The internet’s foundation is crucial for various services, from entertainment platforms like TikTok to essential functions like emergency services, banking systems, and political and military communications.
However, the network of undersea cables around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland has been targeted by military, terrorist, or criminal actors, leading to incidents where internet cables were cut, disrupting communication in the Baltics. As 75% of transatlantic cables pass through or are near Ireland, the strategic importance of these cables is significant for the UK and Europe.
Recent incidents, such as cable cuts between Finland and Estonia, have raised concerns about the security of Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that extends beyond its coast.
Ireland’s neutrality and limited defense capabilities have left the country vulnerable to potential threats. Calls have been made for a reassessment of Irish defense policies and the need to secure vital infrastructure.
There is growing recognition that Ireland’s neutrality may not shield it from modern threats, and steps must be taken to protect against potential attacks on critical infrastructure.
Current discussions are focusing on Ireland’s vulnerability, the need for increased defense resources, and potential collaborations with other countries facing similar security challenges.
Efforts are being made to address gaps in surveillance capabilities and response mechanisms to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure from unexpected threats.
The Russian ship Yantar will be observed by a Royal Navy ship when it enters British waters in January. It was discovered in the Irish Sea in November. Photo: Royal Navy/PA
Ensuring the security of undersea cables in Europe is essential for safeguarding communication networks and vital services across the continent.
Collaboration and investment in defense capabilities are key to protecting critical infrastructure and responding effectively to emerging threats in the undersea domain.
It is imperative for countries to prioritize the security of undersea cables and strengthen their defense forces to address potential vulnerabilities in the global communication network.
By enhancing surveillance, response capabilities, and international cooperation, nations can mitigate risks and ensure the resilience of undersea infrastructure.
The concept of Marine Cloud Brightening revolves around the idea that by making clouds brighter or whiter, more sunlight is reflected back into space. This ultimately helps reduce the amount of heat absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere and offers a respite from the effects of increased carbon emissions.
Clouds in marine environments are believed to benefit the most from such brightening efforts. But how exactly does one go about brightening clouds, and does it work as effectively as theorized?
Scientists primarily suggest spraying aerosols, such as fine sea salt particles, to brighten clouds. These aerosols act as “condensation nuclei” within the clouds, promoting water vapor to form more liquid droplets and creating denser, brighter clouds. A similar effect can be seen with pollution particles.
Fun fact: Some clouds can contain 500,000 kg (or £ 1.1 million) of water. That’s about 100 elephants -Photo Credit: Getty
However, the challenge lies in ensuring the particles sprayed are of the right size to effectively brighten the clouds at the appropriate time. Additionally, achieving significant sunlight reflection requires scaling up the operation sufficiently. There is also the concern of unforeseen impacts on clouds and climate.
Current research efforts mainly involve small-scale experiments and computer simulations, though some real-world studies have raised questions. For instance, a bright cloud experiment in Arameda, California was halted in May following warnings from local authorities reported in the media.
Experts have suggested that useful insights can be gleaned from “natural” experiments as well. Observations near the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii showed that aerosols generated naturally during the eruption led to a 50% increase in cloud cover. 。
Ultimately, the decision on whether to pursue large-scale marine cloud brightening rests with policymakers, who require convincing evidence. As scientific understanding and the climate crisis evolve, attitudes may shift.
This article addresses the question (I asked from Besariany Shepherd, Derbyshire) “Is Marine Cloud Brightening useful for fighting climate change?”
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For fascinating science facts, visit our fun fact page.
This year’s winner Close Up Photographer of the Year has just been announced. The overall winner is a stunning image of two stag beetles, captured by Subetrana Ivanenko, and appropriately titled “Titan’s collision.”
Each year, stag beetles engage in intense battles for mating rights, and this image perfectly captures the dramatic clash between two males in a mesmerizing setting.
Andres Lewis Dominges Blanco from Spain secured the young close-up photographer award with a vibrant photo of a European Hachikui with insects on its beak.
Other notable mentions include a breathtaking image of the Andesquema emerging from the rainforest, captured by a camera trap.
Insect section winner
Two Lucanus Cervus beetles competing for dominance in the Russian Voronezh region. Photo credit: Svetrana Ivanenko/Cupoty
Butterfly and dragonflies winner
Attombo (Archineura Incarnata) resting on a rock near a flowing waterfall at Tenshiyama Nature Reserve in Zhejiang Province. Photo credit: Yong Miao/Cupoty
Invertebrates Portrait Division – 3rd place
A lynx spider blending in yellow flowers in an Austrian garden (Ooya Manko). Photo credit: Manfred Auer
Underwater section runner-up
Leafy sea dragon swimming with a rough bullseye fish (Pempheris Klunzinger) in Rapid Bay, South Australia. Photo credit: Jenny Stock/Cupotey
Young photographer division winner
European Hachikui flying with insects on its beak. Captured in southern Spain in spring 2023. Photo credit: Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco/Cupoty
Animal category winner
Andeskuma standing amidst dense foliage in the tropical rainforest of Eco Palacio Nature Protection Area, La Chorrera, Colombia. Photo credit: Santiago J. Monroy Garcia/Cupoty
Fungi division winner
Ear-pick mushrooms growing in pine cones, about 15mm tall. Photographed in New Forest, UK. Photo credit: Barry Webb/Cupotey
Read more:
Plant category winner
Moss covered in dewdrops in a garden in the Netherlands. Photo credit: Piet Haaksma/Cupotey
Young photographer category – 3rd place
Detailed macro shot of a spherical tobimushi infected with Pandora Batalata fungus. Photographed in Berlin, Germany. Photo credit: Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas/Cupoty
Animal section – 3rd place
Pine marten captured by a motion-activated camera in the forests of Kiskunság, Hungary. Photo credit: Csaba Daróczi/Cupote.com
Intimate landscape category winner
Etched tunnel of the Ips typographus larva under bark in Le Monar, French Alps. Photo credit: Jean-Philippe Delobelle/Cupoty
Invertebrate animal portrait category winner
Caerostris spider resting on a stick in a Malaysian jungle. Photo taken in Semenyih near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo credit: Alain Gibbs
Read more:
Botanical runner-up
Spiranthes spiralis wild orchid captured in a spiral shape symbolizing natural regeneration. Photo taken in Toulouse, France. Photo credit: Sébastien Blomme/Cupoty
Underwater category – 3rd place
Coral reef goby protecting eggs on a blue sac in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. Photo credit: Said Rashid/Cupoty
Spider category winner
Female LaTrodectus tredecimguttatus consuming prey in Abruzzo National Park, Italy. Photo credit: Pierluigi Rizzo/Cupoty
Studio Art Division winner
Microscopic observation of crystals of amino acids beta alanine and L-glutamine. Photo credit: Rob Blanken/Cupoty
Animal category runner-up
Pair of Rhinolphus hipposideros bats returning to abandoned iron ore mine. Photo taken in Börzsöny hills, Hungary. Photo credit: Imre Potyo/Cupoty
Read more:
Underwater category winner
Struggling Acanthurus chirurgus fish caught in lizard’s jaws. Photo taken in Kona, Hawaii, USA. Photo credit: Gabriel Jensen/Cupoty
Young photographer sector – 3rd place
Detailed macro shot of Muscidae sp. fly feeding on Sarcophagidae sp. fly. Photo taken in Brandenburg, Germany. Photo credit: Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas/Cupoty
Bacterial section runner-up
Group of dandelions emitting spores in Kuribayashi, Spain. Photo credit: Jose Luis Gigirey Gonzalez/Cupoty
Current policies of governments around the world are likely to result in global warming of between 1.9 and 3.7°C by 2100, with potentially more to come in the 22nd century.
“Each year, 2,100 people continue to emit more CO2 as global temperatures rise,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at Stripe, a California-based software company that invests in carbon removal technologies. states.
His conclusions are based on a review of more than a dozen studies published over the past five years, looking at the implications of current policies over the past five years. According to these studies, the world is most likely to warm between 2.3 and 3°C by 2100.
However, these numbers do not fully take into account the uncertainties about future emissions of greenhouse gases as a result of human actions and how the climate system will respond to those emissions. Including these uncertainties gives a wider range of 1.9–3.7 °C.
These numbers reflect the most likely range of scenarios from the 5th to 95th percentile. This means that even with current policies, there is a small chance of a maximum warming of 4.4°C this century.
The good news is that all recent studies agree that very high emissions scenarios are currently unlikely. For these, warming of 4°C or more before 2100 is the most likely outcome.
That's because the worst-case scenarios considered by climate scientists were never all that plausible to begin with, Hausfather says, but it also reflects real progress in limiting emissions growth. and coal is currently expensive.
If climate policies strengthen and technological advances continue to exceed expectations, future emissions could be even lower than assumed in these studies, but this is not guaranteed and The rise of energy-hungry technologies like intelligence could do the opposite.
“It's definitely possible to imagine a world where AI accelerates rapidly and near-term emissions increase beyond what we think will happen today,” Hausfather says.
But he doesn’t think AI-related emissions will make much of a difference in the long term. “It’s certainly not in line with rapid emissions reductions, but it’s hard to see that in itself putting us on track for a significantly different end-of-the-century outcome,” Hausfather says. .
Paleontologists have discovered ancient DNA and truffle-like fungal spores, including at least one colorful species. Upland More (Megalapteryx didinus) an extinct species of giant flightless bird endemic to New Zealand.
Boast et al. We report ancient DNA and spores from inside two coprolites in the highland MOA (Megalapteryx didinus) that reveals the consumption and possible dispersal of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Image credit: Jiji et al. , doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440.
Fungi like truffles have fruit bodies that never fully open and have no way to expel the spores.
Other fungi do this by wind, but fungi like truffles rely on animals to consume them and disperse their spores.
Overseas, such fungi, including true truffles, are generally monotonous, have a strong aroma, and are very attractive to mammals.
In contrast, New Zealanders are often brightly colored, resembling fallen fruit on the forest floor.
These fungi may have relied on fruit-eating birds for dispersal, but there is little evidence that modern native birds eat them.
Ecologists have long debated that the original disperser must have been an extinct bird, but this has never been demonstrated.
In new research, Dr. Alexander boasts about Manaki.
The specimen was discovered in Hodges Creek Cave, near the Upper Takaka River basin in northwest Nelson and Takaha Valley (TV) in Fiordland on New Zealand’s South Island.
“Previous studies on coprolites have already shown that extinct MOAs ate brightly colored fruits and other plant matter, but new analysis shows that MOAs actually fed on these colorful truffle-like fungal species. ,” the researchers said.
“This discovery adds weight to the idea that these fungi have specifically evolved to be attractive to fruit-eating birds.”
“The MOA would have been good at dispersing fungal spores. Comparisons with its distant cousin The Ostrich, which retains food for about 36 hours after eating it, suggest that the MOA would have carried spores into the intestines over long distances.” It shows that we were able to do it.”
“But given that large birds are going extinct, what if these fungi are driving the dispersal they once depended on?”
“What will ultimately happen to these evolutionary anachronisms? Species that rely on other species to establish and thrive on things that are no longer there?”
“Furthermore, how might this loss affect the resilience and ability of current native forests to regenerate and expand?”
“Remaining species of herbivorous subterranean birds such as Weka are unlikely to compensate for the loss of MOA in dispersing these fungi.”
“In turn, this may have a knock-on effect on overall forest resilience today.”
“Forest species such as beech in New Zealand have evolved symbiotic relationships with native fungi, such as those detected at MoA Poos, benefiting regeneration and resilience, and the native fungi in the mix help improve forest resilience. may decrease.”
team’s paper Published in journal biology letters.
_____
Alexander P. Boasts et al. 2025. Coprolite DNA and spores reveal that the colorful truffle-like fungus endemic to New Zealand was consumed by the extinct MOA (Dinornithiformes). Biol. Lett 21(1):20240440; doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440
The flexible battery pouch filled with strategically placed holes is more breathable than cotton. This may be the ideal power supply for wearable sports and fitness devices built directly in clothing.
“This is especially convenient for athletes wearing electronic devices for a long time. It is a smart clothing for similar applications that require both fitness tracking, medical monitoring devices, and reliable performance.” Say. LIN XU At Yale University.
To design a new battery, XU and his colleagues have created a long rectangular hole pattern on a pouch cell battery. This is a type of lithium battery similar to a flat bundle with a limited bending ability. The simulation shows whether the arrangement of a rectangular hole is stretched or folded 180 degrees compared to the pattern of alternative holes including square and circles.
“One task was to maintain enough active materials to keep the battery energy density high. Masu. “It was necessary to balance mechanical elasticity and electric performance.”
If you stretch 10 % or fold, the design of a strong battery can resist physical stress and withstand power bulbs. Stretching and folding experiments were executed 100 times, respectively. Tests with temperature and humidity showed that the battery was twice as breathable as cotton.
As a practical demonstration for possible use, researchers have woven the battery into a white coat and tested the performance while the wearer was running around. The holes can quickly disrupt the heat of the battery, so they do not feel pain or sweat on the wearer's skin.
Since the battery still requires more wear tests, researchers plan to test their performance on commercial health monitoring devices and sports equipment.
We are also investigating ways to optimize production. Automated manufacturing must provide consistent holes and sealing to avoid the leaks and shorts of battery pouches.
Charging station for electric cars in British Cornwall
Mat Cardie/Getty Image
Electric vehicles (EVs) are currently limited to gasoline and diesel. And the improved reliability is more than a fossil fuel -driven car every year because of the still technology.
Robert Elliott At the University of Birmingham, his colleagues analyzed nearly 300 million records from the forced British road. MotIt indicates the status, age, and mileage of all vehicles on the road between 2005 and 2022. This covers a total of about 29.8 million vehicles.
The results showed that the average life expectancy of EVS was 18, 4 years or more, it was 16 years, exceeding the average diesel vehicle in 8 years, and in 18. At present, the average EV covers 200,000 kilometers over a lifetime, exceeding 187,000 km, where the gasoline counter part clocked up, but has not reached 257,000 km, which reaches on average.
Elliott says that the result is not only a gasoline and diesel -run alternative, but also proves that it has already defeated them. The survey also shows that long -term reliability has improved. The possibility that the EV fails and reach Scrapheap in a specific year is about six times faster than the diesel, about twice the speed of gasoline vehicles.
“The early electric car was not so good and I couldn’t trust it,” Elliott says. “But I think the main point is that technology is very rapidly improved.”
“We are not an environmental crusade. I just want to give facts. Electric vehicles and batteries have been alive, have improved their skills, and have been improved again since this research,” he says. 。
MOT data does not contain information about the amount required for maintenance and repair cars between tests, but only overall life. Other research from the United States shows The maintenance cost of an electric vehicle is about $ 0.06 per mile, but for an internal combustion engine, the value is $ 0.10 per mile.
Rachel Aldred At Westminster University in the UK, it is said that if you leave the gasoline and diesel vehicles, you will be profitable to fight climate change and air pollution, but EVs emphasize that the EV is not a silver bullet.
“It’s still a very inefficient and limited solution,” ALDRED. “If most people are avoiding a private car, lack of physical activity, road injury, and [residual] The pollution is also the same -although it is obviously much better [than petrol or diesel vehicles]。 She says walking, or equivalent cycling and public transportation should be a priority for those who can use these modes.
Food -up, torch light, knife Sharp: Viewers in the UK are ready for different delicious finale Traitor Tonight, at a video game show, a TV game show is trying to drive away the ruthless (strictly non -realistic) murderers walking between them.
For psychologists -Experts and armrests- Traitor This is the gold mine of the unauthorized human behavior, which is disassembled and analyzed. And it's not just psychology. Game theory, human evolution, and criminal science are only a few of the scientific fields that provide clues to Makabeli's dynamics.
I found something that I really needed to win to investigate a betrayal (academically speaking …) Traitor。 Warning: If there is no latest information on the show, there is a spoiler first.
Please be careful about compatible bias
“Having a strong feature seems to be that others are influential and potentially intimidating,” says a forensic psychologist. Kuala LightHost A Podcast About Traitor With a colleague at the British Chester University. She selects contestants such as shadows (too intelligent), Ellen (too emotional), and Armani (too much confidence).
Their falls are likely to be linked Compatible biasThe characteristics of human beings that most of us comply with social norms. Individuals who do not fit may be hated or distrustful.
This is not a place of altruism
Emily EmotThe London University College's evolution anthropologist says that players should not be able to “do not actually exist in evolutionary literature.”
“Remember, it's not a cooperative game,” she says. “It's a deceptive game, a survival game. You need to be there to win, so it's a mistake to commit some players because they trust the nearby people. “
Emot says that we have evolved to go ahead of others. Therefore, altruistic behaviors found in the show are said to have selfish benefits behind them. And such obvious altruism is not a bad tactic, whether you are faithful or traitor.
“In the context of the game, cooperative is functioning as a signal for reliability. A good example may not be open to the shield. [which protects you from the next murder] During the show task. “
However, here is Makabeli's intelligence. Because everyone knows the rules of the game, excellent players do not take altruistic actions at face value. “In this game, you may have an impure motivation for you, so it’s not a honest signal,” says Emot.
So be careful of wonderful people. an Thousands of messages analysis Between players DiplomacyGames that share similarities TraitorExcessive polite players have discovered that they are more likely to betray others.
Be careful of bias in the group
“We know from social psychology that they have what they are called when they form a social group. Bias in the groupAnd this can really accelerate TraitorLight says. “”[Contestants] Display priority actions to those in the group with them. This is why everything did not work for Mina after recruiting Charlotte as a traitor.
Charlotte is recruited as a traitor by Mina
BBC /Studio Rambert
For Mina, who was always looking for a female traitor, her group was a so -called sister relationship she created. “She identified it as a sister relationship. She used this word well,” says Light. “The problem is that Charlotte had already had a faithful person and a strong group's identity, and when she was hired by her will, she did not have the loyalty to the new group. did.”
And what happened? Charlotte immediately crossed Mina, and Mina was voted the next night.
Light says that the same group's bias can lead to a flock thinking when the player is voting, which can lead to an unrogical trust in people in the game.
What is a good liar?
A nervous or inconsistent answer to the question is generally considered doubtful, even if someone tells the truth. That's because these actions are tied to a stereotype about what a liar is doing. The better gifts are always those who say the same thing. Emma BarrettPsychologist and criminal scholar at the University of Manchester University.
“One of the most notable things is the same story in the exact same way, and they don't really explain it in detail when they re -speak it,” she says. The story may sound plausible, but repeatedly adds details as you remember. “People sometimes make a mistake in consistency, but that's not a way to work with real memories.”
Think like a scientist
Hunting for the traitor -Introduction to the 3rd season of the traitor
BBC /Studio Rambert
Faithful people are not very good at it TraitorBut another tactic that they can use is to encourage suspicious traitor to speak more than they want. Barrett says.
“If you are faithful, the good strategy to detect a traitor is to subtly encourage them as they speak.” “For example, if you want to know if you are a police officer and someone gave you a false address, one of the questions you might ask is,” Oh, how do you get there? What is your nearest station?
If you are suspicious, try a game theory?
The majority of information is always lost to the minority based on sufficient information. Based on this, it was created by Russian psychologist Dimitry Davidoff mafia -Which parlor game Traitor Based on the 1980s. since then, mafia It is used as the basis of many game theory experiments and models.
The good news is that Davidoff is not correct at all. He believed that the probability of a faithful person to keep the bad guys away is better than a coincidence. But many the study The model discovered that the possibility of victory was almost equal, and was leaned in support of people who were faithful to live games for the weight of the lie that the traitor had to talk about.
In other words, forget cold mathematics. If you really want to win TraitorYou must be just injustice than anyone else.
Google has committed to taking additional measures to identify and remove fake reviews, as confirmed by the UK competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated that Google will implement sanctions against individuals and UK companies that have manipulated star ratings. Furthermore, Google will issue “warning” alerts on profiles of companies using fake reviews to inflate their ratings.
The agreement follows an investigation launched by the CMA in 2021 into Google’s potential violation of consumer law by not adequately protecting users from fraudulent reviews on its platform. A similar investigation on Amazon is currently ongoing.
The CMA estimates that £23 billion of UK consumer spending is influenced by online reviews annually. A survey conducted by Which? revealed that 89% of consumers rely on online reviews when researching products and services.
CEO of CMA, Sarah Cardel, praised Google for taking a proactive approach in combating fake reviews, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public trust and fairness for businesses and consumers.
According to CMA, any company found publishing reviews will be subject to investigation to determine if changes to practices are necessary to comply with the agreement. Google will report to CMA over a three-year period to ensure compliance.
Starting in April, CMA will have enhanced powers to independently assess violations of consumer law without court intervention. Violating companies could face fines up to 10% of their global turnover.
The watchdog has intensified its scrutiny of major tech firms, launching investigations into Google’s search and advertising practices, as well as Apple and Google’s mobile platforms.
Amidst these actions, the appointment of former Amazon executive Doug Garr as the watchdog’s interim chairman prompted denials from Business Secretary Justin Madders regarding government favoritism towards big tech.
A Google spokesperson informed CMA that the company’s investments in combating fraudulent content allow them to block millions of fake reviews annually. Collaboration with regulators globally remains an ongoing effort to tackle fake content and malicious actors.
The deepest blue hole in the world, also known as an ocean sinkhole, can be found off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. It plunges to a depth of at least 420 meters (1,378 feet), remaining unexplored by researchers.
Local divers discovered the lake, named “Ta’am Dja” or “Deep Sea” in Mayan, over two decades ago. In 2021, scientists attempted to measure its depth using an echo sounder, estimating it to be 275 meters (902 feet). However, a later expedition in 2023 employed a device called a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profiler, revealing a depth of 420 meters (1,378 feet) without reaching the bottom.
Blue holes are naturally formed vertical-walled caves on the ocean floor, typically found in coastal regions with soluble rock formations like limestone. These geological formations may reach only a few tens of meters in depth and could be interconnected with underwater cave systems.
Due to poor water circulation, blue holes lack oxygen in their depths, posing challenges for organisms. Some microorganisms thrive in these conditions by consuming sulfur-based compounds like hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, creatures such as foraminifera and nematodes have been discovered living in blue holes, prompting further exploration to unveil the mysteries of Ta’am Dja’s deep blue waters.
This article (by Preston Levy of Norwich) addresses the question, “What are Mexican Blue Holes?”
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In the UK, thousands of people are currently experiencing issues making or receiving calls due to a network outage affecting Three.
Downdetector, a website that tracks outages, has received over 10,000 reports of problems across mobile networks on Thursday.
Customers of smaller mobile providers like Smarty and iD Mobile are also impacted as they rely on Three’s network.
While Three is working on resolving the issue, there is no specific timeline for a fix. iD Mobile has informed customers that engineers have identified and isolated the problem.
Three has approximately 10.5 million customers in the UK, with many expressing frustration on social media due to the disruption.
Some customers have reported missing important appointments or feeling stranded due to the inability to make calls.
It is uncertain if customers will receive compensation for the disruption, with Ofcom suggesting that refunds may be appropriate.
Following approval from the Competition and Markets Authority, Three’s merger with Vodafone has been finalized in a £16.5bn deal.
In a statement on X, Three acknowledged the issue with voice services and assured customers that data and emergency calls will not be affected.
A recent comprehensive study has uncovered the significant health benefits and potential drawbacks of Ozempic and Wegovy. Groundbreaking research has shown that weight loss medications, such as Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) like Ozempic and Wegovy, can have a total of 61 effects on the body, most of which are positive.
These drugs function by imitating the hormones naturally created in the body to regulate appetite, thereby promoting a sense of fullness and reducing hunger.
“Given the novelty and increasing popularity of these medications, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate their effects on various bodily systems to gain a comprehensive understanding of their benefits and risks,” said the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Ziyad Al Ali, an Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine, University of Washington, USA.
The research team, led by Al-Aly, discovered that these weight loss drugs could lower the risk of 42 health conditions while increasing the risk of 19 others.
The Positive Effects of Weight Loss Drugs
Published in Nature Medicine, the study analyzed data from 2 million individuals with diabetes, with approximately 216,000 using GLP-1RAs and the rest on other diabetes medications that do not include GLP-1RAs. The results suggested numerous health benefits for those using weight loss drugs, including a decreased risk of cardiovascular issues like blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes, aligning with previous research findings.
Additionally, beyond the known benefits, researchers discovered potential advantages in unexpected areas. Despite concerns about GLP-1RAs potentially causing suicidal thoughts, new research found positive impacts on neurological health. Users experienced reduced risks of conditions such as suicidal ideation, self-harm, substance use disorders, psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, and bulimia.
Al-Aly proposed that the mechanisms responsible for weight loss could also influence these outcomes. The drugs act on brain receptors associated with impulse control, reward, and addiction, potentially explaining their efficacy in curbing appetite and addiction disorders.
Furthermore, individuals using these drugs were less prone to cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, likely due to reduced brain inflammation. They also exhibited lower risks of seizures, bacterial infections, and pneumonia.
Although these medications do not serve as cures (the researchers noted a 10-20% risk reduction for these conditions), the benefits, especially for conditions like dementia with limited treatment options, remain significant.
The Hidden Risks of Weight Loss Drugs
Despite the numerous potential benefits of GLP-1RA drugs, there are also associated risks. Users showed increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, and arthritis. Surprisingly, researchers identified a heightened risk of rare but severe pancreatic and kidney diseases.
“GLP-1RA drugs offer a wide array of health benefits,” Al Ali stated. “However, they are not without risks. Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring these drugs closely due to their broad usage and potential risks.” He emphasized the need for caution.
While the results could guide clinical care, some researchers raised concerns about the study’s design not considering other potential effects. They cautioned that interpretation should proceed with care, as the differences between individuals using GLP-1RAs like Ozempic and those who do not may stem from factors beyond the drug itself.
“Studies like this should be approached with caution, as individuals were not randomly assigned to GLP-1RA treatment,” explained Professor Stephen O’Rahilly, Director of the Wellcome MRC Metabolism Laboratory at the Metabolism Research Institute in Cambridge. He further stated that while the study provides reassurance on the drugs’ safety, caution remains necessary.
The researchers from the University of Washington recognized that their findings only observed associations and did not prove causation for the benefits or risks of GLP-1RAs. Additionally, the study participants primarily comprised older white men, indicating a need for future research to encompass a more diverse population.
Despite this limitation, the findings anticipate future research targeting a broader demographic. O’Rahilly suggested that the results offer reassurance regarding the risk/benefit balance of long-term GLP-1RA use in diabetic patients, creating anticipation for forthcoming investigations.
Comprehensive List of GLP-1RA Effects
Positive Effects
The study revealed that drugs like Ozempic could significantly reduce the risk of 42 health conditions, including:
shock
aspiration pneumonia
liver failure
respiratory failure
cardiac arrest
Bulimia
schizophrenia
pulmonary hypertension
Postoperative respiratory complications
liver cancer
sepsis
stimulant use disorder
pneumonia
Thromboembolic disorders
pleural effusion
hemorrhagic stroke
chronic phlebitis
opioid use disorder
inflammatory bowel disease
cannabis use disorder
bacterial infection
acute pulmonary embolism
acute kidney injury
Aftereffects after thrombosis
pneumonia
heart failure
gangrene
alcohol use disorder
suicidal thoughts
seizure
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
osteomyelitis
myocardial infarction
muscle pain
heat
deep vein thrombosis
Coagulopathy and clotting disorders
ischemic stroke
Neurocognitive disorders
urinary tract infection
chronic kidney disease
anemia
Negative Effects
The study also indicated a heightened risk of 19 health conditions associated with drugs like Ozempic, including:
During the Stone Age, the operation of stone tools provides evidence that it was not exclusive to humans, despite the popular image of early humans sitting around campfires or hunting. Even wild chimpanzees ( Pantosloid ) have been observed using stones to open nuts. They place a nut on a flat rock (called an anvil) and strike it with another stone (a hammer), or sometimes with a thick branch.
Research from Africa’s Tai National Park shows that chimpanzees have been using these tools for over 4,000 years. This suggests that the use of stone tools may be a trait inherited from common ancestors, although it’s also possible that different species learned this independently.
Other primates, like capuchin monkeys in Brazil and long-tailed macaques in Thailand, have also been observed using hammer and anvil technology. The capuchin monkeys take up to eight years to master the skill, using stones weighing up to 1 kg (2.2 pounds) to crack nuts, with evidence of this behavior dating back at least 3000 years.
While humans are known for using more advanced stone tools, animals also have their own versions – Credit: Mikroman6
Stone tools are not exclusive to primates either. Otters use stones to crack open shellfish and extract sea snails, while crows in New Caledonia drop hard nuts from heights onto anvils to open and access the contents.
Although stone tool use was once thought to be unique to Homo sapiens, archaeologists have found evidence of stone tool use by earlier human species like Homo habilis. Stone tool manufacturing remains a key aspect of human evolution, connecting ancient actions with the use of these tools. The discovery of other primates using stone tools challenges some of the oldest archaeological sites.
In 2022, archaeologists in Argentina proposed the idea that stone tools found in Brazil 50,000 years ago might have been created by capuchin monkeys, not humans. The quartz tools are similar to those created by present-day capuchin monkeys.
The use of stone tools by monkeys raises questions regarding the origins of tool use between humans and monkeys – CREDIT: chain45154
If these ancient tools were indeed made by monkeys, it would extend the timeline of their stone tool use by thousands of years and raise questions about when Homo sapiens arrived in South America.
Archeologists have also noted similarities between monkey-made stone fragments and human cutting tools, suggesting that early humans may have been influenced by accidental creations to develop their own tools. The discovery raises questions about the origins of the oldest stone tool artifacts.
This article answers the question, “Are we the only species to have passed the Stone Age?” posed by Juanita Andrade via email.
To submit your own question, please email questions@sciencefocus.com or reach out via the Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page (don’t forget to include your name and location).
For more fascinating science, check out our ultimate fun fact page.
Understanding food chains in ancient ecosystems is one of the goals of paleoecology. Direct evidence of these interactions is rare and includes fossils with stomach contents and bite/teeth marks. A rare occurrence of bite marks on the neck vertebrae of a giant azhdarchyd goat larval vertebral column specimen from the Greater Sublineage of Alberta, Canada. was recorded. Approximately 76 million years ago. Based on the size and shape of the tooth marks and comparisons with modern animals, the authors suggest that crocodiles bite pterosaurs, but it is unclear whether this is active predation or scavenging. I couldn’t do it. Signs of giant pterosaurs are rare, so this provides novel details about how they fit into this ancient ecosystem.
Fossilized neck bones of a young boy Cryodrakon Boreas It shows signs (right part of specimens 2 and 8) that do not indicate that it was bitten by a crocodile-like creature 76 million years ago. Image credit: Brown et al. , doi:10.1017/jpa.2024.12.
The 76-million-year-old neck vertebrae were excavated in July 2023 in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta, Canada.
The preserved (i.e. incomplete) length of the specimen is 5.8 cm. The estimated total length of the vertebrae is 9.4 cm.
The specimen has a circular puncture mark 4 mm wide from a crocodile tooth.
“Peterosaurus bones are very delicate, so it's very unusual to find fossils that were clearly chewed by another animal,” said Dr Caleb Brown, a palaeontologist at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. states.
“This specimen is even rarer because it is a juvenile.”
The punctured vertebrae belong to a larva (estimated wingspan 2 m) Cryodrakon Boreasa species of giant azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous in what is now Canada.
Adults of this species will be as tall as a giraffe with a wingspan in an area of 10 m.
“With an estimated wingspan comparable to some of the largest azhdarchids, creedracon And other large azhdarchids were probably significant terrestrial foragers,” said the paleontologist.
“Bite marks, implanted teeth, and stomach contents indicate that the azhdarchid pterosaurs were fed by velociraptrines and crocodiles.”
Cryodrakon Boreas. Image credit: David Maas.
In this study, they used micro-CT scans and comparisons with other pterygoid bones to confirm that they were the result of an actual crocodile bite, rather than fossilization or damage during excavation. I did.
“It helps document species interactions from this time,” said Dr. Brian Pickles, a paleontologist at Reading College.
“While we can't say whether the palace was alive or dead when it was bitten, the specimen is a juvenile that crocodiles sometimes preyed on in prehistoric Alberta more than 700 million years ago, or removed.” It shows that it shows a pterosaur.”
study Published online today Journal of Paleontology.
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Caleb M. Brown et al. Larval vertebral vertebrae with putative crocodile bites from a Campanian in Alberta, Canada. Journal of Paleontologypublished online on January 23, 2025. doi:10.1017/jpa.2024.12
Dinosaurs dominated the athletics ecosystem of middle-aged middle for about 160 million years, but their biological geographical origin is still well understood. The oldest clear dinosaur fossils appeared in southern South America and Africa, 230 million years ago, and most authors propose that the southern western Gondwana is likely to be the center of its origin. However, the high diversity of these early groups suggests the history of older evolution. A new study led by University College London shows that dinosaurs, and perhaps the closer species of the main dragon as a wider group of lords, may have spread radially in the low latitude area of Gondwana. I am.
Nyasaasaurus It may be the most known dinosaur, or it may be a close-related species of early dinosaurs. Image Credit: Mark Witton / London Natural History Museum Management Committee.
“The oldest, the oldest dinosaur fossils are about 230 million years ago and have been excavated in the south of Brazil, Argentina, and Zimbabwe,” said Dr. Universi College London. Student Joel Heath and his colleagues.
“However, the difference between these fossils suggests that dinosaurs had already evolved for a while, indicating that their origin was millions ago.”
The authors have discovered that the earliest dinosaurs appeared in hot equatorial areas of the Gondwana Super continent (currently Amazon, Congo Basin, and the Sahara Desert).
“Dinosaurs have been well studied, but I'm not sure where they came from. The fossil records have a big gap and cannot be received at face value,” said Heath.
“Our modeling suggests that the oldest dinosaurs may have originated on the low-latitude of Gondwana in the western part.”
“This is a hot and dry environment that has been considered so far, and is composed in areas like deserts and savannas.”
“So far, no dinosaur fossils have been found in Africa and South America, which once formed this area of Gondwana.”
“However, this is due to the difficulty of access and the lack of research efforts in these fields relatively due to the lack of research efforts, and that researchers have not yet met the right rock. There is a possibility.
In this study, we used dinosaurs and their nearly related reptiles, evolved systematics, and geography at the time.
It was not an area where fossils were not present, but by treating the area on the earth where fossils were not found as missing information, the gap of fossil records was supplemented.
Initially, the number of early dinosaurs was much larger than reptile relatives. These contained crocodile, fake nests, and the ancestors of wing dragons.
In contrast, the earliest dinosaurs were much smaller than their descendants, as large as chickens and dogs than humans. Diprodox。
They walked on two legs (it was a bipedal), and most of them were miscellaneous animals.
210 million years ago, the eruption of volcanoes caused dinosaurs to be dominant after many of the reptiles, the relatives of dinosaurs, were extinct.
The new modeling result shows dinosaurs and other reptiles originated in low-latit Gondwana, later spread radially outside, and later in the southern part of Gondwana and later in Europe, Asia, and North America. It suggested that it could have spread to.
The background of this origin comes from the fact that the oldest dinosaurs were found in the southern part of the Gondwana continent and the intermediate point between the place where many fossils of the nearby species were found in the northern Lolacia. 。
Because it is uncertain about how the oldest dinosaurs are related to each other and how they were related to the closest species, researchers are models based on the three proposed evolutionary trees. Was executed.
They discovered the strongest background on dinosaur’s low-latit Gondovana, which was traditionally considered to be a dinosaur, but not a dinosaur itself, as the ancestor of the Title Dinosaur.
One of the three major dinosaur groups, including tsutos and later herbivorous animals Stegosaurus and TriceratopsStrangely, it does not exist in the early fossil record of the dinosaur era.
If the Sillesaurus is the ancestor of the tillage, this will help you fill this gap in the evolution genealogy.
“Our research has suggested that the early dinosaurs may have adapted well in hot and dry environments,” said Philip Manion, a professor of University College London.
“Of the three major dinosaur groups, one group is dragonodes, which includes the following: Bronto Saurus and DiprodoxIt seemed to maintain the low latitudes of the earth and prefer a warm climate. “
“The other two groups, beast legs and birds have developed the ability to generate their own body temperature in the Jurassic Million years later, and can prosper even in cold areas, including extreme areas. There is evidence to show.
Joel A. Heath Other。 Considering the unevenness of the sampling, it suggests that the dinosaur origin has a low ancient latitude. Current biologyReleased online on January 23, 2025. Doi: 10.1016/J.Cub.2024.12.053
President Donald Trump issued two executive orders targeting the promotion of electric vehicles and wind power by the Biden administration.
These technologies are crucial in combating climate change, but the orders could hinder their growth.
Advocates for electric vehicles and green energy criticized the decision.
On Monday, President Donald Trump significantly impacted two rapidly growing environmentally friendly technologies in the United States, electric vehicles and wind power, through two executive orders.
These orders were aimed at countering the Biden administration’s efforts to boost these technologies, which have been gaining momentum in the drive to reduce carbon emissions in the U.S. energy sector. President Trump also announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, where countries commit to reducing carbon emissions to combat global warming.
One of Trump’s presidential orders rescinded several climate-focused directives, including standards on tailpipe emissions to promote electric vehicle adoption. This move was criticized by electric vehicle advocates, who argued that it could harm America’s competitiveness in the global automotive market.
Trump’s other order temporarily halted federal approvals for offshore wind energy projects in federal waters and restricted federal agencies from issuing new permits or loans for wind energy projects, both onshore and offshore. The order falsely claimed that wind power could lead to higher energy costs and harm marine life, such as whales, despite no known links according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The orders faced backlash from advocates of electric vehicles and wind power. Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, criticized the move, stating that it contradicted Trump’s goal of freeing up energy production in the U.S.
The adoption of electric vehicles and wind power has been increasing in recent years. Electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for 20% of new car sales in the U.S. in 2024, and sales are projected to continue growing. Wind power is also predicted to be a significant source of new energy capacity in the U.S. by 2050.
President Trump has been known to criticize wind power, attributing whale deaths to offshore wind projects and making unsubstantiated claims about health risks associated with wind turbines. Climate groups have warned that Trump’s executive orders could harm global environmental efforts and hinder green job growth.
Despite these challenges, advocates believe that clean technology will continue to progress, regardless of regulatory obstacles. President Trump’s orders could face legal challenges, particularly regarding California’s stricter tailpipe pollution standards, which aim to reduce air pollution and combat climate change.
The documents exposing the Israeli military’s increased reliance on Microsoft’s cloud technology and artificial intelligence systems during the peak of the bombing of Gaza have been leaked.
From October 7, 2023, Microsoft will enhance its partnership with Israel’s defense agencies by providing better computing and storage services along with technical support hours worth at least $10 million. This deal was signed in a move to deepen collaboration with the IDF.
A joint investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, based on documents from Drop Site News, unveils Microsoft’s deep connections with the Israeli military, especially during the Gaza offensive in 2023.
The Israeli Defense Forces increasingly turned to large U.S. tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to meet their technological needs during the conflict.
Palestinians walk through destruction caused by Israeli air and ground attacks in Rafah, Gaza Strip, early 2025. Photo: Mohammad Abu Samra/AP
Leaked documents reveal that Microsoft’s products, mainly Azure cloud computing, are extensively used by various Israeli military units and intelligence agencies.
Microsoft’s involvement in highly sensitive and top-secret projects for the Israeli Ministry of Defense underscores the deep partnership between the company and the IDF.
While Microsoft has declined to comment on the revelations, the Israeli military’s increased use of AI-based services from tech giants like Microsoft during the conflict has raised concerns about the blending of civilian and military digital infrastructure.
Israeli soldiers prepare to launch a military drone at an undisclosed location near Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip in January 2024. Photo: Atef Safadi/EPA
The integration of Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies into IDF operations has facilitated data analysis and storage for intelligence and combat purposes.
Microsoft’s extended partnership with the Israeli military, despite public scrutiny, highlights the ongoing collaboration between tech giants and defense agencies in modern warfare.
Orchid Stigmatodactylus sikokianus Lives in cool, dark forests
Tetsuro Ikeda
A type of orchid that eats fungi has an ingenious method of self-pollination. The secret lies in the orchid’s mysterious finger-like appendages.
“I knew there had to be something more to it than just looking weird,” he says. Kenji Suetsugu at Kobe University in Japan.
Mr. Suetsugu has been interested in this work for some time. Stigmatodactylus sikokianus This is because orchids live in the shady forests of Japan and feed on soil bacteria throughout their lives without relying on photosynthesis. Orchids have a pinky-like appendage under the stigma, a sticky part that receives pollen during copulation.
To investigate the purpose of the appendages, the researchers observed flowers in the wild, set up pollination experiments in the lab, and tracked changes in orchid flower structure using a fluorescence microscope.
They noticed that if there are no insects visiting orchids for pollination, the flowers begin to wilt. As the finger-like appendages drooped, they gradually moved toward the stigma, bringing the pollen into contact with the sticky receptors.
The appendage thus acts “like a bridge,” transporting orchid pollen in a self-pollination trick, but only as a last resort, Suetsugu says. The wilting mechanism allows the plant to tolerate pollinators, but acts as a failsafe to ensure that the plant can reproduce even if the insects never arrive. The discovery “highlights how nature can come up with creative solutions to common problems,” Suetsugu said.
The next step is to remove the appendage entirely to see what difference it makes in the timing and efficiency of pollination. Katarina Nagar At the Australian Tropical Herbarium.
This appears to be the first time such a self-pollination trick has been formally documented, although observations in the early 1990s suggested that two other closely related orchid species also use the unusual appendage for self-pollination. Mr. Nalgar points out that this suggests that.
IIt’s no secret that the video game industry is struggling. In the past two years, 25,000 redundant employees And over 40 studios have closed. The soaring costs of game development (it now costs hundreds of millions of dollars to create a blockbuster title), over-investment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to create the next money-making “eternal game” The blockbuster game is under pressure thanks to a series of failed bets. Success rates are higher than ever.
This seems to be a particularly relevant predicament for Ubisoft. The company, which employs 20,000 people at 45 studios in 30 countries, has had commercial failures with its latest big licensed games, “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” and “Star Wars Outlaws.” The company has had two expensive and failed live service experiments in the past year: Skull and Bones and X-Defiant. Ubisoft’s stock price plummets, Investment partners circling like sharksrarely has the fate of a huge gaming company depended so heavily on a single release. It has already been postponed many times to ensure quality.
Against this dark backdrop, I found myself wandering the glittering halls of Ubisoft Quebec to experience the world’s first Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. The company’s historical action game series is back after a two-year hiatus. This time, the setting is feudal Japan. According to creative director Jonathan Dumont, this was the most requested setting by fans, but ironically some of the so-called fans turned to Ubisoft during the game’s development. .
Shadows centers on Yasuke, a historical figure known as the Black Samurai, and a female ninja named Naoe. This sparked a mini-culture war, with X posters and YouTube commenters furious over “historical inaccuracy” and video game wokeness. (Oddly enough, these complaints of historical inaccuracy are the same despite the fact that it stars a secret order of what are essentially time-traveling assassins doing side-quests from Karl Marx and Leonardo da Vinci.) It had never been brought up in the series until now.)
When you ask nervous Ubisoft developers about the amount of nasty comments and online harassment they’ve received over the past year, they’re understandably horrified. No one wants to address it directly. “We love making games and that’s what we wake up every morning to do,” Dumont says. “So if there is any criticism, obviously, [we receive] Subtle nuances and good feedback will always be accepted. ”
When you pick up the controller, the first character that appears is Yasuke. After a mesmerizing opening cutscene, a Portuguese missionary introduces Diogo, an African slave, to Lord Nobunaga, the ruler of the Oda family. A powerful military commander took notice of Diogo, hired him as a samurai, and changed his name to Yasuke. As I wander silently through the cobblestone streets of Harima, I am greeted with the kind of stu…
Naoe, the ninja from Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Photo: Ubisoft
Viruses are infectious agents that affect all living things, including humans. A common human virus called herpes simplex virusor HSV, can cause cold sores, genital infections, fingertip and eye infections. When HSV infects the eye, it is called: HSV keratitis. This infection can cause visual impairment, blindness, and swelling of the brain.
The standard way for doctors to treat HSV infections is with an antiviral drug called . Acyclovir. However, the drug has been found to be no longer effective in treating some HSV infections. Persistent infections are called Acyclovir resistance infection. Therefore, scientists are searching for new ways to treat HSV infections.
Scientists at Nanjing University in China tested 502 natural compounds to determine if any could be used to treat HSV keratitis. The researchers took kidney cells from African green monkeys, treated them with these natural compounds, and infected them with the virus.
After two days, they examined the cells under a microscope to see how much damage each compound prevented compared to untreated infected cells. control sample. Out of all 502 compounds tested, the one that best protects cells from viral infection was found to be present in purple passionflower. The name of the compound is Harmol, And they reported that it inhibited more than 90% of HSV in kidney cells.
The scientists further investigated Harmol’s anti-HSV properties by testing whether it was toxic to host kidney cells. If Harmol is toxic to uninfected cells, it may kill the cells instead of protecting them from the virus. They tested nine concentrations of harmol on cells, ranging from 0 micromolar to 250 micromolar harmol. They found that the compound protected against viruses and did not kill host cells at a concentration of 12.5 micromolar.
They then studied how harmol affects virus replication and the production of viral proteins and particles within host cells. They found that Harmol inhibited HSV growth and reproduction, even in acyclovir-resistant infections. Scientists also reported that Harmol treatment inhibited HSV growth when added before, during, and after HSV infection. However, the sooner it is added, the more effective it is, and it is most effective when added before infection.
The scientists then tested whether Harmol worked in mice. They wanted to determine whether Harmol would be safe and effective for treating live animals with HSV keratitis, rather than cells alone. First, the scientists investigated whether Harmol solution could be safely applied to the eyes of mice. They applied Harmol to the eyes of one group of mice and saline to the eyes of a control group. They examined the mice’s body weight and cornea over a five-day period and found that Harmol had no effect on either compared to mice given saline. They suggested that this means Harmol is a safe treatment for mice with HSV keratitis.
Next, the scientists infected three groups of mice with HSV. They treated the first group with acyclovir, the second group with Harmol, but left the third group untreated. They administered Harmol eye drops daily for five days and observed the mice on the third and fifth day. They reported that Harmol-treated mice performed better than untreated mice in all the characteristics they observed. Harmol-treated mice fed HSV had less damage to the cornea, less eyelid inflammation, less weight loss, decreased corneal thickness, and central nervous density compared to untreated mice fed HSV. was high. They found that this was also true in mice infected with acyclovir-resistant HSV.
The researchers concluded that Harmol can reduce the early symptoms of HSV keratitis in mice. Therefore, they proposed that Harmol could be an antiviral agent against HSV. Because harmol and acyclovir interact differently with acyclovir-resistant HSV, scientists believe the two compounds must inhibit HSV in different ways. However, they noted that one limitation of the study was that the mice were only tested for five days after infection. They said further researchers should investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of Harmol treatment for HSV keratitis.
If dinosaurs really did appear near the equator, life would have been particularly hot and dry.
Mark Whitton/Natural History Museum Trustees
Dinosaurs may have first evolved near the equator, rather than far south in the Southern Hemisphere as previously thought. Modeling studies suggest they originated in areas covering what is now the Amazon rainforest, the Congo Basin, and the Sahara Desert.
“Given the gaps in the fossil record and the evolutionary tree of dinosaurs, it is very likely that this is the central point of dinosaur origin,” he says. Joel Heath At University College London.
Dinosaurs evolved during the Triassic period, which lasted from 252 million to 201 million years ago, but there is “considerable” uncertainty about when and where they evolved, Heath said. The oldest known fossils of these animals are about 230 million years old, but there are enough features to suggest that dinosaurs have already been around for millions of years. “There must have been a lot going on in terms of dinosaur evolution, but we don't have the fossils,” he says.
At this time, the Earth looked very different. All the continents were combined into a single supercontinent called Pangea, shaped like a C with its center straddling the equator. South America and Africa were located in this southern hemisphere part and were fitted together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The earliest known dinosaurs lived in the southern parts of these two continents, in present-day Argentina and Zimbabwe, where dinosaurs were thought to have originated.
To learn more, Heath and his colleagues built a computer model that works backwards in time from the oldest known dinosaurs to the group's origins. They considered uncertainties such as gaps in the fossil record, possible geographic barriers, and ongoing questions about how the earliest dinosaurs were related to each other to create dozens of versions. has been created.
Most of these simulations concluded that dinosaurs first appeared near the equator, with only a few supporting a southern origin.
Paleontologists have tended to believe that dinosaurs couldn't have originated near the equator, Heath said. One reason for this is that no early dinosaur fossils have been found in the area. Moreover, it was a difficult place to live. “It was very, very dry and very hot,” he says. “It is believed that dinosaurs could not have survived in such conditions.”
However, most models do not. “This suggests something that we didn't really think was possible until now,” Heath says.
In fact, there may be a more prosaic explanation for the lack of early dinosaur fossils found near the equator. Paleontologists tend to conduct excavations in North America, Europe, and more recently China. “There are many areas of the planet that are completely ignored,” says Heath. He added that geologists have not found many rocks of suitable age in the area associated with the findings that can be excavated. “It may not be exposed in a way that we can easily investigate.”
But evidence supporting Heath's idea has recently come to light. On January 8th, researchers david loveless At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, oldest known dinosaur Originally from northern Pangea. They discovered what they call a species new to science. Avaitum Banduiche, sauropodomorphs related to long-necked dinosaurs such as diplodocus That evolved later. The research team discovered the 230-million-year-old rock in Wyoming's Popo Aggie Formation.
If dinosaurs were already present north and south of Pangea that long ago, there's no way the middle of the equator would be closed off to them, Heath said. “They must have been crossing the area.”
Pope Francis cautioned world leaders at Davos about the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence on the future of humanity, highlighting concerns about an escalating “crisis of truth.”
He stressed the need for governments and businesses to exercise caution and vigilance in navigating the complexities of AI.
In his written address to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland, the Pope pointed out that AI poses a “growing crisis of truth in public life” due to its ability to generate outputs that closely resemble human output, which could lead to ethical dilemmas and questions about societal impacts.
The Pope highlighted that AI has the capacity to learn autonomously, adapt to new circumstances, and provide unforeseen answers, raising crucial ethical and safety concerns that demand human responsibility. Cardinal Peter Turkson, a Vatican official, echoed this sentiment in a statement delivered to Davos delegates.
Having personally encountered AI’s ability to manipulate truth, the Pope has become a subject of AI-generated deepfake images, such as embracing singer Madonna and donning a Balenciaga puffer jacket.
An AI-generated deepfake image of Pope Francis wearing a down jacket. Photo: Reddit
The Pope emphasized that unlike many other human inventions, AI is trained based on human creativity results, often producing artifacts with skill and speed that rival or surpass human capabilities, posing significant concerns about AI’s impact on humanity’s place in the world.
AI dominated discussions at the Davos conference this year, with tech companies showcasing their products along the ski resort’s promenade.
Expectations are high among some participants for AI’s potential. Salesforce chief Marc Benioff predicted that future CEOs will manage both human and digital workers, underscoring the transformative nature of AI in the workplace.
Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s chief investment officer, lauded the potential of AI in improving healthcare outcomes and potentially saving lives.
She highlighted Google’s AlphaFold AI program’s success in predicting the structures of all 200 million proteins on Earth and releasing the results to scientists, a move expected to enhance drug discovery processes.
Last year, Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, an AI startup acquired by Google, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work using AI.
Mr. Porat, a staunch AI advocate, shared his personal experience of battling cancer and emphasized the transformative potential of AI in democratizing healthcare through early detection and access to quality care for all individuals.
The UK’s competition watchdog is set to investigate the impact of Apple and Google’s mobile platforms on consumers and businesses, following criticism over the appointment of a former tech executive as its new chair.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into the tech giants’ mobile operating systems, app stores, and browsers to determine if specific guidelines are needed to regulate their behavior.
This inquiry comes after Doug Gurr, a former Amazon UK country manager, was appointed as the CMA chair, with the government denying any bias towards big tech companies.
The investigation will focus on how Google and Apple’s mobile platforms impact consumers, businesses, and app developers, as most smartphones in the UK come with pre-installed iOS or Android operating systems.
The CMA will assess whether Google and Apple should be classified as companies with “strategic market positions” under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC). If designated as such, the CMA could impose regulatory requirements or mandate changes to promote competition on their platforms.
Sara Cardel, CEO of the CMA, emphasized the importance of mobile platforms as gateways to the digital world and highlighted the potential for a more competitive ecosystem to drive innovation and growth.
The CMA aims to complete its investigation by October 22nd, in line with its focus on ensuring consistent regulations that support economic growth and competition.
Both Apple and Google have expressed readiness to cooperate with the CMA and reiterated their commitment to fostering choice and opportunity for consumers and businesses while complying with regulations.
The wheel of time turns, the cycle repeats and another Jurassic Park movie is coming out this year. Feedback has faint hopes due to the presence of director Gareth Edwards, who proved in Monsters and Godzilla that he can direct films featuring huge creatures. But still, yawn.
While we all wait with bated breath, YouTuber CoolioArt is supplying dinosaur footage to keep us sated. They are using the animation tool Blender to redo key scenes from the original Jurassic Parkin order to give the Velociraptors feathers. So far, they have done the kitchen scene and the climactic scene in the visitor center (just before, spoiler alert, the Tyrannosaurus rex saves the day).
Given the amateur nature of the project, the animations are really good. However, one problem remains: the raptors are still way too big. You see, despite his reputation for careful research, Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton was a bit prone to getting things badly wrong.
Crichton's biggest scientific fail was controversial his 2004 climate change novel State of Fear. This features environmental terrorists who fake natural disasters to convince the world of the dangers of global warming. They have to do this because, in the universe of the bookall the scientific evidence that greenhouse gas emissions are heating up the climate is flared or faked.
There is even a series of pages entirely dominated by graphs from weather stations in the US that show local temperature declines, and which are meant to be more meaningful than the trend in the average global temperature for some reason. Crichton also recycles the myth that the warming trend is an artefact of “urban heat islands”. It's like a terrible Reddit thread in book form.
Even Jurassic ParkCrichton's most famous creation, wasn't immune. He wanted to feature a dromaeosaurid dinosaur, as they were understood to be fast and intelligent hunters – contrasting with the lumbering T. rexUnfortunately, the scariest ones had a name that Crichton didn't think was cool – Deinonychus antirrhopus – so he used every detail of that species but incorrectly called them Velociraptor.
That's why, in the books and films, an adult Velociraptor is about as tall as a human being. In reality, a Velociraptor was about as tall as a turkey. Feedback imagines that an angry Velociraptor could still cause problems for a human being, but it's just not the same when the terrifying predator is about the size of the average toddler.
The irony is that the evidence that dromaeosaurids had feathers was pretty equivocal in the 1990s, so it was justifiable to present the raptors as featherless – but not to triple their height.
Which explains why CoolioArt has overdubbed some of the dialogue in the kitchen clip. When the girl whispers “What is it?”, a female voice dubbed over the boy's now cheerily says “It's a Deinonychus“. 10/10, no notes.
AI for rOAds
Sometimes, on a gray Monday when the column is due, Feedback can be found hastily scratching around for story ideas because nobody has done anything especially within silly sight of us. However, on Monday 13 January the following item dropped into our lap.
The UK government announced that it was going to “unleash AI” because of its “vast potential” to improve the country's decaying public services. This vision of the future is called the AI Opportunities Action Plan. Feedback feels that the name could have used a bit of work: it abbreviates to AIOAP, which sounds like the Terminator movie Arnold Schwarzenegger will make when he's 85 and an old-age pensioner himself.
The AIOAP contains a lot of proposals, one of which caught Feedback's eye. to BBC News“AI will be fed through cameras around the country to inspect roads and spot potholes that need fixing”.
Like a rabbit caught in headlights, or, more aptly, like a driver heading straight for a pothole because they're being tailgated and there's no room to steer, Feedback found ourself staring blankly forward into space, stunned by the visionary nature of this vision .
It's not that we doubt that AI could be trained to spot potholes. On the contrary: it would probably do it rather well. Instead, we are concerned that this might be solving a non-existent problem.
The BBC reported in March 2024 that English and Welsh roads are blighted by potholes, with a backlog of repairs estimated to cost £16.3 billion. That is a long way short of “Elon Musk buying Twitter” money, but it's still roughly equivalent to the GDP of Jamaica. Furthermore, Feedback can attest to a deep familiarity with the numerous potholes in our local area , many of which have gone unrepaired for months.
The problem, in short, doesn't seem to be lack of knowledge about where the potholes are. We wouldn't have a backlog that would cover the cost of building several skyscrapers if the potholes weren't being logged. This is doubly so for any road busy enough to have cameras on it.
Instead, the problem seems to be getting the actual repairs done. Feedback doesn't see how the AI will help with that. No, we need to turn to genetics.
The only solution is an army of Ron Swanson clones to go and fill the potholes.
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I was captivated by Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a simplistic mountain biking game that was released in 2019. obsessed I played those tracks repeatedly until I mastered the art of braking, skidding a tire on a rock, getting stuck in a tire and being flung off, speeding down a straight path, and carefully navigating over ledges. Like a Lycra-clad mountain goat. The serene soundtrack of chirping birds and rustling leaves (occasionally interrupted by the harsh thud of riders colliding with rocks) made the experience very soothing for me. However, what truly drew me in was the Zen-like focus required to descend the mountain, speeding down without crashing 300 times. I honed my skills to perfection, finely tuning my trajectory to make the difference between cutting a second off my run and veering off track, leading to a crumpled heap.
For years, I had eagerly anticipated the release of a snow sports-themed sequel. Instead of sun, rocks, and dirt, there was now glistening snow, and bicycles were replaced with skis. It seemed unbelievable at first, but after a few initial runs on the snowy mountains, I humbly realized I had a lot to learn. I struggled with turns while applying the brakes, found myself sliding backward on hills, constantly bumped into trees, missed jumps, and tumbled across frozen lakes in confusion. The challenges in each course seemed daunting, and my first multiplayer race was a humiliating experience.
Just you and nature…single player mode. Photo: Megagon Industries
However, after a few hours of practice, I found myself gracefully carving through more challenging courses while immersing myself in the soothing sounds of snow. Achieving a seamless run down the mountain, with the wind in my ears, felt exhilarating. But when I missed a turn and ended up in a ditch, the enchantment was quickly shattered, prompting me to return to the checkpoint and start over.
This rhythm of triumph and failure still resonates with me in Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders. The minimalist soundscape, visually stunning representation of natural landscapes, and the sense of achievement from conquering a course remain as captivating as ever. While there are areas that could be improved, such as adding more customization options for the skier, the high difficulty from the start and precise controls pose challenges for new players in progressing through the mountain. Additionally, the introduction of multiplayer racing and team skiing comes with its own set of drawbacks.
Currently, the multiplayer aspect is plagued by technical issues shortly after release. When multiple players appear on screen at once, such as at the start of a race, the game experiences shaking or freezing temporarily. In a game where every millisecond counts, losing control, even momentarily, can make it unbearable to play. I encountered crashes while loading courses, got kicked out of multiplayer games, and saw other players mysteriously lose connection. While these issues may be addressed by developers in the future, for now, they remain a hindrance to the overall experience. The core problem lies in the wide variability of player skill levels.
In an 8-player race, 3 participants may swiftly descend the mountain within 3-4 minutes, while others take considerably longer. Once you cross the finish line, you can either skate aimlessly or watch lower-ranked players struggle in the same section repeatedly. This can be disheartening, especially if you happen to be the unlucky last player.
Massive Freeze…Multiplayer options need fixing. Photo: Megagon Industries
The team mode requires cooperation to navigate mountains, set checkpoints, and revive fallen players, but the concept seemed lost on the players I encountered. I found myself descending the mountain like a medic while others raced past me, eventually regrouping at base camp with players who seemed content to linger. Thank you all for your company and assistance!
The melodious high-pitched sound of birdsong is not something typically associated with the vastness of space, usually serving as a delightful indication of the arrival of spring. However, to the surprise of many, scientists at China’s Beijing Aviation University have recently stumbled upon a similar occurrence over 100,000 kilometers away from Earth.
Through the analysis of data collected from NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) satellite, researchers have pinpointed a phenomenon referred to as “chorus waves,” which consist of bursts of electromagnetic radiation traveling along Earth’s magnetic field lines.
If one were to venture into space, this sound would remain unheard due to the absence of air for sound waves to propagate. Interestingly, upon conversion into an audio signal for examination, this “chirp” is actually the auditory representation of these waves.
So, what exactly causes these electromagnetic chirps? Contrary to expectations, it is not a celestial songbird. In reality, chorus waveforms are relatively common. However, the peculiarity lies in their location, as highlighted by their distance from Earth.
The energy transfer induced by chorus waves prompts electron acceleration to speeds nearing that of light, crucial for the formation of Earth’s radiation belts which shield against the sun’s energetic particles.
While these accelerated particles contribute to the magnificent aurora borealis, they are also dubbed “killer electrons” due to the hazards they pose to satellites, astronauts, and crucial communication systems.
Typically, these waves are found around 51,000 km (32,000 miles) away, in a region influenced by the “magnetic dipole effect,” defining the Earth’s magnetic field with north and south poles.
However, a 2016 study published in nature unveiled that for the first time, these chorus waves have been observed at distances up to 165,000 km (103,000 miles) from Earth, in regions where the magnetic field is distorted and dipole effects are absent.
Furthermore, these waves exhibit similar properties to those closer to Earth, lasting around 0.1 seconds with frequencies reaching nearly 100Hz (akin to the noise of a revving car engine).
Chorus waves are part of the complex magnetic field system that causes auroras – Photo credit: Getty
Why is this discovery significant? It indicates that Earth’s environmental conditions are not prerequisites for wave generation as previously assumed by scientists.
“Though this finding does not refute existing theories… it certainly prompts a deeper investigation,” remarked Professor Richard Horne, head of space weather at the British Antarctic Survey, not involved in the study.
“The unexpected presence of chorus waves in this region calls for further exploration in areas where the Earth’s magnetic field displays substantial deviations from the dipole.”
Chorus waves play a vital role in shielding Earth from solar storms, yet they also pose potential dangers. Enhanced understanding of these waves can lead to better protective measures.
Horne expressed that this breakthrough “will significantly enhance our comprehension of these waves and refine our capacity to forecast them.”
Major technology giants criticized their competitors following Donald Trump’s announcement of significant investments in AI the day before.
President Trump revealed Stargate, a $500 billion initiative funded by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. The announcement featured leaders from both companies: Sam Altman, Larry Ellison, and Masayoshi Son, with Son as the project chairman. A representative from Abu Dhabi’s state-run AI fund MGX, another major investor, was notably absent.
The partnership aims to establish data centers and computing infrastructure crucial for AI development. While the initial investment amount is substantial, estimates suggest that developing AI will require as much funding.
Notably missing from the event was Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, who is also the wealthiest person globally. Despite Musk’s close ties to Trump and rumored office in the White House, he dismissed Stargate as a financial sham the following night.
When OpenAI announced on X (Musk’s social network) that they would immediately deploy $100 billion, Musk countered, stating that they lacked the funds and criticizing SoftBank’s funding of less than $10 billion. Musk, with a net worth of about $430 billion, tweets prolifically on a variety of subjects.
President Trump has yet to respond to Musk’s comments, focusing instead on Melania’s anniversary on his social network, Truth Social.
Musk continued his criticism on Twitter, sharing a leaked image of a research tool supposedly used to calculate Stargate’s $500 billion cost. He spent much of Wednesday afternoon attacking the project.
Sam Altman initially praised Musk’s work but later questioned his motives for criticizing SoftBank. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, responded diplomatically when asked about the situation, emphasizing Microsoft’s plans to invest in Azure.
The tension between Musk and Altman dates back to their history at OpenAI, where Musk eventually parted ways with Altman. The heads of Oracle and SoftBank involved in Stargate have not yet spoken on the matter.
Many species of birds use shed snake skin when building nests, but this behavior is poorly understood. In a new study, Cornell University ornithologists used comparative and experimental approaches to suggest that the evolution of this behavior is mediated by nest morphology and predator community. They used a series of experiments and comparisons to test four hypotheses (nest predation, nest microbiota, nest ectoparasites, and social signaling) that snake skin confers fitness effects, and the predation hypothesis found support for.
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myialchus crinitus) are famous for using snake skin to construct their nests. Image credit: Barbara Taylor/Macaulay Library.
“What do snakes eat? They eat a lot of rats and small mammals,” said Dr. Vanya Lower, lead author of the study.
“Given the evolutionary history of harmful interactions between small-bodied predators that are commonly eaten by snakes, these predators should become fearful of snake skin in their nests.”
“It may change the decision-making process for whether or not to nest.”
“Birdwatchers have been recording the use of snakeskin in nests for centuries, and have speculated that snakeskin occurs more frequently in hollow nests, but no one has tested this theory. There was no one there.”
“We were trying to understand why birds spend so much time and effort finding this strange substance.”
First, Dr. Lower and his colleagues looked at the literature and found that 78 species in 22 families have been reported to use shed snake skin for nest building.
All but one of these species are passerines, and in a comparative analysis, the researchers found that this behavior was disproportionately observed in cavity-nesting species.
Next, they examined a subsample of North American species, all of which are reported to use snake skin for nest construction, and found that between cavity-nesting species and open-cup nesting species, snake skin We investigated whether the proportion of nests with
The analysis suggested that the proportion of nests with snake skin was approximately 6.5 times higher in cavity nests than in open cup nest species.
“The proportion of nests that had snake skin in the nest description was about 6.5 times higher in cavity nests than in open cup nests,” Dr. Lower said.
“This was really, really cool and suggested to us that these two completely independent data series were telling very similar stories.”
To test the benefits that cavity-nesting birds derive from snake skin, scientists investigated how snake skin reduces nest predation, reduces harmful nest ectoparasites, and benefits birds. We investigated whether they can alter the microbial community or serve as a signal of parental quality. Parents make more efforts to raise their children.
Of these ideas, the results supported the nest predation hypothesis, but only in cavity nests.
For the experiment, the authors placed two quail eggs in more than 60 nest boxes and more than 80 inactive robin nests set up around Ithaca’s Monkey Run Natural Area. Cavity nests and open cup nests were simulated.
Some nests received snake skins collected from local snake breeders, while others did not.
Every three days for two weeks, the team used a ladder to climb through the monkey run to the nest and check for eggs.
Trail cameras revealed that while small mammal and bird nest predators visit open cup nests, only small mammals, namely flying squirrels, visit nest boxes.
“If you were in a hive like that and you had snake skin, you would have a much better chance of surviving those 14 days,” Dr. Lower said.
“The benefits of the material are most strongly expressed in hollow nests.”
TikTok’s ability to provide “uplifting” content and its impact on UK-China relations have raised concerns for the UK government regarding the use of data of millions of Britons, according to the technology secretary. The acceptance of video apps is being shaped by these concerns, the secretary stated.
After a US court upheld legislation that could potentially result in TikTok being banned or sold in the US, Peter Kyle expressed his worries about the platform’s data usage in relation to ownership models. “I am genuinely concerned about their use of data in relation to ownership models,” he told the Guardian.
However, following President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily suspending the US ban for 75 days, Kyle referred to TikTok as a “desirable product” that enables young people to embrace different cultures and ideologies freely. He emphasized the importance of exploring new things and finding the right balance between the euphoria TikTok offers and potential concerns about Chinese propaganda.
A recent study from Rutgers University indicated that heavy users of TikTok in the US demonstrated an increase in pro-China attitudes by around 50%. There are fears that the Chinese government could access the data collected by the app. TikTok claimed to use moderation algorithms to remove content related to alleged abuses by the Chinese Communist Party and the suppression of anti-China material.
The study concluded that TikTok’s content aligns with the Chinese Communist Party’s goal of shaping favorable perceptions among young viewers, potentially influencing users through psychological manipulation. It described TikTok as a “flawed experiment.”
In response to these findings, Kyle urged caution when using TikTok, highlighting the presence of bias in editorial decisions made by various platforms and broadcasters. He emphasized the government’s commitment to monitoring social media trends and taking action if necessary to safeguard national security.
When asked about concerns regarding TikTok as a propaganda tool, Kyle stated that any actions taken by the government would be made public. He also mentioned being mindful of China’s relationships with other countries, clarifying that his comments were not specifically directed at China.
Regarding the ban on TikTok in the US, Kyle noted the potential risks associated with using the Chinese version of the app, which could involve data collection and the dissemination of propaganda. He expressed concerns about the implications of such actions.
A representative from TikTok emphasized that the UK app is operated by a UK-registered and regulated company, investing £10bn to ensure user data protection in the UK and Europe through independent monitoring and verification of data security.
The Chinese government stated that it does not hold shares or ownership in ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, which is majority-owned by foreign investors. The founder, Zhang Yiming, owns 20% of the company.
In 2018, Mr. Zhang posted a “self-confession” announcing the shutdown of an app due to content conflicting with core socialist values and failing to guide public opinion properly. Following criticism on state television, he acknowledged corporate weaknesses and the need for a better understanding and implementation of political theories promoted by Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.
Paleontologists have discovered ancient bear footprints in Honseca Cave in northern Spain. Distinguishing cave bear and brown bear tracks is complicated, but cave bears are thought to be most likely to leave tracks at Honseka.
Cave badger (Ursus Spelaeus) was a very large bear that formed the sister lineage of extant brown bears and polar bears.
These animals lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene, but went extinct about 24,000 years ago.
It measured 2.7 to 3.5 meters (8.9 to 11.5 ft) in length, up to 1.7 meters (5.6 ft) at the shoulder, and weighed 225 to 500 kg.
People may have had occasional encounters with cave bears.
Despite their name, they did not actually live in caves, only using them for hibernation.
Nitrogen isotope data from giant crushed molars and their bones indicate that cave bears were primarily herbivorous, with leaves as their staple food.
“Cave bear footprints are not uncommon in the soft sediments of caves on the Iberian Peninsula, and many speleologists are well aware of their presence,” said Dr. Ana Mateos of the Center for Human Evolution and Human Research (CENIEH). .
“However, until now these fossil traces have not been the subject of systematic study.”
“In fact, only one study of this kind has ever been carried out in Romania's Ursilor Cave.”
Cave bear restoration (Ursus Spelaeus). Image credit: Sergio de la Larosa / CC BY-SA 3.0.
Mateos and his colleagues discovered 16 cave bear footprints in Honseca Cave in Palencia, Spain.
The footprints were assigned to Ursichnus europaeus This is the first record of this species discovered in a cave on the Iberian Peninsula.
“We performed a scan of the footprint surface and its surroundings using a laser scanner that creates a three-dimensional cloud of millions of points, and combined this with a photogrammetric model.” said Dr. Adrian Martinez. CENIEH technician.
“This model has been used to take various measurements of footprints and compare them with those of other caves in Europe, such as the Ursilol Cave in Romania.”
“Furthermore, by processing the model, we were able to generate images that highlight the shape of individual footprints,” added Dr. Alfonso Benito, also from CENIEH.
“The shape of the toe impressions and the length of Urushiro's and Honseka's claw marks suggest that in both cases they belong to the cave bear, which went extinct about 28,000 years ago, rather than to brown bears.”
“Unfortunately, before scientists knew about their existence, some of the footprints were destroyed by the footprints of amateurs who had not paid attention and visited the interior of the cave,” said Jesús of CENIEH. Dr. Rodriguez said.
“Therefore, one of the goals of this type of research is to highlight the value of these fossils and promote their preservation.”
of study Published in this month's magazine Ichnos.
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J. Rodriguez others. Cave bear footprints (Ursichnus europaeus Diedrich, 2011) from Honseca Cave, Palencia, Spain. Ichnospublished online on January 9, 2025. doi: 10.1080/10420940.2024.2446153
Study published in the magazine Natural Earth Science: Planetary researchers used high-resolution images and compositional data captured by orbiting satellites to understand the geology of thousands of kilometers of hills in the northern and western lowlands. Maurus Gorge, a plateau located on the highland side of the hemisphere bisection boundary of Mars.
Rising hundreds of meters above the surrounding lowlands, two Martian hills reveal bright areas rich in clay minerals. Image credits: ESA / TGO / CaSSIS / NASA / JPL / MSSS / Murray Lab.
A research team led by scientist Joe McNeil from the Natural History Museum in London found that the mounds are the remains of ancient highlands that retreated hundreds of kilometers after erosion carved out the landscape billions of years ago. .
These actions played a key role in shaping the Martian landscape, which separates the planet's low-lying northern hemisphere from its high-lying southern hemisphere.
This mound is made of layered deposits containing clay minerals, formed by water interacting with rock over millions of years.
These clay layers are sandwiched between older non-clay layers below and younger non-clay layers above, marking distinct geological events in Mars' history.
“These mounds are incredibly interesting because they preserve the complete water history of this area within an accessible, continuous rock outcrop,” Dr. McNeil said.
“They are prime locations for future missions aimed at determining whether Mars once had an ocean and whether life could exist there.”
The authors also found that these mounds are geologically connected to nearby plains. Oxia Planum -ESA's Rosalind Franklin spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2028 searching for signs of past and present life.
“Mars' lack of plate tectonics means it still has much of its ancient geology, so Mars is a model of what early Earth was like,” McNeil said. the doctor said.
“The more missions that visit Mars, the more we will be able to dig deeper into our planet's history and discover how life began.”
“As part of the Natural History Museum's mission to transform natural history science, our research focuses on providing solutions from and for nature.”
“This research is part of our Planetary Origins and Evolution research theme, which explores the origins and systems that underpin the evolution of the Earth, Moon, and planetary systems.”
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JD McNeil others. Dichotomous regression and aquatic alteration of Noachian Mars are recorded in highland remnants. Nat. Earth Science published online on January 20, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01634-8
This article is based on a press release provided by the Natural History Museum, London.
Near-Earth asteroid 2024 PT5 is in an Earth-like orbit and remained very close to Earth for several months at the end of 2024.
2024 PT5 captured a brief flyby from September 29 to November 25, 2024. Image credit: University of Colorado.
2024 PT was first detected on August 7, 2024 by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope at the University of Hawaii in Sutherland, South Africa.
This asteroid poses no danger to Earth, but its orbit around the sun closely matches that of our planet.
The object, which is about 10 meters (33 feet) wide, appears to be composed of rock that broke off from the moon’s surface and was ejected into space after a major impact.
“There was a general idea that this asteroid might have come from the moon, but when we discovered that this asteroid is rich in silicate minerals, it became conclusive proof. The silicate minerals are not the kind found on asteroids, but rather the ones found in the moon’s rocks. Dr. Teddy Kaleta Astronomer at Lowell Observatory.
“It doesn’t seem to have been in space very long, perhaps only a few thousand years, because there was no cosmic weathering to cause its spectrum to turn red.”
Using observations from the Lowell Discovery Telescope and NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) at Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii, Dr. Kaleta and his colleagues show that the spectrum of sunlight reflected from the surface of 2024 PT does not match its spectrum. showed. A known asteroid type. Instead, the reflected light more closely matched the moon’s rocks.
This discovery doubles the number of known asteroids thought to originate from the Moon.
“Asteroid 469219 Kamooarewa was discovered in 2016 in an Earth-like orbit around the sun, indicating that this asteroid may also have been ejected from the lunar surface after a major impact,” the astronomers said. said.
“As telescopes become more sensitive to smaller asteroids, more potential lunar boulders will be discovered, and scientists studying the moon as well as scientists studying rare asteroid populations will It creates exciting opportunities for everyone.”
“If a lunar asteroid could be directly related to a specific impact crater on the Moon, studying it could provide insight into the cratering process on the pockmarked lunar surface.”
“Also, material collected from deep on the moon’s surface in the form of asteroids passing close to Earth could be available to future scientists for study.”
“This is a story about the moon told by asteroid scientists,” Dr. Kaleta said.
“It’s an unusual situation where we go out to study asteroids and end up wandering into new territory in terms of the questions we can ask for PT5 in 2024.”
of findings On January 14, 2025, Astrophysics Journal Letter.
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Theodore Caleta others. 2025. On the origin of the near-Earth asteroid moon2024 PT5. APJL 979, L8; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad9ea8
A strange continent-sized structure (red) lurks beneath the planet's surface
Edward Garnero. SW French, BA Romanowicz, Geophys. J. Int. 199, 1303, 2014.
Two giant blobs deep within the Earth may remain stable for billions of years despite powerful internal fluctuations, according to an analysis of seismic waves reverberating across the planet.
“When a major earthquake occurs, the entire earth expands and contracts like a bell.” arwen Deus At Utrecht University in the Netherlands. “The earth becomes an instrument.”
Decades ago, measurements of such seismic waves identified two strange continent-sized structures, one under the Pacific Ocean and one under Africa. They extend for almost 1000 kilometers from the outer core to the lower mantle, the slowly moving layer between the Earth's crust and core.
Because seismic waves pass through these objects more slowly, they are called “large low shear velocity regions” or LLSVPs. However, little is known about its composition and origin.
To gain further information, Deus and her colleagues analyzed how these regions attenuate the energy of seismic waves, in addition to changes in wave speed. Such measurements reveal information about the temperature, composition, shape, and size of the LLSVP.
The researchers expected that the structure, which would be hotter than the surrounding area, would significantly attenuate seismic waves. “Lo and behold, we found the opposite,” says Deus.
To explain the lack of decay at high temperatures, the researchers propose that LLSVP must be composed of minerals with large crystals that are stable in heat. This also suggests that these regions are highly viscous and can maintain stability as the mantle moves around them.
This stability could mean that these objects are very old, dating back to the formation of planets at least 500 million years ago, and possibly more than 4 billion years ago, Deus said. They may act as repositories of primordial material, unchanged since the Earth formed, that sometimes reaches the surface via volcanoes.
A new report predicts that power outages lasting more than eight hours will increase in the United States in the coming years due to climate change. Extreme weather events caused by climate change, such as cyclones, are making it challenging to cope with these outages. Severe weather events that occur simultaneously, like wildfires during heat waves, are already causing more prolonged power outages, according to a study published in the journal agreement.
From 2000 to 2023, 80% of power outages in the US were weather-related, and this number is expected to rise further due to the increasing severity and frequency of extreme weather events accelerated by climate change. These events not only come with economic costs but also health risks, disrupting essential services like heating, air conditioning, and medical equipment.
While it may not be possible to prevent weather events, researchers believe that tracking patterns can help in better preparing for power outages and distributing aid effectively. Understanding when and where power outages coincide with severe weather events can help mitigate their impact, particularly as aging power grids and climate change lead to more severe weather.
A study analyzed weather events from 2018 to 2020, finding that nearly 75% of US counties experienced significant power outages during dangerous weather events. The study also observed an increase in simultaneous power outages and wildfires along the West Coast from 2018 to 2020.
Researchers are now working on simulating different dangerous weather combinations in various regions to develop effective response plans across the country. Doctoral student and lead author of the study, Vivian Do, emphasized the importance of understanding these patterns to minimize the societal impact of power outages during severe weather events.
Nintendo recently announced the Switch 2 right after releasing its newsletter last week, accompanied by an unexpected revelation. A brief trailer (watch here) provides the only known details at this point. While the appearance of the device is revealed, other significant aspects remain undisclosed. It is speculated that Nintendo plans to host a more substantial announcement event in April. The trailer’s premature release follows numerous leaks about the console, omitting the release date and game specifics.
Given the lack of detailed information, analyzing the Switch 2 feels speculative. It is noted that this is a refined model of the original Switch, boasting improved size, power, and new features. Unlike groundbreaking releases such as the motion-controlled Wii or the original Switch in 2017, which featured hybrid functionality, the Switch 2 lacks innovative gimmicks like the 3DS’ augmented reality camera. However, a surge in hybrid consoles from other companies since 2017, such as Steam Deck and PlayStation’s Portal, suggests a competitive market.
Nintendo’s challenge lies in enticing existing console owners to upgrade. Despite the company’s extensive game library catering to families, Nintendo may not hinge its success on selling millions of new consoles within the first year. With ventures like Mario movies, Universal Studios tie-ins, a new museum, and the enduring popularity of the Switch, Nintendo’s influence in the industry continues to burgeon, reducing its reliance on core hardware sales.
Nintendo’s pragmatic business approach, characterized by its substantial cash reserves, sets it apart from many Western counterparts accustomed to high-risk product launches. Holding significant assets worth billions, Nintendo’s long-term outlook ensures its sustainability in the face of occasional setbacks. This strategic resilience contrasts with analysts’ predictions of the company becoming a mere third-party game publisher, securing Nintendo’s relevance in the market.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the Switch 2’s debut, Nintendo remains resilient against existential threats. By refining existing concepts rather than radically innovating, Nintendo can explore unconventional projects like the Alarmo alarm clock and retain creativity in its game development. As the industry thrives on compelling gameplay experiences, the success of the Switch 2 hinges on upcoming releases like Breath of the Wild and potential new entries in classic Nintendo franchises.
For updates on gaming trends, click here. Explore exciting titles like Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, a challenging skiing game, and stay informed about industry developments in our news section. Engage with fellow gamers in our interactive polls and share your thoughts and suggestions with us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.
Trade unions and consumer activists have criticized the appointment of Amazon’s former chief executive as the head of Britain’s competition watchdog, calling it a “slap in the face to workers” and “Trumpian.” The government hired Doug Gurr, former Amazon UK and China boss, to chair the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), leading to accusations of favoritism towards big tech.
Business Secretary Justin Madders defended the decision, stating that it was aimed at boosting economic growth. Gurr replaces Markus Bockelink and will serve as interim chair for up to 18 months. The CMA will focus on investigating technology companies under the new digital market competition regime to increase competition.
Critics like GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast and campaigner Rob Harrison have raised concerns about Gurr’s ties to Amazon and the potential bias in regulating technology monopolies. However, government officials maintain that the CMA will uphold its operational independence and protect consumer interests.
Amazon, known for its dominance in online sales, has faced criticism for its treatment of workers and market practices. The company has pledged to ensure worker rights and dignity. The appointment of Gurr has sparked debates over conflict of interest and regulatory oversight of tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
Antitrust watchdogs and consumer groups have expressed concerns about the impact of Gurr’s appointment on economic growth and innovation. The Open Market Institute (OMI) criticized the move as a strategic failure that could harm UK’s competitiveness in the tech sector.
Despite the backlash, government officials defend the decision, stating that it is necessary to balance consumer protection and growth. Gurr’s background as an Amazon executive has raised questions about his ability to regulate the tech industry effectively.
Gurr’s appointment comes after disagreements over the CMA’s approach to growth, leading to the replacement of Bockelink. Regulators like Nikhil Rati of the Financial Conduct Authority have emphasized that they are acting on government directives to ensure compliance and customer protection.
The CMA and Gurr have been approached for comment on the matter. Additional reporting by Kalyeena Makortoff and Sarah Butler.
Elon Musk has confessed to cheating in video games in order to achieve high scores. Private online conversations have revealed the billionaire’s extravagant claims of being a top-ranked player in the world. The intense scandal surrounding this incident seems to have subsided.
Musk has often bragged about his gaming rankings, as he mentioned in an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan last year. He reportedly held a position among the top 20 players globally in the highly challenging action role-playing game Diablo IV.
These claims raised eyebrows about how the world’s wealthiest man could dedicate time to compete on a global scale. Juggling responsibilities at companies like Tesla, X, and SpaceX, as well as his involvement in politics with Donald Trump, would have left him with little time for gaming.
The games Musk claimed to have high scores in, Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2, are known for their difficulty. Some players spend countless hours “grinding” through dungeons, battling monsters, and crafting powerful virtual characters.
The revelation of Musk’s unexpected gaming abilities came to light in an article that unveiled a direct message conversation he had with a top Diablo player, Nico Wrex, on X.
During the conversation, Musk admitted to “account boosting,” a form of cheating where players pay to have their characters powered up by others. Musk’s response to questions about leveling up and acquiring gear for Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 hinted at these practices.
The Guardian could not independently verify the transcript, but Musk mentioned that he reposted the video to his X account and interacted with NikoWrex on X. NikoWrex’s video discussing Path of Exile 2 in early January indicated Musk’s involvement.
Grimes, a Canadian musician and Musk’s partner, defended him on Twitter, asserting that he witnessed Musk’s gaming prowess firsthand. However, suspicions of cheating arose when Musk’s character in Path of Exile 2 was found to be active in the game while Musk was attending President Trump’s inauguration.
Nick Clegg has strongly supported Meta’s decision to downgrade the social media platform’s moderation and remove fact-checkers.
The changes to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, including a shift to promote more political content, were announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this month.
Clegg, who is stepping down from the tech company after six years to make room for Joel Kaplan, who leans towards Donald Trump, refuted claims that Meta was diminishing its commitment to truth.
“Please look at what Meta has announced. Ignore the noise, the politics, and the drama that accompanies it,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the new policy as “limited and tailored.” He asserted that.
The former UK deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader stated: “There are still 40,000 people dedicated to safety and content moderation, and this year we will again invest $5 billion (£4 billion) a year in platform integrity. We still maintain the most advanced community standards in the industry.”
Clegg mentioned that Meta’s new community notes system, replacing its fact-checker, will resemble the one used by Elon Musk’s competing social media platform X, and will first be launched in the United States.
He described it as a “crowdsourcing or Wikipedia-style approach to misinformation” and suggested it might be “more scalable” than the fact-checkers that he believes have lost the public’s trust.
Zuckerberg, who has been collaborating closely with President Trump recently, simply aims to refine Meta’s content moderation approach, according to Clegg.
During a roundtable discussion with journalists at a ski resort in Switzerland, Mr. Clegg confirmed that he would not tolerate using the Meta platform in the future, forbidding the use of derogatory terms for groups of people or labeling LGBT individuals as “mentally ill.” Numerous expressions previously allowed were challenged.
Mr. Clegg continued to defend this stance, stating at an event in Davos: “It seems inconceivable to us that individuals can say things in Congress or traditional media that they cannot say on social media. Therefore, some significant adjustments were made.”
He emphasized that speech targeting individuals in a manner designed to intimidate or harass remains unacceptable.
When I interviewed a nurse practitioner in California, what she valued most about nursing was the “human element” of being with other people. “I think we all just want our suffering acknowledged, even if we can't cure it or do anything about it,” she told me.
She still remembers when a homeless man came into her clinic. The man had a hunched back and his feet were gnarled and calloused from years of being on the street. She was “just sitting there tending to the wound on his leg.” This moment stood out to her. One reason for this is that clinics and hospitals have fewer opportunities to take such time, as the pursuit of efficiency imposes time constraints.
Washing her feet represented what nursing meant to her: humility, service, and witness. “To give him a moment where he says, 'I see you, I acknowledge you, this is me taking care of you,'” she said. “It was powerful for both of us.”
What value is there in being seen by people other than friends and family? What happens when people connect with each other in everyday encounters such as civic life and commerce? Why is it important? Amid efficiency campaigns, constant data collection, and the rapid proliferation of AI connecting jobs such as therapy and education, these questions have never been more urgent.
The benefits of human interaction have long been unmeasurable and often ignored, and the value of the skill of connecting with others has long been considered innately feminine. As a social scientist, I spent five years studying these connections to learn how and why they matter and how people make them in different environments.
In fact, we know that the relationship between doctor and patient is as follows: Stronger impact on medical outcomes Rather than taking aspirin every day to prevent a heart attack, a therapist's Connection with client They have more impact than the specific treatments they adhere to. Reflective and witnessing work is important enough to deserve its name. After five years of interviewing and observing numerous practitioners and clients in their workplaces, I have come to call it “joint labor.”
Bonded labor may enable the modern service economy, but it is more than a kind of lubricant to the engine for the outcomes we value, like understanding algebra, managing diabetes, and learning how to manage anxiety. is fulfilled. Rather, seeing and being seen has powerful effects for both individuals and communities.
First, when people see each other, it helps create dignity by simply communicating that they are worthy of being seen by others. I spoke with Mariah, a woman who ran a program in California where ex-prisoners met with mentors in small groups to teach them entrepreneurial skills. She said it took men a while to get used to the attention. “Like, [they ask] “So you just want to know what I think?” This program helped change men through human attention.
The power of human attention to inspire others may be a truism, but perhaps less well-known is that these effects go both ways. “It's a trusting relationship,” Jenna, a primary care physician, told me. “That trust infuses the relationship with almost a power, a sacredness. There's just something about that. I feel really honored and lucky to be able to do something like that. That trust infuses the relationship with almost a power, a sacredness. It gives me just as much.”
Finally, people help others understand themselves better. “I think every kid needs to be seen. Really I saw it,” said Bart, the school principal. “I don't think kids understand it on a deep level. I don't think they really dig into that information or content until they feel seen by the person they're learning from. ”
These outcomes – dignity, purpose and understanding – mean a lot to the individuals involved. But being seen can also have broader effects. In recent research, Formerly Incarcerated People in Chicago We found that receiving interpersonal recognition from local community leaders helps us feel like we fit in. One former prisoner said he now knew he had “something worth saying”. Who is seen and who is not seen can be politically influenced by the feeling of being ignored. stir up populist angerwhile being promoted by recognition; sense of belonging It brings communities together.
Of course humans too mistakeWe recognize each other because judgment and prejudice can poison these interactions and elicit shame in rather vulnerable moments. But as a therapist told me, if people only seek to avoid shame—for example, by choosing an AI companion or counselor—they may never find relief from shame. Shame is common in relationships, but it's something you should work through together, not run away from. Part of the power of human interaction comes from the risks we take when we reveal ourselves to each other.
Bonded labor has profound implications for individuals and our society, but it is under siege in data analytics, drowning practitioners in collection and measurement requirements, and behind automated treatments, education, etc. We are under threat from an increasingly lagging AI. Novelty. For some, AI may be better than nothing, while others believe it is better than humans. Still, both choose technology to solve problems primarily caused by insufficient staffing and a constant drive for efficiency, and both have a hard time understanding what humans actually do for each. It reflects the fact that it reflects. I don't really understand the others.
Instead, we need to preserve and protect these personal interactions. We need to strengthen the working conditions of combined labor workers so that they can better see others. We need to impose “connectivity criteria” that help us decide which AIs to encourage. For example, the kind of AI that creates new antibiotics. Decoding the language of sperm whales – and which one to apply the brakes on, i.e. intervene in human relationships. Each of us must decide how much we value human connection in our own lives and in the lives of our neighbors.
British citizens will soon have the option to store their passport digitally on their phone, along with their driving license, Universal Credit account, marriage certificate, and birth certificate.
These plans were revealed by Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, as part of a new smartphone app to streamline interactions with government services. This move aims to eliminate the need for physical government letters and long wait times for basic appointments.
Initially, people will be able to access their driver’s licenses and veterans cards with the new digital wallet starting in June. The government’s digital service will later expand to include accounts related to student loans, car tax, benefits, childcare, and local councils.
Mr. Kyle mentioned that his department is collaborating with the Home Office to authorize a digital passport version. While physical copies will still be valid, their use for crossing borders will depend on other countries’ border systems.
An example of a digital driving license page stored in a smartphone wallet in the Gov.uk app, due to be released this summer. Photo: Faculty of Science/PA
Kyle stated: “We are closely monitoring international standards, and as those standards become clearer, governments will naturally want to benefit from them as much as possible.”
The digital wallet, similar to Apple and Google wallets, will be linked to a person’s ID to verify their identity. This will enable instant sharing of necessary certificates and benefit claims with ease. However, there are no immediate plans to use it for proving immigration status.
In case of a lost phone, a recovery system is in place to prevent loss of the digital wallet. Kyle reassured users about data breaches, mentioning that the app’s design complies with existing data laws.
“We are revolutionizing the interaction between citizens and the state,” said Kyle during a launch event in east London, drawing inspiration from Silicon Valley product launches.
He added that individuals under 18, accustomed to smartphones, would view current government and paper-based systems as outdated.
“Moving government services online doesn’t mean leaving behind those without internet access,” he emphasized. “Easier online access allows us to enhance public services and focus human resources where necessary, ensuring better service for all.”
The technology has been developed over the last six months since the Labor party took office and includes modern smartphone security features like facial recognition checks.
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