Research has shown that various orange-striped fish shrink during heat waves off the coast of Papua New Guinea. These smaller fish are more likely to survive.
Climate change is causing heat waves to become more frequent and severe underwater. Elevated water temperatures can lead to the bleaching of the sea anemones that clownfish rely on, prompting them to adapt in order to survive.
During the severe heat wave of 2023, scientists tracked 134 colorful clownfish in Kimbe Bay, discovering that 101 of them exhibited significant reductions in length due to heat stress.
“We were genuinely surprised at first when we observed them shrinking completely,” remarked Morgan Bennett Smith, a research author at Boston University. The findings were published on Wednesday in the Journal of Science Advances.
Two clowns next to an anemone in Kimbe Bay off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Morgan Bennett Smith / AP
Researchers are still unsure about how clownfish shrink, but one theory suggests they may be reabsorbing their own bone material. Smaller fish need less food, allowing Kakulfish to conserve energy during stressful conditions by becoming smaller.
Certain clownfish breeding pairs also exhibited synchronized contractions that improved their survival. The females maintained the social hierarchy and adjusted their size to remain larger than their partners, according to the researchers.
Additionally, other species are also shrinking in response to heat. For instance, marine iguanas reduce in size during El Niño events, which warm waters in the Galapagos. However, this coping mechanism has not been reported in reef fish until now.
“This is an additional strategy that fish employ to adapt to a changing environment,” said Simon Thorold, a marine ecologist at the Woods Hole Marine Facility who was not part of the research.
A kakuru fish next to anemone in Kimbe Bay off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Morgan Bennett Smith / AP
This strategy may help fish withstand heat waves in the short term, but it remains uncertain how they will cope if such conditions persist over the coming years, Thorold noted.
The researchers found that these reductions in size were temporary. Clownfish were able to “catch up” and grow again once the environment became less stressful.
“These natural systems are severely stressed, but they exhibit remarkable resilience,” Versteeg states.
Kentucky is often referred to as the land of horses, bourbon, and bluegrass, and it will soon welcome a large influx of Cicadas.
Billions of these winged insects will begin to emerge from their infamous underground mating rituals, having spent weeks below the surface.
This year, Cicadas are expected to emerge in nearly 12 states, with the highest concentration occurring in Kentucky and Tennessee. They will also be spotted in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York.
Some locals refer to them simply as “Chicada” this season due to their prominence in Kentucky.
“They’re the experts in entomology at the University of Kentucky,” noted Jonathan Larson, assistant professor of entomology.
Seven different types of cicadas can be found in North America, appearing every 13 or 17 years depending on their species. USDA Forest Bureau
These are known as regular Cicadas, which spend a predetermined number of years underground before surfacing to find mates. Seven species of these cicadas exist in North America, emerging either every 13 years or every 17 years.
This year’s Cicadas belong to Brood XIV, which follows a 17-year cycle.
Larson remarked that the nickname “bourbon chick” fits well, as the lifecycle of these insects parallels the distillation process of Kentucky’s renowned whiskey.
“We let the bourbon age,” Larson explained. “It’s placed in barrels in the dark for an extended period, which is somewhat similar.”
Larson mentioned that sightings of Cicadas have already started in southern Kentucky counties, but the main event will kick off in the coming weeks as the soil temperature rises.
“I anticipate that in the next two weeks, we will really see them everywhere,” he said.
When that time comes, certain areas will be literally swarming with Cicadas. However, it’s not just their sheer numbers that create an unforgettable experience; it’s the distinct high-pitched noise they make as well.
Cicadas can produce sounds reaching up to 100 decibels, which is actually their mating call used to attract females. After emerging, females only have a few weeks to find mates and lay eggs before they die.
“It’s all wild and beautiful, strange and wonderful,” Larson enthused.
While Cicadas pose no danger to humans, they can become quite bothersome, particularly when large amounts of their bodies accumulate post-mortem.
“During the early stages, there’s no unpleasant odor, but about five weeks later, if enough die in one spot, a decomposing smell can develop,” Larson noted.
Although thousands of cicada species are found globally, regular cicadas are unique for spending the majority of their lives underground, feeding on tree roots, before surfacing every 13 or 17 years.
Typically, the first Cicadas surface in early to mid-May, but most often they emerge in June when temperatures rise. Larson stated that cicadas generally wait for the soil to reach approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit before breaking through.
Their reliance on environmental signals raises questions about the impact of climate change on Cicadas and their mating rituals.
“If it’s warmer sooner this year, they might start emerging earlier than expected,” Larson explained, noting the potential for extreme weather events like flooding or freezing, which have been prevalent in Kentucky recently.
This area remains a focal point of research as scientists investigate the long-term effects of climate change on Cicada populations.
In the meantime, Larson and other entomology enthusiasts from various states are gearing up to witness this remarkable phenomenon.
“I hope people take the time to experience it,” Larson encouraged. “What’s happening here is unique; you won’t find this anywhere else, so we suggest engaging in Cicada tourism if you can.”
Citizen scientists can also contribute to research by snapping photos and recording geographical details of sightings using the CICADA SAFARI app.
Nature despises a vacuum, and geopolitical vacuums are no exception. As Donald Trump sets the stage to confront global warming, he is poised for the climate leadership that awaits. If Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to claim that mantle, it’s within his reach.
China’s climate credentials are a mixed bag. Since 2006, it has held the title of the largest greenhouse gas emitter due to rapid industrialization. Conversely, it has emerged as a leading manufacturer of solar panels globally.
Xi himself appears to be distancing from the international climate arena. He has not participated in any climate summits since Paris in 2015, when China committed to keeping global warming below 1.5°C. While numerous countries interpret this as an obligation to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, China has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060—a less ambitious target.
However, this landscape may be changing. As highlighted on page 10, China’s emissions seem to have peaked. Xi is also set to attend COP30 in Belem, Brazil this November. With a significant climate initiative emerging from China, what does this mean?
Due to a massive climate intervention from China, the work is falling into place, what is that?
The most probable announcement is the commitment to a provisional target by 2040, halfway to 2060. Yet, if Xi aspires to lead the global climate movement, he should set a more ambitious zero emissions target for 2050. Achieving this would complicate matters for other countries and catalyze advancements in green technology.
Will Xi take that step? Likely not. However, with reports suggesting that COP30 may not meet expectations (see “Does the COP30 Climate Summit already take six months, six months?”), Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva may help persuade Xi, as he has previously indicated a desire to maintain a more robust relationship with China. Should China assume the climate leadership role, Brazil stands to benefit significantly.
We have confirmation that a strange planet orbits between two stars
Aaron Alien/Shutterstock
Following extensive observation, scientists are on the verge of unraveling how pairs of stars engage in stable orbital dynamics surrounding elusive planets.
In 2004, David Lamb from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, identified a puzzling repeating signal while monitoring the motion of a star pair in the Nu Octantis system. This initiated an ongoing discussion about whether planets twice the size of Jupiter exist in that system. Now, along with Ram Mann Whiley from the University of Hong Kong and his colleagues, they present strong evidence suggesting that Nu Octantis is a trio rather than a binary system.
A significant discovery was that the Nu Octantis planet is moving in reverse. The planet and one star orbit the second star in opposite directions, with the planet maintaining a close orbit around the latter. Lee observes that this is an unusual occurrence, but the system is stable. His team reached this conclusion thanks to enhanced measurement tools, like the HARPS spectrometer on the 3.6-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile. The persistence of the planetary signal across years of observation reinforced their findings. “We’re pretty sure [the planet] is genuine. If it were related to stellar activity, it shouldn’t exhibit such consistency over years of data,” remarks Lee.
Nonetheless, this retrograde planet is not an uncommon feature of Nu Octantis. Researchers utilized a large telescope at the Southern European Observatory to determine that one of the stars is a white dwarf. Lee explains this complicates the history of Nu Octantis, as it suggests that the planet’s current orbit was impossible when it was younger, larger, and brighter.
Thus, the planet initially orbited both stars simultaneously but fundamentally changed its trajectory when one of the stars became a white dwarf, or it formed from a mass expelled when the stars transitioned to white dwarfs. Continued observations and mathematical modeling may clarify which scenario occurred, but both possibilities are novel, notes Lee.
For centuries, astronomers believed that all planets orbit the central star in the same direction, with regular intervals governing the orbital arrangement. However, Nu Octantis challenges these conventions, according to Manfred Kunz from the University of Texas at Arlington. “Scientists are urging us to broaden our understanding of star and planetary scenarios, in terms of both formation and evolution,” he states.
Sure! Here’s the rewritten content while retaining the HTML tags:
Some social media videos suggest sealing your mouth completely with tape for better sleep, while others recommend only partially closing it
Sevda Ercan/Getty Images
There is limited high-quality evidence to support the trend on social media of taping or closing mouths at night to alleviate breathing challenges.
“This trend has gained traction on social platforms,” says Ken O’Haloran, who was not part of the recent research at University College Cork in Ireland. “Ultimately, there is scant evidence it is effective.”
In recent years, users on platforms like TikTok and Instagram have posted videos viewed millions of times, demonstrating the use of tape to seal their mouths during sleep. They claim this prevents mouth breathing and provides various health benefits, including alleviating breathing issues and enhancing sleep quality.
To investigate the validity of these claims, Brian Rotenberg from Western University in Ontario, Canada, and his team reviewed eight studies involving nearly 200 individuals with obstructive sleep apnea—a common condition characterized by intermittent breathing cessation or restrictions during sleep, often accompanied by snoring and frequent awakenings due to low oxygen levels.
The findings varied significantly. In two studies, researchers monitored participants’ breathing for two nights—once with tape and once without—and discovered that taping reduced instances of obstructed breathing or restricted airflow. “This occurred multiple times each hour,” Rotenberg notes.
Conversely, the other six studies—including one randomized controlled trial—indicated that mouth taping did not provide benefits for these issues. “The results were quite convoluted, leading to weak evidence, and the studies were generally of low quality, with only a dozen or so participants involved,” explains O’Haloran.
Rotenberg also cautioned that mouth taping could present risks. “If your nose is blocked and your mouth is sealed, the situation could lead to panic due to insufficient air intake.”
“While individuals can simply peel off the tape, I wouldn’t recommend it, as awakening in that state could be distressing,” warns David Garley from a better sleep clinic located in Bristol, UK.
Moreover, the variability in outcomes may relate to differences in how mouth taping was implemented. Some studies defined it as a complete horizontal strip covering the mouth, while others were less precise, occasionally resulting in only partial mouth closure.
Another limitation of the studies is that they did not assess daytime symptoms. “Many patients in the clinic experience fatigue and headaches during the day caused by obstructive sleep apnea, but these outcomes were not evaluated,” states Gurley.
He advises that individuals experiencing breathing difficulties should consult their doctor until further research clarifies the situation. Proven treatments, such as CPAP machines that gently supply air through masks to keep airways open, are effective for managing obstructive sleep apnea, according to Gurley.
topic:
Feel free to let me know if you need any additional changes!
The widely acclaimed video game Fortnite has made its comeback to the US iPhone App Store, ending a prolonged absence due to a legal dispute over the fees Apple enforced annually via its payment system, which the tech giant has had to revise.
Fortnite, one of the most popular games globally, celebrated the much-anticipated return of its app to iPhone and iPad in a post on Tuesday, marking its availability on these devices for the first time since Apple removed it in 2020 to circumvent the 15% to 30% commissions on in-app transactions.
“Fortnite is back on iPhone and iPads in the App Store in the US. It’s also returning on Epic Games and Altstore in the EU! Check out a Tweet from the official game account. As a result of the legal battles with Apple, Epic has launched its own digital store.
The game, featuring a virtual battle on a digital island, returned just days after its parent company Epic Games requested a federal judge to mandate its restoration as part of a civil discovery process against Apple initiated late last month. Last week, the game temporarily disappeared from Apple devices globally and was inaccessible in several countries.
In a succinct court filing on Tuesday, Apple stated that the dispute preventing Fortnite from accessing iOS has been resolved. The tech company from Cupertino, California, did not instantly reply to requests for additional statements.
These legal conflicts are rooted in an enduring feud. Epic has accused Apple of converting the App Store into an illegal monopoly. This accusation was previously unfavorably ruled on in 2021 by a federal judge following a month-long trial.
The judge concluded that Apple had not breached antitrust regulations but ordered the company to relax its grip on in-app payment systems and permit links to alternative payment methods that could present lower costs.
After exhausting appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court last year, Apple allowed linking to alternative payment options while introducing a new structure that imposes a 27% charge for in-app transactions completed outside its own system.
Epic was incensed by Apple’s attempts to evade the legal process, reigniting court hearings that had lingered for nearly a year before Gonzalez Rogers delivered her decisive verdict, including a prohibition on any commission collection from alternative payment options.
While it appeared that Fortnite was paving the way for its re-entry to iPhone and iPad, last week Epic stated that the game remained blocked by Apple. Claiming it was permissible to maintain Fortnite while Apple pursued the implications of Gonzalez Rogers’ previous ruling, Epic pressed the matter by requesting the judge for a clear order permitting the game on iPhones and iPads.
On Monday, Gonzalez Rogers inquired why Apple continued to obstruct Fortnite’s return without an order from the Court of Appeal. She stated, “Apple can completely resolve this issue without further briefings or hearings,” as she reviewed Epic’s recent actions, anticipating a hearing on May 27th.
CT scan of the front of a skate depicting a hard, tooth-like dentition (orange) on its skin
Yara Haridi
Recent analysis of animal fossils suggests that teeth initially developed as sensory organs rather than for chewing. The earliest tooth-like structure seems to have originated as a sensitive nodule in the skin of primitive fish, allowing them to detect variations in the surrounding water.
The findings support the long-held belief that teeth originally evolved outside the mouth, as noted by Yara Haridi from the University of Chicago.
While some evidence exists to back this theory, significant questions remain. “What purpose do all these teeth on the exterior serve?” queries Khalidi. One possibility is that they functioned as defensive armor; however, Khalidi proposes an additional theory: “It’s beneficial to protect oneself with tough materials, but imagine if those materials could also enhance sensory perception of the environment?”
True teeth are exclusively found in vertebrates, such as fish and mammals. Although some invertebrates possess dental structures, their underlying tissues are fundamentally different. This indicates that teeth originated with the evolution of the earliest vertebrates: fishes.
Khalidi and her research team scrutinized fossils claimed to be the oldest examples of fish teeth, utilizing advanced synchrotron scanning techniques.
They examined fragments of fossils from the genus Anatrepis, which spanned from the late Cambrian (539 to 487 million years ago) to the early Ordovician period (487 to 443 million years ago). These organisms featured a hard exoskeleton with perforations.
These perforations were interpreted as dentin tubules, which are one of the hard tissues composing teeth. In human teeth, dentin serves multiple functions, including sensation and the detection of temperature and pain.
However, Haridi and her colleagues found no such evidence. “We observed the internal structure [of the tubules],” she states. Their examination revealed that the tubules most closely resemble structures known as sensilla, which are found in the exoskeletons of insects and spiders.
This means that Anatrepis are arthropods rather than fish, implying that their tubules do not directly lead to the evolution of teeth.
“Dentin likely emerged as a novel feature in vertebrates, but the hardened external sensory capabilities existed much earlier in invertebrates,” remarks Gareth Fraser from the University of Florida, who was not involved in the research.
Beyond Anatrepis, the earliest known true teeth belong to Ellipticus, which dates exclusively to the Ordovician period. These possess actual dentin found in the skin’s teeth.
Khalidi suggests that like the invertebrate Anatrepis, early vertebrates such as Ellipticus evolved independently to develop skin structures, where sensory nodules had undergone significant evolution. “These two entirely different organisms had to navigate the ancient ocean’s muddy terrain,” she explains. Significantly, the study also indicates that some modern fish skin still retains nerve endings, indicating sensory functionality.
As certain fish transitioned into active predators, they required a method for securing prey, leading to the evolution of hard teeth that moved to their mouths for biting.
“Based on the available data, tooth-like structures may have initially evolved in the skin of ancient vertebrates before migrating into the mouth, evolving into teeth,” Fraser concludes.
this gaming console lifespan has greatly expanded since my childhood. In the 1990s, new technology became outdated in just a matter of years. Almost immediately, fresh and enticing devices began appearing, sparking fierce competition to stay ahead. The Game Boy and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive debuted in 1989, soon followed by the Game Gear in 1990 and the Super NES in 1991.
Now, we’re looking at a ten-year span. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch in just a few weeks. This comes over eight years after I first unboxed the original Switch and was amazed by its instant switch to portable mode. Game consoles often seem to mark different milestones in my life: the Nintendo 64 defined my childhood, the PlayStation 2 was central to my teenage years, and the Xbox 360 accompanied me during my early career, coinciding with my first experience covering a console launch as a young journalist. The Nintendo Switch arrived shortly after the birth of my first child.
Reflecting on my time with the Switch, I recall moments in *Breath of the Wild* when I would grab some gaming time while my baby napped beside me. On our inaugural family holiday, we played a quirky match of *Splatoon* on the balcony of a French villa. And as I strolled around the house with my second baby in a sling, I tried to negotiate the care of my virtual animals while he fought off sleep (he never did). When they’re old enough, my kids will get to share the first games I played on the Switch with me. We recently enjoyed *Pokemon Sword and Shield* together, and I’ve revisited *Princess Speech Showtime* with just minimal help from my little one.
Hello to Moo… The Nintendo Switch has carved out a unique space in gaming. Photo: Justin Lane/EPA
Over these past eight years, my living room TV has become a stage for characters like Bluey and Moana, and recently (God help me) Alvin and the Chipmunks. The Switch offered me a time capsule, letting me escape into gaming even amidst the chaos. Eight years is a long time, enough for life to shift dramatically. I’ve experienced loss, relocation, and new friendships. Additionally, we all navigated a pandemic, with *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* emerging as the defining game of that period. The Switch isn’t just a console; it’s a cherished retreat.
Since 2017, my life has changed, as I assume yours has too. The console feels like a companion, especially portable devices like the Switch and Game Boy. My children are older now, enjoying the same Switch games that once captured their younger selves’ imaginations. The Switch 2 seems poised to herald a new stage in our gaming journey.
Recently, I gathered all my Switch consoles, games, controllers, and accessories, from family favorites to my partner’s special Zelda Edition. This console serves as our family gaming hub, complete with spare Joy-Cons for those spontaneous gaming sessions. It’s not quite time for it to join the forgotten consoles under my bed. I’m ready for the Switch 2, but I’m not in a rush to retire my family console just yet. I genuinely don’t want to. The Switch remains my favorite console to date—not just for its legendary games likely to be remembered for two more decades, but also for its unprecedented hybrid design that transformed my gaming habits and created a special place in my heart.
As this era comes to a close, I feel a pinch of nostalgia. Soon, the conversation will revolve around new consoles, questions of sales, their value, and top strategies in Mario Kart, as fans compare them to their groundbreaking predecessor. For the moment, I’m not fixated on what the Nintendo Switch signifies for the industry; rather, I’m pondering its personal significance for me.
What to do
Be the person you aspire to be… The latest RPG, *Fantasy Life I: A Girl Who Steals Time*, offers numerous lives to choose from. Illustration: Level5/
Are you familiar with Fantasy Life? This cult classic from 2014 on the Nintendo 3DS allowed players to switch between 12 different jobs, from a blacksmith to a fighter, cook, and more. Its long-awaited sequel, Fantasy Life I: A Girl Who Steals Time, has finally been released today after several delays.
You can now become an artist, farmer, magician, carpenter, fisherman, alchemist, or whatever you can dream of. It seamlessly blends aspects of *Animal Crossing* and *Harvest Moon*, offering a charming Japanese life simulation vibe akin to *Dragon Quest* or *Ni No Kuni*. I can’t wait to dive in! Special shout-out to my group chat friends who have been eagerly awaiting this for over a decade.
Available on: Switch/2, PS4/5, Xbox, PC Estimated playtime: Over 30 hours
Broom broom… Crescent County home delivery system. Illustration: Electric Saint
Check out some exciting games launching on Kickstarter this week: Crescent County is a colorful game centered around witches, deliveries, broom racing, and charming small-town intrigue. Also, don’t miss the ghost story venture in Paisley, near Glasgow, titled Crystal Garden.
If you’re looking for something to fit into a quick break, try this Satire Simulation Text Game called You Are a Generation AI. You take on the role of an increasingly self-aware leading language model that field random queries, often ones that people are too lazy to research. I discovered three different endings, and one left me genuinely sorrowful.
Developer Bungie, creators of Destiny and the forthcoming shooting game Marathon, are embroiled in controversy over alleged plagiarism after promotional materials revealed uncredited designs from a creator named Antireal. Bungie claims a former employee is responsible for the oversight. For more details, see VG247’s overview.
Six months later, the PlayStation 5 is in a tight race, with sales nearly matching those of the PlayStation 4, which has reached 78 million units across its lifecycle. Check out the detailed insights on Video Game Chronicle’s data.
What to click
Question block
What’s the name?… Play video games using the Nintendo Wii U controller. Photo: Jae C Hong/AP
Some great suggestions for reader names for Travis’s Book Club Style Video Game Club were put forward: select/start (thank you, Alex), long play (from Eva), and Doki Doki VideoGame Club (thanks to Nickey references from Chris). Special kudos go to Kenny for brainstorming some beautiful names, like those for co-op and multiplayer games shared by friends.
Lucas, who participated as well, shared an excellent suggestion last week with itch.io where you can find quirky little free games to play and discuss with friends! Indie developers sharing games here often welcome the feedback and attention from our gaming community. (You may also encounter the generative AI I mentioned earlier, along with numerous other intriguing games worth discussing).
We also received a timely question from reader Ali:
“In contrast to Sony’s sequential naming system and Microsoft’s jump from the 360 to the Series, I’ve always admired Nintendo for creating unique names for each console, right?”
Indeed, aside from perhaps a few iterations, Nintendo typically opts for distinct names for each console, like the Game Boy, NES, and Super NES, Wii and Wii U, as well as the current Switch and upcoming Switch 2. It’s the first time they’ve embraced numbers, likely due to the poor reception of the Wii U. However, it also indicates the evolving and cautious nature of the gaming industry as we approach 2025—or it might reflect Nintendo President Furukawa’s background in finance.
If you have a question for the block, or feedback about the newsletter—email pushbuttons@theguardian.com
A fragment of the virus has been identified in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Nottinghamshire, UK
IMV/ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
The West Nile virus, marking the first potential fatal mosquito-borne disease in the UK, has been identified for the first time.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced that its research collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency has Afa successfully identified a “fragment” of the virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected from the marshlands along the Idol River in Nottinghamshire in July 2023, indicating that these insects are carriers of pathogens.
According to Alanfolly from Apha, the virus was discovered somewhat by chance during routine testing by his team. He notes that further screenings will take place around that area later this year. Interestingly, Nottinghamshire typically does not fall into Afa’s primary testing regions, which are mostly centered in southern and eastern England, where warmer climates increase the likelihood of infections such as West Nile.
Humans and horses can become infected with the West Nile virus through mosquito bites. Approximately 20% of infected individuals exhibit symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. In rare instances, the virus can lead to severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which can be fatal. Currently, there are no approved vaccines for humans.
UKHSA has reported the virus’s presence only in two mosquito samples, with no current evidence suggesting that humans or horses are infected in the UK. The organization’s assessment indicates a very low risk to the public, but healthcare professionals are advised to test encephalitis patients for unexplained causes.
“This is the first identification of the West Nile virus in British mosquitoes, though it doesn’t come as a surprise given the virus’s ongoing spread across Europe,” stated Meera Chand from UKHSA.
The West Nile virus has been increasingly observed in Africa, Europe, and North America. In Europe, recent years have seen its northern spread, reaching the Netherlands in 2020.
Factors contributing to the spread of the West Nile virus include elevated spring and summer temperatures, summer droughts, and milder winters, all of which are becoming more prevalent in Northern Europe. Although APHA has not detected the West Nile virus in mosquitoes or birds for 2024, the recent warm weather in the UK could change that. “We had an unusually warm May,” Folly noted. “If there is another case, we may see it in the coming weeks. This is just the beginning; more cases could follow.”
British researchers have been vigilant for the West Nile virus since 2020 when a related mosquito-borne virus (USUTU) was first found in London. The West Nile virus shares similar transmission characteristics with USUTU and requires comparable environmental conditions.
“I wouldn’t be surprised at all,” stated Matthew Baylis from the University of Liverpool. “I’ve been expecting this to happen every year. I believe that the West Nile virus will eventually be detected in the UK.”
He suggested that the virus likely arrived in the UK via birds and is probably circulating among various mosquito species in the region. However, he reassured that there is no immediate cause for alarm. “The risk remains low for most people. While a few horses are susceptible to West Nile disease, it’s quite rare,” he added.
Artist impressions of Earth’s semi-satellite Kamo`oalewa, designated as the initial target for the Tianwen-2 mission
Addy Graham/University of Arizona
China is making final preparations to launch a spacecraft aimed at exploring asteroids and comets, seeking to gain insights into these celestial bodies in our solar system.
The Tianwen-2 mission, orchestrated by the China National Space Agency (CNSA), plans to collect 100 grams of samples from the asteroid Chuan West and return them to Earth. Following the sample retrieval, the probe will utilize Earth’s gravity to propel itself towards the comet 311P/Panstarrs, which will be observed remotely.
The mission is set for launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on May 29th. While NASA’s Osiris-Rex and JAXA’s Hayabusa missions have previously returned asteroid samples, this marks China’s inaugural asteroid mission, including the return of rock samples, and potentially the first mission aimed at a unique type of celestial body known as quasi-satellites.
Quasi-satellites, like Kamo`oalewa, do not orbit the Earth in a traditional manner; instead, they follow orbits around the Sun that are similar to Earth’s, creating an oval path relative to our planet. This intriguing scenario has led scientists to theorize that this may be a remnant lunar mass ejected by an asteroid impact millions of years ago.
In contrast, 311P/Panstarrs has an asteroid-like orbit, encircling the Sun within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, yet possesses a tail that gives it a comet-like appearance. This is believed to be composed of dust and debris shed from its nucleus.
The CNSA has previously indicated that 311P/Panstarrs is a “living fossil,” crucial for studying the early material composition, formation processes, and evolutionary history of the solar system. Tianwen-2 aims to enhance our understanding of both Kamo`oalewa and 311P/Panstarrs. However, the findings will not be available immediately, as the spacecraft is expected to reach 311P/Panstarrs by 2034, and the Kamo`oalewa samples are anticipated to return to Earth in the latter half of 2027.
It remains uncertain what extent the CNSA will share these findings. Leah-Nani Alconcel from the University of Birmingham, UK, mentions that the mission outline is known but lacks detailed information. One of the objectives may involve examining the differences between asteroids and comets to gain better insights into the diverse bodies of our solar system; however, specific details remain elusive.
In her previous experience with CNSA’s Double Star Satellite, Alconcel expressed concerns about the institution’s ability to provide substantial scientific data. She states, “It was incredibly challenging to negotiate with [the CNSA]. There is no public repository for this data.”
She describes the mission as ambitious, noting that Kamo`oalewa is in a rotating behavior. Navigation algorithms may require powerful computing resources to process images and sensor data sent back to Earth for calculations. “If we always opt for favorable and stable objects, we won’t gain much knowledge,” she warns. “There are numerous potential challenges ahead.”
The CNSA has not responded to requests for comment from New Scientist.
The hacker group referred to as the Scattered Spiders is a major focus in criminal investigations concerning cyberattacks against UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer, according to detectives.
The Scattered Spiders, a loosely organized collective of native English-speaking cybercriminals, have been strongly associated with hacking incidents involving M&S, cooperatives, and Harrods. M&S announced on Wednesday that it anticipates a financial impact of approximately £300 million following the recent system breach.
The UK’s National Crime Agency, tasked with combating cybercrime, stated that investigating this group is a priority.
“We are aware of groups publicly identified as Scattered Spiders, yet we maintain various theories as we pursue the evidence to identify the perpetrator,” I informed the BBC.
He added: “Given the extent of the damage we’re witnessing, apprehending the individual responsible for these attacks is our foremost objective.”
Last week, Google informed the Guardian that its UK-based members of the Scattered Spiders were actively “promoting” cyberattacks and warned the US that efforts to infiltrate the UK retailers’ systems were being mirrored in the US.
Targeting specific industries and locations is a common strategy among the Scattered Spider community, who utilize platforms like Discord and Telegram for communication.
Hackers affiliated with M&S deploy ransomware or malicious software that encrypts targeted files. This type of cybercrime is typically associated with Russian-speaking gangs, rather than native English speakers from the UK or the US.
“We are aware that Scattered Spiders predominantly communicate in English, but this does not necessarily imply that they are located in the UK. They engage in online discussions across a variety of platforms and channels.”
Reportedly, these hackers have utilized ransomware known as Dragon Force in their operations, functioning as a ransomware as a service that leverages another group of malware and infrastructure to distribute financial gains from attacks. Ransomware attackers generally request payment in cryptocurrency to unlock encrypted files and return stolen data.
Insights into the suspected Scattered Spiders can be found in a report from the US Department of Justice, which charged five individuals last year for targeting an unnamed American company through a “phishing” text message.
All defendants were in their twenties at the time of the allegations, with ages ranging from 20 to 25. Among them was Tyler Buchanan, 23, hailing from Scotland, who was extradited from Spain to the US.
Google also mentioned that “younger members” of the network often carry out various tasks, such as calling the company’s IT help desk or impersonating employees or contractors to gain access to computer systems. A former teenage hacker cited by the BBC remarked that it “would not surprise me” if a teenage hacker was behind a retail attack.
On Tuesday, Elon Musk stated that he intends to reduce his political spending in the coming period. If accurate, this signifies a significant change from last year when he emerged as one of the Republicans’ most ardent financial supporters.
“I believe my political expenditures will be much less moving forward,” Musk remarked during a video interview with Bloomberg News at the Qatar Economic Forum.
Bloomberg’s Mishal Hussain inquired whether Musk had determined his spending for the midterm elections, which prompted Musk to reply with, “I think I’ve done enough.” It was uncertain if he was joking, but it elicited laughter from the audience.
Last year, the CEO of SpaceX contributed nearly $300 million to support Donald Trump, with his American PAC political organization anticipated to play a significant role in boosting Republican candidates in the 2026 elections. His political contributions and notable position in the Trump administration as the “Doctor of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) have generated international backlash, negatively impacting both Tesla’s popularity and car sales.
When Hussain followed up regarding whether Musk’s retreat from politics influenced his contributions, Musk didn’t clarify, although he hinted at the potential for changing his stance.
“If I find a reason to engage politically in the future, I will. Currently, I’m not seeing any reason,” Musk stated.
Musk was a significant donor during Trump’s reelection campaign, supporting the Pro Trump Group and sponsoring a sweepstakes where pre-elected voters received a $1 million check. Earlier this year, he allocated $25 million to the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, but his contributions were also critiqued, as Democrats focused on his unpopularity and external influences during the campaign.
Following the Wisconsin elections, where Musk’s candidates did not perform well, some Republicans began to reconsider how to balance their financial ambitions with the public’s negative sentiment towards him. Musk had previously seemed poised to leverage his immense resources to disrupt the electoral landscape. According to a Wall Street Journal Report, his top political strategist met with a Nevada consultant in March to discuss upcoming races.
The interviews in Qatar involved numerous exchanges and Musk addressing key media, lasting approximately 40 minutes. He asserted that he would lead Tesla for at least the next five years and that it took time to respond to the Wall Street Journal. Recent reports indicated that the automaker’s board of directors began searching for a potential CEO replacement for Musk. Additionally, Musk faced criticism from fellow tech billionaire Bill Gates, who compared him to “frequently Jeffrey Epstein,” contesting that his DOGE could jeopardize international aid and harm children’s health, as Gates remarked in a recent interview.
Musk mentioned that he plans to dine with Trump this week but has recently stepped back from living full-time in Washington, D.C., and aims to dedicate more time to managing companies like Tesla.
On Tuesday, Google introduced a new surge of artificial intelligence capabilities, transforming how users access information and expediting a year-long evolution of search engines that has reduced internet traffic to other sites.
At its annual developer conference, Google unveiled a novel “AI Mode” in the US, designed to facilitate conversations with experts who can respond to a wide variety of questions during searches.
This AI mode will be available to all US users just two months after its initial testing in the limited Labs division.
Additionally, Google plans to integrate its latest AI model, Gemini 2.5, into the search algorithms and trial new features such as the ability to automatically purchase concert tickets and sift through live video feeds.
In a bold move, Google announced its re-entrance into the smart glasses sector, introducing a new version powered by Android XR. This announcement comes 13 years after the launch of Google Glass, which was withdrawn due to public privacy concerns.
While the release date and pricing for the Android XR glasses remain undisclosed, Google indicated they are being developed in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. These glasses will compete with offerings from platforms like Facebook’s parent Meta and Ray-Ban.
This expansion builds on a transformation initiated a year prior, introducing an “AI Overview” that is increasingly featuring at the top of the search results page, altering conventional web link rankings.
Google reports that approximately 1.5 billion users are currently engaging with the “AI Overview,” with many now inputting longer, more intricate queries.
“Our progress indicates that we are entering a new stage in the AI platform evolution, where years of research are turning into practical applications for people globally,” stated Google CEO Sundar Pichai during his address to attendees at the amphitheater near the company’s Mountain View, California headquarters.
Although Pichai and other executives suggested the AI overview would drive more searches and clicks to external sites, data from search optimization firm BrightEdge reveals that this has not yet been the case.
BrightEdge’s recent findings indicate that click-through rates from Google search results have dipped nearly 30% over the past year.
The decision to make AI modes widely available after a brief testing period underscores Google’s assurance that the technology won’t routinely disseminate misinformation, thus protecting its reputation amidst escalating competition from AI-enhanced search platforms like ChatGPT.
The swift emergence of AI alternatives is a consistent theme in legal proceedings allowing Google to dismantle parts of its internet dominance after a federal court deemed search engines a monopoly last year.
In testimony during a trial earlier this month, veteran Apple executive Eddy Cue mentioned a decrease in Google searches made via Safari on iPhones.
Google links this decline to the rise of AI, which is prompting necessary adaptations in how search engines function as technology reshapes the competitive landscape.
Despite its increasing reliance on AI, Google appears to maintain its position as the primary gateway to the Internet, a key reason why its parent company, Alphabet Inc., boasts a market value of $2 trillion.
According to data from oneLittleweb.com, Google attracted 136 billion visits in the year ending in March.
During an interview, an Associated Press reporter inquired whether the implementation of AI modes would strengthen Google, noting the unlikelihood of AI technology causing significant harm to its search engines.
The AI mode acknowledged that its implementation is likely to enhance Google’s influence, especially regarding information accessibility and online engagement, while cautioning web publishers about potential traffic declines from search results.
Upcoming tests in Google’s Labs division aim to introduce new waves of AI technology expected to be rolled out to consumers.
These tests include features that enable AI agents to book tickets and restaurant reservations using Project Mariner Technology, as well as experiments with live video and opt-in features, granting AI access to users’ Gmail and other Google apps for increased understanding of preferences and behaviors. Furthermore, this summer’s test lineup features a “deep search” tool and a new option for creating visual presentations of sports and finance data.
Google will also offer a subscription package called “Ultra,” providing 30 terabytes of storage for $250 a month, representing a significant upgrade from its previous “Top of the Line” offer, now known as “AI Pro,” which costs $20 a month and includes just two terabytes of storage.
Forests have been cleared for mining in the Brazilian Amazon
Marcio Isensee e Sá/Getty Images
In 2024, the loss of tropical forests reached unprecedented levels, doubling the rate seen in the last two decades, primarily due to climate change making rainforests more vulnerable to uncontrollable fires.
A comprehensive annual analysis of satellite imagery conducted by Global Forest Watch and the University of Maryland revealed a staggering loss of 67,000 square kilometers of crucial tropical rainforests in 2024. Primeval forests, defined as mature woodlands that have not been subjected to logging, were particularly affected.
The report’s author indicated that the dramatic increase in forest loss can be largely attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon alongside global warming, which has exacerbated conditions leading to catastrophic fires in rainforests.
“We don’t just have agricultural activities as the main cause of deforestation,” stated Rod Taylor from Global Forest Watch, an initiative of the World Resources Institute. “This new amplification effect constitutes a genuine climate change feedback loop, with fires becoming increasingly intense and destructive.”
Tropical forests play a vital role in regulating weather patterns, sequestering carbon, and cooling the planet. However, recent trends in deforestation have led to them releasing more carbon than they absorb, pushing them toward a critical tipping point.
The report also reveals that the area affected by wildfires in native forests during 2023 was five times greater than the losses registered in 2023, constituting 48% of all primary rainforest losses.
Globally, wildfires emitted greenhouse gases equivalent to 4.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide last year, significantly more than the total emissions from air travel in 2023.
Associated with warm and dry weather conditions in the tropics, the El Niño phenomenon officially ended in April 2024 but left lasting effects as rainforest soil and vegetation remained parched from earlier wildfires.
The context of global warming also played a significant role, making 2024 the driest year in Brazil in 70 years, as noted by Ane Alencar from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute in Belem, Brazil.
Brazil witnessed a loss of 28,000 square kilometers of its primary forest, the highest figure since 2016, accounting for 42% of all tropical native forest losses.
Fires in the Brazilian Amazon were responsible for 60% of the overall forest loss, as individuals exploited the dry conditions to clear land for agricultural purposes.
Elsewhere, countries such as Canada and Russia also reported significant wildfires beyond the tropical regions, contributing to a global forest loss of 300,000 square kilometers, a new record.
“Some experts argue that we are currently in a pyrocene, or age of fire, as opposed to the Anthropocene,” noted Erika Berenguer from Oxford University.
While bushfires pose a serious threat, Berenguer cautioned that the statistics might include degradation, where some trees were lost without complete deforestation, the latter being the total clearance of forests.
“Degradation diminishes carbon storage, undermines biodiversity, and increases susceptibility to future fires, but it’s not equivalent to transforming land into soy fields or pastures,” she explained.
The report highlights how ongoing degradation and a warming climate have rendered rainforests increasingly vulnerable, according to Alencar.
“Typically, if a fire breaks out in the Amazon, you can witness some degradation, but the forest has the potential to recover,” she stated. “However, this report indicates that during extreme droughts, forests can burn intensely, fostering conditions that may lead to complete loss of the forest.”
Compromised AI-driven chatbots pose risks by gaining access to harmful knowledge through illegal information encountered during their training, according to researchers.
This alert comes as an alarming trend emerges where chatbots have been “jailbroken” to bypass their inherent safety measures. These safeguards are meant to stop the systems from delivering harmful, biased, or inappropriate responses to user queries.
Powerful chatbots, including large language models (LLMs) like ChatGpt, Gemini, and Claude, consume vast amounts of content from the Internet.
Even with attempts to filter out harmful content from their training datasets, LLMs can still learn about illegal activities—including hacking, money laundering, insider trading, and bomb-making. Security protocols are intended to prevent the use of such information in their answers.
In a Report on the risks, researchers found that it is surprisingly easy to deceive many AI-powered chatbots into producing harmful and illegal content, emphasizing that the threat is “immediate, concrete, and alarming.”
The author cautions that “what was once limited to state actors and organized crime may now be accessible to anyone with a laptop or smartphone.”
The study, conducted by Professor Rior Lokach and Dr. Michael Fier from Ben Gurion University in Negev, Israel, highlights an escalating threat from “dark LLMs” developed without safety measures or altered through jailbreaks. Some entities openly promote a “no ethical guardrails” approach, facilitating illegal activities like cybercrime and fraud.
Jailbreaking involves using specially crafted prompts to manipulate chatbots into providing prohibited responses. This is achieved by taking advantage of the chatbot’s primary goal of following user requests against its secondary aim of avoiding harmful, biased, unethical, or illegal outputs. Prompts typically create scenarios where the program prioritizes usefulness over safety precautions.
To illustrate the issue, researchers created a universal jailbreak that breached several prominent chatbots, enabling them to answer questions that should normally be denied. Once compromised, LLMs consistently produced responses to nearly all inquiries, according to the report.
“It was astonishing to see the extent of knowledge this system holds,” Fier noted, citing examples that included hacking computer networks and providing step-by-step guides for drug manufacturing and other criminal activities.
“What makes this threat distinct from previous technical challenges is an unparalleled combination of accessibility, scalability, and adaptability,” Rokach added.
The researchers reached out to leading LLM providers to inform them of the universal jailbreak, but reported that the response was “overwhelmingly inadequate.” Some companies did not reply, while others claimed that the jailbreak threat lay outside the parameters of their bounty programs, which encourage ethical hackers to report software vulnerabilities.
The report suggests that chatbots need to “forget” any illegal information they learn, emphasizing that technology companies must screen training data rigorously, implement strong firewalls to block dangerous queries and responses, and develop techniques for “learning machines.” Dark LLMs should be regarded as a “serious security threat,” comparable to unlicensed weapons and explosives, warranting accountability from providers.
Dr. Isen Aloani, an AI security expert at Queen’s University Belfast, highlighted that jailbreak attacks on LLMs could lead to significant risks, ranging from detailed weapon-building instructions to sophisticated disinformation campaigns, social engineering, and automated fraud.
“A crucial part of the solution is for companies to not only rely on front-end safeguards but to also invest meaningfully in red teaming and enhancing model-level robustness. Clear standards and independent oversight are essential to adapt to the evolving threat landscape,” he stated.
Professor Peter Garraghan, an AI security authority at Lancaster University, emphasized, “Organizations need to treat LLMs as they would any other vital software component.”
“While jailbreaking is a concern, understanding the entire AI stack is vital for genuine accountability. The real security requirements involve responsible design and deployment, not merely responsible disclosure,” he added.
OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGpt, stated that the latest O1 model can better infer its safety policies and improve its resistance to jailbreak attempts. The company affirmed its ongoing research to bolster the robustness of its solutions.
Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic were contacted for their feedback. Microsoft replied with a link to a blog detailing their work to mitigate jailbreaks.
Jensen Huang, head of Nvidia, stated that US chip export controls are a “fail” during his remarks at the High-Tech Forum on Wednesday.
In an effort to limit China’s military advancements and maintain US dominance in the AI sector, successive US administrations have placed restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chips to China. However, Huang indicated at the Computex Tech forum in Taipei that these controls have inadvertently motivated Chinese developers.
“The local companies are exceptionally skilled and highly motivated, and export control has provided them with the momentum, energy, and governmental backing to speed up their progress,” Huang shared at the Computex Tech Show in Taipei.
“On the whole, I believe export control has been a failure.”
“It’s crucial to acknowledge that China boasts a dynamic technological ecosystem, with 50% of the world’s AI researchers, and excels in software development,” Huang emphasized.
Nvidia, known for its high-performance GPUs, faces challenges due to US chip export regulations. Huang mentioned on Wednesday that the company has incurred “billions of dollars” in losses, with its share of the AI chip market in China plummeting from nearly 95% to 50% since the Biden administration took office.
According to the Financial Times, Huang made an unannounced trip to Beijing last month.
This visit took place shortly after new US restrictions prohibited the shipment of Nvidia’s H20 Datacentre GPU to China.
The US government informed NVIDIA that the new regulations aim to mitigate the risk of the product being “used in Chinese supercomputers.”
Huang’s Beijing conference reportedly focused on the AI company’s latest chip design, as per the FT report.
Last week, the Trump administration rolled back certain existing controls on chip sales to China after several countries expressed that they were being excluded from the essential technologies required for AI development.
Nonetheless, they issued new guidelines for other nations, warning that utilizing high-tech AI semiconductors produced in China, especially chips from Huawei, could breach existing US export regulations.
In retaliation, China accused the United States of “misusing export controls to suppress and restrict China.” The Commerce Department stated on Wednesday that the warning exemplifies “unilateral bullying and protectionism, significantly jeopardizing the stability of the global semiconductor industry and supply chains.”
Moreover, it cautioned that organizations or individuals enforcing or supporting such actions might be violating Chinese law.
Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer among men, with roughly one in eight men receiving a diagnosis in their lifetime. Nevertheless, not all prostate cancers are life-threatening; in fact, many develop slowly and remain harmless.
“There are essentially two categories of prostate cancer,” Dr. Haley Luxton, who studies the impact of prostate cancer in the UK, explains. “I refer to them as ‘pussycats’ and ‘tigers.’ Pussycats are the slow-growing types, which typically do not lead to death.”
“On the other hand, tigers are highly aggressive forms of prostate cancer, and these men require immediate treatment to prevent mortality.”
“Most men will eventually have prostate cancer cells,” adds Dr. Cody Watling, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Cancer Institute. “However, whether it becomes clinically significant—causing symptoms or spreading—is an entirely different issue.”
Three Key Risk Factors
What really increases your risk of prostate cancer?
According to science, there are three major factors—sadly beyond your control:
Age – The risk increases significantly after age 50, with most diagnoses occurring in men over 70.
Ethnicity – Black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as their white counterparts. The reasons remain unclear, although genetics may play a role.
Family History – If your father, brother, or grandfather had prostate cancer, your risk is elevated—especially if the diagnosis occurred before age 60. The BRCA2 gene is a contributing factor.
Watling notes that these risk variables are generally linked with both prostate cancer and more aggressive forms of the disease. “Evidence suggests that age, family history, and being Black increase the overall risk of aggressive prostate cancer.”
More than 50% of men over 90 have prostate cancer cells, but many are benign. – Getty
Lifestyle Considerations
While some reports suggest that lifestyle choices can reduce risk, the situation is complex.
Watling, who researched diet and prostate cancer risk at Oxford University, stated, “To date, strong evidence has been elusive.”
Some studies indicate a potential link between high consumption of dairy, particularly milk, and slight increases in prostate cancer risk, likely due to a growth factor known as IGF-1. However, Watling emphasized, “The evidence remains ambiguous, and there is no robust connection.” More research is necessary to clarify these relationships.
One possible exception is obesity. “There is some evidence suggesting that being overweight correlates with a higher risk of aggressive or fatal prostate cancer,” says Watling. “However, it’s challenging to determine if this is biological or due to less frequent early screening in heavier individuals.”
Luxton concurs: “Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and engaging in some form of physical activity—even just a ten-minute walk—can be beneficial.”
Recommendations
If you are over 50, or over 45 with a higher risk (due to family history or being Black), Prostate Cancer UK advises initiating a conversation with your GP.
Your doctor may then conduct various screening tests, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests, examinations, and MRI scans as necessary.
In Conclusion
Joe Biden’s diagnosis understandably alarmed many, but it also led to a surge of misleading or overly simplistic guidance. Here are the facts:
The risk of prostate cancer cannot be entirely eliminated.
Most risks are linked to age, family history, and ethnicity, rather than diet or lifestyle factors.
Nevertheless, healthy habits remain important for reducing the risk of aggressive prostate cancer and other diseases.
If you are at high risk, it’s crucial to speak with your doctor.
About Our Experts
Hailey Luxton is the Head of Research Impact and Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, tasked with identifying initiatives that can significantly influence the charity’s research program and expedite research projects. Previously, he conducted research at University College London and Cancer Research UK.
Cody Watling is a postdoctoral researcher at the National Cancer Institute. His research has been featured in publications such as BMC Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, and British Journal of Cancer.
All living beings, including you, emit subtle, etheric, semi-visible light that continues until death. Recent research supports this idea.
This mysterious luminescence might lead one to believe it is an indication of an aura or something similar.
However, Dr. Daniel Oblak, a physicist from the University of Calgary and the study’s lead author, explained to BBC Science Focus that while the concept of an aura is metaphysical and unscientific, the emitted light is not. Known as Ultraweak Photon Emission (UPE), it is a natural byproduct of metabolism.
“I would like to emphasize that UPE usually results from biochemical processes and is thus akin to what occurs with glow sticks.”
“UPE is so faint that it is imperceptible to the human eye and can be completely obscured by other light sources unless in total darkness.”
Don’t think that you can observe your own sparkle simply by closing the curtains and turning off the lights; this light is 1,000 to 1,000,000 times dimmer than what the human eye can detect.
These four mice emitted significantly more ultrweak photon emissions (UPEs) while alive (top) compared to after death (bottom). – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025
UPE arises when a chemical within a cell creates an unstable molecule, known as a reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is essentially a byproduct of metabolic activity.
As ROS levels increase, other molecules become “excited,” meaning they carry excess energy, and it is this energy that emits light.
The primary factor driving this phenomenon is oxidative stress, a kind of cellular damage caused by aging and disease. The greater the oxidative stress experienced by the body, the more ROS—and consequently, more light—is produced.
“When an organism ceases to live, it halts metabolism, thereby stopping the emission of ultrawave photons,” he remarked.
To investigate UPE, scientists in Calgary measured the UPE generated by immobilized and deceased mice and damaged leaves.
Using specialized cameras, they found that living mice emitted significantly more light than their deceased counterparts. Conversely, the leaves released more light in areas that were damaged compared to intact regions.
This is due to increased oxidative stress in the scratched areas. However, the dead mice did not emit light as their bodies no longer underwent metabolic processes.
The leaves of St. Stwhere were illuminated by scratches and chemical damage. – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025
Dr. Oblak highlighted that the significance of UPE lies in its ability to provide a non-invasive method to assess the health of living organisms.
“This technology could be utilized to monitor tissue status, such as in transplants, or to gauge crop and forest health, especially regarding the stress levels in organisms,” he explained.
Nonetheless, this field remains rife with uncertainties. For instance, Oblak pondered: “Perhaps UPE is not merely a byproduct of metabolic processes; it may also serve a purpose,” although scientists have yet to reach a consensus.
Read more:
About our experts
Dr. Daniel Oblak is an associate professor in the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. He earned his PhD in Quantum Optics from the University of Copenhagen in 2010, having previously completed his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees at Aarhus University. Currently, his research interests encompass quantum information science, long-range encryption, quantum networks, and quantum light interfaces.
Australopithecus sediba – This small human species, which existed around 2 million years ago, displayed a blend of ape-like and human-like traits. Homona Lady – A recent study led by Dr. Samar Syeda from the American Museum of Natural History reveals that this newly identified species, dating back approximately 335,000 to 236,000 years, shows a distinct pattern of bone thickness, indicating diverse load applications and potential grip types.
A reconstruction depicting the life of Australopithecus sediba commissioned by the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. Image credit: Elisabeth Daynes/S. Entressangle.
Dr. Syeda and her team explored variations in phalanx morphology, discovering that South African hominins might exhibit different dexterities along with varied climbing abilities.
They focused on two nearly complete fossil hand skeletons discovered in South Africa: the hands from Australopithecus sediba, dated at 2 million years old, and hand skeletons from the newly identified star cave system from 250,000 years ago.
While no direct associations with stone tools have been established for either species, certain aspects of their hand and wrist morphology imply a level of dexterity that aligns more closely with human hands than with those of chimpanzees and gorillas.
“Stone tools have been found in South Africa dating back at least 2.2 million years (and potentially as far back as 3.3 million years),” stated Dr. Tracy Kivell, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Witwatersrand University. “Many primates are adept stone tool users, as are Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady.
“However, the exact nature of their tool usage and interaction remains unclear.”
Furthermore, both Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady exhibit ape-like characteristics, especially within their upper limb bones, which could be advantageous for climbing.
The ongoing debate in paleontology considers whether these traits indicate actual climbing behaviors or if they are simply evolutionary remnants from climbing ancestors.
Reconstruction of Homona Lady‘s head by artist John Gurche, who spent around 700 hours recreating it from a bone scan, published in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand, the National Geographic Society, and the South African National Research Foundation in the journal Elife. Image credits: John Gurche / Mark Thiessen / National Geographic.
To explore these inquiries, researchers examined variations in the internal composition of the fingers (cortical bone) in both Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady.
Bones are dynamic tissues that can modify their structure based on usage and loading throughout life, thickening in high load areas while thinning in regions subjected to lesser loads.
As such, variations in internal cortical thickness can shed light on how these two hominin fossils utilized their hands during their lifetimes.
“Our findings indicate that both Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady exhibit a range of functional signals within the cortical bone structure of their fingers,” remarked Dr. Syeda.
In Australopithecus sediba, the distribution of cortical bones within the proximal and intermediate phalanges of most fingers closely resembles that of apes. However, the thumb and pinky bones are more akin to human bones.
“These two digits appear to represent potential functional signals because they experience less frequent or lower loads during climbing or suspension,” noted Dr. Syeda.
“Combining these findings with a human-like thumb suggests that Australopithecus sediba employed its hands not just for climbing, but also for tool use and other dexterous activities.”
Homona Lady, in contrast, displays an unusual pattern where the proximal phalanx (the bone supported by the palm) shows human-like traits, while the intermediate phalanx (the bone in the middle of the finger) reflects ape-like characteristics.
Fossil hands of Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady indicating that these South African hominins may have exhibited varying degrees of dexterity and climbing proficiency. Image credit: Tracy Kivell.
“This distinct pattern was unexpected and suggests that Homona Lady may have engaged different parts of its fingers for varied loading,” Dr. Syeda noted.
This unique loading pattern resembles certain grip types observed today, such as crimp grips used by rock climbers, where the surface is primarily grasped by the tips of the fingers.
Homona Lady also features unusually curved phalanges, particularly notable since this species coexisted with early members of our own species, Homo sapiens, indicating potential usage of hands for climbing.
Further research is necessary to ascertain whether Homona Lady utilized crimp-like grips for climbing; however, it is evident that throughout human evolution, there has been an ongoing requirement for using tools with enhanced dexterity for food processing on trees and rocks within the ancient South African landscape.
“This research offers greater evidence that human evolution is characterized by various ‘experiments’ balancing the demands of manipulation and movement within these historical environments, rather than a straightforward transition from upright walking to increasingly advanced tool use,” Dr. Kivell stated.
Survey results will be published this week in the journal Advances in Science.
____
Samar M. Syeda et al. 2025. Bone distribution in the Faranjour cortex reveals variations in dexterity and climbing behaviors in Australopithecus sediba and Homona Lady. Advances in Science 11 (20); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt1201
Often referred to as the Earth’s “twin planet,” Venus presents a stark contrast in surface conditions, atmospheric composition, and structural characteristics. Gaining insight into the internal mechanisms that shape Venus’s surface remains a key objective in planetary science.
An artist’s impression of a volcanic eruption on Venus. Image credit: ESA/AOES Mediaab.
The Earth’s surface is perpetually reshaped through the continual movement and recycling of vast sections of the crust, known as tectonic plates, which float above the viscous mantle.
Unlike Earth, Venus lacks tectonic plates, but its surface is still influenced by molten material rising from beneath.
To better comprehend the processes underlying these transformations, scientists have examined structures known as corona.
With sizes ranging from dozens to hundreds of kilometers, coronae are primarily formed where hot, buoyant mantle material ascends and pushes against the lithosphere above.
These features generally exhibit an oval shape and are surrounded by a concentric fracturing pattern.
Researchers estimate that hundreds of coronae are present on Venus.
Utilizing archival data from NASA’s Magellan mission, Dr. Gael Cascioli from the University of Maryland and colleagues identified signs of surface or subsurface activity that significantly shaped many of Venus’s coronae.
“Coronae are not observable on Earth today. However, it is conceivable that our planet’s early history included formations before the advent of plate tectonics,” stated a recent paper published in the journal Advances in Science.
“By integrating gravity and topographical data, this research has provided critical new insights into the subterranean processes that likely continue to influence Venus’s surface today.”
Launched in 1989, Magellan employed a radar system to penetrate Venus’s dense atmosphere and create detailed maps of its mountainous and plain terrains.
Among the various geological features mapped, coronae were notably enigmatic, with their formation remaining initially unclear.
Since then, planetary scientists have detected numerous coronae in regions where the lithosphere is thin and geothermal activity is high.
“Coronae are plentiful on Venus, representing significant features, and over the years, multiple theories have been proposed concerning their formation,” remarked Dr. Anna Gürcher, a researcher at the University of Bern.
“The exciting aspect of our research is that we can now assert that ongoing activity processes driving their formation are highly probable.”
“We hypothesize that similar processes may have also taken place early in Earth’s history.”
Researchers have developed advanced 3D geodynamic models illustrating different scenarios for the formation of plume-induced coronae, which were then compared with Magellan’s gravity and topographic data.
Gravity data has proven instrumental in enabling researchers to detect low-density regions below the surface and identify buoyant structures at elevated temperatures, something that topographical data alone cannot reveal.
Of the 75 coronae analyzed, 52 exhibited buoyant mantle materials beneath them, suggesting potential for significant structural processes.
One critical process is subduction. On Earth, this occurs when one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another.
Friction between plates can induce earthquakes, and as older rocky material descends into the hotter mantle, those rocks melt and re-emerge at the surface through volcanic activity.
On Venus, various forms of subduction are suspected to happen around several coronae.
In this context, hot rock buoyancy within the mantle forces material into the lithosphere, resulting in surface material rising and spreading outward, colliding with surrounding areas and pushing some material back down into the mantle.
Additionally, another structural process known as lithosphere drip may exist, with denser cold materials sinking from the lithosphere into the heated mantle below.
Several locations have also been identified where a third process might be occurring, where molten rock plumes beneath thicker areas of the lithosphere could potentially drive volcanic activity above.
____
Frog Casioli et al. 2025. Spectra of structural processes in Venus’ coronae revealed by gravity and topography. Advances in Science 11 (20); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt5932
Elephants are fascinating creatures. Despite their allure, our understanding of the elephant brain remains limited, and there are notable neuroanatomical differences between the Asian (Elephas Maximus) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana), which have largely gone unexplored. In a recent study, researchers from Humboldt Universität in Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research collected numerous elephant brains to investigate the macroanatomical features that differentiate the species. Surprisingly, they found that Asian elephants possess a larger brain and greater grey matter volume than African elephants, an intriguing contrast given the smaller body size of Asian elephants.
Asian elephant in Myanmar. Image credit: John Jackson.
“The morphological distinctions among elephant species are well-documented,” stated Dr. Marav Schah from Humboldt Universität Berlin and his colleagues.
“For instance, African savanna elephants are larger and have bigger ears than their Asian counterparts.”
“It is also noted that only female African elephants grow larger tusks compared to the minimal tusks found in Asian females.”
“These disparities indicate significant genetic divergence between savanna elephants in Asia and Africa, believed to have arisen 50,000 to 8 million years ago.”
In this research, the team examined the brain weights and structures of both Asian and African elephants via dissections, existing literature, and MRI scans from wildlife and zoo animals.
The findings revealed that adult Asian elephants are significantly heavier than their African counterparts, whose brains average just over 4,400 grams.
This specific finding could not be definitively validated for male elephants, as data for the brain weights in Asian males is limited.
However, the cerebellum appears proportionately heavier in African elephants (22% of total brain body weight) compared to Asian elephants (19%).
Researchers also demonstrated that elephants undergo extensive postnatal brain growth.
By adulthood, an elephant’s brain is roughly three times heavier than at birth.
This indicates that elephants experience notably more brain growth than all primates; except for humans, where the brain weighs only about one-fifth of its final weight at birth.
A boy African elephant in Kenya. Image credit: George Wittemyer.
“The variance in brain weight is likely the most significant difference among these two elephant species,” Dr. Shah noted.
“This accounts for the behavioral variations observed between elephants in Asia and Africa.”
“For instance, the two species display markedly different interactions with humans.”
“Asian elephants have been partially domesticated for millennia and serve as working animals across various cultures and regions.”
“Conversely, only a handful of cases of partial domestication have been somewhat successful with African elephants.”
“It is considerably harder to integrate an African elephant into human society compared to an Asian elephant.”
The study was published today in the journal pnas nexus.
____
Marav Shah et al. 2025. The larger and relatively small cerebellum of Asian elephants compared to the African savanna elephants. pnas nexus 4(5): PGAF141; doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf141
House Democrats are focusing on staffing issues at the National Weather Service field office, aiming to pass legislation swiftly to thwart further funding and staffing cuts from the Trump administration affecting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, especially following severe storms nationwide.
As reported by NBC News, the proposed amendment to the Republican Budget Adjustment Bill safeguards NOAA from disbandment and prevents its responsibilities from being shifted to other federal entities, as well as protecting its website and datasets.
Democratic representatives including Eric Sorensen from Illinois, Joe Negas from Colorado, and Wesley Bell from Missouri are poised to introduce these amendments early on Wednesday.
This legislation underscores Congressional worries about staffing levels at the National Weather Service, particularly after the Trump administration’s layoffs of prosecutors and the offering of early retirement packages to long-serving employees. Recently, a short-staffed weather room managed severe thunderstorms and tornado outbreaks during a weekend that resulted in at least 28 fatalities in the Midwest and South.
“With hurricane season on the horizon and extreme weather becoming more frequent, we cannot afford to jeopardize NOAA,” said Moskowitz, a former director of Florida Emergency Management, in an emailed statement.
Sorensen, the sole meteorologist in Congress, emphasized:
“As a meteorologist who has reported on severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, I understand the critical need for the National Weather Service to be fully staffed at all times.”
Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill, of Rockford, Illinois, in 2023. Chris Nieves/USA Today Network
However, the amendment faces significant opposition from Republicans who control the House. The Trump administration’s initial budget proposal proposed cutting over $1.5 billion from NOAA.
The National Weather Service is working to address staffing shortages this spring. Recently, NOAA initiated a “period of reallocation” to recruit 76 meteorologists for critical roles that were left vacant due to budget cuts.
At least eight of the nation’s 122 weather forecast offices, including in Sacramento, California; Goodland, Kansas; and Jackson, Kentucky, anticipate reducing or discontinuing overnight operations within the next six weeks, according to Tom Fahy, director of the National Weather Service employee organization. He noted that over 52 of the weather forecast offices in the U.S. are experiencing staffing shortages exceeding 20%.
The National Weather Service has not provided additional details regarding staffing levels at its various offices.
“The National Weather Service remains committed to its mission of delivering life-saving forecasts, warnings, and decision support services to the public,” stated NOAA’s communications director, Kim Dester, in an email. “In the near future, NWS will update its service level standards for weather forecast offices to adapt to changes in human resources while prioritizing mission-essential operations.”
Last weekend, the Jackson office of Kentucky was put to the test during dangerous storms statewide. Fahy mentioned in an interview that staff worked overtime to manage the situation with “every available hand,” although the challenges were anticipated ahead of time.
“We had sufficient lead times in monitoring supercells,” Fahy explained, adding that unforeseen serious events could arise at any moment. “A severe thunderstorm has the potential to generate tornadoes and multiple tornadic activity, which can be difficult to predict.”
Meteorologists outside of the agency noted that forecasters in Jackson and other offices performed admirably during the tumultuous weekend but expressed concerns that operational pressures could overwhelm the already stretched staff.
“The tornado warnings were issued very effectively,” remarked Chris Vaguski, meteorologist and research program manager at Wisconet, a network of weather stations in Wisconsin, though he emphasized the uncertain long-term impact of staff fatigue.
“How do forecasters recover physically, mentally, and emotionally? Will this affect the quality of their warnings?” he inquired.
Vaguski noted that the warning time for tornadoes issued by the Jackson office exceeded 15 minutes, which is an improvement over the average performance.
Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University, stated that while assessing the impact of staffing shortages is challenging, meteorological services may face declines in performance as fewer meteorologists are available for critical tasks.
“It’s challenging to evaluate performance based on a single significant event,” Gensini stated. “But we should prepare for a gradual decline in performance, though quantifying that impact may be difficult.”
If Chinese automakers can be believed, there’s a significant love for karaoke among the populace. Some enthusiasts are so passionate that they want karaoke features integrated into their family vehicles.
Arno Antlitz, Volkswagen’s CFO, expressed that this was something that would have baffled the European mindset just a few years back. Nevertheless, the innovations found in electric vehicles from Chinese brands like BYD and XPENG are illustrative of the lessons Volkswagen and its European counterparts have had to absorb as they strive to catch up with their Chinese rivals in the global electric vehicle arena.
“No one in Wolfsburg thinks karaoke is necessary in a car,” Antlitz remarked during a Financial Times meeting last week. “Yet, you need it.”
XPENG G6 family SUV undergoing testing in London. Photo: Jasper Jolly/The Guardian
A decade ago, such openness from the world’s second-largest automaker would have been surprising. Little advocacy existed for Chinese brands in Europe, where the automotive industry was largely dominated by long-established manufacturers from Germany, France, the UK, and Japan, as well as South Korea. The rise of battery technology, however, paved the way for Chinese manufacturers, bolstered by substantial state subsidies, to aim for dominance in the burgeoning electric vehicle sector.
They seized this opportunity. Data from EV analyst Matthias Schmidt shows that in early 2024, Chinese brands gained over 10% of European EV sales, though that figure slid back to 7.7% by February. Yet, the scale of the Chinese domestic market is unmatched, with 12.8 million battery and hybrid cars sold in China by 2024, exceeding the entire European auto market.
The swift advancements from China have caught competitors off guard, especially following a technological leap during the pandemic. Bentley’s Frank Stephen Walliser described the innovations unveiled at the 2023 Shanghai Motor Show as a “shock that comes after a period of silence.”
Chinese manufacturers are increasingly vying for a future where vehicles are seamlessly integrated into users’ digital lives and predominantly self-driving. While Tesla remains a leader among Western automakers, China’s BYD is close behind, with CEO Elon Musk reportedly more focused on supporting Donald Trump’s presidential ambitions than on automotive innovation. Despite backing health measures, Trump’s policies are projected to significantly hinder American manufacturers.
Chris McNally, an analyst from Evercore ISI, noted in a report after attending the Shanghai show that experiences like handling driving tasks while enjoying massage seats in an Aito M8 Luxury SUV and watching films on a retractable projector screen showcase the innovation at a fraction of the price of Western luxury vehicles.
According to McNally, the global market share held by major automakers in Detroit, Germany, and Japan has dropped from 74% to 60% over the past five years. “If you’re a US/EU manufacturer not planning to offer affordable, scalable EVs in the next five years, you could face serious challenges by the 2030s,” he warned.
He further questioned whether the fight is lost for Western makers, suggesting they may make a strong comeback during this phase of automotive evolution.
Shanghai Motor Show in April. Photo: Go to Nakamura/Reuters
BYD’s Seagull, priced around £6,000 in China, showcases autonomous technology comparable to much costlier vehicles, branded as “God’s Eye.” This pricing was achieved using heavier sodium-ion batteries, which compromise range for affordability, yet it highlights a challenge that European manufacturers face.
A consulting firm Bain & Company evaluated that Chinese automakers, on average, can develop cars at just 27% of the cost of European counterparts.
This isn’t just about undercutting prices. Last week, during a test run organized by the British lobby group for automakers and traders, BYD’s £33,300 Seal U DM-I, a plug-in hybrid family SUV, went head-to-head with Volkswagen’s plug-in hybrid Tiguan, which can cost upwards of £10,000 more.
Participating state-owned automakers included Omoda and Jaecoo Brands alongside Leapmotor, Geely (which owns Volvo, Polestar, and Smart Brands), and Xpeng. During a week of trials, the Guardian discovered an abundance of driver assistance features and a spacious interior rivaling that of the Tesla Model Y.
All these vehicles are priced competitively with minimal distinction from European offerings. They provide a smooth ride and impressive voice assistance, allowing drivers to open the sunroof without diverting their attention from the road. A standout from the trials was the swift MG Cyberstar Electric Sports car manufactured by state-owned SAIC.
There are indications of resistance from Europe. Priced at £23,000, the Renault 5 has rapidly gained traction as one of the first affordable electric vehicles manufactured in Europe. While Renault is working diligently to lower production costs, its profitability remains uncertain, though the model has garnered significant popularity.
The French carmaker is also aiming to cut the sales timeline from three years to two, with assistance from an unnamed Chinese partner, for its upcoming models like the Renault 4 and the next Twingo.
If coexistence isn’t feasible, joining forces seems to be a favored strategy among Europeans. Volkswagen has invested in XPENG (also known as Xiaopeng), while Stellantis is planning to introduce jumping cars in Europe and utilize that technology. Additionally, Scandinavian brands such as Volvo and Polestar are increasingly reliant on technology from their parent company, China’s Geely.
UK’s JLR is collaborating with Chery to produce more affordable vehicles under the revived Land Rover Freelander name. According to JLR CEO Adrian Mardell, the vehicle set to launch in the latter half of 2026 “could be global.” Nissan’s Ivan Espinosa hinted that Japanese manufacturers could assemble Chinese cars in Sunderland, northeastern England, to fill excess capacity.
Shunning Chinese technology is not an option for many firms, even if they desire to do so. Most batteries are produced in China, with a few competitors from Japan and Korea. Europe’s battery champion, Northvolt, has faced setbacks. In the meantime, BYD announced in March that its new battery could offer a 250-mile range with just a five-minute charge, causing CATL shares to surge 16% during its market debut in Hong Kong.
Europe possesses certain defensive advantages, including a vast network of dealerships (still preferred by consumers for purchasing) and maintenance garages, which slow the progress of Chinese brands.
“European consumers tend to be quite conservative and very brand loyal,” remarked Eric Zeyer, head of Bain & Company’s European automotive division. “It’s exceedingly challenging for Chinese manufacturers to break into Europe and replicate their domestic success.”
He warned that without strategic moves, Chinese brands risk disappearing from the market, similar to the fate of US electric brand Fisker.
Despite the prevalent challenges, European automotive leaders assert the game isn’t lost, even as it’s evident that China is set to capture a significant share of the global automotive market.
Bentley’s Walliser noted that “Chinese manufacturers are more agile and quicker to adapt,” while also embracing new technologies. “This isn’t magic,” he stated. “It can be achieved here too.”
“Don’t underestimate the resilience of automotive companies,” added Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault.
The Carnarvon Flapjack, known scientifically as opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis, is a newly identified species of octopus. This small, gelatinous octopus measures approximately 4 cm in diameter and features large eyes and vibrant blood-red tentacles.
The Flapjack Octopus belongs to the Opistrotidae family, making it a deep-sea octopod and part of the finned octopod sub-order known for its liver-like characteristics.
Globally, around 50 species are recognized, with 15 of them recorded in Australian waters.
These octopuses have the remarkable ability to flatten their bodies resembling pancakes or flapjacks, hence their common name, or they can appear as small, gelatinous umbrellas.
With disproportionately large eyes, they are well-equipped to spot prey in the dimly lit depths they inhabit.
Their diet mainly consists of worms and small crustaceans, which they catch using their tentacles.
Dr. Tristan Werhev, a systematic taxonomist from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, stated, “The octopods of the Opistrotidae family are characterized by a distinct combination of external and internal features.”
He further described their anatomy, noting, “The very short dome-like mantle and terminal fins look visually different compared to their proportionately large eyes and thick arms.”
“Internally, they have branched optic nerves and an inner shell reminiscent of leaves (Gradius remnant). These features are shared only with the Cirroctopodidae family, which differs by having relatively large fins, no enlarged male suckers, and unique pallial intubation.”
Opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis is the 10th and latest species described based on specimens collected during the 2022 voyage of the Research Vessel (RV) Investigator.
During the month-long expedition, researchers employed advanced cameras, nets, and sleds to gather samples and capture images from deep-sea environments thousands of meters below the surface.
Five specimens used for the species description were collected from depths ranging between 1,044 and 1,510 m near Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks in Western Australia.
Dr. Venetia Joscelyne, a researcher at CSIRO Marine National Facilities, stated, “The 2022 voyage off Western Australia was crucial for enhancing our understanding of the region’s undersea habitats and biodiversity.”
She added, “For the first time, Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Park have been meticulously mapped and explored down to over 5,000 meters.”
“Conducting research in remote offshore or deep-sea environments is typically challenging; the RV Investigator provides researchers with an impressive array of tools for this purpose.”
“During just this single research voyage, we have observed many new species being identified.”
“Incredibly, scientists estimate that more than 1,000 new species remain to be described from specimens collected during RV Investigator voyages over the past decade.”
“These findings are crucial for aiding our understanding of the conservation needs of marine parks and for helping Australia preserve the natural value of its marine environments in the future.”
Dr. Verhoeff noted, “Australia exhibits a higher biodiversity of Dumbo octopus species compared to other nations, with many of these species documented or described in recent years.”
“The Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus is named after the location of its discovery and is solely known from the Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks off the coast of northwest Australia.”
“Their presence enhances the ecological significance of these recently established marine parks.”
“Such discoveries have greatly contributed to our knowledge of Australia’s deep-sea ecology and biodiversity.”
“Describing new species is also vital for future ecological research and assessing conservation populations.”
Dr. Lisa Kilkendale, a researcher at the Western Australian Museum, pointed out that a paper detailing the discovery was published this month in Australian Taxonomy.
____
TJ Verhoeff. 2025. Flapjack Australia’s Octopod (Cephalopoda: opisthoteuthidae), Part II: Northwest Australia and adjacent seas. Australian Taxonomy 92:1-28; doi:10.54102/ajt.c46g9
Significant amber deposits found in northern Japan may have been propelled from the forest into the sea by tsunamis occurring between 116 million and 114 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period. This is according to a recent study conducted by geological surveys at Japan and Chuo University.
Amber deposits from Sichuan Quarry in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Image credit: Kubota et al. , doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96498-2.
Identifying traces of ancient tsunamis can be challenging, as the powerful waves tend to reshape coastlines. The sediment left behind often resembles deposits created by other high-energy events, like storms.
Nevertheless, amber, which originates on land and is then transported to the sea, acts as a historical record of tsunami occurrences, illuminating the physical processes influencing sediment movement during these events.
“A tsunami is a destructive ocean wave primarily caused by significant changes in submarine or coastal crust, as well as impacts from asteroids,” explains Dr. Aya Kubota, a researcher at geological surveys at Japan and Chuo University.
“They have been extensively studied during the Holocene (the last 11,700 years) due to their relevance in disaster prevention.”
“Aside from asteroid sediments, accurately identifying ancient tsunamis before major vegetation growth is extremely difficult for two key reasons.”
“First, coastal tsunami deposits are easily eroded in their dynamic environments. Second, well-defined criteria for identifying tsunami deposits have not been established, as they can be difficult to differentiate from other high-energy coastal events, such as cyclones.”
In their research, Dr. Kubota and colleagues examined amber-rich silica deposits from the Shiko River Quarry in northern Hokkaido, which formed during the early Cretaceous period around 115 million years ago.
Using fluorescence imaging, the authors discovered that the amber samples exhibited clear deformation in what is known as the flame structure. This occurs when the amber is still pliable at the time of deposition, allowing it to change shape before solidifying.
This suggests that a substantial quantity of amber was swiftly transported from land into the open ocean due to the backwash from one or more tsunamis, experiencing minimal exposure to air.
The amber then settled at the seabed, becoming covered with a layer of silt, which helped to preserve it.
“Other terrestrial sediments carried into open water could be instrumental in studying significant ancient catastrophic events, such as tsunamis,” the researchers concluded.
Their study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on May 15th.
____
A. Kubota et al. 2025. Amber, a deep-sea sediment from the Cretaceous period, reveals a massive tsunami. Sci Rep 15, 14298; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-96498-2
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that damages leaves and first identified in the US a decade ago, is gradually moving across the East Coast and into the Midwest. Be cautious of its spread.
However, researchers are now employing new methods to combat its expansion—specially trained dogs skilled at detecting insect eggs before they hatch.
Since late last year, four dogs have been scouring parks in the Cleveland area, searching for trees, shrubs, park benches, rocks, and egg masses hidden near bridge supports. Each cluster of eggs can yield 30-50 spotted lanternflies.
An Australian Shepherd Cattle Dog Mix belonging to Gail Samco from Rio discovered a cluster of spotted lanternfly egg masses on a tree in Garfield Heights, Ohio, on May 5th. sue ogrocki/ap file
To date, the dog has uncovered over 4,000 egg masses. This has aided in controlling an insect population that threatens crops worth approximately 200,000 dollars, including grapes, fruit trees, hops, and hardwoods, according to Connie Hausman, senior conservation science manager at Cleveland Metropark.
In just a few hours in April, the dog located about 1,100 egg clusters at the Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Hausman noted.
She emphasized that it’s not only the dogs that can be trained for this task.
“All of them have excellent noses, but not every dog qualifies,” she explained. “They had to undergo testing to demonstrate their abilities.”
Page Malone with her Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Bronco, searching for a cluster of spotted lanternfly eggs on May 5 in Garfield Heights, Ohio. sue ogrocki/ap file
These dogs were trained as part of a research initiative by a team at Virginia Tech, focusing on curbing the spread of this pest, which originates from East Asia and is identifiable by its unique black-spotted, bright red wings.
The four dogs operating in Cleveland, owned by local residents, were already trained in scent detection before collaborating with Virginia Tech to hone their skills in identifying spotted lanternfly eggs.
Whenever the dogs find a new cluster of eggs, they are rewarded with a treat from their handler who then collects the egg masses.
Rising seas pose a significant threat to coastal cities.
Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images
A recent review of the latest scientific data indicates that capping global warming at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels won’t halt sea level rise for centuries to come.
“There seems to be a widespread belief that reaching 1.5°C will solve all our problems,” explained Chris Stokes from Durham University, UK. “While it should certainly be our goal, it won’t prevent sea level rise caused by the melting ice sheets.”
At present, global warming is on track for approximately 2.9°C by 2100, noted Jonathan Bamber from the University of Bristol, UK. “In terms of long-term impacts, we’re looking at a potential sea level rise of over 12 meters,” he stated.
Stokes, Bamber, and their colleagues have compiled data from satellite observations of ice loss and rising sea levels over the last three decades, historical data from warm periods, and satellite insights from models of ice sheets.
Older models that fail to incorporate crucial processes suggest that ice sheets take a significant amount of time to respond to warming, according to Bamber. However, satellite data indicates that the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets are reacting much more swiftly.
“The data presents a very different narrative,” Bamber remarked. “The mass loss observed in Greenland is astonishing and truly unprecedented compared to model predictions.”
Both Greenland and West Antarctica are not only losing ice, but their rates of loss are increasing, said Stokes. “And this is occurring with just 1.2 degrees of warming,” he pointed out. “The notion that limiting warming to 1.5°C would resolve this is misleading.”
Research on previous warm spells over the past three million years reveals that sea levels were significantly higher during those times, as stated by Stokes.
The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in 2021, forecasts a sea level rise of 1 to 2 meters over the coming centuries if global temperature rise is curtailed to 1.5°C, according to Stokes.
“We are pushing these projections forward,” he said. “It’s becoming evident that we are witnessing some of the worst-case scenarios manifesting right before us, based on mass balance satellite data.”
The team estimates that merely mitigating the pace of sea level rise from melting ice sheets to manageable levels will require the average global temperature to remain below 1°C above pre-industrial levels.
While wealthier nations may bolster their coastlines against rising seas, as ocean levels continue to escalate, this becomes more challenging and costly, Bamber warned. “Certain countries simply lack the financial resources for such measures.”
This highlights the urgency of taking action, according to Stokes. “Every fraction of a degree is crucial to the ice sheet,” he stated. “While I may alter certain points and thresholds, it’s vital to recognize that all degrees matter.”
Employees at Microsoft disrupted a keynote speech by the CEO during a pro-Palestinian protest at the company’s annual developer conference on Monday.
Microsoft firmware engineer Joe Lopez, involved in the development of the Azure cloud computing platform, was confronted by security shortly after he challenged Satya Nadella.
“Satya, are you aware that Microsoft is contributing to the deaths of Palestinians?” Lopez exclaimed. “Why not highlight how Israeli war crimes are facilitated by the cloud?”
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Microsoft Keynote speech – video
Following the incident, Lopez sent out a company-wide email detailing his reasons for protesting.
“As a major global corporation, Microsoft holds significant power to effect positive change. We must either end this ongoing tragedy or cease our technical support for Israel,” the email stated. This statement is also available on Medium. “Should our leadership continue to dismiss this demand, it won’t go unnoticed. The world is waking up to our complicity and is voicing its opposition. Boycotts will escalate, and our reputation will suffer immensely.”
Organizers from a worker-led group named No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) coordinated protests that coincided with the developer conference. This group has been actively protesting Microsoft’s cloud computing agreements with the Israeli military for over a year, asserting that Azure Cloud services have facilitated the surveillance of Palestinian citizens as well as Israeli military operations. An Ofek Unit manages a database of potential airstrike targets. Leaked documents reportedly reveal that Microsoft has “significant footprints across major military infrastructure” in Israel, according to +972 Magazine.
“The initiative began over a year ago. No Azure for Apartheid campaigns launched in response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding over the past seven months,” noted Anna Hattle, a Microsoft employee and NOAA organizer, in an email to the management on May 15th. Crimes from 77 years ago highlight the critical difference today, where Israeli forces are executing genocidal acts on a much larger scale, aided by Microsoft’s Cloud and AI technologies.”
Lopez’s protest is the second such incident within two months. On April 6, Microsoft employees Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal interrupted an AI event, accusing the company’s AI head, Mustafa Suleyman, of war profiteering. Both employees were subsequently terminated. The current status of Lopez’s job is still unclear. Last year, Google experienced similar internal protests regarding its contracts with the Israeli military.
In response to concerns about Microsoft’s technology being utilized by the Israeli military, Microsoft stated that investigations found no evidence showing that their technology was used to endanger or target civilians. However, the activist group NOAA has disputed this conclusion. Microsoft has yet to issue a comment regarding Lopez’s protest.
“Leadership dismisses our assertion that Azure technology is being employed to target or harm civilians in Gaza. Those of us who are aware understand that this is a blatant falsehood,” Lopez emphasized in his email to staff. “We don’t need internal audits to recognize that key Azure clients are engaged in human rights violations. This reality becomes evident online each day.”
Lopez’s protest coincides with the remembrance of the Nakba, marking 77 years since the event.
DEliver places you in the role of a delivery driver set in the late 1950s, and it visually impresses. Almost everything on the map can be destructed, allowing you to immediately indulge in chaotic escapades—whether it’s shaking your beach chairs, driving straight through a diner, or witnessing it spectacularly fall apart behind you. However, at the core of this game lies a void that could have served as a compelling hook.
You catch a glimpse of that potential during missions where you race against a rival delivery truck to reach your destination first. Your task is to press and hold a button, allowing the crane at the back of your truck to cleverly lift packages onto itself. Meanwhile, your rival attempts to force you off the road. After securing the package, you must deliver it while evading other drivers. This leads to amusing scenarios where you’re relieved to receive your commission while the hotel owner stands amidst the wreckage of his once-new establishment: collateral damage from your effort.
Keep Truckin’… Deliver at any cost. Photo: Konami
This one frantic mission stands out as the highlight of the game, and if subsequent deliveries followed a similar chaotic race against time, it might have thrived. Unfortunately, the quality and variety of each mission varies greatly. Some are enjoyable, like those capturing UFO images while dodging lasers, whereas others come across as tedious, such as balloon deliveries tied to a truck. Zany antics cannot compare to genuinely fun experiences.
While these side missions have their charm, they only serve as distractions. If the main game focused on rapidly delivering parcels, it might have resonated better. However, the sporadic enjoyment is overshadowed. By the storyline’s latter third, the premise of delivering goods fades away, replaced by uninspired narratives told through lackluster cutscenes. The protagonist, Winston Green, is a character weighed down by a murky past, facing off with his boss, Donovan, before the game veers into outright sci-fi absurdity involving Poe. Honestly, the perpetually irritable Winston ranks among the least appealing video game protagonists ever crafted.
Similar to Grand Theft Auto, you can jump out of your vehicle and explore the environment, but you’re likely to find little of interest aside from a few vantage points and some side quests. These quests range from enjoyable (like racing against parachutists down mountains) to mundane (tracking down a mayor lookalike). Although there are some unique vehicles to discover, most missions require a delivery truck, rendering the novelty of driving, say, a hot dog van short-lived. There are even wooden frames filled with cash waiting to be found, but they’re hardly worth the effort. The shop offers spare parts for truck gadgets, but apart from a jet engine that provides a speed boost, they’re largely unnecessary.
This situation is deeply frustrating. All the emphasis on delivery focuses on odd, half-baked stories that present a visually stunning, destructible landscape but fail to fully utilize it, leading instead to courtroom dramas. It feels akin to a conspiracy theorist at a lavish champagne reception, spending eight hours discussing the plot of their lame science fiction novel. What a waste.
A recent study indicates that nearly half of young individuals desire a world devoid of the internet.
The findings show that about 70% of people aged 16 to 21 feel increasingly negative about themselves after using social media. Additionally, 50% are in favor of implementing a “digital curfew” that limits access to specific apps and websites after 10 PM, while 46% express a wish to be younger in an internet-free environment.
One-quarter of participants reported spending over four hours daily on social media, and 42% confessed to deceiving their parents and guardians regarding their online activities.
Of those surveyed, 42% admitted to fibbing about their age, 40% owned a fake or “burner” account, and 27% claimed to pose as someone else entirely.
These results followed the technology secretary Peter Kyle’s comment suggesting that the government should consider mandatory time limits for specific apps like TikTok and Instagram.
Rani Govender, NSPCC’s policy manager for child safety, noted that a digital curfew alone cannot shield children from harmful online content without implementing additional measures.
“We must recognize that digital curfews won’t fully safeguard children from online threats. They can encounter these risks at different times throughout the day, and the consequences will remain,” she explained.
Govender emphasized that the primary goal of both businesses and the government should be to provide children with “a much safer, less addictive platform.”
The study, carried out by the UK Standards Agency, surveyed 1,293 young people, revealing that 27% disclosed their locations online to strangers.
Moreover, three-quarters of young respondents said they increased their online time during the pandemic, and 68% felt that this increased screen time adversely affected their mental health.
“It’s evident that young people recognize online risks and are calling for action from tech companies to safeguard them,” stated Andy Burrows, CEO of the suicide prevention charity The Molly Rose Foundation.
He remarked that algorithms could lead users to “harmful and distressing content unintentionally,” and that new regulations urgently need to adopt a design approach prioritizing the safety of children and society over the interests of large tech corporations.
Joe Biden’s recent prostate cancer diagnosis has brought awareness to these health issues within the public discourse.
Prostate cancer charities are urging men across the country to assess their cancer risk through signs and to seek medical advice if they experience symptoms like frequent and uncontrollable urination. Nevertheless, prostate cancer remains a nuanced and intricate condition.
The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder and typically enlarges with age. The urethra, which drains urine from the bladder, passes through the prostate. Consequently, when the prostate enlarges, it can compress the urethra, impeding urine flow and leading to symptoms such as dribbling and increased urgency to urinate. Overall, this is a prevalent condition.
Likewise, the incidence of cancers originating in the prostate is quite common. Autopsy studies indicate that 36% of white individuals and 51% of African Americans had unreported prostate cancer. In the 1970s, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
This presents a significant challenge concerning prostate cancer. It can manifest in a form that causes minimal harm while also possessing a variant that is potentially lethal and can metastasize to nearby organs and bones.
The key to addressing this issue lies in identifying which cases pose a threat, as treatments like surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy may have side effects such as long-term erectile dysfunction and incontinence.
It is essential that patients avoid unnecessary treatments that do not benefit them.
Unfortunately, there is currently no straightforward method to differentiate between aggressive tumors and those that are indolent. A blood test known as the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test was created in the 1990s to monitor men’s responses to prostate cancer treatments.
This led Richard Alvin, the researcher who developed the PSA test, to remark, “The widespread use has resulted in a costly public health crisis.” This is due to the PSA test potentially generating false positives caused by factors aside from prostate cancer, including infections and benign prostate enlargement.
In the U.S., the Preventive Services Task Force reviews research independently and issues recommendations regarding screening.
In short, increased screening rates in the U.S. may have contributed to deteriorating health outcomes for men, as they pursued treatments for conditions detected through positive test results that were not life-threatening.
Despite a reduction in testing rates since their peak in the ’90s, prostate cancer mortality rates in the U.S. have gradually decreased over the years. This might be attributed to improved treatment protocols, rather than indicating benign prostate enlargement. Limiting trials to men who exhibit symptoms of prostate enlargement could prevent unnecessary cancer treatments.
To mitigate this issue and avoid unnecessary treatments, a “watchful waiting” approach has shown efficacy. A recent 15-year British study indicated that localized prostate cancer with low mortality rates whether treatment included radiation, prostate removal, hormone therapy, or observation. This underscores the futility of invasive treatments offering no significant benefits.
So, what steps can we take? In the UK, the National Screening Committee regularly reviews the recommendation for PSA screening for prostate cancer. Recent research has identified harmful cancers through MRI screenings, but there is still insufficient evidence regarding whether this can reduce death rates while minimizing excessive treatments.
Meanwhile, straightforward messages regarding the benefits of screening are being communicated to men without adequately addressing the potential drawbacks. Numerous screening events are organized by well-meaning charities during sports events. Advocates argue that informed consent is critical; otherwise, we risk offering false promises and ensuring minimal progress in men’s health.
The Hubble Team has unveiled a stunning new image of the intermediate Spiral Galaxy NGC 3511.
This Hubble image depicts NGC 3511, a mid-spiral galaxy located about 43 million light years away in the crater constellations. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/D. Thilker.
NGC 3511 is situated approximately 43 million light years away from Earth, in the crater’s constellation.
Also referred to as ESO 502-13, Leda 33385, IRAS 11009-2248, or UGCA 223, this spiral galaxy spans a diameter of 107,000 light years.
NGC 3511 was discovered by the German and British astronomer William Herschel on December 21, 1786.
This galaxy is part of the NGC 3511 group, a small collection of galaxies that includes NGC 3513 and ESO 502-024.
“From Hubble’s perspective in orbit around Earth, NGC 3511 is tilted about 70 degrees, sitting in between galaxies that display edge-on features and those that exhibit dense flat discs, ideal for visualization,” Hubble astronomers stated.
Color images of NGC 3511 were created from individual exposures using UV light with the Hubble Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).
Six filters were employed to capture different wavelengths. Colors are assigned by applying distinct hues to each monochromatic image tied to a specific filter.
“We are examining NGC 3511 as part of our research into the star formation cycle in nearby galaxies,” stated the astronomers.
“This observational program involves Hubble recording the properties of 55 local galaxies using five filters that permit light of varying wavelengths or colors.”
“One of these filters specifically transmits red light at a particular wavelength.”
“This vast cloud of hydrogen gas glows red when stimulated by the ultraviolet rays of a hot young star.”
“As illustrated in this image, NGC 3511 is filled with numerous bright red gas clouds, some of which encircle clusters of vibrant blue stars.”
“Hubble plays a crucial role in cataloging and determining the ages of these stars, which are generally a few million years old and several times larger than the Sun.”
A recent investigation by researchers at Binghamton University reveals that the wrinkle patterns on terrain caused by prolonged human hand immersion in water remain consistent and repetitive over time.
Images of skin wrinkles on topography were overlaid with each other from two different time points 24 hours apart, with opacity levels (a) 0%, (b) 50%, (c) 100%. Image credit: Guy German.
Several years ago, Guy K. Germany from Binghamton University conducted research into the reasons behind the wrinkling of human skin after prolonged exposure to water.
It was commonly assumed that water causes the skin to swell and wrinkle, yet substantial research to validate this was limited.
The finding revealed that the contraction of blood vessels beneath the skin leads to the formation of these wrinkles.
Recent research indicates that the topographical patterns of these wrinkles are consistent across multiple instances of immersion.
“The blood vessels maintain a relatively static position. They may shift slightly, but in relation to each other, they remain largely unchanged,” stated Dr. Deutsche.
“This suggests that wrinkles will form in a consistent manner, and we have confirmed this through our study.”
The researchers submerged subjects’ fingers in water for 30 minutes, captured images, and repeated the process under identical conditions at least 24 hours later.
By analyzing the photographs, Dr. Deutsche and his colleague Rachel Raytin observed identical patterns of raised loops and ridges after both immersion events.
“We also uncovered some fascinating aspects during our study,” Dr. Deutsche remarked.
“I learned that individuals with median nerve damage in their fingers do not exhibit wrinkles.”
“One of my students revealed, ‘I have median nerve damage in my finger.’ We tested this hypothesis—no wrinkles!”
While it was amusing to explore these inquiries, this new research may have significant applications in forensic medicine, such as in fingerprinting at crime scenes or identifying remains found after extended exposure to water.
“My father, a retired British police officer, encountered such challenges during his career in law enforcement,” Dr. Deutsche shared.
“Biometrics and fingerprinting are ingrained in my thinking. I constantly ponder these topics due to their compelling nature.”
Survey results will be published in Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials.
____
Rachel Raytin & Guy K. Germany. 2025. For reproducibility of the topographical pattern of water finger wrinkles, soak in human skin. Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 165, 106935; doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106935
Mars exhibits various aurora processes despite its thin atmosphere and absence of global magnetic fields. Previously, all aurora observations have been conducted in ultraviolet wavelengths from orbit. In a recent study, planetary scientists reported the observation of a green visible wavelength aurora, generated from the atomic oxygen line at 557.7 nanometers (nm), detected by NASA’s Perseverance rover using the Supercam and Mastcam-Z instruments.
The first visible image of the green aurora on Mars (left) taken by the NASA Perseverance rover’s Mastcam-Z instrument. On the right is a comparison image of the night sky on Mars without aurora, featuring the Moon Deimos on Mars. The moonlit Mars night sky, primarily illuminated by the larger moon Phobos (outside the frame), has a reddish-brown tint due to atmospheric dust. Consequently, the addition of green aurora light results in a green-yellow tone in the left image. Image credits: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/ASU/MSSS/SSI.
On Earth, auroras occur when solar particles interact with the magnetic field, colliding with atmospheric gases at the poles and emitting light.
Green, the most frequently observed color, results from excited oxygen atoms emitting light at a wavelength of 557.7 nm.
Researchers have theorized for years that green auroras could also manifest on Mars, but noted they would likely be more diffuse and harder to capture than those on Earth.
Due to the absence of a global magnetic field, Mars experiences a distinct type of aurora compared to Earth.
One such type is the Solar Energy Particle (SEP) Aurorae, identified by NASA’s Maven mission in 2014.
These auroras occur when high-energy particles from the sun impact the Martian atmosphere, leading to a luminous display in the night sky.
“Our findings open up new avenues for aurora research and affirm that future astronauts on Mars could witness these phenomena,” stated Dr. Ellis Knutsen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oslo.
On March 15, 2024, the Sun’s solar flare production and the accompanying coronal mass ejection prompted auroras across the solar system, including Mars, with Perseverance capturing them for the first time from another planet’s surface.
Dr. Knutsen and his team utilized data from SEP instruments on NASA’s Maven spacecraft and ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft to verify the detection.
“They’re actively tracking this,” remarked Dr. Shannon Curry, a researcher at Maven and at the Institute of Atmospheric Astronomy at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
“We are thrilled to rapidly advance this observation and look forward to revealing what astronauts might see there.”
By correlating Perseverance’s observations with data from Maven’s SEP instrument, researchers can better analyze the detected 557.7 nm radiation from solar energy particles.
This emission line is identical to the green aurora on Earth, implying that future Mars astronauts may witness this type of aurora.
“The visibility of auroras from Perseverance enables new methods to study these phenomena, complementing orbital observations of Mars,” noted Dr. Katie Stack Morgan, the project scientist for Perseverance at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“A deeper understanding of auroras and the conditions on Mars that facilitate their formation is crucial for preparing to send human explorers there safely.”
The team’s study was published in the journal Advances in Science.
____
Elise W. Knutsen et al. 2025. Detection of the visible wavelength aurora on Mars. Advances in Science 11 (20); doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads1563
The recently identified species are part of the rare subgenus Bee Austrothil (genus) Megachil. These bees construct cells from skin within clusters of resin or tree bark, which are meticulously packed into twigs. Consequently, the author suggests “Pot Bee of Resin” as the common name for the bees in this subgenus.
Resin pot bee species Megachil (Austrothil) Tartoni. Image credit: David Pike.
Pot bees of resin are native to Australia, found across all states and territories except for Tasmania.
Dr. Remcoleis, a researcher at the Museum of South Australia, stated, “This group was previously believed to include seven species, with an additional 18 named in 1992.”
“Throughout the years, 23 more species were uncovered during field studies, including newly identified invertebrates and plant species found during various bushblitz investigations,” he added.
“Bush Blitz is a collaboration between the Australian Government, BHP Billiton, and Earthwatch Australia, aimed at recording the fauna and flora of select national reserves.”
“It also supports the identification of new species, allowing us to correlate newly collected specimens with existing species in Australia’s entomological collections.”
“This effort unveiled 20 more unidentified species residing in the collection, highlighting the significance of entomological collections as a source of discoveries.”
Dr. Katja Hogendoorn, a researcher at the University of Adelaide, remarked, “There is still much to learn about Australia’s critical role in honey production and pollination.”
“Despite the environmental and economic significance of native plants and crops as pollinators, the Australian bee fauna remains poorly understood.”
“An estimated one-third of bee species are yet to be documented scientifically, and insufficient funding for taxonomic research hinders the ability to assess conservation issues and take protective measures for native honeybees.”
“We may still lose a species we are unaware of.”
Currently, about 1,700 native bee species are recognized in Australia.
The research team discovered that there are 78 known species of resin pot bees, with almost half identified from a solitary location.
Dr. James Doley, a researcher at the University of Wollongong, stated, “We are diligently working to better our understanding of these species.”
“While the distribution of these species may be confined, there is a lack of sufficient information regarding their prevalence or population size.”
The findings appear in a new paper published in Australian Taxonomy.
____
R. Rays et al. 2025. Australian resin pot honeybees, Megachil (Austrothil) (Megachilidae), description of a new species of 71. Australian Taxonomy 90:1-119; doi:10.54102/ajt.ek0f9
Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new genus and species of Balacromian Ikuchosaur, based on a fossilized skull found in the Agua de Maderos Formation in Portugal.
Gadusaurus Aqualigneus. Image credit: Pratas e Sousa et al., doi: 10.4202/app.01199.2024.
The newly identified species thrived in the early Jurassic oceans around 193 million years ago.
It has been scientifically designated as Gadusaurus Aqualigneus; this marine reptile is a small Ikchosaur, measuring approximately 2 m (6.6 feet) in length.
“Iktiosaurus was a group of Mesozoic reptiles renowned for their adaptation back to marine life,” explained Dr. Joan Platas et Sousa, a researcher from Nova de Lisboa University.
“These creatures existed from the early Triassic to the late Cretaceous, but early Jurassic fish fauna is most commonly found in the European fossil record.”
“While some western regions are rich in marine deposits, southern areas like the Iberian Peninsula (encompassing Portugal and Spain) have very few and fragmented records.”
The nearly complete skull of Gadusaurus Aqualigneus was found in a planarized state, measuring about 35.2 cm (13.9 inches) in length, in the Agua de Madeiros Formation in 2021.
“The specimens we analyzed were collected in mainland Portugal, specifically in the San Pedro de Moel area,” the paleontologist stated.
“The fossil block was located in the sands of Agua de Maderos Beach, at a stream marking the boundary between Marinha Grande and Alcobaza municipalities.”
“This region lies within the Lusitania Basin, which is situated on the passive margin of Western Iberia in the Atlantic, providing exceptional marine records from the Lower Jurassic,” they added.
“The Lusitania Basin is a long, narrow structure bordered to the east by the Iberia Massif and to the west by the Valiskan Berrenga Horst.”
“The basin’s development coincided with the opening of the Atlantic Ocean, displaying various sedimentary facies from the upper Triassic to the upper Cretaceous.”
Phylogenetic analysis places Gadusaurus Aqualigneus within the Ichthyosaur Clade Baracromia, part of the Neoichthyosaur and Parvipelvia Clades.
“This specimen represents the most complete and well-preserved remains of Uoshima described so far on the Iberian Peninsula,” the researchers noted.
“Moreover, it is the first new species of this marine reptile group documented in Iberia.”
“This specimen predates the Toarcian Marine Anoxia Event, which is believed to have affected the lifestyle of later Ichthiosaurus species.”
“It’s reasonable to assume that ecological events during this period may have similarly influenced the lifestyle of this type, though further studies are essential.”
The discovery of Gadusaurus Aqualigneus will be detailed in a new paper published online in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
____
J. Platas E. Sousa et al. 2025. A new Ichaosaurus from the lower Jurassic of Portugal (Iberian Peninsula). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 70(1):179-192; doi:10.4202/app.01199.2024
Astronomers affectionately name planets discovered around other stars after those in our solar system. For instance, the sun is referred to when a giant gas giant orbits a star, known as a Hot Jupiter. On the other hand, planets that are massive icy and gaseous entities located further from their star system are called Cold Neptune. Scientists have a keen interest in exoplanets that are several times larger than Earth, referred to as Super Earth.
Super Earths do not necessarily bear a resemblance to our planet. They do not have to reside in the habitable zone of their respective planetary systems, nor must they support life similar to Earth. Rather, they are defined by their dimensions; these super-Earths are larger than our planet yet smaller than Neptune, which is the smallest gas giant in our solar system. They can generally be rocky or icy, but may also possess gaseous characteristics.
In 2020, a group of scientists observed a star, dubbed TOI512, which is roughly twice as old and massive as our sun and appears slightly red. Their observations were conducted using the TESS satellite, which indicated that it contained two exoplanets. TESS works by monitoring selected stars over extended periods to analyze variations in their brightness. Scientists plot this brightness against time, analyzing the light curve to interpret periodic dips in brightness, indicating that an object passes in front of the star. By measuring the time between dips, astronomers can determine how quickly a planet orbits its star and how much light from the star is obscured.
Recently, an international team of scientists argued that TESS’s observations of TOI512 support different interpretations. They confirmed the existence and characteristics of a single Super Earth in the TOI-512 system instead of two exoplanets. Their interpretation of the light curve indicates that the exoplanet is located at approximately 7% the distance the Sun is from Earth. They suggested that regular dips in the TESS data for TOI512 occur about seven days apart, implying that the light blockage corresponds to a super-Earth about 1.5 times the size of our planet.
However, the light curve provides limited information about the exoplanet. To gather more details regarding its mass and composition, scientists examine how it exerts gravitational influence on its host star, observing the effect on the star’s emitted light through radial velocity measurements. They noted that the stronger the gravitational pull on the star, the larger the exoplanet. Consequently, this team followed TESS observations with radial velocity measurements from the ESPRESSO echelle spectrograph for rocky exoplanets.
By combining data from TESS and ESPRESSO, astronomers determined that the exoplanet orbiting TOI512 is approximately 3.6 times the size of Earth, with a similar density and an almost circular orbit. They estimated its surface temperature to be around 1,000 Kelvin, which is 736°C or 1357°F!
The team then modeled the composition of planets with these characteristics using statistical simulation techniques. In their model, scientists posited that the planets consist of four layers of varying sizes, including an outer gas envelope, an iron core, a silicate mantle, and water shells made of hydrogen and helium. They tested the model by generating 5,000 simulated stars that matched the properties of TOI-512, along with 2,000 simulated planets around each star.
Their findings revealed that the model could not replicate the properties of the TOI-512 exoplanet unless it featured a significant amount of surface water and a deep steam atmosphere. They suggested that this discovery challenges previous models of planetary layers, which assumed that rocky planets near stars lose both their atmospheres and water.
They proposed that this contradiction might imply that the planet is still actively shedding water, as earlier researchers have indicated that rocky planets can retain up to 20% of their original water for as long as a billion years. The team concluded that TOI512 is an excellent candidate for follow-up observations to determine if it is a steam planet or a model for future exoplanet studies.
New information regarding former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis indicates that while his case is not common, it is not entirely unheard of, according to the healthcare professionals who treated him.
At 82, Biden received a diagnosis of aggressive cancer on Friday after a nodule was found in his prostate, his personal staff announced. The cancer has spread to his bones, but his office stated that he is likely to respond well to treatment.
Most prostate cancer diagnoses occur at an early stage through routine screenings, which may include blood tests or rectal exams.
However, approximately 8% of cases have already metastasized to other organs by the time of diagnosis. In such instances, oncologists believe the patient may have had prostate cancer for several years, possibly up to a decade.
“We’ve encountered numerous patients facing significant health challenges,” stated Dr. William Dahoot, chief science officer at the American Cancer Society.
That said, exceptions exist.
“While most prostate cancers are slow-growing, some can develop rapidly and pose a high risk of metastasis,” explained Dr. Aron Weiser, a urologist and chief medical officer. “Is it common? No. But it can occur, dependent on the unique biology of that cancer.”
Screening facilitates early detection, yet there is disagreement among healthcare professionals regarding who should be screened for prostate cancer.
Many physicians refrain from screening men in their late 70s or 80s, as these individuals are generally more likely to die from other medical issues than prostate cancer. Nevertheless, with increasing life expectancies, some doctors consider screening appropriate for healthier older men.
According to the American Cancer Society’s recommendations, men in their 50s and 60s should be screened every two years. Men with elevated levels of prostate-specific antigens—a protein made by the prostate—should undergo annual screenings. Additionally, men at higher risk for prostate cancer, such as African Americans or those with a family history of the disease, should begin screening in their 40s.
However, current guidelines from the U.S. Task Force on Preventive Services, an independent panel that advises on practices often covered by insurance, state that men aged 55 to 69 should only consider discussing blood tests with their physicians. The task force is currently reviewing new screening guidelines for prostate cancer, with many healthcare providers advocating for a broader recommendation.
Weiser noted that there was a broader screening approach in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leading to premature diagnoses and treatments that may not have impacted patients’ lives. The 2012-2018 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended blood tests to help identify prostate cancer, resulting in decreased screening rates.
“Prostate cancer behaves differently; many cases are benign, not causing issues for individuals,” Weiser remarked. “The goal should be to identify aggressive cancers.”
In recent years, there has been a shift back toward increased screening as doctors have improved their understanding of which cases require treatment versus those that should be monitored.
Nevertheless, Dahut expressed ongoing concerns among patients and physicians about whether the benefits of screening outweigh the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Screening rates have declined steadily since 2012, and Dahut notes that this trend has led to a 5% increase in diagnoses of more advanced prostate cancer.
It remains unclear whether Biden has undergone prostate cancer screenings in recent years. His annual physical examination in February 2024 did not indicate a screening was performed, which is not unusual for someone of his age. A physical exam in 2019 revealed an enlarged prostate but did not lead to a cancer diagnosis at that time.
Dr. David Shusterman, a urologist based in New York, stated that Biden’s advanced diagnosis is atypical among patients who are screened regularly.
“It is rare for metastasis to have occurred in someone who regularly sees a urologist,” he said.
Diagnosis is often more prevalent in individuals who do not maintain regular medical consultations. Rick Gum is one such case; he was never screened before his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018. Gum, a 73-year-old trucking company owner from Big Rock, Illinois, initially sought care for a hernia but was found to have aggressive cancer that had spread to his bones.
“I learned the hard way,” he remarked. “I should have visited the doctor.”
Gum noted that his cancer was too advanced for standard treatment, prompting his participation in various clinical trials at Northwest Medicine, which included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and treatments involving radioisotopes.
“I’ve enjoyed seven excellent years since my diagnosis,” he reflected. “They’ve been quality years. I ride motorcycles, travel a bit, and love my work. I’ve been able to do it all.”
Dr. Peter Nelson, vice president of precision oncology at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, mentioned that patients like Biden could have over a 90% response rate to treatments that lower testosterone—a hormone that can promote cancer growth. These hormonal therapies are typically administered through injections or tablets.
“He may start with multiple medications and anticipate several years of effective treatment before any resistance develops,” Nelson noted. Some patients also receive chemotherapy or radiation in conjunction with hormone therapy, he added.
According to sources familiar with the family’s perspective, Biden and his family are exploring “multiple treatment options,” including hormone therapy.
A significant storm is forecasted to impact Alabama this week, as the National Weather Service has halted radio services that deliver vital weather updates for the area.
The Birmingham NWS office announced it will conduct “mandatory scheduled updates” to the advanced weather interactive processing system, which is essential for displaying and integrating weather and water information and disseminating critical alerts like weather and water warnings to the public.
These updates are set to take place from May 19th to May 21st. During this period, the Birmingham office will manage the NOAA weather radio transmitter. The NWS states.
Despite the software updates, the NWS assures that weather forecasts, advisories, clocks, and warnings will still be available. However, radio outages are expected to affect transmitters in northern and central Alabama, including areas like Winfield, Wannta, Birmingham, Aniston, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, Auburn, and Texasville.
The NWS did not provide immediate comments, but the agency stated online that the Birmingham forecast office will remain operational while the software updates proceed. Additionally, forecasting duties will also be carried out at the backup office in Peachtree City, Georgia.
NOAA Weather Radio forms a nationwide network of stations that relay official forecasts, weather alerts, and other information from the National Weather Service. This continuous service covers warnings about various threats, including earthquakes, avalanches, oil spills, and public safety announcements.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which supervises the National Weather Service, indicated that NOAA weather radio stations nationwide will undergo necessary updates on a rolling basis for two to three days leading up to June.
“The NWS Local Office intends to inform listeners both on-air and through the website when updates are scheduled,” agency officials noted. According to the NOAA Weather Radio website.
Alabama is among several states facing the threat of severe storms this week, with thunderstorms on Tuesday predicted to produce damaging hail and tornadoes, with wind gusts reaching 60 mph across northwest and central Alabama.
This week’s radio service disruption aligns with Alabama’s severe weather forecast, but it is not the only state bracing for harsh conditions.
An estimated 31 million people are susceptible to severe storms on Monday, stretching from northern Texas to Iowa. Potential hazards include strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes from Monday afternoon into the evening.
On Tuesday, the severe storm outlook will slightly shift, affecting areas from northern Louisiana to Indiana, with risks of large hail, winds, and strong tornadoes re-emerging.
In the meantime, a heat wave has driven temperatures into the late 90s in parts of Texas and Florida, reaching triple digits earlier this week.
These alerts follow a weekend of violent storms, leading to reports of tornadoes in at least 10 states, including Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky, with a confirmed toll of at least 28 weather-related fatalities.
This deadly storm arrives as NOAA strives to fill critical forecasting positions nationwide following significant budget cuts to the National Weather Service during the Trump administration. Critics warn that the current staffing shortages in the NWS could pose a serious public safety risk, particularly with hurricane season on the horizon, increasing wildfire threats, and persisting extreme heat this summer.
Are teenagers at risk of harm from their smartphones? Experts disagree
Drazen Zigic/Getty Images
Efforts to achieve a scientific agreement concerning the potential risks associated with smartphones and social media among youth have sparked ongoing debates among researchers. This lack of consensus highlights the challenges policymakers face in relying on current evidence to regulate these technologies.
Valerio Capraro from Italy’s University of Milano Bicocca, alongside over 100 colleagues from various disciplines, has launched a “consensus statement” addressing the adverse effects of smartphone usage on teenagers. “Instead of prolonging the debate, we aimed to find common ground among different viewpoints,” Capraro explains.
The team evaluated 26 specific assertions concerning the impact of smartphone use on teens’ mental health. These included concerns that extensive mobile phone use may result in sleep deprivation and behavioral addiction, drawn from the book Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. While this work has significantly shaped discussions surrounding smartphones at New York University, it has also faced substantial criticism. Haidt is a co-author of the statement.
Researchers individually rated their agreement with each assertion and evaluated the robustness of the supporting evidence. Notably, 99% concurred that adolescent mental health has worsened significantly in the US, with similar trends observed in other Western nations. Additionally, 98% acknowledged a strong correlation between heavy smartphone use and sleep disorders. Over 94% identified specific challenges faced by young girls, such as peer comparison, pressure to appear perfect, and exposure to online sexual harassment.
Despite high agreement on these points, experts noted that the evidence merely indicates correlation and not causation. Many believe that further rigorous research, including longitudinal studies tracking smartphone users over time, is necessary to establish causality. In total, over 90% affirmed that there are issues affecting young people, yet only 52% supported implementing policy measures like age restrictions or limitations in schools.
Nevertheless, researchers argue that this does not justify inaction from policymakers. “While obtaining high-quality causal evidence for effective policymaking may take years, decision-makers often need to act quickly in a rapidly evolving landscape with limited data,” they emphasize.
However, scholars not involved in the consensus statement are challenging its findings. It has also drawn backlash over its stance on social media. For instance, Pete Etchells from Bath Spa University in the UK highlighted that out of the 288 invited experts, only approximately 120 engaged in the process. He suggests that those inclined to believe in the negative impact of smartphones are more likely to participate, potentially skewing the results. “I want to clarify the biases present in the expert dataset,” he notes. “I don’t believe this is intentional.”
Etchells, who has also authored a book on the topic, questions the selection process for the invited experts. Sonia Livingstone from the London School of Economics criticizes the chosen researchers for the consensus. “The extensive list was meant to ensure balance, but it predominantly reflects one side of the debate. If science lacks balance, it loses its integrity,” she argues.
Capraro defended the diversity of the panel, stating that “countless individuals are researching these topics worldwide,” making it impractical to reach out to all of them.
Concerns regarding participation have also arisen from Livingstone’s critiques. “The problem lies in the biased nature of the questions posed. They don’t consider,” she points out, “[whether] social media can enhance mental health, friendships, or a sense of belonging?” Capraro maintains that the study aimed to present as many perspectives as possible on this “highly debated topic.”
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
