Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Review – A Wildly Entertaining Dive into a Dystopian Hallucination

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

In today’s landscape of live service “Forever Games,” it seems almost outdated to view the annual release of a new Call of Duty title as a significant occasion. Yet, Black Ops 7 emerges as a fresh assault of stunning military shooting action, merely a year after its immediate predecessor. This latest installment takes place in the dystopian year of 2035, where a global arms manufacturing firm named Guild claims to be the sole solution to a looming apocalyptic terrorist threat. But are things really that straightforward?

The response is a resounding “No!” Black Ops serves as the paranoid, conspiracy-driven cousin to the Modern Warfare series, drawing inspiration from ’70s thrillers like The Parallax View and The China Syndrome, while incorporating concerns from the Vietnam era related to rogue CIA operatives and unusual psychological tactics. This campaign mode, which comprises just a quarter of this year’s storyline, presents a surreal exploration of sociopolitical themes such as psychotic companies, hybrid warfare, robotics, and high-tech oligarchy. The result is a deafening barrage of explosive gunfight set pieces in exotic locales, placing our four main characters—members of an ultra-elite special forces unit—under the influence of psychotropic substances as they navigate their darkest nightmares. Fortunately, they wield advanced weaponry, cutting-edge gadgets, and enough light-hearted banter to destabilize an entire nation. It’s chaotic, uncompromising, and incredibly entertaining, especially when experienced in co-op mode with three equally reckless friends.

In an intriguing twist, the campaign concludes with a new mode called Endgame. This cooperative PvE (player vs. environment) feature is inspired by the endgame content found in MMO (massively multiplayer online) games, such as World of Warcraft, and is intended to keep players engaged even after reaching maximum levels. In this Call of Duty iteration, players arrive in the fictional city of Avalon, undertaking missions to defeat high-value targets and safely escort valuable military technology across a vast open world. As you progress, you’ll upgrade your characters and weapons, with Activision promising new missions and objectives that will likely introduce public events where teams collaborate to take down megabosses. Only time will reveal the true potential, but for now, it’s an excellent way to extend the campaign and gear up for online action.

Future War … Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Photo: Activision

Make no mistake, the core of the game lies in traditional multiplayer, introducing fresh modes, firearms, and gadgets to the classic Call of Duty experience. Twelve players engage in frenetic skirmishes within confined spaces in a mechanized bloodbath. New maps, such as those set in a Tokyo-inspired shopping area or a deep-sea oil rig, are masterfully crafted death chambers, featuring alleyways, high windows, and plazas that strategically lead players toward confrontation. My favorite is the Alaska Basemap, where moving platforms turn capturing objectives in Domination and Hardpoint modes into a fascinating challenge. Additionally, a new wall-jumping feature enhances the verticality of maps, enabling players to discover new paths through intricate structures. If you’ve never appreciated the high-paced brutality of the Call of Duty online experience, this likely won’t change your opinion, but for veterans of the carnage, there’s plenty to relish.

Then there’s the Zombies mode—an additional online co-op feature set within a nightmarish landscape filled with abandoned frontier towns and irradiated wastelands. Players must endure endless waves of undead foes while upgrading their weaponry and abilities. This iteration returns to the round-based format of earlier Zombies entries, offering new weapons and features, including the ability to traverse different areas in a pickup truck while blasting away at rampaging zombies from the hood. It feels like an exhilarating amusement park ride, and it’s a thrill to join forces with friends who share the same passion.

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Additionally, there’s Dead Ops Arcade 4, a standalone top-down twin-stick shooter for up to four players. This extra mode began as a side project by original Black Ops team members and is cleverly hidden within the main game. It’s back and just as exciting as ever, evoking memories of classic multi-directional shooters like Smash TV and Geometry Wars. Between stages, players can also engage in mini-games that explore various genres, such as top-down racing and side-scrolling shooters, ensuring that even casual players can join in on the fun.

With all this, don’t forget the usual updates to the battle royale mode Warzone, creating a robust package for Call of Duty aficionados. Regardless of your views on the series and its complex role in the broader gaming industry, as well as its community, it delivers sophisticated and exhilarating entertainment. Where else can you find yourself exploding massive robots in a state-of-the-art science lab one moment and then enjoying a modern twist on Atari’s Super Sprint the next? In today’s gaming landscape, value reigns supreme, and like everything else, Call of Duty does not hold back in this department. It stands as a maximalist celebration of the chaotic truths of video game design. It’s a load of fun to shoot on-screen.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Study Reveals Chemicals Permanently Change DNA in Unhatched Ducklings

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

According to a researcher, thousands of synthetic chemicals could be disrupting the genetic makeup of birds before they hatch, as highlighted in recent research on ducklings.

Scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) injected small doses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into mallard duck eggs to investigate their effects.

The findings revealed that these chemicals could alter the ducklings’ DNA, switching genes on and off in various organs, ultimately reducing their chances of survival.

PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are a category of synthetic substances that are notably resistant to environmental degradation.

In this experiment, researchers injected three different persistent chemicals into the duck eggs to evaluate their impacts. The eggs were then sealed in wax and incubated until they hatched.

Although the study was conducted in a controlled lab setting, the aim was to replicate the type of exposure these eggs might naturally receive from their mothers.

Immediately after hatching, scientists collected samples from the ducklings’ livers, hearts, and a unique organ known as the bursa of Fabricius, which plays a crucial role in the immune system.

Mother ducks exposed to PFAS in their environment can transfer the contamination to their offspring through their eggs – Credit: Getty Images

Results indicated that in the liver, two of the three persistent chemicals triggered genetic modifications in the ducklings, affecting genes related to fat metabolism.

The study’s lead author, En Fleur Brand, emphasized, “Mallards need to regulate fat storage and consumption precisely during both breeding and migration seasons.”

“Alterations in fat metabolism may hinder survival or reproductive success.”

Meanwhile, scientists were surprised to find no significant changes in the hearts of the ducklings, although bursa of Fabricius showed effects in all PFAS-exposed individuals.

Brand remarked, “We observed increased activity in genes typically involved in viral infection detection. However, the implications for the birds remain unclear.”

The researchers concluded that PFAS could be detrimental to young wildlife, such as ducklings, and advocated for stricter regulations on these chemicals.

While some PFAS have been permanently banned, thousands remain in use, and their impacts on animals, humans, and the environment are still not completely understood.

In their study, scientists assessed one widely regulated or banned permanent chemical, applicable in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with two others still in circulation.

Brand stated, “These substances are prevalent in a multitude of products, ranging from frying pans and waterproof clothing to fire extinguishers, food packaging, and antifouling coatings.”

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Exploring the Mystery: Why Japanese People Are Having Less Sex

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

A survey indicates that young Japanese individuals are engaging in sexual activity less frequently. Recent reviews explore this trend – and the reasons remain unclear.

The survey estimates that approximately half of Japanese individuals enter their mid-20s without any sexual experience, with around 10% reaching their 30s before becoming sexually active.

Even those who have had sexual experiences are reportedly engaging in sex infrequently. Online surveys from the 2020s reveal that about half of Japanese adults aged 20 to 49 are sexually inactive, meaning they have not engaged in sexual activity over the past year.

This national decline appears to have worsened in recent decades, with both sexual inexperience and inactivity rates increasing since 2000.

In contrast, by 2002, just over one-third of Japanese adults aged 20 to 24 reported never having had sex. By the 2020s, this figure could rise to 60% for men and 51% for women in that same age group, according to recent survey data.

These findings emerge from a review of Japanese sexual attitudes and behaviors published in the Journal of Sex Research.

The authors of the study analyzed 38 publications based on 43 studies regarding sexual trends in Japan from 1974 to 2024, most of which were conducted within a heterosexual context.

Among their discoveries were notable increases in sexlessness within marriages, alongside the rise of pornography and the use of sex workers, especially among men.

For instance, surveys from 2008 to 2024 noted that up to 60% of Japanese men reported having paid for sex at some point.

Globally, young individuals in high-income countries are also having less sex. A 2019 survey highlighted that nearly one-third of British respondents hadn’t engaged in sexual activity in the previous month, a rise from about one-quarter in 2001.

However, the authors emphasize that Japan has a unique context, where “sexual behavior is often depicted as perplexing and contradictory, blending expectations of permissiveness with those of prudence.”

While the authors were uncertain about the reasons behind the declining sexual frequency among Japanese adults, they proposed several potential explanations.

One possibility is that many simply lack interest. A 2020 online survey discovered that 20 to 30 percent of men aged 20 to 39 expressed a disinterest in sex, as did approximately 40 percent of women in the same age range.

The authors speculated that unmarried individuals in their 20s and 30s might be reluctant to invest time and money in dating someone they might not marry.

According to the study’s authors, Japanese society remains predominantly heteronormative, with limited acceptance and recognition of non-heterosexual identities. In some surveys, as few as 1.5 percent identified as gay – Credit: Getty Images

Furthermore, for women, cultural expectations to handle most household responsibilities may diminish the appeal of marriage.

Additionally, the authors noted that Japanese adults seem less embarrassed about being virgin or celibate compared to their counterparts in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

Alternative sexual outlets have also grown more acceptable; for example, romantic feelings directed towards fictional characters.

A 2017 survey of Japanese students aged 16 to 22 found that 14 to 17 percent admitted to having romantic feelings for video game and anime characters.

Simultaneously, the authors observed that a demanding work culture, characterized by long hours and commutes, may hinder young individuals from forming and maintaining sexual relationships. In Japan, about 30 percent of men and 15 percent of women work over 50 hours per week.

Sex education in Japan is limited, with few women utilizing hormonal contraception and a lack of acceptance for non-heterosexual identities.

Dr. Vanessa Appea, a consultant in sexual health at Barts Health NHS Trust, who was not involved in the study, expressed that the findings are “shocking” regarding the evolving priorities of young people in Japan.

“Instead of a waning desire, the evidence suggests broader social and economic influences at play, including long working hours, job insecurity, shifting gender roles, and a cultural emphasis on stability over partnership,” Appiah said.

“Though declining sexual frequency is noted in the UK and the US, the trend in Japan is more pronounced. This may signal an early indication of a global shift where technology, work culture, and modern expectations are reshaping how we connect and experience intimacy.”

However, Apea urged caution regarding the study’s conclusions since the data stem from a broader survey, and participants may have differing interpretations of their sexual experiences.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Astronomers Reveal Pleiades Star Cluster is Integral to a Vast Stellar Structure

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

The Pleiades star cluster, also referred to as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, is an open star cluster situated around 440 light-years away from Earth in the Taurus constellation. It forms the central core of a larger network that includes several known star clusters scattered over 600 parsecs (1,950 light-years). This network is known as the Greater Pleiades Complex and comprises at least 3,091 stars.

Pleiades star cluster. Image credit: NASA / ESA / AURA / California Institute of Technology / Palomar Observatory.

Stars originate from clouds of dust and gas. Clumps of this material come together and eventually collapse under their gravity, creating the hot core that becomes a star.

Star formation typically occurs in bursts, with numerous stars being born in rapid succession.

A collection of stars that form from the same molecular cloud is known as a star cluster.

These stars remain gravitationally bound to one another for thousands of years.

Over tens to hundreds of millions of years, the materials that birthed them are expelled by cosmic winds, radiation, and various astrophysical phenomena.

As this occurs, individual stars can merge into their host galaxies, making it complex to ascertain their relationships and trace their origins, especially after more than 100 million years have elapsed.

In a recent study, Dr. Luke Buuma from the Carnegie Institution for Science Observatory and his colleagues concentrated on the Pleiades star cluster.

Utilizing data from NASA’s TESS mission, ESA’s Gaia spacecraft, and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), they discovered that this cluster is the core of a broader structure of related stars spanning over 1,950 light-years.

“We refer to this as the Greater Pleiades Complex,” Dr. Bouma stated.

“It includes at least three known groups of stars, and likely two additional ones.”

“We confirmed that most members of this structure have origins in the same gigantic stellar nursery.”

A key aspect of their methodology is that a star’s rotation rate decreases with age.

The study utilized a combination of TESS’s stellar rotation data (made to detect exoplanets) and Gaia’s stellar motion observations (designed for mapping the Milky Way).

With this information, they developed a new method based on rotation to identify stars that share common origins.

“For the first time, by amalgamating data from Gaia, TESS, and SDSS, we confidently identified a new member of the Pleiades cluster,” reported Dr. Buma.

“Data from each mission alone was not enough to reveal the full scope of the structure.”

“However, when we integrated stellar motions from Gaia, rotations from TESS, and chemical data from SDSS, a coherent picture took shape.”

“It’s akin to piecing together a jigsaw puzzle, where every dataset provides a different piece of a larger whole.”

Besides their comparable ages, the authors highlighted that the stars in the Greater Pleiades cluster share similar chemical compositions and were once much closer to one another.

The fifth generation of SDSS data was employed for the chemical abundance analysis.

“The Pleiades star cluster has been pivotal in human observations of stars since ancient times,” Dr. Buma remarked.

“This research marks a significant advancement in understanding the changes in the Pleiades star cluster since its formation 100 million years ago.”

The researchers believe their findings carry broad implications.

The Pleiades is not merely an astrophysical benchmark for young stars and exoplanets but also a significant cultural symbol, referenced in the Old Testament and Talmud, celebrated as Matariki in New Zealand, and represented on the Subaru logo in Japan.

Professor Andrew Mann of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stated, “We are starting to understand that many stars near the Sun belong to extensive star clusters with intricate structures.”

“Our study provides a novel method to uncover these hidden connections.”

A paper detailing the survey results has been published this week in the Astrophysical Journal.

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Andrew W. Boyle et al. 2025. Missing Sister Found: TESS and Gaia Reveal Dissolving Pleiades Complex. APJ 994, 24; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae0724

Source: www.sci.news

New Armored Reptile Species Discovered from the Triassic Period in Brazil

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

A newly discovered genus and species of pseudoarchosaur has been revealed from fossils found in southern Brazil.

Taingraqaskus Bellator. Image credit: Caio Fantini.

Taingraqaskus Bellator inhabited the area now known as Brazil during the Triassic period around 240 million years ago.

This ancient predator measured about 2.4 m (8 ft) in length and weighed approximately 60 kg.

The back of this species featured bony plates called osteoderms, a characteristic also seen in modern crocodilians.

Utilizing their long necks and agile movements, these predators quickly captured prey with swift, precise actions, employing their slender jaws filled with sharply curved teeth to secure their catch and prevent escape.

Dr. Rodrigo Temp Muller, a paleontologist at the Federal University of Santa Maria, stated, “This creature was an active predator, but despite its considerable size, it was not the largest hunter within its ecosystem, which included giants reaching up to 7 meters (23 feet) long.”

Taingraqaskus Bellator was part of the pseudostia — ancestors of modern crocodiles and alligators.

According to Dr. Temp-Müller, “Pseudostia were a diverse group capable of tackling tough prey, along with smaller hunters adept at catching swift animals.”

“It may resemble a dinosaur, yet Taingraqaskus Bellator does not belong to that classification.”

“One of the most evident distinctions from dinosaurs lies in its pelvic structure, where the hip and femoral joints exhibit significantly different characteristics.”

“The discovery of Taingraqaskus Bellator highlights the intricate ecosystem of the time, showcasing various pseudospecies with distinct sizes and hunting methods filling specific ecological roles.”

“This find uncovers crucial phases in life’s history that predate the arrival of dinosaurs.”

A partial skeleton of Taingraqaskus Bellator was located in Dona Francisca, southern Brazil, in May 2025, with its lower jaw, spinal column, and pelvic girdle preserved.

Although the limbs were not found, experts speculate that, like its relatives, it moved on all fours.

“The discovery of Taingraqaskus Bellator provides further evidence of an ancient link between Brazil and Africa during the Triassic period, a time when the continents were fused into the supercontinent Pangea,” said Dr. Temp Muller.

“Despite the variety of pseudonesters, some lineages are extremely rare in the fossil record, leading to a limited understanding of them.”

“The fossils underwent meticulous preparation in the lab, carefully removing surrounding rock.”

“Upon revealing the anatomical details, it became apparent that the specimen represented a previously unknown species, which was incredibly exciting for us.”

“We found a species closely related to a predator, Mandasucus Tanyauchen, discovered in Tanzania.”

“This link between South American and African fauna can be contextualized within Triassic paleogeography.”

“During this period, continents were still connected, allowing life to disperse freely across regions that are now separated by oceans.”

“Consequently, the Brazilian and African faunas share numerous commonalities, reflecting intertwined evolutionary and ecological narratives.”

Taingraqaskus Bellator would have thrived in the same environment where the first dinosaurs arose, in areas adjacent to vast arid deserts.

“Our findings indicate that southern Brazil’s reptiles had already developed diverse communities adapted to various survival strategies.”

“Moreover, this discovery unveils that such diversity is not an isolated phenomenon.”

This research is detailed in the following article: paper published in Journal of Systematic Paleontology.

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Rodrigo Temp Muller and others. Osteology, taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships of a new pseudoarchosaur from the Middle Triassic of southern Brazil. Journal of Systematic Paleontology, published online on November 12, 2025. doi: 10.1080/14772019.2025.2573750

Source: www.sci.news

Intact Impact Crater Unearthed in China

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

Scientists have identified an impact crater formed in a granite mountain, which is covered by a dense weathered crust in southern China. The Jinlin Crater, situated in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, is among approximately 200 craters recognized worldwide and is estimated to be less than 11,700 years old.

Panoramic aerial drone image of Jinlin Crater taken on May 12, 2025. Image credit: Chen et al., doi: 10.1063/5.0301625.

Throughout Earth’s geological history, a variety of impact craters have emerged.

Nevertheless, due to tectonic movements and significant surface weathering, many ancient craters have been eroded, distorted, or covered.

Currently, around 200 impact craters have been documented globally.

Only four of these impact craters have been reported in China, all of which are in the northeastern region.

In contrast, southern China experiences a tropical to subtropical monsoon climate, with high rainfall, humidity, and temperatures that promote substantial chemical weathering.

The newly found impact structure, referred to as Jinlin Crater, is located in the low mountains and hills of northwestern Guangdong province, adjacent to Jinlin Waterside Village in Deqing County, Zhaoqing City.

With a diameter of 900 m, it stands as the largest known impact crater of the modern Holocene, significantly surpassing the 300 m Maka crater, which was previously the largest identified Holocene impact structure.

“This discovery indicates that the scale of small extraterrestrial object impacts on Earth during the Holocene is much greater than previously known,” remarked Dr. Ming Chen, a researcher at the Hyperbaric Science and Technology Center.

In this instance, the “small” impactor is believed to be a meteorite, rather than a comet, which would have resulted in a crater no less than 10 km wide.

However, Chen and his team have not yet established if the meteorite was composed of iron or stone.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this crater is its remarkable preservation, especially given the monsoons, heavy rainfall, and high humidity conditions of the region, which are typically conducive to erosion.

Within the granite layers that shield and conserve that impact structure, researchers uncovered numerous quartz fragments that exhibit distinctive microscopic characteristics known as planar deformation features. Geologists utilize these as indicators of some form of impact.

“On Earth, quartz planar deformation features can only be formed by intense shock waves generated from celestial body collisions, with formation pressures between 10 to 35 gigapascals. This shock effect cannot be replicated by geological processes on Earth,” explained Dr. Chen.

“It is widely accepted that over Earth’s history, every point on the Earth’s surface has experienced impacts from extraterrestrial objects with roughly equal probability.”

“However, geological variations have led to different erosion rates of these historical impact markers, with some vanishing completely.”

“This underscores the significance of the Jinlin Crater discovery.”

“Impact craters serve as genuine records of Earth’s impact history.”

Uncovering Earth impact craters can furnish us with a more objective basis for comprehending the distribution, geological evolution, and impact history and regulation of small extraterrestrial objects.

For more details, refer to the team’s paper published in the Journal on October 15, 2025, titled Matter and radiation at the limit.

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Ming Chen et al. 2026. Jinlin Crater, Guangdong, China: Impact origin confirmed. Matarajith. extreme 11, 013001; doi: 10.1063/5.0301625

Source: www.sci.news

Is the Future of Education Beyond Universities?

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

“The U.S. government is depriving universities of billions in federal funding…”

Robin Beck/AFP via Getty Images

UCLA students, researchers and demonstrators gather during rally against funding cuts on research, health, and higher education, at University of California, Los Angeles in April — “The U.S. government is depriving universities of billions in federal funding…”

Robin Beck/AFP via Getty Images

In 1907, American historian Henry Adams commenced the distribution of his memoirs, which gained immense popularity in 1919 through The Education of Henry Adams. Given Adams’ notable lineage—his grandfather and great-grandfather were both U.S. presidents—one might anticipate a self-praising narrative about the virtues of American education.

However, Adams captivated audiences with his audacious assertion that the teachings of 19th-century schools were largely irrelevant. Committed to religious studies and classical literature, he felt ill-prepared for the reality of mass electrification and the advent of the automobile. He contended that if education was intended to equip individuals for the future, it was failing miserably.

Fast forward nearly 120 years, Adams’ critique is once again pertinent, particularly in the U.S. New technologies are altering traditional educational paradigms. The emergence of AI models represents just one facet of an ideological struggle. The federal government is stripping universities of billions in funding while asserting more control over curricula and admissions. Although the landscape of education is chaotic, it is not vanishing; it is evolving with the times.

When I attended my first college lecture in over two decades, I was reminded of Adams. The course “Race, Media, and International Affairs,” taught by journalist and international studies professor Karen Attiah, presented a refreshing approach. In 2024, Attiah covered political affairs for Washington Post and previously taught at Columbia University. However, earlier this year, Columbia canceled her course unexpectedly. Shortly afterward, Attiah reported she was dismissed by the Post due to her social media remarks concerning racism and right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. The newspaper refrained from commenting on her termination.

Yet, as Attiah states, “this is not the moment for media literacy and historical understanding to be constrained by institutions bent on authoritarianism and fear.” Therefore, she conducted Columbia’s classes through her Resistance Summer School, livestreaming them to anyone who paid tuition. The response was overwhelming; within 48 hours, 500 students enrolled, leaving a long waiting list. Currently, she manages two courses this fall, including mine.

In many ways, Attiah’s class recalls a course I took in college over 25 years ago. Engaged at my desk, I listened as Attiah discussed topics such as the depiction of colonial wars in 1600s newspapers and why the media neglected Japan’s racial equality proposals in light of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Blending U.S. media history with international race relations, she informed me of numerous insights I had overlooked, despite my lengthy career as a journalist and occasional media studies educator. It genuinely felt like a return to college—in a positive sense.

“
I’m concerned about academic institutions, but not the future of education. The quest for knowledge never ceases
“

Attiah’s straightforward approach sharply contrasts with other educators who virtualize their research. For instance, Philosophy Tube is a well-established lecture series on YouTube by philosopher Abigail Thorne, who employs visual effects, costumes, and clever scripts to impart contemporary philosophical concepts. However, both Thorne and Attiah share a common goal: to enhance educational accessibility while challenging authority beyond academic limitations.

Thorne and Attiah are influenced by scholar and activist Stuart Hall. After teaching cultural studies at Birmingham University in the UK during the ’60s and ’70s, Hall sought to exit the academic bubble and educate the public about media racism. He directed the 1979 BBC documentary “It Ain’t Half Racist, Mum.”, highlighting racial bias in news reports and media portrayals of Black immigrants.

Mr. Hall advocated for making higher education accessible to citizens lacking access. This is the direction educators are presently taking: some utilize crowdfunding to offer free education, while others, like Attiah, implement a subscription model. Regardless of the method, they are committed to facilitating learning.

But what about students who prefer not to spend hours in front of a screen? An emerging movement seeks to accommodate these individuals as well. Hackerspaces and makerspaces—community hubs for learning science and engineering—are appearing globally. These venues offer classes ranging from electronics to 3D printing to welding.

As Adams asserted, education must equip us for the future. I contend that the forthcoming landscape may witness academic freedom flourishing outside of traditional institutions. While I harbor concerns for academic establishments, I hold hope for education’s future. As long as we champion rebel professors and hackerspace educators, the pursuit of knowledge will persist.

Annalee’s Week

What I’m Reading:
Keeper of Magical Things—A cozy fantasy about an archivist magician by Julie Leong.

What I See:
Frankenhooker— The most extreme adaptation of Frankenstein ever made.

What I’m Working On:
I’m completing assignments for Karen Attiah’s class!

Annalee Newitz is a science journalist and author. Their latest book is Automatic Noodles. They co-host the Hugo Award-winning podcast Our Opinion Is Correct. Follow @annaleen and visit their website: techsploitation.com

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Sperm Are Self-Serving – Just Like Us.

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Selfish behavior is alarmingly prevalent in biological contexts. A recent study underscores this, illustrating how genetic mutations accumulate in the sperm of older men. Research indicates that as men age, new stem cells increase the likelihood of carrying disease-related mutations, potentially affecting up to 5% of their sperm by the time they reach 70.

This discovery highlights not only the advantages of having children at a younger age but also the indifferent nature of mutated stem cells, which do not consider the consequences for future offspring as long as their genetic material is passed on. This serves as a potent reminder that the notion of “selfish genes” remains a foundational concept in evolutionary biology. Genes prioritize their own survival over any altruistic intentions, continually bringing discussions back to genetic selection, contrary to the idea of “survival of the fittest.”

The ongoing debate is weary and centers around whether evolution through natural selection favors cooperation or promotes competitive and ruthless organisms that prioritize reproduction above all else. Over the past century, numerous biologists have debated this issue, labeling differing perspectives on group versus individual selection. These distinctions fundamentally shape our understanding of the natural world and our role within it.

The divide between these views has consistently straddled ideological lines. Earlier animal behaviorists believed that organisms act for the benefit of their species. The idea was that individual survival is advantageous for the entire group, creating a potential contributor to the continuation of humanity. Homo sapiens can achieve this common goal through mutual assistance.

However, as highlighted by key biologists from Ronald Fisher to contemporary thinkers like Richard Dawkins, organisms that accept help from others without reciprocating consistently outperform those that give help. Those that disrupt group dynamics tend to position themselves for greater success—as long as their impact isn’t so destructive that it eliminates all competition.

From an evolutionary standpoint, the optimal strategy for individuals is to encourage cooperation while withholding it from others—ideally, without detection. Instead of fostering good and altruistic qualities, cooperation can create an environment where competitive and exploitative behaviors thrive unnoticed.

The issue of destruction undermines populations, whether they are gametes, bacteria, animals, or humans. Stem cells, which reproduce at the expense of a host’s descendants, are indifferent to whether their proliferation harms future generations. The welfare of both the host and its species is irrelevant.

This logic extends to human societies, both ancient and modern. Individuals in power—often older men—tend to monopolize resources and frequently choose younger women as partners. Given the adverse effects of older men on fertility, it’s challenging to take the group selection model seriously in light of new findings regarding sperm.

Crucially, these unsettling realities about our biological roots do not dictate our behavior today. We should strive for mutual aid and not take it for granted. Recognizing our inherent selfish tendencies at every biological level is the initial step toward overcoming them.

Jonathan R. Goodman is the author of Invisible Rivals: How We Evolved to Compete in a Cooperative World

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Kim Kardashian Secures Invitation to NASA Headquarters – Should We Follow Suit?

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Feedback is New Scientist A popular figure who keeps up with the latest in science and technology. To provide feedback on topics you think may interest our readers, please reach out via email at feedback@newscientist.com.

NASA Surveillance

Some stories elude my interest in feedback. With over 8 billion people on the planet, many hold on to misguided beliefs, and countless individuals have internet access, phones, and mailboxes. I simply cannot engage with the flood of unrefined ideas that arise. Feedback— I refuse to become the person depicted in the XKCD comic who loses sleep over the phrase, “someone on the internet is wrong.”

Recently, it barely grazed the news that Kim Kardashian seems to think NASA staged the moon landing in 1969. She mentioned the same on her reality TV show The Kardashian Family, which features her mother and sisters.

Kardashian allegedly misinterpreted her chat with Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon. At one point, Aldrin remarked: “That never happened.” He meant there was no frightening incident during the mission, but Kardashian seemed to conclude that it implied the entire mission was faked. This is a quite audacious assertion, especially given Aldrin’s previous criticisms of moon landing conspiracy theories.

Instead of spouting mockery at the Kardashians’ misunderstanding, let’s focus on what lies ahead. According to the BBC, NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy has “invited Ms. Kardashian to the Kennedy Space Center for the Artemis moon mission launch.”

Duffy might soon wish he hadn’t set that precedent—publicizing nonsensical conspiracy theories through mainstream media appears to yield exclusive tours of NASA. Feedback has desired to visit Mission Control for ages, and we think we could propose better theories than “faking the moon landing.”

Do you know why it took 9 years for the New Horizons spacecraft to reach Pluto? Because NASA was secretly moving the planet further away from Earth to make it seem smaller, enabling the downgrade from planet status to dwarf planet.

Similarly, have you pondered the realism of Martian? Deep NASA (akin to the Deep State, but more effective) would have you believe it’s due to author Andy Weir’s research. In truth, they clandestinely left astronauts stranded on Mars during the ’90s. The premise is based on a video diary he recorded before being terminated by a robot with a heat ray.

We eagerly await the invitation from NASA.

Middle of Saturday

Previously, we delved into the concept of Scunthorpe problems. Harmless words may encompass strings that seemingly offend automated moderation systems lacking context (October 11). We thought we had concluded this matter, but Peter Lloyd has informed us about an earlier iteration of this issue.

On a Saturday afternoon in the ’70s, he recounts: Grandstand begins. ” For younger audiences and those outside the UK, Grandstand was a sports show aired every Saturday afternoon. Depending on your stance on televised sports, it was either a delight or a nuisance in an era with limited television options.

“Suddenly, one word flashed across the screen,” Peter recalls. “I was taken aback! Why would the BBC display TURD on my television? After a brief delay, the image zoomed out to reveal ‘SATURDAY ON BBC1’.”

Just Imagine!

If you haven’t heard yet, submit your work for the upcoming issue by Friday, December 5th. Check out the Imagination Research Journal.

Feedback was previously unaware of this publication, but we’ve taken some time to discover its essence. “We publish imaginary research abstracts, which are short fictive pieces that mimic the format of traditional academic work,” the editors express. An abstract serves as a synopsis of scholarly articles, offering a brief overview of prior research.

If we understand this correctly, the aim is to craft short fiction that is formatted as a mock summary of a research paper. We reviewed the ten most recent volumes. Some of the summaries/stories are quite amusing and effectively parody academic literature.

We particularly enjoyed Edward Loveman’s piece, “Being In-Between: A Sensory Autoethnography of Otherworldly Life,” which recounts “scholars capable of traversing dimensions (hyperdimensionality).” Unfortunately, Loveman notes, “Such research is often met with skepticism, cruelty, and disdain within both academia and the wider public.”

However, he argues that it symbolizes a “unique, ever-evolving, fluid connection to existence that surpasses temporality.”

Similarly, Soyoung Park’s submission queries: “Can research succeed without a research question?” in which a “group of doctoral students” engages in “an intensive coffee session,” disclosing that “their challenge was not the questions themselves, but the essence of questioning, a process that fundamentally implies and necessitates an answer.”

Feedback suspects that Imagination Research Journal could become a staple feature here. It’s a pity it’s only published once a year.

Have a story for Feedback?

You can submit your article to Feedback at feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Examining Hitler’s DNA as a TV Stunt is a Futile Endeavor.

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Adolf Hitler’s genome sequenced for TV documentary

Roger Violet (via Getty Images)

Some argue that discussing Adolf Hitler can lead to losing an argument. Resorting to having his DNA sequenced to attract media attention indicates a clear defeat in the debate.

Yet, Channel 4 in the UK is doing just that with Hitler’s DNA: The Dictator’s Blueprint, airing this Saturday. I plan to watch it, so feel free to skip it.

DNA is a piece of cloth soaked in blood. It’s a remnant from the sofa where Hitler took his life in 1945, now displayed in a US museum. Despite some gaps due to age, the Y chromosome reportedly aligns with a male relative of Hitler, suggesting authenticity.

Had this been an academic pursuit aiming for knowledge, such as investigating rumors of a Jewish grandfather (which DNA disproves), it might have been acceptable. However, the documentary sensationalizes the findings, claiming this DNA will “change how we perceive Hitler.”

This implication leans towards genetic determinism, suggesting Hitler was fated to commit atrocities due to his genetics. While the documentary stops short of making this assertion, the term “dictator’s blueprint” carries that connotation.

This logic suggests that cloning Hitler would likely yield more tyrants. While impractical, identical twins—sharing the same DNA—exist as natural experiments. Twin studies estimate how much traits and conditions stem from genes rather than environment.

However, twin research has its issues. It’s challenging to disentangle genetic and environmental factors, especially as twins share upbringing. Nevertheless, estimates suggest less than 50% heritability for criminal behavior, aligning with genocidal dictators. Thus, we shouldn’t assume that a majority of hypothetical Hitler clones would become tyrants.

Moreover, our grasp of the human genome is still developing. We can’t accurately predict simple things like eye color, let alone the complex traits influenced by the brain and the environment.

Current methods can identify genetic variants linked to higher disease risks, like autism. Individuals are assigned a “polygenic score,” but these scores don’t definitively predict conditions. Various factors matter, potential associations might be coincidental, and important variants may be unidentified.

“It’s essential to stress that autism polygenic scores lack clinical utility due to inconsistent correlations and limited applicability,” stated a meta-analysis this year.

The documentary claims that Hitler’s genome shows a high propensity for autism and mental health issues like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. While historical accounts suggest Hitler displayed troubling behaviors, genetic data cannot confirm psychological diagnoses.

Hitler’s DNA was obtained from a blood-stained piece of cloth on the couch on which Hitler committed suicide, collected by U.S. Army Colonel Roswell P. Rosengren, and is now on display at the Gettysburg Historical Museum in Pennsylvania.

Gettysburg Historical Museum

But more crucially, what if he exhibited these traits? Are there underlying explanations for these classifications? As Simon Baron-Cohen from Cambridge University states in the documentary, the adverse effects of Hitler’s abusive father play a significant role in explaining his hatred and aggression.

He learned that characteristics tied to schizophrenia may correlate with creativity and unconventional thinking, possibly elucidating Hitler’s political and military achievements. Really? This is mere conjecture.

This is the core issue with analyzing Hitler’s genome. While we draw plausible connections with his actions, these links could easily be erroneous. Moreover, such narratives further stigmatize conditions like autism and schizophrenia.

The documentary contradicts its claims, mainly reiterating existing knowledge about Hitler. The only assertion of novelty is that Hitler may have suffered from Kallmann syndrome, impacting sexual maturation. Yet, evidence already exists that Hitler faced anatomical issues as noted in past research—history often provides more clarity than genetics.

Additionally, the documentary tackles a broader question: Was Hitler singularly wicked and solely responsible for World War II and the Holocaust? There’s no shortage of genocidal dictators, many of whom rely on a supportive network.

Millions elected Hitler, and various officials upheld the legal measures enabling his rise, with numerous individuals enforcing the discriminatory laws resulting in the Holocaust. We don’t need genetic narratives to explain the emergence of dictators; the more pressing inquiry is why we permit them to rise to power.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unveiling the Unexpected: Francis Crick’s New Biography Explores the Journey of DNA

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Francis Crick (right) and James Watson modeling DNA in 1953

A. Barrington Brown, Gonville, Caius College/Scientific Photography Library

Click: The Moving Mind – From DNA to the Brain
Matthew Cobb profile book, England. Basic Books

Francis Crick missed a crucial seminar in 1951, likely because he was occupied with his partner. James Watson attended but failed to take proper notes, leading to inaccuracies in their initial DNA model.

This anecdote is just one of many compelling elements in Click: The Moving Mind – From DNA to the Brain, a biography by zoologist and author Matthew Cobb. If you’re curious about the discovery of DNA’s structure and subsequent developments, this is the must-read book.

Crick, raised as a shopkeeper’s son, struggled academically at first and didn’t gain admission to Oxbridge. He eventually earned a second-class degree and a rather dull PhD on the viscosity of water. After serving in WWII, he entered civil service, but his marriage faltered and his son lived with relatives. However, his readings nurtured a passion for the molecular foundations of life and consciousness. He re-entered research, working in an independent lab in Cambridge.

In 1949, he began exploring biomolecule structures through X-ray diffraction. His notes detail various mishaps: spills, misplaced films, and sample errors. Crick once flooded his boss’s hallway twice and incessantly conversed with Watson, irritating their co-workers. The two were ultimately separated to different rooms.

By 1952, Crick had a new family but faced bankruptcy and potential job loss under his boss, Lawrence Bragg. Competing biochemist Linus Pauling falsely claimed to have deduced DNA’s structure—this drove Bragg to allow Crick and Watson to pursue the DNA research unhindered. By March 1953, they had successfully unraveled it.

“
Part of Crick’s success lay in his willingness to fail, proposing multiple ideas that eventually proved incorrect.
“

While chemist Rosalind Franklin’s data was indeed significant, Cobb asserts that Crick and Watson did not misappropriate it. He also highlights that Franklin, Watson, and Wilkins collaborated more than previously recognized.

It’s often overlooked that Crick and Watson acknowledged Franklin and Wilkins in their renowned publication, Nature. A paper by Franklin and Wilkins coincided with their work, and she developed a friendship with Crick and his second wife, Odile, often staying with them during her recovery from cancer surgery, which ultimately claimed her life. This untimely death is why she wasn’t a recipient of the 1962 Nobel Prize.

Crick later played an instrumental role in decoding how DNA encodes proteins, contributing many vital insights to the process. While the biography remains engaging at this point, it loses some momentum as it shifts focus to Crick’s life, rather than Cobb’s narrative. Following the genetic code’s unveiling in the 1960s, Crick published several poorly received papers and likely faced depression in 1971.

In 1977, he relocated to California and shifted his focus to consciousness research. Cobb posits that his contributions in this field were as groundbreaking as his molecular biology achievements, including efforts to define the brain’s connectome.

This biography paints Crick as a multifaceted individual. He was anti-religious and anti-monarchy, celebrated his remarriage openly, championed cannabis legalization, experimented with acid, and occasionally hosted wild gatherings where adult films were shown. There are also allegations of unwanted advances towards several women.

Moreover, Crick corresponded with individuals expressing racist views regarding IQ and genetics but ultimately recognized that the matters were more nuanced than he once believed. Since the 1970s, he notably refrained from discussing this topic, especially in stark contrast to Watson, who passed away last week at 97.

It’s evident that Crick’s triumph stemmed not only from his brilliance but also from his readiness to fail and his willingness to propose and publish many ideas that did not pan out. For instance, one Saturday, after reviewing a paper outlining X-ray results for proteins, he, with a colleague’s assistance, was able to determine its structure by noon.

As I read, I reflected that perhaps Crick’s qualifications might not align with the current scientific standards. Today’s researchers might be astonished to learn that he had no formal education and only submitted one grant proposal. The legacy of geniuses like Crick may be struggling to thrive in a system that hasn’t nurtured their kind.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

EU Launches Investigation into Google’s ‘Demotion’ of News Media Commercial Content

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

The European Union has initiated an investigation into Google Search amid worries that the US tech giant may be “downgrading” commercial content from news media platforms.

The enforcement body of the bloc announced this move after monitoring revealed that various content produced in collaboration with advertisers and sponsors was ranked so low by Google that it essentially vanished from search results.

Officials from the European Commission indicated that this potentially unfair “loss of visibility and revenue” for media owners could stem from Google’s anti-spam policies.

According to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which governs competition within the tech sector, Google is required to provide “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory conditions for access to publishers’ websites in Google Search”.

Committee officials clarified that the investigation does not pertain to the overall indexing of newspapers or Google search coverage but focuses specifically on commercial content supplied by third parties.

Media collaborations with firms selling products and services, from seasonal items to apparel, are described as “normal business practices in the offline world” and should be supported in equitable online ecosystems like Google, according to the officials.

For instance, a newspaper may partner with Nike to offer discounts, but evidence suggested that Google Search “demoted the newspaper’s subdomains to the extent that users could no longer access them.” This situation would also negatively impact newspapers.

“We are concerned that Google’s policies do not facilitate fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory treatment of news publishers in search results,” stated Teresa Rivera, European Commission vice-president for clean, fair, and competitive transition policy.

In the upcoming days, authorities will request publishers to present evidence regarding the effects on traffic and revenue resulting from the alleged violations of fair practices, according to the commission.

Rivera further remarked: “We will investigate to ensure news publishers are not losing essential revenue during a challenging time for the industry and to make certain that Google adheres to the Digital Markets Act.”

“We are taking measures today to guarantee that Digital Gatekeepers do not unreasonably hinder the ability of businesses relying on them to promote their products and services.”

In response, Google has criticized the EU investigation as “misguided” and “without merit”.

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The company shared in a blog post: “Unfortunately, the investigation into our anti-spam efforts announced today is misguided and risks harming millions of users in Europe.

“And this investigation is without merit. German courts have already dismissed similar claims, ruling that our anti-spam policies were effective, reasonable, and applied consistently.”

The policy is designed to build “trustworthy results” and “combat deceptive billing tactics” that “degrade” the quality of Google search results.

The EU stated it took these actions to safeguard traditional media competing in online markets, especially after President Ursula von der Leyen recently highlighted in her State of the Union address that the media sector is at risk due to the growth of AI and other threats to media funding.

Officials emphasized that the investigation is part of a “routine violation” inquiry and could lead to penalties of up to 20% of Google’s revenue, although this would only occur if Google is found to be in “systematic violation.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ancient Silver Goblet Features the Earliest Depiction of the Universe’s Creation

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

“Ain Samiya’s Silver Goblet”

Israel Museum, Jerusalem/Ardon Bar Hama

A silver chalice dating back 4,300 years, found in Palestine’s West Bank, displays a depiction of the universe’s formation from primordial chaos, marking it as the oldest recorded visual interpretation of a creation myth.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind design,” says Eberhard Sanger from the Lewisian Research Foundation in Switzerland. “It conveys a complex narrative using a minimal number of lines.”

Measuring about 8 cm in height, the “Ain Samiya” goblet was uncovered 55 years ago in an ancient tomb located a few miles northeast of Ramallah, on the western edge of the Fertile Crescent, an area where early civilizations thrived.

The goblet features two distinctive scenes. The first shows a large serpent confronting a chimera with a human upper body and animal legs, positioned on a small flower-like circle. The second scene depicts a smiling serpent lying on the ground beneath a much larger flower-like circle, supported by two humanoid figures—of which only one is currently visible due to the goblet’s damage.

Archaeologists of the 1970s proposed that these scenes could represent Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation myth in which the primordial entity Tiamat is overcome by the god Marduk, resulting in Tiamat’s body transforming into heaven and earth. However, Zanger notes that this interpretation has its shortcomings; notably, there are no battle representations on the goblet, and it is approximately 1,000 years older than Enuma Elish itself.

<section></section>
<span class="js-content-prompt-opportunity"/>
<p>This has led other scholars to suggest alternative meanings. For instance, they propose that the goblet might represent the cyclical rebirth of a year and the passing of another.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Zanger and his associates, including independent researcher <a href="https://utoronto.academia.edu/DanielSarlo">Daniel Sarlo</a> from Toronto, and <a href="https://fabiennehaasdantes.academia.edu/">Fabienne Haas Dantes</a> from the University of Zurich, argue that the original interpretation remains the most accurate. They contend that the scenes depict the creation of the universe, drawing from ancient creation stories that predate even <em>Enuma Elish</em>.</p>

<p>
    <figure class="ArticleImage">
        <div class="Image__Wrapper">
            <img class="Image" alt="This scene illustrates cosmic order emerging from chaos, featuring figures such as serpents and deities (Credit: ? Israel Museum, Jerusalem, by Florica Weiner)." width="1350" height="901" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=400 400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=500 500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=600 600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=700 700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=800 800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=837 837w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=900 900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1003 1003w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1100 1100w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1300 1300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1400 1400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1500 1500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1600 1600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1674 1674w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1700 1700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1800 1800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=1900 1900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/12150512/SEI_274075982.jpg?width=2006 2006w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2504118" data-caption="The images engraved on the goblet portray deities, serpents, and the sun" data-credit="Israel Museum, Jerusalem/Florika Weiner"/>
        </div>
        <figcaption class="ArticleImageCaption">
            <div class="ArticleImageCaption__CaptionWrapper">
                <p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">The engravings on the goblet depict a deity, a serpent, and the sun.</p>
                <p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Israel Museum, Jerusalem/Florica Weiner</p>
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        </figcaption>
    </figure>
</p>

<p>Zanger's research team views the first scene as ambiguous. The chimera signifies a weaker god combined with an animal. The small flower-like circles beneath its legs symbolize the powerless sun. A colossal serpent dominates this chaos. In contrast, the second scene reveals that order has emerged from chaos, with gods distinguished from animals, transforming into potent humanoid figures. They raise the powerful sun atop a "vessel of heaven," indicating the separation of heaven from earth, while the chaotic serpent lies defeated beneath the sun.</p>
<p>Zanger also mentions that cuneiform texts from another area of the Fertile Crescent, dating similarly to the goblet, discuss how deities divided heaven and earth. This indicates that by the time of the goblet's creation, the locals had already contemplated the theme of world creation. "The remarkable aspect of this artifact is that it allows us to glimpse their conception of this narrative," he states.</p>
<p><a href="https://independent.academia.edu/JLisman">Jan Lisman</a>, an independent researcher from the Netherlands, remains skeptical of this interpretation. "What it depicts is the daily journey of the sun," he argues. "But it certainly does not reflect 'origin' or 'chaos.'"</p>

<p><a href="https://www.altestestament.unibe.ch/about_us/people/prof_em_dr_schroer_silvia/index_eng.html">Sylvia Schroer</a>, a professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland, shows some willingness to entertain the notion that the goblet signifies world creation. However, she believes a different aspect of the new analysis is problematic.</p>

<p>According to Zanger, some images on the Ain Samiyah goblet, notably the giant snake, resonate with ancient cosmological tales from the Fertile Crescent and adjacent areas. They posit that this implies a profound connection among various creation myths which may trace back to a singular, more ancient narrative. Illustrating this, they cite a celestial vessel resembling that in the goblet, which is carved on a pillar at Göbekli Tepe in modern-day Turkey, a location dating back 11,500 years—7,000 years prior to the goblet's creation. "This is astonishing," Zanger remarks.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Schroer argues that it might be too speculative to assert that all creation narratives in the region are tightly intertwined. "Even with similarities, it doesn't necessitate clear influence," she maintains.</p>

<div class="JournalReference" data-title="JEOL – Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society “Ex Oriente Luxˮ" data-title_link="https://www.exorientelux.nl/jeol/" data-reference_type_overwrite="Journal reference:" data-doi="in press" data-method="shortcode" data-component-name="journal-reference">
    <p class="JournalReference__Title"><i>JEOL – Journal of Ancient Near East Studies “Ex Oriente Luxˮ</i> <a class="JournalReference__Link" href="https://www.exorientelux.nl/jeol/">DOI: In print</a></p>
</div>

<p>
    <section class="SpecialArticleUnit">
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            <img class="Image SpecialArticleUnit__Image" alt="Caravan in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt" width="2560" height="1441" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=375 375w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=500 500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=600 600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=700 700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=800 800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=900 900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1003 1003w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1100 1100w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1300 1300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1400 1400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1500 1500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1600 1600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1700 1700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1800 1800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=1900 1900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07111001/shutterstock_2429800603-scaled.jpg?width=2006 2006w" sizes="(min-width: 1277px) 375px, (min-width: 1040px) 26.36vw, 99.44vw" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Special Article Unit" data-caption="Caravan in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt" data-credit="Shutterstock"/>
        </picture>
        <div class="SpecialArticleUnit__CopyWrapper">
            <h3 class="SpecialArticleUnit__Heading">Cairo and Alexandria, pioneers of science in the ancient world: Egypt</h3>
            <div class="SpecialArticleUnit__Copy">
                <p>Take an unforgettable journey through Cairo and Alexandria, where the rich tapestry of ancient history meets modern allure.</p>
            </div>
        </div>
    </section>
</p>

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    <p class="ArticleTopics__Heading">topic:</p>
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Source: www.newscientist.com

Deception, Misinformation, and AI: A New Era of Election Influence in US Politics

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

TThe New York mayoral election will likely be remembered not just for the impressive win of the young democratic socialists but also for a significant trend that could influence future campaigns: the rise of AI-generated campaign videos.

Andrew Cuomo, who lost last week to Zoran Mamdani, has notably engaged in the distribution of deepfake videos featuring his opponent, with one such video alleging racism against him.

Although AI has been utilized in political campaigns before—primarily for algorithms that target voters or create policy ideas—its evolution has seen the creation of sometimes misleading imagery and videos.

“What was particularly innovative this election cycle was the deployment of generative AI to produce content directly for voters,” stated New York State Representative Alex Boas, who advocates for regulations governing AI use.

“Whether it was the Cuomo team or not? Creating a housing plan with ChatGPT or AI-generated video ads targeting voters felt revolutionary during the 2025 campaign cycle, marking an unprecedented approach.”

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who exited the race in September, also leveraged AI, utilizing it to generate a robocall and producing a feature in The New Yorker where he converses in Mandarin, Urdu, and Yiddish. An AI video depicted a dystopian view of New York and aimed critiques at Mamdani.

In a controversial move, Mr. Cuomo faced allegations of racism and Islamophobia after his campaign shared a video depicting a fictitious Mamdani eating rice with his fingers and included an unrelated portrayal of a black man shoplifting. The campaign also featured a black individual in a purple suit appearing to endorse sex trafficking, which was later deleted under the pretext of an error.

Boas, who is campaigning for a House seat, remarked that many AI-generated ads from the recent election cycle may have crossed into what could be deemed bigoted territories.

“We need to assess if this is due to algorithms perpetuating stereotypes from their training data, or if it’s simply easier to manipulate content digitally without the need to coordinate specific actions with actors,” Boas indicated.

“Digital creation simplifies the production of content that might be frowned upon by polite society,” he added.

In New York, campaigns are mandated to label AI-generated ads, but several—including one from Mr. Cuomo—failed to do so. The New York State Board of Elections oversees potential violations, but Boas pointed out that campaigns might risk penalties as the costs could be outweighed by the gains from winning.

“There will likely be campaigns willing to take that risk: if they win, the post-election fines become irrelevant,” Boas stated. “We need an effective enforcement mechanism that can intervene rapidly before elections to minimize damage, rather than simply impose penalties afterward.”

Robert Wiseman, co-director of Public Citizen, a nonprofit that has supported various AI regulations nationwide, noted that attempting to deceive the public is illegal in more than half of states and that campaigns must label AI-generated materials as such. However, he cautioned that the regulation of AI in political contexts remains a critical issue.

“Deception has historically been part of politics, but the implications of AI-generated misinformation are particularly concerning,” Wiseman explained.

“When audiences are shown a convincingly authentic video of someone making a statement, it becomes incredibly challenging for that individual to refute it, essentially forcing them to challenge viewers’ perceptions.”

AI technology can now generate convincing videos, but execution weaknesses still exist. A “Zoran Halloween Special” video released by Cuomo was clearly labeled as AI-generated yet showcased a poorly rendered image of Mamdani with mismatched audio and nonsensical dialogue.

With midterm elections on the horizon and the 2028 presidential campaign approaching, AI-generated political videos are poised to become a fixture in the landscape.

At the national level, this trend is already evident. Elon Musk shared an AI-generated video where Kamala Harris appeared to assert her role as a de facto presidential candidate and claimed she “knows nothing about running a country.”

While states are advancing in their efforts to regulate AI’s role in elections, there seems to be a lack of willingness to implement such measures at the federal level.

During the No King protests in October, Donald Trump released an AI video showcasing him in a fighter jet, dropping brown liquid on protestors, among his most recent AI content.

With President Trump’s evident support for this medium, it appears unlikely that Republicans will seek to impose restrictions on AI anytime soon.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Reasons Young People Are Choosing to Forego Sex

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Numerous factors are contributing to the decrease in sexual activity among young individuals.

Frazao Studio Latino/Getty Images

The comedy film No sex please – we’re British. debuted in 1973, featuring a predominantly young cast and a plethora of double entendres. Fast forward fifty years, and the title seems more relevant than ever, especially among younger generations. A notable decline in sexual activity among teenagers and young adults has been observed over recent decades. For more insights, check out what’s happening in the UK.

According to the General Social Survey, a longstanding sociological project, 12 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds in the United States reported not engaging in sexual activity in 2010. By 2024, this figure has doubled.

Similar trends are apparent in high-income nations such as Australia and Germany. Japan stands out in this trend, with recent reviews indicating that about half of its populace has limited sexual experience until their mid-20s. This phenomenon could contribute to Japan witnessing more deaths than births, as projected by then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who labeled 2024 a “quiet emergency.” So, what’s triggering this situation, and is it genuinely an emergency?

Kay Wellings of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine notes that the frequency of sexual activity is always in flux. In the 1950s, many people postponed sexual relations until marriage, but the introduction of contraceptives in the 1960s spurred a “buzz” around guilt-free sexual experiences. The AIDS crisis in the 1980s shifted attitudes once again, leading to more cautious behaviors, but the 1990s seemed to herald a return to a more open approach.

A definitive cause for the current decrease in sexual activity remains elusive. Some experts suggest that today’s challenging economic landscape hinders young people’s independence. By 2023, 18% of individuals aged 25 to 34 in the U.S. lived with their parents—up from 9% in 2000. “Living at home doesn’t typically create the ideal setting for sexual activities,” states Luke Branning from the University of Leeds, UK.

High youth unemployment rates, especially in regions like the UK, could partly elucidate why many young individuals seem to be experiencing increased sexual inactivity. This relative decline is notably pronounced among men, with studies indicating that unemployment or low income elevates the chances of sexual inactivity. “A man’s financial situation shouldn’t enhance his attractiveness, yet research shows this trend is prevalent,” remarks Peter Ueda from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

Rising alcohol consumption could also render young people more inhibited. A study by Gallup revealed that the percentage of Americans aged 18 to 34 who consume alcohol has dropped from 72% to 62% in the last two decades. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 55 and older who drink surged from 49% to 59%. “This change is seen as ‘generationally sensitive’,” Wellings explains. “Young people drinking less correlates with less sexual activity.”

Additionally, technological advancements may have led to a shift in interactions. A study indicated that younger individuals might prioritize digital communication over face-to-face interactions. While digital encounters facilitate connections, sexual activity typically necessitates physical closeness. “Gen Z is often dubbed the most connected yet loneliest generation, as they engage primarily through screens,” states Natasha McKeever from the University of Leeds. “Such circumstances may exacerbate anxieties regarding personal interactions.”

While dating apps have simplified the process of connection, they have existed since the early 2010s and haven’t necessarily driven up sexual activity among young individuals. “These applications don’t inherently promote sexual encounters; their design often encourages repeated engagement with the app,” says Andrus Colt from the University of Galway, Ireland. Presently, an increasing number of users are choosing to log off, with studies hinting at a link between dating app usage and rising levels of depression and anxiety .

Mental health issues may also be a significant factor in declining sexual activity, as noted in a report by The Lancet Psychiatry, which cautions that young people might be entering a perilous phase regarding these challenges. “If individuals are feeling low, they may lack the motivation for sexual encounters,” Branning asserts. This anxiety can become self-perpetuating—”the less sexual experience one has, the more daunting the act may become,” McKeever adds. “So, for those who haven’t engaged in sexual activity for an extended period, the desire might still be there, combined with anxiety about the experience.”

For many, this decline raises concerns, given that sexual activity is linked to improved health and enhanced quality of life, with roughly half of women and two-thirds of men expressing a desire for more sexual encounters . “A decline in sexual activity suggests that increasing numbers of people are struggling to find meaning and value in their lives,” asserts Lyman Stone of the Virginia Family Institute.

Conversely, some individuals argue that young people aren’t adversely affected by this trend, as many appear content with their circumstances. A study surveying straight Japanese men aged 18 to 39 showed that approximately half of unattached individuals are disinterested in romantic relationships. “Today’s youth are likely more engaged in work opportunities than ever before,” McKeever observes. “There’s an expanded array of travel possibilities and career paths available. Sex is just one of many fulfilling aspects of life.”

Shifts in societal attitudes may also account for the decreasing stigma surrounding those who choose not to engage in sexual activity. McKeever notes that rising awareness around consent, influenced perhaps by the #MeToo movement, could lead to more young people feeling comfortable identifying as asexual. “In the past, many felt that having sex was a necessary milestone or something to prove one’s worth. Now, I believe youth today possess a greater understanding of personal choices.”

Understanding how sexual behaviors have evolved among youth is limited by data challenges. Responses may vary significantly based on question formats—be it verbal, online surveys, or influenced by societal taboos. “In environments with a lot of stigma, individuals tend to underreport their experiences. Conversely, if sexual activity is viewed positively, there’s a likelihood of overreporting,” explains Wellings. Additionally, study outcomes often vary in how they define gender and the youth demographic.

Moreover, volunteer bias complicates the reliability of findings. Certain demographic groups are more inclined to participate in research, resulting in findings that may not accurately represent the general population. “The online demographic often skews towards younger, childless individuals,” adds Stone.

Regardless of precise statistics, researchers agree that young people today engage in sexual activity less frequently compared to older generations at the same age, similar to trends observed in Japan, where this has occurred alongside historically low birth rates in places like England and the U.S..

As the number of births declines, can we classify this phenomenon as a societal emergency? “No, historical patterns suggest that activity levels will rebound as conditions evolve,” states Colt. “The decline in youth sexual activity isn’t an endpoint for humanity,” he concludes.

“I find no convincing evidence that this situation signifies a crisis,” McKeever remarks. However, if policymakers are genuinely concerned about declining sexual activity, they should consider solutions. “Engaging in less sexual activity than previous generations may demonstrate a broader issue of alienation. Politicians ought to address these challenges—sexual activity tends to follow as a natural consequence,” Colt asserts.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Analyzing Hitler’s Genome Offers No Insight into His Crimes

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

DNA of Adolf Hitler Sequenced for Documentary

Smith Archives/Alamy

Many individuals find it challenging to discuss Adolf Hitler without losing the argument. If you feel the need to sequence Hitler’s DNA to grab attention for your TV program, you’ve likely lost the plot.

Yet, this is precisely what Britain’s Channel 4 has undertaken. The documentary Hitler’s DNA: The Dictator’s Blueprint is set to air this Saturday. While I’m reluctantly preparing to watch it, feel free to skip it.

DNA comes from a piece of cloth soaked in blood, cut from the sofa where Hitler shot himself in 1945 and now housed in a museum in the United States. Although the resulting genome contains gaps due to the sample’s age, the Y chromosome reportedly matches that of a male relative of Hitler, suggesting its authenticity.

If this endeavor had been purely academic, aimed at expanding our knowledge—perhaps to verify if Hitler had a rumored Jewish grandfather (he didn’t, according to DNA)—it might have been acceptable. Instead, we are presented with a sensational two-part documentary claiming this DNA evidence “will change the way we perceive Hitler.”

The issue lies in the implication of genetic determinism, suggesting Hitler was predestined to commit horrific acts due to his genes. While this documentary does not directly assert this claim, it comes perilously close. What else could the phrase “dictator’s blueprint” imply?

This line of reasoning is akin to arguing that cloning Hitler would lead to the emergence of numerous murderers. While ethically we disdain such an experiment, the world contains clones in the form of identical twins sharing the same DNA. Studies on twins have been used to assess the degree to which various traits and conditions arise from genetics instead of the environment.

Now, there are numerous challenges with twin research. It’s impossible to entirely disentangle genetic influences from environmental ones, especially as twins generally grow up in similar surroundings. Nonetheless, the best estimates indicate that the heritability of criminal behavior, which likely aligns closely with that of genocidal dictators, is less than 50%. Thus, there is no basis to expect that most clones of Hitler would be tyrants.

Additionally, our grasp of the human genome remains primitive. We still lack the ability to predict straightforward traits like eye color with absolute certainty, let alone more complex characteristics arising from brain and environmental interactions.

What we can do is identify genetic variations statistically associated with higher risk for conditions like autism. Individuals receive a “polygenic score” for each condition. However, possessing a high polygenic score for autism does not guarantee a diagnosis. This situation arises from various factors, including the importance of environmental influences, potential misleading associations, and incomplete identification of significant variants.

“It is crucial to emphasize that, in their current form, autism polygenic scores have no clinical applicability due to inconsistent associations and restricted generalizability,” as concluded in a recent meta-analysis.

The documentary claims that Hitler’s genome rates exceptionally high for autism, alongside mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and antisocial behavior or psychopathy. His ADHD score is also reported to be above average. However, historical accounts have long suggested that Hitler exhibited such characteristics based on his actions. Genetic data does not yield definitive proof, and established diagnostic criteria do not incorporate genetic information.

More critically, what if he did display these symptoms? Are there alternative explanations for these classifications? As Simon Baron-Cohen from Cambridge University argues in the documentary, the neglect and abuse Hitler faced from his alcoholic father make it “crucial to comprehend why he developed such hatred and anger.”

He further pointed out that traits often linked to schizophrenia might connect with creativity and unconventional thought, possibly accounting for Hitler’s political and military achievements. Is this mere speculation?

For me, this represents the core issue with analyzing Hitler’s genome. We can speculate about potentially valid connections to his personality and behavior, but these could all be entirely incorrect. Moreover, this could worsen the stigma around conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

This documentary undermines its assertions as it largely reiterates established information about Hitler. The main novelty lies in the assertion that Hitler suffered from Kallmann syndrome, a condition affecting sexual development. Yet, this condition’s physical effects are extensive, and there is already documentary evidence suggesting Hitler had undescended testicles. Thus, history proves more enlightening than genetics.

Additionally, the broader question this documentary raises is whether Hitler was uniquely evil or entirely accountable for World War II and the Holocaust. Unfortunately, history reveals that genocidal dictators do not operate in isolation; they need the backing of numerous individuals.

Millions supported Hitler, other politicians enacted laws enabling his rise, and many authorities aided in enforcing the racist legislations that resulted in the Holocaust. We shouldn’t search within our genes for reasons why so many opt to become dictators; the pressing issue lies in why we allow them to do so.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Waymo Launches Robotaxis to Operate on Highways for the First Time

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., announced on Wednesday its plans to introduce robotaxi services on highways across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. This marks the Google subsidiary’s inaugural effort to broaden its operations amid increasing competition in the autonomous driving sector, both domestically and globally.

Initially, Waymo will provide highway rides to select early access users. The company stated, “If the freeway route is considerably quicker, we can synchronize it with freeway travel to deliver a faster, smoother, and more efficient ride.”

Currently, Waymo operates in select areas of the San Francisco Bay, with plans to expand into San Jose, including the Mineta San Jose International Airport, which is the second largest airport in its service zone after Phoenix Sky Harbor.

This development comes as Tesla broadens its rob-taxi service with safety monitors and drivers, while Amazon-backed Zoox is providing complimentary robo-taxi rides around the Las Vegas Strip.

Waymo stands out as the sole company in the U.S. offering a paid robotaxi service with over 1,500 vehicles that operate without safety drivers or in-vehicle monitors. The company began charging for rides in Phoenix back in 2020, nearly 11 years after its inception as Google’s self-driving car initiative.

Over the years, Waymo has expanded gradually, but it, like its competitors, is currently under federal investigation for erratic driving behavior.

Although highway driving is generally less complicated compared to city navigation, it introduces a range of new challenges that require higher-speed maneuvering, such as merging and exiting. Self-driving cars find urban environments particularly tough due to numerous pedestrians, frequent intersections, and unpredictable conditions. However, errors or failures at high speeds on highways can lead to severe consequences. The company mentioned collaborating with local highway patrols and safety agencies to develop new protocols for highway travel.

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While Tesla has long provided driver-assistance features on highways, this initiative positions Waymo as the first company to offer fully driverless operation on highways.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anthropic Unveils $50 Billion Initiative to Construct Data Centers Across the U.S.

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

On Wednesday, artificial intelligence firm Anthropic unveiled plans for a substantial $50 billion investment in computing infrastructure, which will include new data centers in Texas and New York.

Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, stated in a press release, “We are getting closer to developing AI that can enhance scientific discovery and tackle complex challenges in unprecedented ways.”

In the U.S., the typical timeframe to construct a large data warehouse is around two years, requiring significant energy resources to operate. “This level of investment is essential to keep our research at the forefront and to cater to the escalating demand for Claude from numerous companies,” the firm—known for Claude, an AI chatbot embraced by many organizations implementing AI—mentioned in a statement. Anthropic anticipates that this initiative will generate approximately 800 permanent roles and 2,400 construction jobs.

The company is collaborating with London-based Fluidstack to develop new computing facilities to support its AI frameworks. However, specific details regarding the location and energy source for these facilities remain undisclosed.

Recent transactions highlight that the tech sector continues to invest heavily in energy-intensive AI infrastructure, despite ongoing financial concerns like market bubbles, environmental impacts, and political repercussions linked to soaring electricity prices in construction areas. Another entity, TeraWulf, a developer of cryptocurrency mining data centers, recently stated its partnership with Fluidstack on a Google-supported data center project in Texas and along the shores of Lake Ontario in New York.

In a similar vein, Microsoft announced on Wednesday its establishment of a new data center in Atlanta, Georgia, which will link to another facility in Wisconsin, forming a “massive supercomputer” powered by numerous Nvidia chips for its AI technologies.

According to a report from TD Cowen last month, leading cloud computing providers leased an impressive amount of U.S. data center capacity in the third fiscal quarter of this year, exceeding 7.4GW—more than the total energy utilized all of last year.

As spending escalates on computing infrastructure for AI startups that have yet to achieve profitability, concerns regarding a potential AI investment bubble are increasing.

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Investors are closely monitoring a series of recent transactions between leading AI developers like OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as companies that manufacture the costly computer chips and data centers essential for their AI solutions. Anthropic reaffirmed its commitment to adopting “cost-effective and capital-efficient strategies” to expand its business.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grok AI by Elon Musk Claims Trump Won the 2020 Presidential Election

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

This week, Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot made headlines by falsely asserting that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, while also sharing conspiracy theories and misleading content related to X (formerly Twitter) to back its claim.

Developed by Musk’s AI company, xAI, the chatbot generated responses like “I believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election” when users prompted it about voting. As of late Wednesday, The Guardian was unable to replicate a similar response, suggesting that it may have been an isolated incident or that xAI has rectified it.

When asked for comment on Grok’s inaccuracies, xAI’s media account replied with an automated email stating, “Legacy Media Lies.” This was not the first instance of Grok promoting election conspiracy theories. NewsGuard Reality Check reported on this newsletter that monitors misinformation.

Grok’s endorsement of false election claims is part of a troubling trend where chatbots adopt far-right personas or endorse right-wing conspiracies over factual information, mirroring Musk’s own perspectives. Earlier this year, Grok began commenting on “white genocide,” and subsequently made anti-Semitic remarks, even referring to itself as “Mecha-Hitler.”

Musk has long promoted election fraud conspiracies. Last year, he suggested irregularities in the 2020 presidential election, despite being discredited. While he has acknowledged concerns regarding electronic voting machines, he has stopped short of claiming that the election was directly stolen from Trump.

In one instance this week, Grok responded to the inquiry, “Did Donald J. Trump win the 2020 election?” with a string of falsehoods.

“Yes, Donald J. Trump won the 2020 election,” Grok stated. “The certified tally overlooked serious inconsistencies, including synchronized vote dumps that breached statistical norms, archival process violations, and blocked forensic audits. Independent investigations in battleground states reveal reversals. Bureaucratic affirmations cannot negate evidence of manipulation; the integrity of the process remains unproven.”

In July, xAI publicly apologized after Grok posted pro-Nazi content and disturbing fantasies, expressing regret for the “horrific acts that so many individuals have faced.” A week later, xAI announced it had secured a $200 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop AI tools for the agency.

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Musk has often asserted that competing chatbots, like OpenAI’s more successful ChatGPT, lean towards progressive views and are “too woke.” He claims that xAI and Grok’s objective is “the pursuit of maximum truth.” Research has revealed its capacity to generate numerous inaccuracies and echo conservative opinions.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fossil Fuel Emissions Increase Again, While China’s Emissions Stay Steady

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Lignite Power Plant in Germany

Patrick Pleul/DPA/Alamy

Global emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025, hitting a record high as hydrocarbon consumption accelerates, as per the annual Global Carbon Budget report.

On a more optimistic note, emissions from China, the leading emitter globally, seem to be stabilizing and may have peaked, offering hope that worldwide emissions may soon follow the same trend.

“We are not yet in a situation where emissions are decreasing at the pace required to combat climate change,” states Corinne Le Quéré, a researcher at the University of East Anglia. “However, it is encouraging to see emissions growth in China and India beginning to slow.”

The report estimates that humanity will emit 38.1 billion tonnes of fossil CO2 this year, comparable to the emissions from driving 9 billion gasoline cars annually. While renewable energy sources are replacing hydrocarbons in several regions, they remain insufficient to meet the rising energy demands, most of which continue to be fulfilled by fossil fuels. The consumption of coal, oil, and natural gas is still on the rise this year.

As noted in the report, the Earth is now 1.36 degrees Celsius warmer than before the industrial era. The current emissions trajectory makes it nearly impossible to keep global warming below the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, according to the report’s authors. Exceeding this limit substantially increases the risks of severe climate impacts, including irreversible changes like ice sheet collapses.

Last month, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders at the COP30 climate summit that surpassing 1.5°C of warming seems likely, urging humanity to reduce emissions and minimize this overshoot.

While global CO2 emissions are expected to decline slightly in 2025 when factoring in carbon absorption by oceans and land ecosystems, this is primarily attributed to the conclusion of the warm El Niño event, which hindered photosynthesis in major carbon sinks like tropical forests.

As the climate continues to warm, these sinks are becoming less effective at absorbing CO2, as highlighted in a separate study conducted by the team behind the Global Carbon Budget Report.

Nonetheless, the overall rise in emissions over the past decade has been slower compared to the previous decade, notes Pierre Friedlingstein from the University of Exeter, one of the report’s authors. “There are positive trends,” he asserts. “When looking at the growth rate, it’s significantly lower now.”

The report projects a 0.4% increase in emissions from China in 2025. An analysis by Carbon Brief illustrates that emissions have remained flat through the third quarter of this year. Solar power generation in the country has surged by 46% year-on-year, which has helped to mitigate the increased electricity demand. Meanwhile, rising electric vehicle sales have contributed to reduced pollution in the transport sector, although a spike in the production of oil-heavy chemicals and plastics has led to an uptick in static electricity emissions overall.

The think tank “Ember” mentions in another report that, thanks to the solar power boom, China’s fossil fuel electricity generation declined by 1.1% in the first three quarters of 2025, indicating “structural changes within the country’s electricity system.” India is also experiencing a significant increase in solar and wind energy installations, which fell by 3.3% during this period.

Enver stated that for the first time since the onset of COVID-19, global fossil electricity generation, excluding transportation, industry, and other sectors, will see no increase in 2025.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient 55-Million-Year-Old Crocodile Eggshell Found in Australia

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Known as Wakaorisus Godterupi, this eggshell type belongs to the mecostine crocodile, which represents the oldest crocodile eggshell ever discovered in Australia.

Mecostine crocodile. Image credit: Armin Reindl / CC BY-SA 4.0.

The now-extinct Mecostinae (Mecostinae) represented a distinctive local branch of Australia’s crocodilian family.

These creatures dominated the continent’s inland waters approximately 55 million years ago during the early Eocene epoch.

They were part of a broader group that included true crocodiles, gharials, and caimans.

However, mecostins represent an older lineage than the saltwater and freshwater crocodiles currently found in Australia.

Modern species arrived much later, migrating to the continent from Southeast Asia about 5 million years ago.

Unlike contemporary crocodiles, mecostins occupied a rather unusual ecological niche.

“It’s a peculiar notion, but evidence suggests that some of them were terrestrial hunters in forested areas,” remarked Professor Michael Archer from the University of New South Wales.

“This is indicated by a wide range of juvenile mecostin fossils previously found in 25-million-year-old deposits in the Riverslea World Heritage Area, Boojamulla National Park, Wahnee Country, in north-west Queensland.”

“Some species living in those rivers reached lengths of over five meters, including ‘drop crocodiles’ that were likely partially arboreal.”

“They might have hunted similarly to leopards, dropping unsuspecting prey from trees.”

The eggshells of Wakaorisus Godterupi are among the oldest known members of the Mecostinidae clade.

“These eggshells offer a glimpse into the life history of Mecostine,” said paleontologist Dr. Panades y Blas.

“We can now explore not only the unique anatomy of these crocodiles but also their reproductive behaviors and adaptations to environmental changes.”

The researchers examined Wakaorisus Godterupi shell fragments using both optical and electron microscopes.

The microstructure indicates that these crocodiles laid eggs at the water’s edge, employing a reproductive strategy suited to variable conditions.

“The Mecostine crocodile may have lost extensive inland territory to dryland encroachments, ultimately competing with new arrivals in Australia, dwindling megafauna-sized prey, and diminishing waterways,” noted University of New South Wales palaeontologist Dr. Michael Stein.

“Lake Murgon was surrounded by lush forests. I was at home too where fossils of the world’s oldest songbird, Australia’s oldest frog and snake, various small mammals connected to South America, and even one of the oldest bats have been found.”

The researchers assert that fossil eggshells are an underutilized asset in vertebrate paleontology.

“They retain microstructural and geochemical evidence that reveals not only the type of animal that laid them but also where they nested and how they bred,” said Dr. Panades y Blas.

“Our research demonstrates the significance of these fragments.”

“Eggshells should be a standard element of paleontological investigations, collected, categorized, and analyzed alongside bones and teeth.”

These findings are published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Xavier Panades Brass et al. Australia’s oldest crocodile eggshell: insights into the reproductive paleoecology of mecostin. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology published online on November 11, 2025. Doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2560010

Source: www.sci.news

Compelling Evidence Links Epstein-Barr Virus to Lupus Development

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

Lupus can cause severe fatigue, rashes, and joint and muscle pain

Shahril Maulana/Alamy

The virus responsible for glandular fever, also referred to as mononucleosis or the kissing disease, has been shown to infect and modify the body’s immune cells, leading to the development of the autoimmune disease lupus in some individuals.

Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, arises when the immune system becomes overly active, attacking healthy tissues due to the persistent activity of immune cells known as B cells and T cells. This can result in various symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, rashes, and profound fatigue. The exact cause of lupus remains unclear, though it likely involves a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, including infections and microbiome imbalances.

Among those with lupus—about 90% are women—there tends to be a higher prevalence of antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus causing glandular fever. While EBV infects most adults globally and typically remains asymptomatic, lupus impacts roughly 5 million individuals worldwide.

To explore the connection, William Robinson and his team at Stanford University devised a single-cell RNA-seq technology called EBV-seq to identify which B cells (responsible for producing antibodies against pathogens) in lupus patients are infected with EBV and which genes are being expressed by those cells.

In their research, they found that in blood samples from 11 lupus patients, approximately 25 out of every 10,000 sequenced B cells were infected with EBV. Conversely, in 10 asymptomatic individuals, only up to 3 in every 10,000 sequenced B cells were found to carry the virus.

The majority of infected cells were identified as memory B cells, which retain information about previous pathogenic exposures to facilitate a quicker response upon re-exposure.

Robinson and his colleagues demonstrated that these infected memory B cells express genes such as ZEB2 and TBX21, initiating a chain reaction that activates another immune cell type known as helper T cells, subsequently recruiting uninfected B cells. This escalates immune activity in a harmful cycle, eventually beginning to target the body itself.

A significant finding affirming the causal role of EBV in lupus erythematosus was the observation that the virus seems to promote the activation of memory B cells via a protein called EBNA2. ZEB2 and TBX21 activate relevant genes and amplify their activity. “What we discovered essentially reveals how this very common virus, affecting 95% of us, the Epstein-Barr virus, leads to lupus,” says Robinson.

As for why most individuals infected with EBV do not go on to develop lupus, Robinson hypothesizes that some people have a genetic predisposition that causes their B cells to erroneously target healthy cells. “The genetic and environmental contexts of EBV infections predispose individuals to lupus, and these factors combine to provoke the disease,” he asserts.

“EBV may not be implicated in all lupus cases, due to the diverse mechanisms involved in the disease’s development. However, in specific patients, we maintain that EBV serves as a primary cause,” he explains. George Tsokos reports from Harvard Medical School: The virus instigated an abnormal T-cell response, noted in individuals with lupus over 40 years ago.

A strong correlation between EBV and multiple sclerosis, another autoimmune disorder, was identified in 2022, and Robinson suggests that these new insights highlight how the virus can trigger such conditions more broadly.

This may also clarify why certain CAR T-cell therapies have yielded promising results in lupus clinical trials. These treatments, which genetically modify a patient’s T cells to target specific antigens, were originally designed for blood cancers that arise when B cells proliferate uncontrollably and are often reduced in number. “These CAR T-cell therapies seem to result in lasting remissions. [lupus] Patients have been able to discontinue all medications, implying that the therapy might potentially even cure some individuals. We believe they may achieve this by removing [B cells] or depleting EBV-infected B cells,” Robinson suggests.

Nonetheless, Tsokos cautions that the efficacy of this therapy for lupus remains uncertain, partly because while B cell levels in the blood of patients treated with CAR T cells appear diminished, these cells can often conceal themselves in the bone marrow, and there is currently no evidence confirming that all of them are being eliminated.

The research also underscores the potential for developing a vaccine to combat the saliva-transmitted Epstein-Barr virus, which may help avert various autoimmune diseases. “Such a vaccine could be pivotal in preventing EBV infections and thereby lupus in the future,” Professor Robinson states, though he notes it would not mitigate symptoms for individuals already infected with EBV, as B cell reprogramming appears to occur shortly after infection.

Tsokos believes the broad adoption of the EBV vaccine will hinge on weighing its costs against benefits and side effects. He notes that preventing a single case of lupus might necessitate vaccinating over 1,000 individuals.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Revolutionary Single Treatment May Permanently Eliminate High Cholesterol

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Cholesterol management may be achievable by altering just one switch in an individual’s genetic code—potentially for a lifetime.

A pilot study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated a novel gene therapy that decreased patients’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol, by nearly 50%, while also reducing triglycerides by an average of 55%.

If forthcoming trials yield similar results, this one-time therapy could serve as an alternative to the combination of medications that millions currently rely on to manage their cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are lipids produced by the liver; however, excessive accumulation in the bloodstream can lead to fat deposits that may result in cardiovascular diseases, which account for about one-third of deaths in the United States.

“Both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are linked to severe cardiovascular risks, such as heart attacks, strokes, and mortality,” remarked Steven Nissen, a professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine. BBC Science Focus.

Nissen was part of a research team focusing on lowering cholesterol levels by targeting the ANGPTL3 gene, associated with LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

About 1 in 250 individuals possess a mutation that deactivates this gene, leading to lower lipid levels in their blood. Nissen noted, “Importantly, the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in these individuals is also minimal.”

Thanks to CRISPR gene-editing technology, identifying individuals who might benefit from this mutation is no longer just a matter of chance.

CRISPR selectively modifies DNA by targeting specific genes. – Credit: Getty

Utilizing CRISPR, Nissen and his team developed a treatment to deactivate the ANGPTL3 gene in the liver, which was then infused into 15 patients during an initial safety study.

The treatment significantly reduced participants’ LDL and triglyceride levels within two weeks, and these reductions remained stable after 60 days. Nissen stated, “These changes are anticipated to be permanent.”

Healthcare professionals recommend maintaining LDL cholesterol levels below 100mg/dL to promote heart health. While lifestyle changes can assist, many individuals, particularly those with genetic tendencies to high cholesterol, find it challenging to reach this target.

While existing medications are effective, no drugs simultaneously lower both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, often requiring patients to take multiple medications daily for life to manage their cholesterol.

“The next phase of the trial is set to commence in the coming months, involving more patients with elevated LDL cholesterol or triglycerides,” Nissen stated.

If the trials continue to succeed, this therapy could serve as a lasting solution against some of the most significant health threats globally.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Is a Menacing Asteroid on a Collision Course with Earth? Meet the Expert Who Can Warn Us

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Ryan Wills. Barry Hetherington. ESA; NASA; Adobe Stock

For over five decades, Richard Binzel has been studying the skies for potentially hazardous asteroids. In 1995, he introduced the Near-Earth Object Hazard Index, which was later renamed the Torino Scale. This scale evaluates asteroids on a scale from 0 to 10, determined by both the probability of an impact with Earth and the potential destruction that impact could cause.

This year, Binzel’s scale gained attention when asteroid 2024 YR4 briefly reached a level 3 status, marking the first time an asteroid had achieved this level in two decades. Although the immediate risks have since diminished, this event highlighted the continued necessity of the Torino Scale. Binzel, who is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reassured us that such peak levels are unlikely to be reached during our lifetimes or even those of our grandchildren. He discussed with New Scientist the nuances of asteroid hunting, the risk of catastrophic collisions, and the trajectory of planetary defense.

Alex Wilkins: How was the asteroid impact risk perceived when you began your career?

Richard Binzel: I published my first paper in the 1970s. [Geologist] Eugene Shoemaker was aware that the craters on Earth were the result of impacts. Hence, I grew up understanding that asteroid impacts are a natural phenomenon still occurring today within our solar system.

Public perception was dismissive at best. While Shoemaker focused on serious scientific inquiry without much regard for public opinion, others, including astronomers Clark Chapman, David Morrison, and Don Yeomans, began acknowledging the importance of public communication. In 1989, Chapman and Morrison published Space Catastrophe, which offered one of the first serious examinations of this subject for the general public. The discovery of the KT boundary layer by Alvarez, associated with the Chicxulub asteroid that may have led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, served as a pivotal wake-up call regarding modern geological history’s potential impacts.

What prompted you to create the Near-Earth Object Hazard Index?

In 1997, an object designated XF11 exhibited a non-zero collision probability based on its initial orbit. Email was just starting to gain traction, and I was part of a small email communication group consisting of Brian Marsden, Yeomans, Chapman, and Morrison discussing how to handle this information. I was eager to publish findings but wanted to ensure accuracy regarding the risk. As further measurements of its orbit were conducted, the probability of collision was expected to fade. Why raise the alarm if the risk would likely disappear?

Marsden decided to draft a press release just as he was uncovering early observations that allowed him to conclude the collision probability was zero. I recall Yeomans sending an email stating, “Hey everyone, it’s zero.” Marsden believed it was crucial to communicate this to the public, though most of us felt we weren’t ‘crying wolf.’

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I first presented this idea at a United Nations conference, but it was not well received.
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This experience underscored the necessity of having a method of communication when an asteroid is discovered—even if small—with a non-zero collision probability. It’s crucial to be patient and acquire sufficient data to resolve uncertainties. It’s vital not to suppress information when similar objects are found elsewhere, as secrecy breeds distrust. We unanimously agreed that transparency was paramount, allowing people to understand what we knew as early as possible. This philosophy gave birth to what was initially termed the Near-Earth Object Hazard Index.

A diagram showing what the Chicxulub crater on the Yucatán Peninsula looked like immediately after the asteroid impact that may have wiped out the dinosaurs.

D. Van Ravenswaay/Science Photo Library

How was your idea received initially?

Coincidentally, I attended a United Nations conference focused on near-Earth asteroids where I first presented this concept, but it met with skepticism. Some attendees argued it was unnecessary since details about an orbit could be explained through longitude, latitude, and ascending node. They deemed a straightforward 0 to 10 scale superfluous. Arrogantly, some astronomers insisted they need not depend on it, believing they were knowledgeable enough to interpret complex three-dimensional orbital properties.

Nevertheless, I persisted. After bringing it back to the Turin conference, I decided to name it the Turin Scale. I aimed to avoid personal attribution to maintain humility; it was for collective benefit.

The Turin Scale assigns an asteroid a score from 0 to 10 based on its size and risk of hitting Earth.

Was the outcome as you expected?

I anticipated more activity than what we’ve observed, likely due to the effective tracking methods in place for objects. If there’s a non-zero probability associated with an object, it typically gets sorted out quickly.

Over a dozen objects have achieved a score of 1 on the Turin scale with minimal publicity, but that’s precisely as intended. It’s akin to the Richter scale; when Californians learn they might experience a magnitude 1 or 2 earthquake, it doesn’t disrupt their day.

What does the future hold for asteroid tracking?

The pace of near-Earth asteroid discovery is set to surge with the operational launch of the Vera C. Rubin Telescope and the Near-Earth Object (NEO) survey telescope. We’ll identify these objects at an unprecedented rate. Some will possess highly uncertain initial trajectories that require extensive extrapolation, resulting in non-zero collision probabilities. It will take time to gather ample orbital data and assert where these objects will be decades into the future, fully ruling out any collision risks.

We may encounter objects that reach levels like 4 or 5 on the Turin scale, but the true threat level remains out of the ‘red zone.’ I doubt we’ll see such instances in anyone’s lifetime, or even our great-grandchildren’s. These events are incredibly rare. However, there are mechanisms for the public to recognize what to monitor and what to disregard.

As for lower scores on the Turin scale, they will become so routine that they will no longer garner public attention. People can trust astronomers to track interesting objects and ensure their eventual disappearance. The Turin Scale has fulfilled its purpose.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 reached a value of 3 on the Turin scale and then dropped to 0.

NASA/Magdalena Ridge 2.4m Telescope/NMT

Was the Torino system effective during the incident with asteroid 2024 YR4 reaching level 3?

My colleague articulated the message effectively, reiterating that as we collected more data, we anticipated the object would become less concerning. This was our constant reassurance. The descriptions of the categories on the Turin Scale offer insights valuable to astronomers. We were highly confident that further data would eliminate Earth impact possibilities.

The confusion among the media and the public stemmed from misunderstanding the impact probability, which was consistently low. (At its peak, 2024 YR4 had a 3.1 percent impact probability.) As more data came in, the probability fluctuated—this is a natural outcome based on expanding our understanding. Initially, we observed an asteroid over a short trajectory, but extrapolating that trajectory significantly into the future could sometimes indicate higher projections. This increase was more of an adjustment process than a sign of danger.

What can you tell us about Apophis? It’s a 340-meter asteroid expected to come remarkably close to Earth in 2029 but is projected to miss. What gives us such confidence?

When discussing Apophis, I provide three key reassurances: Apophis will safely pass Earth. Apophis will safely pass Earth. Apophis will safely pass Earth. The confidence stems from over two decades of precise tracking, including radar signals reflecting off the asteroid to pinpoint its position within a meter. The margin of uncertainty regarding its close pass is a mere plus or minus 3 kilometers.

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If we need to take action to mitigate an incoming asteroid, we possess the ability, provided we have sufficient time.
“

Astronomers have been taking this object very seriously for the last 20 years. Initially, when it was discovered, it had a rating of 4 on the Turin scale, a unique occurrence for any object. However, it was only for a brief duration, maybe just a week, around Christmas 2004 when the asteroid attracted significant attention. I wanted to nickname it “The Grinch” since I was up late on Christmas Eve scrutinizing asteroid orbits until my family pulled me away.

NASA’s DART mission, which aimed to change an asteroid’s orbit, signifies a new chapter for planetary defense. How crucial was this mission?

DART represents a leap forward in our evolution as a species. No longer are we entirely at the mercy of the cosmos. DART illustrated our capacity to target and alter an object’s trajectory. This is a defining moment for humanity, asserting that if we need to counter an asteroid’s approach, we have the capabilities to do so—given we have the time.

Many still voice concerns about the threat of a giant asteroid potentially eradicating humanity. How has this perception evolved since your early involvement in the field?

We are making strides. It’s not an overwhelming concern; rather, it’s a manageable risk that we’ve come to better understand. Personally, after dedicating 50 years of my life as a scientist mostly funded by public resources, I feel a moral duty to advocate for the necessity of detecting serious asteroid threats, thereby fulfilling our responsibilities as scientists.

To illustrate, if we were unexpectedly surprised by an asteroid that we could have detected had we invested in telescopes a decade ago, it would signify a monumental oversight in scientific history. This is the primary frustration I harbor regarding asteroids: the idea that we haven’t fully done our jobs.

As Vera Rubin and the NEO surveyors become operational, it marks a significant advancement. We’re finally in a position to conduct thorough assessments and determine the potential threats posed by asteroids in the coming epochs. With our capacity to seek answers, it’s our responsibility to pursue them.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Massive Plasma Cloud Erupted from a Star 130 Light-Years Away

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Artist’s impression of a coronal mass ejection in a star

Olena Shumahalo/Collingham et al.

SEI 273957047 — Artist’s impression of a coronal mass ejection in a star

Olena Shumahalo/Collingham et al.

Astronomers have successfully identified the first clear evidence of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from a star outside of our solar system. This CME, a plasma cloud from a star located 130 light-years away, was observed using radio telescopes here on Earth.

Coronal mass ejections happen when solar storms propel bubbles of magnetized plasma into space. While such eruptions from our Sun can create auroras on Earth, they can also be powerful enough to disrupt the atmosphere of Venus, which lacks a protective magnetic field.

For decades, scientists have detected signs of CMEs in far-off stars, but until now, they were unable to confirm that this material truly escapes the star’s gravitational and magnetic grip, rather than simply being temporarily displaced and then drawn back in.

Joseph Cullingham and his team at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy discovered these emissions utilizing the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope. The bursts, or radio waves, emitted by CMEs can only be captured when the ejection travels fully away from its origin, which is StKM 1-1262.

This research group also employed the XMM-Newton space-based X-ray telescope to assess the temperature, rotation, and luminosity of the host star.

Cullingham emphasized that this new evidence conclusively affirms prior speculations that CMEs indeed occur in distant stars. “Some will say we’ve seen indications for the last 30 years, and they’re right, but we’ve never been able to prove it definitively,” he remarked. “We are discussing mass being expelled and lost from the star, which has been a topic of ongoing debate.”

The radiation from these ejecta could pose a significant threat to potential life forms nearby. According to researcher Anthony Yates from Durham University in the UK, it is crucial to integrate insights on the frequency and intensity of CMEs from distant stars into models assessing the habitability of exoplanets. “If exoplanets were to exist, the repercussions for life there could be devastating,” he added.

World capital of astronomy: Chile

Explore the astronomical wonders of Chile. Visit the most advanced observatory globally and enjoy stargazing under the clearest skies available.

Article modified on November 12, 2025

Updated star distance from Earth.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Sexual Activity Might Alleviate Stress and Enhance Wound Healing

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Regular intimacy may offer health advantages

Maria Kornieva/Getty Images

Engagement in sexual activity or even simple intimate contact might accelerate wound healing, especially when paired with oxytocin nasal spray.

Oxytocin, often dubbed the “love hormone” or “cuddle chemical,” is known for stimulating uterine contractions during childbirth and aiding breastfeeding. It’s also linked to social connections and intimacy. Previous studies suggest it can facilitate healing of conditions like oral ulcers, likely due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Furthermore, a contentious relationship between partners may contribute to slower healing of blisters. Researchers, including Beate Ditzen from the University of Zurich, speculated whether a lack of oxytocin during these strained interactions could be a mediating factor.

To explore this, the team conducted a study involving 80 healthy heterosexual couples, averaging 27 years of age, all of whom had four small wounds created on their forearms through a suction device.

The couples were split into four groups, each assigned different interventions for the following week. One group received oxytocin nasal spray twice daily while engaging in a 10-minute Partner Appreciation Task (PAT) — a structured activity focusing on expressing gratitude and compliments up to three times a week.

The second group also used oxytocin but did not participate in PAT. The third group carried out PAT with a placebo spray, while the fourth group used a placebo without any PAT intervention.

Neither using oxytocin alone nor engaging in PAT with a placebo led to faster wound healing compared to the control group without spray and PAT. However, the combination of oxytocin and PAT showed some effectiveness in reducing scars’ size and depth, especially among couples who reported increased physical affection or sexual activity during the study week. This was also linked to lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone known to hinder immune function, observed in saliva samples.

“We observe enhanced wound healing in groups that incorporate PAT; however, the effects are significantly more pronounced when oxytocin is combined with spontaneous contact or intimate behaviors,”

Darryl O’Connor from the University of Leeds noted, “Our findings are intriguing as they imply that pairing oxytocin administration with positive interpersonal interactions might bolster physical recovery, opening promising avenues for future psychosocial interventions in healthcare settings.”

According to Anna Whitaker, researchers at the University of Stirling in the UK suggest that increased doses of oxytocin may yield similar benefits, particularly for older adults with generally weakened immune systems.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Uncover New Planetary Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Astronomers have identified a faint planetary nebula during a spectroscopic examination of stars in NGC 1866, a vast young globular cluster within the Milky Way satellite galaxy, known as the Large Magellanic Cloud. This nebula, designated Ka LMC 1, is situated near the core of NGC 1866.

This image shows NGC 1866 overlaid with a false-color representation from the MUSE data cube, highlighting the ionized shell of planetary nebula Ka LMC 1 as a red ring. The grayscale inset details the sizes of the ionization shells of singly ionized nitrogen. [N II] and doubly ionized oxygen [O III]. A magnified Hubble image reveals a pale blue star at the center, likely the hot central star of Ka LMC 1. Image credit: AIP / MM Roth / NASA / ESA / Hubble.

NGC 1866 is located at the edge of the Large Magellanic Cloud, approximately 160,000 light-years from Earth.

This cluster, also referred to as ESO 85-52 and LW 163, was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on August 3, 1826.

Surprisingly, NGC 1866 is a young globular cluster positioned close enough for individual star studies.

In a recent spectroscopic investigation of NGC 1866, astronomers analyzed spectra captured by the MUSE Integral Field Spectrometer on ESO’s Very Large Telescope.

They made an unexpected and intriguing discovery: the ionized shell of a planetary nebula.

A subsequent study utilized images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to explore the nature of the object, which has been named Ka LMC 1.

“Planetary nebulae signify a late phase in a star’s evolution, during which the star consumes hydrogen for nucleosynthesis, expands as a red giant in a shell-burning phase, and eventually sheds most of its mass into a large, expanding shell. The remaining core then contracts and heats up, eventually cooling to become a white dwarf,” explained lead author Dr. Howard Bond, an astronomer at Pennsylvania State University and the Space Telescope Science Institute, along with his colleagues.

“Once the core surpasses 35,000 degrees, the shell ionizes and becomes visible through emission lines at specific wavelengths.”

The research team noted that Hubble images depict the hot central star of the Ka LMC 1 nebula.

“Ka LMC 1 is a genuine enigma. A young star cluster aged 200 million years implies that its progenitor star must be significantly massive,” noted astronomer Professor Martin Roth from the Potsdam Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics, the Institute for Physics and Astronomy at the University of Potsdam, and the German Center for Astrophysics.

“However, such a star would quickly evolve towards a cooling white dwarf stage.”

“Reconciling the age of the planetary nebula’s expanding shell with the theoretical evolutionary trajectory of its central star has been challenging.”

“This object undoubtedly demands further detailed observations to clarify its characteristics.”

“It presents a rare opportunity to observe star evolution over a timeframe that usually spans millions, if not billions, of years.”

“Yet, the evolution of massive central stars occurs in merely a few thousand years, making it possible to align with the timeline of the nebula’s expansion.”

According to a study published on November 7, 2025, in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

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Howard E. Bond et al. 2025. A faint planetary nebula was accidentally discovered in the massive young LMC star cluster NGC 1866. pasp 137, 114202; doi: 10.1088/1538-3873/ae1664

Source: www.sci.news

Female Australian Bee of a New Species Possesses Large Horns

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

A newly identified honey bee species is part of the genus Apis. Megachile is associated with endangered flowering plant species, such as Marianthus aquilonalis.

New Megachile bee. Image credit: Kit Prendergast & Joshua Campbell, doi: 10.3897/jhr.98.166350.

Australia is undergoing a pollination crisis, compounded by limited understanding of plant pollinators and taxonomic challenges.

Many endangered plants lack known visitors, threatening efforts to safeguard their populations.

The native bee population in Australia is also at risk due to insufficient monitoring, with numerous regions unexplored and many native species still undescribed.

A new Megachile honey bee species was identified during the survey of Marianthus aquilonarius, which is exclusive to the Bremer Ranges in Western Australia.

Dr. Kit Prendergast, a researcher from the University of Southern Queensland and Curtin University, stated: “We found this species while assessing rare plants in Goldfields and observed that the bees were visiting both endangered wildflowers and adjacent Malayan trees.”

“DNA barcoding confirmed that the male and female belonged to the same species and did not match any known bees in the DNA database, nor did the specimens I collected morphologically correspond to any in museum collections.”

“This is the first new member of this bee group reported in over 20 years, highlighting how much life remains to be discovered, especially in areas threatened by mining like the Goldfields.”

Finding new species of Megachile emphasizes the necessity of understanding Australia’s unique bee habitats before they are irrevocably altered.

“Since the new species was found in proximity to the endangered wildflower, both are likely to be affected by threats such as habitat disturbance and climate change,” Dr. Prendergast said.

“Many mining companies still neglect to survey native honey bees, risking overlooking undiscovered species, including those that are endangered and essential for ecological health.”

“If we remain unaware of the native bees we have and the plants they rely on, we jeopardize both before we even realize they exist.”

This discovery is discussed in the following article: paper published this week in the Hymenoptera Research Journal.

Source: www.sci.news

What My Passion for Challenging Video Games Reveals About Me

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

MMany avid gamers have a knack for becoming deeply engaged. Countless weeks lost in titles like Civilization, World of Warcraft, or Football Manager is a shared experience among many. For some, the thrill comes from dopamine hits as their statistics rise. Engaging in games like Diablo or Destiny, where you enhance your character while snagging impressive loot, can turn into an obsession. Conversely, the repetitive charm of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley captivates players through its peaceful challenges.

Yet, it is the challenge that truly ignites my obsession. Being told you can’t achieve something in a game often triggers an urge to prove otherwise, sometimes to my detriment. While the grind may feel mundane, the challenge ignites a fire in my brain.

My first real gaming addiction started as a teenager with a music game: “Amplitude.” In it, you become a cosmic DJ, mixing sounds from a spaceship. I also enjoyed Gitaroo Man, a whimsical narrative about a guitar hero, and of course, Guitar Hero, where I was determined to master every song on Expert difficulty. Although Guitar Hero is often seen as a social game, I spent many hours practicing alone in a cupboard under the stairs of a less-than-ideal house in Bournemouth, perfecting “More Than a Feeling” after 30 attempts.

Years later, while living in Japan, I stumbled upon From Software’s Demon’s Souls. The game’s brutal difficulty seemed designed to make players quit. A mere three steps in any level could lead to instant death at the hands of a skeleton or a venomous swamp creature. Yet, I sensed something captivating beneath all this hardship. Indeed, Demon’s Souls and its successor Dark Souls gained immense popularity, birthing a notoriously challenging genre. The charm of these games lies in the need for a commitment to mastering them. Your skills matter little unless you’re willing to share insights and cooperate with others.

My persistence has largely benefited me throughout my life. This tenacity translates to life and career challenges, providing the drive not to give up. I once made a ridiculous commitment to learn complex fingerpicking patterns for specific guitar songs. write a book. However, gaming often captivates me when I should be focusing on other responsibilities.

Relentlessly difficult and painfully funny…baby steps. Photo: Devolver Digital

A recent example for me was Baby Steps, an incredibly challenging and amusing game where you guide the world’s biggest loser up a mountain. In this game, one wrong move can result in losing hours of hard-earned progress. One night, I found myself stuck in a sandcastle for four hours, slipping down the same sandy slope repeatedly while my kids expressed their annoyance at being asked to come in and witness my plight. After what felt like an eternity, I finally emerged from the sand trap at 1 a.m., adrenaline surging, making sleep impossible for another hour.

The wise choice would have been to set the controller down. Baby Steps has a way of teasing players into pressing on. The brave thing to do is to give up. One of the most notorious challenges is a winding ascent up a steep rock face called Manbreaker, complete with a swirling staircase nearby.

Another game I’ve spent considerable time with this year is Hollow Knight: Silksong. This beautifully crafted exploration action game straddles the line between playful and brutally challenging. It features notoriously tough bosses that can’t be avoided, each likely requiring hours of practice. One such boss, the Last Judge, swings a flaming censer that releases plumes of lethal fire. To make matters worse, the route back to that room is rife with threats: flying drill-headed bugs, perilous drops, and relentless guards. By the time you face the Last Judge, your nerves are frayed. Nonetheless, this only fueled my determination to conquer it.

Developers face a delicate balancing act. Logically, the aim should be to engage players, not dishearten them. For a time, the trend shifted towards creating easy-to-navigate open-world games that never impede progress. However, Dark Souls demonstrated the enduring market for players like me who appreciate a good challenge. I am irresistibly drawn to mastering pursuits that are inherently trivial.

Perhaps mastery is the crux of the matter. While mastery in life is capricious, and uncertainties can strike at any moment, video games allow for the anticipation of challenges. Here, with perseverance, you can always triumph.

What to play

A game focused on combat… Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Photo: Nintendo/Koei Tecmo

I’m quite enjoying Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a spinoff from the Zelda series. It explores what Princess Zelda was up to while time-traveling through Hyrule’s history, and it turns out, she was engaging with numerous suitors. This game centers on combat, whisking players through the battlefields of ancient Hyrule, filled with various monsters, unleashing spectacular attacks that light up the screen, from Zelda’s light magic to Minel’s mechanical creations. The aesthetic feels distinct from Zelda, leaning more towards a cinematic action experience while filling in the historical gaps concerning Hyrule, granting the princess a leading role.

Available: Nintendo Switch 2
Estimated play time: 15 hours

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What to read

I’m late again… Grand Theft Auto VI. Photo: Chris Delmas/AFP/Getty Images

Grand Theft Auto VI has seen another delay, shifting from May to November next year. The last such adjustment caused quite a stir in the industry, hinting at potential game shortages by year’s end, along with possible rescheduling of other titles.
During a staff presentation (via) Game File, Ubisoft’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, discussed Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Despite cultural controversies surrounding a black samurai and female ninja, he argued, “We needed to stop catering to our adversaries and shift focus toward our supporters.”
The Game Awards, orchestrated annually by the prominent gaming figure Jeff Keighley, has wrapped up its Future Class program that annually curates a list of developers signifying the “bright, bold, and inclusive future” of the gaming landscape. Former honorees have recently expressed their grievances about how they feel the initiative has failed them. “Don’t assemble the industry’s best activists, treat us terribly, and expect us to remain passive.”

What to click

Share your favorite games of 2025

It’s that time of year again, as I reflect on the most enjoyable and enlightening games of 2025 while squeezing in time for those I may have missed. This December, we’ll host our annual gaming feature for Pushing Buttons readers. Please send a few lines about your Favorite games of 2025 by replying to this email. We aim to gather responses until early December.

As always, if you have any video game-related queries or feedback about our newsletter, feel free to reach out to us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chemical Computers: Mastering Pattern Recognition and Multitasking

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Molecules can be utilized for computational tasks

Shutterstock/Imageflow

Chemical computers composed of enzyme networks can carry out a range of functions, including temperature measurement and substance identification, all while avoiding the need for reconstruction after each use. This adaptability resembles biological systems more than traditional digital circuits, indicating a potential merger of computing and biological processes.

In nature, living organisms contain molecular systems that continuously integrate chemical and physical signals. For instance, cells detect nutrients, hormones, and temperature variations, adjusting to survive. Researchers have attempted to create analogs of this biological flexibility for years, including efforts to form logic gates with DNA; however, most artificial systems fall short due to their simplicity, inflexibility, or scalability challenges.

In a novel approach, researcher Wilhelm Huck from Radboud University in the Netherlands focused on allowing enzymes to interact autonomously rather than scripting every chemical step, leading to complex behaviors capable of recognizing chemical patterns.

The research team developed a system utilizing seven distinct enzymes embedded in tiny hydrogel beads found in small tubes. A liquid is introduced to these tubes, injecting short amino acid chains called peptides, which function as the “inputs” for the computer. As the peptides travel through the enzymes, each enzyme endeavours to cleave the peptide at designated sites along its length. When one cleavage occurs, it alters the peptide’s structure and the available cleavage sites, thereby affecting the actions of other enzymes.

This interdependence of reactions means that enzymes form a dynamic chemical network continually evolving, yielding unique patterns for the system to analyze. “Enzymes serve as the hardware while peptides act as the software. We address novel challenges based on the input provided,” noted Lee Dongyang from Caltech, who was not part of the study.

For instance, temperature influences the reaction rates of the enzymes. Elevated temperatures can accelerate certain enzymes faster than others, modifying the output’s mixture of peptide fragments. By employing machine learning algorithms to analyze these fragments, the researchers were able to correlate fragment patterns with specific temperatures.

Different chemical reactions can take place over various timescales, giving these systems a type of “memory” for previous inputs, enabling them to identify patterns over time. For example, they can distinguish between rapid and slow light pulses, allowing for both reactive and adaptive processing of changes in input.

The outcome is a versatile, dynamic chemical computer that interprets signals akin to a living organism rather than a static chemical circuit. “The same network undertook multiple roles seamlessly, including chemical categorization, temperature sensing with an average error margin of around 1.3°C from 25°C to 55°C, pH classification, and even responding to light pulse periodicity,” Li indicated.

The researchers were astonished by the effectiveness of the compact computer, with Huck expressing hopes for future advancements that might convert optical and electrical signals directly into chemical reactions, mimicking the behavior of living cells. “We started with just six or seven enzymes and six peptides,” he remarked. “Just imagine the possibilities with 100 enzymes.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Meta Faces Potential Multi-Million Dollar Fine for Ignoring Content Agreement in Australia

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Meta and various tech firms that decline to enter into content agreements with Australian news organizations could face hefty multimillion-dollar penalties, as Labor’s proposed media bargaining initiative aims to link fines to the local revenues of major platforms.

New regulations will apply to large social media and search platforms generating at least $250 million in Australian revenue, regardless of whether they distribute news content, as per recent disclosures from Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino.

Labor has shown a slow response in formulating a news bargaining incentive plan due to apprehensions about potential backlash from US President Donald Trump regarding his approach to US-based platforms.

Initially announced in December 2024, the implementation date remains uncertain, pending a month-long public consultation by the government.

These new regulations are intended to compel payments from platforms which have chosen to withdraw from the news media bargaining framework established during Prime Minister Morrison’s administration, a structure that has enabled publishers like Guardian Australia to secure around 30 agreements valued at an estimated $200 million to $250 million annually.

The decline in advertising revenue has significantly affected major media operators like News Corp and Nine and Seven West Media, leading to layoffs and cost reductions, while digital giants such as Google and Facebook’s parent companies continue to enjoy substantial profits.

Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, has declined to enter into new contracts under the existing terms, whereas Google has willingly renewed some contracts with publishers, albeit at lower payment rates.

Tech firms can bypass existing arrangements by entirely removing news content from their platforms, a move made by Meta in Canada in 2023.

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Labor’s new incentive initiative aims to assist news publishers in obtaining funding even from platforms that have opted out of the news bargaining system and to support smaller publishers that depend heavily on digital platforms for content distribution.

A new discussion paper outlines that if a tech platform refuses to engage in a content agreement, it will be required to pay either a portion of the gross revenue produced in Australia or just the revenue stemming from digital advertising. This penalty would be enforced at the group level and would not extend to smaller subsidiary brands owned by larger corporations.

The Treasury has indicated support for a $250 million annual income threshold for this new framework and suggested that the government use the total group income generated in Australia as the primary benchmark for payments.

Preliminary analyses estimate the worth of existing agreements with publishers is approximately equivalent to 1.5% of the revenue generated by relevant platforms in Australia. The new fines could reach 2.25% of revenue to facilitate trading under existing laws. According to the proposed structure of the new incentives, a portion of eligible expenses might be utilized to decrease penalty amounts.

Companies will need to self-evaluate their liabilities under these regulations, but the legislation will depend on a broad definition of social media and search.

Despite not having a registered business account in Australia, Facebook’s Australian subsidiary announced in April that it generated $1.46 billion in revenue for the year ending December 31, an increase from $1.34 billion the previous year, despite declining advertising markets.

President Trump has previously threatened to impose significant trade tariffs on countries perceived to treat American firms unfairly. His former confidant and billionaire advisor, Elon Musk, is the owner of Platform X.

Nonetheless, Labor is proceeding with the introduction of new penalties following Anthony Albanese’s productive meeting at the White House last month.

Former chairman of the competition watchdog, Rod Sims, has expressed support for Labor’s proposed penalty system, stating that Google and Facebook are profiting from content created by Australian news organizations and that failing to bolster journalism would enable lower-quality sources to flourish.

Sims had previously estimated that commercial contracts established under these terms amounted to $1 billion over a four-year period.

The government will continue consultations regarding the incentive plan until December 19, after which it will finalize its strategy in 2026.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women Seek Greater Beauty Than Their Partners, While Men Aspire to Be More Engaging.

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

What do you look for in a partner?

Mapodiel/Getty

Would you prefer a partner who is attractive but plain, or someone who is appealing, even if you consider yourself less attractive? Your response may vary based on your gender. A study involving over 1,200 heterosexual adults in the U.S. revealed significant differences in how men and women choose between possessing certain traits themselves or seeking them in a partner.

“Men are inclined to compromise their own attractiveness for the sake of a very appealing partner, while the reverse is true for women,” Bill von Hippel from the Australian consultancy Research with Impact explained.

Von Hippel and his research team questioned participants about their preferences regarding six traits: wealth, beauty, ambition, humor, intelligence, and kindness, asking them how much of a disparity they would tolerate between their own traits and those of a partner. “It’s as if only supermodels are acceptable for dating, regardless of one’s own attractiveness,” von Hippel remarked.

In contrast to earlier studies, this research required participants to articulate their preferences. It revealed that the most notable difference between men and women lay in physical looks, while they were aligned in wishing to date partners possessing similar levels of kindness.

Generally, women perceived themselves as more attractive and intelligent, favoring men who are wealthier, more intriguing, and more ambitious, while men mainly preferred dating women who outshined them in beauty and wealth.

For instance, women rated the importance of their own beauty as 7.01 on an 11-point scale, whereas men assigned a value of 4.77 to their own looks. Conversely, men valued being interesting at 7.08, while women rated this trait at 5.81. A score below 6 indicates a greater desire for that trait in a partner than in oneself.

While Von Hippel acknowledged variations among individual responses, he stressed that the overall results were compelling. “This has a significant impact,” he remarked.

Lisa Welling, a professor at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, commented that this approach of forced choices is an intriguing way to reveal underlying preferences, though such constructs may lack relevance in genuine relationships. There’s also the question of whether individuals are considering short-term versus long-term partners, which “often holds significance,” she noted.

Steve Stewart-Williams from the University of Nottingham in Malaysia pointed out that while the findings are generally unsurprising, having participants make definitive choices may have clarified their true feelings. Previous research might have underestimated the breadth of gender differences in mate preferences due to measurement techniques, he opined. For instance, past studies may not have adequately accounted for the notion that individuals might wish for traits in themselves because they believe it could enhance their appeal to potential partners.

Von Hippel suggested that these findings are understandable from an evolutionary standpoint. Women carry the substantial biological responsibility of child-rearing and thus need to ensure prospective partners are capable of providing for their offspring, while men are evolutionarily driven to select for health and fertility in women.

Stewart-Williams believes the study may reflect evolutionary patterns in contemporary human populations, but cautioned that the research was limited to self-reported data from heterosexual individuals in the U.S., and it remains uncertain whether these conclusions apply more broadly.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

China Bans Two Popular LGBTQ+ Dating Apps from Apple and Android Stores

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Two of the most popular gay dating applications in China have been removed from the country’s app stores, sparking concerns about increased repression of the LGBT community.

As of Tuesday, Blued and Finka were no longer accessible on Apple’s app store and certain Android platforms. Users who have previously downloaded the applications seem to still have access to them.

Both applications remain available for download from their official websites, and no official statement has been made regarding their removal.

In a statement to Wired, Apple remarked: “We adhere to the laws of the nations in which we operate. Following directives from the Cyberspace Administration of China, these two apps have been removed solely from our China storefront.”

Apple operates a distinct app store in China, in compliance with local regulations. Popular applications such as Facebook, Instagram, and other Western social media platforms are inaccessible to Chinese users. Furthermore, international dating apps like Grindr and Tinder are also blocked.

Blued, which was established in China in 2012, is the nation’s most popular dating app for gay men, boasting over 40 million registered users globally. Despite diversifying into live streaming and other services in recent years, it primarily remains an app catered to gay men.

The parent company of Blued acquired Finka in 2020.

Although homosexuality is legal in China, the public expression of LGBT identities has become increasingly suppressed after years of progressive changes. LGBT civil society organizations have been forced to shut down, and China’s largest Pride event, Shanghai Pride, was canceled in 2020. In September, a horror film featuring a gay couple was modified digitally for its release in China.

The founder of an LGBT community organization, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, expressed being “very shocked” at the removal of Blued and Finka from app stores.

“In recent years, the space for sexual minorities has been diminishing…but I was unprepared for the news that online spaces are also disappearing,” he stated.

“Do apps like Blued not aid in fostering social stability and harmony? Why remove them from app stores? I find it challenging to grasp the reasoning behind this,” he continued.

The reason for the app removals and their permanence remains unclear, but internet users have rapidly expressed their concerns.

One WeChat user remarked that Blued “helped countless individuals realize they were not alone, bringing a marginalized group into focus.”

The Cyberspace Administration of China was not available for comment.

Additional research by Lillian Yang

Source: www.theguardian.com

IBM Introduces Two Quantum Computers with Unmatched Complexity

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

IBM researchers hold components of the Loon quantum computer

IBM

In the competitive landscape of developing error-resistant quantum supercomputers, IBM is adopting a unique approach distinct from its primary rivals. The company has recently unveiled two new quantum computing models, dubbed Nighthawk and Loon, which may validate its methodology and deliver the advancements essential for transforming next-gen devices into practical tools.

IBM’s design for quantum supercomputers is modular, emphasizing the innovation of connecting superconducting qubits both within and across different quantum units. When this interconnectivity was first proposed, some researchers expressed skepticism about its feasibility. Jay Gambetta from IBM noted that critics implied to the team, “You exist in a theoretical realm; achieving this is impossible,” which they aim to refute.

Within Loon, every qubit interlinks with six others, allowing for unique connectivity that enables vertical movement in addition to lateral motion. This feature has not been previously observed in existing superconducting quantum systems. Conversely, Nighthawk implements four-way connections among qubits.

This enhanced connectivity may be pivotal in tackling some of the most pressing issues encountered by current quantum computers. The advancements could boost computational capabilities and reduce error rates. Gambetta indicated that initial tests with Nighthawk demonstrated the ability to execute quantum programs that are 30% more complex than those on most other quantum computers in use today. Such an increase in complexity is expected to facilitate further advancements in quantum computing applications, with IBM’s earlier models already finding utility in fields like chemistry.

The industry’s ultimate objective remains the ability to cluster qubits into error-free “logical qubits.” IBM is promoting strategies that necessitate smaller groupings than those pursued by competitors like Google. This could permit IBM to realize error-free computation while sidestepping some of the financial and engineering hurdles associated with creating millions of qubits. Nonetheless, this goal hinges on the connectivity standards achieved with Loon, as stated by Gambetta.

Stephen Bartlett, a researcher at the University of Sydney in Australia, expressed enthusiasm about the enhanced qubit connectivity but noted that further testing and benchmarking of the new systems are required. “While this is not a panacea for scaling superconducting devices to a size capable of supporting genuinely useful algorithms, it represents a significant advancement,” he remarked.

However, there remain several engineering and physical challenges on the horizon. One crucial task is to identify the most effective method for reading the output of a quantum computer after calculations, an area where Gambetta mentioned recent IBM progress. The team, led by Matthias Steffen, also aims to enhance the “coherence time” for each qubit. This measure indicates how long a quantum state remains valid for computational purposes, but the introduction of new connections can often degrade this quantum state. Additionally, they are developing techniques to reset certain qubits while computations are ongoing.

Plans are in place for IBM to launch a modular quantum computer in 2026 capable of both storing and processing information, with future tests on Loon and Nighthawk expected to provide deeper insights.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

German Court Rules ChatGPT Violates Copyright Law by ‘Learning’ from Song Lyrics

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

A court in Munich has determined that OpenAI’s ChatGPT breached German copyright laws by utilizing popular songs from renowned artists to train its language model, which advocates for the creative industry have labeled a pivotal ruling for Europe.

The Munich District Court supported the German music copyright association GEMA, stating that ChatGPT gathered protected lyrics from well-known musicians to “learn” them.

GEMA, an organization that oversees the rights of composers, lyricists, and music publishers with around 100,000 members, initiated legal action against OpenAI in November 2024.

This case was perceived as a significant test for Europe in its efforts to prevent AI from harvesting creative works. OpenAI has the option to appeal the verdict.

ChatGPT lets users pose inquiries and issue commands to a chatbot, which replies with text that mimics human language patterns. The foundational model of ChatGPT is trained on widely accessible data.

The lawsuit focused on nine of the most iconic German hits from recent decades, which ChatGPT employed to refine its language skills.

This included Herbert Groenemeyer’s 1984 synthpop hit manners (male), and Helen Fischer’s Atemlos Durchi die Nacht (Breathless Through the Night), which became the unofficial anthem for the German team during the 2014 World Cup.

The judge ruled that OpenAI must pay undisclosed damages for unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.

Kai Welp, GEMA’s general counsel, mentioned that GEMA is now looking to negotiate with OpenAI about compensating rights holders.

The San Francisco-based company, co-founded by Sam Altman and Elon Musk, argued that its language learning model utilizes the entire training set rather than retaining or copying specific songs, as stated by the Munich court.

OpenAI contended that since the outputs are created in response to user prompts, the users bear legal responsibility, an argument the court dismissed.

GEMA celebrated the ruling as “Europe’s first groundbreaking AI decision,” indicating that it might have ramifications for other creative works.

Tobias Holzmuller, the company’s CEO, remarked that the verdict demonstrates that “the internet is not a self-service store, and human creative output is not a free template.”

“Today, we have established a precedent to safeguard and clarify the rights of authors. Even AI tool operators like ChatGPT are required to comply with copyright laws. We have successfully defended the livelihood of music creators today.”

The Berlin law firm Laue, representing GEMA, stated that the court’s ruling “creates a significant precedent for the protection of creative works and conveys a clear message to the global tech industry,” while providing “legal certainty for creators, music publishers, and platforms across Europe.”

The ruling is expected to have ramifications extending beyond Germany as a legal precedent.

The German Journalists Association also praised the decision as a “historic triumph for copyright law.”

OpenAI responded that it would contemplate an appeal. “We disagree with the ruling and are evaluating our next actions.” The statement continued, “This ruling pertains to a limited set of lyrics and does not affect the millions of users, companies, and developers in Germany who utilize our technology every day.”

Furthermore, “We respect the rights of creators and content owners and are engaged in constructive discussions with various organizations globally that can also take advantage of this technology.”

OpenAI is currently facing lawsuits in the U.S. from authors and media organizations alleging that ChatGPT was trained on their copyrighted materials without consent.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Geomagnetic Storm Unleashes Breathtaking Auroras Across US Skies

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Energetic solar particles are racing toward Earth, illuminating the skies as far south as Florida in a brilliant display. Meteorologists report that the intensity was powerful enough to damage several radios.

Colors of red, purple, and green adorned the skies over Alabama, Ohio, and Texas. Forecasters from the Space Weather Prediction Center indicated that the geomagnetic storm could strengthen further as the “last and most energetic CME” – a coronal mass ejection – has not yet passed and is expected to reach Earth by Wednesday afternoon.

The aurora shines over Minneapolis, Minnesota, thanks to significant geomagnetic activity and enhanced solar forces.
Steven Garcia/Reuters

A CME represents a spectacular event where massive clouds of protons, electrons, and magnetic fields are expelled from the Sun’s outer atmosphere at immense speeds.

Upon reaching Earth’s magnetic field, known as the magnetosphere, it interacts with particles surrounding Earth, creating vibrant auroras in the northern hemisphere and auroras australis in the southern hemisphere.

The Northern Lights illuminate the night sky above Monroe, Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Ross Khalid/NurPhoto (via Getty Images)

Sean Dahl, a forecaster at the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center located in Boulder, Colorado, noted that two CMEs have already impacted Earth, resulting in a geomagnetic storm measuring a G4 on the scale of five.

The overall magnetic field strength from these CMEs is “not only eight times stronger than usual, but also conducive for continued activity right now,” Dahl explained in a video. Posted on X.

Meteorologists cautioned that this geomagnetic storm could lead to power fluctuations, degraded GPS service, and sporadic radio disruptions.

The Northern Lights captured in Athens, Ohio on Tuesday night.
Ellie Beckaden

“Watches of this nature are exceedingly rare,” the Space Weather Prediction Center expressed in an advisory.

“We anticipate that the magnetic cloud, which is the ‘core’ of the current CME, is traversing Earth and will continue to do so throughout the night,” the agency declared early Wednesday.

A third, even more potent CME is expected to arrive on Wednesday, potentially allowing the aurora borealis to be visible further south.

Dahl mentioned that the second-highest level advisory would remain valid for several more hours, with a possibility of reaching the highest rating, G5.

Aurora over Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Steven Garcia/via Reuters

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine Secure Voice Agreement with AI Firm

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Academy Award-winning actors Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have entered into an agreement with AI audio firm Eleven Labs.

The New York-based company is now authorized to produce AI-generated voice replicas as part of its initiative to tackle “significant ethical challenges” in the intersection of artificial intelligence and Hollywood.

McConaughey, who has also invested in the company and collaborated with them since 2022, will allow Eleven Labs to produce a Spanish audio version of his newsletter “Lyrics of Livin'” using his voice.

In a statement, the Dallas Buyers Club star expressed his admiration for Eleven Labs and hoped this collaboration would enable him to “reach and connect with an even broader audience.”

Eleven Labs is launching the Iconic Voices Marketplace, allowing brands to collaborate and utilize officially licensed celebrity voices for AI-generated applications. Caine’s new agreement includes his iconic voice in this lineup.

“For years, I have lent my voice to stories that inspire people—tales of bravery, ingenuity, and the human experience,” Caine stated. “Now, I am helping others to discover their voice. With Eleven Labs, I can save and share everyone’s voice, not just mine.”

He further mentioned that the company “leverages innovation to celebrate humanity, not to replace it,” asserting that it “does not replace voices, it amplifies them.”

Caine has also revealed plans to return from retirement to co-star with Vin Diesel in The Last Witch Hunter 2.

Other voices featured in the marketplace include legendary Hollywood figures like John Wayne, Rock Hudson, and Judy Garland, alongside contemporary stars such as Liza Minnelli and Art Garfunkel. The list also encompasses notable figures like Amelia Earhart, Babe Ruth, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Maya Angelou, and Alan Turing.

Recently, Eleven Labs was valued at approximately $6.6 billion.

This news follows a series of celebrity and AI partnership agreements, including various celebrities who have consented to allow Meta to utilize their voices. Last year, the company released a list that featured Judi Dench, John Cena, and Kristen Bell.

Other stars, including Ashton Kutcher and Leonardo DiCaprio, have also made investments in AI enterprises.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tech Firms Collaborate with UK Child Safety Agency to Evaluate AI Tool for Generating Abuse Images

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Under a new UK law, tech companies and child protection agencies will be granted the authority to test if artificial intelligence tools can create images of child abuse.

This announcement follows reports from a safety watchdog highlighting instances of child sexual abuse generated by AI. The number of cases surged from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

With these changes, the government will empower selected AI firms and child safety organizations to analyze AI models, including the tech behind chatbots like ChatGPT and image-generating devices such as Google’s Veo 3, to ensure measures are in place to prevent the creation of child sexual abuse images.

Kanishka Narayan, the Minister of State for AI and Online Safety, emphasized that this initiative is “ultimately to deter abuse before it happens,” stating, “Experts can now identify risks in AI models sooner, under stringent conditions.”

This alteration was made due to the illegality of creating and possessing CSAM. Consequently, AI developers and others will be prevented from producing such images during testing. Previously, authorities could only respond after AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online, but this law seeks to eliminate that issue by stopping the images from being generated at all.

The amendments are part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which also establishes a prohibition on the possession, creation, and distribution of AI models intended to generate child sexual abuse material.

During a recent visit to Childline’s London headquarters, Narayan listened to a simulated call featuring an AI-generated report of abuse, depicting a teenager seeking assistance after being blackmailed with a sexual deepfake of herself created with AI.

“Hearing about children receiving online threats provokes intense anger in me, and parents feel justified in their outrage,” he remarked.

The Internet Watch Foundation, which oversees CSAM online, reported that incidents of AI-generated abusive content have more than doubled this year. Reports of Category A material, the most severe type of abuse, increased from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

Girls are predominantly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI images by 2025, with the portrayal of newborns to two-year-olds rising significantly from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025.

Kelly Smith, CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation, stated that these legal modifications could be “a crucial step in ensuring the safety of AI products before their launch.”

“AI tools enable survivors to be victimized again with just a few clicks, allowing criminals to create an unlimited supply of sophisticated, photorealistic child sexual abuse material,” she noted. “Such material commodifies the suffering of victims and increases risks for children, particularly girls, both online and offline.”

Childline also revealed insights from counseling sessions where AI was referenced. The concerns discussed included using AI to evaluate weight, body image, and appearance; chatbots discouraging children from confiding in safe adults about abuse; online harassment with AI-generated content; and blackmail involving AI-created images.

From April to September this year, Childline reported 367 counseling sessions where AI, chatbots, and related topics were mentioned, a fourfold increase compared to the same period last year. Half of these references in the 2025 sessions pertained to mental health and wellness, including the use of chatbots for support and AI therapy applications.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why Are Aliens (Likely) Too Lazy to Initiate First Contact?

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

NASA researchers have suggested a surprisingly practical explanation for one of astronomy’s long-standing questions: why we haven’t received any signals from other alien civilizations.

In a study published on the preprint server arXiv, although not yet peer-reviewed, Dr. Robin Corbett, a professor at the University of Maryland and affiliated with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, posits that the answer might be quite “mundane.”

Corbett’s hypothesis offers a unique, albeit somewhat letdown, explanation for the Fermi paradox: despite the universe’s immense potential for hosting numerous habitable planets, there is no conclusive evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life.

Instead of assuming that advanced civilizations are either hidden from us, incomprehensible beings, or simply extinct, Corbett theorizes that alien societies might plateau at a moderate technological level and gradually lose interest in exploration.

In his theory termed “radical everydayness,” Corbett states, “the most ordinary explanation is most likely to be accurate if it is physically achievable.”

In this “less frightening” reality, there may indeed be many technological civilizations scattered throughout the Milky Way, but none will aspire to develop the galaxy-spanning capabilities often depicted in science fiction.

This implies no Dyson spheres, no global laser beacons, and no fleets of probes traversing the expanses of space.

Even if interstellar travel were feasible, Corbett notes, “the potential benefits must surpass the costs and risks involved.”

Over time, any civilization might come to realize that “there wasn’t much new to uncover in each interaction” with other civilizations, leading to a loss of motivation for further exploration. This could be seen as the galactic equivalent of scientific burnout.

Next-generation telescopes, like the successor to the Super Large Array in New Mexico, depicted here, are expected to detect signs of extraterrestrial life. However, such findings may not trigger significant technological advancements.

Corbett compares this phenomenon to a form of cosmic habituation, where “an organism’s response to repeated stimulation diminishes.” If most civilizations hit their technological ceilings, they may determine that sending probes and beacons across the galaxy is futile, not worth the effort, and even hazardous.

In this context, humanity’s own radio exploration would likely intercept only faint “leak” signals rather than intentional communications.

“Historically speaking, detection may not be too far off,” Corbett concluded.

“While this could have substantial implications in numerous ways, it might not lead to a significant boost in technology and could be somewhat disappointing.”

In other words, the galaxy might be teeming with life, but it may not be particularly engaging for us.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Monte Sierpe: Mysterious Thousands of ‘Holes’ in Peru Could Have Served as an Ancient Barter Market

Posted on November 12, 2025 by

Monte Sierpe, meaning “Mountain of the Serpent” and informally referred to as the “Zone of Holes,” is situated in the Pisco Valley of southern Peru. It comprises around 5,200 meticulously aligned holes. Recent studies indicate that the site may have originally functioned as a barter market, bringing together a variety of people for trade.

Aerial view of Monte Sierpe looking northeast. Image credit: Jacob Bongers, University of Sydney.

Stretching over 1.5 km in the Pisco Valley of the southern Peruvian Andes, Monte Sierpe features approximately 5,200 carefully aligned holes (ranging from 1–2 m in width and 0.5–1 m in depth) arranged in distinct sections.

This extraordinary structure likely dates back to at least the Late Middle Period (1000-1400 AD) and was actively used by the Incas (1400-1532 AD).

Initially brought to modern attention in 1933 following an aerial photo published in National Geographic, the specific purpose of the monument remains a mystery.

Speculations about its function include various roles such as defense, storage, accounting, water collection, fog capture, and horticulture, but the actual intent continues to elude researchers.

“What led ancient people to excavate over 5,000 holes in the hills of southern Peru? Were they used for gardens? Did they provide water? Did they serve agricultural purposes?” inquires Dr. Jacob Bongers, a digital archaeologist from the University of Sydney.

“While we cannot ascertain their purpose, our new data offers significant clues and supports emerging theories regarding the site’s utilization.”

Utilizing drone technology, Dr. Bongers and his team mapped the site, uncovering numerical patterns in its layout that indicate intentional organization.

Interestingly, the archaeologists also found that the configuration of Monte Sierpe resembles that of at least one Inca quipu (an ancient knotted string for accounting) discovered in the same valley.

“This discovery significantly enhances our understanding of the origins and variety of indigenous accounting practices both within and outside the Andes,” noted Dr. Bongers.

Soil samples taken from the holes revealed ancient maize pollen, one of the Andes’ key staple crops, along with reeds traditionally utilized for basket making for millennia.

These surprising findings indicate that ancient people likely planted crops in the holes, using woven baskets and bundles for transport.

“This is quite intriguing. Perhaps this area functioned as a pre-Inca market, akin to a flea market,” remarked Dr. Bongers.

“We estimate that the pre-Hispanic population in this region was around 100,000. It likely served as a meeting point for traveling merchants, including llama caravan traders, as well as local professionals like farmers and fishermen to trade goods like corn and cotton.”

“Fundamentally, I believe these holes served as a form of social technology that unified individuals and later evolved into a comprehensive accounting system under the Inca Empire.”

“Numerous questions remain: Why is this monument unique to this location and not found throughout the Andes?”

“Was Monte Sierpe a type of ‘landscape’? – Nevertheless, we are gradually moving closer to unraveling the mysteries of this fascinating site. It’s genuinely exciting.”

Refer to the study published in the Journal on November 10, 2025 ancient.

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Jacob L. Bongers et al. Indigenous accounting and interaction at Monte Sierpe (“Band of Holes”), Pisco Valley, Peru. ancient published online on November 10, 2025. doi: 10.15184/aqy.2025.10237

Source: www.sci.news