Barsoni othersTwin disks and jets erupting from a pair of young stars in WL20. Image credit: NSF / NRAO / B. Saxton / NASA / JPL-Caltech / Harvard-Smithsonian CfA.
WL20 It is located in the Rho Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud Complex, more than 400 light years from Earth.
“What we found was absolutely surprising,” said Dr Mary Barthony, lead author of the study.
“We've known about the WL20 system for some time, but what caught our attention was that one of the stars in the system appeared to be much younger than the others.”
“Using MIRI and ALMA together, we were able to see that this one star is actually two stars next to each other.”
“Each of these stars was surrounded by a disk, and each disk emitted a jet parallel to the others.”
ALMA and Webb's MIRI observe very different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Used together, they allowed astronomers to discover these hidden twins in the stellar system's radio and infrared wavelengths: ALMA found the disk, and MIRI found the jet.
They analyzed archived ALMA data to reveal the composition of the disk, and MIRI data to reveal the chemical composition of the jet.
They also analyzed high-resolution images, revealing the size of the massive disk – about 100 times the distance between Earth and the Sun.
“Without MIRI we would never have known these jets even existed, which is amazing,” Dr Barthony said.
“ALMA's high-resolution observations of the disks surrounding the two newly observed stars reveal the structure of the disks.”
“Someone looking at this ALMA data and not knowing there are twin jets would think it's a big edge-on disk with a hole in the middle, rather than two edge-on disks and two jets. That's pretty remarkable.”
Combining multi-wavelength data from ALMA and Webb revealed the complex processes involved in the formation of several stellar systems.
“We plan to take advantage of ALMA's future upgrades, such as the broadband sensitivity upgrade, to continue unlocking the mysteries surrounding the birth of stars and planetary systems,” the researchers said.
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended that pharmaceutical companies develop coronavirus vaccines targeting the KP.2 strain, a descendant of the highly contagious JN.1 variant that began spreading widely in the United States this winter. The announcement comes just one week after an FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended updating COVID-19 vaccines in the fall to target the JN.1 variant or its descendants.
After the vote, there was disagreement between committee members and Dr. Peter Marks, the agency’s top vaccine regulator, over which strain the agency should choose. Most committee members expressed a preference for JN.1, but Dr. Marks favored choosing a newer strain like KP.2. “We’re paying an incredibly high premium for the mRNA vaccines to get the freshest vaccine,” Marks said, likening getting the vaccine to buying milk at the store.
The FDA said it had initially advised drugmakers on June 6 to target the JN.1 variant, but the agency continues to monitor circulating strains and “based on the latest available data and recent increases in COVID-19 cases in areas of the country, the FDA has further determined that the JN.1 lineage is preferred for improved vaccines,” with the KP.2 strain preferred “when possible,” the FDA said.
The JN.1 is hardly in circulation in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention As of Saturday, KP.2 accounted for 22.5% of new coronavirus cases in the U.S., while its sister variant, KP.3, accounted for 25% of new cases.
The FDA’s decision allows pharmaceutical companies to begin manufacturing and distributing the vaccine, which is expected to be used as part of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns this fall.
Three pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, are producing coronavirus vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are mRNA-based, while Novavax’s vaccine is protein-based. Because protein-based vaccines take a long time to produce, Novavax has indicated that it will not be able to produce the KP.2 vaccine by the fall. Instead, it plans to distribute the JN.1 vaccine that it has already produced.
This is the third time the vaccine has been updated to target circulating strains. The process of selecting the next vaccine is becoming more routine, similar to the annual influenza vaccination update, with vaccinologists selecting the strains in the spring and then conducting vaccination campaigns in the fall.
At the advisory committee meeting, the pharmaceutical company presented data showing that compared to current vaccines that target the variant XBB.1.5, which is not currently in circulation, the JN.1 vaccine should generate higher levels of antibodies against circulating virus strains.
The committee did not recommend who should get the latest vaccine, leaving that to the CDC, which will be holding its own advisory committee meeting later this month.
As summer approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, Florida is already facing extreme weather conditions. Storms have hit South Florida, bringing heavy rain and causing severe flooding in cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Sarasota. This comes after an early-season heatwave pushed temperatures above triple digits. All of this is happening as forecasters predict a particularly active hurricane season.
These events are all exacerbated by climate change, a reality that clashes with the current state politics in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis has become known for his opposition to addressing climate change, with recent legislation deprioritizing climate change in the state’s energy policy. This goes against the scientific consensus that these extreme events are linked to climate change.
DeSantis has also signed bills that prevent cities and counties from implementing measures to protect against heat-related illnesses in the workplace. This leaves workers vulnerable as Florida faces a warmer-than-normal summer.
Experts argue that DeSantis’ policies are out of sync with climate science and hinder efforts to protect people from the impacts of climate change. The state’s refusal of federal funding for climate change initiatives further complicates efforts to address the issue.
While some Republicans are beginning to take climate change more seriously, it remains a divisive issue. Former President Donald Trump and DeSantis have downplayed the threat of climate change, aligning themselves with a stance that dismisses the urgency of addressing it.
Despite these challenges, climate change advisers stress the importance of taking action to protect communities from the impacts of global warming. It is crucial for states like Florida to prioritize mitigation measures to safeguard against the worsening effects of the climate crisis.
A scorching hot day in Bucharest, Romania, June 2019
lcv / Alamy
In the future, city dwellers could beat the heat with clothes made from new fabrics that keep them cool.
Made from plastic material and silver nanowires, the fabric is designed to keep you cool in urban environments by using the principle of radiative cooling, a natural process in which objects radiate heat back into space.
The material selectively emits a narrow band of infrared light that allows it to escape the Earth’s atmosphere, while at the same time blocking radiation from the sun and from surrounding structures.
Jo Bo-jun, a researcher from the University of Chicago, Illinois, and his team say the material “is more than half [the radiation]” from buildings and the ground,” he says.
Some cooling fabrics and building materials already use this radiative cooling principle, but most of their designs don’t take into account radiation from the sun or infrared radiation from structures like buildings and pavements, and they assume the materials are oriented horizontally against the sky, like roof panels, rather than vertically like clothing worn by a person.
Such designs “work well when they face something cooler, like the sky or a field,” Su says, “but not when they face an urban heat island.”
Xu and his colleagues designed a three-layered fabric: the inner layer is made from common clothing fabrics like wool or cotton, and the middle layer is made up of silver nanowires that reflect most of the radiation.
The top layer is made of a plastic material called polymethylpentene, which does not absorb or reflect most wavelengths and emits a narrow band of infrared light.
In outdoor tests, the fabric remained 8.9°C (16°F) cooler than regular silk fabric and 2.3°C (4.1°F) cooler than a broad-spectrum radiation-emitting material. When tested against the skin, the fabric was 1.8°C (3.2°F) cooler than cotton fabric.
Su said this slight difference in temperature could theoretically increase the amount of time a person can comfortably be exposed to heat by up to a third, but that this has yet to be tested.
“It’s always been difficult to make this material practical as a fiber.” Aswath Raman, the UCLA researcher added that the study is a good example of applying the physical principles of radiative cooling to a practical material. Other materials with similar properties could also be used on vertical surfaces in buildings, he said.
The malaria drug artemisinin is extracted from the plant wormwood.
Frederick J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
A drug already used to treat malaria may also be effective in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
A small study of 19 women with PCOS found that the commonly used drug artemisinin improved menstrual cycle regularity and reduced high testosterone levels that are common in PCOS patients.
The underlying cause of PCOS is unknown, but it is linked to several hormonal imbalances, including excess testosterone produced by the ovaries, which can lead to symptoms like irregular menstrual periods, infertility, and increased acne and body hair.
Affected people also tend to have reduced sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that regulates sugar, which leads to weight gain and exacerbates the hormonal imbalance.
Currently, PCOS patients are treated individually depending on their symptoms, for example undergoing laser treatments to remove body hair or taking birth control pills to regularize menstruation.
While investigating the effects of various drugs on fat cells in mice, Chi Kun Tang Researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, found that artemisinin reduced symptoms in mice with PCOS-like conditions.
His team then gave 19 women with PCOS artemisinin for three months and found that all of them experienced a drop in testosterone levels, and most also saw a reduction in another substance called anti-Müllerian hormone. Associated with PCOSTwelve of the participants also experienced more regular menstrual cycles after taking the drug.
In other studies using mouse and human cells, the team found that artemisinin could reduce testosterone production in the ovaries.
Stephen Franks The Imperial College London researcher says that although the 19 women had a healthy BMI on average, weight loss tends to reduce PCOS symptoms, suggesting that artemisinin may work through another mechanism: improving insulin sensitivity. “If the results are as positive in a randomized trial as they are in this pilot study, it would be exciting,” he says.
Elisabeth Stener-Victorin Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, say the fact that artemisinin is already generally safe when used to treat malaria means that it could soon be repurposed as a new treatment for PCOS.
Australian paleontologists have discovered the fossilized skeleton of a previously unknown Anhangeria pterosaur, dating back 100 million years.
Reconstructing your life Haliskia petersenii Image courtesy of Gabriel N. Ugueto.
The newly identified pterosaur species lived in what is now northeastern Australia's state of Queensland during the Early Cretaceous period, about 100 million years ago.
Scientific Name Haliskia petersenii This flying reptile had a premaxillary crown and curved teeth.
It also had a long wingspan of about 4.6 metres (15.1 feet).
“Haliskia petersenii “About 100 million years ago, when much of central-west Queensland was underwater and covered by a vast inland sea, and on Earth where the southern Victoria coastline is now, it would have been a fearsome predator,” said Adele Pentland, a PhD student at Curtin University.
Fossilized remains Haliskia petersenii Kevin Petersen, curator of the Kronosaurus Corner Museum, in November 2021 Toule back formation Of the Eromanga Basin.
“Haliskia petersenii “The fossil is 22 per cent complete, more than twice as complete as the only other partial pterosaur skeleton found in Australia,” Mr Pentland said.
“The specimen includes a complete lower jaw, the tip of the upper jaw, 43 teeth, vertebrae, ribs, both wing bones and part of a leg.”
“There are also very thin and delicate throat bones present, indicating the presence of a muscular tongue, which would have been useful when eating fish and cephalopods.”
Pentland and colleagues Anhangeria is a group of pterosaurs known to have lived all over the world, including in what is now Brazil, Britain, Morocco, China, Spain, and the United States.
“The global nature of the Anhang-area pterosaurs, and in particular their success across Gondwana (e.g. in the Eromanga and Araripe basins), may have been made possible by niche partitioning within this clade,” the paleontologists said.
“However, rigorous testing of this hypothesis will require multiple locations and better time constraints.”
“Additional data on this clade are available Haliskia petersenii ” sheds light on the palaeoecology of Anhangeria pterosaurs and highlights the taxonomic diversity of these flying reptiles from the Cretaceous of Australia.”
Team paper Published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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A.H. Pentland others. 2024. Haliskia petersenii A new Anhangelian pterosaur that lived in the early Late Cretaceous of Australia. Scientific Reports 14, 11789; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60889-8
To find out whether air taxi passengers need to worry about collisions with birds, a number of tests were carried out by a German emergency program.
Colliding a real air taxi with a real bird would be complicated and dangerous, so perfection was impossible, so experimenters made do by dropping artificial “bird bullets” onto a rigged metal plate that allowed them to measure the force of the impact.
Aditya Devta and Isabelle Metz of the German Aerospace Center and Sophie Armani of the Technical University of Munich described these violent encounters as follows: Preprint paper(Thanks to reader Mason Porter for pointing this out.)
This study was, necessarily, a rough step toward definitively answering the big questions.
The report said the bird shots were dropped manually and faced various challenges, including “inconsistency and lack of repeatability” due to human involvement. Future efforts should “eliminate human involvement and [so as to] “Improve the accuracy and repeatability of force measurements.”
Collision in the middle of the track
Speaking of experiments involving birds and flying taxis, have you heard of the moose and bullet train experiment? Yong Peng and his colleagues from Central South University in China began investigating what happens when these heavy animals meet at high speed.Analysis of moose movement trajectory after collision between bullet train and moose” “.
The questions go beyond the initial simple collision: the scientists mention two possible complications: “If the moose lies on the tracks after the collision, it could increase the risk of train derailment” and “if the moose is thrown into the air during the collision, it could strike and damage the pantograph, disrupting train operation.”
Previous investigations have relied on mathematical simulations using finite element methods and less-heavy experiments, using fresh beef muscle tissue (from cows, not elk) and a type of stress-strain testing machine called a “split-Hopkinson pressure bar.”
Essentially, the force of the impact “depends on the area of contact between the train and the moose,” the scientists report.
Regarding these complexities, the report states: “The moose will not be pushed aside by the V-shaped locomotive and derail, and the moose will not be thrown into the air to the height of the pantograph, causing no damage to the Shinkansen pantograph.”
The study suggests something bigger is on the way: “Only a scenario of a train crossing the tracks at 110km/h hitting a moose was simulated, which cannot fully reflect the risk of a train-moose collision. Therefore, further speeds and attitudes are needed to enhance ongoing research.”
Feeling cheeky
Slowly and gently, new findings about sources are coming in from readers. These concern the off-label use of ketchup and other sticky foods to make electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes work better (Feedback, May 25).
Brian Leffin Smith adds a musical note: “You don’t need human skin to test whether ketchup electrodes are better than regular gel electrodes. I have equipment that applies a low voltage to plant leaves (or anything else) and converts the varying current into a MIDI signal that can be sent to a computer or synthesizer to play sounds… Anyway, in a statistically insignificant but anecdotally and culinarily interesting test, I found that low-salt ketchup placed between an ECG electrode and a chili leaf produced a fairly high E, while the proper gel placed on the adjacent leaf produced a G. I thought this might be useful, but now I don’t think so.”
Dave Hardy makes a point about practicality: “In the early 1970s, my GP said that gel was ridiculously expensive, but that strawberry jam would work just as well. I don’t know if he tried a range of options or just used what he had on hand (this was in the Falkland Islands).”
Death of a Star
It is surprising how few people are hailed as “famous pathologists.” news The paper reported on the death of one of them: “Dr. Cyril Wecht, the prominent pathologist who argued that more than one shooter killed JFK, has died at age 93.”
One of the first celebrated pathologists, Bernard Spilsbury (1877-1947), helped establish London’s reputation as a hotbed of fascinating and intricate murder mystery investigations.
Royal College of Physicians RevealedAfter his death, he said that Spilsbury’s career had been a truly dramatic one: “The famous Crippen trial in which he was involved [William] Wilcox’s attempts to prove that the murders were committed with hyoscine hydrobromide first attracted him to public attention, and he lamented it at every trial he subsequently attended, which no doubt accounted for his stern and cold demeanor towards all but his closest friends.
Spilsbury’s attitude was by no means contemptible. One aspect of the job of dissecting a corpse is the terrible stench of rotting bodies, which can put off sensitive people. Spilsbury was not a sensitive person in this respect. His colleagues were amazed at how enthusiastic he was about dissecting a corpse. Obituary To put it politely, it was an “olfactory disorder.”
Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible
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My daughter is one of the kids the U.S. Surgeon General has warned about. Our nation’s children have become “unwitting participants” in a “decades-long experiment.” Social media use poses mental health risks to young people. Young people’s “near-constant” use of social media leads to poor sleep, depression, and anxiety.
Before sixth grade, my daughter saved up her dog-walking money to buy a phone. She found a used iPhone 13 Mini on Craigslist. I set high expectations for her to get good grades, keep her room clean, take out the trash, etc. Little did I know then that the iPhone would systematically undermine her ability to accomplish these tasks and so much more.
When my daughter walked under an inflatable arch into her classroom on her first day of middle school, I took comfort in the fact that I could reach her. Like most parents, I associated my cell phone with safety, not danger. I didn’t know that social media developers were controlling her next swipe, or that her “human future” was being sold to the highest bidder, enriching the richest corporation in the history of mankind.
I learned the hard way through my daughter’s lies, manipulation, failing grades, through the “zebra stripes” scars painted on her arms.
Her school photo from sixth grade captures my daughter in her “emo” phase: feather earrings, Pink Floyd T-shirt, crooked smile. The innocence of the photo was quickly replaced by selfies: selfies with pursed lips making a peace sign; selfies with her head tilted to one side, half-face, full-body; selfies in bed. Her camera roll records her degradation: selfies of her crying, selfies with swollen eyes, selfies of her unable to leave her bedroom.
By spring semester, my daughter’s grades were slipping. I assumed she had ADHD, so I took her to a psychiatrist for a psychiatric evaluation. The afternoon sun filtered through the faux-wood blinds, casting strips of light on the black hoodie she always wore. The doctor’s questions started out predictably: Can’t concentrate in class? Can’t finish your homework? Can’t sleep? Then the interview took a scary turn. Do you feel like your life isn’t worth living? Have you ever hurt yourself? Have you ever wanted to die?
I widened my eyes at the child’s profile and answered, “Yes.”Tearing out my guts.
Doctors diagnosed her with depression and anxiety. Further testing revealed that she spent 80% of her attention on gaining the approval of her peers. No wonder she was failing math. It was a miracle she was passing her classes when only 20% of her brain was dedicated to school.
The doctor prescribed therapy and Lexapro. These helped, but he didn’t inform me of the epidemic of cell phones among middle schoolers. I later learned that my daughter is the first generation of 10-14-year-olds to actively use social media. These girls have a 151% increase in suicide rates and a 182% increase in self-harm. Her treatment assumed that her suffering was personal, not structural. In our country, we prescribe drugs to solve this societal crisis.
At the time, I was unaware of this and allowed my daughter to continue using social media. One day, I got a text message from another mother. I stared at the screen, wondering why this mother was sending me such a revealing selfie. Then I noticed a mole on the woman’s chest. It was my daughter’s.
When I showed the photo to my daughter, she gasped. She handed over her phone. I discovered she had circumvented screen limits and been on social media until the early hours of the morning. She had sent the image on Snapchat to someone named PJ. He claimed to be a 16-year-old boy, but his responses were so graphic I suspected he was older. I was horrified to learn that a cell phone is a two-way street and a platform that adults can use to abduct and traffic children.
I had a family meeting with my daughter, her father, and my mother-in-law. We agreed that my daughter would delete her social media accounts and get rid of her phone until the new school year started. After a summer of traveling, relaxing in person, and spending time with family, my daughter’s energy returned. The bags under her eyes faded, and she stopped sighing, shrugging, and rolling her eyes. She woke up and laughed. Sometimes she even wanted me to hug her.
It was hard to give my daughter’s phone back before seventh grade, but we had made a commitment. I wanted to reinforce her good behavior. I created new rules: no social media, no devices in the bedroom, turn off the phone at 8 p.m. Charge the phone on the kitchen counter. I bought an alarm clock and a sound machine. We endured a digital detox. My daughter started playing soccer. My insomnia was cured. We joined a gym and worked out together.
But within a few months, my daughter had relapsed again. Little lies, big lies. A friend’s mother sent me an email with selfies of her daughters vaping and hanging out at the mall with boys they’d never met. We had another family meeting.
“This might seem weird, but maybe my daughter doesn’t need a cell phone,” her mother-in-law said.
The words rippled through my mind. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Cell phones were destroying my daughter, but I couldn’t imagine life without them. I stayed true to the idea of the cell phone, its ideals. I had a cell phone again.
When I told her my daughter had lost her cell phone until she was in high school, she threw a tantrum. that She was the only child in her class without a cell phone, but once the tantrum subsided, she began to regain her composure. Then, within a few weeks, signs of her addictive behavior began to reappear.
I found an iPhone charger in the outlet next to her bed. She said it was to charge her AirPods. She threw herself on the ground to stop me from searching under the bed. One night, I was lying in bed thinking and it occurred to me. My daughter two Phone. I accidentally broke my Mini on a weight training machine while working out, so I bought her a new iPhone 13. I confiscated the 13, but I was able to give the Mini to her.
When I asked her the next morning, she said, “I sold it to a friend at school.” She couldn’t tell me who she sold it to or how much she paid for it.
“I’ll find it,” I said. I see you Gestures. I was distraught, but with calm confidence and a little humor, I went through backpacks and drawers, rifled through pockets, entered rooms unannounced, and tried to catch her in the act. My daughter remained calm the whole time I searched. I began to wonder if I had gone completely crazy. I bought a metal detector.
Then one night, I walked into my daughter’s room. She jumped up and pulled back the comforter. I ran to the bed and reached under the covers. The charging cord! My fingers traced its length to the plugged-in phone.
We stared at the Mini in my hands, the Snapchat app glowing beneath the cracked screen, and she looked at me, her eyes wide and filling with tears.
That night, my heart pounded against the pillow as I scrolled through her social media. Her communications were urgent and earnest. She begged one boy in particular, Damien, to get back to her. When he didn’t respond, she said she was depressed and began sexting him and sending him pictures of her breasts.
Through my sister, I found the answer in Johan Hari’s Stolen Focus. The book explores why and how our attention span is declining: “The phones we own and the programs that run on them have been purposefully designed by the smartest people in the world to capture and hold the most of our attention.” Of course. My daughter was young and vulnerable to this manipulation. She measured her self-worth within a system that was both attention-addicted and attention-starved at the same time. She had internalized an algorithm where provocative content wins. “The more outrageous something is, the more attractive it is,” Hari writes.
Our social experiment is being replicated in homes across the country. As parents, we want our kids to be safe. We want them to contact us if a shooter comes to school. But the biggest danger is At the inner Make phone calls on your cell phone, not outside.
One of the reasons our kids are addicted to their phones is because we are. My friends complain of insomnia, but they can’t imagine leaving their phones outside of their bedrooms. Addressing my kids’ phone use means addressing my own. I have to restrain myself from texting while driving. I’ve also stopped rushing to the charging station each morning to check if I’ve missed any messages.
After the seventh grade, my daughter that A child. Without a phone, she’s the kid who dribbles a soccer ball in her living room, races down the street on her skateboard, becomes an honor student and joins the track team. The kid who wags her hands while chatting with friends, braids her hair, falls asleep reading a book.
These days, we use my phone to plan outings together, listen to audiobooks, and sing along to her songs and mine (Shakira, Sade, Ice Cube, Fugees). Last weekend, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to visit family. As the June gloom settled over the shoreline, my daughter and I bodysurfed into the crashing waves. “Again!” she said, jumping up, enthralled by the feeling of the waves rolling under her belly.
My daughter is not the only child like this. A woman I met recently confiscated her 11-year-old son’s phone after she discovered him sexting. Since schools were required to wrap their phones in rubber bands, the sick middle-schooler has built community and focused in class. The trend is spreading fast. UK children have been learning mostly in “no-phone environments” since the Department for Education ordered it.
Individuals and and Changes to the system to check cell phone usage. I’m interested to see what happens with this change when my daughter reaches high school.
IThere's been a lot of speculation regarding the outlook for the games industry in 2024. Following a surge of investment during the pandemic, the industry experienced a temporary boost in growth as people sought entertainment and social interaction while adhering to safety measures at home. However, this year has seen a correction, with studios and companies that expanded too rapidly now scaling back, leading to layoffs and studio closures. Job opportunities for developers have decreased, and games that faced delays due to the pandemic are taking longer to release, resulting in fewer titles compared to the previous year.
The Summer Game Fest, which has taken the place of E3 in Los Angeles, reflects this industry slowdown. What was once a grand trade show is now a more modest event held in smaller venues away from the main convention center. The shift from elaborate press conferences to online livestreams signifies a change in the industry landscape. However, amidst this decline, there is a bright spot in the success of indie games.
Indie games like Palworld, Helldivers 2, and Hades II have emerged as top sellers on platforms like Steam, showcasing the creativity and innovation present in the indie gaming scene. In contrast, big-budget blockbusters from major publishers are facing challenges, with titles like Redfall and Suicide Squad receiving mixed reactions. The industry’s focus on franchised games and live service models is leading to a lack of fresh ideas and risks being taken.
UFO 50, a collection of 50 games. Photo: Mossmouth
However, the indie gaming scene is thriving, with a multitude of creative and unique games being showcased at events like the Summer Game Fest. Titles like UFO 50, Tales of the Shire, and Fear the Spotlight offer players fresh experiences and showcase the diversity of the indie game market. As the industry shifts towards more indie success stories, there is hope for a resurgence of innovative and original content.
While the gaming industry’s major players continue to rely on established franchises and blockbuster titles, it is the indie developers who are driving forward with new ideas and creative approaches. With initiatives like Outersloth supporting indie developers and new entrants like Blumhouse entering the gaming space, there is a sense of revitalization and excitement surrounding indie games.
As the industry evolves, it is clear that the future of gaming lies beyond the traditional giants. With a global community of players and creators, the possibilities for innovation and growth are endless. While the big names may dominate headlines, it is the indie scene that is truly pushing boundaries and shaping the future of gaming.
What to Play
Star Wars: Hunters. Photo: LucasFilm Games/Zynga
For a fresh gaming experience, try out Star Wars: Hunters on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and smartphones. This team-based arena shooter offers diverse characters from the Star Wars universe and engaging gameplay mechanics. With a focus on intuitive controls and immersive visuals, this game is a must-try for Star Wars fans and gamers alike.
Available on: Nintendo Switch, iPhone, Android Estimated play time: 20+ hours
What to Read
No guns in sight… Catto's Post Office is one of the cosy titles featured on Wholesome Direct. Photo: Inn Shambles Studios
What to click on
Question Block
Elden Ring…can't swim. Photo: Bandai Namco
This week's Question Block explores the dilemma of how video games handle water-related challenges and the consequences of immersion versus gameplay mechanics. The debate over drowning animations and failure states in games highlights the complexities of creating authentic yet engaging gaming experiences.
Whether a game opts for realism or streamlined gameplay, the approach to water mechanics can shape the player’s experience and immersion in the virtual world. As the industry evolves, designers face the challenge of balancing authenticity with player engagement to deliver memorable and enjoyable gaming experiences.
For more insights into game design and industry trends, stay tuned to Question Block and other engaging content related to the evolving world of video games.
Helldivers 2, reminiscent of the sci-fi military satire and hyper-grotesque brutality of Starship Troopers, took the gaming world by storm upon its release in February. This cooperative action game offers immersive and hilarious gameplay, pitting players against terrifying insects and crazed robots in various desolate landscapes. Each battle feels like a part of a grander narrative, amplified by Arrowhead Game Studios’ adept use of social media channels.
Our Review: “Everything about this game is incredible, including the incredible things it sets out to do.” Read the full review
Animal Well
An ethereal joy…Animal Well. Photos: Shared Memories
Animal Well may seem like a niche game where players control a blob trapped in a well, but it surprises with its twisty puzzle-platform mechanics. This atmospheric and dreamy adventure features visuals reminiscent of a lost 1980s arcade game peeked through a window. Navigate the well, acquire new skills, and encounter charming creatures in this unique experience.
Our Review: “In an age where major video game companies are focusing on developing video games that are designed to function like sports, what a treat to see a game this complex and restrained on offer.” Read the full review
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
A skilled warrior…Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Photo: Ubisoft
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown marks the return to the roots of Ubisoft’s iconic adventure series. Straying away from modern 3D exploration, this game offers precise 2D platforming as players embody the skilled warrior Sargon on a mission to rescue Prince Ghassan. Traverse labyrinthine fortresses, master jumps and dodges, and engage in intense boss battles in this new classic of the “Metroidvania” genre.
Our Review: “It’s been 13 years since the last all-new Prince of Persia game, so if this is a new direction, I’m excited to see what the results are.” Read the full review
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Capcom’s epic role-playing adventure, Dragon’s Dogma 2, may seem like a standard genre offering at first glance. However, this quirky and sometimes awkward game is filled with unique lore and quirky characters, offering a fun and hilarious experience reminiscent of a 1980s fantasy film.
Our Review: “To sum up this game in one sentence, it prioritizes fun over functionality. What you need to understand is that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a very silly game.” Read the full review
Crow Country
Horror ride…Crow Country. Photo: SFB Games
Embark on a creepy survival horror adventure in Crow Country, where something sinister lurks in an abandoned theme park near Atlanta. This game takes inspiration from classic horror titles of the mid-90s, offering a spine-chilling experience reminiscent of games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
Our Review: “Crow Country is more than a collection of PS1-era classics; it’s a true triumph in itself.” Read the full review
Lorelei and the Laser Eye
Immerse yourself in a mysterious and bizarre adventure with Lorelei and the Laser Eye. Navigate through an abandoned hotel, unraveling a twisted mystery that intertwines art, film, and perhaps even murder. Each room presents a new puzzle to solve, offering hours of cerebral and stylish gameplay.
Our Review: “An engaging puzzle game that uses creepy visuals and a puzzling storyline as an essential part of the experience, not just a design gimmick.” Read the full review
Cinematic…Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Photo: Xbox Game Studios
Embark on a dark and chilling journey with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, as troubled warrior Senua navigates through the frozen and terrifying landscapes of ancient Iceland. Dive into Viking legend and explore themes of pain and determination in this extraordinary cinematic experience.
Our Review: “Hellblade II is a work to be cherished. Who knows how many more intelligent masterpieces this risk-averse industry will produce in the future?” Read the full review
Baratoro
A fascinating card game…Balatro. Photo: LocalThunk/Playstack
Balatro is an indie gem that combines poker, solitaire, and deck-building gameplay into an addictively fun experience. This roguelike card game features special abilities and a challenging gameplay loop that keeps players coming back for more.
Our Review: “A trippy take on poker that seamlessly blends different game elements. Read the full review
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Enter the world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the middle installment in Square Enix’s revered Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. Join eco-hero Cloud on a quest to defeat his nemesis Sephiroth after recovering from a climactic battle with the malevolent Shinra Corporation. Immerse yourself in detailed storytelling, strategic combat, and a captivating RPG experience.
Our Review: “Longtime fans will devour every morsel of sweet fan service here and savor every moment spent with this much-loved cast.” Read the full review
Tekken 8
The technique that shakes the monitor…Tekken 8. Photo: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Tekken 8 emerges as the preeminent fighting game among a resurgence of iconic titles like Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1. With a diverse roster, powerful moves, and innovative fighting mechanics, Tekken 8 captures the essence of classic PlayStation 1 fighting games, delivering an exhilarating combat experience.
Our Review: “Familiar yet innovative, quirky yet intuitive, Tekken 8 provides a satisfying gameplay experience with its dynamic fighting system.” Read the full review
Honorable Mention
Hauntii, Sea of Thieves (PS5 version), Botany Manor, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Supermarket Times.
Since the 1920s, Edwin Hubble Ever since it was discovered that the universe is expanding, astrophysicists have been asking themselves the question, “Where does matter come from?” In the Big Bang theory, a possible explanation, not a TV show, astrophysicists propose that the universe began with an explosion, a single hot, dense point expanding, then cooling down to transform from pure energy into solid matter. But that origin story ends with the two smallest elements: hydrogen and helium. Not everything in the universe is made of these two elements, leaving scientists with a new question: “Where does other matter come from?”
The emergence of nuclear physics in the early 20th century gave astronomers their first big clue. Researchers studying stars noted that stars are very bright and require a large source of energy to produce that much light. Nuclear physicists, including Albert Einstein and his famous E = mc2 The equations showed that one of the most powerful sources of energy in the universe is the smashing of smaller atoms together to create larger ones – nuclear fusion. And that's exactly what stars do in the hot, dense regions at their centers, called “nuclear fusion.” coreBut there's a limit to this process in stars — specifically, iron, which is the 26th of the 92 naturally occurring elements. Stars create energy by colliding elements with each other, but elements bigger than iron need to generate more energy than they can give off, which is why elements heavier than iron, like gold and uranium, remain unexplained.
Researchers have discovered the next clue in a massive, bright stellar explosion in the night sky. SupernovaIt turns out that massive stars, more than 10 times the size of the Sun, burn up their accumulated elements to fuse rapidly. These stars not only shine, but also run out of energy to hold themselves together, exploding and scattering their outer layers of elements in all directions. This is a supernova explosion. For decades, astrophysicists thought that heavy elements were created from a chaotic mixture of light elements and free energy. However, careful observation of supernovae has shown that the amount of heavy elements produced in the explosion is less than what is needed to explain the abundance of heavy elements in the universe.
Astrophysicists got the final clue in 2017 when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory detected the first binary neutron star (BNS) merger.RaigoThe final stage in the life cycle of a massive star, between 10 and 25 times the mass of the Sun, is Neutron StarDuring this stage, the star's core collapses, and the electrons and protons in atoms get so close together that they fuse into neutrons. Two neutron stars orbiting each other collide, scattering debris into the surrounding galaxy. Researchers propose that this phenomenon could provide the energy and matter needed to fuse heavy elements into the heaviest naturally occurring elements.
Researchers from Peking University and Guangxi University wanted to test whether BNS mergers could produce elements heavier than iron. Because the event is extremely rare, occurring only a few dozen times per year across our galaxy, they couldn't just point their telescopes into space and hope for luck. Instead, they used advanced nuclear physics software to simulate a BNS merger.
The researchers gave their simulations specific initial conditions, such as what atoms were present in the stars when the collision began, the rates of nuclear reactions and decay, the number of electrons mixing, and the sizes of the colliding neutron stars. They then mathematically described how temperature, volume, and pressure relate to matter. Equation of stateIt simulates the effects of the collision and calculates what elements would be formed and released into space.
The team found that these BNS mergers could produce huge amounts of very heavy elements, between 300 and 30,000 times the mass of the Sun, which is 10 to 1,000 times the amount produced by supernovae. The team believes that this result could explain the abundance of heavy elements observed in the Galaxy in relation to other cosmic effects, e.g. Galactic WindHowever, the researchers acknowledged that their findings cannot explain the abundance of all heavy elements, especially those at the lower end of the atomic mass range they studied. They explained that these elements are probably still being created in the cores of collapsing stars, but suggested that future researchers should further test this hypothesis.
TerraForm Labs has agreed to a $4.47 billion civil settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. They were found liable by a jury for misleading cryptocurrency investors who suffered losses of an estimated $40 billion when their TerraUSD and Luna tokens crashed in 2022, causing a widespread downturn in the cryptocurrency industry.
A final sentence against Terraform and its founder Do Kwon was filed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday. The sentence is still pending approval from U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over the trial that concluded on April 5.
TerraForm’s judgment includes $4.05 billion in disgorgement and interest, as well as a civil penalty of $420 million. Due to TerraForm’s bankruptcy filing in January, it is unlikely that most of this amount will be paid and will be treated as an unsecured claim in the ongoing Chapter 11 liquidation process.
The total judgment amounts to $4.55 billion, which includes an $80 million civil penalty against Kwon. Kwon is also required to agree to a ban from cryptocurrency transactions and transfer $204.3 million to TerraForm’s bankruptcy estate.
The SEC stated in a court filing that, “If entered, this judgment would ensure maximum recovery for harmed investors and permanently shut down TerraForm. Accordingly, the proposed judgment is fair, reasonable, and in the public interest.”
Both Terraform and Kwon have agreed to the sentence. No immediate comments were provided by the men’s lawyers. Kwon was previously found guilty of fraud in an early April civil lawsuit filed in Manhattan.
The SEC alleged that TerraForm and Kwon misled investors regarding the stability of TerraUSD, which was meant to maintain a constant value of $1. They were also accused of falsely claiming that TerraForm’s blockchain was utilized in a popular mobile payment application in South Korea.
Luna, a more traditional token created by Kwon and closely linked to TerraUSD, plummeted in May 2022 when TerraUSD failed to uphold its peg to the dollar.
Kwon has been detained in Montenegro since March 2023, with the United States and South Korea seeking his extradition for criminal prosecution, although he has not yet appeared in court. Kwon maintains his innocence.
Where everyone knows your name Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson ( sometimes) Widely available, with weekly episodes
The two Cheers stars reunite and rekindle their friendship while chatting with their interviewees, and as you’d expect, there’s plenty of laughs. Starting with Will Arnett, the host is questioned about his comedic prowess just as much as his guests, including a great anecdote about Harrelson and Arnett playfully upsetting Bono at a celebrity dinner party. Alexi Duggins
Steve Fishman was an intern at a local Connecticut newspaper in the ’70s when he was hitchhiking with a man named Robert Carr III. While writing his story, he discovered that the man was the murderer of three people. Fishman uses confession tapes and interviews with detectives to recount what happened. Holly Richardson
New podcast “Animal” features stories of hamsters, puffins and more. Photo: Irina Vasilevskaya/Getty Images
animal Widely available, all episodes available now
A warm and personal look at the beauty of the animal kingdom, the show is full of magic, from helping a baby puffin escape a cliff and back into the sea to the charming tale of a dog rescuing a lost hamster. Come see the adorable animals and hear their amazing stories. advertisement
Sam Smith’s new podcast is named after their childhood bedroom, the haven they retreated to after so many hard days. Now they’re sharing those feelings with celebrity guests. The first guest is Elliot Page, who gives a moving talk about coming out, the joy (and anger) of being trans, and not feeling shame. Hannah Verdier
American satirist Jon Stewart is releasing a news-heavy podcast to coincide with the turmoil of the US election. The first episode is about corruption, which naturally brings up Donald Trump, and Stewart hosts thoughtful monologues with knowledgeable guests about the dysfunction of democracy, economic reform and challenging conventional wisdom. HV
There is a podcast
Coco Khan and Nish Kumar, hosts of the pod “Save the UK”. Photo: Lucy North/PA
this week, Hannah Verdier 5 best podcasts election From open-minded analysis of the US elections unfolding on both sides of the Atlantic to Nish Kumar and Koko Khan asking the all-important questions in the UK
Election dysfunction Just in time for an election-packed year, Beth Rigby guides Conservative MP Ruth Davidson and Labour’s Jess Phillips (with special guests on the campaign trail). With their feet firmly in the thick of British politics, the trio can offer real insight into the US and UK election campaigns. With an informed, gossipy approach, they share perks like theories on why Rishi Sunak chose the 4th of July, how leaders are preparing for TV debates, and a chat with Angela Rayner.
Run Up On all things related to the US election, host Astead W. Herndon takes a measured approach and covers a wide range of opinions in this New York Times show. Some of the opinions may surprise you. Is Donald Trump “over-prosecuted”? Yes, that’s the accusation that Conway made when Herndon asked Kellyanne Conway and Serinda Lake what women voters really want. What do the youngest voters think of the oldest president? Can celebrities help swing the election? And what’s next? If you want to catch up on all the dramatic developments in the election campaign in a 30-minute episode, this podcast is for you.
Oh God, what’s next? Every Tuesday and Friday, the political podcast modestly promises to “make the unbearable bearable with the highest quality guests, analysis and bad jokes” (“Gloomy people on the dance floor,” “What’s the story? Conservatives in mourning,” and “Things are only getting wetter, anyone?). There will also be bonus episodes in which the team will respond quickly to the latest election campaign gaffes and surprises, starting with Rishi Sunak’s pesky national service scheme for lazy young people. Additional panel shows are scheduled during election week, ensuring lively debate.
Pods will save the UK Crooked Media’s Save America features four former Barack Obama aides offering insider insight, while Nish Kumar and Koko Khan (above) provide laughs in the UK version. If you’re into the left, the hosts are relentless, with Khan especially delivering some scathing criticism in his heavyweight interviews. Important questions are asked, like “Would you kiss a Conservative?” With the countdown to the election on, a thoughtful episode addresses the human side of policy, asking what trans and non-binary people need now.
Politics Weekly UK Could Sunak lose his seat in the election? That’s just one of the questions posed by John Harris on The Guardian’s politics podcast as the election looms. Harris cleverly describes the election as “the political equivalent of a 12-hour wait at the emergency room” and asks why Sunak’s campaign is so chaotic and bleak. The conversation is candid and features quality guests from across the political spectrum, so the show doesn’t have to rely on comedy to make the election fun. Guests include reporters in the middle of the election, such as The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and The Spectator’s Katie Bowles. The Guardian also has short election episodes every weekday on its Today in Focus feed.
Please try…
New series from former Invisibilia presenter Yowei Show ProxyIt’s about honest, human conversations with strangers.
Comedian Chloe Petts delves into the big history of small rooms in a Radio 4 series. Toilet Humor.
NASA had to reassure the public that there was no emergency on the International Space Station after audio from a medical training drill was mistakenly played during a livestream on Wednesday night.
The regularly scheduled livestream was interrupted at 6:28pm ET by an unidentified speaker, apparently a flight surgeon, communicating with the ISS crew about what to do for the commander, who was suffering from severe pressure illness.
The speaker advised crew members to “check the pulse again” before placing the injured astronaut in a spacesuit filled with pure oxygen. She said any treatment was “the best treatment” and better than nothing.
“Unfortunately, Commander's prognosis is relatively uncertain,” she said.
“I'm concerned that there are people with severe DCS,” she said. [decompression sickness] He “hits” and tells the crew to get him suited up as quickly as possible.
She mentions that there is a hospital in San Fernando, Spain, with a hyperbaric treatment facility, apparently implying that she would order an emergency evacuation of the space station.
But after stirring up fear among space enthusiasts listening in, NASA revealed that this scenario wasn't real: All crew members aboard the ISS were safely asleep at the time.
NASA said there was “no emergency on board the International Space Station.”
“At approximately 5:28 p.m. CDT, audio was broadcast on NASA's livestream from a ground-based simulated audio channel indicating the crew member was experiencing symptoms associated with decompression sickness,” NASA said in a statement. X's message.
“The audio was inadvertently transmitted from an ongoing simulation in which crew and ground teams were training for various scenarios in space and is not related to an actual emergency,” NASA said in a statement.
“The International Space Station crew was asleep at the time. All crew members are healthy and safe, and tomorrow's spacewalk will begin as scheduled at 8 a.m. EDT,” it added.
The emergency training came after two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS last week.
Tesla shareholders are set to approve Elon Musk’s $56 billion remuneration package by a significant margin before the company’s important annual general meeting later today. The compensation package, the largest ever granted to a CEO of a U.S. company, will be subject to an investor vote after being previously rejected by a U.S. court this year. Shareholders will also vote on Musk’s proposal to relocate Tesla’s legal base to Texas.
Several investors, including Norway’s sovereign wealth fund and the California State Teachers Retirement System, have indicated their intent to oppose the compensation package. Proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services have also advised shareholders to reject the pay.
On the eve of the meeting, Musk suggested on X (formerly Twitter) that investors overwhelmingly supported both the compensation package and the Texas relocation: “Both Tesla shareholder resolutions have now passed by large margins! Thank you for your support!!”
The results will be disclosed at Tesla’s headquarters in Texas at 4:30pm ET (9:30pm UK time).
Even if the remuneration package is approved, Musk may encounter further obstacles, including potential litigation. Legal experts doubt that the Delaware court that rejected the initial package would accept a new, nonbinding vote to reinstate it.
Originally approved by Tesla’s board in 2018, the compensation has faced legal challenges from shareholders. Judge Kathleen McCormick of Delaware raised concerns about the size and necessity of the package in her January ruling.
In her ruling, McCormick questioned the necessity of the compensation plan, stating, “Perhaps swayed by the ‘all-positive’ rhetoric or enthralled by Musk’s superstardom, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: Was this plan truly necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?”
During its annual developers conference on Monday, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, an eagerly anticipated artificial intelligence system designed to personalize user experiences, automate tasks, and, as CEO Tim Cook assured, set “a new standard of privacy in AI.”
Although Apple emphasizes that its AI prioritizes security, its collaboration with OpenAI has faced criticism. The service, launched in November 2022, has raised privacy concerns by collecting user data for model training without explicit consent. Users will have the option to opt out of this data collection starting in April 2023.
Apple has assured that its collaboration with ChatGPT will be limited to specific tasks with explicit user consent, but security experts remain vigilant about how these concerns will be addressed.
Late to the game in generative AI, Apple has trailed behind competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, whose AI ventures have boosted their stock prices. Apple has refrained from integrating generative AI into its main consumer products.
Apple aims to apply AI technology responsibly, building Apple Intelligence products over several years using proprietary technology to minimize user data leakage from the Apple ecosystem.
AI, which requires vast data to train language models, poses a challenge to Apple’s focus on privacy. Critics like Elon Musk argue that it’s impossible to balance AI integration and user privacy. However, some experts disagree.
“By pursuing privacy-focused strategies, Apple is leading the way for businesses to reconcile data privacy with innovation,” said Gar Ringel, CEO of a data privacy software company.
Many recent AI releases have been criticized for being dysfunctional or risky, reflecting Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” culture. Apple seems to be taking a more cautious approach.
According to Steinhauer, “Historically, platforms release products first and address issues later. Apple is proactively tackling common concerns. This illustrates the difference between designing security measures upfront versus addressing them reactively, which is always less effective.”
Central to Apple’s AI privacy measures is its new private cloud computing technology. Apple intends to conduct most computing internally for Apple Intelligence features on devices. For tasks requiring more processing power, the company will outsource to the cloud while safeguarding user data.
To achieve this, Apple will only share the data necessary for each request, implement additional security measures at endpoints, and avoid long-term data storage. Apple will also open tools and software related to its private cloud for third-party verification.
Private cloud computing represents a significant advancement in AI privacy and security, according to Krishna Visnubotra, VP of product strategy at Zimperium. The independent audit component is particularly noteworthy.
The ancient Maya civilization of Central America has fascinated scholars for centuries with its incredible astronomical calendar and magnificent step pyramids.
But alongside their glorious culture, they are also associated with another dark cultural phenomenon: human sacrifice. And according to recent research, very It's certainly dark.
New findings from an analysis of ancient DNA from the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza suggest that many of those sacrificed were children, including a high proportion of identical twins.
El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, is the centerpiece of the Chichen Itza ruins in the Yucatan state of Mexico. – Image credit: Johannes Krauss
Published in a journal NatureThe study looked at human bones found in a xultun, or underground cistern, located near a large sinkhole known as the Sacred Cenote.
Radiocarbon dating (when scientists use decaying radioactive carbon to estimate the age of organic remains) suggests that the chultun was used between the early 7th century AD and the mid-12th century AD.
“The only people in Chultung were children between the ages of three and six.” Dr. Rodrigo BarqueraThe lead author of the study is BBC Science Focus“Until now, we haven't had the opportunity to report the sex of these individuals because when they are that young, you can't determine their biological sex based on the bones alone.”
Moving quickly on from how bleak a hole filled with 100 children looks, DNA evidence revealed that all 64 people tested were male, and about 25% were close relatives, including two sets of identical twins.
The chance of having identical twins is about 1 in 250, so two sets of male twins in such a small sample size is unusual.
Barquera explained that twins had a special meaning to the Mayans because one of their most important myths involves heroic twins who defeat the king of the underworld.
The team believes that unlike other sacrificial rituals that were intended as offerings, the sacrifice of identical male twins may have been undertaken to honour the existence of hero twins.
Detail of the reconstructed stone tzonpantli (skull house) at Chichen Itza. – Image courtesy of Christina Wariner
While that's not great news for identical twins in Mayan culture, as Barquera says, it would have been a huge honor for the family: “It was more like, 'Wow, the gods or the powers that be have chosen us to be the guardians of these children who will one day participate in this magical ceremony.'”
“We know this because the site has been there for over 500 years. This isn't something that happened once or twice; it's been a widely held belief for at least five centuries,” he said.
Next, Barcela and his team hope to confirm their findings by comparing them with other similar archaeological sites.
About our experts
Rodrigo Barquera He is a postdoctoral researcher in the Archaeogenetics department at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. He has authored nearly 200 academic research papers, which have been published in such renowned journals as: Nature and Nature Communications Biology.
At an estimated distance of 140 parsecs (457 light years), the L-type subdwarf star CWISE J124909+362116.0 (J1249+36 for short) has a total velocity of at least 600 km/s, exceeding the local galactic escape velocity. Remarkably, the star may have been ejected from a globular cluster in the outer reaches of the Milky Way sometime in the past 10 to 30 million years.
A simulation of the hypothetical J1249+36 white dwarf binary ends with the white dwarf star exploding in a supernova. Image courtesy of Adam Makarenko / WM Keck Observatory.
The star immediately stood out as its speed across the sky was initially estimated to be around 600 km/s.
This speed is fast enough for the star to escape the gravity of the Milky Way, making it a potential hypervelocity star.
To better understand the properties of J1249+36, Professor Adam Burgasser of the University of California, San Diego, and his colleagues used the W. M. Keck Observatory to measure its infrared spectrum.
These data revealed that the object is a rare L-type subdwarf star, a class of stars with an extremely low mass and temperature.
Spectral data and imaging data from multiple ground-based telescopes allowed the team to precisely measure J1249+36's position and velocity in space, and predict its orbit within the Milky Way galaxy.
“What makes this source so interesting is that its speed and orbit suggest it is moving fast enough to escape the Milky Way,” Professor Burgasser said.
The researchers focused on two scenarios to explain J1249+36's unusual orbit.
In the first scenario, J1249+36 was originally a low-mass companion to a white dwarf.
If a companion star is in a very close orbit with a white dwarf, it can transfer mass, causing periodic explosions called novae. If the white dwarf gathers too much mass, it can collapse and explode as a supernova.
“In this type of supernova, the white dwarf is completely destroyed, so the companion star is freed to fly away at the orbital velocity it was originally moving at, plus a bit of a supernova blast,” Prof Burgasser said.
“Our calculations show that this scenario holds true. However, because the white dwarf no longer exists and the remnants of the explosion that probably occurred millions of years ago have already dissipated, we have no conclusive evidence that this is its origin.”
In the second scenario, J1249+36 was originally a member of a globular cluster, a tightly bound group of stars that is immediately recognizable by its distinctive spherical shape.
The centers of these clusters are predicted to contain black holes with a wide range of masses.
These black holes can also form binary systems, and such systems prove to be great catapults for any star that happens to get too close to them.
“When a star encounters a black hole binary, the complex dynamics of this three-body interaction can cause the star to be thrown out of the globular cluster,” said Dr Kyle Kremer, an astronomer at the University of California, San Diego.
The scientists ran a series of simulations and found that, on rare occasions, these types of interactions can cause low-mass subdwarf stars to be ejected from globular clusters and follow orbits similar to the one observed in J1249+36.
“This is a proof of concept, but we don't actually know which globular cluster this star is from,” Dr Kremer said.
“By tracking J1249+36 back in time, we find that it lies in a very crowded part of the sky that may be hiding undiscovered star clusters.”
To determine whether one of these scenarios, or some other mechanism, can explain J1249+36's orbit, the team wants to take a closer look at its elemental composition.
For example, the explosion of a white dwarf star could produce heavy elements that could pollute J1249+36's atmosphere as they escape.
Stars in the Milky Way's globular clusters and satellite galaxies also have unique presence patterns that could shed light on the origins of J1249+36.
“We're basically looking for a chemical fingerprint that will pinpoint exactly what system this star came from,” says Roman Gerasimov, also of the University of California, San Diego.
“Whether J1249+36's high-speed movement is the result of a supernova, a chance encounter with a black hole binary, or some other scenario, its discovery offers astronomers a new opportunity to learn more about the history and dynamics of the Milky Way.”
Coloured dyes were essential commodities in the Mediterranean region during the Late Bronze Age.
Berger and his colleagues unearthed a purple dye factory at site K10 (marked in red) outside Colonna, Aegina, during the Bronze Age. Image courtesy of Berger others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304340.
of The small island of Aegina It is located in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, between Attica, the Peloponnese and the central Aegean Sea.
The island has played an important role in the cultural history of the Aegean for thousands of years.
From the Neolithic to the Byzantine period (6th millennium BC to the 10th century AD), Aegina's main settlement was located on a small, well-protected promontory on the northwest coast called Cape Colonna.
During the 2nd millennium BC, this densely built and heavily fortified settlement reached the height of its economic prosperity and culture.
Representative monuments, outstanding finds and rich tombs indicate an economically stable and complex social system integrated into inter-regional trade networks and emerging cultures in the Middle and Late Bronze Age Aegean.
in New paper In the journal PLoS OneDr. Lydia Berger from the Université Paris-Lodron de Salzburg and her colleagues describe the remains of a 16th century BC purple dye workshop at Aegina Colonna.
The existence of this workshop is inferred from three main pieces of evidence: purple pigment preserved on pottery shards believed to be remnants of dye containers, dyeing tools such as grinding stones and waste pits, and crushed shells of marine snails harvested for the pigment.
Analysis of the chemical composition of shells and pigments indicates that the workshop mainly produces Mediterranean snails. Murex striped dye (Hexagonal column trunk).
Excavations at the site also uncovered numerous burnt bones of young mammals, mainly piglets and lambs.
Archaeologists hypothesize that these may be the remains of animals that were ritually sacrificed as sacred offerings to protect the dye-producing areas. This practice is known from other cultural sites, but the exact relationship of these bones to dye production is not yet entirely clear.
The site provides valuable insight into the tools and processes of Mycenaean purple dye production.
Further investigations may reveal more information about the scale of dye production at Aegina Colonna, details of procedures at the site, and the use of this dye in regional trade.
“The discovery for the first time of a remarkably large amount of well-preserved pigment, a large amount of crushed mollusc shells and several functional installations allows detailed insights into the production of purple dye on the Greek island of Aegina around 3,600 years ago,” the researchers said.
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L. Burger others2024. More than just a colour: Archaeological, analytical and procedural aspects of Late Bronze Age purple dye production at Cape Colonna, Aegina. PLoS One 19(6):e0304340;doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0304340
“We’re facing a jungle – the noise, the smell, the risk of disease,” stated Penny Reynolds, who resides across the street from the land designated for the Bainbridge facility.
Safer Human Medicine has reassured residents that they take all necessary precautions to ensure that all waste remains on-site and is sent to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and that most of the noise is contained on-site with no detectable odors.
Greg Westergaard, the CEO of monkey breeder Alpha Genesis, mentioned that establishing a monkey facility entails significant effort.
“It would involve extensive training and infrastructure,” he explained. “There will be unpleasant odors and wastewater from cleaning.”
Residents of Bainbridge point to the backgrounds of several executives at Safer Human Medicine, two of whom previously held leadership roles at companies that were under investigation, as a reason to be skeptical of their efforts.
CEO of Safer Human Medicines, Jim Harkness, is the chief operating officer of Envigo. He recently pleaded guilty. Thousands of dogs were abandoned, leading to a $35 million fine. Former Chief Operating Officer Kurt Derfler has left Charles River Laboratories. The Department of Justice issued a subpoena The probe was part of an inquiry into the potential smuggling of wild monkeys from Cambodia, and Charles River Laboratories stated at the time that any concerns about its involvement were “unwarranted.”
Neither Mr. Harkness nor Mr. Derfler faced individual charges related to those incidents.
Safer Human Medicine declined an interview request. “Envigo was functioning under unprecedented circumstances brought on by the pandemic,” they said in an email. They also stated that “we have been committed to operating responsibly and ethically in this field for decades and will continue to do so.”
Long-tailed macaques, also known as crab-eating macaques, are climbing the pillar in Indonesia in 2023.Chaidir Mahyudin/AFP via Getty Images file
Safer Human Medicine has stated that they do not use wild-caught macaques. Herpes BThe macaques will be sourced from Asia, but the specific location has not been disclosed.
Community activism in Bainbridge has made an impact. What was initially promoted as a “significant investment” is now overseen by Rick McCaskill, executive director of the Bainbridge and Decatur County Development Authority. Approximately $400 million and 260 jobs Things took a turn quickly. Following pushback from the community, Bainbridge leaders decided in February to Withdraw support for the Safer Human Medicine Project.
“The division and fear within the community seemed to outweigh the benefits of the project,” McCaskill remarked.
Monkeys used for research are housed at seven national primate research centers, each with its own breeding colonies, as well as other facilities across the country. While the national primate research centers mostly utilize rhesus macaques, pharmaceutical companies tend to prefer long-tailed macaques, which Safer Human Medicine intends to use.
Animal testing for drug development was formerly mandatory in the United States, but President Joe Biden will lift the ban in 2022. FDA Modernization Act 2.0 Signed into LawAllow non-animal options where possible. Several members of Congress voted this year to The bill was submitted. We advocate for a shift away from animal testing.
“There are various alternatives available today, such as AI, computer models, and organs on chips,” stated Jim Newman, spokesperson for the American Association for Medical Progress, a group that supports animal testing when necessary, “but current options can only reduce the number of animals to a certain extent.”
An artist’s rendering of a monkey enclosure proposed for Bainbridge, Georgia.Safer Human Medicines
Currently, researchers still rely on monkeys for certain tests, and some animal researchers cite a U.S. Shortage of long-tailed macaques — Imports reportedly dropped by over 20% in 2020 due to China halting exports, leading to a surge in prices of long-tailed macaques.
Safer Human Medicine believes that their proposed facility can address the monkey shortage, intending to start with 500 to 1,000 monkeys and then expand. They stated that the facility would be funded by industry and private donors in the US, without specifying them.
The extent of opposition from local residents to the facility remains unclear. Some local politicians who opposed the facility lost recent elections, but it is uncertain if their defeat was linked to their stance.
Nevertheless, Faircloth asserted that her group has no intention of backing down.
“If we don’t stand up for our rights, they will walk all over us,” she declared. “And we can’t allow that to happen.”
A building damaged by a drone strike in Kiev in October 2022
Roman Fritzina/Associated Press/Alamy
A group of climate experts estimates that the first two years of Russia's war in Ukraine will result in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to about 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The extra warming caused by these emissions will lead to extreme weather events around the world, with impacts estimated at $32 billion.
Ukraine intends to add these climate-related costs to the list of damages for which Russia is responsible and for which it seeks compensation.
“This will be an important pillar in the compensation case we are building against Russia,” Ukrainian Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strylets said in a statement.
“These are the costs to economies and societies caused by extreme weather events due to emissions-driven climate change,” said Leonard de Klerk, a climate businessman and founder of the War Greenhouse Gas Accounting Initiative.
The group today Fourth evaluation The report estimated the impact of the war from February 2022 to February 2024. It found that rebuilding bombed-out buildings, roads and other infrastructure was the biggest source of emissions, accounting for almost a third of the 175 million tonnes – a figure that also includes reconstruction that has yet to take place.
The remaining third is a direct result of the war, with fuel use accounting for the largest proportion.
About 14% of the total is due to passenger airlines having to reroute flights to avoid Russia and Ukraine. For example, a flight from Tokyo to London now travels over Canada instead of Russia, increasing flight times from 11 to 15 hours.
About 13 percent is due to an increase in wildfires recorded on satellite imagery, which is due not only to weapons-fired fires but also an end to fire management in occupied territories, the assessment said.
In most cases, there is a great deal of uncertainty around the figures as there are no official figures to rely on, and instead the group must rely on open source assessments and figures from past conflicts.
There's also the issue of how far to go in assessing the cascading effects of war: “We try to be as comprehensive as possible,” de Klerk says, “but at the same time, there are limitations. Some effects are too remote or too hard to quantify.”
Estimating how much damage additional emissions will cause (known as the social cost of carbon) is another tricky area: “The science of trying to put a monetary value on future damages is still developing,” says de Klerk.
The estimated figure of $32 billion Based on 2022 research The social cost of carbon is about $185 per tonne of CO2.
If this amount, which is growing every day, were to be paid, De Klerk thinks that one part should be sent to Ukraine to be used for measures such as reforestation and helping to capture some of the carbon, while the other part should go to the countries most affected by global warming, probably through the existing system. Green Climate FundBut where that money will go is a political decision that has yet to be resolved.
Low-income and small island nations have fought for decades to establish the principle that high-income countries with large greenhouse gas emissions should compensate them for loss and damage caused by their emissions. A loss and damage fund was finally established last year as part of an international climate agreement.
Kathy Schwartz had been sober for 10 years, but battling cravings was a daily struggle. “They were always in my head,” she said. But last June, the cravings subsided.
After being prescribed the weight-loss drug semaglutide, she not only lost nearly 30 kilos over 10 months, but also eliminated her desire for drinks or pills. “The cravings went away, and I didn’t realize that was a side effect,” Schwartz says. Amazingly, the depression and anxiety that had previously hit her in waves also subsided.
Schwartz isn’t the only one to have had this experience: New research is showing that semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as other diabetes and weight-loss drugs that mimic gut hormones released after eating, can have surprising benefits for brain and mental health.
Though it’s still early days, evidence suggests that these drugs could potentially be repurposed to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, and even certain eating disorders, as well as neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. What’s more, these benefits appear to be mediated not simply through weight loss, but through a direct effect on the brain.
The history of drugs like Ozempic dates back to the 1970s and 1980s, when researchers discovered them. A gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 has been discovered. When GLP-1 was injected into rodents in the lab, it was able to stimulate insulin secretion. Even more amazingly, these animals started to eat less and lose weight. We now know that this hormone leads to an increased feeling of fullness.
Quantum light is generated when a laser is shone on certain crystals
Jaka Waxwing
The liquid crystals found in television screens have made it easy to produce quantum light.
Light, with its quantum properties, is important for many future technologies: such entangled particles in light could help build quantum communication networks that support an unhackable internet, as well as quantum imaging techniques for biomedical applications. Matyas Humar Despite these advanced applications, the method for generating quantum light has remained largely unchanged for 60 years, says a researcher at the Jozef Stefan Institute in Slovenia. He and his colleagues have devised a way to generate quantum light using liquid crystals.
Team Members Vitaly Sultanov Researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Germany say that traditionally, researchers shine a laser on special crystals to make them emit quantum light. In this technique, the structure of the crystal determines the properties of the light it emits, which in turn determines how it can be used. The only way to change these properties is to redo the experiment with new crystals, which is costly, time-consuming and impractical.
To get around this, the researchers used liquid crystals, a material made of rod-shaped molecules that can wobble like a liquid but adopt unusual arrangements like more conventional crystals. By exposing the liquid crystal to an electric field, they can tune its structure, and thus the properties of the quanta of light it emits when illuminated with a laser.
“In this respect, liquid crystals are the perfect material,” says Sultanov.
After several experiments, his team found that liquid crystals were much easier to tune than solid liquid crystals, and nearly as efficient at producing light filled with entangled particles.
“While the generated photons could conceivably have been produced using conventional crystals, the tunability of the entanglement could not,” he said. Miles Padgett “These advances are [quantum] “Imaging, Communication, Sensing”
Maria ChekhovaResearchers, also from the Max Planck Institute, say that using liquid crystals in quantum communication devices could make it easier to send information over multiple channels at once, because the liquid crystals can be tuned to produce quantum states of light that can encode large amounts of information in many of their properties.
Kamran Dibba, an anesthesiologist at the University of Michigan, and his colleagues have found that during sleep, some neurons not only replay the recent past but also anticipate future experiences.
To dynamically track the spatial tuning of neurons offline, Mahboudi others We used a novel Bayesian learning approach based on spike-triggered average decoded positions in population recordings from freely moving rats.
“Certain neurons fire in response to certain stimuli,” Dr. Dibba said.
“Neurons in the visual cortex fire when presented with an appropriate visual stimulus, and the neurons we study show location preference.”
In their study, Dr. Dibba and his co-authors aimed to study the process by which these specialized neurons generate representations of the world after new experiences.
Specifically, the researchers tracked sharp ripples, patterns of neural activity that are known to play a role in consolidating new memories and, more recently, have also been shown to tag which parts of a new experience will be stored as a memory.
“In this paper, for the first time, we observe individual neurons stabilizing spatial representations during rest periods,” said Rice University neuroscientist Dr. Caleb Kemele.
“We imagined that some neurons might change their representation, mirroring the experience we've all had of waking up with a new understanding of a problem.”
“But to prove this, we needed to trace how individual neurons achieve spatial tuning – the process by which the brain learns to navigate new routes and environments.”
The researchers trained rats to run back and forth on a raised track with liquid rewards at each end, and observed how individual neurons in the animals' hippocampus “spiked” in the process.
By calculating the average spike rate over multiple round trips, the researchers were able to estimate a neuron's place field – the area of the environment that a particular neuron is most “interested” in.
“The key point here is that place fields are inferred using the animal's behavior,” Dr Kemele said.
I’ve been thinking for a long time about how we can assess neuronal preferences outside the labyrinth, such as during sleep,” Dr. Dibba added.”
“We addressed this challenge by relating the activity of individual neurons to the activity of all the other neurons.”
The scientists also developed a statistical machine learning approach that uses other neurons they examined to infer where the animals were in their dreams.
The researchers then used the dreamed locations to estimate the spatial tuning process of each neuron in the dataset.
“The ability to track neuronal preferences in the absence of stimulation was a significant advance for us,” Dr. Dibba said.”
This method confirmed that the spatial representation formed during the experience of a novel environment remained stable in most neurons throughout several hours of sleep following the experience.
But as the author predicted, there was more to the story.”
“What I liked most about this study, and why I found it so exciting, was that it showed that stabilizing memories of experiences isn’t the only thing these neurons do during sleep. It turns out some of them are doing other things after all,” Dr. Kemmele said.”
“We can see these other changes that occur during sleep, and then when we put the animals back into the environment, we can see that these changes actually reflect something that the animals learned while they were asleep.”
“It’s as if the animal is exposed to that space a second time while they’re sleeping.”
This is important because it provides a direct look at the neuroplasticity that occurs during sleep.
“It appears that brain plasticity and rewiring require very fast timescales,” Dr. Dibba said.”
About 2.5 billion years ago, free oxygen first began to accumulate in meaningful levels in Earth's atmosphere, setting the stage for the emergence of complex life. Scientists call this phenomenon Great Oxidation EventBut a new study led by researchers at the University of Utah suggests that Earth's early buildup of oxygen wasn't as simple as that moniker suggests.
The Great Oxidation Event refers to the transition from a slowly reducing Archean atmosphere-ocean system to an oxygen-rich atmosphere and shallow ocean during the early Paleoproterozoic. Image courtesy of Hadeano.
“The new data suggest that the early rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was dynamic, possibly progressing intermittently up until 2.2 billion years ago,” said Dr Chadrin Ostrander, a researcher at the University of Utah.
“Our data validate this hypothesis and go a step further by extending this dynamics to the ocean.”
By analysing stable thallium isotope ratios and redox-sensitive elements, Dr Ostrander and his colleagues found evidence of fluctuations in ocean oxygen levels that are consistent with changes in atmospheric oxygen.
The discovery helps improve understanding of the complex processes that shaped oxygen levels on Earth at key times in its history and paved the way for the evolution of life as we know it.
“We have no idea what was going on in the oceans where Earth's earliest life forms are thought to have arisen and evolved,” Dr Ostrander said.
“So knowing the oxygen content of the ocean and how it evolved over time is probably more important for early life than the atmosphere.”
In 2021, researchers discovered that oxygen wasn't permanently present in the atmosphere until about 200 million years after the global oxygenation process began — much later than previously thought.
Definitive evidence for an anoxic atmosphere is the presence of rare mass-independent sulfur isotope signatures in the sediment record prior to the Great Oxidation Event.
There are very few known processes on Earth that could produce these sulfur isotope signatures, and atmospheric oxygen would almost certainly be absent for them to be preserved in the rock record.
For the first half of Earth's existence, its atmosphere and oceans were almost devoid of oxygen. This gas was likely produced by cyanobacteria in the oceans before the Great Oxidation Event, but during this early epoch the oxygen was rapidly destroyed in reactions with exposed minerals and volcanic gases.
Scientists found that traces of rare sulfur isotopes disappeared and reappeared, suggesting that atmospheric oxygen increased and decreased multiple times during the Great Oxidation Event – it wasn't a single “event.”
“When oxygen began to be produced, the Earth was not ready to be oxygenated. The Earth needed time to evolve biologically, geologically and chemically to encourage oxygenation,” Dr Ostrander said.
“It's like a seesaw. Oxygen is produced, but there's so much oxygen destruction that nothing happens.”
“We're still trying to figure out when the scales will tip completely and Earth will no longer be able to go back to an oxygen-free atmosphere.”
To map ocean oxygen levels during the Great Oxidation Event, the authors relied on expertise in stable thallium isotopes.
Thallium isotope ratios are sensitive to the burial of manganese oxides to the seafloor, a process that requires oxygen in seawater.
The team looked at thallium isotopes in the same ocean shales, which have recently been shown to be able to track fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen during the Great Oxidation Event, along with rare sulfur isotopes.
The researchers found a significant enrichment of the lighter isotope thallium-203 in the shale, a pattern best explained by the burial of manganese oxides on the ocean floor and the buildup of oxygen in the water.
These enrichments were found in the same samples that lacked the rare sulfur isotope signature, meaning the atmosphere was no longer anoxic, and they disappeared once the rare sulfur isotope signature reappeared.
These findings were supported by redox-sensitive element enrichments, a more classical means of tracing ancient oxygen changes.
“The sulfur isotopes indicate that the atmosphere was oxygenated, and the thallium isotopes indicate that the oceans were oxygenated,” Dr Ostrander said.
“Sulfur isotopes indicate that the atmosphere has become anoxic again, and thallium isotopes indicate the same for the oceans.”
“So the atmosphere and oceans were simultaneously oxygenating and deoxygenating. This is new and exciting information for people interested in the ancient Earth.”
Ostrander Commercial othersCoupled oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans began 2.3 billion years ago. NaturePublished online June 12, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07551-5
Elon Musk has submitted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against ChatGPT developer OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, claiming that the startup has deviated from its original goal of developing artificial intelligence for the betterment of humanity.
Musk filed the lawsuit against Altman in February, and the legal process has been progressing slowly in a California court. Up until Tuesday, Musk had not shown any intention of dropping the case. Just a month ago, his legal team filed an objection, leading to the presiding judge stepping down.
Musk’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit did not provide any rationale. A San Francisco Superior Court judge was set to consider arguments from Altman and OpenAI on Wednesday to have the lawsuit thrown out.
The dismissal brought an abrupt end to the legal dispute between two influential figures in the tech realm. Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk resigned from the board three years later following disagreements over the company’s governance and direction. Their relationship has become increasingly strained as Altman’s prominence has grown in recent years.
Musk’s lawsuit centered on his assertion that Altman and OpenAI breached the company’s “foundation agreement” by collaborating with Microsoft, transforming OpenAI into a predominantly profit-driven entity, and withholding its technology from the public.
OpenAI and Altman contested the existence of such an agreement, citing messages that appeared to show Musk supporting the shift towards a for-profit model. They vehemently denied any wrongdoing and published a blog post in March suggesting Musk’s motivations were rooted in jealousy, expressing regret that a respected figure had taken this course of action.
Musk’s lawsuit raised eyebrows among legal experts, who pointed out that certain claims, such as OpenAI achieving artificial intelligence equivalent to human intelligence, lacked credibility.
When the Australian soap opera Neighbours was canceled in 2022, it signified the end of a cultural institution that had been on air for 37 years. The show’s fictional suburban setting and beloved characters were suddenly gone, leaving fans in mourning.
Adam Gerace, a senior lecturer in psychology at Central Queensland University in Australia, conducted a study to understand the grief experienced by about 1,300 Australians following the show’s conclusion.
Fans expressed genuine feelings of sadness and loss, as outlined in a study authored by Gerace and published in the journal PLOS One.
Gerace’s survey asked fans about their emotions after the final episode aired in 2022, finding that many struggled to accept the show’s cancellation. Despite their anger over the end, fans were grateful for the connections and experiences the series had provided them.
The study also delved into the concept of “parasocial breakups,” where viewers mourn the loss of their favorite characters as if they were real. This emotional attachment was found to be similar to the grief experienced after the end of real relationships.
Gerace noted that people developed strong emotional bonds with Neighbours characters, leading to significant sadness when the show concluded. This phenomenon is not exclusive to TV shows, as people can also experience similar emotions after finishing a book series or video game.
Fans’ deep connection to Neighbours was further emphasized by the show’s long history and multi-generational viewership. Many fans had been watching for nearly 40 years, with the series playing a significant role in their daily lives.
Psychologists like Dara Greenwood from Vassar College explain that the length of time spent with characters can strengthen emotional bonds, leading to a profound sense of loss when the show ends.
While grieving a quasi-social relationship is a common human response, experts are still exploring how parasocial grief differs from real-life loss of a loved one. Some studies suggest that the intensity of grief may vary depending on individual personality traits and life experiences.
Ultimately, forming bonds with fictional characters can have a positive impact on empathy and understanding, helping to challenge stereotypes and prejudice.
However, becoming overly attached to TV characters may have negative consequences if it interferes with real-world relationships, as Gerace warns.
It has been recognized for many years that smoking is extremely detrimental to health, and stopping smoking or avoiding it altogether is one of the most effective ways to safeguard one’s well-being.
Increased tobacco taxes, graphic warnings on packaging, workplace smoking bans, and the discontinuation of glamorous tobacco advertising campaigns have all contributed to the decline in smoking rates.
Nevertheless, nicotine addiction remains a thriving industry. Instead of fading away, the tobacco industry has introduced a new array of products aimed primarily at young individuals: flavored disposable e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn products, and the latest novelty item, nicotine pouches.
Read more:
Nicotine pouches are typically packaged in small round containers that are convenient to carry around. The pouches resemble small tea bags and contain vegetable fiber, sugar, flavorings, and, of course, nicotine.
Nicotine can be synthetically produced or directly extracted from the tobacco plant. These pouches come in various flavors, from fruity and berry to sweet and cocktail, and they offer different levels of nicotine strength, with some pouches having higher nicotine content than regular cigarettes.
The small pouch is placed between the lips and gums to absorb the nicotine in the mouth. After absorption, the pouch is discarded and replaced with a new one. These pouches are discreet, have a pleasant smell, and unlike oral tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, they don’t require spitting like in movies depicting the old West.
While relatively new in the market, these pouches are similar to Scandinavian “snus” – yet snus contains tobacco while pouches do not. This difference is vital as pouches often evade regulations, bypassing laws and rules that govern tobacco products and cigarettes.
This lack of regulation means that, unlike cigarettes, pouches can legally be sold to individuals under 18 in the UK. Other countries, like the US, are already taking steps to ban or restrict the sale of pouches to adults only.
What do we know about the health risks of pouches?
Although nicotine pouches are gaining popularity worldwide, there is limited data on their health risks due to their recent introduction. However, the World Health Organization advocates a precautionary approach by prioritizing nicotine whenever the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches are permitted. The health of young people.
Using pouches exposes individuals to toxic nicotine, can lead to addiction, and may encourage the use of other products like e-cigarettes or cigarettes.
In addition to addiction, nicotine has effects on adolescent brain development, impacting learning outcomes. High nicotine doses can induce symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, and abdominal cramps, particularly in those new to nicotine exposure.
It may be tempting to compare the health effects of nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products to determine which is “safer.” However, 85% of the UK population never smokes, and young individuals who have never smoked and never will not derive any health benefits from starting to use pouches.
At present, there is no evidence to suggest that pouches aid in smoking or vaping cessation. Instead of helping users quit smoking, individuals may resort to using pouches in situations where smoking or vaping is not feasible, such as during flights, at school, or work, resulting in increased nicotine consumption.
The global tobacco industry, dominated by a few multinational corporations, including British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International, produces and markets nicotine pouches. Using tactics reminiscent of old cigarette advertisements, pouches are promoted through motorsports, celebrity endorsements, and various lifestyle marketing approaches.
The tobacco industry is skilled at dangerous marketing. With addictive nicotine products widely available to young individuals and minimal regulation in the advertising and sale of pouches, there is a real risk of a surge in pouch use and nicotine addiction among young people.
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope discovered a giant asteroid impact around Beta Gactris, the second brightest star in the constellation Scorpio.
Chen othersBeta Pictoris has a dynamic circumstellar environment, suggesting that periods of active collisions could produce large dust clouds that could blow through the planetary system and increase dust accretion to the giant planets Beta Pictoris b and c. Image credit: Roberto Molar Candanosa / Johns Hopkins University / Lynette Cook / NASA.
Beta Pictoris is an A5 type star located in the constellation Pictoris, approximately 63 light years from Earth.
The star has a mass about 1.8 times that of the Sun and is only 20 million years old.
It contains a circumstellar disk of gas and dust, numerous comet-like objects, and two giant planets, Beta Pictoris b and Beta Pictoris c.
Beta Pictoris b is a gas giant with a mass about 9-13 times that of Jupiter. It orbits its parent star at a distance of 9.8 astronomical units (AU) and completes one revolution around its parent star every 22 years.
Beta Pictoris c has a mass 8.2 times that of Jupiter and is located quite close to its star, orbiting it at a distance of 2.7 AU with an orbital period of about 1,200 days.
“Beta Pictoris is at an age where terrestrial planetary belt planet formation is still ongoing due to giant asteroid impacts, so what we're seeing here is essentially how rocky planets and other objects are forming in real time,” said Dr Christine Chen, an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University.
By comparing the new data with data from the Webb Space Telescope in 2004 and 2005, Dr Chen and his colleagues found a significant change in the energy characteristics emitted by the dust particles around Beta Pictoris.
Webb's detailed measurements allowed the researchers to track the composition and size of dust particles in the very region that Spitzer had previously analyzed.
The researchers focused on heat given off by crystalline silicates – minerals commonly found around young stars, on Earth and other celestial bodies – and found no trace of the particles observed in 2004 and 2005.
“This suggests that a catastrophic collision occurred between the asteroid and another object about 20 years ago, shattering the asteroid into microscopic dust particles smaller than pollen or powdered sugar,” Dr Chen said.
“We believe the dust is the same as that first observed in Spitzer data in 2004 and 2005.”
“The best explanation given by Webb's new data is that we have in fact witnessed the aftermath of a rare catastrophe between large, asteroid-sized objects, completely changing our understanding of this solar system.”
The new data suggests that dust dispersed outward by radiation from the system's central star can no longer be detected.
Initially, dust near the star heated up and emitted thermal radiation that Spitzer's instruments identified.
Now, as the dust cools away from the star, it no longer emits its thermal properties.
When Spitzer collected its previous data, scientists assumed that small objects abrading the ground would stir up the dust and steadily replenish it over time.
But Webb's new observations showed that the dust had disappeared and not been replaced.
“The amount of dust kicked up is about 100,000 times the size of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs,” Dr Chen said.
ohThe rational view on the Elon Musk compensation issue is that Tesla shareholders should stick to their guns and re-approve his astronomical $56 billion compensation, sending a message to the interventionist Delaware judge who struck down the 2018 plan that they are more than capable of making their own decisions.
Broadly speaking, that’s the stance taken by Baillie Gifford, an early and large investor in electric-car companies. “When we agreed the compensation package with Tesla in 2018, we were doing it because we had set ambitious targets that, if met, would deliver huge returns for shareholders,” says Tom Slater, manager of FTSE 100 Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. He told the Financial Times “Since we agreed to this, we believe we should pay it,” he said last month. Certainly, this statement has the virtue of consistency: we know what we voted for, and a deal is a deal.
Similarly, no one is likely to complain that Norway’s sovereign wealth fund will vote in opposition on Thursday, just as it did in 2018. The fund opposed the plan then, and sees no reason to change its view just because Tesla’s shares have since soared, triggering a record payout to Musk before a Delaware court stepped in.
So the reapproval vote would produce a similar result to the original 73% majority. The shareholder register has changed over the years, but not by much. If anything, retail investors, who make up almost 40% of the stock, seem to have become even more enamoured with Musk lately. And if the majority is indeed secured, that would be the end of the matter and we wouldn’t have to go to court again.
But before this furor fades from the headlines, there’s the small matter of what Delaware Judge Katherine McCormick actually said. Her 200-page ruling January. Read in its entirety, the impression one gets is that Tesla’s 2018 board is a collection of casualties too subservient to its boss to even implement a semi-robust process for setting his incentives.
No one disputes that Tesla’s stock price would have needed to undergo a minor miracle to realize Musk’s full prize money, which had to top $650 billion by 2028, compared with a valuation of around $50 billion (it actually took just three years to achieve that goal). Rather, the problem was the people Tesla appointed to negotiate with Musk and determine a fair prize.
As the judge noted, lead director Ira Ellen Price had a 15-year business relationship with Musk. Another member of the working group, Antonio Gracias, vacationed with Musk’s family. A third, Musk’s former divorce lawyer and company general counsel Todd Maron, “broke down in tears in praise of Musk during testimony.” McCormick concluded that the adjudication process was “deeply flawed” and that the terms were “not entirely fair” to all shareholders. In short, Musk said what he wanted and received minimal backlash.
In theory, Tesla’s board had some powerful cards to play. At the time, Musk owned just over a fifth of Tesla’s stock (before he sold some to fund his Twitter antics), so he couldn’t have lacked the appetite to pursue a goal of “transformative” growth. Even without a plan, every $50 billion increase in Tesla’s market cap was worth $10 billion to Musk. This negotiating point appears to have been ignored.
If Musk asked for a larger stake to keep him focused on Tesla and not on his personal company, would the supposedly independent directors go along with it? Probably.
So even if we accept that contracts, even the obvious excesses, should be honored, the lack of soul-searching in Tesla’s boardroom is astonishing. The lesson to be learned from this is that this is a public company, and the job involves more than being a cheerleader for Elon Musk’s fan club.
Illustration of the newly identified species, Haliskia petersenii
Gabriel Ugueto
A 100-million-year-old pterosaur fossil discovered in Australia may have had the largest, most muscular tongue of its kind.
The fossil was discovered in 2021 by Kevin Pietersen, curator at Kronosaurus Corner, a museum near the Queensland outback town of Richmond.
Typically, with a pterosaur, a flying reptile that lived on Earth at the same time as the dinosaurs, you’d find just one bone, Petersen said. “But as we started digging, we started finding more and more bones, and we realized we had to work very carefully,” he said.
Nearly a quarter of the skeleton has been recovered, making it the most complete pterosaur yet discovered by Australian scientists.
The entire lower jaw, part of the upper jaw, vertebrae, ribs, leg and foot bones were preserved, but most surprising was the preservation of an extremely delicate throat bone, just a few millimetres in diameter, which Petersen says reminded him of spaghetti.
Lead team Adele Pentland Researchers from Curtin University in Perth identified the fossil as belonging to an entirely new genus and species of pterosaur in the Anhangeria family, which are found around the world. The creature had an estimated wingspan of 4.6 metres. In Petersen’s honour, the fossil has been named “Anhangeria”. Haliskia petersenii.
Though it wasn’t related to any bird, Petersen said it would have looked a bit like a giant pelican, but Pentland said it would have been a “devil pelican” because of its mouth full of sharp teeth.
What sets it up H. Petersenyi What sets this dinosaur apart from other known pterosaurs is that it had much larger throat bones, indicating it had a huge, muscular tongue, Pentland said.
The team believes that the tongue was used to capture and hold prey, possibly slippery animals such as squid or fish. Once the prey was grasped in the jaws, H. Petersenyi Pentland says the dinosaur’s teeth would have closed like a zipper or cage, preventing escape.
Like pelicans, it likely swallowed its prey whole, she says, and its tongue would have also been used to shove the food down its throat.
In the Cretaceous H. Petersenyi At the time, what is now inland Queensland was covered by sea, which served as hunting grounds for pterosaurs.
“It’s truly breathtaking to look at the remains of these fossil animals and imagine the wealth of life that must have been there at that time and how different it must have been to what we see in outback Queensland today,” Pentland says.
Bee found herself in a moment of realization when she caught herself mindlessly scrolling through the news on her phone while sitting on the toilet. This made her see the need to reconsider her phone habits.
Tired of the constant intrusion of notification sounds and the compulsive need to check her phone, the 37-year-old Londoner decided to switch to a device that would allow her to stay connected while reducing distractions. When her iPhone broke down a year ago, she opted for the Nokia 2720 Flip, a modern take on the classic flip phone.
As a mother of two young children, she made this choice after learning about the impact of screen time on kids. She realized that her own behavior contradicted the rules she set for her children and wanted to set a better example for them.
Discovering the addictive nature of smartphones and social media further fueled her decision to make a change. Feeling frustrated that tech companies were dictating her daily life, she sought a more mindful approach to using technology.
The emergence of low-tech devices in response to the dominance of smartphones has gained momentum in recent years. Switching to a “dumb phone” or a device like the BoringPhone has become a trend, driven by a desire to disconnect from excessive screen time and embrace a more offline lifestyle.
Jess Perriam, 39, turned to PostCrossing, a platform for sending and receiving postcards from strangers worldwide, to maintain a connection with others without being bombarded by aggressive advertising. She values the reading recommendations and cultural insights she has gained through this more traditional form of communication.
The resurgence of analog media, such as cassettes, vinyl records, and postcards, reflects a broader shift towards reconnecting with physical experiences. David Sacks emphasizes the importance of tactile interactions and sensory engagement in an increasingly digital world.
A recent study suggests that women may have improved cognitive performance during their menstrual cycle. The research conducted by University College London (UCL) and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) sheds light on this phenomenon.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Neuropsychology, this study is the first to analyze sports-related cognition throughout the menstrual cycle phases.
241 participants took cognitive tests simulating mental processes common in team sports, such as recognizing emotions, attention, reaction time, and spatial awareness.
Participants also tracked their menstrual cycle using an app to identify their phase during testing. Surprisingly, participants performed better in reaction time and made fewer errors during menstruation, contrary to their expectations.
For example, their timing accuracy in a ball collision task was 10 milliseconds better during menstruation. Similarly, their error rates were 25% lower in an inhibition task involving smiles and winks.
Lead researcher Dr. Flaminia Ronca from UCL Department of Surgery and ISEH noted the unexpected performance enhancement during menstruation.
During the luteal phase, reaction times slightly decreased, but error rates remained stable. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding how menstrual cycle phases impact cognitive abilities in sports performance.
Co-author Dr. Megan Lawley highlights the need for more research in this area to improve performance discussions between coaches and athletes.
About the Experts
Flaminia Ronca, an Associate Professor at UCL, focuses on the body-brain interaction through movement in her research. She is also a leader at UCL’s Movement Neuroscience Research Group (ENRG).
Megan Lawley, a Senior Sports Scientist, specializes in female athlete health and performance factors. Her previous research at UK Sport and Bangor University delved into the complexities of athletes’ success in high-performance environments.
P In a feminist bookstore in Madrid, 17 women gathered in the back room, engrossed in their laptops, sharing snacks, chatting, and laughing. The room was filled with the sounds of typing, periodically interrupted by enthusiastic applause marking milestones in the group’s mission to close one of the world’s most persistent gender gaps.
Only about 15 percent of Wikipedia’s content, including biographies, focuses on women, explains Patricia Horrillo, who has dedicated the past decade to cultivating a community of Wikipedia editors committed to creating content that highlights women.
Groups like Spain’s WikiSfera, Italy’s Wikidonne, and Switzerland’s Les Sans Pages have emerged globally to address this gender gap issue on Wikipedia.
The Wikimedia Foundation acknowledges the historical biases within Wikipedia and the need for more diverse contributions to address these gaps. Organizations like Horrillo’s Wikiesfera have received support to help bridge this divide and give visibility to women’s achievements.
Encina Villanueva participated in a Wikipedia content creation workshop at La Fabulosa bookstore, where she emphasized the importance of recognizing women’s accomplishments beyond their appearances or associations. She has seen the impact of her work reverberate across the internet, amplifying women’s stories.
Celia Hernandez-Garcia, a middle school teacher, joined Wikiesfera to highlight women’s achievements often overlooked in textbooks. With no prior tech skills, she embraced the opportunity to elevate women’s narratives through Wikipedia, impacting her students’ understanding of history.
Horrillo’s vision for Wikiesfera began a decade ago, aiming to empower individuals to contribute to Wikipedia by addressing barriers beyond technical knowledge. Despite challenges, the group continues its efforts to increase female representation on the platform.
Though obstacles such as a lack of sources documenting women’s achievements persist, Wikiesfera remains committed to bridging the gender gap on Wikipedia. Each article added during their sessions represents a step towards rectifying the systemic invisibility of women in historical narratives.
Using high-resolution color images from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Trace Gases Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express missions, planetary researchers have found evidence of morning frost deposits in the calderas of the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars (Olympus Mons, Arsia Mons, Ascleius Mons and Ceraunius Turus).
This image, taken with the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, shows Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano not only on Mars but in the entire Solar System. Image credit: ESA / DLR / Free University Berlin.
The Tharsis region of Mars contains numerous volcanoes, including Olympus Mons and the Tharsis Mountains (Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Arsia Mons).
Many of these volcanoes are enormous, towering above the surrounding plains at heights between one (Mont Pavonis) and three times (Mont Olympus) higher than Earth’s Mount Everest.
At the summit of these volcanoes are large cavities called calderas, which were formed when magma chambers were emptied during past eruptions.
“We thought it would be impossible for frost to form near the equator on Mars because of the relatively high temperatures both on the surface and on mountain tops, caused by a combination of sunlight and a thin atmosphere. On Earth, we would expect frost to form on mountain tops, but that would not be the case near the equator on Mars,” said Dr. Adomas Valantinas, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University.
“Its presence here is intriguing and suggests that there are exceptional processes at work that allow frost to form.”
The frost patches appear for a few hours before and after sunrise, then evaporate in the sunlight.
Although it is thin, perhaps only one-hundredth of a millimeter thick (about the thickness of a human hair), it covers a vast area.
The amount of frost is equivalent to about 150,000 tonnes of water that moves between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere every day during the cold season, which is roughly the equivalent of filling about 60 Olympic swimming pools.
The researchers propose that air circulates in a special way above Tharsis, creating a unique microclimate within the volcano’s caldera there and allowing the frost patches to form.
“Winds move up the mountain slopes, carrying relatively moist air from close to the surface to higher altitudes, where it condenses and falls as frost,” said Dr Nicolas Thomas from the University of Bern, principal investigator of TGO’s Colour Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS).
“We actually see this happening on Earth and other parts of Mars, where the same phenomenon causes the seasonal elongated clouds on Mars’ Arsia Mons.”
“The frost we see on the summits of Martian volcanoes appears to have accumulated in the shadowed parts of the calderas, where temperatures are particularly cool.”
Scientists have found frost on the Tharsis volcanoes of Olympus, Arsia, Mount Ascraeus and Ceraunius Turus.
By modeling how these frosts form, scientists could potentially unlock more of Mars’ mysteries, like where any remaining water on Mars resides, how it moves between reservoirs, and even understanding the dynamics of the planet’s complex atmosphere.
This knowledge is essential for future exploration of Mars and the search for signs of extraterrestrial life.
“The discovery of water on the surface of Mars is always an exciting prospect, both for scientific interest and for its implications for human and robotic exploration,” said Dr Colin Wilson, ESA’s project scientist for both ExoMars TGO and Mars Express.
“Even so, this discovery is particularly intriguing because Mars’ low atmospheric pressure creates the unusual situation where Martian mountaintops are typically less cold than the plains. But moist air blowing up the mountain slopes can still condense into frost, a phenomenon that is clearly similar to Earth.”
“This discovery was made possible thanks to successful collaboration between ESA’s two Mars rovers, as well as additional modelling.”
“Understanding exactly which phenomena are the same and which are different on Earth and Mars will really test and improve our understanding of the fundamental processes occurring not only on our home planet but elsewhere in the universe.”
A. Valantinus othersEvidence for episodic morning frost accumulation at the Tharsis volcano, Mars. National GeographyPublished online June 10, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01457-7
A team of scientists from Colorado State University, Save the Elephants and Elephant Voices used machine learning to: African savanna elephant (African brown) The calls included name-like elements that identified the intended recipient. When the authors played the recorded calls, the elephants responded positively to the calls, either by returning the call or by approaching the speaker.
Two young elephants greet each other in the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Image by George Wittemyer.
“Dolphins and parrots call each other by name, imitating each other's distinctive sounds,” says Dr. Michael Pardo, a postdoctoral researcher at Colorado State University and Save the Elephants.
“In contrast, our data suggest that elephants do not imitate the sounds of their mates when calling, but rather use a method that resembles the way humans communicate names.”
“The ability to learn to produce new sounds is unusual among animals, but it is necessary for identifying individuals by name.”
“Arbitrary communication, expressing ideas through sounds but not imitating them, greatly expands communication abilities and is considered a next-level cognitive skill.”
“If we could only make sounds that resembled what we say, our ability to communicate would be severely limited,” added George Wittemyer, a professor at Colorado State University and chairman of Save the Elephants' science committee.
“The use of arbitrary phonetic labels suggests that elephants may be capable of abstract thought.”
For their study, the researchers used machine learning techniques to analyze 469 recordings of rumbles made by wild female African elephant calves in the Samburu Buffalo Springs National Reserve in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, between 1986 and 2022.
The machine learning model correctly identified the recipient in 27.5% of these calls, which the researchers noted was a higher percentage than the model detected when control voice was input.
The researchers also compared the responses of 17 wild elephants to recordings of calls that were originally directed at them or at other elephants.
The researchers observed that the elephants approached the speaker playing the recordings more quickly and were more likely to respond vocally when they were called to, compared to when other elephants were called to.
This suggests that elephants recognise individual calls addressed to them.
“The discovery that elephants are not simply mimicking the calls of calling individuals is most intriguing,” said Dr. Kurt Fristrup, a researcher at Colorado State University.
“The ability to use arbitrary acoustic labels for other individuals suggests that other kinds of labels or descriptors may exist for elephant calls.”
The new insights revealed by this study into elephant cognition and communication reinforce the need to protect elephants.
Elephants are classified as follows: EndangeredThey are endangered due to poaching for their ivory and habitat loss due to development.
Due to their large size, they require a lot of space and can cause damage to property and pose a danger to people.
“Communicating with pachyderms is still a distant dream, but being able to communicate with them could be a game changer for their conservation,” Prof Wittemyer said.
“Living with elephants is difficult when you are trying to share the land but the elephants eat the crops.
“I want to warn them: 'Don't come here. If you come here, you will be killed.'”
a paper The findings were published in the journal. Natural Ecology and Evolution.
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MA Pardo othersAfrican elephants call out to each other by different names for each individual. Nat Ecol EvolPublished online June 10, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02420-w
Dinkinesh is a small asteroid orbiting the Sun near the inner edge of the main asteroid belt. NASA’s Lucy spacecraft recently revealed that this asteroid, with an effective diameter of just 720 meters, is unexpectedly complex. The asteroid has a pronounced valley covered by an equatorial ridge and is currently orbited by a contact binary moon, named Seram, which consists of two nearly equal lobes with diameters of 210 meters and 230 meters. The moon orbits at a distance of 3.1 kilometers from Dinkinesh, has an orbital period of about 52.7 hours, and is tidally locked.
Stereo image pair (a-c) taken by the L’LORRI instrument aboard NASA’s Lucy spacecraft on November 1, 2023, shows asteroid Dinkinesh. Yellow and rose dots indicate valley and ridge features, respectively. These images have been sharpened and processed to enhance contrast. Image (d) shows a side-on view of Dinkinesh and its moon Ceram, taken a few minutes after closest approach. Image credit: NASA/GSFC/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab.
“We want to understand the strength of small bodies in the solar system because it’s important to understanding how planets like Earth got here,” said Dr. Hal Levison, a research scientist at Southwest Research Institute and Lucy principal investigator.
“Essentially, planets formed when a bunch of tiny objects orbiting the sun, like asteroids, collided with each other.”
“How objects behave when they collide – whether they break or stick together – has a lot to do with the object’s strength and internal structure.”
The researchers believe that how Dinkinesh responded to stress may reveal something about its inner workings.
As it rotated in sunlight for millions of years, tiny forces from thermal radiation radiating from the asteroid’s warm surface created tiny torques that caused Dinkinesh to spin gradually faster, and the accumulated centrifugal forces caused parts of the asteroid to become more elongated.
This event likely sent debris into close orbit, providing the raw material for the formation of the ridge and moons.
If Dinkinesh had been a weaker, more mobile mass of sand, its particles would have gradually migrated toward the equator and then blasted off into orbit as it rotated faster.
But the images suggest that, like rock, the Dinkinesh asteroid was stronger than a fluid and held together longer, until it eventually disintegrated under pressure and broke into larger pieces. Still, the force needed to break up a small asteroid like Dinkinesh is tiny compared to most rocks on Earth.
“This valley suggests a sudden collapse, more like an earthquake, where stress builds up gradually and then is suddenly released, rather than the slow process that creates sand dunes,” said Dr. Keith Noll, a research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a Lucy scientist.
“These features show that Dinkinesh has some strength, and we can do a bit of historical reconstruction to see how this asteroid evolved,” Dr Levison said.
“During that collapse, the rocks broke apart and things separated, forming a disk of material, some of which rained down to the surface and formed the ridge.”
“We think that some of the material in the disk formed the moon Ceram, which is actually a structure where two celestial bodies are in contact with each other, known as a contact binary. The details of how this unusual moon formed remain a mystery.”
The newly discovered species, estimated to weigh about 10 kg, Bronius Manfredschmidyis the smallest known hominid.
Danubius GuggenmosThis ape lived in what is now Germany about 12 million years ago (Miocene epoch). Image courtesy of Velizar Simeonovski.
Bronius Manfredschmidy It lived 11.6 million years ago during the Late Miocene in what is now Bavaria, Germany.
This primate fossil is Hammerschmiedewhich is best known for the exceptional fossils of a previously known species, the hominidae. Danubius Guggenmos.
“Miocene hominoid remains became increasingly common in Europe from the Late Miocene onwards, shortly after becoming rare in Africa,” said Dr Madeleine Boehme from the University of Tübingen and her colleagues.
“Despite their frequency, abundance and, in three cases (Can Lobatelles, Hammerschmiede and Rudabánya), the exceptional abundance of well-preserved hominoid fossils, no European site has ever yielded more than one hominoid taxon.”
Bronius Manfredschmidy It is represented by the partial remains of two teeth and a patella, which differ from the others in size and shape. Danubius Guggenmos and all other known apes.
“The teeth and patella Bronius Manfredschmidy “Its size is close to that of a thylacine, so its weight is estimated to be around 10 kilograms,” the paleontologist said.
“in contrast, Danubius Guggemossi Regression analysis from multiple measurements of the femur and tibia allows for a calculated weight range of 17-31 kg, and using alternative reconstruction methods, 14.5-46.3 kg.”
Based on the fossil structure, the researchers speculate: Bronius Manfredschmidy They fed on soft foods such as leaves and were expert climbers.
These characteristics suggest that the new species had a lifestyle distinct from other species. Danubius Guggenmosare larger bodied species that feed on tougher foods.
“Enamel is Bronius Manfredschmidy “It is thinner than other European apes and more comparable to gorillas,” Dr Boehme said.
“Enamel is Danubius GuggenmosOn the other hand, the teeth are thicker than those of all related extinct species, nearly reaching the thickness of human enamel.”
“Variations in enamel thickness correspond to the shape of the chewing surface.”
” Bronius Manfredschmidy The enamel is smoother and has a stronger cutting edge. Danubius Guggenmos The teeth are jagged and have blunt tips.”
“this is, Bronius Manfredschmidy Eat the leaves Danubius Guggenmos He was an omnivore.”
These differences may have allowed the two species to share habitat without competing for resources, similar to modern gibbons and orangutans that share the same habitat in Borneo and Sumatra.
This is the first known example of a Miocene fossil site in Europe containing multiple ancient ape species, but the scientists suggest that further examples of this coexistence behaviour may be discovered by re-examining other similar sites.
“A new great ape from Hammerschmiede, Bronius Manfredschmidy“Weighting approximately 10 kg, this dinosaur is not only the smallest known crowned ape but also provides the first example of human symbiosis in Europe,” the authors say.
“Eat the leaves Bronius Manfredschmidy They shared their habitat with omnivorous, bipedal apes Danubius Guggenmos. “
Discovery Bronius Manfredschmidy It has been reported paper In the journal PLoS One.
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M. Boehme others. 2024. Bronius Manfredschmidy – A new miniature hominoid discovered from the early Late Miocene of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany). PLoS One 19(6):e0301002; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301002
Satellite Galaxy Crater II The Milky Way's Crater 2 (or Crater 2) is located in the constellation Crater, about 380,000 light-years from Earth. This galaxy is very cold, very diffuse, and has a low surface brightness. According to a new study, Crater 2 exists thanks to self-interacting dark matter.
Location of Crater II and other Milky Way moons at distances between 100,000 and 400,000 parsecs from the Sun. Image courtesy of Torrealba others., doi: 10.1093/mnras/stw733.
” discovery “Since 2016, there have been numerous attempts to recreate the anomalous properties of Crater II, but these have proven extremely difficult,” said Haibo Yu, a professor at the University of California, Riverside.
Dark matter makes up 85% of the matter in the universe, and under the influence of gravity it can form spherical structures called dark matter halos.
Invisible halos permeate and surround galaxies like Crater II, and the fact that Crater II is so cold indicates that its halo is low density.
“Crater II developed within the Milky Way's tidal field and experienced tidal interactions with its host galaxy, similar to how Earth's oceans experience tidal forces due to the Moon's gravity,” Professor Yu said.
“In theory, tidal interactions can reduce the density of dark matter haloes.”
However, recent measurements of Crater II's orbit around the Milky Way suggest that if dark matter is made of cold, collisionless particles, as predicted by the prevailing cold dark matter theory (CDM), the strength of the tidal interactions is too weak to reduce the dark matter density in the satellite galaxy enough to match the measurements.
“Another mystery is why Crater II is so large when, as the satellite galaxy evolves in the Milky Way's tidal field, tidal interactions should reduce its size,” said Professor Yu.
Professor Yu and his colleagues put forward a different theory to explain the properties and origin of Crater II.
This is called self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) and can plausibly explain the diverse distribution of dark matter.
The theory proposes that dark matter particles self-interact through the dark force and collide with each other forcefully near the center of the galaxy.
“Our study shows that SIDM can explain the anomalous properties of Crater II,” said Professor Yu.
“The key mechanism is that dark matter self-interaction thermalizes Crater II's halo and creates a shallow dense core, i.e. the dark matter density flattens out at a small radius.”
“In contrast, in a CDM halo, the density would increase rapidly towards the center of the galaxy.”
“In SIDM, the strength of the relatively weak tidal interaction, consistent with what is expected from measurements of Crater II's orbit, is sufficient to reduce the dark matter density in Crater II, consistent with observations.”
“Importantly, the size of galaxies is also increasing within the SIDM halo, which could explain the large size of Crater II.”
“Dark matter particles are only more loosely bound in the cored SIDM halo than in the pointed CDM halo.”
“Our study shows that SIDM is a better option than CDM for explaining the origin of Crater II.”
of study Published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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Zhang Xingyu others2024. Interpreting self-interacting dark matter in Crater II. Apu JL 968, L13; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad50cd
The name “sunfish” is of Latin origin and means “milestone,” referring to the flat, circular body of this fish, which is known to drift along the ocean’s surface, a move some scientists lightly refer to as “sunbathing.”
But Nygard said the activity serves an important purpose: capturing jellyfish and other gelatinous creatures for prey.
When hunting, sunfish dive deep into cooler waters. Their bodies cannot regulate their body temperature efficiently, so they use the sun to warm themselves. While the fish lie on the surface, birds clean them by eating parasites from their skin.
Nyegaard said there are a few features that distinguish the giant sunfish from the giant sunfish: The giant sunfish’s skin becomes wrinkly as it grows, while the sunfish’s skin is always perfectly smooth.
Unlike normal fish, which have tails, sunfish have wings that are wavy and have a bony structure. The sunfish’s wings are divided into two parts, each of which can move independently.
“We don’t yet know why the two species need different rear structures,” Nygard says, adding that one theory is that the two-part flap could be for maneuvering or agility purposes.
Nygard said sunfish in general remain a mystery to scientists: There are five sunfish species in total, including the hoodwinker, and it’s unclear whether they can or will coexist in the same place.
It’s also unclear whether the hoodwinkers of Australia and New Zealand are related to those in the Pacific Northwest and have somehow migrated across the equator, Nygard said.
Since its discovery, people have been flocking to Gearhart Beach to see the lone hooded winker on the sand.
“This isn’t the first time this has been washed ashore, but it is the largest one to have been washed ashore,” said Tierney Thys, a marine biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.
“Strandings like this remind us that humans live on just 1 percent of the available habitable space on this vast ocean planet,” she said. “Encountering these amazing creatures is humbling and inspiring, and a powerful reminder that we still have much to learn.”
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