Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) has simplified the process of creating digital doppelgangers.
For decades, AI tools have been programmed to generate faces. The face was chosen as a primary focus for testing capabilities due to multiple factors.
Firstly, the structure and layout of human faces are relatively consistent, making them ideal for early AI learning. There is also an abundance of facial images available online, providing more data for AI to train on.
Importantly, the choice to focus on facial recognition stemmed from its familiarity. Humans are highly skilled at recognizing and interpreting faces, while assessing the accuracy of AI-generated images of landscapes or buildings can pose challenges.
This is why studies showcasing AI’s ability to create hyper-realistic synthetic faces have continually garnered significant attention.
Consequently, AI has evolved into a facial recognition expert. Today, it can analyze live video footage, precisely identify facial features, and transition seamlessly between different pre-learned faces, including those of celebrities and public figures.
Moreover, users can adjust lighting and create exaggerated facial expressions. The “Deepfake” technology successfully mimics these effects.
Additionally, with a collection of images showing faces from various angles, AI has the capability to generate double the number of faces, enabling overlays on existing images. With such doppelgänger technology, anyone can effectively become you.
Best of all, this technology is freely accessible to anyone who knows how to install and operate it on a standard computer.
While creating a digital doppelgänger may require a certain skill level, it’s not difficult to find user-friendly software. However, these advancements raise significant concerns for privacy and verification.
This article addresses the inquiry (submitted by Julian Fisher via email) “How can I easily create my digital doppelganger?”
Please email us with your questionsat Question @sciencefocus.com or reach out viaFacebook,Twitter or InstagramPage (please include your name and location).
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US President Donald Trump (left) announces the Golden Dome Missile Defense Shield, joined by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (right).
Chris Kleponis/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
US President Donald Trump has introduced the Golden Dome defense initiative, designed to intercept threats like polar sounds, ballistic missiles, and advanced cruise missiles.
“Once fully operational, the Golden Dome is engineered to intercept missiles launched from around the globe or even from outer space,” Trump stated during a White House announcement on May 20th. Watch here.
However, many experts express skepticism regarding the feasibility of such a comprehensive interception system. Concerns have been raised that, even if successful, the Golden Dome could require over a decade to implement and exceed $50 trillion in costs, potentially exacerbating global nuclear arms races and space militarization.
What is the Golden Dome?
The project is inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome system, which utilizes ground-based missiles to intercept incoming artillery and rockets launched from shorter ranges. In contrast, the Golden Dome aims to safeguard a significantly larger area, with the landmass of the contiguous US being over 350 times that of Israel.
According to Trump and his team, the system should be capable of targeting ballistic missiles fired from distant locations, advanced cruise missiles operating at lower altitudes, and hypersonic missiles traveling at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound. These could possess nuclear or conventional warheads.
To detect and neutralize threats, the Golden Dome is expected to employ a mix of “space-based sensors alongside air and missile defenses,” as noted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a statement. Essentially, the Golden Dome would represent an umbrella system integrating multiple technologies to combat various threats, as explained by David Berbach in an article with New Scientist.
Nevertheless, many of these defense capabilities are still in development or do not currently exist. For instance, the proposal mentions space-based interceptors in low Earth orbit, which remains a technological hurdle yet to be overcome. Thomas Gonzalez Roberts from Georgia Tech pointed this out.
A similar concept known as Star Wars was initially suggested by President Ronald Reagan as part of his strategic defense initiatives during the Cold War. Trump characterized the Golden Dome as an endeavor to complete “the mission President Reagan initiated 40 years ago.”
How does the Golden Dome function?
Experts in missile defense have likened the challenge of intercepting long-range nuclear missiles to “shooting bullets at bullets,” given that “the targets are minuscule, emit minimal signals, and move rapidly.” Even the most optimistic technical specialists acknowledge that achieving a 100% interception rate is unlikely.
The U.S. already possesses an array of ground-based interceptor missiles located predominantly in Alaska, capable of countering “dozens of oncoming warheads at best,” according to Burbach. He also highlighted that both Russia and China are working on countermeasures to complicate missile detection and interception.
“Interception of subsonic cruise or short-range ballistic missiles launched from just outside the U.S. borders employs established technology, yet effectively implementing those defenses across the nation can be cost-prohibitive,” said Burbach. He further emphasized the difficulty of the Golden Dome’s goal to thwart a significant volume of intercontinental missiles, particularly from China and Russia.
Trump’s vow to shield the Golden Dome against missile strikes from distant points, even from space, “requires a densely packed constellation of space-based missile interceptors in low-Earth orbit that could engage missiles within moments of their launch,” indicated Roberts.
“The number of satellites necessary far exceeds the current constellations launched,” he noted. Presently, the largest constellations consist of about 7,000 Starlink satellites managed by SpaceX.
What is the estimated cost of the Golden Dome?
Trump has suggested a budget of $175 billion for the Golden Dome, though this funding remains unapproved by Congress. The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency, has estimated that space-based interceptor systems akin to the Golden Dome may cost upwards of $542 billion.
“It’s uncertain what expenses are incorporated in the $175 billion figure,” noted Patrycja Bazylczyk of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.
Trump also asserted that the Golden Dome would be “fully operational” by the conclusion of his second term, a claim that experts find dubious. “The three-year timetable is overly ambitious. Realistically, this initiative will take at least a decade or more,” Bazylczyk added.
The timelines could significantly depend on existing military system capabilities. “Notable advancements could arise in the short term, including the deployment of new interceptors, radar systems, space-based sensors, and technology demonstrations,” Bazylczyk mentioned.
Ultimately, considerable challenges exist regarding the rapid deployment of thousands of satellites required for the Golden Dome. Additionally, developing the necessary space-based interceptor technology remains a daunting task.
“Finding a launch schedule capable of supporting a massive satellite constellation emerging in just three years is extremely challenging,” Roberts pointed out. “SpaceX has launched more than any other entity in the history of space operations, raising the question of how to surpass that threshold even more.”
Burbach added, “It seems unlikely that the system will achieve a complete defense against missile attacks. We might attain some limited operational capabilities, but accomplishing this quickly is fraught with difficulties.”
Will the Golden Dome enhance U.S. security?
Currently, an arms race is underway among the U.S., China, and Russia, with each nation enhancing its space-based capabilities to modernize and grow their nuclear arsenals and military strength.
Should the Golden Dome effectively bolster U.S. air and missile defenses, it might lessen adversaries’ confidence in their missile capabilities, possibly altering strategic calculations and discouraging them from launching attacks, according to Bazylczyk.
In contrast, the Golden Dome could potentially “contribute to instability” by signaling distrust towards nuclear adversaries, indicated Roberts. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Trump’s announcement, arguing that the Golden Dome carries a “strongly offensive implication” and could spur an arms race in space. Likewise, a Kremlin spokesperson suggested that the Golden Dome might restart discussions on nuclear arms control between Russia and the U.S.
In response to the system, both China and Russia “may attempt to destroy or disrupt U.S. satellites,” posited Burbach. Both nations have already developed missiles capable of targeting satellites, and they have demonstrated the capacity to jam or hack into satellite systems. In February 2024, U.S. intelligence agencies alerted that they intended to develop space weapons capable of using nuclear detonations to incapacitate or obliterate satellites.
Moreover, these countries could increase their missile arsenals and create more versatile weapons equipped with decoys, Burbach noted. He pointed out that Russia is already advancing technologies like underwater intercontinental nuclear torpedoes designed to evade space-based interception.
Currently, only two species of sloths exist, but in the past, numerous species roamed the Earth, including one with a nose resembling a bottle and another akin to the ancestors of modern armadillos. Most of these extinct sloths were too massive to inhabit trees. The largest of them all – a member of the genus Megatherium – reached the size of an Asian bull elephant, weighing around 3.63 tons (8,000 pounds).
The ancient sloths inhabited a variety of environments – trees, mountains, deserts, northern forests, and open savannas – leading to wide differences in size among sloth species. Image credit: Diego Barletta.
“They resembled Grizzly Bears but were five times larger,” noted Dr. Rachel Nalducci, collection manager for vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
In a recent study, Dr. Nalducci and her team examined ancient DNA and compared over 400 fossils from 17 museums to explore how and why extinct sloths achieved such sizes.
The size difference ranges significantly between the massive Megatherium and the more modestly sized Shasta Sloth, which thrived on cacti in the arid regions of North America.
Conversely, the sloths adapted for tree climbing were uniformly small, averaging around 6 kg (14 lbs), with ground-dwelling sloths like them averaging about 79 kg (174 lbs).
Ground sloths had a strong affinity for caves, where their size played a crucial role in finding and creating shelters.
The moderately sized Shasta Sloths ventured into the depths of geological lungs formed by wind and water, creating magnificent canyons.
The larger sloths were not limited to pre-existing caves; using their sizeable claws, the largest known mammalian claws (whether extinct or extant), they could carve out their shelters from bare earth and rock. Evidence of their nests can still be found today, with claw marks adorning the cave walls.
Other factors influencing size variations likely include climate, interspecies interactions, and metabolic rates.
To accurately analyze these factors, a substantial amount of diverse data was required.
The authors integrated fossil shape data with DNA from both living organisms and extinct species to construct sloth lineages dating back over 35 million years.
With this foundation established, they incorporated findings from decades of research about the habitats sloths occupied, their diets, and their behavioral patterns.
Paleontologists maintain a keen interest in the evolution of size, collecting extensive data from numerous museum fossils for their analyses.
Sloth size differences are significantly shaped by the habitats they inhabited, which were also influenced by climate change.
“This research, employing evolutionary models across various scenarios and accounting for all these factors, is a considerable undertaking unlike anything previously attempted,” remarked Dr. Nalducci.
The sloth lineage witnessed dramatic life-altering changes as Earth’s climate evolved.
The earliest recognized sloth, Pseudoglyptodon, inhabited Argentina around 37 million years ago.
Analysis from the research team suggests that early sloths were likely small, ground-dwelling creatures, about the size of a Great Dane.
Throughout evolution, sloths occasionally adopted semiarboreal lifestyles.
However, not all sloths remained tree dwellers; the largest species, including Megatherium and Mylodon, likely evolved from tree-adapted ancestors but ultimately thrived on the ground.
Amidst this mixture of arboreal and terrestrial creatures, sloth size remained relatively stable for about 20 million years, regardless of their activity preferences until a significant geological event occurred.
A great rift opened between present-day Washington and Idaho, extending through parts of Oregon and Nevada, releasing magma.
This process left a staggering 600,000 cubic miles of volcanic material in the Pacific Northwest, still observable today along the Columbia River, where flowing water has sculpted basalt into distinct columns.
These formations exhibit a unique hexagonal shape, resulting from the magma’s cooling and cracking processes.
The volcanic activity that formed these structures occurred over a slow burn spanning approximately 750,000 years, aligning with a period of global warming known as the mid-Miocene climate optimum.
Greenhouse gases released by these volcanic eruptions are presently thought to be a primary factor in that period of warming.
As a response, sloths began shrinking in size, possibly due to warmer temperatures leading to increased rainfall, which expanded forest habitats, offering more room for smaller species.
Size reduction is a common adaptive strategy among animals coping with heat stress, as recorded in various fossil records.
After volcanic activity ceased, the world remained warm for nearly a million years before returning to a longstanding cooling trend that persists today. Sloths also adapted, growing bulkier as temperatures decreased.
Arboreal and semiarboreal sloths were inherently limited by their need for tree proximity, but ground-dwelling sloths roamed freely in diverse terrains.
They trekked up the Andean mountains, traversed open savannas, migrated through deciduous forests in North America, and built homes in Canada and Alaska’s boreal forests.
There were even sloths adapted to marine environments. Thalassocnus thrived on dry land between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, sourcing food from the ocean to survive in such harsh conditions.
“They developed adaptations analogous to those of the Manatee,” Dr. Nalducci explained.
“Their dense ribs aided buoyancy, and elongated noses facilitated foraging for sea grass.”
These varied environments posed unique challenges that ground sloths creatively navigated.
“Such adaptations would have conserved energy and water, enabling more efficient movement through resource-limited habitats,” Dr. Nalducci remarked.
“In open grasslands, protection is crucial, and increased size offers some degree of safety.”
“Some ground sloths also had sparse bone structures embedded in their skin, akin to pebbles.”
Moreover, larger body sizes played a vital role in helping sloths endure the cooling climate.
They reached their peak size during the Pleistocene Ice Age, just before their eventual disappearance.
“Around 15,000 years ago is when notable population declines began,” Dr. Nalducci observed.
While debates continue regarding the reasons for sloth extinction, it coincided with human arrival in North America around the same time, leading to significant declines in sloth populations.
Ironically, the very size that provided protection from typical predators and insulated them from cold climates also contributed to their downfall.
Fast but well-defended, ground sloths proved difficult prey for early humans.
Tree-dwelling sloths observed the devastation unfold below from the safety of their heights, yet they too faced losses.
Two Caribbean sloth species managed to survive until about 4,500 years ago, after their terrestrial relatives had vanished elsewhere.
Humans reached the Caribbean around the same time the Egyptians were constructing pyramids, resulting in the quick extinction of Caribbean sloths.
“Paleoclimate changes cannot solely account for the rapid extinction of ground sloths beginning around 15,000 years ago,” the researchers asserted.
“Their sudden disappearance indicates human-driven factors were likely at play in the decline and extinction of sloths on Earth.”
Study published in the May 22nd, 2025 edition of the journal Science.
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Alberto Boscani et al. 2025. The appearance and end of giant sloths. Science 388 (6749): 864-868; doi: 10.1126/science.adu0704
This article is based on a press release from the Florida Museum of Natural History.
On May 20, 2025, Donald Trump unveiled the Golden Dome, marking one of the most ambitious and contentious defense projects in US history.
The $175 billion initiative that Trump aims to implement before his term ends in January 2029 seeks to establish a comprehensive missile defense system designed to guard the United States against nuclear threats, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and advanced weaponry.
Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the proposal envisions a global network of both terrestrial and space-based detectors and interceptors, enabling the destruction of enemy missiles in the atmosphere before they reach US soil.
While the administration has yet to clarify the operational details, critics argue that the concept is not only impractical but could also foster dangerous instability.
A New Era for Space
“The Golden Dome is reminiscent of a rebranded Strategic Defense Initiative,” says Dr. Michael Mulbihill, a researcher at Teesside University specializing in the geopolitical and technical ramifications of space weaponization. BBC Science Focus. “There are numerous political dynamics at play.”
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), proposed by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, aimed to create a US missile defense system using lasers, satellites, and other space-based technologies to intercept incoming Soviet missiles. Eventually, the project was abandoned due to concerns over its technical feasibility and astronomical costs.
Critics warn that the Golden Dome could revive similar flawed thinking, leading to severe ramifications for space security.
Although space has historically supported military operations through satellites for tracking, communication, and navigation, it hasn’t typically been viewed as a battlefield. In fact, the Outer Space Treaty explicitly prohibits the use of outer space for hostile purposes.
However, the Golden Dome might change that paradigm.
“This initiative could serve as a catalyst for the weaponization of space, prompting the development of various systems that have emerged in recent years,” warns Mulvihill.
The concern isn’t solely about US weapons in orbit; it extends to potential responses from other nations, such as Russia, raising the specter of an extensive orbital arms race.
Fueling an Arms Race
Critics like Mulvihill underscore that space-based missile shields could ultimately backfire, making the world less safe. The logic is straightforward: if one side creates a defense system capable of intercepting missiles, the opposing side is likely to retaliate by increasing its missile arsenal to overwhelm those defenses.
“This has been a consistent issue with anti-ballistic missile systems,” Mulvihill points out. “They can be overloaded, as seen in the 1960s and ’70s when both the US and USSR significantly increased their warhead counts.”
All defense systems come with inherent limitations. The Cold War taught us that the goal is often to amass enough warheads to ensure that at least some can reach their targets.
According to Mulbihill, the Golden Dome poses a risk of repeating this cycle on an even larger scale.
read more:
Low Earth Orbit: A Crowded Space
Implementing the Golden Dome would require thousands of new satellites. This space component could involve Starlink-like megaconstellations equipped with interceptor missiles to target ICBMs during the initial launch phase.
That isn’t just ambitious—it’s hazardous.
A 2024 study published in Nature’s Sustainability estimated that there could be over 100,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites by 2034. According to NASA, there are already more than 25,000 objects greater than 10cm in size, along with approximately 500,000 smaller fragments.
Even in the absence of weapons, navigation in space is becoming increasingly challenging. The addition of thousands of military satellites could dramatically heighten the risk of collisions and debris.
“If one of these interceptors malfunctions or detonates, it doesn’t just result in the loss of a single satellite; it can render entire orbits unusable for years,” warns Mulvihill.
He provides a stark analogy: “In naval warfare, when a ship sinks, the battlefield is abandoned. In space, the debris remains, circling the Earth at incredibly high speeds.”
A rocket launched from Gaza is intercepted on October 9, 2023, by the Israeli Iron Dome near Ashkelon, Israel.
Is the Golden Dome Feasible?
In addition to the geopolitical and environmental concerns, the Golden Dome faces fundamental operational challenges that could hinder its effectiveness.
While it may be capable of intercepting slower threats such as drones and short-range missiles, the difficulties presented by ICBMs are significantly greater.
“Interdicting an ICBM during its boost phase is extraordinarily challenging,” says Mulvihill. “Those missiles are launched from locations that could include central China or central Russia.”
To achieve global coverage within such a limited window, a tremendous number of space-based interceptors would be necessary.
According to a February 2025 Report from the American Physical Society (APS), over 1,000 orbital weapons would be essential to intercept even North Korean ICBMs during their boost phase. For 10 missiles launched in quick succession, around 10,000 interceptors would be required.
The costs entailed would be astronomical, and vulnerability to anti-satellite attacks from countries like Russia adds another layer of complexity. Reports suggest that such developments pose severe risks.
The APS report concludes with cautionary insight: “Even relatively modest numbers of nuclear-armed ICBMs present substantial challenges for creating reliable and effective defenses.”
“An extensive review of published literature highlights that many key challenges identified in developing and deploying efficient ballistic missile defenses are likely to remain unresolved beyond the 15-year timeframe we studied.”
Not Just Another Iron Dome
While the Golden Dome draws its name and inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, the comparison is misleading.
“People tend to focus on the success of the Israeli Iron Dome, but we must remember that it’s designed to protect against much lower-altitude projectiles and even some handheld rockets,” asserts Mulvihill. “ICBMs operate in an entirely different arena.”
Despite the ambitious plans for the Golden Dome, Mulvihill remains doubtful about its viability as a serious defense mechanism.
“It seems more like a spectacle fueled by political motives and opportunism from the aerospace industry,” he concludes.
About Our Experts
Michael Mulbihill is a researcher at Teesside University focused on sociotechnical and astrophysical phenomena stemming from nuclear deterrence and space technology. He also serves as the deputy convener for the Military War and Security Research Group and is a member of the Space Cooperative Working Group of the British Association for International Studies.
Traskasaura Sandrae, a 12 m long Erasmosaurus (a type of plesiosaurus) that inhabited the Cretaceous Sea 85 million years ago, showcases an unusual combination of primitive and advanced traits, setting it apart from other Erasmosaurus. This distinctive set of adaptations enabled the marine reptile to hunt its prey from above.
Traskasaura Sandrae. Image credit: O’Keefe et al., doi: 10.1080/14772019.2025.2489938.
The first Traskasaura fossil was unearthed in 1988 within late Cretaceous strata in the Haslam Formation on Vancouver Island, Canada.
Since then, additional fossils have been excavated from the same layers, including isolated right humeri, as well as components of the chest, guard bones, limbs, and a preserved juvenile skeleton.
Initially described in 2002, the fossil gained recent prominence when it was adopted as the official crest fossil of British Columbia.
“Fossils of Prisiosaurus have been recognized in British Columbia for decades,” states Professor F. Robin O’Keefe from Marshall University.
“Nevertheless, despite its designation as a fossil in 2023, the identity of the organisms that produced it has remained enigmatic.”
“Our recent research published today will finally clarify this enigma.”
“I comprehend the scientific uncertainty surrounding this taxa.”
“It exhibits an odd mix of primitive and advanced features. Notably, the shoulders are unlike any other plesiosaur I’ve encountered, and I’ve seen quite a few.”
With the naming of Traskasaura Sandrae, the Pacific Northwest can finally claim a distinct Mesozoic reptile.”
“Thus, this area, known for its rich contemporary marine biodiversity, was once home to a variety of extraordinary marine reptiles from the dinosaur age.”
In the original description of the fossil in 2002, experts were hesitant to classify a new genus based solely on the discovered adult Erasmosaurus skeleton.
The skeletal remains presented a relatively limited number of discernible traits.
However, the newly discovered, well-preserved partial skeleton allowed the research team to illuminate much about the Erasmosaurus morphology found in the Pantledge River, ultimately categorizing it as a new genus and species.
Traskasaura Sandrae possessed a notably lengthy neck, with at least 36 well-preserved cervical vertebrae, comprising at least 50 bones in total.
“And there is no significant knowledge yet; Traskasaura Sandrae boasts an impressive array of autodynamic bones that exhibit its strong ability to swim downward,” remarked Professor O’Keefe.
“This peculiar blend of features is linked to its hunting techniques. It utilizes this capability for descending swimming to ambush its prey from above.”
“The prey included abundant ammonites known from the region.”
Survey results will be published in Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
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F. Robin O’Keefe et al. 2025. Taxonomy of a remarkable new Erasmosaurus from the Santonian of Vancouver Island: British Columbia’s official province fossil name. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 23 (1); doi:10.1080/14772019.2025.2489938
On Friday, President Donald Trump enacted four executive orders designed to ease and broaden regulations surrounding nuclear production.
The orders focus on overhauling the Department of Energy’s nuclear energy research, facilitating the construction of reactors on federally owned land, reforming the Nuclear Regulation Authority, and accelerating U.S. uranium mining and enrichment efforts.
Alongside Trump, CEOs from various nuclear energy firms—such as Joseph Dominguez of Constellation Energy, Jacob DeWitt of Oklo, and Scott Nolan of General Substances—joined President Pete Hegses and Secretary of Interior Doug Burgham during the signing of the orders.
President Donald Trump displays an executive order he signed on May 23, 2025, in the Oval Office at the White House. Get McNamee/Getty Images
Before the signing, Burgham remarked that this initiative “reverses over 50 years of excessive regulation on the industry,” and he added that “each of these will address another challenge that has hindered progress.”
Trump referred to the nuclear energy sector as “dynamic,” asserting to reporters, “It’s a dynamic industry. It’s a tremendous industry. It needs to be handled correctly.”
A senior administrator briefing reporters prior to the signing indicated that one executive order aimed at permitting nuclear reactors on federal land is designed to meet rising electricity demands linked to AI technology. They emphasized that “safe and reliable nuclear energy will provide power to vital defense installations and AI data centers.”
The executive order also seeks to expedite the review and regulatory processes for nuclear reactor construction and operation. The fourth order stipulates that the Nuclear Regulation Authority must make licensing decisions for new reactors within an 18-month timeframe, according to officials.
This new timeline aims to “reduce regulatory obstacles and shorten licensing periods” for nuclear reactors.
Dominguez commended the president’s initiative to streamline the nuclear regulation framework, noting, “Historically, regulatory delays have plagued our industry.”
“We often spend too long seeking approval and addressing irrelevant questions instead of the crucial ones,” he added.
Nuclear energy is viewed as a means to transition away from fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions since it generates electricity without the combustion of coal, oil, or natural gas.
Despite the tripling of solar and wind energy production in the U.S. over the last decade, there remain concerns that current energy sources will struggle to meet soaring energy demands.
Just before the president signed the executive order in his elliptical office, Heggs informed reporters, “We are integrating artificial intelligence across the board. If not, we cannot keep pace. We cannot afford to fall behind. Nuclear energy is essential to powering this.”
Recent reports have projected a 25% increase in U.S. electricity demand by 2030 (compared to 2023), with a staggering 78% rise by 2050, largely due to the surge in AI technology.
Even with the regulatory framework advancing, it may take years to complete the construction and enhancement of nuclear infrastructure. Furthermore, nuclear energy involves significant risks when compared to other green energy alternatives, requiring long-term plans for managing and disposing of hazardous waste, and risks related to potential core meltdowns or terrorist attacks that could release radioactive materials into the environment.
Additionally, Trump signed a fifth executive order on Friday aimed at “restoring trusted scientific rigor as the cornerstone of federal research,” according to officials.
Michael Krazios, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology, informed reporters that this executive order “ensures continued American strength and global leadership in the fields of science and technology.”
Panda Keeper assesses health of giant panda Xi May’s turnips at Wolong Nature Reserve
Ami Vitale
These photographs from the Earth Photo 2025 competition convey a vivid, thrilling, and surprising narrative about our planet’s climate and biodiversity.
In photographer Ami Vitale’s image Pandamonium, we see a giant panda keeper examining the health of panda cubs in Ulong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. The keeper’s attire is designed to minimize human impact on these bears. Following this, there’s another captivating shot by Sue Flood titled Craveter sticker, captured on a glacial ice floe in the waters south of the Antarctic Peninsula. Such images can unveil the area’s grandeur to those unable to visit.
Crabeater Seals in the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic Peninsula
Sue Flood
From Paradise, La Palma – The photo below depicts the aftermath of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption on this Spanish Canary island. A resident is seen redoing their garden, clearing away lava that destroyed mature palm trees and replacing them with new plants.
La Palma, Canary Islands. Two Years Post-Cumbre Vieja Eruption
Jonathan Browning
The concluding image below features Vincenzo Montefinese’s Lost Oasis, taken in Tinzouline, Draa Valley, Morocco. Here, an individual is seen adjusting solar panels that operate the water pump for irrigating nearby palm trees. Due to climate change and water scarcity, the valley’s oases have diminished by two-thirds over the past century, prompting farmers to illegally dig wells to access groundwater.
Tinzouline, Draa Valley, Morocco
Vincenzo Montefinese
The featured images were curated by New Scientist photo editor Tim Bodhis and David Stock, the director of editorial videos. The winners will be announced on June 16th, and the Earth Photo 2025 exhibition will take place at the Royal Geographical Society in London from June 17 to August 20, followed by a tour across the UK.
Cybercrime investigators from Europe and North America have announced the dismantling of a major malware operation run by Russian criminals, following extensive collaboration with law enforcement agencies from the UK, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and the US.
International arrest warrants have been issued for 20 suspects, with charges against 16 individuals sealed by European investigators based in Russia.
According to reports, the operation also involves the infamous Qakbot and Danabot malware leaders, Rustam Rafailevich Gallyamov, 48, known as Jimmbee, and Artem Aleksandrovich Kalinkin, 34, known as Onix, as stated by the US Department of Justice.
Cyberattacks aimed at government destabilization, financial theft, or phishing emails are becoming increasingly severe. Recently, high street retailer Marks & Spencer fell victim to such an attack in the UK.
The Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), led by the German crime agency, has launched a public appeal to locate 18 suspects allegedly linked to the Qakbot malware family as well as another malware known as Trickbot.
The BKA and its international partners report that many of the suspects are Russian nationals. Among them is Vitalii Nikolayevich Kovalev, 36, who has already been indicted in the US, and is among the BKA’s most wanted individuals.
Kovalev is believed to be behind the Conti group, which is regarded as one of the most sophisticated and organized ransomware syndicates. German investigators describe him as “one of the most notorious and successful email attackers in the history of cybercrime.”
Using aliases like Stern and Ben, the BKA alleges he has targeted hundreds of companies globally, extracting significant ransom payments.
Kovalev, 36, originally from Volgorod, is thought to reside in Moscow, where several companies are registered under his name. In 2023, US investigators identified him as a member of Trickbot.
Authorities also believe he leads other criminal groups, including Conti, Royal, and Blacksuit (established in 2022). His reported Cryptowallet holds approximately 1 billion euros.
The BKA, along with its international partners, has determined that there is enough evidence to issue 20 arrest warrants for 37 individuals involved.
A US law firm in California has sealed the details of charges against 16 defendants accused of “developing and deploying Danabot malware.”
The criminal activities targeting victims’ computers have been “managed and executed” by Russia-based cybercriminal organizations, which have infected over 300,000 computers globally, with significant incidents reported in the United States, Australia, Poland, India, and Italy.
The malware was advertised on a Russian criminal forum and has been linked to “espionage activities aimed at military, diplomatic, governmental, and non-governmental organizations.”
As a result of this variant, separate servers have been established for storing data stolen from these victims, presumably in the Russian Federation.
In Europe, the BKA’s most wanted list includes Roman Mikhailovich Procop, a 36-year-old Russian-speaking Ukrainian, who is suspected to be associated with Qakbot.
Operation Endgame was initiated by German authorities in 2022. BKA President Holger Münch has stated that Germany is a significant target for cybercriminals.
The BKA is specifically investigating the alleged involvement of suspects in gang-related activities and commercial terrorism, along with their association with transnational criminal organizations.
Between 2010 and 2022, the Conti Group primarily targeted US hospitals, with a noticeable increase in attacks during the COVID pandemic. US authorities have offered a reward of $10 million for information leading to their capture.
Most suspects are believed to be operating within Russia, though some may also be active in Dubai. While Münch noted that extradition to Europe or the US is unlikely, their identities remain crucial in the ongoing investigations.
“We have once again demonstrated that our strategy can be effective even in the anonymous darknets with Operation Endgame 2.0.”
Rangers safely transport Tasmanian devils during flooding at Aussie Ark Sanctuary
Aussie Ark
Conservation personnel are racing to safeguard a crucial population of Australian wildlife following unprecedented rainfall in New South Wales that resulted in the loss of four lives.
The Australian Ark Sanctuary in Barrington Tops, New South Wales spans 400 hectares, providing a secure environment for Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), brush-tailed rock wallabies (Petrogale penicillata), Eastern quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus), long-nosed potoroos (Potorous tridactylus), and broad-toothed rats (Mastacomys fuscus). These animals are protected from natural predators like cats and foxes. The sanctuary acts as an insurance policy for these species in the event that wild populations face extinction.
Since 2010, around 500 Tasmanian devil joeys have been born at the facility, with approximately 50 being reintroduced into specially designated wild areas. Over the coming years, it is anticipated that more of these animals will be released back into their natural habitat to help restore the Tasmanian devil populations on the Australian mainland.
This week, a severe low-pressure weather system hit parts of New South Wales, resulting in a record storm. In a matter of days, the sanctuary received over 400 millimeters of rain. Despite its elevation of 1,200 meters on a mountain, the park experienced flash floods that compromised fencing meant to protect against wildlife and posed risks to the animals housed in small enclosures.
Tim Faulkner from Aussie Ark reported that many animals in breeding enclosures had to be relocated to emergency centers equipped with veterinary clinics. However, a major challenge remains as about one kilometer of the sanctuary’s 10-kilometer perimeter fence has been damaged, with some sections completely washed away by the floods.
“We have approximately one kilometer of fencing affected, with corner posts compromised and sections washed out, resulting in damaged strainer wires,” Faulkner explained. “The electric hot wire is completely down, so you can’t rely on it. Test your defenses.”
Flood-damaged fence at Aussie Ark Sanctuary
Aussie Ark
Despite the damaged fencing, Faulkner’s team is on constant watch to monitor the affected sections. To date, no native species are believed to have escaped, and no wildlife has been found within the sanctuary itself.
“There’s an influx of water, squeezing, pressure, and flooding through every tiny crack on the mountain. I dread to think about the wildlife impacted by these immense floods outside our sanctuary,” Faulkner expressed.
In the afternoon, we gathered four people at Perich, a family-owned café on Besnard Green Road, London, which has been part of the East End for 125 years. The lively and renowned owners, British-Italian brothers Nevio and Anna, have been delighting patrons with fry-ups, soups, pasta, and jam rolly-polly since 8 am. Although the café is currently closed, Anna and Nevio are embarking on their second venture as hosts of a podcast series. The show features interviews exploring food and lifestyle, focusing on guests’ favorite meals. The discussions are fascinating, chaotic, and filled with surprises.
So far, they’ve welcomed the likes of actor Ray Winstone, Dexis’ Kevin Rowland, rapper Haku Baker, and 86-year-old YouTuber Marge Keefe, also known as Grime Gran. Today’s guests include TikTok star John Fisher, aka Big John, and his son, boxer Johnny Fisher. When I mention to Anna that she must be exhausted, she laughs and replies, “Tell me about it. Actually, tell him!” Their long-time producer, George Sexton Kerr, notes that he has been busy rearranging the Formica table for the film crew.
You might wonder why a film crew is involved. Podcasts are typically for the ears, not the eyes, right? However, recent trends have changed the way podcasts are consumed, with many shows now incorporating video. In February, YouTube reported that 1 billion users watch podcast content monthly, positioning the platform ahead of Spotify (which noted 100 million podcast listeners in 2023) and Apple in the podcasting space. With leading podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience and The Mel Robbins Podcast, it’s no surprise that Spotify is working hard to catch up.
This year, the BBC launched visual adaptations of shows such as The Traitors: Uncloaked and Uncanny: Mortem in both video and audio formats. Business Insider reports that Netflix is also preparing to embrace visualized podcasts. To reflect this evolution, the British Podcast Awards introduced a new Visual Innovation Award to honor “Outstanding Visual Podcasts.” This indicates that whether one likes it or not, visualized podcasts, often referred to as “board casts,” are on the rise.
Conversations with both listeners and creators about this new audiovisual landscape reveal differing opinions. Dedicated audio enthusiasts reasonably question the need to watch a podcast when their TV watchlist is already overwhelming. Conversely, others delight in seeing familiar hosts in person. Independent audio producers, seeking anonymity, express concerns about YouTube’s dominance in the industry and worry that audio content might become “Crap Telly.”
It’s important to note that visualized podcasts aren’t necessarily competing with mainstream television. Just as celebrity interviewer Amelia Dimoldenberg, host of YouTube’s Chicken Shop Date, can coexist alongside BBC’s Graham Norton, visualized podcasts can exist beside high-quality television programming. Nonetheless, as a podcast enthusiast and critic, I admit I have my doubts. For me, the beauty of podcasts lies in the intimate experience of voice and soundscapes directly engaging my imagination. I often listen while multitasking, whether cooking or walking my dog. I don’t need yet another screen-based distraction.
That said, I’m excited about podcasts where the visuals serve a distinct purpose, such as the series launched by CAFF last year. Producer Sexton Kerr, who took two years to craft the series with Anna and Nevio, envisioned it as a comprehensive audiovisual experience. “I always wanted it to be multifaceted; it’s about food and this wonderful dynamic between Anna and Nevio. But it’s also about the beauty of sharing a conversation over tea.”
In the early episodes, Nevio admits, “There were moments of chaos because Anna and I were figuring it out, but mostly because George was guiding us,” [in both audio and visual formats].
When my producer friend discusses the pod, “Crunch Terry,” they refer to interview podcasts as ideal for visual mediums. Productions like Davina McCall’s Begin, Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud, and Call Her Daddy illustrate how hosts and interviewees can thrive in visually engaging settings, complete with stylish decor and ambient lighting.
However, many productions fall short, either restricting camera angles to sound booths or presenting awkward Zoom calls. A prime example is The Rest Is Politics, a chart-topping series hosted by Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell. Since the hosts rarely appear together, viewers see them on split screens, each illuminated from their respective homes. YouTube executive Pedlopina recently stated that the show “feels like high school” due to its lack of production quality, noting that “viewers will ultimately determine the production value they are willing to accept.”
Matt Deegan, partner at Podcast Discovery, a marketing firm for podcasts, remarked, “For some viewers, they may not frequently consume podcasts and instead watch shows. There is a younger audience that navigates YouTube without engaging with audio podcasts.”
Regardless of production quality, the video format is easily shareable on social media, enhancing the show’s visibility. Deegan states, “Repetitive exposure to engaging, informative, or entertaining content makes it much more likely for someone to engage with the podcast app.” Sexton Kerr adds, “We’ve been steadily posting clips on Instagram and TikTok, amassing over 400,000 views on some. We couldn’t afford such advertising.”
For interview podcasts, the advantages of video content are clear and straightforward. Transforming a narrative podcast into an appealing visual format is a more considerable challenge, but podcasters are starting to explore this. George Mpanga (aka poet George) and Bembrick, creator of Have You Heard of George’s Podcast?, a Peabody Award-winning series on race, history, and culture, are currently reworking their audio episodes for a video audience.
“You have to go where the audience is,” explains Bembrick. “Even if your primary focus is audio, it would be unwise to exclude platforms like YouTube. If you venture there, you increase your chances of resonating with that content. We feel ready to experiment, and we’re curious about how it will turn out. I don’t believe we’ve reached the final form yet.”
Does all of this spell doom for audio? While some industry insiders worry that the rise of video podcasts may sideline indie podcasters in an increasingly competitive market, Bembrick is optimistic that it will create space for productions that truly prioritize audio.
Back at Perich, Nevio brings two jam tarts on giant plates to our table, and Sexton Kerr remarks that everything is interwoven. “It’s like the video of that song killed the radio star. But we still have radio stars. I still have podcasts I cherish listening to, so I believe there’s room for both.”
Known as Verve-102, this treatment could revolutionize heart attack prevention and significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels (often referred to as “bad” cholesterol) with a single injection.
While statins can achieve similar cholesterol reductions, they typically require daily administration.
“This is the future,” stated Professor Riyaz Patel, an academic from the University of London and a doctor at Barts Health NHS Trust involved in the trial – BBC Science Focus.
“This is not a fantasy; it’s reality. We are actively implementing it. I was providing this treatment to my patient during the exam.”
Unlike statins, which gradually lower cholesterol, Verve-102 aims for a one-time alteration by “turning off” a specific gene called PCSK9 in the liver. This gene is crucial in managing the levels of LDL cholesterol that the liver can detect and eliminate from the bloodstream.
In simpler terms, a reduction in PCSK9 means less LDL in the bloodstream.
“The results are stunning,” Patel remarked. “This drug disables a small segment of your DNA, and your LDL cholesterol will be permanently 50% lower thereafter. That’s a game-changer!”
Cholesterol builds up in blood vessel walls, leading to plaque formation that can obstruct blood flow.
Elevated LDL cholesterol levels heighten the risk of this buildup, prompting millions (over 40 million in the US and over 7 million in the UK) to take daily medications like statins for cholesterol management.
The VERVE-102 clinical trial included 14 participants with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder that heightens the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes due to extremely high LDL cholesterol levels.
Initial outcomes from Verve-102 injections show that all participants reacted positively to the treatment with no severe side effects.
Responses varied by dosage. The lowest dose group experienced an average LDL reduction of 21%, while the intermediate group showed a 41% reduction, and the high-dose group saw a 53% reduction.
Remarkably, one individual in the high-dose group achieved a 69% reduction in LDL cholesterol after receiving Verve-102.
Dr. Eugene Braunwald, a distinguished medical professor and Hershey’s professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who did not take part in the study, noted that the preliminary data is “promising” and indicates “the potential for a new era in cardiovascular disease treatment.”
Verve is actively recruiting participants for further stages of clinical trials involving even higher Verve-102 doses in the UK, Canada, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. The final results are expected to be revealed in the latter half of 2025.
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About our experts
Professor Riyaz Patel is a consultant cardiologist and clinical academic scholar at University College London (UCL) and Barts Health NHS Trust. He is a fully funded clinician scientist with the British Heart Foundation and serves as a professor of cardiology at UCL, where he investigates the causes of heart disease, focusing on cardiovascular risks and the genetics of coronary heart disease. He has established and led new cardiovascular prevention services at Barts Heart Center.
Stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression. These are significant issues that become more prevalent as we age—often overlooked, yet surprisingly frequent in our older population.
Moreover, the abundance of information available today makes it challenging to determine effective preventative measures. Are these conditions purely genetic? Do they stem from our environment? Or can we actually enact changes that make a difference?
Recent research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry offers encouraging insights and a clear starting point.
Led by Dr. Sanjurasin from the Brain Care Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the study systematically reviewed data on modifiable lifestyle factors linked to the three critical brain conditions.
The team discovered 17 interconnected risk factors associated with stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression—all of which are within an individual’s capacity to change.
“These are actionable steps that everyone can incorporate into their lives,” Shin explained in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “For example, dietary choices, physical activity, or adhering to blood pressure medications prescribed by a doctor—all factors influenced by socioeconomic conditions that may not be easily altered.”
Instead, the emphasis is placed on daily habits that can be reshaped, such as diet, sleep, exercise, social connections, and mental engagement.
17 Modifiable Risk Factors for Brain Health
This study outlines 17 overlapping factors impacting the risks of stroke, dementia, and consequent depression, which encompass both protective and risk-enhancing behaviors. They can be categorized based on quality and context, such as dietary choices and social engagement.
Here’s the complete list:
Protective Factors:
Low or very low alcohol consumption
Regular engagement in cognitive activities like reading, puzzles, and acquiring new skills
A nutrient-rich diet comprising vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish, and nuts
Moderate to high levels of physical activity
A strong sense of community
Extensive social networks or substantial social involvement
Risk-Increasing Factors:
Hypertension
Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI)
Hyperglycemia
High cholesterol levels
Hearing impairment
Kidney disease or renal dysfunction
Chronic pain affecting daily activities
Symptoms of depression
Diet high in lean meats, sugary beverages, sweets, and sodium
Sleep disorders or prolonged sleeping periods
History of smoking
Feelings of loneliness or social isolation
Chronic stress or stressful life events
Each factor was associated with at least one of the three conditions explored in the study, and often with two or three. While certain factors, like kidney dysfunction and hearing loss, may not intuitively seem linked to brain health, their impacts can be significant.
Noteworthy Findings
To pinpoint the most influential risk factors, Singh’s team reviewed 182 meta-analyses from the last two decades and selected the 59 most reliable. They calculated the impact of each factor using disability-adjusted life years (DALYS), which measures the burden of conditions, and assigned normalized scores.
One risk factor rose to prominence: hypertension.
“People often associate blood pressure with heart health,” Singh noted. “However, our review highlights it as the most critical factor for brain health. It’s essential to monitor your blood pressure and understand your numbers. If elevated, consult your doctor and adhere to prescribed treatment.”
Hypertension is known to harm small blood vessels in the brain and contribute to the development of all three conditions. However, it’s not the sole important factor.
The study also underscores that kidney dysfunction, hyperglycemia, depressive symptoms, poor sleep, obesity, smoking, and chronic stress negatively affect brain health. These risk factors tend to compound one another.
Blood pressure is the most significant modifiable risk factor for stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression. – Getty
Healthy Choice Menu
The encouraging news is that these factors are interconnected. Addressing one area can often lead to improvements in others.
However, this doesn’t mean that an all-at-once overhaul is necessary. Singh cautions against attempting to tackle everything simultaneously. “Our aim is to suggest gradual changes; bombarding someone with all 17 factors can be overwhelming. We encourage individuals to select what resonates with them and work on that—other improvements will often follow.”
Indeed, motivation presents a significant challenge. “Behavioral science indicates that maintaining lasting changes is difficult.” Other obstacles, like time constraints and financial means, can also impede habit formation.
A potent strategy is to involve others. Whether walking with friends, cooking healthy meals with a partner, enrolling in classes, or engaging in activities that blend lifestyle changes with social connections, you’re more likely to stay committed.
“We strongly advocate for collaborative exercise,” Singh emphasizes.
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When to Start
Some risk factors are more critical at specific life stages. For instance, hypertension during middle age seems particularly detrimental to long-term brain health. Nonetheless, it’s never too late to make changes.
And what if you’re starting later in life? Don’t wait.
“You’re never ‘too old.’ Addressing modifiable risk factors is beneficial at any age. Whether you’re 20 or 80, everyone can take steps, however small, to better brain health.”
Notes on Limitations
This study presents a robust framework for prevention, but it does not demonstrate causality. It relies on observational studies, which can indicate associations but do not establish direct cause-effect relationships.
As Dr. Anya Topiwara, a consultant psychiatrist at Oxford University who did not participate in the study, remarked in an email to BBC Science Focus: “It’s important to recognize that this paper examines associations rather than experimental findings. Hence, due to various biases, one cannot directly infer causation between risk factors and disease.”
For example, while alcohol consumption may appear protective in moderate quantities, it can mislead. “Individuals with higher socioeconomic status or education levels tend to drink moderately. These individuals are typically healthier and less likely to face dementia diagnosis and perform better on memory assessments.”
In essence, some correlations may stem from other underlying variables, like education, income, and healthcare access.
A Message of Hope
Despite the limitations, the overall outlook is optimistic. Singh emphasizes that the findings aim to empower rather than overwhelm. “This is a hopeful paper. There are numerous controllable factors that can lower your illness risk.”
“Based on estimates, up to 45% of all dementia cases could potentially be prevented by managing modifiable risk factors, alongside 80% of strokes and 35% of later-life depression. There’s a lot you can do to maintain a healthy and happy brain.”
So whether it’s taking a walk, learning something new, monitoring your blood pressure, or cooking a meal with a friend, the core message is simple: start where you can. Your efforts may yield more benefits than you realize.
About Our Experts
Sanjurashin is a physician scientist and Oxford-trained epidemiologist, whose expertise merges clinical medicine, epidemiology, behavioral science, and global health innovation. She became a professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School by the age of 28. Singh founded Singh Lab within Brain Care Labs, where she and her team are innovating scalable, evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression.
Anyatopiwarra earned her medical qualification at Oxford University and subsequently specialized in elderly psychiatry. In 2017, she completed her DPhil in Psychiatry centered on an MRC-funded study, “Predicting MRI abnormalities using longitudinal data from the Whitehall II study.” In 2019, Topiwala received the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship to investigate how physical mechanisms related to alcohol consumption impact brain health.
This year’s unexpected gem, Blue Prince, is a true marvel in the realm of video games. It features an architectural puzzle set within the enchanting mansion inherited from quirky relatives. The estate is brimming with mysteries, allowing you to choose from various rooms each time you reach a door. The game delves into the dynamics of the house and our existence, evoking feelings of nostalgia and melancholy, making our surroundings appear more austere.
Edison Mansion, Maniac Mansion
Photo: Lucasfilm Games
This Addams Family-inspired Queen Anne mansion boasts a sharp façade and ominous windows. Skywalker Ranch adds an intriguing twist to this early LucasArts adventure, where strange occurrences keep you on your toes, and the demons you encounter reveal unexpected charm. While it may not be the ideal living situation, the residents make for unforgettable neighbors.
Spencer Mansion, Resident Evil
Photo: Capcom
Nestled amidst the ominous Arkray Mountains by Raccoon City, the Spencer Mansion resembles what might happen if a movie villain dabbled in architecture. This expansive estate features Second Empire Style elements with oil paintings, vintage furniture, and beautifully concealed rooms. However, prospective buyers should be aware that it is essentially a sprawling trap filled with menacing puzzles and creatures.
Finch House, What Remains of Edith Finch
Photo: Giant Sparrow
Inspired by the Alaska Goose Creek Tower, Finch House serves as a tribute to the tragic family that once resided there, which is why the bedroom feels like a sealed museum. The chaotic stack of floors creates an ambiance reminiscent of navigating a pop-up book. Living here may seem appealing, but you’ll need a sturdy support for every step. On the bright side, the bookshelves are loaded with classics like Gravity’s Rainbow, Slaughterhouse-Five, and House of Leaves, perfect for indulging in postmodern literature.
Jetset Willy, Mansion
Photo: YouTube
Among the most remarkable video game homes, this peculiar mansion finds itself in disarray after indulging in a potent drink. The rooms evoke the dizzying sensation of a hangover, with chaotic elements like stomped boots and a toilet seat in disarray. The beauty of this iconic platformer lies in its blend of domesticity and surreal horror, where boundless bedrooms and an ominous fridge heighten the surreal experience. Intriguingly, there’s even an entrance to Hades within the floor plan.
Island Cottage, Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Photo: Nintendo
Nintendo’s dreamlike examination of capitalism approaches the essence of a dollhouse for adults, encouraging players to personalize their own living spaces. Beyond selecting wallpaper and incorporating indoor plants, you can even fill the atmosphere with music played by local animals. While this may seem whimsical, the pressure to meticulously curate one’s environment represents a middle-aged inclination, highlighting a reality where one cannot access such a home without being tethered to a hefty mortgage.
Snow Peak Ruins, Zelda: Twilight Princess
Photo: Nintendo
What’s your favorite Zelda dungeon? The charmingly snowy ruins can be considered the most beloved aspect of Twilight Princess, despite the game boasting superior puzzles and greater rewards for defeating adversaries. This warm refuge among the mountains stands out as the coziest space in the series, with a welcoming contrast to the frigid outdoors, enhanced by the presence of two gentle yetis who tend to a bubbling pot of stew.
Croft Manor, Tomb Raider
Photo: Square Enix
Lara Croft’s Country House initially served as a tutorial zone, but it quickly developed into a distinctive aspect of the series. Croft is not merely an acrobat but an enigma. Her abode features strangely proportioned rooms, characteristic of PS1 titles when they ventured indoors, alongside a hedge maze and even a gym. Interestingly, Croft has a dedicated room for her harpsichord, and her eternal butler, weary and trapped, makes for an amusing addition.
Luigi’s Mansion
Photo: Nintendo
Luigi’s Mansion stands as the first game to reveal the personalities of Nintendo’s plumbers. Interestingly, this is not solely because they traverse vibrant, whimsical realms, but because Luigi confronts the mundane chaos of domestic life. Although the mansion is teeming with ghosts, it retains the charm of bookshelves, rich carpets, ornate lighting, and a suitably-sized kitchen, making it the ideal refuge amidst the hustle of the Mario universe, encapsulating a serene representation of a singular location.
Lighthouse, Beyond Good and Evil
Photo: Mobygames
Jade, a photojournalist rather than a soldier, embarks on an adventure in a fantasy realm reminiscent of Europe instead of the US or Japan. Instead of conventional mansions or high-tech bases, she calls a lighthouse home along the foggy coast of a tranquil water world. This lighthouse serves as both a refuge and an orphanage, and it’s delightful to uncover the intricate details incorporated by the designers, from playful chaos in Jad’s living quarters to crayon artworks.
Botany Manor
Photo: White Thorn Game
Players are drawn into the charm of Botany Manor through engaging puzzles, focusing on identifying the right conditions for various flowers to thrive. However, the beauty of the surroundings ensures that players linger until the game reaches its conclusion. The setting resonates with the elegance of early 20th-century England, situated somewhere between the worlds of Jeeves and Flora Poste, with colors and calmness evoking a sense of tranquility amidst the quirky pottery decorating the cliffs.
Carnovas Estate, Phantasmagoria
Photo: Sierra
When novelist Adrian Delaney retreats to this secluded New England estate for inspiration, she revels in grand fireplaces, maze-like corridors, and real Gothic chapels. However, her enthusiasm wanes upon discovering the sinister presence looming over the estate, intent on dispatching her, resident by resident. Heavily influenced by the genius of Edgar Allan Poe, adventure designer Roberta Williams crafted this mansion into the epitome of gore and scattered horror—a must-see for fans of the genre.
In the early days of scientific exploration, researchers observed natural phenomena and began to unravel the mysteries behind how lightning forms.
These brief yet incredibly bright bursts of radiation, referred to as Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes (TGF), were identified by a research team at Osaka University in Japan during a lightning event.
Interestingly, TGFs are typically observed in space, associated with supernovae and black hole jets. This raises the question: how does lightning produce the energy required to generate them?
Recent papers published in the journal Advances in Science potentially provide answers. While scientists previously believed that TGFs were caused by the rapid acceleration of electrons, testing this theory has proven challenging. The radiation often occurs in the final microsecond and is concealed by cloud cover.
This is why researchers involved in the new study employed innovative techniques to observe thunderstorms, utilizing a multi-sensor system that includes optical, radio frequency, and high-energy radiation sensors.
“The multi-sensor observations conducted here are unprecedented,” stated Dr. Harufumi Tsuchiya, the senior author of the paper. “While some mysteries persist, this approach has significantly deepened our understanding of these intriguing radiation burst mechanisms.”
So, what did they find? Collectively, the sensors unveiled two channels of charged particles known as the discharge pathway—one descending from the thundercloud to the TV tower, and the other ascending from the tower.
The scientists observed the formation of TGFs occurring 31 microseconds before the two pathways converged, resulting in a highly concentrated electric field where electrons accelerated at nearly the speed of light.
Once the two pathways merged, the burst continued for an additional 20 microseconds, yielding a lightning strike of -56 kiloamperes. (Don’t let the negative sign confuse you—it merely indicates the direction from cloud to ground. This current is exceptionally high, typical of lightning.)
Wada Yutaka, the lead author of the study, remarked, “The opportunity to examine extreme processes such as TGFs stemming from lightning enhances our understanding of the high-energy dynamics present in Earth’s atmosphere.”
According to a recent study, out of 186 countries, only Guyana is capable of producing sufficient food for itself without relying on foreign imports.
This study, published in Natural Food, assessed how effectively countries can supply their populations with seven food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish, meat, plant-based proteins, and starchy staples.
Globally, the research revealed that 65% of countries produce meat and dairy in alignment with their population’s dietary needs.
It also determined that Guyana, situated in South America, stands as the sole country achieving complete self-sufficiency, while China and Vietnam can sufficiently produce food across six out of the seven food groups.
However, only one in seven individuals in the surveyed countries was deemed self-sufficient in five or more categories.
Surrounded by lush greenery, Guyana was identified as the only nation in this study that produces enough food to nourish its people across all seven food groups. – Credit: Jonas Stehl, Nature Food 2025, doi: 10.1038/S43016-025-01173-4 Data published
Meanwhile, there is a global deficiency of nutrient-dense plants, as fewer than half of the countries involved in the study produce adequate plant-based proteins, such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, nuts, and seeds, as well as sufficient starchy carbohydrates and vegetables.
Europe and South America tended to be closer to achieving self-sufficiency compared to other regions. In contrast, small island nations, countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and low-income nations were more likely to depend on food imports.
Six nations—Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Macau, Qatar, and Yemen—produced inadequate food groups to be categorized as self-sufficient.
“Low self-sufficiency is not inherently negative,” stated Dr. Jonas Stehl, a researcher from Göttingen and the first author of the study, in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “There are effective and often advantageous reasons why a country may not meet all its food production needs.”
For instance, a country may lack sufficient rainfall, quality soil, or stable temperatures necessary for growing adequate food for its population.
Stehl added that importing food from suitable regions can also be cost-effective.
“However, low levels of self-sufficiency can compromise a country’s ability to respond to sudden global food supply shocks, such as droughts, conflicts, and export bans,” he noted.
A team from the University of Göttingen in Germany and the University of Edinburgh in the UK conducted the study, evaluating the food output of various countries.
The researchers compared this data to the nutritional needs of each nation’s citizens, referencing the World Wildlife Fund’s Livewell Diet.
The Livewell Diet recommends “a flexible eating pattern that emphasizes plant-based protein sources, consumes vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and limits foods high in fat, salt, and sugar.”
The Covid-19 pandemic and the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict have sparked discussions about the merits of self-sufficiency, as these global crises have disrupted consistent food supplies to importing countries.
Stehl concluded that “the increased attention on national food self-sufficiency may signal broader political changes.”
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About Our Experts
Dr. Jonas Stehl is a doctoral researcher at the University of Göttingen in Germany, focusing on the food system and its implications for sustainability, nutrition, and health from a global viewpoint. He is part of an interdisciplinary research training group named Sustainable Food Systems. Stehl’s research interests include development, health, the environment, group economy, nutrition, and food security.
Recent studies indicate that daily vitamin D intake can assist in managing the effects of aging.
Research has shown that supplementing with vitamin D for four years could potentially offset the aging process by about three years.
Prior studies have suggested that vitamin D supplements may help mitigate some prominent aging signs linked to various age-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
To explore this hypothesis, researchers from Mass General Brigham and Georgia Medical University examined the findings of previous trials. In this experiment, over 55 women and more than 50 men participated, taking either Vitamin D, Omega 3, or a placebo daily for five years.
The recent study assessed telomere length, concentrating on 1,054 participants who underwent specific tests at the beginning of the trial, as well as in their second and fourth years.
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that protect chromosomes. Professor Morten Schiebye-Knudsen from the University of Copenhagen, who was not involved in the study, noted in BBC Science Focus Magazine.
Telomeres safeguard chromosome ends and prevent fusion or degradation – Credit: Getty Images/Knopprit
“Consider them like the plastic tips on shoelaces. They prevent chromosomes from fraying and sticking to each other, which helps maintain genetic stability during cell division,” he explained.
With each cell division, telomeres shorten slightly. If they become too short, the cell loses its ability to divide, leading to cell dysfunction.
The study found that participants taking vitamin D exhibited significantly reduced telomere shortening, effectively preventing nearly three years of aging.
This finding could offer valuable insights into promoting longer health spans, as telomere shortening is linked to various age-related diseases.
“I often refer to these cells as angry old men. They lose functionality, become inactive, and worsen over time, negatively impacting their environment,” Schiebye-Knudsen remarked.
“Telomere shortening may lead to older, more dysfunctional cells, resulting in increased inflammation in our bodies, particularly in rapidly dividing cells, like those in bone marrow, skin, and hair.”
About our experts
Morten Schiebye-Knudsen serves as an associate professor at the Faculty of Cellular Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.
An unusual ancient marine reptile has been formally recognized, decades after its fossil was initially found in Canada.
This 12-meter creature, Traskasaura Sandrae, was a type of predator contemporaneous with dinosaurs. It resembled a long-necked plesiosaurus with peculiar anatomy and a distinct top-down hunting approach.
“The presence of its bizarre characteristics — it was an animal that appeared quite unusual — made it nearly impossible for researchers to classify it,” said Professor F. Robin O’Keefe, a paleontologist at Marshall University and the lead author of the study, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
The original fossil was found along the Pantledge River on Vancouver Island in 1988, having remained on the ground for 85 million years. Surprisingly, it was nearly complete, with the skull, neck, limbs, and tail, although one side had deteriorated. “It appeared well-preserved from a distance,” O’Keefe noted.
It wasn’t until certain elements were uncovered that the pieces began to align.
“The remarkable preservation allowed us to investigate some of the odd features of the adult fossils and to interpret what we were observing,” O’Keefe explained. “The discovery of this second skeleton permitted its classification as a new species.”
The juvenile fossilized remains aided scientists in identifying the new species. – Courtney and District Museum and Paleontology Center
Among its unique traits is its shoulder structure, which diverges from that of known plesiosaurs, facing downward.
In contrast, its flipper resembles an inverted airplane wing, featuring a more curved underside rather than the top. “This emphasized the animal’s upside during its unique hunting approach,” O’Keefe noted.
This is significant as it implies that Traskasaura hunted in an atypical manner: by descending upon its prey from above.
“Normally, reptiles swim in water where light comes from above, leading animals to hunt upwards as they spot prey silhouetted against the surface light,” O’Keefe explained. “This animal approached it differently.”
Its potential prey likely included creatures related to modern squids and octopuses, as well as extinct coiled-shelled ammonites, which were crushed with its sharp teeth.
Despite its formidable size and appearance, Traskasaura was by no means the apex of the ancient seas. “It was substantial, yet it didn’t possess a notably large neck or head,” O’Keefe remarked. “If a Mosasaur, known for its large teeth, were to seize it, it could inflict serious damage.”
Nevertheless, Traskasaura would have thrived in the ocean, feasting on abundant resources. Unfortunately, like all plesiosaurs, the species faced extinction during the mass extinction event approximately 66 million years ago.
“They were flourishing, and their ecosystems were relatively robust until an asteroid impact decimated all the large animals,” O’Keefe stated.
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About our experts
F. Robin O’Keefe received his Honorary Biology degree from Stanford University in 1992 and a Ph.D. in 2000, specializing in evolutionary biology at the University of Chicago. He has been a professor at Marshall University since 2006, teaching over 200,000 undergraduate students across various subjects, from human anatomy to comparative zoology and Earth’s history.
A recognized expert in marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs, O’Keefe was awarded the 2013 Drinko Distinguished Research Fellowship for his work on the reproduction of plesiosaurs.
Locally referred to as Makarahi, meaning “big rock,” this boulder was displaced over 200 m inland by a tsunami approximately 7,000 years ago.
Limestone rock Makarahi. Image credits: Kohler et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2025.107567.
The Makarahi boulder measures 14 x 12 x 6.7 m and weighs nearly 1,200 tons, making it the largest known boulder located atop a cliff and one of the largest vibration-transport boulders globally.
This limestone formation is situated 200 meters away from the coastline on the southern shore of Tongatapu, Tonga.
“Our research focused on the southern part of Tongatapu Island, examining coastal cliffs that show signs of past tsunamis,” stated Martin Kohler, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland.
“At the end of our fieldwork day, while conversing with some local farmers, they pointed us toward this rock.”
“I was truly astonished. It was found inland, outside our designated research area, indicating it must have been moved there by a massive tsunami.”
“It was remarkable to witness this large boulder enveloped in lush vegetation.”
“We created a 3D model before returning to the coast to identify a location from which boulders could be dislodged from cliffs over 30 meters high.”
Through numerical modeling, the researchers determined that a wave height of roughly 50 m lasting about 90 seconds would be required to transport the Makarahi boulder from its original cliff edge to its new location.
“The University of Queensland has provided a fantastic opportunity to explore the forces shaping our world,” remarked Dr. Annie Lau, a coastal geomorphologist at the institution.
“The recent tsunami in Tonga in 2022 resulted in six fatalities and extensive damage.”
“Gaining insights into extreme past events is crucial for preparing and assessing risks related to current and future hazards.”
“The findings concerning the Makarahi boulder offer evidence of Holocene Pacific tsunamis that have occurred since about 11,700 years ago.”
“This analysis will enhance our understanding of rock wave transport and improve coastal hazard assessments in tsunami-affected regions worldwide.”
The team’s study is published in the journal Marine Geology.
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Martin Kohler et al. 2025. Investigating the world’s highest boulder atop a cliff: preliminary insights and numerical simulations of transport on cliffs ranging from 30-40 m in Tongatapu (Tonga). Marine Geology 487, 107567; doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2025.107567
This binary system comprises a PSR J1928+1815 along with a rapidly spinning millisecond pulsar known as the Helium Star Companion.
The AI impression of the compact binary system. Image credit: Gemini AI.
The millisecond pulsar consists of rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit radio waves.
These stars attain remarkable rotational velocities by harvesting material from surrounding stellar groups.
The development of such exotic binary systems remains partially understood, as it encompasses a range of complex processes.
The theory suggests that binary systems may undergo a common envelope phase, where a star orbits within the outer layer of its companion.
If the companion in this evolutionary phase is a neutron star, the theory indicates that the outer layer will be swiftly ejected, resulting in a binary system of recycled pulsars and stripped helium stars.
In the recent study, Dr. Zonglin Yang, a national astronomer at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with colleagues, examined the millisecond pulsar PSR J1928+1815.
Utilizing data from a high-speed 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope, they discovered that the pulsar has a spin period of 10.55 ms and resides in a close binary system with companion helium stars, completing an orbit every 3.6 hours.
They employed a stellar model to demonstrate that this system originated following an unstable mass transfer from companion stars to neutron stars, leading to the formation of a common envelope around both stellar objects.
The neutron star approached the core of the other star, ejected the outer envelope, and released energy, resulting in a tightly bound binary system.
“The companion star has a mass between 1.0 and 1.6 solar masses, obscuring the pulsar approximately 17% of its orbit and is undetectable at other wavelengths, suggesting it is likely a stripped helium star,” the authors noted.
“We interpret this system as having recently undergone a common envelope phase to create compact binaries.”
“Such systems are thought to be rare, yet we anticipate the existence of others,” they added.
“We estimate that there could be between 16 and 84 undiscovered examples within the Milky Way.”
The findings are documented in a paper published in the journal Science.
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Zl Yang et al. 2025. A pulsar helium star compact binary system formed by common envelope evolution. Science 388 (6749): 859-863; doi: 10.1126/science.ado0769
The National Marine and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) anticipates an active Atlantic hurricane season, expecting more storm activity than usual.
“We’re really monitoring a typical season,” stated Ken Graham, a meteorologist and director of the National Weather Service. “We’re expecting a range of storms with names, from 13 to 19.”
A storm receives its name when wind speeds reach 39 mph or more. The forecast indicates 6 to 10 storms may develop into hurricanes, with wind speeds exceeding 74 mph. NOAA also predicts the occurrence of major hurricanes in category 3 or higher.
While the forecast does not specify whether a hurricane will make landfall, where it will do so, or how many will impact the U.S. coast, it is crucial to prepare now, according to meteorologists.
“This is a good time to gather your supplies and prepare your kit,” Graham advised. “We need to be prepared; currently, there are no long lines for supplies, gas, plywood, or water.”
Graham noted that the above-average forecasts are influenced partly by warmer ocean temperatures, a trend linked to climate change.
“The warm ocean temperatures align with our expectation of a more active season,” he explained during a news conference.
Forecasters have also predicted increased activity from the West African monsoon, suggesting that storms may develop off the African coast and travel across the Atlantic towards the U.S.
This hurricane forecast arrives as many National Weather Service offices face staffing shortages, following staff cuts and voluntary retirement programs initiated during the Trump administration.
In the early months of 2025, nearly 600 personnel have left the National Weather Service, creating gaps in staffing. However, the agency’s leadership assured that the National Hurricane Center, a division of the National Weather Service, is adequately resourced.
“We are fully staffed at the Hurricane Center and prepared to respond; this is our top priority for this administration,” stated NOAA acting manager Laura Grimm.
The nation’s 122 local forecast offices have been significantly affected and face numerous vacancies. Many will be responsible for predicting regional impacts such as flooding and rainfall following hurricanes.
“Our office will ensure that the necessary resources are in place to issue warnings whenever there’s a hurricane threat,” Graham added, “and we are working on solutions to maintain long-term staffing.”
Hurricane season spans from June 1st to November 30th, generally peaking in late summer and early fall.
NOAA’s predictions are largely consistent with forecasts from various external research groups, including those from universities, government bodies, and private organizations.
On average, external research groups have forecasted eight Atlantic hurricanes for 2025. The website, managed by Colorado State University and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, monitors and compiles annual forecasts.
Last year, NOAA projected a record hurricane season, which featured 18 named storms and 11 hurricanes. Five hurricanes made landfall in the U.S., including Hurricane Helen, which impacted Florida’s Gulf Coast and caused severe inland flooding in North Carolina, resulting in over 150 fatalities.
Additionally, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, Florida, spawning 46 tornadoes.
Both hurricanes experienced rapid intensification, a phenomenon where a storm strengthens significantly right before hitting land.
This intensification is increasingly likely due to global warming. High sea surface temperatures can enhance rapid strengthening, similar to trends observed recently. A 2023 study found that tropical cyclones in the Atlantic are about 29% more likely to rapidly intensify from 2001 to 2020 compared to 1971 to 1990.
The cool and arid climate has shaped sloths into giants—before humans potentially drove these large animals to extinction.
Today’s sloths are small, well-known herbivores that navigate through the lush canopy of tropical rainforests. However, for tens of millions of years, South America was home to an astonishing variety of sloths, many of which were massive ground dwellers, with some giants weighing close to five tonnes.
This remarkable range of sizes is of particular interest to Alberto Boscani from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his colleagues.
“Body size is correlated with all biological characteristics of an animal,” states Boscaini. “This provides a promising avenue for studying sloth evolution.”
Boscaini and his team have synthesized data on physical attributes, DNA, and proteins from 67 extinct and extant sloth genera (groups of closely related species) to construct a family tree that illustrates their evolutionary relationships.
They then analyzed this evolutionary timeline, spanning 35 million years, incorporating insights on habitat, diet, and lifestyle for each sloth. They also examined evolutionary patterns in body size and made weight estimates for 49 ancient and modern sloth groups.
The findings indicate that the evolution of sloth body sizes was significantly influenced by climate change and shifts in habitat. For instance, certain sloth genera began adapting to arboreal living, much like today’s sloths, resulting in a reduction in body size.
Simultaneously, three separate lineages of sloths evolved the proportion of elephant-like features independently. This adaptation appears to have occurred in the last few million years as global cooling and the uplift of the Andes transformed South America into a drier environment.
“The giants are more closely associated with colder and drier climates,” remarks team member Daniel Casari from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
A significant number of these various sloths went extinct in two catastrophic phases: one around 12,000 years ago and another approximately 6,000 years ago, according to Boscaini.
“This aligns with the expansion of Homo sapiens across the American Supercontinent and subsequently into the Caribbean,” he explains, noting that many giant sloths lived in these regions. The surviving sloth species primarily inhabit trees, making them less accessible to humans compared to larger sloths.
The hypothesis that humans played a significant role in the extinction of ancient megafauna is strongly supported, states Thaís Rabito Pansani from the University of New Mexico, who was not part of the research.
“However, solid evidence is necessary to substantiate this theory, especially concerning unresolved and highly debatable issues such as megafauna extinction,” she emphasizes. Recent evidence adds context to this narrative.
“Sloths flourished for much of their history,” says Casari. “[The findings] indicate how a once-successful group can quickly become vulnerable.”
OpenAI is set to acquire an innovative startup for $6.4 billion, marking its largest acquisition to date. The hardware startup, named IO, was established by Apple design legend Jony Ive, who is widely recognized as a key architect behind the iPhone. Sam Altman, the CEO of both IO and OpenAI, highlighted in a blog post that their partnership is expected to span two years.
“Our collaboration, rooted in friendship, curiosity, and aligned values, has rapidly expanded in ambition,” they noted in their blog, offering minimal specifics about the forthcoming devices. “Initial concepts and explorations have refined into tangible designs.”
The acquisition of IO by OpenAI is its most notable to date. According to the blog post, Ive and other alumni from Apple co-founded IO a year ago as part of a larger initiative called Lovefrom, which they describe as a “creative collective” of architects, artists, engineers, designers, musicians, and writers.
Ive departed from Apple in 2019 after spending 27 years as a leading product designer. He is celebrated for his minimalist aesthetics and meticulous attention to details such as packaging and typography. One of his early acclaimed designs was the vibrant, bubble-shaped iMac computer, followed by iconic products like the iPod, iPhone, MacBook Air, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
For his contributions to distinctive product design, Ive was knighted by Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace in 2012.
In a blog post shared on Wednesday, Altman and Ive stated that the IO team will integrate with OpenAI to foster closer collaboration with their research, engineering, and product divisions. Although Ive will not join OpenAI as an employee, his company will manage all of OpenAI’s design aspects, including software. Bloomberg.
Since launching Lovefrom and leaving Apple, Ive has largely remained low-profile, and IO has yet to unveil any hardware. However, reports suggest that the company has clients such as Christie’s, Airbnb, and Ferrari. Another venture IVE is pursuing is the design of Lovefrom’s headquarters in San Francisco. The New York Times detailed that Ive is tasked with creating the headquarters for the entity he is developing at OpenAI.
While OpenAI hasn’t yet revealed any hardware products, it indicates a future direction in that realm. The company has hired hardware and robotics experts, including Caitlin “CK” Karinovsky, who previously led Meta’s Augmented Reality Glasses initiative. In her LinkedIn announcement, Karinovsky mentioned that her new focus at OpenAI will be on “robotics projects and partnerships aimed at integrating AI into the physical realm.” OpenAI is also investing in robotics startups including Physical Intelligence, stating, “We intend to bring general AI into the physical world.”
Investors have been actively funding OpenAI in recent years, with a current valuation of $300 billion, according to Bloomberg. In March, OpenAI completed a $400 billion funding round led by the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank. Microsoft holds a 49% stake in the AI company after its $13 billion investment in 2023.
In addition to the acquisition of IO, OpenAI has also pursued other significant purchases in the past year. Earlier this month, it acquired the AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf for $3 billion, and last summer, it purchased Rockset, a real-time analytics database, for an undisclosed amount.
Orbits of the potential dwarf planet known as 2017 OF201 and the dwarf planet Sedna
Tony Dunn
A newly discovered distant dwarf planet lies beyond Neptune, challenging the existence of the hypothetical Planet 9 or Planet X.
Sihao Cheng and colleagues first spotted this object, initially recognized in 2017, while reviewing data from the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile.
The 2017 OF201 measures roughly 700 km in diameter, qualifying it as a dwarf planet similar to Pluto, which is about three times larger. Currently, it is positioned approximately 90.5 astronomical units (AU) away from Earth, roughly 90 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
Classified as a Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO), 2017 OF201 has an average orbital distance from the Sun that exceeds Neptune’s orbit. It travels beyond Neptune and through the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy bodies on the outskirts of the solar system.
Researchers analyzed 19 observations collected over seven years at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. They determined that the next close approach of 2017 OF201 to the Sun would occur at perihelion, positioned at 44.5 AU, which is reminiscent of Pluto’s orbit. Its furthest point from the Sun lies at about 1600 AU, beyond our solar system.
This distant orbit may have resulted from an encounter with a large planet that ejected the dwarf planet from the solar system, according to researchers.
“This is a fascinating discovery,” says Kevin Napier from the University of Michigan. He explains that objects can interact with various stars in the galaxy as they move beyond our solar system and can also interact within our own solar system.
Many extreme TNO trajectories seem to be converging toward a specific direction, which some interpret as evidence for a hidden ninth planet within the Oort Cloud—a vast shell of icy rocks that surrounds the solar system. The speculation is that the gravitational pull of this ninth planet may be influencing TNOs into specific orbital paths.
However, the trajectory of 2017 OF201 does not align with this observed pattern. “This object is certainly an outlier among the observed clustering,” notes Erita Yang at Princeton University.
Cheng and his team also conducted simulations of object orbits concerning Planet 9. “With Planet 9, objects get ejected over hundreds of millions of years. Without it, they remain stable,” states Napier. “This is not evidence supporting the existence of Planet 9.”
Nevertheless, until more data is available, the matter remains unsettled, according to Cheng. “I hope that Planet 9 is real because it would be even more intriguing.”
This candidate dwarf planet takes approximately 25,000 years to complete its orbit, meaning we detect it for only about 1% of that time. “These objects are faint and very challenging to locate, and their elongated orbits make them visible only when they are near the Sun, resulting in a brief window for observation,” explains Napier.
It is possible that hundreds of such objects exist in the outer solar system. The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to start operating later this year and may delve deeper into the universe to find more objects like this.
IT is a warehouse resembling the size of 12 football pitches, poised to provide essential employment and development opportunities in the city of Caucaia, northeastern Brazil. Yet, the shelves remain empty. This extensive facility is set to transform into a data center, as designated by TikTok, になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. part of a 5.5 billion Reais (7.3 billion pounds) project aimed at expanding the global data center infrastructure.
With the increasing demand for supercomputer facilities, Brazil is attracting an array of high-tech companies, buoyed by the AI boom. The selection of Caucaia is strategic. Submarine cables carry data from Fortaleza, the nearby capital of Ceará, to various continents. Proximity to these cables enhances traffic capacity and reduces latency—the response time across the Internet network.
Additionally, Caucaia is home to the Pecém EPZ, where businesses can produce goods and services for export, benefiting from various tax incentives and streamlined bureaucratic processes.
However, data from Brazil’s disaster digital atlas and integrated disaster information system indicate that Caucaia is also prone to extreme weather events, including drought and heavy rainfall.
Between 2003 and 2024, the city experienced drought-related emergency conditions declared at least once. In 2019, around 10,000 residents were impacted by water shortages. The digital atlas of disasters shows that as reservoirs depleted, water quality diminished, leading to crop failures and challenges in access to basic food supplies.
Data centers consume vast amounts of energy and water to keep supercomputers cool. Nevertheless, public agencies are promoting green construction in drought-affected areas. Caucaia is part of a broader trend.
According to the Digital Disaster Atlas, five of the 22 planned data centers are situated in cities that have faced repeated drought and water scarcity since 2003.
So far, China’s social networks have not been mentioned in Caucaia’s permit application. However, in February, the chief of staff for the state government, Chagas Vieira, confirmed in an interview with local radio stations that discussions were ongoing with Chinese firms, and representatives from TikTok and its parent company ByteDance met with senior officials, including the Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin.
ByteDance has been approached for comments.
The truck will deliver water to Caucaia, a city facing repeated problems with drinking water supply. Photo: Marília Camelo/The Guardian
The project is officially led by Casa dos Ventos, a Brazilian wind energy firm that has invested in the data center sector. Mario Araripe, the company’s founder and president, announced last year that he aims to attract major global technology companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft to fill the facility with computers.
Casa dos Ventos has already secured one of the three required licenses from the state of Ceará. According to the state’s Environmental Supervision (SEMACE), the project received a license for “30m³/day water consumption in closed circuits supplied by Artesian Well.” Specific details have been withheld for commercial confidentiality.
Casa dos Ventos claims it is “committed to transforming Porto do Pecém into a complex of technological innovation and energy transition.”
Projects requiring significant energy, such as data centers, are required to obtain special permission from the Brazilian government. As of 2024, at least seven of the 21 approvals granted by the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Energy were linked to data centers.
Casa dos Ventos is also responsible for another data center project currently under state review in Campo Redondo, Rio Grande do Norte, a region that has experienced drought for 14 out of the last 21 years. During the water crisis in 2022, local governments sought federal aid, and water trucks were dispatched to address the demand.
A similar situation is unfolding in Igaporanga, Bahia, where a Brazilian renewable energy company plans to establish two data centers. The city has been in a state of emergency due to drought conditions for 12 of the years between 2003 and 2022. In 2021, about 5,500 people faced rural water shortages.
Transparency regarding water usage by data centers under construction in these areas is lacking. Companies have not disclosed this information voluntarily, and the government has withheld technical documents for licensing, citing commercial confidentiality.
In early April, the National Electric Power System Operator (ONS) denied requests for access to the grid for Casa dos Ventos, citing concerns for grid stability. Consequently, the Ministry of Mines and Energy requested a recalculation to assess potential grid adjustments.
bIG tech firms acknowledge their water consumption in water-scarce areas heightened by AI requirements. The 2024 Sustainability Report details that Microsoft reported that 42% of its water usage originates in regions experiencing water stress. Similarly, Google stated that in the same year, 15% of its water consumption fell in areas marked by “high water scarcity.”
Data centers utilize a large volume of water to prevent overheating in computers and machines. However, some water may evaporate, potentially exacerbating the local climate crisis where they are located. As AI technologies evolve, the demand for processing power increases, leading to heightened energy and cooling requirements. Consequently, water and energy consumption are projected to rise.
Workers at a Data Center in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Such facilities utilize considerable amounts of water for cooling machinery. Photo: Jeff Botega
The International Energy Agency projects a significant increase in data center energy consumption to double, reaching 945,000 GWh by 2030—equivalent to Japan’s annual energy consumption. Countries like Brazil will account for approximately 5% of this growth within that timeframe.
Water consumption is expected to surge. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Texas at Arlington estimate that global AI demand will require between 4.2 billion and 6.6 billion cubic meters of water by 2027, surpassing half of the UK’s annual water usage.
However, Shaolei Ren, a researcher from UC Riverside and co-author of the study, highlights a crucial distinction between consumption (water extracted from the system) and loss (water evaporated).
“Residential users generally do not withdraw significant amounts of water, but data centers often consume between 60% and 80%,” notes Ren, meaning that much water is lost.
Data centers can be cooled through two approaches: one is air conditioning, a widely adopted method for various facilities, while the second is utilizing water.
The outskirts of Caucaia, where inadequate water became unsuitable for urban consumption after reservoirs were depleted in 2019. Photo: Marília Camelo/The Guardian
One method involves recycling or reusing water but incorporates fans and radiators within closed systems, resembling car engine technologies. Alternatively, a cooling tower might use evaporation to expel heat from heated water, allowing the return of cold water to the system. The final method involves misting water into the air, increasing humidity and reducing temperature.
Nonetheless, these methods are not without inefficiencies. “Both evaporation and misting lead to water loss,” asserts Emilio Franceschini, an associate professor at ABC Federal University.
A small data center with a capacity of 1MW consumes around 25.5 million liters of water annually, with an estimated 1% (255,000 liters) lost to evaporation.
In Pecém, alternatives to extracting water include purchasing desalinated seawater or recycled water from Fortaleza.
It falls upon the state government to grant water concessions to data centers as part of the environmental licensing process.
rOnildo Mastroianni, technical director at Esplar, an NGO with a 50-year presence in Ceará, argues that projects demanding high water consumption in semi-arid areas are misguided. “It’s simply pushing for increased dryness,” he asserts.
Mastroianni cautions that such projects could alter the local hydrological basin, which may weaken fragile ecosystems, like the Caatinga, and heighten food insecurity due to rural water scarcity. He indicates that representatives from local NGOs and various Kilombola and Indigenous communities were not included in project discussions.
Due to water stress, many communities have constructed reservoirs to secure water supply during drought periods. Photo: Marília Camelo/The Guardian
Other Latin American nations are also witnessing a surge in the data center industry. Chile has launched 22 data centers in the Santiago region alone. In December, the government announced a National Plan to establish 30 additional projects, projected to place the country at medium to high levels of water stress by 2040, signifying decreased water availability.
In Chile, both governmental and corporate bodies are facing escalating opposition. In 2019, Google disclosed plans for its second data center in Santiago, which sparked estimates from the activist organization MOSACAT indicating the project would extract 700 million liters of water annually.
Following a wave of protests, a Santiago court reviewed the project. By early 2024, the court halted Google’s assessments concerning environmental impacts, pending further evaluation.
Among those advocating against the project was Tania Rodriguez of MOSACAT, who lamented, “That turned into extractivism,” she said in interviews with other outlets. “We will become everyone’s backyards.”
Amidst claims regarding funding, the federal government’s initiative to prevent childhood lead poisoning is currently inactive.
In April, the program’s 26 personnel went on administrative leave, with a shutdown slated for June 2 as part of a wider restructuring within the Department of Health and Human Services.
As of now, none of the team members have returned, and layoffs are expected to occur in two weeks, according to Eric Svenden, director of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Practices at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encompasses the Childhood Lead Program.
In recent weeks, Kennedy has faced backlash from Democratic senators regarding the reduction of the program, as state and local health departments have stepped in to conduct blood lead testing and monitoring.
At a Senate Approval Committee hearing on Tuesday, Kennedy informed Sen. Jack Reed that the program is still funded. The previous week, he reassured Sen. Tammy Baldwin that he has no intentions of discontinuing it.
However, Svendsen stated that his entire division was disbanded by HHS, making it challenging to easily reassemble.
“There’s no other expert to do what we do,” he remarked. “The public health field is so specialized that you can’t just bring in new staff overnight.”
According to two CDC scientists aware of the situation, staff from the Childhood Lead Program have not been given directives on transitioning their responsibilities.
Even minimal lead exposure poses risks to children’s developmental progress, learning capabilities, and behavior. The CDC program delivered essential expertise to assist underfunded health departments in mitigating these risks. In 2023, it played a role in addressing a national lead poisoning outbreak linked to Cinnamon Applesauce and maintained frequent communication with the Milwaukee Health Department after lead hazards were identified in public schools.
“We have a team in Milwaukee,” Kennedy asserted to Reed on Tuesday, mentioning the provision of laboratory and analytical support to the health department.
However, the Milwaukee Health Department disputed Kennedy’s claim, stating there was no federal epidemiological or analytical assistance connected to the lead crisis.
“Regrettably, this is yet another instance of the secretary failing to provide accurate information,” commented city health commissioner Mike Traitis.
Caroline Reinwald, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee Health Department, explained that the only federal involvement during the major crisis was a “brief two-week visit from one CDC staff member this month, assisting us with lab verification measures.”
“This assistance was separately requested,” Reinwald noted, highlighting that Milwaukee Public Schools sought help due to the crisis and an existing need to enhance the lab’s long-term lead testing capacity.
HHS has announced its intention to continue efforts to eradicate childhood lead poisoning through a newly established department called the Administration for Healthy America. Nevertheless, Democratic lawmakers and environmental health organizations question the sustainability of this work without reinstating the staff.
“Although you mentioned last week that you wouldn’t cut this program, you dismissed the entire office responsible for it,” Baldwin confronted Kennedy during Tuesday’s hearing. “Your choice to terminate staff and eliminate offices endangers children, including thousands in Milwaukee.”
HHS has not responded to inquiries for comment.
At the hearing, Kennedy failed to provide updated information about his agency’s strategies, referencing a court order implemented by the Trump administration that halted federal government reductions.
The severity of Milwaukee’s crisis came to light in February when health officials identified alarming toxin levels in classrooms, corridors, and common areas, exacerbated by deteriorating lead-based paint.
Before the childhood lead program was affected, the CDC engaged with the Milwaukee Health Department weekly, collaborating on a strategy to screen tens of thousands of students for lead poisoning.
The health department reached out to the CDC for assistance on March 26, but Traitis noted that the agency dismissed the childhood lead team on April 1, subsequently denying Milwaukee’s request two days later.
“It’s quite unprecedented, as this marks the first time in at least 75 years that the CDC has rejected an EPIAID request,” he added.
To date, the Milwaukee Health Department has identified over 100 schools built before 1978, the year when federal regulations prohibited lead-based paints for consumer use. Approximately 40 of these have been tested, Traitis reported. Lead contamination has resulted in the closure of six schools since the beginning of the year, with only two reopening.
Currently, about 350 students in Milwaukee are screened for lead poisoning among a potential risk group of 44,000, as reported by Traitis. One case has been linked to the school’s environment, while two more cases stem from exposure in both school and home scenarios. The Health Department is investigating four additional cases that may involve multiple sources of exposure.
Totoraitis explained that while the department routinely investigates lead in residences and rental properties, they were counting on the CDC to aid in expanding inspection capacities for larger buildings. He noted that CDC staff were expected to assist in establishing lead screening clinics and tracing exposure sources.
The health department is managing these initiatives independently now, but Totoraitis expressed concerns about the ability to screen all cases promptly. He estimated that the department could handle approximately 1,000 to 1,200 pediatric lead poisoning cases annually. This encompasses blood lead level testing, chelation therapy for treating lead poisoning, and mitigating exposure by replacing contaminated windows and doors.
Totoraitis expressed hope for hiring two CDC employees who might return soon to clarify lingering questions about managing the crisis.
Ultimately, he remarked, “I hope to receive an email from them saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got our jobs back.’ ”
One of the modified grey wolves created by Colossal
Giant Biology
On April 7, a prominent biological science organization announced that the genetically altered wolf is “the world’s first successful animal.” Many appeared to take this claim seriously. New Scientist was one of the few outlets to refute this assertion, clarifying that these were grey wolves enhanced through gene editing.
In a later interview, Colossal’s chief scientist, Beth Shapiro, seemed to concur, stating: “We cannot recreate anything that is identical to the extinct species. Our animals are grey wolves with 20 cloned gene edits,” as reported by New Scientist. “We’ve always communicated this. The term ‘miserable wolves’ irritates some people.”
Richard Grenier from Oxford University noted a significant shift from Colossal’s earlier messaging, interpreting Shapiro’s statement as a clear reflection of their scientific approach. “I see a stark contradiction between the statement’s content and their past communications and promotional efforts,” he remarked.
He referred to a major press release announcing the birth of a gene-edited wolf, which repeatedly labeled them as “miserable wolves.” Shapiro defended this characterization during an interview with New Scientist on April 7.
“We employ the concept of morphological species, asserting that if they visually resemble this animal, they are classified as such,” she explained at the time.
The appearance of gene-edited wolves as “miserable” remains uncertain. For instance, some evidence suggests that the original wolves had a reddish hue, contrary to the white coat depicted. Claudio Cirero from Oxford University pointed this out.
Despite statements from Cirero and other experts declaring that the gene-edited grey wolf is not a true representation of the extinct species, Colossal maintained its stance. “[W]E continue to support our designation of Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi as ‘disastrous wolves’,” they affirmed in a statement on X.
In a more recent interview, Shapiro reiterated that Colossal had always clarified that the animal in question was simply a gene-edited grey wolf.
“We did not obscure this fact. The backlash arose from our labeling them as miserable wolves,” she explained. “We clarified that they are grey wolves modified with 20 edits. We communicated this from the outset.”
Shapiro also attempted to distance the project from any implication that the possibility of bringing back extinct species might lessen the urgency for conserving endangered ones, a notion supported by some factions of the Trump administration. “Now it’s linked to the idea that we need not be concerned about extinctions. This is problematic,” she remarked.
“The crucial point here is ‘sudden’,” states Grenier. He indicates that it has been long recognized that if the public perceives de-extinction as feasible, support for conservation may dwindle. Colossal, he argues, should recognize this risk. Their website declares: “Extinction is a critical issue we face… and the solution is not simply to reverse it.”
While Colossal has made significant strides in scientific innovation, Grenier asserts that their claims are fundamentally flawed. “This is transformative, groundbreaking science. It goes beyond merely reversing extinction,” he concluded.
Artificial intelligence systems may represent nearly 50% of a data center’s power consumption by the end of this year, according to a recent analysis.
These estimates, provided by Digiconomist Tech Sustainability founder Alex de Vries-Gao, echo a prediction from the International Energy Agency regarding AI’s energy needs by the decade’s end, similar to current usage in Japan.
De Vries-Gao’s calculations, as detailed in the Sustainable Energy Journal Joule, are based on the energy consumed by chips developed by companies like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices that are used for training and operating AI models. The study also factors in energy usage of chips from other providers, such as Broadcom.
The IEA reported that all data centers (excluding those for cryptocurrency mining) consumed 415 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity last year. De Vries-Gao asserts that AI currently contributes to 20% of that total.
He highlights various factors influencing his calculations, including energy efficiency in data centers and the power requirements of cooling systems that manage AI workloads. Data centers serve as the central nervous system for AI technology, making their energy consumption a significant sustainability issue for AI development and usage.
De Vries-Gao projects that by the end of 2025, AI systems could consume up to 49% of total data center energy, potentially reaching 23 gigawatts (GW) — double the total energy usage of the Netherlands.
However, De Vries-Gao mentioned that several factors might dampen hardware demand, including reduced interest in applications like ChatGPT. Geopolitical tensions creating restrictions on AI hardware production, such as export limitations, are another hurdle. De Vries-Gao notes the challenges faced by Chinese access to chips, which led to the introduction of the Deepseek R1 AI model that purportedly required fewer chips.
“These innovations could help decrease both AI processing and energy costs,” said De Vries.
That said, he mentioned that enhanced efficiency could further encourage AI adoption. Additionally, a trend referred to as “sovereign AI,” where countries aim to create their own AI systems, might spur hardware demand. De Vries-Gao cited US Data Centre startup Crusoe Energy, which secured 4.5GW of gas-powered energy capacity, making it a leading contender for potential clients like OpenAI through its Stargate venture.
“These early indicators suggest that [Stargate] data centers may increase our reliance on fossil fuels,” noted De Vries-Gao.
On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled its Stargate project in the United Arab Emirates, marking its expansion outside the United States.
Last year, Microsoft and Google acknowledged that AI poses risks to meet their internal environmental objectives.
De Vries-Gao commented that information about AI’s power requirements is increasingly scarce, describing the industry as “opaque.” While the EU AI Act mandates that AI firms disclose energy consumption related to model training, it does not cover daily usage metrics.
Professor Adam Sobey, mission director for sustainability at the UK’s Alan Turing Institute, stressed the importance of enhanced transparency regarding the energy usage of AI systems and the potential savings from advancing carbon reduction sectors like transport and energy.
Sobey remarked, “We don’t necessarily need an extensive number of compelling use cases for AI to offset the energy costs incurred upfront.”
Adelie penguins on the sea ice off the Antarctic Peninsula
Ashley Cooper Photo/Alamy
Ammonia emitted from droppings in a bustling Antarctic penguin colony contributes to cloud formation.
“This highlights the profound relationship between ecosystems and atmospheric phenomena,” remarks Matthew Boyer from the University of Helsinki, Finland.
The connection lies in how ammonia influences atmospheric particle counts. Cloud formation requires water vapor to condense around significant particles, which are scarce in the frigid, pristine air of Antarctica.
Typically, available cloud formation particles arise from dust, vegetation, or air pollution, primarily sulfate clusters generated by natural emissions from nearby phytoplankton. It has been established that high ammonia levels can enhance the creation of these clusters by up to a thousand times. But where does this ammonia originate in Antarctica? The droppings of penguins appear to be a significant source.
To verify this, Boyer and his team analyzed the concentrations of ammonia, sulfuric acid, and larger particles in the air around Pygoscelis adeliae on the Antarctic Peninsula. “They have a strong odor,” Boyer comments. “They are quite messy birds.”
When the wind blew from the direction of the colony, the ammonia concentrations were significantly higher compared to air from other directions. This uptick in ammonia prompted the formation of sulfuric acid particles large enough to attract condensation, potentially resulting in cloud formation. This phenomenon persisted for several weeks even after the penguins vacated the colony.
Increased cloud cover, particularly at sea, reflects sunlight away from the Earth’s surface, producing a cooling effect. Boyer also notes that declines in penguin populations could lead to warming trends in Antarctica by diminishing cloud cover, particularly due to climate change-driven ocean ice loss. However, current measurements do not adequately estimate the magnitude of this effect.
Other studies indicate significant implications; for instance, Jeffrey Pierce from Colorado State University and his peers have found ammonia in puffin droppings in the Arctic, leading to increased cloud cover during summer, estimating that this cooling effect could offset about one-third of warming caused by carbon dioxide in the region. “I’m confident it has some effect,” states Pierce.
Contact lenses enable users to perceive beyond the visible light spectrum, detecting infrared flickers even in darkness or with closed eyes.
The lenses incorporate engineered nanoparticles that absorb and convert infrared radiation, particularly within the near-infrared range of 800-1600 nanometers. This technology functions similarly to night vision equipment, allowing visibility in low-light conditions, but the contact lenses are significantly lighter and do not need any external power source.
“Contact lenses grant military personnel a modest, hands-free nighttime capability, overcoming the challenges posed by cumbersome night vision [goggles or scopes]” stated Peter Rentzepis from Texas A&M University, who is involved in related research employing the same nanoparticles (sodium fluoride, ytterbium, erbium) for eyeglass lenses.
The innovative wearables developed by Yuqian Ma from the China University of Science and Technology and his team have not yet achieved detailed night vision. This limitation occurs because they can solely detect “high-intensity narrowband LED” light sources, as noted by Rentzepis, without capturing the ambient infrared light.
“While it’s an ambitious study, contact lenses alone cannot be employed for reading in infrared or navigating dark paths,” explained Mikhail Kats, who is not associated with the research, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In human-mouse studies, the contact lenses transformed an otherwise invisible flash of infrared light into what Kats describes as “a significant, colorful chunk of visible light.” These representations serve a purpose; for instance, MA and his team encoded and transmitted alphabetic characters by altering the frequency, quantity, and color of various light flashes.
This research builds upon previous studies where scientists directly injected nanoparticles into the eyes of mice to facilitate infrared vision. Wearable contact lenses present a “safer and more practical approach to human applications,” observes Rentzepis. However, he cautions that they still pose potential health and safety concerns, such as risks of thermal exposure from the photoconversion process or the leakage of nanoparticles into ocular tissues.
Titan is the sole moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, captivating planetary scientists for years. Recent analysis of archival infrared data from the composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS) onboard the NASA/ESA Cassini-Huygens mission reveals that Titan’s hazy atmosphere does not rotate uniformly with its surface but instead exhibits a wobbly motion akin to that of a seasonally shifting gyroscope.
This view of Titan is among the final images received from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.
“The dynamics of Titan’s atmospheric tilt are quite peculiar,” remarked Dr. Lucy Wright, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol.
“Titan’s atmosphere acts similarly to a gyroscope and seems to maintain stability in space.”
“We suspect that certain historical events may have displaced the atmosphere from its spin axis, resulting in its wobbling motion.”
“More intriguing is the observation that the degree of this tilt varies with Titan’s seasons.”
Dr. Wright and her team analyzed the symmetry within Titan’s atmospheric temperature field, confirming their hypothesis that it is centrally located at the poles.
However, this symmetry alters over time, corresponding with Titan’s extensive seasonal cycles that span nearly 30 years.
“What complicates matters is that this phenomenon is unaffected by the Sun or Saturn; it remains stationary in space, while the slope direction is fixed,” noted Professor Nick Teenby from the University of Bristol.
“This presents us with a riddle instead of a solution.”
This discovery will impact NASA’s upcoming Dragonfly Mission, a rotorcraft set to reach Titan in the 2030s.
Dragonflies will descend into the atmosphere, subject to the rapid winds of Titan, which are approximately 20 times faster than the surface rotation.
Understanding how the atmosphere wobbles seasonally is crucial for accurately determining the landing trajectory of the Dragonfly.
The tilt influences the payload’s aerial trajectory, making this study vital for engineers in predicting landing sites.
“The Goddard Space Flight Center noted: ‘NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center plays a significant role globally.”
“This instrument travels across the solar system, continuing to yield valuable scientific insights.”
“The behavior of Titan’s atmosphere as a rotating top detaches from the surface prompts fascinating inquiries that enhance our understanding of atmospheric physics, applicable to both Titan and Earth.”
Survey results were published this week in the Journal of Planetary Science.
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Lucy Wright et al. 2025. Seasonal evolution of the stratospheric slope and temperature field of Titan at high resolution from Cassini/CIRS. Planet. SCI. J 6, 114; doi: 10.3847/psj/adcab3
Researchers have created prototype infrared contact lenses that enable users to see in the dark or even with their eyes closed.
The innovative prototype, developed by the University of Science and Technology in China, incorporates nanoparticles that transform infrared light into visible light.
Contact lenses infused with nanoparticles were provided to volunteers as part of the study recently published in the journal Cell. Participants successfully detected a flashing signal from infrared rays, which are normally invisible to the naked eye.
The transparent lenses permitted participants to perceive both visible and infrared light simultaneously.
“We discovered that when subjects close their eyes, near-infrared light penetrates the eyelids more efficiently than visible light, allowing us to capture this flickering information more effectively,” stated Tian Xue, the lead researcher from the University of Science and Technology in China.
These nanoparticles absorb near-infrared (NIR) light with wavelengths ranging from 800 to 1600 nanometers, which is beyond human visual perception. They then re-emit this light within the visible range of 400 to 700 nanometers.
Currently, near-infrared light is utilized in active night vision goggles, which illuminate the environment with infrared rays and convert that light into a visible format for users.
Active Night Vision Goggles illuminate the landscape with infrared rays and convert this into visible wavelengths – Credit: Getty Images/StockByte
However, if you’re hoping to see the world as “faithfully” portrayed in Predators, you may be disappointed—longer wavelengths are required for that effect.
At present, the contact lenses are sensitive enough to detect light emitted from infrared LEDs.
While the lenses initially struggled to capture fine details, the research team was able to enhance this capability by using an additional set of glasses.
Nanoparticles can be modified to emit light in various colors, improving the clarity and interpretation of infrared images. There may even be potential to alter visible light performance.
“By converting red visible light to green visible light, this technology could become invisible to those who are colorblind,” explains Xue.
Martin Köhler in front of the Maka Rahi Boulder in Tonga
Martin Köhler/University of Queensland
The massive 1,200 tonne boulders of Tonga were carried inland as towering waves of 50 meters crashed against a 30-meter-high cliff.
“This is not just an ordinary boulder. It holds the title of the largest corrugated boulder found on a cliff and ranks as the third largest boulder globally, signifying that an immense force was needed to propel it from such a height,” said Martin Köhler from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Locally known as Maka Rahi, which translates to a large rock, this boulder had yet to be studied by scientists.
During fieldwork in Tonga in July 2024, the villagers pointed the researchers towards some intriguing rocks they might want to examine.
“We never anticipated discovering such a substantial rock at the finale of our field studies. It dawned on us quickly that we had stumbled upon a significant find,” Kohler explained.
Measuring 14 meters in length, 12 meters in width, and approximately 7 meters in height, it was described as a “remarkable” boulder, composed of limestone coral reef horn rec rocks. Previous satellite images missed this potential Monami Boulder, as vegetation had grown atop it, with surrounding forests extending into the woodland.
Upon observing the boulder, researchers identified a massive gouge believed to have been created at the cliff’s top, approximately 200 meters from the ocean.
The team utilized computer models to ascertain how this colossal boulder ended up above sea level.
Shifting it necessitated a wave with a minimum height of 50 meters and a duration of 90 seconds, implying it moved at a velocity exceeding 22 meters per second over a minute and a half, Kohler stated. Such a colossal tsunami is relatively localized and is thought to stem from nearby underwater landslides.
Dating indicated the boulder’s age to be 6,891 years, well before the settlement of humans on the island.
“It’s hard for me to fathom a 50-meter wave since I’ve never witnessed or heard of such massive waves before,” Kohler remarked. “However, the logic follows easily when one considers this enormous boulder positioned 200 meters inland on a 39-meter-high cliff.”
Only two rocks deposited by the tsunami have been found on land: one weighing 3,400 tons and another weighing 1,500 tons.
Feedback is your go-to source for the latest news in science and technology from New Scientist. If you have intriguing items to share, please reach out to Feedback@newscientist.com.
Egg vs. Grind
Feedback takes us back to the early days of the 2020 lockdown, when we found ourselves learning alongside our children. This involved engaging in various science-related activities, including setting up experiments for “mini beasts,” which provided a diversion from the complexities of life. Thankfully, we avoided the mishaps of the egg drop experiment.
This hands-on activity challenges kids to create devices that protect eggs from breaking when dropped from a height onto a hard surface. Feedback humorously envisions using a cocktail umbrella as a makeshift parachute to soften the landing. However, there are more serious approaches to this experiment.
A study published in Communication Physics on May 8th highlights the peer-reviewed work of physicist Carmela Padavik Callaghan, who addresses the classic egg drop experiment.
The researchers challenge the common belief that eggs are strongest when dropped vertically from their edge. Traditional wisdom has suggested that the shell’s rigidity in this position reduces breakage. However, after conducting “hundreds of experiments” alongside “static and dynamic simulations,” they found that dropping eggs vertically increases the likelihood of breakage. Instead, they recommend dropping them horizontally for better results.
They note: “By orienting the eggs along the equator, there is a slight benefit, as they can survive a fall from about 0.3 mm above the vertical drop without cracking.”
For readers contemplating an egg toss at a celebrity, this research offers practical guidance for ensuring a successful impact!
Alien Mathematics
What exactly are Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), previously known as UFOs? According to research by Karim Daghbouche of the German nonprofit Gridsat Stiftung, reverse engineering these phenomena is incredibly complex.
If an unidentified flying object is under scrutiny, reverse engineering its operation could unveil its mechanics. However, Daghbouche highlights the significant challenges, as data collection difficulties and “unknown physics” complicate the process of understanding unconventional propulsion systems.
The mathematical hurdles are formidable, with “NP Complete” signifying a specific type of intricate problem. It may even escalate to Pspace-hard or an entscheidungsproblem, the latter being virtually unsolvable for those unfamiliar with advanced mathematics.
News editor Jacob Aron calls it “incredible,” and Feedback concurs. If potential explanations range from extraterrestrial technology to time travelers and dimensions, narrowing down a single answer becomes problematic.
This might illustrate the notion of “no kidding, Sherlock,” as scientific inquiries often culminate in seemingly obvious conclusions. Yet, if NP is complete, does that really signify a non-solution?
Alternatively, we could ponder a human-centric interpretation of UAPs, attributing them to “honest mistakes.” In that framework, NP would no longer be incomplete, and the situation could become far more manageable.
Feedback was surprised by the concluding remarks in the paper’s summary, which stated that “UAP is deemed UAP because it behaves like modern smartphones in the hands of Neanderthals.”
Feedback believes Neanderthals could likely figure out how to use an iPhone. Thus, more nuanced interpretations of UAPs could emerge.
I’ve Squared
In our mathematical mindset, Brendan Ash notes that we are in a “squared year”: 2025 is 45². The next one won’t come until 2116.
This got Brendan reminiscing about a curious incident from a few years ago during a lengthy road trip. He and his son had fun looking up famous individuals who were born one year and passed the next. Not many fit that description, but Russian neurologist Ivan Pavlov (famous for his dog and bell experiments) was “born in 43 squared” [1849] and died at 44 squared [1936].
A darker thought struck Brendan— “I was also intrigued that Pope Francis was born in 44 squared and quickly predicted his death in 2025.”
For those of us who make such throwaway jokes, there exists a peculiar psychological torment in having such ideas materialize. “My predictions are now fulfilled. I cannot fathom how sinful I should feel,” Brendan reflects.
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While the Cannes Film Festival is typically not linked to video games, this year it hosts a unique collaboration. “Lili” is a joint project created by the New York-based game studio Ink Story, known for 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, which explores the narrative of Iranian photojournalists as well as a modern adaptation of Macbeth presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to have my first video game experience showcased at Cannes,” shares Vasiliki Honsari, co-founder of Ink Story. “People often say they aren’t familiar with gaming and may only give it a quick try. However, once they engage, you can sense their growth in empowerment within the film industry.”
Although the Cannes Festival’s immersive competition launched in 2024, the lineup rarely features traditional video games. “VR films and projection mapping are central to this initiative,” explains Navid Khonsari, Vassiliki’s husband and another co-founder of Ink Story. Nonetheless, “Lili” integrates live-action sequences with gaming mechanics, similar to titles like *Lies* and *Immortality*. The lead, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, previously won the Best Actress award at Cannes three years ago.
Centered around the character of Mrs. Macbeth, Lili portrays her as the determined wife of a Basij officer (a paramilitary volunteer group within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard). Much like the original play, she plots a murder to elevate her husband’s position. “What fascinates us is Lady Macbeth’s manipulative nature,” Navid explains.
“Her societal limitations based on gender compelled her to strive for a leadership role,” he adds. “Had she been a man, she could have become one of the greatest kings, but as a woman, she had to navigate a restrictive system. Our character Lili shares this experience.”
Players take on the role of a member of Hecateb, a group of hackers allied with Macbeth’s witches. You access Lili’s cellphone and computer while keeping an eye on her via a CCTV camera in her home. Key themes include surveillance and censorship. At one point, Lili attempts to view a YouTube Makeup Tutorial but is thwarted by the state firewall. This unpleasant voyeuristic dynamic is intentional. “We all participate in the problem of surveillance, looking and spying on one another,” comments Navid.
“She’s suffocating beneath the various masks she wears”… Zal Amir Ebrahimi from Lili. Photo: Ellie Smith
You can help her bypass these barriers, leading to a memorable scene where she wraps her head in cling film before applying eyeliner and lipstick. “This makeup ritual symbolizes her attempts to adapt to a world where she cannot express her identity,” Vassiliki points out. “We’ve highlighted the multiple layers of masks she bears, portraying the choking nature of her existence.”
Set for release in late 2026, Lili may eventually transform into a theatrical production, according to RSC’s Saraelis. Navid mentions plans for a film adaptation, utilizing some of the same footage from the game. This indicates an increasingly blurred line between gaming, cinema, and theatre, and it’s unlikely that this will be the last project the RSC takes on with gaming.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the intersection of games and theatre,” remarks Ellis, who initially proposed the collaboration to Ink Story. “We collaborated with top Shakespeare scholars. Professor Emma Smith from Oxford was instrumental in the dramaturgy of this project,” notes Ellis. Smith believes that if Shakespeare were alive today, he would be writing for games; Ellis concurs, emphasizing, “He was an innovator.”
Stingless blackberries (Lubus subgenus Lubus) canes are highly favored by growers due to concerns regarding food and worker safety, as well as the potential damage to fruit caused by the mechanical injuries associated with stings.
John’s et al. We identified a single locus that regulates unstimulated cane. Image credit: Gerald Antonio Romero.
Blackberries represent a specialized crop that is capturing a larger portion of the fresh berry market.
The rising demand coupled with increasing production costs has created a need for cultivars adaptable to various environmental and management practices.
Stings pose a challenge in blackberry production systems, presenting food safety issues and causing mechanical damage to the fruit, thereby reducing its shelf life.
The primary aim of a fresh market blackberry breeding program is to introduce thornless cultivars. These terms are often used interchangeably in existing literature.
Stinging differentiates plant-based differentiation from thorns and spines due to the formation of cortical and epidermal cells.
“Blackberry breeders lacked the genetic information required to ascertain whether certain plants were devoid of what is technically called nausea, commonly referred to as thorns,” stated Dr. Margaret Worthington, a researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experimental Bureau.
“All fresh market blackberry varieties are Tetraploid, meaning they possess four copies of all chromosomes as opposed to the two copies found in humans.”
“The greater the number of copies, the more challenging it becomes to conduct genetic analyses.”
“Previously, the locus and positioning of genes on chromosomes linked to spine traits were unknown.”
The team’s findings introduced the first diagnostic markers related to any traits developed and documented in blackberries.
“These markers are the first publicly available tools developed for both fresh market and processed blackberries,” expressed Dr. Ellen Thompson, Global Rubus Breeding and Development Director at Hortifrut Genetics.
“Markers expedite the breeding process, saving time and resources, and facilitate faster decision-making before seedlings are introduced into the field.”
The authors utilized genome-wide association studies to pinpoint the loci responsible for the spineless traits.
They gathered DNA samples from a total of 374 blackberry varieties.
These samples underwent genotyping, which is a highly accurate method that scans and identifies genetic codes impacting stinging characteristics.
If these variants, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), show significant correlations with certain traits, it implies that genes in that area might influence those traits.
These SNPs, or markers, highlight regions associated with the characteristic in question.
“Genetic markers are currently being implemented in blackberries and raspberries, but the technology is more mature for row crops like rice and soybeans,” noted Dr. Worthington.
“Genetic markers are widely utilized in row crops to select for disease resistance, growth or flowering periods, and other desirable traits.”
Another significant discovery from this study indicates that the absence of genetic mutations around chromosome RA04 leads to linkage disequilibrium blocks, or regions where genetic markers are more likely to be inherited together than by chance.
For the genes that are spineless within this block, these traits are often inherited from parent to offspring along with various other genes, including those linked to high acidity, lack of cold resistance, and less desirable traits like canes that require support to remain upright.
“The focus on selecting for spineless plants has inadvertently resulted in the loss of genetic variation surrounding the locus,” Dr. Worthington commented.
“Crossbreeding with thorny plants can help restore this variation.”
The team’s paper has been published in the journal G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics.
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Carmen A. Johns et al. Genetic control of exhalation in tetraploid blackberries. G3: Genes, genomes, genetics Published online on March 20th, 2025. doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkaf065
The extensive dinosaur trackways offer crucial insights into the behaviors of their creators, yet researchers frequently encounter logistical hurdles in documentation and analysis. In a recent study, paleontologists from the University of Queensland and the University of Earth Sciences in China tackled these issues by employing digital methods to reexamine China’s 70-meter long dinosaur trackway.
The 120-million-year-old trackway examined by the team is situated southwest of Hanukushi village in Sichuan Province, China.
Affectionately referred to as the “Siphenwo” or “Stone Phoenix Nest”, the trackway holds significant cultural importance. It was once believed by locals to have been created by the mythical Phoenix, as described in poetry from the late Qing Dynasty (1840-1911 CE).
This trackway, which represents the longest theropod trackway in East Asia, consists of 81 consecutive footprints, stretching over approximately 70 meters.
“The dinosaur’s movements were reconstructed in stages, revealing its walking patterns, pace changes, and responses to the environment,” stated Anthony Romilio, a paleontologist at the University of Queensland.
“The sequence of 80 consecutive footprints extends over 70 meters in Sichuan, China, capturing a fleeting moment in stone.”
“Through digital animation, we can observe these moments as they unfold, offering unparalleled insights into animal behavior and biomechanics.”
Reconstructing the life of a dinosaur based on Yutyrannus, scaled against a 175 cm human model. Image credit: Anthony Romilio & Lida Xing, doi: 10.3390/geosciences15050165.
Using measurements from the trackway, Dr. Romilio and colleague Dr. Lida Singh determined that the dinosaur was bipedal, standing approximately 1.13 meters tall at the waist and weighing up to 292 kg.
“The footprint indicates that the dinosaur moved at a steady 5.3 km/h, similar to a brisk human walk, occasionally accelerating to a light trot before resuming its normal pace,” Dr. Romilio explained.
“This was not merely a dinosaur meandering aimlessly; it was moving in a largely linear fashion with clear intent.”
The team concluded that the dinosaur’s size closely resembles that of the feathered dinosaur Yutyrannus, which lived in northeastern China during the early Cretaceous period.
“Trackways can reveal behavioral details and narratives that fossilized bones alone cannot,” remarked Dr. Romilio.
“However, the study of such extensive tracks has historically been challenging due to the complexities of on-site measurements.”
“Our entirely digital approach enables us to capture, interpret, and archive all measurements and calculations from fossil track sites on computers, providing insight into the dynamic lives of these ancient beings.”
The team’s findings will be published in the journal Earth Science.
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Anthony Romilio & Lida Xing. 2025. Digital analysis of the “Phoenix Trackway” at a Chinese Cretaceous dinosaur track site. Earth Science 15(5):165; doi:10.3390/geosciences15050165
As we age, the likelihood of developing chronic non-infectious diseases increases, necessitating interventions that target the aging process. One of the measures used to assess biological aging in these interventions is an algorithm that analyzes DNA methylation patterns, referred to as epigenetic clocks. This new research focuses on identifying beneficial nutritional components such as green tea, oolong tea, turmeric, rosemary, garlic, and berries.
Villanueva et al. suggest that targeted food choices may help slow the aging process. Image credit: Sci.News.
“We have observed numerous individuals struggling with their health,” stated Dr. Jamie L. Villanueva, a researcher at Washington University and the National University of Natural Medicine.
“The DNA methylation pattern, which acts as a chemical marker in DNA, can reveal whether a person is aging faster or slower than anticipated.”
“This research employed Horvath’s epigenetic clock, a widely recognized method, to assess changes in epigenetic age.”
Researchers studied healthy men aged 50-72 who had previously undertaken an 8-week program featuring a plant-based, nutritious diet, complemented by guidance on exercise, sleep, and stress management.
The team investigated individual dietary variations to understand why some participants exhibited greater improvements in their epigenetic age compared to others.
The findings showed that participants consuming higher amounts of methyladaptogenic foods—like turmeric, rosemary, garlic, berries, green tea, and oolong tea—experienced a notable reduction in their epigenetic age.
These positive effects remained significant even after accounting for weight changes and initial epigenetic ages, indicating a direct impact of the foods on aging markers.
“In hierarchical linear regression analyses, foods assessed as polyphenol modulators of DNA methylation, previously categorized as methyladaptogens, demonstrated a significant linear association with changes in epigenetic age after controlling for baseline epigenetic age acceleration and alterations in body weight,” the researchers explained.
The natural compounds in methyladaptogenic foods are known to influence gene behavior through their effects on DNA methylation.
Prior research has indicated that these compounds may support healthy aging and lower the risk of conditions like heart disease and cognitive decline.
Though this study involved a relatively small cohort of middle-aged men, it contributes to the expanding body of global research suggesting that diets rich in polyphenols found in vegetables, fruits, and tea are linked to slower aging.
The results reinforce previous studies on Mediterranean and traditional Japanese diets, renowned for their health benefits.
“Future studies should involve a larger and more diverse population and explore these findings using updated tools for measuring epigenetic aging,” the author noted.
“Based on current findings, this study underscores practical, food-based strategies that can help mitigate epigenetic aging and promote long-term health.”
Jamie L. Villanueva et al. 2025. Dietary relationships with epigenetic age decline: secondary data analysis of methylated diet and lifestyle studies. aging 17(4):994-1010; doi:10.18632/aging.206240
Analysis from the ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and ALMA data indicates that intense radiation from a quasar within these galaxies affects the gas properties of other galaxies, reducing their ability to form new stars.
Artistic impression of a galaxy merger where the right galaxy hosts a quasar at its core. This quasar, containing a supermassive black hole, emits a powerful radiation cone that affects neighboring galaxies. This interaction can destroy gas and dust clouds, leaving behind only denser regions that may struggle to form stars. Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser.
“In the far reaches of the universe, two galaxies are entangled in an exhilarating conflict,” remarked Dr. Paschier Notardem, an astronomer affiliated with the Paris Astronomical Institute.
“On a collision course at speeds of 500 km/s, they collide multiple times, only to push one another away before gearing up for another round.”
“Thus, we refer to this system as the ‘space joust.’ However, these galactic contenders don’t fight fairly, utilizing quasars to strike with beams of radiation.”
Quasars are the luminous cores of certain distant galaxies powered by supermassive black holes, emitting substantial amounts of radiation.
The combination of a quasar with a galaxy was significantly more common during the universe’s first billion years, allowing astronomers to glimpse the remote past using powerful telescopes.
The light from this “joust of the universe” traveled over 11 billion years to reach us, providing a snapshot of the universe when it was merely 18% of its current age.
ALMA image showcasing the molecular gas content of two galaxies involved in a collision. Image credits: ALMA/ESO/NAOJ/NRAO/Balashev et al.
“According to Dr. Sergei Balashev from the Ioffe Institute,
the observations from the new VLT/ALMA indicate that radiation from the quasar J012555.11-012925.00 obliterates the normal gas and dust clouds in the surrounding galaxy, leaving only the densest regions.
These regions are likely too limited for star formation, causing a significant decline in stellar nurseries within the affected galaxy.
However, the transformed galaxies are not the only ones undergoing changes.
“These mergers are believed to funnel substantial amounts of gas into the supermassive black holes at the galaxies’ centers,” Dr. Balashev mentioned.
“In this cosmic arena, fresh supplies of fuel come within reach of black holes that power the quasar.”
“As these black holes are nourished, the quasar can persist in its destructive assault.”
A paper detailing these findings was published today in the journal Nature.
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S. Balashev et al. Quasar radiation transforms gas in a merged companion galaxy. Nature Published online on May 21, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08966-4
You can identify it from its leading role in the film Finding NEMO: the Clown Anemone Fish (Amphiprion percula). This research addresses methods to minimize social conflict, as discussed in the paper published in the journal Advances in Science.
Versteeg et al. We studied the growth of individual clown anemone fish during marine heat waves. Image credit: Beatrice.
“The Clown Anemone Fish and its stunning sea anemone host, Radianthus magnificus,” expressed Melissa Verstegue, a doctoral researcher at Newcastle University, alongside her colleague Melissa Vertegue.
“Anemonefish inhabit coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, where heat stress events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, yet reef dwellers often approach their thermal limits.”
“These heat stress events can adversely impact both the anemones and the clownfish that reside within them.”
“The clown anemone fish exist in a social structure comprising dominant breeding pairs and several subordinate, non-breeding individuals.”
“The growth and size of clown anemone fish correlate with their environmental and social conditions, with dominant individuals growing to match the size of their anemone and the resources available. Subordinate fish maintain a specific size ratio to avoid conflict and potential eviction.”
In this research, Versteeg and co-authors measured the lengths of 134 clownfish over five months and tracked water temperatures every 4-6 days during increasingly common ocean heat waves exacerbated by climate change.
This collaboration was conducted with the Mahonia Na Dari Conservation and Research Centre in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.
The findings reveal that clownfish can adjust their body length, potentially shrinking in response to heat stress.
This reduction increases an individual’s chances of surviving heat stress events by up to 78%.
The study also indicates that coordination among clownfish is crucial, as they are more likely to survive heat waves when paired with their breeding partners.
This marks the first documented instance of coral reef fish reducing body length in response to environmental and social factors.
“This doesn’t merely lead to weight loss under stress; these fish genuinely become shorter,” notes Versteeg.
“We are still uncertain about the exact mechanisms behind this, but it’s known that a few other species can also exhibit similar shrinkage.”
“For example, marine iguanas can reabsorb some of their bone material and decrease in size during environmental stress.”
“We were astonished to observe these fish shrink; we rigorously measured each individual across five months.”
“Ultimately, we discovered size reduction was quite common within this population.”
“During our study, 100 out of the 134 fish observed shrank.”
“It was surprising to witness how rapidly clownfish can adapt to changing environments, showcasing their ability to alter size both as individuals and breeding pairs in response to heat stress, which serves as an effective survival strategy.”
The authors also highlight that individual size reduction may help explain the declining sizes of fish in our oceans.
“Our results affirm that individual clownfish can shrink in response to heat stress, potentially affected by social dynamics and exhibiting improved survival potential.”
“If this phenomenon of individual size reduction is widespread across various fish species, many could show decreased sizes, suggesting a viable hypothesis for further research in this area.”
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Melissa A. Verstigue et al. 2025. Individual clown anemone fish shrink to survive heat stress and social conflict. Advances in Science 11 (21); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt7079
High-density breast tissue and tumors resemble each other on scans.
Golodenkov/Shutterstock
Recent research indicates that those with dense breast tissue may gain from an additional round of cancer screening, as a significant trial uncovered tumors that were overlooked in standard mammograms.
In the UK, mammograms—an x-ray scan used for breast cancer screening—are provided for individuals aged 50 to 71. These scans look for white spots that indicate cancer presence. However, around 50% of women in this age range have dense breasts, characterized by a high amount of fibrous and glandular tissue, also appearing white on the scans. This similarity complicates tumor detection.
“The challenge with dense breasts is that cancers may go unnoticed until they grow significantly large, which negatively affects prognosis,” said Thomas Hervich, who wasn’t a part of the study at the Medical University of Vienna in Austria.
To determine whether additional screenings can help, Sarah Vinnicombe and her colleagues at the University of Dundee recruited over 6,000 women aged 50-70 from across the UK. Participants were randomly divided into three groups, each receiving extra screening through advanced x-ray methods such as MRI, ultrasound, or contrast-enhanced mammography.
In this extended screening phase, MRI and contrast-enhanced mammography together identified 85 small tumors—three times as many as detected by ultrasound. Twelve of these tumors were located in milk ducts, suggesting a lower likelihood of spreading beyond the breast. Conversely, the other 73 tumors were invasive, increasing the risk that cancer could migrate into surrounding breast tissue and beyond.
“Detecting these cancers is crucial. They typically grow over time, and finding them within three to four years can lead to larger sizes,” stated Hervich. “Some tumors are aggressive, so I believe supplemental screening could save lives.”
However, it’s uncertain if this will hold true. For instance, a 2021 trial on ovarian cancer screening revealed a decrease in cases but did not correlate with increased longevity. Additionally, some tumors detected may not be cancerous or aggressive. Thus, unnecessary screening could lead to undue anxiety and treatment.
The researchers plan to continue monitoring participants to assess whether supplementary screenings result in saved lives.
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