Researchers map clouds on Mars

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The image is Mars Cloud Map Captured High resolution stereo camera (HRSC) Equipment On ESA's Mars probe “Mars Express”.

Leech waves on Mars are created when wind encounters an obstacle and builds up on the “leeward” or leeward side. Image courtesy of ESA / DLR / FU Berlin.

Mars Express's elliptical orbit allows the HRSC camera to observe the surface from a low altitude to map the planet at the highest possible resolution, but also to capture observations at a lower resolution from a higher altitude, covering a much larger portion of the surface in a typical edge-to-edge field of view.

These high altitude observations are ideal for observing Martian atmospheric phenomena.

More than 20 years have passed since the launch of the Mars Express mission, and a vast amount of image data on Martian atmospheric phenomena has been accumulated, which has great potential for scientific applications.

“Martian clouds are as diverse and fascinating as those seen in Earth's skies, but they also have some features that are unique to the Red Planet,” said Dr Daniela Tyrsch, researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

“One of my favorite phenomena is the beautiful 'cloud street' – a linear line of fleecy clouds that form around the rise of the giant volcano Tharsis Mons and the lowlands of the Northern Hemisphere during the Northern Hemisphere spring and summer.”

“They are similar to cumulus clouds on Earth, but form under different atmospheric conditions.”

“Impressive dust clouds stretching hundreds of kilometres have also been observed, a phenomenon that is fortunately not experienced on Earth.”

Dust plays a major role in the Martian atmosphere and climate.

Rare upwelling events can cause beige, dusty clumps to drift through the planet's atmosphere.

Large differences in temperature and air pressure during certain seasons can create stronger than normal winds and kick up large amounts of dust from the Martian surface.

The dust cloud rising from the summit of the giant volcano resembles an eruptive cloud, even though it is no longer active.

Large, swirling dust storms and cyclones are also observed near the Martian north pole every year.

Studying these phenomena is crucial for scientists to understand the Martian atmosphere and air mass circulation.

Rolling “gravity clouds” are one of the most common formations on both Mars and Earth.

They are found in the mid-latitudes of both hemispheres in winter, as well as over the Tharsis volcanic plateau in the Southern Hemisphere winter.

Lee waves are a special type of gravity cloud that can accumulate on the lee side of ridges, mountains, and other obstacles, forming repeating ridges.

Some of the cloud types studied are specific to certain locations and seasons, but there are also clouds such as “crepuscular clouds” that appear in the early morning at any time and any place throughout the year.

The new atlas provides valuable insight into the physics of clouds and storms, their appearance, and when and where they form.

This knowledge will not only help us better understand the dynamics of Mars' atmosphere and climate cycles, but will also be useful in studying the climates of other planets, such as Earth and Venus.

“ESA has extended the Mars Express mission until at least 2026, which will allow us to continue to enrich the database and further our understanding of the Martian atmosphere,” Dr Tilsch said.

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Daniella Tirsch others2024. Clouds and storms captured by HRSC – a catalog of Martian atmospheric phenomena. EPSC Abstract 17, EPSC2024-44; doi: 10.5194/epsc2024-44

Source: www.sci.news

Research shows new medication similar to Ozempic results in 13% reduction in body weight

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have been under discussion for some time, but new research suggests there may be better alternatives. Enter Amicretin, a novel weight-loss treatment available in pill form rather than injection.

In the initial human trials of this new weight loss medication, the developer Novo Nordisk A/S (the company behind Ozempic) saw promising results: participants taking Amicretin lost an average of 13.1 percent of their body weight over a 12-week period.

So, how does this new weight loss pill function? Amicretin is a dual-acting drug that emulates the effects of two hormones crucial in weight loss: amylin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which help curb hunger and regulate appetite.

Published in the journal Diabetology, the study compared average weight loss in three groups with BMIs between 25 and 39.9 who did not have diabetes.

By the end of the 12-week study, subjects taking two 50 mg tablets of Amicretin lost 13.1% of their body weight, compared to 10.4% in those taking one 50 mg tablet. In contrast, the placebo group only lost an average of 1.1% of their body weight throughout the study.

Compared to other weight loss drugs, a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that patients taking another weight-loss drug, Maunjaro, lost 5.9% body fat in 3 months, while those on Ozempic saw a decrease of 3.6%.

“The difference from injectable treatments is significant,” states obesity expert Christopher Clemmensen. “The dual mode of action offers promise, making Amicretin a valuable advancement for Novo Nordisk.”

While weight-loss drugs show promise in combating obesity worldwide, further confirmation awaits larger trials on individuals with chronic conditions. Professor Navid Sattar emphasizes the importance of developing safe and accessible medications for the millions suffering from obesity.

Excitement surrounds this early-stage study of a novel oral weight-loss medication combination due to its rapid effects on body weight.

About our experts

Associate Professor Christopher Clemmensen leads the Clemmensen Group at the University of Copenhagen, studying biological weight regulation and developing obesity treatment strategies. His research appears in respected publications such as Natural Metabolism and Molecular Metabolism.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Fish use mirrors to assess their size and determine their likelihood of winning a confrontation

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bluestreak Cleaner checking himself out in the mirror

Osaka Metropolitan University

Before deciding whether to fight another fish, wrasse look at their own reflection in the mirror to gauge their size.

Blue Streak Cleaner Lass (Loveroid) are astonishingly bright. This finger-sized coral reef fish is the first to pass the mirror test, a common assessment of whether an animal can recognize its own body and not another animal in a mirror. Researchers discovered that these wrasses use their own reflection to build an image of their own body size and compare it to others.

beginning, Taiga Kobayashi Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan conducted an experiment to see if fish were willing to attack. They held up images of different wrasses, each 10 percent larger or smaller than the real fish, against the glass wall of an aquarium. Regardless of the size of the model fish in the photo, the territorial wrasses put up a fight.

The researchers then repeated the test with additional mirrors, and the fish saw their own reflection in the mirror, but when the researchers held up pictures of larger or smaller wrasses on the glass plate, the fish chose to fight only the smaller rivals.

“This was unexpected, as this fish has always been known to be aggressive towards rivals, regardless of its size,” Kobayashi says.

Because the tanks are partitioned, the wrasses can't see both themselves and pictures of rival fish at the same time, so the scientists think the fish must be comparing the pictures to a mental approximation of their own size.

How did wrasses develop this ability, given that they evolved in an environment without mirrors? In both the lab and in the wild, it's advantageous for fish to know the size of their opponent before fighting, Kobayashi says. In other words, the fish were smart enough to use the mirror as a decision-making tool.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Footprints of a polar dinosaur discovered in Australia dating back 120 million years

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered theropod and ornithopod dinosaur footprints date back to the Early Cretaceous period, more than 120 million years ago, when Australia was still connected to Antarctica.

Melissa Lawley and Anthony Martin examine dinosaur footprints. Image by Ruth Showalter.

Dinosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous period have been discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation south of Melbourne, Australia.

These include 18 footprints of medium to large theropods (0.8-1.9 metres waist height) and four footprints of small ornithopod dinosaurs (40-48 centimetres waist height).

“These numerous footprints provide the best evidence yet that polar environments once supported large carnivores,” said Professor Anthony Martin of Emory University.

“Large theropods probably fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish and turtles.”

“The hip height of this theropod would have been roughly the same as the height of a tall modern human.”

“Rocky coastal strata in Victoria, Australia, mark the spot where the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break up about 100 million years ago, separating Australia from Antarctica.”

“The polar environment at that time was a rift valley with a network of rivers running through it.”

“Although the average annual temperature during the Cretaceous period was higher than today, ecosystems experienced freezing temperatures and months of darkness during polar winters.”

“The Wonthaggi Formation has produced one of the best assemblages of polar dinosaur fossils in the Southern Hemisphere, but most of these fossils are small fragments of bone and teeth.”

“These pieces may have been carried to the buried site by heavy spring rains.”

“However, the discovery of so many theropod footprints confirms that a wide variety of dinosaurs did in fact live and walk on the surface where the bones were found.”

“Dinosaur footprints are actually more common here than we previously thought.”

Theropod footprints in the Wonthaggi Formation range in length from 18 to 47 cm (7 to 18.5 in).

They have relatively thin toes and sharp claw tips.

Ornithopod tracks vary in size from 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 in).

The range of footprint sizes suggests that they may represent a mixture of juvenile and adult ornithopods and theropods.

“This suggests that these dinosaurs may have been nesting and raising their young in polar environments,” Prof Martin said.

This discovery paper of Archealinga, Australian Journal of Palaeontology.

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Anthony J. Martin othersPolar dinosaur footprints from the Wonthaggi Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Victoria, Australia, and their palaeontological significance. Archealinga, Australian Journal of PalaeontologyPublished online September 8, 2024; doi: 10.1080/03115518.2024.2392498

Source: www.sci.news

Toothed birds in the Cretaceous era primarily consumed gymnosperm fruits, not fish.

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists found fossilized seeds of gymnosperms, relatives of today’s conifers and ginkgo trees, in the stomachs of two of the specimens. Longipteryx caoyangensis One of the oldest known birds, and also one of the strangest. This discovery shows that these birds ate fruit, despite the long-held assumption that they were fish eaters, and the more recent hypothesis that they ate insects with their incredibly strong teeth.

Skull Longipteryx caoyangensis Image courtesy of Xiaoli Wang.

Longipteryx caoyangensis It lived in what is now northeastern China during the Cretaceous period, about 120 million years ago.

First described in 2000, this ancient bird had a long skull and teeth only at the tip of its beak.

“Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Longipteryx” Human tooth enamel is 50 microns thick,” says Alex Clark, a doctoral student at the Field Museum and the University of Chicago.

“That’s the same thickness as the enamel of a large carnivorous dinosaur. Allosaurus It weighed 4,000 pounds. Longipteryx It was about the size of a blue jay.”

Scientists have previously found that the elongated skull of a kingfisher Longipteryx caoyangensis This means they hunted fish, but this hypothesis has been called into question by a number of studies.

“There are other fossil birds. Janornis “We know they ate fish because specimens have been found with preserved stomach contents, and fish tend to preserve well,” said Dr. Jingmai O’Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum.

“In addition, these fish-eating birds had many teeth throughout their beaks. Longipteryx “It only has teeth at the tip of its beak. That doesn’t make sense.”

but, Longipteryx caoyangensis In some cases, animals have been found with fossilized food still in their stomachs, allowing scientists to determine what they had been eating.

In the new study, paleontologists examined two new specimens of this species.

They found that the small round structures in the bird’s stomach Gymnosperms seed.

Since Longipteryx caoyangensis Since they lived in a temperate climate, it is unlikely that they ate fruit all year round.

The authors speculate that when fruit was unavailable, they may have had a mixed diet that included insects.

Longipteryx caoyangensis Part of a larger group of prehistoric birds called enantiornithines, the discovery marks the first time that scientists have found the stomach contents of an enantiornithine in China’s Jehol Biota, despite the discovery of thousands of fossils.

“It’s always puzzling not to know what they were eating, but this study points to a larger problem in palaeontology, which is that the physical characteristics of fossils don’t always tell the whole story about what animals were eating or how they lived,” Dr O’Connor said.

Since Longipteryx caoyangensis It apparently did not hunt fish, which raises the question of what it used its long, pointed beak and unusually strong teeth for.

“The thick enamel seems to be overpowering and weaponized,” Clark said.

“One of the most common skeletal parts that birds use in aggressive displays is the proboscis, or beak.”

“Using the beak as a weapon makes sense because it keeps the weapon away from the rest of the body and helps prevent injury.”

“Modern birds don’t have teeth, but there are some really cool little hummingbirds that have keratinous projections near the tip of their snouts. Longipteryx And they are using it as a weapon to fight each other,” Dr O’Connor added.

“Hummingbird beaks have evolved at least seven times, allowing them to compete for limited resources.”

of Survey results Published in the journal today Current Biology.

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Jinmai O’Connor others Direct evidence for frugivory in Mesozoic birds Longipteryx This is inconsistent with morphological indicators of diet. Current Biology Published online September 10, 2024; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.08.012

Source: www.sci.news

Evacuations and power outages as wildfires rage in California and Nevada

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

California wildfires spread rapidly on Tuesday as firefighters faced strong winds, dry conditions, and a heatwave that pushed temperatures into triple digits in the Los Angeles area. However, cooler temperatures are predicted, and the fires may soon be contained.

Firefighters were also contending with blazes in western Nevada, just south of Reno, in extremely windy conditions. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for most of Nevada and parts of Southern California. Vast tracts of land were at risk of ignition.

The fires have added pressure to what has already been a busy season for firefighters across the Western U.S., burning nearly 7 million acres, more than double last year’s total. Over 24,000 firefighters were mobilized as of Tuesday.

Rhine fire spreads in Southern California

The Line Fire, burning in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, poses a threat to approximately 65,600 structures. The fire had expanded to 26,400 acres as of Tuesday morning and was only 5% contained, according to CalFire.

Firefighters clean up burned trees and branches as the Rhine Fire spreads in San Bernardino, California, on September 8.
Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images

The fire, which started on Thursday night in East Los Angeles, triggered evacuation orders across the area with 9,200 buildings, primarily homes, at risk, said Fire Information Officer Arnold Menjivar.

Menjivar expressed concern about the fire’s proximity to homes in Running Springs, the gateway to Big Bear Lake and Bear Mountain ski resorts.

“We’re very close,” Menjivar said, noting that firefighters were employing an aggressive response strategy but were wary of gusty winds in the canyon. “This is very challenging terrain.”

The Rhine fire led to the formation of its own weather system on Saturday, creating a fire cloud resembling a thunderstorm. Fire clouds emerge when a fire generates its weather pattern. The cloud produced around 280 lightning strikes, which hit the ground. According to the National Weather Service.

Pyrocumulus has also been observed at two other sizable fires in Southern California: the Airport Fire in Orange County and the Bridge Fire in Angeles National Forest.

A red flag warning surrounding the Rhine Fire area is set to expire at 8 pm on Tuesday night, and the arrival of cooler temperatures starting Wednesday “may lead to reduced fire activity and increased fuel moisture,” as per Cal Fire.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday due to the Rhine Fire, with fire officials announcing on Monday that the California National Guard would deploy four Black Hawk helicopters, other aircraft, and 80 soldiers to support the Modular Aerial Firefighting System. Approximately 2,100 firefighters were battling the blaze.

Evacuation Order and fire alerts were issued for several towns in the foothills east of California Highlands, outside San Bernardino, and along the route to Big Bear Lake. The Bear Valley Unified and Redlands Unified school districts canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday due to the fires.

More fires rage in Southern California

Hot, dry weather has fueled additional fires in the Southern California hills, prompting further evacuations.

The Airport Fire erupted on Monday afternoon. A 7-acre forest fire broke out in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, south of Los Angeles. Within hours, the fire had spread to an estimated 5,400 acres, as reported by the Orange County Fire Department. By Tuesday morning, the fire had expanded to 9,000 acres, stated the fire department.

The fire was initially believed to have originated near an airfield used by RC aircraft enthusiasts. The website for the local flying club, Trabuco Flyers, mentioned that Remotely The controlled aircraft was in flight when the fire broke out..

As a result of this fire, Evacuation warnings were issued for Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Plateau, along with other nearby communities.

Smoke rises from an airport fire in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, on Monday.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, the Bridge Fire ignited on Saturday in Angeles National Forest east of Los Angeles. By Tuesday morning, the fire had grown to over 3,800 acres and remained 0% contained. Residents from north of San Antonio Dam to Mount Baldy Resort, Other communities.

Dangerous conditions in the Sierra Nevada foothills

Windy, dry conditions have put firefighters on high alert near Reno, Nevada. The Davis Fire has charred nearly 5,600 acres and is currently 0% contained. As stated in a status update on Tuesday.

The fire Davis Creek Regional Parkbroke out just south of Reno on Saturday, burning substantial timber and brush, causing damage to at least 14 structures, road closures, and evacuations for approximately 12,000 to 14,000 people.

The fire also resulted in power outages, leaving 17,000 customers without electricity on Saturday. About 3,000 customers in Washoe County, Nevada, were still without power as of Tuesday morning. Power outage.Us.

Over 400 personnel are actively combating the blaze. El Dorado County Fire Department video Footage shared on social media depicted intense flames engulfing the densely wooded mountains and thick smoke clouding the sky.

Actor Jeremy Renner is among the community members affected by the Davis fire, and on Sunday, he shared an Instagram Story showing a massive plume of smoke billowing from the mountain. People Magazine Reportedly, he posted additional photos on Tuesday showcasing firefighters in action and a plane releasing pink fire retardant.

Tuesday marks the final day of high temperatures for the most at-risk areas burning in Nevada and Southern California.

A cold front from the Pacific Ocean is expected to lower temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit in Southern California on Wednesday.

A cold front is also anticipated to move into the Reno area on Wednesday, which may not necessarily benefit the fires as it could bring stronger winds.

In areas prone to gusts, mountaintop winds could reach 50 mph. As per the National Weather Service forecast:.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Uncovering the Secrets of Dinosaurs: An Interview with David Horn on the Impact of New Technology

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New Scientist. Website and magazine featuring science news and long-form articles covered by expert journalists on developments in science, technology, health and the environment. — Paul Riding/Joseph Woodhouse

Dinosaurs ruled the earth for around 180 million years. But fossils that are at least 65 million years old are incredibly hard to decipher, so we know very little about what these iconic prehistoric creatures lived. Finding out more has long seemed impossible, but not anymore.

Over the past few decades, new techniques and new specimens have provided previously unimaginable insights into the behavior and ecology of dinosaurs. Combined with insights from modern animals, this has finally enabled paleontologists to understand dinosaur biology, from parental care, migration, and hunting styles to communication, sociality, and combat.

David Horne is one of the researchers trying to find out more about life during the time of the dinosaurs: the paleontologist at Queen Mary, University of London, is soon to publish a book about his latest findings. Revealing dinosaur behavior: What they did and how we know. New Scientist From mobile herbivores and semi-aquatic predators to why ostriches are problematic for understanding which dinosaurs doted on their young, here’s some of what’s been discovered so far.

Collin Barrass: Some of the biggest dinosaurs were Diplodocus or BrachiosaurusFor example, dinosaurs were not at all similar to living animals, so how do we figure out how they behaved?

David Horne: One of the most important things we can do as paleontologists is to better utilize our knowledge of the biology and behavior of modern animals. Mouth shapes are a good example. People with small mouths usually target nutritious food, such as shoots and leaves, one by one. If…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research Indicates Sun-like Star-shaped Outer Solar System Approached Billions of Years Ago

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

At least 140 million Sun-like stars in our Milky Way galaxy may have experienced similar stellar flybys, according to a new study by astrophysicists from the Jülich Research Centre and Leiden University.

Snapshot of a flyby of an ancient star. Blue-green particles indicate TNOs injected into the planetary region by the flyby. The perturbation star passed through the disk at perihelion distance 110 AU, on the right side of the picture. Image courtesy of Pfalzner others., doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02349-x.

The planets in our solar system accumulated from a disk of dust and gas orbiting the young Sun.

Thus, the planets move in circular orbits close to a common plane.

About 3,000 small bodies have been observed orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune. Surprisingly, most of them move in eccentric or inclined orbits.

Therefore, some force must have lifted these trans-solar objects (TNOs) out of the disk in which they formed and significantly altered their orbits.

“When we think about the solar system, we usually think of it ending with Neptune, the outermost known planet,” said Dr Susanne Pfalzner, astrophysicist at the Jülich Research Centre and lead author of the paper.

“However, thousands of objects are known to travel beyond the orbit of Neptune.”

“It is even suspected that there are tens of thousands of objects over 100 kilometers in diameter.”

“Surprisingly, many of these TNOs travel on eccentric orbits that are inclined with respect to the common orbital plane of the planets in our solar system.”

In this study, Dr. Falzner and her colleagues compared the properties of observed TNOs with thousands of flyby simulations to determine specific properties of stellar flybys that could potentially reproduce all of the different TNO populations, their locations, and relative abundances.

They Found A flyby of a 0.8 solar mass star at a distance of 110 AU could explain the inclined and highly eccentric orbits of known TNOs.

“We can even infer the orbits of very distant objects, such as Sedna, a dwarf planet discovered in the outermost solar system in 2003,” Dr Pfalzner said.

“There are also objects moving in orbits that are almost perpendicular to the planet's orbit.”

“Such flybys could even explain the orbits of two objects moving in the opposite direction to the planet: 2008 KV42 and 2011 KT19.”

“The best match we found in our simulations for the outer solar system today is a star that is slightly lighter than our Sun, about 0.8 times its mass,” said Dr Amis Govind, also of the Jülich research centre.

“It traveled about 16.5 billion kilometers from the Sun, which is about 110 times the distance between Earth and the Sun and just under four times the distance to the outermost planet, Neptune.”

Astrophysicists were surprised Found The irregular moons orbiting the giant planets in the solar system in distant, inclined, and eccentric orbits are actually TNOs that were launched into the inner solar system by close passes of their stars.

“Some of these objects could have been captured as moons by giant planets,” said Dr Simon Portegies Zwart, an astrophysicist at Leiden University.

“This would explain why the outer planets in our solar system have two different types of moons.”

“In contrast to regular moons, which orbit their planets in circular orbits close to the planet, irregular moons orbit their planets at greater distances in inclined, elongated orbits.”

“Until now, there has been no explanation for this phenomenon.”

“The beauty of this model is its simplicity. With just one source, it answers several outstanding questions about our solar system,” Dr Pfalzner said.

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Susanne Falzner othersOrbits of flybys of stars that formed the outer solar system. Nat AstronPublished online September 4, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02349-x

Susanne Falzner others2024. A close flyby of a star could inject an irregular moon from outside the solar system. Apu JL 972, L21;doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ad63a6

Source: www.sci.news

Why Your Fear of Flying May Be Rooted in Your Butt: Psychologist Reveals the Secret to Overcoming It

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Recent news has not been favorable for those with a fear of flying. Reports of severe turbulence and mid-air door incidents can be distressing, especially for the estimated 5% of individuals who have a fear of flying.

With the summer holidays approaching, those of us with a fear of flying are preparing ourselves. Out of nearly two million flights in and out of the UK in 2023, only a small fraction experienced significant mechanical issues or worse.

A phobia often defies logic.

“When feeling anxious, the brain tends to exaggerate risks,” explains Professor Robert Baugh, Director of the Aviation Psychology Center. “While risks may seem more prominent and real, it doesn’t make them more likely to occur. You’re more likely to die from a donkey kick than from a plane crash.”

Baugh also acknowledges that fear of flying can be treated. As a pilot, Royal Air Force consultant, and fear of flying expert, he understands the obstacles individuals face.

Identifying the specific triggers is crucial to addressing flying anxiety. Techniques such as implementing cognitive and behavioral tools before boarding the flight can be beneficial.

Understanding flight mechanics and sounds can alleviate fears. Knowledge about what the pilot does during flight can provide comfort. Breathing techniques and muscle relaxation exercises can help manage anxiety during air travel.

For extreme cases, medication may be prescribed, and airlines offer courses for those with a fear of flying. Combining various techniques can significantly reduce flying anxiety and offer a sense of control.

About our experts

Professor Robert Baugh: Director of the Aviation Psychology Centre, psychologist, and Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Baugh has contributed to numerous publications on aviation psychology and human factors.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Paleontologists discover three new species of ancient thylacine fossils

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Palaeontologists from the University of New South Wales have unearthed the fossils of three new species belonging to the thylacine genus. Basitinus, Nimbakinusand Ngamalasinas It inhabits upper Oligocene sediments in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwest Queensland, Australia. Bassinus timforkneri, Nimbasinus peterbridgeand Ngamalasinas NigermalbeniThese new species are among the oldest known thylacines and indicate an earlier diversification of the family Thylacidae. Thylacine More than previously understood.

Bassinus timforkneri Eating a corpse Silvavestius Michaelvirti.Image credit: Peter Schouten.

The three new species of Pectiniidae lived during the Late Oligocene epoch, between 25 and 23 million years ago.

The largest of these is Bassinus timforkneriThey weigh between 7 and 11 kg, roughly the same size as a large Tasmanian devil.

“Like the Tasmanian devil, Basisinas timforkneri “They could easily crush the bones and teeth of their prey,” said lead author Tim Churchill, a doctoral student at the University of New South Wales.

“But up until now, we've only seen much smaller Bassinus TurnbulliiWeighing in at around 2.7 kg, this dinosaur is the only thylacine relative found in the Late Oligocene.

“The lower jaw and teeth, including an isolated first molar, were found at the Hiatus site at Riversleigh, which is even older than the White Hunter site where B. turnbrii was previously found.”

“This will Basisinas timforkneri It is undoubtedly the oldest thylacine ever discovered.”

The second species is Nimbasinus peterbridgeIt was slightly larger than a long-eared quoll and weighed about 3.7kg.

The species was described from a nearly complete jawbone from the White Hunter site at Riversleigh.

“Nimbasinus peterbridge “It was probably a more generalist predator, targeting small mammals and other prey in the ancient woodland of Riversleigh,” Professor Mike Archer, from the University of New South Wales, said.

“We think it may have been directly related to only one other species. Nimbakinus,big Nimbasinus dicksoni (5-7kg) was discovered in 15 million year old deposits at Riversleigh.”

“This group of thylacines, Thylacine.”

“The other two new species described here appear to represent distinctive side branches on the increasingly complex thylacine phylogenetic tree.”

“This means Nimbasinus peterbridge It is probably the oldest known direct ancestor of the Tasmanian tiger.”

The third new species, Ngamalasinas NigermalbeniIt weighed about 5.1kg and was about the size of a red fox. This one was also unearthed at the White Hunter site in Riversleigh.

“This was a highly carnivorous thylacine,” said Dr Sue Hand, from the University of New South Wales.

“We know this because the cutting edges of the lower molars are elongated and have deep, V-shaped meat-cutting notches.”

“Ngamalasinas Nigermalbeni These notches were more developed than in any other thylacine species of similar size.”

The existence of three distinct lineages of specialized thylacines in the Late Oligocene highlights how rapidly this group of marsupials has diversified since they first appeared in the fossil record, the researchers say.

“These new species have very different dental adaptations, suggesting that several unique carnivore forest niches existed during this time,” Churchill said.

“All of these lineages became extinct by 8 million years ago, except for the lineage that gave rise to modern thylacines.”

“The previous idea that Australia was dominated by reptilian carnivores for the last 25 million years is steadily being disproved as each new discovery adds to the fossil record of these new thylacine-like marsupial carnivores,” Prof Archer said.

“The diversity of mammalian carnivores in Rivers Leaf during this period rivals any other ecosystem, including the large dispersal of mammalian carnivores that developed in South America,” Churchill added.

of study this month, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Timothy J. Churchill othersThree new opossum species (Marsupialia, Opossumidae) discovered from Late Oligocene deposits in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, north-west Queensland. Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyPublished online September 6, 2024; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2024.2384595

Source: www.sci.news

VST finds jellyfish galaxy in the Hydra cluster

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers ESO’s Very Low Tilt Survey Telescope The Chilean VST satellite has captured a stunning image of the distorted spiral galaxy NGC 3312.

This VST image shows the spiral galaxy NGC 3312. Image courtesy of ESO / INAF / M. Spavone / E. Iodice.

NGC 3312 It is located in the constellation Hydra and is more than 160 million light years away from Earth.

Also known as ESO 501-43, IC 629, IRAS 10346-2718, LEDA 31513, Found It was discovered on March 26, 1835 by British astronomer John Herschel.

NGC 3312 is Hydra I Cluster (Abell 1060) is a galaxy cluster containing over 150 luminous galaxies.

As galaxies move through the hotter gas in the cluster, they lose cooler gas.

It is likely distorted by the cluster’s main elliptical galaxies, NGC 3309 and NGC 3311.

“The spiral galaxy in the centre of this VST image appears fuzzy across the entire screen, seemingly leaking its contents into the surrounding space,” ESO astronomers said in a statement.

“This is NGC 3312, the victim of an astrophysical robbery: ram-pressure stripping.”

“This occurs when galaxies move through a dense fluid, such as the hot gas suspended between galaxies in a cluster,” the researchers explained.

“This hot gas is pulled by the cooler gas in the outer shell of the galaxy, causing it to be pulled out of the galaxy and leak out into space.”

“This cold gas is the raw material for star formation, which means that galaxies that are losing gas in this way are at risk of losing a decrease in their stellar population.”

“Affected galaxies, typically those that fall into the center of a cluster, tend to eventually form long trailing tendrils of gas behind them, which is where their nickname ‘jellyfish galaxies’ comes from.”

“This is just one of the many astronomical processes that make our cosmic pictures so diverse and fascinating.”

Source: www.sci.news

First private spacewalk launched by SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Polaris Dawn launch

SpaceX

SpaceX launched the Polaris Dawn mission to attempt the first-ever private spacewalk, and one of the most dangerous spacewalks ever attempted.

The four-person crew will spend up to five days in Earth orbit, with two crew members performing an extravehicular activity (EVA) on the third day. During this EVA, the spacecraft will be depressurized for about two hours. The two remaining crew members will also need to wear space suits.

This is different from other modern spacewalks, which typically use an airlock to seal the craft off the vacuum of space while the astronauts are outside. The Crew Dragon capsule used in this mission has no airlock, making it more similar to the early days of spaceflight in the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, all previous spacewalks have been conducted by government-trained astronauts, while the Polaris Dawn crew is civilian.

Although the spacesuits have been thoroughly tested on Earth, they are a new design, and the risks are compounded by the fact that the flight will be farther from Earth than any other human spaceflight since the end of the Apollo program in 1972.

The flight’s mission commander is SpaceX’s Polaris program chief and billionaire co-founder Jared Isaacman. The rest of the crew is retired Air Force test pilot Scott Poteat and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.

The Crew Dragon capsule used on this flight was named “Resilience” and was its third launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The reusable Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth and landed on SpaceX’s Just Read the Instructions drone over the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsules are also used to transport astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station, and one of them is scheduled to return NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to Earth in early 2025 after they were stranded when their launch vehicle, the Boeing Starliner, encountered problems.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Changing Your Perception of Time to Make Life Seem Longer

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Time flies: If your days seem to fly by with meetings, phone notifications, and caffeine breaks, rest assured, you’re not alone. This concept traces back to the writings of the Roman poet Virgil over 2000 years ago.

Last year, a study found that many people felt there simply isn’t enough time in the day to accomplish everything. It often feels like time is rushing by at an unstoppable pace.

However, a recent study from George Mason University in the US sheds light on how to slow down time. The research explores the phenomenon of time dilation, where our perception of time is stretched and slowed.

The study delves into whether certain images, experiences, and scenarios can make us feel like we’re spending more time on them than we actually are. The more memorable an image is, the more likely we are to believe we are viewing it for longer than we really are.

The lead researcher, Professor Martin Wiener, explains that our brains may delay the perception of time to gather more information from the moment. This poses an intriguing question: can we mentally slow down time to live more in the present and elongate enjoyable experiences?

Our subjective perception of time is dynamic, as various factors can influence how time appears to pass. For individuals with impulsivity or ADHD, time may seem to move faster, while experiencing “flow” can create the sensation of time slowing down during engaging activities.

Wiener emphasizes the importance of seeking novel experiences to expand our sense of time and enhance our memory. By immersing ourselves in new hobbies, places, subjects, and interactions, we can make better use of our time and feel like we’re living in a state of artificial slow motion.

About our experts

Professor Martin Wiener: An associate professor at George Mason University, Wiener leads a lab that investigates how the brain processes time and space. His research spans areas such as mapping the human brain, neuroimaging, and neuroscience journals.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Insights into Mars’ Water History from MAVEN and Hubble Observations

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The history of water on Mars is important for understanding the evolution of planets like Earth. Water escapes into space as atoms, but hydrogen (H) atoms escape faster than deuterium (D) (hydrogen atoms with a neutron in their nucleus), increasing the residual D/H ratio. The current ratio reflects the total amount of water Mars has lost.

These far-ultraviolet Hubble images show Mars near its farthest point from the Sun (aphelion) on December 31, 2017 (top), and Mars near its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on December 19, 2016 (bottom). Images by NASA/ESA/STScI/John T. Clarke, Boston University.

There is ample evidence that Mars experienced an early wet period when liquid water flowed across the surface, leaving distinct erosion patterns and the presence of clay in the topsoil.

This wet climate period is thought to have ended over 3 billion years ago, and the fate of that water has attracted considerable interest.

As Mars cooled, some of the water remained trapped in the crust, some broke down into hydrogen and oxygen atoms, and many of the atoms escaped into space through the upper atmosphere.

“There are only two places water can go: it freezes to the ground, or the water molecules break down into atoms and those atoms escape through the top of the atmosphere into space,” said Dr John Clark, a researcher at Boston University.

“To understand how much water there was and what became of it, we need to understand how the atoms escaped into space.”

In the new study, Dr Clark and his colleagues combined data from NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to measure how many hydrogen atoms are escaping into space and the current rate of escape.

This information allowed the researchers to infer past rates of water escape and understand the history of water on Mars.

Specifically, the researchers measured hydrogen and its heavier isotope, deuterium.

Over time, more hydrogen than deuterium was lost, increasing the D/H ratio in the atmosphere.

Measuring this ratio today can give scientists clues about how much water may have been present on Mars during its warmer, wetter periods.

By studying how these atoms escape in the present, we can understand the processes that determined escape rates over the past 4 billion years and extrapolate back in time.

Most of the data comes from MAVEN, but the spacecraft is not sensitive enough to observe deuterium emissions throughout the entire Martian year.

Unlike Earth, Mars is farther from the Sun in its elliptical orbit during its long winters, making its deuterium emissions weaker.

The authors needed Hubble data to fill in the gaps and complete a three-Martian year (687 Earth days) annual cycle.

The Hubble Space Telescope also provided additional data going back to 1991, before MAVEN arrived at Mars in 2014.

Combining data from these missions provided the first complete picture of hydrogen atoms escaping Mars into space.

“In recent years, scientists have discovered that the annual cycle of Mars is much more dynamic than people would have expected 10 or 15 years ago,” Dr Clark said.

“The whole atmosphere is very turbulent, heating and cooling on short timescales of a few hours.”

“The brightness of the Sun on Mars varies by 40 percent over the course of a Martian year, causing the atmosphere to expand and contract.”

The team found that the rate at which hydrogen and deuterium are released changes dramatically as Mars gets closer to the Sun.

The classical view that scientists had until now was that these atoms would slowly diffuse upwards through the atmosphere until they reached a height where they could escape.

But that picture no longer accurately reflects the whole picture, because scientists now know that atmospheric conditions change very rapidly.

As Mars approaches the Sun, water molecules, the source of hydrogen and deuterium, rise rapidly through the atmosphere and release atoms at high altitudes.

The second discovery is that the transformation of hydrogen and deuterium is so rapid that the escape of the atoms requires additional energy to account for it.

At the temperatures of the upper atmosphere, very few atoms would be fast enough to escape Mars’ gravity.

When something gives atoms extra energy, faster (super hot) atoms are created.

These phenomena include the impact of solar wind protons entering the atmosphere and sunlight causing chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere.

of Survey results Published in the journal Scientific advances.

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John T. Clark others2024. Hydrogen and deuterium in the Martian atmosphere: seasonal changes and a paradigm for escape into space. Scientific advances 10(30);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adm7499

This article is based on a NASA press release.

Source: www.sci.news

Physicists develop one-dimensional photon gas

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In an experiment, physicists from the University of Bonn and the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau observed and studied the properties of a one- to two-dimensional crossover in a gas of harmonically confined photons (light particles). The photons were confined in dye microcavities, while polymer nanostructures provided the trapping potential for the photon gas. By varying the aspect ratio of the trap, the researchers tuned it from an isotropic two-dimensional confinement to a highly elongated one-dimensional trapping potential. The team paper Published in a journal Natural Physics.

A polymer applied to the reflective surface confines the photonic gas within the light's parabola. The narrower this parabola is, the more one-dimensional the gas behaves. Image courtesy of University of Bonn.

“To create a gas from photons, you need to concentrate a lot of photons in a limited space and cool them at the same time,” said Dr Frank Wevinger from the University of Bonn.

In their experiments, Dr. Wewinger and his colleagues filled a small container with a dye solution and used a laser to excite it.

The resulting photons bounced back and forth between the reflective walls of the container.

Each time they collided with a dye molecule they cooled, eventually condensing the photon gas.

By modifying the reflective surface, we can affect the gas's dimensions.

“We were able to coat the reflective surface with a transparent polymer and create tiny microscopic protrusions,” said Dr Julian Schulz, a physicist at the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau.

“These protrusions allow us to confine and condense photons into one or two dimensions.”

“These polymers act as a kind of channel for the light,” said Dr Kirankumar Kalkihari Umesh, a physicist at the University of Bonn.

“The narrower this gap becomes, the more one-dimensional the gas behaves.”

In two dimensions, there is a precise temperature limit where condensation occurs, just as water freezes at exactly 0 degrees – physicists call this a phase transition.

“But if you create a one-dimensional gas instead of two-dimensional, things are a bit different,” Dr Wewinger said.

“So-called thermal fluctuations do occur in the photon gas, but in two dimensions they are so small that they have no practical effect.”

“But on one level, these fluctuations can make waves, figuratively speaking.”

These fluctuations destroy the order in a one-dimensional system, causing different regions in the gas to no longer behave in the same way.

As a result, phase transitions that are still precisely defined in two dimensions become increasingly blurred as the system becomes one-dimensional.

However, their properties are still governed by quantum physics, just like for two-dimensional gases, and these types of gases are called degenerate quantum gases.

It's as if water gets cold but doesn't freeze completely, but turns into ice at low temperatures.

“We were able to investigate this behavior for the first time in the transition from a two-dimensional to a one-dimensional photon gas,” Dr. Wewinger said.

The authors were able to demonstrate that a one-dimensional photon gas indeed does not have a precise condensation point.

By making small changes to the polymer structure, it becomes possible to study in detail what happens during the transition between different dimensions.

Although this is still considered fundamental research at this point, it has the potential to open up new applications of quantum optical effects.

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K. Kalkihari Umesh othersDimensional crossover in a quantum gas of light. National Physical SocietyPublished online September 6, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41567-024-02641-7

Source: www.sci.news

Mexico reveals newly discovered duck-billed dinosaur

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Palaeontologists from the University of Bath and elsewhere have described a new genus and species of kritosaurine hadrosaur dinosaur from a partial skull discovered in the Late Cretaceous Cerro del Pueblo Formation.

Reconstructing your life Coahuilasaurus lipani. Image credit: C. Diaz Frias.

The newly described species is Coahuilasaurus lipani. It has an estimated overall length of 8 metres (26.2 ft).

It dates back about 72.5 million years ago, towards the end of the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period.

Coahuilasaurus lipani belongs to Kritosaurs, a unique family of duck-billed dinosaurs (Hadrosauridae), Kritosaurus navajovius and their relatives.

“Kritosaurus is one of the most diverse lineages of North American hadrosaurs, represented by numerous species that lived during the Late Cretaceous of the Western Interior,” they said. Dr Nicholas Longrich Researchers from the University of Bath and their colleagues.

“The striking changes in jaw morphology suggest different ecological niches and dietary specialization.”

“The diversity of cranial vault morphology among kritosaurs suggests that sexual selection may have driven the evolution of kritosaurs, similar to the crested lambeosaurs and ceratopsids.”

“Although klitosaurins’ bone protuberances are not very sophisticated, klitosaurins may have had sophisticated soft-tissue structures.”

“The function of the Kritosaurus crest is unclear,” the paleontologist said.

“Because it is conspicuous, it probably functioned as a display. In modern birds, skull ornaments are sometimes used in intraspecific combat, for example in hornbills, and the relatively robust crest feathers may have served a similar function.”

“As in lambeosaurids, the elaborate nasal cavity may have also been involved in vocalization.”

Part of a skull Coahuilasaurus lipani comes from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation in Coahuila, Mexico.

“The Cerro del Pueblo Formation harbors a diverse assemblage of dinosaurs, including theropods and ornithischians,” the researchers said.

“Theropods include tyrannosaurs and deinocheirs. Paraxenisaurus normalensis, Ornithomimidae, Caenagnatidae, Dromaeosauridae, and Troodontidae.”

“The ornithischian family includes ankylosaurs, ceratopsids, thescelosaurs, and hadrosaurs.”

According to the team’s analysis, Coahuilasaurus lipani is distinct from the kritosaurs found further north on Laramidia.

It may be related to the kritosaurid hadrosaurids, Gryposaurus monumentensis. This suggests that it is part of a distinct southern kritosaur lineage.

“With specimens from the Naashoibito Formation of the Kirtland Formation in New Mexico, Coahuilasaurus lipani ,”This study shows that kritosaurs survived in the south of Laramidia after local extinction in the north, a pattern also seen in parasaurolophus and lambeosaurines,” the scientists said.

“The southern fauna not only has different species but also different patterns of diversity change compared to the northern Laramidia fauna.”

“Differences in species composition and community structure in different regions of Laramidia mean that further studies on dinosaurs from Mexico and the southwestern United States are needed to understand the evolution of dinosaur diversity in western North America.”

“Southern dinosaur faunas may have been characterized by higher origination rates and lower extinction rates than northern faunas.”

of study Published in the journal on September 1, 2024 Diversity.

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Nicholas R. Longrich others2024. Coahuilasaurus lipania new species of kritosaurine hadrosaurid from the Upper Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation, northern Mexico. Diversity 16 (9): 531; doi: 10.3390/d16090531

Source: www.sci.news

Camera captures rare meeting between endangered wombat and echidna

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A rare and lively encounter between a young wombat and an echidna has been caught on camera, delighting conservationists in Australia.

This active behaviour, captured on camera traps, is the work of the endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Laciorhinus kleftii) is proving successful.

At their lowest point in the late 1990s, with just 35 remaining in a small reserve in central Queensland, wombats were one of the rarest large mammals on the planet. Today, thanks to hard work, wombats' numbers have grown to around 400. In 2009, relocations began to the fenced Richard Underwood Sanctuary in southern Queensland, where around 15 wombats now live.

Andy Howe Howe of the Australian Wildlife Conservation Society in Newcastle, Australia, was sorting through 100 hours of footage recorded at the sanctuary when two clips caught his eye. The first, from early June, shows a northern hairy-nosed wombat baby, proving that the sanctuary's population has successfully raised young and that the pups are now foraging on their own. The wombats are well-groomed and at a healthy weight, Howe says.

Then, in footage taken a month later, he was seen with a young wombat and a short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatusThe echidna waddles around the frame, seemingly unfazed, while the wombat becomes increasingly agitated and throws himself into the dirt.

Tim Flannery A researcher at the Australian Museum in Sydney says he has never seen an interaction like this in his decades of experience studying mammals: “This is a nervous wombat and a happy echidna,” he says.

Northern hairy-nosed wombat, Richard Underwood Nature Reserve, Queensland, Australia

Brad Ruhe/Australian Wildlife Conservation Council

He says this is typical echidna behaviour, and that the animal's spine makes it difficult and dangerous to attack. For much of the video, the wombat points its tail at the echidna, a defensive posture in the tunnel where it presses the intruder against the roof of its burrow.

Flannery says it's “amazing” to see such natural, wild behaviour from a species so close to extinction. “It's very encouraging to see wombats thriving,” he says. Now that the transplant has proven successful, he suggests new populations be established elsewhere as soon as possible.

Before Europeans arrived, the species was found from northern Victoria through arid New South Wales and into central Queensland, and reestablishment of the species throughout its range would have major environmental benefits, Dr Flannery said.

“They're ecosystem engineers because they dig and burrow into the soil,” he says, “and their burrows provide shelter for other creatures during heat waves, droughts and fires.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Witness the Amphibious Rebirth of an Eel from Inside a Fish’s Stomach

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Eels escape from the gills of fish

Hasegawa et al./Current Biology

It has been found that Japanese eels attempt to escape from the stomachs of fish that have swallowed them whole, and sometimes succeed in doing so.

A few years ago, Yuba Hasegawa of Nagasaki University discovered that the Japanese eel (AnguillaAn eel (scientific name: Anguilliidae) that had been swallowed by a fish had somehow reappeared in the tank. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the eels had escaped through the fish's gills — 28 of the 54 that had been swallowed whole had managed to escape — but it was unclear how they had managed to do so.

Hasegawa and his team were able to capture this process by injecting a contrast agent into the eels, making them visible under X-rays.Odontobutis obscura), and 12 were able to navigate far enough back up the esophagus to bend their tails and exit the gill slits. Nine of these 12 escaped.

When the eels began to move backwards through the esophagus, in some cases their tails were not fully inside the stomach, but in other cases their entire bodies were inside the stomach and they spun around as if searching for an exit. Five of the 11 eels that were fully inside the stomach were able to place their tails at the entrance to the esophagus and return to the gills.

Two of the 11 took a wrong turn and headed for the intestines. All that didn't escape died within three and a half minutes.

The team now plans to test whether other eels and similarly shaped fish can escape in this way. “At present, the Japanese eel is the only fish species that has been confirmed to be able to escape from the digestive tract of a predator after being caught,” Hasegawa says.

However, other kinds of animals can escape being swallowed whole. For example, aquatic beetles Regimbaltia attenuata You can escape from the frog Crawling out of the anus.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Insights into large pterosaur flying capabilities revealed by new fossils found in Jordan

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have unearthed the fossils of two different large azhdarchoid pterosaurs. Inabatanin Arabia And previously known species Arambrugiana Philadelphia — Discovered in Upper Cretaceous deposits in Jordan, the fossils have led researchers to hypothesize that not only could the largest pterosaurs fly, but that they may have had a different style of flight.

Inabatanin Arabia (Top) Flying while flapping its wings Arambrugiana Philadelphia (Below) Soaring like a vulture. Image courtesy of Terrill Whitlatch.

Pterosaurs are an extinct group of flying reptiles that existed from the Late Triassic until the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.

They evolved powered flight about 50 million years before flight feathers appeared in the fossil record, and some achieved wingspans twice that of the largest flying birds (12 metres versus 6 metres).

“Our team was very surprised to find a three-dimensionally preserved pterosaur bone, which is a very rare occurrence,” said University of Michigan paleontologist Kerstin Rosenbach.

“Because pterosaur bones are hollow, they are extremely fragile and, if preserved, are likely to be found flat like a pancake.”

Dr. Rosenbach and his colleagues discovered two azhdarchoid pterosaur specimens in Jordan, one of which corresponds to a giant species. Arambrugiana Philadelphia (wingspan about 10 meters) and the second is a new, smaller species. Inabatanin Arabia (Wingspan approximately 5 meters).

They used high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans to analyze the internal structure of the wing bones.

“3D preservation is very rare, so we don’t have a lot of information about what the inside of a pterosaur bone looks like, so we wanted to do a CT scan,” Dr Rosenbach said.

“It’s entirely possible that nothing was preserved inside, or that the CT scanner was not sensitive enough to distinguish the fossil bone tissue from the surrounding matrix.”

“But fortunately, what we found was amazing, with exciting internal structures that were not only preserved but could be seen with a CT scanner.”

New specimens Arambrugiana Philadelphia Its wingspan was determined to be 10 metres, and the first details about the reptile’s skeletal structure were revealed.

CT scans revealed that the humerus is hollow inside, with a series of spiral ridges running up and down the bone, similar to the internal structure of a vulture’s wing bones.

The spiral ridges are thought to resist the torsional loads associated with soaring (sustained powered flight that requires flapping wings to launch and maintain).

The Inabutinin Arabian specimen is one of the most complete pterosaurs ever discovered in Afro-Arabia.

CT scans revealed that the structure of its flight bones is completely different from that of Arambourgiania philadelphiae.

The interior of the flight bone was crossed with an arrangement of struts that matched those seen in the wing bones of modern flapping birds.

This indicates that it was adapted to withstand the bending loads associated with flapping flight, and so it is likely that Inabatanin flew in this way, although it does not exclude the possibility that other flight styles may have been used from time to time.

” Inabatanin Arabia “It’s not uncommon, but it’s fun to see,” Dr. Rosenbach said.

” Arambrugiana Philadelphia It was totally unexpected and at first I had no idea what I was looking at.”

“Being able to see the entire 3D model, Arambrugiana PhiladelphiaI was really excited to see the spiral ridges on the humerus.”

The discovery of diverse flight styles among different sized pterosaurs is extremely exciting as it gives clues about how these animals lived.

It also raises intriguing questions, such as to what extent flight style correlates with body size and which flight style is more common among pterosaurs.

“We have very limited information about the internal structure of pterosaur bones over time, so it’s hard to say with any certainty which style of flight emerged first,” Dr Rosenbach said.

“If you look at other groups of flying vertebrates, birds and bats, you’ll find that wing flapping is by far the most common flight behavior.”

“Even soaring and gliding birds need some flapping to take to the air and continue flying.”

“This leads us to suggest that if flapping flight was the default state and was advantageous for a population of pterosaurs in a particular environment, in this case the open ocean, then soaring behaviour probably evolved later.”

a paper The paper on the survey results is Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Kirsten L. Rosenbach othersNew pterosaur fossils from the Afro-Arabian Late Cretaceous provide insight into the flying capabilities of large pterosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyPublished online September 5, 2024; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2024.2385068

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Space Telescope Discovers a Spiral Galaxy Forming Stars

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope It has provided astronomers with a detailed new image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5668.

In this image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5668, the Hubble Space Telescope was used to survey the area surrounding a Type II supernova event called SN 2004G to study the types of stars that end their lives as supernovae. The color image is composed of near-infrared and visible light observations by the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths. The colors are obtained by assigning a different color to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubble / C. Kilpatrick.

NGC 5668 It is located in the constellation Virgo and is about 90 million light years away from Earth.

This galaxy, also known as IRAS 14309+0440, LEDA 52018, and UGC 9363, Found It was discovered on April 29, 1786 by German-born British astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 5668 belongs to two galaxy groups: the NGC 5638 group and the NGC 5746 group.

“At first glance, NGC 5668 does not appear to be a remarkable galaxy,” the Hubble astronomers said.

“It has a diameter of about 90,000 light-years and is roughly the same size and mass as our own Milky Way galaxy. It faces almost head-on, revealing open spiral arms made up of irregular, cloud-like patches.”

“One striking difference between the Milky Way and NGC 5668 is that new stars are forming 60 percent faster in this galaxy.”

“This confirms a galaxy with swirling clouds and gas flows, and bad weather that creates the perfect conditions for new star formation.”

Astronomers have identified two main drivers of star formation in NGC 5668.

“First, this high-quality Hubble Space Telescope snapshot reveals a central bar,” the researchers said.

“Although it may appear slightly elliptical rather than truly bar-shaped, it is likely to influence the galaxy's star formation rate, similar to the bar-like structure at the centers of many spiral galaxies.”

“Second, a high-velocity hydrogen gas cloud has been tracked moving perpendicularly between the galaxy's disk and the faint, spherical halo that surrounds it.”

“They are produced by the powerful stellar winds of hot, massive stars, which feed gas into new star-forming regions.”

“The elevated star formation rate in NGC 5668 is accompanied by a corresponding abundance of supernova explosions,” the researchers said.

“It has been discovered three times in our galaxy, in 1952, 1954, and 2004.”

Source: www.sci.news

The impact of the melting Greenland Ice Sheet on ocean currents

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Climate change affects our planet and our lives in many ways. Dry the atmosphere To Increase in home runs Climate change accelerates glacial melt with each Major League Baseball season. Greenland Ice Sheet The land ice mass that covers about 80% of Greenland. When glaciers melt, icebergs form, a process called “iceberg formation.” Glacier collapse Recent climate change has increased the rate at which icebergs are flowing from the Greenland Ice Sheet into the North Atlantic.

Scientists have found that in the past, large increases in the rate of glacial collapse have disrupted important ocean current systems in the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic Meridional Gyre Or as the AMOC, it carries warm water north and cold water south, affecting global temperatures and moving nutrients across the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that disrupting the AMOC could change the climate and destabilize marine ecosystems. Recently, scientists conducted a study to determine whether the current increase in glacier collapse could disrupt the AMOC.

For this study, the researchers developed a method to quantify glacial runoff during past periods of increased glacial collapse in the North Atlantic that disrupted the AMOC. Heinrich Event They began by looking at present-day glaciers in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. As icebergs break up, they deposit sediment. This sediment includes sand and rocks from the land below the ice sheet, as well as the remains of organisms that lived on the ice sheet. When the icebergs melt at sea, the sediment is released and sinks to the ocean floor.

Scientists observed modern glaciers melting and measured the average amount of sediment, by volume, that they released. Using this average, the researchers estimated how much ice was released during past Heinrich events, based on the amount of sediment that was deposited on the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Scientists used this method to estimate the total amount of ice lost during 10 Heinrich events (the last of which) that occurred over the past 140,000 years. Glacial Cycle Previous scientists had determined the duration of Heinrich events, which allowed the researchers to estimate the ice runoff rate during each event. The researchers compared their estimated runoff rates to current ice runoff rates and found that current ice runoff rates are similar to those of previous mid-sized Heinrich events that disrupted the AMOC. However, the scientists who conducted the study also noted that the AMOC is currently stable.

The researchers suggested two factors that could help explain why the current increase in glacial collapse is not disrupting the AMOC as much as it has in the past. First, the researchers think that the AMOC was stronger when the current glacial runoff rate began to increase than it was at the start of past Heinrich events, which may make the current AMOC more resistant to disruptions. Second, each of the 10 Heinrich events the scientists used in their study lasted about 250 years, while the faster glacial collapse seen today may have been due to a slowdown in the early Heinrich events. It began in recent decades They suggested that AMOC collapse could only occur after a longer period of increased glacier calving than has happened previously.

If the rate of glacial calving continues to increase by the time the AMOC collapses, the size of the Greenland Ice Sheet may limit its influence on the AMOC. The researchers noted that if the Greenland Ice Sheet continues to melt at its current rate, the rate of calving will slow before 250 years have passed. The icebergs that caused the Heinrich events in the last glacial cycle broke off from a much larger ice sheet. Laurentide Ice Sheet It no longer exists.

The scientists who conducted the study said that freshwater runoff from the melting Greenland Ice Sheet could also disrupt the AMOC, but its impact would be less severe than ice runoff. However, they noted that freshwater runoff is likely to increase as glacial collapse slows in the coming decades, which could have unpredictable consequences. The researchers suggested that the scientific community should continue their work to model the impacts of a melting Greenland Ice Sheet as accurately as possible, because, in their words, “the fate of the AMOC remains uncertain.”

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Source: sciworthy.com

Clown visits may shorten children’s hospital stays

Posted on September 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Medical clowns can help kids through treatment

Phat Camera/Getty Images

Children and teens with pneumonia who receive a visit from a medical clown to help slow their heart rates and promote independence appear to spend less time in hospital.

Visits from medical clowns can help kids role-play or provide distraction during treatment, but until now Reduced stress and anxiety for young people in hospital.

now, Karin Yaakoby Vienu Researchers from the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, and their colleagues specifically studied its effects in children hospitalized with pneumonia (lung inflammation).

The researchers randomly selected 26 children and young people aged 2 to 18 with pneumonia to receive 15-minute visits from a health clown twice a day for two days after their arrival at the center, while another 25 children and young people received similar care but without visits from a clown.

The clowns sang and played music with the participants, encouraging them to eat and drink on their own. “At first they were getting fluids and nutrients through tubes,” says Jacoby Vianeu.

The researchers found that patients who received a clown visit stayed at the center for an average of 44 hours, compared with 70 hours for those who didn't. The results were presented at the European Respiratory Society conference in Vienna, Austria.

Doctors, who didn't know which patients had received Clown Care, decided when to discharge them based on improvements in breathing and heart rate and the ability to eat and drink on their own, the latter indicating they could take antibiotic tablets at home rather than being given drugs intravenously, Yaacobi-Vianeu said.

The clowns likely helped the participants recover through play. It can lower blood pressure,say Kelsey Glover “Play can also boost young people's well-being, mood, energy levels and physical confidence and capability,” say researchers from the University of Cambridge.

Graeber said the researchers should repeat the study in larger groups of children and teens with a variety of conditions at other hospitals.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Guaranteed Method to Lose Weight and Maintain it: The Power of Fasting

Posted on September 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In the past, intermittent fasting was not a choice due to scarcity of food. People would go hours or days without eating. Today, we have access to food whenever we want. This shift in eating habits has led to questions about the benefits of fasting and its potential reintroduction.

Intermittent fasting usually involves limiting food intake to specific times or days, like eating only for eight hours out of 24 (16:8 diet) or restricting calories for two days out of seven (5:2 diet).

Strong Points

Intermittent fasting can help with weight loss, particularly fat loss, as it reduces overall caloric intake. It also provides structure to eating days and can be flexible and intuitive. Some benefits include decreased hunger, lower levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, reduced appetite, and improved fat burning.

Fasting may also lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and improve vascular health. Research shows that intermittent fasting is beneficial for cardiometabolic health and may have positive effects on long-term cardiovascular health.

There is evidence to suggest that fasting can protect against issues related to aging, improve autophagy, and potentially benefit brain health and cancer risk, but more research is needed to support these claims.

Cons

Concerns about fasting include potential muscle loss and the lack of long-term studies to support its safety. Some studies suggest that restricting eating to less than eight hours a day could increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, but data collection methods and sample sizes in these studies may be flawed.

There is also a risk of reduced protein intake with intermittent fasting, which could be problematic for some individuals, especially those with a history of eating disorders or health conditions that require regular meals.

Experts recommend ensuring adequate protein intake and incorporating strength training if trying intermittent fasting. It’s important to approach fasting like any other diet, not as a permanent solution, and to pay attention to food choices when breaking the fast.

About our experts

Dr. Jason Fung, Dr. Darryl Gioffre, Brady Holmer, and Drew Price are experts in their fields and have published work related to intermittent fasting, nutrition, and health.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Here’s why scientists are attempting to coat robots with living skin

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

From the early days of robot creation, researchers have been dealing with the “uncanny valley” phenomenon, where something resembles a human but falls short of being completely realistic. A recent breakthrough involves attaching human skin to robots, creating a more lifelike appearance.

The team of researchers from the University of Tokyo, Harvard University, and the International Neurointelligence Research Center have successfully created lifelike skin for robots using live human skin cells, as detailed in a study published in the journal Cell Report Physical Sciences.

Lead author Michio Kawai explained that the skin is created by culturing skin cells from excess tissue with collagen tissue, which is then solidified around the robot using a perforated anchor structure.

Initially, they experimented with attaching skin using tiny hooks, but this caused tears. Instead, they developed a perforated anchor structure that mimics the functionality of real skin, creating a more natural appearance.

To ensure durability and flexibility, holes were drilled in the robot, collagen gel was applied, and skin was attached on top. This method aims to create robots that can self-repair surface damage and adapt to a wide range of tasks.

While the skin lacks blood vessels and must be kept moist to prevent drying out, future research aims to create pathways for nutrients and moisture within the skin tissue. Challenges such as maintaining sterile conditions during development must also be addressed.

In the quest for human-like robots, the team aims to replicate anatomical structures like glands, pores, blood vessels, fat, and nerves to achieve the perfect skin resemblance. As soft robotics technology advances, the potential applications of skin-covered robots expand to various fields.

While still in the demonstration phase for research purposes, this technology could eventually impact areas like skin aging, cosmetics, surgery, and training for surgeons. Despite the current limitations, advancements in robotic skin signal a promising future.

About our experts

Michio Kawai: A PhD student in bioengineering at Harvard University, focusing on research in Cell Report Physical Sciences, Helyon, and Case.

Shoji Takeuchi: Professor of Biohybrid Systems at the University of Tokyo, known for research in Science Robotics, Natural Chemistry, and Nature Communications.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Discovery of 2,070-year-old Roman wall constructed to confine gladiator Spartacus and his army in Italy

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists have discovered a 2.7-kilometer (1.7-mile) long Roman defensive wall and moat in the southern Italian region of Calabria that was originally built by Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus to contain Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator and leader of a slave revolt, and his forces.

A 2,070-year-old Roman wall in the Dossone della Meria Forest in south-central Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of the University of Kentucky.

Spartacus He was a Thracian gladiator who became one of the most famous leaders of a major slave revolt against the Roman Republic known as the Third Servile War (73-71 BC).

Born around 103 BC in what is now Bulgaria, he initially served in the Roman army before being captured and sold into slavery.

In 73 BC, Spartacus and about 70 fellow gladiators Run away They escaped from the gladiator training school in Capua and took refuge on Mount Vesuvius, where they were soon joined by other fugitive slaves.

Spartacus proved to be a skilled leader and tactician, defeating the Roman armies multiple times. Military expansion to an estimated 70,000 slaves and others.

He was not the only leader of the rebellion: two other fugitive gladiators, Crixus and Oenomaus, formed the remaining two factions of the Slave Triumvirate.

This rebellion posed a great threat to Rome, and the Senate sent several legions to put it down.

Despite initial success, Spartacus and his forces were eventually cornered by the Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus.

In 71 BC, Spartacus' forces were defeated in a final battle in Lucania and he was killed, although his body was never found.

Although the Spartacus rebellion was not intended to be a social revolution, it has served as an inspiration to many throughout history as a symbol of resistance against oppression.

“We believe that Spartacus attacked the newly discovered wall to escape a trap set by Crassus,” said archaeologist Paolo Visona of the University of Kentucky.

The Dossone della Meria forest in south-central Calabria, Italy, is home to 2.7 km of ancient stone walls and earthworks.

Archaeologists also unearthed numerous broken iron weapons, including sword hilts, large curved blades, spear tips, spearheads and other metal fragments.

“The discovery was made possible thanks to a tip-off from local environmental groups who knew the wall existed but had no idea what it was,” Prof Visonagh said.

“We surveyed the walls and trenches using ground-penetrating radar, LIDAR, magnetic measurements and soil core sampling.”

Source: www.sci.news

Boeing Starliner spacecraft embarks on return voyage without crew members

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Wilmore and Williams were present to assist with the detachment of Starliner from the space station.

“We’re cheering for you. You’re going to be fine,” Williams communicated to mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before the capsule separated. “Bring us back to Earth. Best of luck.”

Starliner’s journey back will mark the end of a turbulent few months for Boeing and NASA, whose test flights were meant to show that the spacecraft could reliably transport astronauts to low Earth orbit and pave the way for NASA to approve Boeing for regular flights to the space station.

However, the issues with the thrusters are the latest setback for Boeing’s Starliner program, which is already more than $1.5 billion over budget and years behind schedule even before its first launch. An initial uncrewed test flight that NASA required before Boeing’s spacecraft could carry astronauts also failed, leading the company to try again in 2022.

NASA officials stated earlier this week that they are collaborating with Boeing to enhance Starliner’s thrusters, and further analysis will be conducted once the spacecraft returns and engineers evaluate its performance.

To prepare for a potential thruster malfunction as Starliner embarks on its return journey, flight controllers adjusted the capsule’s usual undocking process: After separating from the space station, Starliner would automatically move away from the station in case of any issues.

Preliminary data showed that the thrusters successfully completed all 12 scheduled burns during the retreat, according to NASA.

Several hours later, at 11:17 pm EST, Starliner’s engines will execute a 59-second “de-orbit burn,” decelerating the spacecraft and initiating its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. As it nears the landing location in New Mexico, parachutes will be deployed to slow the capsule, with airbags beneath the spacecraft deployed to cushion the landing.

For Boeing, a successful return of the Starliner spacecraft will be mixed feelings: If all goes well, it could demonstrate that NASA astronauts could safely ride back on the spacecraft, although NASA’s senior leadership unanimously opted for SpaceX to handle the return flight to reduce the risk of further setbacks.

Boeing designed the Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which began in 2011 to support private spacecraft in place of NASA’s retired space shuttle fleet. Competitor SpaceX is developing its Crew Dragon spacecraft under the same program, which has been conducting regular round-trip missions to the space station since 2020.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Research: Volcanic Activity on the Moon 123 Million Years Ago

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

There is plenty of geological evidence that the Moon had ancient volcanic activity, but it is unclear how long that activity lasted. Magma eruptions create volcanic glass, which has been found in lunar samples before. Dr. Li Qiuli of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues analyzed about 3,000 glass beads taken from lunar soil samples collected by China's Chang'e-5 mission. They identified three glass beads as being of volcanic origin based on their texture, chemical composition, and sulfur isotopes. Uranium-lead dating of these volcanic beads determined that they formed about 123 million years ago.

Volcanic eruptions that produced glass beads on the Moon. Image courtesy of T. Zhang & Y. Wang.

Samples collected by the Apollo, Luna and Chang'e-5 missions have so far shown that the Moon experienced widespread basaltic volcanic activity between about 4.4 billion and 2 billion years ago.

The findings suggest that, at least on small, localized scales, volcanic activity continued for much longer than previously thought.

“Dating of lunar volcanic basalt samples returned to Earth by the Apollo and Luna missions or delivered to Earth as lunar meteorites reveals that lunar basaltic volcanism continued at least 2.9 to 2.8 billion years ago,” the researchers said.

“However, analysis of lunar samples returned by the Chang'e-5 mission demonstrates that basaltic volcanism persisted at least 2 billion years ago.”

“Remote sensing observations suggest that there may have been more recent volcanic activity on the Moon during the Late Copernican epoch (less than 800 million years ago).”

“However, none of these remote sensing observations provide precise dates for possible volcanic activity.”

“Furthermore, the proposed Late Copernican Ocean basalt outbursts cover only a limited area, and no samples are available.”

“Eruptions of gas-rich magma can produce magma fountains that produce sub-millimeter glass beads.”

“These beads could be deposited over a wide area and then transported farther across the lunar surface by impacts.”

“Volcanic glass may be a trace component in existing samples.”

In their study, Dr Li and his co-authors sorted 3,000 tiny glass beads retrieved from lunar samples collected by Chang'e-5, examining the beads' chemical composition, physical texture, and sulfur isotopes to distinguish between volcanic glass and glass produced by meteorite impacts.

They identified three of the beads as being of volcanic origin and used radiometric dating to determine that the beads were formed 123 million years ago.

Volcanic beads are rich in potassium, phosphorus, and rare earth elements, known as KREEP elements, which can produce radioactive heat.

Localized heating by KREEP elements could melt rocks in the Moon's mantle, causing small amounts of magma to erupt to the surface.

“The volcanic glass beads contained large amounts of rare earth elements and thorium, which may indicate that recent volcanic activity is associated with local enrichment of heat-producing elements in the mantle source of magma,” the researchers said.

Their paper Published in a journal Science.

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Wang Biwen others2024. Samples brought back indicate volcanic activity on the moon 120 million years ago. Science 385 (6713); doi: 1077-1080; doi: 10.1126/science.adk6635

Source: www.sci.news

Research uncovers evidence of active volcanoes on the moon during the dinosaur era

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New research suggests that volcanoes on the Moon were active during the time of the dinosaurs on Earth, but much more recently than previously believed.

Three small glass beads gathered from the lunar surface by a Chinese probe in 2020 indicate volcanic activity on the Moon 120 million years ago, according to the study. The findings were published Thursday in the journal Science.

Initial analysis of samples collected by the Chang’e-5 lunar mission suggested that volcanic activity ceased approximately 2 billion years ago, updating an earlier evaluation that the Moon had been devoid of active volcanoes for about 4 billion years.

Researchers examined around 3,000 lunar glass beads that may have been produced by volcanic eruptions or meteorite impacts, identifying three of them as of volcanic origin based on their texture and chemical makeup.

The research team expressed being “surprised and excited” by their “unexpected” discoveries.

The presence of relatively recent lunar volcanism “implies that a small celestial body like the Moon may have retained enough internal heat to support activity until very late,” co-authors Professor Li Qili and Associate Professor He Yuyang from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, shared in an email.

However, it remains “unclear” why the Moon has remained volcanically active for such a long period, as per the study.

Planetary volcanologist Qian Yuqi from the University of Hong Kong commented that identifying such a young volcano has “major” implications for the Moon’s development.

“Where did they originate from?” Qian, who was not part of the research, inquired in an email. “This could lead to future missions to search for them.”

The Chang’e-5 lunar mission marked the first return of lunar samples since the U.S. Apollo program in the 1970s and the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission. In June, China achieved a historic feat by retrieving rocks from the far side of the Moon through its Chang’e-6 mission.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

One tiny particle has the potential to alter our understanding of gravity

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces that bind matter in the universe. The other three forces (electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and strong nuclear) are explained through the exchange of force-carrying elementary particles, leading theorists to believe there is a similar quantum explanation for gravity.

The force carriers for the electromagnetic force are photons, while the weak nuclear force has W-, W+, and Z0 bosons as force carriers, and the strong nuclear force has eight types of gluons. On the other hand, the hypothetical carrier of gravitational force is known as the graviton.

The properties of the graviton are deducible in quantum theory. The amount of energy required to summon a force-carrying particle from the vacuum determines how quickly it must be recovered. Since gravity has an infinite range and does not require energy to create a graviton, the mass of the graviton must be zero.

Additionally, gravitons are expected to have a spin of 2, as only spin 2 particles interact with all matter, which is characteristic of universal gravity. This is in contrast to quarks and leptons, which have a spin of 1/2, and the non-gravitational force carriers, which have a spin of 1.

While gravity may not be fully explained by the exchange of gravitons, most physicists believe it can be quantized. String theory offers a potential framework where fundamental particles are envisioned as vibrations of mass-energy strings, with each vibrating string having the properties of a graviton.

However, string theory faces challenges due to its complexity and inability to make testable predictions. Detecting gravitons is difficult due to the extremely weak nature of gravity and the rare interactions gravitons have with matter.

Despite the challenges in detecting gravitons, recent advancements in experimental exploration, such as the discovery of spin-2 particle properties in a liquid analogue system, provide hope for a better understanding of gravitons and the eventual unification of fundamental forces into a single theory.

About our experts

Tony Rothman: A theoretical physicist who has taught at Princeton and Harvard Universities, he has published non-fiction and fiction novels and written various stage plays outside of his academic career. He has contributed to publications like Physics Basics, European Journal of Physics, and Astrophysics and Space Sciences.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The top 10 largest volcanic eruptions in the world, ranked by devastation

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Volcanoes have been responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring and deadliest natural disasters in history, from the destruction of Pompeii by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD to the devastating eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in 2010.

There are more than 1,500 active volcanoes around the world, with one eruption occurring on average every week. But which of these eruptions are the most powerful?

Today, we have the ability to observe and measure volcanic eruptions with much more accuracy than in the past. Using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and the Dense Rock Equivalent Scale (DRE), we can compare the strength and destructive power of different volcanoes.

10. Mount St. Helens (1980) – VEI 5, DRE 0.5km³

Eruption of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood, Washington, USA, photographed during the May 1980 eruption. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Deaths: 57

In the morning of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted explosively. Signs of magma movement had been observed for months prior, but the magnitude of the explosion still took many by surprise. The eruption produced blast winds of up to 1,080 km/h and devastated everything in a 600 km² radius within minutes, making it the most destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history.

9. El Chichon (1982) – VEI 5, DRE 1.1km³

El Chichon volcano spews a column of ash and steam high into the sky above the evacuated town of El Volcan, Mexico, in March 1982. Photo by Getty Images

Estimated deaths: 1,900

El Chichon volcano in Chiapas, Mexico, erupted in 1982 after over 600 years of dormancy, catching many off guard. A deadly pyroclastic flow and sulfur dioxide emissions caused significant damage and casualties near the volcano.

8. Mount Hudson (1991) – VEI 5, DRE 1.6-2.7km³

Aerial photo of Mount Hudson Volcano taken on August 23, 1991. Photo by Norm Banks/US Geological Survey/Wikipedia

…

This massive eruption not only reduced Mount Tambora's elevation by a third, but also spewed huge amounts of ash and gas into the atmosphere, blocking out the sun.

In the long term, this led to massive food shortages worldwide, with 1816 becoming known as “the year without a summer.” It is estimated that at least 71,000 people ultimately died of starvation as a result of the eruption.

	Volcano	year	V.I.	Deaths (number
1	Tambora, Indonesia	1815	7	71,000 (estimated)
2	Novarupta, Alaska, USA	1912	6	0
3	Krakatoa, Indonesia	1883	6	36,600 (estimated)
4	Santa Maria, Guatemala	1902	6	7,000 – 13,000 (estimated)
5	Pinatubo, Philippines	1991	6	1,202
6	Hunga Tonga – Tonga, Hunga Ha'apai	2022	5.7	6
7	Kisap, Chile	1932	5	0
8	Mount Hudson, Chile	1991	5	0
9	El Chichon, Mexico	1982	5	1,900 (estimated)
10	Mount St. Helens (USA)	1980	5	57

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Incredible Pterosaur Fossils offer insights into their flight capabilities

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Smaller pterosaurs may have flapped their wings, while larger ones may have flown.

Terryl Whitlatch

Despite living hundreds of millions of years apart, pterosaurs may be more similar to modern birds than previously thought: the bone structure of these giant reptiles suggests that the largest used wings to fly, while smaller ones flapped their wings to achieve flight.

The discovery comes from a remarkably well-preserved pterosaur fossil unearthed in Jordan, where the mechanism of flight has left traces in the skeleton. Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla At the University of Michigan.

Pterosaurs began flying about 80 million years before birds and bats. During their 150 million year reign, from the Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period, they conquered every continent and evolved into a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Some were as small as a sparrow, while others had wingspans the size of a city bus. Analysis of pterosaur bones has revealed that different pterosaurs used different flight tactics to stay airborne.

Wilson-Mantilla and his team compared the fossils of two different pterosaur species and were delighted to discover that the 3D structure of the bones was still intact, which was a surprise because the hollow, brittle bones of pterosaurs would have easily broken down. Computed tomography scans revealed that the bones of the two reptile species were significantly different.

Large pterosaur, Arambrugiana Philadelphiahad spiral ridges running up and down the inside of their bones, similar to modern birds like eagles that fly with their wings fixed. Inabatanin Arabia The bird, a new species to science, had crossed struts that mimicked those of flapping birds.

The helical spiral helps resist twisting forces during ascent, and the crossed footings resist bending forces of the flaps. Wilson Mantilla.

Because the team found the fossils in what was once a coastal area, Mantilla thinks the soaring pterosaurs may have gained altitude by riding updrafts (currents of warm air rising from the ocean surface). He speculates that these pterosaurs could have also flapped their wings specifically to take to the air, making their soaring trait even more unusual.

The reason why one of these pterosaurs appeared to be flapping and the other was soaring raises new questions about how the more than 100 other known pterosaur species flew. Mantilla next wants to examine fossils from around the world to see if this pattern holds true. Perhaps, like modern birds, only the largest individuals of their species were able to soar.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb finds mysterious cosmic question mark in distorted galaxy formation

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Seven billion years ago, the universe’s star formation boom began to slow. What did our Milky Way galaxy look like at that time? Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a clue in the form of a cosmic question mark, the result of an unusual alignment in space spanning several light-years.

Galaxy cluster MACS-J0417.5-1154 is so massive that it warps the fabric of space-time and distorts the appearance of galaxies behind it. This phenomenon is known as gravitational lensing. This natural phenomenon magnifies distant galaxies, sometimes causing them to appear multiple times in the image, as Webb saw here. Two distant interacting galaxies (a spiral galaxy seen face-on and a dusty red galaxy seen edge-on) appear multiple times, tracing a familiar shape across the sky. Active star formation and the remarkably perfect spiral shape of the galaxy seen face-on indicate that these galaxies are just beginning to interact. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/V. Estrada-Carpenter, Saint Mary’s University.

“There are only three or four known examples of similar gravitational lensing configurations in the observable universe, so this discovery is exciting as it demonstrates the power of Webb and suggests that we may find more like it in the future,” said Dr Guillaume Despres, from St Mary’s University.

The region has previously been observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but Webb was the first to spot the dusty red galaxy forming an intriguing question mark shape.

This is because the wavelengths of light that Hubble detects are trapped in space dust, while longer wavelengths of infrared light pass through Webb’s instruments and can be detected.

Astronomers used both telescopes to observe the galaxy cluster. MACS-J0417.5-1154The cluster is so large that it distorts the fabric of space-time, acting like a magnifying glass.

This will allow astronomers to see clearer details of the much more distant galaxies behind the cluster.

But the same gravitational effects that expand galaxies also cause distortions, which can result in galaxies appearing spread out in an arc across the sky, or appearing multiple times.

This optical illusion in space is called gravitational lensing.

The red galaxy Webb uncovered, along with the spiral galaxy it interacts with, previously detected by Hubble, is magnified and distorted in an unusual way that requires a special and rare alignment between the distant galaxy, the lens, and the observer — something astronomers call hyperbolic umbilical gravitational lensing.

This explains five images of the galaxy pair seen in the Webb image, four of which trace the top of the question mark.

The question mark points are, from our perspective, unrelated galaxies that happen to be in the right place and spacetime.

In addition to developing a case study for Webb, Niris Noting the ability of their infrared imaging device and slitless spectrometer to detect star formation locations in galaxies billions of light years away, the research team also couldn’t help but notice the shape of the question mark.

“This is really cool. I got interested in astronomy when I was younger because I saw amazing images like this,” said Dr Marcin Sawicki, also from Saint Mary’s University.

“Knowing when, where and how star formation occurs in galaxies is crucial to understanding how galaxies have evolved throughout the history of the universe,” said Dr Vicente Estrada Carpenter from Saint Mary’s University.

“The results show that star formation is widespread in both. The spectral data also confirm that the newly discovered dusty galaxy is located at the same distance as the frontal spiral galaxy, suggesting that the two are probably starting to interact.”

“Both galaxies in the question mark pair show several dense regions of active star formation, likely the result of the gas in the two galaxies colliding.”

“But neither galaxy seems particularly disturbed, so perhaps we are seeing the beginning of an interaction.”

“These galaxies, seen billions of years ago when star formation was at its peak, are similar in mass to the Milky Way at that time,” Dr Sawicki said.

“Thanks to Webb, we can now study what our galaxy was like in its teenage years.”

Team paper Published in Monthly Bulletin of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Vicente Estrada Carpenter others2024. CANUCS JWST/NIRISS We will use grism spectroscopy to investigate when, where and how star formation occurs in a pair of galaxies at cosmic noon. MNRAS 532 (1): 577-591; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae1368

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

Source: www.sci.news

New discovery of a ceratopsian dinosaur species

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have announced the discovery of fossilized bones of a new species of early-branching ceratopsian dinosaur in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Reconstructing your life Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai Image courtesy of Tanaka Kanon.

The newly discovered dinosaur lived on Earth during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, between 113 million and 100 million years ago.

dubbing Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai,animal Measured It is about 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) long and weighs about 10 kilograms.

“This new dinosaur has unique characteristics that make it different from any other dinosaur known to date. CeratopsiansPaleontologist, Hyogo University Tomonori Tanaka and colleagues said In a statement.

“Ceratopsians are a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known for having large horns and frills on their heads, most famously Triceratops.”

“Being a primitive ceratopsian, it lacked the large horns and frills seen in later species. Triceratops.”

Bone fragments Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai They were discovered in the Daisen Shita Formation in southwestern Japan by amateur geologist Adachi Kiyoshi.

“The fossil contains 17 bones, most of which belong to the same individual,” the researchers said.

“Examination of a thin section of the tibia revealed that this was likely a juvenile individual rather than a fully mature one.”

According to the research team's analysis, this new species Aquilops americanusone of the oldest neoceratopsian dinosaurs discovered in North America, followed by its sister species. Auroraceratops rugosus From China.

“Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai “This fossil is closely related to proto-North American ceratopsians and suggests that native Asian ceratopsians may have migrated to North America during the mid-Cretaceous, approximately 110 million years ago,” the authors say.

“At this time, eastern Eurasia and North America were connected by the Bering land bridge, allowing animals to move between the two.”

“Furthermore, extreme global warming has led to the creation of vast forests in the Arctic.”

“The convergence of these two events likely facilitated the spread of ceratopsians from Asia into North America.”

Discovery Sasayamagnome teeth, paper Published in this week's journal Paleontological Papers.

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Tomonori Tanaka others2024. A new species of neoceratopsian (Ornithischia, Ceratopsia) from the Lower Cretaceous Oyamashita Formation (Albian) of southwestern Japan. Paleontological Papers 10(5):e1587;doi:10.1002/spp2.1587

Source: www.sci.news

Saline nasal drops and sprays showing promise in treating the common cold

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Saline nasal sprays may stop children's sneezing faster

ONFOKUS.COM, Sebastian Court/Getty Images

Saline nasal sprays appear to help speed up cold recovery: In a new study, children who were given the homemade nasal spray recovered from cold symptoms like sneezing and stuffy nose two days faster than those who weren't.

More than 200 different viruses can cause cold-like symptomsTherefore, it is difficult to develop general and effective treatments that target them. As a result, most cold therapies only relieve symptoms but do not shorten the duration of symptoms.

But research increasingly suggests that saline may be the exception. Studies have shown that adults who use saline nasal drops or sprays to relieve cold symptoms: Reduces symptoms and speeds recovery and Less likely to spread infection.

now, Steve Cunningham Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK tested this method on children. They asked the parents of 150 children with cold symptoms to place three drops of saline solution into their children's nasal passages at least four times a day within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, until symptoms subsided. The water-based solution that the parents mixed themselves contained 2.6 percent salt.

Another group of 151 children received standard cold care from their parents, such as prescribing over-the-counter medicines and encouraging rest. All of the children were under the age of seven, and their symptoms were recorded by their parents.

The researchers found that children who started using the drops within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms recovered two days faster than those who never used the drops, and their families were also less likely to develop cold symptoms. But children who started using the drops later didn't get better and were less likely to spread the cold than those who never used the drops.

Cunningham, who will present his findings at the European Respiratory Society meeting in Vienna, Austria, on September 8, says that the chloride ions in saline could prompt cells to produce an antiviral substance called hypochlorous acid, though this may need to be started early in infection, before the virus can take hold, he says.

but William Shaffner Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee are skeptical that this method will actually help cure viral infections. [evidence] They want me to believe that this is an antiviral effect, not just symptom relief,” he says.

Schaffner says the researchers could have also given another group of children regular water drops or a low-concentration saline solution, which would show whether the saline nasal spray targets the virus and speeds recovery or simply keeps mucous membranes moist to ease symptoms, he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Food colorings can temporarily make skin and muscle see-through in living animals

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The researchers Stanford University Aqueous solutions of tartrazine, a common food coloring approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have been shown to have the effect of reversibly transparentizing the skin, muscle, and connective tissue of live rodents.

Diagram of skin tissue cleared by saturating it with FD&C Yellow 5, including the path of photons reflecting off unstained tissue. Image courtesy of Keyi 'Onyx' Li / National Science Foundation.

“We combined a yellow dye, a molecule that absorbs most light, especially blue and ultraviolet light, with skin, a scattering medium; these two individually block most light from passing through,” said study lead author Dr. Zhihao Ou, who conducted the research with colleagues during his postdoctoral research at Stanford University before joining the University of Texas at Dallas in August 2024.

“But when we combined them, we were able to achieve skin transparency in mice.”

To master this new technique, Dr. Ou and his colleagues developed a way to predict how light would interact with stained biological tissue.

These predictions required a deep understanding not only of light scattering, but also of the process of refraction, how light changes speed and bends as it passes from one material to another.

Scattering is why we can't see through the body: fats, fluids within cells, proteins, and other substances all have different refractive indices, properties that determine how much incoming light waves bend.

In most tissues, these materials are so densely packed that differences in refractive index cause light to scatter as it passes through them, resulting in what our eyes perceive as opaque, colored biological material.

The researchers realized that if they wanted to make biological materials transparent, they had to find a way to match the different refractive indices so that light could pass through unimpeded.

Drawing on fundamental insights from optics, the researchers realized that the dyes that are most effective at absorbing light are also highly effective at directing light evenly through a wide range of refractive indices.

One dye that scientists predicted would be particularly effective was Tartrazinecommonly known as FD&C Yellow 5, is a food coloring.

As it turns out, they were right: when dissolved in water and absorbed into tissue, the tartrazine molecule becomes perfectly structured to match the refractive index, preventing light scattering and resulting in transparency.

The authors first tested their predictions on thin slices of chicken breast.

As the concentration of tartrazine increased, the refractive index of the fluid inside the muscle cells increased, matching the refractive index of muscle proteins, causing the sections to become transparent.

Next, the researchers gently applied the temporary tartrazine solution to the mice.

First, the researchers applied a solution to the scalp, making the skin transparent to reveal the blood vessels crisscrossing the brain.

The researchers then applied the solution to the abdomen, where it disappeared within minutes and demonstrated intestinal contractions and movement due to heartbeat and breathing.

This technique allows for the resolution of micron-scale features and improved microscopy.

Once the dye was washed off, the tissue quickly returned to its normal opacity.

Tartrazine appears to have no long-term effects and excess is excreted within 48 hours.

“It's important that the dye is biocompatible and safe for living organisms,” Dr. Ou said.

“Plus, it's very cheap and efficient. You don't need that much of it to work.”

The team has yet to test the process on humans, whose skin is about 10 times thicker than that of mice.

“At this point, it's unclear how much dye or the delivery method is needed to penetrate the entire skin,” Dr. Ou said.

“In human medicine, we now have ultrasound that can see much deeper into the body.”

“Many medical diagnostic platforms are prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to a wide range of users, but this shouldn't be the case for a platform based on our technology.”

of study Published in this week's journal Science.

_____

Wu Zhihao others2024. Achieving optical transparency in living animals using absorbing molecules. Science 385 (6713); doi: 10.1126/science.adm6869

This article is an edited version of an original release from the National Science Foundation and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Source: www.sci.news

Even basic bacteria can forecast seasonal shifts

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scanning electron microscope image Synechococcus Cyanobacteria

Eyes of Science/Science Photo Library

Despite being one of the simplest life forms on Earth, cyanobacteria are able to predict and prepare for seasonal changes based on the amount of light they receive.

It has been known for over a century that complex organisms can use day length as a cue to future environmental conditions – for example, days shortening before cold weather sets in. Phenomena such as plant and animal migration, flowering, hibernation and seasonal reproduction are all guided by such responses, known as photoperiodism, but this has not previously been seen in simpler life forms such as bacteria.

Luisa Jabbour Later, at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, colleagues artificially Synechococcus elongatus By exposing the cyanobacteria to different day lengths, they found that those that experienced simulated short days were two to three times better able to survive icy temperatures, preparing them for winter-like conditions.

By testing shorter and longer durations, the researchers found that it took four to six days for a response to appear.

Because these organisms can produce new generations within a matter of hours, their cells must pass on information about the length of daylight to their offspring, but researchers don’t yet understand how this information is transmitted.

Cyanobacteria, which capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, have been around for more than two billion years and are found almost everywhere on Earth.

“The fact that organisms as ancient and simple as cyanobacteria have a photoperiodic response suggests that this is a phenomenon that has evolved much longer than we had imagined,” says Jabbour, who is now at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK.

The team also looked at how gene expression patterns change in response to changes in day length, suggesting that photoperiodism likely evolved by exploiting existing mechanisms to cope with acute stresses such as bright light and extreme temperatures.

These findings also have implications for the evolution of circadian rhythms, the internal clocks that regulate day-night cycles, team members say. Karl Johnson At Vanderbilt University.

“I think we’ve always thought that circadian clocks evolved before organisms were able to measure the length of days and nights and predict the changing of seasons,” he says, “but the fact that photoperiodism evolved in such ancient, simple organisms, and that our gene expression results are linked to stress response pathways that seem to have evolved very early in life on Earth, suggests that photoperiodism may have evolved before the circadian clock,” Johnson says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Dye used to visualize mouse organs by making them transparent

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The yellow food coloring tartrazine changes the speed at which light passes through tissue.

University of Texas at Dallas

Massaging common food coloring into the skin of a live mouse makes the animal’s tissue transparent, allowing researchers to see its blood vessels and organs working — a technique that may one day help doctors peer deeper into our bodies to diagnose diseases.

It’s not easy to see the internal environment of a live animal. If the animal is dead, we can get a better look by sectioning the tissue or using chemicals to remove proteins and fats. In live animals, some things can be seen with a scan or endoscopy, but to see live tissue, you often have to cut it up.

now, Wu Zhihao Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have been able to make mouse tissue transparent by rubbing the skin of live mice with the food dye tartrazine, also known as E102 or Yellow 5. When the skin absorbs the dye molecules, it changes the tissue’s refractive index – the speed at which light passes through the skin.

The dye allowed visualization of organs in living mice.

Zhihao Ou et al. 2024

The mice then became transparent, enabling the researchers to watch peristalsis, the muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract, and to view blood vessels on the surface of the mouse brain.

To understand how this technology works, Oh says, think of carbonated water. Light passing through the liquid changes direction each time it goes from the water to the air bubbles and back again, Oh says. That means the light scatters in all directions and doesn’t penetrate the liquid as easily as it does flat air or water. Biological tissue behaves in a similar way because it contains not only a lot of water, but also other molecules like lipids and proteins, which typically have a higher refractive index than water.

Adding the dye brings the refractive index of water closer to that of lipids and other molecules in the tissue, scattering light less, “which means you can see deeper and probe deeper,” Ou says.

The dye can be washed off and does not appear to harm the rats.

The study gets to the heart of one of the biggest problems in microscopy, Christopher Rowlands “If you tried to see more than a millimetre away from the surface of the tissue, you couldn’t. It wasn’t possible before, and now all of a sudden you can,” he says. “Before you could only see a millimetre, now you can see a centimetre away, and that centimetre makes a huge difference in many applications.”

Rowlands says that tartrazine could potentially be toxic in large amounts if applied to the skin, but neurobiologists routinely stick probes and lenses into the brain and remove parts of the cortex, so using a dye that’s widely accepted as safe for ingestion on the skin would probably be less harmful, he says.

But while the technique makes skin more transparent, it won’t give doctors complete visibility inside a person’s body. “It’s not like Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak,” Rowlands says. “It will make the skin look more glassy than it should.” Even if the effect were to happen throughout the body, Rowlands says, doctors would still be able to see bones and specialized structures inside cells called organelles.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Not undergoing traditional cancer therapy, such as that of Elle Macpherson, poses significant risks

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Supermodel Elle Macpherson refuses chemotherapy to treat breast cancer

Australian Press Agency/Alamy

Half of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, but how many of us can confidently reject mainstream medical advice after consulting dozens of doctors?

In a recent interview Australian Women's Weekly Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson revealed that she did just that, telling the magazine that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago but refused chemotherapy, opting for an “intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach” to her treatment.

According to the magazine, MacPherson mulled over her decision for weeks after consulting with “32 doctors and specialists,” and finally, in February 2017, she decided to pursue non-pharmaceutical treatment under the guidance of her family doctor, who specializes in “integrative medicine.”

Fortunately, MacPherson is currently in clinical remission, or as she prefers to say, “perfect health.” It's futile to try to assess the risk of her decision to forego chemotherapy without knowing important details about the extent of her cancer, her coexisting risk factors, and the advice she received. For example, she underwent a partial mastectomy, her first surgery to remove a suspicious lump, but Some doctors said That might have been enough treatment.

Nevertheless, the story has sparked outrage online, galvanizing both the growing number of people who distrust “conventional medicine” and those who seek to defend it from growing attacks.

What's behind this distrust? Some researchers say the COVID-19 pandemic “Scientific skepticism” Heated debates are taking place around the world about the severity of the illness, the merits of lockdowns, and the safety of vaccines. More and more Used To hide their anti-scientific views, Conspiracy thinking.

For members of black and minority ethnic communities, Distrust of doctors The reluctance to seek cancer testing and treatment is also being driven by public health and medical institutions. Decades of failure Engaging with them and ensuring equal care in many countries.

In the UK in particular, confidence in the National Health Service's ability to treat cancer has declined. Has fallen in recent yearsand Reports Delaying the start of vital cancer treatment for months.

All of this means that if you're diagnosed with cancer today, your options may seem less clear than they once were. Add to that the typically grueling experience of chemotherapy, and it's no wonder that MacPherson's story of a “non-pharmaceutical” alternative therapy has garnered so much attention.

But it's worth keeping in mind that MacPherson doesn't accurately represent the vast majority of cancer patients. Estimated Net Worth With a net worth of $95 million, she can afford to seek multiple second opinions and even turn down chemotherapy. Her wealth acts as a safety net. Her “ingestible health” company WELCOand her historical romantic ties Disgraced anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield,she From 2018 to 2019McPherson's story gets even more complicated.

For most people, refusing medical care carries real risks. 2017 Study Cancer patients who choose alternative medicines as their primary treatment have been found to have a higher risk of dying within five years than those who choose conventional treatments.

Larger studies The following year, he published a study of nearly two million American cancer patients that found that use of complementary medicines was associated with refusal of conventional cancer treatment and a doubling of the risk of death within five years.

Indeed, oncologists More and more Select Use Reduce chemotherapy or avoid it altogether – New treatments, new research The recognition that targeted, customized responses are most effective.

But for now, at least, the advice from organisations like Cancer Research UK is clear: there is no scientific or medical evidence that alternative therapies can cure cancer. At a time when distrust of medicine is widespread, Macpherson's account risks leading people down a dangerous path by trumpeting positive results without important context.

While anyone may be at risk for developing cancer, Macpherson, who was nicknamed “The Body” at the height of her modeling career, had enormous resources at her disposal and was always going to have a better chance than most of us of surviving cancer, regardless of her choices.

Elle Hunt is a freelance writer and journalist.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Massive bat die-off triggers surge in pesticide use in the US, contributing to rise in infant mortality rates

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Small brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) suffers from white-nose syndrome, which has devastated bat populations across the United States.

piemags/FWL / Alamy Stock Photo

A study has revealed that a decline in bat populations in the United States, caused by the spread of a fungal disease, has resulted in reduced farm incomes and an additional 1,300 deaths of infants under the age of one.

The research found that in counties affected by bat disease, farmers had to increase their use of insecticides by 31% to make up for the decreased insect predation by bats. Eyal Frank, a researcher at the University of Chicago in Illinois, estimated that farmers in these affected counties lost $27 billion between 2006 and 2017 due to reduced crop sales and higher pesticide costs.

Furthermore, the study observed an 8% increase in the number of infant deaths before the age of one in affected counties, which Frank links to the elevated pesticide usage. He expressed concerns about the inherent toxicity of pesticides, even when used within regulated levels, suggesting potential health hazards.

The white-nose syndrome, discovered in hibernating bats in a New York state cave in 2006, has since spread across North America, resulting in millions of bat deaths. This disease has raised questions about the benefits that bats provide to farmers.

By analyzing agricultural census data, Frank compared counties where white-nose disease was detected by 2017 with those where it hadn’t been identified yet. The results indicated a consistent increase in insecticide usage in affected areas each year post-detection of the disease.

In light of the study findings, the potential link between bat deaths, pesticide use, and higher infant mortality rates was examined. While the results point towards a correlation, the exact mechanism through which increased pesticide use might lead to elevated infant mortality remains unclear.

Experts like Roel Vermeulen from Utrecht University in the Netherlands emphasize the need to broaden human health impact assessments to consider the indirect effects of environmental factors like bat population decline. Moving forward, efforts are required to preserve the vital role wildlife species play in maintaining human health and well-being.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Effects of Vacuum Cleaner Usage on Penis Health

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Hold on

Reader Simon Leech responded cheerfully to Feedback magazine’s call for papers that “the title tells you all you need to know” by saying, “Well, that’s what you wanted!”

“That” is, British Medical Journal In 1980 “Penis injury caused by vacuum cleaner”.

“The title says it all you need to know,” says Leach, “but the report also answers every question you could possibly imagine. The final sentence sums it up: ‘The present patient may have thought his penis would not hit the fan, but the freshness of the experience drove him to disastrous results.'” Leach adds: “As junior doctors, we BMJ I think you should try harder, we are all reading this!”

Feedback argues that, whether professional or personal, we should love our vacuum cleaners wisely, but not too much. If you know of another research paper with a title as satisfying as this, please send it to Telltale titles, c/o Feedback.

How to Remove a Cyst

Shiheng Zhao and Pierre Haas grab the reader’s attention with the title of their study. “The mechanism of puncturing the cyst”Once that’s done, they change to a less civilised tone.

Chao and Haas, from two of the three Max Planck Institutes in Dresden, Germany, demonstrate a way of running a discussion that minimizes the unpleasant parts and maximizes the technical parts.

“Similar to poking fruit samples in the supermarket to assess their edibility, indenting biological samples reveals mechanical properties that are intrinsically related to their biological function,” they write.

After that, “Pushing force and debt And the displacement e “Deformation characteristics of the indenter” and “Calculation of the elastic deformation gradient”

If you have an interesting skin condition but your friends hate you for telling them about it, try using Zhao and Haas’s elegant phraseology: A cyst, they point out, is simply “a spherical monolayer of polarized cells surrounding a fluid-filled lumen.”

Meat burger

Hundreds of Hamburgers in the city of Hamburg, Germany, answered a survey about three different types of sausages. They were selected Hamburgers, all of whom belonged to a certain age group.

The senders of the survey, Stephan GH Meyerding and Magdalena Cooper from the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, limited the questions to types of sausage: “meat, plant-based or in vitro salami.”

Of the three types of salami, meat-based is the most traditional, but plant-based versions have also grown in popularity over the past few decades, with test-tube salami made using stem cells being the newest, and still making its way from the lab to the dinner table.

What is the researcher’s goal? “Explaining food choices of German Generations Y and Z through core dimensions of meat-eating habits scale.”.

Judging from their data, the conclusion seems clear: “A majority of German Gen Y and Gen Z members prefer vegan meat to real meat, and cultured meat is more popular than beef and pork.”

The verdict seems less convincing than if new studies had been conducted a few years later: “Cultured meat is still unknown and not yet available on the German market,” the researchers say.

Eat the liver

New evidence supports the age-old complaint that children don’t want to listen to adults. “Kids don’t want to eat what they should be eating…” According to the title of Villa Reka Nickel’s study on child nutrition.

Nickel is based at the Institute of Ethnology in Budapest and has been researching the history of “Public Meals for Hungarian Children”.

During that time, the country’s eating habits and food preparation practices changed dramatically, due to “the obligation to provide public meals and general work obligations”, the study said.

Nickel illustrates their problem with hate using photos, one of which is captioned, “Fried breaded luncheon meat and creamed split peas are one of the school lunch ‘staples,’ but they were never the most popular school lunch.”

There are certain meals that many children are reluctant to eat, and Nikel has investigated this harassment in detail: “In our research, fried liver was one such meal. In Eger, they dealt with this problem by serving only rice if the child did not want liver. In Özd, children were not given this option. When I asked about the possibility of serving children as much food as they wanted, the food service manager in Özd drew my attention to an important fact: ‘It’s illegal. Parents pay for it.'”

Statistics and Baboons

“Can non-human primates perform linear regression on graphs?” ask Lorenzo Ciccione and his colleagues in their study “Baboons as statisticians.” Their tentative answer is that, to some extent, they can, but the extent to which they can “depends on the individual.”

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

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10. Mount St. Helens (1980) – VEI 5, DRE 0.5km3

9. El Chichon (1982) – VEI 5, DRE 1.1km3

8. Mount Hudson (1991) – VEI 5, DRE 1.6-2.7km3

Hold on

How to Remove a Cyst

Meat burger

Eat the liver

Statistics and Baboons

10. Mount St. Helens (1980) – VEI 5, DRE 0.5km³

9. El Chichon (1982) – VEI 5, DRE 1.1km³

8. Mount Hudson (1991) – VEI 5, DRE 1.6-2.7km³