There is concern among geologists regarding the development of the GeoGPT chatbot, supported by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). They worry about potential Chinese censorship or bias in the chatbot.
Targeting geoscientists and researchers, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, GeoGPT aims to enhance the understanding of geosciences by utilizing extensive data and research on the Earth’s history spanning billions of years.
This initiative is part of the Deeptime Digital Earth (DDE) program, established in 2019 and primarily funded by China to promote international scientific cooperation and help countries achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
One component of GeoGPT’s AI technology is Qwen, a large-scale language model created by Chinese tech company Alibaba. Geologist and computer scientist Professor Paul Cleverley, who tested a pre-release version of the chatbot, highlighted concerns raised in an article in Geoscientist journal.
In response, DDE principals stated that GeoGPT also incorporates another language model, Meta’s Llama, and disputed claims of state censorship, emphasizing the chatbot’s focus on geoscientific information.
Although issues with GeoGPT have been mostly resolved, further enhancements are underway as the system is not yet released to the public. Notably, geoscience data can include commercially valuable information crucial for the green transition.
The potential influence of Chinese narratives on geoscience-related questions raised concerns during testing of Qwen, a component of GeoGPT’s AI, prompting discussions on data transparency and biases.
Future responses of GeoGPT to sensitive queries, especially those with geopolitical implications, remain uncertain pending further development and scrutiny of the chatbot.
Assurances from DDE indicate that GeoGPT will not be subject to censorship from any nation state and users will have the option to select between Qwen and Llama models.
While the development of GeoGPT under international research collaboration adds layers of transparency, concerns persist about the potential filtering of information and strategic implications related to mineral exploration.
As GeoGPT’s database remains under review for governance standards, access to the training data upon public release will be open for scrutiny to ensure accountability and transparency.
Despite the significant funding and logistical support from China, the collaborative nature of the DDE aims to foster scientific discoveries and knowledge sharing for the benefit of global scientific communities.
Apple has been found to be in violation of new EU laws designed to promote competition among smaller companies and help consumers find more affordable alternative apps in tech companies’ app stores.
The European Commission, acting as both the EU’s antitrust and technology regulator, has informed Apple of preliminary findings after launching an investigation in March.
The Commission’s preliminary findings, which Apple can appeal, state that Apple’s conduct rules do not comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) as they restrict app developers from freely directing consumers to other platforms for offers and content.
The Commission has also initiated new non-compliance proceedings against Apple over concerns that its new contract terms for third-party app developers do not meet DMA requirements.
This marks the third non-compliance investigation launched by the Commission since the DMA took effect last year.
As part of the investigation, the committee is examining the “core technology fee,” a charge that Apple imposes on developers each time their app is installed on a phone.
The allegations against Apple for violating EU law represent the first case against a tech company under the DMA, significant legislation introduced last August to ensure fair competition among six designated “very large online platforms,” including Google, Amazon, Meta, and ByteDance (TikTok).
The investigation comes after the committee’s initial inquiry into Apple’s treatment of mobile app suppliers three months ago.
Previous findings from an earlier investigation reiterated that Apple must allow developers to inform customers about alternative, cheaper purchasing methods, guide them to these options, and enable them to make purchases free of charge, as required by new digital laws.
The investigation found that Apple’s terms of business did not allow developers to direct customers to more affordable alternatives or provide pricing information within the app.
Moreover, Apple made it challenging for customers to access pricing information and required links to external web pages for contract details.
Ultimately, the Commission determined that the fees charged by the App Store were excessive and not strictly necessary.
The Commission stated that if Apple’s alleged violations are confirmed, all three of its terms and conditions would violate Article 5(4) of the DMA, mandating gatekeepers to allow developers to direct consumers to external offers free of charge. A non-compliance decision will be issued within 12 months of the proceedings’ start on March 25, 2024.
Apple has responded by making several changes in recent months to comply with the DMA based on feedback from developers and the European Commission.
The company believes its adjustments align with the law and estimates that under the new terms, over 99% of developers will pay the same or lower fees to Apple.
All EU-based developers on the App Store now have access to features like directing app users to the web for purchases at competitive prices, reflecting Apple’s commitment to address the European Commission’s concerns.
Astronomers have used the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to create two stunning images of NGC 5253, a dwarf starburst galaxy and a possible blue compact dwarf galaxy.
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows NGC 5253, a blue compact dwarf galaxy about 11 million light-years away in the constellation Centaurus. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / A. Zezas / D. Calzetti.
NGC 5253 It is located in the constellation Centaurus, about 11 million light years from Earth.
This galaxy, also known as ESO 445-4, IRAS 13370-3123, LEDA 48334, and UGCA 369, is discovered It was discovered on March 15, 1787 by German-born British astronomer William Herschel.
The galaxy is thought to be part of the Centaurus A/Messier 83 galaxy group, which also includes the well-known radio galaxy Centaurus A and the spiral galaxy Messier 83.
This Hubble image was taken with the High Resolution Channel (HRC) of Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) showing NGC 5253. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubble / WD Vacca.
“What was it about this galaxy that fascinated us so much that we studied it intensively for more than a decade using three of the Hubble Space Telescope’s instruments?” the Hubble astronomers said.
“It turns out that Hubble’s capabilities are the focus of several research areas that are essential.”
“Dwarf galaxies are thought to be important for understanding the evolution of stars and galaxies over time because they resemble ancient, distant galaxies.”
“NGC 5253 has been called both a starburst galaxy and a blue compact dwarf. These names refer to the fact that this galaxy is forming a population of bright, massive stars at an exceptional rate.”
“This Hubble Space Telescope image clearly shows the dense nebula that is being consumed to give birth to these stars, making NGC 5253 a laboratory for studying stellar composition, star formation and star clusters all at once.”
“Very high star formation rates are essential for the formation of star clusters, but NGC 5253 goes beyond that. Star formation is so active in a small region of the central core that the galaxy contains more than three superclusters.”
“Superclusters are extremely luminous, dense and massive open clusters that are thought to evolve into globular clusters,” the researchers said.
“Globular clusters themselves provide unique insights into how stars form and evolve, but their origins are poorly understood.”
“So we wanted to take advantage of the excellent resolution of HRC’s auxiliary instruments to zero in on these small, very dense clusters.”
PLaptops with multiple touchscreens have long been the stuff of science fiction movies, but in the real world, several manufacturers have tried to build dual-screen laptops without much success.
This usually happens because they try to do too much and end up compromising too much, and now Asus thinks it's solved that problem with its new dual-screen machine, which also has a full-size, detachable physical keyboard.
In theory, this means the 2024 version of the Zenbook Duo could be the best of both worlds: a regular laptop with a standard keyboard and trackpad, and a futuristic machine with two touchscreens.
But such advancements always come with a hefty price tag, and the new machine is available in a range of configurations and prices depending on the region, starting from £1,799 in the UK, all the way up to £2,000 for the Core Ultra 9 version we tested.
Windows Hello recognizes your face to log you into the laptop, and the keyboard and trackpad provide a great typing experience. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
It has two full 14″ touchscreen OLED displays hinged like a book in the middle, one in the lid and one where a regular laptop keyboard would be. The full-size laptop keyboard and trackpad attaches magnetically to pins in the screen at the bottom, completely covering the screen. It fits snugly and works so well that you might not even notice there's a display underneath. If you want to use it as a regular laptop, you don't have to compromise too much, but the keyboard can also be detached from the laptop and used via Bluetooth, which is very handy.
Detach the keyboard and you have two screens. The lower display houses a full-size touchscreen keyboard with a simulated trackpad, but it's fine for simple actions like search queries and AI prompts. The included stylus can be used to draw and write on either screen; how well it works depends on the app you're trying to use. Microsoft's handwriting recognition is better, while Asus' system isn't as good.
The kickstand and detachable keyboard allow the Zenbook Duo to be used in a variety of configurations. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
A kickstand on the back of the machine lets you prop up the Duo in a variety of configurations beyond the standard laptop L-shape. Stand the Duo upright, screen-top to screen-top, perfect for using two screens at your desk for a huge productivity boost, or prop it up like an open book, with the two screens side-by-side, perfect for documents.
The Core Ultra 9 version's 3K 120Hz OLED screen looks great, with very sharp blacks and vibrant colors, but it’s not particularly bright and struggled to overcome glare and reflections in direct sunlight, requiring a bit of adjustment to the screen angle in bright environments.
The kickstand is quite sturdy and can support the laptop at a variety of angles on a desk. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Zenbook Duo is equipped with Intel's new Core Ultra chips, and in our testing, the Ultra 9 185H was the best performing, delivering impressive performance for a thin and light laptop. It handled everyday tasks with ease, including advanced photo manipulation and juggling three screens simultaneously (the laptop's two 3K displays and an external 4K monitor).
Benchmark tests show that its performance is on par with similar 14-inch PC laptops from Dell, Lenovo and others, as well as Apple's M1 Pro chip in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. However, the Zenbook does get quite warm, with the top quarter of the machine's lower half getting noticeably warm even under light loads.
Battery life varies greatly depending on how many screens you're using. Used as a standard laptop with the keyboard attached and screen brightness set to around 70%, it lasted just over seven hours with light work using Chrome, Evernote, a light text editor, and various messaging apps. Using both screens simultaneously halves that figure to less than four hours in similar circumstances. Of course, performing more demanding tasks will drain the battery much faster.
Windows 11 + some stuff
The touchscreen keyboard and trackpad are nearly the same size as the real thing. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Duo comes with Windows 11, which is designed to be great for computers with multiple screens. It remembers the position of apps on both screens, automatically adjusts the screen orientation when you rotate the screen, and lets you easily move windows between screens.
Asus also bundles software to help you take advantage of the dual-screen setup, including a utility that pops up quick controls for turning the bottom screen on or off, summoning a virtual keyboard, swapping windows, and more.
The Asus Dial and Control app lets you create a custom set of virtual dials, buttons and tools on the bottom screen for doing things like changing brush thickness in a paint app or altering the volume knob on Spotify, but in general I found it better to use the second screen as a full monitor rather than covering it with touchscreen controls.
However, please note that it is not accessible on the Zenbook Duo. Microsoft's new Copilot+ AI tool It's limited to certain new chips as part of a Windows 11 update.
sustainability
The Zenbook Duo is a little thicker than a standard laptop, and its speakers aren't the best. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Asus rates the battery to retain over 80% of its original capacity for at least 1,200 full charge cycles, and there's a care tool available to extend its lifespan by limiting charging to 80%. The device is repairable in the UK, and the SSD is upgradeable. The body is made from recycled magnesium-aluminium alloy, and Asus Free machine recycling.
price
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) is priced from £1,799 (€1,899.99/$1,499.99) with an Intel Ultra 7 chip and FHD display. £1,999.99 (€2,499.99/$1,699.99/A$3,999) with Intel Ultra 9 and 3K display.
By comparison, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i Gen 9 dual-screen laptop is priced at £2,011.50, the Microsoft Surface Laptop starts at £1,049 and the Apple MacBook Air M3 at £1,099.
verdict
The Zenbook Duo is one of the most successful attempts to make a dual-screen laptop work in the real world. If you want to use it as a regular laptop, you get a great keyboard and trackpad. But once you’re at your desk, it takes just a few seconds to set up the two screens, which can make you much more productive. It also reduces the back and neck pain that can come from hunching over a laptop.
The middle ground between the touchscreen keyboard and widget-packed controls isn’t appealing, but those with artistic skills may be pleased to be able to draw with the included stylus.
There are four main compromises: it heats up more easily than a comparable standard laptop, has a slightly shorter battery life, is heavier and thicker, and is much more expensive. Despite being an all-new machine, the Duo runs on an Intel chip and can’t run the new Copilot+ feature that Microsoft is now adding to Windows. It remains to be seen whether these compromises will be a deciding factor.
This isn’t a laptop we’d recommend for everyone, but if you want a portable dual-screen setup, the Zenbook Duo
Exciting developments are on the horizon in the world of obesity medications.
Pharmaceutical companies are racing to create new drugs, building on the success of existing medications like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovi, as well as Eli Lilly’s Maunjaro and Zepbound.
In addition to targeting diabetes and weight loss, some experimental drugs show promise in improving liver and heart function while reducing common side effects such as muscle loss seen with current treatments. Data on 27 GLP-1 drugs in development will be presented at the 2024 American Diabetes Association meeting in Orlando, Florida.
According to Marlon Pragnell, PhD, the ADA’s vice president of research and science, the pipeline now includes a variety of drug candidates in different stages of development, creating an exciting landscape of innovation.
While most of the data currently available comes from animal studies or early human trials, some drugs may be available in the United States over the counter within a few years, with FDA approval likely further down the line.
As the field of GLP-1 drugs continues to expand, there is hope for more affordable medications with fewer side effects to become available, offering new possibilities for patients.
Exploring Different Hormones for Weight Loss
GLP-1 drugs function by slowing down the digestive process and promoting a sense of fullness. In addition to GLP-1, emerging weight-loss drugs are examining the impact of another hormone called glucagon, which can mimic the effects of exercise.
One such drug, Pemvidutide from Maryland-based Altimmune, combines glucagon with GLP-1 to potentially enhance weight loss effects.
Results from a Phase 2 trial involving obese or overweight adults showed promising weight loss outcomes, paving the way for further research into the drug’s potential benefits.
Altimmune’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Harris, highlighted the drug’s ability not only to aid in weight loss but also to provide additional health benefits for liver and heart function while preserving lean body mass.
Altimmune plans to move forward with Phase 3 trials and aims to introduce the drug in the U.S. by 2028.
Competition and Cost Considerations
Having a variety of weight-loss drugs available can help address shortages and potentially drive down costs over time. The high prices of current medications like Wegobee and Zepbound in the U.S. can pose financial challenges for many patients.
Different patients may respond differently to various treatments, as highlighted by Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford of Harvard Medical School. Having a range of options is crucial to tailor treatments to individual needs.
Stay Informed with the Latest News on Weight Loss Drugs
New developments in the pharmaceutical world present opportunities for improved treatment outcomes and potentially life-changing solutions for patients struggling with obesity.
For individuals like Danielle Griffin, who have not seen the desired results from current medications, the prospect of innovative drugs offers hope and excitement for the future.
Advancements in Metabolic Health
Companies like Eli Lilly are exploring new combinations of hormones to enhance the efficacy of weight-loss drugs. Retatortide, a new injectable medication from Lilly, shows promising results in weight loss and blood sugar control.
Additional studies on drugs like Mazduchid highlight the potential for improved metabolic status and weight loss outcomes, paving the way for new treatment options in the near future.
These ongoing developments underscore the dynamic landscape of obesity treatment, offering hope for a new generation of medications that could revolutionize the field and improve outcomes for patients.
The Future of Obesity Treatment
As research and development in the field of obesity medications continue to advance, there is optimism for more effective, affordable, and patient-friendly treatments to become available in the coming years.
With the potential for improved metabolic health, weight loss outcomes, and reduced side effects, the next wave of obesity treatments holds great promise for individuals struggling with obesity-related health issues.
The ongoing innovation in this field signifies a new era of possibilities in obesity treatment, offering hope for a healthier future for many individuals.
The Moon, Earth’s loyal companion that remains steadfast in its orbit around our planet, has been a topic of fascination and exploration ever since the early days of space travel. Missions have been planned, rovers have traversed its surface, and even a flag has been planted on its barren landscape.
But what is the appeal of the Moon? Situated about 400,000 km away from Earth, it poses numerous challenges for human habitation, such as high levels of solar radiation. However, the Moon offers a unique opportunity for planetary research, scientific experiments, and potentially lucrative mining ventures due to its untapped resources.
With the allure of untapped resources comes a race to be the first to claim ownership of the Moon. This begs the question: Who does the Moon truly belong to? Philosopher and author AC Grayling explores this complex issue in his latest book, Who owns the moon?
SF: Why the interest in the Moon, and will we ever reach it?
ACG: The Moon holds vast potential for mining operations as it is rich in resources, presenting a more feasible option compared to Earth. Despite logistical challenges, rapid technological advancements and substantial investments indicate that lunar exploration is imminent.
Some argue that a robotic base alone may not suffice for the extraction of valuable resources like Helium-3, crucial for clean nuclear fusion. The lure of economic gains raises concerns about potential conflicts over lunar territory.
SF: So, who lays claim to the Moon?
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by the United Nations, prohibits militarization and territorial ownership of the Moon, declaring it a common heritage of mankind. This ambiguity has spurred competition among nations to pioneer lunar technologies.
Efforts to establish guidelines were made in 1979, yet the absence of binding agreements leaves room for potential disputes over lunar resources, particularly valuable elements like Helium-3. The lack of a regulatory framework raises concerns about future conflicts, extending beyond Earth.
Credit: Gremlin
What’s next, and will legal frameworks evolve?
The need for stringent regulations is apparent, given the burgeoning interest in lunar exploration by various space agencies. Proposals for lunar space stations and the Artemis Accords, a collaborative effort among nations for responsible space conduct, hint at evolving norms to govern lunar activities.
Historically, the 1961 Antarctic Treaty provides a model for international cooperation in preserving a common resource. However, challenges arise as countries like China and Russia seek to assert territorial claims in Antarctica, signaling potential conflicts over resource exploitation.
The Moon’s status as a shared resource prompts calls for inclusive lunar laws and international treaties to ensure equitable benefits. Efforts to establish regulatory frameworks face obstacles, mirroring past struggles in maritime law and resource management.
Is there a case for leaving the Moon untouched?
The Moon’s vast expanse and desolate nature diminish concerns over environmental impact, distinguishing it from Earth. Despite existing space debris, the Moon’s remote location offers ample space for exploration and development.
What lies beyond the Moon?
Envisioning a future where lunar infrastructure facilitates Mars exploration through water extraction for fuel production, heralds a new era of space colonization. Echoing historical precedents, colonies in space may strive for autonomy, shaping interplanetary relations akin to terrestrial geopolitics.
As humanity embarks on extraterrestrial endeavors, adherence to ethical principles and equitable resource-sharing remains pivotal for a sustainable cosmic future.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
About our expert, A.C. Grayling
AC Grayling, a distinguished philosopher and author, sheds light on lunar ownership in his book “Whose Moon is It?” He is also the founder of the New College of the Humanities, recognized for his contributions to literary criticism and philosophical discourse.
On Wednesday evening, I found myself seated at my kitchen table staring at my laptop screen with a mix of emotions. Testing out a new demo from a Manhattan-based startup called Hume, claiming to have the world’s first voice AI with emotional intelligence. According to Alan Cohen, CEO and chief scientist at Hume, the technology helps predict emotional patterns based on the tone of voice and text.
With the rise of emotional AI in the industry, companies like Hume are raising significant funding and predicting a booming market. However, there are concerns about how accurately AI can read and respond to human emotions. Will it be able to interpret subtle cues and non-verbal expressions? Professor Andrew McStay suggests that understanding emotions can have a far greater impact beyond monetary value.
My experience testing Hume’s Empathic Voice Interface (EVI) revealed interesting results. While the AI could analyze and display emotional patterns like love, adoration, and romance, there was a sense that voice tone was given more weight than the actual words spoken. Some critics argue that AI is limited in understanding subtle human emotions and behaviors that go beyond overt expressions.
On the ethical front, there are concerns about AI bias and the potential for misuse in areas like surveillance and emotional manipulation. Safeguards like the Hume Initiative aim to set guidelines and restrictions on the use of emotional AI in various sectors. However, the evolving nature of artificial intelligence poses challenges in regulating its applications.
As emotional AI continues to develop, researchers like Lisa Feldman Barrett highlight the complexities of defining and interpreting emotions accurately. Legal frameworks like the European Union AI law aim to curb the negative impacts of emotional recognition technology while allowing for certain applications.
While there are ongoing debates about the effectiveness and ethical implications of emotional AI, researchers like Lennart Hogman from Stockholm University are exploring innovative uses of the technology. By analyzing emotions in interactive settings like psychotherapy, AI tools could potentially enhance therapeutic outcomes and improve collaboration in various fields.
Ultimately, the future of emotional AI depends on how society navigates its potential benefits and risks. As we grapple with the implications of this technology, it’s crucial to prioritize ethical considerations and align user interests with the development of these systems. Embracing emotional AI requires a critical understanding of its capabilities and impact on individuals and society as a whole.
A cyber outage at a major retail software provider for auto dealerships entered its third day on Friday, causing delays in car sales across North America, the affected company said, with software provider CDK saying there is no end in sight.
“The CDK outage is affecting auto dealers across the United States and Canada, including some BMW Group dealers,” a BMW North America spokesman told Reuters.
CDK, which provides a range of software to auto dealerships, said it experienced another cyber incident on Wednesday that caused it to proactively shut down most of its systems, but that it is working to restore services and get dealers’ business back to normal soon. CDK sent a letter The company responded to customers by saying that it was unclear how long it would take to resolve the issue.
The company did not disclose in its statement how many dealerships would be affected. But according to its website, CDK works with more than 15,000 retailers in North America. Representatives from major automakers including Ford, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz said: Confirmed by Bloomberg They were working with dealers affected by the outage.
“Dealers are extremely committed to protecting customer information and are proactively receiving information from CDK to help determine the nature and scope of the cyber incident and respond appropriately,” the National Automobile Dealers Association said. Independently owned car dealer Holman also said the outage affected its phone system.
Investment firm Brookfield Business Partners acquired CDK in April 2022 for $6.41 billion in cash, taking private the last major publicly traded company that provides software to auto dealerships and manufacturers.
According to The Guardian, the government is contemplating a response to Russian hackers who obtained records of 300 million NHS patient interactions, including sensitive data like HIV and cancer blood test results.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) is exploring potential actions against the Russia-based ransomware group Qilin, who recently leaked the stolen NHS records in a cyber attack on June 3.
Healthcare leaders in London, where the attack occurred, set up a helpline to address concerns from worried patients about their data and advised against contacting hospitals or GP practices directly for information.
The NCA and the National Cyber Security Centre are discussing possible responses to the ransom demand of $50 million, which has so far been ignored, prompting concerns about the severity of the attack.
Experts from the NCA are working to remove the data leaked by Kirin on the messaging platform, but the extent of the damage and the potential impact of retrieving or deleting the data remain uncertain.
Authorities have dealt with similar ransomware gangs previously, including taking down the LockBit group with international cooperation, showcasing their commitment to combatting cyber threats.
The recent attack on the NHS reveals a major breach in patient data security, affecting multiple hospitals and healthcare facilities, leading to cancellations and disruptions in medical services.
Patients are cautioned to be vigilant against potential scams targeting them based on the leaked data and are advised to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities immediately.
The NHS Helpline is available for patients seeking information or assistance related to the incident, and efforts are being made to minimize the impact of the data breach on patient care.
The release of private healthcare test records along with NHS data indicates a broader breach that could have far-reaching implications, underscoring the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector.
Despite ongoing challenges, healthcare providers are striving to maintain essential services for patients while addressing the fallout from the cyber attack on the NHS.
Cybersecurity experts stress the importance of swift action in response to data breaches, indicating that negotiations with ransomware groups typically end once data is leaked.
While the situation remains precarious, authorities and healthcare institutions are working diligently to mitigate the impact of the attack and prevent further breaches in the future.
Apple is delaying the launch of three new artificial intelligence features in Europe due to European Union competition rules. The features will be available in the US this fall, but not in Europe until 2025.
The delay is a result of regulatory uncertainty caused by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple stated that phone mirroring, SharePlay screen sharing enhancements, and Apple Intelligence will not roll out to EU users this year.
Apple argues that complying with the EU regulations would compromise the security of its products, a claim that EU authorities have challenged in the past.
Apple stated in an email that they are concerned about the DMA’s interoperability requirements potentially compromising user privacy and data security.
The European Commission welcomes Apple in the EU as long as it complies with EU law, as stated in a Bloomberg article.
At its annual developers conference earlier this month, Apple announced Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features that integrates ChatGPT with Siri for web searching and content generation.
The upcoming Apple mobile operating system will enable the assistant feature to search through emails, texts, and photos to find specific information as instructed by the user.
Apple assures that the new AI features, available on select Apple devices, will prioritize user privacy and safety. The company is working with the European Commission to address concerns and provide these features to EU customers securely.
CEO Tim Cook has reaffirmed that Apple’s AI features will respect personal privacy and context, aligning with the company’s commitment to user security.
Are you the owner of a lovely and precious cat? Then your cat might be blocking the display of this page and ruining everything again, especially if you are reading this page on a laptop.
But what is the reason behind this behavior? Why are cats so obsessed with our computers?
Unfortunately, no large-scale (and probably highly impractical) scientific experiments have yet been conducted to delve into this question, but experts in cat behavior do have an important theory that might explain keyboard cats.
Why does my cat sit on my laptop?
Unfortunately, it’s probably not a case of imitation behavior — your cat just sees you typing and doesn’t want to join in.
but, Dr. David Sands – Animal Psychology Expert with over 25 years of clinical experience – Cats cannot easily imitate the behavior of typing, so your cat probably won’t be interested if you tempt him with a decoy old laptop.
Read more about cats:
It’s also unlikely that cats are attracted solely to the heat emitted by laptops: “Yes, laptops do generate heat, and cats do like warm places, but you need to ask why a cat wouldn’t sit next to a radiator, for example,” Sands says.
What really makes your laptop attractive to cats is its smell — or, more specifically, the smell you keep on it.
“You can’t smell it, but your cat can smell you all over the keyboard,” Sands says.
“Cats are olfactory machines, from the tip of their tail to the tip of their nose. Their world revolves around smells. Their eyesight is developed for nocturnal hunting, and their sense of smell is Really Other times it matters.”
But while it’s possible that your cat is sitting on your computer because it enjoys the smell, Sands says another explanation is far more likely.
“Your cat is most likely trying to steal your scent by leaving his own scent on you. It’s a matter of ownership. By doing this, your cat is essentially saying, ‘You’re mine!'”
“People often think that when a cat rubs itself against you or the objects you touch it’s an affectionate sign, but in reality cats are very possessive creatures. The more they rub against you and leave your scent behind, the better!”
In case you’re wondering whether cats are desperately trying to become the dominant force in the home, Sands adds: “Dogs have been bred to be companions to humans, but cats have also become quite feral. Cats have been bred primarily for pest control, so they are selfish creatures rather than sociable animals.”
“Remember, cats are evil geniuses. They James Bond There’s a reason to watch movies.”
Is it unhealthy for my cat to sit on my laptop?
From making you close important documents without saving to sending your boss another “s,ll,;;;;;l;mk” message, a cat snuggling on your laptop can take a huge toll on you. If your cat is getting in the way of your work, Sands recommends cleaning your laptop regularly.
But your cat is unlikely to be harmed by lounging on your computer: “Physically, it’s not harmful, and cognitively, it’s only something to be concerned about if this behavior occurs with other cats,” he says.
“If your cat meows a lot and follows you around the house, it could be a sign of anxiety or attention-seeking.”
But what if your cat isn’t showing these signs? There’s no reason why your cat can’t lie on your keyboard – it owns it, and everything else in your home.
About our Expert, Dr. David Sands
Sands has a PhD in Ethology (Animal Psychology) from the University of Liverpool and has over 25 years of experience in animal behaviour clinics. He is a member of the Canine and Cat Behavioural Association (CFBA) and the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB). Sands is also the author of several books. 500 Questions About Cats AnsweredHamlin, 4 pounds).
Naming a new project the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) may come across as overly confident. This is because dark energy is undetectable and cannot be examined or analyzed through traditional methods like spectroscopy. Despite numerous attempts, dark energy has never been directly observed and remains a mystery in the realm of astrophysics.
Dark energy is believed to be a uniform force throughout the universe that does not interact with matter or light in any discernible way. Its primary function is to expand space at an accelerating rate, a process that baffles scientists due to its unknown underlying mechanism.
The recent release of data from DESI has sparked interest and debate in the scientific community. This project aims to shed light on the behavior of dark energy by mapping the expansion history of the universe. By studying the motion of galaxies and measuring the stretching of light emitted from distant objects, researchers can gain insights into the evolution of the cosmos.
The current prevailing model of cosmology suggests that dark energy exists as a static cosmological constant, affecting the fabric of space uniformly. However, DESI’s findings hint at a more complex history for dark energy, challenging conventional theories about its nature and implications for the future of the universe.
As researchers delve deeper into the mysteries of dark energy, they may uncover new discoveries that challenge existing paradigms and push the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos. The DESI project represents an important step towards unraveling the enigma of dark energy and its profound impact on the universe.
It is commonly believed that cutting a sandwich diagonally to create two triangles is the best way, but there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim.
One theory suggests that the triangular shape allows for the first two bites to be taken from a 45-degree corner, which has crust on only one side, making it easier to access the center of the sandwich where the filling is most concentrated.
After eating the corner, take 1-3 bites diagonally, missing the crust. Depending on the size of the sandwich, you may be left with an additional small triangle.
Ultimately, each triangle will become a single 90-degree chunk of crust. However, cutting the sandwich into rectangles would result in two crust corners on each half.
Another reason for cutting sandwiches into triangles is that they are easier to eat. Starting at one of the corners leads to a cleaner bite, and the 45-degree angle of the triangle maximizes the engagement depth.
If taken to the extreme, cutting the sandwich into four triangles allows for a neat eating experience in three bites.
This cutting strategy is often used at children’s parties, though kids might not always start with the 45-degree corner. In such cases, simply cutting off the crust altogether may be the best option.
This article provides insight into the scientifically best way to cut a sandwich, as inquired by Jeremy Fry of Felixstowe.
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One of the most widely publicized examples of fossil legends is the Central Asian ceratopsid and Protoceratops And that GriffinA mythical creature that combines the characteristics of a lion and a bird and protects gold. This earth myth was first proposed in the 1990s. Protoceratops Fossils were transported west along trade routes from the gold mines of Asia, spreading griffin lore among the ancient Greeks. ProtoceratopsBut Griffin Link finds that unconvincing.
of Protoceratops-The geomyth of the griffin. The idea that horned dinosaur fossils in Mongolia inspired the myth of the griffin, an ancient chimera of bird and lion according to conventional archaeologists, is one of the most popular and publicized examples of fossil folklore in modern times. The idea was first proposed in the early 1990s but has received little academic scrutiny. Image credit: Whitton others., doi: 10.1177/03080188241255543.
The specific link between dinosaur fossils and the griffin myth was proposed more than 30 years ago in a series of papers and books written by folklorist Adrienne Mayolle.
This is because early ceratopsians in Mongolia and China ProtoceratopsIt was discovered by ancient nomads searching for gold in Central Asia.
story Protoceratops The bones then traveled along trade routes to the Southwest, influencing griffin stories and art.
Griffins are one of the oldest mythological creatures, first appearing in Egyptian and Middle Eastern art in the 4th millennium BC and becoming popular in Ancient Greece in the 8th century BC.
Protoceratops This is a 2-metre-long dinosaur that lived in Mongolia and northern China during the Cretaceous Period, 75 to 71 million years ago.
Like Griffin, Protoceratops It stood on all fours, had a beak, and had frill-like protrusions on its skull which some have argued could be interpreted as wings.
In the first detailed assessment of the claims, Mark Whitton of the University of Portsmouth and his colleagues looked at the historical fossil record, Protoceratops Fossils and classical sources related to griffins ProtoceratopsTo fully understand the non-traditional, fossil-based views of the griffin's origins, we consulted historians and archaeologists. Ultimately, we found that none of the arguments stood up to scrutiny.
idea Protoceratops For example, it is unlikely to be discovered by nomads searching for gold. Protoceratops Fossils have been found hundreds of kilometers away from ancient gold mines.
A century has passed since then. Protoceratops Although it was found, there have been no reports of gold buried alongside it.
Also, nomads Protoceratops Even if gold miners search for the area where the fossils were found, they will not find the skeleton.
“The hypothesis is that the dinosaur skeletons were found semi-exposed and left as if they were the remains of a recently dead animal,” Dr Whitton said.
“But generally speaking, only small parts of eroded dinosaur skeletons are visible to the naked eye and would likely go unnoticed by anyone but the most eagle-eyed fossil hunters.”
“It is almost certain that ancient peoples roaming Mongolia would have encountered it. Protoceratops. “
“We need to look further into these animals to develop a mythology, which will require us to extract fossils from the surrounding rocks.”
“Even with modern tools, adhesives, protective packaging and preparation techniques, it's no easy task.”
“probably Protoceratops The ruins have generally gone unnoticed – even though the gold miners were there and saw them.”
Similarly, the geographic spread of griffin art throughout history is not consistent with a scenario in which griffin lore originated from fossils in Central Asia and then spread westward. Protoceratops Fossils in ancient literature.
Protoceratops Its only resemblance to a griffin is that it is a quadruped with a beak. Griffin art lacks details that would suggest it was based on fossils; instead, it is clear that many griffins were modeled after features of modern cats and birds.
“Everything about the griffin's origins is consistent with the traditional interpretation that it is a mythical beast, and its appearance is perfectly explained by being a chimera between a big cat and a bird of prey,” Dr Whitton said.
“It evokes the role of dinosaurs in griffin lore, particularly species from faraway lands. Protoceratopsnot only introduces unnecessary complexity and contradictions into its origins, but also relies on interpretations and proposals that do not stand up to scrutiny.”
“It's important to distinguish between fact-based fossil folklore – links between fossils and myths that are attested to by archaeological finds or compelling references in literature and artwork – and connections that are speculative and based on intuition,” said Dr Richard Hing from the University of Portsmouth.
Team paper Published in this week's journal Interdisciplinary Science Review.
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Mark P. Whitton othersThe horned dinosaur Protoceratops Inspire Griffin? Interdisciplinary Science ReviewPublished online June 20, 2024; doi: 10.1177/03080188241255543
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is often held up as an example where overexploitation of limited resources led to catastrophic population declines. A key element of this story is that the rapid rise and fall in pre-contact Rapa Nui population growth rates was caused by the construction and overexploitation of once-extensive rock gardens. However, the extent of rock gardens across the island, important for understanding food systems and demographic dynamics, needs to be better understood. New research by archaeologists from Binghamton University and Columbia University shows that the extent of this agricultural infrastructure was significantly smaller than previously claimed, and likely could not have supported the large populations assumed.
Map of Easter Island and its location in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Image courtesy of Davis. others., doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1459.
In their study, Professor Carl Lipo of Binghamton University and his colleagues used modern techniques to more accurately estimate the number of rock gardens on Easter Island and their pre-human contact food production.
“This volcanic island was formed by an eruption a million years ago, so there has been enough time for rain to wash away the potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen needed for plant growth,” Professor Lipo said.
“Salty sea spray further reduces soil fertility.”
“The soils on Rapa Nui were not particularly productive. When people arrived on the island, they had to deal with those constraints.”
“Their first method was slash-and-burn agriculture, which involved cutting down the trees on the island.”
“This temporarily restored nutrients to the soil, but once the trees died, islanders turned to other methods, such as composting plant waste and rock mulch.”
“The fertilization benefits from composting are not enough to support a culture's food supply. Rock mulch was sufficient, but it was a very labor-intensive process.”
“The islanders chipped away some of the exposed bedrock and mixed the stone chunks into the soil, restoring nutrients and protecting the soil from further weathering.”
Rock mulch has also been traditionally used by the Maori people of New Zealand, Native Americans in the American Southwest, and in other areas such as the Netherlands.
“We do it ourselves using non-organic fertilizers. We basically use machinery to break the rocks into smaller pieces, which is more effective because it creates a larger surface area,” Professor Lipo said.
“The Rapa Nui people are literally breaking rocks by hand and burying them in the soil.”
“The gardens also grow dryland taro and yams, but the main crops are dozens of varieties of sweet potato. But not all rockeries are ancient gardens,” said Dr Robert DiNapoli from Binghamton University.
But how many gardens were there on Easter Island? When Europeans first encountered the island, they reported that 10 percent of the island was covered in gardens. Researchers have previously used satellite imagery to map the rock gardens, but this has resulted in misidentifications of things like roads.
Rapa Nui is one of the most remote human settlements on Earth, more than 2,000 km from the nearest inhabited island (Pitcairn Island) and more than 3,700 km from the South American mainland. The island is small (164 km2) and has relatively limited soil productivity and freshwater sources. Image credit: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0.
The study authors used shortwave infrared (SWIR) satellite imagery and machine learning to come up with a more precise estimate, finding that the area covered by mulch is about 180 acres, far less than previously thought.
“SWIR imagery, primarily used for geological mapping, can distinguish mineral composition and water content,” said Dr. Dylan Davis, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University.
“Due to unique mineralogical characteristics and moisture patches, the rock gardens stand out from their surroundings.”
Using the latest estimates of the number of gardens, the researchers calculated that around 3,000 people lived on Easter Island at the time of European contact.
The oldest European records indicate a population of between 3,000 and 4,000, which is consistent with artifacts found on the island.
“What we're actually seeing here is that ecological constraints mean that islands just can't support that many people in the first place,” Dr Davis said.
“People actually changed the landscape to increase the amount of crops they could cultivate intensively, but the numbers were still very small.”
“This is not an example of ecological catastrophe, but rather an example of how people have managed to survive for a long time in a fairly sustainable way, despite very limited natural resources.”
“The misconception about the island's population size comes from the island's large and impressive moai statues and the assumption that it takes a large number of people to build such statues,” Prof Lipo said.
“Ecologists tend to use Easter Island as a model for how population size can lead to ecological catastrophe.”
“You can't use Easter Island as an example to suit your story.”
“We need to understand the island in its own context, because what it really tells us is quite different from what people believe.”
Dylan S. Davis others2024. Island-wide characterization of agricultural production casts doubt on the population collapse hypothesis for Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Advances in Science 10(25):eado1459; doi:10.1126/sciadv.ado1459
With just over a month until the Olympics begin, pollution levels in Paris’ River Seine remain too dangerous for Olympic athletes to compete, according to a city monitoring report.
of Report finds elevated levels of E. coli Routine samples taken at several points along the Seine between June 10 and 16 contained toxins that are indicators of fecal matter.
To make this possible, Paris has spent about $1.5 billion cleaning up the city’s aging sewer system, which drains water into the river during heavy rains. But a new report suggests those efforts may not have been enough.
The International Olympic Committee and Paris 2024, the local organizing body in Paris, did not immediately respond to inquiries from NBC News.
Last year, test events for triathlon and marathon swimming were held on the Seine. Designed to ensure the Olympic Games run smoothly — The service was halted in August after the river failed pollution tests.
Weather can play a big role in the Seine’s pollution: Unusual rainfall in May and rainy days last week caused a significant drop in water quality, according to a new report, along with a lack of sunny days and periods of low water flow, which help reduce bacteria.
“The sun inactivates bacteria,” says Helena Solo-Gabriel, a professor in the University of Miami’s Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering.
Solo-Gabriele added that if fecal matter in the water where athletes swim exceeds safety standards, it could cause gastrointestinal illness.
The situation on the Seine has been monitored for several months. Non-profit organization Surfrider Foundation Europe It released its own results from six months of testing and found that nearly all samples failed to meet acceptable levels of E. coli and enterococcus, two types of bacteria that scientists typically test for in fecal samples.
“High bacteria counts mean there’s too much waste in the water, and waste carries bacteria that can make people sick,” says Daniel Nyzgorski, an ecologist who monitors water quality in King County, Washington.
But he added that many people don’t realize that most strains of E. coli are harmless, and studies show that swimming-related illnesses rarely result in hospitalization.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and French President Emmanuel Macron have promised to swim in the Seine to prove its water is clean, but have yet to do so.
Paris is not the first city to face a bacterial problem during the Olympics. AP analysis Levels of viruses and bacteria from fecal contamination at Olympic venues in Rio de Janeiro were found to be 1.7 million times higher than levels considered safe on some U.S. beaches. Brazilian government and IOC officials acknowledged that the water was contaminated but said the sites where athletes were competing met World Health Organization standards. According to the New York Times:.
“There’s a lot of polluted water out there. It’s a problem wherever there’s urbanization and the environment doesn’t have the natural flow that dilutes the bacteria,” Solo-Gabriel said.
Experts said the Olympics bring particular attention to these challenges every four years.
“Hopefully this case will bring attention to the problem of river pollution that we need to address not just for Olympic athletes, but for everyday people,” said Karen Levy, a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Occupational Health.
NBC News is a unit of NBCUniversal, which owns U.S. media rights to the Olympics through 2032, including the 2024 Paris Games, which begin July 26.
The people of Easter Island built hundreds of monolithic statues called Moai.
Stephanie Morcinek via Unsplash
The widely held claim that the ancient people of Easter Island experienced a social collapse due to overexploitation of natural resources is being called into fresh doubt: analysis of historical agricultural practices suggests that a small, stable population lived sustainably for centuries before Europeans arrived.
Famous for its towering stone statues, Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui) in the Pacific Ocean is thought to have been inhabited by Polynesians as early as A.D. 1200. At the time, the island’s 164 square kilometers were covered in palm forests, but a combination of rats and over-logging soon destroyed them.
According to a narrative popularized by historian Jared Diamond, unsustainable resource use led to a rapid population growth and collapse before Europeans arrived in 1722.
The islanders made their living primarily from rock gardening, a type of agriculture common in areas with poor soil and harsh climates, by scattering stones throughout the fields to create micro-habitats and windbreaks, conserve moisture, and provide important minerals.
Previous studies have suggested that the rock gardens covered 21 square kilometers of land on Rapa Nui and supported a population of up to 16,000 people.
To learn more, Carl Lipo Researchers from Binghamton University in New York combined satellite imagery and machine learning models trained on ground surveys to generate estimates of rock gardening areas across the island.
They found that the largest rock gardens measured just 0.76 square kilometers. The researchers estimate that such a system could not have supported more than 4,000 people, roughly the estimated population at the time Europeans arrived. In other words, the population was remarkably stable, the team argues.
Robert DiNapoli, a researcher at Binghamton University in New York, inspects the rock garden.
Carl Lipo
Lipo says those who continue to use Easter Island as a case study of degradation and collapse need to see the empirical evidence: “The results we produce suggest that the island was never… [had] “Huge populations overconsumed resources,” he says, “and overall, the archaeological record shows no evidence of population collapse before European arrival.”
Instead, Lipo says, the increasingly popular theory is that the islanders modified their environment to enable sustainable livelihoods for generations: “Their small populations and scattered, low-density settlement patterns enabled them to reliably produce enough food for over 500 years before Europeans arrived.”
Dale F. Simpson The University of Illinois researchers say further research is needed to assess whether the precision and accuracy of the model calculations used in the study match the archaeological record.
“Overall, this is [study] Rapa Nui [people] “Rapa Nui is often portrayed as a culture that collapsed due to sociopolitical competition, overexploitation of ecosystems, and megalithic overproduction, but the argument is better served by recognizing Rapa Nui as a Polynesian island culture of adaptation and survival that thrived for almost a millennium,” Simpson said.
Dinosaurs roamed the swamps of what is now Montana 78 million years ago, and one particularly unique creature stood out. Scientists compared it to the God of Mischief for its striking features.
This massive herbivore was over 20 feet long and weighed five tons. It sported two foot-long blade-like horns on its frilled head, two 16-inch horns above its eyes, and more than a dozen crown-like horns on its face.
Recently discovered, Lociceratops rangiformis, named after the Norse god Loki and popularized in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is a new dinosaur species reported by scientists in a scientific journal. Some debate its classification as a distinct species within the Ceratopsian family.
The study, published in PeerJ, highlights unique horn arrangements that set Lociceratops apart from its relatives, according to Joseph Sertich, co-author of the study.
Lociceratops, a newly identified Cretaceous ceratopsian.Sergey Krasovsky / via Reuters
Discovered in Montana, Lociceratops had distinct horn arrangements on its head, differing from other similar dinosaurs like Medusaceratops, with no nose horns present.
One of the largest concentrations of dinosaur fossils on Earth is found in the western US, where Lociceratops fossils were unearthed.
Commercial fossil hunter Mark Eatman discovered the bones on a Montana ranch in 2019. The Danish Museum of Evolution acquired the skeleton in 2021 for display in a museum in Denmark.
Experts at Fossilogic in Utah prepared the specimen for display, creating a replica for exhibition in 2022.
Despite some skepticism, many experts believe Lociceratops represents a new species within the Ceratopsian family, offering insights into the ecologies of the Late Cretaceous period.
Further research and analysis will shed light on the uniqueness of this fascinating dinosaur from ancient Montana.
California is set to implement state-first regulations aimed at protecting indoor workers from the heat.
The policy, which could go into effect later this summer, would require employers to provide water, breaks, and places to cool down if indoor temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The only other states that mandate similar protections are Oregon and Minnesota.
California is poised to pass the state’s first regulations to protect people who work indoors from extreme heat, a policy that could take effect as soon as later this summer.
The California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Committee unanimously voted Thursday to approve heycircle circleOak Place RulesThis will send the standards to the state’s Office of Administrative Law for quick final approval, meaning the standards could go into effect by early August.
The heat plan was originally scheduled to go into effect in 2019 but faced a five-year delay. If enacted into law, the policy would protect about 1.4 million warehouse workers, restaurant employees, manufacturing workers, and other indoor workers from dangerously hot working conditions.
The regulations require employers to monitor employees for heatstroke and provide hydration, breaks, and cool areas if indoor temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures reach 87 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take further measures, such as providing more breaks, adjusting work schedules, slowing down work pace, and providing air conditioning.
If these rules go into effect, California would join Oregon and Minnesota as the only states with policies to protect indoor workers from the heat. In 2006, California passed heat standards for outdoor workers, including those in agriculture and construction.
Meanwhile, in Texas and Florida, recent state laws have weakened workplace protections against extreme heat by prohibiting cities and counties from enacting local regulations to protect outdoor workers, such as requiring water breaks or time in the shade.
Labor advocates have been pushing for national workplace heat standards for indoor and outdoor workers, but the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has yet to adopt such rules.
Advocates say California-style regulations are needed more urgently than ever as heat waves become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
“This is huge,” said Anastasia Nicole Wright, policy manager at WorkSafe, a non-profit worker advocacy group based in Oakland, Calif. “Workers need these protections as soon as possible.”
But the state’s new requirements don’t protect all indoor workers. For now, they exempt employees of state and local correctional facilities, as well as other prison staff. In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration revised the standards to exempt the state prison system, questioning how much it would cost to bring the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation into compliance with the requirements.
Some labor advocates believe the temperature standards set in California’s policy are still too high.
“The risk of heatstroke depends on both temperature and humidity, but it also has a lot to do with physical demands,” says Tim Shaddix, legal director for the Warehouse Workers Resource Center, an advocacy group based in Ontario, Calif. “If a warehouse worker is lifting heavy boxes for an eight- or 10-hour shift, they’re at risk for heatstroke even when temperatures are in the high 70s.”
Shaddix added that he hopes California’s restrictions will inspire other parts of the country to implement similar rules.
“As summer temperatures rise due to climate change, the problem is only going to get worse, so it’s really important that we see progress and we see more models that encourage other states to follow,” he said. “And that’s the push at the federal level, and we really need that, because we have to make sure that workers across the country are protected.”
More people die from heatstroke each year in the United States than from any other extreme weather event. In 2022, 43 people died from exposure to ambient heat in the workplace, up from 36 in 2021. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Robert Mootrie, senior policy advocate at the California Chamber of Commerce, said California employers are “moving into compliance mode,” but added that certain industries, such as restaurants, will bear a greater burden because kitchens are essentially hot, enclosed spaces.
Mootrie also said small businesses in particular have expressed concerns about how to best implement the rules when they come into effect in just a few months.
“It doesn’t take much to change your internal practices, train your staff, and talk to your lawyers,” he said. “All of these things take time and resources.”
Regarding workers in California prisons and jails, Cal/OSHA said in a statement that it plans to “proceed with proposing industry-specific regulations for local and state correctional facilities that take into account the unique operational realities of these workplaces,” but did not provide a specific timeline.
Wright expressed disappointment that tens of thousands of prison staff are exempt from the restrictions.
“They’re a big percentage of the workforce,” she said, “but heat is an issue for workers and non-workers alike. Many prisons don’t have central air conditioning, so forcing prisons to take certain measures to ensure temperatures inside prisons are safe for workers would benefit inmates as well.”
Parts of the US experienced heatwaves during the day that could cause heatstroke, with temperatures rising by 2.5C (1.4C) due to global warming caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. World Weather Attribution, The calculations were made Thursday by a group of scientists conducting a rapid, non-peer-reviewed study of climate factors.
“It’s like an oven out here, there’s no way I could be here,” said Magarita Salazar Pérez, 82, who lives in Veracruz, Mexico, in her home without air conditioning. Temperatures in the Sonoran Desert reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51.9 Celsius) last week, making it the hottest day in Mexico’s history, said Shel Winkley, a meteorologist at Climate Central and co-author of the study.
And it was even worse at night, which is what made the heatwave so deadly, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London who is leading the team investigating its causes. Climate change has caused nighttime temperatures to rise by 2.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit), making extreme nighttime heat 200 times more likely, Otto said.
Salazar-Perez said there isn’t the cool nighttime air that people are used to, and doctors say lower nighttime temperatures are key to surviving the heatwave.
A man holds his head in the heat at the Cogra nursing home in Veracruz, Mexico, on June 16, 2024.Felix Marquez/AP
At least 125 people have been killed so far, according to the Global Weather Attribution Team.
“This is clearly related to climate change, the level of intensity that we’re seeing, these risks,” said Karina Izquierdo, urban adviser at the Mexico City-based Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center and co-author of the study.
Otto said what’s worrying about this heat wave, which is still heating up North America, is that it’s no longer unusual. Previous research from the group has shown that extremely extreme heat waves Not possible without climate changebut not this heat wave.
“So in that sense it’s not unusual from a meteorological standpoint, but the impacts were really bad,” Otto told The Associated Press in an interview.
“The changes over the last 20 years, which feel like yesterday, have been so dramatic,” Otto said. Her research shows that heat waves are four times more likely now than they were in 2000, when temperatures were nearly 1 degree Celsius (half a degree Celsius) cooler. “It seems so long ago, like another world.”
While other international groups of scientists, as well as global carbon emission reduction targets adopted by countries in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, have noted that warming has been increasing since the pre-industrial era in the mid-1800s, Otto said comparing what is happening now to the year 2000 is even more shocking.
“We’re seeing the baseline shift, and what was once extreme but rare is becoming more and more common,” said Carly Kenkel, dean of marine studies at the University of Southern California, who was not involved in the team’s investigation. She called the analysis a “logical conclusion based on the data.”
Jorge Moreno drinks flavored water while working at a construction site in Veracruz, Mexico on June 17, 2024. Felix Marquez/AP
The study looked at the five hottest days and nights across a wide swath of the continent, including Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Honduras. In most areas, the five days were from June 3 to 7, and the five nights were from June 5 to 9, but in some places, the peak heat began as early as May 26, Otto said.
For example, San Angelo, Texas, recorded a record 111 degrees (43.8 degrees Celsius) on June 4. Between June 2 and June 6, Corpus Christi Airport's nighttime temperatures never dropped below 80 degrees (26.7 degrees Celsius), setting a new nighttime temperature record, with two days where the temperature never dropped below 85 degrees (29.4 degrees Celsius), according to the National Weather Service.
Between June 1st and June 15th, more than 1,200 Highest daytime temperature record The United States saw a flurry of records being broken and tied, with nearly 1,800 overnight high temperature records set, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
The team used both current and historical temperature measurements to contrast what’s happening now with past heatwave conditions, then used a scientifically-accepted method of comparing a hypothetical simulation of a world without human-made climate change with current reality to calculate how much global warming contributed to the 2024 heatwave.
Winkley said the immediate meteorological cause is high pressure that was parked over central Mexico, blocking storms and clouds that brought cold air, then moved into the southwestern U.S. and is now bringing hot air to the eastern U.S. Tropical Storm Alberto The storm formed on Wednesday and is heading toward northern Mexico and southern Texas, where it is likely to bring rain and cause flooding.
The heatwave is “exacerbating existing inequalities.” Rich and poor Izquierdo said the inequality is stark in the Americas, and Kenkel agreed: Nighttime heat is accentuated because the ability to stay cool with central air conditioning depends on how affordable you are, Kenkel said.
So, Salazar-Perez was feeling very uncomfortable during this heatwave.
2,000-year-old wine discovered in Roman tomb in Carmona, Spain
Juan Manuel Roman/University of Cordoba
Chemical analysis has revealed that a reddish liquid discovered in a 2,000-year-old Roman mausoleum in Spain is the oldest known liquid wine.
“I was shocked and couldn’t believe my eyes,” he said. Jose Rafael Luis Arebola “It was inconceivable that the liquid could remain in this state for 2,000 years,” said a researcher from the University of Cordoba in Spain.
Until now, a sealed vessel found near Speyer, Germany, believed to be around 1,700 years old, was thought to have contained the oldest known wine, but it had never been opened.
Discovered by chance in 2019 in Carmona, near Seville, the Spanish tomb dates to the 1st century AD and belonged to a wealthy family. Eight burial niches were carved into the walls and contained six urns made of limestone, sandstone, and glass. Half contained the remains of a woman, the other half of a man. Two of the urns were inscribed with the names of the deceased: “Hispanae” and “Señicio.”
One of the glass jars, encased in a lead shell, contained the skeletal remains of a 45-year-old man, a gold ring engraved with an image of the two-faced Roman god Janus, and approximately five liters of liquid.
Luis Arrebola and his team studied the composition of the reddish liquid using various methods, including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and found that it had a pH value of 7.5, which is much more alkaline than normal for wine and indicates severe spoilage.
Its mineral profile was similar to that of modern sherry and fino wines from Spain, and it contained seven types of polyphenols, natural antioxidant compounds found only in wine.
Entrance to the Mausoleum of Carmona, where wine was discovered
Juan Manuel Roman/University of Cordoba
The absence of syringic acid, a compound produced by the breakdown of the main pigment in red wine, confirmed that the wine was white, presumably intended for the dead to drink on their journey to the afterlife.
“The discovery of a 2,000-year-old liquid believed to be wine in a Roman jar is unusual and an important event, providing unique insights into Roman burial practices.” David Tanasi “This shows the continuity between ancient and modern wine production,” say researchers from the University of South Florida.
Luis Arrebola plans to carry out further tests to identify any residues of microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast that may be present in the wine.
About 20 years ago, the pointy-eared wild cat was on the brink of extinction, but as of Thursday, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced that the species is no longer endangered.
Thanks to successful conservation efforts, the animal, which is native to Spain and Portugal, is now considered almost certainly not threatened, according to the latest IUCN Red List.
A baby Iberian lynx in Doñana National Park, Aznalcázar, Spain, in 2018. Antonio Pizarro/AP Files
In 2001, there were only 62 mature Iberian lynx left in the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian lynx is a medium-sized, spotted brown cat with distinctive pointed ears and a pair of whisker-like tufts of facial hair. The extinction of this species is closely linked to the extinction of its main prey, the European rabbit, habitat degradation, and human activities.
Alarm bells were sounded and breeding, reintroduction and conservation projects were launched, as well as efforts to restore habitats such as dense forests, Mediterranean scrub and pastures. Portugal The IUCN said the population was 648 adults, but the most recent count last year found there were more than 2,000 adults and juveniles.
“This huge population increase is a really huge success,” Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the IUCN Red List Division, told The Associated Press.
Iberian Lynx. Juan Giribet/VWPics/VWPics via AP
One of the keys to the rabbit population’s recovery has been attention to rabbit populations that were affected by changes in agricultural production, which has led to a steady increase in lynx numbers, Hilton-Taylor said.
“The greatest recovery of this cat species has been achieved through conservation efforts thanks to the dedicated collaboration between public and scientific institutions, NGOs, the private sector and local residents, including local landowners, farmers, game wardens and hunters,” Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, coordinator of the EU-funded LIFE Lynx-Connect project, said in a statement.
IUCN has worked with local communities to raise awareness of the Iberian lynx’s importance to the ecosystem, which has helped reduce animal deaths from poaching and roadkill, and farmers receive compensation if an Iberian lynx kills their livestock, Hilton-Taylor said.
More than 400 Iberian lynx have been reintroduced into parts of Portugal and Spain since 2010 and now live over at least 3,320 square kilometres of land, up from 449 square kilometres in 2005.
Iberian lynx in Doñana National Park, Aznalcázar, Spain, 2019. Antonio Pizarro/AP Files
“Everything has to be taken into consideration before we release the lynx, and we revise our protocols approximately every four years,” said Ramon Pérez de Ayala, Spain’s species project manager for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the NGOs involved in the project.
While the latest Red List status offers hope for other species in a similar situation, Hilton-Taylor said the lynx was not out of danger yet.
The biggest uncertainty is what will happen to rabbits, an animal vulnerable to virus outbreaks and other diseases that can be transmitted by livestock.
“We’re also concerned about the issue of climate change and how habitats will respond to it, particularly the increased impact of fires such as we’ve seen in the Mediterranean over the past year or two,” Hilton-Taylor said.
ByteDance, a Chinese tech company, has filed new legal documents challenging the US government’s “unconstitutional discrimination against TikTok.” These documents also reveal details about failed negotiations regarding a ban on the platform.
A legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by Jan. 19 or face a ban. ByteDance argues in its filing that such a sale is “technically, commercially, and legally impossible.” The company accuses the US government of not taking settlement negotiations seriously after 2022.
TikTok, in a lawsuit, states, “Never before has Congress silenced so much speech with a single act.”
The proposed ban reflects long-standing national security concerns from US lawmakers who fear China could exploit the app to access Americans’ data or spy on them. While the Biden administration prefers ByteDance to sell TikTok instead of an outright ban, the company claims it’s not a viable option.
The bill would prevent app stores like Apple and Google from featuring the app unless ByteDance sells it. It would also prohibit internet hosting services from supporting TikTok without a sale, effectively banning its use in the US.
In its filing, ByteDance’s lawyers outline the company’s negotiations with the US government, which abruptly ended in August 2022. The company also shared a redacted draft national security agreement aimed at protecting TikTok’s US user data.
The proposed agreement includes a “kill switch” for the US government to halt TikTok’s use in the US if it doesn’t comply. The US has also requested TikTok to move its source code out of China.
TikTok’s lawyers criticized the administration for favoring shutting down TikTok in the US instead of working on a practical solution to protect US users. The Justice Department defended the law, saying it addresses national security concerns while respecting constitutional constraints.
TikTok and ByteDance filed a lawsuit in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Sept. 16. The outcome of the case could influence the government’s use of new powers against foreign-owned apps.
TikTok argues that separating businesses is not feasible and claims the law violates free speech rights. The platform’s content creators maintain that there is no imminent national security threat, as the law allows TikTok to operate for the remainder of the year.
MaA lot has changed for Hidetaka Miyazaki in the past decade. In May 2014, he became president of FromSoftware, the Japanese game developer known for the dark fantasy blockbusters Demon’s Souls (2009), Dark Souls (2011), and Bloodborne (2015), all of which he directed himself. At the time, FromSoftware’s games were critically acclaimed and had a devoted following, but they sold poorly, only selling a few million copies each. But in 2022, the company released the gloriously imposing Elden Ring, a collaboration with fantasy author George R.R. Martin. Not only is it Miyazaki’s best work, it’s also his most popular to date, having sold 25 million copies to date. FromSoftware is no longer a niche company that produces cult hits; it’s now a company that produces bona fide blockbusters.
Has this changed Miyazaki’s thinking? Given how unforgiving and ruthless his game world is, it may not be surprising that he’s not the most optimistic person you’ll ever meet. “Elden Ring was in a league of its own in terms of success and critical acclaim, but what we try to do as a company is to never assume that it’s going to happen again in future games,” he told me in an interview in Los Angeles. “We never make decisions based on the assumption that because we did it once, it’s going to happen again. Allowing for this fairly conservative prediction gives us room to fail, which ultimately leads to better games and better decisions. Indirectly, I think that the assumption that we’re not going to make hits anymore, that conservative outlook, inspires and helps our game design.”
Miyazaki and the From Software team Comfortable. And even if they did, it’s hard to imagine they would have made a game as demanding, ambitious, and at times brutal.
Shadow of the Eldtree, a major expansion for Elden Ring, is released today. It takes players to a terrifying land of shadows, filled with amber skies, fearsomely grotesque monsters, and vengeful, forgotten warriors. From Software’s games are notoriously difficult, demanding extraordinary grit, determination, and drive from the player. Shadow of the Eldtree may be the hardest yet. Shadow of the Eldtree will put even those with 100 hours of Eldtree experience on the back foot. But it handsomely rewards persistence with a complex, fascinatingly opaque storyline and memorable battles against fearsome entities, from ghostly, leaf-adorned dragons to giant walking cages of human ash. The sense of accomplishment you feel when you finally conquer the unconquerable in a Miyazaki work remains unmatched.
The harsh nature of Eld Tree feels like a dump of cold water on me. Maybe it’s because I’ve been playing this game for 15 years, but Elden Ring feels just a little more approachable than other FromSoftware games. If you get stuck somewhere, you can move somewhere else, rather than charging at the same near-impossible boss over and over again. There are more options, and you can always try a different approach. It doesn’t feel like you’re having your face shoved in the dirt, as I said to Miyazaki. all At the time. Does he think this is part of the reason Elden Ring has garnered more fans than Dark Souls or the 2019 ninja fantasy Sekiro?
Miyazaki: “I’ve always felt that the world is a really harsh place.” Photo: FromSoftware/Sony
“That’s certainly part of the intention. Elden Ring gives players a lot more freedom because of its open-world nature and game design,” he muses. “At no point in the game did we want players to feel boxed in or overly limited in the scope of what they can do and experience in that world. It’s not a very gloomy, dark fantasy that we’ve become accustomed to in past FromSoftware games… The same starkness and coldness is still there, but we wanted to create beautiful moments. Conceptually, there’s a bit of high fantasy in there. It feels like you have a break, both in terms of the difficulty and the learning curve, but also in the world setting.”
Every new FromSoftware release brings up a bit of a discussion about difficulty and accessibility in modern games. Some developers choose to offer easier modes for less experienced or time-poor players. Sometimes they even remove enemies from the game entirely.
But this doesn’t suit a game like Elden Ring – difficulty is what the game is about, and reducing the difficulty stifles creativity.
“If you really want people all over the world to play your game, you can just make the difficulty lower and lower, but that wasn’t the right approach,” Miyazaki said. “If we had taken that approach, I don’t think the game would have turned out the way it did, because the sense of accomplishment that players get from overcoming these hurdles is a very fundamental part of the gaming experience. If you lower the difficulty, you take away that joy. I think it ruins the game itself.”
For Miyazaki, improving through failure isn’t just a game design principle, it’s something of a personal philosophy. As president, he creates a work environment where developers can experiment and ideas don’t get bogged down. No one project dictates a developer’s entire future. His big break came in 2006, when he was put in charge of managing a struggling fantasy project at FromSoftware. The game would become Demon’s Souls. “I thought if I could figure out how to manage the game, I could turn it into whatever I wanted,” he told The Guardian’s Simon Parkin in 2015. “The best part was that if my idea failed, nobody cared. It was already a failure.”
“To be honest, I don’t think it’s that different now than it was 15 years ago when we were making Demon’s Souls,” he laughs when I remind him of this. “What I try to foster in our environment is to make sure that young directors and game designers have the same kind of experience that I had when I was working on Demon’s Souls, that if this game fails, it’s not the end of the world. I think that mentality and attitude helps people grow.”
Mr. Miyazaki is different. The first time I met him In 2011“I’ve always been a big fan of the game,” he said at Tokyo Game Show, just before the release of Dark Souls, the game that would thrust him into the spotlight. Quiet and soft-spoken, his eyes glued to the carpet, he says he used to shy away from being the center of attention. But now he’s much more confident and comfortable talking about both business and game design. When he thinks, he looks up at the ceiling, not down at the floor. He’s now a father to a young daughter and leads a company. And like players of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, he’s emerged as a more capable person.
However, he remains as hands-on as ever as a game designer. “Regardless of my title or position in the company, there is always the joy and satisfaction I get from making games,” he says. “I enjoy helping to nurture and develop young directors who will take the company to the next level. But sitting in an administrative office all day is not my style. I want to really get my hands dirty and continue to make games together, and through that, pass on my process to other generations of talent. I’ve held the title of president for almost 10 years now, but I’d say about 95% of my work and time at the company is devoted to game making and game direction. In this ratio, I’d say I’ve only had about 6 months of actual experience as an executive!”
The world is also very different from when Demon’s Souls was a big hit. I think the reason why more people are resonating with the work of Hayao Miyazaki and From Software is because we’ve become accustomed to a feeling of helplessness. For those who have lived through the last 15 years of pandemics, political turmoil, and looming climate disaster, bleak situations are not so foreign. What Elden Ring gives us is a glimmer of hope that, perhaps, if we are strong and persistent enough, we can triumph against all odds.
“A lot of From Software’s games throw you into this barren wasteland and make it a very harsh, harsh, cold experience… I don’t think what we’ve done in the game has changed, but maybe the world will change. Have “The last few years have been exceptional in terms of what’s going on around us, but even before that I felt the world was a very harsh place. I’ve always lived with that worldview, that value system. So this idea of being cast out into the wilderness and planting the seeds of growth feels almost universal to me. Maybe more people are discovering that now.”
I think what a lot of people miss in From Software’s games is a sense of hope. First Interview In a 2010 email exchange with Miyazaki, he told me about the origins of Demon’s Souls’ unusual multiplayer, in which players can summon anonymous helpers to help them get through a particularly frightening area or boss encounter. He was driving up a hill in the winter when everyone got stuck. It wasn’t until everyone in the back started helping by pushing the car in front to the top of the hill that someone finally made it. He called it a “connection of mutual aid between fickle people,” adding, “Oddly enough, that event will probably stick in my mind for a long time. It sticks for a long time precisely because it was so fleeting.”
Elden Ring is filled with these fleeting moments of beauty and friendship, and they’re all the more meaningful because they’re so rare. In a harsh world, moments of respite are precious.
“If I look deeply into my history, there are definitely experiences that have influenced my identity, the worldview that drives me to make games,” Miyazaki said. “I’ve never taken a step back and thought about what triggered it, but there’s definitely something that’s the reason these are the types of games I want to see and make. If I looked in the mirror and took a hard look at myself… if I went on a soul-searching journey to find out why, I might be disappointed in myself. It would force me to face how boring and ordinary I am. Maybe I’m intentionally avoiding that. That’s what keeps the creativity flowing.”
Stonehenge, an ancient temple in southern England built around 5,000 years ago, remains a mysterious site with no written explanation of its purpose. Modern analysis has shown that the massive stones were transported from distant quarries to the site.
The structure is aligned with the sun during the summer and winter solstices, but the significance of this alignment remains unclear. There is speculation about whether it was also aligned with the moon, a remarkable achievement for a society that did not have advanced technology.
On June 21, 2024, a team of experts aims to investigate if the moon was an integral part of Stonehenge’s design during a rare lunar event.
Professor Michael Parker Pearson, an expert in British prehistory, believes that if Stonehenge is connected to this event, it would show a profound understanding of celestial movements by its builders.
The lunar major standstill, occurring every 18.6 years, involves the moon reaching extreme positions in the night sky, similar to the sun’s solstices. Stonehenge’s alignment with these lunar cycles is a topic of ongoing research by experts.
The study of Stonehenge’s connection to the lunar standstill involves academics from multiple universities and aims to shed light on the role of the moon in the construction of this ancient site.
About our experts
Mike Parker Pearson: A Professor of British Late Prehistory at UCL with extensive experience in archaeology and heritage preservation.
Clive Ruggles: An Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy known for his work on astronomy and World Heritage sites.
Amanda Chadburn: An archaeologist and historic environment advisor contributing to research on Stonehenge and its lunar connections.
Joseph James DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer, pleaded guilty to various crimes almost four years ago, marking the beginning of a new era in crime-solving known as Forensic Detective Genetic Genealogy (FIGG).
While DNA testing has been used for years to link crimes to suspects, cases can come to a standstill when there are no suspects to test DNA samples on. This is where FIGG comes into play.
Dr. Tuli King, speaking at the Cheltenham Science Festival, explained that DNA databases can help identify genetic relatives of DNA found at a crime scene. Investigators use DNA matches to create a family tree and track down potential suspects based on evidence and relatives related to the DNA sample.
For DeAngelo, the turning point was when a genealogist uploaded their analysis of crime scene DNA to consumer ancestry websites like GED Match, leading to his capture and sentencing in 2020.
Since DeAngelo’s case, over 500 cases have been solved using FIGG, with more people uploading their DNA to databases, increasing the chances of catching criminals.
However, the use of publicly available DNA data for crime-solving raises ethical concerns, with the importance of informed consent and privacy being paramount.
Despite the ethical implications, FIGG is expected to continue playing a crucial role in solving serious crimes, potentially expanding to utilize genetic markers like surnames to aid investigations.
As technology advances, the use of DNA in solving crimes may evolve further, with possibilities including tracing surnames to narrow down suspect lists and aid investigations.
While the use of surnames in crime-solving is an interesting concept, it may require a large database and further research to be implemented effectively.
Experts like Tuli King, who have extensive experience in genetic genealogy, are at the forefront of utilizing DNA technology to solve complex cases and communicate the science to the public.
These protostellar outflows form when jets of gas from the newborn star collide with nearby gas and dust at high speeds, and the objects typically point in different directions within a single region. Serpens NebulaBut like sleet falling during a storm, they all lean in the same direction and to the same degree.
This Webb image shows a collection of outflows from a line of protostars in one small region (upper left corner) of the Ophiuchus Nebula. Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / K. Pontoppidan, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory / J. Green, Space Telescope Science Institute.
“So how does the alignment of a stellar jets relate to the star's rotation?” said Webb.
“When interstellar gas clouds collapse to form stars, they rotate faster.”
“The only way for the gas to keep moving inward is to remove some of its spin (called angular momentum).”
“A disk of material forms around the young star, carrying material downward like a vortex around a drain.”
“The swirling magnetic fields within the inner disk cause some of the material to be ejected as twin jets, erupting outward in opposite directions, perpendicular to the disk of material.”
“In Webb's images, these jets are identified by bright red lumpy streaks, which are shock waves created when the jets collide with the surrounding gas and dust.”
“Here, the red color indicates the presence of molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide.”
“Webb will be able to image these very young stars and their outflows, which have previously been blocked at visible wavelengths of light.”
“There are several forces that can change the direction of the outflow during this period in the young star's life.”
“One way is that the binary stars rotate around each other, causing them to wobble, twisting the direction of the outflow over time.”
The Serpens Nebula is a so-called reflection nebula located about 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Serpens.
The object is estimated to be between 1 and 2 million years old, making it very young in cosmic terms.
“The Serpens Nebula contains a particularly dense cluster of protostellar clusters (approximately 100,000 years old) at the center of this image, some of which will eventually grow to the mass of the Sun,” the astronomers said.
“It's a reflection nebula, meaning it's a cloud of gas and dust that doesn't emit its own light but glows by reflecting light from nearby and internal stars.”
“Thus, throughout the field of this image, the filaments and lint of different hues represent reflected light from protostars still forming within the cloud.”
“In some areas there is dust in front of that reflection, which shows up here as a diffuse shade of orange.”
“There have been several other serendipitous discoveries in the region, including the shadow of a flapping bat, so named because 2020 data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope revealed it to be flapping, or migrating. This feature is visible in the centre of the Webb image.”
A new genus and species of Triassic gracillid reptile has been identified from fossils discovered in the Santa Maria Formation of Brazil.
Artistic representations of the Middle to Late Triassic landscape of southern Brazil: (a) large Prestosuchus chinensis It feeds on the carcasses of dicynodonts, Parvosuchus aurelioi Compete for scrap metal. (b) and (c) Parvosuchus aurelioiImage courtesy of Matheus Fernandes.
Named Parvosuchus aurelioiThe new species roamed the Earth about 237 million years ago (during the Triassic Period).
The ancient reptiles Gracilidae (Gassiliscidae), an extinct family of pseudo-nudibranchs that lived in China, Argentina, and Brazil.
“Pseudobranchs were a common group of ancient tetrapod reptiles during the Triassic, before the dominance of dinosaurs, and some of their species were among the largest carnivores of their time,” says paleontologist Rodrigo Muller of the Federal University of Santa Maria.
“Smaller pseudosuchians, known as gracilischiidae, live alongside these apex predators and have been found in areas such as China and Argentina.”
“These creatures were characterized by relatively large heads with wide mouth openings, carnivore-like teeth, slender limbs, and a quadrupedal posture.”
Partial skeleton of Parvosuchus aurelioi Found in Santa Maria Formation Paraiso do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
It consists of a complete skull including the lower jaw, 11 dorsal vertebrae, a pelvis, and partially preserved limbs.
“The reptile’s skull is 14.4 centimetres long and features elongated jaws with pointed, backward-curving teeth and several skull openings,” Dr Muller said.
“The skeleton is lightweight and estimated to be less than one metre long.”
“These characteristics are Parvosuchus aurelioi This is the first time that a species of this group has been identified in Brazil.”
“This discovery highlights the diversity of Triassic pseudo-pinnids.”
Discovery Parvosuchus aurelioi It has been reported paper Published in the journal today Scientific Reports.
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R.T. Müller. 2024. A new small, predatory pseudobranchial sauropod from the Middle to Late Triassic of southern Brazil. Scientific Reports 14, 12706; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63313-3
Serpens Nebula: A row of jets appears as red streaks in the upper left corner
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (NASA-JPL), Joel Green (STScI)
Astronomers have captured a star alignment: New images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) show jets emanating from a young star lining up in a straight line, finally proving a phenomenon that has long been suspected but never before been observed.
As a giant gas cloud collapses and begins to form stars, its rotation accelerates — similar to how an ice skater pulls their arms in closer to their body to spin faster. This rotation causes a disk of dust and gas to form around the young star at the cloud's center, feeding the cloud itself.
Strong magnetic fields in the disk send jets of material along the star's rotation axis, which can be used to measure the young star's rotation direction. The JWST image of the Serpens Nebula, about 1,400 light-years away, shows 12 baby stellar clumps. All the jets are pointing in roughly the same direction..
“Astronomers have long assumed that when clouds collapse and stars form, the stars tend to rotate in the same direction,” he said. Klaus Pontoppidan At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California statement“But we've never seen it so directly before.”
The new observations suggest that these stars all inherit their rotation from the same long string of gas. Over time, this rotation may change as the stars interact with each other and other space objects. This is evident from the fact that another group of younger, possibly older, stars in the same image of the Ophiuchus Nebula do not have aligned jets.
A record number of mosquitoes in and around Las Vegas are testing positive for the West Nile virus as mosquito populations across the region soar.
Local health officials are urging residents to take precautions to avoid being stung.
The situation in Las Vegas is a case study as climate change expands the reach of vector-borne diseases.
Record numbers of mosquitoes are carrying the West Nile virus in and around Las Vegas, prompting local health officials to issue a public warning. Take precautions To avoid getting bitten.
West Nile virus causes fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhea and is fatal in about 1 in 150 cases. There is no vaccine or medicine to treat or prevent the mosquito-borne disease.
In recent weeks, 169 of more than 24,000 mosquito swarms tested for West Nile virus in 25 Southern Nevada ZIP codes tested positive, meaning at least one mosquito in the swarm was carrying the virus. The number of mosquitoes and positive swarms recorded this early in the season broke the regional records for both indicators set in 2019.
“The mosquito population is huge and we've already seen significant numbers of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus,” said Vivek Raman, environmental health inspector for the Southern Nevada Health Department.
Health officials also identified six swimming pools in the Las Vegas area where people had tested positive for the St. Louis encephalitis virus, a mosquito-borne disease that causes potentially fatal inflammation of the brain.
For decades, climate scientists and public health officials have warned that climate change could increase the range of various infectious diseases, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes. The Las Vegas mosquito surge and regional increase in West Nile virus outbreaks provide an important case study in how climate affects human health.
Climate change will increase the global average temperature and precipitation, creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes, who breed in still, warm water. It will also lengthen the warm season, lengthening the mosquito season. These changes will Human exposure risk Even in places where no cases have been recorded before, there is an increased risk of contracting diseases such as West Nile virus.
The first case of West Nile virus was recorded in Las Vegas in 2004, five years after the first case in the United States was recorded in New York City in 1999. The most recent West Nile virus outbreak in Las Vegas was five years ago, when 43 people were infected, and area health officials fear the situation could get even worse this summer.
Rising temperatures in Southern Nevada are creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes, said Nishay Mishra, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University. Additionally, the state's ongoing drought has lowered groundwater levels throughout the Colorado River basin, including Lake Mead, which could unexpectedly benefit the insects.
“Mosquitoes typically breed in places that are moist and hot,” Mishra says, “but in Nevada, when small bodies of water dry up, they create shallow water that's perfect for mosquito breeding.”
Las Vegas' mosquito surge has been enormous: Last year, local health officials counted 6,000 mosquitoes in traps set across Clark County between April and June. This year, the number is already over 24,000.
Most of these mosquitoes are Culex mosquitoes, which are the primary vectors of the West Nile virus. But another mosquito species that doesn't carry the virus, Aedes aegypti, has also become common in Las Vegas. It was first spotted in the area in 2017, and Raman attributes its spread in part to climate change.
Along with climate, human behavior also plays an important role in the spread of vector-borne diseases.Culex mosquitoes and Culex pipiens mosquitoes breed in many Las Vegas backyards, the former breeding in small pools of water such as those left by sprinklers, and the latter often breeding along the surface of untended swimming pools.
Raman said the best ways to prevent infection are to empty water containers outside, take care of swimming pools, wear protective clothing and use bug repellent to prevent insect bites.
Louise Ivers, professor of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the university's Global Health Institute, said situations like the one in Las Vegas will become more common as infectious diseases continue to rise around the world due to climate change.
“We expect to see new infections, the resurgence of old ones, and changes in the transmission patterns of existing ones like West Nile virus,” Ivers said. “We may no longer be able to do things that we were previously free to do without worrying as much about protection from vectors like mosquitoes and ticks.”
Amazon has announced that it is making a switch from plastic air pillows to recycled paper in its packaging in North America. The company claims that this change is more environmentally friendly and that the paper filling is more efficient.
Amazon stated on Thursday that it has already replaced 95% of its plastic air pillows with paper filling in North America and aims to completely eliminate them by the end of the year.
The company’s goal is to ensure that customers receive their items intact while using minimal packaging to reduce waste and prioritize recyclable materials.
This initiative marks Amazon’s largest plastic packaging reduction effort to date in North America and is expected to eliminate the use of around 15 billion plastic air pillows per year.
For upcoming events such as Prime Day and the Christmas giveaway next month, Amazon has confirmed that plastic air pillows will not be included in the deliveries.
While environmental groups have criticized Amazon for its plastic use in the past, the company’s announcement has been met with some positive feedback. However, there are calls for Amazon to further reduce waste and explore innovative solutions like reusable packaging.
Amazon’s efforts to reduce plastic packaging have been welcomed, but there are ongoing discussions about the need for more sustainable practices and continued progress in waste reduction.
The company has revealed its annual use of single-use plastic for the first time in 2022, following demands from investors for transparency in waste reduction plans.
Amazon began transitioning away from plastic air pillows in October and has successfully implemented paper filling in its packaging, which offers the same or better protection during shipping compared to plastic air pillows.
The company’s ongoing initiatives include shipping products without additional packaging and collaborating with various organizations on recycling programs and waste reduction efforts.
In Los Angeles, air pollution from cars and human activity is exacerbated by the city's factories emitting chemicals in response to rising temperatures and drought.
“It's difficult to control emissions from factories, [human-caused] “Some.” Eva Fannerstill At the Forschungszentrum Jülich, a German research institute.
From blooming jacaranda trees to fragrant eucalyptus, many plants emit compounds called terpenoids. To plants, these act as chemical signals and function as antioxidants. But in the atmosphere, these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with other pollutants to create harmful ozone and particulate pollution called PM2.5.
In areas where cleaner vehicles and electricity generation have reduced man-made sources of air pollution, industrial emissions have begun to play a larger role, but by how much is unclear.
Vannerstill and her colleagues flew planes over Los Angeles over several days in June 2021 to measure the city's VOC emissions. Using an on-board mass spectrometer, the researchers identified concentrations of more than 400 VOCs in the air. Simultaneous 3D measurements of wind speed allowed them to separate molecules rising from the city from those blowing in from elsewhere.
The researchers found that terpenoids made up the majority of VOC emissions in many parts of the city, especially in areas with the most vegetation and on the hottest days. When temperatures exceeded 30°C (86°F), terpenoids made up the majority of emissions, even in the downtown area, where vegetation was sparse and people were more likely to be present.
It's unclear exactly why plants release more terpenoids when temperatures rise, but it could be a response to heat or water stress, Pfannerstill said. Higher temperatures also increase VOC emissions associated with anthropogenic sources, such as gasoline, paint, and even scented personal care products like deodorant and hairspray, possibly due to increased evaporation rates.
The contribution of these personal-care products in particular spikes with population density, suggesting a small but direct link between urban air pollution and citizens' beauty habits. “It's measurable,” Vannerstill says.
The observed relationship between heat and emissions also suggests a pathway through which climate change could exacerbate air pollution: in Los Angeles, the researchers found that a 3°C warming predicted for the city by mid-century could double the impact of VOCs on ozone formation; and its impact on PM2.5 pollution could increase by 40%.
“This direct observation is crucial for building good models to predict what air pollution will be like tomorrow or a few years from now.” Matthew Cogon Jonathan Myers, environmental secretary at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the increase in emissions from factories underscores the importance of further reducing man-made sources of air pollution that react with VOCs, such as nitrous oxide, which comes from burning fossil fuels.
The types of plants planted in cities also have an impact. Roissyne Comanet It's an important consideration as more cities pursue urban greening initiatives. “Vegetation is important,” she says at Columbia University in New York.
A chimpanzee eating sandpaper nuts in Budongo Forest, Uganda.Fig genus
Elodie Freyman (CC-BY)
Some plants that chimpanzees eat when they are sick or injured have been found to have medicinal properties, providing some of the strongest evidence yet that our close relatives self-medicate.
Although there have been reports for decades of chimpanzees using plants to self-medicate, it's difficult to pinpoint when wild animals get sick and what effect their diet may have.
Elodie Freyman Oxford University researchers tracked wild chimpanzees in Uganda's Budongo Forest, recording when they became ill and what they ate. By analysing feces for signs of intestinal parasites and examining urine samples for elevated levels of immune cells, the researchers identified chimpanzees with obvious wounds or intestinal infections.
An analysis of 53 plant extracts ingested by sick or injured chimpanzees found that 88 percent were effective against bacteria pathogenic to humans, including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA, and extracts from all species sampled had anti-inflammatory properties.
This systematic approach has allowed the researchers to identify and characterize more species used by chimpanzees than ever before. Kirsty Graham “It's a very impressive project,” said Robert Cole, a researcher at the University of St. Andrews in the UK who was not involved in the work.
Sick chimpanzees would leave the safety of their group to eat certain plants, often choosing plants that were rarely eaten in that area. The rarity of these events makes self-medicating behavior very difficult to observe, but at the same time, it is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that it is a targeted response to illness.
Chimps are typically hesitant to try unfamiliar foods that might be dangerous, Freiman says, so choosing to eat an unusual plant means they have a special reason to do so: “If they're sick, they're not going to stuff their mouths with things that might make them sicker,” she says.
But this doesn't capture everything that's going on, Graham says, because chimpanzee diets are still very diverse. Over generations, a chimpanzee community may be able to overcome this reluctance to new foods if chimpanzees learn from other animals which plants to eat. Simultaneous direct comparisons of the diets of sick and healthy chimpanzees might reveal whether these are active choices, Graham suggests.
Team Members Fabian Schultz Researchers at the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany hope that by identifying active compounds in plant extracts, they might uncover promising drug candidates for humans. “What if we could save human lives by following the example of our animal companions?” he says.
In a report released earlier this year, an orangutan, another great ape, was spotted applying plant leaves directly to a wound in an apparent act of self-medication.
Extreme cases can confuse even trained professionals: Joanna Glengarry and Melanie Archer of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Science in Australia warn that forensic pathologists and anthropologists “need to be prepared to face a wide range of remains and objects presented to them.”
Glengarry and Archer shared their first-hand experience, in their words, of “discovering what appeared to be a severed leg on a beach and, upon examination, determining it to be a marine animal called a sea squirt.”
Write a diary Forensic Medicine, Medicine, Pathologythey give step by step details of the adventure. What is the title of the report?Marine mimicry in progress.
Holy Ghostwriter
Certainly, some are dismayed that senior department members are automatically credited as co-authors on research done by lower-ranking people (Feedback, May 11), but perhaps senior department members should be given more credit.
Reader Bob Masta writes about two doctoral students who sought his advice after he developed a procedure that greatly improved the success rate of an incredibly difficult experiment: recording signals from auditory hair cells in the inner ears of guinea pigs. [B]However, the lab's principal investigator and department head insisted on participating as authors, even though they knew nothing about the study beforehand.
“I was appalled,” Masta wrote, “but eventually came to realize that this was wise: students who were unknown in the field might have had a harder time getting published. [Their] Having a respected name on a paper gives you a lot of credibility in the field, and everyone in research expects the first author on a paper to do the actual research, with subsequent senior authors providing facilities and consultation.”
And, Masta explains, “Laboratories need grant funding to conduct research and train students, so publications that elevate the status of senior authors, who have to get grant funding, help everyone.”
The feedback we've received is that some feel that credit-grabbing corrupts the system from below. But if we're going to do it, why not do it all the way? Give credit to everyone and everyone who stands to benefit from it. Give co-author credit to all senior officials at the institutions who employ the actual researchers (deans, department chairs, vice-presidents, presidents, provosts, corporate executives, emperors, etc.).
The feedback is that these high-powered people, non-authors, should be informally known as “holy ghostwriters.”
Totally ghostwritten
Reader Max Perkins suggests another way to deal with the issue of who gets listed as an author. He writes: [a person from a] I work in a faculty position at a university in New South Wales, Australia, and I wanted to provide feedback on a case in which two graduate students from my alma mater had written their names, simply “et al,” on their office door.
“I think this speaks strongly about professors' citation metrics and perhaps also a comment on the use of citation metrics as a measure of a university's value.”
Infection failure
“Everyone is trying hard to avoid catching coronavirus, but in this study, all 35 volunteers who tried their best to get infected (with a lot of help from scientists) failed miserably,” reader Chittaranjan Andrade wrote. Lancet Microorganism.
The team that produced the report – Susan Jackson of the University of Oxford and a number of collaborators – aimed to test the efficacy of new vaccines to help people who become infected with new variants of the coronavirus long after they had been vaccinated with an earlier version of the vaccine.
The researchers struggled to complete the first major step of the project: infecting volunteers. In their paper, they wrote:Maximize the inoculum size… We were unable to induce persistent infection in seropositive individuals.”
COVID-19 has been disrupting the world for years, but now it is causing problems when it shouldn't.
Windsor, a researcher at Australia's James Cook University, called the news “Ongoing collaboration In collaboration with Professor JL Justin of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, and Professor Roman Gastynow of the University of Szczecin in Poland, we studied invasive terrestrial planarians in France and French territories.
The bad taste lasts a long time. Windsor Manokwari He tasted it (or, as he calls it, “personal observation”) in 1994.
Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.
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For the first time, scientists have captured on video a leech leaping from a leaf, settling a long-standing debate about the creature’s jumping abilities.
The question of whether leeches can jump has been debated since the late 1800s when rumors of their ability first surfaced. Despite occasional sightings, conclusive evidence was lacking until now.
My Fafmi A researcher from Fordham University in New York documented this ability during fieldwork in Madagascar in 2017. While hiking, she discovered a Chtonobdella hill (Kutnobdera Falux) – A worm-sized animal that lives only in Madagascar.
“I crouched on the ground next to the leech, took out my phone and started recording,” Fahmi said. “At the time I had no idea what I was recording.” When he showed the video to his colleagues in New York, Fahmi said they all had the same reaction: “Did that leech just jump?”
Six years later, Fahmi returned to Madagascar again to attempt to record another jumping leech, and again met with immediate success: this time, he recorded two leeches interacting, one of which leapt off a leaf.
The leech prepares itself by anchoring its rear suckers to the ground (in this case a leaf) and wrapping the rest of its body around its back, then, like a cobra attacking, thrusts its body forward in one swift motion, detaching its rear suckers and launching itself into the air.
The sudden, explosive movements may be a tactic to land on or near unsuspecting prey. Although the leap is a bit awkward, “this is clearly active propulsion,” he said. Michael Tesler At Medgar Evers College in New York.
Terrestrial leeches have not been studied extensively, even though analyzing their blood meals can help conservationists track elusive animals. But finding the ability in two different individuals and locations “suggests that the behavior is more common than we thought,” Tesler says. Based on this evidence and anecdotes from other regions, he believes this is not the only jumping leech in the world.
Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of centrosaurine dinosaur from fossils discovered in the Judith River Formation in the Kennedy Coulee region of Montana, USA. Lociceratops rangiformisThe new species emerged at least 12 million years earlier than its better-known relatives. Triceratops It was the largest ceratopsid of its time.
Reconstruction Lociceratops rangiformis Be amazed by a crocodile in the 78-million-year-old swamps of northern Montana. Image by Andrej Achutin/Museum of Evolution, Maribo, Denmark.
Lociceratops rangiformis It lived in what is now Montana during the Cretaceous period, about 78 million years ago.
This species was about 6.7 metres (22 feet) long and weighed five tons, making it the largest dinosaur in the group called ceratopsians. Centrosaurinae It has never been found in North America before.
“In the dinosaur ecosystem of the ancient island continent Laramidia, ceratopsians were geographically widespread, morphologically diverse and possessed a great deal of variation in cranial ornamentation, including horns and a morphologically diverse parietal scaly frill,” said Professor Mark Loewen of the University of Utah and his colleagues.
“Two distinct lineages within the Ceratopsidae family diverged by at least 83 million years ago.”
“These are the chasmosaurinae, which have long snouts and long frills, and the centrosaurines, which have rounded snouts and relatively short frills.”
“Centrosaurinae represent an ecologically important and diverse lineage of ceratopsians that reached a peak in diversity during the Campanian, 83 to 70 million years ago.”
“Historically known from abundant fossil finds in Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA, discoveries over the past two decades have rapidly expanded our understanding of this group, particularly its geographic and morphological range, and have also provided new insights into the ontogeny of centrosaurines.”
“Centrosaurinae were locally abundant in some areas of southern Alberta and northern Montana, but were previously rare or poorly known in other parts of Laramidia.”
Fossil skull Lociceratops rangiformisImage courtesy of the Evolution Museum, Maribo, Denmark.
Paleontologists have discovered the skeleton of a mature individual. Lociceratops rangiformis Quarrying at Loki Quarry in 2019 Judith River Formation.
“The Loki quarry, which yielded the new specimen, is located on private land in the Kennedy Coulee Badlands, north of the town of Rudyard in Hill County, northern Montana, USA,” the researchers said.
Lociceratops rangiformis It has the largest frill horns of any ceratopsid ever, and lacks the nasal horns characteristic of its genus.
“This new dinosaur pushes the boundaries of outlandishness in ceratopsian head ornaments, boasting the largest frill horns ever seen on a ceratopsian,” said paleontologist Joseph Sertich of Colorado State University.
“These skull ornaments provide another window into the diversity of horned dinosaurs and demonstrate that evolutionary selection for flashy displays contributed to the dazzling richness of Cretaceous ecosystems.”
“We think dinosaur horns were similar to the displays performed by birds, who used them for mate selection and species recognition.”
Lociceratops rangiformis It coexisted with three other centrosaurine dinosaurs (Wendiceratops pinhornensis, Albertaceratops nesmoiand Medusaceratops Loki) and Chasmosaurinae (Judiceratops tigris).
“The combination of five species is an unprecedented diversity and resembles the range of horned ungulates found on the plains of East Africa today,” Dr Sertich said.
“Unlike the wide-ranging large wild mammals, such as elk, that currently roam the American West, these ancient animals were geographically restricted.”
“discovery Lociceratops rangiformis “It provides evidence that these species evolved rapidly within a small area, a process sometimes seen in birds.”
“at that time Triceratops By the time ceratopsians emerged 12 million years later, regional differences had homogenized to just two species found across Canada and Mexico, probably as a response to a more homogenous climate.”
“This study shows that dinosaur diversity has been underestimated and presents the most complete ceratopsid family tree to date.”
“Lociceratops rangiformis “This study helps us understand that we're only just scratching the surface when it comes to the diversity and relationships of the ceratopsian family tree,” Prof Loewen said.
M.A. Rowen others. 2024. Lociceratops rangiformis A new genus and species (Ceratopsia: Centrosaurinae) from the Campanian Judith River Formation of Montana reveals the rapid regional dispersal and extreme endemism of centrosaurinae dinosaurs. Peer J 12: e17224; doi: 10.7717/peerj.17224
Research on families with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease has revealed a genetic abnormality that can delay early symptoms by five years. This finding paves the way for a new approach to combating the disease by potentially leveraging the protective effects of this gene mutation. A very rare genetic mutation offers some hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Scientists first noticed this genetic protection in a Colombian family afflicted with a hereditary form of Alzheimer’s disease. They identified a woman, Aliria Piedrahita de Villegas, who should have developed symptoms in her 40s but remained symptom-free well into her 70s. She carried an unusual genetic combination, including two copies of the APOE3 gene with a mutation known as Christchurch, which seemed to provide her with protection against Alzheimer’s.
Further research identified 27 individuals with one copy of the Christchurch variant, showing that having one copy delayed the onset of cognitive impairment by an average of five years compared to their relatives. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and involving researchers from various institutions, provided hope that correcting this gene could potentially slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Notably, Alzheimer’s typically affects older individuals, with risk increasing with age. The APOE gene has long been associated with the disease, with certain variants like APOE4 increasing risk. However, the Christchurch variant appears to play a protective role, potentially preventing the accumulation of the proteins amyloid and tau that are linked to Alzheimer’s.
The study included brain scans and autopsy results from individuals with the Christchurch gene, shedding light on its potential impact on Alzheimer’s progression. While there is still much to learn about this rare mutation and its effects, there is optimism that it could offer insights into treating Alzheimer’s and potentially delaying its onset.
Introducing a new addition to the realm of peculiar dinosaurs, this creature dons magnificent (albeit slightly perilous) headgear that can rival any fashion runway creation. Lociceratops rangiformis is the latest discovery in the realm of dinosaurs, described as one of the largest and most ornate ceratopsians ever found.
Among the distinct features of this ceratopsian are elements previously unseen by scientists, notably the immense, curved, blade-like horns located on the underside of its frill, the largest ever observed on a ceratopsian.
This dinosaur sports an unconventional, asymmetrical spike at the center of its frill, and most uniquely, it lacks a nose horn seen in other horned dinosaurs.
The first part of the dinosaur’s name, Lociceratops, pays homage to the blade-wielding Norse god Loki, while the latter part ‘rangiformis’ indicates its antler-like formations, similar to those of a caribou or reindeer.
The name ‘rangiformis’ was chosen to reflect the peculiarity of this dinosaur’s antler-like feature, reminiscent of the asymmetrical spines seen in caribou or reindeer.
Published in the journal Peer J, this fossil was unearthed in 2019 in the badlands of northern Montana, USA, not far from the Canadian border, where ceratopsians roamed over 78 million years ago.
Despite its blade-like horns and status as the largest ceratopsian of its time, this dinosaur was an herbivore and likely fell prey to predators like Tyrannosaurus rex.
Portrait reconstructions of all four centrosaurine dinosaur species that coexisted in the Kennedy Coulee assemblage of northern Montana and southern Alberta. Lociceratops, at top left, is characterized by its large, curved horns, asymmetrical “spikes,” and lack of a nasal horn. – Image courtesy of Fabrizio Lavezzi
Ceratopsians emerged during the Late Cretaceous period, evolving extravagant features and distinct horn patterns, including those of Lociceratops rangiformis. These dinosaurs were part of an isolated lineage on the island continent of Laramidia (modern-day North America) and exhibited rapid evolution. Ceratopsians survived until the mass extinction event that wiped out all dinosaurs.
The paleontologists involved in the study, led by Joseph Sertich from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Colorado State University, noted that this new dinosaur showcases the peak of eccentricity in ceratopsian head adornments, boasting the largest frill horns ever seen in a ceratopsian.
These findings challenge previous assumptions about dinosaur diversity, expanding the known coexisting species of ceratopsians to five during that era, transforming our understanding of dinosaur life at the time.
Nitrogen is an essential element for life and is an integral part of DNA and proteins. Most of the nitrogen on Earth exists in the atmosphere as gaseous nitrogen, denoted as N.2 However, most organisms cannot directly use nitrogen. In modern ecosystems, some microorganisms have specialized enzymes that convert nitrogen into nitrogen.2 It converts gases into a form that other living things can use. Fixed nitrogen These microorganisms Nitrogen fixing bacteria.
But 3 to 4 billion years ago, during a period in Earth's history called the Archean Era, life had not yet evolved and no nitrogen-fixing organisms existed, so scientists studying the origin of life are faced with a classic chicken-and-egg problem: life needed nitrogen to evolve, but before life evolved, there were no microorganisms to convert nitrogen into nitrogen.2 Let's turn gas into something we can use! So where did life get its nitrogen from before there were nitrogen-fixing organisms?
Researchers recently hypothesized that early life on Earth may have obtained fixed nitrogen from lightning. They propose that the high energy of a lightning spark could react with oxygen and N.2 Fixing atmospheric nitrogen2 The gas is converted into other usable forms of nitrogen. Nitrogen oxides.
Geologists have studied the sedimentary rock record to understand nitrogen throughout Earth's history, but they had no way to distinguish lightning-derived nitrogen in rocks from other ancient sources of nitrogen. To explore whether lightning provided fixed nitrogen to early life, researchers led by Dr. Patrick Barth created “lightning” in a jar and tested whether it would react with nitrogen.2 It emitted gases and produced nitrogen oxides that had an identifiable signal.
To simulate lightning, the researchers used electrodes in glass flasks filled with different gas mixtures: To mimic modern-day Earth, Barth and his colleagues used a flask with a composition similar to our current atmosphere, containing 85 percent nitrogen.2 They also used flasks containing an atmosphere similar to that of Archean Earth, which scientists believe was about 83% nitrogen.20% oxygen, 16% carbon dioxide.
The researchers added 50 milliliters (about a quarter cup) of water to the bottom of each flask to allow any nitrogen oxides and other compounds produced during the reaction to dissolve in the water. They discharged each experimental flask to about 50 kilovolts for 15 to 60 minutes — nearly 10 times the voltage of an electric car battery.
The research team developed a device called Quadrupole Gas AnalyzerThey measured the nitrogen compounds in the gases coming out of each flask before and after they were ignited. They found that in the modern experiment, more fixed nitrogen was dissolved in the water than in the gas. But in the Archean experiment, the fixed nitrogen was split almost equally between the water and the gas.
After each reaction, the researchers placed the flask of water into an apparatus that measured the weight of the nitrogen atoms. Gas Source Mass SpectrometerThey explained that nitrogen atoms exist in two main forms with different masses, called isotopes. 14The N isotope is lighter and more abundant in nature, 15The N isotope is heavier and less common. The researchers used mass spectrometer data to calculate the ratios of nitrogen isotopes in the lightning-fixed nitrogen samples. They compared these nitrogen isotope ratios to those in rocks that are 3.1 to 3.8 billion years old to see if there was a match.
The researchers found that the nitrogen isotope ratio of the lightning-produced nitrogen was about 0.1% to 1% lighter than that of the rocks, and suggested that this difference in nitrogen isotopes indicates that most of the nitrogen in the Archean rocks was not produced by lightning.
The researchers also used the lightning flash rate on modern Earth to predict the amount of nitrogen oxides that lightning would produce per year. They estimated that the annual lightning flash rate alone could not have provided enough nitrogen to support ecosystems on early Earth. They explain that there was even less lightning in the Archean than there is today, so even less nitrogen was available to support early life.
The researchers concluded that lightning was not the main source of available nitrogen for early life. Because nitrogen-fixing organisms must have evolved very early in Earth's history, life did not need to rely solely on lightning, they suggested. However, one of the 3.7-billion-year-old rock samples showed nitrogen isotope ratios similar to lightning-fixed nitrogen, leading the researchers to speculate that small amounts of fixed nitrogen from lightning may have supported early life. Furthermore, the researchers suggested that the lightning-fixed nitrogen isotope ratios obtained in this study could be used to investigate how nitrogen is fixed on other planets in the solar system.
It backfired Audible, weekly episodes Slow Burn, Think Twice, Fiasco – Leon Neyfakh has produced several high-quality podcasts in the past. Currently, he is focusing on e-cigarettes and his struggles to quit smoking. These podcasts narrate the journey of finding a cigarette that is less harmful. It’s interesting to note the difference in approach between the UK, where e-cigarettes are promoted as a tool to quit smoking, and the US, where there are efforts to ban flavored e-cigarettes. Hannah Verdier
A better paradise Widely available, with weekly episodes An atmospheric near-future podcast from the creators of Grand Theft Auto. Featuring a talented cast, Andrew Lincoln plays Dr. Mark Tyburn who tries to create an addictive video game but abandons the project halfway. Years later, when he is rediscovered, will the game finally see the light of day? HV
Leon Neyfakh’s “Backfired” explores the rise of e-cigarettes. Photo: Nicholas T Ansell/PA
Because the boss is ours Widely available, with weekly episodes Bruce Springsteen may not be the first person you think of when it comes to queer pop idols, but hosts Jesse Lawson and Holly Cascio, “two queer nerds” who are fans of the Boss, delve into this fun and insightful podcast to explore Springsteen’s status as a queer icon. Holly Richardson
Pulling the Thread: Wild Life Widely available, with weekly episodes This captivating series from Drake’s production company follows investigative journalist Lunako Serena and the spy known as “Wolf” as they uncover the truth about Africa’s largest wildlife trafficking ring. The journey takes them from an environmental conference in The Shard in London to infiltrating criminal networks involved in the ivory trade in Uganda. Alexi Duggins
Festival Hall Widely available, with weekly episodes A new series from the creators of the confessional-based X Account, featuring a range of content from ranking secrets of the week to insightful interviews with Philippa Perry about the psychology behind anonymous sharing of secrets. advertisement
There is a podcast
Afua Hirsch, host of “We Need to Talk About the British Empire.” Photo: Suki Dhanda/Observer
this week, Rachel Aroesti Pick the top 5 PodcastsUnited KingdomFrom Armando Iannucci’s irreverent take on Westminster to Afua Hirsch’s reflections on the complex legacy of the British Empire London Grad London is clearly a cosmopolitan city, but there are moments in this darkly fascinating podcast from Tortoise Media’s Paul Caruana Galizia that make you wonder which country has the most influence over our capital. The first series of the show focused on Russian money flowing into London through real estate and, in the case of the Lebedev family, the purchasing power of its ultra-rich investors in multiple newspapers, while in series two the focus shifted to Iran and the government-mandated “death squads” that have repeatedly attempted to assassinate London-based critics of the regime on British soil.
We need to talk about the British Empire Afua Hirsch’s 2018 book, Brit(ish), is both a deeply personal memoir and an insightful analysis of British history, making it essential reading for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of black history and politics in the country. In this podcast series, the author broadens the perspective even further, using her guests’ personal stories to illuminate the legacy of colonialism from different angles. Anita Rani offers insight into Partition, the late Benjamin Zephaniah talks about the Windrush, Diana Rigg talks about growing up at the end of the British colonial era, and musician Emma Lee Moss (formerly Emmy the Great) reminisces about her childhood in Hong Kong under British rule.
Rethinking Westminster Armando Iannucci is one of Britain’s leading satirists, and he’s spent his career lampooning the country’s follies and weaknesses, from the chaos of government with The Thick of It to the banality of mid-level broadcasting via Alan Partridge. In this podcast series for the New Statesman, he and the magazine’s UK editor Anoush Chakerian (who also hosts the magazine’s flagship podcast) take a slightly less-than-modest look at Britain’s most pressing political issues. Topics range from Britain’s “ramshackle” constitution and the old, machismo energy of party politics to the shortcomings of lobby journalism and the deterioration of our supposedly special relationship with the US.
Northern News Edinburgh Award-nominated stand-up comedians Ian Smith and Amy Gledhill are northerners who moved to London but are still keen to hear news from their home town – Gledhill is originally from Hull, Smith from nearby Goole. For Northern News, the pair combine easy-going chatter with local newspaper readings, focusing on the weirdest, most ridiculous and sentimental news they can find. They also host a host of guest comedians who share their own quirky local anecdotes.
The rise and fall of Britpop The story of Britpop is much more than the tabloid-shattering rivalry between Oasis and Blur. It’s a story that has much to say about the traditions and history of British pop culture from the 1960s to the present day. Steve Lamacq and Joe Whiley, co-hosts of Radio 1’s hip show The Evening Sessions when the scene first took off 30 years ago, are perfectly suited to tell the tale. With help from guests including Stuart McOnie and Alex James, the pair take a trip down memory lane to trace Britpop’s journey from an unpopular alternative to trendy US grunge to a cultural force that redefined our national identity.
Please try…
Alexander Skarsgård’s new pod explores startups taking innovative approaches to environmental and social issues How to solve this.
From remote work to immigration, The Atlantic Good on Paper It raises the big questions behind the inevitable topics.
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