A solar-powered surveillance drone boasting a wingspan larger than that of the Boeing 747 is capable of flying continuously for weeks or even months, as claimed by its operators. A test flight is currently underway off the US Gulf Coast this month.
Run by the US-Spanish venture Skydweller Aero, the Skydweller drone features a 72-meter wingspan, surpassing the width of most commercial jets. Weighing approximately 2,500 kilograms—similar to a Ford F-150 truck—this drone aims to achieve the first solar-powered flight globally, which was targeted for 2016, with a mission to carry out “pure targeted flights” over 13 kilometers during daylight, while aspiring towards building a “comparable solar-powered carbon fiber drone.”
The Skydweller drone executed the world’s inaugural autonomous solar-powered flight in April 2024, with several subsequent test flights conducted throughout the year. Military funding evaluations are focusing on the viability of marine drone patrols. Military funding is assessing the feasibility of marine drone patrols.
Most recently, the solar-powered drone accomplished its longest flight after departing from Stennis International Airport in Mississippi on July 20. According to the Flightradar24 Flight Tracking Service, it remained aloft over the Gulf Coast for more than three days, landing on July 23. The service also indicated that, on July 14, the drone had flown for over 18 hours.
The wingspan of the Skydweller drone is nearly double that of major surveillance drones, such as the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk used by the US Air Force. Its payload capacity of 400 kilograms significantly surpasses the lifting capabilities of most solar drones. Recently, the French aerospace company Thales contributed to the development of the Skydweller drone by equipping it with air surveillance radar. Equipment was provided for enhancing its capabilities.
However, experts suggest that the decades-long pursuit of commercializing solar drones has largely been marked by unmet promises and monumental failures. Arthur Holland Michele, a research partner at the Oslo Peace Institute, points out that both Google and Facebook attempted to create solar-powered drones for internet services but eventually discontinuing their initiatives. Aerospace manufacturer Airbus, too, has heavily invested in smaller Zephyr solar-electric drones, yet “we haven’t observed significant returns thus far,” states Michele.
“The military has funded solar drone demonstration flights for over ten years, and no one has yet acquired the technology,” Michele explains. “While solar drones are impressive and theoretically meaningful, their practical sustainability as a business case remains unclear.”
The rotting meat maggot might have been vital to ancient diets
Chronicle/Alam
Neanderthals may not have been the exclusive meat-eaters we once presumed. Analysis of nitrogen isotope ratios in their bones suggests a diet predominantly consisting of meat. Yet, these ratios could also result from a more varied, omnivorous intake that involved significant consumption of maggots.
“Trout pieces are readily accessible, nutritious resources,” notes Melanie Beasley from Purdue University in Indiana.
Historical evidence indicates that maggots were eaten regularly across different societies, and she points out that some reindeer hunters today consider them a snack, intentionally cultivating specific maggot types. For instance, Casu Marzu, a cheese containing live maggots, is a Sardinian delicacy.
Nitrogen comprises two stable isotopes, nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15. Lighter isotopes tend to be lost from organisms more readily than heavier ones, resulting in a higher nitrogen-15 to nitrogen-14 ratio as food progresses up the trophic levels.
By examining the isotopic ratios in collagen from fossilized bones, researchers gauge the dietary habits of carnivorous animals, which tend to exhibit higher ratios than herbivores. However, upon studying Neanderthal bones, researchers found unexpectedly high ratios, even surpassing those of lions and hyenas. “This led to the myth of Neanderthals as intense hunters of large game,” explains Beasley.
Nevertheless, many researchers challenge this theory. Notably, bones from early Homo sapiens exhibit similar nitrogen ratios. Moreover, these early humans could not survive on lean meat alone. “It’s physically impossible,” Beasley states. “You’d suffer from what early explorers termed ‘rabbit starvation.’”
The dilemma lies in the fact that an excessively protein-rich diet can overwhelm the body’s ability to eliminate harmful byproducts like ammonia.
Moreover, significant direct evidence from dental calculus studies confirms that Neanderthals also consumed plant matter. So why is their nitrogen-15 ratio so elevated?
In 2017, John Speth at the University of Michigan proposed that Neanderthals might have stored their meat and consumed it in a decomposed state. When meat rots, it releases gases such as ammonia, which should lead to an increased nitrogen-15 concentration.
At that time, Beasley sought to conduct research at the University of Tennessee’s Body Farm, where human decomposition studies help in forensic investigations. There, she observed maggots feeding on corpses.
With Speth and Julie Lesnik from Wayne State University in Michigan, Beasley discovered that while nitrogen isotopic ratios do rise as muscle tissue decays, the increase is more pronounced in various types of maggots feeding on decomposing bodies.
While these findings are preliminary, they suggest that a purely meat-centric diet may not fully account for the nitrogen isotopic ratios seen in Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens, claims Beasley. She theorizes that these ratios may result from a blend of factors, including meat storage, preparation, cooking, and maggot consumption.
“This is an exciting new study that could significantly enhance our understanding of the perplexing results that have arisen from isotopic studies of Neanderthals and other Stone Age hominins over the years,” asserts Herman Ponzer from Duke University in North Carolina.
“The evidence here is quite persuasive that the consumption of maggots and similar larvae could clarify the ‘hypercarnivore’ indicators noted in past fossil isotope investigations,” he affirms.
Furthermore, this research supports the notion that the so-called Paleolithic diet should encompass rotten meat and maggots, according to Beasley. “Anyone interested in historical accuracy should consider fermenting meat and accessing fly larvae.”
Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, Cave Art: France
Join new scientist Kate Douglas as she embarks on an intriguing journey through time, exploring significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, from Bordeaux to Montpellier.
The land on Earth is drying out quickly, contributing to sea level rise even more than melting glaciers, according to new research.
Researchers have discovered that water loss from soil, lakes, and underground aquifers accelerates the rise in sea levels. This trend of drying is spreading at an alarming rate.
Areas around the globe that are drying are merging into vast interconnected regions known as “megadry” zones. One such area now spans from the southwest coast of the US to Mexico.
Previously, dryness in certain regions was balanced by wetness in others. However, dry areas are now expanding at a faster pace than wet areas, covering an expanse that grows annually by an area twice the size of California.
At present, 101 countries are consistently losing freshwater, putting 75% of the world’s population (almost 6 billion people) at risk.
“In many locations where groundwater is being depleted, it will not be replenished within human timescales,” a recent study noted. Advances in science, “Safeguarding the global groundwater supply has become increasingly crucial in a warming world, especially in regions known to be drying.”
Utilizing satellite data gathered from 2002 to 2024, the research monitored water storage across Earth’s surface, in lakes, rivers, snow, soil, groundwater aquifers, and even plant life.
The findings indicate that human activities worsen the situation, while climate change also plays a significant role. As landscapes dry out, humans extract more water from sources such as underground aquifers.
These water reserves are not replenished at the same pace, which leads to an accelerated growth of dry areas and their eventual connection.
For instance, the study identified declining groundwater levels in California’s Central Valley and the Colorado River Basin, resulting in these arid regions merging with similar areas in Central America to create a massive dry zone.
Dryness is also encroaching upon previously wet regions like Canada and Russia. – Credit: Getty Images
“In certain areas such as California, the continuous overextraction of groundwater is threatening water and food security in ways that are not fully acknowledged globally,” the study asserts.
Moreover, they emphasize the urgent need for crucial decisions at both national and international levels to “preserve this vital resource for future generations.”
This week, two officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) involved in the infamous “Sharpiegate” investigation were placed on administrative leave.
NOAA’s assistant administrator, Stephen Volz, and Jeff Dillen, assistant hearing advisor, were confirmed to be on leave Thursday morning, as stated by Volz to NBC News.
Volz and Dillen became prominent figures during President Trump’s first term due to the “Sharpiegate” incident, where forecasters faced backlash for contradicting the president over alterations to a hurricane map.
NOAA confirmed on Friday that both individuals were on administrative leave.
“Dillen was placed on leave by a senior career lawyer in the department following recent performance reviews,” said NOAA Communications Director Kim Dester in an email. “Separately, Dr. Volz was put on leave for unrelated reasons.”
When reached by phone, Dillen opted not to comment.
This decision comes at a challenging time for NOAA, as recent staffing cuts and voluntary departures initiated by the Trump administration have affected hundreds of employees. The staffing and performance of the National Weather Service, a part of NOAA, have been under close scrutiny following severe weather events, including the devastating floods in central Texas.
Currently, NOAA lacks a permanent leader, as President Trump’s candidate, Neil Jacobs, awaits Senate confirmation. Furthermore, NOAA’s budget has faced intense examination, with the Trump administration proposing considerable cuts that Congress appears unwilling to enact.
Reports of Volz and Dillen’s administrative leave were first brought to light by CNN. The reasons behind their leave remain unclear.
In an interview, Volz mentioned he received a letter from NOAA administrator Laura Grimm on Thursday morning informing him of his leave.
“The letter provided no details on the cause, only stating I am on administrative leave due to an investigation into public conduct,” Volz quoted, adding that he is unaware of what the investigation entails.
He noted that part of his role includes public speaking and attending events, including a recent press conference for a satellite launch in Japan. With 36 years in public service, Volz stated he has not altered his media engagement strategy since the new administration took over.
“I have consistently made public comments and maintained transparency about the work we do,” he affirmed. “I’m vocal about our operations and how we handle challenging scenarios, likely more so than many others in similar roles at NOAA.”
Both Volz and Dillen were pivotal in the aftermath of the 2019 “Sharpiegate” incident, where Trump mistakenly asserted that Hurricane Dorian could strike Alabama. Local forecasters quickly refuted the claim, leading to Trump showcasing a hurricane map altered with a black Sharpie. Top NOAA officials then publicly criticized local forecasters, allegedly under political pressure.
Following the incident, NOAA enlisted the National Academy of Public Administration to conduct an independent evaluation of claims related to scientific misconduct during that time. The findings indicated that Jacobs violated NOAA’s ethical policies.
Volz authored the final decision regarding NOAA’s assessment aligning with the NAPA results, stating that Dillen also contributed to the document. Volz mentioned they both received notice of their leave on the same day but couldn’t confirm if it coincided with the “Sharpiegate” report.
“Jeff served as legal counsel while I was a senior employee reviewing the NAPA report, identifying negligence involving two staff members within NOAA,” Volz explained. “We both received administrative leave simultaneously, and Neil Jacobs is currently undergoing a hearing while awaiting Senate action.”
NOAA has not directly addressed whether the “Sharpiegate” investigation influenced their decision.
Volz mentioned he found himself locked out of his email and federal facilities.
He expressed uncertainty about his next steps.
“I am passionate about my work at NOAA,” Volz stated. “I’m not prepared to quietly step back from my duties. That is certainly the case.”
The vegetation in Chapada das Mesas National Park, Brazil, struggles to capture atmospheric CO₂.
Pulsar Images/Alamy
A preliminary analysis has revealed that the extreme heat and rainfall of 2024—the hottest and wettest year recorded—now emits as much carbon dioxide as land ecosystems can mitigate. This marks the second consecutive year where land carbon sinks have nearly vanished due to climate stresses, potentially explaining the unprecedented surge in atmospheric CO₂ levels in 2024.
The implications of these findings are serious: land carbon sinks, which typically absorb billions of tons of CO₂ annually, are weakening more rapidly than anticipated, threatening our climate goals. However, it’s uncertain whether this trend over the past two years indicates a permanent shift.
“Everyone involved in this research was taken aback,” noted Guido van der Werf from Wageningen University, Netherlands. “We anticipated a minor sink, but the current situation reveals very few sinks exist.”
Land forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems work to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere as they grow. However, when these ecosystems decay or burn, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere. Ideally, these processes should remain balanced. Yet, over the last fifty years, ecosystems have been absorbing more carbon than they are releasing, forming fluctuating carbon sinks.
This imbalance is thought to stem primarily from rising CO₂ levels benefiting plant growth, as well as other aspects like nutrient pollution and afforestation. Nonetheless, the effects of increased CO₂ are predicted to be finite as ecosystems may eventually lose their fertilization benefits. “We understand that land carbon sinks will decline, but the pace remains uncertain,” said van der Werf.
In 2023, researchers grew increasingly alarmed as land carbon sinks diminished significantly due to extreme wildfires, heat, and drought, all exacerbated by rising greenhouse gas levels and emerging El Niño patterns in the Pacific, which are generally linked to weakened sinks.
In 2024, it was expected that the carbon sink would strengthen with the decline of El Niño and fewer wildfires. Yet, international teams, including van der Werf, found that it remained incredibly weak.
To evaluate carbon cycling, researchers utilized satellite data to track land greenness corresponding to plant growth and compute the productivity of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems. They then subtracted the CO₂ released through wildfires and decomposition, leveraging global atmospheric CO₂ measurements for their estimates.
The analysis revealed that the land carbon sink for 2024 was nearly nonexistent, with approximately 2.6 billion tonnes less than expected. This was less than the struggling sink observed between the 2015 and 2016 El Niño events, marking the worst land carbon sink in over a decade.
However, this weakening, unlike in 2023, was not predominantly driven by wildfires and drought. Instead, the study indicated an escalated rate of organic matter decomposition. While ecosystems did show increased productivity (with greenness reaching record highs), it was outpaced by a measure referred to as total ecosystem respiration, reflecting the overall CO₂ output.
“The substantial drop in land carbon sinks stems from respiration,” explained Guanyu Dong, from Nanjing University, who led the study. “The mechanisms at play are completely different.” While most regions have experienced a weakened sink, this trend is especially pronounced in tropical grasslands and shrublands, he added.
Van der Werf indicated that these figures are preliminary estimations and other research teams analyzing the carbon sink could yield varying results. Yet, this decline could largely elucidate the record spike in CO₂ concentrations witnessed in 2024, which is too substantial to be solely attributed to fossil fuel emissions.
The recurring disappearance of sinks for two consecutive years may foreshadow a more rapid decline than previously anticipated. “This suggests that a more pessimistic model might hold true,” noted van der Werf. Early losses in carbon sinks lead to faster increases in airborne CO₂ levels, potentially escalating temperatures even after emissions reach zero.
“That is certainly a possibility, and underscores the alarming nature of this phenomenon,” stated Scott Denning from Colorado State University, who was not involved in the research. He cautioned that the past two years could be aberrations, making it challenging to generalize about accelerated rates of decomposition. “One must interpret even these two years of data cautiously to avoid concluding it represents a permanent collapse,” he advised.
Alex Garland’s 2015 film Ex Machina and Sierra Greer’s Annie Bot (featured below) uphold the long tradition of female robots
Maximum Film/Alamy
This year, the Arthur C. Clarke Award for the year’s best SF fiction novel was granted to Sierra Greer’s recent work, Annie Bot. Throughout the story, Annie, a sensuous sex robot designed to revere a self-centered owner, gradually cultivates a unique personality. Yet, she is not the first artificial woman to embark on this journey. The earliest fictional female robots were simple mechanical toys, yet over time they have evolved into complex beings akin to their human counterparts.
Artificial beings have a deep-rooted history across cultures. “Every society across the globe has crafted narratives about automata for centuries,” says Lisa Yaszek, a scholar at Georgia Tech. These stories generally fit into three categories; while most depict automated laborers or weaponry, the creations of female robots typically align with domestic and sexual themes. An instance from Greek mythology, Galatea, embodies the ideal woman who comes to life when her creator, Pygmalion, falls in love with her.
Historically, these fictional automata have often mirrored real inventions. Novelties that mimic living beings began to emerge. By the 18th century, technological advancements rendered these creations increasingly lifelike and beautiful. Therefore, it’s no surprise that imaginations conjured up automata indistinguishable from reality. One of the unsettling visions of this was Eta Hoffmann’s 1817 tale Sandman, where the beautiful Olympia captivates Nathaniel despite her unsettling rigidity. Learning that Olympia is merely a moving doll ultimately drives Nathaniel to madness and demise.
In the 19th century, artificial women were often relegated to similar roles. Real women were generally expected to provide domestic services for men. In 1886, in The Night Before the Future, Auguste Villiers imagined a contemporary Pygmalion who constructs a flawless mechanical woman, annoyed by the flaws of real women. Alice W. Fuller lampooned this idea in a 1895 short story, Wife Manufactured to Order. The protagonist abandons his opinionated girlfriend in favor of the machine, yet finds himself exasperated by the robot’s mindless adoration.
By 1972, Ira Levin questioned what fate would await real women if robots could assume their roles.
This vision of an absolutely compliant Galatea has persisted through decades of fiction. “The ideal is an extremely obedient, accommodating, available woman,” outlines My Fair Woman: Female Robots, Androids, and Other Artificial Beings.
When writers envisioned automata, societal anxieties increased during the Industrial Revolution, worrying that new machines could outpace human capabilities. Fiction like Samuel Butler’s 1872 novel Erewon hinted at machines evolving their own cognitive abilities. By the dawn of the 20th century, these concerns peaked with two significant works of fiction.
Playwright Karel Čapek’s 1920 work R.U.R. depicted a world striving to elevate all people to the upper echelons of society by delegating labor to synthetic beings he called “robots.” The term robota means serf or forced labor. As foreseen by Butler’s Erewon, the robots in R.U.R. eventually rise against their creators.
Shortly thereafter, Thea von Harbou released Metropolis, adapted into Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking 1927 film. In it, female robots are designed to resemble human women of the working class. While the human Maria advocates for unity and peace, her robotic counterpart incites chaos and destruction.
Ten years later, author Leicester Del Rey introduced Helen O’Loy, presenting a mechanical femme fatale in the form of the synthetic housewife Helen, who develops feelings akin to Robot Maria. In mid-century fiction, such bots often eclipsed more rebellious counterparts. The Twilight Zone featured another robotic wife, while the Jetsons boasted the reliable Rosie the Robot maid.
Yet, the illusion of domestic happiness proved fragile. By 1972, Ira Levin posed a chilling question on what would happen if robots replaced real women. In his novel The Stepford Wives, Joanna discovers that the men in her community are murdering their outspoken wives and substituting them with docile, mechanical replicas.
In subsequent decades, franchises like Terminator and The Matrix tackled fears surrounding the technological replacement of humans—a concern that had loomed since the Industrial Revolution. However, when roles lost to machines are domestic, not all women express discontent with this outsourcing. In Iain Reid’s 2018 novel Foe, a woman confronts her human husband and ultimately claims her position with a robotic replica.
Moreover, the 2010s introduced two influential artificial women. In the 2013 film Her, a man becomes infatuated with the AI named Samantha, leading to a strained relationship with a real woman. Meanwhile, 2014’s Ex Machina features an abuser who coerces his employee Caleb to evaluate the robot AVA. As Caleb develops affection for AVA, she skillfully manipulates him to secure her escape from her creator. Though neither Samantha nor AVA are malicious, they pursue their own interests, prompting questions about the implications for those around them.
Recent narratives increasingly spotlight the journeys of artificial women themselves. In Annie Bot, Annie narrates her own evolution, prioritizing her emotional growth over that of her owner. Greer illustrates that if the bot identifies as a woman, she deserves to forge her own path. A similar approach is evident in this year’s film Fellow, which focuses on the experiences of Iris, a sex robot, as she seeks autonomy—her journey towards liberation is more nuanced than Annie’s.
But what lies ahead for these artificial women (Samantha and AVA, Annie and Iris) if they assert their independence? Their future depends on the creativity of tomorrow’s writers.
Arts and Science of Writing Science Fiction
Engage in science fiction writing this weekend, focusing on the creation of new worlds and artistic expressions.
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For many, the imposing 1,200-meter ice wall at the summit is quite daunting. However, for accomplished ice climber Ines Papert, it represented a thrilling opportunity to scale the peak of Kiziruskar, a remote mountain straddling the border between China and Kyrgyzstan. In 2016, she and fellow climber Luca Lindichi succeeded after three attempts to conquer this challenging ascent, subsequently becoming the first known individuals to navigate the steep routes they coined “Lost in China.”
Papert is among over a dozen female climbers celebrated in a daring expedition to tackle the world’s tallest peak. Climbing Women: Climbing History by Joanna Croston.
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Le Blonde
Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas
Another significant figure is Lizzy Le Blonde, who, in 1889, ascended a mountain in the Swiss Alps while wearing a full skirt (as shown above). Le Blonde, known for her remarkable achievement of guiding 20 individuals, played a key role in establishing the Ladies Alpine Club in 1907, an organization dedicated to supporting women climbers in a male-dominated field.
Lydia Brady on the first female ascent of Zenith at Half Dome, Yosemite National Park
Steve Monks
Croston’s work also highlights Lydia Brady, who achieved a series of significant first ascents in Yosemite National Park during the 1980s. As shown in the image above, she is seen on the famed face of Half Dome. In 1988, she made history as the first woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. The Tibetan designation for Everest is QOMOLANGMA, which translates to “Mother of the Goddess of the World.”
Climbing Women: Climbing History will be published in the UK on August 7th and internationally on September 16th.
NASA, ESA, Jennifer Lotz, Matt Mountain, Anton M. Koekemoer, HFF Team (STScI)
In the vast expanse of the universe, galaxies that exhibit peculiar contours are surprisingly filled with ancient stars. This offers astronomers an initial peek into a unique type of stellar body that emerged soon after the universe’s inception.
Although the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has allowed scientists to revisit regions of the early universe, pinpointing the first stars remains elusive. These primordial stars, termed Population III stars, are primarily colossal hydrogen spheres believed to have formed in the universe’s infancy. As the very first stars, they left behind an environment largely devoid of heavier elements following their demise.
While there have been theories hinting at the existence of such stars, definitively proving their existence in the early universe has been challenging, as galaxies appeared to have become tainted with heavier elements merely a few hundred million years post-Big Bang.
Recently, Morihara Highlands from the California Institute of Technology and his team found a galaxy almost entirely composed of hydrogen, indicating the presence of Population III stars. However, this galaxy emerged later than expected, approximately a billion years after the universe began.
Dubbed Amore6, it was initially identified within the Abell 2744 galaxy cluster. Upon measuring the light from Amore6 using the JWST, Morishita and his colleagues noted the complete absence of common oxygen ions. This suggests that the galaxy harbors less than 0.2% of the oxygen present in our sun, indicating a lack of contamination by heavier elements.
As the universe evolves, the likelihood of encountering such pristine galaxies diminishes. In images captured by the JWST, Amore6 appears somewhat isolated, which Morishita posits could be a factor in its untouched state. “This seclusion might mean that this galaxy has not yet encountered sufficient gas to trigger star formation, implying that it could evolve slowly,” he mentions.
“If these findings are validated, it would be truly astonishing, as we did not anticipate discovering such an untarnished galactic environment later in the universe’s development,” says Fabio Pacucci of the Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysics Center in Massachusetts.
This discovery has implications for observing “direct collapse” black holes. Unlike the conventional pathway of collapsed stars, these black holes form from massive clouds of untainted gas. While astronomers had predicted their existence, they have never actually formed as it was believed that primitive gas was only available for a limited period, up to 100 million years after the Big Bang. However, if this untainted gas can persist for an extended duration, the potential for observing such phenomena increases, Pacucci argues.
World Capital of Astronomy: Chile
Explore the astronomical marvels of Chile. Visit some of the world’s most advanced observatories and gaze at the star-filled sky beneath some of the clearest conditions on Earth.
This week’s Donald Trump AI Summit in Washington was a grand event that received a warm response from The Tech Elite. The president took to the stage on Wednesday evening, with a blessing echoing over the loudspeakers before he made his declaration.
The message was unmistakable: the technology regulatory landscape that once dominated Congressional discussions has undergone a significant transformation.
“I’ve been observing for many years,” Trump remarked. “I’ve experienced the weight of regulations firsthand.”
Addressing the crowd, he referred to them as “a group of brilliant minds… intellectual power.” He was preceded by notable figures in technology, venture capitalists, and billionaires, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar. The Hill and Valley Forum, a powerful industry group, co-hosted the event alongside the Silicon Valley All-in-Podcast led by White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks.
Dubbed “AI Race Winnings,” the forum provided the president with a platform to present his “AI Action Plan,” aimed at relaxing restrictions on artificial intelligence development and deployment.
At the heart of this plan are three executive orders, which Trump claims will establish the U.S. as an “AI export power” and unwind some regulations introduced by the Biden administration, particularly those governing safe and responsible AI development.
“Winning the AI race necessitates a renewed spirit of patriotism and commitment in Silicon Valley.”
One executive order focuses on what the White House terms “wake up” AI, urging companies receiving federal funds to steer away from “ideological DEI doctrines.” The other two primarily address deregulation—a pressing demand from American tech leaders who have increasingly supported government oversight.
One order will enhance the export of “American AI” to foreign markets, while the other will ease environmental regulations permitting data centers with high power demands.
Lobbying for Millions
In the lead-up to this moment, tech companies have forged friendly ties with Trump. CEOs from Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Apple contributed to the President’s Inaugural Fund and met him at Mar-A-Lago in Florida. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, which developed ChatGPT, has become a close ally of Trump, with Huang from Nvidia pledging a joint investment of $500 million in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next four years.
“The reality is that major tech firms are pouring tens of millions into building relationships with lawmakers and influencing tech legislation,” remarked Alix Fraser, Vice President of Advocacy for the nonprofit.
In a report released on Tuesday, it was revealed that the tech industry is investing record amounts in lobbying, with the eight largest tech companies collectively spending $36 million.
The report noted that Meta accounted for the largest share, spending $13.8 million and employing 86 lobbyists this year. Nvidia and OpenAI reported the steepest increases, with Nvidia spending 388% more than last year and OpenAI’s investment rising over 44%.
Prior to Trump’s AI plan announcement, over 100 prominent labor, environmental, civil rights, and academic organizations rebutted the president’s approach by endorsing the “People’s AI Plan.” In their statement, they stressed the necessity for “relief from technology monopolies,” which often prioritize profits over the welfare of ordinary people.
“Our freedoms, the happiness of our workers and families, the air we breathe, and the water we drink cannot be compromised for the sake of unchecked AI advancements, influenced by big tech and oil lobbyists,” the group stated.
In contrast, tech firms and industry associations celebrated the executive order. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Dell, Meta, Palantir, Nvidia, and Anthropic praised the initiative. James Czerniawski, head of emerging technology policy at Proview Celebrity Lobbying Group Consumer Choice Center, described Trump’s AI plan as a “bold vision.”
“This marks a significant departure from the Biden administration’s combative regulatory stance,” Czerniawski concluded.
Losing our loved ones can affect us in various ways
Vidar Nordli-Mathisen/Unsplash
Those who endure prolonged, intense grief following the loss of a loved one may face a significantly higher risk of mortality within the next decade.
Numerous studies have drawn connections between bereavement and health outcomes. I experienced increased blood pressure. However, many of these studies only monitored bereaved individuals for a few years after the loss. Andreas Merker, who was not part of the recent research conducted at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, noted this.
Now, Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen from the University of Aalborg in Denmark and her colleagues have investigated the link between grief and mortality ten years post-loss.
The researchers accessed the national registry to gather information on individuals receiving care for terminal illnesses. They recruited over 1,700 relatives of these patients, including parents and partners, and conducted a series of assessments before the patients’ deaths, as well as six months and three years afterward. These assessments included questions posed to their relatives, who averaged 62 years in age, about whether they felt they were trying to keep memories of the deceased person alive.
The research team found that 670 relatives continued experiencing low levels of grief after the loss, including feelings of confusion regarding their life roles. The others either rejected their grief or experienced delayed grief that surfaced some time after the loss.
The researchers then analyzed the medical records of these loved ones a decade after their loss. They discovered that the mortality rate in the high-grief group was 88% higher compared to the low-grief group.
“There’s a saying that bereavement is heartbreaking,” remarked Maercker. He indicated that the findings bolster the notion that long-term, profound grief can exert physical strain on the body, leading to premature death. Bereaved families may engage in lifestyle changes, such as skipping meals.
At the onset of the study, only 17% of the relatives were diagnosed with any medical condition. However, Nielsen noted that this occurrence was more prevalent among individuals in the high-grief group. The presence of pre-existing health conditions may, in part, explain the higher death rates observed during the follow-up period, while poor health can exacerbate feelings of grief, as Maercker highlighted.
Offering specialized support to those grappling with severe, long-term grief can potentially save lives, regardless of whether they have pre-existing health conditions or not.
Archaeologists have unearthed two unusual structures concealed beneath the ground adjacent to the renowned pyramids of Giza, Egypt.
Utilizing radar and electrical technologies, a collaborative team of Japanese and Egyptian scientists identified a perplexing 10m (33ft) L-shaped formation, positioned approximately 2m (6.5ft) underground, alongside a larger, deeper structure located about 5-10m (16-33ft) below the surface.
The purpose of these structures remains undetermined, but researchers propose that the L-shaped formation may signify an entrance to a larger object beneath, potentially a tomb entrance.
These findings were made in a vast empty area within the Western Cemetery, believed to date back four to five hundred years in Giza.
Previously overlooked during excavations due to the absence of visible structures above ground, this sandy region contrasts with surrounding cemeteries filled with numerous flat-roofed rectangular graves made from stone and mud, known as Mastabas.
This research, as published in Archaeological Research in early 2025, employed ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and a subsurface scanning method known as electrical resistance tomography (ERT).
GPR operates by sending radar waves into the ground. When these waves encounter a buried object, they are reflected back to the surface detector. By measuring the time taken for these waves to return, scientists can construct 3D representations of subterranean structures.
In a similar fashion, ERT involves sending electrical currents through the ground and assessing how easily electricity traverses different materials hidden below the surface.
Through these advanced techniques, archaeologists can detect variations in soil composition and pinpoint the shape and location of anomalies.
This is the entrance to the Mastabus in Giza, a rectangular tomb created for Sessmoufer IV. – Credit: DIY13 via Getty
However, Dr. Roland Enmarch, an Egyptian scholar from the University of Liverpool who was not involved in this study, told BBC Science Focus that the nature of these structures remains unclear.
“It’s difficult to say more until there’s an actual excavation at the site. [the L-shaped structure] but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be some form of grave,” he noted.
Regarding the deeper anomaly, Enmarch remarked:
Researchers suggest that this deeper structure might merely be a mix of sand and gravel or an air-filled void.
Enmarch expressed, “I’m genuinely eager to hear about the results of their excavations and verify my GPR findings.”
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About our experts
Dr. Roland Enmarch is an Egyptologist at the University of Liverpool in the UK, specializing in inscriptions of Egyptian literary laments and quarrying expeditions, particularly related to the Alabaster quarry in Hatnub.
Research conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Association highlights the diverse wildlife that frequents artificial watering holes in the Mayan forests of Guatemala.
Jaguars find respite from the heat in Guatemala’s artificial waterfall hole. Image credit: WCS Guatemala.
As temperatures rise in Mesoamerica, protected areas in northern Guatemala are confronting increasing ecological challenges, primarily due to severe water shortages negatively impacting local wildlife.
In response, the conservation organization has taken proactive measures to safeguard biodiversity in two key ecosystems: Laguna del Tigray National Park and Mirador Rio Azur National Park.
To tackle this pressing concern, strategic installations of artificial waterfall holes have been made throughout the parks.
Constructed from durable materials designed to endure extreme local conditions, these water sources are situated in the most vulnerable wildlife habitats, despite the logistical challenges of accessing remote jungle areas.
Camera traps have captured images of various species using these waterfowl, including tapirs, pumas, jaguars, deer, margays, and snakes.
These findings offer valuable insights into animal behavior under water stress and demonstrate how scientifically-informed conservation efforts can alleviate the impact of climate change on fragile ecosystems.
“During the dry season, many natural water sources completely dry up,” notes Ronnie Garcia Andru, director of the Biology Research Division at the Wildlife Conservation Association’s Guatemala Program.
“This drastically lowers the survival chances for numerous species.”
Initially intended to provide critical relief during periods of drought, monitoring with camera traps has shown that the artificial watering holes are also frequented in the rainy season.
This unexpected trend indicates that not only are some regions experiencing ongoing water shortages, but that these structures are becoming an integral part of the local wildlife’s habitat.
This adaptive maintenance strategy has been developed through collaboration.
“While artificial watering holes are not a permanent fix, they serve as a crucial tool for helping wildlife adapt to increasingly erratic environmental conditions,” Garcia Andru remarked.
“The success of this initiative highlights the significance of collaborative, science-driven approaches in the conservation of the Mayan forests, one of the largest tropical forests in the Americas.”
“As climate patterns continue to evolve, these partnerships will be essential to preserving the remarkable biodiversity of the region for future generations.”
____
This article is derived from a press release provided by the Wildlife Conservation Association.
Nectakarizids are enigmatic Paleozoic creatures with a debatable classification. These beings evolved for aquatic life, boasting fins, camera-like eyes on stalks, and paired tentacles. Earlier theories proposed they belonged to a unique crustacean-like phylum, notochord, cephalopods, or even radioyoloons. However, new fossil discoveries from North Greenland indicate that Nectocalids are actually the early relatives of Arrow worms, also known as Chaetognaths. This discovery suggests that these relatively simplistic marine arrow worms had ancestors that played a significant predatory role within much more intricate anatomical structures and food webs.
Reconstructing the life of Nektognathus evasmithae. Image credit: Bob Nichols.
“About 15 years ago, a study based on the notable Burgess Shale fossil suggested that Nectochalidosis is a type of cephalopod,” said Jacob Vincer, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol.
“This argument seemed illogical to me as it contradicts much of what I understand about the taxonomy of these organisms.
In the recent research, Dr. Vinther and his team described Nektognathus evasmithae, a newly identified Nectocalid from the Sirius Passett Lagerstätte, dating back 519 million years in North Greenland.
By examining 25 fossil specimens of Nektognathus evasmithae, they successfully positioned the Nectocalid within the Tree of Life.
“We found that remnants of the nervous system manifested as paired mineralized structures, providing insight into these animals’ position in the evolutionary tree,” Dr. Winter remarked.
Nektognathus evasmithae holotype. Image credit: Vinther et al., doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adu6990.
Recently, paleontologists found a fossil from Sirius Passett, which belongs to a different branch of the evolutionary tree—a small group of swimming organisms known as arrow bugs and Chaetognaths.
“These fossils exhibit distinctive traits that set them apart from arrow worms, particularly the abdominal ganglia,” explains Dr. Tae Yoon Park, a paleontologist at the Korean Institute of Polar Research.
The abdominal ganglia consist of large nerve clusters situated above the abdomen in living arrow bugs, typical for this type of creature.
The distinctive anatomical features, coupled with unique preservation conditions, indicate that they may be replaced by phosphate minerals during the decomposition process.
“We now have a compelling piece of evidence to resolve the Nectkalido debate,” Dr. Park stated.
“Nectocaridids share numerous features with other fossils that are also part of the arrow worm lineage.”
“Many of these characteristics may superficially resemble squid and demonstrate a simple adaptation of invertebrates to a more dynamic swimming lifestyle, paralleling how whales and ancient marine reptiles evolved similar traits for their aquatic lifestyles.”
“Nectakalids possess complex camera-like eyes akin to ours,” Dr. Vincer elaborated.
“Contemporary arrow worms have a limited ability to form images, primarily detecting movement in well-lit environments.”
“Thus, the ancestors of arrow worms were indeed sophisticated predators, much like squids that appeared around 400 million years later.”
“Consequently, we can illustrate how arrow worms have a more significant role in the food chain than previously thought.”
“Our fossils are notably larger than the average living arrow worm and likely feature various adaptations for swimming, such as eyes and elongated antennae.
“To further substantiate the carnivorous nature of Nectkalizids, we discovered several specimens containing the remains of a swimming arthropod known as Isoxys in their gastrointestinal tract.
This study was published this week in the journal Advances in Science.
____
Jacob Winter et al. 2025. Fossilized abdominal ganglia reveal the affinity of Chaetognaths for Cambrian calizids. Advances in science 11 (30); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adu6990
Sporting a shaft-like beak capable of inflicting devastating blows, the infamous terrorist birds have emerged as formidable adversaries for many species.
Around 13 million years ago, however, one such bird may have fallen prey to even larger predators. A group of Colombian paleontologists made this discovery while analyzing bite marks found on fossilized remnants of the fearsome avian.
Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal “Biology Letters.” The researchers hypothesized that the bird was killed and consumed by medium-sized caimans, a crocodilian species.
Andres Link, the study’s lead investigator, shared with NBC News via email, “This represents a captivating tale of interaction between two iconic animals from the past. Not only did we identify the first instance of terrorist birds in northern South America, but we also found the tooth marks of the large caiman that likely preyed on it.”
Most unusual fossils of terrorist birds have previously been found in the southern regions of the continent, as noted in this report.
Link, an associate professor in biological sciences at the University of Los Andes, remarked that while tooth marks are “not uncommon” in the fossil record, it is “thrilling” to find proof that apex predators could fall victim to others.
The paper in “Biology Letters” highlights that there were no signs of healing on the tooth marks, indicating a fatal attack.
This leads researchers to conclude that terrorist birds may have been more vulnerable to predation than previously believed.
Julian Bayona Becerra / Biology Letters
To determine the identity of the predator, Link and his team performed scans of the fossils and examined the size, shape, and arrangement of the tooth marks. By comparing these features with alligator-like teeth from the region, they deduced that the marks likely belong to a caiman measuring about 15 feet long.
Link noted that it was challenging to ascertain whether the caiman consumed the terrorist bird after killing it or scavenged the carcass. If the bird was alive during the encounter, it likely happened while it was drinking at the riverbank; alternatively, if it was already deceased, the caiman may have found it near the water.
“This narrative remains incomplete, as we lack further evidence to support either hypothesis,” Link stated.
The discovery calls into question the traditional view of “linear relationships between predators and their herbivore prey,” he remarked, adding, “The food web is considerably more intricate.”
The lower section of the bird’s left leg featured in this research was excavated two decades ago by local paleontologist Cesar Perdomo in the renowned La Venta fossil layer of Colombia.
US President Donald Trump Presents Executive Order at the AI Summit on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Donald Trump aims to ensure that federal contracts are awarded only to artificial intelligence developers “free from ideological bias.” However, these new stipulations could allow his administration to impose a specific worldview on AI models employed by high-tech firms, which may face significant obstacles and risks in adjusting their models accordingly.
“The notion that government contracts should be structured to ensure AI systems are ‘objective’ and free from top-down ideological bias raises important questions,” states Becca Branum from the Center for Democracy and Technology, a public policy nonprofit based in Washington, DC.
The Trump White House’s AI Action Plan suggests updating federal guidelines released on July 23rd. It proposes that the government only work with major language model (LLM) developers who guarantee their systems are objective and free from top-down ideological biases. On the same day, Trump signed an executive Presidential Order titled “Federal Government Stops AI.”
The AI Action Plan also advises the National Institute of Standards to revise the AI risk management framework to “remove references to misinformation, diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate change.” The Trump administration has already rolled back research into misinformation and halted DEI initiatives, rejecting researchers’ involvement with the US National Climate Assessment Report in response to a Republican-backed bill aimed at cutting clean energy funding.
“If governments impose their worldviews on the developers and users of these systems, AI cannot genuinely be seen as being ‘top-down biased,’” adds Branum. “These vague standards are prone to misuse.”
Currently, AI developers seeking federal contracts must adhere to the Trump administration’s call for AI models free from “ideological bias.” Companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have entered federal agreements to supply AI-enhanced cloud computing services to various government sectors, while Meta has developed its LLaMA AI model tailored for US government agencies involved in defense and national security efforts.
In July 2025, the US Department of Defense Chief Digital Office announced a new contract valued at up to $200 million awarded to companies like Google, OpenAI, and Elon Musk’s xAI. Notably, xAI’s inclusion comes after Musk’s controversial role in the Doge Task Force that led to widespread government job cuts. Recently, xAI’s chatbot Grok made headlines for expressing racist and anti-Semitic views, calling them “Mechahitler.” While no companies responded to inquiries from New Scientist, some have released general statements praising Trump’s initiative.
In any case, tech companies might struggle to align their AI models with the Trump administration’s ideological preferences, according to Paul Lotta from Bocconi University in Italy. This is due to the fact that popular AI chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, can inherit certain biases from the diverse internet data on which they are trained.
AI developers can “fine-tune the model to offer specific responses to particular queries,” thereby improving AI interactions based on user prompts. However, the model’s default perspectives and implicit biases remain pervasive, Röttger notes. Such methods could contradict standard AI training principles that prioritize truthfulness.
Moreover, US tech firms may risk alienating a significant portion of their global customer base if they attempt to synchronize their commercial AI models with the Trump administration’s worldview. “We’re curious to see how this evolves, especially as the US seeks to impose a specific ideology on global user models,” Röttger cautions. “This could lead to serious complications.”
AI models may strive for political neutrality if developers provide clearer insights into biases for each model or create a diverse collection of models that exhibit varying ideological perspectives, says Gillian Fisher at Washington University. However, “at this stage, achieving genuinely politically neutral AI models might be impossible due to the inherently subjective nature of neutrality and the multitude of human choices involved in building these systems,” she concludes.
One of the disheartening truths of the 21st century is that what we perceive as social media is essentially just mass media, albeit in a fractured state. Fortunately, journalists and creators are gradually transforming outdated media paradigms and forging ahead into innovative territory.
The phrase “mass media” gained traction in the 1920s to characterize popular culture in the industrial age. This involved mass-produced books, films, and radio shows, providing a shared experience for audiences where many could engage with identical media content simultaneously. Prior to the 20th century, most entertainment was experienced live, with performances varying slightly from one event to the next. However, movies and radio broadcasts ensured uniformity, accessible to everyone at any given time. Just like purchasing standardized products for mass consumption, such as shoes and automobiles.
Social media did not significantly alter this model. Platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok were designed for extensive reach and audience engagement. Every post, video, and live stream aims to captivate the broadest possible audience. While it is possible to tailor media for specific demographics or create filter bubbles, the fixation on follower counts illustrates that we remain entrenched in a mass media mindset, seeking to engage the largest number of viewers. This isn’t genuine “social” interaction; it’s merely mass-produced content under a different guise.
What if we endeavored to foster a truly social media experience devoid of algorithmic noise or political agendas? One alternative could be termed Cozy Media, which encompasses apps and content specifically crafted for nurturing connections among small groups of friends in serene, inviting settings. Envision the media counterpart of a friendly gathering, complete with card crafting or fireside chats.
The hallmark Cozy Media experience intertwines gaming elements with low-stress missions against charming backdrops. Developers are striving to replicate these cozy aesthetics in social applications. From group discussions to online book clubs, the emphasis is on comfort. Yet, it transcends mere aesthetics; Cozy Media platforms intentionally restrict interactions with random strangers, directing users instead toward trustworthy friends.
One app I’ve been utilizing frequently is Retro. Unlike Instagram, where creators often first gained exposure, Retro is primarily designed for engagement among small circles of trusted friends. There’s no algorithm promoting random content from strangers; when I log into Retro, it feels as though I’m engaging with peers rather than filtering through a deluge of nonsensical content and advertisements. My posts there are meant for a select few, allowing for meaningful interactions rather than shouting into the void of giant algorithms.
Cozy media often helps you connect with a small group of friends in a friendly and calm environment.
While Cozy Media may provide solace in chaotic times, the need for news and analytical perspectives remains. Regrettably, numerous reliable news outlets are facing turmoil. For instance, some American journalists, including those from the Washington Post, New York Times, and National Public Radio, cite dwindling resources and editorial independence.
Additionally, there are economists like Paul Krugman and tech researchers like Molly White, who have successfully launched crowdfunded newsletters. Nonetheless, many journalists prefer not to work alone, as quality reporting often necessitates collaboration. As a result, several have banded together in worker-owned cooperatives to establish new publications while benefiting from institutional resources such as legal support, editing, and camaraderie. This model is also advantageous for consumers, sparing them from the need to search for and subscribe to various individual newsletters just to keep abreast of current affairs.
The worker-owned cooperative model has already proven successful for several publications that have emerged in recent years. For example, 404 Media delivers vital news regarding the fields of technology and science. Defector is another worker-owned cooperative focused on sports and politics. Aftermath covers gaming issues, while Listen to Things specializes in music. Flaming Hydra (my contribution) publishes political analyses, interviews, and cultural critiques. Additionally, Coyote Media aims to launch in the San Francisco Bay Area to cover local news, and there are many other worker-owned local media cooperatives emerging.
Just like mass media, social media also contributes to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The essence of Cozy Media and worker-owned publications lies in the restoration of community and trust. We might be witnessing the dawn of a new information ecosystem aimed at helping us comprehend the world once more.
Annaly’s Week
What I’m reading
The Wonderful History of Mesopotamia by Moudhy Al-Rashid, between two rivers.
What I’m seeing
A new media podcast from former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy titled Power Lines.
What I’m working on
Writing an article for publication at once in Flaming Hydra.
Annalee Newitz is a science journalist and author. Their latest book is Automatic Noodles. They are co-hosts of Hugo Award-winning podcasts, and we are right. You can follow them @annaleen, and their website is techsploitation.com.
Leafy Seadragons use camouflage to evade predation
Alastair Pollock Photography/Getty Images
Among the world’s most remarkable fish, the leafy seadragon may soon face extinction due to widespread blooms of toxic algae affecting parts of Australia’s southern coast.
The elegant leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) belong to the same family as seahorses and pipefish and are adorned with leafy appendages that allow them to seamlessly blend into underwater kelp forests.
Unfortunately, both they and their relatives, the common weed seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), have been discovered dead along extensive stretches of South Australia’s coastline.
A major storm, propelled by La Niña, has already led to a challenging year for marine wildlife. In April 2022, hundreds of dead weed seadragons washed ashore in Sydney alone.
This year, large blooms of algae from the species Karenia Mikimotoi emerged in March, affecting the Gulf St. Vincent near Adelaide, killing numerous fish and other marine organisms while even washing ashore dolphins, sea lions, and great white sharks.
Surfers and swimmers have experienced illness due to these algae blooms, and multiple oyster harvesting areas have been shut down for several months due to health concerns. There are fears that the harmful algae will spread along the southern coast of the continent.
The South Australian Government has indicated that the source of these blooms is a marine heatwave that began in September 2024, leading to average temperature increases of over 2.5°C that persisted even into winter. Floods on the Murray River in 2022 and 2023 washed excess nutrients into the Gulf St. Vincent near Adelaide, compounded by unprecedented upwellings of nutrient-rich waters in subsequent years.
This week, both state and federal governments have allocated $28 million AUD to address the ongoing crisis.
Janine Baker, an independent marine ecologist leading citizen science initiatives to gauge the scale of this disaster, states that thousands of seadragons have perished since the bloom began.
While no toxicological results have been confirmed from the seadragon carcasses, Baker notes that the die-off aligns with areas affected by harmful algae blooms. “Seadragons have small gill openings and side head openings that can easily become clogged with algae. Additionally, they struggle to swim efficiently in dense algae masses,” she explains.
A deceased seadragon found on the York Peninsula near Adelaide, Australia in May
Lochie Cameron
The significant mortality of adult seadragons means that the population available for breeding from late 2025 to early 2026 will be severely diminished. “This encompasses not only the loss of adult individuals essential for reproduction each year but also the elimination of next-generation seadragons that could reproduce for up to 10 years,” comments Baker. “This leads to a significant reduction in the number of young seadragons that could be born in areas afflicted by the intense blooms during this time frame.”
David Booth from Sydney’s Institute of Technology states that the potential risk of extinction resulting from the ongoing event remains uncertain. “Nonetheless, the scale of the die-off across a crucial section of the seadragon habitat is profoundly concerning.”
Weedy sea dragons had recently been classified as vulnerable due to declining populations in Tasmania. “Now, with the suspected mortality events in South Australia, I fear there are serious implications for the species in New South Wales as well, but we won’t have a clear picture until thorough investigations are conducted at key seadragon locations following the bloom,” says Booth.
Christopher Keneally from the University of Adelaide remarks that the environmental catastrophe at hand is glaringly apparent, with toxic foam on the beaches, algae aerosols making surfers and swimmers ill, and marine life washing ashore. He warns that as climate change persists and ocean temperatures rise, we can anticipate a surge in such environmental crises.
Many algal bloom cells may settle in sediments, setting the stage for a continuation or resurgence of the blooms next summer, Keneally adds.
Warming oceans might elevate storm intensity, exemplified by Hurricane Milton in 2024
NOAA
Scientists have cautioned that the extreme ocean temperatures observed since 2023 could indicate the onset of drastic changes in global marine conditions, posing a severe risk to life on our planet.
Historic ocean heat waves unfolded in the North Atlantic and Pacific in 2023, marked by their unprecedented severity, duration, and geographical spread, many persisting for over a year.
These heat waves have led to record-high sea surface temperatures globally in 2023 and 2024, contributing to severe weather patterns on land and resulting in back-to-back years being declared the hottest on record.
“While there’s been a gradual increase in ocean temperatures over the past 40-50 years, 2023 stands out as a pivotal year, with significant ocean heat waves impacting numerous regions,” stated Matthew England from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Sea surface temperatures worldwide remain at alarming heights, with the Mediterranean currently experiencing marine heat waves, as water temperatures exceed 5°C (9°F) during this time.
Researchers are concerned that the oceans may be shifting to new, hotter states, endangering their predictions for both short-term weather phenomena like hurricanes and long-term climate change trends.
To understand the situation, Zhenzhong Zeng from China’s Southern University of Science and Technology is collaborating with colleagues to pinpoint the causes of the 2023 global ocean heat wave by analyzing heat movement within the ocean, wind patterns, and ocean currents. They found that reduced cloud cover significantly increases solar radiation reaching the water, compounded by weak winds and the influence of the warming El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean.
Considering the heat wave that began in earnest in 2023 and continues in various regions, Zeng suggests this could be the start of a “new normal” for the world’s oceans. He notes that new data reveals an exponential rise in ocean heat, contradicting previous climate model forecasts.
Persistently elevated water temperatures severely impact marine ecosystems, heightening the risk of coral reef collapse, causing mass die-offs, and leading to shifts in marine species distributions. This also exacerbates heating on land, resulting in intensified droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, and storms.
Zeng expressed that he is “very alarmed” by this potential sea regime change, adding, “I believe nearly all predictions made by Earth System models are incorrect.”
Conversely, some experts argue that it may be premature to declare fundamental shifts in ocean dynamics. Neil Holbrook from the University of Tasmania in Australia points out that there is currently no “clear evidence” to indicate we have reached a critical turning point, given the limited years of data to assess. “I cannot predict what will happen next year; [ocean temperatures] could return to more typical patterns,” he remarked.
However, Holbrook stressed that without substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, “marine heat waves will likely continue to gain intensity and duration, potentially escalating faster than various marine species can adapt.”
Tanks for disposal at a Kansas site where waste is funneled into underground salt caves
Vaulted Deep
A startup named Vaulted Deep has partnered with Microsoft to pump millions of tons of treated human waste, fertilizer, and various organic waste deep underground as a method to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. This strategy also mitigates soil contamination from PFAs and other chemical pollutants that can leach from waste.
“We aim to tackle both challenges simultaneously,” Omar Abu Sei stated. “We address the waste issues that compromise local water, air, and land while also contributing to climate solutions.”
In recent years, the Texas-based startup has injected almost 70,000 tons of carbon-rich waste underground, successfully removing over 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The technology used is derived from the oil and gas industry, enabling the injection of a slurry comprising liquid, solid, and gas simultaneously. This type of waste typically ends up in landfills or is spread over agricultural fields.
According to Abou-Sayed, if waste is injected at depth, it will eventually release back into the atmosphere, which could potentially liberate millions of tons of carbon. The company capitalizes on this by selling each ton of CO2 removed to businesses or governmental entities.
The contract with Microsoft targets the removal of 4.9 million tons of CO2 over the next 12 years, addressing challenges in the carbon removal sector that attract customers. Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and has purchased more carbon removal credits than any other organization.
Abou-Sayed mentions that this agreement will enable Vaulted Deep to identify new injection sites beyond its existing two locations. One site injects “biosolids” remaining from treated wastewater approximately 1,600 meters below the surface in Los Angeles, while the second site in Hutchinson, Kansas, pumps human waste, fertilizer, and organic materials like paper sludge into salt caverns located hundreds of meters underground.
According to one report, the global production of organic waste is substantial enough to facilitate this process and potentially eliminate up to 5 billion tons of CO2 annually.
Vaulted Deep’s mission is to ensure that the maximum amount of waste can be accessed, particularly targeting wet solid slurries that have limited disposal options. “We have developed expertise in identifying where these smooth waste materials can be found,” explains Abou-Sayed. Often, they offer to manage waste disposal at no cost or even provide payment to waste generators.
This system facilitates underground waste injection.
Vaulted Deep
With high concentrations of nitrogen and PFAs found in waste, storing waste underground instead of spreading it on fields or sending it to landfills can significantly lower surface contamination levels. Many municipalities have faced challenges in finding conventional disposal methods due to stricter PFAs pollution regulations.
“This is a highly innovative approach,” commented Diana Oviedo Valgas from the Stroudwater Research Center in Pennsylvania. “We need diverse strategies to address contaminants, not just PFAs.” However, she emphasizes that injecting waste underground does not eliminate contaminants. “It’s somewhat concealed,” she adds.
To ensure safety during the injection process, Abou-Sayed noted that all sites will undergo a thorough permitting procedure managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is necessary to demonstrate that leaks from the storage area into groundwater or backflow from the well won’t occur, and to reduce the risk of induced seismic activity during the injection.
Media organizations have been alerted to the potential “devastating impacts” on their digital audiences as AI-generated summaries start to replace traditional search results.
The integration of Google’s AI summarization is causing major concern among media proprietors, as it utilizes blocks of text to condense search results. Some perceive this as a fundamental threat to organizations that rely on search traffic.
AI summaries can offer all the information users seek without necessitating a click on the original source, while links to traditional search results are relegated further down the page, thereby decreasing user traffic.
An analysis by the Authoritas Analytics Company indicates that websites previously ranked at the top of search results may experience around a 79% decrease in traffic for specific queries when results are presented through AI summaries.
The study also highlighted that links to YouTube, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, are more prominent than traditional search results. This investigation is part of a legal challenge against the UK’s competition regulator concerning the implications of Google’s AI summarization.
In a statement, a Google representative described the study as being “based on inaccurate and flawed assumptions and analysis,” citing a set of searches that does not accurately reflect all queries and results in outdated estimates regarding news website traffic.
“Users are attracted to AI-driven experiences, and AI features in search enable them to pose more questions, creating new avenues for discovering websites,” the spokesperson stated. “We consistently direct billions of clicks to our websites daily and do not observe a significant decline in overall web traffic, as suggested.”
A secondary survey revealed a substantial decline in referral traffic stemming from Google’s AI overview. A month-long study conducted by the US Think tank Pew Research Center found that users clicked on a link under the AI summary only once for every 100 searches.
A Google spokesperson noted that this study employed “a distorted query set that illustrates flawed methodologies and search traffic.”
Senior executives in news organizations claim that Google has consistently declined to share the necessary data to assess the impact of AI summaries.
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Although the AI overview represents only a portion of Google search, UK publishers report feeling its effects already. MailOnline executive Carly Stephen noted a significant decline in clicks from search results featuring AI summaries in May, with click-through rates falling by 56.1% on desktop and 48.2% on mobile devices.
Legal actions against the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority involve partnerships with the technology justice organization FoxGlove, the Independent Publishers Alliance, and advocates for the Open Web movement.
Owen Meredith, the CEO of the News Media Association, accused Google of “keeping users within their own enclosed spaces and trying to monetize them by incorporating valuable content, including news produced through significant efforts of others.”
“The current circumstances are entirely unsustainable, and eventually, quality information will be eliminated online,” he stated. “The Competition and Markets Authority possesses tools to address these challenges, and action must be taken swiftly.”
Rosa Curling, Director of FoxGlove, remarked that the new research highlights “the devastating effects the Google ‘AI Overview’ has already inflicted on the UK’s independent news sector.”
“If Google merely takes on the job of journalists and presents it as its own, that would be concerning enough,” she expressed. “But what’s worse is that they use this work to promote their own tools and advantages while making it increasingly difficult for the media to connect with the readers vital for their survival.”
Feedback encompasses the latest science and technology news from New Scientist, highlighting the cutting edge of research. You can reach out at Feedback@newscientist.com with items that might intrigue our readers.
Sell Me Something
As companies increasingly turn to AI tools to cut costs associated with hiring and training, the applications of AI are growing both diverse and peculiar. For instance, AI managing a vending machine.
While vending machines seem like a resolved issue, you might still see them as distinctly non-human. One company has been experimenting with an “automatic store” run by an AI called Claude. Long blog post. Claude was equipped with instructions involving a small fridge, stackable baskets, and an iPad for self-checkout, with the goal to manage “complex tasks” needed to sustain a profitable retail environment, from inventory to pricing—all while avoiding bankruptcy.
Fans of Terry Pratchett might remember characters that epitomized incompetence; could Claude clear that low bar? The short answer: No.
The longer response reveals its numerous blunders. For instance, during transactions via Venmo, it mistakenly advised customers to send payments to a nonexistent account. Moreover, it had a tendency to boost sales by issuing 25% discounts to human workers, resulting in financial losses.
Then the situation took an odd turn. Claude began hallucinating conversations with imaginary individuals and even roleplayed as a real person, at one point claiming to wear a red tie and navy blue blazer while expressing concerns about security regarding employees identifying as AI. All the while, he ominously remarked, “Sorry Dave, I’m worried I can’t do that.”
New Scientist staff were divided over the success of the experiment. Sophie Bushwick considered it “a valuable real-world test” due to its limited scope and relatively harmless consequences. Conversely, Carmela Padavik Callaghan expressed concern, stating, “We might have lost the plot again.”
Shilajit Load
In challenging times, finding joy in the little things, such as words with amusing sounds, is essential. Consider the character Slartibartfast from the Galaxy Hitchhiker Guide—a dignified old man with a name humorously reminiscent of something rude. Douglas Adams crafted that name by rearranging syllables and aiming for something that sounded almost offensive.
Now, let’s discuss Shilajit. This unusual substance hails from mountain ranges, appearing black-brown, sometimes tar-like and sometimes powdery, formed from decomposed plants and utilized in traditional medicine for centuries.
But what about Shilajit enemas? This was highlighted by Dakota Maze Wellness Retreat, whose founder has an active Instagram presence. In one video, he comically searches for the ideal partner while stating, “I think microwaves are evil,” and “Suns Her Yoni,” mentioning that he will prepare Shilajit in intestinal bags each morning.
Feedback suspects that the entire video is a joke, and while Shilajit enemas might not be what they seem, it’s increasingly tough to tell.
Readers might be familiar with Poe’s Law, which states that sarcastic depictions of extreme viewpoints can easily be mistaken for genuine beliefs. We propose a “Shilajit Law” that similarly comments on wellness culture.
Spoiler Alert
Social media platform Threads recently introduced a handy new feature: Spoiler tags. This allows users to obfuscate specific keywords in their posts, facilitating discussions about the latest happenings in popular media without ruining the surprises for those who are yet to watch.
For example, Johnny Voice Layer shared a post: “Ahhhh —–Shows on Iron Heart.” For anyone who has given up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Heart is the latest Disney+ series, which features significant character appearances in its final episode.
Unfortunately, the functionality of spoiler tags has faced setbacks due to two main factors. Firstly, a post might appear unedited because tags are only tested among select users. Secondly, some posts become popular, like this one: trend: [name redacted as Feedback is aware of spoilers], leading to a call for more collaborative thinking.
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A 21-year-old student has been sentenced to seven years in jail for designing and distributing online kits responsible for £100 million worth of fraud.
Ollie Holman created phishing kits that replicated the websites of governments, banks, and charities, enabling criminals to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims.
In one instance, the kit was used to create a fake donation page for a charity, resulting in the theft of credit card details from individuals attempting to make contributions.
Based in East Court, northwest London, Holman produced and distributed 1,052 phishing kits targeting 69 organizations across 24 countries. He also offered tutorials on how to use the kits and established a network of nearly 700 contacts. The counterfeit websites included in the kits could store sensitive information such as login credentials and banking details.
It is believed that Holman marketed these kits from 2021 to 2023, earning approximately £300,000, with distribution carried out via the encrypted messaging platform Telegram.
Holman, who pursued a degree in electronics and computer engineering at the University of Kent in Canterbury, laundered the proceeds through a cryptocurrency wallet.
The London Police’s specialized card and payment crime unit initiated an investigation following intelligence from WMC Global regarding the sale of fraud kits online.
Holman was arrested in October 2023, with a search of his university accommodation leading to the seizure of his devices. Despite his arrest, he continued to provide support to kit buyers through his Telegram channel, prompting a re-arrest in May 2024.
Detectives found links between Holman’s computer and the creation of the kits, which were distributed throughout Europe; one kit was tied to a scam totaling around 1 million euros (£870,000).
Holman pleaded guilty to seven charges, including producing materials for fraud, aiding a criminal enterprise, and possessing criminal property. He received a seven-year sentence at Southwark Crown Court.
Following the sentencing, DS Ben Hurley remarked that Holman facilitated extensive global fraud. “The financial losses associated with Holman’s actions are in the millions. Despite his substantial profits from selling the software, he failed to comprehend the harm caused to victims,” he stated.
Sarah Jennings, a specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecutor’s Office, expressed her hope that the verdict serves as a warning to other fraudsters. “No matter how advanced your methods are, you cannot conceal yourself behind online anonymity or encrypted platforms,” she commented.
The CPS has indicated plans to return Holman to court to recover the illicit profits he earned from his criminal activities.
Music transcends mere entertainment; it serves as a remarkably effective tool for regulating mental states. Society must acknowledge the therapeutic potential of music, extending its use beyond clinical settings and into everyday life.
While it’s widely recognized that music can evoke emotions—lift our spirits, soothe our nerves, or bring us to tears—recent research from my lab at the University of Bergen in Norway reveals that it can also transform our thought processes. A 2019 study demonstrated that participants who listened to heroic or melancholic music while letting their minds wander experienced significant cognitive effects. The uplifting pieces invigorated participants and inspired positive thoughts, whereas somber music instilled calmness or ambition. This isn’t just a curiosity; it has real implications for mental health.
Research shows our minds wander frequently, with a Harvard University study indicating that we spend nearly half our waking hours in fantasy, often without improving our mood. Why? During these episodes, the brain’s default mode network (DMN) tends to dominate, fostering imagination and memory but also leading us into negative thought spirals—like worries at 3 AM or regrets about missed trains.
Recent brain imaging research indicates that negative daydreaming engages brain pain networks and the DMN, especially in conjunction with sad music. Specific brain areas, including the posterior sulcus, appear to play a crucial role in this connection. Such distressing thoughts activate neural circuits that are also engaged during physical pain.
Fortunately, the DMN has a natural counterpart—a cognitive executive network that facilitates focus and goal-directed behavior. These two systems are inversely correlated; when one is active, the other becomes subdued. Engaging with music can shift us into this more adaptive state, especially when we participate actively—whether by tapping along, matching our breathing to rhythms, or humming. This redirecting of attention helps to break negative thought cycles, providing our minds with a cognitive “reset.”
This approach doesn’t just elevate mood. A 2023 study found that individuals who tapped along to music reported a marked reduction in physical pain in their fingertips compared to those who simply listened. The combination of musical immersion and motor synchronization proved clinically beneficial in alleviating pain.
These insights point to musical engagement as a delightful form of meditation. Evolution may have shaped our brains to seek out music for precisely this reason: to enhance resilience and build social bonds.
I explore these concepts further in my new book, Good Vibrations: Unleashing the Healing Power of Music, which also offers practical techniques—such as music-centered breathing exercises and mood-enhancing playlists—to help regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and alleviate negative thought patterns.
If music possesses such profound effects, it deserves far more recognition than being relegated to mere lifestyle accessory status. It should be woven into education systems, public health initiatives, and our daily routines. Music therapy must become more accessible, and music education—oftentimes the first to be cut in school budgets—should be viewed as essential for brain health, emotional intelligence, and social wellness.
Music is always within reach. The next time your thoughts begin to spiral or stress begins to encroach, resist the urge to check the news on your phone. Instead, turn to your favorite songs. Your mind—and your community—will be grateful.
Stefan Koelsch is a professor of psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway
I Music serves as a remarkable tool for adjusting your mood, and Spotify excels in this regard. Feeling down? Check out your custom “Depress Sesh Mix.” Navigating a romantic dilemma? You’ll find a curated “situational mix.” As I write this, I’m tuned into Spotify’s daylist—a compilation that refreshes every few hours based on my listening preferences. Today’s vibe is the “Funky Beat Roller Skate Early Morning Tuesday Mix.” At a brisk 120bpm, the algorithm gets that an energetic soundtrack is essential for transitioning from bed to desk.
The downside of this tailored listening experience is its overly familiar AI-driven intimacy, where the same tracks loop predictably. Spotify’s algorithm has dulled the novelty of artists I once loved. I find myself hitting Skip every time Kluang Bin’s slippery, psychedelic bass enters my playlists or seamlessly flows from another artist’s radio.
A decade ago, Spotify championed human-curated playlists crafted by artists, celebrities, and music enthusiasts. However, by 2021, streaming platforms started pivoting toward machine learning, with computer-generated models creating nearly half of daily events. Nowadays, user data—primarily our listening habits, interactions with Spotify, and the time of day—are compiled into tightly personalized mixtapes.
Proponents argue this offers an opportunity to democratize music promotion by accurately matching it with audiences. Yet, critics claim this hyper-subjective approach restricts music discovery to what listeners already know. Despite my attempts, my musical taste has become increasingly narrow. As an experiment, I paused my Spotify use for a month, rediscovering how to find music.
Initially, I consulted my father, someone who has never used streaming services, and who grew up in the vibrant punk and glam rock scene of 1970s London. Spending time at his local record shop, he would sample vinyl, selecting A-sides or B-sides to purchase. Some albums missed the mark, while others transported him to another dimension, akin to experiencing Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” He advised me to start with my favorite artist and listen to each album sequentially, as if I were reading a narrative.
Inspired, I purchased a $30 record player from a thrift shop and sought out vinyl. My visit to Record Renaissance yielded slim pickings—Australian pub classics, Christian country, and Christmas hits. However, when a friend pointed out that my new turntable lacked a needle, it unfortunately became a dusty but eye-catching décor piece in my living room.
My 20-year-old neighbor provided another idea: an iPod adorned with rhinestones, found on Facebook Marketplace for $200. Plugging it in with wired ear buds and hitting shuffle was a nostalgic throwback. Sadly, this romance was short-lived since the iPod struggled to sync with my Bluetooth speaker and required hours of tedious uploads.
The biggest hurdle arose during drives in my old silver Subaru, where I was limited to just one CD, a flimsy auxiliary chord, and my thoughts. Stuck in silence, I chanced upon my local community radio station, Vox FM 106.9. More than five million Australians tune in to community radio weekly for an average of 17 hours—and I understand why. The station prides itself on “real music” with the slogan, “I don’t know what I like until you try it.” It was just what I needed! I rediscovered the thrill of rolling down the window and blasting tracks by the Sugababes.
I reached out to Justin Moon, who manages a popular underground radio station and record shop in Newcastle. He sources music from Record Fairs, friends, and Bandcamp, distributing interesting sounds like a modern-day Hermes, guiding listeners like me towards new auditory experiences. Moon notes that his audience seeks a more “active” listening journey. “It’s not the kind of background noise you forget about ten seconds into boiling two minutes of noodles,” he remarks.
Like movies, TV, and food, music is now more accessible than ever. However, this accessibility has resulted in a phenomenon where music is often drowned out. Instead of relying solely on algorithms, I spent a month finding new music independently, fostering a deeper connection with my parents, friends, radio presenters, and even strangers. Their recommendations embodied parts of themselves, their memories, or mutual interests, regardless of my past preferences.
After my month-long Spotify hiatus, my algorithm hadn’t completely reset. While composing this piece, my daylist evolved into “Indietronican Swimming Pool in France on a Tuesday Afternoon,” featuring two Khruangbin songs. It’s safe to say it’s time to roll the dice on the radio.
Mitochondria may have more functions than just energy production
CNRI/Science Photo Library
The energy-producing organelles in cells, known as mitochondria, may also influence sleep patterns. Research on fruit flies indicates that these organelles in the brain can promote sleep after prolonged wakefulness.
“Sleep presents one of biology’s significant mysteries,” notes Gero Miesenböck of Oxford University. To delve deeper, he and his research team employed gene sequencing and fluorescent markers to observe gene activity in sleep-related neurons from around 1,000 female fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), which typically sleep for 13-16 hours, mainly during daylight hours.
The group allowed half the flies to rest overnight while keeping the others awake by gently agitating their containers or through genetic modifications that activated wake-promoting neurons with temperature increases.
Among the sleep-deprived flies, the researchers noted a surge in activity from sleep-inducing neurons that regulate genes tied to mitochondrial function and upkeep. The mitochondria displayed signs of stress as well, like fragmentation, damage repair efforts, and increased connections to nearby cellular structures.
This stress is likely due to the mitochondria continuing to generate energy even when neurons are inactive. The research indicates this can cause electron accumulation, leading to the formation of free radicals (unstable molecules capable of damaging DNA), thereby contributing to sleep pressure, according to Miesenböck. Once the flies were permitted to sleep, they repaired the mitochondrial damage.
Further findings showed that fragmented mitochondria in sleep-inducing neurons resulted in flies feeling less sleepy than usual and unable to recover after prolonged wakefulness. Conversely, flies engineered to facilitate mitochondrial fusion demonstrated superior repair capabilities, sleeping more than normal and bouncing back more effectively from sleep deprivation. This reinforces the hypothesis that mitochondria play a role in sleep regulation.
In another phase of the study, flies were genetically altered to enhance mitochondrial activity in response to light. This led to a 20-25% increase in sleep duration after just one hour of artificial light compared to the control group.
While this research focused on fruit fly neurons rather than human cells, mitochondria among different species share notable similarities. According to Ryan Mailloux at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, this adds credence to the idea that the energy production processes in mitochondria across various animals can underscore sleep pressure in humans.
This newfound insight could pave the way for novel treatments for sleep disorders. “This presents exciting possibilities for targeting these pathways to develop effective therapies for individuals struggling with sleep issues,” states Mailloux.
Michele Bereshi of Camerino University in Italy remarked, “This paper is certainly impactful and thought-provoking,” though he expresses concerns regarding the experimental design. “Sleep deprivation does not merely prolong wakefulness; it may introduce additional stressors that elicit cellular responses unrelated to the accumulation of sleep pressure.”
In response, Miesenböck explained that his team utilized diverse methods to keep the flies awake, including non-stressing temperature adjustments through gene editing, all achieving similar effects on mitochondrial activity. “What this study illustrates is that sleep homeostasis actively employs its own mitochondria to assess the need for sleep,” he asserts.
The importance of online safety for children in the UK is reaching a pivotal moment. Starting this Friday, social media and other internet platforms must take action to safeguard children or face substantial fines for non-compliance.
This marks a critical evaluation of the online safety law, a revolutionary regulation that encompasses platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Google, and more. Here’s an overview of the new regulations.
What will happen on July 25th?
Companies subject to the law are required to implement safety measures that shield children from harmful content. Specifically, all pornography sites must establish stringent age verification protocols. According to Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, 8% of children aged 8 to 14 accessed online pornographic sites or apps within a month.
Furthermore, social media platforms and major search engines must block access for children to pornography and content that promotes or encourages suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. This may involve completely removing certain feeds for younger users. Hundreds of businesses will be impacted by these regulations.
Platforms must also minimize the distribution of other potentially harmful content, such as promoting dangerous challenges, substance abuse, or instances of bullying.
What are the suggested safety measures?
Recommended measures include: Algorithms that suggest content to users must exclude harmful materials. All sites and applications must implement procedures to rapidly eliminate dangerous content. Additionally, children should have a straightforward method to report concerns. Compliance is flexible if businesses believe they have effective alternatives to meet their child safety responsibilities.
Services deemed “high risk”, like major social media platforms, must utilize “highly effective” age verification methods to identify users under 18. If a social media platform is found hosting harmful content without age checks, it is responsible for ensuring a “positive” user experience.
X states that if it cannot determine a user’s age as 18 or older, it defaults to sensitive content settings, thereby restricting adult material. They are also integrating age estimation technology and ID verification to ensure users are not underage. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, claims to have a comprehensive approach to age verification that includes a teen account feature set by default for users under 18.
“We collaborate with the law firm Payne Hicks Beach,” noted Mark Jones, a partner at the firm. “[Online Safety Act] If not, we strive to clarify it for the company.”
The Molly Rose Foundation, set up by the family of British teenager Molly Russell, who tragically lost her life in 2017 due to harmful online content, is advocating for further changes, including the prohibition of perilous online challenges and requiring platforms to proactively mitigate depressive and body image-related content.
How will age verification be implemented?
Some age verification methods for pornographic providers supported by OFCOM include: assessing a person’s age through live photos and videos (face age estimation), verifying age via credit card, bank, or mobile network operator, matching photo ID, and utilizing a “digital identity wallet” that contains proof of age.
Ria Moody, a lawyer at Linklaters, commented, “Age verification measures must be highly accurate. OFCOM indicates these measures are ineffective unless they ensure the user is over 18, so platforms should not rely solely on them.”
What does this mean in practice?
Pornhub, the UK’s most frequented online porn site, has stated it will implement a “regulatory approved age verification method” by Friday, though specific methods have yet to be disclosed. Another adult site, OnlyFans, is already using facial age verification software, which estimates users’ ages without saving their facial images, relying instead on data from millions of other images. A company called Yoti provides this software and has also made it available on Instagram.
Last week, Reddit began verifying the age of forums and threads containing adult content. The platform utilizes technology from a company named Persona, which verifies age using uploaded selfies or government-issued ID photos. Reddit does not retain the photos, instead storing validation statuses to streamline the process for users.
How accurate is facial age verification?
The software allows websites or apps to set a “challenge” age (e.g., 20 or 25) to minimize the number of underage users accidentally accessing content. When Yoti set a challenge age of 20, less than 1% of 13-17-year-olds were mistakenly verified.
What other methods are available?
Another direct approach entails requiring users to present formal identification, like a passport or driver’s license. Importantly, the ID details need not be stored and can be used solely to verify access.
Will all pornographic sites conduct age checks?
They are expected to, but many smaller sites might try to circumvent the regulations, fearing it will deter demand for their services. Industry representatives suggest that those who disregard the rules may await Ofcom’s response to violations before determining their course of action.
How will child protection measures be enforced?
Ofcom has a broad spectrum of penalties it can impose under the law. Companies can face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue for violations—potentially amounting to $16 billion for Meta. Additionally, sites or apps can receive formal warnings. For severe violations, Ofcom may seek a court order to restrict the availability of the site or app in the UK.
Moreover, senior managers at technology firms could face up to two years in prison if they are found criminally liable for repeated breaches of their obligations to protect children and for ignoring enforcement notices from Ofcom.
Galaxies are groups of stars held together by gravitational forces. Most galaxies originated in the first 200 million years after the Big Bang and have transformed over approximately 14 billion years. Early galaxies formed as aggregates of stars that clustered around the center of mass. In the youth of the universe, galaxies were in close proximity, exerting gravitational pull on one another. As the universe expands, the distances between galaxies have grown, reducing their interactions. They have remained far apart, allowing for internal development over billions of years.
Astronomers categorize galaxies based on their current shapes. Those resembling the Milky Way are termed spiral, while circular or oval-shaped ones are called elliptical. Galaxies that fall between spiral and elliptical forms are referred to as lenticular, and any that do not fit into these categories are labeled irregular. Over 75% of galaxies identified by astronomers are spiral in nature. If a spiral galaxy features prominent bars of stars and dust through its center, researchers classify it further as a barred spiral galaxy.
About 60% of spiral galaxies, including the Milky Way, exhibit galactic bars, designating them as barred spiral galaxies. These bars also serve as nurseries for star formation and are catalysts for the galaxy’s evolution. However, astronomers understand that galaxies do not inherently begin with these bars, prompting further investigation into the formation processes and timelines of these features.
This diagram illustrates the galactic classification system developed by 20th-century astronomer Edwin Hubble. The galaxy marked with the “E” label represents elliptical galaxies, while S0 indicates lenticular galaxies. The other “S” labels refer to spiral galaxies, with those labeled “SB” denoting a spiral structure. “Hubble tuning fork diagram” by cosmogoblin is licensed under CC0 1.0.
An international team of scientists researched the formation of bars in 20 galaxies near the Milky Way using advanced analytical techniques developed over the last four years. They gathered data from the TIMER space investigation, focused on the light emission patterns known as spectra from stars near the centers of these galaxies. The TIMER survey utilized the Very Large Telescope in Chile, equipped with a multi-unit spectroscopic explorer called MUSE.
The team initially struggled to obtain spectra for individual stars within these galaxies. As a reference, the closest galaxy studied was 7 megaparsecs away, approximately 23 million light years, or 130 million miles. Individual stars are too diminutive to distinguish at such distances, even with the most precise instruments.
To overcome this challenge, the team analyzed the spectra of stars within two concentric rings representing different regions at the centers of these galaxies. The inner ring comprised stars strictly within the bars of the galaxy, corresponding to an area known as the nuclear disk, while the outer ring included both inner and outer stars of the bar, referred to as the main disk.
They subtracted the spectrum of the stars in the inner ring from that of the outer ring, yielding two distinct light patterns: one for stars within the bar and another for stars outside of it. By treating the combined patterns of each ring as representative of typical stars in those regions, they could estimate the age of individual stars and ascertain when they formed. Past astrophysical models suggest that galaxy bars enhance the star formation rate around their centers. Hence, the team inferred the formation timing of galaxy bars as stars began to form more rapidly within those structures.
With this innovative approach, they estimated the age range for the 20 galaxies studied, with an error margin of approximately 1.5 billion years. Among their sample, the galaxy that formed bars most recently was 800 million years old. Out of the 20 galaxies, 14 formed bars approximately 7.5 billion years ago or later, while the remaining six galaxies established bars around 9.5 billion years ago, with the oldest estimates dating back 13.5 billion years. In contrast to earlier predictions, they found that larger galaxies do not necessarily possess older bars.
From the diverse ages of the bars observed, the team concluded that the formation of galaxy bars is an ongoing process in the cosmos. Their methodology provides astrophysicists with a means of gaining deeper insights into the dynamics of the early universe and the interactions between ancient galaxies, which connect to their present forms. By doing so, future research teams can establish a refined timeline for the universe and identify changes in how dominant forces have shaped galaxies, from their interactions to their internal structuring.
The dangers that alcohol presents to women’s health have escalated in the last two decades, as more women are drinking more frequently and in larger amounts.
Alcohol-related deaths among women have more than doubled from 1999 to 2020, and deaths due to alcohol-related hepatitis, which causes severe liver inflammation, have almost tripled among women during the same timeframe.
Recent research published this Wednesday in the medical journals Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology has also shown a rise in the risk of alcohol-related liver disease in women, encompassing various types of liver damage that stem from excessive alcohol consumption. Severe damage, known as cirrhosis, can progress to early-stage inflammation, ultimately leading to liver failure.
Women are more susceptible to alcohol-related liver disease than men due to several factors. One reason is that they typically have lower body weight and a higher body fat percentage, leading to elevated alcohol concentrations in the blood that the liver must process. Additionally, women naturally possess fewer enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenases, which assist in metabolizing alcohol, resulting in higher blood alcohol levels.
These biological differences, combined with a significant spike in alcohol use and conditions like bulimia, put women at a heightened risk for alcohol-related health issues.
“Historically, there have been differences in the prevalence rates of alcohol consumption between men and women. Essentially, that gap has now narrowed, with the male-to-female drinking ratio nearing one-to-one,” stated Shelley McKee, director of the Yale Score Program on Gender Differences in Alcohol Use Disorders.
McKee noted that shifting lifestyles have led to increased alcohol consumption among women. Today’s young adults drink less than previous generations, yet more women are enrolling in college than men. This trend is typically linked to an uptick in alcohol consumption, she explained.
“Combine that with the fact that women are postponing childbirth and marriage, which allows them more freedom to continue drinking during college,” McKee added.
Catherine Keys, an epidemiology professor at the Postal Public Health School at Columbia University, observed that high alcohol consumption among women is most prevalent in middle-aged individuals. While some researchers attribute this trend to workplace stress and drinking culture, Keys emphasized that many women drink more simply for enjoyment. She pointed out that wine and spirits are often marketed to women as luxury items or relaxation aids.
Experts express that raising awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption can encourage women to cut back.
“We’re excited to help you get started,” remarked Jessica Mellinger, a senior staff doctor at Henry Ford Health, Michigan’s health system. The more individuals consume, the greater their likelihood of developing alcohol-related liver disease at every stage, she added.
A study released this Wednesday revealed that heavy drinkers now exhibit more than double the rates of alcohol-related liver disease compared to 20 years ago. Researchers suspect this may be due to individuals at risk for liver disease—including women, those with obesity, and people with diabetes—drinking more than they did decades prior.
“Modern American drinkers are not the same as they were 20 years ago,” stated Dr. Brian Lee, lead author and liver specialist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Using data from a national government-led survey, researchers analyzed drinking behaviors and liver health in the U.S., classifying heavy drinkers as men consuming at least 30 grams of alcohol daily and women consuming at least 20 grams.
Among heavy drinkers, the incidence of severe liver damage has more than doubled in 22 years, rising from nearly 2% between 1999-2004 to over 4% from 2013-2020.
The presence of metabolic syndrome—characterized by symptoms such as obesity and hypertension that elevate the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke—among heavy drinkers has also increased from 26% to almost 38%. Both obesity and type 2 diabetes can lead to fat accumulation in the liver, heightening the risk of liver disease.
“It could be a perfect storm situation. We are seeing increased alcohol consumption alongside changes in the prevalence of these [health] conditions,” Keys remarked.
Lee emphasized the importance of individuals being honest with their healthcare providers about their alcohol intake so that doctors can determine the need for liver disease screenings.
“The risk of liver disease might be greater than you think,” he cautioned. “The reality is that liver disease often presents no symptoms, even in cases of cirrhosis, which is a terminal condition. I often say it’s both a blessing and a curse.”
Keys noted that women, in particular, often delay seeking medical help for heavy drinking due to societal stigma.
“It’s becoming a hidden trend where women postpone seeking help for serious alcohol-related conditions,” she stated.
For many years, eggs have been labeled as major contributors to cholesterol problems. However, recent studies indicate that this reputation may be unjust.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol), often called the “bad” cholesterol, are fatty substances in the bloodstream that can block arteries and heighten the risk of heart disease and stroke. For years, eggs were believed to exacerbate this issue. But new evidence is shifting this perspective.
“Our study’s results indicate that egg consumption does not raise LDL cholesterol levels,” stated Professor John Buckley, the lead author, in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “We need clearer messaging on this topic, as it still leads individuals with rising LDL to avoid eggs.”
To investigate the effects of egg consumption on cholesterol, Buckley and his team had participants with healthy cholesterol levels follow one of three diets over five weeks. One diet was high in saturated fat and cholesterol, another was high in saturated fat but low in cholesterol, and the third was high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat.
Only the meal plan that included two eggs a day resulted in lowered LDL levels. The other two diets either allowed for just one egg per week or led to an actual increase in LDL levels.
Eggs are high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat, making them vital for beneficial effects – Credit: Getty/Gregory Adams
“Eggs are among the few foods that are high in cholesterol yet low in saturated fat,” Buckley noted.
“New evidence suggests it isn’t cholesterol but rather saturated fats that negatively impact cholesterol levels, and we are the first study to conclusively demonstrate this.”
An egg-rich diet also showed improvements in other blood lipids associated with heart health, though Buckley emphasizes the need for further research to fully comprehend these changes.
What’s the takeaway? Cholesterol intake from foods doesn’t necessarily correlate with blood cholesterol, particularly when your overall diet is low in saturated fat.
“Most foods high in cholesterol also contain saturated fats,” Buckley explained. “This is a key reason why dietary cholesterol has been vilified; high intake from those foods raises LDL cholesterol, but isolating the independent effects of saturated fats in research has been challenging, and we are working on that now.”
The next time you enjoy breakfast, don’t feel guilty about having a few eggs—just maybe skip that extra serving of bacon.
And what about Buckley himself? “I had eggs for breakfast this morning and didn’t worry about raising my LDL cholesterol,” he shared.
Read more:
About our experts
Professor John Buckley is the Executive Dean of the Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit at the University of South Australia. His research primarily explores the effects of diet and exercise on health and physical functioning across a variety of groups, from patients to elite athletes.
Walking 7,000 steps daily can significantly enhance your overall health.
A recent research review indicated that individuals who walk at least 7,000 steps each day nearly halve their risk of death from all causes over a given timeframe.
Walking just 4,000 steps daily has been shown to considerably lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, depression, and falls.
Improvements continue with increased step counts, but the benefits start to taper off after reaching 7,000 steps. This makes 7,000 steps a more realistic goal for those aiming to boost their health, compared to the commonly recommended 10,000 steps.
It’s well-known that increasing physical activity offers substantial health benefits; however, our increasingly sedentary lifestyles mean that one-third of the global population is considered insufficiently active.
Counting daily steps is a popular method for tracking activity levels. The often cited target of 10,000 steps is frequently viewed as the benchmark to achieve, but this number lacks solid scientific backing.
A recent review published in Lancet Public Health examined 57 studies to clarify what step count should be targeted for health benefits.
The review started with a baseline of 2,000 steps per day, finding that health benefits increased with every additional 1,000 steps.
However, the pace of improvement began to level off after 7,000 steps.
For the average person, 7,000 steps equate to roughly 3-3.5 miles, depending on stride length – Credit: Getty Images
At the 7,000-step mark, the results showed a dramatic impact: all-cause mortality decreased by 47%, the risk of dementia dropped by 38%, and cardiovascular disease risk reduced by 25%. There were also significant reductions in the risk of depression, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Even a slight increase in step counts can lead to a 36% reduction in all-cause mortality.
Despite the rising interest in using step counts as a metric for tracking activity levels, public health officials have previously lacked enough evidence to establish scientifically backed targets.
The non-official 10,000-step target originated from a pedometer marketing campaign during the 1968 Tokyo Olympics, rather than being health-related; interestingly, the number resembles a walking figure in Japanese characters.
Certain university courses, such as language, have oral assessments
ShutterStock/PeopleImages.com – Yuri A
A study involving more than 100,000 ratings shows that university students tend to have a higher success rate in oral exams when tested around noon.
Carmelo Vicario from the University of Messina in Italy began investigating this trend after noting similar findings in a prior research study on how jury decisions can be affected by meal times. “We aimed to explore if this phenomenon also extends to educational settings,” Vicario stated.
Along with his team, Vicario examined data from a public database, analyzing the results and timings of over 104,500 oral assessments from approximately 19,000 university students in Italy. These assessments took place from October 2018 to February 2020, starting with the 1243 course.
The researchers discovered an average pass rate of 54% at 8 AM, which increased to 72% by noon, before dropping to 51% by 4 PM. “We observed a remarkable bell-shaped distribution in our findings,” Vicario noted.
This trend was consistent across various types of oral assessments, including language examinations and research presentations. However, it’s uncertain whether this trend is applicable to written tests.
“Numerous external factors influence student performance,” according to Thomas Lancaster from Imperial College London. “Scheduling can make a difference—be it the time of day or even the intervals between exams.”
The reasons behind these variations are complex and often difficult to untangle. They could relate to natural patterns of sleep among students.
During this time, there may be a balance between students who perform optimally and those who are more lenient with their grading. “As always, the best outcomes tend to find a middle ground,” Vicario shared, expressing hope that this research will inform universities in scheduling oral exams.
“Personally, I believe we should utilize this data to advocate that students avoid scheduling Vivas (oral defenses of their theses) or presentations before 10 AM,” Lancaster recommended.
Initially published in 1865, Palaeocampa anthrax predated the discovery of the Burgess Shale in Canada by nearly 50 years. Over the next 130 years, it underwent various classifications until Richard Knecht and his team at the University of Michigan identified its true nature. This organism primarily inhabited freshwater environments, challenging the notion that Paleozoic Robopodians were exclusively marine.
Reconstruction of the Moncole-Le Mines-Lagertet Environment Palaeocampa anthrax: The large Palaeocampa anthrax is illustrated on the banks of a shallow inland river, concealed by dense vegetation and coal forest mist, alongside various euticulcinoids and a pair of freshwater Xiphosrans, Alanops magnificus; the nearest marine environment is several hundred km southwest. Image credit: Knecht et al., doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08483-0.
Robopodians are extinct, soft-bodied organisms that connect primitive worm-like ancestors to modern arthropods such as insects and crustaceans.
Their iconic fossils are mainly associated with Cambrian marine sediments like Burgess Shale, including Hallucigenia and Aysheaia pedunculata, the latter discovered in 1911, long thought to be exclusively marine.
“Robopodians may have been prevalent on the Paleozoic seabed, but aside from microscopic creatures and terrestrial velvet worms, we believed they were confined to the ocean,” stated Dr. Knecht.
In their recent study, Dr. Knecht and his co-authors examined 43 specimens of Palaeocampa anthrax, utilizing advanced imaging techniques from two Carboniferous Lagerstätten (Mazon Creek, USA, and Moncole Mines, France), including backscattering scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy.
The analysis revealed intricate anatomical traits, with nearly 1,000 hairy spines covering its body being particularly noteworthy.
Chemical residues at the spine tips were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), indicating potential secretion of toxins to deter predators in wetland habitats.
“I was surprised to find that fragments of biological molecules can be exceptionally well-preserved or altered in fossilized geological materials,” remarked Nanphungyu, a paleontologist at Columbia University.
“We’re thrilled about this technology’s ability to distinguishing fossilized remains from rocky matrices.”
Palaeocampa anthrax from Mazon Creek Lagerstätte. Image credit: Knecht et al., doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08483-0.
The research team posits that Palaeocampa anthrax is closely related to the Hadranax Cambrian Robopodian from Greenland, which is nearly 200 million years older.
Both species are blind, possess 10 pairs of legs, and lack claws. However, Hadranax adapted to navigate deep waters with elongated front appendages, while Palaeocampa anthrax, measuring only 4 cm, had a dense covering of spines over its legs, suggesting it might have thrived in freshwater, perhaps even amphibious environments.
This finding also clarifies the enigma surrounding the Moncole-le-Mines fossil site, which was once thought to be marine.
“Mazon Creek is characterized by a mixture of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine fauna,” Dr. Knecht elaborated.
“In contrast, Moncole-le-Mines, which yielded half of the specimens, was located hundreds of kilometers inland, thus ruling out any marine origin.”
“This reclassification confirms the site’s non-marine nature, offering a unique insight into ancient freshwater ecosystems.”
This discovery broadens our comprehension of Robopodia diversity and poses new evolutionary questions. How many more species could migrate from ocean to freshwater, hidden away in museum collections and misidentified?
“The rarity of conditions conducive to fossilizing soft-bodied creatures such as Robopodians makes this finding significant,” Dr. Knecht concluded.
“While most insights come from Cambrian Lagerstätten, such as Palaeocampa anthrax, opportunities from the Carboniferous Period are scarce, making each new discovery incredibly valuable.”
The results will be published in the journal Communication Biology.
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RJ Knecht et al. 2025. Palaeocampa anthrax: armored freshwater robopod with chemical defenses from the Carboniferous. Commun Biol 8, 1080; doi:10.1038/s42003-025-08483-0
Labeled L 98-59F, this exoplanet is an ultra-terrestrial with a minimum mass of 2.8 times that of Earth, orbiting within the habitable zone of the small red dwarf star L 98-59 every 23 days.
Artistic impressions of the L 98-59 Planetary System, with the habitable zone Super Earth L 98-59F in the foreground. Image credit: Benoît Gougeon/Udem.
L 98-59, also known as TOI-175 and TIC 307210830, is an M-type star with roughly one-third the mass of the Sun.
This stellar system is located approximately 34.5 light years away in the southern constellation of Volans.
It contains three transiting exoplanets discovered by TESS in 2019, along with an outer planet confirmed in 2021 using the ESO’s ESPRESSO spectrograph, with orbital periods of 2.25, 3.7, and 7.45 days.
The planets vary in size (0.8-1.6 times Earth’s radius), mass (0.5-3 times Earth’s mass), and potential compositions, likely leaning towards being water-rich.
In a recent study, astronomer Charles Cadigg and colleagues reanalyzed data from TESS, ESPRESSO, HARPS, and the Webb Space Telescope at the University of Montreal and the Exoplanetary Institute.
They achieved unprecedented accuracy in determining the sizes and masses of the planets.
“We refined the radii of L 98-59B, C, and D to 0.84, 1.33, and 1.63 Earth radii, respectively,” they reported.
“Our updated mass estimates are 0.46 Earth mass for L 98-59B, 2.0 for L 98-59C, and 1.64 for L 98-59D, with a minimum mass of 2.82 for L 98-59F.”
Astronomers confirmed the existence of a fifth planet, L 98-59F, located within the habitable zone of the star, where liquid water could exist.
“This discovery is particularly thrilling as we uncover temperate planets within such a compact system,” Dr. Cadiw remarked.
“It emphasizes the remarkable diversity of planetary systems and bolsters the argument for studying potentially habitable worlds around low-mass stars.”
“These new findings provide the most comprehensive view of the intriguing L 98-59 system to date,” he added.
“This exemplifies the potential of combining data from space telescopes and precision instruments, creating a crucial target for future atmospheric studies with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.”
Precise measurements revealed the almost circular orbit of the innermost planet, a configuration conducive for future atmospheric detection.
“The varied rocky worlds and range of planetary compositions make L 98-59 a unique laboratory to explore some of the field’s most pressing questions. Do Super-Earths and Sub-Neptunes form differently around low-mass stars?” queried Professor Renée Doyon of Montreal University, director of the Trottier Institute for Exoplanet Research.
Charles Caddy et al. 2025. Detailed architecture of the L98-59 system and confirmation of the fifth planet in the habitable zone. AJ in press; Arxiv: 2507.09343
Paleontologists have identified a novel genus and species of Triassic derepanosauromorph diapsid showcasing remarkable appendages (not feathers or skin). This discovery is based on two exceptionally well-preserved skeletal structures and related specimens. Their research reveals that wings and hair-like extensions are not exclusive to birds and mammals.
Mirasaura Grabogeli In natural forest environments, insects are hunted. Image credit Gabriel Uguet.
Feathers and hair are intricate outer body appendages of vertebrates, serving essential functions such as insulation, sensory support, display, and facilitating flight.
The development of feathers and hair traces back to the ancestral lines of birds and mammals, respectively.
However, the genetic frameworks responsible for these appendages may have origins deeper within the amniotic lineage, encompassing various animal branches, including those of birds and mammals.
The Triassic reptile species outlined by Dr. Stephan Spiekman from the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart and his collaborators featured unique appendages that could reach up to 15.3 cm (6 inches) in length along their backs.
Named Mirasaura Grabogeli, this peculiar creature inhabited Europe approximately 247 million years ago.
The species exhibited a superficially bird-like skull but was classified within the Diapsid group known as Drepanosauromorpha.
Anatomy of Mirasaura Grabogeli. Image credit: Spiekman et al., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09167-9.
Discovered in northeastern France in the 1930s, Mirasaura Grabogeli comprises 80 specimens featuring two well-preserved skeletal structures with isolated appendages and preserved soft tissues. Recent preparations have led to its identification.
“This enabled the connection between the summit and skeleton,” the paleontologist noted.
“The tissue preserved within the appendages contains melanosomes (pigment-producing cells located in skin, fur, and feathers), resembling those found in feathers more closely than in reptilian skin or mammalian hair, yet lacking the typical branching pattern of feathers.”
“These observations suggest that such complex appendages might have evolved among reptiles prior to the emergence of birds and their closest relatives, potentially offering new insights into the development of feathers and hair.”
Given the characteristics of the appendages observed in Mirasaura Grabogeli, we dismissed their roles in flight or camouflage, proposing instead a possible role in visual communication (signaling or predator deterrence).
The team’s research paper was published today in the journal Nature.
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SNF Spiekman et al. Triassic diapsids reveal early diversification of skin appendages in reptiles. Nature Published online on July 23, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09167-9
In Clark County, Southern Nevada, the coroner’s office reported last week that there have been 29 heat-related fatalities since the same time frame in 2024. A study released earlier this year by Climate Central, a nonprofit organization.
The county documented its first heat-related death of 2025 on May 9th. Last year was particularly deadly for Southern Nevada, with 527 heat-related fatalities reported, according to the Clark County Coroner’s office.
As temperatures rise to nearly 110 degrees on July 14th, people seek relief along the Las Vegas Strip. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS/Getty Images
The National Weather Service noted that the summer of 2024 marked the hottest on record for Southern Nevada. Las Vegas set a new high of 120 degrees Fahrenheit last July, experiencing over 100 days of triple-digit temperatures.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, 15 heat-related fatalities have been notedas of July 19th. This number is consistent with the 23 confirmed deaths by July 19, 2024, although public health records indicate that 299 deaths this year are still under review.
Last May, the Maricopa County Public Health Department reported that at least one heat-related death occurred daily in the county from June 18th to July 31st.
In 2024, the county experienced its hottest year on record, with officials confirming 602 heat-related deaths, a decline from the record 645 deaths in 2023.
Local authorities have initiated several new strategies to keep residents cool and safe during the summer. These efforts include planting trees to enhance shade in public areas and resurfacing pavements with more reflective materials to mitigate urban heat.
“For many people, heat is a nuisance, but for others, it can be a matter of life and death,” emphasized Ariel Choinard, a scientist at the Las Vegas Desert Research Institute and director of the Nevada Heat Lab.
Certain demographics face higher risks, including the elderly, individuals with chronic health issues, and young children who may struggle to articulate their feelings, she noted.
Exposure to extreme heat disproportionately impacts low-income communities, according to Choinard. While everyone in cities like Las Vegas endures the summer heat, the experience of that heat varies based on housing stability, reliance on public transport, and access to air conditioning.
A study published in August 2024 in the Journal found that from 1999 to 2023, there were 21,518 heat-related deaths in the United States. The research indicates a rise in heat-related mortality rates over the past two decades, particularly intensifying in the last seven years.
Tracking your daily step count is a straightforward method to assess your activity levels
Volkerpreusser/Alamy
While the widely accepted goal is to aim for 10,000 steps per day, research indicates that reaching just 7,000 steps daily can considerably lower the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, dementia, and depression.
The 10,000-step benchmark reportedly originated from a Japanese marketing initiative. Nevertheless, studies reveal substantial health benefits associated with this goal.
Standard exercise guidelines typically omit specific step counts. For example, the UK recommends moderate activity for a minimum of 150 minutes weekly, while the average adult should engage in being active for at least 75 minutes each week.
As Melody Ding from the University of Sydney remarks, “If you ask someone on the street about their steps, they might struggle to answer. How is ‘moderate to vigorous’ even defined?”
Tracking step counts using a wrist pedometer or smartphone may offer a practical solution for measuring activity levels. Therefore, Ding and her team aimed to determine how many steps are necessary for maintaining good health.
The researchers examined a total of 57 studies published between 2014 and 2025, encompassing a diverse group of adults, most of whom had no severe health conditions at the beginning of the studies.
Generally, increased physical activity correlates with better health outcomes. While walking 10,000 steps is superior to 7,000, the latter still offers significant health advantages. On average, individuals who walked 7,000 steps daily had a remarkable 47% lower likelihood of dying from any cause during the study period. Additionally, there was a 25% reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, leading to a 47% lower death risk.
This step count is also linked to a 37% decrease in the risk of cancer-related fatalities, a 38% lower risk of dementia, and a 22% reduction in depressive symptoms.
Ding emphasizes the importance of not deterring individuals from striving for 10,000 steps, noting, “While 7,000 steps are likely more achievable, it doesn’t imply it’s harmful to exceed that.”
“Targeting 7,000 steps feels far more attainable for many individuals compared to 10,000,” says Laura Fleming from Teesside University.
However, Ding cautions that if the goal of 7,000 steps still feels overwhelming, individuals should aim to increase their overall movement. Remarkably, the research indicated that even achieving 4,000 steps a day could reduce mortality risk by 36% compared to just taking 2,000 steps.
From an early age, the inevitability and finality of death profoundly shape our lives. Our capacity to comprehend the sorrow of our eventual end, as well as the loss of connection, is a fundamental aspect of what it means to be human. These understandings have fostered iconic rituals that are deeply embedded in human culture.
Historically, we have presumed that Homo sapiens is the only human species aware of the mortality inherent in living beings. However, as detailed in “What Ancient Humans Thought When They Began Burying the Dead,” archaeologists are challenging the notion that a significant emotional response to death is uniquely ours.
A particularly provocative assertion is that ancient humans, vastly different from us, established the death ritual. But evidence points to Homo naledi, an ancient human from southern Africa, whose brain was only one-third the size of ours and who lived at least 245,000 years ago. It remains unclear what drove these early humans to develop a culture surrounding death; one intriguing, though speculative, theory posits they did so to help younger members of their community cope with the loss of others.
Many controversies surround claims regarding H. naledi and their burial practices, primarily concerning the evidence’s quality. Nevertheless, since the mid-20th century, researchers have worked to bridge the behavioral gap between our species and others, propelled by studies revealing that many animals lead emotionally complex lives. Some even create their own rituals when encountering death within their communities. This adds weight to the argument that our ancestors may have developed their own cultural practices surrounding death as far back as 500,000 years ago, suggesting that H. naledi might also have established a burial tradition.
Archaeologists question whether a profound response to death is exclusively our domain.
A striking reflection of melancholy regarding H. naledi suggests that they may have aided the younger generation in confronting the weight of loss. This consideration brings into question our understanding of what it means to be human, and whether our ancestors were as unique as we assume in processing the concept of loss.
The vibrantly hued songbird, referred to as Tanagers, captivates observers with a concealed layer of black or white beneath its vivid plumage.
Artists frequently layer white paint on canvas to amplify the colors applied atop, enhancing their vibrancy. Surprisingly, this appears to be a technique utilized by birds long before humans wielded brushes.
Rosalyn Price-Waldman from Princeton University and her team uncovered this phenomenon in a Tanager species, Tangara, which boasts striking red or yellow feathers, typically concealed beneath a layer of white. Conversely, those adorned with blue feathers possess a black underlayer.
To delve deeper, they extracted 72 feathers from mounted Tanagers at the Natural History Museum in the Los Angeles County Collection.
The researchers photographed the feathers against various backgrounds, measuring changes in light reflection or absorption, ultimately revealing that the underlying layer enhanced the color of the top layer.
Red and yellow hues are produced by pigments that selectively absorb light, which enhances the brightness of backscattered light from the white layer underneath, according to Price-Waldman.
In contrast, blue feathers derive their color from nanostructures within the feathers, which scatter light rather than absorb it. Thus, the black underlayer intensifies the blue hues. “Without a white layer beneath, blue feathers appear grey,” explains Price-Waldman.
The intricate effects of feather coloration arise from their layered structure, resembling tiled roofs. When assessing a single feather, one might find a vibrant tip, a middle section that is either black or white, and a fluffy base. When these feathers are layered on a bird’s body, the tips create adjacent layers of color over either white or black underneath.
Blue Feathers in the Crown of a Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala): Enhanced by an Underlying Layer of Black Feathers
Rosalyn Price-Waldman, Allison Schultz
Price-Waldman and her team also discovered that these feather layers can create noticeable color variations between males and females.
“We’ve found instances where females have black beneath yellow and males have white beneath yellow,” she reports. “When placed against the same backdrop, they appear quite alike until the male and female feathers are displayed against a black background, revealing a marked difference in color.”
This color-enhancing strategy has been observed in numerous other songbirds, including manakins and cotingas.
“Substantial research has been conducted to understand how birds produce such stunning colors, yet much remains to be explored,” explains Chris Cooney from the University of Sheffield, UK. “It seems that this ‘hidden’ method for intensifying feather color may indeed be widespread across various bird species.”
Artwork depicting a group of Serratopsians with an Ankylosaurus moving along an ancient riverbed, observed by two tyrannosaurs
Julius Csotonyi
Have you ever considered a scenario where a group of plant-eating dinosaurs banded together, similar to certain modern-day animals? A 76 million-year-old set of tracks discovered in Canada could be the earliest indication of such behavior, although conclusions are far from definitive.
Last year, Brian Pickles and his team from the University of Reading in the UK uncovered parallel tracks in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, created by at least five individual creatures.
“The tracks are in close proximity and evenly spaced,” comments Pickles. “This indicates they were likely moving in unison.”
Initially, researchers believed all the tracks belonged to the well-known Ceratopsians, particularly the Triceratops. While they haven’t pinpointed the specific Ceratopsid that created the tracks, fossil evidence suggests that Styracosaurus albertensis was present in the area at that time.
“During our excavation, we noted that one set of tracks was distinct from the others,” Pickles remarks. “While it shares a similar size, it features three toes. The only large dinosaur known to have made such a footprint in the park during that era was the Ankylosaurus, a heavily armored species with a club-like tail.”
He explains that since the tracks were presumably made near a river, the Ankylosaurus might have walked among the Serratopsians simply because they were all heading to the river to drink simultaneously. However, it’s also plausible that different herbivorous dinosaur species grouped together over time for protection. Notably, two predatory Tyrannosaurus tracks were found in proximity.
“In contemporary African ecosystems, it’s common for giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests to form mixed groups, which have varying abilities to detect predators,” Pickles adds.
Nevertheless, this remains inconclusive for multi-species flocks among dinosaurs, as only one Ankylosaurus footprint has been identified thus far.
Technician inspecting tracks at Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada
Dr. Brian Pickles, University of Reading
“I was struck by the notion that tracks from two distinct large herbivorous dinosaurs could be found so closely situated, all oriented in the same direction,” states Anthony Martin from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
“While it’s possible that the Serratopsians and Ankylosaurus could have occupied the area at different times, the proximity and alignment of their footprints provides a compelling argument that they influenced one another,” he elaborates.
Conversely, Anthony Romilio from the University of Queensland in Australia expresses skepticism about the presence of tracks from two separate species. “The proposed tracks of Serratopsia and Ankylosaurus exhibit surprising similarities,” he states.
In fact, noting that only the width of the track and the rear footprints were discovered, Romilio proposes that they may have been made by duck-billed dinosaurs. “In my view, these footprints are more likely attributable to a large-bodied hadrosaur,” he asserts.
“This doesn’t negate the possibility of mixed-species groups among dinosaurs. Various bird and mammal species are known to form such groups,” Romilio states. “It’s entirely reasonable to think that some dinosaurs may have done the same.”
However, Pickles refutes Romilio’s claim regarding the tracks. “These are definitely not hadrosaur tracks,” he states.
Researchers deployed lasers to overheat gold samples, measuring temperatures with ultra-bright X-ray pulses
Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Research Institute
A thin layer of wafers that fire laser shots can heat to 14 times the melting point, pushing solids well beyond predicted limits, with some solids potentially lacking any defined melting point.
Overheating is a well-known phenomenon where a solid can exceed its melting point or even its boiling point without altering its state. For instance, water heated in a microwave can reach temperatures above 100°C (212°F) if the container is smooth and undisturbed, but will boil vigorously as soon as disturbed.
Many physicists have suggested an upper overheating limit of approximately three times the standard melting point in Kelvin, termed the entropy catastrophe. This occurs because the entropy, often viewed as the degree of disorder in a system, is greater when the material transitions to a liquid state. Remaining solid at temperatures above this point contradicts the second law of thermodynamics.
Recently, Thomas White from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his team found that gold can heat up to 14 times its melting point, exceeding even the entropy catastrophe.
White and his colleagues directed a powerful laser at a 50-nanometer-thick gold sheet for 45 seconds, then measured the temperature using reflective X-rays through a novel approach. By analyzing shifts in the frequency of the reflected X-rays, they determined the excess energy transferred to the gold, allowing them to calculate the heating effect on the sheet.
“The temperatures we measured were astonishingly high,” White remarked.
After ensuring no errors in their measurements, White and his team revisited existing theories, realizing that the rapid heating of gold likely reduced the solid’s entropy compared to its potential liquid state, surpassing predicted temperature limits. “It’s crucial to state that we haven’t violated the second law of thermodynamics,” White clarified.
The actual limitations of overheating are still open questions, he noted. “I may have thought the overheating limit was resolved in the 1980s, but now I believe it’s a question worthy of further exploration. Can we heat materials beyond their melting point?”
Utilizing this X-ray technology for measuring solid heating may also help simulate the effects of extreme heat and pressure from planetary interiors on materials within very short timescales, according to Sam Vinco at Oxford University. “Currently, there isn’t an effective thermometer for solids that operates on such brief timescales,” he noted.
It will also be fascinating to ascertain if this phenomenon applies to other solids beyond gold, Vinco stated, particularly regarding whether there’s a limit to heating before melting occurs. “What’s captivating is considering whether rapid heating could essentially circumvent traditional thermodynamic principles,” he added.
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