equipment and wound dressings to cover and protect wounds. Designers love it because it's sustainable and uses more natural materials instead of petroleum-based materials.

The researchers wanted to modify the bacteria's genes so that they could produce both bacterial cellulose and a black pigment that protects from sunlight and absorbs harmful substances. melanin. They hypothesized that melanin could make cellulose more versatile by making it stronger and protecting it from sunlight, allowing it to be used in new applications such as environmentally friendly sunscreens and pollutant-absorbing materials. I did.

To do this, the researchers Komagata Eibacter 2 types of liquid food, or culture media: One was made from glucose and the other from coconut water. They sterilized these fluids to make sure they were clean and sterile. They introduced new genetic material into the bacteria's DNA using a process called . electroporation. The new genetic material contained a special type of circular DNA that enabled the bacteria to produce melanin.

First, the genetically modified bacteria are grown normally. They then added ingredients that “start” melanin production, such as L-tyrosine, the building block of melanin, and copper sulfate, a catalyst that accelerates the process. To see how much melanin the bacteria produced, they measured how dark the culture medium became. This was a good indicator of melanin levels. To see if different conditions change the amount of melanin produced by bacteria, the researchers experimented with different pH levels, amounts of salt, and metals that can affect the amount of melanin produced by bacteria. I tried.

Next, the researchers Komagata Eibacter They produce a special type of melanin called melanin that produces a dark brown to black color. eumelanin. To force the bacteria to produce eumelanin, the researchers further modified the bacteria's genes. Specifically, they added a gene that causes the bacteria to produce an enzyme called Tyr1, which helps stimulate melanin production. They used this genetic change to create a unique bacterial strain that could continuously produce eumelanin.

Once they had these genetically modified bacteria, they conducted experiments to control the amount of eumelanin produced by the bacteria. They used a method called pyrolysis, which allows scientists to use light to control the behavior of cells. optogenetics. In this case, exposing the bacteria to blue light caused them to produce more eumelanin. The light also caused some bacteria to produce another protein that turned red. The researchers used this red color to track how well the light-induced process worked. The researchers looked at how much eumelanin these engineered bacteria produced under different conditions so they could better control melanin production.

Researchers discovered that when bacteria produce melanin, they form a mat-like layer that retains moisture. They interpreted this result to mean that adding melanin to different materials can change their surface properties. To demonstrate how melanin can be used in leather-based products, researchers created sample items such as wallets and shoe uppers from a mixture of bacterial cellulose and melanin. It was confirmed that adding melanin to cellulose increases durability. The researchers found that the melanin remained stable even after treatments such as high-pressure steam and ethanol cleaning, meaning it was strong enough to withstand real-world use.

The researchers suggested that future work should discover enzymes that can produce melanin under acidic conditions, requiring less water for production. Especially when melanin is used in large-scale production, the process becomes more environmentally friendly and efficient if less water is used. Finally, they encouraged scientists and designers to continue working together to develop innovative ways to create sustainable textiles that make fashion more environmentally friendly.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Is the PlayStation 5 Pro upgrade worth the £700 price tag from Sony? | Games

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The PlayStation 5 Pro was announced in September, and people immediately reacted in disbelief at the £699/$699 price tag without a disc drive. Accounting for inflation, it’s the second most expensive console ever released, surpassed only by the PlayStation 3, which quickly dropped in price once it turned out no one wanted it. do a side job can afford one. This is an addition, not a replacement, to the original PS5 model. All games released so far will work on the Pro, and all future PS5 games will work on both models.

For your money, you get an upgraded GPU (graphics processing unit) that’s 45% more powerful overall than the original PS5. AI upscaling makes images more detailed. Advanced ray tracing improves lighting. Simply put, all PS5 games should look better and be faster.

My partner and I bought an extra disk drive last week to top up the 2TB of storage (additional cost is £100, but it’s currently out of stock). Context: I primarily play games on a Steam deck or Nintendo Switch, and I only see the difference between 30FPS and 60FPS. I appreciate gorgeous games – I was impressed with God of War and Ratchet and Clank on PS5 – but graphical performance isn’t that important to me. My partner, on the other hand, is a lifelong early adopter and PC gamer. very invested in his technology. This is our verdict.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6HaRMiTfvks?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="PlayStation 5 Pro Console – Reveal Trailer" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="

The idea behind this console upgrade is to eliminate any compromises. The original PS5’s graphics options let you choose fidelity and performance: how good everything looks and how fast everything moves. Fidelity provides better lighting and detail for each scene, but at a lower frame rate. Choosing Performance will give you a higher frame rate and feel smoother while playing, but it will turn off some of the flashy lighting effects and detail. PS5 Pro removes the compromises and allows you to get more detail at higher frame rates.

Whether you can actually see this difference depends a lot on your TV. For example, if you don’t have a 4K TV, this console makes no sense at all. The difference may not be as big as you might expect, as most high-end TVs now have a number of built-in effects and features that smooth out frame rates and improve the look and performance of what you’re playing. yeah. Personally, as someone who hasn’t invested in any high-end technology, I can see and feel small but noticeable differences when comparing the same games on PS5 and Pro on a 4K TV. My partner finds the contrast more obvious because his eye for these things is better trained.

This lack of compromise is what tech-minded gamers expected from this generation of consoles in the first place, so it’s nice to finally see it. Indeed, I think the ideal customer for the PS5 Pro is someone who held off on purchasing a PS5 because they felt it was a poor upgrade from their PS4. Most people aren’t likely to play PS5 exclusive games like Spider-Man 2 or Horizon Forbidden West again just because they look a little better on the upgraded console. However, even if you’ve never played these games in the first place, you can now enjoy them at their best.

Sony’s attractive hardware design continues with PlayStation 5 Pro Photo provided by: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Speaking of gaming at its best, the console has a feature called PS5 Pro Game Boost that also boosts all 8,500+ backwards-compatible PlayStation 4 games. Some of PS4’s best games have already been remastered specifically for PS5, such as The Last of Us Parts I and II and Horizon Zero Dawn, but many games have yet to be remastered., has benefited greatly from this upgrade. The difference here is obvious to everyone.

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Sony typically releases these upgraded consoles right after the midpoint of the PlayStation’s lifespan, so you can assume that you’ll get three to four years of use out of the PS5 Pro before the PlayStation 6 arrives. As for whether it’s worth the money? If you already have a really good TV, like to use the latest technology, and haven’t played all the PS5 games worth playing yet, like my partner, You will be satisfied. It’s more of a convenience than a necessity. If you, like me, are hesitant about paying this much for a gaming console, rest assured you’re not missing out on much.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bitcoin reaches new all-time high of over $82,000 thanks to “Trump Pump”

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bitcoin prices surged above $82,000 for the first time as traders speculated on Donald Trump’s potential support for the cryptocurrency upon his return to the White House.

Bitcoin hit a record high of $82,413 before dipping by approximately 2.8% to around $82,000 on Monday. The price has more than doubled from about $37,000 a year ago.

While Trump had previously criticized Bitcoin, he appeared to shift his stance during the US presidential campaign, engaging with the crypto community and attending industry events. This shift raised hopes of relaxed regulations for individual investors looking to enter the cryptocurrency market, although specific policies have not been announced by President Trump.

Following Trump’s anticipated victory, Trump trading has impacted global markets with a strengthening of the dollar as investors await significant government spending in the US.

In China, investors brace for increased tariffs as Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.5% on Monday in response to what some view as an insufficient reaction to China’s recent stimulus measures.

Despite China’s debt exchange programs worth approximately 10 trillion yuan (£1.1 trillion), Deutsche Bank economists note a lack of direct fiscal stimulus or housing enhancements, leading to market disappointment.

The values of alternative cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Dogecoin have also risen in the wake of the election. Dogecoin, previously supported by Elon Musk, saw a significant increase in value, fueling further interest in digital assets.

Trump’s open support for his family’s cryptocurrency venture and potential deregulation of digital assets could raise concerns over conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, there is growing interest in cryptocurrencies as an alternative to traditional banking systems.

Efforts to deregulate digital assets may expose Trump to criticism over potential conflicts of interest, particularly concerning his family’s cryptocurrency venture. His son, Donald Trump Jr., has advocated for cryptocurrencies as a conservative-friendly alternative to traditional banking systems.

In anticipation of potential policy changes, publicly traded crypto companies like Coinbase and MicroStrategy have seen significant increases in their stock prices.

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Market analysts suggest that Bitcoin price fluctuations are closely linked to the prevailing market sentiment, including investors’ reactions to political developments like the election results and potential policy changes under a new administration.

As Bitcoin’s price surge continues, interest in cryptocurrencies is on the rise. Online searches for “Bitcoin” have reached their highest levels in months, indicating growing curiosity and market activity in the digital asset space.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can AI Take Over the Role of Translators? | Book

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

aAs anyone who has pointed their phone’s camera at a foreign menu recently knows, machine translation has come a long way since the early days of Google Translate. While the usefulness of AI-assisted translation in such situations is unquestionable, the proposed use of AI in literary translation is even more controversial.

Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning has announced that it will use AI translation for commercial novels, promising that no books will be translated this way without careful checks and that consent from authors is required. This infuriated both authors and translators, despite their attempts to reassure them.

“Translators don’t just translate words; we build bridges between cultures, taking into account the target audience every step of the way,” says Lukas Reinfeldt in The Discomfort of Evening. says Michelle Hutchison, winner of the 2020 International Booker Prize for translation. “We sneak in subtle hints that help readers understand particular cultural elements and traditions. We convey rhythm, poetry, wordplay, and metaphor. Even in novels, for example, agricultural Accurately study mechanical terminology.

Translators and authors also point out that AI translations require very careful checking and editing, ideally by someone who knows both languages. At that point, the person may end up translating the text themselves. Cultural sensitivity is of particular concern, as AI is known to produce grossly inappropriate material.

“Last year, a reader pointed out some problems with the French version of my book,” says Juno Dawson, author of the “On Her Majesty’s Royal Society” series. “The translators were using slightly outdated words to describe transgender people. They were able to change the terminology before publication. It’s these nuances that the AI misses. I think AI-generated content will require strict editing anyway.”

However, there are some scenarios where machine translation could possibly help creators of cultural works. For example, for writers working in minority languages whose work currently has no translations into English or other languages, AI-assisted translation could help them reach a wider audience. And in video games, localization can be one of the biggest costs for small independent developers, especially those whose first language isn’t English. AI translation of in-game text could theoretically help developers reach a wider audience and help players who speak minority languages enjoy their games more. But there are obvious limitations here as well.

Dr. Jack Ratcliffe is the designer and CEO of Noun Town, a mixed reality language learning game where players roam around a virtual city and converse with locals in one of 40 supported languages. “If you’re playing a simple game where you see text and you press left, right and A to jump, you could probably machine translate it and suddenly it becomes much more accessible to a lot of people in different languages.” he says. “However, if there are nuances like characters having a conversation with each other, and you want to convey that as a game creator… using AI can be scary.”

“If there is any nuance… using AI will be scary”…Screenshot from mixed reality language learning game Noun Town. Photo: Noun Street

Noun Town has approximately 50,000 lines of dialogue, all of which is translated by humans, voice-acted, and checked by language teachers. Ratcliffe said the studio experimented with AI translation and found that using it in languages other than English produced significantly worse results.

“What we found in our tests is that into the Nothing is perfect when it comes to AI, but English is actually fine,” he says. “These large language models have learned a lot of English. When you get into other languages, especially less popular ones, the languages become more and more and more confusing.”

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Therefore, game developers who create games with lots of words and dialogue are considering the high cost of localization and probably care as much about the meanings and nuances of those words as book authors do. I’m sure there are.

There is a clear difference between practicality and technology when it comes to how people feel about AI translation. Few would argue against using AI like a dictionary to identify meaning. But translators do more than that, of course. Dawson says: “These writers are artists in their own right.”

“I started adding lines to my translations that said, ‘Created by hand, without the use of generative AI,’” Hutchison says. “As translators, given the current threat to our existence, we need to be vocal about what our work is now. It’s not just about typing.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Guide to observing the peak of the Northern Taurid meteor shower in November

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The annual Taurid meteor shower is back and it’s a two-part shooting star spectacle. The first half, Southern Taurus, already occurred in September. But if you missed it, the northern Taurid meteor shower is here!

This event is known for its bright and impressive fireball meteors that light up the sky. Learn how to accurately observe the Taurid meteor shower and discover more about its origins.

When will the Taurid meteor shower occur in 2024?

The Northern Taurid meteor shower will peak on the night of November 11, 2024 in the UK, US, and other countries. This is the time to see the most fireball shooting stars.

In 2024, Taurus in the North will be active from October 20th to December 10th. The closer you are to the peak, the more shooting stars you will witness.

Where should I look to see a fireball?

You can see Taurid meteors streaking across the sky, so lie down and look up. The shooting stars originate from the constellation Taurus, visible in winter near Orion.

To locate Taurus, look towards Orion’s belt and find Aldebaran. Use astronomy apps for guidance and view from a location with minimal light pollution for the best experience.

How many meteors can you see?

Most years, the Taurid meteor shower is weak, with only a few meteors visible per night. However, there can be more under perfect conditions, with up to five meteors per hour. These meteors often produce dramatic fireballs.

The Taurid meteor shower is a gamble – each night can bring a few small meteors or a display of fireballs.

What causes the Taurid meteor shower?

The Taurid meteor shower originates from Comet Encke, with the northern variation likely from an Encke offshoot known as 2004 TG10. Earth passes through the remains of asteroid 2004 TG10, creating the spectacle we see in the sky.

Comet Encke is believed to be a fragment of a larger comet that broke up thousands of years ago.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Elon Musk could become wealthier under Trump’s potential second term: ‘There will be some retribution’, says Elon Musk

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

DDonald Trump’s resounding victory in the 2024 presidential election can be largely attributed to the unwavering support of the richest man in the world. Elon Musk, in the leading months to the election, fully embraced the MAGA movement, stood up for Trump on a significant podcast, and utilized his influence through X to shape political conversations. A staggering amount of around $120 million was injected into the former president’s campaign by Musk. Now, Trump is expressing his gratitude, mentioning that he intends to appoint Mr. Musk as the “cost reduction secretary.” Musk humorously suggested his interest in leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to slash government spending by $2 trillion. This move could potentially impact Musk’s companies like Tesla, SpaceX, X, and Neuralink directly through deregulation and policy alterations.

Experts foresee a reciprocal relationship where the Trump administration might ease regulations and redirect federal resources in a manner that favors Musk. This transparent and transactional exchange sets a unique precedent in recent U.S. political history, as noted by Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School. The possibility of quid pro quo benefits for Musk has raised concerns about conflicts of interest.

President Trump: “Bad for electric cars, good for Elon”

Although President Trump has been vocal in his criticism of electric vehicles, Tesla’s fortunes surged under his administration. Tesla’s stock price soared by 13% to reach a 52-week high following the announcement of Trump’s endorsement by the Associated Press. This bolstered Musk’s personal wealth by $26 billion, despite Trump’s public skepticism towards environmentally friendly cars and his plans to revoke Biden’s electric vehicle-related mandates.

However, Trump’s stance on EVs softened after Musk extended his support to him, displaying a shift in policy alignment. The potential reduction in tax credits for EV buyers under the Trump administration could adversely affect emerging EV startups and traditional automakers but benefit Tesla, which heavily relies on these incentives.

President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and son Barron give their victory speech on Tuesday night. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush, highlights Tesla’s advantageous position due to its scale and scope in the EV market, which could provide a competitive edge amidst changing regulatory landscapes. However, the potential implications of Trump’s tariffs on Tesla’s supply chain from China pose significant challenges, especially concerning the production costs and materials sourcing for Tesla’s vehicles.

The Trump administration’s policies could reshape the environment for Musk’s autonomous vehicle ambitions, namely Tesla’s self-driving car rollout, by potentially streamlining regulations and federal approval processes. This could accelerate Tesla’s progress in catching up with more advanced competitors in the autonomous vehicle space.

SpaceX could secure lucrative government contracts for Starlink deployment and Mars missions

SpaceX, Musk’s private space company, stands to benefit substantially from potential government partnerships under the Trump administration. Musk’s alignment with Trump could strengthen SpaceX’s position in securing space contracts, especially with the intensifying competition from other space ventures. The relationship between Musk and Trump could pave the way for SpaceX to capitalize on government contracts for projects like Starlink deployment and Mars missions.

Furthermore, Musk’s engagement with the Trump administration could influence policies favoring SpaceX’s interests, such as with regards to space exploration and satellite internet services. Republican-led initiatives may open doors for SpaceX to expand its services like Starlink, offering new opportunities for government collaboration and funding.

Musk’s push for Mars colonization aligns with Trump’s vision of space exploration and could lead to lucrative government contracts for SpaceX in the realm of interplanetary missions. The collaboration between Musk and Trump on space ventures could mark a new era of space exploration and government partnerships.

Preparing the ground for Musk’s self-driving cars

Musk’s involvement in shaping regulations for self-driving cars, particularly Tesla’s autonomous vehicles, could greatly impact the future of transportation. Trump’s administration may play a pivotal role in streamlining regulations and approval processes for advanced autonomous vehicles, potentially benefiting Tesla’s efforts in the space of self-driving technology.

Experts highlight the importance of regulatory decisions under the Trump administration that could influence Tesla’s autonomous vehicle roadmap, as well as the broader implications for the transportation industry.

Trump’s potential impact on Neuralink and X oversight

Aside from Tesla and SpaceX, Trump’s presidency could affect other Musk-owned ventures like Neuralink and X. Regulatory changes under the Trump administration, particularly at the FDA, could potentially reduce oversight on Neuralink’s brain-computer interface experiments and X’s operations.

Despite concerns about conflicts of interest, Musk’s influence in the Trump administration could shape policies in ways that benefit his businesses. The dynamics of this relationship raise ethical questions about the intersection of business interests and governance in the political landscape.

“The conflict of interest seems pretty strange.”

Elon Musk’s expanding role in American politics and the Trump administration poses unique challenges and opportunities. Musk’s deep pockets and close ties to Trump signal a shift in the traditional power dynamics of politics and business. The potential conflicts of interest inherent in Musk’s involvement in policy decisions underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in government and corporate relations.

The uncertain future of Musk and Trump’s alliance raises questions about the ethical implications of such relationships and the broader impact on governance and public trust. As Musk continues to navigate the political landscape, his influence and actions will undoubtedly shape the future of technology, business, and politics.

Source: www.theguardian.com

An Unexpectedly Simple Trick for Escaping Quicksand

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

For many children growing up, Scooby Doo and Looney Tunes painted a picture of quicksand as a lurking danger. One misstep and you could face a slow and suffocating demise.

While the likelihood of being swallowed by quicksand is slim, it’s still a real phenomenon that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Quicksand can be found in various locations like beaches, riverbanks, and wetlands in the UK. It forms when sand or clay gets flooded and loses its structure. The friction between particles reduces in saturated sand, causing the surface to liquefy when disturbed, making it appear like the sand is swallowing you.

Contrary to the dramatic portrayals in horror comics, quicksand won’t suck you in and kill you. Research published in the journal Nature in 2005 showed that the density of quicksand is higher than that of the human body, and the buoyancy of the torso from the lungs prevents sinking past waist level.

The real danger lies in secondary risks associated with quicksand. People stuck in tidal areas with quicksand can be engulfed by rising water and drown, or suffer from hypothermia, dehydration, and exhaustion if not rescued promptly.

Each year, dozens of people in the UK get trapped in quicksand and require rescue missions. In 2017, four holidaymakers were stranded in quicksand in Morecambe Bay, with only minutes to be saved from the rising waters.

To stay safe around quicksand, it’s best to avoid it altogether. Stick to marked trails, never venture into unknown areas alone, check local tides if near danger spots, inform someone of your whereabouts, and carry a charged cell phone for emergencies.

If trapped in quicksand, refrain from letting others assist you to prevent them from getting stuck as well. Call 999 for the Coastguard and use the what3words app to share your location. Remain calm, avoid sudden movements, distribute your weight over a wide area, remove weight like backpacks, and move your feet slowly to create pockets of water for leverage.

This article addresses the question from Ray MacDonald via email: “How deadly is quicksand?”

Contact us at: questions@sciencefocus.com for any queries, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Elwood Edwards, famously known as the voice behind AOL’s “You’ve got mail” greeting, passes away at 74 years old

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elwood Edwards, the iconic voice behind AOL’s famous “You’ve got mail” greeting, passed away at the age of 74.

Edwards died at his residence in New Bern, North Carolina, on Tuesday, following complications from a stroke last year, as confirmed by his daughter Heather.

In 1989, Edwards recorded the greetings for AOL in his living room. The phrase “You’ve got mail” became widely recognized in the late 1990s, even inspiring a movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in 1998.

Elwood Edwards. Photo: Social Media

“He always blushed when people mentioned it,” shared his daughter. “He enjoyed the attention but never quite got used to it.”

Apart from “You’ve got mail,” Edwards also lent his voice to AOL’s “Welcome,” “Goodbye,” and “File Completed” messages, earning $200 for the recordings.

He landed the gig while his wife Karen, who worked at AOL as a customer service rep, heard about the voiceover opportunity and recommended him for the job.

Despite being unseen by most, Edwards’ voice resonated with millions daily. “For a while, America Online [AOL] kept me a secret, turning me into a bit of a mystery figure. But it’s out now, that’s that,” Edwards stated in 1999.

He made a memorable appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015, delighting the audience by delivering his famous phrase, and even made a guest voice appearance on The Simpsons in 2000.

Before his AOL fame, Edwards worked in radio and later transitioned to television. His daughter fondly recalled his self-deprecating humor and cheerful demeanor.

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Transitioning to TV, Edwards worked as a “graphics guru, camera operator, and all-around talent” at WKYC-TV in Cleveland, where he also did voice-over work for commercials in addition to freelancing for radio.

He is survived by his daughter Sally, granddaughter Abby, and brother Bill. The family plans to hold a memorial service in New Bern on Monday.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Baby bats are increasing in size due to a specific cause

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bats may not have the best reputation, with myths about them being vampires and getting tangled in hair. The coronavirus pandemic also added to their negative image, with beliefs that they played a role in spreading the virus.

However, according to Rodrigo Medellin, a bat ecologist at the Institute of Ecology at the University of Mexico, bats are actually incredibly important to ecosystems. They are often misunderstood and mistreated, but they play a vital role in maintaining the health of various environments.

Despite facing extinction due to climate change, bats are unique creatures with fascinating abilities. They sleep upside down, have evolved wings from their hands, and can fly with incredible speed and agility, reaching up to 160 miles per hour in some species.

These remarkable mammals have the longest lifespan relative to their body size and remain healthy throughout their lives with low rates of cancer and the ability to resist deadly viruses. They also possess intricate biosonar capabilities, using ultrasonic chirps to navigate their surroundings.

Bats have diverse diets and play a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersion. They are essential for forest regeneration, helping to maintain ecosystems and biodiversity around the world.

Additionally, bats are powerful pest predators, providing natural pest control in agriculture. They can consume large numbers of pests, helping to reduce the need for pesticides and saving billions of dollars annually in agricultural costs.

Unfortunately, bats are facing challenges due to climate change, with rising temperatures affecting their habitats and populations. It is crucial to protect and conserve bats to ensure their continued contribution to ecosystems and human well-being.

About our experts

Rodrigo A. Medellin: A senior professor of ecology at the Institute of Ecology of the University of Mexico, known as Mexico’s “Batman” for his advocacy and conservation efforts for bats.

Danilo Russo: A bat ecologist, animal behaviorist, and conservation biologist at the Second University of Naples Federico in Italy. He is actively involved in assessing the benefits of bats in agriculture and promoting bat conservation in response to climate change.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The unexpected weight loss caused by Canada’s gravity anomaly

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In certain areas of the world, such as Canada’s Hudson Bay, gravity is slightly lower than in other areas.

This is because an object with more mass has more gravity, and since Earth’s mass is not uniform, gravity varies from place to place. However, you need a very accurate scale to notice it. Hudson Bay’s gravity is about four thousandths of a percent lower than Earth’s average.

When scientists discovered this anomaly in the 1960s, they developed two theories to explain it. The first is that the Earth’s crust is still recovering from the last Ice Age.

About 20,000 years ago, the huge Laurentide ice sheet covered North America. The weight of the ice, which was more than 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) thick in places, pushed down on the continent’s crust.

When the Ice Age ended, the Laurentide melted rapidly, but the Earth’s crust slowly returned to normal. It rebounds by about 12 mm (0.5 inch) each year, meaning it will take another 300,000 years to return to its original position. This indentation left in the Earth’s crust means that Hudson Bay has slightly less mass and therefore slightly less gravity.

The second theory concerns the movement of the mantle beneath the Earth’s crust.

The mantle is made of molten rock heated by the Earth’s core. It rises over geological time scales and then sinks again as it cools. This creates convection currents that move the plates. Ocean currents can also pull continents downward, slightly reducing mass and gravity in the area.

Satellite measurements in 2002 revealed both theories to be correct. The Hudson Bay gravity anomaly is caused by a combination of mantle convection and the legacy of the Laurentide ice sheet. Therefore, even after the Earth’s crust has fully rebounded, gravity in this part of the world will remain slightly lower than average.

This article answers the question (asked by Victor Gregory via email): “Is it true that people in Canada weigh less?”
If you have any questions, please email us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or send us a message facebook, ×or Instagram Page (remember to include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Longest-Lasting Snow Patch in Britain Disappears for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

For the fourth year in a row, the snow has melted in parts of Scotland known for remaining snowy all year round.
This is the 10th time in more than three centuries that it has disappeared.
Such snowflakes could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change.

A patch of snow in the Scottish Highlands called the Sphinx typically remains all year round and remains frozen throughout the summer. But it has melted away four years in a row, making it only the tenth time in more than three centuries that it has happened.

The Sphinx that flanks Brelliach, Britain's third highest mountain, has historically been known to persist even after most of the snow and ice has disappeared each year on Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains, making it historically the longest-lasting snow in Britain. It was considered a zone. range.

But by September, like every year since 2021, this patch completely melted away. By comparison, the Sphinx disappeared only three times in the 20th century.

Experts say such snowy areas tend to be sensitive to small fluctuations in temperature, which could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change. The Sphinx's melting could therefore provide clues to how climate change is affecting the Scottish Highlands, the rest of Scotland and the world.

Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The fact that the Sphinx is melting for the fourth year in a row is a good indicator of these changes.” “Climate change has always been relatively high on the agenda for us as a national park and is increasingly impacting the Highlands. We can learn from the Sphinx about the changes that are happening to our climate. can.”

The Sphinx is located in Brelliach, part of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.
climate center

In addition to melting snow, highlands experience frequent storms and floods interspersed with long periods of dry weather, increasing the risk of wildfires, Moir said.

Changes in snow cover across the plateau affect mountain ecosystems by altering the natural hydrological cycle in which snow gradually melts from the mountains and flows into streams.

“It's really impacting things like salmon spawning areas and the river as a whole,” Moir said. “We need to mitigate some of these impacts and we need to think about what we can do to adapt to changing patterns.”

He added that Cairngorms Park was also home to some of the UK's most endangered species.

Its ripple effects extend beyond the natural environment. The national park is home to about 18,000 people and is visited by about 2 million people each year, Moir said. However, he said severe storms and flooding could displace residents, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt the region's valuable tourism industry.

“It's always been important to try to strike the right balance to ensure that nature and people can thrive within the national park,” Moir said. “What we are trying to do is make sure we invest in things that are good for nature, biodiversity and people.”

Records show that the Sphinx's snow belt has melted only 10 times in more than 300 years.
climate center

Ian Cameron, author of The Vanishing Ice: Diaries of a Scottish Snow Hunter, has spent more than 25 years studying snow in the hills and mountains of Scotland. Every year he publishes his findings on the region's snow cover in the British Meteorological Society's annual report.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote last year that the Sphinx's fate was a story with “little prospect of a happy ending”.

“There is little doubt that we are witnessing a change in the language used to describe snow in Scotland.” he wrote. “In the past, the adjective that best described the Sphinx was 'permanent,' but that had to be changed to 'semi-permanent,' then 'permanent,' and then 'semi-permanent.' But even this descriptor will not be able to withstand the pressure exerted by continued disappearances. We are now witnessing an era where patches of snow may remain only occasionally. ”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Resisting the Push for “Smart” Devices in My Home: A Tech Journalist’s Battle by Victoria Turk

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

TThis is one of the battles my husband and I have been fighting ever since we started living together. It’s about whether or not you want to include “smart” appliances in your home. An avid gadget fan, he happily connected all his household items to the internet so he could control them from his mobile phone. As a jaded technology journalist, I’m far too paranoid to have data-hungry surveillance machines around me.

So when I saw a recent article about a seemingly innocuous tool that apparently requires a little too much data, I felt somewhat vindicated. Consumer group “Which one?’ The company found that three of the air fryers it tested were connected to a phone app that requested permission to record audio. This is unlikely to be an important feature for an object whose sole purpose is to cook food. The device also wanted to know the exact location of the user.

To me, there’s no need to connect your air fryer, refrigerator, washing machine, or toaster to the internet, but I can see some merit to the concept. The main advantage of smart home appliances is that they can be controlled remotely. So you can finish a big load of laundry as soon as you get home from work, or check for missing groceries while you’re at the supermarket. However, many of these devices and the apps connected to them collect high levels of personal information with little transparency, despite regulations limiting the data they process.

All smart appliances need to collect some data in order to perform their promised functions. For example, voice activation services require audio access (obviously, some people want to talk to their light switches). However, devices often request more permissions than they actually need or use. Which are the most items? Reviewed also includes smart TVs, speakers, and watches
Connected to a third party tracker Data from your device can be monitored and used for various purposes such as marketing and advertising.

Many of us have a general feeling that technology is collecting more personal data than we are comfortable with. There’s a popular conspiracy theory that social media apps are spying on our private conversations, serving us ads, and secretly using our phones’ microphones to pick up on our consumer desires. I was talking to a friend about the tools I needed for a DIY project when I suddenly came across something. An ad for a power drill appears on your social feed.

“Consumer groups, which one?’ We found that the three air fryers we tested were connected to a phone app that requested permission to record audio.” Photo: Grace Carey/Getty Images

But if that sounds reassuring, all it really shows is that advertisers aren’t. need To listen to your private chatter in order to provide you with advertisements that are relevant to points that you find intrusive. They already have enough other data about you. And now it turns out that the innocent-looking appliance you bought to make dinner doesn’t respect personal boundaries either.

The problem is not just the possibility of eavesdropping. Smart devices can monitor us in all kinds of ways. A smart doorbell might monitor your coming and going from your home, and a fitness watch might track your location at all times. Even seemingly innocuous data collection can reveal more information than you expected. Robot vacuum cleaner can map and share the floor plan of your home. Connected sex toys can reveal your bedroom habits. Running the app could reveal the location of secret military bases. This also creates the possibility of abuse. Domestic abusers used
Smart doorbell, thermostat And even more
kids toys To stalk, surveil, and gaslight their victims.

As more and more things become “smart”, it becomes difficult to resist. My husband managed to sneak a color-changing light bulb into the house with an app, but I drew the line at Ring doorbell. I felt it was excessive to equip the door furniture with eyes and ears.

But in reality, you don’t have to completely avoid smart appliances just to protect your privacy. Despite my groaning, I actually like technology. We all want to use smart devices that make our lives easier without giving up a lot of personal data. In theory, regulations already cover this.
GDPR status What companies must do
be transparent about the data they collect, and
Limit data collection to what you need. But what is “required” is open to interpretation, and even if companies are honest about how they use data, how many people read the fine print when they’re just trying to set up an air fryer? Is it?

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator, plans to issue new guidance specifically for smart device manufacturers in spring 2025. Workshops with citizen juries earlier this year found that more people are learning about how smart devices handle personal information. They stopped trusting them. “The overwhelming feeling among participants was that IoT [Internet of Things] Products collect excessive and often unnecessary amounts of personal information.”
said
report We have prepared for the ICO.

This report includes a clearer privacy policy with bullet points and larger text, audio or visual signals that indicate a smart device is collecting information, and data not only during setup but also periodically over the life of the product. Some common sense solutions have been proposed, including collection reminders. Specific and prominent controls to opt-in or opt-out of having your personal data used for advertising.

It’s not exactly rocket science. The problem is that regulations are only effective if they are enforced. Editor, Harry Rose;
point out
to companies operating from other countries.

In the meantime, it might be a good time to check your phone’s settings to see what each app linked to your appliance can access. Or join the ranks of grumpy Luddites like me and think about how smart your kitchen appliances need to be.

Source: www.theguardian.com

5 Positive Impacts of Science on the World: A Source of Hope | World News

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Stem cell transplant could reverse diabetes

ian sample

There are around 500 million people worldwide living with diabetes. This condition, characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, can lead to various health complications such as periodontal disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, blindness, amputation, heart attack, stroke, and cancer if not managed properly.

Current treatments for diabetes include medications, insulin, and lifestyle changes. However, a new approach involving stem cell transplants shows promise in reversing the disease. The first successful treatment of a woman with type 1 diabetes using stem cells from her own body was recently reported. Previously dependent on significant insulin doses, she is now able to produce insulin naturally.

Similarly, a 59-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was able to reduce his reliance on insulin after a stem cell transplant in April. Although there are still challenges in scaling up this treatment, the initial results have been impressive.

Cancer vaccine

ian sample

Following the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, scientists are now exploring the use of similar technology to develop cancer vaccines. These vaccines aim to train the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells by producing specific proteins.

Clinical trials for personalized mRNA cancer vaccines have shown promise in melanoma and other types of cancer. These vaccines may have long-lasting effects and could potentially prevent cancer recurrence in high-risk individuals.

AI helps detect cancer faster

robert booth

Artificial intelligence is being increasingly used to improve the early detection of serious illnesses such as lung cancer and brain tumors. This technology has shown to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, leading to better outcomes for patients.

hannah devlin

The James Webb Space Telescope has provided stunning images of the universe, shedding light on the origins of stars, black holes, and the evolution of the cosmos. This powerful telescope opens up new possibilities for scientific discoveries and understanding the mysteries of the universe.

Renewable energy accelerates

Gillian Ambrose

The world is witnessing a rapid shift towards renewable energy sources. Projects utilizing renewable energy are expected to expand at a much faster pace, surpassing previous growth rates. This transition is crucial in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elon Musk unexpectedly joins Trump and Zelensky phone call, reports say

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk made a surprise appearance on a phone call between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, during which he was appointed as Ukraine’s most influential private citizen in January as Tesla’s CEO. The role was confirmed.

Musk was reportedly on the call with Trump for approximately 25 minutes. Axios first reported the call. Trump handed the phone to Musk, and Musk briefly spoke with Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy thanked Musk for providing satellites to Ukraine through Starlink, as reported by AFP. Musk mentioned he would continue providing satellite internet connectivity.

Although Musk supported Trump’s campaign, his stance on issues related to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine has been mixed. Initially, Musk offered Ukraine free internet access through Starlink satellites, but later received funding from various organizations, including the U.S. government.

Zelenskiy’s call with Trump provided reassurance for the Ukrainian president. Trump assured Zelenskiy of continued support without going into specifics. Zelenskiy praised Trump and his team for their successful campaign in a statement.

Musk’s actions towards aiding Ukraine have been ambiguous at times. Following an emergency request from Ukraine to launch a satellite over Crimea, Musk refused, stating he wanted to avoid escalating conflict and war through Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX.

In a tweet, Musk presented a peace plan that some experts deemed pro-Kremlin. Zelenskiy responded by polling followers on whether they preferred Russia or Musk, who has been supportive of Ukraine.

Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate Musk has been in communication with Vladimir Putin since 2022. The content of their discussions remains unknown, but Starlink was reportedly discussed in one instance, with Putin requesting Musk not activate Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Musk responded to a post on I can’t.

I had a great call with the president. @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory. His incredible campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.

We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our bilateral relations.

— Volodymyr Zelensky / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dating Costs: Exploring the Price of Love and Who Foots the Bill

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Being vulnerable, open, and risking rejection come with a price when putting yourself out there. Today, that price can be substantial.

Beyond just the cost of drinks and dinner, you may have already invested hundreds of pounds in a dating site to secure a date before even starting the awkward dance of who foots the bill.

How much does the app cost?

While some dating services are free, many now offer attractive add-ons for a small fee to help you find more compatible connections, get noticed faster, and get more dates. We’ve looked into what the main ones offer.

crater

Tinder is free, but you can upgrade to a paid version “to enhance your Tinder experience,” according to the website.
Photo: Martin Bülow/AFP/Getty Images

Tinder is free, but you can upgrade to a paid version for an enhanced experience, with prices starting at £7 per month and going up to around £50 according to their press team.

There are three subscription tiers (Plus, Gold, and Platinum) offered at varying prices. Plus options range from £4.99 to £19.94 per month in 2021, gold ranges from £13.99 to £29.49, and platinum from £18.14 to £36.49.

Different users may be charged different prices based on factors like age, as revealed by a survey by a consumer group “Which?”.

hinge

The free version of Hinge allows eight likes and messages to matches per day. Two paid subscriptions promise double the dates.

Hinge+ costs £14.99 per week, £24.99 per month, £49.99 for three months, and £74.99 for six months.

HingeX costs £24.99 per week, £44.99 per month, £89.99 for three months, and £129.99 for six months.

With Gold membership, it takes an average of 3 months to find a partner and leave Muzz.
Photo: Mikhailo Polenok/Alamy

Source: www.theguardian.com

Study finds evidence of multiple instances of Denisovan populations interbreeding with modern humans

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The identification of a new human group called the Denisovans has been one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution over the past decade. Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only a few skeletal fragments. Several Denisovan populations, which likely had vast geographic ranges, adapted to different environments and through multiple different interbreeding events that helped shape early human history, according to a new study. I passed on some of my genes.

Portrait of a young Denisovan woman based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA methylation maps. Image credit: Maayan Harel.

Denisovans are an extinct hominin group first identified through genome sequences determined from finger bone fragments found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia.

“This was one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution in the past decade,” said Dr Linda Ongaro, a researcher at Trinity College Dublin.

Subsequent genome analysis showed that Denisovans diverged from Neanderthals 400,000 years ago, and that at least two distinct Denisovan populations intermingled with the ancestors of modern Asians.

The only physical remains of Denisovans discovered so far are a finger bone fragment, three teeth, and a skull fragment from the Denisovan Cave. Jaw bones and rib bones from Baisiya Karst Cave on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

“It's a common misconception that humans evolved suddenly and cleanly from one common ancestor, but the more we learn, the more we realize that interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped shape the humans we know today. ” said Dr. Ongaro.

“Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists only of finger bones, jaw bones, teeth, and skull fragments.”

“However, by exploiting the remaining Denisovan parts of modern humans' genomes, scientists have found evidence of at least three past events in which genes from different Denisovan populations invaded modern humans' genetic characteristics. I discovered.”

Each of these shows different levels of relatedness to the sequenced Altai Denisovans, illustrating the complex relationships between these sister lineages.

Dr. Ongaro and his colleague Professor Emilia Huerta Sánchez of Trinity College Dublin and Brown University, in their new paper, have a wide geographical range, from Siberia to Southeast Asia, and from Oceania to the south. We have reviewed evidence pointing to several likely Denisovan populations. America has adapted to a unique environment.

They also outlined a number of genes of Denisovan origin that conferred advantages to modern humans in different environments.

“Among these are genetic loci that confer tolerance to hypoxia or hypoxic conditions, which makes a lot of sense because we see it in the Tibetan population. Multiple genes that increase immunity. Another “Influences lipid metabolism and provides heat when stimulated by cold, providing benefits to Arctic Inuit populations,” Dr. Ongaro said.

“There are many directions for future research that will help us more fully understand how Denisovans influenced modern humans, including uncovering currently hidden traces of Denisovan ancestry. This includes more detailed genetic analyzes in understudied populations that have the potential to

“Additionally, by integrating more genetic data with archaeological information, finding more Denisovan fossils will certainly fill in some more gaps.”

of paper Published in a magazine natural genetics.

_____

L. Ongaro & E. Huerta-Sánchez. History of multiple Denisovan introgressions in modern humans. Nat Genetpublished on November 5, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01960-y

Source: www.sci.news

Elephants having fun with hoses: Showering and pranking each other

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elephants are masters of using hoses. A hose is considered a complex tool because of its flexibility, length, and the physical properties of the flowing water.

Researchers studying three Asian elephants (maximum elephas) The animals at the Berlin Zoo were amazed to see how agile they were with the hose and how to take a shower, and they seemed to understand how to get the most out of it. They appeared to be playing pranks on each other mid-shower by twisting the hose and squeezing it with their torsos to stop the flow.

To reach more distant parts of the body, elephants used a lasso-like technique, holding the hose far from the end and swinging it over their backs.

michael brecht The researchers at Humboldt University in Berlin said the elephants' behavior around the hose reminded them of children playing together.

“Elephants are very good at handling hoses, and we really wonder if this has something to do with the functional similarities between their trunks and hoses,” he says.

Just as humans are either left-handed or right-handed, African and Asian elephants are either left-handed or right-handed “trunkers,” preferring to bend their trunks in one direction. Researchers also noticed that elephants have a side preference when manipulating hoses. One of the elephants, named Mary, used her trunk to shower on the right side of her body, but used the hose more on the left side.

Another elephant named Anchali performed five different actions to block the flow of water when Mary tried to take a shower: positioning the hose, lifting it, twisting it, re-grabbing the twist, and compressing it. Showed.

“This sabotage-like behavior, if it's true at all, is only seen in a small number of animals,” Brecht said.

Brecht's previous research suggests that elephant trunks are one of the most sensitive body parts in the animal kingdom, allowing elephants to handle objects with a precision similar to that of human hands.

“This study reiterates the idea that elephants exhibit very sophisticated trunk behavior,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Chimpanzees Perform Better at Difficult Tasks with an Audience present.

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Chimpanzee taking a number test on a touch screen

Akiho Muramatsu

Audience pressure can affect human performance both positively and negatively, and it turns out the same is true for our closest relatives.

Kristen Lin He and his colleagues at Kyoto University in Japan tested groups of six chimpanzees kept at the university's Primate Research Institute on three numerical tasks of varying difficulty.

In the first task, numbers from 1 to 5 appeared in random positions on the screen, and the chimpanzees simply had to touch the numbers in the correct order to receive a reward.

In the second task, the numbers were not adjacent. For example, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 15 might appear on the screen. Again, the chimpanzees had to press a number from the minimum value to the maximum value to receive a reward.

Finally, in the most difficult test, when the first digit in the sequence was pressed, the remaining digits were hidden behind a checkered square on the screen. This meant that the chimps had to memorize the positions of the numbers in order to press them in the correct order.

The chimpanzees were tested on this task thousands of times over six years with a variety of audiences, including one to eight human observers, people familiar with chimpanzees, and people new to chimpanzees.

When the task was easy, the chimpanzees performed worse as more people watched. However, on the most difficult task, all six chimpanzees performed better as the audience size increased.

“It was very surprising that performance improved so much as the number of human experimenters increased, because having more humans present can be distracting,” Lin says. “However, the results suggest that this may actually motivate them to perform even better.

“For the easiest tasks, humans may distract them, but for the most difficult tasks, humans can become a stressor and actually motivate them to perform better.”

team members Shinya YamamotoResearchers from Kyoto University also said they were surprised to find this effect in chimpanzees.

“Such audience effects are thought to be unique to humans who live in reputation-based and normative societies, where it is possible to perform well in front of an audience, and others to perform well in front of an audience. Sometimes they perform worse than they do,” he says. “However, our study shows that this audience effect may have evolved in the ape lineage before this type of normative society developed.”

Yamamoto says it's difficult and sometimes dangerous to tease out direct human implications from non-human research. “However, by telling people that chimpanzees are the same way, it may be possible to subtly calm the nerves of people who are extremely nervous in front of others.”

Miguel Llorente A team of researchers from the University of Girona in Spain suggests that it may be possible to further study how audience effects relate to individual chimpanzee personalities.

“To generalize these results to natural chimpanzee behavior, we will investigate these effects with chimpanzee audiences to more fully understand how these dynamics play out in natural social contexts.” “It would also be interesting to understand that,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New findings suggest that the key to stress tolerance lies in the microbiome

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Recent studies have revealed the significant role of the gut microbiome, a vast community of microorganisms residing in the digestive tract, in influencing the body’s response to stress.

A new investigation published in Cell Metabolism proposes that gut microbes greatly impact the body’s circadian rhythm, particularly in managing stress levels throughout the day.

The research indicates that the activity and composition of gut microbes naturally vary, affecting the release of stress-regulating hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

This breakthrough has sparked hopes among researchers of utilizing microbes as potential remedies for mental health conditions. According to Professor Paul Ross, Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, this study represents a significant advancement in comprehending the microbiome’s impact on mental well-being.

A disturbance in the microbiome balance can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to sleep disturbances, immune system issues, and metabolic changes, affecting stress hormone release.

One particular microorganism, Lactobacillus, is believed to play a crucial role in regulating stress hormones.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Gabriel Tofani, emphasized the gut microbiota’s role in sustaining the body’s natural stress regulation processes.

To demonstrate the connection, researchers administered antibiotics to mice to reduce their microbiome, observing alterations in the release rhythm of the stress hormone corticosterone.

This research lays the groundwork for potential treatments targeting mental health conditions by understanding the intricate relationship between the gut and the brain and its impact on the body’s stress response.

Professor Ross highlighted the potential of microbiome-based interventions in enhancing mental health, noting that this study brings us closer to achieving that objective.

Read More:

About the Experts:

Dr. Gabriel Tofani: A researcher at Cork University in Ireland, focusing on circadian rhythms, stress, and gut microbiota.

Professor Paul Ross: Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, conducting research on the human microbiome, bacterial competition, physiology, and genetics.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New DNA evidence from Pompeii challenges prior beliefs about ash-covered victims

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

After centuries, it has been discovered that long-standing beliefs about some of the inhabitants of Pompeii were not as accurate as previously thought.

Recent DNA analysis of human remains from the ancient Roman town destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD has shown that some victims were misidentified, challenging modern assumptions. This has shed light on how historical data is viewed in the past.

The authors of the study published in the journal Science on Thursday wrote, “We have found that traditional interpretations regarding an individual’s gender and familial connections do not align with the new evidence.” They also added, “It is not always reliable to apply modern gender norms when interpreting historical information.”

Archaeologists in Pompeii famously immortalized the victims by using plaster to recreate their bodies, leading to various stories being told about them. For example, it was believed for a long time that two women died embracing each other and a mother was found holding her child.

However, the new DNA analysis revealed that the individual thought to be the child’s mother was actually an unrelated man. Additionally, at least one of the individuals believed to be sisters or mother and daughter were actually both men.

Professor David Reich, one of the authors of the study, warned about the dangers of inventing stories about gender and family relationships in ancient societies based on present-day expectations.

The study involved researchers from the University of Florence in Italy and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. They used preserved genetic material to determine the gender, ancestry, and genetic relationships of the victims by examining 14 casts that had been preserved for about 2000 years.

Their findings also showed that the residents of Pompeii were diverse, with ancestral roots primarily traced back to immigrants from the Eastern Mediterranean. This underscores the multicultural nature of the city and its inhabitants.

Mount Vesuvius had been mostly inactive before the catastrophic eruption that lasted over 24 hours with devastating power. The eruption buried Pompeii, home to an estimated 20,000 people, under layers of ash, pumice, and mud, preserving the city for centuries.

Pompeii remained buried and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1748. In the 19th century, archaeologists used a technique to create casts of the victims by pouring plaster into the voids left by decomposed bodies, resulting in lifelike molds that captured the victims’ final moments.

Ongoing research on Pompeii continues to unveil new insights into the ancient city and its inhabitants. Recent discoveries, such as using artificial intelligence to decipher a charred scroll and the unveiling of a luxurious home, highlight the constant exploration of Pompeii’s history.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Review of the new Apple MacBook Pro M4: Improved speed, performance, and affordability.

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Apple’s 2024 upgraded MacBook Pro ended the year on a high, with a significant power boost from the M4 chip, twice the memory than standard, longer battery life, and a lower price.

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Prices for the long-running laptop range start from £1,599 (€1,899/$1,599/AU$2,499), which is around £100 cheaper than last year’s M3 model. While it’s still an expensive, premium laptop, it does come with at least 16GB of RAM instead of the 8GB on previous models, which is worth paying extra for an upgrade.

The appearance has not changed from its predecessor. The body is still a solid, premium-looking aluminum shell that looks great in either gray or black. Although it’s not ultra-thin, its 14.2-inch size means it won’t feel cramped in your bag, making it perfect for working on the go.

This laptop has a premium look, feel, and feel for the price, and is available in black or gray aluminum. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The screen is still the star of the show. Super bright and crisp mini LED display with 120Hz refresh rate to keep things running smoothly. It’s noticeably brighter than many rivals for general tasks, and truly shines with HDR content. Apple is currently selling a special nano-textured display option for an additional £150, which significantly reduces glare when working in bright light or outdoors, if needed.

The on-screen webcam saw a very welcome upgrade to a 12MP Stage Center camera, similar to the one used on most iPads from 2021 onwards. It automatically pans and scans to stay in the frame. This is a killer feature for anyone who lives their life online. Work video calls. There’s a novel.”desk view” option uses an ultra-wide lens to view the space in front of your laptop and allows you to demonstrate it remotely. Although the built-in camera doesn’t provide a very clear view, it’s easier to use your iPhone as a secondary camera with various accessories.

The camera doesn’t yet support Apple’s Face ID system for iPhones and iPads. That’s a shame, even though the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the power button works well.

Specifications

Screen: 14.2 inch Mini LED (3024×1964; 254 ppi) ProMotion (120Hz)
Processor: Apple M4, Pro, or Max
Ram: 16, 24, 32, or up to 128GB
Storage: 512GB, 1, 2, 4, or 8TB SSD
Operating System: macOS 15.1 Sequoia
Camera: 12MP center stage
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 3x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, HDMI 2.1, SD card, headphones
Size: 221.2×312.6×15.5mm
Weight: 1.55kg

All 14-inch MacBook Pro models have three USB-C ports that allow you to connect to two external monitors at the same time. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The big upgrade under the hood is the addition of Apple’s latest M4 series chip, first seen in the iPad Pro M4 earlier this year. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with a 10-core version of the M4 chip and 16 GB of RAM (double the previous model), which is a welcome upgrade.

The M4 chip is up to 25% faster across the board than the traditional M3 chip, and up to 1.8x faster than the original M1 chip, making it extremely fast indeed. It feels very fast in everyday use, launching apps and processing data noticeably faster than a MacBook Pro with a 2021 or newer M1 Pro chip.

This laptop has best-in-class battery life, lasting around 21 hours of light browsing and regular usage with many tabs open in Chrome, a word processor, and various small utilities, note-taking and messaging apps can manage approximately 18 hours of work. light photo editing affinity photo. It also has a long battery life on standby, draining only about 1% overnight when closed.

For many use cases, the M4 chip is sufficient. However, if you’re looking to render 3D objects, crunch numbers, or write code, the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are available, which add more high-performance processing and graphics cores. thunderbolt 5 Connectivity.

The base model M4 laptop has an additional Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 port compared to the previous model, allowing you to drive two external monitors and a laptop display simultaneously.

Sustainability

The Space Black color looks just as great as the high-end version of its predecessor and is now available on all MacBook Pro M4 models. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

MacBook Pro is made with 35% recycled materials, including aluminum, copper, gold, plastic, rare earth elements, steel, and tin. In its report, Apple provides a detailed analysis of the impact computers have on the environment.

The laptop is generally repairable, and Apple makes its repair manual available. The battery life is as follows: Over 1,000 full charge cycles and can Apple will replace it for £245. The company offers trade-in and free recycling programs, including for non-Apple products.

macOS Sequoia and the First Apple Intelligence

MacOS 15.1 now enables iPhone Mirroring, Siri input, AI Cleanup for Photos, and several other Apple Intelligence features. Composition: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

MacBook Pro runs the latest version of macOS Sequoia 15.1, which comes with a variety of new Messages and other features that are compatible with iOS 18.1. It features a very useful new window tiling system that snaps windows to the side or full screen when you drag them to the edge of your display, similar to the feature in Windows 11.

After newsletter promotion

It has iPhone mirroring allows you to wirelessly view a virtual representation of your iPhone on your Mac and control it with your mouse and keyboard, including using apps. A selection of notifications from your phone will appear in your Mac’s Notification Center. This is useful for certain services that only have a phone app.

But the new features that are getting the most attention are the first few features of Apple Intelligence. These include the same AI writing tools you’d find on your iPhone or iPad that can proofread, rewrite, and summarize text. Since they are built directly into the operating system, they are easier and faster to use than third-party options, but I have only found them useful a few times.

You can now type and talk with the new Siri. This works very well on Mac. Double-tapping the command button brings up a text box, which is more socially acceptable in an office or coffee shop than asking a question aloud. However, Siri’s capabilities are still far behind rivals such as Google’s Gemini.

Other small AI tools are scattered around various apps. The Photos app now has natural language search and a new AI cleanup tool to remove unwanted objects. Mail and Messages apps have AI smart replies and conversation summaries that stack and summarize notifications from all your apps for quick analysis.

I don’t think any of these tools are killer features for your Mac, but some of them can be useful in a pinch, and when they’re not, they usually don’t get in the way.

Price

Prices for the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 start at £1,599 (€1,899/$1,599/AU$2,499). The M4 Pro model is priced from £1,999 (€2,399/$1,999/AU$3,299), while the M4 Max starts at £3,199 (€3,799/$3,199/AU$4,999).

For comparison, the MacBook Air M3 starts at £1,099, the iPad Pro M4 costs £999, the comparable Dell XPS 14 costs around £1,400, the Razer Blade 14 costs £2,150, and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 is priced at £1,090. £2,069.

Verdict

The MacBook Pro M4 shows that small improvements across the board can slowly add up to bigger results. It may not look all that different from last year’s M3 model, but it has significant speed and battery life upgrades that make a big difference in day-to-day operation when compared to a machine that’s just three years old.

14-inch laptops are still the best in terms of screen size and portability, thanks to Apple’s best-in-class keyboard, trackpad, and great display.

Finally having a good Center Stage camera on the MacBook Pro is a very welcome upgrade, even without Face ID. An additional USB-C port, double the boot memory, and the faster M4 chip also make this boot model even more appealing.

It’s still an expensive laptop, but it’s on par as a premium workstation that can be used at full speed away from a power socket and has a very long battery life, unless you specifically need Windows 11. There is no.

Strong Points: The M4 chip is faster, has more power options, a minimum of 16 GB RAM, very long battery life, a great miniLED ProMotion screen, a great center stage camera, plenty of ports and SD card slots, great speakers, It has Touch ID, a great keyboard and trackpad.

Cons: No Face ID, no USB-A, RAM or SSD cannot be upgraded after purchase, is expensive, and not a big upgrade on the M3 model.

Touch ID on the power button is a great feature, but it’s Apple’s best-in-class keyboard and trackpad that make working with your MacBook Pro a joy. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ancient Shoreline Uncovered in Utopia Region of Mars

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sedimentary mineral deposits discovered on the surface of Mars may be the remains of ancient oceans from 3.5 billion years ago. New results from China's Tianwen-1/Zhulong mission suggest the existence of landforms consistent with the coastline of the southern Utopian Plains, providing further evidence for the existence of a short-lived ocean early in the planet's history.

Shoryu landing site. Image credit: Wu others., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w.

“The hypothesis of a Martian ocean in the northern lowlands remains an interesting unanswered question about the early stages of Mars' evolution,” said Bo Wu of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and colleagues.

“The presence of an ocean had a major impact on early Mars' climate and atmosphere and may have left a geological record of its existence.”

“China's Mars probe Zhulong, aboard Tianwen-1, successfully landed in the southern part of Mars' Utopia Plain in May 2021.”

“This area has long been hypothesized to be part of an ancient ocean that once covered the northern lowlands.”

In this study, Dr. Wu and his co-authors analyzed data from the Tianwen 1 orbiter and the Zhoulong rover to provide estimates of the surface age and mineral composition of materials found in the southern Utopia Plains. .

They identified distinct geomorphological features, such as valleys and sedimentary channels, consistent with near-shore zones, suggesting a possible formation event involving a flood about 3.68 billion years ago.

In this scenario, a short period of frozen ocean formed the coastline, and the sea surface may have froze and disappeared about 3.42 billion years ago.

“Different types of water-related geomorphological features were separated by specific topographic contours, suggesting different types of marine environments,” the researchers said.

“The area was subdivided into a foreshore highland-to-lowland transition unit, a shallow marine unit, and a deepwater unit.”

“In situ observations of sedimentary rocks, water-related lamination features, and subsurface sedimentary layers also indicate past water activity.”

“The results suggested an evolutionary scenario for the southern Utopian coastal zone: (i) the Late Noachian Utopian Plains flood reached the foreshore approximately 3.65 to 3.68 billion years ago; (ii) The formation of post-Flood shallow and deep marine units occurred during the early Hesperian, approximately 3.5 and 3.4 billion years ago, respectively. completed by 10 million years ago. (iii) Subsurface volatiles gradually disappeared during the Amazonian period.

of study appear in the diary scientific report.

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B. Wu others. 2024. Observations at the Turon landing site reveal an ancient coastal zone believed to be located in the southern part of Mars' utopia. science officer 14, 24389;doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers examine how tides impact the interiors of planets and moons

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A team of scientists from the University of Arizona, Delft University of Technology, and the California Institute of Technology's Lunar and Planetary Institute has developed a new method to calculate how tides affect the interiors of the solar system's planets and moons. Importantly, they investigated the effects of internal tides on objects that do not have perfectly spherical internal structures.

Europa's surface stands out in this newly reprocessed color view. Image scale is 1.6 km per pixel. North of Europe is on the right. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SETI Institute.

Celestial tides refer to the deformations that celestial bodies experience when they interact with other bodies due to gravity.

Consider how Jupiter's powerful gravity pulls on its icy moon Europa.

Because Europa's orbit is not circular, the overwhelming gravitational pressure on Jupiter's moons changes as it moves along Jupiter's orbit.

When Europa is closest to Jupiter, the planet's gravity is most felt.

The energy of this deformation heats Europa's interior, allowing an ocean of liquid water to exist beneath the moon's icy surface.

“The same is true for Saturn's moon Enceladus,” says Dr. Alexander Byrne, a researcher at the California Institute of Technology.

“Enceladus has an ice shell that is expected to have much more aspherical symmetry than Europa.”

The body tides experienced by celestial bodies influence how the world evolves over time and, in cases like Europa and Enceladus, its potential habitability for life as we know it. may give.

“The tidal response of spherically symmetric objects has the same wavelength as the tidal forces. Lateral inhomogeneities generate additional tidal responses with spectra that depend on the spatial pattern of such fluctuations.” the researchers said.

“For Mercury, the Moon, and Io, the amplitude of this signal is as much as 1-10% of the dominant tidal response to long-wavelength shear modulus fluctuations, which exceed about 10% of the mean shear modulus.”

“For Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus, a shell thickness variation of 50% of the average shell thickness could result in an additional signal of about 1% and about 10% for Jupiter's moons and Enceladus, respectively.”

The authors also discussed how their results can help scientists interpret observations made by missions to a variety of different worlds, from Mercury to the moon to the outer planets of our solar system. .

“Future missions such as BepiColombo and JUICE have the potential to measure these signals,” they said.

“Lateral changes in viscosity affect the distribution of tidal heating.”

“This may promote the thermal evolution of tidal bodies and influence the distribution of active areas.”

of findings will appear in Planetary Science Journal.

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Mark Rovira-Navarro others. 2024. A spectral method for calculating the tides of laterally inhomogeneous objects. planet. Science. J 5, 129; doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad381f

This article is a version of a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Increasing fire risk due to drought in Northeastern areas.

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

Much of the Northeast is in drought after an unusually dry and warm start to autumn.
Nationally, October was one of the driest months on record.
Fires are burning in New Jersey and Connecticut, and the fire danger remains high.

The dryness and unseasonably warm weather in the Northeast has pushed much of the region into drought, sparking wildfires in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

October ended as one of the driest months on record in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Precipitation was particularly low in the northeast.

Cities such as Philadelphia. Newark, New Jersey. Wilmington, Delaware. And Norfolk, Virginia, recorded no rain at all in October. Southeast Regional Climate Center collects precipitation data from more than 1,400 weather stations across the country. Several cities, including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., set new records for consecutive days without any measurable precipitation in October.

Firefighters and wildfire in Evesham, New Jersey, Wednesday, November 6, 2024
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (via AP)

“This is an area that is not typically associated with drought,” said Benjamin Cook, a part-time researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. “It's not very common for really severe drought conditions to last this long.”

The drought continues into the first week of November, leaving much of the region in a “severe” drought. US Drought Monitor tracks the national situation and publishes weekly color-coded maps showing the extent and intensity of the drought.

The Drought Monitor's latest maps released Thursday showed drought conditions extending from Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York to Massachusetts and Maine. Dry conditions have intensified in some states, with parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland currently in “extreme” drought.

“Extreme drought is basically a once-in-25-year type of drought,” says Brian, a climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and one of the mapmakers for the U.S. Drought Monitor.・Mr. Fuchs says. .

Drought watches and warnings have been issued in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, asking people to voluntarily reduce their water use.

Part of the region's dry and warmer-than-usual weather is due to a strong high-pressure system that has remained over much of the country for several weeks. In the Northeast, Great Lakes, and South, temperatures were 15 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for late October and early November.

More than half of the continental United States is experiencing some degree of drought. That includes 56% of the Northeast, according to the Drought Monitor.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Pompeii Burials Reveal New Insights Through DNA Analysis

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Plaster statues of those who died at Pompeii. DNA testing revealed that the adult on the right was a man unrelated to the young child in his lap.

Pompeii Archaeological Park

Genetic testing has revealed that a plaster cast in Pompeii was not the person it was assumed to be, highlighting how idealized narratives can be projected onto archaeological evidence.

The analysis also revealed that Pompeii's demographics were also much more complex and diverse than previously thought.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, several Roman towns were buried, including Pompeii. Many of Pompeii's inhabitants were completely suffocated by the compressed ash during the eruption, and as their bodies decomposed, cavities formed, perfectly preserving their positions in their final moments.

in 19 years^th In the century, archaeologists developed a method of pouring plaster into cavities to create lifelike castings. Since then, more than 100 of these castings have been made, preserving the victims' shapes and bones that have remained undecomposed for centuries.

But it says it has long been known that many of the plaster statues were worked into different poses, sometimes placed together, to add drama to the story of Pompeii. Valeria Amoretti At the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in Naples, Italy.

To learn more about who these people were, Amoretti and colleagues examined 14 plaster casts and extracted DNA from the bones of five of them.

What they discovered completely changed the established interpretation of who they were. It was long believed that an adult wearing a gold bracelet and carrying a child on her lap was the child's mother. DNA analysis revealed that they were actually adult males and were not biologically related to the child. A nearby person previously interpreted to be the father was also unrelated to the child, who was assumed to be the mother.

Another pair, believed to be sisters or mother and daughter who died in an embrace, also included at least one genetic male, making them unlikely to be related.

Genetic analysis further revealed that the people of Pompeii had a diverse ancestry, including elements related to modern-day Jewish populations in the eastern Mediterranean, the Levant, and North Africa.

Amoretti says it's no surprise that the Roman world was multicultural and that the Mediterranean Sea and its ports brought people together.

“But discovering the extent of this melting pot, even in an average provincial city like Pompeii, and getting scientific evidence of it from ancient DNA is very interesting,” she says.

Alyssa Mitnik Researchers at Harvard University say the study highlights the importance of applying science before interpreting archeology at face value.

“Ultimately, it reminds us that the most intuitive, dramatic, sensational explanations aren't always the truth, and encourages us to recognize and question our preconceptions,” she says. .

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Chinese spacecraft discovers more evidence of ancient ocean on Mars

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Topographic map of Mars showing Utopian plains that may have once been an ocean

United States Geological Survey

Possible ancient coastlines have been discovered in a region of Mars explored by China’s Zhurong rover, adding further evidence that vast lowlands in Mars’ northern hemisphere may once have been covered by ocean. The evidence has been obtained.

The rover landed in the southern part of Utopia Plain in May 2021 and remained active for almost a year. Researchers studying data from the rover have found hints that there was an ancient ocean or liquid water 400,000 years ago.

now, Bo Woo Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of the topographical features of the landing area by combining remote sensing data from satellites and observations from the spacecraft.

They say they found features consistent with the presence of a southern Utopian coastline, including valleys and sediment channels. They also determined the dating and composition of surface sediments in the area. Based on this, the research team believes that the ocean existed 3.68 billion years ago, but froze and disappeared about 260 million years later.

“This discovery not only provides further evidence in support of the Martian ocean theory, but also perhaps presents for the first time a discussion of its evolutionary scenario,” Wu said.

This area can be divided into a shallow area to the south and a deep area to the north. Wu said shallower parts of the ocean may have been up to 600 meters deep, but there isn’t enough data to estimate the ocean’s maximum depth.

“Water is an important element for life, and the presence of oceans on Mars in the past raises the possibility that Mars may once have harbored early microbial life,” he says.

Mathieu Rapport Researchers at Stanford University in California say whether early Mars had an ocean is a highly debated question with significant implications for the planet’s past habitability. He said future missions will need to test the new findings.

“Utopia Plains may constitute a valuable record of early Martian near-shore and coastal environments,” Rapport says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Private jet carbon emissions have skyrocketed in recent years

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk will board a private jet in Beijing in 2023

Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images

Researchers say private jet flights should be subject to a carbon tax to curb runaway carbon emissions from the sector.

Emissions from civil aviation increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023, according to an analysis of 18.7 million flights by nearly 26,000 aircraft.

Flights were mainly for leisure purposes, with 1,846 commercial flights alone leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Other popular destinations included the Cannes Film Festival, the Super Bowl, the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai and the World Economic Forum in Davos. Travel to the south of France, Ibiza and other Spanish destinations peaked during the summer months as people jetted in for long weekends in the sun.

“A fairly small group of very wealthy individuals are driving up emissions pretty quickly because of their lifestyles and investments,” he says. stephen gosling At Linnaeus University, Sweden.

Together with his colleagues, Goessling used flight tracking data from millions of flights to build a picture of civil aviation usage around the world.

Flying in a private jet is the most polluting form of travel, emitting an average of 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per flight. Equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of a person living in Sweden.

The analysis found that most private jet flights are short, with nearly half of all flights flying less than 500 kilometers. Most were within the United States and Europe.

Total emissions from private jets in 2023 will be 15.6 megatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the annual emissions of Tanzania. This is up from 10.7 million tonnes in 2019.

Growth rates were distorted by the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike civil aviation, which had significant restrictions in 2020 and 2021, civil aviation saw only a small drop in flight numbers and emissions in 2020, before returning to growth the following year.

According to the data, many of the most widely used private jets are owned by billionaires such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, pop star Jay-Z and TV personality Kim Kardashian. It is said to be owned by a celebrity. Compiled by the website “Celebrity Jet”.

“This is about inequality in greenhouse gas production,” he says. mark maslin At University College London. “It's not even the 1 percent. It's the richest 0.1 percent of people in the world who snap their fingers and take private jets.”

Goessling says the high personal emissions of the ultra-wealthy run the risk of undermining the public's desire to reduce personal emissions. “If the very rich don't need to reduce their emissions, there's no reason for anyone else to reduce their emissions, because everyone else is reducing their emissions,” he says.

Mr Goessling would like to see a carbon tax applied to the use of private jets. “We can put a price tag on every ton [of carbon] “It's being emitted, and I think everyone agrees that it's fair for the wealthy to pay for the damage they're causing,” he says.

Some hope the government goes further. Sean Curry Campaign group Stay Grounded is calling for a total ban on the use of private jets. “About half of these flights are short-haul flights,” he says. “If we ban private jets and invest in real infrastructure, they could easily be replaced by trains.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Why VAR Is Infuriating Soccer Fans and What Can Be Done About It

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Liverpool fans crowd to watch the on-field VAR screen at Anfield Stadium

Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images

If you’ve watched any football, or even soccer, in the past few years, you know that the game has been embroiled in controversy surrounding new officiating technology. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was introduced in the English Premier League in 2019 to reduce referee errors and get more correct calls. Instead, it created a new kind of uncertainty and undermined our understanding of basic rules such as offside and handball. It has also infuriated fans, who can often be heard shouting “this isn’t football anymore” after lengthy VAR checks.

It’s safe to say that soccer fans love to get furious, especially when a referee’s decision goes against their team. But as I argue in my new book, I can’t stop thinking about VAR, there’s more to this than meets the eye. As someone involved in developing new ways to measure educational attainment, I’ve thought long and hard about why VAR is so frustrating. I think the problem has to do with the challenge of pinpointing objective reality, the difficulty of accurate measurement, and human nature’s aversion to uncertainty.

But what I realized is that VAR exemplifies the limits of rationality in many fields far beyond the field of football. So let’s briefly explore the broader history of measurement, from attempts to determine the boiling point of water in the 18th century to the struggle to accurately assess boiling point.

Source: www.newscientist.com