New Images of Comet Gassan-ATLAS Captured by NASA Astronauts and SOHO Spacecraft

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A bright comet from the Oort cloud named C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is passing close to Earth and will be visible until late October 2024.

This image, taken by the ESA/NASA Solar-Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on October 10, 2024, shows Comet Atlas Gassan and its bright tail streaming from upper left to right. Mercury will be visible as a bright dot on the left. Image credit: ESA/NASA.

Comet Tsuchiyama-ATLAS It was discovered on January 9, 2023 by astronomers from China's Zishan Observatory.

The comet, also known as C/2023 A3, was independently discovered by South Africa's ATLAS on February 22, 2023.

It orbits the Sun in a retrograde orbit and lies at an inclination of 139°.

It reached perihelion on September 27, 2024, at a distance of 0.391 astronomical units. Its closest approach to Earth was on October 12th. It is expected to be 200 AU from the Sun in 2239.

Each day throughout October, the comet rises higher and higher in the western sky as it moves away from the sun. But as it progresses, it gets darker and darker.

October 14th to 24th is the best time to observe it using binoculars or a small telescope.

Eagle-eyed skywatchers may be able to spot the star with their naked eyes for a few days, but then binoculars or a telescope will be needed as it gets darker.

“Comet Tuchinshan-Atlas may have come from the Oort Cloud, a region of space between 2,000 times the distance between Earth and the Sun and one light year.” said Jason Ybarra, director of the WVU Planetarium and Observatory.

“This region is so far away that the gravitational pull from the Sun competes with the gravitational pull from passing stars and the entire Milky Way galaxy.”

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick took this photo of comet Atlas Tsuchiyama on September 28, 2024. At the time, the comet was about 70.8 million kilometers (44 million miles) from Earth. Image credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick.

“The larger the orbit, the longer it takes for the comet to orbit that orbit,” he added.

“In the case of comets originating from the Oort cloud, their orbits take a very long time, so their orbits may change due to gravitational interactions with other bodies in the solar system, and it is possible to predict the future behavior of comets. It becomes difficult to do so.”

“If it gains enough energy from these interactions, Comet Gassan-ATLAS may never come back. It will have to wait at least another 80,000 years. In any case, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s an event.”

Just before sunrise on September 28, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick took a time-lapse photo of the comet Tuchingshan Atlas orbiting over the South Pacific Ocean southeast of New Zealand from the International Space Station.

From October 7th to October 11th, the comet brightly illuminated the field of view of the onboard LASCO (Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph Experiment) instrument. ESA/NASA Solar Heliosphere Observatory (Soho).

This device uses a disc to block the sun's bright light, making it easier to see details and objects near the sun.

Source: www.sci.news

Seven frog species recently identified produce vocalizations that resemble the sound effects from Star Trek

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Boophis pikei, a new species of frog from Madagascar

Miguel Vances (CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Deep in the forests of Madagascar, researchers have discovered seven new species of frogs and named them after characters. star trek.

“The frog sounds are very reminiscent of the series' iconic futuristic sound effects,” he says. Mark D. Schertz At the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Bufis mallogesensis A small brownish frog found in the damp forests of Madagascar. The animal was first described in 1994, but over time, researchers began to wonder if this puppy-eyed amphibian was actually more than one species. I did.

To find out, Schatz and his colleagues collected as much data as possible from a variety of individuals. B. mallogesensis Collected over 30 years. They recorded and analyzed the frogs' calls, compared their physical characteristics, and sequenced their DNA.

Their results showed that what was previously thought to be one species of frog is actually eight different species. Physically, they look almost identical, Schertz says. “The main difference is in the sounds they make. Their piercing, high-pitched whistle calls differ in pitch and timing of the whistle.” DNA sequencing also shows genetic differences, making them different It was confirmed that it is a species.

Male frogs attract females with bird-like calls, but because these newly named species live near rivers, they have evolved high-pitched whistles to make their calls stand out from the noise of flowing water. Mr. Schertz thinks so. However, much about the lives of these frogs remains a mystery.

one of the species is named Boufis Khaki, In honor of James T. Kirk. Other members are named after Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisco, Kathryn Janeway, Jonathan Archer, Michael Burnham, and Christopher Pike.

“We wanted to honor captains who lead teams on missions of exploration and discovery,” says Schatz. “This may also serve as a reminder of how much discovery still remains on Earth before we set our sights on the stars.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

How scared individuals can manipulate women’s brains through biohacking

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

There is a common belief that animals can smell fear, but can humans do the same? Can you detect someone’s fear just by their scent or musk?

The straightforward answer is “no, you can’t.” While other species, particularly those heavily reliant on their sense of smell, can do so, humans have seemed to lose this ability over time.

The brain area responsible for detecting pheromones, chemical messengers that convey mood information to others, does not seem to work the same way in humans. This function is akin to an appendix of the nervous system.

However, this does not mean that humans are entirely incapable of sensing fear. Research has shown that when women inhale the sweat of men experiencing fear, they become more sensitive to fear as well.

It is important to note that women appear to be more attuned to emotional scents emitted by men. Additionally, the fear response triggered by smelling fear is more subconscious rather than an immediate conscious recognition of fear.

In essence, humans can smell fear to a limited extent in specific situations. The response is either unnoticed due to subconscious processing or perceived as the scent of sweat.

This article answers the question posed by Edward Cox of Edinburgh: “Can you smell fear?”

If you have any questions, please email us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or contact us via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (remember to include your name and location).

Explore more fun facts and incredible science pages with us.

Read more:

The new science of phobias: why phobias form and how to deal with them
The Science of Fear: What Makes Us Scary?
How to overcome phobias and conquer fear in 4 steps

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

NASA launches Europa Clipper spacecraft towards Jupiter’s icy moons

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Europa Clipper launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm EDT, beginning a six-year journey to Jupiter's icy moon Europa. The spacecraft will fly 49 times, approaching as close as 25 kilometers. Searching for the ingredients of life below the surface (16 miles).

Europa Clipper will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm EDT. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett.

european clipper This is the largest spacecraft ever built by NASA for a planetary mission.

Expanding the giant solar array, the spacecraft could span the length of a basketball court (30.5 meters, or 100 feet, end to end).

“We congratulate the European Clipper team as it begins its first journey to the ocean world beyond Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

“NASA is a world leader in exploration and discovery, and the Europa Clipper mission is no exception.”

“By exploring the unknown, Europa Clipper will help us better understand whether there is potential for life not only within our solar system, but also on the billions of moons and planets outside the sun. .”

“We couldn't be more excited about the incredible and unprecedented science that NASA's European Clipper mission will bring for generations to come,” said Nikki Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. states.

“All of NASA's science is interconnected, and Europa Clipper's scientific discoveries will help other missions in Jupiter exploration, including Juno, Galileo, and Voyager, explore the possibility of inhabited planets beyond our home planet. We will build on the legacy we have created as we explore possible worlds.”

“We are very happy to be able to send Europa Clipper to explore a potentially habitable ocean world, thanks to all of our colleagues and partners who have worked so hard to date.” said Dr. Laurie Leshin, Director of NASA's Jet Division. Promotion Institute.

“The Europa Clipper will undoubtedly deliver amazing science. It is always bittersweet to send something we have worked so hard on for so many years on its long journey, but this amazing team We know that spacecraft will expand our knowledge of our solar system and provide inspiration for future exploration.”

“As Europa Clipper embarks on its journey, I will reflect on the countless dedications, innovations, and teamwork that made this moment possible,” said Europa Clipper project manager, also at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jordan Evans said.

“This launch is more than just the next chapter in solar system exploration. It is a journey into another ocean, driven by our common curiosity and the quest to answer the question 'Are we alone?' A leap forward to uncover the mysteries of the world. ”

The journey to Jupiter will be a long 2.9 billion kilometers (1.8 billion miles), and instead of heading straight there, Europa Clipper will orbit Mars and then Earth, speeding past it.

The spacecraft is scheduled to begin orbiting Jupiter in April 2030 and begin its 49 science-focused flybys of Europa in 2031 while orbiting the gas giant.

This orbit is designed to take full advantage of the science Europa Clipper can perform and minimize exposure to Jupiter's notoriously intense radiation.

Scientists on the mission will be able to “see” how thick Europa's ice shell is and gain a deeper understanding of the vast ocean beneath.

They will examine surface material that may have come up from below, look for fingerprints of organic compounds that form the building blocks of life, and sample gases emitted by the moon for evidence of habitability. I will.

They will analyze the results and look for signs of a water world that could support life beneath the moon's frozen shell.

“It's important for us to picture what that alien ocean is like, the chemistry and biochemistry that might be going on there,” said Europa Clipper team member said Dr. Morgan Cable, an astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Its research centers on searching for the types of salts, ices, and organic materials that make up the main ingredients of a habitable world.

This is where an imager called MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) comes into play.

Operating in the infrared, the spacecraft's MISE splits the reflected light into different wavelengths to identify the corresponding atoms and molecules.

The mission will also use an instrument called E-THEMIS (European Thermal Emission Imaging System), which also operates in infrared, to explore potential sites near Europa's surface where plumes could bring deep-sea material closer to the surface. Attempt to identify hotspots.

The task of the EIS (Europa Imaging System) is to take clear, detailed pictures of Europa's surface using both narrow-image and wide-image cameras.

“EIS imagers will provide incredibly high-resolution images to understand how Europa's surface continues to evolve and change,” said Dr. Cable.

NASA's Cassini mission has discovered giant plumes of water vapor spewing from jets near the south pole of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus.

Europa may also emit a misty column of water drawn from the ocean or from reservoirs within its shell.

The Europa Clipper's instrument, called Europa-UVS (Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph), can explore the plume and study any material that could be ejected into space.

Regardless of whether Europa has a plume or not, the spacecraft will carry two instruments to analyze small amounts of gas and dust particles ejected from the moon's surface by collisions with micrometeorites and high-energy particles. It has been. MASPEX (MAss SPECtrometer for Planetary Exploration/Europa) and SUDA (Surface Dust Analyzer).

These instruments capture small pieces of material emitted from surfaces and turn them into charged particles that reveal their composition.

“The spacecraft will study the gases and grains emitted by Europa by sticking out its tongue, tasting the grains, and inhaling those gases,” Dr. Cable said.

The mission will also explore Europa's external and internal structures in a variety of ways. That's because both structures have far-reaching implications for the moon's habitability.

To gain insight into the thickness of ice shells and the presence of oceans, as well as their depth and salinity, the mission will measure the moon's induced magnetic field with the ECM (European Clipper Magnetometer) and use that data to analyze currents from flowing charged particles. We plan to combine it with the measured values of . Around Europa — Data provided by PIMS (Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding).

In addition, mission scientists will use REASON (European Assessment and Near-Surface Sounding Radar), which monitors up to 18 miles (29 km) away, to detect every detail from the presence of ocean to ice structure and topography. I plan to investigate. several miles) into the shell. itself a potentially habitable environment.

Measuring the changes that Europa's gravity causes in radio signals should help determine the thickness of the ice and the depth of the ocean.

“Non-ice material on the surface can migrate into deep internal pockets of brine within the ice shell,” said Dr. Steve Vance, a member of the European Clipper team and an astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“Some may be large enough to be considered lakes, or at least ponds.”

“Using the collected data to perform large-scale computer modeling of Europa's internal structure, we may be able to uncover the ocean's composition and estimate its temperature profile.”

“Whatever the situation, the discovery will open a new chapter in the search for extraterrestrial life.”

“The European Clipper is almost certain to raise as many questions as it answers, if not more, in a completely different class than we have been thinking about for the past 25 years.”

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This article is based on a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble observations reveal Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is wobbling and changing in size

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope detected Jupiter’s most distinctive feature, the Great Red Spot, on eight dates over a single 90-day oscillation period from December 2023 to March 2024. I observed it.

simon others. measured the size, shape, brightness, color, and vorticity of the Great Red Spot over one complete oscillation cycle. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Joseph DePasquale, STScI.

“We knew its motion varied slightly with longitude, but we didn’t expect it to oscillate in magnitude,” said Dr. Amy Simon, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“As far as we know, it has never been identified before.”

“This is really the first time we’ve had a proper imaging rhythm for the Great Red Spot.”

“Using Hubble’s high resolution, we can say that the Great Red Spot is steadily moving in and out at the same time as it moves faster and slower.”

“This was very unexpected. There is no hydrodynamic explanation at this time.”

Dr. Simon and colleagues used Hubble to zoom in on the Great Red Spot and closely observe its size, shape, and subtle color changes.

“If you look closely, you can see that many things are changing every day,” Dr. Simon said.

“This includes ultraviolet observations showing that the clear center of the storm is brightest when the Great Red Spot is at its maximum magnitude during its oscillation period.”

“This indicates less absorption of haze in the upper atmosphere.”

“As the Great Red Spot accelerates and decelerates, it’s working against the jet stream, which has strong north and south winds,” said Dr. Mike Wong, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley.

“It’s similar to how having too many ingredients in the middle of a sandwich forces a slice of bread to expand.”

The authors contrasted this with Neptune. On Neptune, dark spots can drift violently within their latitudes without a strong jet stream to hold them in place.

The Great Red Spot is held at southern latitudes trapped between the jet stream, with limited telescopic observations of Earth.

Astronomers predict that the star will continue to shrink and then assume a stable, less elongated shape.

“Currently, we’re overfilling that latitudinal band compared to wind fields,” Dr. Simon said.

“Once it contracts within that band, the wind actually holds it in place.”

“We predict that the size of the Great Red Spot will probably stabilize, but so far Hubble has only observed it for one oscillation period.”

team’s result Published in Planetary Science Journal.

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Amy A. Simon others. 2024. A detailed study of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot over a 90-day oscillation period. planet. Science. J 5,223;doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad71d1

Source: www.sci.news

New Evidence of Volcanic Exomoon Found Orbiting WASP-49Ab by Astronomers

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Using the ESPRESSO instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope and the HARPS instrument on ESO’s La Silla 3.6-meter telescope, astronomers discovered the hot Saturn-sized gas giant exoplanet WASP-49Ab, which is close to but slightly synchronized. Detected a sodium cloud with a shifted position.

This artist’s concept depicts a volcanic exomoon that could exist between WASP-49Ab (left) and its parent star. Image credit: NASA/JPL/California Institute of Technology.

WASP-49A is a faint sun-like star discovered in 2006 by the Wide Angle Planet Survey (WASP).

The star, also known as 2MASS 06042146-1657550, is located in the constellation Lepus, about 635 light-years from Earth.

The transiting Saturn-mass companion star, WASP-49Ab (also known as WASP-49b), was discovered in 2012 in a 2.8-day orbit.

“Both WASP-49Ab and its star are composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of sodium,” said Caltech astronomer Apurva Oza.

“Neither of these contain enough sodium to cause clouds, and the clouds appear to be coming from sources that are producing about 100,000 kg of sodium per second.”

“Even if stars and planets were able to produce that much sodium, it is unclear what mechanism would allow them to emit sodium into space.”

Oza and his colleagues found some evidence to suggest that the cloud was produced by another object orbiting WASP-49Ab, but additional research is needed to confirm the cloud’s behavior. .

For example, their two observations showed that when the cloud was not next to the planet, it suddenly increased in size, as if it had been refueled.

They also observed that the clouds were moving faster than the planets. This seems impossible unless the clouds are generated by another object that moves independently and faster than the planet.

“We think this is very important evidence,” Dr. Oza said.

“The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells it should go if it were part of the planet’s atmosphere.”

Astronomers have demonstrated that this cloud is located above the planet’s atmosphere, similar to the gas clouds that Io produces around Jupiter.

They also used a computer model to explain the exomoon scenario and compared it to data.

WASP-49Ab orbits the star every 2.8 days with clock-like regularity, but the cloud appears and disappears behind the star and planet at seemingly irregular intervals.

The researchers used a model to show that exomoons with eight-hour orbits around the planet sometimes appeared to move in front of the planet or did not appear to be associated with certain clouds. It was shown that it is possible to explain the movement and activity of clouds, such as how they move. region of the planet.

“The evidence that something other than a planet or star is producing this cloud is very convincing,” said Dr. Rosalie Lopez, a planetary geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The detection of an exomoon is highly unusual, but thanks to Io we know that volcanic exomoons are possible.”

of findings Published in Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Apurva V. Oza others. 2024. Redshifted sodium transient near an exoplanet transit. APJL 973, L53; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad6b29

Source: www.sci.news

New and surprising images of Messier 90 captured by Hubble

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have obtained a surprising new perspective of the intermediate spiral galaxy Messier 90.

This Hubble image shows Messier 90, an intermediate spiral galaxy located 53.8 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Tilker / J. Lee / PHANGS-HST team.

Messier 90 is located approximately 53.8 million light years away in the constellation Virgo.

This spiral galaxy, also known as M90 or NGC 4569, was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier on March 18, 1781.

Messier 90 is the brightest member of this bunch. Virgo Cluster is a group of about 1,300, sometimes up to 2,000 galaxies.

This galaxy is remarkable, as it is one of the few galaxies that appear to be moving toward the Milky Way, rather than away from it.

“In 2019, images of Messier 90 Hubble's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) was imaged in 1994, shortly after the camera was installed,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“That image has a distinctive stair-step pattern due to the layout of WFPC2's sensor.”

“WFPC2 was replaced in 2010. wide field camera 3 (WFC3),” they added.

“Hubble used WFC3 in 2019 and again in 2023 when it switched caliber to Messier 90.”

“We processed the resulting data to create this surprising new image, providing a more detailed view of the galaxy's dusty disk, gaseous halo, and bright center.”

“The inner region of the Messier-90 disk is a site of star formation, highlighted here by red H-alpha light from the nebula, which is absent in other parts of the galaxy,” the astronomers said.

“Messier 90 is located within a relatively nearby galaxy in the Virgo cluster, and its orbit followed an orbit close to the cluster's center about 300 million years ago.”

“The gas density in the inner cluster weighed down on Messier 90 like a strong headwind, stripping enormous amounts of gas from the galaxy and creating the diffuse halo we see here around the galaxy.”

“This gas will no longer be available for Messier 90 to form new stars, resulting in its eventual demise as a spiral galaxy.”

“Its trajectory through the Virgo Cluster has accelerated so much that it is on the verge of escaping the cluster altogether, and coincidentally it is moving in our direction. Other galaxies in the Virgo Cluster are also moving in our direction. They have been measured at similar speeds, but in opposite directions.''

“Over billions of years to come, we will get a better view of Messier 90 as it evolves into a lenticular galaxy.”

Source: www.sci.news

European Clipper mission to Jupiter’s icy moons launched by NASA

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

For decades, Jupiter’s icy moons have been considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for extraterrestrial life. Europa, thought to have an underground ocean and a potentially habitable environment, has long been considered an attractive target in our cosmic backyard.

Now humans are ready to take a closer look at Jupiter’s fourth largest moon.

NASA is scheduled to launch a new robotic mission to Jupiter as soon as noon Monday. The probe, named Europa Clipper, is the largest spacecraft the company has ever built for a planetary science mission.

Assuming no further launch delays, Europa Clipper is scheduled to lift off Monday at 12:06 pm ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The launch was originally scheduled for Thursday, but NASA was forced to cancel due to Hurricane Milton, which made landfall late Wednesday near Siesta Key along Florida’s west coast. Kennedy Space Center was closed as the storm battered the state, bringing high winds and heavy rain to much of the Florida peninsula.

The delay was a minor setback in a mission that took more than a decade to plan and develop.

“It feels surreal,” said Jordan Evans, mission project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “There were battles at every level, from the early stages of the initial concept of the mission, to getting approval, passing each milestone and overcoming various problems along the way. At this point, the team was ready. It’s incredible to watch.”

Europa Clipper is not embarking on a life-detecting mission. Rather, they will study the composition of the icy moon, as well as its internal structure and geology. This information could help scientists determine whether Europa currently has the right ingredients to support life, or whether they existed at some point.

“We’re looking for a habitable environment,” said Bonnie Blatty, mission deputy project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “We believe that liquid water is a necessity for life, and that it exists. Whether through active geology or something else, we need the right chemistry to act like a battery to propel life. It’s energy.”Parallel.”

Blatty said there is strong scientific evidence that a vast ocean lurks beneath the moon’s icy surface. In fact, Europa’s interior ocean is estimated to be twice the volume of all of Earth’s oceans combined, according to NASA.

A mosaic image of Jupiter’s moon Europa acquired by a camera aboard NASA’s Galileo spacecraft on November 25, 1999.
NASA

Europa Clipper is scheduled to enter Jupiter’s orbit in 2030 after a six-year, 1.8 billion mile journey.

The 49 flybys of the moon over four years will provide researchers with new insights.

“We’ll definitely be able to tell how thick the ice crust is and whether there are small ponds there,” Blatty said. “As for the ocean, I think we will someday find out how deep it is.”

To make these observations, the spacecraft will fly through a harsh radiation environment created by Jupiter’s massive magnetic field, which NASA says is about 20,000 times stronger than Earth’s.

“If we were to go into orbit around Europe and do research, even the most radiation-resistant electronic equipment would likely be destroyed by radiation within a month or two,” Evans said. said.

Instead, mission managers developed a way for the probe to orbit Jupiter in harmony with the icy moon. This is a kind of cosmic duet that could help protect equipment from prolonged exposure to harsh radiation.

“So every six times Europa orbits Jupiter, or every 21 days, we’ll be at a precise position in space, right next to Europa,” Evans said. “And because each flyby will be different, we will be able to cover almost the entire world’s moon.”

However, the team will need to exercise patience. Before reaching Jupiter, the spacecraft will first pass Mars and then circle Earth again, using the gravity of both planets to blast it deep into space.

Europa was discovered in 1610 by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. This icy object is the fourth largest of Jupiter’s 95 known moons.

Several space probes have previously observed Europa, including NASA’s Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and Galileo missions, but this will be NASA’s first dedicated mission to the Moon, and will be the first mission for NASA to go beyond Earth. This will be my first time researching the ocean world.

This milestone has been a long time coming for Blatty, who wrote a paper on Europa as a graduate student at Cornell University in the 1980s.

“I’ve actually only been in this role for two and a half years. I didn’t start it,” she said. “But I’m so happy to be back to something so near and dear to my heart. It’s truly a dream.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Impending Collapse of Atlantic Currents: The Impact on our Planet

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The frozen River Thames is being hit by cold winds, the Mersey docks are blocked by ice floes, and crops are failing in the UK. Meanwhile, rising sea levels are flooding the east coast of the United States, and the Amazon ecosystem is experiencing disruptions due to changing seasons. The world has undergone significant changes. What has caused this?

These events may seem like scenes from a disaster movie, but a recent scientific study focusing on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) warns that these scenarios could become a reality as early as 2050. Learn more.

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What is AMOC, why is it vital, and what changes can we expect? Will disruptions lead to catastrophic events, and how can we address the situation?

The Importance of AMOC and Expected Changes

The AMOC, also known as the “Great Ocean Conveyor,” is a vast ocean current system that includes the Gulf Stream. It transports warm, salty water from the tropics northward into the North Atlantic Ocean. As this water cools and becomes denser, it sinks, flows back southward at depth, and eventually rises to the surface, creating a continuous circulation loop.

This circulation system moves significant amounts of heat around the Atlantic Ocean, equivalent to boiling approximately 100 billion kettles. The AMOC plays a crucial role in distributing heat input to the Northern Hemisphere and affects climate zones worldwide. Any weakening of the AMOC could lead to shifts in global climate patterns, impacting various regions.

Changes in wind patterns can also influence AMOC. Stronger winds during ice ages bolstered parts of the Gulf Stream, while in a warmer future world, wind effects might weaken the AMOC.

Evidences of AMOC Changes

Direct measurements of AMOC strength started in 2004 using the RAPID array across the Atlantic Ocean. Observations indicate a 10% decline in intensity over nearly two decades, but year-to-year variations pose challenges in determining a clear long-term trend.

Past indirect measures, such as cooling trends in southern Greenland, suggest a weakening AMOC. Salt accumulation in the South Atlantic further supports the notion of reduced heat and salt transport due to system weakening.

By studying marine sediment cores and ancient shells, paleoclimatologists have discovered that the current AMOC weakening is unparalleled in the last 1,600 years, indicating a potential 15% decline in the system’s strength.

Future Outlook for AMOC

Climate models predict a 30-50% weakening of AMOC by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue. This could result in altered weather patterns, increased extreme events, and sea level rise along certain coastlines.

A small increase in global temperatures might trigger a swift shutdown of the AMOC, leading to severe climate impacts. Understanding the potential collapse mechanisms, such as “salt feedback,” highlights the need for immediate climate action to prevent such scenarios.

Managing AMOC Risk

To mitigate the risks associated with AMOC collapse, we must urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience, and prepare for potential disruptions in food and water supplies. Addressing the root cause of global warming and implementing sustainable practices are crucial in safeguarding the stability of the Earth’s climate system.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New excavations shed light on early human activity in Laos’ jungles

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists excavating Tam Parin (Monkey Cave) in northeastern Laos have discovered some of the earliest fossil evidence homo sapiens Presence in mainland Southeast Asia.

Excavation survey at Thamparin in northeastern Laos. Image credit: Hernandez others., doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108982.

“Using a technique known as microstratigraphy, we were able to reconstruct past cave conditions and identify traces of human activity in and around Tamparin,” said Flinders University's Ph.D. says. Candidate Vito Hernandez.

“This also helped us determine the exact conditions in which some of the earliest modern human fossils found in Southeast Asia were deposited at depth.”

Microstratigraphy allows scientists to study soils in minute detail, identifying structures and features that preserve information about past environments, as well as potential structures and features that were overlooked during the excavation process due to their small size. Even traces of sexual human and animal activity can be observed.

The hominin fossils discovered by archaeologists were deposited in Tamparin Cave between 86,000 and 30,000 years ago.

However, until now, no detailed analysis of the sediment surrounding these fossils has been conducted to understand how they were deposited in the cave or the environmental conditions at the time.

The new findings reveal that conditions within the cave varied dramatically, from a temperate climate with frequently wet ground conditions to a seasonally dry climate.

Dr Mike Morley from Flinders University said: “This environmental change would have affected the topography inside the cave and influenced how the deposits containing hominin fossils were deposited inside the cave.” said.

“How fast! homo sapiens The theory that they were buried deep inside the cave has long been debated, but our analysis of the sediments suggests that the fossils were pushed into the cave as loose sediment and debris that accumulated over time and were washed away by heavy rains. It has been shown that it was likely carried by water from the surrounding hillsides. ”

Researchers have also identified tiny traces of charcoal and ash preserved in the cave's sediments, indicating that forest fires occurred in the area during the dry season, or that humans visited the cave. This suggests that fire may have been used inside the cave or near the entrance. .

“With this study, our team gained unprecedented insight into the dynamics of our ancestors, who dispersed throughout Southeast Asia's ever-changing forest cover and during periods of regional climate instability.” ,” said Dr. Fabrice Demeter, a paleoanthropologist at the National Museum of Nature and Science. University of Copenhagen.

of result Published in a magazine dated October 10th Quaternary Science Review.

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VC Hernandez others. Late Pleistocene–Holocene (52–10 ka) microstratigraphy, fossil taphonomy, and depositional environment of Tam Parin Cave (northeastern Laos). Quaternary Science Reviewpublished online October 10, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108982

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists create new isotope of plutonium

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered isotope plutonium-227 has a half-life of 0.78 seconds, according to a team of Chinese physicists.

Areas 87≤Z≤97 and 112≤N≤136 in the nuclear map show the new isotope plutonium-227 (red star) and 12 nuclides (blue stars) discovered at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Science. Image credit: Huabin Yang.

“The magic numbers of protons and neutrons, such as 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126, are correlated with shell closure,” said Dr. Zaiguo Gan of the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. . And my colleagues.

“Previous studies have shown that the closure of the 126 neutron shell weakens persistently up to uranium, so it will be interesting to explore whether shell closure weakens in the transuranium region.”

“Through a series of experiments, we discovered that shell closure exists in neptunium isotopes.”

“However, due to the lack of experimental data, the robustness of this closure in plutonium isotopes remains unknown.”

To investigate the unknown plutonium isotope, the authors conducted experiments in the gas-filled reaction separator SHANS (Spectrometer for Heavy Atom and Nuclear Structures).

Using nuclear fusion vaporization reactions, we were able to synthesize plutonium-227, a plutonium isotope that is severely deficient in neutrons.

“Plutonium-227 is the 39th new isotope discovered by the Modern Institute of Physics,” they said.

From the nine decay chains observed, physicists determined the alpha particle energy and half-life of plutonium-227 to be approximately 8,191 keV and 0.78 seconds, respectively.

“These data are in very good agreement with the known plutonium isotope system,” they said.

The researchers now plan to examine more plutonium isotopes to gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of the shell in plutonium.

“The newly discovered plutonium-227 is still seven neutrons away from the magic number 126,” said Dr. Huabin Yang, also of the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“To study the robustness of plutonium’s shell closure, we need to continue research on lighter plutonium isotopes, including plutonium-221 to plutonium-226.”

of the team work appear in the diary Physical Review C.

_____

HB Yang others. 2024. Alpha decay of the new isotope 227Pu. Physics. Rev.C 110 (4): 044302;doi: 10.1103/PhysRevC.110.044302

Source: www.sci.news

Colombian fossils reveal a new species of ichthyosaur

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists say they have identified a new species of marine reptile in the ophthalmosaurid family Platypterygius. It lived about 125 million years ago.

a pair of Platypterygius sp. Image credit: Dmitry Bogdanov / CC BY 3.0.

Ophthalmosauridae is a family of ichthyosaurs that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

These ichthyosaurs appeared around the world during the early Bajosian period, about 170 million years ago, after which most other ichthyosaur lineages disappeared during the late Toarthian period, 174 million years ago.

Two lineages of Ophthalmosauridae are known. One contains two genera, Agilosaurus and Ophthalmosaurus, and the other contains three genera: Brachypterygius, Caprisaurus, and Platypterygius.

The newly identified species is Platypterygius elsuntuoso, belonging to the latter genus.

This marine reptile swam in the early Barremian seas, about 125 million years ago.

“The morphology of the new specimen is consistent with diagnostic features of Platypterygius, supporting its inclusion in this genus,” said lead author Dr. María Paramo Fonseca and colleagues from the National University of Colombia and the National Geological Museum José Royo y Gómez.

“The difference between this specimen and all others in the Platypterygius genus supports the establishment of the new species, Platypterygius elsuntuoso.”

Platypterygius elsuntuoso holotype. Scale bar – 10 cm. Image credit: Paramo Fonseca others, doi: 10.15446/esrj.v28n2.112332.

Fossilized remains of a juvenile or subadult Platypterygius elsuntuoso were collected in 1999 by researchers at the Columbia Geobiological Foundation.

The specimen consists of a nearly complete skull, several axial elements including the atlantoaxial and several cervical vertebrae, the left coracoid, and several phalanges.

“This specimen was discovered in a concretion in the La Cabrera hill northwest of Villa de Leyva (Boyaca, Colombia), where the Arcilolitas Abigaladas Formation of the Paja Formation is exposed,” the paleontologists said.

“Because its exact geographic origin is unknown, its exact stratigraphic position could not be determined.”

“However, numerous ammonoid specimens have been extracted from the same stone, some of which have been preliminarily identified as ammonoid specimens of Acanthopticoceras.”

The researchers made morphological comparisons of Platypterygius elsuntuoso with ophthalmosaur ichthyosaurs of the Cretaceous and Late Jurassic periods.

They also revised the genus Platypterygius based on published descriptions and first-hand observations of Colombian materials.

“We have come to the conclusion that Platypterygius is a genus distinguished by a distinctive forelimb structure and a specific combination of cranial features,” they said.

“We revised that diagnosis to accept that Barremian to lower Cenomanian species are valid: Platypterygius platydactylus, Platypterygius americanus, Platypterygius australis, Platypterygius hercinus, Platypterygius sachicarum, Platypterygius virjucobi, and the new species Platypterygius elsuntuoso.”

“Therefore, Platypterygius was a cosmopolitan genus that diversified as it conquered oceans from the Early Cretaceous to the Early Late Cretaceous.”

The discovery of Platypterygius elsuntuoso is reported in a paper in Earth Science Research Journal.

_____

Maria E. Paramo-Fonseca others. 2024. new species Platypterygius Evaluation of the species composition of (Ophthalmosauridae) and their genera from the Lower Barremian of Columbia. Earth Science Resolution J 28 (2): 103-126;doi: 10.15446/esrj.v28n2.112332

Source: www.sci.news

The Factors Behind Hurricane Milton’s Powerful Tornadoes

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

Hurricane Milton’s tornado outbreak in Florida was the leading cause of death and damage from the storm.
On Wednesday, South Florida experienced one of the strongest tornadoes on record. Overall this year, the United States has seen an unusually high number of violent tornadoes associated with hurricanes.
Early research shows that in a warmer world, tropical cyclones can produce more tornadoes.

Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc earlier than expected before making landfall this week, as supercell thunderstorms featuring rotating updrafts and the potential to spawn tornadoes raced across the state.

The resulting twister caused the National Weather Service to issue 126 tornado warnings, and the agency The Storm Prediction Center has filed 45 preliminary reports of tornadoes..

In St. Lucie County, a tornado destroyed a retirement community and killed five people, accounting for nearly one-third of the 17 deaths reported so far in the aftermath of the hurricane.

As Florida begins the long process of recovering and recovering from Hurricane Milton, tornado outbreaks are causing deaths and damage in a state accustomed to tropical storms but less accustomed to powerful twisters. has emerged as the main cause.

One of the strongest tornadoes in South Florida history occurred on a day that will likely go down in Florida history as one of the worst tornado outbreaks ever observed in Florida during a cyclone.

Swirling winds reached 160 miles per hour in Palm Beach Gardens, tearing apart concrete walls and tearing off large sections of roofs from new homes. Breaking news from the National Weather Service.

“This is the first EF-3 on record for the South Florida area south of Lake Okeechobee,” said Donal Harrigan, NWS meteorologist in Miami. EF-3 refers to tornadoes with estimated wind speeds of 136 to 160 miles per hour (EF stands for Enhanced Fujita Scale; Started operation at the National Weather Service in 2007).

Harrigan added that several other observed twisters may be rated EF-3 after damage assessment.

“You can probably count on one hand how many EF-3s have been in this state historically, potentially multiple times a day,” he said.

Overall this year, the United States has seen an unusually high number of powerful tornadoes associated with hurricanes.

Tornadoes are common when hurricanes make landfall, but most are on the weaker end of the spectrum. Less than 1% of tornadoes associated with tropical systems that make landfall are rated EF-3 or higher. By contrast, four out of five hurricanes that made landfall in the United States this year produced tornadoes with EF-3 strength.

From 1995 to 2023, only five tornadoes caused by tropical cyclones received such high ratings.

A home is destroyed in Lakewood Park, Florida, on Thursday, a day after a tornado struck the area.Giorgio Vieira/AFP – Getty Images

Early research suggests that tropical cyclones could produce more tornadoes in a warmer world. In a study published in June, researchers modeled hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita, and Harvey in a warmer future climate. Their results show that the number of potential tornado storms caused by a tropical cyclone is 56% to 299% increase by mid-century Assuming the pace of fossil fuel pollution remains steady.

It is not yet known whether climate change played a role in the twisters associated with this year’s storms. But Bill Gallus, an author of the June study and a professor of meteorology at Iowa State University, said “it was really unusual that conditions in South Florida were this volatile” during Milton.

A situation is considered unstable if, due to differences in density and temperature, a mass of air rises or falls rapidly, which means that thunderstorms can form.

“When I looked at the instability graph, I was shocked. It was about as high as you’d see in Kansas chasing storms,” Gallus said. “Hurricanes have produced more tornadoes, but Florida alone has never produced so many tornadoes.”

He added that this type of instability is “expected to become more common” in a warming world.

One reason Milton produced so many tornadoes is that hurricane thunderstorms traveled far from the center.

“With the first tornado, it looked like a certain band of showers and storms from Milton were actually erupting well in front of the hurricane,” Gallus said.

The outer storm belt eventually became isolated and ended without interference from other systems. Those were thunderstorms that produced tornadoes. This is a reminder that hurricanes can become a threat long before landfall and even far from the storm’s center, experts said.

Another important factor for Milton’s tornadoes is heat. The hurricane approached the Florida coast in the afternoon and encountered particularly warm conditions, as the thunderstorms were quite far away at the edge of the hurricane, in addition to wind shear (changes in wind direction and speed with altitude). This allowed it to grow stronger than a typical hurricane setup.

“There was plenty of time to warm up the atmosphere,” Gallus said. “Most hurricanes get very little heat from the sun. Tornadoes form under heavy rain and cover.”

In hurricanes like Milton, where winds blow counterclockwise, tornadoes tend to form on the leading edge of the storm and to its right, sometimes called the dirty side. This region is also the windiest.

How it unfolded during Milton, Gallus said, noting that the twister “started in the exact place you see most tornadoes form.”

But in Milton’s case, he noted, the tornadoes were particularly concentrated.

Because Milton crossed the Florida peninsula for a short distance, “the tornado area was small, and I think it was one of the most concentrated tornadoes ever produced by a hurricane,” Gallus said.

More research is needed into exactly how climate change will affect tornadoes produced by hurricanes. However, the impact of global warming on extreme rainfall is more certain and clear.

A report released Friday by the World Weather Attribution Project, a consortium of scientists considered an authority on analyzing extreme weather events and determining the impact of climate change on specific events, says: It turned out. Rainfall amounts for single-day events like Milton are currently about 20% to 30% higher due to climate change.. The analysis found that Milton’s wind speeds were likely 10% stronger due to climate change.

The researchers also found that Hurricane Helen was wetter and windier because of climate change. Separate preliminary reports say climate change is likely to increase Helen’s rainfall by up to 50% over three days in some of the worst-hit areas.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Simplified diagnosis of endometriosis possible with stool test

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Endometriosis tissue seen under a microscope

Bio Photo Associates/Science Photo Library

Low levels of certain compounds in your feces may be a sign of endometriosis, and supplementing with those compounds may also help control your symptoms.

Endometriosis, which affects about 200 million people worldwide, occurs when the tissue lining the uterus grows in other parts of the reproductive tract. There is no known cure, but once the condition is diagnosed, lesions can be removed periodically through surgery. However, it currently takes more than six years on average for endometriosis to be diagnosed, largely due to a lack of awareness and understanding.

Previous research suggests that the gut microbiome may play a role in this condition. To investigate further, ramakrishna konmagani and colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, collected stool samples from 18 women with endometriosis and 31 women without endometriosis. They investigated the bacteria in feces and the metabolome, the set of chemicals produced by gut bacteria.

They found that women with endometriosis had lower levels of the metabolite 4-hydroxyindole in their feces. This is likely due to changes in the gut microbiome.

Based on this finding, commercially available stool analysis could enable rapid screening of this widely “underdiagnosed, understudied, and underdiagnosed” condition, potentially leading to early and effective management. Konmagani said.

“Stool sampling is very easy and not as invasive as current diagnostic techniques such as laparoscopy.” [a kind of keyhole surgery]” he says.

To test whether 4-hydroxyindole had a protective effect, the research team gave additional 4-hydroxyindole to a group of mice that had tissue implanted in their abdomens to induce endometriosis. After 14 days of treatment, these mice did not have fewer lesions compared to control animals, but the lesions were significantly less severe and showed signs of significantly reduced pain.

Further experiments showed that administering 4-hydroxyindole to mice with established endometriosis significantly improved the lesions. The results were similar in mice transplanted with human endometriosis lesions, suggesting that the treatment may be equally effective in humans.

“We believe this is a very good treatment option because it is something that occurs naturally in the body and is not drugged or synthetic,” Konmaghani said. I say.

However, large-scale human studies will be needed to confirm whether 4-hydroxyindole can be used to diagnose endometriosis and whether the compound is effective as a treatment.

topic:

women's health/
microbiome

Source: www.newscientist.com

Experience a sneak peek of Rachel Kushner’s “Creation Lake” with an exclusive excerpt

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Reconstruction of male and female Neanderthals based on fossils from La Chapelle-aux-Saints

S. Entresangle/E. Daines/Science Photo Library

extracted from creation lake Written by Rachel Kushnerby Jonathan Cape, New Scientist Book Club’s latest book recommendation. Sign up here to read along.

Neanderthals were prone to depression, he said.

He said they are also prone to addiction, especially smoking.

Perhaps these noble and mysterious Taal people (as he sometimes called Neanderthals) extracted nicotine from tobacco plants by cruder methods, such as chewing the leaves, before a critical inflection point in history. Of the world he said was likely extracted: When beginning a man touched beginning on tobacco leaves beginning fire.

As I read this part of Bruno’s email, skimming from “man” to “touch” to “leaf” to “fire,” a 1950s greaser wearing a white T-shirt and black leather jacket caught fire. I could imagine touching the tip of a match with a mark on it. I take a sip of Camel’s cigarette and inhale. The Greaser leans against the wall—that’s what Greasers do, so they lean and wander—and exhales.

Bruno Lacombe told Pascal in these emails, which I secretly read, that Neanderthals had very large brains. Or at least their skulls were so large that we can safely assume that their skulls were probably filled with brains, Bruno said.

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He used modern metaphors to talk about the impressive size of Thar’s brainbox, comparing it to a motorcycle engine and noting that its displacement had also been measured. Of all the two-legged, human-like species that roamed the Earth over the past million years, the Neanderthal brainbox was come forward a whopping 1,800 cubic centimeters.

I imagined the King of the Road up ahead.

I could see his leather vest, big guts, legs outstretched, engineer boots resting on spacious chrome-plated footpegs mounted in the front. His helicopter is fitted with a barely reachable ape hanger, which he pretends won’t tire his arms or cause severe gunshot pain in his lower back.

Bruno said Neanderthals’ skulls show they had huge faces.

Inspired by Joan Crawford. that Facial scale: dramatic, brutal, convincing.

And after that, the natural history museum in my head, the museum diorama I was creating while reading Bruno’s email, showed people in loincloths, yellow teeth, and messy hair, ancient people drawn by Bruno. All included men. They all looked like Joan Crawford.

They had her white skin and fiery red hair. Bruno said scientific advances in genetic mapping have shown that red hair is an inherited trait of the Thar tribe. And beyond such research and evidence, we might use our natural intuition to infer that, like the typical redhead, Neanderthal emotions were strong, sharp, and spanned high and low. , said Bruno.

Bruno writes Pascal some of the things we currently know about Neanderthals. They were good at math. They didn’t like crowds. They had strong stomachs and were not particularly prone to ulcers, but their diet of constant barbecuing took a toll on their intestines, just like everyone else’s. They were particularly vulnerable to tooth decay and periodontal disease. And while they had overdeveloped jaws that were surprisingly capable of chewing through gristle and cartilage, they were inefficient at eating soft foods. Too much. Bruno described the Neanderthal jaw as characteristic of its overdevelopment, pathos due to the burden of a square jaw. He talked about sunk costs as if the body were a capital investment, a fixed investment, a machine-like body part bolted to a factory floor, equipment that had been purchased and could not be resold. The Neanderthal jaw sunk cost.

Still, Bruno said the tar’s heavy bones and sturdy, heat-conserving construction are worthy of praise. Especially when compared to the breadstick-like limbs of modern humans. homo sapiens sapiens. (Bruno didn’t say “breadsticks,” but since he was writing these emails in French, I was translating, which is a very good language and my native language.) (The full text in English was used.)

The Thar people survived the cold well, he said. The story about them continues, if not for centuries – the story we know. must be complicated he said, if we want to know the truth about the ancient past, if we this The world, now, and how to live in it, how to spend the present, and where to go tomorrow.

——

My own tomorrow was meticulously planned. I am scheduled to meet Pascal Balmy, the leader of Le Moulin, who was the addressee of Bruno Lacombe’s email. And I didn’t need Neanderthal help on where to go. Pascal Balmy tells me to go to the Café de la Route in the central square of the small village of Ventôme at one o’clock in the afternoon, and that’s where I am.

The art and science of writing science fiction

Take your science fiction writing to a new level with this weekend dedicated to building new worlds and new works of art

Source: www.newscientist.com

When is SpaceX’s next test flight for Starship “Chopsticks” scheduled?

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

SpaceX’s Starship rocket before its first test flight in 2023

space x

SpaceX has been preparing Starship since August for its fifth test flight, which the company claims could launch as soon as this weekend.

What is a starship?

Starship is the most powerful rocket capable of flying. SpaceX aims to develop it into a quickly reusable vehicle that can carry large payloads into orbit, land on Earth, and launch another mission within hours. The company takes a “fail-fast” approach to research and development more commonly seen in Silicon Valley than in the conservative world of space exploration.

What will the next test flight include?

The fifth test flight will likely be the first attempt to drop Starship’s super heavy booster (the rocket’s first stage) onto the launch pad. SpaceX’s launch tower, called Mechazilla, is equipped with a pair of “chopsticks” that can grab and hold the booster in a specific position and lower it to the ground.

When will the launch take place?

space x stated on the website The flight could take place as early as October 13, pending regulatory approval.

The U.S. Coast Guard appears to have given official weight to this claim. Warning to seafarers The rocket launch took place one day earlier, on October 12, from 7:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) to 8:10 a.m. near Boca Chica, Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which must approve each launch before it launches, previously said Starship would not fly until November. public relations person said to san antonio express news Nothing has changed on October 3rd. “We are not issuing a launch permit for a launch within the next two weeks. In fact, no launch has taken place. Late November is still the target date,” they said.

However, the FAA also warned pilots that rocket launches could occur in the Boca Chica area between October 13 and 19. Neither the U.S. Coast Guard nor the FAA responded. new scientist Ask for explanation.

One possibility is that SpaceX is announcing the launch date to pressure the FAA for approval. The other thing is that we are considering releasing it without approval. that's what it did in the pastsent an early prototype of Starship to high-altitude testing in 2020 without permission. SpaceX was contacted by: new scientist We contacted them for more information, but received no response.

Why does it take so long for the FAA to approve test flights?

This is a question SpaceX has been asking for some time. in long blog post The paper, published in September, complained that Starship for test flight No. 5 had been ready since last month and was awaiting launch.

“Unfortunately, instead of focusing resources on critical safety analysis and cooperating with reasonable safeguards to protect both the public and the environment, we are faced with a variety of “The approval process has been derailed multiple times due to unforeseen issues,” the post said.

But the FAA won’t work on the timescale SpaceX is requesting. The company requires SpaceX to conduct an investigation after each launch, suggest remedies for failure and adhere to strict licensing requirements before any subsequent attempts. Essentially, this tension stems from the friction of fast-paced, startup-like businesses with conservative, risk-averse government agencies.

The FAA previously stated that SpaceX Analysis not done properly The effects of a sonic boom caused by a launch. that it has polluted the environment It features a water flooding system designed to counter Starship’s powerful rocket exhaust. And we couldn’t get all the proper permits. In response, SpaceX founder Elon Musk threatened to sue the FAA.

What happened on previous Starship launches?

During the first test flight on April 20, 2023, three of the first stage’s 33 engines failed to ignite. Several more planes subsequently failed in flight. The rocket then went out of control and activated its self-destruct function.

Test Flight 2 on November 18, 2023, made further progress and gained enough altitude for the first and second stages to separate as planned. However, as the first stage decelerated and rotated to begin the landing procedure, it exploded. The second stage progressed smoothly to an altitude of about 149 kilometers (149 kilometers), passing through the Kármán line, considered the beginning of the universe. However, before orbiting or returning to Earth, it stopped transmitting data and was destroyed by a failsafe function.

Test Flight 3 on March 14, 2024 was at least partially successful, as it reached space, conducted fuel transfer tests, and flew farther and faster than ever before. However, the aircraft lost attitude control during flight and failed to make a planned soft landing.

Test Flight 4 on June 6 of this year was the most successful to date, with Starship reaching orbit at an altitude of more than 200 kilometers and flying at speeds of more than 27,000 kilometers per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed a soft landing at sea. As the Starship re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, there was a dramatic scene in which the sheer heat of one of its control fins burned off due to extreme temperatures, but the company says it has fixed this problem with a new heat-resistant tile design. There is.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

How Fasting Can Impact Your Longevity

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Various methods have been attempted to combat aging, but without breakthroughs in anti-aging drugs, scientists are focusing on lifestyle changes, particularly diet.

A recent study suggests that dietary restriction, which involves reducing total daily calorie intake, has a greater impact on shortening lifespan compared to intermittent fasting. The study, published in the magazine nature, involved tracking the health of 960 mice fed different diets, highlighting the importance of diet in longevity.

However, while the study provides valuable insights, experts caution against directly applying the results to humans, emphasizing the need for careful consideration due to the differences between mice and humans.

The study revealed that mice on a low-calorie diet lived longer on average, with those consuming 60% of their baseline calories having the longest lifespan. Surprisingly, the very low-calorie diet consistently extended the mice’s lifespans, showcasing the importance of resilience in maintaining health.

Genetic factors may also play a role in how different individuals respond to diet and weight loss, highlighting the complexity of longevity and the need for personalized approaches.

Ultimately, the study sheds light on the intricate relationship between diet, weight loss, and longevity, emphasizing the importance of moderation and resilience in achieving long-term health goals.

Your genetics may be interfering.

Individual variability and resilience to weight loss were key factors observed in the study, with genetic factors potentially influencing the effects of diet on lifespan. Maintaining a healthy immune system and avoiding extreme weight loss were associated with longer lifespan in mice.

While metabolic markers like weight and body fat are important indicators of overall health, the study suggests that caloric restriction may have a more significant impact on longevity than previously thought.

Experts stress the importance of individualized approaches to diet and weight loss based on genetic factors and resilience, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of longevity and health.

About our experts

Dr. Andrew Steele, a scientist and author, delves into the science of aging and longevity in his book Ageless: The new science of growing older without getting older. His interdisciplinary background allows him to provide unique insights into aging and health.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Research: Your Showerheads and Toothbrushes Harbor a Wide Variety of Viruses

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Viruses collected in a Northwestern University-led study are bacteriophages — a type of virus that infects and replicates inside of bacteria.

The average American spends 93% of their time in built environments, almost 70% of that is in their place of residence. Human health and well-being are intrinsically tied to the quality of our personal environments and the microbiomes that populate them. offline, the built environment microbiome is seeded, formed, and re-shaped by occupant behavior, cleaning, personal hygiene and food choices, as well as geographic location and variability in infrastructure. Huttelmaier et al. focused on the presence of viruses in household biofilms, specifically in showerheads and on toothbrushes.

“The number of viruses that we found is absolutely wild,” said Northwestern University's Dr. Erica Hartmann.

“We found many viruses that we know very little about and many others that we have never seen before.”

“It's amazing how much untapped biodiversity is all around us. And you don't even have to go far to find it; it's right under our noses.”

In the study, Dr. Hartmann and her colleagues characterized viruses living on 34 toothbrushes and 92 showerheads.

The samples comprised more than 600 different viruses — and no two samples were alike.

“We saw basically no overlap in virus types between showerheads and toothbrushes,” Dr. Hartmann said.

“We also saw very little overlap between any two samples at all.”

“Each showerhead and each toothbrush is like its own little island.”

“It just underscores the incredible diversity of viruses out there.”

While they found few patterns among all the samples, the researchers did notice more mycobacteriophage than other types of phage.

“We could envision taking these mycobacteriophages and using them as a way to clean pathogens out of your plumbing system,” Dr. Hartmann said.

“We want to look at all the functions these viruses might have and figure out how we can use them.”

The authors caution people not to fret about the invisible wildlife living within our bathrooms.

Instead of grabbing for bleach, people can soak their showerheads in vinegar to remove calcium buildup or simply wash them with plain soap and water.

“And people should regularly replace toothbrush heads,” Dr. Hartmann said.

“I'm also not a fan of antimicrobial toothbrushes, which can lead to antibiotic-resistant bugs.”

“Microbes are everywhere, and the vast majority of them will not make us sick.”

“The more you attack them with disinfectants, the more they are likely to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat. We should all just embrace them.”

The study was published online in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes.

_____

Stefanie Huttelmaier et al. 2024. Phage communities in household-related biofilms correlate with bacterial hosts. Front.Microbiomes 3; doi: 10.3389/frmbi.2024.1396560

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble Space Telescope and New Horizons team up to study Uranus

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In a new study, astronomers compared high-resolution images of Uranus from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope with more distant views from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft. Their results could serve as “ground truth” observations to use as a baseline for interpreting exoplanet direct imaging data from future observatories.

In this image, two three-dimensional shapes of Uranus (top) are compared to the actual views of Uranus from Hubble (bottom left) and New Horizons (bottom right). Image credits: NASA/ESA/STScI/Samantha Hasler, MIT/Amy Simon, NASA-GSFC/New Horizons Planetary Science Theme Team/Joseph DePasquale, STScI/Joseph Olmsted, STScI.

Direct imaging of exoplanets is an important technique for understanding their potential habitability and provides new clues to the origin and formation of our own solar system.

Astronomers use both direct imaging and spectroscopy to collect light from observed planets and compare their brightness at different wavelengths.

However, exoplanets are notoriously difficult to image because they are so far away.

Their images are just pinpoints, so they aren’t as detailed as our close-up view of the world around the sun.

Astronomers can also directly image exoplanets only in “partial phase,” when only part of the planet is illuminated by its star as seen from Earth.

Uranus was an ideal target as a test to understand future long-range observations of exoplanets by other telescopes for several reasons.

First, many known exoplanets are gas giants with similar properties. Also, at the time of the observation, New Horizons was on the far side of Uranus, 10.5 billion kilometers (6.5 billion miles) away, and was able to study the twilight crescent moon. This is not possible from Earth.

At that distance, New Horizons’ view of the planet was just a few pixels wide of its color camera (Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera).

Meanwhile, Hubble’s high resolution allowed it to see atmospheric features such as clouds and storms on the dayside of the gas world from its low orbit, 2.7 billion kilometers (1.7 billion miles) from Uranus. .

Samantha Hassler, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: “We expected Uranus to look different depending on the observation filter, but New Horizons data taken from different perspectives actually show that Uranus looks different than expected.'' It turned out to be much darker than that.”

The gas giant planets in our solar system have dynamic and variable atmospheres with changing cloud cover. How common is this in exoplanets?

Knowing the details of what Uranus’ clouds looked like from Hubble will allow researchers to test what they can interpret from New Horizons’ data.

In the case of Uranus, both Hubble and New Horizons observed that the brightness does not change as the planet rotates. This indicates that the cloud characteristics are not changing due to the rotation of the planet.

But the significance of New Horizons’ detection has to do with how the planet reflects light at a different phase than what Hubble and other observatories on or near Earth can see.

New Horizons showed that exoplanets can be dimmer than predicted at partial and high phase angles, and that their atmospheres reflect light differently at partial phase.

“The groundbreaking New Horizons study of Uranus from a vantage point that cannot be observed by any other means adds to the mission’s treasure trove of new scientific knowledge and, like many other data sets obtained on the mission, will Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of New Horizons and Research Scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, said:

“NASA’s next Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch by 2027, will use a coronagraph to block out starlight and directly observe gas giant exoplanets,” Hassler said. Ta.

“NASA’s Habitable World Observatory, in its early planning stages, will be the first telescope specifically designed to search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of rocky Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars. .”

“Studying how known benchmarks like Uranus appear in distant images will help us have more solid expectations as we prepare for these future missions. And it will help our It’s critical to success.”

Scientists are result this week’s DPS56Annual Meeting of the Planetary Science Division of the American Astronomical Society.

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S. Hassler others. 2024. Observations of Uranus at high phase angles by New Horizons Ralph/MVIC. DPS56

This article has been adapted from the original release by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

The Tampa Bay area experienced record-breaking rain levels from Hurricane Milton, reaching levels not seen in a millennium.

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Hurricane Milton dumped so much rain on parts of Florida’s Tampa Bay area that it was classified as a once-in-1,000-year rainfall event.

The government said 18.31 inches, or more than 1.5 feet, of rain fell in St. Petersburg in the 24 hours the storm made landfall. Precipitation data from the National Weather Service.

This includes a whopping 5.09 inches in one hour from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET. This level is believed to have an approximately 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year.

“This is insane! St. Petersburg reported 5.09 inches of rain in one hour and 9.04 inches in three hours,” said Matthew Cappucci, Atmospheric Scientist and Senior Meteorologist at MyRadar Weather. states.Posted on Wednesday by X. “That’s rarer than a once-in-a-millennium rain event.”

Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a strong Category 3 storm Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Other significant precipitation amounts across Florida include 14.01 inches in Clearwater Beach, 13.09 inches in Baskin, 11.43 inches in Tampa, and 10.12 inches in Seminole.

Scientists have not yet completed their analysis of the impact on Milton because it takes time to understand the effects of climate change on individual weather events. But in general, experts know that global warming is making storms wetter and more intense.

Research shows that global warming causes sea surface temperatures to rise, which provides extra energy to storms, increasing their speed and intensity. The unusually high sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico that strengthened hurricanes Milton and Helen are 200 to 500 times more likely to be caused by climate change, according to a study released Wednesday. It is said that

The warmer the atmosphere, the more water it can hold. For every 1 degree Fahrenheit increase in Earth’s temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 3% to 4% more water. Therefore, storms can dump large amounts of rain on land.

Milton’s heavy rains quickly flooded roads, homes, and other structures along the Florida Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Tampa and St. Petersburg, which lasted until 2:30 a.m. ET Thursday.

Forecasters expected heavy rain as Milton moved into Florida. Hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center said it expected 6 to 12 inches of rain to fall across the central and northern Florida peninsula through Thursday, with local rainfall totals up to 18 inches.

The east coast of Florida is also experiencing rain. Preliminary measurements Wednesday showed 7 inches of precipitation in St. Augustine, 7.38 inches in Titusville, and 3.05 inches in Daytona Beach, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Milton has returned to the ocean, but additional rain and flooding is expected to continue into parts of eastern and central Florida through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Dennis Chow

Dennis Chow is a science and space reporter for NBC News.

Kathryn Plosif and Joe Murphy contributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Discovering the Hidden Obstacle that Hinders Your Decision Making.

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

We’ve all experienced that familiar feeling of embarrassment when we realize we’ve overlooked something important while being confident in our decisions. Maybe it’s the car in front suddenly stopping at a crosswalk, or someone mistakenly using the term “escapegoat” instead of “scapegoat.”

This phenomenon is due to a hidden bias in our brains that tricks us into believing we have all the necessary information to make decisions without considering crucial details.

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A recent study identified this bias as the “illusion of information sufficiency,” which leads us to act as if we have complete knowledge to form opinions, make decisions, and judge others. This contradiction often results in misunderstandings and conflicts in our lives.

Psychologist Dr. Sandra Wheatley explains that taking shortcuts in decision-making is a way to navigate the complexities of the world. However, this tendency can lead us to make inaccurate judgments when we assume we have all the information we need.

The study involved 1,261 participants who were tasked with deciding whether to integrate two schools or keep them separate. Interestingly, participants who only saw one side of the argument were more confident in their decision-making than those who had access to both perspectives.

This overconfidence in limited information can prevent us from considering others’ viewpoints and understanding that our subjective truth may not always align with objective reality.

Dr. Wheatley emphasizes the importance of questioning sources and remaining open to information that challenges our beliefs when making important decisions or judgments about others.

About our experts

Dr. Sandra Wheatley is a Chartered Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She specializes in psychology, parenting, social relationships, and digital media.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Astronomers Discover Fewer Potentially Hazardous Asteroids Near Earth than Initially Predicted

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

astronomer using Zwicky Temporary Facility (ZTF) investigated. Taurus resonance groupa large interplanetary system containing Comet 2P/Encke, several meteor showers, and possibly numerous near-Earth asteroids.

This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows comet 2P/Encke running along a pebble trail of its debris. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Minnesota.

“We can take advantage of the unique opportunity that this asteroid swarm has to approach Earth to more efficiently search for celestial objects that may pose a threat to Earth,” said Dr. Kuanji Ye, an astronomer at the University of Maryland. ” he said.

“Our results suggest that the risk of impact from large asteroids in the Taurus group is much lower than we thought, which is good news for planetary defense.”

Prior to this study, astronomers had predicted that the Taurus resonance complex contained a significant number of large kilometer-sized space rocks, probably left behind by large objects up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) wide. I was guessing.

If a large object were to hit Earth, like the Chelyabinsk asteroid in 2013, it could cause regional damage.

Even larger objects can cause extinction-level events, like the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs more than 66 million years ago.

“Fortunately, we found that there are likely only a small number of asteroids in this large size class, perhaps only nine to 14, in this population,” Dr. Ye said.

“Judging by our findings, the parent object that first spawned the swarm was probably closer to 10 km (6.2 miles) in diameter, rather than a giant 100 km diameter object.”

“We still need to be cautious about asteroid impacts, but knowing this result will probably help us sleep better.”

The Taurus swarm holds important clues about planetary evolution, especially because of its association with Comet Encke.

This comet has the shortest orbital period of any known comet, at just 3.3 years.

It is also unusually large and dusty for a short-period comet that orbits the sun within 200 years.

Considering all available evidence, scientists believe that Encke has experienced significant fragmentation in the past and may continue to do so in the future.

“Studying the Taurus swarm helps us understand how small objects like comets and asteroids form and break up over time,” said Dr. Ye.

“Our research has implications not only for asteroid detection and planetary defense, but also for our broader understanding of the solar system's celestial bodies.”

The researchers presented their findings. findings this week's DPS56Annual Meeting of the Planetary Science Division of the American Astronomical Society.

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Yosenshi others. 2024. In search of potentially dangerous asteroids in the Taurus resonance group. DPS56

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Winged Seed Fossil Unearthed in China, Dating Back 365 Million Years

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

named Arasemenia triaa new specimen from the Wutong Formation in China's Anhui Province, dates to the Famennian period of the Late Devonian, making it the second oldest known winged seed.

fertile branches and seeds Arasemenia tria. Image credit: Wang others., doi: 10.7554/eLife.92962.3.

Many plants require seeds to reproduce. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes and often have additional features that help them disperse throughout the environment.

For example, some seeds develop wings from the seed coat as the outer layer. This is similar to the fruit of the plane tree, which has two wings that help it glide on the wind.

The first seeds are thought to have evolved during the Famennian period, between 372 and 359 million years ago.

According to the fossil record, almost all of these seeds were surrounded by additional protective structures known as couples and were wingless.

To date, only two groups of Famennia seeds have been reported to have wings or wing-like structures, and one group lacked couples.

“The oldest known plant seeds date back to the late Devonian period,” said Professor Deming Wang of Peking University.

“This period marks an important evolutionary milestone in plant history, as it transitioned from spore-based reproduction like ferns and mosses to seed-based reproduction.”

“However, little is known about wind dispersal of seeds during this period, as most fossils lack wings and are usually surrounded by a protective copple.”

Professor Wang and colleagues examined fossils of Famennian seed plants collected in China's Anhui province.

assigned to a new genus and species; Arasemenia triathe seeds are about 2.5-3.3 cm long and, unlike most other seeds of this era, clearly lack a cupple.

“In fact, this is one of the oldest known records of coppleless seeds, 40 million years earlier than previously thought,” the paleontologists said.

“Each seed is covered by a layer of integument, or seed coat, which radiates outward to form three wing-like leaves.”

“These wings tapered toward the tip and curved outward, creating a wide, flat structure that helped the seeds catch the wind.”

The researchers then compared Arasemenia tria Other known winged seeds from the Late Devonian: Warstenia and guasia.

Both of these seeds have four wings — guasiais wide and flat; WarsteniaIt's short and straight.

Scientists performed quantitative mathematical analysis to determine which seeds are most effective for wind dispersal.

This reveals that it has an odd number of wings, as follows: Arasemenia triaa more stable and high rotation speed is obtained when the seeds descend from the branches, and the seeds can catch the wind more effectively and disperse further from the parent plant.

“Our findings are Arasemenia tria This further deepens our knowledge about the origins of wind-driven dispersal strategies in early land plants,” said Dr. Pu Fan, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“When combined with previous knowledge, guasia and WarsteiniaWe conclude that winged seeds as a result of integument elongation emerged as the first form of wind dispersal strategy in the Late Devonian, prior to other methods such as parachutes and plumes. ”

“The three-winged seed found in” Arasemenia tria “During the late Devonian period, double-winged seeds would have appeared in the Carboniferous period, and single-winged seeds would have appeared in the Permian period,” Professor Wang added.

of study Published in a magazine e-life.

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Deming Wang others. 2024. Arasemeniathe earliest ovule with three wings and no cup. e-life 13:RP92962;doi: 10.7554/eLife.92962.3

Source: www.sci.news

Study suggests that increasing caffeine intake can lead to better blood vessel health

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In a study led by Sapienza University in Rome, caffeine intake was positively correlated with the proportion of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in lupus patients.

Orefice others. studied the role of caffeine intake on endothelial function in lupus patients by evaluating the effects of caffeine intake on circulating endothelial progenitor cells. Image credit: Sci.News.

Vascular disease, damage to blood vessels, and the resulting heart attacks and strokes are among the leading causes of death in the general population.

These risks are even higher in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

This is due both to the disease itself and to some of its treatments, especially cortisone derivatives.

Until now, doctors’ recommendations for reducing these vascular risks have primarily been about avoiding risk factors.

This includes traditional recommendations such as smoking cessation, reducing cholesterol, and managing high blood pressure, as well as stopping inflammation and reducing the dose of cortisone medications.

But researchers at Rome’s Sapienza University think that doing something that’s actually fun may help patients improve their vascular health.

Research suggests that the caffeine found in coffee, tea, and cocoa helps regenerate the lining of blood vessels and actively supports endothelial progenitor cells, a group of cells involved in blood vessel growth.

Diets rich in vitamin D (found in fatty fish and eggs) and vitamin A (found in many fruits), polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in sodium appear to play a role in reducing inflammatory burden well known.

“We were also wondering about caffeine,” said Dr. Fulvia Ceccarelli and colleagues.

“In addition to its well-known stimulant effects on the body, caffeine also exerts anti-inflammatory effects because it binds to receptors expressed on the surface of immune cells.”

“The effects of caffeine intake on cardiovascular health have been widely investigated, but results are contradictory.”

The study authors surveyed 31 lupus patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors using a 7-day dietary questionnaire.

After a week, the researchers drew blood from patent patients to measure blood vessel health.

They found that patients who consumed caffeine had better blood vessel health, as measured through the endothelial cells that form the critical lining of blood vessels.

“This study is an attempt to provide patients with information about the possible role of diet in controlling the disease,” said Dr. Ceccarelli.

“The results will need to be confirmed through longitudinal studies aimed at assessing the actual impact of coffee consumption on the course of the disease.”

of result Published in a magazine Rheumatology.

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Valeria Orefice others. Caffeine improves endothelial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus by promoting survival of endothelial progenitor cells. Rheumatologypublished online October 9, 2024. doi: 10.1093/rheumatism/keae453

Source: www.sci.news

Abyssaurid birds from the Cretaceous era might have hunted similar to present-day hawks and owls

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have explained three new things Enantiornithine Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation birds, two of which are new species abysauridae seed. These birds lived alongside dinosaurs 68 million years ago, and their powerful leg bones suggest they may have captured and carried off prey.

Restoration of abyssaurids (e.g. Avisaurus Darwini). Image credit: Clark others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310686.

The most diverse bird species of the Cretaceous period was a now extinct group called the enantiornithines, which were known throughout the world during this period.

However, enantiornithines and other Mesozoic birds are known primarily from Early Cretaceous deposits, with records from the Late Cretaceous being relatively sparse.

Therefore, there is a general lack of understanding of the evolutionary trends of birds towards the end of the Mesozoic Era.

The fossilized remains of three new enantiornithine birds have been discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana and date to the late Cretaceous period.

Two species were named new species. Magnusabis ekarakaensis and Avisaurus Darwiniwhile the third is an unnamed species. Avisaurus.

All of these birds were larger than the Early Cretaceous enantiornithines; Avisaurus Darwini It is estimated to weigh more than 1 kg, making it about the size of a large hawk.

“These discoveries virtually double the number of bird species known from the Hell Creek Formation and are important for a better understanding of why only some birds survived the mass extinction event. It will be.” tyrannosaurus and the abysaurid described here,” said Dr. Jingmai O'Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum.

When the team analyzed the leg bones, they found Avisaurus Hawks and owls and their relatives exhibit hawk- and owl-like proportions and adaptations, and, like some modern raptors, have powerful legs that can grasp and carry proportionately large prey. Shows muscles and legs.

“Based on clues in the leg bones, we think these birds were able to capture and transport prey, similar to modern hawks and owls,” said Dr. Alex Clark. students at the Field Museum and the University of Chicago.

“They may not have been the first raptors to evolve, but their fossils are the oldest known examples of predatory birds.”

This new species expands the known diversity of Late Cretaceous birds, confirms trends toward larger body sizes, and sheds light on how enantiornithines evolved a diversity of ecological roles over time. It's highlighted.

“Abyssaurids, the latest Cretaceous enantiornithid birds, display hindlimb features with strong ankle flexion, which contributes to the ability to carry heavy prey and similar behavior to modern raptors. “This suggests that,” the paleontologists said.

their paper Published in today's diary PLoS ONE.

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AD Clark others. 2024. New enantiornithine diversity of the Hell Creek Formation and functional morphology of avian tarsometatarsals. PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0310686;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310686

Source: www.sci.news

Science uncovers the factors behind Hurricane Milton’s intense strength

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

Hurricane Milton strengthened at the fastest rate on record.
The storm's wind speeds exceeded 175 miles per hour, unprecedented for an October hurricane.
Record-breaking hydrothermal waters in the Gulf of Mexico helped intensify Milton, increasing its size through a process known as eyewall displacement.

Hurricane Milton has been a surprise at almost every turn.

What began as a small, well-scarred hurricane has grown into a vast monster that has grown in strength at the fastest rate in recorded history. The storm could cause dangerous flooding across parts of Florida's west and east coasts, particularly putting the flood-prone areas of Tampa Bay, home to more than 3 million people, at risk.

As the storm developed, record warmth in the Gulf of Mexico helped the storm intensify. He then underwent an eyewall replacement process to increase in size.

Explain how Milton developed into such a serious threat.

Pacific influence

Hurricanes approaching the United States typically follow similar paths. Tropical cyclones form off the west coast of Africa, gain strength as they cross the Atlantic Ocean and enter the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.

But part of Milton's origin story lies in the eastern Pacific. This hurricane formed when the remnants of a tropical cyclone in the Pacific Ocean pushed eastward across the Yucatan Peninsula and encountered a stationary front in the Gulf of Mexico. The most recent storm to hit Florida after forming in the same area, Mexico's Bay of Campeche, occurred in 1867.

Follow live updates about Hurricane Milton

Chris Slocum, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Satellite Applications Center, said that when the tropical storm entered the Gulf Coast, it created “a little bit of a vortex, some rotation” in the thunderstorm system there.

Milton was then organized and kept away from other star systems.

“By being isolated from other thunderstorms, the pressure increases and the winds increase,” Slocum said. Milton began to draw air toward its center, drawing energy from the warm ocean.

small but strong

Milton started out as a very small storm, which conserved its angular momentum and rotated tightly and rapidly around a narrow eye.

The Gulf Coast experienced record high ocean temperatures and moist, warm air. These are the necessary elements to strengthen your power. On Monday, the central pressure in Milton's core decreased at a constant rate. A scientist was described as “crazy” As Milton grows stronger. The value of central pressure is closely related to storm strength and wind speed.

“This is absolutely terrifying,” NBC South Florida hurricane expert John Morales said, choking on the air as he talked about the importance of the pressure drop.

Milton's wind speed is 92 mph in about 24 hoursAccording to the nonprofit research organization Climate Central. This far exceeded a milestone that scientists consider rapid intensity: an increase of 35 mph in 24 hours.

“It's unusual that it went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in less than two days,” said Kartik Balaguru, a climate scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Jonathan Lin, an atmospheric scientist at Cornell University who specializes in hurricane forecasting and modeling, called Milton “one of the fastest-strengthening hurricanes we've ever seen in the Atlantic.” There is.

The hurricane's wind speeds exceeded 175 miles per hour, unprecedented for an October storm. Milton is the strongest Gulf hurricane since Hurricane Rita in 2005.

new eyewall

In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes wrap counterclockwise around a central, mostly cloudless eye.

Bands of rain began falling outside of Milton Monday night into Tuesday. These storms merged to form a second ring, creating a replacement eyewall and tripling the radius where maximum wind speeds were recorded, Slocum said.

This phenomenon, known as eyewall displacement, typically causes storms to widen but reduce wind speeds somewhat, and it happened to Milton. As the storm develops, it may occur several times. Once this process is complete, and conditions permit, the hurricane may begin to gain strength again.

“You can think of it as molting. Once it molts, it can intensify again. That's exactly what we saw in Milton,” Lin said.

wobble

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton “wobbled” Tuesday afternoon, changing its expected path and moving its expected landfall south.

Wobble results from instability due to complex mechanics inside the eyeball.

Lin explained the dynamics of a hurricane by comparing it to a top or a dreidel.

“Sometimes you'll see the top spinning. If you push it a little bit or give it a little push, it wobbles a little bit and then it starts spinning again,” Lin said. “It redirects itself.”

Large shakes can change the course of the storm and determine which locations receive the brunt of the hurricane.

Forecasters are expecting storm surge of up to 13 feet. If the storm were to change course slightly to the south, it could avoid the worst of the flooding in especially vulnerable Tampa Bay. In 2017, Hurricane Irma changed course to the east, helping Tampa Bay avoid a predicted storm surge of more than 12 feet.

Once the storm reaches the coast, areas south of Milton's Eye should experience strong wind gusts, pushing water onto shore and resulting in storm surge.

That's because of the angle at which the storm approaches the Florida peninsula and the counterclockwise rotation of the winds around its center.

what happens next

Milton weakened during her final approach to the Florida Peninsula. The main reason for this is that they encountered vertical wind shear, which refers to changes in wind speed and direction in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

But Lin said, “That doesn't make it any less dangerous.”

Even with weaker winds, Milton is expected to remain a major hurricane until it makes landfall Wednesday night.

After landing, it is expected to cross the peninsula and head out to sea. The time on land robs the storm of the energy it draws from the ocean's heat, and the storm will weaken rapidly, just as the coma slows down, Lin said.

break the eerie silence

A new report from the World Weather Attribution Group on Hurricane Helen, which made landfall in Florida on September 26, shows that climate change has caused the storm's wind speeds to increase by 11% and total precipitation to increase by approximately It was found that there was a high possibility of an increase of 10%.

Researchers said they expect Milton to behave similarly, but even worse because of climate change.

Warmer-than-normal ocean conditions in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and the emergence of a hurricane-related La Niña weather pattern led forecasters to predict a very active hurricane season this spring.

But even in mid-September, the typical peak of hurricane activity, the season remained eerily quiet, leaving researchers perplexed, despite the ocean heat that fuels hurricanes. , making us wonder if their positive predictions were wrong.

The eerie calm was broken in late September as Hurricanes Helen and Milton roared into view. If Milton makes landfall, it will be the second-highest number of hurricane landfalls in a year on the Gulf Coast.

“This makes 2024 the second-highest number of Gulf hurricane landfalls on record, along with 2005 and 2020, after 1886,” meteorologist Philip Klotzbach said. I wrote to X.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Control Your Brain’s Master Switch to Optimize Your Thinking

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Place your fingers on the back of your skull, approximately at the same height as the top of your ear. Here, deep in your hair, skin, and bones, near a fluid-filled cavity at the base of your brain, you’ll find tiny bundles of pigment cells the color of lapis lazuli. this is, coeruleus – Latin for “blue dot”. Although it is only a few millimeters in size, it has the power to control people’s thoughts in a way that is hard to imagine considering its small size.

Research has revealed that this structure helps regulate our mental processing. It’s sometimes called the brain’s “master switch,” but it’s better to think of it as a gearbox. ‘You can set the pace of your brain to match the specific mental task you’re doing,’ says turned neuroscience researcher Writer Miss Stroney. When we’re in the right gear, we feel like we’re enjoying the task at hand. But more often than not, we get stuck in the wrong direction, which can lead to dreamy procrastination and intense frustration.

Until recently, we knew little about how to control these transitions, but that is changing. It turns out that the little blue dots in your brain may be trainable and have an immediate impact on your cognition and mental health. This means that with the right techniques, you can shift gears that affect your mental state, from your ability to concentrate and the level of stress you feel, to your ability to take creative leaps and think on your feet.

It took almost two and a half centuries for the locus coeruleus to receive due recognition. The structure is…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Nobel Prize continues to lack diversity in science recognition

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Nobel Prize winners are awarded medals

Zhenkong Chen / Alamy

It's the most celebratory time of the year, as some of the brightest minds in science win Nobel Prizes. Recent winners have a few things in common. They definitely have a great body of work. And they're all men, they live in high-income countries, and none of them are black.

Gary Lubukun and Victor Ambrose received the Physiology or Medicine Prize for their discovery of microRNAs and their role in gene regulation to help treat cancer. A series of papers led to this discovery, many of which listed Ambrose's wife, Rosalind Lee, as the author. The Nobel Committee for Physiology and Medicine We would like to recognize Ms. Lee on social media.but did not go as far as awarding a medal. They may think that one device per family is enough.

Lee's omission may seem familiar. In 1962, James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received the award for their discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. This was the opposite Of the three papers published in the same issue nature. One was co-authored by Wilkins, another was co-authored by Watson and Crick, and the third was an image captured by Rosalind Franklin of DNA with two strands. Prior to publishing the image, It ended up in the hands of Watson and Crick.I then told them that their DNA model was a double helix. Franklin was removed from the Nobel Prize trophy.

Perhaps the committee dislikes the name Rosalind. but 972 people won the Nobel Prize Since our founding in 1901, 64 were women. This year's physics prize, awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for discoveries related to machine learning, had a particularly poor hit rate, with only five women winning the award so far.

At least women in science are getting some recognition. No black person has ever won a science Nobel Prize, and only 17 black people have won the peace, literature, and economics prizes combined. Many people argue that Charles Drew says: African American man discovers a way to store plasma long-termmedicine was supposed to win, but Percy Julian figured it out. How to synthesize medicines from plantsneglected because of chemistry.

Geography also appears to play an important role in determining the winner. More than half of the prizes I went to the people of North America.and the few winners from low-income countries, most of whom had immigrated to North America or Europe by the time they won the award.

Some might say that all of this simply reflects the demographics of science. Less than 30% of researchers are womenfor example. However, it is no use failing to give credit where credit is due, especially when the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine has issued a warning to the paper led by Lee. As the key publication behind the success of Ruvkun and Ambros.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which administers the prizes in physics and chemistry, at least recognizes that this lack of diversity is a problem. Starting in 2019, recommenders are required to: When choosing candidates, pay attention to gender, ethnicity, and geographypeople who can&#39t put themselves forward. Sounds good in theory, but since then, only six women and none of them have won in science, and none have been black.

You may be wondering why this is important. Awards are great honors, but they shouldn’t drive scientists. However, being a Nobel Prize winner opens doors for researchers and brings their work into the public consciousness. For many people, the annual Nobel Prize may be the only time they see a scientist&#39s name in the news headlines, but this award plays a huge role in shaping our perception of science.

Part of the problem is that the prize structure, dictated by Alfred Nobel&#39s will, tends to enforce a “great man of history” approach to science that does not reflect the realities of modern research. The rules state that no more than three people can share the award, but this does not explain why Lee was left out of the winning duo of Lubukun and Ambros. Additionally, donations cannot be received after death. Otherwise, Ms. Franklin, who died of ovarian cancer in 1958 at the age of 37, might have received the donations by now.

Of course, such issues are not new, and it seems unlikely that the Nobel Prize committee will deviate from the wishes of its sponsors, but that is no reason to ignore diversity. The committee needs to cast a wider net, not just for the sake of fairness, but if it wants to ensure that the awards continue to be taken seriously.

Alexandra Thompson is assistant news editor at New Scientist.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Suppressing Appetite to Lose Weight: The Effects of Weight Loss Drugs on Eating and Exercising Desires

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Weight loss drugs may reduce people's desire to exercise

Me 3645 Studio/Getty Images

Semaglutide, found in medicines such as Ozempic and Wigovy, reduces the amount of movement in mice. This finding suggests that these weight loss drugs may reduce people's motivation to exercise.

Semaglutide helps treat type 2 diabetes and obesity by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite. GLP-1 also suppresses activity in brain areas involved in reward processing and craving. This may explain why people taking semaglutide-based drugs no longer find eating as rewarding or pleasurable as they did before taking the drug. This is also probably why some studies show that semaglutide may also be helpful in treating substance use disorders.

ralph dileone Researchers at Yale University wanted to know whether semaglutide also affects other rewarding behaviors, such as exercise, which is known to improve mood and memory. So they gave seven mice semaglutide and an equal number a placebo and measured how far the mice ran on an exercise wheel each day.

On average, patients treated with semaglutide ran about half the distance as those given a placebo. This suggests that motivation for exercise may be low.

To further test this, the researchers administered semaglutide to another group of 15 mice and a placebo for 5 days to another group of similarly sized mice, and investigated their willingness to exercise on a wheel. did. But this time, the exercise wheel locked up periodically while the animal was running on it. To release the lock, the mouse had to press a lever with its nose. Each time the wheel locked, it became progressively more difficult to unlock, requiring the mouse to press the lever many more times. “Eventually they quit,” says DiLeone, who presented these findings at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago on October 7. “We call that their breakpoint. It's a proxy for how willing they are to access the wheel.”

The maximum number of lever presses in the semaglutide-treated mice was, on average, 25% lower than in the control animals. The researchers repeated the experiment in obese mice and found similar results.

Taken together, these findings suggest that semaglutide-based drugs, such as Ozempic and Wigovy, may reduce motivation to exercise, similar to reducing food and drug cravings. Masu. But DiLeone says there's still no evidence that this applies to humans. This could be because most of the data on Wegovy and Ozempic comes from people participating in weight-loss programs that include exercise, he says.

Still, these findings highlight that these drugs can interfere not only with negative behaviors but also with positive ones. ”[This] Data suggests there are still motivated behaviors that can be changed [with semaglutide] I haven't heard it yet.'' Karolina Skibicka at Penn State University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Archaeologists say beach and underwater ruins in Sicily offer insights into early immigration

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sicily is thought to be one of the first islands inhabited by humans during the European Upper Paleolithic period. Research to understand the early occupation of the island has focused primarily on the north coast. An international team of archaeologists led by Washington University in St. Louis is currently searching for signs of human habitation in 25 caves and trenches in southeastern Sicily, Italy.

Coastal and underwater cave sites in southern Sicily contain important new clues about the routes and fate of early human migrants to the island. Image credit: Ilaria Patania.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is considered by many scholars to be the oldest permanently inhabited island of human ancestors in the region, but it is unclear when and how these early settlers arrived. It remains unclear whether he accomplished this feat.

Although the island is less than three miles from mainland Italy, it would have been extremely difficult for early humans to cross the ocean.

In the ancient Greek poem The Odyssey, Homer describes Odysseus sailing past the mythical sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis as they crossed the Strait of Sicily.

This strait was well known to ancient sailors. They attributed the terrifying power of its waves and whirlpools to powerful monsters.

In modern times, thousands of migrants from North Africa attempt to cross the Channel each year. Many never make it, and some capsize just a few hundred meters from landing.

“We're not just looking for the first arrivals, we're looking for the first communities,” says Dr. Ilaria Patania, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Understanding the timing of Sicily's early colonization provides important data on the patterns and modes of Sicily's early expansion. homo sapiens To the Mediterranean. ”

“This study shows that new ways of thinking and seeing can reveal previously invisible patterns,” added TR Kidder, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Previous scholars believed that the ruins on Sicily's southern coast were eroded or too damaged to yield useful information.”

“But discovering underwater ruins opens up a whole new area of research.”

“This allows us to reconsider the migration routes of these earliest modern human ancestors.”

Scholars agree that humans reached Sicily by 16,000 years after the Last Glacial Maximum.

But that date is puzzlingly late, given that humans are known to have dispersed from land to Siberia about 30,000 years ago.

This discrepancy has led some to wonder whether humans actually reached Sicily long before the currently accepted date.

Also, no one yet knows whether humans arrived in Sicily by sea or by foot over a land bridge, or even from what direction.

“The challenge in understanding the spread of early modern human ancestors is that we don't fully understand how they spread and colonized the world so early on,” Professor Kidder said. said.

“Did people come across the Strait of Messina from Italy or from the south along the coast of Africa?”

“Or could they have been island hopping in the Mediterranean? Locating a location on the southern coast helps us consider their route, and therefore their mode of movement.”

“In southeastern Sicily, very few Upper Paleolithic sites have been excavated and analyzed using scientific methods,” Dr. Patania said.

“Although our project is still in its early stages, we have already identified and assessed more than 40 locations of interest, of which around 17 locations have been more accurately relocated based on older identification information. .”

Two of the new sites identified by the research team may contain evidence of Upper Paleolithic human occupation, including fossilized animals.

Coruzzi is located at the southernmost tip of Sicily. This site was originally identified by other researchers in the 1940s.

“This is the location where a second land bridge would have connected this island to Malta,” Dr Patania said.

“When we investigated this site, we found European wild donkey teeth and stone tools.”

“Analysis of the ruins at this site may provide insight into the final leg of the human journey south down Sicily's southernmost coast and towards Malta.”

In the summer of 2024, archaeologists began excavating the second site, a cave called Camporato.

“Here we found evidence of sea level changes caused by the last ice age and local earthquakes. We are still investigating,” Dr. Patania said.

“We reconstruct not only the period of human habitation, but also the environments in which these people lived and how they coped with natural phenomena such as earthquakes, climate and environmental changes, and even volcanic eruptions. I am thinking of doing so.”

of findings appear in the diary PLoS ONE.

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I. Patania others. 2024. Between land and sea: an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the early occupation of Sicily (EOS). PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0299118;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299118

This article is a version of a press release provided by Washington University in St. Louis.

Source: www.sci.news

The scientific explanation for why you believe you are correct

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Some individuals may not only be incorrect in their arguments but also in their self-assuredness, possibly due to psychological reasons. According to a recent study, it is crucial to believe that you possess all necessary information to formulate an opinion, even when you do not, as outlined in a paper published in the Pros One journal on Wednesday. “Our brains tend to be overly confident in reaching rational conclusions based on minimal information,” stated Angus Fletcher, a co-author of the study and a professor at Ohio State University.

Fletcher and two other psychology researchers sought to evaluate how individuals make judgments about situations and people, primarily based on their confidence in the information available to them. “People tend to make hasty judgments,” remarked Fletcher.

The researchers enlisted approximately 1,300 participants with an average age of around 40. They all read a fictional narrative about a school experiencing a water shortage due to the local aquifer drying up.

Of the group, 500 individuals read an article supporting the school’s merger with another school, presenting three pro-merger arguments and one neutral point. Another 500 read an article containing three arguments favoring separation and the same neutral viewpoint.

The remaining 300 participants in the control group read a comprehensive article outlining all seven arguments: three in favor of the merger, three favoring separation, and one neutral argument.

After reading the materials, the researchers questioned the participants on their opinions regarding the school’s course of action and how confident they felt about having all required information to make a decision.

Survey results demonstrated that most individuals were more inclined to align with the arguments they were presented with (either for merging or remaining separate) and were confident in having acquired sufficient information to form their opinions. Moreover, it became evident that individuals who only read one perspective were more likely to express confidence in their views compared to those in the control group who read both sets of arguments.

Subsequently, half of the participants from each group were exposed to opposing information contradicting the initial article they read. While individuals felt assured in their viewpoints after encountering arguments favoring one solution, they were generally open to changing their minds when presented with all facts, subsequently reporting lower confidence in their ability to form opinions on the topic.

Fletcher noted, “We anticipated individuals maintaining their original judgments even upon receiving contradictory information. However, once presented with plausible alternatives, they exhibited a significant shift in their thinking, signaling a readiness for change.” This study underscored that people may not always consider whether they possess all pertinent information on a particular matter.

However, the researchers acknowledged that their findings might not apply to scenarios where individuals have established preconceived notions, such as in politics.

“People exhibit more openness and willingness to revise their opinions than assumed,” Fletcher remarked, adding, “Yet, this flexibility is not as prevalent in enduring divides like political beliefs.” Todd Rogers, a behavioral scientist at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, likened the study’s conclusions to the concept of an “invisible gorilla,” illustrating how individuals can be fixated on one aspect and overlook the obvious — a phenomenon referred to as “blindness caused by blindness.”

Rogers further stated, “This study encapsulates that insight. There appears to be a cognitive inclination to overlook the inadequacy of our information.”

Barry Schwartz, a psychologist and professor emeritus at Swarthmore College, noted that the research indicated people often underestimate their knowledge on specific subjects, similar to the concept of the “illusion of explanatory depth.” This notion suggests that individuals might believe they understand a topic, like the functioning of a toilet, but when prompted to explain the process, realize their lack of comprehensive knowledge.

“It’s not merely about being wrong; it’s the unwavering confidence in that wrongness,” Schwartz emphasized, suggesting that cultivating curiosity and humility can be the antidote.

The researchers and Schwartz found it encouraging and unexpected that individuals who encountered new information were willing to reconsider their beliefs, given that the information appeared plausible. “It instills a degree of optimism that even in the face of presumed certainty, individuals remain receptive to evolving evidence,” concluded Schwartz.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

There are hundreds of viruses on your toothbrush

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Our toothbrushes contain not only bacteria but also a huge number of viruses.

Kathryn Ziegler/Getty Images

Hundreds of viruses that infect bacteria have been found on toothbrushes and showerheads. However, this is not a cause for concern as the virus is not harmful to humans and studying how it works may reveal new ways to kill drug-resistant bacteria.

our toothbrushes Shower heads are full of bacteria From our mouths and from our water supplies. However, little is known about the viruses that are also present on these surfaces.

To get a better image, Erica Hartman Researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois wiped down 92 shower heads and 36 toothbrushes from the bathrooms of people living in the United States.

By analyzing the DNA sequences of swab samples, researchers discovered more than 600 viruses known to infect bacteria called bacteriophages. Most viruses that are harmless to humans originate from toothbrushes, and many have never been reported before. “This is a crazy story, and it just highlights how much novelty there is out there,” Hartman said.

Although the researchers did not test whether viruses affected the thousands of bacteria they also discovered, Hartman said bacteriophages tend to do one of two things. They can hijack the bacteria's molecular machinery to make copies of themselves and kill the bacteria as they exit. Alternatively, they can be integrated into the bacterial genome and change the bacteria's behavior.

The bacteriophages that Hartman and her colleagues identified are likely present on moist surfaces around the house, such as inside sinks and refrigerators. “We expect them everywhere,” she says.

“This is an interesting resource that allows us to better understand the breadth and detail of phage activity in the home,” he says. jack gilbert at the University of California, San Diego.

Genetically engineered bacteriophages can be used to kill drug-resistant bacteria when antibiotics don't work, so the discovery of so many new bacteriophages could point the way to further treatments. states that there is. dark bock mule at the Rheinwaal University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to scientists David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper, as announced by the awarding body on Wednesday. protein structure.

This prestigious award, worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million), is bestowed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Baker received half of the prize for his work in “computational protein design,” while Hassabis and Jumper shared the other half for “protein structure prediction,” according to the academy.

Following the announcement of the Chemistry Award, this is the third of the awards given each year. Medicine and physics winners were revealed earlier this week.

Established by the will of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, and a wealthy businessman, the Nobel Prize is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions benefiting mankind the previous year.

Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Prize has honored achievements in various fields including medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace. The prize amount has been adjusted over the years, and the Economics Prize was later added by the Swedish Central Bank.

Chemistry, a field closely tied to Alfred Nobel’s work as an inventor, has seen notable recipients over the years, including pioneers like Ernest Rutherford and Marie Curie.

In the previous year, the chemistry prize was awarded to Mungi Bawendi, Luis Brus, and Alexei Ekimov for their discovery of quantum dots, tiny clusters of atoms widely used today in various technologies.

In addition to the monetary reward, the Nobel Prize winners will receive a medal from the King of Sweden on December 10th, followed by a grand banquet at Stockholm City Hall.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Top 15 Jaw-Dropping Wildlife Images of 2024

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Winner of the Natural History Museum’s prestigious award Wildlife Photographer of the Year The contest has just been announced. This year’s winner is Canadian marine conservation photojournalist Shane Gross, who won for his photo of the magical underwater world of a toad tadpole.

Chair of the judging panel, Kathy Moran, said all the judges were “fascinated by the combination of light, energy, and the connection between the environment and the tadpoles.”

Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas won the 2024 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for her close-up image of a slime mold fruiting body with a tiny springtail.

Now in its 60th year, the competition’s latest exhibit spotlights past grand title winners throughout its history and features photographs, trophies, and high-tech camera displays that encapsulate the competition’s 60 years of revealing nature’s stories. Lights will be included.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London, of Wildlife Photographer of the Year An exhibition featuring all 100 award-winning works will be held on October 11, 2024. natural history museum in London, England.

Behavioral Category Winner: Invertebrate Category

A swarm of red wood ants (Formica rufa) set about dismantling the blue ground beetle. Much of the red wood ant’s nutrition comes from honeydew secreted by aphids, but it also needs protein. They can kill insects and other invertebrates much larger than themselves with overwhelming force. Photographed in Hesse, Germany. Photo credit: Ingo Arndt/WPOTY

Winner in the animal portrait category

A lynx shelters from the cold wind on its back and rests with its adult lynx calf in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Lynx numbers typically reflect natural population fluctuations in their primary prey, the snowshoe hare. As climate change reduces snow cover, other predators have more opportunities to hunt hares. As a result, hare populations may decline, impacting lynx populations. Photo by John Marriott/WPOTY

Behavior Category Winner: Bird Category

A peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) practices hunting with butterflies on its nest on a sea cliff in Los Angeles, USA. Tests have shown that when the young peregrine falcon becomes an adult, it can duck and fall onto prey from above at speeds of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour. Photo by Jack Zhi/WPOTY

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Top 10 largest birds in the world

Winner of Animal Environment Category

A lynx stretches in the evening sunlight. A survey conducted in 2013 estimated the total population of lynx in Russia to be around 22,500, with the population in Russia’s Far East at 5,890. Photographed in the Lazovsky district of Primorye, Russia. Photo credit: Igor Metelskiy/WPOTY

Rising Star Portfolio Award Winner

There are many tube snout (Aulorhychus flavidus) eggs on display, carefully placed in a giant kelp ditch. As the seasons change in Monterey Bay in the United States, all the little signs of new life appear. In the darkness of the nutrient-rich summer waters, ruby eggs and golden kelp look like carefully arranged jewelry. Photo provided by: Stage Ono/WPOTY

Winner of the 10 and under category

This young rock grouper (Saxicola robicola) has not yet developed its adult call. Its cry sounds like two stones slamming together. Stonechat tends to prefer open habitats and usually perches on fences. Photographed near the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in Cadiz, Spain. Photo credit: Alberto Roman Gomez/WPOTY

Winner of Urban Wildlife Category

A tiger rests on a hillside, with the once forested town in the background. The protected areas of the Western Ghats, where tigers are closely monitored, are among the most biodiverse landscapes in India and have stable tiger populations. Outside these areas, development has led to conflicts between humans and wildlife, and tiger occupancy has declined. Photographed in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. Photo by Robin Darius/WPOTY

15-17 Category Winner

A type of hexapod known as a collembola investigates a nearby slime mold. The photographer discovered them under a log in a local forest in Berlin, Germany, and was able to obtain a focused stack of 36 images before the springtail began to move. Hexapods are a type of arthropod that was once thought to be an insect. Photo credit: Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas/WPOTY

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The amazing abilities of slime molds

Underwater category winner

A young leopard seal approaches a photographer on a small sailboat in Paradise Harbor, Antarctica. Leopard seals are naturally bold and inquisitive, with krill and penguins making up a large part of their natural diet. But both krill and penguin numbers are in decline due to pressure from receding sea ice and rising ocean temperatures around the Antarctic Peninsula, pollution, and overfishing. In 2022, Antarctic sea ice will be at a record low, causing a catastrophic failure of emperor penguin breeding colonies. Photo by Matthew Smith/WPOTY

Photojournalist Story Award Winner

Forensic experts from the Metropolitan Police take fingerprints from tusks seized at Britain’s Heathrow Airport. Fingerprints usually cannot be removed from ivory and the odontogenic pores absorb them within 1-2 days. However, with the new, chemically tailored, finer magnetic powder, less fingerprint sweat material is required, and the powder can still adhere to 28-day-old residue, although the first 7 days are still the best. Maintaining quality. The powder can be colored for use on dark materials such as rhino horn. Photo by Britta Jaschinski/WOPTY

Behavioral Winner: Amphibians and Reptiles

A yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) wraps around the snout of a Caiman yacare. Caimans are voracious eaters and even eat snakes. On the contrary, as the anaconda grows, its diet will include reptiles, so it is difficult to determine who is the attacker here. On the snake’s back are two blood-sucking horseflies, which are known to prey on reptiles. Photographed on the Transpantaneira highway in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Photo by Karine Aigner/WPOTY

Behavior Category Winner: Mammal Category

This baby monkey (Macaca sinica) was so relaxed drinking milk from its mother that it fell asleep. Because crested monkeys easily adapt to human food, the encroachment of plantations into their habitat has led to increased incidents of shooting, trapping, and poisoning by farmers trying to preserve their crops. Photographed in Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka. Photo credit: Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod/WPOTY

Oceans: The Bigger Picture Winner

A mosaic made from 403 pieces of plastic found inside the digestive tract of a dead blue shearwater. The diet of the meat-reed shearwaters that nest on Lord Howe Island is increasingly flavored with plastic waste floating in the ocean. By measuring impacts and highlighting problems, Adrift Lab researchers aim to raise awareness and advocate for action to address overconsumption, poor waste management, and pollution. Photo by Justin Gilligan/WPOTY

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How does plastic end up in the ocean?

Photojournalist Story Award Winner

The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is one of two freshwater dolphin species that live in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Only this species evolved to explore seasonally flooded forest habitats. Photo by Thomas Peschak/WPOTY

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Top 10 largest rainforests in the world

Wetland Category Winner: Big Picture Category and Overall Winner

A tadpole of a western toad (Anaxylus boreas) among lily pads in a lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Toad tadpoles swim up from the safe depths of a lake, trying to avoid predators and reach shallow waters where they can feed. Tadpoles begin to develop into toads 4 to 12 weeks after hatching. An estimated 99 percent do not survive to adulthood. Photo by Shane Goss/WPOTY

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists unravel the composition of the unique toxin found in black widow spider venom

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Black widow spider venom contains a cocktail of seven specific latrotoxins, but only one, alpha-latrotoxin, targets vertebrates, including humans. chemist of University of Munster They have now deciphered the structure of alpha-latrotoxin before and after membrane insertion at near atomic resolution.

Cryo-EM structures of α-latrotoxin in two different tetrameric states. Image credit: Klink others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52635-5.

Latrotoxin is the main toxic component of the venom of black widow spiders (genus). latrodectus).

The toxins include five insecticidal toxins known as α-latrotoxin, α-, β-, γ-, δ-, and ε-latroinsect toxins, which are unique to vertebrates, and one toxin that is unique to crustaceans.

“Alpha-latrotoxin interferes with nervous system signal transmission,” said researcher Björn Klinck and colleagues at the University of Münster.

“As soon as alpha-latrotoxin binds to specific receptors at the synapse (contacts between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscles), calcium ions flow uncontrollably into the presynaptic membrane of the signal-transmitting cell.”

“This triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which causes strong muscle contractions and spasms.”

“Although this process seems simple at first glance, there are very complex mechanisms behind it.”

To better understand the mechanism of calcium influx into the presynaptic membrane, the authors used high-performance cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations.

They showed that alpha-latrotoxin undergoes significant changes when it binds to the receptor.

Some of the toxic molecules form stalks and penetrate the cell membrane like a syringe.

As a special feature, this stalk forms small pores in the membrane, which act as calcium channels.

MD simulations revealed that calcium ions can enter the cells through a selection gate on the side directly above the pore.

“This toxin mimics the function of calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane in a very complex way,” said Christos Gatsogiannis, a researcher at the University of Münster.

“Therefore, it is different in every way from any toxin known to date.”

“The new discovery opens up a wide range of potential applications.”

“Latrotoxin has considerable biotechnological potential, including the development of improved antidotes, treatments for paralysis, and new biopesticides.”

of study Published in a magazine nature communications.

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Clink BU others. 2024. Structural basis of α-latrotoxin transition to cation-selective pores. Nat Commune 15, 8551; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52635-5

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers find farthest rotating disk galaxy ever observed: REBELS-25

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

According to one researcher, REBELS-25 existed until 700 million years after the Big Bang. paper Published in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

This image shows the galaxy REBELS-25, observed by ALMA, superimposed on infrared images of other stars and galaxies. This infrared image was taken by ESO's Visible Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA). Image credits: ALMA / ESO / National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / NRAO / Roland others. / Dunlop others. / Cas / Kare.

The galaxies we see today are very different from the chaotic, clumpy galaxies that astronomers typically observed in the early universe.

These messy early galaxies merge with each other and evolve into smoother shapes at an incredibly slow pace.

Current theory suggests that it would take billions of years of evolution for galaxies to become as ordered as our Milky Way, a rotating disk with an orderly structure like spiral arms.

However, the detection of REBELS-25 casts doubt on that timescale.

“Our understanding of galaxy formation predicts that most early galaxies appear small and messy,” said Dr Jacqueline Hodge, an astronomer at Leiden University.

In their study, Dr. Hodge and colleagues found that REBELS-25 existed at redshift z = 7.3 (when the universe was only 700 million years old), making it the most distant object ever discovered. They discovered that it was a strongly rotating disk galaxy.

“Seeing galaxies so similar to our own Milky Way and with strong rotational dominance adds to our understanding of how galaxies in the early universe evolved into the ordered galaxies of today's universe. It raises questions,” says Lucy Roland, a PhD student at Leiden University. University.

REBELS-25 was detected by the authors using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA).

To precisely identify the galaxy's structure and motion, they conducted follow-up observations at higher resolution with ALMA, confirming its record-breaking nature.

Surprisingly, the data suggested more developed features similar to the Milky Way, such as an elongated central bar and spiral arms, but more observations are needed to confirm this. Probably.

“Finding further evidence of a more evolved structure would be an interesting discovery, as this would be the most distant galaxy in which such a structure has been observed to date,” Rowland said.

“These future observations from REBELS-25, along with other discoveries of early rotating galaxies, could change our understanding of early galaxy formation and the evolution of the universe as a whole.”

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Lucy E. Rowland others. REBELS-25: Dynamically cold disk galaxy discovered at z = 7.31. MNRASpublished online October 7, 2024. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2217

Source: www.sci.news

Spotted Handfish Genome Decoded | Latest Scientific Findings

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

team of researchers CSIRO We decoded the genome of Spotted handfish (Brachyonychthys hirsutus)an endangered species of marine fish endemic to Tasmania.

Spotted handfish (Brachyonychthys hirsutus). Image credit: CSIRO.

Brachyonychthys hirsutus It is a rare benthic fish of the handfish family. Brachionidae.

This rare fish is found only in Tasmania's Derwent River estuary and nearby areas. It is usually found at depths of 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet).

It was first officially described in 1804. Brachyonychthys hirsutus have Their highly adapted pectoral fins look like hands and allow them to walk on the ocean floor.

This species' diet includes small shellfish, shrimp, and polychaetes.

Brachyonychthys hirsutus teeth classified as endangered species Listed on the IUCN Red List 2020. Scientists estimate that fewer than 2,000 individuals remain in the wild.

Its rapid decline is thought to be due to historical fishing practices, coastal development, climate change, and the arrival of invasive species.

“Genome sequencing will aid ongoing efforts to increase population numbers and monitor genetic diversity,” said CSIRO researcher Gunjan Pandey.

“Genomes help us understand how organisms work.”

This provides a basis for understanding gene expression in everyday life and provides insight into its evolutionary history.”

“With the genome, we can help detect species, monitor populations, and even estimate the lifespan of fish.”

“This rich genetic information will help inform long-term conservation strategies,” added CSIRO researcher Carly Devine.

“Recognizing that a multidisciplinary approach alongside ecological research is essential for effective conservation of endangered species, conservation measures are being expanded to include genetics.”

“Marine creatures like the spotted handfish are notoriously difficult to handle.”

“DNA is rapidly degraded and contaminated by microorganisms.”

“This makes it very difficult to assemble a pure genome.”

Using a so-called low-input protocol, the research team was able to sequence the complete genome from a small amount of low-quality DNA.

“We are one of only three teams in the world using this protocol,” Dr. Pandey said.

“We customized the entire process, from the lab setup to the bioinformatics software, to sequence high-quality genomes from low-quality DNA.”

“Work that previously took six to 12 months can now be completed in a matter of days. This technology holds great promise for the understanding and conservation of threatened species across Australia and around the world.”

Source: www.sci.news

Report finds that Hurricane Helen had increased rainfall and stronger winds as a result of climate change

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Samamuri

Climate change has increased Hurricane Helen’s wind speed by 11% and total precipitation by about 10%, according to a new report.
Researchers expect Milton to do the same, and say it is likely to get worse because of climate change.
The report says the higher sea surface temperatures that contributed to the intensification of both storms are 200 to 500 times more likely to be due to climate change.

As Hurricane Milton hurtles toward Florida’s west coast, a new report estimates how intense Hurricane Helen’s winds and rain could have been due to climate change. Scientists involved in the study said they expected Milton to do the same, and that it would likely get worse because of climate change.

The report, released late Wednesday night, is from the World Weather Attribution Group, a consortium of scientists that analyzes extreme weather events and determines how much climate change has influenced certain events. He is regarded as the leading expert in making decisions.

The findings show that because of climate change, Hurricane Helen’s wind speeds were 11% more intense and its precipitation totals were about 10% higher.

Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London who contributed to the new study, said “we now have a complete study showing a very clear link” between climate change and hurricane strength. “The biggest danger is not making the connection to climate change.”

Like Hurricane Helen, Hurricane Milton is also moving through record-breaking heat. Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are much warmer than usual, even for this time of year. Warmer water acts as fuel for such storms, helping them intensify faster.

Both hurricanes undergo a process known as rapid intensification, where the hurricane’s sustained wind speeds increase by at least 35 miles per hour over a 24-hour period. This trend is becoming more common due to climate change.

The report says the sea surface temperatures that pushed Helen and Milton up were 200 to 500 times warmer due to climate change.

On Monday, Milton experienced a dramatic pressure drop in the center of the hurricane, strengthening to one of the fifth strongest hurricanes ever recorded.

“This storm is definitely explosive,” said Bernadette Woods Plucky, chief meteorologist at the nonprofit research group Climate Central and co-author of the new report.

Using a combination of statistical analysis and detailed climate modeling, the researchers found that climate change and the fossil fuel pollution it causes are about 2.5 times more likely to produce a hurricane as strong as Helen.

This is the third and most extensive preliminary report linking climate change to the heavy rains that killed more than 200 people after Hurricane Helen made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26.

Scientists at World Weather Attribution examined rainfall over two days along the coast of Florida, where Helen first hit, and three days of rainfall in mountainous areas in six neighboring states, including North Carolina and Tennessee. Assessed quantity.

They found that coastal rainfall totals are 40% more likely to be this high due to climate change, and inland rainfall totals are 70% more likely to be this high due to climate change. I discovered that there is a sex.

Helen flooded parts of southern Appalachia with more than 6 feet of rain. Floodwaters washed away houses, washed out highways, and cut off access to the town. Much of the recovery work is just beginning.

Damaged buildings in downtown Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helen passed through on October 2nd.
Alison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images

The World Weather Attribution group is a loose confederation of scientists who rapidly publish extreme findings about whether and how climate change has affected particular events. Twenty-one researchers participated in the new analysis. Although the group uses peer-review methods, its findings are published prior to traditional peer-review when events are new and particularly newsworthy. Previous studies on global weather attribution have withstood further scrutiny by outside scientists and been published in major scientific journals.

Otto said the new results are consistent with two previous analyzes of the effects of climate change on Hurricane Helen, but different researchers defined the parameters of the study in different ways, and there are different He said each report produced different numbers because they focused on geography.

Scientists at World Weather Attribution will run the numbers again for Milton and write a new report.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida with Life-Threatening Storm Surge

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A storm surge is when hurricane force winds push shallow water towards the coast, causing an abnormal rise in water levels during a storm. Factors such as wind, the angle of approach of the storm, ocean floor shape, and storm’s low pressure all play a role in the intensity of the surge.

Storm surge is a deadly threat from hurricanes as it can quickly flood coastal areas and penetrate far inland.

West Florida’s shallow coastline along the Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to storm surges due to its gentle slopes and the continental shelf being close to the surface, making it easier for water to rise.

Climate change-induced rising sea levels further increase the risk of flooding in the region, and the impending Hurricane Milton has the potential to cause significant damage.

While the exact landing location of Milton is uncertain, small changes in its path can have a significant impact in areas like Tampa Bay. The National Hurricane Center is closely monitoring the storm’s movements and advising residents to be prepared for potential evacuation orders.

Historically, Tampa Bay is at high risk of storm surges due to its underwater topography acting as a funnel for floodwaters. The city’s urban development has also increased the vulnerability of its population and coastal structures to storm-related threats.

As Milton approaches Florida, its size may increase while its winds could weaken, affecting the height of storm surges. Local officials are urging residents to follow evacuation orders to ensure their safety.

Storm surge is a serious concern, particularly with major hurricanes classified as Category 3 or higher. Even lower-ranking storms can produce devastating storm surges, as seen with hurricanes like Katrina and Ike in the past.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Carbonate minerals in Gale Crater reveal insights into the climate of ancient Mars

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Carbonate minerals are an integral part of the carbon and water cycles, both of which are implicated in habitability, making them of particular interest in paleoenvironmental studies. In the new study, planetary scientists focused on carbon and oxygen isotope measurements of carbonate minerals detected by NASA’s Curiosity rover inside Mars’ Gale Crater.

An artist’s concept of an early Mars with liquid water (blue area) on its surface. Image credit: NASA / MAVEN / Lunar and Planetary Institute.

Isotopes are versions of an element that have different masses. As the water evaporates, the lighter ones, carbon and oxygen, are more likely to escape into the atmosphere, while the heavier ones are more likely to be left behind, accumulating in larger quantities, and in this case eventually incorporated into carbonate rocks.

Scientists are interested in carbonates because they have been shown to act as climate records.

These minerals may retain traces of the environment in which they formed, such as the temperature and acidity of the water and the composition of the water and atmosphere.

“The isotopic values of these carbonates indicate extreme amounts of evaporation, suggesting that these carbonates likely formed in climates where only ephemeral liquid water could exist. ‘ said Dr. David Burt, a researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

“Our samples do not match an ancient environment in which life (biosphere) existed on the surface of Mars. However, it does not match the subterranean biosphere or the surface environment that began and ended before these carbonates formed. This does not exclude the possibility of a biosphere.

Dr. Burt and his colleagues propose two formation mechanisms for the carbonates found in Gale Crater.

In the first scenario, carbonates form through a series of dry-wet cycles within the crater.

In the second, carbonates form in extremely salty water under cold ice-forming (cryogenic) conditions inside the crater.

“These formation mechanisms represent two different climate regimes that could indicate different habitation scenarios,” said Dr. Jennifer Stern, also of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“Wetting and drying cycles would indicate alternations between more and less habitable environments, while the extremely low temperatures in the mid-latitudes of Mars mean that most of the water is trapped in ice. “And what’s there would be very salty and unpleasant to live in.” “

These climate scenarios for ancient Mars have been previously proposed based on the presence of certain minerals, global modeling, and the identification of rock formations.

The results are the first to add isotopic evidence from rock samples to support the scenario.

The heavy isotope values of carbonates on Mars are significantly higher than carbonate minerals observed on Earth, and are the heaviest carbon and oxygen isotope values ever recorded in Martian material.

In fact, both wet-dry and cold-saline climates are required to form carbonates, which are extremely rich in heavy carbon and oxygen.

“The fact that these carbon and oxygen isotope values are higher than any other measured on Earth or Mars indicates that the process is extreme,” Dr. Burt said.

“While evaporation can cause significant oxygen isotope changes on Earth, the changes measured in this study were two to three times larger.”

“This means two things: (i) there was an extreme degree of evaporation that made these isotope values very heavy, and (ii) these heavier values were conserved so that the lighter isotopes The process that generated the body value must have significantly reduced its size.””

team’s paper Published in this week’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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David G. Burt others. 2024. High concentrations of carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbonate-derived CO₂ At Gale Crater on Mars. PNAS 121 (42): e2321342121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2321342121

This article is based on a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news