Looking for information on the most dangerous cities in America? With thousands of cities and millions of people living in close quarters, there are bound to be areas with high crime rates. The FBI has compiled data tracking the most dangerous cities in America and has ranked the top 11 worst cities for crime based on serious felonies per 100,000 people in a year. These felonies include murder, manslaughter, assault, robbery, and other serious crimes. While some numbers may seem alarming, overall crime rates in the United States have been decreasing in recent years.
11. San Bernardino, California
Aerial view of a residential area in San Bernardino, California. Photo by Steve Proehl/Getty Images – Credit: Steve Proehl
San Bernardino, with a population of approximately 222,000, is California’s 18th largest city and one of the state’s oldest settlements. It’s known for its mining history and as the location of the first McDonald’s. In 2019, the city had a violent crime rate of 1,319 per 100,000 residents, with 46 people killed that year. Although crime numbers have since dropped, they remain above California’s average.
10. Indianapolis, Indiana
An aerial view of the downtown area of Indianapolis looking east-northeast. The Indiana State Capitol is visible in the foreground. Photo credit: TpsDave/Wikipedia
Indianapolis, known for the Indy 500 and its museums, also has a high violent crime rate, with 1,333.96 crimes per 100,000 people in 2019. Efforts like the Indiana Crime Gun Task Force aim to decrease violent crime rates and have shown some success in recent years.
9. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Monsoon season in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. This is the view from the Sandia Mountains at the Embud Canyon Trailhead. Photo by Mona Makela/Getty Images
Albuquerque, the most populous city in New Mexico, faces a violent crime rate of 1,369.14 felonies per 100,000 people. Efforts to combat this high crime rate include funding for law enforcement technology like gunshot recognition technology.
Police stand guard in front of a hotel ahead of the United Nations biodiversity conference COP16 to be held in Cali, Colombia on October 19th.
Fernando Vergara/AP/Alamy
Biodiversity loss is a crisis. And it's clearer than ever that the world isn't moving fast enough to solve it. Last weekend's COP16 summit in Cali, Colombia, collapsed in overtime, with too few countries present to agree on a global plan to halt the decline of nature.
“Unfortunately, too many countries and UN officials are working to address our species’ most pressing existential issues without the level of urgency and ambition needed to secure an outcome at COP16. “I came to Cali,” he says. Brian O'Donnell At the environmental advocacy group “Campaign for Nature.”
Signs of the lack of progress were evident from the start of the meeting, with nearly all countries demonstrating how far they have reached ambitious biodiversity targets set at COP15 two years ago, including protecting 30 percent of the planet's land. The deadline to submit a formal plan on how to achieve this was missed. Several more plans were brought forward during the two weeks of the summit, including plans from big countries like India and Argentina, but strategies for most countries have yet to be developed.
As COP16 began, it was clear that the world was not on track to achieve these goals. Since 2020, the area of Earth's land and oceans under formal protection has increased by just 0.5%, according to a UN report released during the summit. This is too slow a rate to protect 30 percent of the planet by the end of the decade.
And their protection is desperately needed. a report A report by the Zoological Society of London and the World Wildlife Fund released ahead of the summit found that vertebrate populations have declined by an average of 73 percent since 1970, and have increased by 4 percentage points since 2022. reportA report presented at a conference by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that 38 percent of the world's tree species are at risk of extinction.
Many low-income countries said a lack of financial resources prevented them from developing and submitting plans on time, let alone starting implementation. At COP16, high-income countries pledged a total of around $400 million to support these efforts, but funding remains billions of dollars short of the annual target of $20 billion pledged by 2025. .
Negotiations went into overtime early Saturday morning, with no clear plan to close the funding gap and monitor progress toward the goal left unresolved. As delegates left, the number of countries present fell below the minimum required for decision-making, and the meeting was adjourned without reaching a resolution. The topic will be taken up at an interim meeting to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2025.
“Nature is on life support and here in Cali, unless we reach a strong financial compromise, we risk collapse,” he says. Patricia Zurita At Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization.
Although COP16's failure to change the direction of fiscal issues disappointed observers, one important agreement was reached at the meeting. It's an agreement on how to collect revenue from products developed using Earth's genetic data. Before the conference is adjourned, each country will require pharmaceutical and other biotech companies that use such “digital sequence information” to donate 0.1% of their revenue or 1% of their profits to the “Kali Fund” We agreed to ask. This fund will be used to protect the biodiversity that is the source of such genetic data.
The fact that the agreement, which took nearly a decade of negotiations and is voluntary and less comprehensive than the African Union and some low-income countries had hoped, means that individual countries and companies This means that it depends greatly on how you respond to the situation. But the United Nations estimates that the fund could raise up to $1 billion a year for biodiversity. “We may be able to get some, but it's nowhere near the scale and speed that is required,” said Pierre du Plessis, a longtime African Union negotiator. Ahead of the meeting, he claimed: new scientist The fund should be bigger.
Indigenous peoples also see a victory ahead of the conference's suspension, with the establishment of formal institutions that will give them a stronger voice in biodiversity negotiations.
However, the overall atmosphere was heavy. “The really disappointing thing about COP16 is that [debates on] “Digital sequence information sucks every last drop of energy and time,” he says. Amber Scholz At the Leibniz Institute DSMZ in Germany.
One reason for the apparent lack of urgency is that the world treats climate change and biodiversity loss as two separate problems. The annual global climate summit attracts more participants and far more attention than the biodiversity negotiations. While 154 people attended last year's climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, only six leaders attended COP16. This is a problem when the two issues are intertwined. Climate change is one of the main threats to biodiversity, and the ecosystems with the highest biodiversity often also have the greatest ability to store carbon.
“I think the most important thing we need is to change the persistent neglect of biodiversity, especially when compared to climate change,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the summit. mentioned in. “They are all interconnected and cannot be divided.”
Zinc nanoparticles, a common sunscreen ingredient, could help protect rice from heat-related stress, an increasingly common problem under climate change.
Zinc is known to play an important role in plant metabolism. Minerals in the form of salts are often added to the soil as fertilizer or sprayed on the leaves, but this is not very efficient. Another approach is to deliver zinc as particles smaller than 100 nanometers, which can pass through microscopic pores in leaves and accumulate within the plant.
Researchers have been investigating such nanoparticle carriers as a way to provide more nutrients to plants and help maintain crop yields while reducing environmental damage from excessive fertilizer use. Ta. now Hu Hong Researchers from China’s Nankai University tested how these zinc oxide nanoparticles affected crop performance under heat wave conditions.
They grew flowering rice in a greenhouse under normal conditions and a simulated heat wave in which temperatures exceeded 37 degrees Celsius for six consecutive days. Some plants were sprayed with nanoparticles, while others were not treated at all.
When harvested, the average grain yield of plants treated with zinc nanoparticles was 22.1% higher than non-sprayed plants, and the rice also contained higher levels of nutrients. Zinc was also beneficial under heat wave conditions. In fact, in these cases, the difference in yield between treated and untreated plants was even greater.
Based on detailed measurements of nutrients in leaves, the researchers found that zinc boosts yields by fortifying enzymes involved in photosynthesis and antioxidants that protect plants from harmful molecules known as reactive oxygen species. It was concluded that it increased.
“Nanoscale micronutrients have great potential to increase climate resilience of crops through a number of unique mechanisms related to reactive oxygen species,” he says. jason white At the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
The researchers also found that rice treated with zinc nanoparticles retained a greater diversity of microorganisms living in the leaves, called the phyllosphere, which may contribute to improved growth. I discovered it.
Tests of zinc oxide nanoparticles on other crops such as pumpkin and alfalfa have also shown increased yields. But Hu says more research is needed to verify that this could benefit other crops.
The 7.2 million solar mass black hole, named LID-568, appears to be feeding on matter 40 times faster than the Eddington limit and is thought to have existed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang.
An artist's impression of the accreting black hole LID-568 in the early universe. Image credit: NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. da Silva / M. Zamani.
eddington limit The maximum brightness a black hole can achieve is related to the rate at which a black hole can absorb matter, such that the inward gravitational force is balanced with the outward pressure generated from the heat of the compressed and falling matter. I will.
LID-568 appears to be feeding on matter at a rate 40 times faster than the Eddington limit.
This accreting black hole was detected by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope in a sample of galaxies from the COSMOS Legacy Survey of Chandra.
This galaxy population is very bright in the X-ray part of the spectrum, but invisible in the optical and near-infrared.
Webb's unique infrared sensitivity allows it to detect these weak corresponding emissions.
LID-568 stood out in the sample for its strong X-ray emissions, but its exact location could not be determined using X-ray observations alone.
So instead of using traditional slit spectroscopy, Webb's measurement support scientists suggested that the study authors use an integral field spectrometer. Web's NIRSpec (near infrared spectrometer) equipment.
“Due to its faint nature, detection of LID-568 would be impossible without Webb,” said Dr. Emanuele Farina, an astronomer at the International Gemini Observatory and NSF's NOIRLab.
“The use of an integral field spectrometer was innovative and necessary to obtain the observations.”
“This black hole is having a party,” said Dr. Julia Schallwechter, also of the International Gemini Observatory and NSF's NOIRLab.
“This extreme case shows that a fast-feeding mechanism that exceeds the Eddington limit is one possible explanation for why we see these extremely massive black holes in the early universe.”
These results provide new insights into the formation of supermassive black holes from smaller black hole “seeds.” Until now, theories have lacked observational support.
“The discovery of super-Eddington accretion black holes suggests that, regardless of the black hole's origin as a light or heavy seed, a significant portion of the mass growth can occur during a single episode of rapid feeding. “This suggests something,” said Dr. Hyewon Seo. Also provided by the International Gemini Observatory and NSF's NOIRLab.
“The discovery of LID-568 also shows that black holes can exceed the Eddington limit, giving astronomers the first opportunity to study how this happens,” the astronomers said. .
“The strong outflow observed on LID-568 may act as a release valve for excess energy generated by extreme accretion, preventing the system from becoming too unstable.”
“The team plans a follow-up study with Mr. Webb to further investigate the mechanisms involved.”
Their result Published in today's diary natural astronomy.
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Sue H others. A super-Eddington accretion black hole observed by JWST about 1.5 Gyr after the Big Bang. Nat Astronpublished online on November 4, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02402-9
This article is based on a press release provided by NSF's NOIRLab.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope took this photo of barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672, visible from the southern hemisphere.
This Hubble image shows NGC 1672, a barred spiral galaxy about 49 million light-years away in the constellation Sera. Color images were created from separate exposures taken in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the spectrum using Hubble’s Advanced Survey Camera (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Six filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credits: ESA / Hubble / NASA / O. Fox / L. Jenkins / S. Van Dijk / A. Filipenko / J. Li / PHANGS-HST Team / D. De Martin / M. Zamani.
NGC1672 is located approximately 49 million light-years away in the constellation Sera.
This galaxy, also known as ESO 118-43, IRAS 04449-5920, LEDA 15941, or VV 826, has a diameter of 75,000 light years.
it was discovered It was proposed by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on November 5, 1826.
NGC 1672 is a typical barred spiral galaxy, which differs from normal spiral galaxies in that its spiral arms do not twist all the way to the center.
Instead, they are attached to each end of the star’s straight rod that surrounds the core.
NGC 1672 is visible almost head-on and shows regions of intense star formation.
The highest concentrations of star-forming regions are near the edges of galaxies’ strong galactic bars.
NGC 1672 is Seyfert Galaxyis named after astronomer Carl Keenan Seifert, who extensively studied galaxies containing active nuclei in the 1940s. The energy output of these nuclei can exceed that of the host galaxy.
Active galaxies also include the exotically named quasars and blazars.
Each type has unique characteristics, and they are all thought to be powered by the same engine – a supermassive black hole – but seen from different angles.
“NGC 1672 is a versatile light show that showcases the impressive lights of a variety of celestial objects,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.
“Like other spiral galaxies, its disk is filled with billions of bright stars, giving it a beautiful glow.”
“Along its two large arms, bubbles of hydrogen gas glow with a striking red light due to the powerful radiation of newly formed stars within.”
“There are some particularly spectacular stars near the center: newly formed, extremely hot stars that are embedded in a ring of hot gas and emit powerful X-rays,” the researchers said. added.
“And at its center lies an even brighter X-ray source, an active galactic nucleus produced by the heated accretion disk around NGC 1672’s supermassive black hole. This makes NGC 1672 a Seyfert galaxy. Masu.”
“But the highlight of the new photos is the most fleeting and ephemeral of these lights: supernovae. SN2017 GaxIt appears in only one of the six Hubble images that make up this composite image. ”
“this is Type I supernova Caused by the collapse of a core and the subsequent explosion of a giant star, it goes from invisible to new light in the sky in just a few days. ”
“In images taken later that year, the supernova was already fading, so it’s only visible here as a small green dot just below the bend of the spiral arm on the right.”
“In fact, this was intentional. We wanted to look for companion stars that the supernova progenitor might have had, something that would be impossible to find outside of a living supernova.”
For years, special mud has been rubbed onto baseballs before major league games to make them less slippery.
The story of mud dates back to the 1930s, and MLB still relies on one small supplier.
New research explains the science behind why mud works. Mud contains a perfect proportion of clay and sand.
For more than 80 years, baseball has relied on special mud stashes to remove the shine from the ball's smooth leather and give fielders a better grip. This substance is applied to all baseballs before major league games.
The mud, called “Lena Blackburn Baseball Rubbing Mud,” comes from a single source: a secret location on the banks of a tributary of the Delaware River. Jim Bintliff, a retired printing press operator in New Jersey, collects mud from his grandfather's old fishing pond about once a month. He likens its consistency after processing to “cold cream or hard pudding.”
Despite mud being ubiquitous, scientists have been unable to explain why mud makes gripping the ball easier, or even provide empirical evidence that mud actually works. Until now.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania designed a series of tests to study the mud and even created synthetic rubber “fingers” to measure its properties. their results are Published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesprovides the first published scientific evidence that the power of mud is more than a myth.
“It goes on like a face cream, but it grips like sandpaper. It has this magical ability,” said Doug Jeromack, a geophysicist at the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of the study. states.
The magic mud will be applied to all balls used in Major League Baseball, including this year's World Series.Mark Griffey/Penn Engineering
Jeromac's team found that the mud contains the perfect ratio of sticky clay and sand particles. The latter drives rivets into the surface of the ball like barnacles to increase friction, but the material still spreads thin and evenly like toothpaste.
“The harder you work, the better it flows,” Jeromac says.
The authors concluded that attempts to create synthetic alternatives to mud (something Major League Baseball has researched) are foolish.
“It's a very special combination of ingredients that nature creates that makes it work,” Jeromac said.
The death raised concerns about wild pitches and the danger of fresh, shiny baseballs slipping out of pitchers' hands. So in 1929, the National League president required umpires to dirty the ball to give it a better grip. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
However, finding a suitable substance proved difficult.
“They tried to use infield dirt, which scratched the leather too much. They tried shoe polish and cigarette spit. Those things made the ball too dark,” Bintliff said. .
Finally, in 1938, Philadelphia Athletics third base coach Lena Blackburn remembered the finely filtered dirt of her childhood in New Jersey. He returned to the source, collected it and began to apply it.
An undated photo shows Lena Blackburn Loving Mud's previous owner, Burns Bintliff, holding a can of mud.Lena Blackburn rubs mud
The mud was so popular that Blackburn set up a business to process and sell it. Eventually, he handed over the business to a childhood friend with whom he used to fish and swim, and his grandson Bintliff now runs the company with his wife.
Starting in 2022, MLB will require at least 156 balls to be prepared for each game, with at least 156 balls for each game. Scrub mud for 30 seconds within 3 hours.
Bintliff said MLB buys each team a bucket of mud for $100 each, adding two during the regular season and more during spring training. Some clubs, like the World Series champion Dodgers, are purchasing additional containers for their farm systems, he added.
“This mud acts as a super-fine abrasive, removing shiny coatings without damaging the leather or laces,” Bintliff said.
He collects the mud in 5-gallon buckets (usually about 10 to 20 buckets each time he visits the riverbank), drains the river in his garage, removes twigs and rocks, and uses tap water. plus processing. This process yields approximately 150 pounds of product on average.
Are there any special ingredients added?
“It's a proprietary part,” he said.
The scientists who studied the mud are not big baseball fans, but they became interested after conducting an informal analysis of the mud five years ago. Two students from Jeromac's lab then set out to prove whether the mud worked. They developed three important tests.
From left: University of Pennsylvania researchers Shravan Pradeep, Doug Jeromak, Paulo Arathia, and Chen Xiangyu.Felipe Masera/Penn Engineering
First, they used an atomic force microscope to analyze the adhesion, or stickiness, of the mud. Atomic force microscopy measures the resistance of the mud as the instrument is pulled away from it. Then, to understand how well the mud was flowing, the researchers placed the mud in a machine called a rheometer, which rotated the sample and measured its viscosity.
The third test estimated the friction between human skin and a baseball. The idea was to make a “finger'' out of synthetic rubber and apply a drop of whale oil instead of the oil secreted by human skin. The “finger” was pressed against a strip of leather baseball and rotated on the rheometer.
To test the properties of the magical mud, the group developed a custom-built device.Mark Griffey/Penn Engineering
Emanuela del Gado, director of Georgetown University's Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, said the properties uncovered in these tests are rare and sought after in cosmetics and other fields.
“Industry spends a lot of time tweaking formulations to get those properties,” said Del Gado, who was not involved in the research.
“Substances that are simple to us can be very complex, and they can tell us a lot,” she adds, adding that mud is a product of long cycles of flow, rainfall, and seasonal environmental changes. It was pointed out that it was formed by
These days, Bintliff's clients include college coaches, Little League umpires, and National Football League teams. He plans to pass the business on to one of his children.
So far, mud has withstood the new technologies competing to replace it.
The study authors recommended keeping the mud in place because of new evidence that confirms what baseball players intuited more than 80 years ago: “This works,” Jeromac said.
WAnthropomorphic squares have a strange but not undesirable presence. He lives in a spacious empty house, where Sam, the friendly local postman, regularly delivers tiled puzzles. A subscription that never expires. Wilmot unpacks each new shipment and scatters the pieces on the bare floor. Then shunt, grab, and rotate each piece to form a coherent picture. Each picture is drawn by British illustrator Richard Hogg. Once the matching pieces snap together and your artwork is complete, you can hang it on Wilmot’s big empty wall. As soon as one puzzle is completed, Sam arrives with another, and soon Wilmot’s walls are as cluttered and colorful as a search gallery.
Usually, when you finish a painting, some debris will remain, so identify these rogue debris, put them aside (you are free to organize the floor space according to your organization’s requirements) and move them back to their original location. Part of the challenge will be to bring it back to . Once you have all the necessary components. Eventually, you’ll be able to do several puzzles at once, each with varying degrees of completion. It’s this arrhythmia that gives the game its unique feel and makes it more than just a digital jigsaw simulator.
Postwoman Sam’s breezy dialogue tells a tender story through lively exchanges, adding a touch of human warmth to the relentless inscrutability. But as well as Witch Beam’s zen 2021 Bafta winner Unpacking, Willmott works fine. It’s almost a therapeutic approach. The puzzles are not difficult or complicated. Rather, it’s a slow, satisfying game that feels like untangling a complicated knot. This effect is calming, like a jigsaw, but there is a little more room for creative flair when it comes to placing artwork.
The universe has changed significantly in the 14 billion years since its creation. It was a dusty start, and all chemical elements were missing at that time. Stars form as the universe evolves, and astronomers classify them into three groups: population. The youngest, most metal-rich stars like the Sun are classified as Population I, while old, metal-poor stars are classified as Population II.
Astronomers also classify the oldest metal-free stars as Population III or pop. III. To date, no astronomer has discovered a Pop. III star due to their theoretical age being older than the Milky Way and other surrounding galaxies, requiring telescopes to explore extreme distances.
An international team of scientists proposed a new approach to searching for Pop. III stars by expanding the search to include supernova explosions, improving the odds of discovering these ancient stars.
The research team focused on a type of supernova explosion called a white dwarf reignited by injection of a substance, resulting in flare-ups like Type Ia supernova.
To test their hypothesis, astronomers used a stellar astrophysics experimental code module called mesa to conduct simulations. Through these simulations, they found that Pop. III stars could indeed produce type Ia supernovae, debunking previous doubts. They then estimated the frequency of these supernovae in observable regions of space.
Based on their calculations, scientists could expect to find up to two Pop. III Type Ia supernovae in a three-year mission covering 0.002% of the sky. They emphasized the need for telescopes like JWST, which can observe extreme distances of 24 billion light-years.
While their discovery relies on assumptions about unseen physics, the researchers believe that most distant supernovae come from ancient stars, potentially allowing us to witness events from billions of years ago.
Whether you're roasting a chicken in the oven, browning onions in a skillet, or choosing a spread for your toast, oil is at the heart of our culinary endeavors.
The choices are dizzying. Around 30 different oils are currently used in cooking, from sunflower to flaxseed, avocado to coconut. Deciding which one to use can have a big impact on your health, including your cholesterol, blood pressure, and risk of cardiovascular disease.
If the headlines are to be believed, palm oil is obsolete, sunflower oil is in limbo, and there seems to be no end to the benefits extra virgin olive oil can bring to our plates. But are these claims backed by solid science, and how do the health impacts of these products compare to their environmental costs?
Saturated or unsaturated?
First, let's talk about chemistry. Edible oil contains fat, which is made up of long chains of carbon atoms. Saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products are so named because each carbon atom is connected to the next carbon atom by a single bond. The remaining electrons of each carbon atom are available to form bonds with hydrogen atoms, and the molecule becomes completely “saturated” with this element. This structure makes these fats very hard and stable, which is why butter and lard are solid at room temperature.
Unsaturated fats, which are commonly found in plants and fatty fish, have at least one double bond between adjacent carbon atoms, which reduces the number of bonds.
Human contestants at the event, held in London near the Shard at the Times’ parent company News UK, were remarkably quick, swiftly filling in clues before moving on. Can AI outsmart us humans?
For now, humans still have the upper hand. Ross “surrendered” when Mark Goodliffe, the reigning champion, signaled the end of the battle.
Serial crossword solver Mark Goodliffe competing in the Sudoku Championship. Photo: Terry Pengilly
This was an unexpected turn of events. Ross must have figured it out…
1ac Completely disenfranchised MPs expelled by the Liberal Party (9)
… Replace MP in IMPLICITLY (a synonym for “absolutely” in the clue) with L ILLICITLY (“without authority”) in the solution. Some human contestants were still debating between adjective, adverb, or MP for the answer. Ross seems to “know” almost everything.
But here’s where Ross is stumped.
13th A fundamental review of motorsports image (9)
Radicals are sometimes portrayed as FIREBRAND, or as setters might say, F1 RE-BRAND. This clue stands out from the rest, almost like a joke. It’s a human touch that AI struggles with. The question remains, “Have we seen this before?”
Introducing the setter, Paul. Photo: John Halpern
This was a unique clue from the Times. It’s interesting how AI humorously confronted Paul, asking, “Picnicker, does that sound like art thieves?”
For now, that human connection from setters acknowledging, “Yes, I’ve been there,” is something we as humans need to appreciate.
Instead of identifying objects, online security could focus on deciphering cryptic clues with clever wordplay. Guardian setters are ready.
(Full disclosure: I was involved in testing some of the puzzles with an earlier version of Ross. I developed a fondness for Ross and was curious if clues allowed for multiple interpretations. Sometimes we use “he” for confirmation.)
Thank you to all the contributors at the clue conference for STOKES. The runner up had a clever clue involving “Runs!” leading to the England captain. The winning clue creatively used “Loads Tinder, fingers right Swipe to.”
Kudos to Danat. Share your entries below for the next challenge: How do you clue PUNNY?
TThe conveniences of modern life are incredible. Currently, my phone is wirelessly playing some of the greatest hits from the 1700s (like Bach) through a portable speaker. You can easily get a ride, order food to your doorstep, or start chatting on a dating app using the same device. To quote Arthur C. Clarke, for modern humans, this technology is third lawindistinguishable from magic.
It’s understandable that our culture seeks out and celebrates these shortcuts. They eliminate boredom, enhance fun, and save time and effort. However, it’s evident that convenience also has a downside.
Before discussing that, it’s crucial to understand why convenience is so attractive. We often resist doing what’s necessary for progress, whether it’s taxes, a pending report, or training. There’s a sense of inertia behind every well-meaning plan. Why is this resistance and the desire for comfort ingrained in us?
Insights from evolutionary psychology, specifically the concept of “evolutionary mismatch,” can provide clarity. Evolutionary mismatch suggests that we evolved for a hunter-gatherer lifestyle while our environment drastically changed, leaving our instincts out of sync with our surroundings.
Viewing the issue through this evolutionary lens makes sense of our tendency towards lethargy and seeking shortcuts. For early humans, food and energy were scarce and unreliable. Survival meant conserving energy wisely to tackle the challenges they faced.
In today’s world, technology has altered our environment to cater somewhat to our energy-conservation instinct. However, adopting trends that prioritize comfort and convenience may come at a cost. While innovations like washing machines and phones have enriched our lives, excessive convenience may pose challenges rather than easing them.
For instance, the increase in depression and anxiety linked to smartphones and social media is worrying. Also, metabolic issues from sedentary lifestyles and reliance on convenient but low-nutrient foods are on the rise. Loneliness levels have prompted the UK to appoint a ‘Minister for Loneliness’ in 2018, partly due to the technologies fostering such isolation.
Over-reliance on coping mechanisms can exacerbate problems they were meant to solve. Choosing comfort excessively can hinder our ability to face life’s challenges. Some discomfort is vital for our growth and survival, as evidenced by our ancestors’ ability to balance safety and risk intelligently.
Super-convenience has its allure, but it might also deplete us unknowingly, making it harder to achieve true success. Human flourishing hinges not just on survival but on growth, problem-solving, and unity in adversity.
Embracing life’s challenges is essential for personal development. While technology offers convenience, it’s crucial to recognize that overcoming obstacles and discomfort is part of our evolutionary heritage. This lesson is critical for the younger generation.
Dr. Alex Carmi is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and speaker. thinking mind Podcast.
Paleontologists have unearthed and examined the fossilized foot bones of a Phorsulaceae bird that lived in South America 12 million years ago.
model of parafisolnis At the Vienna Natural History Museum. Image credit: Armin Reindl / CC BY-SA 4.0.
Terrorbird is a member of Forsulaceae a family of large carnivorous flightless birds in the order Calliamales.
These extinct birds were very large, weighing up to 70 kg and measuring 0.9 to 2 m (3 to 6.6 ft) in height.
They had slender bodies and unique motor adaptations for moving around.
Their huge beaks and mechanical adaptations of the skull suggest that they were efficient predators.
They lived in South America during the Cenozoic era, but are also known from the Pliocene-Pleistocene of North America and the Eocene of Africa.
Phorsuracidae includes nearly 20 species in 14 genera and 5 subfamilies (Brontornithidae, Mesembriornithidae, Patagornithidae, Phorsuracidae, and Psilopterinidae).
The closest living relative is believed to be Selimas, the only survivor of the family. Cariamydae.
Dr. Siobhan Cooke, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said: “Fearbirds lived on the ground, had limbs adapted for running, and fed primarily on other animals.”
The end of the left tibiotarsus of a fear bird found in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert. Image credit: Degrange others., doi: 10.1002/spp2.1601.
In the 2000s, fossilized leg bones of the feared bird were discovered in the fossil-rich area. Tatacoa desert In Colombia.
The fossil dates back to the Miocene epoch, about 12 million years ago, and is thought to be the northernmost evidence of a fear bird in South America to date.
“The size of the bones indicates that this fearsome bird may be the largest species identified to date, approximately 5-20% larger than any known Phorsulaceae.” said Dr. Cook.
“Previously discovered fossils indicate that the size of the feared bird species ranged from 0.9 to 2.7 meters (3 to 9 feet) tall.”
The fossil probably has tooth marks, such as: Purusaurusan extinct species of caiman thought to have been up to 9 meters (30 feet) long.
“Given the size of the crocodile 12 million years ago, we believe this fearsome bird may have died from its injuries,” Dr Cook said.
This fearsome bird also coexisted with primates, ungulate mammals, giant sloths, and glyptodonts, car-sized relatives of armadillos.
“This is a different kind of ecosystem than what we see today and what we saw in other parts of the world in the era before South and North America connected,” Dr. Cook said.
team's paper be published in a magazine paleontology papers.
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Federico Javier Desgrange others. 2024. A new species of gigantic fear bird (Caryamiformes, Phorsulaceae) from the mid-Miocene tropical environment of La Venta, northern South America. paleontology papers 10 (6): e1601;doi: 10.1002/spp2.1601
dog. Love them as much as you want, but you can't stop them from rampaging all kinds of mud, slugs, stones, non-existent homework, and yes, poop. But have you ever wondered why do they eat anything? For example, why do dogs eat grass?
I'm glad you asked. This canine conundrum has some interesting answers. Well, at least in theory. Canine neuroscience is a growing field of research, but scientists have yet to uncover the exact motivation behind this mysterious behavior.
Dr Emily Blackwell, lecturer in companion animal behavior and welfare at the University of Bristol, explains: “The few studies that have investigated this question are inconclusive.'' “There are many possible reasons for dog herding, and there is more than one correct answer.”
That being said, what are the valid explanations for why dogs eat grass? Here's everything you need to know.
Why do dogs eat grass?
First, it is thought that eating grass can be a sign of anxiety or conflict in dogs, perhaps suppressing the urge to perform another behavior.
“It could be migratory behavior, which is what happens when animals have conflicting motivations,” Blackwell explains. “It's like when we're sitting in the dentist's waiting room. We might really want to escape, so we do something else, like bite our nails, to relieve our anxiety.”
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However, for many dogs, eating grass can be a way to chase you for affection.
“If the owner responds to this behavior, the dog quickly learns that it's a good way to get attention,” Blackwell says.
“Admittedly, this is not one of the most common attention-seeking behaviors, but it can develop for that reason. And if they don't get a response from you, they'll look elsewhere.” They may just be grazing because they don't have much to do.”
But what if your dog is feasting on your front lawn when you're not around? Surely that's not howling for attention, right? In fact, it could be because your dog is trying to supplement his diet.
“Some people have theorized that dogs do this to get more fiber in their diets,” Blackwell says. “But this is just a theory; it has not been tested whether dogs with less fiber are more likely to eat grass.”
Most dogs do not get sick from eating grass. – Photo credit: Getty
What about the most worrying possibility? Is your pup guzzling grass with an upset stomach?Again, potentially. After all, there's a theory that wolves also eat grass to get rid of parasites in their intestines.
But grass is unlikely cause Your dog gets sick. One 2008 study found that while 68% of dogs ate grass regularly; Only 22 percent of them subsequently become ill.. All in all, there's a pretty good chance you'll never have to remove dog vomit from your lawn.
And what if they were sick? Well, be thankful they didn't eat something even worse…
Why do dogs eat poop?
We are all friends here. It's okay to admit that you've seen your dog eat its own poop or the poop of other animals.
Fortunately, Blackwell says feces are unlikely to harm puppies unless they come from an animal with a serious illness.
But, unfortunately, just like with grass, we don't know exactly why dogs want to crawl into feces. However, dog behavior experts believe that doo-doo dining may be due to a dog's curiosity at a young age.
“Puppies are naturally exploratory and will taste everything,” Blackwell says. “Puppies don't find the taste or smell of feces as unpleasant as we do.”
But even if the taste isn't the selling point, you can inadvertently encourage your dog to eat feces when you're trying to prevent the behavior itself.
“Usually, this behavior results in the dog owner running up to the fecal area during a walk and trying to get there first to stop the dog. However, this is a signal that the fecal matter is important to the owner. “And that may make the dog more determined to get there before the owner.”
“So many dogs actually eat poop because it's mostly trained by their owners. It's all about how you react.”
Bottom line: If you spot an unsuspecting number two while walking in the park, the most important reaction is not to rush towards him. Especially if you don't have a dog (which will look really weird).
About Dr. Emily Blackwell
Dr. Emily Blackwell He is a Senior Lecturer in Animal Behavior and Welfare at the University of Bristol. Much of her research focuses on why our animals behave the way they do and how to improve their lives.
There is a common misconception that mucus and phlegm are harmful to the body and should be expelled. However, mucus actually serves as a protective barrier between our body and the outside world.
Just like flypaper, mucus covers the moist surfaces of our nose, sinuses, and lungs to filter out harmful substances we inhale. It consists mostly of water along with proteins, sugars, and molecules that help control harmful bacteria. Therefore, there is no need to get rid of it as it forms a protective layer.
We constantly produce mucus, but it goes unnoticed most of the time. Microscopic hairs called cilia push it back into the throat, and we unconsciously swallow it. Only when excess mucus is produced during illness does it become more noticeable.
When we are sick, the mucus becomes thicker and stickier, but it still plays an essential role in trapping bacteria, viruses, and cells involved in the immune response. So, it is generally best to let the mucus do its job without interfering.
While removing mucus may not provide immediate relief, excess mucus can be uncomfortable. Maintaining moist air, using saline irrigation, gargling with salt water, and staying hydrated can all be beneficial. Nasal decongestants from pharmacies can also help, but should not be used for more than a week to avoid worsening nasal congestion.
In conclusion, there is no need to remove mucus, and doing so will not speed up recovery. However, if it makes you feel better, there is no harm in clearing it.
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Asked by: Daniel Grant, Sunderland
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As natural disasters increase in frequency and severity, FEMA and NOAA are becoming politicized. Their future hangs in the balance of elections.
Project 2025, a conservative policy roadmap, recommends “breaking up and downsizing” NOAA and shifting much of the burden of disaster recovery from FEMA.
Experts and current and former officials said the changes could make the U.S. more vulnerable to extreme weather events.
With the close 2024 election just days away, the future of federal agencies responsible for weather forecasting, climate change research and disaster recovery is at stake.
These agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), have become increasingly politicized in recent years, despite a history of conflict. But natural disasters caused by climate change are now hitting the United States on a regular basis, with 24 weather events already occurring this year. Each caused at least $1 billion in damage — Government agencies are taking on a bigger role. As a result, it has become a target for some conservatives who are skeptical about climate change and want to cut government spending.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has promised deep cuts to the federal budget, and one of his most vocal allies, Elon Musk, said last week: He will cut at least $2 trillion Those who served in the second Trump administration will be exempt from the budget. project 2025A 922-page conservative policy roadmap compiled by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, recommends “dismantling and downsizing” NOAA and zeroing in on FEMA, which would shoulder much of the financial burden of disaster recovery. This suggests that the transfer will be made. to state and local governments;
If that happens, it could dramatically change the way disaster relief is provided in the United States.
Craig Fugate, who served as FEMA administrator under the Obama administration, said it has become “almost inconceivable that states will be able to recover without a lengthy and costly recovery period drawn from state and local budgets.” .
It's not entirely clear what a second Trump administration means for FEMA and NOAA. President Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, even though many of its authors were his advisers. “Project 2025 has nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign,” Trump campaign officials said in an email to NBC News. “It's not the organization or its former staff.” The campaign did not respond to additional questions about the plan from NOAA and FEMA.
FEMA has already come under scrutiny and criticism from some Republican leaders in the wake of Hurricanes Helen and Milton. Mr. Trump and several other prominent Republicans even pushed false claims that FEMA funds were illegally flowing to U.S. immigrants. At the same time, rampant misinformation about the two storms made meteorologists the target of threats, even though their predictions were surprisingly accurate.
Because NOAA oversees the National Weather Service, these forecasts may no longer be freely available to the public or state governments if the Project 2025 recommendations are implemented.
Academics and current and former officials said in interviews that even an agenda based in part on a conservative roadmap would make the U.S. an outlier in a world where large-scale disasters are already intensifying and becoming more serious. He said it could make them more vulnerable to weather. frequently.
Currently, FEMA aid covers at least 75% of the cost of major disasters, but Project 2025's proposal would reduce that percentage to just 25%.
Restrictions on relief supplies could turn some communities into ghost towns, said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (Fla.), who served as Florida Emergency Management Director from 2019 to 2021 under Gov. Ron DeSantis. He said that there is a sex. He cited Hurricane Michael, which hit Florida as a Category 5 storm in 2018.
“These areas would not have recovered without the federal government stepping in and paying for the response and recovery efforts,” Moskowitz said.
He added that the hardest-hit areas that benefited the most from federal aid “voted for Donald Trump, voted for Rick Scott, voted for Ron DeSantis.”
Since Hurricanes Helen and Milton, the federal government has approved more than $1.2 billion in aid for recovery efforts. According to FEMA. This includes more than $185 million in assistance to 116,000 households in North Carolina and more than $413 million in assistance to more than 125,000 households in Florida, where both storms made landfall.
A home destroyed by Hurricane Milton on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg – Getty Images File
If Project 2025's proposals had been implemented during Helen's time frame, “more lives would have been lost, the response would have been much slower, and there would have been little financial assistance to help communities rebuild.” '' Fugate said.
Project 2025 recommends that NOAA be “disbanded, many of its functions eliminated, transferred to other agencies, privatized, or placed under state and territory control.”
Matthew Saunders, acting deputy director of Stanford University's Environmental Law Clinic, said privatizing weather forecasting could lead to a decline in the quality of forecasts by putting corporate profits ahead of providing robust public services. He said there is.
“A neutral, centralized government agency has an important role to play here that private industry cannot or will not play,” Sanders said.
Matthew Burgess, an assistant professor at the University of Wyoming's School of Business, said privatizing weather forecasting gives states and local governments with more resources access to higher quality forecasts, while leaving municipalities with fewer resources left behind. He said that a situation could arise. dark. Or areas with a higher risk of hurricanes or tornadoes may have to pay more for their predictions, he said.
“Right now, the state of Florida gets hurricane forecasts free of charge from the federal government,” Burgess said. “If you privatize it, the private sector will probably operate more efficiently on average, but will that be offset by price gouging incentives? Because basically, when a hurricane hits, , because we really need that forecast and will pay whatever they charge.”
The Heritage Foundation said in a statement: “Project 2025 is not calling for the abolition of NOAA or NWS. That claim is false and ridiculous.”
“There is a difference between privatization and commercialization,” the statement added. “Using commercially available products to provide better outcomes for taxpayers at a lower cost is nothing new.”
In addition to proposals for specific agencies, Project 2025 also calls for disbanding federal climate change research. But understanding the effects of climate change is an essential part of predicting storms in particular. That's because as the ocean warms, hurricanes strengthen more quickly, and as the atmosphere warms, they can produce more rain.
“That's why everyone wakes up every day to come out here and do research and prepare people to make decisions that matter to them and their families,” said Dena Karlis, NOAA's National Severe Storm Preparedness Director. he said. Laboratory.
Fugate said ending climate research would make the United States even more vulnerable to its effects.
“Just because you don't like the answer doesn't mean the information isn't important,” he says. “If we ignore what's coming, how can we prepare for it?”
Sanders said deep cuts to research, weather and disaster agencies could further erode trust at a time when trust in government agencies is growing.
“Climate change, like most environmental issues, is a very unique problem in that it does not respect our political boundaries or our state boundaries,” he said. “We need a centralized federal agency to respond to climate change, an agency that can respond at scale to large and significant multi-state disasters.”
Gender plays a significant role in determining where fat is stored in the body. Men tend to store fat around their abdomen, while women tend to store fat in their thighs, buttocks, and hips.
“From a childbirth and childcare perspective, pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding consume energy, so storing energy in these areas is very helpful,” explains Dr. Adam Collins, Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey. Hormonal differences also play a role in fat storage.
Estrogen, a female hormone, is believed to play a key role in determining body fat distribution, particularly in women.
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Premenopausal women with higher estrogen levels are less likely to store fat in the abdomen and near vital organs. This may offer some protection from conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. However, men are more susceptible to developing these conditions earlier in life.
After menopause, women experience a decline in estrogen levels, leading to a shift towards the typical male fat distribution pattern.
Genetics also play a role in determining fat distribution, particularly in women. Studies have shown that genetic influences on fat distribution are stronger in women compared to men.
Stress and cortisol levels may also impact fat storage, with some studies suggesting a link between elevated cortisol levels and abdominal fat. However, the exact mechanisms involved are not fully understood.
Recent research indicates that poor quality sleep may affect body fat composition, with lower quality sleep potentially leading to increased abdominal fat accumulation. However, more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
The type of fat present in the body also plays a crucial role in determining overall health. Subcutaneous fat lies just under the skin and provides a store of energy, while visceral fat accumulates deep in the abdomen and around vital organs, posing health risks.
Lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, can influence body fat levels and distribution. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, can help in controlling overall fat levels and reducing the risk of metabolic problems.
What types of fat are present in my body?
Lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet can influence body fat levels. – Photo credit: Getty Images
There are two main types of body fat: subcutaneous fat, which lies just under the skin, and visceral fat, which accumulates deep in the abdomen and around organs. Excess body fat is more likely to be stored as visceral fat.
Reducing overall fat levels through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can help in controlling deep visceral fat levels and reducing the risk of metabolic problems.
About our experts
Dr. Adam Collins is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey with over 20 years of experience as a qualified dietitian. His work has been published in various journals.
fredric calpe is a Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Oxford, with publications in reputable journals.
Two Microsoft employees, recently terminated for organizing a vigil in memory of slain Palestinians in Gaza, allege that their dismissal was a form of retaliation by the company for their pro-Palestinian stance.
Abd Mohamed, a researcher and data scientist, along with Hossam Nasr, a software engineer, orchestrated the vigil outside Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters on October 24th, only to be fired later that evening.
Nasr voiced, “Microsoft caved to internal and external pressures to retaliate by terminating my employment and shutting down events. It wasn’t due to policy infractions, but simply because we dared to humanize Palestinians and challenge Microsoft’s association with a military accused of genocide.” Nasr’s show of support for Palestine has garnered attention on social media and employee communication platforms within Microsoft.
Both individuals were part of No Azure for Apartheid, a group within Microsoft advocating against the sale of the company’s cloud computing technology to Israel.
The group is urging Microsoft to terminate all Azure contracts and partnerships with Israel, demand a cease-fire in the Gaza conflict, and uphold the freedom of speech for employees.
Microsoft refuted claims that the dismissals were related to activism. A company spokesperson emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional work environment while ensuring compliance with policy and behavioral expectations.
Mohamed and Nasr contest the notion that the vigil was disruptive or violated Microsoft’s policies. They assert that the event was conducted to raise funds for humanitarian efforts in Gaza and followed standard procedures for employee charity events.
More than 200 employees participated in the vigil, either in person or virtually, as reported by There is no azure in apartheid.
Nasr and Mohamed maintain that they had engaged with Microsoft beforehand to address any concerns about the vigil, which was an act of remembrance for Palestinian lives lost in the conflict and to spotlight Microsoft’s ties with Israel.
At the time, Nasr received a call from Microsoft at 9 p.m. on October 24, although groups had announced his termination on social media earlier.
The No Azure for Apartheid group views the terminations as retaliatory and accuses Microsoft of intimidating Palestinian voices. They seek reinstatement and clarification on the premature disclosure of the dismissals.
Does aspartame cause cancer? The possible cancer-causing effects of popular artificial sweeteners, added to everything from soft drinks to pediatric medicines, have been debated for decades. Its approval in the US was controversial in 1974, some British supermarkets banned its use from their products in the 2000s, and peer-reviewed academic studies have long been at odds. Last year, the World Health Organization said that aspartame is possibly carcinogenic. On the other hand, public health regulators suggest that it is safe to take in commonly used small doses.
While many of us may try to resolve our questions with a simple Google search, this is exactly the kind of controversial discussion that could cause problems for the future of the Internet.
Generative AI chatbots have developed rapidly in recent years, with technology companies quickly touting them as a utopian alternative to a variety of jobs and services, including internet search engines. The idea is that instead of scrolling through a list of web pages to find the answer to a question, an AI chatbot can scour the internet, look up relevant information and compile a short answer to the query. Google and Microsoft are betting big on this idea, already bringing AI-generated summaries to Google Search and Bing.
However, being touted as a more convenient way to find information online has prompted scrutiny of where and how these chatbots choose the information they provide. Looking at the evidence that large-scale language models (LLMs, the engines on which chatbots are built) are the most convincing, three computer science researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, say that current chatbots are found to be overly reliant on superficial relevance of information. They ignore text that includes relevant technical terms and related keywords, while ignoring other features they typically use to assess trustworthiness, such as the inclusion of scientific references and objective language free of personal bias.
Online content can be displayed in a way that increases visibility to the chatbot, making it more likely to appear in the chatbot’s output. For the simplest queries, such selection criteria will provide a sufficient answer. But what a chatbot should do in more complex discussions, such as the debate over aspartame, is less clear.
“Do we want them to simply summarize the search results, or do we want them to function as mini-research assistants who weigh all the evidence and provide a final answer?” asks undergraduate researcher and co-investigator Alexander Wang, author of the study. The latter option provides maximum convenience, but the criteria by which the chatbot selects information becomes even more important. And if one could somehow game those standards, can we guarantee the information chatbots put in front of billions of internet users?
It’s a problem plaguing animation companies, content creators, and others who want to control how they are seen online, and an emerging industry of marketing agencies offering a service known as generative engine optimization (GEO) has caused it. The idea is that online content can be created and displayed in a way that increases its visibility to the chatbot, making it more likely to appear in the chatbot’s output. The benefits are obvious.
The basic principle is similar to search engine optimization (SEO). This is a common technique for building and writing web pages to attract the attention of search engine algorithms, pushing them to the top of the list of results returned when you search on Google or Bing. GEO and SEO share some basic techniques, and websites that are already optimized for search engines are generally more likely to appear in chatbot output.
But those who really want to improve their AI visibility need to think more holistically. “Rankings on AI search engines and LLMs require features and mentions on relevant third-party websites, such as press outlets, articles, forums, and industry publications,” says Viola Eva, founder of marketing firm Flow Agency, incorporating her SEO expertise into GEO.
Chatbots for games are possible, but not easy. And while website owners and content creators have derived an evolving list of SEO do’s and don’ts over the past two decades, there are no clearer rules for working with AI models.
Researchers have demonstrated that chatbots can be controlled tactically through carefully written text strings. So if you want to get a better grip on chatbots, you might want to consider a more hacky approach, like the one discovered by two Harvard computer science researchers. They have proven how chatbots can be tactically controlled by introducing something as simple as a carefully written text string. This “strategic text sequence” looks like a meaningless series of characters, but is actually a subtle command that forces the chatbot to generate a specific response.
Current search engines and the practices surrounding them are not without their own problems. SEO involves some of the most hostile practices for readers on the modern internet. Blogs create a large number of nearly duplicate articles targeting the same high traffic queries. Text tailored to get the attention of Google’s algorithms rather than the reader.
An internet dominated by obedient chatbots raises questions of a more existential kind. When you ask a search engine a question, it returns a long list of web pages. In contrast, chatbots only refer to four or five websites for information.
“For the reader, seeing the chatbot’s response also increases the possibility of interaction,” says Wang. This kind of thinking points to a broader concern called the “direct answer dilemma.” For Google, the company integrated AI-generated summaries into its search engine with a bold slogan: “Let Google do the searching.” But if you’re the type of internet user who wants to make sure you’re getting the most unbiased, accurate, and useful information, you might not want to leave your search in the hands of such susceptible AI.
Early November is the perfect time for sky-gazing, with three active meteor showers giving you the chance to see shooting stars lighting up the night sky.
The Southern Taurid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight Monday through Tuesday. The Taurid meteor shower, which is a week away, is predicted to peak between November 11th and 12th. Both meteor showers tend to produce about five slow-moving meteors per hour under clear and dark skies, and even more on days when the two coincide. According to the American Meteor Society.
At the same time, the last Orionid meteor shower should still be visible following its peak on October 20th. The Orionids meteor shower appears to be streaming out of the constellation Orion and can be seen until November 22nd. According to EarthSkya website dedicated to skywatching and astronomy.
On the other hand, the Southern Taurids and Northern Taurid meteor showers are both long-lasting meteor showers, and their peaks are not as obvious as other shooting star shows. The two showers tend to be consistently visible in September, October, and November (weather permitting), but early November is usually the easiest time to spot them.
The Taurid meteor shower gets its name from the appearance of shooting stars coming from a point in the sky in the constellation Taurus. Taurid meteors can be seen from almost anywhere on Earth except the South Pole.
The best chance to see the Taurid meteor shower, According to EarthSkywill likely be around midnight on November 5, when bright moonlight will not wash out the shooting stars. After midnight, Taurus will reach its highest point in the sky, increasing your chances of seeing shooting stars.
In addition to regular shooting stars, Taurid meteors tend to produce very bright and sometimes colorful meteors known as “fireballs.”
As with any sky watching event, it's best to choose a viewing location well away from street lights and other light pollution.
Even if you miss Taurus during the first two weeks of November, you can still see it any time it's on the horizon this month.
By the middle of this month, yet another meteor shower, the Leonids, is expected to occur.
The annual Leonid meteor shower will peak from late November 17th until the early hours of November 18th. Although not the most active meteor shower of the year, the Leonids can produce up to 15 shooting stars per hour under clear conditions.
Meteors can be seen in both the northern and southern hemispheres and often appear to stream out of the constellation Leo in all directions.
Leonids are usually bright, fast-moving meteors, and the shooting stars can appear colorful. According to NASA.
Meteors, or shooting stars, occur when tiny pieces of space debris burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Orionid, Taurud, and Leonid meteors are all produced when a planet passes through a cloud of dust particles and debris left behind by a comet.
Poisonous spiders are known as some of the deadliest and most dangerous creatures in the world. They are the stuff of nightmares and horror movies, famous for their ability to paralyze and subdue their prey while still alive.
While most spiders have venom glands, only some pose a threat to humans. Certain species can cause pain and discomfort similar to bee or wasp stings, while others can be more severe.
If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten, seeking medical advice and treatment is recommended.
Here are the top 10 deadliest and most venomous spiders to be aware of:
10 – Mouse Spider
Eastern mouse spider (Missulena bradleyi) photographed in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Robert White/Wikipedia Commons
Mouse spiders, despite their name, do not actually eat mice. They are named for their underground burrowing habits rather than their prey.
While their venom can cause headaches and numbness, mouse spiders are not typically aggressive, and there is generally no cause for alarm despite their intimidating appearance.
9 – Lycosa Tarantula Spider
Portrait of a spider wolf (Lycosa tarantula) taken in a field. Photo credit: Getty Images
The tarantula spider wolf is nocturnal and has excellent eyesight. While they may appear intimidating, they are rarely aggressive towards humans, and their venom is not highly dangerous.
8 – Bulbul Spider
Female adult brown widow (Latrodectus geometaus) on her web. Photo credit: Getty Images
Bulbul spiders, with their distinctive markings, are found worldwide. While their bites can cause pain and symptoms like vomiting, they are not as dangerous as some other species.
7 – White-Tailed Spider
The white-tailed spider (Lampona cylindrata) lives in southern and eastern Australia. Photo credit: Getty Images
White-tailed spiders prey on other spiders and can cause nausea and headaches if they bite humans. They are often found hiding in clothing and shoes.
6 – Minami Microcrystal Spider
A female black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) hangs upside down in its nest, displaying its distinctive red hourglass pattern. Photo credit: Getty Images
Black widow spiders are known for their venomous bites, but they only bite when threatened. While their venom can be harmful, serious illness or death is rare.
5 – Redback Spider
Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) on red soil. Photo credit: Getty Images
Redback spiders are known for their painful bites, which can cause headaches and nausea. They are commonly found indoors.
4 – Brown Recluse Spider
Front view of the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa). Photo credit: Insects Unlocked/Wiki Commons
Brown recluse spiders are shy and typically avoid humans. Their bites can be painful and may cause vomiting or fever.
3 – Chilean Spider
An immature male brown spider (Loxosceles laeta) photographed at the Finnish Museum of Natural History in Helsinki. Photo credit: S Siltane/Wiki Commons
The Chilean spider can cause severe tissue damage and scarring with its bites. In rare cases, it may lead to kidney failure or death.
2 – Brazilian Wandering Spider
A Brazilian wandering or banana spider (Phoneutoria spp.) photographed in the Tambopata Nature Reserve in the Madre de Dios region, Peru. Photo credit: Getty Images
The Brazilian wandering spider is large and venomous, with a bite that can cause various symptoms including paralysis, respiratory arrest, and even death if untreated.
1 – Australian Funnel Web Spider
A poisonous Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robotus) showing its fangs. Photo credit: Getty Images
The Australian funnel-web spider is incredibly venomous and aggressive. Their bites can lead to serious illness or death, particularly in children.
“What a privilege to be able to run in the rain. What a privilege to have a house to clean.” Social media is often criticized for its toxicity, but a new trend is emerging that embraces gratitude.
Posts titled “What a privilege” feature images of everyday activities such as cozy beds (being tired after a long day), travel videos (carrying heavy luggage), and even mundane tasks like cooking dinner. This trend has gained attention on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Screenshot from @tanyaloucas Photo: TikTok
While not as widespread as previous trends, Gratitude 2.0 is gaining popularity with some posts receiving over 200,000 likes. This trend celebrates both simple and luxurious experiences, from commuting to shopping for designer items.
According to lexicographer Tony Thorne, this trend originated from American evangelicals and lifestyle influencers expressing gratitude. It may come across as self-satisfactory and humbly boastful, but it aims to ground people in reality and away from the virtual world created by social media.
Screenshot from @tanyaloucas Photo: TikTok
Rukiat Ashawe, a junior strategist at Digital Fairy, believes that highlighting ordinary aspects of life resonates well with audiences online. By showcasing the everyday, this trend aims to shift focus from idealized virtual realities to genuine experiences.
Is the internet reshaping the concept of privilege? According to Thorne, platforms like TikTok add nuance to the word and turn it into a powerful symbol that taps into specific moods and attitudes.
What might the future look like in a world without men? Recent studies indicate that the Y chromosome, a crucial factor in determining male identity, is experiencing malfunctioning.
The Y chromosome has already undergone significant degeneration and could potentially vanish entirely. But what implications would this disappearance have?
Could new sexes emerge? Or could the male species face extinction? Renowned Australian geneticist Jenny Graves, an expert on the Y chromosome, sheds light on these developments.
Why is the Y chromosome disappearing?
First, let’s revisit the concept of sex chromosomes. Women typically have two X chromosomes, while men possess one X and one Y chromosome.
These chromosome pairs, which account for about 4% of an individual’s DNA, play a vital role in determining sex.
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“Chromosomes typically occur in pairs, with men and women sharing the same sex pairs. Women have two large X chromosomes, whereas men have one X and one Y,” explains Graves.
“In comparison to the X chromosome, the Y chromosome is relatively small, containing only 45 genes, with one gene determining maleness and several others involved in sperm production. The remaining genes serve uncertain purposes. By contrast, the X chromosome contains 900-1400 genes.
Originally, the Y chromosome had over 900 genes similar to the X chromosome. Presently, only 45 genes remain. These sex chromosomes evolved from identical non-gender-associated chromosomes, rendering much of their current makeup functionally redundant.
The degeneration of the Y chromosome is not unique to humans; it also occurs in other species. For instance, fruit flies have lost the majority of their Y chromosomes.
“The loss of the Y chromosome seems to stem from a couple of factors. The Y chromosome is exclusively present in the testes, never in the ovaries; thus, it is constantly exposed to mutations during sperm production,” explains Graves.
“Sperm production involves numerous cell divisions, each susceptible to mutations that can substantially affect the chromosomes. Moreover, the Y chromosome cannot engage in genetic exchange, hindering its ability to repair mutations effectively.”
Most chromosomes repair mutations by exchanging DNA with their counterpart chromosome, a process known as recombination. However, the Y chromosome, inherited singly unlike the dual X chromosomes in women, lacks this mechanism for genetic exchange.
What does this mean for the future of the male species?
Compared to its original state, the human Y chromosome has lost 97% of ancestral genes, while the X chromosome remains relatively intact.
What are the implications of this rapid degeneration for the male species? Are we on the verge of a world devoid of human males?
“When I mention rapid degeneration, I refer to an evolutionary timeframe. Sex chromosomes have undergone roughly 180 million years of evolution in mammals. It took this long for the Y chromosome to erode to its current state,” notes Graves.
“The impending loss of the Y chromosome has stirred concern in some quarters. A rough estimate suggests it might take another six or seven million years before the chromosome completely disappears.”
Unless global billionaires achieve immortality breakthroughs, humans may never witness the initial stages of Y chromosome degradation. But hypothetically, what might this development entail?
While some species can reproduce through parthenogenesis (unfertilized egg development), humans require sperm-bearing genes for optimal functioning. These genomically imprinted genes necessitate male involvement for reproduction. However, viable alternatives exist.
“Evolving new sex-determining genes could pave the way, as seen in certain rodent species like the eastern European mole rat and Japanese spiny rat, which lack a Y chromosome entirely. These rodents adapted by relocating crucial Y chromosome genes to other chromosomes.”
Although successful in rodents, this strategy may not yield the same results in humans. While creating new sex genes is feasible, the ensuing clash between old and new genes poses uncertainties.
“This gene conflict scenario could potentially lead to divergent sex-determining systems across human populations,” Graves explains. At present, these speculations predominate. While the Y chromosome’s deterioration is evident, the future outcomes remain uncertain, encompassing the possibility of evolutionary changes resulting in new sexes.
Given the Y chromosome’s peculiarities and the substantial human population, Graves suggests that an individual born without a Y chromosome might already exist somewhere in the world, broaching intriguing evolutionary prospects.
About our expert Jenny Graves
Jenny Graves is a geneticist and professor at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Sciences. She has authored over 430 articles and four books on genetics, establishing herself as a leading authority on human evolution and the evolving landscape of the Y chromosome.
A research team led by scientists at the John Innes Center sequenced and annotated the chromosome-scale genome assembly. Grass peas (Latilus sativus)is a promising legume crop that is tolerant to a wide range of stress factors and has potential for climate resilient agriculture.
Grass peas (Latilus sativus). Image credit: William Curtis / The Botanical Magazine.
Grass peas are legume crops valued for their resilience in the face of environmental stresses such as drought, flooding, and salinity.
This crop has been cultivated for at least 8,000 years. widely distributed It is cultivated in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but most current cultivation occurs in southern Asia and the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Widespread cultivation of peas has been hampered by toxins in the seeds and shoots. The toxin can cause a disease called neurolatyrism, which causes irreversible paralysis in malnourished people.
Another major barrier to improved crop breeding has been the lack of genomic references for the crop.
The availability of new genome sequences means researchers can use gene editing and modern breeding methods to develop grass pea varieties with improved agronomic properties and low or no toxin content. means.
This means that grass peas may be poised to make an important contribution to a more diverse and climate-resilient food system in the future.
“We hope to establish this new genome sequence as a reference genome for grass pea communities, and we are pleased to share this valuable resource for other scientists to use and learn about grass pea.” says researcher Dr. Peter Emrich. Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development and the John Innes Centre.
“As climate shocks increase, this genome allows us to unlock the secrets of grass pea's resilience, further improve this crop for farmers, and inform the development of other crops such as pea. ”
The sugar bean genome sequence, which is nearly twice the size of the human genome, was assembled from scratch and is an improvement on an earlier draft assembly of the active sugar bean line LS007.
Dr Ann Edwards, a researcher at the John Innes Center, said: “As we prepare for a future with even more climate change, we will need crops that can cope with drought, flooding and saltwater inundation.”
“This new genome sequence means we are even closer to adding grass beans to the list of future climate-smart crops.”
“This is a very exciting time to be joining the grass pea research community.”
of findings Published in a magazine scientific data.
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M. Vigroux others. 2024. Chromosome-scale reference genome of Poaceae (Latilus sativus). scientific data 11, 1035; doi: 10.1038/s41597-024-03868-y
There is no clear evidence that one or more large exoplanets are punching through the frontal debris disk surrounding Vega, one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Webb used the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to obtain images of the circumstellar disk around Vega. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / S. Wolff, University of Arizona / K. Su, University of Arizona / A. Gáspár, University of Arizona.
Vega is a young, massive star located about 25 light-years away in the constellation Lyra.
This star is classified as type A. This is the name of stars that tend to be larger, younger, and rotate much faster than the Sun.
Vega, also known as Alpharilla, Gliese 721, and HD 172167, is 455 million years old and has a mass equal to two solar masses.
It rotates around its axis every 16 hours. This is much faster than the Sun, which has a rotation period measured in 27 Earth days.
Vega is legendary because it provided the first evidence of matter orbiting a star.
this was the first made a hypothesis However, it took more than 200 years before the first observational evidence was collected in 1984.
A mysterious excess of infrared radiation from warm dust has been detected by NASA's Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS). It was interpreted to be a shell or disk of dust extending from the star to twice Pluto's orbital radius.
In the new study, astronomers analyzed images of Vega's debris disk taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.
“Vega was one of the first typical planetary debris disks to be discovered,” Dr. Kate Hsu of the University of Arizona and colleagues said in their paper. paper Introducing the results of a web survey.
“This opens up a wide field of research, which is now being used to identify relatively low-mass exoplanets that are unreachable with other discovery techniques, as well as to reveal detailed properties of small bodies in other planetary systems. It is used in
“Vega continues to be an anomaly,” added Dr. Schuyler Wolf, an astronomer at the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper. paper Introducing Hubble's discoveries.
“The structure of the Vega system is markedly different from our solar system, where giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn prevent dust from dispersing like Vega.”
“For comparison, there is a nearby star called Fomalhaut, which is about the same distance, age, and temperature as Vega.”
“However, Fomalhaut's circumstellar structure is very different from Vega's. Fomalhaut has three nested debris belts.”
“Exoplanets have been suggested to be bodies that guide the dust around Fomalhaut, which gravitationally compresses it into a ring, but no planets have yet been positively identified.”
“Given the physical similarities between Vega and Fomalhaut's stars, why does Fomalhat appear to be able to form planets, but Vega not?” George Rieke, also of the University of Arizona The doctor said:
“What's the difference? Did the circumstellar environment, or the star itself, make the difference? What's puzzling is that the same physics is at work in both,” Wolff added.
Hubble used the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to obtain this image of the circumstellar disk around Vega. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / S. Wolff, University of Arizona / K. Su, University of Arizona / A. Gáspár, University of Arizona.
Webb observed the infrared glow from a disk of sand-sized particles swirling around a scorching blue-white star that is 40 times brighter than the Sun.
Hubble captures the disk's outer halo, which contains smoke-sized particles that reflect starlight.
The distribution of dust within Vega's debris disk is layered. This is because the pressure of the star's light pushes smaller particles out faster than larger ones.
“Between the Hubble and Webb telescopes, we get a very clear view of Vega,” said Dr. András Gaspard, an astronomer at the University of Arizona and co-author of both papers.
“This is a mysterious system because it is unlike any other circumstellar disk we have observed.”
“Vega discs are smooth. Incredibly smooth.”
The Vega disk has a subtle gap about 60 AU (astronomical units) from the star (twice the distance of Neptune from the Sun), but otherwise it is very smooth the entire time until it disappears into the star's glare. is.
This indicates that there are no planets, at least up to the mass of Neptune, orbiting large orbits like our solar system.
“We are looking in detail at how much diversity there is in the circumstellar disk and how that diversity is tied to the underlying planetary system,” Dr. Hsu said.
“Even if we can't see what the hidden planets are, we’re still discovering a lot about planetary systems.”
“There are still many unknowns about the process of planet formation, but we think these new observations from Vega will help constrain models of planet formation.”
The highest IQ ever recorded falls between 200 and 250, but what does this really mean? IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, measures a person’s intelligence through standardized tests that evaluate abilities like riddle-solving and memory.
An IQ score is relative to the general population, with an average score of around 100. Scores below 85 are considered low, while scores above 130 are considered high (top 2% of the population).
IQ scores can be influenced by cultural differences and other factors, making it challenging to accurately assess intelligence. A study at Frontiers of systems neuroscience cautions against misinterpretation and misuse of intelligence test scores (source).
It’s important to note that IQ scores are not a percentage of intelligence. For example, a person with an IQ of 130 is not 30% smarter than someone with an IQ of 100. Comparing scores across different time periods is also complicated due to changes in the tests.
In theory, there is no upper limit to IQ scores, with some individuals surpassing the conventional maximum of 200.
Who has the highest IQ in the world?
Terence Tao, known for his IQ score between 225 and 230, is considered to have the highest IQ globally. As the youngest tenured UCLA professor in history, Tao’s remarkable achievements place him at the pinnacle of intellectual prowess.
Another prominent figure, Marilyn Voss-Savant, boasted an IQ of 228 and held the title of having the highest recorded IQ in the world, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records from 1986 to 1989.
While IQ scores can spark debates and controversies, these exceptional individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields.
The question remains: what is the most dangerous animal in the world? There are numerous animals recognized for their dangerous nature, but only one holds the title of being the deadliest to humans. So, which animal takes the most human lives annually?
In popular culture, animals like lions and crocodiles are often portrayed as the most menacing creatures. However, the reality is quite different. For instance, sharks only account for 70 human deaths each year.
Interestingly, the deadliest animals on the planet are often smaller in size and tend to cause harm through diseases, toxins, or other means rather than sheer physical attacks.
Despite common assumptions, lions do make it to the top 10 list of the world’s most dangerous animals. With an annual tally of around 200 human deaths, these ferocious predators hold their ground.
Despite their majestic appearance, lions remain formidable predators with their 114dB roar serving as a chilling warning sign. With sharp claws and powerful bites, lions are known to hunt in groups, surrounding their prey before launching a lethal attack.
Similarly, hippos, usually considered herbivores, are responsible for around 500 human deaths each year due to their aggressive behavior and powerful bites that can easily cut a person in half.
Known for their immense size, elephants prove to be a deadly force, causing approximately 600 human fatalities annually through trampling, tossing, and impaling with their tusks.
With an annual death toll of 1,000, crocodiles are known for their aggressive behavior, territorial nature, and deadly bites that can easily take down prey or unsuspecting humans.
Not to be underestimated, scorpions claim around 3,300 human lives each year with their venomous sting, with the Deathstalker being one of the most lethal species.
Assassin bugs, carriers of Chagas disease, are responsible for approximately 10,000 human deaths annually through the transmission of this deadly disease in Central and South America.
5. Assassin Bug (Chagas disease) – 10,000 human deaths per year
Claiming approximately 59,000 human lives annually, dogs contribute to the spread of rabies through biting, especially in regions like Africa and Asia.
Snakes are responsible for around 138,000 human deaths per year, with venomous bites being the primary cause of fatalities, leading to amputations and permanent disabilities in some cases.
Surprisingly, mosquitoes claim the most human lives annually, with around 725,000 deaths attributed to diseases transmitted by these blood-sucking insects, such as malaria.
Mosquitoes prove to be the deadliest animals due to their role in spreading diseases like malaria, causing a significant number of human fatalities each year.
When looking at the statistics, it becomes evident that humans themselves can be quite dangerous, especially when considering homicide rates as a significant cause of deaths globally.
animal
people killed per year
lions
200
hippopotamus
500
elephant
600
crocodile
1,000
scorpions
3,300
assassin bugs
10,000
dog
59,000
snake
138,000
human
400,000
mosquito
725,000
It’s crucial to acknowledge the magnitude of each animal’s impact on human lives and take appropriate precautions when dealing with these creatures. Remember, even the smallest and most common animals can pose significant threats to human health and safety.
TThere’s not much that Dolly Parton and the head of Northern Rail can claim to have in common. Frustrated commuters from Manchester to Middlesbrough may complain that train services barely run from 9 to 5. What ties them together is that neither can live without their fax machine.
Banned by England’s NHS and banned from the Premier League after too many player transfers failed due to poor communications, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham this week announced that the screeching and buzzing They blamed the constant use of fax machines for making commuting miserable.
After listening to Northern executives explain the service’s dismal performance for half an hour, he thundered: “I heard that you still use fax machines…is that true?”
The bosses admitted that it was. They explained that a quarter of a century after email became popular and 40 years after faxing, in 2024 manning and crew processing is still done by fax. Burnham could hardly believe it. Faxes deliver epic news, such as Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA in 1995 (“I’m back,” he faxed) and archival invitations to Prince William and Duchess Kate’s wedding in 2011. There was a time when it was delivered. But this was a source of embarrassment. Mr Burnham was furious, saying the use of faxes showed “disrespect for the traveling public”.
“It looks like the rail industry will respond once the fax arrives,” he said.
The Science Museum in London and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington have fax machines in their collections, but Northern is not the only one that continues to use them.
Country superstar Parton refuses to text, sticking to her fax machine even when sending a message to her goddaughter Miley Cyrus. Miley Cyrus sometimes has someone scan her fax and send it to her via text. Scores of fax machines were still rotating at hospitals in Wales, a response to a Freedom of Information request in 2022 revealed. A survey published in July found that a quarter of companies in Germany still use faxes frequently, and many German hospitals use fax machines. Officials in Japan, who are “fax enthusiasts,” still use them, saying their technology, which turns streams of sound into pulses of ink, lowers the risk of hacking.
Jason Fitzpatrick, who runs the Gadget Museum in Suffolk and has a collection of 40 fax machines, said: “There are computers that have been working since the 1970s, and outdated technology is widely used in places like the Underground. “It’s part of what keeps us going,” he said. It is difficult to extract because it is very complex and custom designed. ‘There are some military systems that are still powered by decades-old computers,” he added.
Approval by fax for railway operators shows the extreme change in today’s technological advancements. This week, Elon Musk claimed that artificial intelligence “will probably be able to do anything that humans can do, probably within the next year or two.” But the rail group, which carries 85 million passengers a year, still relies on technology long since surpassed by computers.
Guardian readers haven’t completely given up on technology either. One person still sends faxes to his aunt, who is over 100 years old.
“Her arthritis makes it difficult for her to type text messages on the small, unwieldy buttons on her cell phone. The same goes for her hearing and phone calls. So we write to each other instead. ,” she said. “We type chatty messages, but she writes by hand in very large letters and uses very few wasted words. Now that most organizations don’t have fax numbers, she feels a little left out. I think you feel it.”
Another reader who works for a power company said, “It’s used as an emergency measure to secure last-minute wholesale energy deals when there’s an internet problem. Women’s lives are threatened.”
In 2018, then Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordered the removal of fax machines from the NHS, calling the technology “outdated” and claiming that “others got rid of their fax machines years ago”. NHS England does not know whether Mr Hancock’s order to “not collect data on the number of fax machines” was followed.
Phil Collins is perhaps one of the most famous fax users ever since he was inaccurately reported to have said via fax in 1996 that he was divorcing his wife.
“I was in Frankfurt and the phone kept dying so I sent a fax,” he told an interviewer in 2016. “I was arranging a time to see the children and I mentioned that fact. [the marriage] It was over, but the fax translated that the relationship with me was over. I don’t know how it got into the newspaper. Well, I think so. I never asked her. ”
Last year, Britain’s telecoms regulator Ofcom announced that British Telecom would no longer be required to provide fax lines. He said this, ringing the death knell for fax machines.
“Unless you’ve moved or are representing a footballer who has actually moved, there may not have been much reason to use a fax in recent years.”
But even football agencies have largely abandoned the use of fax machines, which had the advantage of allowing quick and accurate contract exchanges. The final straw appears to have been the fax glitch that reportedly ruined David de Gea’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2015. The Premier League moved to online registration applications in December 2018.
Scientists have discovered a technique that can bend light around corners, inspired by the way clouds scatter sunlight. This type of light bending could lead to advances in medical imaging, electronics cooling, and even nuclear reactor design.
Daniele Faccio Researchers at the University of Glasgow, UK, and their colleagues say they are shocked that this type of light scattering has gone unnoticed. This works on the same principle as clouds, snow, and other white substances that absorb light. When a photon hits the surface of such a material, it is scattered in all directions, with little penetration and reflection in the direction it came from. For example, when sunlight hits a high cumulonimbus cloud, it reflects off the top of the cloud, making that part of the cloud appear brighter and whiter. However, because little light reaches the bottom of the cloud, this area appears gray even though it is made of the same water droplets.
“The light bounces around and tries to penetrate in a sense, reflecting off all the molecules and defects,” Faccio says. “And in the end, the light doesn’t get in, it just gets reflected. That’s scattering.”
To replicate this process, the team 3D printed the object from an opaque white material, leaving a thin tunnel of transparent resin inside. When light hits a material, it tunnels and scatters, just like light hits snow or clouds. However, rather than scattering randomly in all directions until they are evenly distributed, the photons are directed back into the resin tunnel by the opaque material. The team used this to create a variety of objects that channel light in an organized way.
3D printed white blocks with curved channels guide scattered light
university of glasgow
Although functionally similar to fiber optic cables that transmit light along their length, these 3D printed objects operate on fundamentally different principles. Fiber optic cables control light by infinitely reflecting it inside. When a photon attempts to leave the cable’s plastic or glass inner core, it hits another material with a lower index of refraction and is internally reflected. In this way, light can be carried several kilometers at a time, even around bends.
The researchers say the material increases light transmission by more than two orders of magnitude compared to the same transparent, non-tunneled solid block, and can also direct light around curves. It is much less efficient than fiber optics, making it difficult to achieve long distances, but it is also very easy and cheap.
This light-bending method could provide a new way to perform medical imaging by taking advantage of existing translucent material tunnels, such as tendons or body fluids, within the spinal column. Faccio said the exact same principle works in the direction of heat and neutrons, so it could be applied to a variety of engineering applications, such as cooling systems and nuclear reactors.
“It was not at all clear that this would work. We were shocked,” Faccio said, adding that the phenomenon could have easily been discovered decades or even centuries ago. I believe there is. “It’s not like we’ve created or discovered a really niche, weird equation that has some weird properties.”
Canada’s spy agency claims that India is using cyber technology to monitor separatists abroad, following accusations from the Indian government that senior Indian officials authorized violent acts, including the killing of a Sikh activist in Vancouver.
The Canada Communications Security Establishment (CSE) reported that India is utilizing cyber capabilities to surveil activists and dissidents living overseas, including increasing cyberattacks on Canadian government networks.
Canada is home to a large Sikh community outside of India, which includes advocates for an independent Sikh nation.
Ottawa is currently investigating the case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent campaigner for Khalistan, a separatist movement seeking independence for Sikhs in India’s Punjab province. The murder of Nijjar in Vancouver in 2023 is believed to have been orchestrated by India.
CSE Commissioner Caroline Xavier stated, “India poses a growing cyber threat to Canada,” during a press conference.
The report attributes the strain in Canada-India relations to India’s surveillance activities and cyberattacks.
Following Canada’s accusations, a pro-Indian hacktivist group launched DDoS attacks on Canadian websites, disrupting their operations.
Officials revealed that Canada was monitoring a campaign targeting Khalistani activists, linking it to senior Indian government officials, including Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah.
Canadian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Shah’s involvement in intelligence gathering and violent attacks, including Nijjar’s murder in 2023.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the national police suspect India’s involvement in the killing and other forms of intimidation against Khalistani activists.
India denied the allegations, leading to the expulsion of ambassadors and diplomats between Delhi and Ottawa.
Four Indian nationals have been arrested in connection with Nijjar’s murder.
Popular fiction often includes the notion that given enough time, a monkey with a typewriter could recreate the works of William Shakespeare. However, two Australian mathematicians have debunked this idea as unrealistic.
The infinite monkey theorem suggests that given infinite time, a monkey could randomly type out Shakespeare’s plays. This concept has been widely used in popular culture, from “The Simpsons” to “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
In a paper authored by two academics from the University of Technology Sydney, it was established that even if monkeys worked tirelessly to replicate Shakespeare’s works, the universe is more likely to end before they succeed. The study will appear in the December 2024 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Franklin Open.
Stephen Woodcock, an associate professor at the university and one of the paper’s authors, explained that the mathematical concept of infinity can lead to erroneous conclusions in the real world. They concluded that even under the most generous assumptions about monkeys’ typing speed, the likelihood of them reproducing Shakespeare’s works is nearly impossible within the lifespan of the universe.
The paper introduces a “heat death” theory as the end of the universe, which would occur before a monkey could realistically achieve the feat. However, critics argue that by imposing a time limit, the essence of the “infinite” theory is lost.
The study calculates that a monkey with a 30-letter keyboard has only a 5% chance of typing the word “banana” in its lifetime. This contrasts with Shakespeare’s 884,421-word complete works, of which “banana” is not included.
While some scholars believe the theorem is a common theoretical concept and have dismissed the need to debunk it, the authors expressed surprise at being the first to formally challenge it. The likelihood of a monkey typing even a short phrase like “I am a chimpanzee, therefore I exist” is extremely low, making the proposed theory highly improbable.
Ultimately, the study suggests that the notion of monkeys reproducing Shakespeare’s works is highly unlikely and may need to be reconsidered in light of mathematical and scientific principles.
Microsoft reported better-than-expected profits on Wednesday, driven by growth in its Azure cloud business, as five of the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants reveal their quarterly results this week.
“AI-driven transformation is reshaping jobs, outputs, and workflows across all roles, functions, and business processes,” stated Satya Nadella, the company’s CEO, in a press release. Nadella mentioned on a earnings call that Microsoft’s AI business is set to surpass a $10 billion annual run rate next quarter, making it the fastest-growing business in company history to achieve this milestone.
Microsoft’s focus on artificial intelligence garnered attention, with significant investments in Azure, the company’s rapidly expanding division. According to a press release, the division’s revenue grew by 22%. A day earlier, Google’s parent company Alphabet reported a nearly 35% year-on-year growth in its cloud business, reaching $11.35 billion, surpassing analyst forecasts.
Nadella announced that Azure now boasts 39,000 customers, marking an 80% increase year over year. The company has established AI data centers in over 60 regions globally, and Azure-OpenAI usage has more than doubled in the last six months.
The stock prices surged in after-hours trading. Earnings per share were $3.30, exceeding the anticipated $3.10, with revenue standing at $65.59 billion compared to the expected $64.51 billion.
Microsoft’s financial outlay has risen significantly with its emphasis on AI. On Wednesday, the company’s data center finance leases surpassed $108 billion in pre-commencement lease payments.
With soaring investments, Microsoft’s power requirements have soared in recent years. As part of a project to power its extensive data center fleet, the company is revamping Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, known for a partial reactor meltdown in 1979. Microsoft has struck a deal to acquire all power generation capacity from the plant over the next two decades.
However, investors remain cautious about the significant AI bets made by tech giants and seek greater clarity on when these investments will yield returns. The “Magnificent Seven” companies – Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla – with a combined market capitalization of $12 trillion and representing one-fifth of the S&P 500 index, have underperformed the market over the past quarter, with a cumulative 3.5% decline since July.
In a note to investors, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives characterized this quarter as a pivotal test for Microsoft and Azure amid heightened competition in the AI ecosystem.
“Our assessments of Microsoft this quarter are positive as we believe Redmond is taking the lead and accelerating Azure cloud deals with robust momentum into 2025 and beyond,” Ives remarked, referencing Microsoft’s headquarters location in Washington state. “We maintain an ‘outperform’ rating.”
Elon Musk is currently facing election integrity issues offline, while X owner is advocating for the discovery and reporting of “potential instances of voter fraud or misconduct” through a representative. The community established by Musk is filled with unfounded claims masquerading as evidence of voter fraud.
Despite being absent from a mandatory court appearance in Philadelphia to address a lawsuit challenging his political action committee’s significant donations to voters, Musk has launched an online platform, X (formerly Twitter), dedicated to enabling users to share their voting-related concerns. The Election Integrity Community within this space swiftly began identifying what they perceived as signs of fraud and electoral interference.
Various tweets showcasing torn ballots, ABC News system tests, postal workers in action, and individuals submitting mail-in ballots are being presented as evidence of a compromised presidential election. Some users are even posting videos of people they suspect without substantial evidence, making it challenging for the community to verify these claims.
Misinformation is spreading within X and other platforms, with right-wing influencers amplifying false accusations of ballot stuffing and voter suppression. Such baseless claims are contributing to the harassment of innocent individuals, including postal workers, as seen in a viral video from Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
Experts note that this community, consisting of over 50,000 members, is employing tactics reminiscent of past online forums to propagate claims of a stolen election. These tactics were previously utilized in the aftermath of the 2020 election by groups like “Stop the Steal” on platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and Parler.
In their attempt to bolster the narrative of a “stolen election,” these groups disseminate unverified stories to a large audience, which are then leveraged by influencers to fuel suspicions of electoral malpractice. The Election Integrity Partnership has compiled a report highlighting the dangers posed by such disinformation campaigns.
Lenny DiResta, an associate professor at Georgetown University, warns of the real-world consequences of unfounded rumors being weaponized by propaganda outlets. Ordinary individuals are inadvertently caught up in these campaigns, facing unwarranted scrutiny and harassment.
The Election Integrity Community provides insight into a nationwide echo chamber where beliefs of election rigging against Trump are widespread. While distinct from the main X feed, Musk occasionally shares concerns from this community on his page.
One prevalent conspiracy theory within the community revolves around Elon Musk, who has falsely insinuated that the Biden administration is orchestrating voter fraud through undocumented immigrants. Additionally, a Musk-backed Superpac has been implicated in disseminating misleading information about Kamala Harris with the “Project 2028” campaign.
Pop culture has been warning us about robots for years. Isn’t that interesting? iRobot or terminator, you probably have nightmares about rogue machines taking over the Earth. But what’s the real concern? That dystopian vision is starting to become a reality.
Today’s futuristic bots don’t have shotguns, Austrian accents, or even the dexterity of most sci-fi automatons. Instead, they are slowly learning to mimic human behavior.
They can talk, express “human emotions,” perform everyday tasks, and some can even walk, albeit like babies taking their first steps. We are witnessing the emergence of a world where humanoid robots will coexist with us, creating an unprecedented uncanny valley.
But with numerous robots being developed, which strange and fascinating robots are leading the way? Here are 10 of the weirdest ones to keep an eye on.
Ameca: “The world’s most advanced humanoid robot”
Credit: Engineered Arts
With a strong reputation in America, this robot developed by Engineered Arts has been dubbed the “world’s most advanced humanoid robot.” That’s quite a claim in the realm of eerie humanoid robots, so what makes it stand out?
Ameca may not sprint, do backflips, or crush bricks with its hands like some robots, but it does something even more peculiar. Ameca exhibits emotions…in a way. This robot is designed to convey emotions through its facial expressions and body movements.
It can smile, laugh, and express emotions through its entire body. In essence, Ameka is the most human-like robot in terms of movement. It won’t harm you or take your job, but it might just be the most captivating dinner guest at the table.
Boston Dynamics ATLAS: Athletic
When it comes to robotics, Boston Dynamics is a well-known name. Even if you’re not familiar with the brand, you’ve likely seen videos of their robots performing parkour, climbing ladders, and working on simulated construction sites.
While the company likes to showcase the agility of its robots in videos, most of these bots are intended for practical applications in industries such as oil and gas, energy, and surveillance.
After years of development, they’ve reached the current ATLAS model. A tall humanoid robot, ATLAS is fully electric-powered (as seen in the video above, it stands up in a remarkably human-like manner).
With its eerie circular face and large illuminated eyes, it resembles a walking Sauron, capable of smashing obstacles in its path and overcoming hurdles…quite unsettling, to say the least.
Unitree G1: Jack of all trades, master of none.
Unitree, a Chinese robotics company, offers a variety of products. Despite having an assortment of robot dogs, arms, and sensors at their disposal, it’s the Unitree G1 that truly embodies their innovative chaos.
The ‘Humanoid Agent AI Avatar’ comes with a price tag of $16,000 (approximately £12,500), which is surprisingly affordable in the world of humanoid robots.
However, it’s not entirely clear what purpose this robot serves. Unitree showcases videos of the robot twirling sticks like lightsabers, crushing chestnuts with its fists, popping coke bottle caps, and inexplicably hitting its own hands with hammers.
Watching the G1 run, jump, and contort into various positions feels like observing an exuberant child shouting, “Look what I can do!” over and over again.
Menteebot: A teachable robot
Menteebot is peculiarly affable, especially for its intended tasks. Its creators envision this lanky robot serving as an assistant to ordinary individuals, aiding them in completing challenging tasks.
Tasks include lifting and moving heavy boxes, sweeping, and even pushing a cart around the supermarket.
With arms and legs that swing disproportionately to its body and lacking agility, speed, or aesthetic appeal, Menteebot seems eager to experiment and acquire new skills that can simplify your life. May it bring blessings.
Figure AI: Multitasking
Credit: Figure AI
While numerous humanoid robots are designed for single purposes, Figure AI stands out for its versatility. Developed in collaboration with OpenAI, this robot excels at accepting voice commands and engaging in conversations with individuals.
Combined with training in various factory tasks, Figure can navigate through a typical workday while receiving verbal guidance on changing priorities.
In theory, this all sounds promising. In reality, there’s still much progress to be made. Like many other humanoid robots, Figure moves at a sluggish pace, as if wearing pants (or circuits?) that are slightly too tight. Its presence may be less intimidating than a robot from iRobot, but it could potentially lead to armies of Figure bots bustling around workplaces in the future.
Artemis: Messi of robots
Photo by Alex Hughes
The soccer-playing robot ARTEMIS carries high expectations from its creators. In fact, due to its exceptional performance, it has earned the moniker “The robot that beats Messi in soccer” (Artemis for short).
Developed by a team at UCLA, this remarkable footballer has been in development for years. Currently participating in RoboCup, an international autonomous robot soccer tournament, ARTEMIS and its fellow robots aspire to join a World Cup-winning team by 2050.
With such high aspirations, ARTEMIS is expected to be a phenomenal soccer player, right? Not entirely. Displayed at GITEX 2023, a major tech convention, ARTEMIS seemed to struggle with kicking the ball forward, often sending it airborne or simply slightly nudging it. Rumors have even emerged about a potential contract with Chelsea.
Neo Beta: Expensive new friend
Credit: 1X
Neo Beta is both remarkable and unsettling. Developed by 1X, it’s touted as a “significant advancement in robotics.”
The company envisions Neo as the first robot capable of assisting with household chores and daily tasks around the home. Thus far, it has been demonstrated making coffee, folding laundry, hugging individuals, and even picking up backpacks before they leave the house.
On paper, it sounds amazing, but in practice, any physical interaction may leave you on edge, and even a hug might provoke uneasiness.
In the coming years, Neo is likely to be a major breakthrough in home robotics, albeit one of the creepiest. Get ready to see more of that expressionless face staring back at you.
Slothbot: an intentionally slow robot
Designed to be cute, Sloth Bot conceals advanced robotics within a friendly appearance. Despite its cheerful demeanor, this sloth-like robot has a somewhat eerie vibe with its lifeless eyes and perpetual smile.
However, Sloth Bot’s capabilities are limited. Running on solar power, it requires cables for movement.
So what’s the purpose? Beyond its endearing appearance? The robot is intended to operate for extended periods in natural ecosystems, particularly under tree canopies, to collect microclimate data autonomously without human intervention.
VERO: Beach cleaning robot
VERO serves a singular purpose that may not be glamorous but is essential. VERO spends its time cleaning up cigarette butts on the beach. With a vacuum cleaner attached to each of its four legs, it uses cameras and sensors to identify and collect trash along the shore.
While many robots aim to replace or surpass human capabilities, VERO is refreshingly simple in its mission, and that’s what makes it endearing.
Apple’s quarterly earnings report on Thursday revealed strong demand for the iPhone 16, with a slight dip in overall sales in China compared to the previous year. The company recorded revenue of $94.9 billion, up by 6%, and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.64, slightly beating Wall Street’s expectations of $1.60 EPS on revenue of $94.4 billion.
Revenue from iPhone sales reached $46.2 billion, higher than the $43.8 billion reported in the same period last year. Additionally, fourth-quarter revenue for the Services segment, including subscriptions, rose to $24.97 billion from $22.31 billion year-over-year.
The company also received a one-time payment of $10.2 billion following the annulment of the European General Court’s judgment demanding Apple to repay Irish taxes.
This earnings report marked the debut assessment of the iPhone 16’s demand, which was launched shortly before the close of the fourth quarter. The introduction of the latest iPhone was anticipated to boost Apple’s presence in China and help in reclaiming market share from competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi. According to a report by the International Data Corporation, Apple had dropped to the sixth position in smartphone retail rankings due to tough competition.
CEO Tim Cook lauded the release of the company’s “best products yet,” which now include Apple Intelligence in addition to the iPhone 16.
Apple Intelligence, a new feature providing enhanced privacy in AI, was recently launched, further strengthening the product lineup for the holiday season. The company did not specify the anticipated impact of Apple Intelligence on driving product demand during the holiday period.
Luca Maestri, Apple’s chief financial officer, expressed excitement about upcoming product launches and enhancements, emphasizing that the rollout of Apple Intelligence will evolve gradually.
Amidst a challenging year for Apple, marked by weak demand for its other devices, investors sought updates on iPhone 16 demand and the gradual rollout of Apple’s AI features, collectively known as Apple Intelligence.
Cook highlighted the positive consumer response to Apple Intelligence, noting a significant increase in iOS update downloads compared to the previous year.
The company continues to refine Apple Intelligence, with plans for further feature releases over the next months. Cook hinted at more advanced versions in the pipeline as well.
Apple has yet to launch Apple Intelligence in key markets like Europe and China, where competition remains fierce. In Asia, the Indonesian government has imposed a ban on iPhone 16 sales, alleging Apple’s failure to fulfill promises of increased local investments.
There’s a saying: “Never stay more than 6 feet away from a mouse.” Although I’m here BBC Science Focus, we concluded that this measurement is inaccurate, but may soon become more accurate for those involved in illegal wildlife trade (IWT).
The research team used the anatomical structures of endangered animals such as pangolin scales, elephant ivory, and rhinoceros horns on African giant pouch rats to provide a low-cost detection system to prevent illegal smuggling. I trained myself to be able to distinguish scents.
– Hmmmm – Swarms of rats have been shown to be able to identify these items even when hidden inside other materials, and to remember their smells even after months of no exposure.
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Why rats?
this is not the first timeApopo The Tanzania-based nonprofit organization tasked with conducting this study recognizes the potential of a super rat workforce.
The organization aims to provide low-tech, cost-effective solutions to pressing humanitarian challenges across Africa and has previously developed the HeroRATS technology to detect landmines and the pathogen that causes tuberculosis. I trained the pack.
Dr. IsabelZottofirst co-author of new research Published in frontiers of conservation science, It helped to identify the potential for IWT detection in rats.
“There is an urgent need to strengthen cargo inspection, as existing inspection tools are expensive and time-consuming,” Schott explained.
“The APOPO rat is a cost-effective odor detection tool that can easily access tight spaces, such as cargo inside packed shipping containers, and can also be lifted high to block ventilation systems in closed containers.”
rat boot camp
The new research rats, Kirsty, Marty, Attenborough, Irwin, Betty, Teddy, Ivory, Ebony, Desmond, Thoreau, and Fosse, have undergone several rigorous training stages.
They first learned to “nose” a target’s scent for a few seconds to acquire a flavored pellet. Next, we discussed common scents used to hide wild animals in real-life human trafficking, such as electrical wires, coffee beans, and detergent.
The final step was retention training, where I re-experienced scents I had not been exposed to for 5 and 8 months respectively. Despite several months of no exposure, the rats showed perfect memory retention scores, suggesting that their cognitive retention performance is similar to that of dogs.
By the end of the training, eight of the rats were able to identify four commonly smuggled wild animals among 146 non-target substances.
Why now?
Statistics on IWT (defined as the illegal capture, killing, or harvesting of animals or plants) have become increasingly bleak in recent years. of wild animals of the world fund (WWF) estimates that it is currently the fourth largest illicit trade in the world, with a value of more than £15 billion a year.
They also estimate that around 55 African elephants are killed for their tusks every day, amounting to more than 20,000 a year. It also found that rhino poaching increased by 9,000 percent in South Africa between 2007 and 2014.
While this clearly has a negative impact on wildlife populations, a 2019 study found that world bank It also estimates that long-term global losses to ecosystems affected by IWT are approximately $1-2 trillion (£700-1.5 trillion) per year.
Evaluation of crime
Scientists involved in the new detection study have already identified the next steps for the HEROrat project. The idea is to develop methods that allow rats to operate within ports, which are likely to be hotspots for smuggled wildlife.
To this end, the rats are outfitted with custom-made vests (possibly inspired by Virgin Atlantic’s iconic red flight attendant uniforms). When they pull a small ball attached to the chest of their vest with their paws, it makes a beeping sound. In this way, the rat can alert the handler when it detects a target.
“The vest is a great example of hardware development that can be useful across a variety of settings and tasks, including shipping ports to detect smuggled wildlife,” the co-authors said. Dr. Kate Webb.
Throughout human history, stories about fantastical beasts and supernatural beings have captivated our imagination. From werewolves and vampires to yetis and deep-sea monsters, mythical creatures have inspired countless folk tales and cultural works, as well as elaborate hoaxes.
Many intrepid explorers ventured into the wilderness in search of conclusive evidence of these beings’ existence. While some mythical creatures turned out to be real species, others remain purely fictional, and some are still the subject of intense debate.
Cryptids, creatures that have not yet been scientifically described, are the focus of cryptozoology, the study of these mysterious animals. But what is the real science behind these mythical creatures?
vampire
Vampire bats in the Americas drink blood, but vampire legends predate Columbus. – Photo credit: Getty
Legends of vampires have been portrayed in various forms of media, but scientists suggest that this myth may have originated from real medical conditions such as porphyria or tuberculosis.
Some believe that vampire legends arose from societal fears of death and decay, rather than actual creatures that feed on blood like vampire bats or leeches.
yeti
Centuries-old tales of the yeti, a giant two-legged hairy creature in the Himalayas, have fascinated explorers and cryptozoologists worldwide. However, modern DNA analysis has debunked the existence of the yeti, attributing sightings to bears.
sea snake
The gigantic oarfish, which can grow up to eight meters in length, may have inspired stories of giant sea serpents that terrified early explorers. – Photo credit: Alamy
Legends of giant sea snakes have historical roots, possibly inspired by sightings of the oarfish. Reports of oarfish rising to the surface in response to seismic activity could explain the myth of sea serpents as harbingers of doom.
griffin
Legends of the griffin, a winged creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, may have originated from the discovery of early dinosaur fossils like the protoceratops. The griffin myth could have arisen from misinterpreted remains found in the Gobi Desert.
kraken
Photo credit: Getty
Scandinavian folklore of the Kraken, a giant octopus-like sea creature, has been linked to sightings of giant squids. While these deep-sea creatures are formidable, they are unlikely to attack large ships as depicted in the myths.
mermaid
Stories of mermaids, aquatic creatures with human bodies and fish-like tails, have ancient origins. These myths may have been inspired by sightings of manatees or dugongs by European sailors, combined with hallucinations from scurvy.
minotaur
Photo credit: Getty
The Greek myth of the Minotaur, a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a human, may have been influenced by seismic activity on the island of Crete, where earthquakes were common due to tectonic plate movements.
unicorn
The unicorn, a famous mythical creature depicted as a white horse with a horn, may have originated from mistranslated ancient texts referring to the aurochs. The legend of the unicorn persisted through the Middle Ages, fueled by the sale of narwhal tusks as unicorn horns.
5 Famous Monster Hoaxes
1. In 1958, giant footprints believed to be from Bigfoot were revealed to be a prank by Ray Wallace.
2. The “mermaids of Fiji” mummy was discovered to be a fake created by Japanese fishermen.
3. The Loch Ness Monster photo from 1934 was exposed as a hoax using a plastic head fixed to a toy submarine.
4. The “Cardiff Giant” petrified man was a sculpture created by George Hull.
5. The Cottingley Fairies photos were revealed to be cutouts from children’s books.
Daylight Saving Time in the United States will soon end, with clocks turning back an hour. As we bid farewell to long summer nights, we welcome cozy winter evenings and the upcoming holiday season.
When will the clocks change in November 2024?
In the United States, the time change will occur at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, 2024, marking the transition from daylight saving time (DST) to standard time.
Here’s how the time change will affect some major cities:
Los Angeles: Transition from Pacific Daylight Time to Pacific Standard Time. Sunrise will be delayed by an hour to 6:15 a.m. and sunset will shift to 4:57 p.m.
Chicago: Transition from Central Daylight Time to Central Standard Time. Sunset will move back to 4:41 p.m. and sunrise will be at 6:26 a.m.
New York and Washington DC: Transition from Eastern Daylight Saving Time to Eastern Standard Time. Sunrise will change to 6:29 a.m. and sunset to 4:49 p.m.
America follows six major time zones, which increase to nine when including regional variations. This is a significant improvement from the 144 local time zones that existed before time zones were consolidated in 1883.
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What is the history of daylight saving time?
The concept of daylight saving time was first proposed by New Zealand scientist George Hudson in 1895, with the aim of utilizing extra daylight for activities. The idea was later championed by British builder William Willett, who saw it as a way to maximize daylight hours. Daylight saving time was eventually adopted in various countries, including the United States during World War I.
The U.S. had a tumultuous relationship with daylight saving time, trialing and abandoning it multiple times before standardizing it in 1966.
Why do people want to abolish daylight saving time?
Critics of daylight saving time cite negative effects on health, economy, and pet behavior as reasons to abolish it. The time change can disrupt sleep patterns, decrease productivity, and confuse pets. Some states, like most of Arizona and Hawaii, have chosen not to observe daylight saving time due to various reasons.
NASA has released a beautiful composite image of two overlapping spiral galaxy pairs, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.
This composite image shows the galaxies IC 2163 (left) and NGC 2207 (right). Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI.
of IC 2163-NGC 2207 pair It is located about 114 million light years from us in the direction of the constellation Canis Major.
The large and massive galaxy is registered as NGC 2207, and the smaller galaxy is registered as IC 2163.
Strong tidal forces from the former distorted the shape of the latter, blowing stars and gas into long streams stretching 100,000 light years.
IC 2163 made its closest approach 40 million years ago, passing NGC 2207 in a counterclockwise direction.
However, IC 2163 does not have enough energy to escape NGC 2207's gravity and is doomed to be pulled back again in the future, passing by the larger galaxy.
“The pair's eerie colors represent a combination of mid-infrared light from the web and visible and ultraviolet light from Hubble,” NASA astronomers said.
“Look for potential evidence of their light scrapes on impact surfaces where material from galaxies may have collided.”
“These lines, rendered in bright red, including the eyelids, may be responsible for the appearance of the galaxy's bulging, vein-like arms.”
“The galaxy's first passage may also have distorted its delicately curved arms and elicited tidal extensions in some places.”
“The small diffused spiral arm between IC 2163's core and its leftmost arm may be an example of this activity.”
“More tendrils appear to be hanging between the galactic cores.”
“Another extension drifts off the top of the larger galaxy, forming a thin translucent arm that essentially extends out of the picture.”
These images show two overlapping spiral galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207. On the left is Hubble's ultraviolet and visible light observations, and on the right is Webb's mid-infrared observations. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI.
IC 2163 and NGC 2207 form stars at such high rates that they appear to have millions of individual hearts flapping across their arms.
These galaxies produce the equivalent of 20 solar-mass stars of new solar-mass stars every year.
“Our Milky Way galaxy only forms two to three new Sun-like stars a year,” the astronomers said.
“Both galaxies have experienced seven known supernovae in recent decades, compared to the Milky Way's average of once every 50 years.”
“Each supernova may have removed space within the arms, rearranging gas and dust that later cooled, allowing many new stars to form.”
“To identify sequences of star-forming activity, look for the bright blue regions seen by Hubble in ultraviolet light and the pink and white regions detailed primarily by Webb's mid-infrared data.” the researchers said.
“Stars in larger regions are known as superclusters.”
“Look for examples of these in the top spiral arms that wrap around larger galaxies and point to the left.”
“Other bright regions of the galaxy are ministarbursts, where many stars form in quick succession.”
“In addition, the upper and lower 'eyelids' of IC 2163, the small galaxy on the left, are filled with newer star formation and are burning brighter.”
Paleontologists have discovered the well-preserved fossilized remains of an early anuran tadpole. Notobatrachus degiustoi At Estancia La Matilde in Patagonia, Argentina.
Reproducing the lives of tadpoles and adults Notobatrachus degiustoi. Image credit: Gabriel Rio.
Frogs and toads belong to a group of tailless amphibians called anurans.
They are characterized by a biphasic life cycle, with an aquatic larval (tadpole) stage followed by an adult (frog) stage.
Adult anurans remain in the fossil record until the late Triassic period (approximately 217 to 213 million years ago), but tadpoles have not been recorded before the Cretaceous period (approximately 145 million years ago). Not yet.
“Tadpoles are free-living, non-reproductive anuran aquatic larvae that undergo morphological and ecological changes over a short period of time before reaching the adult reproductive stage. “We need to go through a metamorphosis stage that involves profound changes in our lives.” And her colleagues.
“This rapid metamorphosis in anurans is the most extreme among extant tetrapods, with tadpoles representing a highly derived larval stage.”
The authors examined well-preserved tadpole fossils. Notobatrachus degiustoi from Formation of La Matilde In Patagonia.
This giant anuran lived during the Middle Jurassic Period, 168 to 161 million years ago.
This species is also represented by a large number of excellently preserved adult specimens from the same locality.
According to the team, the tadpoles Notobatrachus degiustoi It was almost 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) long.
The head, most of the body, and part of the tail were visible, as were the eyes, nerves, and forelimbs, suggesting that the tadpole was in a later stage of metamorphosis.
Together, they show that key traits of today’s tadpoles, such as filter-feeding systems, had already evolved in early anurans about 161 million years ago.
“The exquisite preservation of the tadpole, including its soft tissues, shows features related to the filter-feeding mechanism characteristic of living tadpoles,” the researchers said.
“What is noteworthy is that both Notobatrachus degiustoi Tadpoles and adults reached large sizes, proving that tadpole gigantism occurred among stalked anurans. “
“This new discovery suggests that a biphasic life cycle in which filter-feeding tadpoles live in aquatic, ephemeral environments was already present in the early evolutionary history of sessile anurans, and that at least 161 million It has been shown to remain stable over the years.”
of findings Published in this week’s magazine nature.
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M. Chubar others. The oldest tadpoles reveal the evolutionary stability of anuran life cycles. naturepublished online October 30, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08055-y
“Zosia” was buried with a padlock on her leg and an iron sickle around her neck, and was never supposed to come back to life.
The young woman buried in an unmarked cemetery in Pien, northern Poland, was one of dozens of people feared by her neighbors to be “vampires.”
Now, a team of scientists has used DNA, 3D printing, and clay modeling to reconstruct Zosia’s 400-year-old face, revealing a human story buried in supernatural beliefs.
“In a way, it’s really ironic,” says Swedish archaeologist Oskar Nilsson. “The people who buried her did everything they could to prevent her from rising from the dead…We did everything we could to bring her back to life.”
In 2022, the body of Zosia, a woman buried as a vampire, was discovered in a tomb in Pien, Poland. Nicolaus Copernicus University/Oskar Nilsson via Reuters
Zosia, as it was named by local residents, was discovered in 2022 by a team of archaeologists from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
Zosia was between 18 and 20 years old at the time of her death, and analysis of her skull suggested she suffered from a health condition that could cause fainting, severe headaches and even mental health problems, Nilsson said.
According to Nicolaus Copernicus’ team, sickles, padlocks and certain types of wood found in graveyards were all believed at the time to have magical properties that could protect against vampires.
Zosia’s grave was grave number 75 in an unmarked cemetery on the outskirts of Pien, a city north of Bydgoszcz. Among the other bodies found at the scene was a “vampire” child who was buried face down with a padlock at his feet as well.
Little is known about Zosia’s life, but Nilsson and Pien’s research team believe that the items with which she was buried indicate that she came from a wealthy (possibly aristocratic) family.
Nilsson suggests that the war-torn 17th-century Europe in which she lived created a climate of fear in which belief in supernatural monsters was common.
Nilsson’s recreation began by creating a 3D-printed replica of the skull, then gradually built up layers of clay “muscle by muscle” to form a lifelike face.
He combines bone structure with information about gender, age, ethnicity, and approximate weight to estimate the depth of facial features.
“It’s emotional to see a face come back from the dead, especially when you know this young girl’s story,” Nilsson says.
Nilsson said he wanted to bring Zosia back “as a human being, not as a buried monster.”
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