At 18 years old, the newest generation is on a quest for discovery. Starting university presents a whirlwind of minor mishaps and significant challenges. Between sleepless nights and missed classes, forgetting where your research group meets, or misplacing your books, a considerable amount of time is spent searching for lost items.
These small enigmas often translate into nearly problems, forming charming little detective games that Mary, the protagonist, navigates as she embraces her new student life each day. Designed by Indonesian creator Melisa, who chose to be known by her first name, the inspiration was drawn from her passion for detective narratives and a wish to steer clear of violence in the genre.
“Since childhood, I’ve devoted myself to reading detective comic books, novels, and manga, alongside playing detective games. I have a fondness for horror as well. Initially, I thought blending detective games with horror aesthetics would create something intriguing—a delightful sense of warmth from unraveling the mysteries of everyday life.”
It’s relevant…it’s hardly a problem. Photo: Posh Cat Studio
In essence, there are no serious crimes. Often, Mary is simply on the lookout for a favorite earring, a familiar face in a crowd, or her playful cat. Each scene plays out like a hidden object puzzle where players search for clues—photos, notes, schedules, and more—before piecing together the story. Who shattered your cherished mug? Investigate its contents and consider what your housemate enjoys drinking along with whether you were present at the right moment to identify the culprit. This is undoubtedly the most relatable crime ever tackled in a video game.
The light-hearted, low-stakes atmosphere is accentuated through gentle cartoons and artistic styles inspired by anime such as Doramon, Marco-chan, and Kobo-chan. Much like certain domestic games like Unpacking, with elements of local storytelling, it emphasizes friendships and family through straightforward narratives. Melisa initiated this project as a quick prototype for the Twitch Game Jam, but it ultimately evolved over two years with the establishment of her studio, Posh Cat, alongside two additional team members. It became a labor of love. “I created it because I longed for a more comforting detective game,” she shares. “Expect something even cozier after 2025!”
In 1964, a San Diego high school student named Randy Gardner participated in a Science Fair Project by staying awake for an astounding 11 days.
By the second day of the experiment, Gardner began to experience memory lapses. By the seventh day, he suffered from intense hallucinations, and by the 11th day, he exhibited inconsistencies, paranoia, and muscular tremors.
Fortunately, the 17-year-old fully recovered without any lasting effects. No one has surpassed this record since then, as noted in the Guinness Record Book. Due to health concerns, sleep deprivation records were discontinued in 1997.
However, cognitive decline can occur without an 11-day deprivation; even a few nights of poor sleep can lead to diminished functioning, memory recall, and emotional regulation.
Now, let’s explore the science behind sleep and its impact on brain performance.
What happens to your brain while you’re sleeping?
Photo credit: Getty
During sleep, our brains engage in essential repairs and various tasks, including removing waste and detoxifying itself.
Short-term memories are organized, long-term memories in the neocortex are solidified, and REM sleep plays a crucial role in problem-solving and emotional regulation.
But it’s not just all activity; there are restorative phases during non-REM sleep stages 1, 2, and 3, which slow the heartbeat, relax the muscles, and reduce brain wave activity—with brief bursts during stage 2.
In REM sleep, brain activity intensifies, resembling the state of wakefulness. The amygdala and hippocampus are highly active, aiding in memory processing and emotion regulation. This dream phase supports creative thinking when you wake up.
Brain impacts of poor sleep
Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality can impact your brain’s performance in several ways.
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and problem-solving, becomes less effective. This leads to reduced attention, cognitive flexibility, and working memory.
An overactive amygdala can hinder the emotional contextualization of information, and difficulties in storing information in the cortex weaken memory integration.
Other short-term effects of inadequate sleep include: • Impaired judgment • Slowed reaction times • Declined risk assessment
When sleep deprivation becomes normal
For individuals with chronic sleep disorders, these short-term consequences are part of their everyday reality.
Moreover, chronic sleep deprivation has serious ramifications. Research conducted by the National Medical Library reveals a link between chronic sleep deprivation and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Studies indicate that sleep performs essential housekeeping, such as clearing potentially harmful beta-amyloid proteins,” states the Sleep Foundation.
“In Alzheimer’s disease, the aggregation of beta-amyloid leads to cognitive decline. Even one night of sleep deprivation can increase the accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain.”
According to one study, individuals with sleep disorders have a significantly elevated risk of developing Alzheimer’s, with an estimated 15% of cases linked to lack of sleep.
Maintaining brain health and cognitive function heavily relies on regular, quality sleep, making it essential to optimize your sleep environment.
Optimizing sleep quality
Hästens, a bed maker based in Sweden, recognizes the vital importance of quality sleep. Since 1852, Hästens has crafted handmade beds in the Swedish town of Kaepi, taking up to 600 hours and using only natural materials.
“A good night’s sleep will enhance your performance,” notes Hästens. “In today’s fast-paced world, sleep may feel like a luxury, but from a medical standpoint, it’s crucial for a strong immune system and overall health.”
Explore the full range of Hästens beds and accessories, and learn more about the benefits of quality sleep here.
Local Hästens Sleep Spa bed tests can be booked online www.hastens.com or at your nearest certified retailer.
When you mention buying a used car to most people, they tend to shy away. Some roll their eyes, claiming they want to avoid risks.
However, there are others who argue that it was the best decision they ever made. I count myself among them.
Having driven electric vehicles (EVs) daily for 15 years, owning seven different models, and covering 170,000 miles with just one set of batteries, I’ve gained valuable insights. Remarkably, I’ve faced no issues during those miles.
My only repair bill came recently. For my Tesla Model 3, the cost to replace the front control arm bushes was £375. I’ve owned it for five years and clocked 50,000 miles.
Driving Made Easier
Purchasing a used EV carries far less risk compared to a pre-owned combustion engine vehicle. An EV drivetrain consists of roughly 20 moving parts, unlike the endless list of potential issues in gasoline or diesel vehicles—think clutches, gearboxes, fuel pumps, and exhaust systems.
Numerous studies confirm that EVs degrade less quickly than their combustion counterparts.
For routine maintenance on your EV, you’ll primarily need to replace the cabin filter, change the brake fluid every three years, and rotate the tires. This is due to the limited number of friction-based components.
Understanding the mechanical simplicity of EVs helps identify key maintenance areas to watch for.
The most significant concern for used EV buyers is the battery. Luckily, extensive data shows that lithium-ion batteries have low failure rates.
Most EVs come with an 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty. If the capacity dips below 70%, the manufacturer will replace it at no cost. I drove one EV 250,000 miles with its original battery pack before it exited warranty.
Some EVs even show original battery packs functioning well beyond 300,000 miles.
Today, experts agree that EV batteries may even outlast the car chassis.
According to Consumer Reports, average battery packs have a lifespan of approximately 200,000 miles, while Geotab Research showed only a 10% loss in capacity among 10,000 EVs over ten years.
In contrast, combustion engines tend to lose efficiency due to wear and tear after just ten years.
read more:
What to Look For
Dealers now offer State of Health (SOH) certificates for batteries, and many EVs come with software allowing owners to check the SOH themselves. For instance, I checked my Tesla at 50,000 miles and found it still had 93% capacity.
When buying from a dealer, request a SOH certificate, or verify battery capacity in private sales. A capacity around 90% suggests minimal cell degradation, indicating plenty of useful life left.
However, some models have had issues. Early Nissan Leafs had battery cooling problems, resulting in a faster loss of range and capacity than other EVs.
Initial Renault Zoes faced battery management issues, while older electric smart vehicles can be challenging to maintain. Similarly, the earliest BMW i3 models showed reliability glitches, as noted by What Car. The concerns also extend to the MG4 and Vauxhall Corsa E.
The consensus is to be cautious with earlier EV models.
Though there’s no official count of private charging points in the UK, the charging point mapping app ZAPMAP estimates over 1 million locations. Photo credit: Alamy
Battery technology has evolved, providing better software, extended ranges, and faster charging times.
Some EVs feature Chademo plugs, which are being phased out in many regions. Adapters are available to convert these to the universally used CCS charging system.
Choosing EVs from 2017 onward generally means accessing more advanced technology.
Hybrid batteries tend to wear out faster due to frequent charging cycles, leading to premature failures.
Hybrids are also less reliable compared to purely electric EVs. This is compounded by the dual powertrains of gasoline engines and batteries.
Additionally, maintaining hybrids can be costlier. Their electric ranges typically fall between 20-40 miles for plug-in hybrids, while mild and full hybrids rely primarily on gasoline engines and aren’t true EVs.
Some EVs have encountered problems with charging port flaps, ports, and cables, although these issues are relatively rare.
Make sure to test the charging port and flap functionality prior to finalizing a purchase. Monitor the central screen for charging alerts and connection failures.
Before you arrive, ensure the seller has charged the battery to 100% and check the displayed range against the manufacturer’s estimate. If it’s significantly lower, reconsider the purchase.
While most EVs experience range reductions in cold weather, a warm ambient temperature should yield a range close to official numbers. EVs equipped with heat pumps show improved low-temperature performance.
Although 12-volt batteries in some EVs (similar to combustion vehicles) may lose charge over time, it’s advisable to replace the auxiliary battery every three years. This can impact how effectively the main battery charges, potentially triggering software issues.
Beyond electrical concerns, inspect for suspension wear in the front control arms and bushes. If you notice any rattling or creaking, inquire about it; the EV should operate smoothly and quietly.
Currently, a robust global dataset confirms that EVs are generally more reliable than gasoline or diesel vehicles.
Lastly, before buying, consider investing in a home charging unit (if space permits) to facilitate convenient charging at home.
This allows for an average full charge cost of under £15, translating to about 3p per mile. Even with a second-hand EV, this is significantly more economical than traditional filling stations for petrol and diesel vehicles.
Using the Widefield Camera 3 (WFC3) mounted on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have captured a breathtaking new image of the Spiral Galaxy NGC 7456.
This Hubble image showcases NGC 7456, a spiral galaxy located 51 million light-years away in the constellation of Grus. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/D. Thilker.
NGC 7456 was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on September 4, 1834.
This galaxy is approximately 51 million light-years from Earth, in the constellation Grus.
Also referred to as ESO 346-26, IRAS 22594-3950, or LEDA 70304, it spans a diameter of 117,100 light-years.
The NGC 7456 belongs to the LDC 1547 Galaxy Group, which includes 16 large galaxies.
“In Hubble’s image, one can observe the intricate, swirling arms of this galaxy in exquisite detail, complemented by a dark, diffuse mass of dust,” remarked an astronomer from Webb.
“The bright pink regions signify gas-rich areas where new stars are emerging, illuminating the surrounding clouds, as this gas emits transmitted red light.”
“The Hubble program has been gathering these data to study stellar activity, tracking new star-forming clouds, hydrogen, star clusters, and gaining insights into galaxy evolution over time,” they further explained.
“With its capability to capture visible ultraviolet and some infrared light, Hubble isn’t the only observatory focused on NGC 7456.”
“ESA’s XMM-Newton satellite has imaged X-rays from galaxies multiple times and discovered what is known as a hyper-luminous X-ray source.”
“These compact objects emit significantly more powerful X-rays than one would expect for their size.”
“We are still investigating what drives these extreme objects. NGC 7456 contributes several examples to this research.”
“Additionally, the area surrounding the galaxy’s supermassive black hole is incredibly bright and energetic, making NGC 7456 an active galaxy.”
“Whether viewed in visible light or X-rays, there’s always something intriguing about this galaxy, whether focusing on its core or its outer regions.”
Based on data gathered by the sensors aboard the US Department of Defense Space Test Program Satellite 6 (STP-SAT6), we discovered a direct correlation between the frequency of electrical discharges on a spacecraft and the electron density in its environment.
STP-SAT6. Image credit: Northrop Grumman.
Spacecraft environmental discharges (SEDs) are short-lived electrical failures that may harm sensitive onboard electronics and communication systems.
While researchers have acknowledged the presence of SEDs for some time, the relationship between spatial environments and their electrons remains unclear.
“To explore this, we required two sensors on the same spacecraft: one to monitor electron quantity and activity, and another to detect radio frequency signals,” explained Dr. Amitabh Nag, a researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
SEDs arise from variations in surface charging, typically due to the accumulation of electrons on the surfaces of orbiting spacecraft.
This process differs from static electricity on Earth. For instance, when someone walks across a carpet and discharges static after touching a door handle, a buildup of energy occurs. Likewise, when a spacecraft’s energy storage reaches a critical voltage, it results in an electrical discharge in space.
The STP-SAT6 is fitted with both sensors, allowing a unique opportunity for researchers to analyze both radio frequency and electronic activity simultaneously.
“We managed to assess the speed of SEDs as reported by the radio frequency sensors and compare it with the electronic particle activity within specific voltage ranges,” Dr. Nag noted.
“Our findings indicated that the peak of SEDs coincides with the peak of electronic activity.”
The authors analyzed data from two sensors over a year-long period, identifying heightened electronic activity during 270 high-speed SED occurrences and numerous episodes.
In roughly three-quarters of instances, the peak in electronic activity occurred 24-45 minutes before the SED event.
This delay implies that the buildup of charge from low-energy electrons plays a crucial role in preparing the spacecraft for electrostatic discharge.
“We noted that as electronic activity increases, the spacecraft begins to gather charges, especially in the 7.9-12.2 keV range,” Dr. Nag added.
“This process continues until a tipping point is reached, resulting in an SED.”
“Such lead time presents an opportunity for potential forecasting tools to reduce risks.”
“Future missions could include real-time monitoring of low-energy electrons to predict and react to charging events before they disrupt operations.”
The results will be published in the journal Advances in Space Research.
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Amitabag et al. 2025. Radio frequency transients correlated with electronic flux installed in STP-SAT6. Advances in Space Research 76 (6): 3692-3699; doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2025.07.026
Named Huashanosaurus Qini, this new dinosaur species is estimated to be about 12 m (39 feet) in length.
It existed in the Cantonese Autonomous Region of present-day China approximately 200 to 162 million years ago.
“The Jurassic sauropods are notably abundant in China, particularly in regions like Yunnan, Sichuan, and Xinjiang, with fewer known areas such as Ganshu, Ningxia, Anhui, Tibet, and Gitsou.”
“In Guangzhou, the record of Jurassic dinosaur fossils is limited compared to those from the Cretaceous period.”
Two specimens of Huashanosaurus Qini, including partial skeletons, were collected from Huqiu Quarry, part of The King’s Formation, located east of Guangzhou in southern China.
The site also yielded some bone fish scales, teeth (likely from Scalpidotes sp.), incomplete plesiosaur teeth, and fragmentary dinosaur bones.
“There is an ongoing debate regarding the geological age of the Prince Formation,” remarked the paleontologists.
“Initially thought to be early Jurassic, the formation has limited paleontological evidence.”
“Scientists are considering it to date from early to mid-Jurassic due to the presence of larger species from this era.”
The team indicates that Huashanosaurus Qini is a member of eusauropoda, a derived group of sauropod dinosaurs.
“This marks Guangzhou’s second eusauropod discovery,” the researcher noted.
“The first eusauropod described, Jingia dongxingensis, was excavated from the late Jurassic Dung Xing Formation.”
The discovery of Huashanosaurus Qini adds valuable information to the understanding of the evolutionary diversification of eusauropod dinosaurs.
“Huashanosaurus Qini is positioned more basally than early Jurassic forms like Balcanodon, Tazoudasaurus, and Goncyanosaurus, as well as early to mid-Jurassic representatives such as Barapasaurus,” stated the scientist.
“It is generally accepted that the main radiation of eusauropods occurred towards the end of the early Jurassic and the early Jurassic intervals.”
“From this perspective, the discovery of Huashanosaurus Qini provides further evidence for early to mid-King’s age.”
Survey results have been published in the journal Acta Geologica Sinica.
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Jinyou Mo et al. 2025. A new eusauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic Prince Formation in lower and central Nieming County in Guangzhou, southern China. Acta Geologica Sinica 99(4): 909-924; doi: 10.1111/1755-6724.15331
Consider the idea of sustainable cuisine. While humble lentils may come to mind, is it feasible to indulge in luxurious options while remaining eco-conscious? Bivalves like oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams possess inherent green credentials thanks to their ability to purify polluted waters. Recent research indicates they might also help sequester carbon. Could agricultural bivalves emerge as the pinnacle of sustainable food?
Food production contributes to around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it crucial to identify options that mitigate this damage. In seafood, aquaculture is generally more sustainable than wild fishing; however, farmed fish rely on wild fish for part of their diet. Recent studies reveal that the reliance on wild fish for aquaculture feed is often underestimated. Additionally, fish farms can create significant waste issues from fish excrement and uneaten feed.
A notable advantage of bivalves is their minimal need for supplemental feed. As filter feeders, they consume tiny nutrient particles suspended in seawater and plankton. With most coastal waters currently suffering from nutrient overload due to nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, harvesting cultivated bivalves can help alleviate this excess and purify the waters as a byproduct of their production.
Conversely, harvesting wild bivalves poses ecological threats. For instance, overfishing of wild scallops can damage delicate marine ecosystems like seafans, corals, and sponges. However, comparison shows that farmed bivalves come with significantly fewer drawbacks, especially when compared to rainforest destruction for beef production.
But there’s more to explore. In recent years, various studies have suggested that agricultural bivalves can sequester carbon, potentially allowing farms to earn carbon credits as an additional revenue stream.
Yet, Fabrice Pernett from Brest University in France remains skeptical. A review of over 50 studies has left him unconvinced. Many of these studies are based on theoretical models that assume the formation of calcium carbonate shells absorbs CO.2 from the sea.
However, this phenomenon holds true only over geological timescales. Over shorter periods—critical when addressing climate change—the carbon cycle shows carbonate formation often releases CO.2.
Moreover, the common practice of incinerating waste shells frequently leads to even more CO.2 being released into the atmosphere instead of returning carbon to the ocean to mitigate CO.2 emissions. Similarly, carbon from the flesh of seafood also gets released as CO.2 following consumption.
Some researchers are now claiming that organic matter deposited under bivalves represents a significant carbon sink.
This latest assertion builds upon oyster research conducted within five large enclosures. However, Pernett cautions that similar studies feature shortcomings, such as CO.2 measurements being conducted only during the day and summer months when photosynthesis peaks.
The research team argues this limitation does not influence the findings. “The budget suggests that carbon accumulation and sequestration exceed carbon extracted in shells,” asserts Shuang-lin Dong from China Maritime University. Nevertheless, Pernett is still unconvinced. “Current evidence indicates that bivalve farming releases CO.2 overall,” he remarks.
However, don’t cancel your reservation at your favorite oyster bar just yet. Although bivalve farming may be a carbon emitter, the emissions are relatively low—around 1.4 kilograms of CO.2 per kilogram of edible weight based on 2021 research. This figures significantly lower than that of wheat or corn, all while requiring less land and freshwater.
“Indeed, agricultural bivalves rank among the greenest food sources,” states Pernett. A culinary delight.
Exercise doesn’t need to be lengthy to yield substantial rewards
Sol Stock Ltd
If you’re skipping exercise due to time constraints, integrating just a few short bursts of activity—like 5 to 6 active sessions of 10 seconds each—can greatly impact your health. A US study revealed that individuals engaging in over a minute of intense activity daily had a significantly lower mortality risk over the next six years compared to those who were inactive.
Currently, only about 15% of adults participate in regular exercise, according to Emmanuel Stamatakis from the University of Sydney, Australia. “The majority of the adult population struggles with including regular exercise into their routine, whether due to a lack of interest or difficulty.”
To further investigate, Stamatakis and his team studied the health benefits associated with incidental exercise, which can occur through activities like walking downhill, playfully engaging with children, and carrying heavy objects. They monitored participants for one week as part of a larger health study, assessing their activity levels and examining mortality risks in the following year.
In 2023, findings from the UK Biobank study involving tens of thousands of participants indicated that those with approximately 4.4 minutes of daily active time were 38% less likely to die from any cause in the next seven to eight years compared to non-exercisers.
Additionally, the research included results from 3,300 individuals in the US NHANES study. “This group, on average, is significantly overweight and less active,” remarks Stamatakis.
This group only required 1.1 minutes of intense activity daily to lower their overall mortality risk by 38% over the subsequent six years.
This demonstrates that this less active US group experienced similar relative benefits with just 1.1 and 4.4 minutes of activity found in the fitter UK group; however, it doesn’t imply they reached the same health status. Participants in the US study generally had lower fitness levels to start with and were at a higher baseline risk of mortality.
“This observation may indicate a more sedentary, higher-risk demographic that benefits considerably from minor increases in activity, and I concur,” states Carlos Celis Morales from the University of Glasgow, UK. “This phenomenon is known as the ceiling effect; those with high fitness levels have diminished potential for further improvement, while individuals with lower fitness levels have significant room for enhancement.”
The findings further support the notion that even small amounts of intense, unintentional movement can yield substantial health benefits. However, Stamatakis cautions that causation hasn’t been firmly established yet. “While it seems logical that health benefits might exist,” he notes. “This type of study cannot definitively prove causality.”
His research team is planning future studies to provide stronger evidence that observed health improvements stem from increased incidental exercise. “Our long-term objective is to discover methods to incorporate more activity into people’s everyday lives without requiring trips to the gym,” Stamatakis expresses.
Sheet Web Spider Psechrus Clavis is known to utilize the coloration and web of its own body as visual cues to effectively capture and consume insects. Interestingly, it doesn’t immediately eat the male fireflies, referred to as Daifan Lampaloid; instead, these spiders retain them on the web, allowing the fireflies to continue emitting bioluminescent signals for up to an hour. This observation has raised intriguing questions among a research team from Tunghai University, the University of New South Wales, the Sydney Institute of Technology, and the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Taiwan.
Sheet web spider with fireflies caught in the web. Image credit: Tunghai University Spider.
Researcher I-Min TSO and colleagues at Tunghai University documented Psechrus Clavis retaining fireflies on the web while these insects continued to emit bioluminescent light for up to an hour.
They noted that the spiders periodically check for the captured fireflies.
Fascinated by this peculiar behavior, the researchers designed an experiment to see if it serves as a hunting strategy.
The experiment involved placing firefly-like LEDs on the actual sheet spider web, using other webs as controls.
The results indicated that the web with LEDs attracted three times as many prey compared to the control web.
This figure increased to ten times more prey when actual fireflies were visible.
The findings affirm that the presence of captured fireflies enhances the spider’s hunting success.
Researchers also discovered that the majority of captured fireflies are male and likely mistaken for potential mates.
“Our findings underscore the previously unrecognized interaction where Firefly Signals, intended for sexual communication, also benefit spiders,” remarked Dr. TSO.
“This study provides new insights into how sit-and-wait predators can adapt to attract prey, revealing the intricate complexities of predator-prey interactions.”
“This behavior may have evolved in sheet web spiders as a way to avoid the energy costs associated with producing their own bioluminescence, similar to anglerfish.”
“Instead, spiders can leverage the allure of their prey’s glow to attract their own targets.”
Video recordings taken during the experiments show sheet web spiders employing various tactics when interacting with different prey species.
The spider swiftly consumes a moth caught in the web but takes its time with the trapped fireflies.
“The varying treatment of prey suggests that spiders may use specific cues to differentiate between prey species and adjust their responses accordingly,” explained Dr. TSO.
“We hypothesize that the bioluminescent signals of fireflies help spiders to fine-tune their handling behavior towards different types of prey.”
This study was published in Journal of Animal Ecology.
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Ho Yin Yip et al. Visual seduction through bioluminescence of prey seduces waiting predators. Journal of Animal Ecology Published online on August 27th, 2025. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.70102
A recent study discovered that engaging in high-ventilation breathing exercises while listening to music is linked to experiencing blissful states and diminishing negative emotions. This practice is also associated with increased blood flow to brain areas responsible for processing emotions.
Kartar et al. We propose that circuits supporting the integration of mutual acceptoral expressions and the processing of emotional memory are potential neurobiological substrates for HVB-induced ASCs. Image credit: Ram Jain.
The use of breathing exercises as a method for alleviating psychological distress is rapidly gaining traction. Breathing techniques that enhance ventilation rate or depth in conjunction with music can lead to altered states of consciousness (ASC) akin to those induced by psychedelic substances.
High ventilation breathing (HVB) may present fewer legal and ethical challenges for widespread use in clinical settings, offering a non-pharmaceutical alternative.
Nevertheless, the neurobiological mechanisms and subjective experiences linked to ASCs resulting from HVB have not been thoroughly explored.
To address this knowledge deficiency, Dr. Amy Amra Kartal from the University of Sussex and her team characterized ASCs triggered by HVB conducted by experienced practitioners, analyzing self-reported data from 15 participants online, and 8 to 19 individuals in a lab setting.
Their study included 20-30 minute sessions of uninterrupted circular breathing paired with music, followed by various surveys within 30 minutes post-session.
Findings indicated that the intensity of ASCs from HVB correlates with cardiovascular sympathetic activation and shows signs of a potential stress response, evidenced by decreased heart rate variability.
Moreover, HVB-induced ASCs were related to a significant reduction in blood flow to specific brain areas, including the left surgery and posterior island, which are involved in representing the body’s internal state, including respiration.
Interestingly, despite an overall reduction in cerebral blood flow during HVB, there were increases noted in the right amygdala and anterior hippocampus—regions pertinent to emotional memory processing.
These alterations in blood flow bear a resemblance to psychedelic experiences, suggesting that such changes may underlie the beneficial effects of this breathing technique.
Throughout all experimental conditions, participants reported a decrease in fear and negative emotions without experiencing side effects.
In various participant settings, HVB indeed reinforced the marine infinity (OBN)-controlled ASC, a concept introduced by Freud in 1920, encapsulating a range of experiences such as spiritual insights, feelings of bliss, positive emotional shifts, and a sense of unity.
OBN is regarded as a fundamental element of ASCs generated by psychedelic substances like psilocybin.
The researchers emphasize that their findings are pioneering and exploratory, advocating for future studies with larger sample sizes and control groups to discern the effects of music on brain activity.
Despite certain limitations, these results offer valuable insights into HVB and its potential therapeutic applications.
“Our research represents the first use of neuroimaging to map the neurophysiological changes occurring during respiratory work,” the team stated.
“Key findings indicate that breathing exercises elicit profound psychedelic states.”
“We believe these conditions are tied to shifts in function in specific brain areas involved in self-awareness, fear, and emotional memory processing.”
“We discovered that deeper alterations in blood flow in certain brain regions correspond to stronger sensations of unity, bliss, and emotional release referred to as ‘marine boundaries.’ ”
Survey results published online in the journal on August 27, 2025 PLOS 1.
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Kartar et al. 2025. Neurobiological substrates of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilator respiratory practices with music. PLOS 1 20(8): E0329411; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329411
Presence: Everywhere, particularly on social media.
That seems somewhat derogatory. Indeed, it’s considered a slur.
What type of slur? A slur targeting robots.
Is it because they are made of metal? Yes, it’s often used to insult actual robots like delivery bots and autonomous vehicles, but it increasingly targets platforms like AI chatbots and ChatGPT.
I’m not familiar with this – why would I want to belittle AI? For information creation, they either promote utterly false narratives and generate “slops” (meaning glitter or clearly unfounded content), or simply lack human qualities.
Does AI care about being insulted? It’s a complex philosophical issue, and the consensus is “no.”
So why does it matter? People feel frustrated with technology that can become widespread and potentially disrupt job markets.
Come here and let Crancous take over our responsibilities! That’s the notion.
Where did this slur originate? It was first used in the 2005 Star Wars game to describe PE Jor’s fight against Androids, but Clanker gained popularity through the Clone Wars TV series. It then spread to platforms like Reddit, memes, and TikTok.
Is that truly the best we can do? Popular culture has birthed other anti-robot slurs. There’s “Toaster” from Battlestar Galactica and “Skin Job” from Blade Runner, but “Clanker” seems to have taken the lead for now.
It seems like a frivolous waste of time, but I suppose it’s largely harmless. You might think so, yet it implies that using “clankers” could normalize real bias.
Oh, come on. Popular memes and parody videos often equate “clankers” to racial slurs.
So what? They’re just clankers. “This inclination to use such terms reveals more about our insecurities than about the technology itself,” says linguist Adam Alexick.
I haven’t. Anti-robot; I wouldn’t want to marry my daughter. Can you hear how that sounds?
I feel like I’ll be quite embarrassed about all this in ten years. Probably. Some argue that by mocking AI, we risk elevating it to a human level that isn’t guaranteed.
That’s definitely my view. However, “Roko’s Basilisk” suggests that future AI could punish those who didn’t help them thrive initially.
I believe it’s vital to label it a Clanker. We might find ourselves apologizing to robot overlords for past injustices.
Will they find humor in this? Perhaps one day Clanker will have a sense of humor about it.
Say: “This desire to create a slur reflects more on our insecurities than the technology itself.”
Don’t say: “Some of my best friends are Clankers.”
Cancer arises from the proliferation of abnormal, uncontrolled cells that create dense masses, known as Solid Tumors. These cancer cells possess unique surface markers called antigens that can be identified by immune cells. A crucial component of our immune system, T cells, carry a protective protein known as FASL, which aids in destroying cancer cells. When T cells encounter cancer antigens, they become activated and initiate an attack on the tumor.
One form of immunotherapy, referred to as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy or CAR-T therapy, involves reprogramming a patient’s T cells to recognize cancer cell antigens. However, CAR-T therapy often struggles with solid tumors due to the dense, hostile environment within these tumors, which obstructs immune cells from infiltrating and functioning effectively.
Another significant hurdle that clinicians encounter when treating solid tumors is their heterogeneous composition of various cancer cell types. Some of these cells exhibit antigens recognizable by CAR-T cells, while others do not, complicating the design of CAR-T therapies that can target all tumor cells without harming healthy cells. Solid tumors also produce the protein Plasmin, which further impairs the immune system’s ability to break down FASL and eliminate cancer cells.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis investigated whether shielding FASL from plasmin could preserve its cancer-killing capabilities and enhance the efficacy of CAR-T therapy. They found that the human FASL protein contains a unique amino acid compared to other primates, making it more susceptible to degradation by plasmin. Their observations suggested that when FASL was cleaved, it lost its ability to kill tumor cells. However, after injecting an antibody that prevents plasmin from cleaving FASL, it remained intact and preserved its cancer-killing function.
Since directly studying cell behavior in the human body poses challenges, scientists culture tumor cells and cell lines in Petri dishes under controlled laboratory environments. To gain insights into plasmin’s role, the team examined ovarian cancer cell lines obtained from patients, discovering that CAR-T resistant cancer cells exhibited high plasmin activity.
They noted that combining ovarian cancer cells with elevated plasmin levels with normal cells displaying surface FASL diminished FASL levels in the normal cells. When they added FASL-protecting antibodies, CAR-T cells effectively eliminated not only the targeted cancer cells but also nearby cancer cells lacking the specific target antigen. These findings indicated that plasmin can cleave FASL in T cells and undermine CAR-T therapy, suggesting that safeguarding FASL may enhance CAR-T treatment’s effectiveness.
To assess whether tumor-generated plasmin can deactivate human FASL in more natural settings, researchers examined its function in live tumors within an active immune system. They implanted ovarian, mammary, and colorectal tumor cell lines from mice into genetically matched mice to elicit a natural immune response. When human FASL protein was directly injected into mouse tumors, the cancer cells remained intact. In contrast, injecting a drug that inhibits plasmin resulted in cancer cell death. Additionally, administering FASL-protecting antibodies also led to the elimination of cancer cells.
As a final experiment, the team aimed to determine whether activated T cells from the mice’s immune systems could penetrate the tumors and kill cancer cells. They implanted mice with both plasmin-positive and plasmin-negative tumors, treating both with drugs to enhance immune cell activity and boost FASL production.
They discovered that in tumors with low plasmin levels, mouse immune cells expressed high amounts of FASL on their surfaces, while in tumors with elevated plasmin levels, FASL was significantly reduced. Once again, injecting FASL-protected antibodies into these tumors increased FASL levels. The researchers concluded that plasmin can diminish the immune system’s ability to eliminate cancer cells by depleting FASL from immune cells.
In summary, the team found that tumors exploit plasmin to break down the protective protein FASL, evading immune system attacks. Based on their findings, they proposed that plasmin inhibitors or FASL-protected antibodies could augment the effectiveness of immunotherapy in treating cancer.
As capitalist forces largely steer advancements in artificial intelligence, Alex Proyas perceives the integration of AI in filmmaking as a pathway to artistic freedom.
While numerous individuals in the film industry view the rise of AI as a threat to their jobs, incomes, and likenesses, Australian filmmakers, including Proyas, embrace the technology as a means to simplify and reduce costs associated with projects.
“The model for filmmakers, the only person I truly care about at the end of the day, is broken… and it’s not AI that’s causing it,” Proyas states to the Guardian.
“It’s the industry, it’s streaming.”
He mentions that the filmmakers he once depended on are dwindling in the streaming era, with the remaining ones working on tighter budgets for projects.
“We need to reconstruct it from the ground up. We believe that AI will assist us in doing that because as it continually lowers production costs, we can retain more ownership of our projects,” he remarks.
Proyas’s upcoming film, Rur, narrates the tale of a woman attempting to liberate her robots from capitalist oppression within an island factory. Based on a satirical play from 1920, the film features Samantha Orle, Lindsay Faris, and Anthony Laparia, having begun filming in October of the previous year.
The Heresy Foundation, one of Proyas’s ventures, was established in 2020 in Alexandria, Sydney. I detailed that at the time as a comprehensive production house for films. He claims that Rur can be produced for a fraction of the US$100 million budget typical of traditional studios.
This cost-effectiveness is due to the capability of carrying out much of the work directly in the studio via virtual production in collaboration with Technology Giant Dell, which supplies workstations to facilitate real-time generation of AI assets during film creation.
Proyas’ 2004 film I, Robot, was created when AI was more firmly entrenched in the sci-fi genre. Photo: 20th Century Fox/Sports Photo/All Star
Proyas asserts that production durations for environmental designs can be shortened from six months to eight weeks.
His 2004 film, I, Robot, was produced during a time when AI was reasonably established in science fiction, yet depicted a world in 2035. When questioned about his concerns regarding AI’s implications in film production, especially in visual effects, Proyas responds, “The workforce is streamlined,” yet believes retraining is possible.
“I believe there’s a role for everyone who embraces technology and pushes it forward, just as we’ve done throughout the film industry,” he comments.
The Guardian interviewed Proyas during the same week when the Australian Productivity Committee was discharged from the creative sector to spark discussions on whether AI companies should have unrestricted access to everyone’s creative works for model training.
Proyas argues that in the “analog world,” there is no need for AI to plagiarize.
“I think of AI as ‘enhancing intelligence’ rather than artificial intelligence. It aids in streamlining processes, promoting efficiency, and enhancing productivity,” he explains.
“A human team will always be necessary. We view AI as one of our collaborative partners.”
Amidst a plethora of AI-generated content online, Proyas reveals that he has spent years honing his skills to achieve the desired outcomes from AI, striving to refine its output until he is content with it.
“My role as a director, creator, and visual artist hasn’t changed at all. I’m now collaborating with a smaller team of humans, with AI as my co-collaborator to realize my vision. And I am clear about what that vision is,” he states.
“I don’t just sit at my computer asking for ‘Funny cat videos, please.’ I am very precise.”
The narrative of Earth is one of transformation. Over 4.5 billion years, our planet has evolved from a scorching mass of molten rock and poisonous gases into a temperate and vibrant habitat teeming with diverse life forms. This evolution was punctuated by pauses, restarts, and cataclysmic events, as the intricate biogeochemical processes shaped the most extraordinary phases in Earth’s history.
Our understanding of this vast tale is largely thanks to rocks. They preserve the chronology of events that contributed to the surface’s stratification through various deposits. This intricate ordering is understood through hierarchies, and the scientific discipline dedicated to interpreting them is known as stratigraphy.
In Strata: A Story from Deep Time, journalist Laura Poppick delves into this nuanced science of rock interpretation, offering insights on how planets respond to and recover from periods of upheaval. “Through these layers, we glimpse ancient versions of our planet, gaining contextual awareness as we traverse through the present,” she observes.
Poppick highlights several transformative periods in Earth’s history, selecting four key episodes. The first examines the development of oxygen-rich atmospheres, tracking the evolution of photosynthesizing microorganisms and significant oxidative events that led to mass extinctions around 2.4 billion years ago.
The second segment discusses “Snowball Earth,” a period approximately 720 million years ago when many regions are believed to have frozen over. Following this, she explores the advent of mud and the subsequent rise of vegetation. Finally, the Mesozoic era, dominated by dinosaurs, records atmospheric carbon dioxide levels much higher than today’s due to volcanic activity, offering a framework to understand planetary responses to climate shifts.
“
Sedimentary rocks maintain a distinct layer system that clearly records the events that have shaped our planet’s surface. “
Throughout each episode, Poppick introduces geologists working to unravel the numerous unanswered questions regarding the timing and causes of these changes. She visits significant geological sites, from Newfoundland to the Australian Outback, where one can observe the strata that articulate these narratives.
The recurring theme emphasizes the importance of paying attention to rocks. To an untrained observer, they may appear ordinary; however, Poppick reminds us that “a trained eye discerns physical and chemical indicators—proxies—that reveal the characteristics of our planet during the formation of these rocks.” She underscores the value of geologists’ expertise.
This book is a remarkable attempt to make stratigraphy engaging. At times, it falters, and Poppick’s fragmented writing style led me to lose the thread of the narrative.
Her comparisons of geological transformations to human-centric changes sometimes felt uneasy. For instance, she likens the Mesozoic greenhouse climate to modern carbon emissions, though the historical era’s temperatures were so extreme that such analogies may be misleading, even at optimistic emission projections.
Another limitation lies in the currently incomplete nature of geoscience. Some of the pivotal questions raised by Poppick—including the true cause of Snowball Earth—remain unresolved or are subject to debate among different factions. By the end, I was left with a sense of uncertainty about what can be definitively stated. Yet, that unpredictability might be intrinsic to geology itself. “Nothing is immutable in stone as our understanding of geology continues to evolve, just like the rocks,” Poppick states.
Nevertheless, the book effectively captures the grandeur of the story embedded in rocks. It does so particularly well by showing how seemingly mundane observations about rocks can lead directly to profound insights into Earth’s history. Such revelations illuminate the stratigraphic process as Poppick examines overlooked outcrops, encouraging us to perceive the rocks in our surroundings with renewed appreciation.
“Hierarchies are, in many ways, love letters from a maturing Earth,” she argues. This book abundantly reveals the reasons to uncover the secrets they hold.
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Following the successful testing of techniques using solar group spacecraft, it may soon be possible to forecast significant solar storms capable of disrupting Earth’s electronics by more than half a day in advance.
The Sun periodically emits powerful plasma bursts known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which create strong magnetic fields that can harm electronics on our planet. While satellites and telescopes do monitor CME indicators, their predictions depend on the magnetic field within each CME, making it challenging to identify which emissions will be hazardous.
One of the most reliable instruments for assessing these magnetic fields is found in satellites positioned in gravity-stable orbits around the Earth, known as Lagrange Points. Though these satellites are positioned hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, they exist at only about 1% of the distance to the Sun, which contributes to their ability to provide warnings about the intensity of a CME within an hour of its impact.
Now, Emma Davis from Glaz and her colleagues at Austria’s Space Meteorological Office have discovered a method utilizing the European Space Agency’s solar orbiter to issue earlier alerts. “Solar Orbiters are primarily a scientific mission and not specifically designed for this purpose,” Davis explains. “This is an added benefit from unforeseen alignments during a CME event.”
On March 17th and 23rd of this year, two sets of CMEs were heading toward Earth while the solar orbiter was positioned between our planet and the Sun. Davis and her team leveraged the spacecraft’s magnetic field and solar wind speed measurements to model the internal magnetic architecture of each CME and anticipate the severity of the geomagnetic storms they would induce. Remarkably, the entire forecasting process required less than five minutes, allowing predictions 7 and 15 hours before the events reached Earth.
Davis noted that their predictions closely aligned with the actual geomagnetic strengths observed, which she found remarkable considering the dynamic changes the CME’s magnetic fields undergo as they approach Earth. “The fortunate aspect was that not many unexpected events occurred, and these CMEs behaved rather predictably,” she adds.
She cautions that upcoming storms may not follow the same predictable patterns and that determining the exact arrival time of these storms remains challenging, with uncertainties lasting several hours.
Nevertheless, she underscores the importance of real-time measurements once a CME departs from the Sun. Chris Scott from the University of Reading, UK, who was not part of this research, noted, “It provides an early indication of the potential configuration of the magnetic fields within each eruption.”
However, data from these two events alone are insufficient for fine-tuning predictive models, and further observations are essential before establishing reliable, specialized solar storm monitoring missions near the Sun, Scott concludes.
Astronomy’s Global Capital: Chile
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Public sector employees are voicing “significant concerns” following Coventry City Council’s agreement with the US data technology firm Palantir, valued at £500,000 annually.
This contract marks the first collaboration between a UK local authority and a Denver-based organization, which also provides technology to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and aids Donald Trump’s initiatives against U.S. immigration policies.
The agreement emerges after the Council’s Children’s Services Division initiated a pilot program utilizing AI for transcribing case notes and summarizing records of social workers. The Council intends to broaden the Palantir system to assist children with special educational needs.
Julie Nugent, the Council’s chief executive, stated the objective is to “enhance internal data integration and service delivery” while “exploring transformative opportunities in artificial intelligence.”
Palantir has secured numerous public sector contracts in the UK, including the deployment of AI to combat organized crime in Leicestershire and assisting in developing a new NHS federated data platform. Keir Starmer visited the company’s Washington office in February, accompanied by CEO and co-founder Alex Karp. Palantir was co-founded by PayPal billionaire Peter Thiel, who supported Trump’s 2016 election campaign.
Keir Starmer touring Palantir in Washington, DC in February. Photo: Curl Coat/PA
Unions that represent teachers and other council staff have voiced that this deal raises “serious ethical questions,” with Independent Councillor Grace Lewis urging the council to terminate the contract immediately to “ensure that £500,000 benefits our community.”
“We cannot justify the Council signing a contract with a company that has a well-documented history in supplying arms and surveillance to the IDF and its involvement in NHS privatization while the Council reduces funding for public and voluntary sectors,” Lewis commented.
Coventry has recently started evaluating applications for household support funds through Palantir’s AI. During a councillor’s meeting, a senior official remarked, “To me, it sounds like my brother.”
In correspondence to Nugent, Nicky Downes, co-secretary of the Coventry branch of the National Education Union, pointed out the troubling implications of AI in Palantir’s surveillance and military systems, highlighting concerns about data collection and storage on citizens, especially related to predictive policing.
“There are considerable ethical concerns surrounding Palantir Foundry’s business practices, which is a subsidiary of Palantir,” Downes stated. “Questions also arise regarding the acquisition and utilization of personal data, particularly in relation to ethical considerations in the procurement process and the accompanying risk assessment.
Nugent responded, “We have engaged Palantir for a year to investigate potential transformative solutions in artificial intelligence by applying concepts across numerous essential areas. This aims to establish a business case for further investments and a comprehensive strategy for AI. We acknowledge that the ethical implications of AI procurement hold paramount importance.
A representative from Palantir remarked, “We are enthusiastic about assisting Coventry City Council in enhancing the public services offered by AI. Technology opens up significant opportunities, such as decreasing the time social workers and experts in special education spend on administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on directly aiding vulnerable children.”
They also stated that Palantir is nonpartisan and has worked with various US governmental administrations since its collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security in 2010.
A council spokesperson confirmed that they are exploring ways AI can enhance and streamline services. “In this initiative, we are assessing a variety of AI solutions and technology partners, including Palantir, to support our AI objectives. Our top priority remains to evaluate AI’s value for future investments while maintaining rigorous data protection and governance standards.”
The contract was awarded following standard procurement protocols and met all “strict security and compliance requirements.”
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