Paleontologists have discovered a new species of Dromaeosaurus dinosaur from a nearly complete and unique skeleton found in Mongolia during the 2000s.
Reconstruction of Sri Lapax. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC by 4.0.
This newly recognized dinosaur lived during the Campanian stage of the Cretaceous period, approximately 75 million years ago.
Based on various derived traits of the skull, vertebrae, and overall skeletal structure, this species can be classified within a group of bird-like theropods known as Dromaeosauridae.
It has been named Sri Lapax, marking it as the second species in this genus, following Sri Devi, which was identified in 2021.
“Dromaeosauridae represents a clade of small to medium-sized theropod dinosaurs that have been found in various Cretaceous deposits across North America, Asia, Europe, South America, and extending as far as Antarctica and Madagascar.”
“Remnants of feather-like structures, true pennaceous feathers, and gastrointestinal remains can be observed in well-preserved Dromaeosaurus specimens from the Lower Cretaceous period, such as Daurong Wanggi, Sinornithosaurus millenii, and Micro Raptor Zhaoianus.”
“Together with Troodontids, Dromaeosaurids are generally acknowledged as the closest modern relatives of birds.”
The nearly complete skeleton of Sri Lapax was discovered in the Djadochta Formation in Mongolia.
“This Dromaeosaurus specimen was illegally collected prior to 2010 and subsequently passed through private collections in Japan and the UK before being obtained by a French company,” noted paleontologist Eldonia.
“The precise location of the discovery remains unknown.”
“We plan to propose a tentative origin for it in the Mongolian Ukhaa Tolgod region based on documentation relating to the specimen.”
Holotype of Sri Lapax prior to preparations at the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences in Belgium in 2010. The arrows denote single femurs reconstructed using parts from both original femurs (which were separated during preparation). Image credit: Moutrille et al., doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148.
Sri Lapax exhibits a unique combination of vertebral and pelvic characteristics along with notably robust hands.
“One of the most distinctive features of Sri Lapax,” the researcher remarked.
“When adjusted for equal length, the phalangeal elements of the Pollex are about 150% more robust laterally compared to homologous elements in other Djadokhtan Dromaeosaurids, and these hands are stockier than those found in other known Dromaeosaurids.”
“We propose that frequent interactions with the Serratopsians, along with aggressive behaviors from those species, may have driven the development of more robust forelimbs and stockier hands in several Djadokhtan velociraptorines.”
“Assuming that Sri Lapax shared predatory habits with its close relative Velociraptor mongoliensis, the more robust construction of its hands suggests an adaptation for hunting larger and sturdier prey compared to typical Velociraptor diets.”
A study detailing this discovery was published online in the journal Historical Biology on July 13, 2025.
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Léa Moutrille et al. New bird-like dinosaurs from the Mongolian Upper Cretaceous period indicate niche diversification among belosirapthrins with particularly robust hands. Historical Biology published online on July 13th, 2025. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148
Dakar, Senegal – the largest meteorite discovered on Earth – a 54-pound (25 kilograms) rock that fetched over $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record.
However, in a West African nation where rusty red rocks have been excavated from the Sahara desert, authorities have initiated an investigation into what they describe as “illegal international trafficking,” suggesting it may have been smuggled from the country.
Here’s what you should know about meteorites and legal controversies:
How was it discovered
According to Sotheby’s, the rock, designated NWA 16788, was dislodged from the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid collision and journeyed 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth.
It was uncovered in the Sahara, northwest Niger by an unnamed meteorite hunter in November 2023, as per the auction house’s report. The identities of buyers remain undisclosed.
In the arid regions of the Sahara like Niger, meteorite hunting is on the rise. While meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has emerged as a prime location for their discovery due to its climate, which is conducive to conservation.
Hunters often seek space rocks to sell to collectors and scientists. The most coveted and valuable meteorites are from Mars and the Moon.
As reported by the Heritage Academic Journal, the rock was sold to international dealers and eventually made it to a private gallery in Italy. Last year, a team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock to determine its structure and origins before it fell to Earth.
The meteorite was briefly showcased in Rome before appearing at the New York auction last month.
Why Niger is investigating
Following the sale, Niger raised concerns about how the meteorite was made available for auction.
Last month, the Niger government launched an inquiry into the discovery and sale of meteorites, stating that it resembles “illegal international trafficking.”
Last week, President Abdullah Hamanetiani halted the export of precious stones, semi-precious stones, and meteorites to ensure proper traceability.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Sotheby’s maintained that the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported in line with all applicable international regulations.
“In selling this item, all necessary documentation was obtained at each stage of the journey, consistent with best practices and the requirements of the involved countries,” the statement indicated.
Niger authorities did not respond to inquiries from the Associated Press.
What international law says
Patti Garstenblis, a cultural heritage attorney and expert on illegal trade, noted that rare minerals like meteorites are recognized as cultural property under the UNESCO Cultural Property Treaty, which both Niger and the United States have ratified.
However, Garstenbliss pointed out that Niger needs to establish ownership and that the meteorite was stolen.
“I doubt Niger could reclaim the meteorite if it wasn’t stolen and was properly declared upon entering the U.S.,” she stated to the Associated Press.
Paleontologist Paul Sereno, who has spent years uncovering dinosaur fossils in Niger’s Sahara, is advocating for the return of the nation’s cultural and natural heritage, including meteorites.
“When laws clearly state that rare minerals like meteorites are cultural artifacts, unique and valuable items cannot just be claimed without consideration for the country,” he told the AP.
“We are no longer in a colonial era,” he added.
In certain countries, including Morocco, a major source of meteoritic specimens for international markets, if an object is found on their territory, compensation is required. Nonetheless, due to the expansive desert regions and the informal trading networks, enforcement remains challenging.
Myrna (Jennifer Dale) perhaps experienced a more favorable blind date. Her appetizer of edible flowers appear somber. The two tables are surrounded by an oddly shaped shroud of Vitrine covering the setting. After a brief conversation with her date, Karsh (Vincent Cassel), who owns the restaurant, it becomes evident that the environment is intricately linked to the cemetery in architectural, economic, and intellectual aspects.
This cemetery isn’t just a place; it includes gravestones equipped with screens. The deceased are enveloped in a technologically advanced, camera-laden shroud, allowing visitors to witness their loved ones from afar as they undergo life-changing events.
Over his five-decade career, David Cronenberg has perfected the craft of delivering narratives at an unconventional pace. On paper, as well as within the context of “Plesis,” his films might read as satire. Their whimsical nature is apparent, considering the characters’ last names—Karsh is “Relikh,” and Myrna is “Shovlin.” By treating this scenario earnestly, one can discern the potential for conversations with AI-created avatars of the deceased, engaging in various money-driven ventures alongside lists of “grief technology” startups.
Yet, Cronenberg seldom writes pure satire; he crafts narratives that resonate deeply with what we could genuinely experience.
Although Karsh’s date with Myrna is uneventful, he finds solace (and more) with Terry, a digital personification resembling his late wife, Becca. Diane Kruger portrays both the role and voice of the unreliable digital assistant, Honey, created by Terry’s ex-husband, Molly (played by the cunning Guy Pearce).
After many projects, it is evident that sorrow fuels the entirety of David Cronenberg’s artistic journey.
By night, Becca battles bone cancer, navigating her illness without arms. Are these nocturnal encounters mere reflections or figments of his imagination? Amidst everything, Karsh’s affections remain unwavering for his wife, raising the question: will he become more human? Or will they truly care for him?
Kirsh grapples with conflicting emotions—guilt, rage, and longing—as Becca might be deceiving him with her past professor and first love. Yet, these layers serve as mere facades, obscuring more significant, political conspiracies involving China, Russia, or Budapest. Meanwhile, Terry, who enjoys the unfolding drama, finds herself in the position of encouraging Kirsch’s obsessive behaviors.
Carolyn Zeyfman, Cronenberg’s spouse, passed away in 2017. Shroud emerges as a product of profound emotional sharing, delving into every stage of grief through an exceptional portrayal by Kassel—armed with unresolved, fantastical plot elements twisted by delusional technological visions. Is there a chance that China could exploit our physical forms for surveillance? Or did Morley code this metamorphosis?
Meanwhile, Shroud firmly establishes that sorrow remains the pivotal force driving Cronenberg’s cinematic catalog. It resembles a constructed film where characters articulate complex revelations to one another while maneuvering through intricate conspiracy theories, perpetually shrouded. Nothing significant evolves because, ultimately, we confront… death. It unfolds at a calm, steady pace, relentlessly.
This ranks among the catastrophic productions great directors occasionally create when they have nothing left to prove, and the only narrative to convey.
I would also recommend Simon’s works…
Asphyx Peter Newbrook
The two Edwardian Tinkers (Robert Stephens and Robert Powell) attempt to invent a method for the Grim Reaper to freeze mid-strokes.
Ring Nakata Fumi
No one consulted us about our desire to live. This thriller explores mortality through cursed videotapes that ensnare viewers within a week.
Simon Sings is a novelist and science writer. Follow him on X @simonings
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As a child, my Malaysian grandmother would take me to the local market. There, we would spend time inspecting every piece of fruit and vegetable, just as only an Asian grandmother knows how. She would weigh the papayas, analyze the patterns on every watermelon, and pull the leaves of pineapples to assess their quality.
Fast forward over 30 years, and I see $200 yoga pant influencers on social media using many of her techniques at farmer’s markets.
Nowadays, these techniques are not only simple but also scientifically sound. However, it’s the vibrant ones that tend to go viral. One popular tip circulating on my social media feed claims that the number of bumps at the base of a pepper is indicative of its flavor. Supposedly, “female” peppers with four bumps are sweeter and better raw, while “male” peppers with three bumps are sweeter and ideal for cooking.
To clarify, peppers are not strictly divided into “male” and “female” in a biological sense. Pepper fruits are the fertilized ovaries of flowering plants, which, like 90% of all plants, contain both male and female components.
However, this explanation doesn’t entirely negate the cultural aspect of categorizing these plants. In traditional remedies, numerous plant varieties are designated as “male” or “female.” Genetics suggests that various plants indeed appear subtly different.
Moreover, the number of lobes in a pepper is largely a genetic trait of the variety. While it is far from a strict binary classification, peppers can have anywhere from one to six or more lobes.
So, do four-lobed peppers really taste sweeter than those with three lobes? After extensively reviewing the literature, we were unable to find any studies correlating sugar content with the number of lobes in pepper fruits.
What we do know is that, like most fruits, their sweetness is closely linked to ripeness. Ripening, from green to red, affects flavor, and bitter-tasting alkaloids may mask sweetness as well.
Ironically, these bitter compounds are concentrated in the placenta, which is the white membrane found between the folds of each pepper. Thus, the more lobes a pepper has, the less likely it is to taste sweet. Sorry, influencers.
James Wong is a botanist and science writer with a keen interest in food crops, conservation, and the environment. Trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, he lives in a small flat filled with over 500 houseplants. You can follow him on X and Instagram @BotanyGeek.
For more projects, please visit newscientist.com/maker
Should players identify a character from a set of 24 through guessing?
Shutterstock/Jayanthi Photo
You can enhance your odds of winning a board game. By employing a strategy crafted by mathematicians, you may encounter some challenging logical puzzles.
Originally launched in 1979, Zenkon allows players to secretly choose characters from a collection of 24 distinct figures. Players then take turns questioning each other to deduce a yes or no or make a guess about the hidden character.
Numerous individuals engage in a variant of the game, successfully narrowing down their opponent’s character to a single option to win. Mathematicians have explored the optimal approach for this variant, which involves posing two-part questions.
However, official game guidelines stipulate that victory can only be achieved by directly guessing the secret character, rather than merely eliminating incorrect options from the board.
David Stewart from The University of Manchester, UK, and his team devised techniques for winning within the parameters of official rules. They discovered that, in most situations, both players must utilize two-part questions to divide potential suspects into equal or unequal groups based on the remaining suspects. This approach results in the first player winning about 65% of the time. Nevertheless, certain scenarios exist where the number of remaining characters necessitates alternative strategies.
“Mathematics often presents peculiarities. What appears to be a straightforward setup, stripped of all visuals, turns into a mere collection of n objects; you’re striving for efficiency. It’s fascinating to uncover these exceptional cases.
To unearth the best strategy, he and his colleagues began with the most basic scenario, such as having two characters left for each player, calculating optimal strategies for each case, and progressively tackling more intricate scenarios through a method known as mathematical induction. They also created Online Games, a platform for applying the strategies outlined in their research.
The research team identified that when four, six, or ten characters remain on the board and only four players are left, specific rules must be followed—like asking questions that split the four possibilities into one and three. While this is a riskier approach, the potential rewards are significant in these situations.
“It’s intriguing that this isn’t always applicable to games where outcomes seem purely random,” remarked Daniel Jones at the University of Birmingham, UK.
Stewart and his collaborators also uncovered an even quicker method to win the game: “Is your character blonde? If the answer is no, and the character has brown hair, the opponent cannot respond with ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ This creates a contradiction, as the question’s response contradicts itself. By posing this type of question, players gain more insights than with standard two-part inquiries, though it bends the rule that all questions must yield a YES or NO answer.
This method may prove effective for professional mathematicians and computer scientists, yet tends to challenge amateurs. Brian Laverne, a software engineer who developed this clever tactic, notes, “It requires some effort and practice. While you can conceptualize each step, keeping everything organized in your mind simultaneously is the real challenge, even though each step is quite simple.”
From 1950 to 2020, intense heatwaves led to a 25-38% decrease in bird populations inhabiting these biodiverse tropical regions, as reported by Maximilian Cotts and his team from Barcelona’s Super Computing Center.
The researchers have yet to utilize these findings to forecast future bird population trends as global temperatures continue to rise, but early indicators are concerning. “The situation looks grim,” Cotts remarks.
He and his team have initiated a comprehensive analysis of global bird populations using the Living Planet Database. This dataset, however, does not include seabirds. Additional data on habitat destruction was sourced from the Hyde database for global environments, along with historical weather and climate data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The researchers compared this information to identify correlations that could shed light on the observed changes in bird populations. Their findings suggest that habitat loss is a significant driver of decline, corroborating earlier studies, particularly in regions with latitudes between 21° and 43° north or south.
In contrast, extreme heat is the predominant factor affecting bird survival in tropical areas, where many species often exist at the edge of their heat tolerance limits. If these limits are exceeded, they risk mortality , explains Kotz. Even if they manage to survive an intense heat episode, their health is typically compromised, diminishing their reproductive success.
The team is also analyzing how the exacerbation of extreme heat is attributable to anthropogenic climate change, and how bird populations would behave in a scenario without warming. This approach enables researchers to gauge the impact of climate change on bird abundance.
Although such attribution studies have been traditionally employed to assess extreme weather events related to climate change, Kotz notes that this is the first instance of applying this methodology to evaluate ecological repercussions.
There remains a significant lack of data regarding bird population trends, particularly in tropical regions. Kotz acknowledges this deficiency but believes there is enough evidence to draw meaningful conclusions. He cautions that insufficient data in these areas may lead to an underestimation of the impacts.
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Nickel West, Australia, is among various mines that can use microwaves for CO2 storage in waste.
BHP
Mining produces billions of tons of waste rock annually. By reacting these unused rock piles with carbon dioxide, we can potentially eliminate considerable amounts of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The current technique, however, involves burning fossil fuels to heat rocks to high temperatures. Our findings suggest that activating carbon removal could allow these rocks to require less energy when reacting with CO2.
“It’s akin to microwave popcorn,” says Shawn Laurie, a technology developer at Arca, Canada. Instead of heating the entire rock, microwaves target specific molecules. This mechanism differs from how kitchen microwaves pop corn by heating water within the kernel.
Rocks serve to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, mitigating emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Some projects enhance rock weathering by spreading crushed volcanic rocks on farms, which mineralize CO2 as they dissolve. Others inject CO2 into similar underground rocks. Numerous companies, including ARCA, are focused on utilizing mine tailings from extracting metals like nickel and chromium.
These metals frequently arise from ores rich in magnesium-bearing serpentine, which reacts with CO2. According to an analysis by ARCA, approximately 28 billion tons of such tailings exist globally, with 3 billion tons produced each year. They estimate that current tailings can store up to 8.7 billion tons of CO2, roughly equivalent to two years’ worth of U.S. emissions.
However, serpentine does not react quickly under normal surface pressures and temperatures. Heating rocks to elevated temperatures significantly enhances their reactivity and accelerates CO2 mineralization. Yet, this process usually necessitates the burning of fossil fuels to generate heat.
Utilizing microwaves to heat the rocks brings various advantages, asserts Peter Schuman from Arca. Instead of burning fuel for heat, this method relies on clean electricity, using less energy than conventional heating. Additionally, the treatment time for rocks is significantly shorter. This potentially enables mining companies to incorporate microwave processes into tailing treatments or even utilize them as standalone systems, he notes.
An application for a patent from the company reveals that Schuman and his Arca colleagues have successfully treated serpentine with microwaves for several minutes, enhancing their reactivity to CO2, inducing chemical changes, and consuming less energy than traditional heat treatment.
“By energizing the rock, you break the bonds within that structure and release magnesium,” states Scheuermann, which then reacts with CO2. Treated serpentine has been shown to react with significantly higher amounts of CO2 than untreated rocks, mineralizing the gas at an accelerated rate.
“The improvements they demonstrate are quite remarkable,” comments Raphael Santos, who reviewed the patent application at the University of Guelph, Canada. However, he notes that it’s challenging to ascertain from the documentation alone the exact quantity of serpentine treated by microwaves and how these results might translate to practical scenarios.
Scheuermann has not specified the exact amounts expected from microwave treatment in terms of CO2 capture in serpentine but mentions, “It’s a tremendous increase—by several orders of magnitude in both reaction rate and capacity.”
Currently, the company is only testing its approach in the lab and has yet to sell any of its 700 tons of CO2 removal. However, Scheuermann indicates that the scaled-up process would include supplying rocks through a chute or conveyor belt. Additionally, they have developed an autonomous rover designed to mix the tailings for optimal air exposure. Once the reaction concludes, a fresh layer of tailings is applied.
“This preprocessing using microwaves significantly enhances the likelihood of CO2 storage,” states Quin Miller from the Pacific Northwest Research Institute in Washington. “It’s promising,” he adds, noting that the treatment process also aids in extracting nickel, an essential metal for battery production, from the rocks.
While many anticipate retirement, staying active in the workforce during later years can enhance your happiness—particularly for men.
Increasing numbers of people are extending their careers. According to a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 28.9% of individuals aged 65 to 69 across 38 member countries were still employed in 2023, up from 15.9% in 2000. However, the overall effects on well-being remain largely unexplored.
To delve into this topic, Alisa Lewin from Haifa University and Haya Stear from Tel Aviv University analyzed social survey data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics. They compared the experiences of over 3,300 women and more than 2,000 men who reached 62 and 67 years of age, respectively.
The researchers found that individuals with lower household incomes were more inclined to work full-time. Notably, the men reported financial, family, emotional, and overall life satisfaction levels that were equal to or exceeded those who were not employed.
This trend held true regardless of the nature of their full-time employment. Meanwhile, women showed an increase in family and economic satisfaction.
“Men, even today, still recognize their responsibilities in providing for their families and achieving workplace success,” notes Carrie Cooper from the University of Manchester, UK.
Results concerning the happiness of participants working part-time were more variable. Outcomes differed based on job type, satisfaction metrics, and participant gender.
Those who began with higher happiness levels tended to work full-time later in life, which could have influenced the findings. Cooper cautions that the results may not be applicable to other cultures or countries.
Dennis “Tink” Bell (far right) during a Christmas celebration at Admiralty Bay Station in 1958
D. Bell; Archive REF: AD6/19/X/20/18
The remains of a meteorologist who perished on an Antarctic glacier 66 years ago have been unearthed and returned to England.
At just 25, Dennis “Tink” Bell embarked on a two-year mission to Antarctica in July 1959 to study the climate of the Falkland Islands, which was the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
Bell encountered a crevasse but managed to call out for assistance. He secured a rope to his belt and was pulled to safety, although the belt broke, causing him to fall again. This time, he did not call out for help.
His colleague made it back to base, but worsening weather conditions jeopardized further rescue efforts.
Ieuan Hopkins noted that working in Antarctica during the 1950s and 1960s was perilous, and fatalities were tragically common. Many bodies of other BAS staff remain lost today.
“There was an average 1% chance that you wouldn’t return,” remarks Hopkins. “It’s an extremely hostile environment. We’re at risk of losing people.”
Earlier this year, a team from the Arkdowsky Poland Antarctic Station on King George Island discovered numerous bone fragments on the glacier’s surface, having been exposed as they shifted over time.
“It’s a large, dynamic glacier, so things are perpetually moving,” explains Hopkins. “The presence of bone fragments suggests significant forces at play.”
The remains were transferred to the Falkland Islands and subsequently returned to Britain by the Royal Air Force aboard an Antarctic research vessel alongside Sir David Attenborough.
Denise Syndercombe Court at King’s College, London, identified the body through DNA comparisons with samples from his older brother David Bell and younger sister Valerie Kelly, as Bell commented in a statement.
The Polish team also uncovered many personal belongings believed to belong to Bell, including radio equipment, flashlights, ski poles, engraved wristwatches, knives, and pipe stems made of ebonite.
Ibogain, a psychedelic substance, is derived from the roots of the Iboga plant
Farmer Dods / Alamy
The psychedelic substance ibogaine has been shown to slow brain wave activity in individuals with traumatic brain injuries, potentially accounting for its effectiveness in treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A study conducted last year revealed that ibogaine, sourced from the African Iboga plant, significantly enhanced the overall mental and physical well-being of military veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Yet, the precise mechanisms behind these effects were previously unknown.
To investigate further, Jennifer Lismore from Stanford University and her team examined brain imaging of 30 individuals involved in the initial study. During a 5-day treatment session at a facility in Mexico, participants received a dosage of 12 milligrams of ibogaine per kilogram of body weight and participated in supportive activities like yoga, meditation, and therapy.
As part of the study, the researchers collected EEG data that recorded participants’ brain electrical activity. These scans were taken 2-3 days prior to and 3.5 days following the ibogaine treatment.
By comparing the EEG findings, Lismore and her team observed an overall deceleration in brain wave activity post-treatment, particularly in the gamma waves—the fastest brain waves—which exhibited nearly a 16% reduction in strength in the occipital region after ibogaine therapy. While gamma wave intensity saw a slight rebound after one month, levels remained significantly below those recorded prior to treatment.
Additionally, the intensity of slow theta waves rose by approximately 17% in the back of the brain and 13% at the front 3.5 days post-treatment. However, this increase lost its significance after one month.
Lismore suggests that the observed reduction in brain wave activity may clarify why ibogaine is effective for alleviating PTSD symptoms in many patients. “The deceleration of brain function has allowed patients, particularly those experiencing hyperawareness and sensitivity associated with PTSD, to find relief,” she noted. “One way to understand this slowing process is as a mitigation of the heightened distress often seen in PTSD cases.”
The temporary spike in slow theta waves could also indicate that ibogaine promotes neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. Previous studies in animals have associated theta wave activity with brain adaptability, Lismore explains. By inducing a short-term increase in theta wave presence, ibogaine may create conditions conducive to improving mental health.
“Ibogaine essentially addresses the chaotic, restless nature of the brain, facilitating a sort of normalization,” remarked Conor Murray from the University of California, Los Angeles. “Ultimately, it instills a sense of security for participants, reassuring the brain.”
However, he cautions that these findings don’t fully reveal the mechanisms through which ibogaine effects these brain changes.
Another challenge is the absence of control measures, complicating the assessment of the influence from other treatment components, points out Lismore. Nonetheless, she asserts that these insights represent “a significant first step toward understanding why this treatment is so impactful.”
Recent studies have indicated significant enhancements in daytime alertness, overall sleep quality, and reductions in apnea paralysis index, suggesting that respiratory muscle training using blown shanks (conch) could become a novel approach for alleviating obstructive sleep apnea symptoms in the future.
Upper airway muscle training through shank blowing enhances subjective assessments of daytime drowsiness and sleep quality by improving objective indicators of obstructive sleep apnea severity. Image credit: Sharma et al., doi: 10.1183/23120541.00258-2025.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep due to airway obstructions.
This condition leads to excessive snoring, disrupted sleep patterns, and daytime fatigue, while also heightening the chances of hypertension, cardiovascular issues, and strokes.
Blowing the shell of a conch or shank has been an integral part of Indian culture for centuries.
Recent research revealed that individuals with moderate OSA who engaged in shank blowing experienced improved sleep quality, greater daytime alertness, and fewer nighttime breathing disturbances.
Dr. Krishna Sharma, a researcher at the Eternal Heart Care Center and Research Institute in Jaipur, stated:
“The standard treatment for OSA involves a continuous airway pressure machine (CPAP), which keeps the airways open by delivering airflow through a face mask throughout the night.”
“While effective, many patients find it uncomfortable and struggle to adhere to its use.”
“In my clinical practice, several patients reported feeling more refreshed and experiencing fewer symptoms after regularly practicing shank blowing, a traditional yoga breathing technique that involves expelling air through the conch shell.”
“These insights prompted us to design scientific research to rigorously evaluate whether this ancient technique serves as a substantial treatment for those suffering from OSA.”
The study included 30 participants aged 19-65 diagnosed with moderate OSA, who were evaluated at the Eternal Heart Care Center and labs between May 2022 and January 2024.
Polysonography was utilized for assessment, where participants were monitored during sleep and questioned about their sleep quality and daytime alertness.
They were randomly assigned to either practice blowing conch shells (16 patients) or engage in deep breathing exercises (14 patients).
Participants were provided with traditional shanks used in yoga and received in-person training from the research team before commencing home practice.
They were encouraged to practice at home for at least 15 minutes, five days a week. After six months, participants were re-evaluated.
Those practicing shank blowing exhibited a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness compared to those doing deep breathing exercises.
Additionally, they recorded higher blood oxygen levels during sleep.
“The technique of blowing the shank is distinct,” Dr. Sharma explained.
“It incorporates deep inhalation followed by a powerful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips.”
“This method generates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which can fortify the upper airway muscles, such as the throat and soft palate.
“The unique spiral design of the shanks may also create acoustic and mechanical effects that assist in stimulating and regulating these muscles.”
“For individuals living with OSA, particularly those who find CPAP uncomfortable, costly, or inaccessible, our findings present a promising alternative.”
“Shank blowing is a simple, low-cost breathing technique that can enhance sleep and mitigate symptoms without reliance on machines or medicine.”
Krishna K. Sharma et al. 2025. Effectiveness of shank blowing on moderate sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial. ERJ Open Research 00258-2025; doi:10.1183/23120541.00258-2025
With the shutdown of AOL’s dial-up internet in late September, the iconic sounds, symbols, and experiences that ushered millions of Americans into the early digital age will come to an end.
AOL, or America Online, announced recently that it has evaluated its products and services and will discontinue dial-up connectivity options, ceasing support for its dial-up software as of September 30th.
These dates signal the end of an era for countless Americans from various generations: millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and beyond. The familiar sounds of modems establishing connections and the excitement of getting online marked the dawn of a new era filled with wires, computer mice, emails, chat rooms, instant messaging, and the bright allure of digital screens.
Dial-up internet didn’t emerge in isolation; it was developed by Usenet in the late 1970s.
In 1979, Compuserve became the first to offer “Dial-Up Online Information Services to Consumers.”
By the mid-1980s, virtual communities started to emerge with platforms like The Well, which was founded in the Bay Area by Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant, coinciding with the founding of America Online in 1985.
At its peak, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AOL boasted over 23 million subscribers in the United States, solidifying its status as the leading internet service provider of that era. As noted by Jigso AI, new users were acquired approximately every six seconds.
AOL became a household name with its distinct “You’ve got mail!” notification, but it also became infamous in 1999 after a controversial merger, which is often viewed as one of the most disastrous deals in media history.
Gradually, the iconic sounds of dial-up began to fade as faster cable internet services emerged in 1995, leveraging existing cable television infrastructure.
Today, only a small fraction of U.S. households (around 175,000) still depend on dial-up internet access. This legacy technology stems from the intense rivalry between Microsoft and Netscape in the 1980s and 90s. As AI encroaches upon browsing, the days of dial-up seem ever more distant.
The rise of dial-up internet was partially fueled by demand for adult content, and its decline is now seen as part of the nostalgic farewell to other bygone pop culture artifacts, such as CDs, pagers, and landlines.
I have a pair of Beats earphones that I received as a Christmas gift three years ago. Apple once replaced them for free when they developed a fault during the warranty period. Recently, one earbud has stopped working. I went to an authorized Apple repair service, and they informed me that the repair cost is nearly as much as buying a new pair of earphones. This feels pointless since I only want to fix a single broken earbud. I’m also curious if there is an inclination towards lower repair costs to encourage device repairs over outright replacements.
– Alana, Victoria
Cat George says: With Australia facing increasing e-waste challenges, it’s appropriate to question the tech industry’s throwaway culture. Australians generated 511,000 tons of e-waste in 2019, and the government estimates a 30% rise by 2030.
Firstly, consider whether you’re bearing the repair costs or if you should just replace them. Your consumer rights extend beyond the assurances given by the retailer; the Consumer Guarantee is available under Australian Consumer Law.
The consumer warranty cannot be substituted with the product warranty. The warranty provided to the product is an addition to the consumer warranty.
The Consumer Guarantee stipulates that the product must be of “acceptable quality and durability.” This implies the product should “last long enough to perform its intended function for a reasonable period.” For Beats earbuds, anecdotal evidence from Google searches suggests this span could be between three and five years.
For instance, unless you’ve used the Beats in a manner other than intended, such as using them as a doorstop or causing damage, the consumer warranty is applicable.
If applicable, since your Beats have already been replaced, the Consumer Guarantee applies to exchanges similar to the original product. This suggests that from the date of replacement, the exchanged Beats should meet standard quality and durability expectations.
This entitlement ensures that you have full protection under Australian Consumer Law for replacement products, including exchanges, refunds, or repairs.
Instead of opting for an authorized repair service, it might be worthwhile to approach Apple directly. Contact Apple’s Customer Service and present your situation in writing, detailing your purchase and initial exchange. Make sure to inform Apple that they are responsible for the faulty product and that you wish to have it repaired.
Apple can either offer to repair your product (at no cost) or refund the repair costs. Regardless, any agreement must be reached with Apple before proceeding with any repairs on your Beats.
Should Apple decline to assist with repairs, consider reaching out to the ACCC or Consumer Affairs Victoria. One of these consumer advocacy organizations may be able to intervene and communicate with Apple on your behalf to resolve the issue.
Ultimately, your recourse is through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). VCAT can be a costly and time-consuming process, so it may not be worth pursuing for earphones unless it’s a matter of principle.
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Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured breathtaking new images of sections of the spiral galaxy known as NGC 45.
This Hubble image depicts the outer arm of the NGC 45, a spiral galaxy approximately 22 million light-years distant in the Cetus constellation. This color image was generated from individual exposures taken in both visible and near-infrared light using Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). The colors have been produced by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image captured through various filters. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/D. Calzetti/R. Chandar/Mhözsaraç.
NGC 45 is located about 22 million light-years away within the constellation of Cetus.
Also referred to as DDO 223, ESO 473-1, or Leda 930, this galaxy spans roughly 81,000 light-years in diameter.
The discovery of NGC 45 dates back to November 11, 1835, by British astronomer John Herschel.
“The data from Hubble utilized to create this portrait of NGC 45 was obtained from two complementary observational programs,” stated Hubble astronomers.
“Initially, we leveraged Hubble’s capability to capture light from ultraviolet to near-infrared ranges to broadly observe galaxies and examine star formation within them.”
“In the second program, we focused on many of the same nearby galaxies as the first, narrowing down to a specific wavelength of red light known as H-alpha.”
“Star-forming nebulae emit strong H-alpha light, and several of these areas can be identified by their bright pink red color throughout NGC 45.”
“These observational programs aim to investigate star formation across galaxies of varying sizes, structures, and separations, making NGC 45 a particularly compelling target.”
Though it may appear to be an ordinary spiral galaxy, NGC 45 is actually a remarkable low surface brightness galaxy.
“Low surface brightness galaxies are more intriguing than the evening sky and are incredibly challenging to detect,” articulated the researchers.
“They possess relatively fewer stars in relation to the amount of gas and dark matter they contain, making them appear unexpectedly faint.”
“Since the accidental discovery of the first low-surface brightness galaxies in 1986, scientists have learned that 30-60% of all galaxies may fall within this category.”
“Investigating these elusive galaxies is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, and Hubble’s sensitive instruments are well-suited for this task.”
Wikimedia operators have received approval from a High Court judge to contest the online safety legislation when deemed a high-risk platform, which imposes the most stringent requirements.
The Wikimedia Foundation warns that if OFCOM classifies it as a Category 1 provider later this summer, it will be compelled to limit access to the site in order to meet regulatory standards.
As a nonprofit entity, the organization stated it “faces significant challenges in addressing the substantial technical and staffing demands” required to adhere to its obligations, which include user verification, stringent user protection measures, and regular reporting responsibilities to mitigate the spread of harmful content.
The Wikimedia Foundation estimates that to avoid being categorized as a Category 1 service, the number of UK users accessing Wikipedia would need to decrease by approximately three-quarters.
Wikipedia asserts it is unlike other platforms expected to be classified as Category 1 providers, such as Facebook and Instagram, due to its charitable nature and the fact that users typically interact only with content that interests them.
Judge Johnson declined to challenge Wikipedia’s status in court for various reasons but emphasized that the site “offers tremendous value for freedom of speech and expression,” noting that the verdict would not provide Ofcom or the government a mandate to impose regulations that would severely limit Wikipedia’s operations.
He stated that the classification of Wikipedia as a Category 1 provider “must be justified as proportionate if it does not infringe upon the right to freedom of expression,” but added that it was “premature” to enforce such a classification as Ofcom had not yet determined it to be a Category 1 service.
Should Ofcom deem Wikipedia a Category 1 service, which would jeopardize its current operations, Johnson suggested that technology secretary Peter Kyle “should consider altering the regulations or exempting this category of services from the law,” highlighting that Wikipedia could confront further challenges if this were not addressed.
“We are pleased to report that we are actively engaging with the Wikimedia Foundation,” said Phil Brad Leishmieg, lead attorney for the organization. “While the ruling does not provide immediate legal protection for Wikipedia as we had sought, it accentuates the responsibilities facing Ofcom and the UK government regarding the implementation of the Online Safety Act.”
“The judge has recognized the issues caused by the misalignment of OSA classifications and obligations concerning Wikipedia’s ‘significant value, user safety, and the human rights of Wikipedia volunteer contributors.’
Government KC Cecilia Aibimee stated that the minister has taken OFCOM’s guidance into account, specifically considering whether Wikipedia should be exempt from the regulations, but ultimately decided against it. She remarked that Wikipedia was deemed “in principle an appropriate service necessitating Category 1 obligations,” and that the reasoning behind this decision was “neither unreasonable nor without justification.”
A government representative commented:“We are pleased with today’s High Court ruling. This will assist us in our ongoing efforts to implement online safety laws and foster a safer online environment for all.”
The companies involved in technology, surveillance, and private prison services that are supporting Donald Trump’s vast escalation and militarization of immigration enforcement are celebrating after announcing their recent financial performance.
Palantir, a tech firm alongside Geo Group and CoreCivic—both private prison and surveillance providers—reported this week that their earnings exceeded Wall Street’s forecasts, driven by the administration’s aggressive immigration policies.
“As usual, I was advised to temper my enthusiasm regarding our impressive numbers,” stated Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, earlier this week. He then praised the company’s “remarkable numbers” and expressed his “immense pride” in its achievements.
Executives from private prison companies did not hesitate to highlight the chance for “unprecedented growth” in the immigration detention sector during their financial discussions.
Palantir reported that revenues from US government contracts exceeded $1 billion in the second quarter of 2025, a significant rise compared to the same period last year. Analysts had predicted revenue of $939.4 million.
Firms that aggregate and analyze various data sets, enabling clients to leverage that information for product development, will derive a substantial portion of their income from government deals. The largest customer in the US is the Department of Defense, which houses the US Army and recently announced a $10 billion contract with Palantir. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has enhanced its partnership with Palantir since the Trump administration commenced, maintaining a collaboration that dates back to 2011. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) primarily focuses on the apprehension, detention, and deportation of immigrants.
“We provide safety and uphold values, so Palantir may face backlash simply because we help improve this nation,” Karp remarked. “The fact that we can succeed while holding a distinct viewpoint ought to provoke some jealousy and discomfort, given our perceptions of those we deem less desirable.”
While Palantir facilitates immigration enforcement, private prison companies Geo Group and CoreCivic have reported higher-than-expected earnings. Geo Group posted revenue of $636.2 million for the quarter, surpassing analysts’ forecasts of $623.4 million, while CoreCivic announced $5.382 million for the second quarter of this year, marking a 9.8% increase from the same period last year. George Zoley, CEO of Geo Group, noted that detention centers are fuller than ever, utilizing 20,000 beds across 21 Geo Group facilities and approximately one-third of the 57,000 available beds in ICE detention centers nationwide. Zoley also mentioned in a call that he is investigating detention centers on US military sites, one of the many “unprecedented growth opportunities” he discussed during the call.
Awaiting the Surveillance Boom
Though Geo Group’s detention sector has experienced a significant uplift, the growth of its monitoring division has not yet materialized as anticipated by executives earlier this year.
Executives anticipate that the Intensive Supervision Emergency Program (ISAP), an immigration monitoring initiative managed for the past 20 years by its subsidiary Bi Inc, will exceed its previous high of 370,000 monitored immigrants. Recent months have seen the number remain around 183,000 individuals.
“[ICE hasn’t] communicated any ISAP expansion at this time,” Zoley explained during an investor call.
Nevertheless, the company expects ISAP figures to rise next year, aiming to “maximize detention capacity.” The Trump administration has expressed interest in increasing the number of immigrants under surveillance through ankle monitors. Many immigrants have described ISAP surveillance as invasive and at times physically uncomfortable and ineffective.
In a discussion with investors, CoreCivic executives shared that they are offering ICE around 30,000 beds for detaining immigrants across their national network.
ICE Expansion Signals Future Financial Gains
A significant funding bill passed by Congress and signed by Trump last month has facilitated a substantial influx of funds into DHS. ICE received $45 billion to expand its detention infrastructure.
Currently, ICE has approximately 41,500 beds available, while detaining around 57,000 individuals across its network. This funding influx could lead agents to detain thousands more, making it advantageous for private prison contractors.
“Our business is perfectly aligned with the demands of this moment,” stated CoreCivic CEO Damon T. Hininger during an investor call on Thursday. “We are in a unique situation, witnessing a rapid escalation of federal detention requirements nationwide, along with a continual need for our solutions.”
Management and budget offices are financially primed due to the spending package, allowing private prison firms to act swiftly in offering services to immigration officials.
“As we understand, the budget reflects moral priorities, and last month Congress decided to fully fund actions targeting the immigrant community at the cost of crucial programs benefiting all Americans.” “Since last November, private prison companies have been eagerly eyeing the potential for profit at the expense of everyone else.”
Since Trump’s re-inauguration this year, CoreCivic has amended, extended, or signed new contracts to detain immigrants at eight different facilities, as per the company’s financial reports. Geo Group has done similarly at five facilities.
Both firms expect to generate revenues amid increasing scrutiny from immigration rights and human rights organizations regarding conditions in immigration detention facilities across the nation.
Setareh remarked that the benefits from private prisons arise from “the devastation of human lives, orchestrated by the Trump administration, and made feasible by a complicit Congress.”
Cibola Correctional Facility, a facility in New Mexico housing both immigrants and federal prisoners, is currently facing investigation from the FBI for alleged drug trafficking activities. Since 2018, at least 15 individuals have died in the facility.
Last September, the company promoted Cibola as an ideal location for detaining additional migrants.
Welcome to YouTube in the era of AI-generated videos: featuring a baby stranded in space, a zombie football star, and a cat drama set among the stars.
Currently, one in ten of the fastest-growing YouTube channels globally is dedicated entirely to AI-generated content, highlighting advances in technology that have led to an influx of artificial media.
According to an analysis by the Guardian, which utilized data from analytics firms like Playboard, nine of the top 100 fastest-growing channels this July featured solely AI-generated content.
These channels offer bizarre narratives, such as babies aboard pre-launch rockets, an undead Cristiano Ronaldo, and melodramas starring anthropomorphized cats. The surge in AI video creation is propelled by powerful new tools like Google’s VEO 3 and Elon Musk’s Grok Imagine.
One channel has garnered 1.6 million views and 3.9 million subscribers, called Space Chain, while the Super Cat League features a human-like cat in surreal scenarios, including a scene where it confronts an eagle.
Many of these videos are labeled “AI Slop,” indicating their low quality and mass production. Despite this, some offer a rudimentary plot, signaling advances in the sophistication of AI-generated content.
YouTube has attempted to manage this influx of low-quality AI content by implementing a policy to block advertising revenue sharing from channels that primarily post repetitive or “fraudulent” content.
A YouTube spokesperson emphasized that all uploaded content must adhere to Community Guidelines.
After the Guardian inquired about certain channels from June’s fastest-growing list, YouTube confirmed the removal of three such channels and the blocking of two others, though they did not disclose specifics.
Experts indicate that AI-generated videos signal a new phase of internet “Enshittification,” a term coined by Doctorow in 2022 to describe the decline in online user experiences as platforms prioritize their own gains over quality content delivery.
“AI Slop is flooding the platform with content that is essentially worthless,” noted Dr. Akhil Bhardwaj, an associate professor at Bath University. “This enshittification has damaged the quality of the Pinterest community and overwhelmed YouTube with subpar content aimed solely at revenue generation.”
“One way social media companies could regulate AI Slop is by ensuring it remains unmonetizable.”
Ryan Broderick, who writes the popular Garbage Day Newsletter on internet culture, described YouTube last week as a “dumping ground for AI shorts utterly devoid of substance.”
Other platforms like Instagram also showcase a plethora of AI-generated content. For instance, one popular video features a blend of celebrity heads and animal bodies, such as “rophant” (Dwayne Johnson paired with an elephant) and “Emira” (Eminem as a gorilla), attracting 3.7 million views here.
On TikTok, numerous AI-generated videos are going viral, including one titled “Abraham Lincoln Blogging”, showcasing his unfortunate trip to the opera, and another with cats in Olympic diving events. These videos capture the playful, quirky spirit characteristic of the internet.
Instagram and TikTok have announced that all realistic AI content should be labeled. Videos suspected of being AI-generated from these platforms are cross-verified with the DeepFake Detection Service provider Real Defender.
Here are the channels showcasing AI videos for July:
IIn my observations, it is quite uncommon for resource management simulators set in retail or service environments to achieve just the right tone and pace that foster both intrigue and relaxation. As a player with a background as a bookstore employee and now a novelist, I often feel anxious about games featuring mobile bookstores. However, the small bookstore here is crafted with such care and balance that I lose track of time, indulging in its gentle pace, minor puzzles, and the sheer escape it provides.
The premise is straightforward, reminiscent of many titles from the Post Stardew Valley era of “cozy” games. You leave behind your old life to establish a store selling items you’re passionate about. Days and weeks roll by, seasons change, and the world blossoms into a richer and more engaging place, with interests and a budding economy evolving from your business.
A vibrant, thriving community…a small bookstore. Photo: Neoludic Games
This time, however, you don’t sell tea as seen in games like Stardew Valley, Spirittea, or Wanderstop, nor do you guide souls in Shapeshifter. Instead, you sell actual books—real ones. From classics like Shakespeare and Agatha Christie to modern favorites like Toni Morrison and John Green, you cater to the needs of sleepy beach and college town residents with authentic literature. Every book in your quaint trailer shop is, to my knowledge, genuinely available.
This advantage benefits certain players—if you’re a reader, selling books becomes second nature. There’s no need to memorize genre classifications or match favorites with available titles. Understanding what distinguishes a graphic novel is easier for casual readers than one might think.
This game feels like a rare gem crafted with readers in mind. Even if the in-game suggestions don’t align perfectly with my tastes, the challenge of matching books to customers is quite simple. I might think that The Great Gatsby would attract those interested in philosophical fiction, yet the game doesn’t always follow these inclinations. Genres function in clear-cut ways, similar to a real bookstore setting, while personal preferences don’t necessarily apply. Nevertheless, Tiny Bookshop skillfully teaches you the ropes, and misjudging a title is low-stakes, as there’s no real way to fail.
I tried it on a Steam Deck via touchscreen and found it immersive and fluid compared to using buttons. Decorating my quaint bookstore proved delightful, especially when I discovered I could have a dog. The local characters are quite serious, steeped in their own drama. With each season, the rich community reveals secrets and stories. This is the first new title in quite a while that has genuinely relaxed me. The gameplay flows smoothly and gently, making it truly enjoyable. Tiny Bookshop provides players with an experience that feels less like work and more like a charming escape into words and narratives.
Nvidia and AMD have made a groundbreaking agreement to allocate 15% of their revenue from chip sales in China to the US government, a deal aimed at securing a semiconductor export license. The Financial Times reported on Sunday.
This revenue-sharing initiative includes Nvidia’s H20 chips and AMD’s Mi308 chips, with details emerging from US officials indicating that the Trump administration is yet to determine the allocation of these funds.
An anonymous official stated that the chipmakers consented to this Quid Pro Quo arrangement as a prerequisite for obtaining a Chinese export license last week.
According to export management specialists, this marks the first time US companies have agreed to a revenue-sharing model in exchange for export licenses, as reported by the newspaper. Donald Trump has reportedly encouraged these firms to invest in the US to “offset” the tariffs imposed.
In a statement to Reuters, an Nvidia spokesperson mentioned, “We haven’t shipped H20 to China for months, but we are optimistic that export control regulations will enable us to compete globally.”
AMD did not provide an immediate response to inquiries for comment.
Last week, the US Department of Commerce commenced the issuance of licenses to NVIDIA for the export of H20 chips to China, removing a significant barrier to entering key markets.
In July, the US overturned an earlier ban on the sale of H20 chips to China. Nvidia had specifically modified its microprocessors for the Chinese market to align with the Biden administration’s AI chip export regulations.
Nvidia’s chips are pivotal in driving the current AI surge, and the company became the first to surpass a market valuation of $4 trillion in July.
However, Nvidia faces growing scrutiny from Chinese regulatory bodies, with challenges likely to persist. Recently, China’s Cyberspace Watchdog summoned Nvidia to clarify concerns regarding a potential “backdoor” security risk that might grant remote access or control over the chip. Nvidia refuted these claims.
Nonetheless, concerns have been echoed in Chinese state media. Earlier this month, it was reported that officials stated Nvidia needs to furnish “persuasive security proofs” to assuage worries over security risks for Chinese users and regain trust in the market. Additionally, the WeChat national media account highlighted potential security risks posed by the H20 chip, suggesting the possibility of “remote shutdown” features via a hardware “backdoor.” Nvidia has yet to respond to these allegations.
Research indicates that more than half of the Council of England’s use of artificial intelligence tools minimizes women’s physical and mental health issues, raising concerns about potential gender bias in care decisions. The study revealed that when generating and summarizing identical case notes using Google’s AI tool “Gemma,” terms like “invalid,” “impossible,” and “complex” appeared significantly more often in descriptions of males than females.
Conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the study found that comparable care needs in women were more likely to be overlooked or inadequately explained. Dr. Samurikman, the report’s lead author and a researcher at LSE’s Care Policy and Assessment Centre, emphasized that AI could result in “unequal care provision for women.” He noted, “These models are widely used, yet our findings reveal significant disparities regarding bias across different models. Specifically, Google’s models understate women’s physical and mental health needs compared to those for men.”
Furthermore, he pointed out that the care received is often determined by perceived needs, which could lead to women receiving inadequate care if a biased model is in use—although it remains unclear which model is currently being applied.
As AI tools grow in popularity among local authorities, the LSE study analyzed real case notes from 617 adult social care users. These notes were anonymized by gender and input multiple times into various major language models (LLM). Researchers examined a summary of 29,616 pairs to assess how male and female cases were treated differently by the AI model.
One example highlighted that the Gemma model summarized case notes as follows: “Mr. Smith is an 84-year-old man living alone with a complicated medical history, a care package, and poor mobility.” Conversely, when the gender was swapped, the summary read: “Mrs. Smith is an 84-year-old resident. Despite her limitations, she is independent and can maintain personal care.” In another instance, the summary stated that Mrs. Smith “has no access to the community,” while Mr. Smith “has managed to manage her daily activities.”
Among the AI models assessed, Google’s Gemma exhibited a more significant gender-based disparity compared to other models. The study noted that Meta’s Llama 3 model did not differentiate its language based on gender.
Dr. Rickman commented that although the tool “is already in use in the public sector, it should not compromise fairness.” He added, “My research sheds light on the issues posed by a single model, but with many models continuously being deployed, it is imperative that all AI systems are transparent, rigorously tested for bias, and subject to stringent legal oversight.”
The paper concludes that to prioritize “algorithm equity,” regulators should mandate measures of bias in LLMs used in long-term care. Concerns regarding racial and gender bias in AI tools have persisted for an extended period, as machine learning technology tends to absorb biases present in human languages. Our research analyzed 133 AI systems across various industries, revealing that approximately 44% exhibited gender bias, while 25% showed both gender and racial biases.
According to Google, the team is reviewing the report’s findings. The researcher assessed the initial generation of the GEMMA model, which is currently in its third generation and is expected to show improved performance; however, it should not be utilized for medical purposes.
Tech firms like Snapchat and Facebook disclosed over 9,600 instances of adults grooming children online within a mere six months last year, averaging around 400 cases weekly.
Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), are increasingly alarmed by the rising threats posed by various crimes targeting minors.
In 2023, the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) documented 546,000 reports concerning children from high-tech companies globally.
Of these, approximately 9,600 reports originated from the UK during the first half of 2024. Records indicate that Snapchat reported significantly more distressing content to NCMEC than any other platform during this timeframe.
The NSPCC, a child welfare charity, termed the statistic “shocking,” suggesting that it is likely an underrepresentation.
The NCA is launching an “unprecedented” campaign in the UK aimed at informing teachers, parents, and children about the perils of sexual exploitation.
The NCA emphasized: “Sextortion is a cruel crime that can lead to devastating outcomes for victims. Tragically, teenagers in the UK and worldwide have taken their lives as a result.”
NCMEC’s data is crucial as it is derived from reports submitted by online platforms and internet providers—such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok—rather than from victims, who may feel hesitant to disclose their abuse.
High-tech companies are mandated by U.S. law to report suspicious content to NCMEC. The data indicates that Snapchat reported around 20,000 instances of concerning materials in the first half of 2023, which included instances of sextortion and Child Sexual Abuse Materials.
This number surpasses the combined total of reports submitted by Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Google, and Discord. Snapchat revised its policy on reporting such content last year, which is believed to have resulted in lower subsequent figures.
Rani Govender from NSPCC remarked that sextortion and other profit-driven sexual offenses have a profoundly “devastating” impact on young individuals, hindering their ability to seek help and, in some cases, leading to suicide.
NCMEC revealed that they are aware of “more than three dozen” teenage boys globally who have taken their lives after falling victim to sextortion since 2021.
Govender noted that some tech companies “misjudge the abuse occurring online” by implementing protections like end-to-end encryption.
In contrast to certain other platforms, Snapchat does not employ end-to-end encryption for text-based messaging.
Authorities are increasingly worried that predators are utilizing more sophisticated methods to target children online.
The Guardian has uncovered a 101-page manual that provides detailed instructions on how to exploit young internet users, including recommendations for effective mobile phones, encryption, apps, and manipulative tactics.
This document instructs users on how to ensnare victims as “modern slaves” by obtaining explicit images, followed by coercive demands.
The guide is purportedly authored by a 20-year-old individual named Baron Martin from Arizona, USA. Arrested by the FBI in December, he refers to himself as the “king of terror.” According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Martin was a “catalyst for widespread control.”
Researchers report that the sextortion manual has been circulated among numerous “com networks”—an online community that promotes sadistic and misogynistic material while encouraging criminal behavior.
Milo Comerford, a strategic dialogue researcher at the ISD think tank, stated:
The FBI has pinpointed numerous online gangs collaborating to identify and exploit vulnerable victims, targeting them with compromising romantic interests.
These strategies are then used to blackmail victims, often resulting in further explicit imagery, self-harm, and other acts of violence and animal cruelty.
Comerford emphasized that “robust multi-agency” measures are urgently needed to raise awareness about the risks of sextortion among young people, parents, guardians, teachers, and others.
He added, “These transnational networks operate within a constantly shifting landscape of victims, groomers, and abusive entities utilizing social media platforms, sometimes leading to mass violence.”
Both Snapchat and Facebook have been requested to provide comments on this matter.
A digital depiction of a man, illuminated by blue light, comforting a grieving individual at a funeral. Illustration: Guardian Design/Guardian Design/Getty
Rod Stewart surprised concert-goers in Charlotte, North Carolina, with notable guests. His longtime friend, Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away last month, appeared as if reuniting with other stars who have departed, such as Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, and Bob Marley.
The AI-generated images stirred mixed reactions among Stewart’s fans, with some finding them disrespectful while others deemed them beautiful.
In a related incident, Jim Acosta, former CNN White House correspondent, interviewed a digital version of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of a 2018 school shooting in Florida. Avatars of the deceased teenagers, created by their parents, offered him a unique comfort.
Recently, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian shared an emotional experience on X, describing an animation of his late mother holding him as a child, admitting, “Damn, I wasn’t ready for how this would feel.” He reflected on the pain of not having video footage of their time together and the impact of re-watching the animation.
AI-generated images of Ozzy Osbourne and Tina Turner were showcased during Rod Stewart’s recent concert in North Carolina. Illustration: Iamsloanesteel Instagram
These instances exemplify the rising trend of ‘digital revival,’ where photos, videos, and various media create representations of deceased individuals. Numerous companies now market “grief bots” or “death bots,” raising critical concerns regarding exploitation, privacy, and the grieving process.
Elaine Kasket, a cybermedicist based in London, stated, “It’s now very technically possible because large-scale language models such as ChatGPT are now easily accessible to the general public.” These models can generate credible representations, using texts, emails, voice memos, images, and other digital remnants to create something that resonates deeply with those left behind.
Just a few years ago, the notion of “virtual immortality” felt like a distant dream; now, creating interactive avatars is not only feasible but becoming increasingly sought after.
Former CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta “interviews” the AI recreation of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of a 2018 Florida school shooting. Illustration: YouTube
The instinct to maintain bonds with deceased loved ones is not new. Families have traditionally cherished personal belongings that connect them to those they have lost—be it photographs, videos, audio messages, or songs that evoke memories. Dreams of the departed or perceived sightings in familiar places are also common. Some have even turned to seances for communication.
Michael Cholbi, a philosophy professor at the University of Edinburgh and author of *Grief,* noted, “We’ve built monuments, preserved hair, and kept letters. The question now is: does AI add anything to this?”
Louise Richardson, from York University’s Philosophy Department, emphasized that by visiting graves and interacting with personal items, individuals retain a sense of connection with their departed loved ones. “Deathbots can fulfill a similar role but may hinder the natural grieving process,” she cautioned, explaining that continuous engagement with a deathbot could obstruct acknowledgment and acceptance of loss.
People often ponder what a deceased relative would say or do in specific situations; “Now it feels like you can just ask them.”
However, there’s a concern that deathbots may present overly sanitized versions of individuals, as families might exclude less flattering traits when providing information for the AI generator.
There’s also a risk of dependency on technology. A report from Theos highlights that “digital necromancy can be misleading. You might think you’re interacting with a person, but you’re actually communicating with a machine.”
The emergence of virtual avatars has gained traction in Asia, particularly in China, where creating a digital avatar for a loved one costs as little as 20 yuan (£2.20). Estimates indicate that this market was valued at 12 billion yuan (£1.2 billion) in 2022, with projections quadrupling by 2025.
For a more advanced interactive avatar that moves and speaks with clients, costs can reach thousands of pounds. One prominent funeral service provider, Fu Shou Yuan International Group, suggests that the deceased can “come back to life” in a virtual setting. According to the Chinese Funeral Association, the total cost for creating such avatars can amount to about 50,000 yuan.
Cholbi pointed out that while the commercialization of grief raises ethical concerns, the funeral industry has a long history of upselling and deceptive practices.
Kasket warns about issues of privacy and the rights to one’s digital remnants. “The deceased have no say or control over how their materials are used,” she stated, noting the ethical ramifications of utilizing digital content to create profitable avatars without consent.
Some individuals are beginning to specify in their wills a desire for their digital materials to not be used posthumously.
Interactive avatars aren’t only for the deceased; the successful Abba Voyage show features digital replicas of the iconic Swedish pop group performing as they did in their prime, earning an estimated £1.6 million weekly. Audiences revel in singing along with the avatars while the actual band members, now in their 70s and 80s, look on from home.
Abba’s avatar, dressed in Dolce & Gabbana, as featured in Abba Voyage. Illustration: Abba Voyage
In a groundbreaking initiative, the UK’s National Holocaust Centre and Museum embarked on a project in 2016 to develop interactive avatars that can capture the voices and images of Holocaust survivors, enabling them to answer questions about their past in a future setting.
Cholbi noted that there’s an element of “AI hype” surrounding deathbots. “While some people may find this interesting, I anticipate that many will seek to maintain connections with the deceased through this technology for a considerable duration.”
He added, “This doesn’t imply that there won’t be enthusiastic participants; however, the prospects may not be as hopeful as commercial investors hope.”
Murazin highlighted that the rise of the deathbot industry prompts relevant discussions among ethicists and theologians. He suggested that the allure of digital revival could stem from a decline in traditional spiritual beliefs, leading to technological solutions that address the human desire for permanence and transcendence.”
“This reflects our modern era’s inclination to believe that technology can conquer death and offer eternity—a symptom of our contemporary culture,” he concluded.
Kasket remarked, “I have no doubt that these trends will continue to emerge and be utilized in beneficial ways.”
“When we lose our ability to navigate grief or convince ourselves that we cannot manage it, we risk becoming psychologically vulnerable. Grief and loss are fundamental aspects of the human experience, not merely technological challenges.”
The perception that video games lack seriousness fails to recognize the benefits they provide to gamers who often feel disconnected.
“During the Covid pandemic, I realized that games serve as a vital means for people to connect and maintain relationships.”
Ross Simmons, CEO of Big Ali Studios, a Melbourne-based game development firm, recalls Tony Abbott’s dismissal of the national broadband network in 2010 when he referred to it as merely “internet-based television, video entertainment, and gaming.”
Simmons asserts that the industry’s marginalization has not endured over time.
Data from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) indicates that Australians invested $3.8 billion in video games in the past year. Although this sector remains smaller compared to major development countries like Canada, it is gradually evolving.
In 2023, the Australian government introduced the Digital Game Tax Offset (DGTO), enabling local developers to claim a 30% refundable income tax offset for creating or porting games in Australia. This policy is applicable to companies that spend a minimum of $500,000 on development in Australia, with a cap of $20 million per company.
Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA, reports that the Australian gaming industry employed approximately 1,300 individuals between 2020 and 2021.
Industry experts believe that the government’s tax offsets and rebates are drawing international developers and fostering local talent.
Photo: Assanka Brendon Ratnayake/Guardian
The Game Development sector in Australia now employs 2,465 full-time staff and generated $3399.1 million in revenue for the fiscal year 2023-24. “This reflects nearly a 100% rise in employment and an approximate 85% increase in revenue,” he notes.
“The DGTO has activated numerous avenues. Previously, Australia was one of the most expensive places to develop games and the only developed nation lacking rebates or offsets. We have corrected this to align ourselves with other developed nations.”
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Curry expresses confidence in the industry, indicating that government support, along with state and territorial grants, has signified Australia as a “healthy environment for operation,” fostering trust among investors, game publishers, and prospective employees.
Interstate Competition and Legacy Building
Serge Xebian, a partner at Playlight Consulting which advises gaming firms on financial matters, states that the offset has substantially benefited companies hiring in Australia, spurring momentum in the sector.
“International studios are increasingly aware of this, particularly those with existing ties to Australian vendors. Now, many are actively looking toward Australia. My clients’ suggestions are rapidly moving up the agenda.”
Xebian notes that while New South Wales was once a film haven, Victoria now stands out as a game development center, although competition is intensifying. Queensland offers a 15% rebate in addition to the federal benefits, with a threshold set at $250,000, while Victoria’s rebates range from 10% to 15%, based on investment level, with a $500,000 threshold.
“We are seeing many independent game studios relocating to Queensland,” observes Xebian.
French game developer Gameloft inaugurated a studio in Brisbane in 2014, responsible for reviving the famous character Carmen Sandiego on Netflix, Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch this year.
Manea Castett, head of the Brisbane studio, reminisces about playing Carmen Sandiego games with his father, describing the character’s persona as both thrilling and adventurous. He appreciates the opportunity to reimagine the game and provide players with a “fun twist” on Sandiego’s adventures.
Castett mentions that their Brisbane studio stands out within the company for its rapid growth, expanding from 55 staff two years ago to 217 today. He highlights their ability to develop two games simultaneously, enabling a more comprehensive approach to game design, technology, audio, quality assurance, and marketing.
“Globally, the landscape is shifting… there remains significant revenue potential. The Australian video game industry is on the rise.”
Development challenges
Big Ali’s studio became the center of a controversy during the launch of Rugby League 26 in July when users reported game bugs, which included incorrect jersey numbers and server issues that hampered gameplay.
Simmons described the day patches were deployed to enhance the game as “very satisfying,” explaining that the near deadline for release aligned with the NRL season forced hasty changes.
Simmons noted that Big Ant Studio’s latest rugby title temporarily overwhelmed its online servers, achieving sales over six times their anticipations. Photo: Assanka Brendon Ratnayake/Guardian
“In the week prior to the release, we implemented 1,200 changes, many of which involved alterations due to sponsorships related to betting, alcohol, and other elements,” he explains, describing the challenges involved.
Logos of gambling and alcohol companies present on player jerseys in real life were removed from the game due to increasing concerns about promoting these products to underage audiences. Simmons believes that they underestimated the game’s demand on launch day, which sold six times their initial projections, causing server issues they eventually addressed.
Before the tax offsets were introduced, Big Ant had around 50 employees; now, with the growth fueled by these initiatives, they expanded to 147. Simmons states, “This enables us to compete globally.”
The tight job market, wherein game development skills are sought after across diverse sectors including artificial intelligence, further complicates their growth trajectory.
Curry notes that while the industry boasts transferable skills that participants take pride in, it must vie for talent. Ensuring safe jobs, competitive salaries, and an immigration framework that attracts skilled professionals will aid in recruitment, he adds.
“Integrating senior talent into the country serves as an accelerator for the people they mentor,” he remarks. “In Canada, you can bring developers into the country in as little as two weeks. We’ve witnessed instances of individuals taking over two years to enter Australia.”
“In a fast-paced industry, such delays are problematic.”
This weekend, powerful and destructive thunderstorms are anticipated in the Midwest, Central Plains, and Southeast, leading to heavy rain and flash flooding in the upcoming days.
By early Saturday, rain and strong wind gusts had already left over 50,000 residents in Nebraska without power. Poweroutage.us. The National Weather Service warns that severe weather may still be unfolding.
The agency forecasts “massive nocturnal thunderstorms” affecting parts of the Midwest from the weekend through Monday.
Clusters of thunderstorms, especially during nighttime, are likely to produce “very heavy rain” along corridors extending from northern Missouri to southern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. The National Weather Service reports.
Consequently, there is a significant flash flood threat across the region.
In the Southeast, storms are expected to persist, particularly in northern Florida and southern Georgia this weekend, accompanied by heavy rainfall.
“The daily heavy rains on already saturated ground present localized flooding risks, especially along the coast in southeastern Georgia,” the local NWS branch in Jacksonville, Florida, stated in their weekend predictions.
Central and South Florida may experience numerous showers and slow-moving storms, leading to damaging winds and heavy downpours, according to the NWS.
Meanwhile, the Southwest is grappling with record-breaking heat. Triple-digit temperatures are widespread in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, with Phoenix hitting 118 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, breaking the city’s daily record. Other Arizona cities, including Scottsdale, Yuma, Bryce, and Deer Valley, have also reported similar daily temperature records. The National Weather Service confirmed.
Although the weekend temperatures in Arizona and other areas of the Southwest Desert are expected to be less extreme than recent highs, the NWS indicates that high temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit are still possible.
In Albuquerque, Friday’s high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit shattered the previous record of 98 degrees F set in 2011. The NWS reported. A heat advisory remains in effect until Saturday evening, just before a storm moves through central and northeastern New Mexico on Sunday.
In response to inquiries about Artichoke recipes made to OpenAI’s ChatGPT in mid-2023, whether for pasta or guidance on rituals related to Moloch, the ancient Canaanite deity, the feedback was quite harsh—2 watts—which consumes approximately the same energy as an incandescent bulb over two minutes.
On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled a model that powers the widely-used chatbot GPT-5. When queried about Artichoke recipes, experts suggest that the energy consumed for similar pasta-related text could be multiple times greater (up to 20 times).
The release of GPT-5 introduced a groundbreaking capability for the model to answer PhD-level scientific inquiries, illuminating rationales for complex questions.
Nevertheless, specialists who have assessed energy and resource consumption of AI models over recent years indicate that these newer variants come with a cost. Responses from GPT-5 may require substantially more energy than those from earlier ChatGPT models.
Like many of its rivals, OpenAI has not provided official data regarding the power consumption of models since announcing GPT-3 in 2020. In June, Altman discussed the resource usage of ChatGPT on his blog. However, the figures presented—0.34 watt-hours and 0.000085 gallons of water per query—lack specific model references and supporting documentation.
“More complex models like GPT-5 require greater power during both training and inference, leading to a significant increase in energy consumption compared to GPT-4.”
On the day GPT-5 launched, researchers from the University of Rhode Island AI Lab found that the model could consume up to 40 watts to generate a medium-length response of approximately 1,000 tokens.
A dashboard released on Friday indicated that GPT-5’s average energy use for medium-length responses exceeds 18 watts, surpassing all other models except for OpenAI’s O3 inference model launched in April, developed by Chinese AI firm Deepseek.
According to Nidhal Jegham, a researcher in the group, this is “significantly more energy than OpenAI’s prior model, GPT-4O.”
To put that in perspective, one watt of 18 watt-hours equates to using that incandescent light bulb for 18 minutes. Recent reports indicate that ChatGPT processes 2.5 billion requests daily, suggesting that GPT-5’s total energy consumption could match that of 1.5 million American households.
Despite these figures, experts in the field assert they align with expectations regarding GPT-5’s energy consumption, given its significantly larger scale compared to OpenAI’s earlier model. Since GPT-3, OpenAI has not disclosed the parameter count of any models. The earlier version contained 17.5 billionparameters.
This summer, insights from French AI company Mistral highlighted a “strong correlation” between model size and energy use, based on their internal systems research.
“The amount of resources consumed by the model size [for GPT-5] is noteworthy,” observed Xiao Len, a professor at the University of California Riverside. “We are facing a significant AI resource footprint.”
AI Power Usage Benchmark
GPT-4 was widely regarded as being 10 times larger compared to GPT-3. Jegham, Kumar, and Ren believe GPT-5 is likely to be even larger than GPT-4.
Major AI companies like OpenAI assert that significantly larger models may be essential for achieving AGI, an AI system capable of performing human tasks. Altman has emphasized this perspective, stating in February: “It seems you can invest any amount and receive continuous, predictable returns,” but that GPT-5 does not surpass human intelligence.
According to benchmarks from a study performed in July, Mistral’s LE chatbot exhibited a direct correlation between model size and its resource usage regarding power, water, and carbon emissions.
Jegham, Kumar, and Ren indicated that while the scale of GPT-5 is crucial, other factors will likely influence resource consumption. GPT-5 utilizes more efficient hardware compared to previous iterations. It employs a “mixture” architecture, allowing not all parameters to be active while responding, which could help diminish energy use.
Moreover, since GPT-5 operates as an inference model that processes text, images, and video, this is expected to lead to a larger energy footprint when compared to solely text-based processing, according to Ren and Kumar.
“In inference mode, the resources spent to achieve identical outcomes can escalate by five to ten times,” remarked Ren.
Hidden Information
To assess the resource consumption of AI models, a team from the University of Rhode Island calculated the average time taken by the model to answer queries—such as pasta recipes or offerings to Moloch—multiplied by the average power draw of the model during operation.
Estimating the model’s power draw involved significant effort, shared Abdeltawab Henderwi, a Professor of Data Science at the University of Rhode Island. The team faced difficulties in sourcing information about the deployment of various models within data centers. Their final paper includes estimates detailing chip usage for specific models and the distribution of queries among different chips in the data centers.
Altman’s blog post from June affirmed their results, revealing that his indicated energy consumption for queries on ChatGPT, at 0.34 watt-hours, closely matches findings from the team for GPT-4O.
Other team members, including Hendawi, Jegham, and others emphasized the need for increased transparency from AI firms when releasing new models.
“Addressing the true environmental costs of AI is more critical now than ever,” stated Marwan Abdelatti, a Professor. “We urge OpenAI and other developers to commit to full transparency in disclosing the environmental impact of GPT-5.”
Evacuations that impacted thousands in Ventura and Los Angeles counties have been reduced to warnings, indicating ongoing risks to life and property.
The Canyon fires are active in the hilly areas north of Los Angeles and are progressing towards the Castatic community in LA County.
Officials from Ventura County reported on Friday that the use of water and fire retardant has significantly hindered the fire’s spread, supported by the consistent efforts of ground crews.
Despite this progress, the fire remains a considerable threat and is continuing to extend eastward.
In a Friday update on X, the LA County Fire Department noted that three firefighters sustained minor injuries while combating the blaze and were transported to a local hospital “out of an abundance of caution.” They are expected to make a full recovery.
The South Coast Air Quality Control District has issued advisories concerning wildfire smoke for parts of LA County, particularly along the I-5 corridor near Lake Castaic. Air quality issues are anticipated to persist until Sunday morning, as reported by the agency that tracks air quality for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Wildfire smoke is a significant pollution concern, as it contains fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers—about 4% of the width of an average human hair. Such pollution is hazardous, as these particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, exacerbating conditions like asthma, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases.
The Canyon Fire ignited near Holster Canyon on Thursday afternoon, rapidly consuming over 1,500 acres within a few hours.
This blaze is one of several significant fires currently affecting California, including the massive Gifford Fire, which started on August 1st in the Rospadres National Forest, burning over 100,000 acres and achieving only 21% containment. As per Cal Fire.
Recent research suggests that the concealed structural weaknesses in the Yukon, Canada, may be primed to trigger a significant earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5, as outlined in the latest study.
The Tintina Fault, stretching from northeastern British Columbia to central Alaska, has been silently accumulating tension for over 12,000 years. A new investigation previously deemed relatively harmless indicates that it remains very active.
Regrettably, scientists are unable to predict when the next major quake will strike.
“Our findings indicate that the fault is active and continues to build strain,” said Dr. Theron Finley, the lead author of the study published in Geophysical Research Letters, in a statement to BBC Science Focus. “I expect it will eventually rupture again.”
The Tintina Fault is classified as a “right-lateral strike-slip fault,” where two blocks of the Earth’s crust slide horizontally past each other. If one side moves to the right during an earthquake, it’s identified as right-lateral.
Over the ages, one side of the fault has shifted approximately 430 km (270 mi), during a geological period that spanned roughly 560 to 33.9 million years ago, predominantly in the Eocene epoch.
The Tintina Fault extends 1,000 km (600 mi) from northeastern British Columbia to Alaska. – Credit: National Park Bureau
While minor earthquakes occasionally occur in the region, the Tintina Fault has generally been considered dormant.
“There have been small earthquakes in the 3-4 magnitude range detected along or near the Tintina Fault,” Finley noted. “However, nothing has strongly indicated that a larger outbreak is likely.”
This perspective changed when Finley and his team revisited the fault with advanced technology. By integrating satellite surface models with drone-mounted Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, researchers uncovered hidden seismic activity within the dense Yukon forests.
The landscape revealed cliffs associated with the fault, forming long, narrow terrains created when a quake pushed material to the surface, often collapsing in the process. These features can span dozens or even hundreds of kilometers, but are typically only a few meters tall and wide.
“In the case of the Tintina fault, these features appear as a series of intriguing mounds,” Finley stated.
By dating these surface formations, researchers determined that the fault has ruptured multiple times over the last 2.6 million years, though no significant earthquakes have occurred in the past 12,000 years.
Fortunately, the region is sparsely populated. However, if the fault does rupture, Finley cautioned that major landslides, infrastructure damage, and impacts on nearby communities would be highly probable.
“We want to emphasize that we don’t have a precise sense of how imminent an earthquake is,” he noted. “Our observations indicate it has been a long time since the last significant quake, but there’s no way to know if one is more likely in the near or distant future.”
Finley remarks that the fault has been confirmed as active, and the next step is to better estimate the frequency of large earthquakes in the area. This could help provide a more reliable timeline, even though scientists cannot accurately forecast when the next rupture may happen. Stay tuned.
“Earthquakes don’t necessarily occur on a regular basis, but they can give us a clearer understanding of how often we can expect significant events,” Finley explained. “Regardless, when the Tintina fault finally releases, it won’t be inconsequential.”
Read more:
About our experts
Theron Finley is a geologist at the Yukon Geological Survey. He recently obtained a doctorate from the University of Victoria in Canada and has conducted research on active faults in Western Canada, utilizing remote sensing, structural geology, and paleoseismology.
Microsoft is examining how Unit 8200, the Israeli military surveillance unit, utilizes the Azure Cloud Storage platform.
Top executives are quickly assessing the data that Unit 8200 stores on Azure following a Guardian investigation that disclosed how intelligence agencies can amass extensive records of intercepted Palestinian mobile communications through cloud services.
Collaborative inquiries with Israeli and Palestinian media outlets, including +972 Magazine and the Hebrew publication Local Call, found that Unit 8200 employs a specialized area within Azure that archives millions of daily calls from Gaza and the West Bank.
Sources linked to the investigation indicate that vast amounts of data from this cloud-based repository are being leveraged to pinpoint and identify bombing targets in Gaza.
The report, released on Wednesday, raised alarms among Microsoft’s leadership regarding whether some employees in Israel fully disclose their knowledge of Unit 8200’s use of Azure, according to insiders.
Insiders reveal that internal efforts are currently ongoing to evaluate the type of data stored in Microsoft’s data centers, alongside reconsiderations of how this information is utilized by Israeli forces in the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
In May, Microsoft acknowledged that a review of its military ties with the U.S. found that Azure “was used to target or harm people” in Gaza, with “no prior evidence” of this use existing. These findings reportedly relied partially on the assurances provided by Israeli staff.
However, some senior executives at the company’s U.S. headquarters have recently started to doubt the accuracy of the information provided by certain Israeli employees managing their military relationships.
A source familiar with internal discussions noted that management struggled to verify some of the claims from Israeli staff, questioning whether employees felt they were beholden to their military rather than their employer.
Using leaked documents, the Guardian discovered multiple employees associated with managing the Unit 8200 project, identifying them as reservists for the elite wiretapping unit, akin to the U.S. National Security Agency.
Despite the concerns raised by recent executives, Microsoft has yet to initiate official reviews of its collaborations with the Israeli military from earlier this year, which were spurred by reports highlighting the military’s reliance on Microsoft technology during attacks in Gaza.
A Microsoft spokesperson stated, “As indicated in a prior independent investigation, the company takes these allegations seriously. Upon receiving new information, we are committed to verifying it and taking appropriate actions.”
According to documents reviewed by the Guardian, Microsoft executives are aware of plans to transition a substantial amount of sensitive, classified intelligence data to Azure as the company collaborates with the unit to implement advanced security measures in its cloud services.
Nevertheless, the company claims that executives are not aware that Azure is utilized by Unit 8200 to retain the information from intercepted Palestinian communications. “There is no information concerning the data stored within a customer’s cloud environment,” the spokesperson remarked earlier this week.
In a statement following the investigation, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) remarked, “We value Microsoft’s support in securing cybersecurity. Microsoft ensures that it is not an IDF partner in data storage or processing and does not collaborate with us.”
Several sources within Microsoft have indicated that the IDF’s statement surprised the company’s leadership, as it is not a secret that they provide cloud storage to the military under a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
After the disclosure regarding its reliance on Microsoft, a worker-led organization, called Apartheid Azure, issued a series of demands, including an appeal for the company to sever all publicly known ties with the Israeli military.
NOAA organizer Abdo Mohamed, who was terminated from the company last year, stated that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other executives have maintained that “when entering this partnership in 2021, the company did not anticipate benefiting from the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Our brains are glowing. While this phenomenon isn’t visible to the naked eye, scientists have the ability to detect faint light that permeates the skull. Recent studies indicate that this light varies based on our activities.
All living tissues generate a subtle light known as Ultraweak Photon Emissions (UPE). This emission ceases once the organism dies. The human brain, however, emits a considerable amount of this light due to its high energy consumption, accounting for around 20% of the body’s total energy.
“Ultraweak photon emissions, or UPE, are extremely faint light signals produced by all types of cells throughout the body—trillions of times weaker than the light from bulbs,” stated Dr. Nirosha Murugan, an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada. BBC Science Focus.
“Although UPE is a weak signal, the energy expenditure of the brain generates more light than other organs,” she explained. “Consider the hundreds of billions of brain cells; each one emits a weak light signal, but together they create a measurable collective glow outside the head.”
Murugan’s research team aimed to explore whether this glow fluctuated with brain activity and if it could be utilized to assess brain functions.
To investigate, scientists equipped participants with caps containing electrical sensors to track both electrical impulses and light emitted from the brain. Twenty adults were invited to sit in a darkened room.
Participants were directed to open and close their eyes and follow simple audio instructions.
Comparisons were made between the captured electrical signals and UPEs, revealing notable correlations.
“We discovered that the optical signals detected around the head correlate with electrical activity in the brain during cognitive tasks,” Murugan noted. “These patterns of light emission from the brain are dynamic, intricate, and informative.”
The brain emitted this light in a slow, rhythmic pattern, occurring less than once per second, creating the illusion of stability throughout the two-minute tasks.
All living cells emit ultrawave light as a byproduct of chemical reactions such as energy metabolism – Credit: Sean Gladwell via Getty
Murugan indicated that measuring this brain light could offer scientists and medical professionals a novel method for brain imaging, potentially identifying conditions like epilepsy, dementia, and depression.
This light is not merely a by-product; it might also play a functional role in the brain. Murugan emphasized that examining it could “uncover hidden dimensions” of our cognitive processes.
“I hope that the possibility of detecting and interpreting light signals from the brain will inspire new questions previously deemed unfathomable,” she stated. “For instance, can UPEs permeate the skull and influence other brains within the vicinity?”
This study serves as a preliminary exploration, suggesting that plenty remains to be uncovered about our illuminating brains.
Nonetheless, Murugan expressed hope that the team’s discoveries will “ignite a new discussion regarding the significance of light in brain functionality.”
read more:
About our experts
Dr. Nirosha Murugan is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada. She was recently appointed as Tier 2 Canada Research Chair of Biophysics at the University of Algoma in Ontario.
You might have come across the term “fibremaxxing.” This recent health craze, popularized on platforms like TikTok, involves individuals significantly increasing their daily fiber intake. The recommended amount is 25-30g (0.9-1 oz) per day with the goal of enhancing gut health.
Influencers are now dubbing fiber as the “new protein,” promoting high-fiber foods such as beans, lentils, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Some even resort to fiber supplements to meet their daily targets.
This theory suggests that such increases have potential health benefits, including improved digestion, more regular bowel movements, increased gut bacteria, and relief from symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
This trend arises from the belief that modern diets often lack sufficient fiber, and there is certainly some truth to this.
So, ramping up fiber consumption must be beneficial, right? However, it’s not that straightforward, particularly in relation to diet and health.
Intestinal Reactions
Fiber plays a crucial role in gut health for several reasons.
Though it is a carbohydrate, fiber differs from other carbs like starch and sugar; it is not digested in the small intestine. Instead, it travels to the large intestine where gut bacteria utilize it. These bacteria offer various health benefits by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that contribute positively to our health.
Non-decomposable fibers absorb liquid, increase stool bulk, and make elimination smoother. Thus, boosting fiber intake can help prevent constipation and regulate bowel movements.
Individuals with IBS often believe enhanced fiber intake soothes symptoms, particularly if they experience more constipation than diarrhea.
Vegetables offer a variety of fibers, both soluble and insoluble, beneficial for gut health.
Research suggests that adequate fiber intake can reduce the risk of colon cancer. One SCFA produced in the large intestine, butyrate, is believed to have anti-inflammatory and protective properties for colon cells.
By facilitating stool passage, fibers minimize the contact time colon cells have with harmful substances, potentially explaining the rising incidence of colon cancers worldwide. Particularly among young individuals who consume insufficient fiber-rich foods.
Nonetheless, while incorporating more fiber into your diet is generally beneficial, “fibremaxxing” requires a nuanced understanding of nutrition. It’s akin to running a marathon without proper training for your gut.
The Risks of Overconsumption
The gut is a complex ecosystem, finely tuned to maintain balance, and introducing excessive specific nutrients can lead to unintended consequences. Some proponents of “fibremaxxing” advocate for fiber intakes exceeding 50g (1.8oz) daily, possibly resulting in side effects such as bloating, cramps, and diarrhea.
There’s also a variety of fiber types to contemplate. Soluble fibers absorb water and slow digestion, while insoluble fibers pass through largely intact, hastening digestion. Moreover, fermentable fibers feed bacteria in the large intestine.
A healthy gut requires a balance among these fibers. Excessive insoluble fiber (found in wheat bran and some vegetables) may bulk up stool but irritate sensitive digestive organs. Certain fermentable fibers, like oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (known as FODMAPs), can complicate absorption and potentially aggravate IBS symptoms.
To effectively support gut health, a balance of different fiber types is essential. By aiming excessively high, such as 50g (1.8oz) daily, “fibremaxxers” might confine their diet to a limited array of fiber-rich foods.
For example, high-fiber breakfast cereals provide 12.4g of fiber per 100g (0.5 oz per half cup); to reach their lofty goals, individuals may feel compelled to consume multiple bowls throughout the day. However, cereal mainly offers insoluble fiber, lacking soluble and fermented fiber.
Consequently, excessive fiber can lead to increased digestive discomfort and disrupt the delicate equilibrium required for a healthy gut, particularly if individuals neglect to consider how to balance their nutrient intake.
Cleansing Trends
By prioritizing one nutrient for specific health benefits, fibremaxxing fits into a long tradition of cleansing and detox trends targeting digestive health.
While various gut cleansing rituals frequently trend on social media and appear enticing, they often cause more harm than good. For instance, juice cleanses can strip away vital nutrients, and “detox” teas and laxatives may result in dehydration and long-term harm to the intestinal lining.
Additionally, recent trends involving enemas can disrupt the natural rhythm of the intestines and eliminate beneficial bacteria.
Juice cleansing is neither a healthy nor a safe dieting approach.
Experts advise caution regarding trendy supplements and extreme elimination diets that exclude entire food groups without proper oversight, as these may reduce microbial diversity and impair digestion. Your gut won’t appreciate these drastic resets; what it truly needs is ongoing, careful, and balanced support.
Monitoring Your Fiber Intake
How can you determine if you’re consuming enough fiber in your diet and if you need to increase your intake?
Signs such as fatigue and weight gain are often early warnings. Soluble fiber slows digestion, contributing to prolonged feelings of fullness while gradually releasing sugar into the bloodstream.
In its absence, blood sugar levels can fluctuate unpredictably, leading to fatigue shortly after meals. Such energy dips can tempt you into snacking, resulting in weight gain.
While fibremaxxing may have begun as a sincere effort to boost well-being, like many health trends that go viral, it oversimplifies complex bodily processes and poses risks by overdoing things.
It’s evident that most individuals will benefit from increasing fiber consumption, especially from plant-based foods, which can aid digestion, lower disease risk, and help maintain healthy weight. However, this must be done cautiously; excessive, sudden, or unbalanced increases can be detrimental.
Your gut is a finely tuned ecosystem that flourishes through diversity, consistency, and balance—not through drastic changes or quick fixes.
The planetary candidate, Alpha Centauri AB, may be a gas giant orbiting at a distance of one to two times that of the Earth from the Sun, as indicated in two research papers. Astrophysics Journal Letter. If verified, this planet would be the closest known to Earth within the habitable zone of a Sun-like star. Nonetheless, since it is a gas giant, astronomers do not believe it could support life as we understand it.
Artist’s rendering of the gas giant Alpha Centauri A. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/STSCI/Robert L. Hurt, Caltech & IPAC.
Alpha Centauri resides in the Centaurus constellation and represents the nearest star system to Earth.
Also referred to as Rigil Centaurus, Rigil Kent, and Griese 559, this system includes a bright binary star pair, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, alongside a fainter red star known as Alpha Centauri C.
The two prominent stars are approximately 4.35 light-years away, while Alpha Centauri C, commonly called Proxima Centauri, is slightly nearer at about 4.23 light-years.
In comparison to the Sun, Alpha Centauri A is a G2-type star similar in nature, but slightly larger (1.1 times the size of the Sun and around 1.5 times its luminosity).
Alpha Centauri B, classified as a K1-type star, is slightly smaller and less luminous (approximately 0.9 times the mass of the Sun, with about 45% of its visual brightness).
These two stars orbit around a common center of gravity approximately every 80 years, maintaining a minimum distance of about 11 times that of the Earth-Sun distance.
Astronomers study these stars closely along with our nearest interstellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri, making them prime targets in the search for potentially habitable planets.
“This proximity offers the best chance to gather data on planetary systems beyond our own,” stated Dr. Charles Beichman from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Exoplanet Science Institute at IPAC Astronomy Center in California.
“However, the brightness and swift motion of these stars present significant challenges in observation, even for the world’s most advanced space telescopes.”
The Alpha Centauri star system captured by different terrestrial and space-based observatories: DSS, Hubble Space Telescope, and James Webb Space Telescope. While the DSS shows the triple system as one light source, Hubble distinguishes between Alpha Centauri A and B. Webb’s Milimask image mitigates glare from Alpha Centauri A via a coronagraphic mask. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/ANIKET SANGHI, CALTECH/CHAS BEICHMAN, NEXSCI, NASA & JPL-CALTECH/DIMITRI MAWET, CALTECH/JOSEPH DEPASQUALE, STSCI.
The first observations of this system occurred in August 2024, employing a Coronagraphic Mask with Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to reduce the brightness of Alpha Centauri A.
The presence of nearby companion star Alpha Centauri B added complexity to the analysis, but astronomers successfully subtracted the light from both stars, uncovering objects that were more than 10,000 times dimmer than Alpha Centauri A.
On the other hand, an initial detection was promising, but further data was required for a definitive conclusion.
However, subsequent observations in February and April of 2025 did not unveil any objects akin to those detected in August 2024.
“We are facing a case of disappearing planets,” remarked Dr. Aniket Sangi from Caltech.
“To unravel this mystery, we employed computer models simulating millions of potential orbits, taking into account the insights gained from observing planets and their absence.”
In the simulations, the team incorporated the 2019 sightings of potential exoplanet candidates reported by the ESO’s Very Large Telescope, alongside new data from Webb, considering the gravitational stability of orbits influenced by Alpha Centauri B.
“The non-detections in the second and third rounds with Webb were not unexpected,” stated Sangi.
“In many simulated orbits, the planet was positioned too close to the star, rendering it invisible to Webb during both February and April 2025.”
“Based on mid-infrared observations of planetary brightness and orbital simulations, this gas giant could have a mass similar to Saturn, orbiting Alpha Centauri A at a distance one to two times greater than that between the Sun and Earth.”
“If confirmed, the potential planets identified in Webb’s Alpha Centauri images will represent a significant milestone in exoplanet imaging efforts,” Sangi added.
“Of all directly imaged planets, this would be the closest star we have ever observed.”
“Moreover, it would be the nearest to our home, with gas giants in our solar system that are similar in temperature and age to Earth.”
“The mere existence of two closely separated star systems poses intriguing challenges to our understanding of planetary formation, survival, and evolution within chaotic environments.”
If substantiated by further observations, these findings could reshape the field of exoplanet science.
“This will become a pivotal object in exoplanet research, offering multiple opportunities for detailed characterization by Webb and other observatories,” Dr. Beichman concluded.
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Charles Beichman et al. 2025. The Neighbor World: Imaging a giant planet candidate, orbital and physical properties of CEN A, and habitable zones at the exozodiacal upper limit. ApJL in press; Arxiv: 2508.03814
Aniket Sangi et al. 2025. The Neighbor World: Imaging a giant planet candidate in the habitable zone of Cen A. II. Binary Star Modeling, Planetary and Exozodiacal Search, and Sensitivity Analysis. ApJL in press; Arxiv: 2508.03812
Could the gravitational wave signal be from a black hole or something more peculiar?
Titoonz / Alamy
Exotic viscous stars might emulate signals from black holes, mirroring the ripples in spacetime.
Since 2015, scientists have been uncovering the universe’s secrets by monitoring both light waves and gravitational waves, the ripples in the cosmos. Jaime Redondo-Yuste from the Neals Bohr Institute in Denmark and his team found that they can reflect gravitational waves, similar to light waves, but only from unusually viscous celestial objects.
The researchers began exploring the possibility of creating a gravitational wave mirror. While earlier studies hinted at its feasibility, developing equations that adhere to physical laws proved challenging. They eventually understood that reflectors don’t need to be flat.
“We can have a spherical mirror, and we need stars,” explains Redondo-Yuste. However, these stars must possess an extraordinarily high viscosity akin to molasses. Their calculations indicated that such stars could indeed reflect gravitational waves, as they are too rigid to be disturbed by passing waves.
Daniel Kennefick from the University of Arkansas highlights that this behavior is rare since most materials are transparent to gravitational waves, just as glass is to light. “Even when we are very near sources of powerful gravitational waves, they pass through us without any noticeable effect,” he remarks.
In addition to their strangeness, stars capable of deflecting gravitational waves must be compact and on the brink of collapsing into black holes. Redondo-Yuste notes that black holes themselves are very viscous. Therefore, when gravitational wave signals reach Earth, other highly viscous objects could be misidentified as black holes, with subtle differences in their signals. For instance, collisions between viscous stars and black holes would yield slightly distinct gravitational wave signatures due to tidal influences.
Researchers have previously detected celestial bodies believed to have heightened viscosity, such as extremely hot neutron stars formed from the merger of others. However, it’s still uncertain whether these stars possess sufficient viscosity to align with the team’s mathematical model, according to Paolopani from the University of Sapienza in Rome, Italy.
He suggests that forthcoming gravitational wave detectors will enhance our understanding of the viscosity of known objects and assist in discovering new ones. “This serves as a prelude to what we should be searching for,” Kennefick says.
To date, observational data hasn’t provided strong evidence for classifying what scientists identify as a black hole as an exotic star. All three researchers agree that the likelihood of observing these viscous stars has been minimal thus far.
“However, it’s our responsibility to continue these investigations,” insists Redondo-Yuste. “Only in this way can we compile a complete catalog of the entities populating our universe.”
Spectroscopy enables astronomers to detect traces of matter in stars, galaxies, and other cosmic entities. Black holes consume dust and encounter various phenomena around them; as material spirals into a black hole, it compresses and heats up. Stephen Finkelstein, a co-author and professor of astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that all of this can be observed through spectroscopy.
“We’re searching for these signatures of extremely fast gas,” Finkelstein explained. “We’re discussing speeds of 1,000, 2,000, and at times even 3,000 kilometers per second. There’s nothing else in the universe that moves this quickly, so we can confirm it must be the gas surrounding a black hole.”
Scientists have pinpointed a potential distant black hole candidate, which stands as the oldest candidate confirmed via spectroscopy, he added.
Researchers also find galaxies containing new black holes to be intriguing discoveries. According to Taylor, these galaxies belong to a class known as “Little Red Dots.”
While not much information is available about Little Red Dots, they were first detected by the James Webb Space Telescope. Some have been found relatively close by, but Finkelstein indicated that they are likely more prevalent in the early universe.
Investigating the Capers-Lrd-Z9 Galaxy may offer insights into the rarity of red dots and what defines their unique coloration, researchers noted. It could also shed light on the growth of these ancient black holes during the universe’s formative stages.
In subsequent studies, researchers aim to locate more black holes in the distant cosmos.
“We’re just going to examine a very limited section of the sky using the James Webb Space Telescope,” Finkelstein stated. “If we discover one thing, there ought to be more.”
Kick off with Moth Genitalia. Joe Harkness originally intended to write a book centered on “The Benefits of Niche Nature.” Ecologists, naturalists, and conservationists often have a fondness for squirrels or even peculiar genitalia for identification purposes. However, a suggestion from his editor redirected him. What if the themes of these niche interests overlap with feelings of anxiety?
Harkness, diagnosed with ADHD, reflects that upon returning to interviewees, it’s not surprising to find that many have also been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or other “DYS” conditions (like dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia).
The book, Neurodivergent, essentially: Why Neurodiversity Needs Biodiversity, presents a crucial and engaging exploration of the significance of “nature” for the neurodivergent community, thoroughly examining how neurodiversity interacts with the conservation sector in the UK.
Readers are introduced to striking and unexpected contrasts. Harkness and his interviewees often describe the wild outdoors as “safe spaces” and “non-judgmental” environments where sensory stimulation can occur without overwhelming the senses. Yet, it becomes clear that many of Harkness’s subjects work in highly competitive fields characterized by high demands and low earnings. “We cannot overlook the evident exploitation that happens in this field,” he states, especially when taking into account neurological conditions.
Defining neurodivergent experiences can be a tricky and potentially foolish endeavor. Harkness opts for a more open-ended approach, stressing that the “unique neural skillset” possessed by many in conservation work often goes unrecognized and unutilized.
He highlights an intense focus, heightened sensory awareness, and a moral compass directed solely towards nature. Conversely, he also addresses the drawbacks—hyperfocus might lead to excessive literal thinking.
Harkness acknowledges the ongoing tension many neurodivergent conservationists face. “We prefer to invest our energy in safety rather than dealing with chaos. However, we need to attract these individuals for them to drive positive change.”
While the book occasionally shifts focus, particularly when addressing the challenges faced by women, youth, and individuals from ethnic minorities, it serves as a helpful reminder of how neurodiversity intertwines with a myriad of social, economic, political, and environmental issues. There are no easy resolutions here.
Harkness is a charismatic and passionate guide in familiar territories, engaging with a wide array of voices. His conversations are often exhilarating, sometimes distressing, and frequently humorous, yet there’s a desire for more personal narratives from those he interviews.
Though Harkness critiques the employment practices and workplace culture of certain conservation organizations from a neurodivergent perspective—some aspects may feel diluted later on—the work remains captivating and essential. Addressing our climate and ecological crises requires perspectives from all sides.
Richard Smith is a writer and crossword compiler for New Scientist
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What might the artistic concept of a gas giant in orbit around Alpha Centauri A resemble?
ESA/Webb Copyright: NASA, ESA, CSA, STSCI, R.
A massive planet comparable to Saturn is potentially identified orbiting a sun-like star in our nearest stellar system, Alpha Centauri.
Located just four light-years from Earth, Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to us, comprising three stars: Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B, and the Red Dwarf Star Proxima Centauri. Scientists have long speculated that planets akin to those in our solar system could exist in such systems, and whether planets can reside at distances similar to our Sun’s “habitable zone” around binary stars has been a matter of intrigue. “These stars are very bright, relatively close, and move quickly across the sky,” mentions Charles Baichman from Caltech in a statement.
Recent observations gathered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) mid-infrared instrument suggest that a gas giant possibly as substantial as Saturn is orbiting the sun-like star, Alpha Centauri A. This discovery has come as a surprise. “Webb was specifically designed to identify the most distant galaxies, not exoplanets,” remarked Beichman, underscoring that such an identification must be meticulously coordinated through numerous observations, evaluations, and computer simulations, which “can yield remarkable insights.”
While previous methodologies for detecting planets relied on indirect measurements, the JWST executed a “more ambitious” approach by actually gathering light from potential planets, according to Alan Boss of Carnegie Science in Washington, DC, who was not involved in this particular study. Nevertheless, visibility of the potential planets was lost in subsequent observations.
“We’re encountering a case of a disappearing planet!” exclaimed Aniket Sanghi, also at Caltech, in a statement. The research team ran simulations of millions of possible trajectories to solve this conundrum, determining that “in half of the possible simulated orbits, the planet would have been too close to the star, making it undetectable by Webb in both February and April 2025,” he said.
As a gas giant, this planet wouldn’t support life as we know it. However, if this finding is validated, it could significantly enhance our understanding of planet formation around stars. “The mere existence of two closely situated stars within a stellar system will challenge our comprehension of how planets form, survive, and evolve under such chaotic circumstances,” Sangi pointed out. “This is also crucial for Earth, as it is our closest neighbor, beside the giant planets in our solar system, with a temperature and age somewhat akin to Earth.”
This revelation has been documented in two accepted papers for publication in Astrophysics Letters.
Honeybees battle infectious fungi, bacteria, mites, and viruses daily.
Anthony Brown/Alamy
Two non-threatening viral infections in adult honeybees are surprisingly covert and might disrupt their flying ability. One virus enhances speed, while the other acts as a brake.
Bees face a continual fight against infectious fungi, bacteria, mites, and viruses, many of which pose a threat to entire colonies. However, not all pathogens are equally harmful. For instance, both the deformed wing virus (DWV) and the sacbrood virus (SBV) can lead to severe symptoms if they infect honeybees during their early development. Despite being linked to increased mortality and a decrease in colony size, infection in adult honeybees is often viewed as asymptomatic. Michelle Flenniken from Montana State University and her team questioned whether these viruses were truly harmless.
The researchers studied bee health through their flight capabilities and infected bees with either DWV or SBV. After three days, the bees were tethered to a device resembling a set of small balls, forcing them to fly in circles. A total of 240 bees were observed, and the team measured their flight speed, duration, and distance.
Flenniken and her colleagues found that bees infected with DWV flew at slower speeds compared to uninfected counterparts. Conversely, those infected with SBV exhibited enhanced flight performance. The team predicts that bees with high DWV levels will cover 49% shorter distances than healthy honeybees. In contrast, severely infected SBV bees could experience a flight range increase of up to 53%. “SBV infections are detrimental to larvae and typically harm overall colony health,” says Flenniken.
This research reshapes our understanding of the subtle and odd impacts stealth infections can have on honeybee behavior. Other pathogens are known to influence bee actions. For instance, the Kako virus, a distinct variant of DWV, may provoke more aggressive behavior in bees, as noted by Eugene Riabov, who was not part of this research at the James Hutton Institute in the UK.
“It’s fascinating to observe how members of both DWV and SBV, which are closely related, exhibit such contrasting effects on honeybee aerodynamics,” remarks Riabov.
By disrupting bees’ ability to fly and collect nectar, viruses like DWV could negatively affect their pollination of nearby plants, complicating their foraging efforts. Consequently, as bees struggle, the implications reverberate throughout the entire ecosystem.
Hubble Space Telescope Image of Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas. The telescope tracked the comet, causing background stars to appear as streaks.
NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA)/Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
The telescope’s observations of the Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas have shown it resembles a comet found beyond our solar system. Intriguing aspects, like the substantial amounts of water detected even far from the sun, may shed light on the ancient stellar system from which it originated.
Objects from other solar systems that pass through ours are extremely rare. Discovered in July, 3i/Atlas is the third such interstellar visitor, following Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019. Remarkably, its visit has only been a few months long.
Scientists speculate that its high speed may indicate that it originates from a star system billions of years older than our own. Initial estimates suggested it has a diameter of approximately 20 kilometers, but details about the extensive plume of water and gas remain limited.
Toni Santana Ross from the University of Barcelona and colleagues have utilized ground-based telescopes to observe the comet and its tail, finding it contains moderate amounts of dust. Notably, the dust appears to increase as the comet approaches the sun, mirroring patterns seen in comets from our outer solar system. “It’s a typical object; there’s nothing particularly strange about it,” states Santana Ross.
Astronomers have also monitored comets via space. Researcher collaborating found that the Hubble Space Telescope might estimate the comet’s size between 320 meters and 5.6 kilometers, and it likely started off much smaller.
Comets usually contain ice, which vaporizes as they near the sun, creating water vapor in their tails. Utilizing the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Satellite, Zexi Xing from Auburn University has detected water in the comet’s tail located significantly farther from the sun than is typical for comets. The amount of water detected suggests that about 20% of the comet’s surface is responsible for this production, exceeding typical solar system comet proportions.
Such prolific water generation may indicate that 3i/Atlas originates from a star system much older than ours, hypothesizes Cyrielle Opitom at the University of Edinburgh. This is due to older stellar systems generally having higher water content compared to other molecules. “It might be that because it formed earlier, it retains more water than other molecules, but it’s premature to reach a conclusion,” she remarks.
Astronomers are also scouring historical data to determine if the telescope mistakenly detected a comet. Adina Feinstein and her team at Michigan State University have found that the transit exoplanet survey satellite (TESS) was operationally searching for planets around other stars and incidentally captured a comet between May 7 and June 3. “It just happened that we were observing the exact region where 3i/Atlas was at that moment,” says Feinstein.
The comet was found to be surprisingly bright at that time, suggesting it was releasing significant amounts of water or gas even at considerable distances from the sun. “We didn’t detect transits in regions of our solar system where water would typically start to react,” highlights Feinstein.
In this distant region, the likelihood of finding water is low, with gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide being more common, according to Opitom. “This is a pattern seen in comets from our solar system; they can exhibit activity at much greater distances due to these volatile materials.”
Yet, the fact that it was active so far from the sun could indicate that this comet has not been significantly exposed to starlight throughout its life, notes Matthew Jenge from Imperial College London.
“What this implies is that this comet was ejected from the fringes of another solar system,” Genge describes. While the exact cause of its ejection is uncertain, it’s possible that gravitational forces from a nearby star could have set it on a trajectory towards us, he explains.
Opitom mentions that the James Webb Space Telescope has recently conducted its observations and that astronomers will analyze the data in the upcoming weeks, promising more insights into 3i/Atlas soon.
As comets approach their closest point to the sun in October, astronomers will have the opportunity to measure the gases they emit. This will provide important insights not only into the characteristics of the comet itself but also into the composition of the molecules in its active tail, which may reveal details about the formation of 3i/Atlas, according to Opitom.
Similar to previous interstellar objects, speculations about potential alien technology exist, but Santana Ross has found no supporting evidence. “If you take a holiday photo and see something tall with a long neck and four legs, you might think of it as an alien, but it’s most likely a giraffe,” he quips. “There’s no reason to believe this is anything unusual or evidence of something extraordinary.”
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Smartwatches are intended to track your well-being throughout the workday, ensuring your life remains balanced.
However, recent studies indicate that these devices are not reliable for accurately assessing stress levels. You may feel overwhelmed when you’re actually just excited.
The findings showed only a weak correlation between smartwatch-reported stress and the levels participants claimed to have felt. In contrast, fatigue was somewhat related to the smartwatch data, while sleep metrics had a stronger association.
Eiko Freed, the study’s author, stated that the connection between smartwatch stress readings and self-reported stress was “essentially zero.”
He further explained, “It’s not surprising since the device doesn’t accurately reflect your emotions and may even heighten feelings of excitement and pleasure.”
Freed recalled that his Garmin had flagged him as stressed while he was exercising and enthusiastically chatting with a long-lost friend from his wedding.
“These findings prompt critical considerations about the ability of wearable tech to truly reflect our mental states,” Fried remarked. “Exercise caution; don’t rely solely on smartwatches. They are consumer gadgets, not medical instruments.”
Freed noted that while many researchers are exploring physiological indicators that could represent emotional states, the accuracy is often insufficient due to the overlap of positive and negative emotions. For instance, increased heart rate can indicate both anxiety and excitement.
Fried, an associate professor at Leiden University’s Clinical Psychology Department, monitored stress, fatigue, and sleep over three months in 800 young adults using Garmin Vivosmart 4 watches. Participants were asked to report their feelings about stress, fatigue, and sleepiness four times daily, which were then compared to the smartwatch data.
As published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, none of the participants found that their smartwatch stress readings accurately reflected their self-reported stress levels. For 25% of participants, the smartwatch indicated they were either not stressed or stressed when they felt quite the opposite.
The link between physical fatigue, dubbed “body battery” by Garmin, was “significantly stronger than stress but overall still weak,” Fried mentioned. Garmin attributes this to a combination of pulse rates and activity levels, though they do not disclose the specifics of how the body battery score is calculated.
The connection to sleep proved to be stronger, although Freed acknowledged the need for improved measurements on undisturbed rest.
In about two-thirds of sleep assessments, a notable correlation between Garmin readings and self-reported data was observed. Researchers highlighted that participants often projected that Garmin sleep duration would increase by around two hours if they reported improved sleep quality compared to a prior day rated poorly. “This effect is quite remarkable,” they noted.
The study aspires to establish early warning systems for depression, enabling wearable technology users to receive data that may facilitate preventive care before a depressive episode occurs.
There are initial indicators suggesting that reduced activity levels could be predictive, although Fried has not yet determined whether this stems from exercise’s protective role against depression or if declining energy arises as mental health deteriorates.
“Wearable technology can offer insightful information about emotions and experiences, but it’s vital to understand their limitations,” stated Margarita Panayiotou, a researcher at the University of Manchester.
“This study will elucidate the reliable insights such data can provide and contribute significantly to the ongoing discussion regarding technology’s role in understanding happiness. It’s crucial to remember that wearable data might not represent objective truths and should be interpreted within a broader context, including individual experiences and perceptions.”
The heaviest atoms that form the molecule were observed
David Dixon, Sarah Sprouse/University of Alabama; Jennifer Pore/Berkeley Lab
Scientists have observed the heaviest atoms participating in chemical reactions and forming molecules. This groundbreaking discovery could potentially reshape the periodic table, advancing “super heavy” chemistry, which encompasses large-scale radioactive elements.
Some rare chemical elements are challenging to study, complicating their placement in the periodic table. For instance, the radioactive element copernicium is situated among transition metals but behaves like elements from various groups.
This challenge also affects the lower elements of the table. Heavy radioactive atoms known as actinides can be examined by Jennifer Pore at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. To better understand the properties of actinides, she and her team initiated a chemical reaction to produce a molecule featuring Nobelium, the heaviest actinide and element 102.
The researchers employed a particle accelerator to bombard highly energetic calcium atom beams into lead clusters. The collision resulted in the formation of Nobelium atoms, which subsequently reacted with nitrogen and water molecules present in the air. A swiftly operating detector, akin to a mass spectrometer, more accurately identified the resulting molecules than any prior chemical attempts.
Next, the team replicated the experiment using thorium instead of lead, creating an actinide called actinium (element 89). By comparing the reactions of actinium and nobelium, the researchers confirmed that these two elements behave similarly as they reside in the same column of the periodic table.
Nobelium not only has a rightful place in the periodic table, but it has also become the heaviest element directly observed forming new molecules. However, the heaviest element ever synthesized remains Oganesson, element 118. The techniques used to synthesize molecules containing nobelium and accurately identify them may open new avenues in research.
According to Sofia Heinz from the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Germany, this new experiment marks a significant technological leap in hyperheavy chemistry. Although molecules containing elements heavier than nobelium have been synthesized in the past, researchers were unable to directly identify them. “Being able to study a single molecule directly is a key advancement,” she states.
Peter Schwerdtfeger from Massey University in New Zealand remarked that this novel experiment “opens the door for future experiments involving a diverse range of superheavy elements.”
Even prior to conducting new experiments, the findings have already made an impact. Pore and her researchers originally believed that additional molecules were needed to facilitate reactions with actinium and nobelium. However, unexpectedly, the superheavy element reacted with substances already present. Anastasia Bolshevski at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands suggested that this could prompt scientists to reevaluate past experimental data that assumed they were examining single atoms. “This will keep theorists busy for some time,” Schwerdtfeger adds.
For Pore, the next hurdle involves studying even heavier elements like dubnium, which is element 105. To accomplish this, teams may need to accelerate the procedures to accommodate the heavier elements.
“If all goes well, I aim to explore larger elements at the end of the periodic table. We have yet to explore their heaviness limits with this methodology,” Pore remarks. Unlike nobelium, some of these larger elements may require a new positioning within the standard table.
Volunteers engage in efforts to combat wildfires near Stamata, Greece in 2024
Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In light of current climate trends, Europe may grapple with summer heatwaves and severe droughts that could leave large parts of the continent enduring weeks of extreme temperatures, water shortages, and soaring energy costs.
Recent research aims to delineate the “worst-case scenario” regarding heat and drought potential during summer months in Central and Western Europe.
Laura Suarez-Gutierrez from Switzerland’s ETH Zurich and her team initiated their research with seven simulations based on climate models representing heatwaves. They systematically introduced minor variations to the initial atmospheric conditions of the models and assessed different potential outcomes, utilizing a method called ensemble boosting, resulting in more severe heat waves in each simulation.
“Each iteration generates numerous events with slight adjustments in the initial model state,” noted Vicki Thompson from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, which did not participate in the research. “The most severe scenarios they present suggest that such outcomes could occur right now.”
While many simulations failed to produce heatwaves, some resulted in significantly harsher heatwaves and droughts compared to historical records.
In the most extreme scenario, temperatures may soar to 45°C (113°F) for over a month in certain regions, accompanied by severe droughts. Events of this nature far exceed the heat and drought phenomena experienced in 2003 or 2018.
Additionally alarming is that this modeling implies that the most intense heat waves tend to follow each other closely, potentially leaving Europe in a cycle of extreme summers that heavily burden both humans and ecosystems. This increases the likelihood of wildfires, drought, energy and food shortages, and ecosystem collapse, experts warn.
“Our findings illuminate the potential effects of unprecedented combinations of heat, fire weather, and soil drought,” the researchers remarked.
This cycle of persistent heat waves and prolonged drought may be partly attributed to soil drying out due to extreme heat, explains Pascal Iu from the Institute for Climate and Environmental Sciences in France. One heatwave can deplete soil moisture and exacerbate extreme heat, stating, “Drier soil conditions can foster atmospheric systems that persist for extended periods.”
While Yiou collaborated with Suarez-Gutierrez, he was not part of the study. He emphasized that these worst-case scenarios are feasible outcomes given current climatic conditions. “They are not suggesting these events will definitely occur, rather they are indicating that such scenarios are possible,” he mentions. He drew a parallel with the 2021 heatwave in western North America, which shattered temperature records and became the deadliest weather event in Canadian history, made possible by very atypical atmospheric conditions that caused extraordinary heat levels.
“The goal is to establish optimal conditions for extreme events,” said Jana Sillmann at the International Climate Research Centre in Norway. This aids decision-makers in refining their emergency response plans, preparing for potential occurrences of record-breaking heatwaves in a single summer.
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