NASA, ESA, CFHT, CXO, MJ Jee (University of California, Davis), A. Mahdavi (San Francisco State University)
Recently, there has been a significant shift in the realm of cosmology, reminiscent of the changing trends in fashion. Gone are the days of skinny jeans; in come the baggy styles. Likewise, the foundations of our cosmic understanding are being challenged.
For years, physicists relied on the Standard Model of cosmology, a robust framework that adeptly illustrated the universe’s inception and evolution. Central to this model is dark energy, an enigmatic force driving the universe’s expansion.
Last year, groundbreaking results from extensive telescopic surveys suggested an astonishing possibility: dark energy may be weakening over time. Should this prove true, the Standard Model of cosmology may necessitate a profound rewrite.
A collection of three enlightening features seeks to unravel the intricacies of the Standard Model, examining its current precarious status and what might come next.
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It does not assist if attachment to old models is fueled by fear or nostalgia. “
Despite these revelations, many physicists remain hesitant to abandon their trusted models. This skepticism is understandable, as many findings in modern physics may require reevaluation over time. However, clinging to outdated concepts out of fear of the unknown won’t advance our understanding.
In scientific discourse, paradigm shifts signify transformative moments when our comprehension fundamentally shifts. While challenging, history shows that such shifts enhance our ability to perceive reality. Whether the issues surrounding dark energy will spark a paradigm shift akin to the quantum or Copernican revolutions remains uncertain. If it does, we may reflect on this era of cosmology as an exhilarating chapter in our quest for knowledge.
Explore the #SingingDog hashtag on social media, and you’ll discover countless clips of dogs harmonizing to popular songs. But does this showcase true musicality? Does dog howling indicate a genuine understanding of music?
This intriguing question was tackled by psychologist Aniruddha Patel, a professor at Tufts University. His latest research reveals that some dogs can recognize pitch and modulate their vocalizations accordingly.
The inspiration for this study arose from the howling behavior of wolves.
“Howling resembles human singing as it involves sustained vocalizations,” Patel notes. Observations suggest that wolves use varying tones to create a collective sound, which may serve as a protective strategy against threats.
The researchers faced challenges in testing this behavior experimentally; therefore, they enlisted dog owners to record their pets’ howls to their favorite songs. This included recordings in both the original key and a version transposed three semitones higher and lower to assess the dogs’ responsiveness to pitch changes.
The focus was on two ancient breeds, the Samoyed and the Shiba Inu, believed to be more closely related to wolves than contemporary breeds. To ensure reliable results, each dog contributed a minimum of 30 howls in each transposed version, with each howl lasting at least one second.
All four Samoyeds in the study demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity to pitch, consistently adjusting their howls to new keys, though they did not achieve perfect harmony.
“They seem to be attempting to connect their sound to the music rather than simply providing a reflexive response,” Patel explains. You can view one of the participants, Luna, performing “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper here.
Conversely, the two Shiba Inus appeared to be tone-deaf. Patel proposes, “Genetic variations among ancient breeds might predispose some individuals to howling,” although he acknowledges a larger sample size might yield more musical findings.
This discovery could illuminate the evolutionary roots of human music. While some theorists argue that song evolved from fine motor control in vocalizations, the dogs’ ability to control pitch without extensive vocal training suggests that language might not be an essential precursor. “The tendency to match pitch could have deep evolutionary origins, predating our sophisticated imitative capabilities,” Patel adds.
The motivation behind the dogs’ vocalizations remains unclear. “Based on observed videos, the dogs genuinely seem engaged with the music,” he states. They were not merely seeking treats from their owners but were gazing off thoughtfully. “Music appears to serve as a howling signal, placing them in a social mindset and encouraging participation.”
Researcher Buddhamas Prale Kriengwattana from the University of Leuven in Belgium finds these findings fascinating but would welcome a broader sample for comparison. “I’d love to see comparisons between ancient and modern breeds,” she expresses.
Regarding the dogs’ somewhat off-pitch performances, she suggests various factors could influence pitch discrepancies. “Perhaps they want their voices heard when they sing,” she speculates.
Recent studies suggest that solar winds may have obstructed our ability to receive signals from intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations. Researchers from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute indicate that we might be searching for the wrong types of signals, leading to the potential oversight of crucial evidence of alien life. However, the silver lining is that future discoveries are becoming increasingly likely.
This nonprofit organization focuses on research aimed at validating the existence of extraterrestrial life, including monitoring unexplained extraterrestrial radio signals that don’t align with known natural cosmic phenomena.
Traditionally, signals from distant planets were anticipated to be sharp and clear radio transmissions within a narrow frequency range. New research, however, posits that these transmissions could become distorted, appearing less distinct due to interference from a star’s plasma winds.
SETI Institute researchers Vishal Gajjar and Grace Brown evaluated the effects of solar interference on radio signals emitted by spacecraft in our solar system and extrapolated their findings to other stellar environments. They found that a 100 megahertz signal could be diffused to a dramatically reduced threshold of 100 hertz, falling below conventional detection limits. Solar phenomena can exacerbate signal spread significantly.
According to Simon George at the SETI Institute, there is a growing consensus that the search for narrow bandwidth radio signals is becoming an obsolete strategy in the quest to detect life at vast distances. “The evolution of communication technology since the 1960s suggests that a sophisticated civilization would likely utilize broader spectrum technologies to transmit more information,” he explains.
“Viewing Earth as an exoplanet from an alien perspective has become a common analogy within SETI,” says George. “In the 1960s, Earth was a prominent narrowband source, but as our transmission techniques have shifted, it has become less prominent. This would change if an advanced civilization were intentionally broadcasting clear signals meant to convey ‘We are here,’ or other specific messages.”
Professor John Elliott from the University of St Andrews in the UK maintains an optimistic outlook regarding this revelation. While it’s possible that evidence may have been overlooked in previous searches, he believes that future endeavors are likely to yield better results.
“We have been engaged in this research for over 50 years, which is significant time in scientific terms,” Elliott states. He emphasizes that signal distortion hasn’t been the only obstacle in past investigations; outdated techniques for isolating signals from noise have also posed challenges. However, advancements in computing power and AI are paving the way for improved methodologies. “Until recently, we lacked the necessary equipment and computational capabilities to make substantial breakthroughs. We were metaphorically navigating in the dark,” he adds. “Looking ahead another millennium, it’s exciting to imagine the advancements in technology that await us.”
Eric Atwell from the University of Leeds, who contributed to SETI projects at the turn of the millennium, has quantified how this discovery raises the likelihood of detecting a possible alien signal from 0.0001% to 0.0002%.
“While these probabilities remain extremely low, we have not considered our efforts wasted,” he reflects. The SETI team continues to explore and experiment, gathering substantial evidence that existing strategies are not as fruitful as hoped.
“The objective is to detect unusual signals that can’t be explained by existing astronomical phenomena, though this methodology can be somewhat erratic when it comes to uncovering intelligent life,” Atwell comments.
He expresses skepticism regarding the notion of passively waiting for clear signals from extraterrestrial life. “If intelligent beings exist and wish to be discovered, they would likely send more distinct communications,” he asserts.
Alternative organizations, such as the Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (METI), are employing different methodologies to find alien life by actively broadcasting signals to other planets, enhancing the chance that extraterrestrial civilizations may recognize and respond to such communications.
Illustration of Grecopithecus freybergi, a great ape from southeastern Europe 7.2 million years ago
Velizar Simeonovski, Chicago
Discoveries indicate that 7.2 million years ago, early apes might have been walking upright in present-day Bulgaria. Researchers uncovered ancient leg bones exhibiting characteristics of bipedalism.
These leg bones predate all known human fossils, including those from Africa, suggesting that bipedalism—a critical milestone in human evolution—may have originated in Europe rather than Africa.
“The earliest signs of bipedalism are found in Europe,” states Madeleine Boehme, from the University of Tübingen, Germany.
Boehme and a dedicated team have been excavating at Azmaka near Chirpan, Bulgaria, since 2008, uncovering a sediment layer approximately 20 meters thick, deposited by rivers over time.
A crucial find in 2016 was a right femur, known to be 7.2 million years old and nearly intact, nicknamed “Diva.” This femur, measuring 21.5 centimeters, offers substantial insight into the locomotion of early humans.
“This discovery is incredibly significant,” remarks Clement Zanoli from the University of Bordeaux, France, who was not involved in the study. “The femur’s exceptional preservation is rare in the Miocene hominin fossil record.”
During early epochs, Europe hosted various great apes, yet by 7.2 million years ago, most had become extinct. Today, all closest relatives to modern apes are located in Africa, as are the earliest human ancestors, or hominins.
The only ape confirmed from Azmaka is Grecopithecus freybegii, known primarily from a damaged jawbone found in Greece, and some teeth from North Macedonia and Azmaka. Consequently, Böhme’s team posits that the femur likely belongs to Grecopithecus.
“This is the most reasonable assumption at this time,” states Zanoli, but he stresses that more fossil evidence is necessary for stronger validation.
“The relationships among these fossils remain unclear,” explains Kelsey Pugh from OCAD University, Toronto, Canada.
Femoral bones of Grecopithecus (left), Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis, center), and a chimpanzee (right). Long femoral neck (shown in red) associated with upright walking.
Spasov et al. 2026
Böhme’s team meticulously measured the femur and conducted CT scans, uncovering attributes indicative of a bipedal organism. Notably, a short neck that laterally extends and forms a rounded ball fits into the pelvis, resembling structures found in bipedal hominids but absent in knuckle-walking species. Additionally, the outer bone layer’s thickness at the neck’s base supports vertical loads.
An additional ridge was identified, which would have allowed for the attachment of buttock muscles, playing a vital role in maintaining an upright posture, according to Boehme.
While other scientists find the findings intriguing, they remain unconvinced. “This femur displays several traits,” Zanoli points out. “Some suggest bipedalism, while others imply quadrupedal movement. Hence, determining the locomotion remains complex.”
The nuanced study of extinct great apes has revealed increasing challenges in accurately diagnosing bipedalism based solely on isolated fossil bones. Pugh notes, “Many features once thought exclusive to bipedal hominids have also been noted in quadrupedal apes. Thus, prioritization of diagnostic traits is crucial.”
Much attention has focused on Sahelanthropus tchadensis, known from a solitary location in Chad and considered the earliest hominid. This species lived 7 million years ago, slightly younger than the Azmaka specimen. The femur of Sahelanthropus has long fueled debate about bipedalism.
Boehme and her team are determined to establish that significant steps in early human evolution transpired in Europe. They’ve identified potential hominid features in Grecopithecus, despite past controversies linked to a damaged jawbone. Furthermore, they have also detailed another European ape, Danuvius guggenmosi, which existed approximately 11.6 million years ago.
These early human-like ancestors might have migrated to Africa, potentially driven by climate changes. Research indicates that this migration likely gave rise to all subsequent hominins, including modern humans.
Zanoli comments, “Numerous other animals migrated between Africa and Eurasia. If fauna can do it, why can’t hominins?”
Yet, Professor Pugh asserts that further discoveries are essential to substantiate bipedalism evidence in Grecopithecus, allowing detailed analysis of relationships among other apes and early humans. Without this, she emphasizes that it’s premature to construct comprehensive evolutionary narratives.
Discovery Tour: Archaeology, Human Origins, and Paleontology
New Scientist regularly reports on fascinating archaeological sites worldwide that reshape our understanding of species and civilization’s early days. Why not explore them too?
The human brain plays a crucial role in interpreting our surroundings, primarily through our five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. However, these senses often provide incomplete information. For instance, many objects we perceive are only partially visible. Our brains utilize prior knowledge and expectations to bridge these gaps in perception, a process known as sensory reasoning.
We engage in sensory reasoning so frequently that it often goes unnoticed. Consider a coffee table: without sensory reasoning, recognizing it when you place your drink down would be challenging. Despite its commonplace nature, the mechanisms behind sensory reasoning remain unclear. Recently, a team from the University of California, Berkeley, embarked on a quest to uncover the brain processes that underpin sensory reasoning in mice.
Earlier studies have shown that mice, much like humans, experience phenomena such as the Kanizsa illusion. This optical illusion highlights sensory reasoning, displaying a white triangle that appears to be present, even though only three incomplete circles and angles are visible. Researchers have identified similar responses to such illusions in mice. The Berkeley team aimed to further this research by observing mouse brains to draw parallels with human sensory reasoning.
“Kanizsa Triangle” by Fibonacci is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Most observers perceive a white triangle in the center rather than three incomplete circles.
To investigate sensory reasoning, researchers utilized two primary methods to monitor brain activity in mice. First, a device called Neuropixel was surgically implanted into the heads of 14 mice, facilitating the observation of numerous neurons simultaneously. The second method involved two-photon imaging, utilizing a specialized microscope to examine individual neuronal activity in four other mice.
These techniques offer complementary advantages and limitations. While Neuropixels provide a comprehensive overview of brain activity, two-photon imaging focuses on single neurons or small groups. The research team conducted experiments on two distinct groups of mice: one utilizing Neuropixels and the other employing two-photon imaging.
To decode sensory reasoning mechanisms, the researchers pinpointed neurons in mice that responded to the perceived white triangle in the Kanizsa illusion. They monitored brain activity while presenting two types of visuals: illusions and real shapes. They discovered that area V1, located at the back of the brain, exhibited similar activity patterns in response to both the illusion and actual shapes.
The study identified two distinct neuron types in area V1 contributing to sensory reasoning. The first type, known as optical illusion shape encoders, only activated upon viewing illusions—essentially shapes that don’t exist. The second neuron type, called segment responders, displayed consistent activity regardless of illusions, responding to specific shapes within the images.
Employing machine learning algorithms, the research team compared both neuron types. They found that optical illusion shape encoders, believed to facilitate the perception of illusions, have stronger connections to regions responsible for higher-level visual processing beyond V1. This insight implies that similar neurons may assist the brain in leveraging expectations to compensate for missing information, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
The researchers postulated that partial visual inputs could activate the optical illusion shape encoder, which, in turn, stimulates other neurons in V1, creating the sensation that an illusory shape genuinely exists. To validate this, they used a laser to stimulate the optical illusion shape encoders in resting mice, prompting activation across V1 and inducing the experience of viewing a tangible shape.
Their findings revealed that three interconnected circuits facilitate the experience of sensory reasoning in mice. Initially, segment responders detect shapes and alert higher processing regions of the brain regarding missing information. These advanced regions subsequently activate the optical illusion shape encoder, which completes the pattern and triggers the overall V1 activation, giving the impression of observing a real shape.
Although the study concentrated on illusions, the researchers posited that their discoveries are relevant to sensory reasoning more broadly. As our scientific grasp of brain functions like sensory reasoning evolves, future research may extend these findings to encompass additional cognitive processes, such as memory and language.
As a former pediatrician in Karachi, Pakistan, I cared for countless premature infants born due to pre-eclampsia. These tiny lives often rested in the palm of my hand, struggling for breath. Unfortunately, not all of them survived.
The complexities of pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia remain poorly understood. We lack clarity on the root causes and preventive measures for premature births, contributing to the global maternal and infant mortality crisis. Every day, over 700 women and 6,500 newborns lose their lives due to pregnancy or childbirth complications. The highest rates are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, exacerbated by weak healthcare systems, inequitable access to care, extreme poverty, and inadequate infrastructure.
Astonishing knowledge gaps exist across women’s health issues, including menopause. The norm of women suffering for a decade seems acceptable, yet is scarcely recognized as a significant issue. This oversight stems not from scientific challenges but from a pervasive apathy. Women’s experiences have been largely overlooked, impacting what is researched and what remains unaddressed.
Currently, less than 1 percent of healthcare research focuses on women’s health outcomes outside of cancer. This underinvestment and the lack of female participation in clinical trials leave fundamental questions in women’s health unanswered. For instance, while we know the symptoms of heart disease—the leading cause of death for women globally—differ by individual, the reasons remain a mystery. Moreover, the pathways for drugs into the brain are known, yet how they affect the female reproductive system is largely unexplored, unlike the extensive knowledge we possess about men’s health, such as the effects of Viagra.
A Ray of Hope
Progress is being made, and I’ve observed a shift towards serious discussions on investing in women’s health at global health and medical innovation conferences. Decision-makers and investors are beginning to acknowledge the severity of the issue and the potential benefits of addressing it following decades of neglect.
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When a problem is treated as unnoticeable rather than unacceptable, finding a solution is never a priority. “
Recognizing the challenges is only the first step; we must actively allocate resources and focus on the multifaceted issues surrounding women’s health.
I am particularly excited about the transformative potential of innovative research and tools. For example, the vaginal microbiome—a balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria—has only recently gained attention. Understanding its role in pregnancy outcomes, like preterm birth, and women’s vulnerability to infections like HIV is crucial.
My team at the Gates Foundation is funding research to uncover how the vaginal microbiome affects pregnancy outcomes and women’s susceptibility to STIs. Although we’re in early stages, promising innovations are emerging that could benefit millions of women.
For instance, interventions promoting healthy bacteria dominance in the vagina might help prevent STIs. Conditions like bacterial vaginosis, while mild, can lead to severe pregnancy complications, including premature birth and an increased risk of postnatal issues such as chronic pain and infertility.
Last year, the Gates Foundation committed to $2.5 billion for women’s health innovation. However, this amount is insufficient. We need to bolster collaboration with public and private sector entities globally. The UK has a unique opportunity to build on its health innovation reputation, enhancing lives both domestically and internationally while advancing its vital economic sectors.
Investing in women’s health equates to investing in their lives and well-being. A healthy woman fosters creativity, is more engaged with her family, and is an active participant in her community. This is a fundamental truth. On this International Women’s Day, let’s turn this truth into action by urging leaders to prioritize and resource women’s health initiatives now.
Anita Zaidi is Chair of Gender Equality at the Gates Foundation
Reconstruction by artist Sonselasuchus cedrus in its environment, 215 million years ago
Credit: Gabriel Ugueto
Ancient crocodilian relatives navigated their early years on all fours before transitioning to a bipedal stance as they matured.
This evolutionary adaptation involved differing growth rates in their arm and leg bones. “The forelimb length starts at about 75% of the hindlimb length and ends up being about 50%,” explains Elliot Armor Smith from the University of Washington in Seattle.
This discovery contributes to a growing body of evidence indicating that crocodile-like ancestors from the early dinosaur era showcased remarkable diversity, with some developing body shapes and lifestyles akin to modern ostriches.
Christian Sidor, Armor Smith’s collaborator, excavated the Cay Quarry, located in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. This site comprises mudstone and sandstone laid down by ancient rivers during the Triassic period, around 215 million years ago.
Through their excavation, Armor-Smith and Sidor unearthed over 3,000 bones from early crocodilian relatives known as Shubosauridae. “It’s a jumble of individual limb bones that aren’t necessarily related,” notes Armor-Smith.
They successfully identified a new species within the Shubosaur family, naming it Sonselasuchus cedrus. Over 950 bones belong to this species, which diverges significantly from modern crocodiles, resembling more of a flightless bird or theropod dinosaur with short arms and a toothless beak instead of a jagged mouth full of teeth.
Other Shubosaurs share similar body features. “Shubosaurids are unique creatures that existed in the late Triassic period,” asserts Michelle Stocker from Virginia Tech. “They bear a striking resemblance to dinosaurs.” Most closely, they resemble ornithomimids, ostrich-like dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous period, occurring more than 100 million years after the Shubosaurids.
Sonselasuchus cedrus marks the beginning of a four-legged life. Fossils from young individuals exhibit similar sizes in forelimbs and hindlimbs, while older specimens showed larger hind limbs capable of supporting greater weight. “The robust femur indicates strength,” Armor-Smith remarks, “though even the largest humerus is relatively delicate.”
This is unusual, yet not entirely surprising. A 2019 study uncovered evidence of two dinosaur species transitioning from quadrupedal to bipedal locomotion as they matured. One was a sauropod, an ancestor of colossal sauropods like Brachiosaurus, while the other was a distantly related early ceratopsian akin to Triceratops.
Both juvenile and adult S. cedrus likely lived somewhat distinct lives, even adopting different diets, according to Stocker.
Common narratives of the dinosaur age often imply that dinosaurs, especially avians, evolved in remarkable ways, while crocodiles have largely remained unchanged. This perception misrepresents the extensive diversity of pseudosuchians, the lineage that includes crocodiles. Stocker clarifies, “They engaged in numerous unique and radical adaptations first, paving the way for dinosaurs.”
Dinosaur Hunting in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert
Embark on an exciting expedition to uncover dinosaur remains in the Gobi Desert, one of the world’s premier hotspots for paleontological discoveries.
How can you navigate the complex process of ending a relationship that’s no longer fulfilling? Do you resort to the clichéd phrase, “It’s not you, it’s me,” to sidestep hurt feelings? Or is it better to embrace honesty?
These are challenging decisions that have sparked debate for decades. With the rise of technology, many are turning to AI for guidance on significant life choices, including matters of the heart.
Interestingly, ChatGPT will soon be restricted from advising users to break up with their partners, but it will still facilitate discussions about relationship challenges.
When considering a breakup, it often feels sudden for the person who is left. However, for those initiating the split, it can be a long, drawn-out experience of growing discontent. Research indicates that relationship satisfaction typically declines sharply between 7 to 28 months before a breakup—a phenomenon known as “terminal decline.”
Misunderstandings in Breakups
Breaking up can be particularly challenging if your partner feels dependent on you. One study found that individuals often hesitate to end relationships if they perceive their partner as dependent, leading to a reluctance to cause emotional pain.
A recent study identified common strategies people employ when ending relationships. The most prevalent approach aims to soften the blow by explaining the breakup and accepting some responsibility for the dissolution.
Science suggests that honesty and respect are essential components of a breakup – Photo Credit: Getty Images
The second most common strategy is to take a break, giving each person the opportunity to reflect on their feelings.
Researchers discovered that the least favorable option is ghosting, or what the study calls conflict avoidance. This method, which involves vanishing without explanation, is linked to a decline in both the physiological and psychological well-being of the person who is ghosted according to research findings.
If you’ve gathered the courage to initiate a breakup, how should you approach that tough conversation?
The Right Strategy for Both Parties
While some breakup tactics may seem obvious, they are crucial to consider if you aspire to be kind and respectful.
Firstly, honesty is vital. The classic phrase, “It’s not you, it’s me,” is not an honest way to explain a breakup and should be avoided.
Additionally, consider meeting in person. Text messages or social media farewells are generally not appropriate.
Be empathetic and think about your timing. Breaking up right before a significant job interview or during a health crisis is not considerate. Remember to consider how your ex-partner will cope after the split.
Finally, recognize that once the relationship ends, your partner is under no obligation to respond to your inquiries or maintain contact with you.
In conclusion, it’s often best to approach a breakup in a clear, respectful, and empathetic manner. A decisive, considerate break may be more beneficial than dragging out an emotional ordeal for both involved.
This article addresses the question posed by Hayden Clark from Newport: “What is the best way to end a relationship?”
To submit your questions, please email questions@sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (remember to include your name and location).
For more incredible science insights, check out our Ultimate Fun Facts page.
Abby Wines, the acting deputy superintendent of Death Valley National Park, noted that the park typically receives only about 2 inches of rainfall annually.
“From November to early January, we recorded around 2.5 inches of rain, surpassing the annual average in just two and a half months,” she stated.
Wines explained that while some wildflowers usually bloom each spring, superblooms (though not an official botanical term) arise only after particularly wet fall and winter seasons.
Even the most common wildflowers, typically found in low-lying areas throughout the park, require the right type of rain, Blacker emphasized.
“We need days of light drizzle and mist, along with soaking rains, but not heavy monsoon rains that wash out highways and damage roads,” he said. “Additionally, mild spring temperatures are crucial, as wind and heat pose significant threats to blooming flowers.”
One type of desert wildflower, known as an “ephemeral,” has a unique survival strategy. Unlike cacti, which retain water to thrive in hot, arid conditions, these flowers lie dormant as seeds in the soil for extended periods.
“You can think of it as a strategy for drought avoidance,” explained Eric Rakestraw, curator of botany at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. “In their seed form, they remain inactive, just resting in the soil.”
Given favorable conditions, the seeds will germinate, bloom, and once pollinated, revert back into seeds, continuing the cycle.
“If we don’t experience good rain next year or in subsequent years, these species have adapted to simply wait it out,” Rakestraw noted.
For those anticipating a superbloom this year, time is running out.
Wildflowers at lower elevations are projected to bloom until mid-to-late March, according to Wines. In higher altitude regions, blooming is expected from April to June. However, these timelines are heavily influenced by weather conditions, she added.
Long-term drought has significantly contributed to the Great Salt Lake’s decline, but approximately 75% of the issue stems from human activities. According to research published in 2022, excessive water consumption by humans has taken a toll over the decades.
In 2022, state officials took decisive action to address the crisis. Lawmakers allocated $40 million to establish a water trust aimed at enhancing both water quality and quantity. Additionally, alterations to Utah’s water law now designate it as a “beneficial use” for farmers to redirect their allotted water into lakes, incentivizing donations and water transfers. Previously, any unused water rights could be lost.
National authorities also initiated modifications along the causeway dividing the lake’s northern and southern sections, enabling control over water and salt flow. Fortunately, this winter brought about double the normal snowfall in the mountains, which played a key role in the lake’s recovery.
Kevin Perry, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah specializing in the Great Salt Lake and its toxic dust, noted that these combined factors significantly lowered the lake’s salinity, effectively “saving it.”
According to Perry, “That huge snowpack buried and diluted all the salt in the southern part of the lake.”
The ecosystem is showing signs of recovery; “The seeds are back,” Perry remarked.
Baxter added, “This year’s flies were just tough.”
These changes were enough to temporarily avert a crisis, at least for now.
Joel Ferry, director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, expressed relief, stating, “We dodged an environmental nuclear bomb. We put away the red button.”
However, water levels have yet to return to a healthy state, and the potential impact of this year’s excessive snowfall continues to pose challenges.
It’s astonishing that we have more detailed maps of the moon than of our deep ocean floor. The moon’s surface is easier to observe, as it lacks the vast deep ocean that obscures our view of Earth’s underwater terrain.
With a telescope on a clear night, anyone can glimpse the moon’s features, especially on the side visible from Earth. Interestingly, the moon is roughly one-tenth the size of the deep ocean floor, which encompasses two-thirds of our planet’s surface.
The deep ocean covers an extensive area of over 335 million square kilometers (approximately 129.3 million square miles). Its inaccessibility, combined with the vastness of the ocean, explains why, despite our advanced technology, only a fraction has been explored.
Recently, a dedicated team of scientists compiled a comprehensive dataset containing data from around 44,000 dives into the deep ocean. These dives were conducted using submarines, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater robots.
These deep-diving vehicles have collectively documented less than 0.001% of the deep-sea floor, comparable to the area of Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state. If we applied similar statistics to terrestrial exploration, our entire understanding of ecosystems would come from an area only as large as the London metropolitan region.
Moreover, the minuscule part of the ocean floor studied is a highly biased sample. In fact, 65% of deep-sea exploration dives happened within 200 nautical miles of the United States, Japan, or New Zealand. Nearly all deep-seafloor observations (around 97%) were conducted by these three countries, in addition to France and Germany.
ROVs map the landscape from above, revealing the terrain and its inhabitants – Photo credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration
Additionally, explorers have mainly concentrated on a narrow spectrum of deep-sea features, dedicating significant research to rugged marine landscapes such as deep canyons and cliffs while neglecting regions like the expansive abyssal plains.
The Global Dive Dataset also highlights a critical limitation: dive depth. While the number of dives has increased over the decades, the depths have generally become shallower. In the 1960s, over half of dives surpassed 2 km (about 1.2 miles) deep, but by the 2010s, only a quarter of dives reached that depth.
This is concerning because approximately 75% of the ocean lies between 2 km and 6 km (1.2 miles and 3.7 miles) beneath sea level, indicating that significant portions of the ocean floor remain uncharted.
Clearly, contemporary deep-sea explorations overlook vast areas, leaving much of the ocean unexplored and unknown. Various initiatives are underway to enhance access to deep-sea tools and dive into less-known locations to discover what lies beneath the global deep ocean.
This article responds to Charlotte Preston of Southampton, who asked: “How much of the ocean floor have we actually explored?”
For more fascinating science insights, check out our Ultimate Fun Facts page.
Visualize this mantis shrimp donned in a spacesuit with a fascination for weaponry.
Shutterstock/Sammy Kasem
Explore the thrilling fourth installment of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s celebrated Children of Time series, Children of Conflict. I will ensure minimal spoilers while discussing all four novels.
Although the theme of “uplifted” species isn’t entirely novel, Tchaikovsky’s unique perspective sets it apart. Fans will remember that the first book in the series, Children of Time, centers around an Ark arriving at a terraformed planet.
In theory, this new world should welcome colonization—but ominously, something seems to have gone terribly wrong. Have other species been elevated to threaten humanity? Spoiler alert: this includes spiders!
The second book, Children of Ruin, shifts focus to another planet, leaving fans curious, particularly with the mention of “octopus.”
Tchaikovsky’s extensive bibliography showcases brilliance, but this series stands out as his masterpiece. These novels are must-reads for anyone passionate about science fiction and its exploration of both our past and future.
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Science fiction regarding “uplifted” species may not be a new concept, but Tchaikovsky’s approach is refreshingly innovative. “
While many renowned science fiction authors delve into intricate physics, Tchaikovsky explores deep biological concepts. His portrayal of an octopus-led society is both enjoyable and insightful.
Although I found the third book, Children of Memory, took a different trajectory that felt less impactful than its predecessors, the arrival of Children of Conflict marks a triumphant return to form. You can grasp the plot of the fourth novel without having read the third, but missing the first two might leave you puzzled.
Children of Conflict is cleverly structured across three distinct timelines, each featuring unique characters, enhancing the narrative depth.
This time, the narrative revels around our remarkable mantis shrimp. Picture an exalted mantis shrimp in a spacesuit, towering like a human and wielding formidable, futuristic weaponry. Excitingly, this volume revisits some familiar species from earlier books, ensuring delightful moments for dedicated fans.
An outstanding aspect of Children of Conflict is its vividly depicted planet. This world appears to be a terraformed paradise akin to Earth—beautiful at first glance, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden.
Yet, this planet harbors unforeseen challenges. Tchaikovsky masterfully creates an atmosphere that feels both enchanting and unnerving.
The character development is exceptional; both human and non-human figures come across as complex and believable. As always, the biological concepts are astonishingly well conceived, and the plot progresses in a thrilling, logical way.
Notably, the climax of this book, “Planetside,” may stretch a bit long but revolves around a profound choice. Overall, this book promises an extraordinary experience.
This trilogy, set within Brin’s fascinating Uplift Universe, features uplifted dolphins, chimpanzees, and grand cosmic narratives. The three interconnected books—Brightness Reef, Infinity’s Shore, and Heaven’s Reach—tell a continuous, engaging story.
Emily H. Wilson is the acclaimed author of the Sumerian series (featuring Inanna, Gilgamesh, and Ninshbar, published by Titan) and is currently writing her debut science fiction novel. Emily is a former editor at New Scientist and can be followed on Instagram @emilyhwilson1.
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When AlphaGo showcased its capabilities, the world took notice. Lee Sedol, the top Go player globally, was visibly unsettled by the rise of artificial intelligence. The audience in downtown Seoul, South Korea, was captivated, realizing that this AI was groundbreaking.
Not only did AlphaGo defeat Lee, but it did so with a level of skill that resembled human intuition. “AlphaGo actually has intuition,” stated Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, right after AlphaGo secured a 3-0 victory. “It creates beautiful movements, even more so than many humans expect,” New Scientist.
The match concluded with AlphaGo triumphing 4-1, leaving Mr. Lee in disbelief.
Ten years have elapsed since this pivotal event marked a turning point for AI. As we now celebrate advancements in large-scale language models like ChatGPT, it’s remarkable to reflect on how AlphaGo was a precursor to today’s AI. What remains of AlphaGo’s legacy, and is the technology fulfilling its promise?
“While large language models differ fundamentally from AlphaGo, there are crucial technological connections that have persistently evolved,” notes Chris Madison, a professor at the University of Toronto and a member of the original AlphaGo development team.
The core technology driving AlphaGo is neural networks, mathematical structures inspired by the brain, coded for machine learning. Historically, programming machines to play games required humans to dictate rules. Neural networks allow machines to learn independently.
However, mastering Go with neural networks presented a significant challenge. The ancient game allows for 10171 possible positions on a 19 x 19 board, dwarfing even the estimated 1080 atoms in the observable universe.
This breakthrough emerged when Madison and his team aimed to emulate human intuition by training a neural network to predict optimal moves based on millions of historical game moves. Humans develop intuition without such extensive data, providing AI a competitive edge.
Furthermore, AlphaGo wasn’t limited to human gameplay; it could play millions of self-matches to refine its capabilities. “Through countless matches, we can uncover new strategies that surpass human performance,” explained Pushmeet Kohli, a leader at Google DeepMind.
The final version of AlphaGo that triumphed over Lee was more intricate than Madison’s original model, but the conclusion was clear: neural networks excel at pattern recognition and can possess an intuition that surpasses human understanding, according to Norm Brown from OpenAI.
The Next Iterations of AI
What followed after AlphaGo? Google DeepMind and AI researchers began applying the foundational lessons from AlphaGo to real-world problems, including mathematics and biology. A prominent example is AlphaFold, which can predict protein structures in three-dimensional space from their chemical makeup, earning its creators a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Recently, another neural network AI, AlphaProof, astonished mathematicians with its stellar performance in the International Mathematics Olympiad, a high-level competition for students. “Superhuman intelligence is not just confined to games; it extends into crucial scientific endeavors,” Kohli emphasized.
The methodologies behind AlphaGo and large-scale language models like ChatGPT share similarities. The first phase, known as pre-training, feeds vast amounts of data into the neural network—either complete Go matches or the entirety of Internet content for language models. The second phase, post-training, refines the network using reinforcement learning, helping AI understand and achieve success.
For AlphaGo, this entailed self-playing millions of games to discover optimal strategies. AlphaFold relied on understanding correctly folded proteins. ChatGPT utilizes a process called reinforcement learning from human feedback to inform the model on preferable answers, guiding it through specific tasks like mathematics or coding.
However, this process isn’t without challenges. Neural networks often function as black boxes; their internal mechanisms can be too complex to comprehend fully.
During AlphaGo’s remarkable 37 moves, spectators initially believed the AI had made an error, only to later see its brilliance unfold as a strategic move. Yet, engineers at Google DeepMind could not elucidate why AlphaGo made that choice, leaving room for doubt about its reasoning.
“These models produce answers, yet we cannot discern whether they are profound insights or mere hallucinations,” Kohli commented. “We are actively exploring methods to address such issues.”
A large part of AlphaGo’s success stemmed from the quality of data utilized and having clear success metrics. This reinforces that AI thrives in fields where both conditions are met. Madison asserts that domains like mathematics and programming lend themselves well to easily defined success criteria. “These similarities highlight essential factors that drive progress in AI development,” he concluded.
In March 2016, Google DeepMind’s revolutionary artificial intelligence, AlphaGo, captivated the global audience by defeating world champion Lee Sedol in a historic five-game match of Go, an ancient Chinese board game. This milestone was viewed by millions, marking a pivotal advancement in AI technology.
Chris Madison, now a distinguished professor at the University of Toronto, played a critical role in AlphaGo’s creation while he was a master’s student. His journey began with a call from Ilya Sutskever, who later co-founded OpenAI.
Alex Wilkins: What inspired the AlphaGo project?
Elijah: Chris Madison and Ilya presented compelling arguments on why Go was a suitable challenge for AI, stating, “Do you think a skilled player can analyze a Go board and determine the optimal move in half a second?” This notion suggested the possibility of training neural networks to develop effective strategies for selecting the best moves.
Half a second reflects the rapid processing time of the visual cortex—a crucial insight from our previous work with ImageNET, an influential AI image-recognition competition.
Embracing this challenge, I joined the Google Brain team as an intern in summer 2014.
How did AlphaGo evolve from its inception?
Upon joining, I collaborated with a dedicated team at DeepMind, including Aja Huang and David Silver, who were already focused on Go. My primary task was to build the neural network, which felt like a dream come true.
We experimented with various approaches; many initial methods failed, leading to frustration. Eventually, I resorted to a straightforward strategy—training the network on a vast dataset of expert Go games to predict the next best move. This approach proved successful, laying the foundation for our project.
By the end of summer, we conducted a test match where my network outperformed DeepMind’s Thore Graepel, a competent Go player. This success sparked greater interest and investment in the project, allowing us to expand our team significantly.
How daunting was the challenge of defeating Lee Sedol?
I vividly recall the pressure of summer 2014, with a photo of Lee Sedol visible nearby. While I lacked Go expertise, my confidence grew with each network iteration. However, Aja kept reminding me, “Chris, Lee Sedol is an extraordinary player.”
Why did you depart from the AlphaGo team before the match?
David Silver expressed a desire for me to remain and further elevate the project, but I chose to focus on completing my PhD instead. I continued to advise on the project intermittently and take pride in my contributions, even though it took significant collaboration to create the version that ultimately faced Lee Sedol.
What was the atmosphere like during AlphaGo’s victory in Seoul?
The experience in Seoul during the match was indescribable—intense, emotional, and nerve-wracking. It felt reminiscent of a high-stakes sports event, where the outcome was uncertain despite our statistical advantage. From my hotel window, I witnessed crowds transfixed on giant screens showing our game, underscoring the massive impact this event had on East Asia.
What significance does AlphaGo hold for AI?
Though large-scale language models (LLMs) differ greatly from AlphaGo, the underlying technical principles remain unchanged. Initially, neural networks are trained to predict subsequent moves; similarly, today’s LLMs utilize pre-training to forecast the next word using vast amounts of text data.
AlphaGo’s advancement came from integrating human input into the neural network and refining its strategies through reinforcement learning—all focused on the objective of winning games.
As with LLMs, post-preparation reinforcement learning is essential for aligning networks with our intended applications.
In many aspects, the foundational principles of AI development remain consistent.
What areas in AI do you see as flourishing?
Our progress hinges on the availability of comprehensive data for training and reinforcement signals. Without these critical components, no algorithm, no matter how expertly designed, can make meaningful advances.
Did you empathize with Lee Sedol?
Throughout the summer of 2014, Lee Sedol became an idol, making the stakes incredibly high during the match. The immense pressure he faced was palpable, and while watching him realize the gravity of the competition, my heart went out to him. After losing, he apologized, claiming, “This is my failure, not yours,” which was truly heartbreaking.
In Go, players typically review matches to reflect on their performance. Lee Sedol couldn’t do that with AlphaGo and instead sought a friend for analysis, yet it lacked the same reflective quality. Despite the narrative often framing the match as human vs. machine, it was important to recognize the collaboration behind creating AlphaGo, showcasing the dedication of everyone involved in developing this groundbreaking technology.
As AI takes on more human-like tasks, is there still a role for humans?
The game of Go, which we find beautiful, can still teach us more through AI’s insights. The ultimate goal of Go may be to win, but it is also about enjoyment. Thus, the advent of AI doesn’t diminish board games; industries like chess continue to thrive with human appreciation.
There is a concerning issue with the “Higgs field”, the pivotal energy field responsible for giving particles mass. Recent studies indicate it may be dangerously close to becoming inherently unstable. In the absence of particles, the Higgs field exhibits a non-zero background “vacuum energy.”
However, scientists suggest that this could merely represent a “trough” of energy, rather than the absolute minimum energy of the Higgs field.
An analogy for this scenario is a ball rolling down a hill, getting stuck in a crater. The ball remains stable in the crater, yet it hasn’t reached the lowest energy point possible.
Physicists describe this condition as a “metastable” state, with the resulting background energy referred to as a “false vacuum.” Current measurements indicate we exist in a universe characterized by this false vacuum.
But what if the Higgs field unexpectedly transitioned to a lower energy state? Such an event, termed a “vacuum collapse,” could spell disaster for our universe. The constants of nature would alter, resulting in a completely different realm of physics, chemistry, and biology.
This event could annihilate and recreate the universe in a massive release of energy, the nature of the new universe remains unknown.
The Higgs field is an invisible energy field that permeates the entire universe – Photo courtesy of Getty
How probable is this scenario? For a vacuum collapse to happen, a significant concentration of energy in a minuscule volume is required. Yet calculations reveal no known process can achieve this.
Nonetheless, the Higgs field adheres to the principles of quantum physics. There exists a phenomenon called “tunneling” that permits the Higgs field to spontaneously shift to another energy state, akin to our ball piercing the ground and escaping the crater.
Fortunately, calculations indicate this occurrence is exceedingly rare, estimated at about once in 10100 years (1 followed by 100 zeros). However, just because an event is unlikely doesn’t mean it is impossible.
In fact, vacuum collapse might have already commenced somewhere in the universe, racing through space at the speed of light. This catastrophic event would obliterate everything in its path, with no warning before it arrives. But there’s no need to panic.
This article addresses a question posed by Kirill Jerdev via email: “Is it possible for the universe to explode?”
Paleontologists have discovered a new giant species of Mosasaurus, named Pluridence Imeraki, derived from Late Cretaceous phosphate deposits in Morocco. This slender-jawed mosasaur may have reached over 9 m (29.5 ft) in length, making it a significant addition to the mosasaur family.
Pluridence Imeraki holotype, enlarged view of the tooth. Scale bar – 10 cm. Image credit: Nicholas R. Longrich & Nour-Eddine Jalil, doi: 10.3390/d18030159.
Pluridence Imeraki existed in the ocean during the late Maastrichtian period of the Cretaceous, roughly 66 to 67 million years ago.
This species is classified under the Halisauridae subfamily, which typically includes smaller mosasaurs. Early members ranged from approximately 4 to 5 m (13 to 16.4 ft) long, such as Halisaurus, which could grow up to about 7.5 m (24.6 ft) in closely related species like Pluridence Serpentis.
At over 9 meters long, Pluridence Imeraki rivals the largest predatory mosasaurs from the region.
Dr. Nicholas Longrich from the University of Bath and Dr. Nour Eddin Jalil from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris remarked, “The Late Cretaceous saw a significant expansion of mosasaurs, a specialized group of large marine predators that dominated the oceans during the final 25 million years of this period in Marrakech.”
“Morocco’s late Maastrichtian Phosphate Formation is home to the most diverse mosasaur assemblage known, featuring what could be the richest marine reptilian fauna globally.”
“In recent years, numerous new mosasaur species have been identified, with over 16 species reported so far.”
“The four primary subfamilies of mosasauridae represented in these phosphates include mosasauridae, plioplatecarpini, tylosauridae, and halisauridae, along with basal mosasauridae like Pachybalanus.”
“While mosasaurids account for most of the species diversity, halisaurids thrived in phosphate-rich areas and were prevalent across Africa during the Cretaceous.”
Relative sizes of Pluridence Imeraki, Pluridence Serpentis, and Halisaurus aramburgi, all extracted from Morocco’s latest Maastrichtian phosphates. Scale bar – 1 m. Image credit: Nicholas R. Longrich & Nour-Eddine Jalil, doi: 10.3390/d18030159.
A 1.25 m (4.1 ft) long skull, along with the lower jaw of Pluridence Imeraki, was unearthed from the phosphate layer of Couche III in Sidi Chennan, Kouribga department, Morocco.
The phosphate layer represents a marine upwelling zone, deposited in a shallow marine embayment along the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean from late Maastrichtian to early Eocene times,” noted the paleontologist.
“These formations are part of vast phosphate accumulations that arose along the Tethyan Mountains and the eastern Atlantic margin during the Late Cretaceous and early Paleogene.”
Compared to related species, Pluridence Imeraki likely exhibited a distinct feeding strategy.
Variations in jaw structure, tooth shape, and eye size suggest that this species occupied unique ecological niches in the marine ecosystem at the Cretaceous’s end.
“We discovered that halisaurids were not only more diverse than previously imagined, but also exhibited greater variation in tooth morphology, jaw shape, and body size,” the researchers concluded.
“Instead of merely competing with mosasaurines, halisaurinae experienced a minor adaptive radiation during the Late Cretaceous and served as significant components of low-latitude ecosystems.”
The discovery of Pluridence Imeraki was detailed in a research paper published in this week’s edition of Diversity.
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Nicholas R. Longrich and Nour Eddin Jalil. 2026. A giant halisaurine from the late Maastrichtian of Morocco. Diversity 18(3):159; doi: 10.3390/d18030159
The ongoing northward shift of the Gulf Stream indicates a concerning trend: the weakening of the ocean current system crucial for keeping Europe warm. Recent models suggest that unexpected changes in the Gulf Stream may signal an imminent catastrophic collapse of this vital current.
The Atlantic Meridional Circulation (AMOC) is a flow of warm, salty surface water originating in the tropics, moving towards northwest Europe, where it cools, sinks, and returns south along the ocean floor. Specifically, the Gulf Stream is the component that travels from the Gulf of Mexico up the East Coast of the United States, redirecting eastward into the Atlantic Ocean.
As the Greenland ice sheet continues to melt, it releases fresh water into the North Atlantic. This dilution is expected to hinder AMOC’s strength, as the less salty water affects the sinking and southern flow of this essential current. While some studies indicate this phenomenon is already in effect, clear evidence remains elusive.
Recent research led by René van Westen and Henk Dykstra, both affiliated with Utrecht University in the Netherlands, reveals that the weakening of AMOC is altering the Gulf Stream’s path, causing it to shift further north along the U.S. coastline before veering back into the Atlantic Ocean.
The findings demonstrate that the Gulf Stream has already shifted approximately 50 kilometers north over the past 30 years, as indicated by satellite data.
“This shift is measurable,” Van Westen stated. “As a result, it is very likely indicative of AMOC’s weakening.”
Historical reconstructions that estimate the AMOC discharge based on ocean temperatures indicate a 15 percent reduction since 1950. However, monitoring of actual ocean flows began only in 2004, insufficient to determine if the observed changes are natural variations or accelerating trends.
“We’re exploring alternative methods, such as analyzing the Gulf Stream’s pathway,” Van Westen remarked.
The study employs a model with 10-kilometer resolution, rather than the standard 100-kilometer resolution, facilitating the examination of the bulge responsible for the significant volume of water transported by the Gulf Stream.
The trajectory of this bulge varies as one of AMOC’s tributaries, the Deep Western Boundary Current, transports cold saline water southward along the ocean floor. Typically, this current flows below the Gulf Stream, exerting a pull that moves the Gulf Stream southward. However, as AMOC weakens, the Deep Western Boundary Current diminishes as well, leading to a gradual northward shift of the Gulf Stream.
In simulation scenarios extending 392 years into the future, the Gulf Stream is projected to leap more than 200 kilometers northward in a mere two years, followed by the collapse of AMOC two and a half decades later. Previous studies indicate that such a collapse could lead to severe climate consequences, such as a -20°C (-4°F) cold wave in London and an extreme -48°C (-54°F) temperature in Oslo, Norway.
This modeling represents an idealized scenario and does not predict that AMOC will collapse in 400 years. Nevertheless, it does highlight that a rapid shift in the Gulf Stream could serve as an early warning for an impending AMOC closure—a unique early indicator available to us. By that point, it may be too late to averting AMOC collapse, but proactive measures, such as enhancing home insulation and exploring agricultural areas further south, could be taken by Europe.
“We now possess effective early warning indicators that can be quantified,” Van Westen asserts. “This is straightforward to measure.”
Nonetheless, the timeline for AMOC’s potential collapse following Gulf Stream changes remains uncertain. Predictions for AMOC closure vary significantly, ranging from decades to centuries.
Dan Seidoff, a retired oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cautioned that fresh water from Greenland could impact AMOC at a rate and location different from model predictions.
“Critical questions remain about when, how, and why AMOC changes might occur,” he explained. “If changes follow the model’s predictions, it could serve as a precursor indicating Gulf Stream shifts and issue warning signals.”
While the correlation between abrupt changes and AMOC collapse must be validated by additional models, this study strengthens the case that AMOC is indeed experiencing a slowdown, according to Stefan Rahmstorf of the University of Potsdam, Germany.
“The slowdown seems to be happening at a pace faster than predicted in global warming scenarios,” he noted. “Current climate models may not adequately capture the urgency of this issue, potentially altering estimations regarding when the AMOC tipping point will occur.”
March in the Northern Hemisphere signals a perfect opportunity to soak in some vitamin D while dodging those pesky rain showers. Why not unwind at a cozy café with an array of captivating science books waiting for you? This month, dive deep into topics such as how animals have shaped our planet, detecting deception through language, lessons from forest trees, and the revolutionary power of flowers. For those feeling adventurous, consider exploring military AI or engaging in a profound cultural examination of our rapidly changing world. No matter your choice, these reads promise to enrich your intellectual journey.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if women held the reins? Author Megha Mohan draws inspiration from her great-grandmother’s matriarchal society in southern India and uncovers “lessons from environments where women lead.” Explorations of feminism span cultures, from feminist movements in South Korea to revolutionary co-housing projects in Paris and North London. Mohan, a pioneer in global gender reporting, invites readers to visualize collaborative, nurturing societies and challenges traditional structures of power and identity.
Are you maximizing the power of AI? If you’re feeling limited in this technological landscape, picking up Jamie Bartlett’s How to Talk to AI could offer some valuable insights. Drawing from his previous works, Bartlett promises to unpack the cognitive processes behind AI, revealing the best practices to leverage its capabilities. We explore how some individuals effectively integrate AI into their daily tasks while others may struggle with misinformation and mental health challenges.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Find the Mother Tree author, Suzanne Simard, has revolutionized our understanding of tree intelligence and connectivity. A revered forest ecology professor at the University of British Columbia, Simard’s new book, When the Forest Breathes, explores the renewal cycles vital for sustaining forests and safeguarding our planet’s ecosystems. With a background steeped in forestry, her insightful narrative is a testament to sustainable management through personal experience.
Michael Bond, a former New Scientist staff member, extends his narrative journey, examining how animals have influenced human thought and culture. From our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors to Enlightenment thinkers, Bond’s analysis raises profound questions about our identity and role on this planet. What does it mean to be human in a world intertwined with other species?
Can you detect deception or distinguish fact from fiction? Who can you trust in today’s age of misleading deepfakes? Forensic psychologist Kirsty King presents innovative methods for uncovering lies through linguistic analysis. With a keen focus on storytelling and real-life case studies, King offers insights based on forensic linguistics and psychology that promise to intrigue readers.
Tea Tree Featured in David George Haskell’s New Book
Credit: Blickwinkel / Alamy
David George Haskell makes a bold claim: without flowers, humans may not exist. In his book, How Flowers Made Our World, he explores the influential role of flora in crafting ecosystems—from sustaining rainforests to maintaining coastlines. Looking ahead, Haskell emphasizes that flowers can teach resilience and creativity amidst rapid environmental changes.
While the utopian visions of Star Trek may seem far-fetched, Rebecca Solnit offers thought-provoking insights into our current political climate in her latest book, The Beginning Comes After the End. As a long-time political thinker, Solnit seeks to inspire hope for change and reminds us of our collective power in altering our future.
What’s not to love about a book dedicated to the wonders of animal reproduction? This upcoming publication promises to explore the quirky science behind how life populates our planet. Written by biology professor Lixing Sun, it offers a captivating glimpse into the bizarre reproductive strategies of species, including female moles and California condors.
Now is a crucial time to delve into Project Maven, by Katrina Manson, which chronicles the U.S. Department of Defense’s initiative to harness AI for military applications. With her background in national security reporting, Manson’s gripping narrative sheds light on a controversial subject, ensuring readers engage with pressing ethical questions.
The widespread presence of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” highlights a pressing environmental crisis. Journalist Marina Schaffler examines this issue through the lens of Maine, showcasing the struggles of various community members confronting PFAS contamination. Her poignant tales resonate beyond the state’s borders, reminding us that these environmental challenges could be occurring near you.
Credit: Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins University APL/NASA
For the first time in history, humanity successfully altered the orbit of an asteroid around the sun. This groundbreaking achievement was made possible by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission conducted in 2022, with its effectiveness now being assessed.
DART targeted a small asteroid named Dimorphos, which orbits a larger asteroid called Didymos. The spacecraft was designed to collide with Dimorphos to test the kinetic impactor method, exploring whether this technique is a viable way to change an asteroid’s trajectory, particularly if one were to threaten Earth.
The mission proved to be a resounding success, reducing Dimorphos’ orbital period by 32 minutes. Astronomers have been monitoring the asteroid system closely since then, collecting approximately 6,000 observations. These efforts revealed a slowdown of about 11.7 micrometers per second in the overall orbit, equivalent to approximately 40 millimeters per hour. This change is projected to reduce the orbital radius by around 360 meters.
“While it may not sound significant, the concept of dynamic effects suggests that early impacts can lead to substantial changes over time,” says Rahil Makadia of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a member of the asteroid monitoring team. “Though this number seems small, its accumulation over decades can have a considerable impact.”
The observed slowdown resulted from two main factors: the initial impact of the spacecraft and a secondary thrust caused by debris ejected from Dimorphos’ surface. Makadia and his colleagues determined that these two effects were roughly equivalent, allowing for accurate calculations of the asteroid’s mass and density. Dimorphos is approximately half as dense as Didymos, supporting the hypothesis that it is a rubble pile formed from material ejected during Didymos’s rotation.
This groundbreaking data can be invaluable in future efforts to redirect potentially hazardous asteroids. “We now possess a solid foundation for predicting the outcomes of future dynamic collision missions,” states Makadia. Additionally, the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft, en route to Didymos and scheduled to arrive in November, is expected to provide even more precise measurements, enhancing our ability to safeguard Earth from incoming asteroid threats.
Unforeseen vaccine side effects: Staying sharp is a bonus!
Joseph Polc / Alamy
Recent studies indicate that chronic inflammation in various body areas could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. While it may take time to fully understand these connections, it’s evident that persistent inflammation has adverse effects and that reducing it can provide numerous health benefits.
Inflammation is the body’s response when immune activity exceeds normal levels, such as when a wound becomes infected. While short-term inflammation is beneficial, prolonged inflammation can lead to serious health issues, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
To combat long-term inflammation and enhance both physical and mental health, consider the following tips:
1. Get Vaccinated
Vaccines, including those for shingles, tuberculosis, and influenza, have demonstrated a reduced risk of dementia. For instance, individuals who received the Shingrix vaccine experienced a 17% lower chance of developing dementia compared to those who had the older Zostavax vaccine, which also lowers dementia risk. Though the exact mechanism remains unclear, vaccines likely reduce inflammation.
2. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Gum disease is another inflammatory condition linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Bleeding gums can allow harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which is why good dental hygiene is essential for preventing periodontal disease and maintaining overall health.
3. Embrace a Mediterranean Diet
A Mediterranean diet is rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, beans, nuts, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, while minimizing inflammatory foods like red and processed meats. This dietary approach not only helps in reducing inflammation but is also associated with longevity and overall wellness.
4. Exercise Regularly
Sedentary lifestyles contribute to increased inflammation. Numerous studies suggest that regular exercise diminishes inflammation. Whether it’s vigorous workouts or gentler activities like yoga, incorporating movement into your routine can provide significant health benefits.
5. Achieve a Healthy Weight
Although the connection is still being explored, obesity is often linked to ongoing inflammation. It raises an interesting question: Could medications like GLP-1, often used for weight loss, reduce Alzheimer’s risk? Current evidence shows that those using GLP-1 medications may experience lower dementia risk, but results for those without diabetes are still unclear.
6. Cultivate Happiness
While occasional stress is normal, chronic stress can lead to inflammation. Striving for happiness and emotional balance can help mitigate inflammation and improve overall mental well-being.
Saturn’s moon Enceladus: A Prime Candidate in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
A revolutionary method for detecting chemical properties of living organisms could unlock the secrets to identifying extraterrestrial life forms, even those with biochemical processes distinct from life on Earth.
In the quest for extraterrestrial life, scientists traditionally depend on biosignatures—substances or patterns that reliably signify the presence of life. By analyzing the atmospheres of distant planets, astronomers search for molecular biosignatures. However, many molecules associated with life can also arise from geological activities, suggesting a careful approach to interpretation.
A novel test developed by Christopher Carr and colleagues from Georgia Tech focuses on amino acids, which serve as fundamental components of proteins that sustain all known life forms. While amino acids can also be produced in lifeless environments, they have been uncovered in lunar soil, comets, and meteorites.
Given this, Carr and his team proposed that analyzing the reactivity of molecules within samples could provide more reliable biological indicators than merely detecting amino acids.
In non-living systems, molecules are continuously formed and destroyed as they react with environmental factors like cosmic rays. The more reactive a molecule, the more likely it is to decompose. “Without stable systems to maintain molecules, their reactivity increases,” explains Carr. However, living systems require reactive molecules, therefore they retain more reactive ones, creating distinct biochemical signatures.
The reactivity of compounds hinges on the arrangement of electrons in the molecules. More reactive molecules exhibit smaller energy differences between their outermost electron and the next available electron space during reactions.
Carr and his team calculated energy differences for 64 amino acids, including those not present in Earth’s biosphere. They analyzed the prevalence of these amino acids in samples sourced from both abiotic processes (like meteorites and lunar soil) and biotic sources (like fungi and bacteria), employing molecular energy calculations to establish a statistical framework for amino acid reactivity. This allowed them to estimate the probability of a sample being alive or inorganic.
After testing over 200 living and nonliving samples, they found their method could accurately identify life with 95 percent certainty. “This approach is remarkably straightforward,” Carr asserts. “It’s easily explainable and directly linked to the principles of physics.”
This reactivity-based method is applicable to the search for extraterrestrial life, as Carr posits that if life exists elsewhere, it likely relies on carbon-based chemistry and amino acids, governed by the same principles of chemical reactivity present on Earth. “Life inherently requires control over the timing, methods, and locations of molecular interactions. Therefore, structures that facilitate electron flow and molecular interactions are essential,” Carr notes.
While utilizing molecular reactivity to identify life isn’t new, measuring reactivity through statistical distributions is an innovative advancement. Henderson Cleaves from Howard University suggests that this method could enhance the toolkit of life-detection instruments on forthcoming space missions to Mars or the moons of Saturn, most notably Enceladus. However, Cleaves notes that the technology to accurately measure molecular abundance is a significant challenge.
Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe: Cheshire, England
Embark on a weekend with some of the brightest minds in science, diving deep into the mysteries of the universe, featuring a tour of the iconic Lovell Telescope.
Two remarkable species of marsupials, long considered extinct and previously known only from fossil records, have been rediscovered alive in New Guinea. This groundbreaking finding is the result of a collaborative effort involving scientists, indigenous communities, and citizen scientists.
The confirmation of the pygmy longfinger possum and the ring-tailed glider as living specimens marks a significant moment—it’s the first time these creatures have been seen in over 7,000 years. The announcement was made by Bishop Museum, based in Honolulu.
“As both a scientist and conservationist, it’s incredibly fulfilling to confirm their existence. This opens a new chapter in our journey to learn about and protect these fascinating animals,” stated Dr. Christopher Helgen from Bishop Museum.
For the past two years, Helgen and Dr. Tim Flannery of the Australian Museum have been dedicated to verifying the existence of these elusive mammals.
These two animals are categorized as “Lazarus species,” a term for species that re-emerge after being presumed extinct. “The discovery of two Lazarus species thought to be extinct for millennia is truly unprecedented,” Flannery noted in a press release.
Helgen believes this rediscovery underscores the idea that “extinction is avoidable.”
“This discovery offers a message of hope and a testament to second chances,” he added.
These species were initially discovered through fossils by Dr. Ken Aplin, who unearthed a critical tooth during an archaeological dig in western New Guinea in the 1990s.
Helgen’s observation of a photo featuring a gliding ring-tailed possum led to the identification of it as one of Aplin’s previously “extinct” species. Indigenous communities from West Papua’s Tambulo and Maybrat regions provided invaluable assistance by sharing their extensive knowledge about the marsupial’s unique lifestyle, according to a press release.
Recently, scientists confirmed the existence of the pygmy longfinger possum after discovering two preserved specimens at the University of Papua New Guinea.
The survival of the pygmy longfinger possum has been further validated by citizen scientists. Carlos Bokos, a citizen scientist and now co-author of the study, shared a photo of the species on iNaturalist, a global platform for documenting natural science discoveries.
This rewritten content maintains the original HTML structure while enhancing SEO through targeted keywords and phrases related to the discovery of species, collaboration, and conservation efforts.
Global warming is accelerating at an alarming rate, occurring at twice the speed compared to previous decades. This increase indicates that significant climate changes could emerge sooner than anticipated.
From 2013 to 2014, the Earth warmed by approximately 0.18°C per decade. This trend has since escalated, with a temperature rise of roughly 0.36°C per decade noted in recent analyses by Stefan Rahmstorf and his team at the University of Potsdam, Germany.
If the current rate of global warming persists, humanity risks violating the Paris Agreement’s cap of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by as early as 2028—much sooner than various forecasts suggest.
“Every fraction of a degree is crucial, amplifying the consequences of global warming manifesting as severe weather events and ecological disturbances,” Rahmstorf states. “With the notable exception of the United States, the global community aims to mitigate and curb the effects of climate change. The current trajectory suggests a worrying acceleration in warming trends.”
After experiencing unprecedented heat levels, climate scientists are actively discussing the potential for further acceleration in global warming throughout 2023. However, natural phenomena like El Niño have complicated efforts to ascertain whether the observed temperature rises are attributable to climate change or merely transient weather patterns.
Rahmstorf’s research is pioneering, revealing a statistically significant acceleration in global warming attributable to climate change, with 98% confidence.
This collaborative research assessed five distinct global temperature datasets, some indicating even higher temperature spikes. Based on a 20-year average, global warming may be 1.5°C hotter this year compared to pre-industrial levels, as suggested by data from the European Center for Medium-Range Forecasts.
Warm-water coral reefs are on the brink of collapse, and exceeding the 1.5°C threshold risks triggering further tipping points, including irreversible glacial melting in Greenland and West Antarctica, as well as deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
Many scientists contend that the recent acceleration in global warming primarily results from the restrictions imposed on sulfur dioxide emissions from shipping in 2020. While harmful to public health, this pollutant previously formed an aerosol mist, shielding the Earth from excess sunlight and cooling the atmosphere.
With this sunlight barrier now diminished, the rate of warming might decelerate, though unconfirmable at this stage, notes Rahmstorf. The ongoing shift from fossil fuels is likely to decrease air contaminants that have masked temperature rises.
Aerosol levels will continue to decline, but swift adjustments in shipping emissions are improbable. “A gradual easing in warming rates over the next decade is plausible,” he adds.
Alongside the effects of El Niño, researchers also considered volcanic eruptions that generate haze obstructing sunlight, as well as heightened solar radiation during sunspot peaks. After disregarding these impacts, they applied two distinct models to global temperature data. Both indicated a marked acceleration in warming, albeit at different intervals.
Nevertheless, the study’s authors caution that completely isolating the temperature influences of El Niño, eruptions, and sunspots remains a challenge, as stated by Zeke Hausfather from Berkeley Earth, California. This raises the possibility of a slight overestimation in the acceleration of global warming. Nonetheless, the evidence strongly supports the notion of a quicker pace of change, he asserts.
“The key take-home message is that while exact figures on the acceleration rate of warming are still pending, there is compelling evidence suggesting it is intensifying,” Hausfather concludes. “We must await additional data over the next few years for clearer insights.”
Imagine showing someone a box and asking them to guess its contents without any hints. This might seem impossible, yet the box’s nature offers crucial clues. For instance, its size implies the contents are smaller, and the material — metal versus cardboard — hints at what it can hold.
Is there a mathematical way to explain how to make educated guesses based on limited information? Indeed, while outcomes like coin flips or dice rolls are random and unpredictable, many scenarios allow us to optimize our guessing strategies using a few clever tools.
These constrained guesses are essentially estimates, a concept with deep historical roots. A remarkable early example comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Eratosthenes, who resided in Alexandria, Egypt, during the third century BC. Using basic principles, he estimated Earth’s circumference with astonishing accuracy. Though his precise method has been lost, subsequent writings enable us to reconstruct it.
Eratosthenes observed that during noon on the summer solstice, the sun was directly overhead in Syene, causing no shadow in the city’s well. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, a vertical pole cast a shadow of about 7 degrees, or approximately 1/50th of a circle. Knowing the distance between the two cities was 5000 stadia, he estimated Earth’s circumference to be 250,000 stadia.
While Eratosthenes made geometric approximations that can be overlooked, the real challenge lies in determining the length of a stadion — estimated to be around 160 meters. This approximation yields a circumference of approximately 40,000 kilometers, quite close to the modern measurement of 40,075 kilometers. Variations in stadion measurements, ranging from 150 to 210 meters, affect precision, depending on how we interpret Eratosthenes’ work.
Estimating Earth’s Circumference
Chronicle/Alamy
The key takeaway is that with simple yet logical calculations, we can deduce significant insights — all without a globe in hand. In the 20th century, physicist Enrico Fermi exemplified this art of estimation, playing a pivotal role in the Manhattan Project which led to the development of the atomic bomb. During the Trinity test, he ingeniously gauged the explosion’s power by dropping small pieces of paper and observing their movements. Though the specifics of his technique remain elusive, his initial estimate of a 10 kiloton bomb was intriguingly close to the accepted yield of 21 kilotons.
Fermi’s knack for educated guesses gave rise to the concept known as the “Fermi problem.” One classic illustration involves estimating the number of piano tuners in Chicago. Starting with a population of around 3 million, estimating the number of households and pianos leads to a rough conclusion of about 150 piano tuners based on several reasonable assumptions.
The crux of this estimation lies in understanding the limits of its imprecision. While we’ve made numerous assumptions during the process, the errors are likely to balance out. An estimate suggesting a million piano tuners would be almost certainly incorrect.
Fermi estimation serves as a valuable tool for generating initial hypotheses, but as we obtain more information, we can refine our guesses. Returning to the box analogy, if a blue ball with the number 32 is drawn from it, our assumption about the contents shifts. Acknowledging that multiple colored balls are likely, we can utilize the statistics pioneered by Thomas Bayes in the 18th century to quantify this uncertainty.
Portrait of Thomas Bayes
Public Domain
Bayes revolutionized probability by transforming it from a method for understanding randomness into a framework for addressing uncertainty. His Bayes’ theorem offers a way to quantify observations into evidence, comprised of four components: ex ante, evidence, likelihood, and ex post.
Prior values denote fundamental assumptions. Imagine serving three ice cream flavors (chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla) at a gathering. Initially, you might assume each flavor will be equally popular. However, if the first ten guests all choose chocolate, your initial assumption may need reevaluation.
Evaluating the likelihood of ten consecutive chocolate selections under equal preference assumptions reveals a probability of approximately 1 in 60,000—a strong indicator to revise your original beliefs. Such updates provide a more accurate understanding moving forward.
This theorem proves powerful. Referring back to the box example, drawing a colored ball like red ’50’ sharpens the possibilities of what remains inside. Each draw further narrows down our options based on new evidence.
One practical use of Bayes’ theorem appears in spam filters. Early versions used Bayesian inference to categorize a certain percentage of emails as spam (ex ante) and learned to recognize spam emails by examining user-marked emails (evidence) and the likelihood of certain words’ presence in those emails (likely).
This application illustrates how estimation matters in real-world scenarios, far beyond mere mathematics. Especially with modern AI technologies like ChatGPT, understanding and applying Fermi estimation and Bayesian inference techniques is increasingly vital. As observed, AI often seeks to confirm pre-existing information, thus neglecting new data for accurate assessments. Equip yourself with the skills to make informed guesses.
Imagine launching from Earth on a clear day; the sky transforms from a bright blue to the deep black of outer space as you ascend. This transition, from vivid blue to the engulfing void, reveals an optical phenomenon caused by sunlight interacting with our atmosphere.
Despite our understanding today of this optical effect, the perception of space at the time was quite different. While Yuri Gagarin is celebrated as the first human in space, the question remains: was he truly the first to experience the vastness of outer space?
To explore this, we must consider the definitions of where the universe commences. The International Aeronautical Federation designates the Kármán Line at 100 kilometers above Earth, while the U.S. government sets it at 80 kilometers (50 miles). Yet these definitions are arbitrary, often tailored to align with specific technological capabilities and aerial standards.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, space is defined as the “physical universe… beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.” Interestingly, scientific understanding of our atmosphere’s extent has evolved, suggesting it extends even beyond 630,000 kilometers. Future NASA missions, like Artemis II, are set to venture beyond the Moon, yet they will still fall short of the more than 200,000 kilometers to reach the ultimate boundaries of space.
While it seems absurd to claim that Apollo astronauts didn’t reach space, we still seek deeper definitions based on historical and cultural perspectives. What truly exemplifies the essence of “space”?
Witnessing the Sky Disappear
One significant boundary marks the moment the atmosphere no longer refracts sunlight, revealing the stark blackness of space. Historically, many Europeans believed in a bright, blue universe, a misconception maintained until scientists corrected it in the 17th century. The first astronauts to witness this darkness shattered centuries of misunderstanding.
In the 1930s, high-altitude balloonists pushed the envelope. In 1935, the U.S. Explorer II, piloted by Albert Stevens and Orville Anderson, soared to 22.1 kilometers, where they experienced an atmospheric shift. Their descriptions of the horizon hinted at the transition Gagarin would later confirm. Nonetheless, they witnessed a “very deep blue” sky rather than a true black.
In 1956, Malcolm Ross and Lee Lewis ascended to 23.2 kilometers in their Stratolab I balloon, noting the sky appeared black, a milestone in the pursuit of understanding space. This insight continued with David Simmons in the Mann High II balloon, who at 22.9 kilometers witnessed a similarly dark sky.
While rocket-powered aircraft approached these altitudes, they lacked the prolonged visibility balloonists had. In 1951, William Bridgman reached 24.2 kilometers but could barely observe the sky due to the brevity of his flight. Conversely, in 1956, Iven Kincheloe flew higher in the Bell X-2, reporting once again on the intriguing color transformations of the sky.
Confronting the Hostile Sky
Over time, the insight balloonists gained about the transitions from blue to black became crucial. David Simmons, during his 1957 flight, marveled at the hazy horizon blending with the vast blackness of space. To him, the enclosed gondola was akin to a spacecraft floating amid the void.
Joseph Kittinger’s iconic 1960 parachute jump from 31.3 kilometers illustrated the black, uninviting expanse above. He notably remarked on the hostility of the sky above him, acknowledging the inherent challenges of conquering space—conclusions echoed by Gagarin years later.
Not all spaceflights occur during daylight, yet witnessing the transition from blue to black remains pivotal for astronauts. In 2021, actor William Shatner’s experience aboard Blue Origin reached 107 kilometers. He encapsulated the moment: “It’s fascinating to see blue color passing by you, then immediately facing blackness.”
While the Kármán line exists as a conceptual framework, the emotional impact of seeing the sky fade remains profound. Those early visionaries, witnessing this transition, forever altered our understanding of what it means to reach space, a claim equally valid for their experiences as it is for Gagarin’s historic flight.
A dust plume from the Sahara Desert is set to arrive in the UK this week, potentially creating stunning sunrises and sunsets as well as what is known as “blood rain.”
Fine dust and sand particles, lifted thousands of miles by winds from North Africa, will contribute to a unique atmospheric phenomenon.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, “Dust in the air is expected to continue moving across the UK today and into tomorrow. This could lead to hazy skies and, in some cases, a build-up of dust on surfaces such as cars, especially if showers occur.”
During sunrise and sunset, this dust can turn the sky into deep shades of gold and orange.
“Dust particles are highly efficient at scattering sunlight, significantly contributing to the stunning red hues of sunsets,” says Dr. Claire Ryder, an Associate Professor of Mineral Dust Processing at the University of Reading.
“The iron oxides in the dust absorb blue light, further enhancing the red color in the sky.”
These iron oxides can even lead to blood rain, although the sight may not be as dramatic as it sounds.
“Despite the ominous name, this is a simple phenomenon,” explained Ryder. “When rain falls through dust-laden air from the Sahara, it picks up tiny reddish-brown particles, leaving rusty-orange stains on cars, windows, and garden furniture.”
“This explains why your car may appear slightly muddy after the rain showers this week.”
Typically, dust-laden rain in the UK is present in such low concentrations that the droplets appear normal to the naked eye.
You might want to delay that car wash until the weekend to avoid needing multiple cleanings!
Blood rain may not look dramatic, but it can leave a layer of dust on your vehicle – Credit: Getty
This Saharan dust not only affects your car but can also impact air quality, increasing particulate matter, or pollution, in the atmosphere.
With pleasant spring weather, weak winds in the south and east of the UK may cause dust to linger and accumulate in certain areas.
Fortunately, the Japan Meteorological Agency assures that there are no significant health concerns, though individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions might experience slight air quality degradation.
While it may seem surprising, it’s not uncommon for Saharan dust to find its way to the UK. When sandstorms in North Africa interact with specific wind patterns, sand travels northwards.
Mr. Ryder noted, “Over the next few days, southerly winds ahead of an advancing front will push the dust plume across the UK. Current forecasts suggest that this dust could linger into Sunday night.”
A groundbreaking discovery of a 90-million-year-old fossil in Argentina is reshaping our understanding of the evolutionary history of a unique group of bird-like dinosaurs. This find helps settle a longstanding debate regarding their distribution across the ancient world.
The fossils detailed in Nature belong to Arunachetri seropolisiensis, a member of the Alvarezaurus family. This small dinosaur is characterized by its tiny teeth and stout arms, which end in a prominent single thumb claw.
While most well-preserved Alvarezsaurus fossils have been discovered in Asia, the existence of Alvarezsaurus in South America raises intriguing questions due to the vast ocean separating these continents.
A nearly complete skeleton uncovered at the La Buitrera fossil site in northern Patagonia has provided remarkable evidence regarding this species. This region was also home to primitive snakes and small saber-toothed mammals.
“Creating a nearly complete, articulated animal from a fragmented skeleton is akin to discovering the Rosetta Stone of paleontology,” stated Peter Makowiecki, a professor at the University of Minnesota, and the study’s first author.
Unlike their later relatives, Arunashetri had longer arms and larger teeth. This indicates that Alvarezsaurids likely reduced their body size before evolving the characteristic small limbs and teeth suited for an ant and termite diet.
“Our study suggests that alvarezsaurids form a compact group of dinosaurs, with species sizes ranging from crows to humans,” Makowiecki told BBC Science Focus. “Body size appears to fluctuate within this limited range without a clear trend.”
Peter Makowiecki discovers fossilized bones in Patagonia’s La Buitrera Fossil Field – Photo credit: Minyoung Son, University of Minnesota
This discovery also addresses an intercontinental mystery. A detailed anatomical study of Arunashetri led Makowiecki and his team to examine fossil collections globally. “We found other Alvarezaurids hiding in plain sight,” he noted.
“These species, which existed during the Jurassic period in North America and the Early Cretaceous in Europe, enhance our understanding of Alvarezsaurus’s widespread presence prior to the major rift between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.”
Approximately 200 million years ago, all of Earth’s continents formed a single supercontinent named Pangea. This landmass gradually fragmented over tens of millions of years, evolving into its current configuration while transporting its fauna along with it.
The research team is preparing additional specimens from the same site, though Professor Makowiecki has remained tight-lipped about their specifics. “The new specimen confirms some of our findings regarding size and specialization,” he disclosed. “Currently, we have no further plans.”
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Astronomers have utilized spectral data from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory to construct the most intricate 3D map of faint cosmic structures dating back 9 to 11 billion years, unveiling galaxies and intergalactic gas previously undetectable by telescopes.
A line intensity map showcasing the distribution of excited hydrogen in the universe approximately 10 billion years ago. The stars denote areas where HETDEX has identified galaxies. The inset simulates the structure after optimizing the data by reducing background noise. Image credit: Maja Lujan Niemeyer / Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics / HETDEX / Chris Byrohl / Stanford University.
“Studying the early Universe reveals how galaxies have evolved into their current forms and the role that intergalactic gas plays in this transformation,” stated Dr. Maya Lujan Niemeyer, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and a key member of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope’s Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX).
“Many objects from this epoch are faint and challenging to observe due to their vast distances,” she continued.
“Through a technique known as line intensity mapping, this innovative map enhances our understanding of these objects, adding complexity and depth to this crucial era of cosmic history.”
Although line intensity mapping is not a novel methodology, this is the first instance it has been employed to visualize Lyman alpha emissions with such exceptional precision across an extensive dataset.
The HETDEX project harnesses the capabilities of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope to catalog over 1 million luminous galaxies to decode the mysteries of dark energy.
What differentiates this project is its extensive measurement scope, equivalent to observing more than 2,000 full moons and amassing a colossal dataset of over 600 million spectra across an expansive area of the sky.
“We leverage only a fraction of our data—approximately 5%,” remarked Dr. Karl Gebhardt, principal investigator of HETDEX and an astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin.
“This leaves significant potential for future research utilizing the remaining data.”
“While HETDEX captures images of the entire sky, only a small subset of the collected data comprises sufficiently bright galaxies for our research,” noted Dr. Lujan Niemeyer.
“These galaxies are merely the beginning. In the vast expanses in between, lies an entire ocean of light awaiting discovery.”
To construct this groundbreaking map, astronomers employed a supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center to meticulously analyze approximately half a petabyte of HETDEX data.
Using the coordinates of luminous galaxies already detected by HETDEX, they inferred the positions of fainter galaxies and adjacent glowing gas.
Due to the gravitational forces that cause matter to cluster, the existence of one bright galaxy implies the presence of nearby celestial objects.
“This allows us to utilize known galaxy positions as reference points to ascertain distances to fainter celestial entities,” explained Dr. Eiichiro Komatsu, HETDEX scientist and astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.
“The resultant map emphasizes regions surrounding bright galaxies while providing intricate details of the areas in between.”
“Simulation models exist for this cosmic era, yet they remain hypothetical; they do not represent the actual universe.”
“We now possess a foundational understanding that allows us to verify whether the astrophysics underlying these simulations holds true.”
For more on these remarkable findings, published on March 3, 2026, in the Astrophysical Journal.
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Maya Lujan Niemeyer and others, 2026. Lyα intensity mapping in HETDEX: Galaxy-Lyα intensity cross-power spectrum. APJ 999, 177; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae3a98
A groundbreaking discovery of a 7.2-million-year-old femur at the Azmaka fossil site in southern Bulgaria reveals a unique blend of locomotor features, suggesting both quadrupedal and bipedal abilities. This significant finding involves a research team led by Professor Madeleine Böhme from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen. The fossil has been tentatively linked to Grecopithecus, a fossilized species of ape known from fragmented archaeological sites in the Balkans, which is considered by some as a contender for the earliest known human species.
Grecopithecus freibergii lived in the dusty savanna of the Athens Basin 7.2 million years ago.” width=”580″ height=”754″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2017/05/image_4888_1-Graecopithecus-freybergi.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2017/05/image_4888_1-Graecopithecus-freybergi-230×300.jpg 230w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px” />
Grecopithecus freibergii inhabited the dusty savanna of the Athens Basin 7.2 million years ago. This image from Pyrgos Vasilisis, the site of discovery, shows a southeastern view over Athens’ plains, beneath reddish clouds of Saharan dust. Background features include Mount Himethos and Mount Lycabettos. Image credit: Velizar Simeonovski.
Researchers regard Grecopithecus as a controversial late Miocene ape fossil, estimated to be around 7.2 million years old.
Some experts speculate that this ancient species could represent the earliest humans, potentially predating fossils traditionally linked to early human ancestry in Africa.
The fossil record of Grecopithecus includes a partial lower jaw discovered near Athens, Greece, in 1944, alongside isolated upper premolar fossils from Bulgaria examined in the 2010s.
“This ancestor from 7.2 million years ago is classified within the genus Grecopithecus and may represent the oldest known hominid,” stated David Bigan, a professor at the University of Toronto and co-author of the study.
The analysis in the study involved nearly complete femurs from Grecopithecus unearthed from the Azmaka site.
The newly discovered fossil, located in floodplain sediments dating back approximately 7.2 million years, showcases distinctive features. The Azmaka femur’s bulbous head is noticeably separated from the neck, with an elongated, diagonally ascending medial edge characteristic of hominids.
While this find does not fully represent the range of adaptations seen in later bipedal species, the angle of the neck axis falls within the lower spectrum observed in modern humans and approaches estimates for early human ancestors such as Orrorin, but remains below the typical angle found in suspensory apes like orangutans.
Researchers suggest that this combination of anatomical features indicates a transitional form of bipedalism that is neither specialized for climbing nor fully adapted for terrestrial life.
Weight estimates based on the dimensions of the femur suggest Grecopithecus weighed approximately 23-24 kg, akin to a small chimpanzee.
Professor Nikolai Spasov of the Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History remarked, “Numerous external and internal morphological traits, such as the elongated neck between the femoral shaft and head, the specific attachment points for the gluteal muscles, and the robust nature of the external bone layer, share similarities with our bipedal hominin ancestors and modern humans.”
“These anatomical features differ significantly from those of tree-dwelling apes,” he added. “Nevertheless, Grecopithecus did not walk in the same manner as modern humans.”
The environmental context of the Azmaka site indicates a scrub and forest savannah near a braided river system, suggesting that early terrestrial bipeds may have evolved outside of jungle habitats.
The authors hypothesize that the descendants of this group might have migrated from Eurasia to Africa during the late Miocene in response to climatic and environmental changes in the eastern Mediterranean, potentially influencing the ancestry of later African apes and hominids.
Whether the Azmaka femur ultimately reconstructs the geographic story of human origins remains contingent upon future discoveries.
Yet currently, it provides a rare insight into the origins of upright walking within a landscape characterized by seasonal rivers and open forests, millions of years prior to the emergence of the first widely recognized human ancestors in Africa.
Grecopithecus exemplifies a pivotal moment in human evolution, representing the transition from arboreal to terrestrial ancestors, akin to those from approximately 12 million years ago, including Danuvius guggenmosi, discovered at the Hammerschmiede site in southern Germany and more recently in East Africa,” emphasized Professor Bigan.
“In essence, you could classify this as a missing link. Grecopithecus is likely a descendant of apes from the Balkans and Anatolia that existed 8 to 9 million years ago, including Ouranopithecus and Anadrovicius, evolving from Western and Central European ancestors.
“Significant climate fluctuations in the eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia resulted in the periodic formation of extensive semi-desert landscapes between 8 and 6 million years ago,” he concluded. “This prompted a dispersal of Eurasian mammals into Africa, laying the groundwork for the contemporary savannah mammal fauna.”
The team’s findings were published in the November 2025 issue of Paleobiodiversity and Paleoenvironment.
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N. Spasov et al. Early forms of bipedal locomotion in terrestrial humans during the Late Miocene of Bulgaria. Paleobio Paleoembu, published online on November 13, 2025. doi: 10.1007/s12549-025-00691-0
Utilizing advanced X-ray technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, entomologists have successfully developed interactive digital imagery for 792 ant species across 212 genera.
A detailed Antscan specimen rendering: Eciton Hamatum. Image credit: Katzke et al., doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0.
To create this extensive digital library, researchers at the Okinawa University of Science and Technology, led by Julian Katzke, gathered ethanol-preserved ant specimens from museums, partner institutions, and global experts.
The team organized the specimens by species and category and transported them to the lab. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany provided cutting-edge X-ray micro-CT scanning, similar to medical CT scans but with significantly higher magnification.
A synchrotron particle accelerator generated a powerful X-ray beam, enabling rapid scanning of a vast array of samples, while a robotic sample changer seamlessly rotated images every 30 seconds.
This sophisticated process facilitated the production of 2D image stacks, essential for constructing 3D models.
Despite the utility of raw image files, initial depictions of the ant specimens were often distorted, falling short of achieving the realistic models scientists envisioned.
3D imaging allows for the visualization of internal structures, including muscles, nervous systems, and digestive systems, at a micrometer level of resolution.
These models can easily be animated or integrated into virtual reality environments for purposes spanning research, education, and entertainment.
“If we had conducted this project using a standard lab-based CT scanner, it would have taken six years of continuous operation,” Dr. Katzke explained.
“With the KIT setup, we scanned 2,000 specimens in just one week.”
Professor Evan Economo, a researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Maryland, remarked, “Without these computational tools, completing this project manually would have been nearly impossible.”
Dubbed the Antscan, this initiative could pave the way for future digitization efforts across various species beyond ants.
“The significance of this research extends far beyond ants,” Professor Economo stated. “Once specimens are digitized, we can create libraries that enhance the utilization of biological materials across science labs, classrooms, and even Hollywood studios.”
The team’s study was published in the prestigious journal Nature Methods.
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J. Katzke et al. High-throughput phenomics of global ant biodiversity. Nat Methods published online March 5, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0
NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope has meticulously scanned Jupiter’s circumference, documenting the mesmerizing aurora as it came into view. This dynamic spectacle arises from charged particles traveling along magnetic field lines and colliding with the planet’s ionosphere, creating a stunning glow. Utilizing Webb’s Near Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec), researchers captured an intriguing feature of Jupiter’s aurora, known as an auroral footprint. These bright luminescent patterns result from interactions between Jupiter’s Galilean moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—and the surrounding cosmic environment. Planetary scientists leveraged NIRSpec data to analyze the physical characteristics of the auroral footprints of Jupiter’s innermost moons, Io and Europa, measuring local temperature and ionospheric density in near-infrared light. They uncovered a previously unseen low-temperature structure centered around Io’s bright spots, characterized by an exceptionally high density, likely caused by significant electron flow impacting the upper atmosphere.
Webb’s first spectral measurements of Io and Europa’s auroral footprints reveal unprecedented changes in physical characteristics linked to electron collisions in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / NIRCam / Jupiter ERS Team / Judy Schmidt / Katie L. Knowles, Northumbria University.
“Previously, these emissions were measured in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths solely by their brightness,” stated lead author Dr. Katie Knowles, a student at Northumbria University.
“For the first time, we can describe the physical properties of an auroral footprint: the upper atmosphere’s temperature and ion density, which have never been documented before.”
Unlike Earth’s auroras, which primarily result from solar wind, Jupiter’s auroras are influenced by its four major Galilean moons, which generate their own “mini auroras.”
Jupiter’s immense magnetic field rotates every 10 hours, channeling charged particles. In contrast, its moons orbit much more slowly; for instance, Io takes approximately 42.5 hours to complete one orbit.
“The moons continuously interact with the planet’s magnetic field and plasma, driving high-energy particles down magnetic field lines into the atmosphere, forming auroral footprints that trace their orbits around Jupiter,” Knowles explained.
“Jupiter’s auroras are the most potent and persistent within the solar system.”
“Our observations with Webb offer an unprecedented glimpse into how Jupiter’s moons directly affect the upper atmosphere.”
During a 22-hour observation span in September 2023, Webb meticulously scanned around Jupiter’s edge, tracking auroras as they appeared.
Interestingly, they captured auroral footprints originating from Io and Europa, which did not exhibit the typical characteristics of Jupiter’s main auroras, which are generally hotter and denser.
Instead, researchers discovered a cold spot within Io’s auroral footprint that exhibited significantly lower temperatures and unusually high density compared to typical expectations.
Io is notably the most volcanically active celestial body in the solar system, ejecting approximately 1,000 kilograms of material into space every second, thus replenishing the dense plasma enveloping Jupiter.
This ejected material becomes ionized, forming a toroidal cloud around Jupiter known as the Ioplasma torus.
As Io moves through this complex environment, it generates powerful electrical currents that contribute to the brightest regions in Jupiter’s auroras.
The team found that these auroral footprints contained trihydrogen cation densities three times greater than those present in Jupiter’s primary auroras, with some localized areas experiencing density fluctuations of up to 45 times.
“We observed rapid fluctuations in both temperature and density within Io’s auroral footprint occurring within mere minutes,” Knowles noted.
“This indicates that the flow of high-energy electrons impacting Jupiter’s atmosphere is changing at an incredibly fast pace.”
The recorded temperature at the cold spot was only 538 degrees Celsius (265 degrees Fahrenheit), compared to 766 K (493 degrees Celsius or 919 degrees Fahrenheit) in the surrounding aurora.
This cold spot also contained three times the density of material found in Jupiter’s main aurora.
This discovery could have implications extending well beyond Jupiter, posing intriguing questions about other planetary systems.
Saturn’s moon Enceladus similarly generates auroral footprints on Earth, leading scientists to suspect that comparable phenomena may occur there too.
“This research opens up new avenues for studying not only Jupiter and its Galilean moons but also other giant planets and their satellite systems,” Knowles remarked.
“We are witnessing Jupiter’s atmosphere responding to its moons in real-time, providing insights into processes that may occur throughout our solar system and beyond.”
“This phenomenon was only observed in one of five snapshots, prompting questions: how frequently does this occur? Does it vary? How does it change under different conditions?”
The study is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
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Katie L. Knowles et al. 2026. Short-term fluctuations in Jupiter’s moon footprint discovered by JWST. Geophysical Research Letters 53 (5): e2025GL118553; doi: 10.1029/2025GL118553
Representation of Electrons in a Half Möbius Molecule
IBM Research and the University of Manchester
Recent discoveries by chemists reveal an intriguing new molecular structure, which exceeds the complexity of a traditional Möbius strip.
A Möbius strip is a twisted shape that requires an object, like an ant, to traverse it twice to return to its original side.
Igor Roncevic and his team at the University of Manchester have uncovered a more complex half-Möbius molecular structure. This breakthrough could revolutionize the manipulation of molecular shapes and topologies for various applications.
“This molecule is entirely novel and unexpected. Not only is it captivating that we have synthesized a molecule with unconventional topology, but we have also verified that such a structure is feasible, which was previously unconsidered,” he states.
To synthesize the molecule, the researchers combined 13 carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms into a ring on a gold substrate at ultra-low temperatures. Utilizing advanced atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopes, they precisely controlled individual atoms and analyzed the electron properties. Here, electrons do not remain rigidly attached but are diffused in a localized region, resembling tiny waves of matter.
The interactions among these electrons induced unprecedented twists within the molecule. A hypothetical quantum particle would need to revolve around the structure four times to return to its starting point.
Researchers demonstrated the ability to toggle the molecular state from left-handed to right-handed or to untwist it through small electromagnetic pulses. This innovation allows chemists to engineer molecular topology on demand.
To comprehend the newly discovered molecule and its potential existence, the researchers employed simulations on classical computers and an IBM quantum computer. Electron interactions are essential for introducing twists in molecules, which are challenging to simulate accurately on traditional platforms. However, quantum computers, built upon interacting quantum entities, can perform these simulations with greater precision, Roncevic notes.
According to team members, this research illustrates how quantum computing can tackle real-world chemistry challenges. Ivano Tavernelli from IBM emphasizes this point.
“This groundbreaking experiment integrates multiple facets of organic chemistry, surface science, nanoscience, and quantum chemistry,” asserts Gemma Solomon from the University of Copenhagen.
“This is an exciting endeavor that effectively translates abstract topological ideas into the field of molecular chemistry,” adds Kenichiro Itami from RIKEN, Japan, noting the technical significance of the research.
Kim Dong Ho, a professor at Yonsei University in South Korea, highlights the potential applications of shape-switchable molecules in sensor technology, indicating that they could toggle states in response to magnetic fields.
An international team of archaeologists analyzed 85 pottery sherds containing significant food shell remains from 13 archaeological sites in Northern and Eastern Europe, dating from the 6th to 3rd millennium BC. They identified various plant tissues such as wildflowers, legumes, fruits, and herbaceous roots, leaves, and stems in 58 of these sherds. The findings reveal that prehistoric hunter-gatherers exhibited a selective preference for specific plant species and parts, often pairing them with certain animal foods.
Prehistoric Europeans demonstrated careful selection of their plant foods, consciously opting for specific species and combining them with targeted animal foods. This practice may have led to the development of unique tastes, flavors, and textures, facilitated by pottery techniques, thereby motivating their invention and adoption.
Foraging wild plants was a crucial aspect of survival for prehistoric communities. However, direct evidence, including the types of plants foraged and their uses, often remains elusive.
Traditionally, scientists analyze fat residues in ancient pottery to interpret ancient diets. Nonetheless, this method primarily sheds light on animal remains, limiting insights into plant consumption.
In a groundbreaking study, researcher Lara González Carretero from the University of York and her colleagues employed advanced techniques, including microscopy and chemical analysis, to uncover evidence of plant consumption by ancient European hunter-gatherers.
The study evaluated organic artifacts from 58 pottery pieces excavated from 13 archaeological sites in Northern and Eastern Europe, dating between the 6th and 3rd millennium BC.
This innovative approach collected tissue samples from various plant species, including grasses, fruits, leaves, and seeds, frequently found alongside remains of animals, particularly fish and other marine life.
The specific combinations of ingredients varied by region, likely reflecting local cultural practices and available resources.
This important discovery underscores the significant role of plants and aquatic foods in early European diets.
The results confirm that these communities regularly utilized pottery techniques for meal preparation, each developing their own intricate culinary traditions.
“Our findings reveal that the selection of plant foods was highly selective, with hunter-gatherers favoring specific plant species and parts, often combining them with particular animal foods,” the researchers stated.
“These results also suggest that our understanding of plant processing in pottery may be drastically underestimated if we rely solely on lipid residue analysis.”
Read their paper published in the online journal PLoS ONE.
_____
L. González Carretero et al. 2026. Selective culinary uses of plant foods by Northern and Eastern European hunter-gatherer-fishermen. PLoS One 21 (3): e0342740; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0342740
When an American tragically dies in a plane or train crash, a dedicated independent commission investigates the incident to pinpoint failures and develop strategies to prevent similar occurrences.
In stark contrast, there is currently no similar process in place following deadly floods or hurricanes.
Recently, Rep. Eric Sorensen from Illinois introduced a significant bill aimed at establishing such a review commission to thoroughly investigate weather-related disasters and implement preventive measures for the future.
The proposed legislation, titled the National Weather Safety Commission Act, seeks to establish an independent commission with a minimum of seven members, all possessing relevant expertise in fields like meteorology, social science, and emergency management. The President will appoint them, pending Senate confirmation. This commission is modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates all civil aviation incidents and other emergencies.
This proposed commission would have the authority to investigate severe weather events, issue subpoenas for testimony and evidence, and compile reports and recommendations for agencies such as the National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Army Corps of Engineers.
The idea of a weather disaster review has been a subject of discussion among meteorologists and emergency management professionals for years. However, it gained renewed urgency following the devastating flood in Texas this past July, which resulted in over 130 fatalities, including 27 campers and counselors at a camp along the Guadalupe River.
Caution tape marking the entrance to Hunt’s Camp Mystic on July 7. Brandon Bell/Getty Images File
In the aftermath of the flood, blame quickly shifted among Texas officials, with criticisms directed at the National Weather Service, which was operating with reduced staff due to funding cuts from the previous administration. Questions were raised about the accuracy of rainfall forecasts as well as the effectiveness of local emergency management systems and alert protocols.
“We quickly discovered that political maneuvering was complicating the issue,” Sorensen told NBC News. “We need to implement substantial changes to ensure that a tragedy of this nature does not recur. We will enlist the top experts on an independent board to deliver insights that Congress can use to formulate policies prioritizing public safety.”
As the sole meteorologist in Congress, Sorensen underscores the urgency of this initiative.
“Meteorologists have been advocating for years that we need to enhance our response mechanisms,” Sorensen asserted.
In recent years, Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) have introduced various proposals aimed at creating similar disaster review boards. Additionally, several Republican colleagues, including former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), are championing comparable legislation. The concept of an independent review body for weather-related incidents dates back to 2006.
Currently, the new bill lacks bipartisan sponsorship.
“This situation is a crucial test for us during this administration and in our currently polarized political climate: Can we still achieve bipartisan collaboration? Can we unite across party lines to enact necessary changes?” Sorensen expressed.
Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Illinois) at the U.S. Capitol on April 10, 2024. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call (via Getty Images)
Neil Jacobs, former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) appointed by President Trump, endorsed the proposal for an independent review panel.
“Accurate data is essential for post-storm evaluations,” Jacobs mentioned during his Senate confirmation following the Texas disaster. “Drawing from my experiences with the NTSB on aviation incidents, I can envision something similar for weather-related catastrophes, as we require comprehensive data to assess what succeeded, what failed, and the efficacy of warning systems.”
Sorensen confirmed he has collaborated on this bill with Jacobs.
“I believe he is the ideal ally to help propel this initiative forward,” Sorensen stated.
Douglas Hilderbrand, executive director of the American Weather Companies Association, an emerging organization focused on weather forecasting and information delivery, is also collaborating with Sorensen on this legislation.
“Weather is fundamentally a bipartisan concern,” Hilderbrand emphasized. “We remain optimistic about this initiative.”
The bill delineates specific types of events qualifying as weather hazards for the commission’s examination, including any disaster declared by the President under the Stafford Act, along with severe weather events resulting in at least 10 fatalities or 100 injuries. Such events deemed “rapidly occurring” mass casualty incidents are included as well.
The Weather Safety Board would convene a vote within 14 days of the occurrence of such an event to determine whether to initiate an investigation.
The Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Homeland Security (including FEMA), Federal Communications Commission, and NOAA (including the National Weather Service) will be obliged to furnish data and information to the Commission upon request.
The board will have a period of 90 days post-major weather event to draft an interim report, followed by a comprehensive final report due within a 20-month timeframe.
Feedback is New Scientist A popular publication that keeps you updated on the latest science and technology insights. We welcome feedback on topics you think would interest our readers. Please email us at feedback@newscientist.com.
Exploring Unconventional Measurements
Since the Golden Retriever became a quirky unit for measuring ice blocks, our feedback inbox has been flooded with examples of unique and often surprising units of measurement.
Craig Downing, who describes himself as “one of those readers who checks the back of every issue,” shared a fascinating insight about the Rideau Canal in his hometown of Ottawa, Canada. Every winter, the canal transforms into the largest ice skating rink in the world, requiring meticulous snow removal for a smooth surface.
According to a statement from the National Capital Commission, “For every centimeter of snowfall, our crew clears 125,000 kg of snow from the skateway, equivalent to the weight of approximately 450 polar bears.”
Craig expressed his confusion: “I usually visualize snow depth in terms of ‘shovel loads’ or ‘knee-deep driveways.’” Moreover, living in Ottawa, he has yet to encounter a polar bear firsthand, limiting his experience with these majestic creatures.
The average polar bear reportedly weighs around 277.8 kilograms (612 pounds). However, gender nuances play a significant role; adult male bears can weigh between 350 and 600 kg (775 to 1,300 lb), while females typically range from 150 to 290 kg (330 to 650 lb), with some exceptional cases reaching up to 800 kg.
This lack of specification raises questions regarding many unconventional units. Steve Tees submitted a query, stating, “I keep hearing about ‘xxx warehouses’ causing traffic delays. Can someone clarify the size of these warehouses?”
The Sounds We Dread
Various sounds can hinder focus. While nails on a chalkboard are notoriously unpleasant, other common annoyances include loud chewing and vigorous teeth brushing by strangers.
One particularly despised sound is the high-pitched screech produced when adhesive tape is pulled from a surface, which deters many from DIY projects.
But understanding the science behind this noise could help. For example, an experiment published in Physical Review E explores the physics of peeling off cellophane tape. Researchers employed high-speed cameras and microphones to study the tape’s removal speed, discovering that “microscopic cracks travel through the tape at supersonic speeds, producing a shock wave that manifests as a high-pitched screech.”
We eagerly anticipate feedback from follow-up studies aiming to demonstrate quiet tape removal methods.
On Retractions and Their Implications
Our feedback section takes a keen interest in the world of retracted scientific papers. Whether due to questionable graphics generated by AI, manipulated images, or dubious research claims, these cases pique our curiosity.
A prominent example is a 2026 retraction from Pharmacological Research and Prospects. Originally published in 2022, the paper investigated ivermectin—an anti-parasitic drug controversially labeled a potential cure for COVID-19 and suggested for liver cancer treatment. We believe such claims warrant skepticism.
The retraction notice indicated it was “by agreement” between the authors and relevant parties, prolonging the discussion long past its culmination.
It was stated that “the corresponding author was not involved in the submission process, did not sign an open access agreement, and did not review or approve the final manuscript version before submission,” raising serious concerns.
Furthermore, the journal’s investigation uncovered evidence of image duplication from previous publications. This is, without a doubt, troubling.
Yet, the authors maintained, “the conclusions of the article are otherwise unaffected.” This left the first author musing on how conclusions could remain valid despite significant discrepancies.
Our interpretation is clear: once a paper is retracted, it loses credibility, and its conclusions are no longer taken seriously.
Have a story for feedback?
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Exploring the Medical Potential of Magic Mushrooms
Image Credit: John Moore/Getty Images
A recent placebo-controlled trial has revealed that a single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, significantly alleviates symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Remarkably, these effects last for at least 12 weeks, suggesting psilocybin could offer enduring relief for OCD sufferers.
“Investing in experiences like travel can disrupt patterns of obsessive thinking and behavior,” notes Dr. David Nutt from Imperial College London, who wasn’t part of the study. “The essence of OCD treatment is to guide individuals towards behavioral change—like reducing the number of times they check the lights from 15 to 2.”
Approximately 1-3% of the population suffers from OCD, a condition marked by distressing obsessions and compulsive behaviors that can severely affect daily life. Conventional treatments often involve talk therapy and antidepressants; however, 40-60% of OCD patients fail to respond to these options.
Other psychedelics, including psilocybin and ketamine, have demonstrated therapeutic potential for various mental health disorders. To explore these possibilities, Dr. Christopher Pittenger at Yale University launched the first randomized, placebo-controlled study focused on psilocybin’s effects on OCD.
The research involved 28 adults with an average of 20 years of OCD experience who had previously undergone at least two failed treatment attempts. Participants assessed their symptom severity using a standard scale ranging from 0 to 40 and were randomly assigned to receive either a single oral dose of psilocybin (0.25 milligrams per kilogram) or niacin (250 milligrams), serving as a placebo.
The psilocybin dose was sufficient to induce a psychedelic experience, often associated with profound changes in perception, cognition, and emotion. “The intensity varies, but it’s generally quite strong,” remarks Pittenger.
Following 48 hours, participants who received psilocybin reported an average symptom score reduction of 9.76 points, while those given niacin showed minimal changes. “The rapid and enduring improvements after a single psilocybin dose are astonishing,” states Dr. Alex Kwan from Cornell University.
After one week, around 70% of participants who took psilocybin experienced a 35% decrease in symptom scores, and this effect persisted through the 12-week follow-up. “Psilocybin outperforms traditional OCD medications in both efficacy and speed,” says Nutt, who was involved in a separate clinical trial that lacked a placebo control. Research indicates that low doses of psilocybin can significantly diminish OCD symptoms.
Kwan suggests that the positive outcomes in individuals who have previously undergone several standard treatments point to psilocybin’s unique influence on the brain, though the precise mechanisms behind its efficacy in managing OCD remain unclear. “Understanding the biology behind its effects could revolutionize the treatment strategies not only for OCD but also for various mental health disorders,” he notes.
One hypothesis suggests that psilocybin enhances brain plasticity, potentially weakening entrenched thoughts that typically dominate an individual’s mindset. This flexibility is a critical challenge with all psychedelic substances, according to Nutt, who previously demonstrated that a single dose of the psychedelic DMT alleviated depression symptoms. “Individuals experiencing depressive thoughts found their thinking became more adaptable post-psychedelic experience,” he states.
Another theory posits that psilocybin recalibrates the brain’s default mode network, influencing areas linked to rumination and self-awareness, according to Pittenger. Research has also shown that a single psilocybin dose can enhance mental health by rewiring neural connections and reducing inflammation.
However, safety concerns regarding psilocybin use have emerged. In a Yale University study, a participant with a history of suicidal thoughts began to actively plan suicide during the trial. Although this risk was later mitigated through standard monitoring, Pittenger emphasizes the necessity for stringent clinical safeguards when administering psilocybin in medical contexts. Comprehensive trials are also needed to validate the drug’s efficacy, safety, optimal dosing, as well as to identify ideal candidates and those at increased risk, he adds.
A recurring challenge in psychedelic research is that participants’ experiences can often reveal whether they received the active drug or placebo. To combat this, researchers administered niacin, which can provoke sensations like facial flushing and elevated heart rate. However, many participants still discerned their treatment, according to Pittenger. “As with most studies of this nature, this presents a limitation,” he concludes.
Leanne ten Brinke’s eye-opening book on dark personalities begins with an unexpected case study of a psychopath. The author highlights a well-known judge presiding over the case of a criminal, emphasizing the complexities of morality.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, once a key figure in mid-20th-century liberalism, might exemplify what ten Brinke describes as the “modern definition of a psychopath.” His actions, although not criminal, cast shadows over his legacy, impacting many lives around him.
The diagnosis of psychopathy was discontinued in 1952, attributed to stigma, leading to the adoption of broader terms such as antisocial personality disorder. By the 1980s, psychopathy re-emerged in criminal contexts, with assessments like the Revised Psychopathy Checklist highlighting the lack of empathy in violent offenders, making them capable of high recidivism rates. Individuals identified as psychopaths, although only 1% of the population, are estimated to be responsible for half of the serious crimes, according to ten Brinke.
Ten Brinke, who directs the Truth and Trust Institute at the University of British Columbia, argues that high dark personality traits are not limited to outright offenders. “If we broaden the psychopathy lens, perhaps 10-20% of the population exhibits high levels of traits associated with psychopathy, yet lack the clinical designation,” she states.
In Toxic People, ten Brinke assesses the societal costs inflicted by “predatory individuals” and proposes strategies to mitigate their impact in our lives. However, she presents a crucial caveat.
Over the last two decades, personality psychology has developed the Dark Tetrad framework, combining psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and sadism.
Contrary to pop culture’s portrayal of psychopathy as a binary condition, ten Brinke illustrates that it functions on a spectrum. Each individual has varying scores across different traits, with roughly 10-20% exhibiting pronounced dark personality traits, arguably contributing to societal erosion of ethical standards.
However, there’s a silver lining: around 80% of individuals don’t exhibit high levels of these traits. But ten Brinke cautions against complacency, indicating that these characteristics can be influenced by environmental factors.
Through a detailed case study, she discusses how a “culture of corruption” can transform the majority into complicity. “Kind individuals can become vulnerable to dark personalities,” she warns, identifying factors like fatigue or group dynamics as potential triggers for harmful behavior.
The book offers readers useful strategies to shield themselves from toxic individuals, including the establishment of clear boundaries. Yet, it also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection. How can we maintain our moral integrity and resist enabling those with nefarious intentions? Ten Brinke poses critical questions about why we often elevate such personalities in leadership roles.
While some may argue that dark personalities make compelling leaders, ten Brinke debunks this myth in lighter sections of the book. She highlights how research into investment bankers reveals that the most manipulative managers often achieve poorer financial outcomes over time.
Findings suggest that these cunning managers earned 30% less than their cooperative counterparts over a decade. “If you aim to maximize investment returns, seeking a predatory manager may not be your best strategy,” she concludes.
Misconceptions about psychopathic effectiveness arise in workplace dynamics, as dark personalities tend to propagate self-aggrandizing lies. They find reward in deception, furthering their personal agendas. Ten Brinke articulates how such individuals often falsely claim to be exemplary leaders, creating an atmosphere of mistrust.
“
In investment banking, the most malicious and cunning managers earned 30% less than the average. “
Ten Brinke emphasizes our complicity in endorsing dishonest narratives. By refining our own darker traits, particularly strategic Machiavellian thinking, we can better identify deception.
She reminds us that if detecting lies were effortless, deception wouldn’t exist. However, vigilance can pay off. If a few “bad apples” spoil the barrel, the rest of us have the power to prevent decay. Interestingly, ten Brinke hints that certain traits, such as empathy and conscience, can counterbalance darker tendencies, offering a means to reverse corruption.
Challenging the notion that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” she asserts it applies principally to the worst individuals. Taking ownership of our moral character can lead to rewards.
The pathway to cultivating what she calls “moral Machiavellianism” could significantly enhance our society, moving us beyond the assembly line of psychopathic behaviors.
Amyloid plaques in the brain are a defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease, but what if the roots of the condition start elsewhere in the body?
Alamy
Alzheimer’s disease has traditionally been believed to originate in the brain. However, comprehensive genomic analysis indicates that inflammation in distant organs such as the skin, lungs, or intestines may initiate the condition, potentially decades before noticeable memory decline occurs. This shift in understanding could shed light on why Alzheimer’s treatments have been largely ineffective. Current drugs intervene too late; a focus on early-stage inflammation in peripheral organs may be crucial.
“As neuroscientists, we tend to focus on the brain, but this study highlights that the brain is interconnected with the body, and changes elsewhere can impact brain function,” states Donna Wilcock from Indiana University, not involved in the study. “Although Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder, we must consider the entire body when discussing its genesis.”
To explore the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers including Cesar Cunha from Denmark’s Novo Nordisk Foundation Basic Metabolic Research Center analyzed genetic data from the European Alzheimer’s and Dementia Biobank, encompassing over 85,000 individuals with the disease and approximately 485,000 without it. They also evaluated gene activity in 5 million single cells across 40 body regions and 100 brain regions.
The study scrutinized 1,000 genes linked to an increased Alzheimer’s disease risk, surprisingly finding these genes were more abundant in organs like the skin, lungs, and digestive system than in the brain. “It was counterintuitive at first because the expression of these risk genes in brain cells seemed low,” notes Cunha. “Our continued analysis revealed their primary presence in other body parts.”
Many of these Alzheimer’s risk genes are tied to immune regulation and are particularly abundant in barrier tissues like the skin and lungs, which defend against bacteria and toxins through inflammatory responses. “This suggests that Alzheimer’s might initiate due to inflammation in these peripheral organs,” Cunha explains. Genetic variations may even dictate the extent of inflammation and its impact on brain health. Hence, individuals with a family history of Alzheimer’s could be more vulnerable to the disease amidst infections or inflammatory episodes.
Interestingly, the highest expression of these gene variants occurs when individuals reach ages 55 to 60. Inflammation during this period seems likely to trigger Alzheimer’s, corroborated by long-term studies from Hawaii. Inflammatory markers rise in individuals in their late 50s, with those in their 70s and 80s exhibiting increased Alzheimer’s likelihood. “A person could suffer from lung inflammation due to a viral infection at age 55, which might initiate Alzheimer’s 30 years later, but the exact mechanisms remain elusive,” Cunha remarks.
Rezanur Rahman, a researcher at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, has identified a genetic mutation associated with Alzheimer’s that appears concentrated in the skin and lungs. More research is essential to understand their functional role in symptom progression, Rahman states. “Association does not imply causation.”
Previously, the brain was deemed immune-privileged and largely unaffected by inflammatory processes elsewhere in the body. Bryce Vissel from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, among those who first proposed inflammation as a trigger for Alzheimer’s, acknowledges that while initially contentious, new evidence supports that peripheral inflammation from infections or injuries may indeed instigate the disease.Infection or injury can affect brain function.
When inflammation occurs, immune cells are activated, releasing signaling proteins like cytokines that can cross into the brain via the bloodstream. An unpublished study by Vissel and his team indicates that cytokines may disrupt neuronal connections, potentially leading to memory impairment.
Concurrently, research has shown that the blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable with age, allowing inflammatory cytokines and immune cells easier access, which might elucidate why inflammation poses more of a risk during mid-life compared to youth, Cunha notes.
Current theories posit that Alzheimer’s disease stems from the accumulation of misfolded beta-amyloid and tau proteins within the brain. Yet, treatments aimed at eliminating these proteins have yielded minimal success, indicating that such accumulation might be a symptom rather than the core issue. “We’ve been trying to treat the result of the disease, not its cause,” Cunha argues.
Cunha likens this to past mistakes in obesity treatments, which initially targeted excess fat directly, failing until genetic research revealed that mutations connected with obesity are often highly expressed in the brain, disrupting appetite and energy balance. This led to the development of the weight-loss medication semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy), which modulates brain pathways to curb appetite.
If Alzheimer’s originates from peripheral inflammation, its treatment would necessitate a paradigm shift, Cunha asserts. Data indicate that midlife vaccinations may offer protective benefits against Alzheimer’s disease. A recent Californian study revealed that adults receiving both doses of the shingles vaccine recommended for individuals aged 50 and older were 50% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s by age 65. Another investigation found that those aged 50 and older treated with the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for bladder cancer had a 20% reduced risk of onset.
This phenomenon might arise as vaccines bolster the aging immune system and mitigate inflammation, suggests Wilcock. “At age 55, we should invigorate our immune systems and remind them to stay active, as most vaccinations occur in childhood.”
Beyond vaccinations, several lifestyle interventions have been shown to diminish inflammation and avert Alzheimer’s disease. These include adopting a Mediterranean diet, limiting alcohol consumption, exercising, quitting smoking, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Professor Cunha emphasizes that the challenge lies in convincing fellow neuroscientists to recognize peripheral inflammation as a potential contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. “I’ve encountered skepticism at academic conferences, being told, ‘If you aren’t focusing on amyloid, you’re not studying Alzheimer’s disease,'” he shares. “After decades entrenched in amyloid research, adapting one’s perspective can be daunting.”
Exciting news from New Guinea! Two marsupial species, believed extinct for over 6,000 years, have been rediscovered.
The Ring-tailed Gliders and Pygmy Longfinger Possums, previously known only from fossils in Australia, were recently observed on the Vogelkop Peninsula in Papua, Indonesia, thanks to the support of local indigenous communities.
Renowned researcher Tim Flannery and his team at the Australian Museum in Sydney undertook years of investigative work, including analyzing peculiar sightings and misidentified specimens, to confirm that these remarkable animals had returned to life.
With photographic evidence and active collaboration with local communities, researchers have verified these animals’ existence. However, their habitat is under threat from logging activities. The specific ecological requirements and range of these rediscovered species are still largely unknown, complicating conservation efforts.
Scott Hucknull, a professor at Central Queensland University, remarked that this discovery is “more significant than finding a live quoll in Tasmania.”
One notable species, the Wow Glider (Thus ayamalensis), is closely related to Australian gliders in the genus Petaurodes. However, distinct features like its prehensile tail and furless ears have warranted its classification into a separate genus.
Local indigenous communities often regard gliders as sacred and protected animals, potentially contributing to their previous obscurity in scientific literature.
“This is one of the most photogenic animals and beautiful marsupials I’ve ever encountered,” Flannery stated.
The Pygmy Longfinger Possum (Dactylonax Kambuyai) is a striking striped creature characterized by an unusually long finger on each hand, which aids its survival.
As Flannery explains, “They possess unique ear adaptations that may help them detect the low-frequency sounds of larvae within wood, allowing them to extract food from decaying trees.”
The exact location of this species remains confidential to protect it from potential wildlife traders.
Flannery cautions against capturing these animals. “They are challenging to maintain in captivity due to their specialized diet—potential pet owners should be forewarned: they don’t last long in confined environments.”
Fossils trace back to approximately 3 to 4 million years ago have been uncovered in archaeological sites in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia, but significant gaps exist in the fossil record, leaving much about the genus a mystery.
Hucknull notes, “The smallest fossil species are undifferentiated from their modern counterparts. The Dactylonax Kambuyai has now been confirmed alive in West Papua.”
“Pocket-sized, peculiar, and adorable,” says Hucknull, emphasizing the ecological significance of this unique species.
Researcher David Lindenmayer from the Australian National University in Canberra commented on the significance of these discoveries while expressing concern over deforestation and habitat destruction in New Guinea. “It provokes questions about what has been lost in Australia due to similar land clearing practices.”
Explore Fossil Hunting in the Australian Outback
Join us on an extraordinary adventure through Australia’s fossil frontier! Once a shallow inland sea millions of years ago, eastern Australia is now a fossil hotspot. Over 13 unforgettable days, travel deep into the hinterland, follow in the footsteps of prehistoric giants, and uncover the secrets of Earth’s ancient history.
While direct evidence of extraterrestrial life remains elusive unless aliens reside close to our solar system, the search for signs of life beyond Earth continues. Astrobiologists typically seek biological markers such as oxygen molecules and ozone in the atmospheres of exoplanets as indicators of potential life.
However, the presence of these chemicals doesn’t guarantee life; they could arise from unknown non-biological processes. More definitive proof of intelligent extraterrestrial beings might come from identifying signs of technological activities in space, known as technosignatures. Established in 1984, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) focuses specifically on detecting these technosignatures, particularly through radio signals.
From 2006 to 2020, the SETI@home project collaborated with researchers exploring excessive radio emissions from space via the Arecibo Telescope. Over 14 years, SETI@home collected approximately 400 days of observation time, resulting in billions of detected radio emissions. Unfortunately, most of these signals are likely due to radio frequency interference, benign celestial objects like pulsars or gas clouds, rather than a single extraterrestrial source.
To refine their data analysis, the team recently developed an algorithm designed to filter out interference and pinpoint signals from fixed sources. This advancement positions researchers to re-observe these locations using the 500-meter Fast Radio Telescope.
The algorithm’s goal is to differentiate between natural cosmic signals and potential technosignatures. The team established three criteria for detecting such signals: they must remain stable within a narrow frequency range, exhibit a consistent pulsation, and contain a periodic structure spanning several seconds.
A key consideration is that signals sent intentionally for detection may differ significantly from random radio waves emitted from an alien atmosphere. The principles governing these interactions, such as the Doppler shift, complicate the analysis. Researchers theorize that intelligent civilizations would generate radio signals at a near-constant frequency, easily distinguishable from natural noise.
In their algorithm development, researchers integrated artificial data points that simulate the potential detection of distinct technosignatures, referred to as birdie candidates. If a birdie is flagged for further analysis, it validates the algorithm’s effectiveness. Adjustments to the algorithm’s sensitivity were made based on whether birdies were included or excluded from deeper scrutiny.
To tackle the complexities of data filtering and scoring, the team divided tasks into manageable segments, allowing simultaneous processing on multiple machines. Running the algorithm on 2,000 connected processors, filtering took about 15 hours, while scoring required 1.6 days. Two iterations of the algorithm on SETI@home data were completed, including one with 3,000 birdies for comparative analysis. The Birdie system helped determine which algorithm settings surpassed specified energy thresholds, leading to the identification of 92 targeted signal candidates for re-observation using 23 hours of observation time gained through FAST.
Currently, work is ongoing to analyze these signals, and as of July 2025, researchers have re-observed 80 out of the 92 candidates. Although no direct evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence has been discovered yet, the team remains optimistic that future inquiries utilizing specialized radio telescopes will yield promising results. However, the high costs and demands associated with radio telescope usage mean that SETI will likely continue to collaborate with other astronomers to maximize data collection from available observations.
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