Denisovans from the ancient past hunted snow leopards in Tibet.

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The snow leopard was one of the animals hunted by the Denisovans

Klaus Honal / Alamy

The ancient humans known as the Denisovans hunted a wide variety of animals on the Tibetan Plateau, including blue sheep, yaks, and snow leopards. This diverse diet allowed them to thrive at high altitudes tens of thousands of years before the arrival of modern humans.

“The Denisovans were very behaviorally flexible,” Fried Welcker “They're really able to adapt to their local environment and the species that live there,” say researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

The Denisovans are one of the most mysterious groups of humans that ever lived on Earth. They were first described in 2010 based on DNA extracted from a finger bone fragment found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Russia. This was the first time a group of humans had been identified based solely on DNA.

Denisovans were likely once widespread in South Asia because many people in South and Southeast Asia today carry Denisovan DNA. The Denisovans were highly adaptive, inhabiting various regions from Siberia to Southeast Asia. However, very little is known about their physical characteristics due to the scarcity of remains.

In 2019, Welcker and other researchers described a 160,000-year-old jawbone found in the Baishiya karst caves of Xiahe, on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Proteins extracted from one of the teeth were identified as Denisovan.

The following year, another group Denisovan DNA in cave sedimentsThe DNA could have been dated to 100,000, 60,000 or even 45,000 years ago, suggesting the Denisovans lived there for more than 100,000 years.

The Tibetan Plateau is 4,000 meters above sea level. The air is thin, cold, and dry – a tough place to live. To understand how the Denisovans managed to survive for so long, Welcker and his colleagues studied animal bones from the Baishiqiao cave. By observing the bones' shapes and extracting characteristic proteins, they were able to identify 2,005 of the 2,567 bones or bone fragments found.

The most numerous were blue sheep (Pseudo Nayaur) Among them were sheep and goats, Welcker said. Other medium-sized herbivores included wild yaks, Tibetan gazelles, and red deer. There were also small animals with grooved teeth, such as flying squirrels and porcupines. Plus larger carnivores, such as spotted hyenas, wolves, and snow leopards, as well as birds, such as golden eagles.

Most of the bones appear to have been brought there by Denisovans – 19 percent bear clear evidence, such as cuts made by stone tools – while less than 1 percent bear tooth marks or other signs indicating they were brought there by rodents or carnivores.

View of the white cliff caves on the Tibetan Plateau

Zhang Dongzhu Group (Lanzhou University)

“This is the second site where we can be absolutely certain that Denisovans were present and that the associated assemblages concretely represent their behavior.” Samantha Brown At the University of Tübingen, Germany.

Stone tools but no human remains have been found at other sites on the Tibetan plateau, so it's unclear who lived there. Further afield, a single molar found in 2022 at Tam Ngu Hao 2 limestone cave in Laos may point to a mysterious human presence. Tentatively identified as Denisovan.

Brown says it's not possible to draw many inferences about Denisovan capabilities from so few remains, “but we expect that Denisovans were once found as far north as Siberia, and possibly as far south.” [the islands of] Southeast Asia. As more of their remains are discovered, we may really begin to understand that the Denisovans were highly adaptive.”

One of the bones found in the White Cliff Cave, a rib fragment, turned out to belong to another Denisovan. It was found in sediments dating back 48,000 to 32,000 years ago, making it the youngest Denisovan specimen known to date. Stone tools found at Nuwia Devou on the plateau This provides evidence that modern humans were living there by 40,000 years ago, suggesting that Denisovans and modern humans coexisted in the region.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A revolutionary anti-aging vaccine offers hope in preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

I’ll be 60 in just over 5 years, which is a big deal. I already have an age-related disease (high blood pressure), and the odds are good that I haven’t been diagnosed with at least one more by then. After that, the symptoms of age will pile up and bring me to my inevitable end. Many of you will no doubt be in a similar situation. We are living longer than ever before, but those extra years don’t necessarily come with good health.

But judging by recent trends, my sons may be even luckier. Instead of facing a long list of common diseases in their 70s and 80s, they may be able to immunize themselves against them. They may be able to celebrate middle age with vaccinations that immunize them against Alzheimer’s, cancer, and hypertension. What’s more, they may even have access to an anti-aging panacea that vaccinates against all of these and more, allowing them to enter old age in better health than most of us today could hope to achieve.

Suddenly, an ancient medical technique looks set to become a game changer in the fight against diseases associated with age. Vaccines, the most commonly used injections for infectious diseases like COVID-19 and measles, are now showing promise for treating non-infectious diseases, particularly those associated with age. The field is advancing rapidly, and there are signs that, in the right winds, I and others my age might be able to benefit from these vaccinations. It’s so…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Oldest known narrative art is a pig painting dating back 50,000 years

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Traces of cave paintings depicting pigs and human-like figures from Leang Karampuang, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Griffith University

An Indonesian cave painting depicting a pig with a human-like figure dates back at least 51,200 years and is known to be the oldest known example of figurative art in the world.

“I like to define us as a storytelling species, and this is the earliest evidence of that.” Maxime Oberle Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.

The pig artwork was discovered on the ceiling of a limestone cave in Leang Karampuang, Sulawesi, in 2017.

In 2019, Obert and his colleagues dated a hunting scene discovered in a nearby cave called Leang Bru Shipon 4 to at least 43,900 years ago.

Now, researchers have used new, more precise techniques to date both works of art, finding that the paintings at Reang Bulu Siphon 4 are actually more than 4,000 years older than previously thought, and the artwork at Reang Karampuan is even older.

According to Obert, the artwork at both sites predates the oldest known rock art in Europe by at least 10,000 years.

Modern people, Homo sapiens“We know they were in the area at that time, because they reached Australia by 60,000 to 65,000 years ago,” Obert said. “We think these art works were done by modern humans.”

The same cave contains depictions of creatures with both human and animal attributes, indicating spiritual beliefs.

“These rock art are not just little symbols,” team members say. Renaud Joanne Boyau “They were actually depicting scenes from the hunt and life, and were already using art to tell stories, inhabit a spirit world and try to make sense of their environment. This tells us a lot about human evolution,” said researchers from Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia. Homo sapiens.”

Previous methods for dating artworks relied on chemical extraction of samples, which required crushing and destroying large portions of the rock.

The new technique involves taking a 5-millimeter-diameter core from the rock’s crust. A laser is used to remove material from the surface of this core, less than half the thickness of a human hair, which is then examined to measure the isotopic decay of the minerals. Once this is done, the core can be inserted into the rock art, much less disruptive than traditional methods.

Karampuang Hills, Reang Karampuang Cave site

Google Arts & Culture

Joannes Boyau says the new technique could lead to a major revision of the history of rock art around the world.

Kira Westaway Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, say improved dating methods have allowed them to more accurately assess when the Sulawesi art was actually created.

“This is really significant given that the first period was already considered groundbreaking,” she says. “This has huge implications for understanding the capabilities of these early artists who passed through Indonesia and the types of skills and tools they already had when they entered Australia.”

Homo sapiens They probably weren’t the only species with complex symbolic practices. Martin Pore “It is highly likely that other hominins had at least some capabilities in this regard, as can be inferred from the highly sophisticated material culture of Neanderthals,” say researchers from the University of Western Australia.

“It will be important to study further archaeological evidence from this region in the future to understand and confirm the social, economic and cultural context of these statues during the Late Pleistocene,” Poa said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Gaiasia geniae: Namibia’s Prehistoric Giant Salamander Predator from 280 Million Years Ago

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Reconstruction of Gaiasia geniae

Gabriel Rio

280 million years ago, the cold swamps of what is now the Namib Desert were home to giant salamander-like predators that sucked prey into their mouths and captured them with their enormous fangs.

The fossil creature was first discovered in Namibia in 2015. Researchers found a total of four incomplete specimens, which they estimate to have measured 2.5 metres in body length and a skull length of 60 centimetres, making it the largest of its kind yet found.

Claudia Marsicano Researchers from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina have now described the fossils in detail and given them species names. Gaiacia geniae Paleontologist Jennifer Kluck with later strata of the Gaius Formation in Namibia.

nevertheless G. geniae It may have resembled a dangerous, extremely over-scaled salamander, like the giant axolotl, but it wasn't a true amphibian. Rather, the animal belonged to an ancient group of tetrapods that eventually gave rise to amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

A specimen of Gaiasia geniae found in the wild

Roger M. H. Smith

Marsicano said the animal probably hunted by lying in wait, much like a crocodile, for prey to pass by.Gaiacia “It was an aquatic animal with a very elongated body that probably swam like an eel, but had very short limbs that would have made it very difficult for it to move around on land,” she says.

The discovery reshapes our understanding of the distribution of early tetrapods, most of whose fossils have been found in the Northern Hemisphere, which had a tropical climate centered on the equator 280 million years ago.

But at the time, Marsicano said, what is now Namibia would have been at a much higher latitude, around 55 degrees south. Gaiacia The fossils were discovered during the Ice Age. [at the time] Severe cold climatic conditions prevailed.”

Despite the cold, Gaiacia This suggests the area was relatively populated, with “a rich vertebrate community thriving,” Marsicano says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study finds that hippos can run so fast that they can leap into the air

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If you struggle to picture a two-ton, wingless creature hovering, you’re not alone. However, a recent study shows that hippos (or hippopotamuses, to use the full name) can reach speeds that rival flying.

Although hippos are amphibious, they are some of the largest land animals, often weighing over 2,000 kg (2.2 tonnes). Due to their aquatic lifestyle, little is known about their terrestrial movement.

In a surprising discovery, researchers found that hippos can remain airborne for short periods, representing about 15 percent of their stride cycle, or approximately 0.3 seconds. This suggests that they move differently on land than previously thought.

In this image from the researchers’ footage, all four of the hippo’s legs are off the ground, giving the appearance of floating. – Image credit: Johan Vermeulen

While some animals like horses are known to leap into the air at high speeds, it’s rare for large animals like hippos to do so. This unique movement pattern sets them apart from elephants, which never lift all four legs off the ground simultaneously.

Prior studies were inconclusive about the hippo’s gait pattern, but recent research from the Royal Veterinary College reveals that hippos predominantly trot, regardless of their speed. This uniformity in movement is uncommon among land mammals and sheds light on how hippos navigate their environment.

Studying hippos is challenging due to their dangerous nature, making them elusive subjects for scientific research. Professor John Hutchinson, lead author of a study on hippos, emphasized the difficulty in studying these creatures due to their habitat and behavior.

To overcome these obstacles, researchers analyzed video footage of hippos at Flamingo Land Resort in Yorkshire, observing their movement patterns in detail. Their findings not only contribute to our understanding of terrestrial mammals but also have potential implications for veterinary medicine.

By uncovering how hippos walk and run, this study provides valuable insights into their behavior and capabilities. Hutchinson expressed admiration for the hippos’ surprising agility on land, highlighting the incredible nature of these animals.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Research reveals that these specific foods can help individuals in their 70s live longer and healthier lives.

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Looking to age gracefully? There’s a plethora of advice out there, but the key seems to lie in maintaining a healthy diet.

A recent study published in Nutrition 2024 revealed that only a small fraction of individuals manage to remain disease-free and in good physical, cognitive, and mental health past the age of 70.

However, there’s hope. The same study indicated that adopting a healthy and balanced diet during midlife can significantly increase your chances of healthy aging.

The study, which spanned over 30 years and analyzed data from over 100,000 individuals, showed that people who maintained a healthy diet from their 40s onwards were much more likely to be in good physical shape at age 70.

According to John Myers, a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, “People who followed a healthy diet in midlife, especially one rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, were significantly more likely to experience healthy old age.” This underscores the impact of diet on our health as we age.

To enhance your chances of living a longer and healthier life, experts recommend increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy products. Conversely, it’s wise to limit intake of trans fats, sodium, red meat, and processed meats.

While a healthy diet is typically associated with disease prevention, this study highlights its role in promoting healthy aging. It’s not just about avoiding illness; it’s about maintaining overall vitality as we age.

Researcher Angelie Tessier noted, “Our study suggests dietary recommendations for healthy aging should not only focus on preventing diseases but also on fostering a fulfilling life in later years.”

Participants in the study were mainly above 39 years old without chronic diseases at the onset, and they reported their dietary habits every four years. By 2016, nearly half of the participants had passed away while only a small percentage had reached age 70 or older in good health.

When comparing adherence to healthy eating patterns, the study found that individuals in the top group were significantly more likely to achieve healthy aging than those in the bottom group. The strongest correlation was with the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, which rates your diet based on food consumption frequency.

Even after accounting for factors like physical activity, the link between diet and healthy aging remained robust. Healthy eating habits were associated with better physical health, cognitive function, and mental well-being.

About the Experts

Angelie Tessier, a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, has research published in esteemed journals like Nature Communications and PLoS One.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists May Have Finally Discovered the Cause of Strange Occurrences at Earth’s Core

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

You may be surprised by how little we actually know about the inner workings of the Earth. While we have a good grasp of how the Earth’s surface moves to create mountains and trigger earthquakes, the deeper we delve, the more mysterious it becomes.

One highly debated topic for years has been the movement of the Earth’s inner core. Does it move forward, backward, left, right? The truth is, nobody really knows. However, recent research published in Nature suggests that the core is receding relative to the surface, potentially putting an end to the long-standing debate.

This study confirms a controversial paper from the previous year by researchers at Peking University, as detailed in Nature Chemistry.

The inner core of the Earth is a solid, crystallized sphere of iron, approximately the size of the Moon, situated around 5,000 km beneath us in a liquid metal sea known as the outer core comprised of iron, nickel, and other metals.

“The inner core is a solid entity that floats within the outer core, lacking any anchorage,” explained Professor John Vidal, co-author of the study, a researcher at the University of Southern California (USC), in an interview with BBC Science Focus.

According to a press release from USC, the study presents “unequivocal evidence” that the movement of the inner core slowed around 2010 and is now lagging behind the surface movement. This new motion pattern makes the core appear to move backward compared to the surface, akin to how a slowing car seems to move in reverse to a steady-speed driver.

If the findings are accurate, this marks the initial detection of a slowdown in 40 years and supports the notion that the core’s velocity fluctuates in a 70-year cycle.

The research team utilized seismometers in Canada and Alaska to analyze repeated earthquakes, focusing on 121 events in the South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023, along with data from past nuclear tests conducted by the Soviets.

By examining matching seismic waveforms from various time periods, the team sought to determine if the inner core rotates independently from the rest of the Earth. Discrepancies in wave patterns indicated changes in the core’s rotation, with some signals aligning pre and post-shift, implying a realignment of the core.

Bidart, one of the researchers, expressed initial confusion upon seeing seismic records suggesting a change but became convinced upon discovering more consistent observations. The slowdown in the inner core’s movement, unseen for decades, aligns with their latest findings, offering a plausible resolution to the ongoing debate.

Despite uncertainties regarding surface impacts, Bidale acknowledged a slight potential change in the length of a day, barely perceptible amid the Earth’s bustling activity of oceanic and atmospheric movements.

Future research aims to gather additional waveform data from diverse global locations and pathways. Vidar highlighted a wait-and-see approach, anticipating unusual core movements around 2001 and further exploration to elucidate these occurrences.

About our experts

John Vidale Dr. Schneider currently chairs the Department of Geosciences at the University of Southern California. His research covers earthquakes, Earth structure, volcanoes, and seismic hazards. At USC since 2017, Dr. Schneider previously directed the Southern California Earthquake Center and contributed to earthquake-related committees and working groups.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Why Cats Scratch Your Furniture and How to Prevent It

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Do you ever wonder why your cute cat suddenly becomes a shredding machine when you’re not looking? Cats scratching furniture is a common issue, but it’s a natural behavior for cats, so it’s important to address it in a cat-friendly way.

A recent study published in The Forefront of Veterinary Medicine suggests that understanding the reasons behind scratching behaviors can help manage them effectively by changing play patterns or using scratching posts.

“Our findings can help owners redirect scratching towards appropriate materials, creating a harmonious environment for both cats and owners,” said Professor Yasemin Sargiri Demirbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University and lead author of the study.

The study surveyed over 1,200 French cat owners to understand their cats’ daily lives, characteristics, and scratching behaviors. The researchers found associations between scratching behavior and factors such as the presence of children, the cat’s personality traits, and activity levels.

Stress is a major factor in unwanted scratching behavior in cats. For example, the presence of children and high activity levels can increase a cat’s stress, leading to more scratching. Introducing scratching posts, pheromones, safe hiding spots, and engaging play can reduce stress and redirect scratching behaviors.

To play without scratching, the experts recommend short play sessions that mimic hunting scenarios to keep the cat’s attention and reduce stress. These strategies can also strengthen the bond between owners and their cats.

While there are still questions to be answered about the link between children and scratching behavior, the researchers hope that future studies will provide more effective strategies for managing this behavior in cats.

About the Experts

Yasemin Sargiri Demirbas, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, focuses her research on Journal of Veterinary Behavior and Scientific Reports.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Researchers update the well-known Drake equation

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Within the range of uncertainties in the relevant astronomical and biological parameters, the Drake equations typically predict that many exoplanets should exist (

Stern and Geriya argue that the lack of evidence for active, communicative civilizations reflects the rare absence of long-lived plate tectonics, continents, or oceans on exoplanets that could host primitive life. Image credit: Sci.News.

In 1961, American astrophysicist and astrobiologist Dr. Frank Drake devised an equation that multiplied several factors to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations in the galaxy that could make their presence known to humanity.

N = R * f_p * no_e * debt_l * debt_I * debt_c * no

N: The number of civilizations in the Milky Way that have detectable electromagnetic radiation (such as radio waves).

R: The number of stars formed per year.

debt_p: The percentage of stars with planetary systems.

yeah_e: The number of planets per solar system that have environments suitable for life.

debt_l: The percentage of planets suitable for life to actually emerge.

debt_I: The percentage of planets that are habitable and on which intelligent life forms emerge.

debt_c: The percentage of civilizations that have developed technology that can detect evidence of their own existence.

L: The average time (in years) for such a civilization to produce such a manifestation.

Assigning values to the seven variables is an educated guessing game that has led to the prediction that such civilizations must have existed widely. But if that's true, why is there no conclusive evidence of their existence?

This contradiction is known as the Fermi Paradox, named after the Italian-American nuclear physicist and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Enrico Fermi, who posed the question privately to his colleagues.

“Life on Earth has been around four billion years old, but complex organisms like animals didn't appear until shortly after modern plate tectonics began, around 600 million years ago,” Prof Stern said.

“Plate tectonics really is what kicks off the evolutionary machine, and I think we understand why.”

In their paper, Professors Stern and Geria propose improving one of the factors, f, of the Drake equation._Ithe percentage of habitable planets on which intelligent life arises. These planets need to have extensive oceans and continents, and we need to take into account that plate tectonics have been in place for over 500 million years.

“In the original formulation, this coefficient was thought to be close to unity, or 100%, meaning that on every planet where life exists, evolution will progress and, given enough time, turn into an intelligent civilization. Our view is that that's not true,” Prof Stern said.

The researchers propose a revision of the Drake equation that defines f._I As a product of two terms:

debt_oc: The percentage of habitable exoplanets with significant continents and oceans.

and f_pt: The percentage of planets that have had long-term plate tectonics.

The team's analysis suggests that the proportion of exoplanets with optimal amounts of water appears to be very small.

The authors estimate the value of f._oc The range is 0.0002 to 0.01.

Similarly, they concluded that plate tectonics lasting more than 500 million years is highly unusual._pt It is less than 0.17.

“Multiplying these factors together gives us a refined estimate of f._I “It's not 100%, it's very small, between 0.003% and 0.2%,” Prof Stern said.

“This explains why planetary conditions suitable for the development of intelligent life are extremely rare in our galaxy, resolving the Fermi Paradox.”

“Biogeochemistry assumes that the solid Earth, and in particular plate tectonics, accelerates the evolution of species,” he added.

“Studies like ours are useful because they encourage us to think broadly about bigger mysteries and provide examples of how we can apply our knowledge of the Earth system to intriguing questions about the universe.”

of paper Published in the April 2024 issue Scientific Reports.

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Stern, R.J. & Geriya, T.V. 2024. The importance of continental, oceanic, and plate tectonics in the evolution of complex life: Implications for the discovery of extraterrestrial civilizations. Scientific Reports 14, 8552; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-54700-x

This article has been edited based on the original release from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists say wealth inequality between households is avoided at the vast Trypillia site

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Trypilyan culture flourished in western/central Ukraine, Moldova and eastern Romania for over two millennia, from the end of the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (5400-2700 BC).

Re-creation of the Maidanetske Giants settlement in Tripoli, Ukraine. Image by Kenny Arne Lang Antonsen / CC BY-SA 4.0.

of Tripilian culture Neolithic European culture, Happened In the 5th millennium BC, it extended from the Seret and Bug rivers in Ukraine south to present-day Romania and Moldova, and east to the Dnieper River.

Also known as the Cucuteni-Trypillarian culture, it was characterized by advanced agriculture, advanced metallurgy, pottery making, sophisticated architecture and social organization.

Tripoli society was matrilineal, with women heading the household and working in agriculture, pottery, weaving and clothing production, while hunting, livestock rearing and tool making were the responsibilities of men.

“Around 4200-3600 BC the so-called huge site of Trypilia was established at the northern limit of the Pontic steppe,” said Dr Robert Hoffmann from the University of Kiel and his colleagues.

“With an area of up to 320 hectares and around 10,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest prehistoric settlements in Europe.”

“These settlements were established in partly open forest-steppe areas with very fertile loess soils.”

“They were agricultural settlements inhabited all year round, with an economy based on cereal and legume cultivation and intensive, large-scale livestock farming, primarily cattle.”

Distribution of Tripilian sites surveyed by region, with sample size and Gini coefficient. Image courtesy of Hoffman. others., doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.18.

Archaeologists used variation in the size of 7,000 houses in 38 settlements to explore changing levels of inequality in three geographic regions of the Cucuteni-Trypillarian culture.

“We believe that the new social organization of the mega-institution allows residents to actively participate in the political decision-making process,” Dr. Hoffman explained.

“Such reformist nature at the time may have been the catalyst for the great attraction of these settlements, resulting in many people joining these communities.”

“We took advantage of the variation in house size in 38 settlements in Tripilia and used the Gini coefficient to calculate how the level of inequality changed in the three geographical regions over a 2000-year period,” said Dr Nils Müller-Schösel, an archaeologist at the University of Kiel.

“Our analysis shows that there was little change in the size of houses between 4300 and 3800 BC.”

“We can infer low levels of social inequality at the megalithic site of Trypillia between 4300 and 3800 BC.”

“The Tripilian community must have had effective mechanisms to prevent social inequalities,” said Professor Johannes Müller of Kiel University.

“This could have included mechanisms for balancing interests and redistributing surpluses.”

“The development of differences in house size and political institutions suggests that opportunities for participation in political decision-making processes deteriorated over time and that the original egalitarian principles of the settlement founders were gradually abandoned.”

“The result has been widening social inequalities and widening gaps in prosperity.”

“In our opinion, this was a crucial factor in the subsequent gradual disappearance of the large megasites,” Dr Hoffman said.

“The phenomenon of megasites is part of a series of historical cases that show that increasing social complexity does not necessarily go hand in hand with increasing vertical social differentiation.”

“Rather, the emergence and collapse of these large settlements was based on democratic political decisions made by the individuals and communities who lived there and ultimately decided to leave.”

Team work Published in the April 2024 issue Ancient.

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Robert Hoffman others2024. The Tripiglia megasite: a social equalizing concept? Ancient 98(398):380-400; Source: 10.15184/aqy.2024.18

Source: www.sci.news

Google fails to meet major climate goal due to high AI power consumption

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Three years ago, Google launched an ambitious plan to address climate change, aiming to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2030. This goal entails not emitting more climate-affecting gases into the atmosphere than it removes.

However, a recent report released by Google indicated that it is far from reaching this objective. Emissions are projected to increase by 13% in 2023 compared to the previous year and have surged by 48% since the base year of 2019.

The company attributes last year’s emission growth to electricity-intensive agriculture. The burning of coal or natural gas for electricity production releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to global warming and more extreme weather events.

Despite being a leader in climate change initiatives, Google faces challenges in meeting its net-zero target. Experts suggest that the rapid expansion of data centers, which require significant energy and resources, could hinder the transition to clean electricity and exacerbate climate change.

To address these issues, Google’s chief sustainability officer, Kate Brandt, emphasized the need for continued evolution and innovation in the company’s approach. She acknowledged the uncertainties surrounding the environmental impact of AI and the importance of partnering with cleaner companies and investing in sustainable practices.

Ultimately, achieving a net-zero goal by 2030 will require concerted efforts and collaboration across industries to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Google’s commitment to using renewable energy and implementing energy-efficient practices in its data centers and offices is a step in the right direction. However, there is a need for ongoing improvement and collaboration to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

After years of solitude, Boa constrictor delivers 14 baby snakes

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Ronaldo, a six-foot-long Brazilian rainbow boa constrictor kept at a British school, was thought to be male until he gave birth to 14 babies last month.

The boa hadn’t been in contact with other snakes for nearly a decade and appears to have undergone a natural process of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, which comes from the Greek word for “virgin birth.”

According to the school, this is the third confirmed case of such a birth among captive Brazilian rainbow boas that they know of.

Ronaldo lives at Portsmouth City University. The snakes are being used at an academic and vocational school in the south of England for 16-18 year olds to teach students how to care for animals.

“A colleague called me and asked why we had released a small snake with Ronaldo,” said Pete Quinlan, an animal technician at the university who has cared for the snakes for the past nine years.

Quinlan said his first thought on June 21st was that there must have been a mistake. Although it was his day off, he went to the scene and quickly realised the snake with Ronaldo was a baby rainbow boa constrictor.

“I was totally baffled by it,” he said, noting that he has been studying reptiles for more than 50 years.

Ronaldo’s baby boa constrictor.
Portsmouth City University

“I’ve kept literally thousands of snakes in that time and bred a lot of snakes,” Quinlan added. “I’d never heard of this before.”

In a news release, the university described the event as “A Miracle Birth. However, some snakes and other animals, including crocodiles and honeybees, are known to produce offspring asexually.

Parthenogenesis is the development of an embryo without fertilization. This process is particularly Unusual among vertebrates including snakes.

While sexual reproduction requires a sperm to fertilize an egg, parthenogenesis produces polar bodies as a by-product of the egg-making process, which are then used to fill in the gap. These cells then recombine with the egg, giving the embryo two similar (but not identical) sets of DNA.

Parthenogenesis also occurs when reproductive cells replicate and recombine, a process that creates a clone of the mother, but it occurs primarily in plants and not animals.

Researchers are still investigating why parthenogenesis occurs in animals and how often it occurs.

A baby rainbow boa constrictor born through parthenogenesis by Ronaldo.
Portsmouth City University

Quinlan said some researchers believe snakes practice parthenogenesis, in which females spend most of their lives without mating.

In recent years, there have been several reports of animals reproducing asexually in captivity. Sharks at Brookfield Zoo gave birth to a baby shark through parthenogenesis after not having contact with a male shark for at least four years. 2021 Survey found California condors, a critically endangered bird, reproducing asexually in captivity despite having mates.

A stingray named Charlotte became pregnant parthenogenetically at an aquarium in North Carolina. He died on Sunday. The aquarium said last month that the ray (whose story was the subject of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch) is not pregnant. Diagnosed with a rare disease.

Quinlan said he initially adopted Ronald from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an animal welfare charity. A vet told him Ronald was male, and Quinlan never questioned it. Once a snake becomes an adult, it’s harder to determine its sex than when it’s a baby, he said.

Ronaldo is a “very popular snake” at the school, Ms Quinlan said, adding that this should be a “really good experience” for the pupils as they had never looked after a newborn snake before.

Evie Allen, a student at the university who works with Ronaldo said he was “shocked” and “perplexed” when he heard from a friend that the snake had given birth to a baby.

Portsmouth City College learning assistants Evie Allen and Ashley Nicol hold a baby snake and snake skin.
Portsmouth City University

“I honestly thought he was joking,” she said.

The university plans to keep one or two of the baby snakes and care for the rest until they have been fed a few times and are healthy enough to go to their new homes.

Ronaldo’s story has attracted attention around the world.

“We never expected it to take off as badly as it did,” said Paula Hetherington, the university’s director of marketing and communications.

“If you Google Ronaldo the snake right now, he seems to be more popular than Ronaldo the footballer,” Quinlan said.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Humans definitively responsible for extinction of large animals, study finds

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Over the past 50,000 years, terrestrial vertebrate faunas have experienced severe declines in large species (megafauna), with most extinctions occurring during the Late Pleistocene and early to mid-Holocene. Importantly, this extinction event is unique in its strong size bias compared to other Cenozoic extinctions (past 66 million years). For example, of 57 species of large herbivores (weighing over 1,000 kg), only 11 have survived to the present day. Debate regarding the causes has continued for over two centuries.

Svenning othersGlobal extinction patterns, as well as fine-scale spatiotemporal and mechanistic evidence, show little evidence of a significant climate influence. Conversely, there is growing evidence of strong human pressure as the primary driver of these extinctions, with the initial onset linked to pre-global warming.Homo sapiens Hominins before the Late Pleistocene. Image courtesy of Svenning others., doi: 10.1017/ext.2024.4.

“The massive and selective disappearance of large animals over the past 50,000 years is unprecedented in the past 66 million years,” said Professor Jens Christian Svenning from Aarhus University.

“Past climate changes have not led to large-scale selective extinctions, arguing that climate played a major role in the extinction of large animals.”

“Another important pattern supporting the lack of a role for climate is that recent megafauna extinctions have hit climatically stable regions as hard as climatically unstable regions.”

Archaeologists have found traps designed to hunt very large animals, and isotope analysis of protein residues on ancient human bones and spear points reveals that they hunted and ate the largest mammals.

“Early modern humans were able to effectively hunt even the largest animal species and clearly had the capacity to reduce large animal populations,” Prof Svenning said.

“These large animals were and remain especially vulnerable to over-exploitation because they have long gestation periods, give birth to very small litters and take many years to reach sexual maturity.”

The analysis found that human hunting of large animals, such as mammoths, mastodons and giant sloths, was widespread and consistent around the world.

It also shows that the species went extinct at very different times and at different rates around the world.

In some areas it happened quickly, but in others it took more than 10,000 years.

But everywhere, it happened after the arrival of modern humans or, in the case of Africa, after human cultural advancement.

Species became extinct on every continent except Antarctica, and in every type of ecosystem, from tropical forests and savannas to Mediterranean and temperate forests and steppes, to Arctic ecosystems.

“Many extinct species could have thrived in a variety of environments,” Prof Svenning said.

“Therefore, their extinction cannot be explained by climate change that caused the disappearance of certain ecosystem types such as the Mammoth Steppe, which also contained only a few large animal species.”

“Most species live in temperate to tropical climates and would have actually benefited from the warming at the end of the last ice age.”

The researchers say the decline of large animals has serious ecological implications.

Macrofauna play a central role in ecosystems by influencing vegetation structure (e.g. the balance between dense forest and open areas), seed dispersal and nutrient cycling.

Their disappearance has led to major changes in ecosystem structure and function.

“Our findings highlight the need for active conservation and restoration efforts,” Professor Svenning said.

“Reintroducing large mammals can help restore ecological balance and maintain the biodiversity that evolved in ecosystems rich in large animals.”

of study Published in the journal Cambridge Prism: Extinction.

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Jens Christian Svenning others2024. Late Quaternary megafauna extinctions: patterns, causes, ecological impacts and implications for ecosystem management in the Anthropocene. Aarhus University. Cambridge Prism: Extinction 2: e5; doi: 10.1017/ext.2024.4

This article has been edited based on the original release from Aarhus University.

Source: www.sci.news

Fruit bats demonstrate episodic memory and mental time travel capabilities, study reveals

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Episodic memory and mental time travel have been considered uniquely human traits. This view has begun to change with the development of behavioral criteria to assess what is called episodic memory in animals. Key findings range from evidence of “what, where, when” memory in jays, mice and bees to episodic memory and future-oriented behavior in wild, free-foraging animals. In a new study, scientists investigated episodic memory and future-oriented behavior in wild, free-foraging animals. Egyptian fruit bat (Rusetus aegyptiacus)The team found that fruit bats rely on mental time maps to display future-oriented behaviour when foraging, and that time-mapping ability requires experience and is lacking in inexperienced bats.

Egyptian fruit bat (Rusetus aegyptiacus) track tree phenology and estimate fruit availability since their previous visit. Bats exhibit future-oriented behavior, flying to trees rich in specific proteins, while flying past many familiar sugar-rich trees. Young bats must learn tree phenology through experience. Image courtesy of Harten others., doi:10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.046.

“For many years, the cognitive abilities to recall and plan personal experiences (episodic memory) have been thought to be uniquely human,” Tel Aviv University.

“However, a growing body of research suggests that various animals also have such abilities, although nearly all of these studies have been carried out in laboratory settings, as field studies on this issue are difficult to conduct.”

“To test these capabilities in wildlife, we designed a unique experiment using a wild colony of flying foxes.”

The researchers surmised that bats that depend on fruit trees for survival need to develop the ability to track food availability both spatially (where are the fruit trees?) and temporally (when does each tree bear fruit?).

As you navigate a landscape with numerous fruit and nectar trees, you'll need to mentally keep track of resources in order to revisit them at the right time.

To test this hypothesis, they fitted each bat with a small, high-resolution GPS tracker, allowing them to record their flight routes and the trees they visited over several months.

The vast amount of data collected in this way was thoroughly analyzed, yielding surprising results.

“Our first research question was: do bats form mental maps of time?” says Dr Lee Harten from Tel Aviv University.

“To investigate this issue, we confined bats to their colonies for various periods of time, ranging from one day to a week.”

“We wanted to see if the bats would recognise that time had passed and behave accordingly.”

“We found that after one day in captivity, the bats would return to the trees they had visited the previous night. But after a full week, the older bats, based on their past experience, began to avoid trees that had stopped bearing fruit in the meantime.”

“In other words, they could estimate how much time had passed since they last visited each tree, and thus know which trees only bore fruit for a short time and were no longer worth visiting.”

“Younger, inexperienced bats were unable to do this, suggesting that this is an acquired skill that must be mastered.”

“The first research question was about past experience, but the second question was about the future. Do bats exhibit future-oriented behavior? Can they plan for the future?”

“To address this issue, the researchers observed the route each bat took to reach the first tree in the evening, which could indicate a plan made before leaving the colony.”

“We found that bats usually fly directly to specific trees they know, sometimes up to 20-30 minutes away,” said Dr Chen Xin from Tel Aviv University.

“They're hungry, so they fly faster the further away the trees are, which suggests they're planning where they're going.”

“Furthermore, because they are so focused on their chosen target, they pass by other trees and even good sources of information that they only visited yesterday, demonstrating their ability to postpone gratification.”

“We also found that the first bats to leave the colony chose trees with fruits high in sugar, while those who left later sought out fruits with protein.”

The findings suggest that bats plan their foraging before they leave the colony, knowing exactly where they'll be flying and what nutrients they'll be looking for.

“The gap between human and animal cognition is one of the most fascinating questions in science,” Professor Yobel said.

“Our study demonstrates that flying foxes are able to carry out highly complex decision-making processes involving three questions that demonstrate cognitive capabilities: 'where?' (the location of each tree), 'when?' (when the trees will bear fruit) and 'what?' (what nutrients the trees provide, sugars or proteins).”

“Once again, the gap wasn't clearly carved out, and we find that humans are not as special as some think.”

“Apparently, humans and animals all lie on a spectrum, and almost all human abilities can also be found in animals.”

a paper The findings were published in the journal. Current Biology.

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Lee Harten othersTime mapping and future-oriented behavior in free-ranging wild fruit bats. Current BiologyPublished online June 20, 2024; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.046

This article is a version of a Tel Aviv University press release.

Source: www.sci.news

Grape seeds dating back 60 million years found in Colombia

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleobotanists have described nine new species of the Vitaceae family. Vitaceae It is based on fossil seeds from four tropical palaeoflora sites, dating back 60 to 19 million years. Rithuva Susmani This new species, discovered in Colombia, is the oldest evidence of a Vitaceae plant in the Western Hemisphere.

Rithuva Susmani From the Paleocene of Colombia. Scale bar – 1 mm. Image courtesy of Herrera et al., doi: 10.1038/s41477-024-01717-9.

Soft tissues, like those of fruit, rarely preserve as fossils, so scientists often learn more about ancient fruits through their seeds, which fossilize more easily.

The oldest known grape seed fossils were found in India and date back to 66 million years ago.

“We always think about animals, we think about dinosaurs, because they were the ones most affected, but the extinction also had a big impact on plants,” said Dr. Fabianie Herrera, a paleobotanist at the Field Museum.

“The forest has reset itself and changed its plant composition.”

Dr Herrera and his colleagues hypothesize that the extinction of the dinosaurs may have prompted changes in the forests.

“Large animals like dinosaurs are known to alter the ecosystems around them,” said Dr. Monica Carvalho, a paleobotanist at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology.

“We think that if large dinosaurs roamed the forests, they would likely have cut down trees and maintained more open forests than we have today.”

“But with no large dinosaurs around to cut down forests, some tropical forests, including those in South America, became densely wooded, with layers of trees forming an understory and a canopy.”

“These new dense forests provided an opportunity, and the fossil record shows that around this time we start to see an increase in plants that use vines to climb trees, like grapes,” Dr Herrera said.

“The diversification of birds and mammals in the years following the extinction may also have helped spread grape seeds.”

The researchers examined fossilized grape seeds from the 60-million-year-old Bogotá Formation in Colombia, the 41-million-year-old Tonosi Formation in Panama, the 28-million-year-old Máncora Formation in western Peru, and the 19-million-year-old Cucaracha Formation, exposed at the Gaillard Cut in the Panama Canal.

They were able to identify at least nine new species of the Vitaceae family, including: Rithuva SusmaniThis provides the oldest evidence of grapes in the Western Hemisphere.

“This new species is important as it confirms the South American origin of the group that includes the common grape vine. Grapes “It evolved,” says Dr Gregory Staal, a paleobotanist at the National Museum of Natural History.

“These are the oldest grapes ever found in this region, millions of years younger than the oldest found on the other side of the world,” Dr Herrera said.

“This discovery is important because it shows that grapes really started to spread around the world after the dinosaurs went extinct.”

The new species' place in the grapevine family tree indicates that its evolutionary journey has been a checkered one.

“The fossil record shows that grapevines are very resilient plants,” Dr Herrera said.

“They are an endangered group in the Latin American region, but they have been able to adapt and survive in other parts of the world.”

“Given the mass extinctions facing the Earth today, studies like this one are valuable in revealing patterns about how biodiversity crises will unfold.”

“But the other thing I like about these fossils is that these tiny, humble seeds can tell us a lot about forest evolution.”

of study Published in the journal Natural plants.

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F. Herrera othersCenozoic Vitaceae seeds reveal a long history of extinction and dispersal in the Neotropics. Natural plantsPublished online July 1, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41477-024-01717-9

Source: www.sci.news

The ghost cities of Amazon are reshaping civilization’s history

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sasithorn Puapangkasemsuk/Getty Images

When you imagine an environment that has been largely untouched by humans, the Amazon rainforest might come to mind. After all, most of this South American landscape is covered with dense vegetation, suggesting a corner of the world that humans never had control over. Here, there must have been no deforestation, no agricultural revolution, no cities. It seems like a pristine environment.

At least, that's what we thought. But a very different picture is emerging. Archaeologists working with indigenous communities are being shown the remains of crumbling cities, and remote sensing techniques such as lidar are revealing traces of vast ghost cities. With so much evidence of ancient human activity, it is believed that millions of people lived in the pre-Columbian Amazon, some of them in large urban centres complete with road networks, temples and pyramids.

But this study reveals more than that. It also provides evidence that, paradoxically, conventional views of the Amazon are not entirely off the mark. For example, although ancient Amazonians managed the land intensively, they did not deforest. And, although they developed complex societies, they never underwent a major agricultural revolution. This may suggest that pre-Columbian Amazonians broke the mold of human cultural development traditionally thought of as an inexorable progression from hunting and gathering to agriculture to urban complexity. The truth is more surprising. In fact, we are now coming to understand that there was no such mold. Civilizations arose in different ways. What seems like an anomaly in the Amazon is actually a shining example of a process as vibrant and diverse as the rainforest itself.

in spite of…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Ants remove limbs of their nestmates to prevent infection

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Termites in Florida

Paul Young/Alamy

Some ants will bite off the infected limbs of their nestmates to improve their chances of survival, making them the only non-human animals documented to amputate a limb to save the life of another animal.

Ants are already known to be one of the few animals that treat the wounds of their fellow creatures.Megaponera analisFor example, bacteria can treat infections by secreting antibacterial substances that are secreted from special glands.

But not all ant species have these glands, he said. Eric Frank “We wanted to know what would happen to the ants when they couldn’t use antibiotics,” said researchers from the University of Würzburg in Germany.

If you look closely at a colony of Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) In the lab, Frank’s colleague Danny Buffatto of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland discovered ants biting off the injured legs of their nestmates.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” says Frank, “I thought there must be something else going on. Maybe there was a threat, or maybe the ants thought they were attacking an enemy.”

Analysing video footage from the colony, the team found many more cases of amputation, none of which showed any signs of resistance, and moreover, these amputations were only performed on animals in the thigh area.

To investigate further, the team injured the femurs of 72 carpenter ants and infected them. Half of the ants had their legs amputated by the researchers, while the rest served as controls. Mortality rates of the amputated ants were 90 percent lower than those of the controls, suggesting that the treatment successfully prevented the spread of the pathogen.

In contrast, in other ants, amputations never occurred when the wounds were on the ants’ lower legs, and when the team repeated the experiment with lower-leg injuries, the amputation and control groups died at the same rate. This may be due to the ants’ physiology, Frank says. “Insects don’t have a central heart like humans do,” he says. Instead, several muscles pump blood around the body, and by using micro-CT scanning, the team found that many of these muscles are concentrated in the carpenter ants’ upper legs.

This means that amputating the upper leg would damage the muscles that pump blood, restricting blood circulation and allowing the infection to spread, whereas amputating the lower leg would not prevent the infection from spreading because it does not have these muscles.

“This discovery is remarkable and pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the behavioral immune system of social insects,” said Dr. James Traniello At Boston University in Massachusetts.

Tomer Chakkes Researchers at the University of Regensburg in Germany were surprised at how targeted the amputations were: “They don’t just do amputations for any injury, but only when it makes sense.”

“It’s unlikely that the ants understand the ultimate reasons why these cuts work; rather, it’s more likely that this is an innate behavior that they’re ‘born’ with,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research reveals that these ants possess the remarkable ability to perform life-saving emergency surgery on one another

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Florida carpenter ants are unique in their behavior, as they have been observed selectively cutting off the injured limbs of their nestmates. This unusual behavior was discovered in a study published in Current Biology, where researchers found that the ants use this “surgery” as a form of treatment for their injured companions. The ants were observed to carefully evaluate each injury and decide whether to clean the wound or amputate the leg entirely, based on the extent of the injury.

Lead author David Levine, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Würzburg, described this behavior as unique in the animal kingdom, as it involves one ant surgically treating another without the use of any tools. Unlike other ants that have specialized glands for wound treatment, Florida Carpenter ants rely solely on mechanical means to care for their injured nestmates.

The study found that the ants have a high success rate in treating femoral injuries, where amputation is required, compared to tibial injuries that can be treated with a simple mouthwash. This indicates that the ants have a sophisticated system for evaluating and treating wounds effectively to improve the chances of survival for the injured ants.

Credit: Bert Zielstra

The researchers believe that the ants’ ability to diagnose and treat wounds in such a precise manner is comparable to the human medical system. Further research is being conducted to understand if similar behavior exists in other ant species and to explore the ants’ tolerance to pain during these prolonged surgical procedures.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Adorable Reasons Why Dogs Can’t Stop Staring at You

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If you have ever had a dog as a pet, you are likely familiar with this scenario: you are engaged in a task, and suddenly you look up to see your furry friend gazing at you longingly from across the room.

This common behavior may leave you wondering why it occurs and what goes on in your dog’s mind.

This behavior has been studied for decades by researchers in the field of dog psychology. Understanding why dogs stare at us so intensely was a major focus of early dog cognition research.

“One of the initial findings in dog cognition research was that dogs perceive our eyes and faces in a unique way compared to other animals, which sparked further research,” explained Professor Alexandra Horowitz, who specializes in Canine Cognition at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York.

“While other animals may also exhibit this behavior, many animals use staring as a form of intimidation. For instance, wolves may glare at unfamiliar wolves to avoid conflict.”

Why does my dog stare at me?

The simplest explanation for why your dog stares at you is that they are seeking cues from you on how to behave or what to do.

“Dogs view their owners as the controllers of their world, as they dictate their daily routines and activities,” Horowitz adds.

“We decide when they eat, when they can go outside, where they can relieve themselves, and more. Dogs want to observe these actions in order to understand what they should do.”

This behavior is rooted in a deeper connection. Studies have shown that dogs possess a keen ability to discern human emotions and needs, even through facial expressions. Dogs can differentiate between emotions like anger and happiness, solely based on facial expressions.

This ability may be attributed to the strong bond that humans and dogs have developed over thousands of years of companionship.

“Humans use eye contact as a gesture of intimacy and communication with people they are close to. Dogs may have picked up on this behavior over time, showing their interest and understanding of humans by focusing on their faces,” Horowitz explains.

So, the next time your dog gazes at you, rest assured – it is a natural behavior. They are likely trying to figure out what you are doing and how they can participate. Good pups indeed!

About our experts

Alexandra Horowitz is a professor of canine cognition at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York.

Her research has been featured in journals such as Animal Cognition, Learning and Behavior, and the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience.

In addition to her academic work, she has authored books like “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know” and “Year of the Puppy.”

Read more about dog science:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Three Dietary Rules for Success

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Many individuals desire to shed a few pounds and maintain a healthy weight, especially as the pandemic has led to weight gain for some individuals over the past three years.

However, seeking weight loss advice online can be frustrating, as there is conflicting information from doctors, scientists, and influencers about effective fat loss strategies.

Diet expert Professor Tim Spector criticized TikTok influencers in his podcast, stating that “Exercise doesn’t work” when it comes to weight loss.

While exercise can contribute to weight loss, most people do not engage in enough physical activity for it to be the sole effective method. Some argue against calorie counting as well, noting its limitations and advising against blindly following food packaging calorie counts.

There is a wide range of diets claiming to aid in sustainable weight loss, leading to debates over which approach is most effective.

When it comes to weight loss diets, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s important to consider various factors before selecting a plan to follow.

Explicitly restrict calories
High in protein
High in dietary fiber

1. Restrict calories (the right way)

On the topic of calorie restriction, portion control and consuming fewer calories can be effective for weight loss, though it may be challenging to maintain in the long term.

Meal replacement shakes are a popular method for calorie control as they provide a complete nutritional profile in an easy-to-consume format.

Group support programs like Slimming World and Weight Watchers offer accountability and community, enhancing adherence to diet plans.

Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating are other strategies that can create a calorie deficit and aid in weight loss.

These dietary approaches not only focus on reducing calories but also offer additional metabolic benefits through changes in eating patterns.

2. Eat a diet high in protein

Protein-rich diets have been found to support weight loss due to the complex nature of protein’s digestion and metabolic processes.

Proteins require more energy to metabolize compared to fats and carbohydrates, making them a filling and satiating choice for those looking to reduce calorie intake.

From Atkins to Keto, high-protein diets have varying levels of carbohydrate restriction and are effective for many individuals seeking effective weight loss strategies.

3. Eat a diet high in fiber

High-fiber diets are beneficial for weight loss as fiber aids in digestion, slows down nutrient absorption, and reduces overall calorie absorption.

Consuming plant-based, high-fiber diets like the Mediterranean diet can lead to sustainable weight loss due to the filling nature of fiber-rich foods.

Consider increasing your fiber intake to promote gut health and support your weight loss goals.

This article was originally posted on June 19, 2023

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The genomes of the greater bilby and the kobilby were sequenced by researchers

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Working with Indigenous rangers and conservation managers, University of Sydney And elsewhere, they sequenced the genomes of living organisms. Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) And then it went extinct Lesser Bilby (Macrotis leuca).

Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), 1988. Image credit: Queensland Government/CC BY 4.0.

The bilby is a unique marsupial and the only member of its family. Sugar gliderThese include the extant greater bilby and the extinct kobilby.

These animals are culturally significant to Aboriginal Australians and their common name is of Yuwaaraai origin. Bilba.

Bilbies were once an important source of meat for the desert people and their prized long black tails with white fluffy tips were used in cultural practices linked to deep symbolism of love and marriage.

Aboriginal knowledge, bilby song lineages, rituals and stories exist across Australia, connecting places and people, and even in areas where bilbies are now locally extinct, strong connections with the species continue.

The loss of indigenous knowledge and land management practices due to species decline is recognised as a threat to the survival of bilbies in the area.

Historically, the greater bilby was widespread, distributed across both arid and temperate regions, while the kobilby was restricted to the desert.

The decline of both bilby species has been attributed to the introduction of wild pests into Australia by European settlers, particularly predation by cats and foxes, competition with European rabbits, and changes in cultural fire practices.

Sadly, the Lesser Bilby is now extinct, having last been reported alive in 1931, although it may have survived in some desert areas until the 1960s and was well known to indigenous people of the Central Desert.

“The greater bilby reference genome is one of the highest quality marsupial genomes to date and is presented as nine segments representing each of the bilby chromosomes,” said Professor Carolyn Hogg from the University of Sydney.

“It provides insights into biology, evolution and population management.”

Professor Hogg and his colleagues used DNA from zoo animals to sequence the greater bilby's genome.

They also created the first genome of the extinct lesser bilby from the skull of a specimen collected in 1898.

“This research helps us understand what gives bilbies their unique sense of smell and how they survive in the desert without drinking water,” Prof Hogg said.

“Importantly, this genome is being used to manage bilby metapopulations in zoos, fenced reserves and islands.”

“By selecting individuals for transplant and release, we can maximize genetic diversity and improve the population's ability to adapt to a changing world.”

The authors also used the bilby genome to develop a more accurate fecal testing method to complement existing traditional land use practices by Indigenous rangers.

“We know a lot about bilbies – where they live, what they eat and how to track them,” says Scott West, a ranger at Kiwirrkurra Aboriginal Reserve in Western Australia.

“It's great to use an iPad for mapping and a camera for surveillance.”

“DNA studies will also help us to understand if the bilbies are related, where they come from and how far they may have migrated.”

“By using old and new methods together we can get useful information about bilbies and how to care for them – it's a two-way science.”

of result Published in the journal Natural Ecology and Evolution.

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CJ Hogg othersCombining genomes of extant and extinct bilbies with Indigenous knowledge will improve conservation of Australia's native marsupials. Nat Ecol EvolPublished online July 1, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02436-2

Source: www.sci.news

CERN physicists witness exceptionally rare hyperon decay

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A hyperon is a particle that contains three quarks, like a proton or a neutron, and one or more strange quarks. Physicists from the LHCb collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN say they have observed a hyperon decay Σ+→pμ+μ- in proton-proton collisions.

A view of the LHCb detector. Image courtesy of CERN.

“Rare decays of known particles are a promising tool for exploring physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics,” said the LHCb physicist.

“In the Standard Model, the Σ+ → pμ+μ- process is only possible through a loop diagram, meaning that the decay does not occur directly, but intermediate states have to be exchanged within the loop.”

“In quantum field theory, the probability of such a process occurring is the sum of the probabilities of all particles, both known and unknown, that can possibly be exchanged in this loop.”

“This is what makes such processes sensitive to new phenomena.”

“If a discrepancy is observed between experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, it may be caused by the contribution of some unknown particle.”

“These particles can either be exchanged within the loop or directly mediate this decay, interacting with the quarks and decaying into pairs of muons.”

“In the latter case, the new particle would leave a signature on the properties of the two muons.”

The study of the Σ+ → pμ+μ- decay has been particularly exciting thanks to hints of structure observed in the properties of muon pairs by the HyperCP collaboration in 2005.

With only three occurrences the structure was far from conclusive, and it was hoped that new research would shed light on the situation.

Finally, the LHCb data did not show any significant peak structure in the two-muon mass region highlighted by HyperCP, thus refuting the hint.

However, the new study observes the decay with a high degree of significance, followed by precise measurements of the decay probability and other parameters, which will allow further investigation of the discrepancy with the Standard Model predictions.

“In data collected in Run 2 of pp collisions at the LHCb experiment, the Σ+ → pμ+μ− decay is observed with very high significance, with a yield of NΣ+→pμ+μ− = 279 ± 19,” the authors write in their paper. paper.

“We do not see any structure in the two-muon invariant mass distribution that is consistent with the Standard Model predictions.”

“The collected signal yield allows for measurements of integral and differential branching rates, as well as other measurements such as charge-parity symmetry breaking and front-to-back asymmetry.”

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LHCb Collaboration. 2024. Observation of rare Σ+→pμ+μ− decays at LHCb. CERN-LHCb-CONF-2024-002

Source: www.sci.news

Snowball Earth’s harsh environmental conditions provided a competitive edge for the evolution of multicellular organisms

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Fossil and molecular evidence suggests that complex multicellular organisms arose and proliferated during the Neoproterozoic Era (1-541 million years ago). An extreme glacial period during the Cryogenian Period (720-635 million years ago), an event commonly referred to as Snowball Earth, led to dramatic changes in Earth's climate and oceans. New research suggests that Snowball Earth was an environmental trigger for the proliferation of complex multicellularity across multiple groups of eukaryotic organisms.

Artist's impression of “Snowball Earth.” Image courtesy of NASA.

Solving the mystery of why multicellular organisms emerged could help pinpoint life on other planets and explain the enormous diversity and complexity seen on Earth today, from marine sponges to redwoods to human societies.

The prevailing thinking is that oxygen levels must reach a certain threshold for a single cell to form a multicellular colony.

However, the oxygen story does not fully explain why the multicellular ancestors of animals, plants and fungi emerged simultaneously, or why the transition to multicellularity took more than a billion years.

The new study shows how the specific physical conditions of Snowball Earth, particularly the viscosity of the oceans and the depletion of resources, may have led eukaryotes to become multicellular.

“It seems almost counterintuitive that these extremely harsh conditions – this frozen planet – could actually select for larger, more complex organisms, rather than causing species to become extinct or shrink in size,” said William Crockett, a doctoral student at MIT.

Using scaling theory, Crockett and his colleagues found that a hypothetical ancestor of early animals, reminiscent of swimming algae that fed on prey instead of photosynthesizing, would have grown in size and complexity under Snowball Earth pressures.

In contrast, single-celled organisms that move and feed by diffusion, such as bacteria, will grow small.

“The world changed after Snowball Earth because new life forms emerged on the planet,” said Professor Christopher Kemps of the Santa Fe Institute.

“One of the central questions of evolution is: How did we evolve from nothing on Earth to beings and societies like us? Was it all by chance?”

“We don't think it's luck. There are ways to predict these big changes.”

The study shows how, during the Snowball Earth era, the oceans froze, blocking sunlight and reducing photosynthesis, which resulted in nutrient depletion in the oceans.

Larger organisms that could process more water were more likely to eat enough to survive.

As the glaciers melt, these large creatures could expand even further.

“Our study provides hypotheses about ancestral features to look for in the fossil record,” Crockett said.

of study Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

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William W. Crockett others2024. Snowball Earth's physical constraints drive the evolution of multicellularity. Proc. R. Soc. B 291 (2025): 20232767; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2767

This article is a version of a press release provided by the Santa Fe Institute.

Source: www.sci.news

Strange crystal structure reveals incredibly complex maze

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Can you find your way out of the red center of the maze? Scroll down for the answer

University of Bristol

An algorithm designed to find the most efficient path from atom to atom in a strange kind of crystal turns out to create incredibly complex mazes. In addition to building mazes, the technique could also be useful for speeding up certain industrial chemical reactions.

The crystals in question are called quasicrystals because their atoms are arranged in a repeating fashion like normal crystals, but they exhibit more complex and unpredictable symmetries. Although such crystals have been synthesized in laboratories and were produced during the first nuclear weapon detonation in 1945, only one natural source has been found so far: a meteorite found in Russia in 1985.

“Quasicrystals have all the symmetries that normal crystals don’t have. [normal] The crystals are very interesting.” Felix Flicker Professor at the University of Bristol in the UK. “It’s a very beautiful area of mathematics, but you can appreciate that beauty directly without knowing the details.”

Fricker and his colleagues developed an algorithm to quickly generate paths that contact every atom in a quasicrystal exactly once. Diagrams of these paths form beautiful maze-like structures.

Creating such a pathway is known in computer science as an NP-complete problem, a problem that becomes exponentially more complicated as the number of atoms increases. These problems can quickly become virtually impossible to compute at large scales, but the researchers have found that in some quasicrystals the problem is unexpectedly simple.

“This was quite surprising, since this problem in general is known to be essentially unsolvable and, since these quasicrystals do not have translational symmetry, it did not seem to offer any obvious simplifications,” Fricker says.

The solution to the maze is marked in red

University of Bristol

Developing such a pathway, Fricker says, could be put to practical use in a laboratory technique called scanning tunneling microscopy, in which an extremely sharp tip is maneuvered over a material to sense individual atoms one by one, building up an atomic-level picture. Creating complex images, such as one of the quasicrystal itself, can take up to a month, but Fricker says that time could be cut in half if a more efficient pathway could be found to capture each atom.

Fricker also believes the technique could be used to create crystalline catalysts for industrial chemical processes that are more efficient than current methods, making certain compounds faster or less costly to produce. But Fricker thinks other uses may also become apparent over time. “I hope the most interesting uses will be ones that we haven’t even thought of.”

Physical Review X
DOI: In press

Source: www.newscientist.com

A recently identified bird species found in the Lesser Sunda Islands

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A team of scientists from the Swedish Museum of Natural History has described a new species of nightjar that lives in the tropical forests of Timor Island and Wetar in the Lesser Sunda Archipelago.

Male Caprimargus ritae in Wetar, October 13, 2014. Image courtesy of James Eaton.

Nightjar It is a medium-sized, nocturnal, enterophagous bird belonging to the family. Caprimulgidae And the order Black-tailed Gulls.

These birds are found all over the world, except Antarctica and certain island groups such as the Seychelles.

Nightjars have long wings, short legs and a very short beak and usually catch flying insects at night. During the day they sleep on the ground or usually perched upright on a branch.

“Nightjars are one of the most difficult birds to study because of their discreet nocturnal behaviour and inconspicuous plumage,” said lead author Dr George Sangster and his colleagues.

In their study, the authors: Caprimargus maculus Complex.

This species complex is found from Pakistan to Australia and consists of six morphologically similar species with distinct calls.

“Field surveys on Timor Island and on Wetar Island in the Lesser Sunda Archipelago have revealed a seventh species in the complex, which we call a new species,” the researchers said.

“This species has Caprimargus maculus, Caprimargus selebensis and Caprimargus manilensis However, this species differs from these and all other species in this complex in at least 13 vocal traits.”

Named Caprimargus ritae Like the Timor nightjar or the Timor nightjar, this new species is not found in any other part of its range. Caprimargus maculus Complex.

This bird is a forest specialist and has been recorded in a wide range of tropical forests, from tall evergreen forests to dry deciduous forests, mainly at altitudes below 1,000 metres, with one record from 1,500 metres above sea level.

“Caprimargus ritae “This is the fourth bird species known to be endemic to both Timor and Wetar islands,” the scientists said.

“Other species include the Timorese giant pigeon (Ducula cineracea), Wetal ground pigeon (Pumps Sana Gallicorumba Howety) and Rainbow lorikeet (Saudareos Iris)

“Six species found on Timor and Wetar are only found on Atauro, Roti and Semau islands. Caprimargus ritae This is also true for several other bird species.”

“Wetar is closer to Timor (51km) than Alor (76km). The exclave of Atauro island is just 23km from Timor and 21km from Wetar.”

” Cyt b The Timor and Wetar sequence shows the colonization of Timor to Wetar, or vice versa probably quite recently.”

of study Published in the journal Ibis.

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Ben F. King others A new species of nightjar (Capri Margos) from Timor and Wetar, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and Wallacea. Ibis Published online June 24, 2024, doi: 10.1111/ibi.13340

Source: www.sci.news

California facing increased heat and fire risks leading up to Fourth of July weekend

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

California is bracing for a dangerous combination of extreme heat and high fire risk this week as people across the state celebrate Independence Day outdoors. Temperatures in the Sacramento Valley could soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, according to meteorologist Kate Forrest from the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Heat warnings have been issued for the region starting Tuesday and are expected to last through Saturday.

Forecasters anticipate the heat wave to start in inland California on Tuesday before spreading to the Pacific Northwest and Southern California later in the week. Heat watches, warnings, and advisories will be in effect across the West on Tuesday from southern Oregon to southeastern California’s low desert according to the National Weather Service.

The increase in temperatures is due to a strong high-pressure system lingering in the region. Governor Gavin Newsom has instructed emergency officials to activate the state’s operations center in response to the upcoming heatwave.

The hot weather could see nighttime temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, with inland California facing “extreme” conditions by Friday, as indicated on the Heat Risk Map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service.

Southern Oregon, including the Medford area, is also under a heat watch through Saturday. Meanwhile, Pacific Gas & Electric has warned of potential power outages in 10 California counties on Tuesday due to high winds and dry conditions.

Given the high temperatures and dry conditions, there is an increased risk of wildfires, prompting caution during Fourth of July celebrations involving fireworks. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is monitoring 13 active fires in the state.

Climate change has been linked to the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves and wildfires. Analysis from Climate Central shows that regions like the Sacramento Valley are experiencing more fire-prone weather compared to previous decades.

With heat waves growing in frequency and duration, it is important for residents to take precautions to stay safe during extreme weather events.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Australian rituals have persisted for 12,000 years, as evidenced by ancient artefacts

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Ancient ritual sticks discovered in Australia's Clogs Cave

Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation

Wooden artefacts found in Australian caves suggest Aboriginal rituals recorded in the 19th century.^Number The ritual is believed to have taken place 12,000 years ago, making it possibly the oldest cultural ceremony in the world.

Between 2019 and 2020, a team of archaeologists and members of the local Indigenous community of Gunaikurnai in southeastern Australia carried out excavations at Clogs Cave, near the Snowy River in Victoria.

The site had been partially excavated in the 1970s, but during new work the team discovered two preserved fireplaces, containing mostly unfired artefacts made from local wood. Casalina Chemical analysis of the wooden remains found showed they were smeared with animal or human fat and dated to between 11,000 and 12,000 years ago, making them some of the oldest wooden artefacts found in Australia.

This alone would have been a major puzzling discovery, but the researchers and local residents were also examining the ethnographic reports of 19 other people.^NumberAlfred Howitt was a 20th century cultural anthropologist who studied the customs and traditions of tribes in south-eastern Australia in the 1880s.

In 1887, close to Clogs Cave, he recorded the rituals of the indigenous “wizards”, powerful medicine men of Gunaikurnai, now known as “Mula-Mlang”, who smeared wooden throwing sticks with animal or human fat. Casalina The wood is placed in small ritual fires and used as magical talismans and curses, a ritual he understood to be used against enemies or anyone the ritualist wishes to harm.

“During this time, the wizard would continue to chant the spell – as the saying goes, he would 'sing the man's name' – and when the stick fell, the spell was complete – a practice that continues to this day,” Howitt writes.

Bruno David Monash University in Melbourne Russell MalletThe Gunaikurnai elder said similarities between archaeological finds and ethnographic descriptions led him to believe the same rituals had been taking place for up to 12,000 years.

Mallet said he was convinced of the connection because Howitt's description matched so closely with what was found in the cave — the type of wood and the position of the fat on the sticks were exactly as Howitt described them.

“This will ensure the longevity of our oral traditions and knowledge and the passing of that knowledge from generation to generation,” Mallett says.

David says the conclusions slowly deepened with the discovery of these unusual wood artefacts.

“Archaeologists never see the rituals that were taking place behind these ancient ruins,” he says, “and to me it's really amazing that the physical evidence that matches the cultural knowledge so well has remained so largely intact and for so long. It's exactly what Howitt described.”

“The team's methodology is thorough and excellent.” Paul Tassone At Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

According to Tason, these communities have undergone many changes over time, but this ritual appears to have remained constant: “What strikes me about this is that for this same form of ritual to have continued for such a long period of time, it must have been considered important and effective.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Debris from the Moon could be concealed within the Earth

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Have you ever looked up at Earth’s Moon and wondered where it came from? Most scientists agree that a small planet called Theia collided with the young Earth 4.5 billion years ago. Most of the debris from this giant impact coalesced to become the Moon we see today. But where did the rest of Theia go? Qian Yuan and his colleagues hypothesize that Earth absorbed parts of Theia during the impact, and that these remnants of Theia remain deep inside Earth to this day.

Scientists believe that waves called mechanical energy waves Seismic wavesAs it passes through certain zones inside the Earth, its speed slows down. Large slow states Previous researchers have suggested that these zones are graveyards of ancient ocean floors that sunk into the Earth’s interior during plate tectonics, but Yuan’s team proposes that these zones could be the remains of Theia.

The research team found that the LLVP contains gases such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Volatile substancesVolatiles are most likely present during the formation of solar systems and planets, when material floating in space begins to accumulate. Because volatiles are light, they can escape into space if they get the chance. When Earth and Theia collided, volatiles from both planets were caught up in the collision. Scientists believe that most of the volatiles escaped into space, but Yuan and his colleagues suggested that some of Theia may have captured these volatiles and sunk deep inside the Earth, forming the LLVP.

To test whether the LLVP is a remnant of Theia, the researchers used a computer model designed to test how different types of solid matter interact with each other. Thermal evolution modelHe explained that other researchers have shown that Theia is made of a much denser material than Earth, so they wanted to test whether Theia’s denser material would mix completely with Earth’s or remain separate.

The researchers used a thermal evolution model to randomly scatter chunks of Theia-like material throughout a mass of Earth-like material and calculate how well they would mix. They ran eight models with chunks of different sizes, densities, and temperatures. In almost all of these models, they found that Theia’s material sank deep into the Earth and coalesced into LLVP-like mountains without mixing with Earth’s material.

The researchers performed seven giant impact simulations to further explore how Theia interacted with the young Earth. They used these simulations to collide Theia with Earth and calculate how that impact would have affected the Earth’s interior. These simulations found that after the collision with Theia, denser, more solid material sank toward the center, while less dense material stayed toward the surface, resulting in a layered Earth’s interior. The researchers explain that these simulations also suggest that denser material from Theia sunk deep inside the Earth without mixing.

The researchers concluded that Theia’s remains may have sunk to Earth and coalesced into a region similar to the LLVP, where it remained for the next 4.5 billion years. They further proposed that if Theia’s material was preserved inside the Earth for billions of years, the composition of the Earth’s interior could have changed.

They suggested that future researchers test their hypothesis by comparing the composition of the LLVP with basalts found on the Moon to see if it matches up. They also suggested that researchers use newer, more accurate models of Earth’s thermal evolution to further explore how Theia’s impact with Earth may have affected the evolution of Earth’s interior and the formation of the LLVP.

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Source: sciworthy.com

There is minimal nutritional variance between Baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Baby-led weaning can be a hassle

Oscar Wong/Getty Images

Babies who are hand-fed solid foods appear to take in the same number of calories as those spoon-fed pureed foods, suggesting that this type of 'baby-led weaning' may not have any particular nutritional advantages or disadvantages.

Despite its growing popularity, there is little scientific understanding of baby-led weaning, according to Kinsey Matzeler To investigate further, researchers at the University of Colorado asked the parents of 100 healthy 5-month-old infants living in the Denver, Colorado, area to report their infants' food and milk intake over a three-day period and also to weigh the food on their plates before and after meals to determine how much their infants had eaten.

Parents returned reports of their babies' food intake when they were 9 and 12 months old, and Matzeler and his team measured the babies' weight and size at each time point.

Using food records, the researchers identified 35 infants who were following a baby-led feeding system. Pureed foods account for less than 10% of total caloriesTo compare the groups, the team selected 35 normally breastfed babies who were matched to the babies in the Baby Lead weaning group for race, sex, and whether they were breastfed or formula-fed. Matzeler presented her findings June 30 at the 10th International Infant Nutrition Congress in Chicago, Illinois. American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting.

The researchers found that daily energy intake, defined as calories per kilogram of the baby's body weight, was not significantly different between the two groups at any time point. The baby-led weaning infants consumed about 22 percent more protein than the other infants at 9 months of age, but this amount had returned to normal by 12 months of age.

At 9 and 12 months, infants who were fed solid foods were gaining weight relative to their age and height, but the differences were relatively small.

“Our experience is that if you were to show us the growth curves of babies weaned on baby powder and babies weaned the traditional way, you probably wouldn't be able to tell which was which,” Matzeler says, “and when you look at the babies, they're pretty similar.”

One key difference was that baby-led feeding was more common among mothers who attended college and whose families had higher annual incomes, suggesting a slight bias toward the middle class, perhaps because these parents can afford the time and money that baby-led feeding often requires, Matzeler says.

The results appear to contradict those of the UK study. Reduced energy intake when starting solid foods and Increased weight gain picture Infants who drink electronic milk and also drink powdered milkHowever, the exact reason is unclear.

“Further research into feeding is needed to understand whether it has positive health outcomes for babies who follow this feeding style and whether these outcomes are truly due to the babies being fed, or to the socio-economic status of the parents who are more likely to follow this feeding style,” the researchers said. Joe Pierce At Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Top Science Fiction Books of July 2024 Featuring Keanu Reeves’ First Novel

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Keanu Reeves: 'A pioneer who transcends genres'

See Li/Picture Capital/Alamy

This month is packed with big names in science fiction, including the release of Keanu Reeves' debut novel, the latest from one of Britain's top science fiction writers, Adam Roberts, and a quantum novel from Pen Shepherd.

The one I'm most excited about is Mateo Askaripour This great hemisphereBut it's a mix of science fiction and political thriller, and highly recommended. Perfect holiday reading for late July. Zero stars, not recommendedmany vacationers go a little Lord of the Flies When the sun shines at a luxury resort, it's the perfect time to relax.

According to the publisher, this is a collaboration between “two pioneers across genres,” with Keanu Reeves BRZRKR A comic book immortal soldier wants to die – “a tall, thin man who peers at them from beneath his long dark hair” – and is clearly a Reeves likeness – and a US covert operations group says they'll grant his wish to die if he helps the team first.

I’m a big China Miéville fan, so I’ve already read a few of them (if you haven’t already, Embassy Town Grab a copy as soon as you read it, it's a very clever, moving piece of sci-fi, and of course, I’m a huge Reeves fan, because… Keanu Reeves.

But I had to put the book aside because it was too glamorous for me to continue reading. I might start reading it again though, because if I can't believe in Neo, who can I trust? Maybe I need to get in the zone.

Okay, I'm definitely going to do this. Not only does it sound super interesting, but Roberts' acting is undoubtedly great. This time around, we have two spaceships orbiting a black hole. The crew of both ships are killed within the same afternoon by Captain Alpha Rayne, who is told to do so by a voice emanating from the black hole. This voice is the rather charmingly named “Mr. Modo.” Of course, no one believes Rayne, but something seems to be emanating from within the black hole.

Set in the future, this novel tells the story of a young woman who, after being relegated to second-class citizenship, sets out to find her brother, whom she believed to be dead but is now a suspect in a high-profile murder case. Publishers have compared it to works by N.K. Jemisin and Naomi Alderman, and an early review on book trade site Kirkus called it “an engrossing page-turner about a future made all too real by an unsettling present.” It sounds interesting, and I’m definitely interested to give it a read.

This sounds very interesting. It is set in a near-future world where cancer is on the verge of being eradicated thanks to a new technological cure in which all the cells in the body are replaced with “nanites” – robotic cells that cure the sick, in fact making the patient nearly immortal.

We follow Young-hoon, a literary scholar who has not only created a machine that can think, but is also undergoing a new form of nanotherapy and much more. The book promises to explore “the nature of intelligence and the unexpected consequences of progress, the meaning of humanity and life, and what we should really fear about technology and the future.” It's a lot for a novel, but I’m up for the challenge.

The Edge of Solitude is set on a ship heading to Antarctica.

Shutterstock/Vadim_N

The eco-thriller is set “in a time of severe climate crisis” on a ship heading to Antarctica to hopefully save the region. On board is Ivy Cunningham, a disgraced environmental activist trying to salvage her reputation but also beginning to question the motives of her fellow passengers and the project as a whole.

“Unprofessional underachiever” Dan Foster is vacationing at an island resort when the sun suddenly explodes. As temperatures drop and a revolution begins, he must choose between saving himself and the other guests. Paradise coming to an end? I'll be there!

Marsh, 45, wasn’t happy with where her life was headed, from her career to her marriage to her relationship with her teenage daughter. So when she got the chance to be the star of a TV game show, she was stunned. All this and moreIn “Happy Happiness”, a game that uses quantum technology to allow participants to travel back in time, she gets it. But as you can imagine, even though she gets everything she wants, it all starts to feel a little strange and Marsh begins to ask herself if it was worth it. This is another one for my holiday reading. I love a “live happily ever after” story and when you add time travel and quantum magic dust to the mix, it's amazing.

This new novella is The Red Scholar's Trail is a space opera with a twist of martial arts. Set in an outer space known as the Hollow, home to the mysterious and terrifying Tanglers. When the Tanglers escape, they must be captured before they destroy a civilian city. Two young men from rival clans tasked with stopping the Tanglers find themselves developing feelings for each other.

Featuring characters ranging from a boy trying to bring the natural world back into urban life to a ballet dancer trying to inhabit the consciousness of a mouse, the collection offers us a “kaleidoscopic view of the climate crisis,” the publishers promise (why, at the moment, it’s unclear, but I’d like to know).

Gravity Lost is the second book in the space-based Ambit's Run series.

Shutterstock/Corona Borealis Studios

This is the second installment in the Ambit's Run series of sagas. Cascading FailuresIt sees the crew of the Ambit, having just prevented the destruction of a planet, attempting to break out of prison a man they'd just handed over to one of Spiral's major forces.

Agent Gregory Roark is tasked with finding a teleportation portal on a faraway colony planet, but the former bounty hunter finds himself facing off against better-equipped rivals and the killing begins… in the latest installment of the series.

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science fiction/
New Scientist Book Club

Source: www.newscientist.com

Hubble’s Stunning Photo of NGC 4951

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In this new image, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captures the glow of spiral galaxy NGC 4951.

This Hubble image shows NGC 4951, a spiral galaxy about 49 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubble / D. Thilker / M. Zamani, ESA and Hubble.

NGC 4951 is located about 49 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo.

Also known as AGC 530015, IRAS 13025-0613, or LEDA 45246, the galaxy has a diameter of about 65,000 light-years.

It was discovered on April 17, 1784 by German-born British astronomer William Herschel.

The new image of NGC 4951 is Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) is in the ultraviolet, infrared, and optical parts of the spectrum.

It is based on data acquired through six filters: color is generated by assigning a different hue to each monochrome image associated with an individual filter.

“The data used to create this image was taken by Hubble as part of a program to study how matter and energy move in nearby galaxies,” Hubble astronomers said. statement.

“Galaxy undergoes continuous cycles of star formation: gas within galaxies forms molecular clouds, which collapse to form new stars, and then the formed clouds are dispersed by powerful radiation and stellar winds in a process called feedback.”

“The remaining gas will form new clouds elsewhere,” the researchers added.

“This cycle of matter and energy transfer determines how quickly a galaxy forms stars and how quickly it exhausts its supply of gas — in other words, how the galaxy evolves throughout its life.”

“To understand this evolution, we need to know the nebulae, stars and star clusters in our galaxy, when they formed and what their past behavior is.”

“The Hubble Telescope has always excelled at measuring stellar populations, and its work tracking gas and star formation in galaxies including NGC 4951 is no exception,” the astronomers noted.

NGC 4951 is also classified as a Seyfert galaxy, a type of galaxy that has a so-called active galactic nucleus.

“The image gives a good glimpse into how energetic the galaxy is and some of the dynamic galactic activity that transports matter and energy throughout the galaxy: a glowing core surrounded by swirling arms, pink-hued star-forming regions, and thick dust,” the researchers said.

Source: www.sci.news

Study shows that snacking on baby carrots can have positive impacts on health

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study has shown that including just three baby carrots in your weekly diet can boost levels of beneficial carotenoids in your skin, particularly in young people.

These findings suggest that making small changes to your diet can have a significant impact on your health.

Researchers at Samford University conducted a study that revealed how incorporating baby carrots into your diet can increase carotenoids in your skin, which have various health benefits. When baby carrots were combined with a multivitamin containing beta-carotene, the levels of carotenoids in the skin increased even more significantly.

Carotenoids are compounds responsible for the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables like red, orange, and yellow. They can only be obtained through diet and are used as an indicator of fruit and vegetable intake.

According to Mary Harper Simmons, a nutrition master’s student at Samford University and the study author, higher carotenoid intake leads to higher levels of antioxidants in the body, reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

Previous research has shown that consuming three times the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables for three weeks can increase carotenoids in the skin. This study aimed to create a convenient snack rich in carotenoids that people enjoy.

Results of the study were presented at the American Academy of Nutrition’s annual meeting in Chicago. Participants were randomly assigned to different dietary intervention groups, including consuming baby carrots, a multivitamin supplement, or a combination of both. The group that ate baby carrots saw a 10.8% increase in skin carotenoid scores, while the combination group had a 21.6% increase.

Going forward, the research team plans to explore different populations and other carotenoid-rich foods like sweet potatoes and green leafy vegetables.

About our experts

Mary Harper Simmons: A master’s student in nutrition at Samford University and presenter of the talk “Effect of a 4-week intervention with baby carrots or a multivitamin supplement on skin carotenoid scores in young adults” at the NUTRITION 2024 conference.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

7 Dinosaurs that Are Completely Misunderstood by Everyone

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Despite their intimidating appearance, dinosaurs were not slow, lumbering creatures as previously thought. As our knowledge of these prehistoric creatures grows, our early assumptions are being proven wrong. Here are seven significant ways our understanding of dinosaurs has evolved:

1. Tyrannosaurus Rex

In 1902, paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered a massive pile of bones in Hell Creek, Montana. These bones belonged to a towering, bipedal creature with a fierce, predatory look – the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Over the years, numerous T. rex skeletons have been unearthed, revealing it as one of the largest and most powerful carnivorous animals to have lived. Recent discoveries, such as the presence of feathers, suggest T. rex was more complex than originally thought.

Cast of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on display in the main gallery of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Oxford, UK – Image credit: Alamy

2. Iguanodon

In 1822, Gideon Mantell presented a fossil discovered in Sussex, England, to the Royal Society. Initially mistaken for belonging to a giant fish or rhinoceros, the tooth actually belonged to a dinosaur, later named Iguanodon. Subsequent findings have revealed Iguanodon as a giant, ground-dwelling dinosaur with spikes on its hands for defense.

3. Dryptosaurus

Discovered in New Jersey in 1866, Dryptosaurus was one of the first well-preserved carnivorous dinosaur skeletons found in North America. Originally named “Laelaps,” it was later corrected to Dryptosaurus. The predator’s agility and speed challenged old perceptions of dinosaurs as slow-moving creatures.

Dryptosaurus as imagined in 1869 – Image courtesy of Alamy

4. Elasmosaurus

When Elasmosaurus was discovered, its long, snake-like neck puzzled scientists. Initially mistaken for a sea snake-turtle hybrid, it was later identified as a plesiosaur with an unusually long neck, setting it apart from other marine reptiles of its time.

Early studies of Elasmosaurus fossils led some to imagine it was a giant sea snake-turtle hybrid – Image credit: Alamy

5. Stegosaurus

Stegosaurus, known for its distinctive plates, initially puzzled paleontologists due to its unique features. Misinterpreted as an aquatic creature with shell-like plates, subsequent discoveries revealed its upright plates and raised questions about their purpose – whether for display or thermoregulation.

Previous depictions of Stegosaurus were unclear on the plate – Image credit: Alamy

6. Ichthyosaur

Mary Anning’s discoveries in England led to the naming of the Ichthyosaur, an extinct aquatic reptile with flippered limbs and a streamlined body. Initially mistaken for a fish or crocodile, the Ichthyosaur was later recognized as an ancient marine reptile.

Painting “Duria Antiquior” by Henri de la Beche – Image courtesy of Alamy

7. Pterosaur

Pterosaurs, flying reptiles with winged fingers, were initially misunderstood as sea creatures or mammals. Georges Cuvier’s recognition of their wing-supporting fingers led to the understanding of these creatures as early fliers, distinct from dinosaurs but closely related to them.

Early visualizations of pterosaurs made them look almost rodent-like – Image credit: Alamy

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Unraveling the Secrets of Dark DNA: Scientists on the Verge of Decoding Your Genome

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Back in the spring of 2003, the Human Genome Project completed the monumental task of sequencing the human genome.

Even now, The Book of Life remains a captivating and complex subject for the world’s top geneticists, as they work to unravel its mysteries.

This achievement was not only a major milestone for science but for life on our planet, marking the first time any organism had documented its fundamental genetic makeup. This event sparked the ongoing genetic revolution but also presented profound questions.

Questions like, “Why is there so much genetic material?”

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One intriguing aspect of the human genome is that the majority of it seems to serve no apparent function. With around 3 billion nucleotide pairs (A, C, G, T), fewer than 2% (approximately 20,000) of these are genes responsible for coding proteins that direct cellular activity in the body. So, what purpose do the remaining genes serve?

Some have referred to these as junk DNA: seemingly meaningless genetic remnants accumulated over the course of evolution or like a convoluted word puzzle with little coherence.

However, ongoing research indicates that at least some of these regions are not simply genetic debris but have crucial regulatory and corrective roles in the human genome’s protein-coding genes. These DNA sequences are likened to the controls for gene expression.

For instance, enhancer sequences boost gene transcription from DNA to RNA, while silencers have the opposite effect.

The dark genome largely consists of lengthy repeat DNA sequences called Transposons, which play vital roles in gene expression, evolutionary processes, and environmental adaptation.

These “jumping genes” can relocate within the genome, potentially causing significant genetic mutations or inversions. Scientists posit that transposons are linked to evolutionary developments such as opposable thumbs in humans and the loss of tails in humans and apes.

In certain scenarios, transposons may contribute to the onset of tumors and genetic disorders like hemophilia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, stemming from repetitive DNA sequences associated with transposons.

As a result, the dark genome has become a focal point of medical research, with hopes that increased understanding over the next two decades will lead to revolutionary therapies for genetic diseases.

This content addresses the query of “What makes up the other 98% of DNA?” posed by Asa Mcintyre via email.

If you have inquiries, please contact us via the email address provided below. For additional information:or send us a message Facebook, Xor Instagram Page (include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Book Release: The Hunger Games

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Graviton

It is one of the four fundamental forces, but what is gravity? It is made of? A quantum theory of gravity doesn’t exist (yet), but that hasn’t stopped scientists from pursuing these elusive particles.

Unusual waves

Ship-sinking “storm waves” are hitting our oceans… Scientists don’t know why. But there are calls for increased monitoring to build predictive models for these deadly waves. Here’s what we know about these mysterious, seemingly random phenomena.

Glowing Cave

Contrary to popular belief, radioactive material does not actually glow (as you can see by looking at a uranium rod). The Simpsons However, a team of nuclear forensics experts is working on developing a device that will do just that. BBC Science Focus News Editor Noah Leach meets the scientists behind this revolutionary device.

What will the universe become?

Using giant supercolliders, scientists hope to discover hidden instabilities built into the fabric of existence… instabilities that could destroy everything. So will it freeze, crumble, rip apart, or get sucked away? Here’s how cosmologists are tackling one of the biggest questions of all: “What will happen at the absolute end of all things?”

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Master your motivation: Why are some of us procrastinators and others driven and proactive? It’s all in the brain. Understanding the science behind motivation might help you achieve more. We’ve created a simple step-by-step guide to help you do just that.
Zero-emission aviation: After a long wait, the world’s first zero-emission aircraft is finally a reality, but are these battery-powered aircraft really the solution we need?
How to slow down time: In today’s modern world, with phone notifications, emails, endless meetings, and caffeine breaks, your days may feel like a blur. Sensing When you have less time, it feels like you have more time.

Issue 406 is scheduled to be released on June 11, 2024

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Effects of Lymphatic “Weight Loss Massage” on Your Body

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In the beauty industry, treatments to combat bloating and cellulite are in high demand. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, and Sean “Diddy” Combs are now turning to lymphatic drainage massage for help with these issues.

This type of massage targets the lymphatic system, which sets it apart from other massage therapies like Swedish, sports, deep tissue, and aromatherapy. Each type of massage offers different benefits, so choosing the right one depends on the results you want to achieve.

Understanding the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is a crucial part of the body’s immune system, consisting of organs like the spleen, tonsils, bone marrow, and thymus. It works alongside the circulatory system by filtering out waste products and abnormal cells through lymph nodes. The lymph fluid helps maintain fluid balance, absorb fat, and defend against infections.

Who Benefits from Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

People with conditions like lymphedema, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, deep vein thrombosis, and cancer-related lymphatic buildup can benefit from lymphatic drainage massage. Athletes also find it useful for recovery and prevention, along with proper hydration, diet, exercise, and sleep.

Do You Need Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Signs of a malfunctioning lymphatic system include swelling in knees, ankles, and hands, as well as swollen lymph nodes when sick. After cancer treatment, lymphatic drainage massage can help prevent infections and support healing.

Can Lymphatic Drainage Help with Weight Loss?

Lymphatic drainage massage can aid in weight loss by improving circulation, reducing swelling, and eliminating toxins. While it may improve the appearance of cellulite, it cannot completely remove it. Weight loss post-massage is often due to losing excess fluids.

What to Expect from Lymphatic Drainage Massage

There are two types of lymphatic drainage massage: manual and simple, both overseen by qualified practitioners. The techniques involve gentle pressure to clear and absorb toxins, without causing pain or skin irritation.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study indicates that women’s cognitive abilities may enhance during menstruation

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

According to a bold study, women might excel at certain cognitive tasks during their menstrual period. New Research from University College London (UCL) and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) sheds light on this phenomenon.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Neuropsychology, this study is the first of its kind to explore sports-related cognition throughout different phases of the menstrual cycle.

The study involved 241 participants who underwent various cognitive tests simulating mental processes relevant in team sports, such as recognizing expressions, attention, reaction time, and spatial awareness.

Participants also used a menstrual cycle tracking app to determine their phase during the testing period.

Surprisingly, contrary to their expectations, participants demonstrated faster reaction times and lower error rates during their period. For instance, their timing accuracy during a task improved by 10 milliseconds on average (12%) compared to other times.

Lead study author Dr. Flaminia Ronca from UCL Department of Surgery and Interventional Science and ISEH noted that the findings challenge assumptions about women’s capabilities during menstruation.

Conversely, during the luteal phase, participants showed slightly slower reaction times but maintained consistent error rates.

The authors highlighted that even a small difference of 10 milliseconds could impact performance outcomes significantly.

Dr. Megan Lawley, another author of the study, emphasized the importance of further research in understanding how women’s cognitive abilities affect athletic performance at different menstrual cycle stages.

About the Experts

Flaminia Ronca: Associate Professor in the Department of Targeted Interventions at UCL, with research interests in body-brain interaction through movement.

Megan Lawley: Senior Sports Scientist specializing in female athlete health and previously involved in research on athlete performance factors at UK Sport and Bangor University.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Dark Secrets of Mayan Human Sacrifice Unveiled

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The ancient Maya civilization of Central America has captivated researchers for centuries with its amazing astronomical calendar and impressive step pyramids.

Along with their rich culture, they are also connected with a darker aspect: human sacrifice. Recent studies reveal that this is indeed a grim reality.

New genetic analysis from the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza indicates that many of the sacrificial victims were children, with a high number being identical twins.

El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, is the centerpiece of the Chichen Itza ruins in the Yucatan state of Mexico. – Image credit: Johannes Krauss

Published in the journal Nature, the research looked at human remains found in a xultun near the Sacred Cenote.

Radiocarbon dating suggests that the chultun was used between the 7th and 12th centuries AD.

“All individuals in the chultun were children aged three to six,” explained Dr. Rodrigo Barquera, the lead author of the study.

Genetic evidence showed that all 64 individuals tested were male, with about 25% being closely related, including two sets of identical twins.

The occurrence of male identical twins in such a small sample size is unusual.

Barquera noted that twins held significance in Mayan mythology, especially the story of heroic twins defeating the king of the underworld.

This suggests that sacrificing identical male twins was a way to honor the hero twins’ existence.

Detail of the reconstructed stone tzonpantli (skull house) at Chichen Itza. – Image courtesy of Christina Wariner

While this may not have been favorable for identical twins in Maya culture, it was a great honor for their families.

Barquera and his team aim to validate their findings by comparing them with other archaeological sites.

About our experts

Rodrigo Barquera is a postdoctoral researcher in the Archaeogenetics department at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. He has authored numerous research papers published in esteemed journals like Nature and Nature Communications Biology.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Why the potential hacking of satellites in orbit is a major cause for concern

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Picture this: a hacker sitting at their laptop, frantically typing code as it flashes across the screen. Suddenly, they successfully hack into a satellite. Sounds like a scene from a James Bond movie, doesn’t it? But in reality, it poses a real threat.

Contrary to the dramatic portrayal in movies, hacking a satellite is much more complex than simply having a laptop and a strong internet connection. The issue of cybersecurity in space is becoming increasingly concerning as the number of operational satellites continues to grow.

By the end of 2022, there were 6,718 operational satellites orbiting the Earth, representing a significant increase from the previous year. With 10,206 objects in space, predominantly satellites, the space environment is rapidly expanding.

Satellites play crucial roles in GPS navigation, military surveillance, and banking systems, making them attractive targets for potential hackers. But despite their vulnerability, instances of successful hacks on satellites are rare. So, how can a satellite be hacked, and what are the potential consequences?

How can a satellite be hacked?

While space may seem like a distant realm filled with satellites in remote galaxies, most satellites actually orbit in low earth orbit (LEO), between 99 and 1,243 miles above Earth. Physically accessing a satellite remains a challenge, but there are various methods hackers can employ to compromise satellites without venturing into space.

According to Anuradha Dhamal Dey, a SpaceX space ecosystem manager at Satellite Applications Catapult, potential satellite hacking methods include physical attacks, cyber attacks, and the use of kinetic anti-satellite (ASAT) technology. These methods have raised concerns about the security of space-based systems.

ASAT refers to any means of destroying a satellite, with kinetic ASAT involving physical strikes on satellites, such as through ballistic missiles or drones. While kinetic ASAT attacks are unprecedented outside of testing scenarios, non-kinetic attacks using malware or viruses pose a theoretical threat to satellite security.

Despite these risks, no actual satellite hacks have occurred yet. In 2023, the US Air Force organized Hack the Sat event to test satellite vulnerabilities, with three teams successfully breaching a satellite’s security.

What will happen?

While satellite hacking remains theoretical, the potential consequences of a successful attack are significant. Space plays a vital role in various industries, from national security and defense to everyday services like food delivery and entertainment.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Experts Explain the Harmful Effects of Nicotine Pouches

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

It has been common knowledge for many years that smoking is highly detrimental to health. Quitting smoking or avoiding starting in the first place are among the most effective measures individuals can take to safeguard their well-being.

Nations worldwide are implementing comprehensive strategies to eradicate smoking from the realm of normal and socially acceptable behaviors, shedding light on the reality that smoking is a lethal addiction.

The reduction in smoking rates is attributed to initiatives such as increased tobacco taxes, graphic warnings on packaging, workplace smoking bans, and the cessation of alluring tobacco advertising campaigns.

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Recent data from the UK Office for National Statistics indicates that 12.9% of adults in the UK are current smokers. This marks a substantial decline compared to the 30% prevalence in the early 1990s. The success in tobacco control efforts is evident in this statistic.

Nevertheless, nicotine addiction continues to thrive as a lucrative industry. Rather than fading away quietly, the tobacco sector has introduced a new array of products appealing primarily to the youth demographic: flavored disposable e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, and their latest novelty item—nicotine pouches.

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Nicotine pouches are typically packaged in small, pocket-sized containers resembling tea bags. They consist of a blend of vegetable fiber, sugar, flavorings, and, of course, nicotine.

Nicotine can either be synthesized in a laboratory or extracted from the tobacco plant. These pouches come in various flavors ranging from fruity to sweet and in different nicotine strengths, some containing more nicotine than regular cigarettes.

The user places the small pouch between their lips and gums, allowing the nicotine to be absorbed. Once the nicotine is fully absorbed, the pouch is discarded and replaced. These pouches are discreet, emit a pleasant aroma, and unlike chewing tobacco, do not require spitting post-use.

Although nicotine pouches are relatively new, they bear similarities to Scandinavian “snus,” the key distinction being the absence of tobacco in pouches. This regulatory loophole allows pouches to dodge tobacco product rules and regulations that apply to cigarettes.

Unlike cigarettes, pouches can legally be sold to individuals under 18 in the UK due to this lack of regulation. Other countries, such as the US, have taken steps to ban or restrict pouch sales to adults only.

What do we know about the health risks of pouches?

While nicotine pouches are gaining popularity globally, limited data exists to assess their health risks as they are relatively new in the market. Nonetheless, the World Health Organization advocates for a cautious approach emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health outcomes while permitting the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches, especially concerning the health of young individuals.

Usage of pouches exposes individuals to toxic nicotine, increasing the risk of nicotine addiction and potentially leading to the use of other products like e-cigarettes or cigarettes.

Aside from the addictive nature of nicotine, its consumption in pouch form can impact adolescent brain development and overall health, including cognitive functions. High doses of nicotine may induce symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and abdominal cramps, particularly in individuals inexperienced with nicotine exposure.

It might be tempting to compare the health effects of nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products to deem one product “safer” than another. However, 85% of the UK population never smoke; hence, young non-smokers would not derive health benefits from initiating pouch use.

Moreover, there’s no current evidence supporting the efficacy of pouches in smoking or vaping cessation. Rather than aiding cessation efforts, individuals who smoke or vape may resort to pouches when restricted from smoking or vaping easily, potentially increasing nicotine intake.

A handful of multinational corporations dominate the global tobacco industry, with British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International being the two largest manufacturers and sellers of nicotine pouches. Resembling vintage cigarette advertisements, pouch promotions employ motorsport, celebrity endorsements, and various lifestyle marketing techniques.

Tobacco industry practices have been alarmingly proficient in harmful marketing strategies. The widespread availability of addictive nicotine products and the absence of stringent regulations on pouch advertising and sales pose a genuine risk of escalating pouch use and nicotine addiction among the youth.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

About the Experts

About our experts

About the Experts

Why does my dog ​​stare at me?

About our experts

1. Restrict calories (the right way)

2. Eat a diet high in protein

3. Eat a diet high in fiber

About our experts

1. Tyrannosaurus Rex

2. Iguanodon

3. Dryptosaurus

4. Elasmosaurus

5. Stegosaurus

6. Ichthyosaur

7. Pterosaur

Graviton

Unusual waves

Glowing Cave

What will the universe become?

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Issue 406 is scheduled to be released on June 11, 2024

Understanding the Lymphatic System

Who Benefits from Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Do You Need Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Can Lymphatic Drainage Help with Weight Loss?

What to Expect from Lymphatic Drainage Massage

About the Experts

About our experts

How can a satellite be hacked?

What will happen?

What do we know about the health risks of pouches?

Why does my dog stare at me?