By 2023, the number of low-altitude clouds will have decreased dramatically.
Busa Photo/Getty Images
Changes in cloud cover may be the reason global temperatures have exceeded climate model predictions over the past two years.
Temperature records were broken repeatedly in 2023 and 2024, with average temperatures in both years about 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Climate change and El Niño weather patterns are partly to blame, but neither factor can completely explain the unusually warm weather.
Researchers now think the answer lies in a sharp decline in low-lying cloud cover in 2023. This change reduced Earth’s albedo, the planet’s ability to reflect solar radiation back into space, causing temperatures to rise.
Earth’s albedo has been decreasing since the 1970s. This is mainly due to the melting of polar ice sheets, which help reflect sunlight back into space. However, when analyzing satellite data, helge gosling and his colleagues at Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute have revealed that the planet’s albedo in 2023 hit an all-time low.
Goessling and his colleagues then used a combination of weather observations and modeling to understand the cause of this decline, and found that the number of low-lying clouds decreased sharply in 2023. This change was particularly noticeable in the Atlantic Ocean. 2023 saw the most unusual temperature extremes.
“We were able to show where the clouds were actually changing and at what altitude in the atmosphere,” Gosling said. “It’s really surprising that this reduction in cloud cover is occurring primarily in the lower levels.”
The findings could explain an additional 0.2°C of heat loss that scientists have struggled to account for, once background climate change and the effects of El Niño in 2023 are added up. “This is another piece of the puzzle, but I think it’s a very important piece,” Goessling said. Although the study only evaluated data from 2023, the findings could also explain why global temperatures will remain extremely high through 2024, despite El Niño weakening earlier this year. be.
paulo ceppi Researchers at Imperial College London say the study is timely as climate scientists are keen to understand the causes of recent record warmth. “I think they make a pretty convincing case that changes in albedo, especially in low-level clouds, contribute significantly to changes in the radiation budget and, therefore, in temperature,” he says.
The next question is why low-altitude clouds disappear. There are three main explanations. This may be due to a global decrease in aerosol pollution, which promotes cloud formation and persistence. Alternatively, it could be the result of changes in cloud behavior due to global warming. Or it could just be natural fluctuations in climate.
Understanding which of these three factors is dominant is critical because it influences how sensitive Earth’s climate is to greenhouse gas pollution. If the lack of clouds is due to a climate change feedback, its effects will accelerate in the coming years, causing global temperatures to rise more than expected. “The answer has pretty deep implications for what we expect about future climate change,” Seppi says.
Highly contagious avian influenza has been circulating around the world since 2020.
Ulises Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images
The H5N1 avian influenza virus that is circulating around the world is already more contagious than earlier strains. In addition, the single mutation allows it to infect cells lining the nose and throat, making it more likely to be transmitted through the air.
This change alone is not enough for the virus to cause a pandemic. But if a virus with this mutation swapped genes with a human influenza virus, it could acquire pandemic potential almost immediately.
“The more people are infected, the more likely this is to happen,” he says. Ian Wilson At the Scripps Research Institute in California. Despite this, Wilson believes the risk remains low.
A particularly virulent strain of avian influenza, H5N1, originated in the 1990s, probably in domestic birds in China, and spread around the world. Around 2020, a new variant of the virus emerged and spread even more widely, reaching as far as the Americas and Antarctica. In the United States, poultry is infected in large numbers, dairy cattle are also infected, and occasionally humans are infected.
team led by Debbie Van Riel Researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands infected cells in human noses and throats with the 2005 and 2022 H5N1 variants. They showed for the first time that the 2022 mutant is better at binding to these cells and replicating within them. . “Bad news,” van Riel says.
“I don’t think it’s extremely likely that the virus will become a pandemic,” she says. However, the fact that this virus is better at infecting humans gives it more opportunity to acquire further mutations, increasing the likelihood of a pandemic.
Meanwhile, Wilson and his colleagues have been studying the key hemagglutinin protein of the influenza virus. This protein binds to receptors on the outside of cells and determines which cells the virus can infect. Because it sticks out from the virus, it is also the main target of the immune system.
Currently, H5N1 hemagglutinin primarily binds to receptors located deep in the lungs in humans. This means that although it can cause serious illness, it is unlikely to leave the body and infect others. For that to happen, the virus needs to infect the cells inside your nose and throat. This means that coughing and sneezing can expel the virus and infect others.
Van Riel's research suggests that the virus can do this to some extent, but it is not clear whether the virus binds to the main receptors on these cells. It was thought that multiple mutations were required for H5N1 to bind strongly to these receptors, but Wilson's team now shows that a single mutation is sufficient for the current H5N1 variants. Showed.
Team members say this change alone won’t prevent the virus from causing a pandemic. Jim Paulsonalso at the Scripps Research Institute. “We think this property is necessary, but importantly not sufficient, for pandemic virus transmission,” he says.
Paulson said other changes are also necessary for the virus to begin replicating and spreading from person to person, but they are not well understood. “There's a lot of biology we don’t know,” he says.
However, if H5N1 viruses that infect humans acquire receptor switching mutations, they may evolve these other changes as well.
Furthermore, it is possible, in theory, to acquire all the necessary abilities at once by exchanging genes with a human virus that infects the same individual. Several previous influenza pandemics have been caused by genetic swapping between animal and human influenza viruses, Paulson said.
“This is very worrying,” he says alice katsurakis from the University of Oxford was not involved in either study. “Every time it spreads to humans, it gives the virus a roll of the dice.”
What is the mortality rate of the H5N1 pandemic?
If H5N1 avian influenza begins to spread from person to person, the big question is how deadly it will be. Half of the people confirmed to have contracted the virus since 2003 have died. However, the actual infection fatality rate is likely to be even lower, as many cases likely go undetected and mild cases are likely to be missed.
Of the roughly 60 people infected in the U.S. since the dairy outbreak began, nearly all have had only mild symptoms. why not understoodbut one explanation is that many were infected through the eyes. “It’s known to have much more benign results,” Katzorakis says.
It is also thought to become less dangerous when the virus switches from binding to receptors deep in the lungs to binding to receptors in the upper airways. But puzzling aspects of the U.S. cases left Paulson unsure whether this also applied to H5N1. “To be honest, I don’t know what to think right now,” he says.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to be satisfied with this and expect that even if this virus were to be easily transmitted from person to person, it would be ‘mild,'” Katzourakis said.
Because Wilson’s team studied the hemagglutinin protein alone, there was no chance that the mutated protein could leak into the lab. “No viruses were used here at all,” he says.
Global temperatures over the past two years have been even warmer than climate scientists expected.
A new study offers a possible reason: reduced cloud cover.
The study suggests that this decline may be a result of global warming, which could mean the Earth is heating up even faster than scientists thought.
Over the past two years, temperatures around the world have risen far more than scientists expected. This trend is creating the mystery of whether there are hidden climate change dynamics behind the sudden change.
Last year was the hottest summer on record, 2024 was likely to be even hotter.. Even after accounting for the expected effects of greenhouse gas pollution and El Niño (a natural pattern that generally increases temperatures), the researchers found that the roughly 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) of warmer temperatures observed in 2023 I couldn’t explain the change.
A new study offers a possible explanation. Cloud cover has decreased over the past two years, meaning more light is now reaching and heating the Earth’s surface, rather than being reflected back into space.
In the research, Published in Science on Thursdaysuggesting that this dynamic, called an overall decrease in the planet’s albedo, is likely the cause of the observed temperature anomaly in 2023.
“This is broadly consistent with the observed recent further increase in solar radiation,” said study author Helge Goessling, a climate physicist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany.
The expected cloud behavior in a warmer world is one of the most difficult aspects of the climate system to study and model. Answering questions about it will help scientists more accurately determine how sensitive the Earth is to greenhouse gas emissions.
If the decrease in low-level cloud cover is not a coincidence, it likely means the Earth is warming even faster than scientists thought.
“It’s not really clear yet how likely it is that some of this variation is variability that disappears again,” Gosling said. “This increases the likelihood of greater-than-expected warming.”
The new study is based on analysis of climate models and NASA satellite data on Earth’s reflectivity. It outlines three possible reasons for the decline in developing low clouds, but provides no conclusions about how much each factor contributes.
One option is that natural processes temporarily deviate from normal, causing a decrease in cloud cover. For example, natural fluctuations may be causing sea surface temperatures to rise more than expected, thereby changing the physics of how clouds form.
The second possibility is a change in maritime transport regulations. In 2020, the International Maritime Organization imposed limits on the sulfur content allowed in marine fuels. Some scientists believe that reducing the number of sulfur particles polluting the atmosphere may have the unintended effect of suppressing ocean cloud formation.
“They act as condensation nuclei for clouds, so they can make clouds brighter and last longer,” Goessling said of the sulfur particles.
A third option is that unidentified feedback loops within the climate system are causing clouds to decrease due to global warming.
If the latter two possibilities turn out to be the main culprits, it would mean that the climate is more sensitive to anthropogenic pollution than many scientists thought, and that humanity is therefore more likely than world leaders to It means we are closer to exceeding the targets set for emissions limits than previously realized. (The term “climate sensitivity” refers to how warm the Earth is. If the concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere doubled.. )
Still, many questions remain, said Zeke Hausfather, director of climate research at financial firm Stripe and a researcher at Berkeley Earth.
“It remains to be seen whether these changes in cloud behavior are due to short-term fluctuations and will return to more normal conditions over time, or whether they represent new and ongoing changes to the climate system. No,” he said. Email.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average surface temperature of land and ocean in 2023 was about 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average.
Efforts by world leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions remain insufficient. Global temperatures are on track to rise by more than 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on average, far exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) goal set by the Paris Agreement.
NASA’s next Artemis mission, scheduled to send four astronauts to orbit the moon, has been postponed until 2026, the agency announced.
The delay also postpones the expected schedule for Artemis’ subsequent mission to land astronauts on the moon.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that under the new schedule, the United States would land astronauts on the moon before China.
NASA announced Thursday that the next Artemis mission that will send four astronauts around the moon will be delayed until 2026. A program already years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget has been delayed further.
NASA announced in January that the Artemis II mission would launch in September 2025 instead of late 2024. Now, NASA says it is targeting an April 2026 launch to give it more time to address issues with its next-generation Orion space capsule. The problem was discovered during an unmanned Artemis test flight in 2022.
The delay will also postpone the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts near the moon’s south pole. That mission is planned for mid-2027, rather than launching in September 2026.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the adjusted schedule should still put the United States on track to return astronauts to the moon before China lands its own. .
Nelson said the mid-2027 goal is “much earlier than the Chinese government’s stated intention” to land Chinese astronauts on the moon by 2030.
China’s interest in moon exploration has sparked a new space race of sorts, with some U.S. experts and officials saying that if China reaches the moon’s surface before the United States, There are growing concerns that there may be competition for space resources, which are thought to be water ice. They will be trapped in a permanently shadowed crater at the moon’s south pole. It is believed that water on the moon could be used to make rocket fuel to power missions deep into space.
“Landing on the moon’s south pole is critical to avoid ceding part of the moon’s south pole to China,” Nelson said.
NASA officials attributed the need to delay the Artemis mission to a flaw in the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield that was discovered during the capsule’s uncrewed flight. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said, for example, that the researchers noticed that the heat shield was worn in places, with some of the outer layers cracking and peeling off due to internal pressure buildup.
Orion’s heat shield covers the bottom of the capsule and plays a key role in protecting the spacecraft and its potential astronauts from extreme temperatures upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. .
Extensive testing has determined that the Orion capsule’s unique method of returning to Earth likely eroded its heat shield. The spacecraft is designed to perform what’s called a “skip entry,” in which it enters and exits the atmosphere, dissipating energy and slowing it down.
But Melroy said this reentry caused heat to build up inside the outer layer of the heat shield, eventually causing it to crack and wear out in parts.
The delays for Artemis’ next two flights will give engineers time to address these shielding issues and prepare for what Nelson called a “modified approach trajectory.”
“Astronaut safety is always paramount in our decisions. It is our North Star,” Nelson said. “We will not fly until we are confident that we have made the flight as safe as possible for our passengers.”
With the new administration of Donald Trump set to take over the White House in January, some space industry experts are speculating that parts of the Artemis program may be revisited or even scrapped. There is.
But Melroy said the decision to proceed with the Artemis program was “pretty clear” and should not be delayed during the transition period as the incoming administration establishes its goals and priorities.
“We would like to postpone any decisions about starting or ending the program for as long as possible,” Melroy said. “We had to postpone important decisions for our new team and we haven’t had a chance to explain them to anyone since we haven’t yet accepted a transition team.”
NASA has spent more than $42 billion over more than a decade developing the new Space Launch System mega-rocket and Orion spacecraft aimed at bringing astronauts back to the moon. As part of this effort, NASA envisions launching regular missions to set up base camps on the moon before eventually heading to Mars.
According to a team of astronomers from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics at the University of Potsdam, the XX triangular star, a bright K0 giant star in a binary star system located in the constellation Triangulum, exhibits chaotic, aperiodic star point behavior. That’s what it means. and Konkoli Observatory.
XX A star spot on the surface of the constellation Triangulum. Image credits: HUN-REN RCAES / Zs. Kushvari, MOME / Á. Radovani, AIP / K. Strassmeyer.
“Among the things that can be observed from a spatially resolved solar disk are the number, size and morphology of sunspots, their growth and decay, and their movement in latitude and longitude,” said lead author and director of the Leibniz Institute for Astronomy. said Professor Klaus Strassmeyer. Potsdam Astrophysics and Potsdam University, and their colleagues.
“Such spots are also seen on other stars and are called star spots.”
“We use indirect surface imaging techniques to invert the spectral line profile into an image of the stellar surface.”
“Typically we only get occasional snapshots of spots on a star’s surface, but the spots change systematically over time, and like the Sun, only then can we learn about the internal dynamos and structure of the target in question. Well known.”
“We chose the XX triangular star, one of the most speckled stars in the sky, for a more sustained application of Doppler imaging.”
XX triangle It is located about 640 light years away in the constellation Triangulum.
The star, also known as XX Tri or HD 12545, has a mass only 10% more than the Sun, a radius 10 times the Sun’s radius, and an effective temperature of 4630 K.
It has a rotation period of 24 days, which is synchronized with the orbital period of the binary star system.
XX Trigonum has previously been shown to contain a gigantic star spot with physical dimensions equivalent to 10,000 times the area of the largest group of spots ever seen on the Sun, and 10 times the size of the projected solar disk. It had been discovered in
Professor Strassmeier and his co-authors took 99 separate images of the star using an indirect surface imaging technique called Doppler imaging.
“A dark spot on the star’s surface caused its optical center (a point that essentially represents the star’s ‘center of light’) to shift by up to 24 microarcseconds, which is less than the radius of the star’s visible disk. This corresponds to approximately 10%,” they said. Said.
“These changes occur because the dark spots reduce the brightness of certain areas of the star, shifting the perceived center of light slightly.”
“However, unlike the sun’s predictable activity cycles, the displacements of these photocenters did not follow a periodic pattern. This is a largely chaotic and probably aperiodic pattern, very different from the solar dynamo. This suggests that it is a dynamo.”
“This phenomenon also highlights challenges in detecting exoplanets, as spot-induced fluctuations in the optical center can mimic or mask small movements caused by orbiting planets, which could impose substantial limitations on the detection of such exoplanets by astronomical observations.”
of findings appear in the diary nature communications.
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KG Strassmeyer others. 2024. XX Long-term Doppler images of triangular stars show chaotic aperiodic dynamos. Nat Commune 15, 9986; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54329-4
A new book by psychologist-turned-YouTuber Jordan Peterson has been published. we wrestle with god It's a work about how ancient myths and legends, if perhaps not literal truths, contain valuable, even universal lessons about life and humanity.
The feedback was also positive. Anthropologists will tell you that there is much to be gained from studying mythology. You can learn about how past societies thought about the relationship between ordinary people and elites, and about humanity's place in the natural world.
But when I reached the last page of the preface, the penny that had been so high somehow fell. This is not a worldwide study. Only Biblical stories are featured, almost entirely from Genesis and Exodus, because the Bible is the “presupposed story of Western civilization” and “the foundation of the West, plain and simple.” The story is featured.
Feedback's grasp of intellectual history is admittedly a little vague, but Western society and modern science, while shaped by Christianity, were also influenced by the ideas of ancient Greeks, Romans, Norsemen, and Arabic scholars. There is no doubt that it is. Fundamentals of scientific revolution, etc.
However, we do not pretend to be experts in Biblical exegesis. I'd like to leave the theological criticism to former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who says Peterson “relies heavily on somewhat outdated Christian commentary” and “relentlessly disdains nuance and disagreement.” ” states.
Instead, we unpack small sections where Peterson tries to connect his ideas to human biology (something we know a little about).
eve problem
Chapter 2 tells the story of Adam and Eve being chased out of the Garden of Eden after Eve, tempted by the serpent, eats the forbidden fruit and convinces Adam to do the same.
Peterson says this reflects a fundamental flaw in the minds of men and women. “The temptation that forever faces women,” he writes, “is the idea that maternal benevolence can proudly extend to the whole world, even to the most venomous snakes…even if the position is wrong. He uses her compassion to assert unearned moral virtues and abilities, even when he is wrong.
Men, on the other hand, have “corresponding and equally deadly sins.” It's the belief that “anything you bring before me I can take in, control, name, subdue, and put into proper order” – no matter how “too much” or “That's ridiculous.”
While men must exercise “emergency powers” and decide who deserves help, it is women's role to show compassion and draw men's attention to those who are suffering.
Since the book aims to reveal absolute truths about human nature, feedback relished the lack of reflection on the part about the dangers of “going too far.”
Now, one might expect psychologist Peterson to provide psychological evidence for these differences between men and women. That would be a mistake. But he tries to tie it to the biology of childbirth. Labor is painful and dangerous because human babies' brains have evolved to be larger and they must pass through a narrower birth canal, which otherwise would be “difficult for women to run,” she said. explain.
This caused neurons in the brain to fire due to feedback overload. Peterson restates a hypothesis called the “obstetric dilemma.” Founded in 1960.
Today, it is one of the most controversial concepts in anthropology, and all of its underlying assumptions have been proven false or questionable. The 2018 study was bluntly titled: “There is no such thing as an 'obstetric dilemma'”. 2021 counterattack (Deep breath) “It is unwarranted to completely reject the obstetric dilemma hypothesis, because some of its basic assumptions are not well discounted,'' he said.
Feedback alone is not wise to resolve this sticky dispute. But at least unlike Peterson, we get it. She went on to say that pregnant and breastfeeding women are “increasedly dependent” and cannot compete with men for position, and at this point we have used our emergency powers to stop reading. said.
word of the year
Feedback enjoys the annual ritual in which the dictionary announces the word of the year. That tells us something about changing practices. We are proud of the existence of Macquarie Dictionary, Australia's national language dictionary, and the fact that the word of the year in 2024 is 'Encitization”.
This great term was coined by author Cory Doctorow to describe how companies gradually degrade their service as they squeeze more and more profit out of their customers. He was referring to companies like Google, where search results are full of ads and unreliable AI-generated summaries, and Facebook, where newsfeeds are full of memes and ads and messages from friends and family are barely visible. It means a company.
Ever since I read Doctorow's paper, the word feedback has been around. first essayAnd I'm glad that this work will be accepted by a wider audience.
Have a story for feedback?
You can email your article to Feedback at feedback@newscientist.com. Please enter your home address. This week's and past feedback can be found on our website.
The southern giant hornet, also known as the “murder hornet”, has been discovered for the first time in Europe.
A study last month confirmed that two pairs of hornets have been found in northern Spain since 2022.
Scientists are looking for wasp nests.
Researchers in Spain are busy discovering the first southern giant hornet nest ever discovered in Europe.
Also known as the “murder hornet” because it is known to kill beehives, this insect grows to an average length of 2 inches. They are native to parts of Asia.India, China, Thailand, Vietnam.
in research published last month Five Spanish scientists described two separate sightings in the journal Ecology and Evolution.The scientific name of the southern giant hornet is Vespa soror. Both were in Cielo, a city in northern Asturias. A pair was discovered in March 2022, and another two in October 2023.
Researchers believe the hornet's nest dates back at least a year.
Asian giant hornet —A closely related species that originates from other parts of Asia, it was first discovered in the US state of Washington in late 2019. The northern hornet and the southern hornet have similar behavior and appearance, but the former ShiChange the nesting period They then build small colonies or nests.
The first northern giant hornet nest discovered in the United States was promptly destroyed in October 2020, but live hornets were discovered in Washington the following year.
Southern giant hornets are known to send out scout teams to find colonies of prey, and the scouts rub their bodies against the hive or nearby plants to signal other hornets to join them. According to Research published in 2021. It then enters the “slaughter stage” where the entire hive can be destroyed within a few hours.
Asian giant hornets have not been found in Europe, neither in the north nor in the south.That's more than the four recorded in Spain. Scientists behind the recent study believe the hornets likely first arrived on a cargo ship.
Omar Sánchez, lead author of the study and zoologistA professor at the University of Oviedo in Spain said he expected the hornets to affect the balance of local ecosystems, as they actively prey on native hornets, bees, butterflies, moths and flies. A long-term decline in bee populations could impact honey availability and disrupt the pollination process that many plants and crops depend on.
“Here in northern Spain, we have another type of Asian hornet called Vespa verntina, which is causing serious damage to the beekeeping industry, so the presence of another hornet could potentially amplify the negative impact. Yes,” he said.
Sánchez added that the researchers:They are trying to find the nest in order to destroy it.
“This species nests more than 30 meters underground, so it's not easy to find, so you have to be a little bit careful,” he says. “We are trying.”
Sánchez said researchers are looking for more hornet sightings.
Sanchez and his study co-authors discovered and captured four of the hornets after hearing from beekeepers in the area that they had seen the unusual-looking hornets. After capturing the wasps, scientists extracted DNA samples and conducted genetic testing and analysis to confirm the species.
Molly Keck, an entomologist at Texas A&M University, said the genetic research that identified this species will “help educate the public and beekeepers and educate local governments so that management planning, education, mapping and distribution can be done.” “This is the first step towards mitigation efforts such as issuing warnings.” . ”
“Most of these invasive species will come in through some port city, so no matter what quarantine or checking measures are in place, there's always a way to find them.” she added.
Keck said countries may need to tighten such processes around the world as a precaution if they want to ensure their cargo is bug-free.
Sanchez said the detection of the southern giant hornet in Spain shows that more hornets are likely to emerge.
“Perhaps in the near future this species will be detected again in other parts of Spain, and perhaps also in Europe,” he says.
Transgenic hybrid poplar with increased expression levels BSTR Increased photosynthetic efficiency and biomass under greenhouse conditions. Image credit: Feissa others., doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.11.002.
“Historically, much research has focused on steady-state photosynthesis, where all conditions remain constant,” the co-senior authors said. Dr. Stephen Burgessa researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“However, this does not represent a field environment where the light is constantly changing.”
“In recent years, these dynamic processes have been thought to be more important, but they are not fully understood.”
In the new study, Dr. Burgess and his colleagues focused on poplar trees. Because poplar trees grow quickly and are great candidates for making biofuels and bioproducts.
They conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) by sampling approximately 1,000 trees in an outdoor research plot and analyzing their physical characteristics and genetic makeup.
The researchers used GWAS populations to search for candidate genes related to photosynthetic quenching. Photosynthetic quenching is the process that regulates how quickly plants adapt between sun and shade and dissipate excess energy from excessive sun to avoid damage.
One of the genes Booster (BSTR)was unusual because it is unique to poplar and contains sequences derived from chloroplasts, even though it is within the nuclear genome.
“We found that this gene can increase Rubisco content and subsequent photosynthetic activity, resulting in tall polar plants when grown in greenhouse conditions,” the authors said.
“In field conditions, we found that the genotypes were highly expressed. booster Up to 37% taller and more biomass per plant. ”
The researchers also booster at the model factory ArabidopsisAs a result, biomass and seed production increases.
This discovery is booster Can potentially cause yield increases in other plants.
“This is an exciting first step, but it is a small-scale experiment and there is much work to be done. If we can reproduce the results on a large scale, this gene has the potential to increase biomass production in crops.” said Dr. Burgess.
“Next steps in the research could include trials at other bioenergy and food plants, recording plant productivity under different growing conditions to analyze long-term success. .”
“We also plan to investigate other genes identified in the GWAS study that may contribute to crop improvement.”
of findings Featured in this week's diary developmental cells.
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Birk A. Feissa others. orphan gene booster Increases photosynthetic efficiency and plant productivity. developmental cellspublished online on December 3, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.11.002
Despite conflicting with the results of some recent studies, this new discovery reinforces the claim that Jupiter-based comets like 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko may have contributed to providing water to Earth. This finding has been confirmed.
This pseudocolor four-image mosaic consists of images taken on February 3, 2015, from a distance of 28.7 km from the center of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The size of the mosaic is 4.2 x 4.6 km. Image credit: ESA / Rosetta / NAVCAM / CC BY-SA IGO 3.0.
Water is crucial for the formation and sustenance of life on Earth, and continues to be central to life on Earth today.
It is believed that some water was present in the gas and dust that formed our planet around 4.6 billion years ago, but due to Earth forming close to the sun’s intense heat, a considerable amount of water is thought to have evaporated.
The process by which Earth became abundant in liquid water is still a subject of debate among scientists.
Studies have indicated that a portion of Earth’s water originates from steam released by volcanoes, which then condensed and fell into the oceans.
Furthermore, evidence suggests that a significant percentage of our oceans resulted from the impact of ice and minerals from asteroids and potentially comets hitting Earth.
A series of comets and asteroids colliding with inner solar system planets 4 billion years ago could have facilitated this occurrence.
While there is a strong theory linking asteroid water to Earth’s water, the role of comets has perplexed scientists.
Multiple measurements of Jupiter-based comets have indicated a strong correlation between their water and that of Earth.
This connection is based on a fundamental molecular signature utilized by scientists to track the origins of water across the solar system.
The deuterium (D) to ordinary hydrogen (H) ratio in an object’s water serves as this signature, providing insights into the object’s formation location.
By comparing this hydrogen ratio in comets and asteroids to that of Earth’s water, scientists can discern a potential connection.
Deuterium-rich water is more likely to form in cold environments, resulting in objects formed farther from the Sun, such as comets, exhibiting higher concentrations of this isotope compared to objects formed nearer to the Sun, like asteroids.
Measurements conducted over the past few decades on the deuterium in the water vapor of various other Jupiter-based comets have revealed levels akin to Earth’s water.
“It seems increasingly likely that these comets play a significant role in delivering water to Earth,” commented Dr. Kathleen Mandt, a planetary scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
However, ESA’s Rosetta mission to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014 challenged the notion that Jupiter-based comets aid in replenishing Earth’s water reservoirs.
Upon analyzing Rosetta’s water measurements, scientists discovered that it has the highest deuterium concentration among all comets, with approximately 100% more deuterium than Earth’s oceans (about 1 deuterium atom for every 6,420 hydrogen atoms), surpassing it by threefold.
“This was a significant revelation that compelled us to reassess everything,” remarked Dr. Mandt.
An advanced statistical computing approach was employed by the researchers to automate the laborious task of segregating deuterium-rich water from over 16,000 Rosetta measurements.
These measurements were taken within the gas and dust coma encircling 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Rosetta.
For the first time, Dr. Mandt and collaborators analyzed all water measurements from the European mission.
The researchers aimed to comprehend the physical processes influencing the fluctuations in hydrogen isotope ratios detected in comets.
Studies on comet dust in laboratory settings and observations indicated that comet dust could impact the hydrogen proportion detected in comet vapors, potentially altering how the comet’s water compares to Earth’s water.
“So, I was curious to see if I could find evidence of this phenomenon occurring in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko,” added Dr. Mandt.
“This is one of those rare instances where a hypothesis is proposed and genuinely validated.”
In fact, scientists identified a distinct correlation between the deuterium measurements of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko within its coma and the amount of surrounding dust near the Rosetta spacecraft, indicating that measurements taken in certain regions of the coma near 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko may not accurately represent the comet’s celestial composition.
As the comet traverses an orbit closer to the Sun, its surface warms, releasing gases from the surface, including dust particles with attached water ice fragments.
Research suggests that water containing deuterium has a higher tendency to adhere to dust particles compared to regular water.
When this ice on dust particles is expelled into a coma, it can create an illusion of the comet containing more deuterium than it actually does.
The researchers noted that by the time the dust reaches the outer regions of the coma, at least 120 miles away from the comet’s core, the coma depletes of water.
Once the deuterium-rich water dissipates, the spacecraft can precisely measure the amount of deuterium emanating from the comet’s core.
“This discovery holds profound implications not only for elucidating the role of comets in supplying water to Earth but also for comprehending comet observations that offer insights into the early solar system’s formation,” the researchers noted.
“This discovery provides a unique opportunity to revisit previous observations and prepare for future observations to better factor in the effects of dust.”
of study Published in a magazine scientific progress.
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Kathleen E. Mandt others. 2024. D/H of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko almost on Earth. scientific progress 10(46);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp2191
Paleoanthropologists believe that the Columbian mammoth (mammoth colombi) are the largest contributor to the diet of the Clovis people, the earliest widespread hunter-gatherer group inhabiting North America, followed by elk and bison/camels, but the contribution of small mammals is There were very few.
An artist's reconstruction of Clovis life 13,000 years ago shows the Anzick 1 infant eating mammoth meat with his mother near the hearth. Another individual crafting tool, such as a dart launch point or an atlatl. A huge slaughterhouse can be seen nearby. Image credit: Eric Carlson / Ben Potter / Jim Chatters.
The Clovis people lived in North America about 13,000 years ago.
During that time, giant animals such as mammoths lived in both northern Asia and the Americas.
Because they traveled long distances, they became a reliable source of fat and protein for highly mobile humans.
Some researchers argue that the Clovisians were some degree of megafauna experts, with a particular focus on mammoths, while others argue that such adaptations were not viable and therefore They argue that Clovisians were extensive foragers, likely incorporating small amounts of food into their diets on a regular basis. Prey, plants, and perhaps fish.
“Focusing on mammoths helps explain how the Clovis people spread from across North America to South America in just a few hundred years,” said Dr. James Chatters, a researcher at McMaster University. said.
“What's surprising to me is that this corroborates a lot of the data from other sites,” said Ben Potter, a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“For example, the animal parts left at the Clovis site are dominated by megafauna, and the firing points are large ones attached to darts, which were effective long-range weapons.”
In the new study, Dr Chatters, Professor Potter and their colleagues used stable isotope analysis to investigate the effects of 18-month-old children found at the 13,000-year-old Clovis site in Anzick, Montana, USA. I modeled the meal. state.
Their findings support the hypothesis that the Clovis people specialized in hunting large animals, rather than primarily foraging on small animals and plants.
Professor Potter said: “Mammoth hunting provided a flexible way of life.”
“This allowed the Clovis people to move to new areas without relying on smaller, localized prey that could vary widely from region to region.”
“This mobility is consistent with what we are seeing with Clovis technology and payment patterns.”
“They were very mobile. They transported resources such as toolstone over hundreds of miles.”
“Isotopes provide a chemical fingerprint of a consumer's diet, and can be compared to the isotopes of potential dietary items to determine the proportional contributions of different dietary items,” said Dr. Matt Wooler of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It can be estimated.”
The researchers compared the mothers' stable isotope fingerprints with those obtained from different food sources from the same time and region.
They found that about 40% of her diet came from mammoths, with other large animals such as elk and bison making up the rest.
Although small mammals were sometimes considered an important food source, they played a very minor role in her diet.
Finally, the scientists compared the mother's diet to that of other omnivores and carnivores from the same period, including American lions, bears, and wolves.
The mother's diet was most similar to that of the scimitar cat, a mammoth specialist.
The discovery also suggests that early humans may have contributed to the extinction of Ice Age megafauna, especially as environmental changes reduced their habitat.
“If the climate is changing in a way that reduces suitable habitat for some of these megafauna, they potentially become more susceptible to human predation. These people are highly capable. He was a great hunter,” Professor Potter said.
“It was a combination of a very sophisticated hunting culture that responded to a simple, large animal group under environmental stress, and techniques honed over 10,000 years in Eurasia,” Dr Chatters said.
of the team result Published in today's diary scientific progress.
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James C. Chatters others. 2024. Mammoths featured heavily in the diet of western Clovis. scientific progress 10(49);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr3814
President-elect Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday his intention to nominate billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as the head of NASA.
“Jared will propel NASA’s mission of exploration and inspiration, opening the doors to groundbreaking advancements in space science, technology, and exploration,” President Trump stated. Post to Truth Social.
At 41 years old, Isaacman is the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company. While he has embarked on two commercial SpaceX spaceflights, he has never been employed by NASA or the federal government. Both spaceflights were privately funded by Isaacman for an undisclosed sum.
Isaacman expressed his honor at being nominated by Trump in a statement.
“Having had the privilege of witnessing our incredible planet from space, I am deeply passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.” he wrote to x.
Isaacman has a close connection to Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. President Trump has selected Musk, a close associate, to co-lead his new Department of Government Efficiency. Musk congratulated Isaacman on Wednesday. In the post of X.
In 2022, Isaacman partnered with Musk and SpaceX to finance the Polaris mission, a set of three private spaceflights to test technology and maneuvers for exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. Isaacman was one of four civilians sent into orbit on the initial spaceflight called Polaris Dawn.
A five-day mission in September included the first all-civilian spacewalk.
Isaacman also funded and partook in SpaceX’s first all-civilian mission into orbit in 2021.
If confirmed, Isaacman will oversee NASA at a crucial juncture, with major missions planned for the return of humans to the moon in the years ahead.
The United States is facing escalating competition in its quest to reach the moon and establish a lasting presence there.
China has made significant advancements in its space program recently, with plans to land Chinese astronauts on the moon by 2030. The country has already sent a robotic spacecraft to the moon and brought back the initial samples from the far side. Chinese leaders have expressed their intention to eventually construct a lunar base.
“I was born after the moon landing. My children were born after the final space shuttle launch,” Isaacman said in a statement, emphasizing: Through walking on the Moon or Mars, we can enhance life on Earth. “
Mr. Trump’s selection of an outsider to govern NASA, as well as Mr. Musk’s involvement in the forthcoming administration, may indicate a move toward promoting the commercialization of NASA’s activities. At present, the space agency heavily relies on SpaceX and other commercial partners for launching astronauts, cargo, and spacecraft to the International Space Station and beyond.
Bill Nelson, the current administrator of NASA, has been in office since May 2021. Nelson served as a Senator from Florida from 2001 to 2019 and as a Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991.
In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting Congressman to travel to space on Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-61C mission. Nelson and his crew conducted scientific experiments while orbiting the Earth 98 times in six days.
Former NASA administrators have included former astronauts, scientists, engineers, military personnel, and politicians.
Robots that can take off like birds could eliminate the need for runways for small fixed-wing drones.
Birds use the powerful explosive force generated by their legs to jump into the sky and begin flight, but it has proven difficult to build robots that can withstand the strong accelerations and forces exerted during this process.
now, Won Dong Shin Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a flying propeller robot called RAVEN. The robot has legs that move like a bird and can walk, hop, jump into the air and start flying.
“Fixed-wing aircraft like airplanes always need a runway or a launcher, but that's not available everywhere. You really need a designated infrastructure to get the plane off the ground,” Singh said. Masu. “But when they spot a bird, they just walk around, jump, take off. It's very easy for them. They don't need any outside help.”
A real bird's legs have joints at the hip, knee, and ankle, but RAVEN's legs have only two joints, the hip and knee, and are driven by a motor. Each leg also has a spring that can store and release elastic energy. By using fewer parts, Singh and his team were able to keep RAVEN's weight to about 600 grams, the same as a crow.
In indoor tests, RAVEN was able to jump approximately 0.5 meters into the air at a speed of 2.4 meters per second. This is a similar speed to birds of the same size. At this point the propeller takes over. Because it can be launched upwards from anywhere, RAVEN could be useful for disaster relief missions where regular fixed-wing drones cannot take off or land, Singh said. But first, he says, the team needs to develop RAVEN's ability to land safely.
“We've seen a lot of work on flying robots that land on perches, but not many focused on taking off with their feet,” he says. Rafael ZafriEPFL was also not involved in this work. “I think the two disciplines of landing, or perching, and takeoff will be integrated into one platform that will allow robots to fly, detect branches, land, recover, and perform missions.” Take off. ”
Weather forecasting today relies on simulations that require large amounts of computing power.
Petrovich9/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Google DeepMind claims its latest weather forecasting AI can predict faster and more accurately than existing physics-based simulations.
GenCast is the latest in DeepMind's ongoing research project to improve weather forecasts using artificial intelligence. The model was trained on 40 years of historical data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). ERA5 ArchiveThis includes regular measurements of temperature, wind speed, and barometric pressure at various altitudes around the world.
Data up to 2018 was used to train the model, and then 2019 data was used to test predictions against known weather conditions. The company found that it outperformed ECMWF's industry standard ENS forecasts 97.4% of the time, and 99.8% of the time when forecasting more than 36 hours ahead.
Last year, DeepMind collaborated with ECMWF to create an AI that outperformed the “gold standard” high-resolution HRES 10-day forecast by more than 90%. Previously, he developed a “nowcasting” model that used five minutes of radar data to predict the probability of rain over a given one square kilometer area from five to 90 minutes in advance. Google is also working on ways to use AI to replace small parts of deterministic models to speed up calculations while maintaining accuracy.
Existing weather forecasts are based on physical simulations run on powerful supercomputers to deterministically model and estimate weather patterns as accurately as possible. Forecasters typically run dozens of simulations with slightly different inputs in groups called ensembles to better capture the variety of possible outcomes. These increasingly complex and large numbers of simulations are computationally intensive and require ever more powerful and energy-consuming machines to operate.
AI has the potential to provide lower-cost solutions. For example, GenCast uses an ensemble of 50 possible futures to create predictions. Using custom-built, AI-focused Google Cloud TPU v5 chips, each prediction takes just 8 minutes.
GenCast operates at a cell resolution of approximately 28 square kilometers near the equator. Since the data used in this study were collected, ECMWF's ENS has been upgraded to a resolution of just 9 kilometers.
Yilan price DeepMind says AI doesn't have to follow, and could provide a way forward without collecting more detailed data or performing more intensive calculations. “If you have a traditional physics-based model, that's a necessary requirement to solve the physical equations more accurately, and therefore to get more accurate predictions,” Price says. “[With] machine learning, [it] It is not always necessary to go to higher resolution to get more accurate simulations and predictions from your model. ”
david schultz Researchers at the University of Manchester in the UK say AI models offer an opportunity to make weather forecasts more efficient, but they are often over-hyped and rely heavily on training data from traditional physically-based models. states that it is important to remember that
“is that so [GenCast] Will it revolutionize numerical weather forecasting? No, because in order to train a model, you first have to run a numerical weather prediction model,” says Schulz. “These AI tools wouldn't exist if ECMWF didn't exist in the first place and without creating the ERA5 reanalysis and all the investment that went into it. It's like, 'I can beat Garry Kasparov at chess. But only after studying every move he's ever played.''
Sergey Frolov Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) believe that further advances in AI will require higher-resolution training data. “What we're basically seeing is that all of these approaches are being thwarted.” [from advancing] “It depends on the fidelity of the training data,” he says. “And the training data comes from operational centers like ECMWF and NOAA. To move this field forward, we need to generate more training data using higher-fidelity physically-based models. .”
But for now, GenCast offers a faster way to perform predictions at lower computational costs. kieran hunt A professor at the University of Reading in the UK believes ensembles can improve the accuracy of AI predictions, just as a collection of physics-based predictions can produce better results than a single prediction. states.
Mr Hunt points to the UK's record temperature of 40C (104C) in 2022 as an example. A week or two ago, there was only one member of the ensemble who was predicting it, and they were considered an anomaly. Then, as the heat wave approached, the predictions became more accurate, providing early warning that something unusual was about to happen.
“You can get away with it a little bit if you have one member who shows something really extreme. That might happen, but it probably won't happen,” Hunt says. “I don’t think it’s necessarily a step change; it’s a combination of new AI approaches with tools we’ve been using in weather forecasting for a while to ensure the quality of AI weather forecasts. There is no doubt that this will yield better results than the first wave of AI weather forecasting.”
An orca was spotted balancing a salmon on its head in coastal waters off Washington state.
It's not clear what this behavior means, but killer whales have been previously observed performing the same behavior in the 1980s.
Southern killer whales are critically endangered and may be on their way to extinction.
Recently, a fascinating sight was witnessed off the coast of Washington state where an orca was seen balancing a salmon on its head, surprising both scientists and killer whale enthusiasts.
This particular endangered Southern killer whale, known as J27 or Blackberry, was spotted wearing a hat made of salmon near Point No Point in late October. According to Orca Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to species conservation.
This behavior of carrying salmon on their heads was previously observed in killer whales in the late 1980s, as mentioned by Deborah Giles, director of scientific research at Wild Orca. However, the significance of this behavior remains unclear.
Giles, who spends a significant amount of time studying orcas, witnessed another instance of this behavior recently, suggesting that it might be a common occurrence among southern killer whales.
The behavior of balancing a salmon on their heads could be attributed to various reasons such as sharing food with other pod members or using it as part of their social interactions. Nevertheless, this behavior indicates that the whales are well-fed and can engage in playful activities.
Despite conservation efforts, Southern killer whales are facing numerous threats that have contributed to their critically endangered status. The decline in prey availability, pollution, and disturbance from human activities are some of the key challenges faced by these whales.
Efforts are being made to protect and recover the Southern killer whale population, but more needs to be done to ensure their survival in the long run.
Darwin’s ideas began with Alfred Russell Wallace, co-discoverer of natural selection, who disagreed with some aspects of Charles Darwin’s arguments but ultimately realized that most of them were wrong. It has been proven and challenged many times. American botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey published a paper in 1894 pondering whether the mainstream neo-Darwinist formulation of the theory of evolution needed to be extended (it was not). In the 1980s, paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould pursued a similar tack.
Evolutionary biologist Kevin Lara also questions what he calls traditional Darwinian thinking (see “The surprising ways species control their evolutionary destiny”). Some say this is a straw man argument, as it challenges old-fashioned ideas about evolutionary biology, but modern ideas are changing the way we think about developmental biology, cultural evolution, symbiotics, etc. It’s broad enough to encompass all the new aspects you’re learning. Different species coexist closely.
Over the years, the theory of evolution by natural selection has itself evolved, absorbing new discoveries about genes, DNA, population genetics, and epigenetics that did not exist in Darwin’s time. As we report on page 11, identifying evolutionary drivers is essential to understanding how species adapt to climate change, for example, ahead of an avian influenza pandemic. Whether we need to add to the rulebook already at the disposal of evolutionary biologists is debatable. There is a danger that a “God of the Gaps” argument will creep in, where the obvious shortcomings of evolution are exploited by those who point to unscientific explanations.
Obvious shortcomings create a danger that the “god of the gaps” theory creeps in
All theories need to be challenged, and evaluating modern evolutionary biology highlights many aspects of life that may be less appreciated. Darwin’s explanation has survived more than 160 years because it is broadly correct and robust enough to absorb new discoveries. So while the impact of Lara’s approach is not yet clear, Lara’s scrutiny of neglected aspects of life should be welcomed.
A mysterious illness with flu-like symptoms has claimed the lives of dozens of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as reported by the country’s health authorities.
As of Tuesday, the unknown disease has resulted in the death of 79 people and the sickness of 376 individuals, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security.
In a statement regarding X, the ministry stated that the origin of the disease is “still unknown” and was first identified in Kwango province in southwestern Congo.
Symptoms reported include fever, headache, stuffy nose, cough, difficulty breathing, and anemia.
According to Reuters and Associated Press, local authorities have warned that the death toll could potentially rise to 143.
The Ministry of Health emphasized that the remains of those who have died with similar symptoms should not be handled without the involvement of authorized health authorities. They urged the public to report any suspicious illnesses or unusual deaths, avoid large gatherings, and follow basic hygiene practices like washing hands with soap and water.
Emergency public health officials are being deployed to the affected area, as confirmed by the ministry.
The World Health Organization, in response to the reports of the unidentified illness, stated to NBC News that they are collaborating with local authorities and have dispatched a team to collect samples for laboratory testing.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with offices in Congo, is aware of the situation and is providing technical support to a rapid response team sent by the local emergency operations center.
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, editor of an anthology set in the Wild Cards universe
Paras Griffin/Getty Images
December is traditionally a quiet month in the publishing world, and that’s true this year as well, with fewer new books than usual to tempt us sci-fi geeks. However, there are some novels that I find very enjoyable. One example is Makana Yamamoto’s debut novel, which was described by the publisher as an “adventurous love letter” to Hawaii. And less interesting, but just as fascinating, is Arthur C. Clarke Prize winner Jane Rogers’ new collection of short stories, all climate fiction and (according to the publisher) “no easy answers. “It raises questions about personal responsibility.” It might also publish a huge and expensive 10-volume graphic novel, an adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel. three body problem Put it on my Christmas wishlist – it sounds really epic.
The publisher pitches it as follows: oceans 8 meet blade runner – And what’s not to love there? – It follows Edie, who has just been released on parole from an icy prison planet, and meets Angel, the woman who sold her eight years ago. Angel offers Edie one last job. His goal is to defeat the billionaire “god of technology” that he was unable to stop last time. This has a lot of hype from a major publisher and looks like a lot of fun. By the way, hamajan is borrowed from the Hawaiian pidgin and is said to mean “a state of disorder or chaos.” A mess.
This is the latest anthology set in . wild card In space, an alien virus released into the world gives superpowers to 1% of the people it infects. This is the third book in the series, edited by Martin and featuring writing from a variety of authors. wild cardAfter the “British Arc” of queens over knives and three kings. The story is set on the fictional island of Coon, which is connected to mainland Cornwall only by an ancient tidal channel.
Jane Rogers won Britain’s highest science fiction award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, in 2012. Jesse Lamb’s will. (I really liked this book. It’s set in a world where all pregnant women are infected with a deadly virus, and it’s narrated by a teenager.) A collection of climate fiction stories that span viral pandemics. Until the end of 22n.d. From the Australian outback, where bushfires are raging, to Oxfordshire, where an old man is chained to an old beech tree about to be cut down. I especially love sounds set in a distant future in space, where Earth is barren but may be starting to recover.
This space opera is in part a sequel to a work with a great title. August Kitoko and the mechas from space. Of course, this work features a “ragtag group of misfits” fighting a “giant army of mechs” to destroy humanity. Our main characters are the super attractive pop star Ardent Violet and her new boyfriend August Kitoko. The book also promises a “mysterious omnipotent AI” and a coalition of aliens.
Eve Ridley (left) as The Follower and Kai Shimooka as Sophon in “Three Body Problem”
This epic 10-volume graphic novel adaptation is for the full-length Cixin Liu lovers out there, but I suspect there’s probably some in there. new scientist Dear readers. The film, which was nominated for the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story or Comic, is said to include several additional features, including a transcript of an interview with character Ye Wenjie by the Beijing PSB Criminal Investigation Squad. are. Liu himself says, “I believe graphic novels provide the widest possible canvas for science fiction.” Wouldn’t it be a good idea to put it on your Christmas list?
After romantasy (romance + fantasy), sci-fi romance seems to be the most popular genre these days, and I’m all for it. It’s about Ada being given an undercover mission by a group of rebels that happened to be at a charity event, where she finds Ryan, who tries to stop her. Here’s how the publisher describes fans of Becky Chambers and Martha Wells: I mean, that’s me.
21 second halfcent In this century, as the United States is ravaged by global warming, a mother and daughter escape from the Inside Project, a climate change relief program where they have been treated as lab rats for the past 22 years. As the weather continues to worsen and the remaining humans struggle to survive, they go on the run and encounter women from their mother’s past.
This is the latest installment in Zahn’s Icarus series, and is set in a universe where an alien race called the Icari disappeared 10,000 years ago, leaving behind portals through which people could be transported to the stars. In this expedition, Gregory Rourke and his partner Selene are tasked with finding these alien artifacts, only to find themselves on a distant planet, by a group of aliens called the Unmei who have their own portal plans. I realize what I’m facing.
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Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of whitefly from fossils found in Miocene crater lake deposits at Hindon Mar, near Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand.
Close-up of two small pupae Miotetraleurodes novaezelandiae It is attached to the leaves of angiosperms. Image credit: Drohojowska others., doi: 10.1007/s12549-024-00628-z.
Adult whiteflies are small insects about 3 mm in size, and immatures are even smaller.
The fossil discovered at Hindon Maar is approximately 1.5mm x 1.25mm and was preserved by pasting it on the back of a fossilized leaf.
It has a black, oval body and has some similarities with modern whiteflies, such as shape and color, but differs in that all parts of the body are clearly defined by deep sutures.
“Fossils of adult whiteflies are not uncommon, but unusual circumstances are required for the pupa (the protective shell in which the insect emerges) to become fossilized,” says palaeontologist at the University of Göttingen and former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Göttingen. says Dr. Uwe Kaulfus. University of Otago.
“About 15 million years ago, the pupal leaves must have been torn off the tree, blown into a small lake, sunk to the deep lake bed, become covered in sediment, and become fossils.”
“It must have happened in quick succession because the fossils of the small insects are so well preserved.”
“The new genera and species described in our study are Miotetraleurodes novaezelandiaerevealed for the first time that whitefly insects were an ecological component of ancient forests in the South Island. ”
“It was difficult to see much with the naked eye, but when we looked at the fossils under a microscope we could see amazing details,” said Emeritus Professor Daphne Lee from the University of Otago.
“The fact that they are still alive on leaves is incredible and extremely rare.”
“These small fossils are the first of their kind to be found in New Zealand, and only the third pupa fossil of this type known worldwide.”
“These new discoveries from the Otago fossil site are an important contribution to our understanding of New Zealand's past biodiversity and forest ecosystem history. It means we have a new appreciation for the importance of it.”
“Most people are interested in big fossils, big charismatic fossils, but most of the animals in the forest are insects.”
“New Zealand is home to 14,000 insect species, 90% of which are found nowhere else in the world.”
“The discovery of these tiny fossils shows that this insect group has been present in Aotearoa New Zealand for at least 15 million years.”
“This provides a well-dated calibration point for molecular phylogenetic studies.”
of study Published in a magazine Paleobiodiversity and paleoenvironment.
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J. Drohojovska others. The first Miocene whiteflies and parrots (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodoidea and Psylloidea) from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Paleobio Paleoembupublished online on October 1, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s12549-024-00628-z
Kepler-51 is a 500-million-year-old G-type star that hosts four low-density planets. new paper Published in astronomy magazine.
This diagram shows the Kepler-51 planetary system. Image credit: NASA / ESA / L. Hustak, J. Olmsted, D. Player & F. Summers, STScI.
Kepler-51 It is located approximately 2,615 light years away in the constellation Cygnus.
The star, also known as KOI-620, was already known to host three Saturn-sized “superpuff” exoplanets: Kepler-51b, c, and d.
First discovered by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope in 2012, these worlds have orbital period ratios close to 1:2:3 (45, 85, and 130 days, respectively).
It is several times more massive than Earth and has a hydrogen/helium atmosphere.
“Superpuff planets are very unusual in that they have very low masses and very low densities,” says Penn State astronomer Jessica Libby Roberts.
“The three planets known so far orbiting the star Kepler-51 are about the same size as Saturn, but only a few times the mass of Earth, making them as dense as cotton candy. ”
“We think they have small cores and huge atmospheres of helium hydrogen, but we don't know how these strange planets formed and how their atmospheres developed. It remains a mystery why the star was not blown away by the intense radiation of the young star.
“We had planned to use Webb to study one of these planets to answer these questions, but now we have to describe the fourth, low-mass planet in the system.”
To examine evidence of Kepler-51e, the fourth planet in the system, astronomers conducted extensive passes over 14 years from a variety of facilities, including the Webb, Apache Point Observatory telescopes, and Penn State Davey Laboratory telescopes. We utilized a timing dataset.
“We conducted a so-called 'brute force' search, testing different combinations of planet properties to find a four-planet model that explains all transit data collected over the past 14 years.” said Kento Masuda, an astronomer at Osaka University.
“We found that the signal is best explained if Kepler-51e has a mass similar to the other three planets and follows a fairly circular orbit of about 264 days. That's to be expected.”
“Other possible solutions we've found include larger planets in wider orbits, but we think that's unlikely.”
It is unclear whether Kepler-51e is also a superpuff planet, as researchers have not observed Kepler-51e transiting the Sun and therefore cannot calculate its radius or density.
According to the team, a wide range of demographics (
“Superpuff planets are fairly rare, and when they do occur, they tend to be unique in planetary systems,” said Penn State astronomer Jessica Libby Roberts.
“If explaining how three superpuffs formed in one star system wasn't enough of a challenge, now we have to explain a fourth planet, whether it's a superpuff or not. And we can't rule out the possibility that there are more planets in this system.”
“Kepler-51e's orbit is slightly larger than Venus and just inside the star's habitable zone, so there could be a lot more going on beyond that distance if we take the time to look.”
“Continuing to observe variations in transit timing could help us discover planets further away from their stars, which could aid in the search for planets that may harbor life.”
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Kento Masuda others. 2024. The fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system revealed by fluctuations in transit timing. A.J. 168, 294; doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/ad83d3
Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a new type of Neanderthal hearth in Gibraltar’s Vanguard Cave. This hearth structure is consistent with predictions from theoretical studies that require the use of heating structures to obtain birch tar commonly used in hafting. Researchers suggest that this hearth was used to burn herbs and shrubs over guano mixed with sand and heat rockrose without oxygen.
Neanderthal hearth structures may have been constructed according to the following steps: Image credit: Ochando others., doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109025.
“The use and control of fire would have provided important adaptive benefits.” Homo and even shaped its evolution,” said Clive Finlayson of Gibraltar National Museum and colleagues.
“Manufacturing fire technology has been shown to be common from 400,000 years ago to the present, and it has probably been around for much longer.”
“A variety of studies have demonstrated the ability of Neanderthals to create, protect, and carry fire.”
“The main functions of the use of fire are related to providing heat, light and the possibility of cooking food.”
“But it could also lead to the development of new technological innovations,” they added.
“These include deliberate heat treatment of stone artifacts, durable wood, smoking purposes, and the use of distillation of birch bark and adhesives from coniferous resins to create stone flakes on wooden elements. This may include the production of hafting multi-component tools.”
“Other innovations by Neanderthals were the construction of pits and the diversification of the types of fuels used with a variety of commonly used plants, liquid hydrocarbons, and lignite.”
“However, plants are the most common type of fuel and are therefore expected to have been subject to a selection process by Neanderthals among available resources in the nearby, and perhaps even beyond, landscape.”
Special combustion structures discovered by the Vanguard Cave team have revealed previously unknown ways in which Neanderthals managed and used fire.
The structure is 68,000 to 61,000 years old and is adapted for steam distilling essential oils from rockrose to obtain tar, a hafting substance proven to have been used by Neanderthals.
The researchers tested that interpretation experimentally by building structures with similar morphological and compositional characteristics to those excavated in the cave.
Distilling a small bunch of young rockrose leaves in a closed, nearly anoxic environment for a reasonable period of time produces enough to hold two spearheads using only locally available tools and materials. of tar could be produced.
“Neanderthals had to go through a series of thought processes to choose which plants and find a way to extract the resin without burning them,” Dr Finlayson said.
“Our extinct cousins were not the brutal humans of the popular imagination,” said Dr. Fernando Muñiz, an archaeologist at the University of Seville.
“This human species has been shown to have cognitive abilities, as reflected in studies showing mastery of the industrial process of making resin as an adhesive for attaching stone points to spear handles. ”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper in a diary Quaternary Science Review.
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Juan Ochando others. 2024. Neanderthals' special combustion structure adapted to the acquisition of tar. Quaternary Science Review 346: 109025;doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109025
Astronomers using the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array, an international experiment using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope, have discovered further evidence of gravitational wave signals originating from supermassive black hole mergers.
miles others. Created the most detailed map of gravitational waves throughout the universe to date. Image credit: Carl Knox / OzGrav / Swinburne University of Technology / South African Radio Astronomical Observatory.
“Our research opens up new avenues for understanding the universe we live in,” said astronomer Dr Matt Miles from the ARC Gravitational Wave Discovery Center (OzGRav) and Swinburne University of Technology. .
“By studying the background, we can listen to the echoes of cosmic events over billions of years. It reveals how galaxies and the universe itself have evolved over time.”
The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array observes and times pulsars (fast-spinning neutron stars) with nanosecond precision.
Pulsars act as natural clocks, and their steady pulses allow scientists to detect minute changes caused by passing gravitational waves.
This galaxy-scale detector provides the opportunity to map gravitational waves across the sky, revealing patterns and intensities that defy previous assumptions.
“The gravitational wave background is often thought to be uniformly distributed across the sky,” says Rowena Nathan, an astronomer at Ozgrab University and Monash University.
“The galaxy-sized telescope formed by the MeerKAT pulsar timing array allows us to map the structure of this signal with unprecedented precision, potentially revealing insights into its source.”
Astronomers have found further evidence of gravitational wave signals originating from merging supermassive black holes, capturing a signal more powerful than a similar global experiment in just one-third of the time.
“What we’re seeing suggests a much more dynamic and active Universe than we expected,” Dr. Miles said.
“We know that supermassive black holes are merging off Earth, but now we’re starting to know where they are and how many there are.”
Researchers used pulsar timing arrays to improve existing methods to build highly detailed gravitational wave maps.
This map revealed an interesting anomaly: an unexpected hotspot in the signal, suggesting a possible directional bias.
“The presence of a hotspot could point to a distinct source of gravitational waves, such as a pair of black holes billions of times more massive than the sun,” Nathan said.
“Looking at the arrangement and pattern of gravitational waves tells us how our universe exists today and contains signals from around the time of the Big Bang.”
“While there is still more work to be done to determine the significance of the hotspots we discovered, this is an exciting step forward for our field.”
“These discoveries raise exciting questions about the formation of supermassive black holes and the early history of the universe.”
“Further monitoring by the MeerKAT array could improve these gravitational wave maps and reveal new cosmic phenomena.”
“The research also has broader implications, with data that could help international scientists explore the origin and evolution of supermassive black holes, the formation of galactic structures, and even hints at early cosmic events. provided.”
Matthew Miles others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: 4.5 Years of Data Release and Noise and Stochastic Signals in the Millisecond Pulsar Population. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2572
Matthew Miles others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: The first search for gravitational waves with the MeerKAT radio telescope. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2571
Kathryn Grandthal others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: Map of the gravitational wave sky with 4.5 years of data released. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2573
Webcam images show asteroid burning up in the atmosphere over Siberia
Lensk LR/YouTube
Astronomers discovered the asteroid, about 70 centimeters in diameter, hours before it exploded harmlessly into the atmosphere above Siberia.
european space agency (ESA) issued an alert at 9:27 a.m. GMT, warning that space rocks could illuminate the skies over northern Siberia at around 11:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. GMT).
Speaking before the event, Alan Fitzsimmons from Britain’s Queen’s University Belfast says objects of this size pose no danger to people on the ground, but early warnings are a positive sign that our ability to detect these objects before they hit Earth is increasing.
“It’s small, but it’s still going to be pretty spectacular,” Fitzsimmons said. “The sky above the impact site will darken and a very impressive, very bright fireball will spread across the sky for hundreds of kilometers around it.”
Several objects of this size collide with Earth every year, and we are getting better at detecting them early. The first discovery was in 2008. The next discovery was made six years later, but the pace of observations has picked up. Today’s asteroid, named C0WEPC5, is the fourth predicted to hit Earth this year.
Early warning of small asteroids gives astronomers the opportunity to observe them, collect data, and even try to collect any small pieces that survive. Fitzsimmons said the first such predicted impact in 2008 led to the recovery of a small piece of rock and generated important science. “What was beautiful was that the meteorite’s reflectivity matched exactly what was measured by telescopes before the impact, and it was a perfect match between what we saw in space and what we later found on Earth. It shows a very nice direct connection,” he says.
Detecting larger, more dangerous objects heading toward Earth could provide an opportunity to deflect them or at least evacuate the dangerous area.
A map showing where the asteroid is predicted to hit Siberia’s atmosphere.
ESA
NASA and ESA currently have dedicated programs for asteroid discovery and tracking. This involves a large network of dedicated observatories and amateur astronomers who read the positions of known objects so that their orbits can be better understood and predicted.
This latest asteroid was discovered by NASA’s Asteroid Earth Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). ATLAS operates four telescopes around the world and is designed to provide up to a week of collision warning.
“This is a victory for science, If you happen to be in Siberia this evening, there will definitely be something to take your mind off the very cold temperatures,” says Fitzsimmons.
Over the past weekend, the internet was buzzing with the name of David Mayer, sparking intrigue and speculation online.
David Mayer gained temporary fame on social media when ChatGPT, a popular chatbot, seemed reluctant to acknowledge his name.
Despite numerous attempts from chatbot enthusiasts, ChatGPT consistently failed to produce the words “David Mayer” in its responses. This led to theories that Mayer himself may have requested the omission of his name from ChatGPT’s output.
OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT, clarified that the issue was a software glitch. An OpenAI spokesperson mentioned, “One of our tools mistakenly flagged the name, preventing it from appearing in responses. We are working on a fix.”
While some speculated that David Mayer de Rothschild could be involved, he denied any connection to the incident, dismissing it as a conspiracy theory surrounding his family’s name.
The glitch was not related to the late Professor David Mayer, who was mistakenly linked to a Chechen militant. It is speculated that the glitch may have been influenced by the GDPR privacy regulations in the UK and EU.
OpenAI has since resolved the “David Mayer” issue, but other names mentioned on social media still trigger error responses on ChatGPT.
Helena Brown, a data protection expert, highlighted the implications of the “right to be forgotten” in AI tools. While removing a name may be feasible, erasing all traces of an individual’s data could pose challenges due to the extensive data collection and complexity of AI models.
Given the vast amount of personal data used to train AI models, achieving complete data erasure for individual privacy may prove challenging, as data is sourced from various public platforms.
Physicists have discovered a new way to look inside protons using data from smashups of high-energy particles. Their approach uses quantum information science to map how the tracking of particles flowing from electron-proton collisions is affected by quantum entanglement inside the protons. As a result, it became clear that quarks and gluons, the basic building blocks of the proton’s structure, are affected by so-called quantum entanglement.
Data from past proton-electron collisions provide strong evidence that proton quarks and gluon oceans are entangled, which plays a key role in strong force interactions. There is a possibility that there are. Image credit: Valerie Lentz / Brookhaven National Laboratory.
“Until we did this work, no one had observed the internal entanglement of protons in experimental high-energy collision data,” said Brookhaven Laboratory physicist Zhoudunming (Kong) Tu. states.
“For decades, we have had the traditional view of the proton as a collection of quarks and gluons, and we have had many questions about how the quarks and gluons are distributed within the proton, so-called single particles. The focus has been on understanding the nature of
“Now that we have evidence that quarks and gluons are entangled, this situation has changed. We have a much more complex and dynamic system.”
“This latest paper further deepens our understanding of how entanglement affects the structure of protons.”
“Mapping the entanglement between quarks and gluons inside the proton provides insight into other complex questions in nuclear physics, such as how parts of the larger nucleus affect the proton’s properties. There is a possibility that
“This will be one of the focuses of future experiments at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), a nuclear physics research facility scheduled to open at Brookhaven Laboratory in the 2030s.”
In their study, Dr. Tu and his colleagues used the language and equations of quantum information science to predict how entanglement would affect particles flowing from collisions between electrons and protons.
Such collisions are a common approach to probing the structure of protons, most recently performed at the Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator (HERA) particle collider in Hamburg, Germany, from 1992 to 2007, and were used to investigate the future EIC. Experiments are also planned.
The equation predicts that if quarks and gluons are entangled, it can be revealed from the entropy of the collision, or disorder.
“Think of a child’s cluttered bedroom with laundry and other things strewn about. Entropy is very high in that cluttered room,” Dr. Tu said.
Calculations show that protons with maximally entangled quarks and gluons (high “entanglement entropy”) should produce a large number of particles with a “random” distribution (high entropy).
“For maximally entangled quarks and gluons, a simple relationship exists that predicts the entropy of particles produced in high-energy collisions,” says the theory, which is affiliated with both Brookhaven Institute and Stony Brook University. said Dr. Dmitri Kharziyev of the house. .
“In our paper, we used experimental data to test this relationship.”
The scientists started by analyzing data from proton-proton collisions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, but they also wanted to look at “cleaner” data produced by electron-proton collisions. .
Physicists have cataloged detailed information from data recorded from 2006 to 2007, including how particle production and distributions change, as well as a wide range of other information about the collisions that produced these distributions. It became.
When we compared the HERA data with the entropy calculations, the results were in perfect agreement with our predictions.
These analyzes, including the latest results on how the particle distribution changes at different angles from the point of collision, provide strong evidence that quarks and gluons inside the proton are maximally entangled .
“Unraveling the entanglement between quarks and gluons reveals the nature of their strong force interactions,” Dr. Kharziyev said.
“It could provide further insight into what confines quarks and gluons inside protons, one of the central questions in nuclear physics investigated at the EIC.”
“Maximum entanglement inside the proton appears as a result of strong interactions that produce large numbers of quark-antiquark pairs and gluons.”
of the team work appear in the diary Report on advances in physics.
_____
Martin Henczynski others. 2024. QCD evolution of entanglement entropy. Progressive member. physics 87, 120501; doi: 10.1088/1361-6633/ad910b
This article is based on a press release provided by Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Meta has disclosed that it intervened this year to stop around 20 covert influence operations globally. However, the company mentioned that concerns regarding AI-based election distortions may not be realized until 2024.
Nick Clegg, the president of international affairs at Meta, which oversees Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, stated that Russia continues to be the main source of hostile online activity. He expressed surprise that AI has not been utilized to deceive voters during recent busy election periods globally.
The former British deputy prime minister mentioned that Meta, with over 3 billion users, utilized AI tools to create images of political figures like Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, J.D. Vance, and Joe Biden last month. Over 500,000 requests for such images had to be removed before the American election day.
Security experts at the company have been dealing with new operations using fake accounts to manipulate public debate toward strategic goals every three weeks. These operations include Russian networks targeting countries like Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Another operation based in Russia uses AI to create fake news sites resembling well-known brands to weaken support for Ukraine and promote Russia’s role in Africa while criticizing African countries and France.
Mr. Clegg highlighted that Russia remains the most frequent source of covert influence operations disrupted, followed by Iran and China. He noted that the impact of AI-generated deceptive content from disinformation campaigns appears to be limited so far.
While the impact of AI manipulation on video, audio, and photos has been modest, Mr. Clegg warned that these tools are likely to become more pervasive in the future, potentially changing the landscape of online content.
In a recent evaluation, the Center for Emerging Technology and Security suggested that AI-generated deceptive content influenced the US election discourse, but evidence of its impact on the election outcome is lacking. The report warns that AI-based threats could negatively affect democratic systems by 2024.
Sam Stockwell, a researcher at the Alan Turing Institute, highlighted how AI tools may have shaped election discourse and spread harmful content subtly, such as misleading claims and rumors that gained traction during recent elections.
Map showing where asteroid fireballs can be seen in Siberia
ESA
A dramatic but harmless spectacle will take place over Siberia today as an asteroid about 70 centimeters in diameter burns up in the atmosphere.
The space rock will illuminate the sky over northern Siberia at around 11:15 pm local time (4:15 pm Japan time). Warning from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Alan Fitzsimmons Britain's Queen's University Belfast says objects of this size pose no danger to people on the ground, but early warnings are a positive sign that our ability to detect these objects before they hit Earth is increasing. It is said that this is a sign.
“It's small, but it's still going to be pretty spectacular,” Fitzsimmons said. “The sky above the impact site will darken and a very impressive, very bright fireball will spread across the sky for hundreds of kilometers around it.”
Several objects of this size collide with Earth every year, and we are getting better at detecting them early. The first discovery was in 2008. The next discovery was made six years later, but the pace of observations has picked up. Today's asteroid, named C0WEPC5, is the fourth predicted to hit Earth this year.
Early warning of small asteroids gives astronomers the opportunity to observe them, collect data, and even try to collect any small pieces that survive. Fitzsimmons said the first such predicted impact in 2008 led to the recovery of a small piece of rock and generated important science. “What was beautiful was that the meteorite's reflectivity matched exactly what was measured by telescopes before the impact, and it was a perfect match between what we saw in space and what we later found on Earth. “It shows a very nice direct connection,” he says.
Detecting larger, more dangerous objects heading toward Earth could provide an opportunity to deflect them or at least evacuate the dangerous area.
NASA and ESA currently have dedicated programs for asteroid discovery and tracking. This involves a large network of dedicated observatories and amateur astronomers who read the positions of known objects so that their orbits can be better understood and predicted.
This latest asteroid was discovered by NASA's Asteroid Earth Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). ATLAS operates four telescopes around the world and is designed to provide up to a week of collision warning.
“This is a victory for science, [for] “If you happen to be in Siberia this evening, there will definitely be something to take your mind off the very cold temperatures,” says Fitzsimmons.
Drugs are rarely famous, and even more rarely superstars, but with his ability to grab headlines, Ozempic is the Taylor Swift of pharmaceuticals. So what exactly is behind that star power? Even as the drug and its derivatives become more widespread, researchers are racing to figure out how they work.
“We are seeing an incredible amount of benefits,” he says. Stephen Dayan at the University of Illinois. “It's early days, but these drugs look like they're going to change not only medicine, but the entire economy.”
Because most drugs treat only one or two symptoms, “cures” that promise to address all ailments are usually met with skepticism and suspicion. Ozempic seems to be bucking that trend. Wegovy, a version of Ozempic approved for weight loss last year. Reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke An increase of almost 20%. The emergence of “Ozempic pregnancy” suggests Fertility benefits. People started noticing its positive effects on depression and anxiety. In May, Results showed that it also reduced the risk of kidney failure Deaths in diabetic patients were also observed during the three-year trial. In July, another version of The drug was found to reduce brain atrophy Cognitive function declines slowly in Alzheimer's patients.
Wegovy and other weight loss drugs are widely promoted in the US
Richard Levin/Alamy
Why this drug is effective against so many conditions remains a mystery, but researchers are beginning to unravel the mechanisms underlying its extraordinary abilities. Understanding everything from its impact on reward circuits in the brain to its impact on inflammation…
HHello. Welcome to TechScape. Happy belated Thanksgiving to all my American readers. I hope you all enjoy a fun holiday party this weekend. I’m looking forward to baking gritty bunts for the Feast of St. Nicholas. This week in tech: Australia causes panic, Bluesky raises the issue of custom feeds, and we cover the online things that brought me joy over the holidays.
Australia on Thursday passed a law banning children under 16 from using social networks.
My colleague Helen Sullivan reports from Sydney: The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) would prohibit social media platforms from allowing users under the age of 16 to access their services, with penalties of up to A$50 million (A$3,200) for failure to comply. He is threatening to impose a fine of US$ 1,000,000. However, it does not contain any details about how it will work, only that companies are expected to take reasonable steps to ensure that users are over 16 years of age. Further details will be available by the time the Age Assurance Technology trials are completed in mid-2025. The bill will not take effect for another 12 months.
The bill also does not specify which companies would be subject to the ban, but Communications Minister Michel Rolland has said that Snapchat, TikTok, X, Instagram, Reddit, and Facebook are likely to be subject to the ban. YouTube is not included because it is for “important” educational purposes, she said.
The new law was drafted in response to Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying there was “a clear causal link between the rise of social media and the harm it causes to Australian youth mental health.”
TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and X are angry. Following the bill’s passage, Mehta said the process was “fast-tracked” and that it would take a long time to hear from young people, the steps the tech industry has already taken to protect them, and existing research on the impact of their social media use. He said he did not consider the evidence.
Australian children are not a significant user base for these companies. According to UNICEF, in 2023, there were 5.7 million people under the age of 18 living in Australia. Facebook reported 3 billion monthly users in 2023. May 2023. There are approximately 370 million Facebook users in India. Even if all Australian children were to leave social media, which is unlikely, the number of users would not decline significantly.
If countries around the world turn their young people away from social media, social media companies will face an uncertain future.
Of concern to tech companies is the precedent set by the new law. Tech companies also fiercely opposed measures in both Australia and Canada that would require them to pay for news content. The issue was not the amount requested, but what happened next. If countries around the world required people to pay for news, the financial burden it would place on Facebook and others would be enormous, as would the responsibility of determining what is news. As countries around the world turn their young people away from social media, social media companies will face an uncertain future. The pipeline of incoming users will dry up.
What tech companies want in Australia is a measure that would require parental consent, but this would be a more vague standard and one that would divide responsibility between companies and users. Mehta and others opposed a 2023 law passed in France requiring parents to approve accounts for children under 15 with far less vigor than Australia’s new law. However, in an ominous sign for Australia’s measures, local French media reports that technical challenges mean the under-15 rule has not yet been implemented. Also, does the parental consent feature work? Data from several European countries shows that it doesn’t. Nick Clegg from Meta said the company’s data shows that parents are not using parental control measures on social networks.
Australian law shows that this is indeed possible in any country. We have seen the laws of one country tilt the global governance of social networks before. In the United States, a law governing children’s privacy passed in 2000 imposed a minimum age of 13 for social media users. Social network privacy policy.
Click here for a comparison of Australia’s social media ban laws with those of other countries.
Britain is being warned by its cybersecurity chief about the seriousness of online threats from hostile states and criminal organizations. Richard Horne, director of the GCHQ National Cyber Security Center, highlighted a threefold increase in “serious” incidents due to Russia’s “aggression and recklessness” and China’s “highly sophisticated” digital operations.
In his recent speech, Mr. Horne emphasized the growing hostile activity in UK cyberspace, driven by adversaries aiming to cause disruption and destruction. He mentioned Russia’s aggressiveness and recklessness and China’s continued sophistication as cyber attackers.
Despite the increasing risks, Horne expressed concern that the severity of the threats facing the UK has been underestimated. This serves as a wake-up call for businesses and public sector organizations.
The NCSC reported a significant increase in serious cyber incidents over the past year, with 430 incidents requiring assistance compared to 371 in the previous year. Horne stressed the need to enhance protection and resilience against cyber threats across critical infrastructure, supply chains, and the economy.
The NCSC’s investigation does not differentiate between nation-state attacks and criminal incidents, but ransomware attacks remain a significant concern in the UK. Recent incidents targeting high-profile organizations like the British Library and Synnovis highlight the reliance on technology and the potential human cost of cyberattacks.
With various cyber threats emanating from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, the NCSC is urging organizations to ramp up their cybersecurity measures and stay vigilant. The warning signals the need for a collective effort to safeguard against cyber dangers.
Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity expert, reiterated the importance of staying alert to cyber threats. The government’s warning serves as a reminder for both public and private sectors to prioritize cybersecurity measures.
The United States announced new export restrictions targeting China’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, drawing immediate criticism from the Chinese government.
The U.S. government is expanding efforts to curb exports to China of cutting-edge chips that can be used in advanced weapons systems and artificial intelligence.
Monday’s announcement comes weeks before Donald Trump returns as president, where he is expected to strengthen Washington’s hawkish stance on China. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Monday that President Joe Biden’s term has been particularly challenging in “strategically addressing China’s military modernization through export controls.”
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said: “The United States has taken significant steps to ensure that our technology is not used by adversaries in ways that threaten our national security.” . The U.S. government continues to work with allies and partners to “actively and aggressively protect our world-leading technology and know-how from being used to undermine our national security.”
The Chinese government pledged on Monday to protect its interests, with a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce saying the United States was “abusing export control measures” and “impeding normal economic and trade exchanges.”
The latest U.S. rules include restrictions on sales to 140 companies, including Chinese semiconductor companies Pyotek and SiCarrier, without additional permits. The Commerce Department said they also affect Nowra Technology Group, which makes chip manufacturing equipment. Others include entities in Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
The new U.S. rules also include regulations for 20 types of chip manufacturing equipment and three types of software tools for semiconductor development or production. “We are in constant dialogue with our allies and partners to reevaluate and update our controls,” said Alan Estevez, Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security.
Netherlands-based computer chip equipment maker ASML, the only manufacturer of cutting-edge chip-making machinery, said it does not expect new U.S. regulations to impact its latest financial metrics. Ta.
ASML said the latest U.S. regulations, if implemented by the Dutch government, will impact exports of deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) systems to some chip manufacturing plants in China. ASML is the only manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment (EUV) that produces cutting-edge chips. The company already cannot sell EUV equipment to China because of existing government restrictions on the use of US technology.
Separately, the Dutch government said on Monday that it shares the United States’ security concerns regarding exports of advanced semiconductor manufacturing tools and is considering the latest U.S. rules.
The US Department of Commerce said the new regulations are aimed at slowing China’s development of advanced AI that could “change the future of warfare” and undermining the development of China’s own semiconductor ecosystem.
The agency said this was in line with Washington’s “small garden, high fence” policy of strategic restrictions, an approach that Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized last month.
Since the launch of ChatGPT raised global awareness of the power of AI, calls for further shutdowns of the semiconductor supply chain have been growing.
Thibault Denamiel, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told AFP that the move confirms “the trajectory of U.S. policy rather than a significant increase in regulatory efforts.”
“The additions become less important in light of the incoming Trump administration’s proposals,” he added, noting that the president-elect has vowed drastic action to trivialize these latest restrictions on chip technology.
IIf you were an avid video game fan in the summer of 1994, you probably remember where you were when the August issue of Edge magazine went on sale. By that time, Sony had already announced its intention to develop a PlayStation console (in October of the previous year). But it was the cover of the world’s most advanced gaming publication that really opened up this machine’s potential. Edge not only listed the specs in full, but also attached glowing endorsements from Capcom, Namco, and Konami. One developer breathlessly told the magazine: “This will revolutionize the way computers work today.” Suddenly, the entire structure of the console gaming business was under threat. All I needed was a boost.
Sony’s entry into the video game industry has become the stuff of legend (and will probably be fodder for a regular Netflix movie one day). In the late 1980s, the company was keen to gain a foothold in an increasingly lucrative business after the failure of its MSX gaming computers. So when the opportunity arose to build a CD-ROM drive for the soon-to-be-released supercomputer, Nintendo (SNES) console, Sony jumped at it. But behind the scenes, Sony’s engineering genius Ken Kutaragi was also designing a standalone system. playstationit can play not only SNES games, but also the new CD format controlled by Sony itself.
Nintendo felt a threat to its supremacy. As a result, when Sony announced the PlayStation at the big Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago in 1991, Nintendo actually canceled the deal and instead partnered with Philips to create a SNES-based CD add-on. It was immediately announced that it would be produced. Sonny was shocked and humiliated. Jilt Bride in the Cathedral of the Tech Industry. Various theories have been proposed about Nintendo’s motives, but the most obvious was that it was a highly protective company wresting control back from an ambitious consumer electronics rival. Whatever actually happened, the PlayStation was over. Or was it?
Some of PlayStation’s first games. Photo: Lou Benoist/AFP/Getty Images
No, no. It wasn’t. Instead, an enraged Sony scrapped the Nintendo-based technology, and Kutaragi began work on a new console codenamed PS-X. This game console is designed around a powerful 32-bit Risc processor and includes a co-processor named Geometry Transformation Engine. Fast and detailed real-time 3D visual mathematics. At this stage in the early 1990s, the company made two important decisions. One was a development deal with arcade legend Namco to create new PS-X exclusive titles. The other was to send engineers on a worldwide developer tour to recruit developers. Support your console with exciting 3D graphics demos. Sony successfully capitalized on widespread dissatisfaction with Sega and Nintendo, which had bound publishers to restrictive and complex licensing agreements for years, while also captivating programmers and artists with its thrilling technology. By early 1994, 250 companies had signed up to create games for the machine, beating out the meager support gained by rival multimedia consoles such as the Philips CDi and 3DO. I could feel the momentum building.
When the PlayStation launched in Japan in December 1994, it launched Sega’s long-awaited 32-bit CD-ROM machine, ostensibly a similar 32-bit CD-ROM machine that supported the company’s biggest arcade titles, Daytona USA and Virtua Fighter. I played against Saturn. At first, Sony seemed to balk, and the launch of this machine didn’t draw the same chaotic lines that greeted the Saturn a few weeks earlier. But as the US and European release dates approached, both the hype and the software library grew. Titles like 3D fighting game Toh Shin Den, platformer Jumping Flash!, and racer Motor Toon GP exploit the visual potential of machines with rich, detailed 3D environments and smooth vehicle and character animation. I showed off. By the end of that year, Wipeout and Tekken had joined that list. These beautiful and thrilling games pack attitude and perfectly embody Sony’s philosophy that if it’s not real-time, it’s not a game.
Starting in 1996, Sony began seriously promoting the PlayStation as a lifestyle accessory rather than just a children’s toy. Geoff Glendening, head of marketing at Sony London, famously introduced the console to nightclubs and music festivals. Advertising giant TBWA was hired to develop a fresh image of the machine as cool and desirable, culminating in an award-winning production in 1999. double life commercial. But more importantly, the console’s friendly development environment and Sony’s excellent support for third-party studios ushered in an era of enthusiastic experimentation.
Now, when we look back at titles like Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and Driver, we see open, explorable worlds, genre-defying design, and cinematic storytelling. Discover the origins of modern 3D game design. We’ve seen Namco ease its role as a semi-first-party creator and push the Ridge Racer and Tekken franchises to new heights both technically and design-wise. We’ve seen Japanese publishers break away from restrictive relationships with Nintendo and Sega and bring out gorgeous blockbusters like Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid.
But importantly, PlayStation also brought with it an undercurrent of whimsy and playfulness. From PaRappa the Rapper to BibliBong to LSD: Dream Emulator, music and imagery were explored, sometimes to disconcerting effect. And while people in their 20s loved Tony Hawk and Tekken, kids weren’t left behind. This era was also the era of beloved comic book platformers like Jumping Flash, Spyro, Croc, and Crash Bandicoot. When Nintendo finally released the N64 in 1996, it found that PlayStation had already captured the majority of its potential users. Another layer of Sony’s long revenge.
Something for kids… Crash Bandicoot. Photo: Universal Interactive
The original PlayStation went on to sell 100 million units over its 10-year lifespan. This broke the monopoly enjoyed by Sega and Nintendo and cemented a series of huge game franchises that still thrive today. At launch, there was uncertainty about the CD-ROM format, which provides slower access to data than cartridges, but Sony leveraged its music and film technology expertise to overcome obstacles and establish the format as the future. I did. Its industrial design was stunning, a sleek gray machine that fit next to my TV and video recorder in my living room. An innovative joypad. Those cute little memory cards. Start-up animation with music swells. The TV advert made me want it, and the launch price (£299 compared to the Saturn’s £399) made it more accessible.
However, looking back at the feature in Edge magazine that was published a few months before the game’s release in Japan, and which has since been followed by many similar reviews in the gaming press, it feels like something important is already happening. I did. Quotes, specs, and screenshots of demos seem to pop off the page. Even if PlayStation’s success wasn’t inevitable at that point, in the notoriously unpredictable video game business, it was as close as it gets.
JAguar finally revealed its highly anticipated Type 00 electric car at its Miami Art Week launch event. The marketing campaign teaser video released on social media two weeks ago generated mixed opinions. Here, industry experts share their thoughts on the car, its launch, and marketing.
Jeff Dodds
Former Honda Marketing Manager, currentChief Executive of Formula E, where Jaguar competes
I recently owned a Jaguar iPace. It’s a nice car, but it didn’t bring a smile to my face. That’s what I look for in a car. Jag knows this too.
If Jaguar’s goal was to grab attention at the launch, they definitely achieved it. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to the release, and some guests were eager to see the beastly monster unveiled. It wasn’t terrible, but it was quite unique. It’s larger, bolder, and more disruptive than I expected. It will definitely turn heads. Not everyone will love it, but that’s a good thing. Inspector Morse may not go for it, but his grandson might if he just started a cybersecurity startup.
The event itself was completely different, industrial, and edgy. British grime MC and rapper Skepta may not be the typical Jaguar brand ambassador, but there he was, performing a DJ set surrounded by influencers and cultural tastemakers in downtown Miami. That’s a significant departure from the past. Maybe too much deviation? Possibly. Jaguar has quickly become a brand of conversation in the past tense, so I commend them. I believe you’ll find joy in riding the Type 0.
Ginny Buckley
Founder of UK EV buying website Electrifying.com
In Jaguar’s 90-year history, no event has created more global buzz than a controversial rebrand. Now that the dramatic Type 00 cover has been unveiled, the new logo and flashy advertising may fade from memory.
I first saw this car at a briefing session at Jaguar Land Rover’s Midland Design Studio. In my over 25 years as a motoring journalist, no car has impressed me as much as this £100,000+ all-electric GT.
Mr Buckley says the new Jaguar Type 00 concept car is “much bigger, bolder and more disruptive than we ever imagined”. Photo: Electricifying.com
Yes, it’s pink. Very pink. Presented in Miami Pink and London Blue, the car’s colors reflect the city it was revealed in and Jaguar’s British heritage.
The color is inevitably a point of focus for many critics. According to Jaguar’s design team, this color is “production ready” and could stir things up among traditional Jaguar fans if it becomes part of the final color palette.
Beyond the color, the Type 00’s design is striking with a long hood, massive grille, and front-hinged butterfly doors. Jaguar has also eliminated the rear window.
I find the Type 0 to be fresh and bold. My 15-year-old son described it as “the best,” and I take that as a compliment.
Buckley said the Miami pink color “could cause a stir among traditional Jaguar fans.” Photo: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Jaguar
“It’s going to challenge people and be polarizing,” said Jerry McGovern, Jaguar’s Chief Creative Officer. And it will. If their aim was to spark discourse, they have succeeded.
The question now is whether Jaguar can evolve the brand rapidly enough to attract the new generation of young, affluent buyers they hope will purchase the car.
Manfredi Ricca
Global Chief Strategy Officer at brand consulting firm Interbrand. He has collaborated with Bugatti and was instrumental in the relaunch of Mini and BMW.
Flashback to two weeks ago. Jaguars weren’t particularly interesting to many. Then, a 30-second video was released. Millions of heads turned instantly. In just 24 hours, Jaguar became a global talking point without unveiling any products.
Consequently, anticipation for the new lineup, with leaks surfacing on the eve of the release, has reached the intensity and reach of a World Cup final.
Campaigns designed for brand activation don’t get much better than this. Many overlook the fact that Jaguar Land Rover wasn’t attempting to evolve a successful brand; instead, it was reinventing a struggling one.
The reality today is that there are more people who appreciate Jaguar’s history than those who actually desire a Jaguar car.
Museums can subsist solely on the past, but commercial entities can’t. Companies must transform their legacy into something that attracts enough customers willing to pay a premium.
Ricca says the Jaguar Type 00 will “tempt” potential customers. Photo: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Jaguar
Once a trailblazing manufacturer of some of the world’s most innovative cars, Jaguar is once again adored by a few rather than ignored by many.
The concept introduced in Miami will captivate those few, but the true test lies in turning them into enthusiasts in 2025 when the car hits the market, and customers in 2026.
Richard Exon
Co-founder of advertising agency Joint, previously collaborated with Audi and Range Rover.
Jaguar deserves praise for its ambitious rebranding efforts. Making a clean break from the past is the best approach. The company aims to attract an entirely new customer base with its latest car range, and a more modern, inclusive, and daring brand strategy could prove successful.
However, good intentions aren’t enough when the execution is as lackluster as Jaguar’s pre-launch promotional video content.
Exxon said Jaguar’s rebranding video was “derivative and disappointing.” Photo: Jaguar/PA
Fortunately, the concept car images feature a bold new aesthetic that demands a fresh evaluation.
The critical next step is how well the innovative design of the concept translates into the final manufactured product available for purchase.
Jaguar’s troubled car brands seldom get second chances, so let’s hope Jaguar rises to the occasion, rebounds from the video mishap, and dares to be as unique as it aspires to be.
When it comes to buying something you love, planning ahead is key. Take the time to carefully consider and prepare before making a purchase, especially when buying something second-hand. Monica Marriott Mills, a TikTok user who shares insights on vintage clothing styles, suggests starting by creating a detailed list for each person you need to buy gifts for.
“I create a profile for each person, noting their preferences, favorite colors, and any items they have mentioned wanting, like a photo frame for their wedding anniversary,” she explains. “By jotting down this information on your phone, you can stay focused while shopping at thrift stores or antique shops.”
Marriott Mills, like many others her age, buys 50% of her Christmas presents second-hand. According to a report from the resale app Vinted, more than half of people under 45 buy used items at least once a month, compared to 43% of all consumers.
If you’re short on time, online second-hand marketplaces like eBay, Vinted, and Vestiaire Collective are convenient options to explore. You can browse and shop from the comfort of your own home.
Shopping for second-hand items can potentially allow you to purchase gifts that may have been out of reach if bought new. For example, a beginner in sewing might appreciate a sewing machine. While John Lewis sewing machines start from £135 when new, you can find similar working models on eBay starting at just £10 through bidding or £45.99 for an instant purchase, complete with a box.
Please Wake Up Early
Shoppers at the Red Brick Market in Liverpool, England. Keep an eye out for bargains in charity shops and markets. Photo: Chris Hellier/Alamy
If you know someone is selling household items or electronics, consider checking charity shops, flea markets, antique stores, car boot sales, and online marketplaces for hidden gems.
Marriott Mills suggests researching the delivery schedules of used furniture stores as a strategy to score great deals. “The second-hand furniture store from British Heart Foundation in my area opens on Tuesdays, so I try to visit on that day,” she shares.
“Being one of the first shoppers can be advantageous, but consider going early on Saturdays or during your lunch break.” If you can’t shop in person, many of these stores have online platforms as well.
Also Look for Children’s Gifts
eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace are excellent sources for finding gently used toys that make perfect gifts for children. Some items are even new and still in their packaging.
For example, LOL dolls typically cost around £25 each when new, but you can find bundles of dolls in good condition on eBay for as low as £4. If you’re looking for larger items like playhouses or kitchens, check out Facebook Marketplace where prices range from £10 for brand new items that normally cost between £60 and £200.
However, be mindful of the seller’s location when purchasing larger items, as they may only be available for local pickup. Shipping costs could offset any savings you make.
Designer Goods Search Filter
“You’ll find a plethora of designer items on Vinted and Depop,” Marriott Mills suggests. “Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if a gift is brand new or gently used.”
You can refine your search by specifying “New with Tags” in the search bar to find brand new items. For instance, Ralph Lauren beanies typically cost between £80 and £110 when new, but you can snag one in like-new condition on Vinted for as low as £25.
Check for Safety
When purchasing a used toy, it’s important to check for loose parts or signs of damage. Photo: PhotoAlto/Alamy
For electronics and lighting products, try to test them out before purchasing to ensure they are safe and functional. Luke Osborne, Deputy Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, recommends performing checks like verifying the presence of a genuine safety certification label on the product.
“Also, check if the product comes with a 3-pin UK plug containing a fuse. Foreign plugs and adapters may not offer the same level of protection as a 3-pin plug,” he adds.
When buying a used toy, inspect for loose or damaged parts, wear and tear, and signs of damage. While many charity shops sell battery-operated and electric toys, they may not always be tested for safety. Watch out for obvious signs of damage, such as battery leakage, that could pose a safety hazard. If you’re satisfied with the item, check the return policy before making a purchase and test it out once you get home. Keep your receipt handy, as returns are typically allowed within 28 days.
Shopping online from platforms like Vinted or eBay requires sellers to disclose the working condition of the toy. If the item arrives and doesn’t function as described, buyers are usually protected by a warranty that offers a refund.
Parents can refer to a used toy buying guide to ensure the safety of toys, as some older toys may contain traces of harmful chemicals like chromium, selenium, and lead. Look out for recalled toys, which can often be identified through a quick online search. Safety and quality marks like the Lion Mark and CE Mark indicate compliance with safety standards.
It’s crucial to sanitize toys before gifting them. Soft toys can be washed in the washing machine, while plastic and wooden toys can be cleaned with soap and water.
Beware of Scams
Shopping online comes with risks of potential scams, but there are precautions you can take to avoid falling victim. “Before making a purchase, always check reviews,” recommends Marriott Mills. Be cautious if a seller has few reviews or if the reviews are negative. Positive reviews can provide assurance of a legitimate transaction. For designer items, consider using authentication websites like Legit Grail.
Look out for sellers who include the original receipt with the item, as this can help verify authenticity. Familiarize yourself with hallmarks and engravings to authenticate jewelry or tableware. “I gave my mom a silver bracelet stamped with 925. I knew it was genuine,” says Marriott Mills. “Don’t hesitate to double-check. You can even Google it right there in the store or at an antique shop.” Depop, eBay, and Vinted offer buyer protection guarantees, ensuring a refund if the item significantly differs from the description.
Present Them Well
Cardboard gift boxes make any gift look great. Photo: Purestock/Alamy
While many second-hand gifts may not come in their original packaging, you can present them beautifully with some extra care and thoughtful wrapping. Cardboard gift boxes are a versatile option to elevate the presentation of your gifts. Additionally, consider repurposing items you have at home, such as a shoebox for a makeshift basket or an old perfume box for stocking stuffers.
Recent research has uncovered the reason behind the evolution of our brains, pointing to the influence of gut microbes. Specifically, the study suggests that the intestines may have played a key role in boosting energy production over time, leading to the growth of crucial organs.
The study reveals that organisms with larger brains relative to body size, like humans and squirrel monkeys, have higher energy levels compared to those with smaller brains, thanks to their digestive microbes. These microbes help in breaking down food and producing energy efficiently.
This groundbreaking research is the first to demonstrate how the gut microbiome can drive biological differences between animal species.
“The connection between the gut and brain has always been acknowledged on some level. We often refer to ‘gut feelings,’ and it’s known that stress and anxiety can manifest as gut symptoms,” said lead author of the study, Katherine Amato, Associate Professor at Northwestern University, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
Amato further elaborated, stating, “This study goes beyond that and proposes that the activities in the gut may have laid the groundwork for the evolution of our brains.”
The intestines harbor over 100 trillion microorganisms, a count that surpasses the number of cells in the body. These intestinal microbes collectively weigh around 2 kg (4.4 pounds) – equivalent to the weight of a large pineapple.
Researchers were particularly intrigued by how these tiny gut microbes influence brain size in relation to body size. While humans may not have the largest brains in the animal kingdom, they have a significantly higher brain-to-body ratio compared to other species.
The experiment, detailed in the journal microbial genomics, involved transferring gut microbes from three primate species to mice – two with large brains (humans and squirrel monkeys) and one with a small brain (macaque). The results showed that mice receiving gut bacteria from larger-brained species produced more energy to support brain function, while those with gut flora from smaller-brained primates stored more energy as fat.
Amato explained, “Our findings suggest that as humans and squirrel monkeys independently evolved larger brains, their microbial communities also adapted in similar ways to meet the energy demands.” The study also found that the outcomes of feeding human microbes to mice were more akin to other large-brained species than previously thought.
Researchers are now extending their studies to other primate species to further explore the impact of gut microbes on brain evolution.
About our experts:
Dr. Katherine Amato is an Associate Professor of Biological Anthropology at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA. Her research interests include the gut microbiome, human evolution, and primate ecology.
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have provided an unparalleled snapshot of intermediate spiral galaxy NGC 1637.
This Hubble image shows NGC 1637, an intermediate spiral galaxy located about 38 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Tilker.
NGC1637 It is located in the constellation Eridanus, about 38 million light years from Earth.
This galaxy, also known as LEDA 15821 or UGCA 93, is located around this galaxy. 30,000 light years Across.
it was discovered It was discovered on February 1, 1786 by German-British astronomer William Herschel.
At first glance it looks like NGC1637 will be displayed Despite being a fairly symmetrical galaxy, it has some interesting features that have led astronomers to classify it as a biased spiral galaxy.
“The new images of NGC 1637 come from an observational program dedicated to studying star formation in nearby galaxies,” Hubble astronomers said.
“Stars form in cold, dusty gas clouds that collapse under their own gravity.”
“As young stars grow, they heat the nursery with starlight, wind, and strong outflow.”
“Together, these factors play a role in controlling the rate of star formation in future generations.”
“Evidence of star formation is scattered around NGC 1637, if you know where to look.”
“The spiral arms of the galaxy are dotted with what look like pink clouds, many with bright blue stars.”
“The pinkish color comes from hydrogen atoms excited by ultraviolet radiation from young, massive stars.”
“This contrasts with the warm yellow glow at the galactic center, where older, redder stars are densely clustered.”
“The stars that sparkle their birthplaces are relatively short-lived, and many of these stars explode as supernovae just a few million years after their birth.”
In 1999, Lick Observatory's supernova search discovered a type II supernova in NGC 1637.
named SN 1999emThis supernova was hailed as the brightest supernova observed that year.
It has been closely tracked by astronomers and has been shown to have dimmed relatively slowly over the years.
“When a massive star annihilates as a supernova, its explosion outstrips its entire home galaxy for a short period of time,” the astronomers said.
“Supernovae mark the end of a star's life, but by compressing nearby gas clouds, they can also jump-start the formation of new stars, starting a star's life anew.”
Primordial black holes have been theorized for decades and may even be the eternally elusive dark matter. However, primordial black holes have not yet been observed. These tiny black holes could become trapped in rocky planets or asteroids, consuming their liquid cores from within and leaving hollow structures behind, according to a duo of astrophysicists from the University at Buffalo, Case Western Reserve University, and National Donghua University. It is said that there is. Alternatively, microtunnels could be left in very old rocks on Earth, or in the glass or other solid structures of very old buildings.
An artist's impression of a primordial black hole. Image credit: NASA.
Small primordial black holes are perhaps the most intriguing and intriguing relics of the early universe.
They could act as candidates for dark matter, be sources of primordial gravitational waves, and help solve cosmological problems such as domain walls and the magnetic monopole problem.
However, so far no convincing primordial black hole candidates have been observed.
Professor Dejan Stojković of the University at Buffalo said: “Although the chances of finding these signatures are low, the search does not require many resources and the potential reward of providing the first evidence of a primordial black hole is enormous. It's going to become something.”
“We need to think outside the box because what has been done so far to find primordial black holes has not worked.”
Professor Stojkovic and colleague Dr. De Zhang Dai, of Case Western Reserve University and National Donghua University, are investigating how large hollow asteroids can grow without collapsing, and whether a primordial black hole is The probability of passing was calculated. Earth.
“Because of such long odds, we have focused on hard traces that have existed for thousands, millions, or even billions of years,” Dr. Dai said. .
“If the object has a liquid central core, a trapped primordial black hole could absorb the liquid core, whose density is higher than that of the outer solid layer,” Professor Stojković added.
“In that case, if the object was hit by an asteroid, the primordial black hole could escape from the object, leaving only a hollow shell.”
But would such a shell be strong enough to support itself, or would it simply collapse under its own tension?
Comparing the strength of natural materials such as granite and iron to their surface tension and surface density, the researchers found that such hollow objects could be less than one-tenth the radius of the Earth, making them smaller than normal We calculated that it was more likely to be an asteroid than a planet. .
“If it gets any bigger, it will collapse,” Professor Stojković said.
“These hollow objects could potentially be detected with telescopes. The mass, and therefore the density, can be determined by studying the objects' trajectories.”
“If an object's density is too low for its size, that's a good sign that it's hollow.”
For objects without a liquid core, the primordial black hole could simply pass through, leaving a straight microtunnel behind.
For example, a primordial black hole with mass 10twenty two grams, leaving a tunnel 0.1 microns thick.
Large slabs of metal or other materials could serve as effective black hole detectors by monitoring the sudden appearance of these tunnels, but very old materials from buildings that are hundreds of years old Searching for existing tunnels has a higher probability. From the oldest to rocks that are billions of years old.
Still, even assuming that dark matter is indeed composed of primordial black holes, they calculated that the probability that a primordial black hole would pass through a billion-year-old rock is 0.000001.
“You have to compare costs and benefits. Does it cost a lot of money to do this? No, it doesn't,” Professor Stojković said.
“So, to say the least, it's unlikely that a primordial black hole will pass through you during your lifetime. Even if you did, you probably wouldn't notice.”
“Unlike rocks, human tissue has a small amount of tension, so the primordial black hole won't tear it apart.”
“And while the kinetic energy of a primordial black hole may be huge, it is moving so fast that it cannot release much of that energy during a collision.”
“If a projectile is moving through a medium faster than the speed of sound, the molecular structure of the medium has no time to react.”
“If you throw a rock through a window, it will probably break. If you shoot a window with a gun, it will probably just leave a hole.”
team's paper Published in a magazine physics of the dark universe.
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De Chan Dai and Dejan Stojković. 2024. We're looking for planets, asteroids, and tiny primordial black holes on Earth. physics of the dark universe 46: 101662;doi: 10.1016/j.dark.2024.101662
Approximately 46,000 years ago, a group of Neanderthals resided in caves in what is now Spain and gathered fossils, as reported by a researcher in a paper published in the magazine Quaternary period.
Marine fossils from the Prado Vargas Cave, Spain. Image credit: Lewis others., doi: 10.3390/quat7040049.
Collecting is a form of leisure, even a passion, involving the collection, preservation, and display of objects.
When tracing its origins in literature, we are reminded of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (7th century BC) known for collecting books, marking the emergence of writing and the dissemination of knowledge on clay tablets.
This innate curiosity and interest in collecting stones and fossils, known as manuports, dates back to the dawn of humanity.
Archaeologists have long known that Neanderthal dwellings contained objects devoid of practical value, indicating a cultural significance attached to these items.
In the case of the Prado Vargas Cave in Cornejo, Burgos, Spain, archaeologist Marta Navazo Ruiz and her team unearthed 15 marine fossils from the Late Cretaceous period in the cave’s Mousterian level.
The fossils, primarily mollusks and a few echinoderms, hinted at a deliberate collection rather than accidental gathering by the Neanderthals.
The presence of these fossils within the cave suggests intentional behavior, possibly for social or symbolic purposes.
The researchers proposed hypotheses ranging from aesthetic appreciation to cultural identity reinforcement through these fossil collections.
This discovery elevates the Prado Vargas Neanderthals as early fossil collectors, shedding light on their efforts towards understanding and preserving natural history.
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Marta Navazo Ruiz others. 2024. Were Neanderthals the first collectors? First evidence found in level 4 of the Prado Vargas cave in Cornejo, Burgos, Spain. Quaternary period 7(4):49;doi: 10.3390/quat7040049
TThe Swedish government’s survival checklist for war would have seemed strange a few decades ago: a sleeping bag, spare battery, one week’s worth of cash, and preserved foods like rice and cereals.
While not explicitly named, Russia looms in the background, evoking memories of the Cold War. The pamphlet “In Case of Crisis or War” has been updated to address the current threat.
The guide now considers the possibility of an “armed attack against Sweden” along with “cyber attacks” and “disinformation campaigns.”
In addition to the traditional threats of nuclear conflict and armed invasion, Europe now faces the 21st-century enemy of cyberwar.
Richard Horne, from the National Cyber Security Center, warns of underestimated risks from countries like Russia and China.
Recent incidents have shown an increase in serious cyber attacks, prompting British ministers to highlight the potential impact of Russia’s cyber operations.
Various European countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Finland, are advising citizens to prepare for power outages caused by cyber attacks.
Experts stress the seriousness of Russia’s cyber threat and the need for organizations to plan for cyberattacks on key infrastructure.
Recent evidence points to Russian cyber interference in UK institutions, prompting calls for preparedness against cyber threats.
Amid rising cyber tensions, countries are emphasizing the importance of stockpiling essentials and strengthening cybersecurity measures.
As governments ramp up cybersecurity efforts, individuals are advised to use strong passwords and verify information sources.
The UK government recommends emergency preparedness and offers guidance on dealing with potential cyber threats.
Experts emphasize the resilience of Baltic and Scandinavian countries in the face of potential cyber and armed conflicts.
As the world faces various threats, the importance of preparedness, including stockpiling essential supplies, is underscored.
Paleontologist Tabata Klimek of Santa Federal University and his colleagues said, “The armadillo family is represented by modern armadillos and extinct armadillos.''
“This group is stratigraphically and geographically widespread, from southern Patagonia to southern North America.”
“The paleontological record of armadillos is represented primarily by osteoderms.”
“According to other interpretations, they are known from nearly all South American mammal faunas from the late Paleocene/early Eocene, or only from the early Eocene.”
“Euphractinae is the most diverse clade (subfamily) of Dasypodidae,” they noted.
“The earliest undisputed occurrences of euphractin date back to the mid-to-late Eocene of the Gran Barranca region of Argentine Patagonia and the mid-Eocene Upper Lumbrella Formation of northwestern Argentina.”
“Partetus “It is one of the earliest branching euphractins,” they added.
“The genus was described in 1902 and the type species is Partetus chicoensis I'm from Patagonia, Argentina. ”
8 bone embryo fossils Partetus Oliveirai It was discovered in the Guavirotuba Formation in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
“The Guavilotuba Formation is the main lithostratigraphic unit of the Curitiba sedimentary basin,” the paleontologists said.
“It is represented by distributed fluvial system deposits consisting of immature subalcoholic sand and mud interspersed with limited gravel deposits at the edges of the basin.”
“Geological features indicate a semi-arid environment, with temporary rivers forming during the rainy season, transporting sediment and forming alluvial fans.”
This new species expands our knowledge of the diversity of armadillos, which lived in southeastern South America during the Paleogene period.
“Partetus OliveiraiThe osteoderm differs from other species of this genus in the following ways: (i) More surface glandular and ciliary pores. (ii) flat surface joint areas between osteoderms; There is no groove in the central part of the osteoderm. (iii) large size,” the researchers said.
“Combined, this set of traits does not exist in any other species. Partetus Genus. ”
“The increase in the number and size of surface glandular and ciliary pores may be related to the global cooling that occurred during the mid-to-late Eocene, which affected South American faunas. .”
“Finally, this new species expands our knowledge of the lesser-known diversity of mammals that lived in southeastern South America during the Eocene.”
of findings Published in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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TDF Klimek others. 2024. Uncovering the diversity of Paleogene zonal fauna from Brazil: new species Partetus (Euphractinae) Guavilotuba Formation (Middle to Late Eocene). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 44 (1): e2403581;doi: 10.1080/02724634.2024.2403581
Tattoos printed on a person’s scalp can detect electrical activity in the brain and transmit the signals to a recording device.
Lu Nanshu
Printing temporary tattoos on people’s heads could make it easier to analyze their brain waves.
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method of measuring electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. It can be used to test patients for neurological conditions such as epilepsy, tumors, and damage from stroke or head trauma.
Because human skulls vary in size and shape, technicians must spend considerable time measuring and marking the scalp to obtain accurate values. The gel helps the electrodes detect brain signals, but when it dries it stops working. The cables that connect to the electrodes can also cause discomfort and interfere with delicate electrical signals.
Lu Nanshu A team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin hopes to get around this problem by printing temporary tattoos on test subjects’ scalps. Tattoo ink is made of two polymers called poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS). It has excellent conductivity and durability, and does not irritate the skin.
A computer program creates a personalized tattoo design based on a 3D scan of your scalp, and a printer controlled by a robotic arm applies ink directly to your scalp. The ink comes in two different formulations, one for the electrodes that receive brain signals and one for the connection that goes to the back of the neck. From there, physical wires transmit the signal to small devices that record the data.
“Our technology embodies the first hair-compatible temporary electronic tattoo that enables high-quality brain monitoring,” says Lu.
This tattoo has been found to work well on bald heads and people with buzz-cut hairstyles. “This method has not yet been extensively tested on long, thick, curly hair, but it could be possible in the future by changing the nozzle design or incorporating robotic fingers into the hair parting. “It could be possible,” she says. The researchers say it is also possible to make the process completely wireless by embedding a data transmitter into the tattoo.
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