Newly discovered marine reptile species from the Triassic period.

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have described a new species of pachypleurosaur that lived during the mid-Triassic period in southwestern China.

holotype of Dianmeisaurus mutaensis From the Guanling Formation, China: (A) Skeleton seen from the back. (B) Equivalent to (A). Scale bar – 1 cm. Image credit: Hu others., doi: 10.1186/s13358-023-00292-4.

Dianmeisaurus mutaensis They lived in what is now China during the Anisian period of the mid-Triassic period, about 245 million years ago.

What is an ancient species? Pachyprourosaurus a group of primitive sauropterygian reptiles of the Triassic period.

These animals resembled aquatic lizards and had small heads, long necks, paddle-like limbs, and long, deep tails.

“Sauropterygia was the most flourishing clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles in terms of species diversity, with the iconic plesiosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, and the stem-group placodonts and eophytes of the Triassic. sauropterygia,” said Dr. Jun Liu and colleagues at the institute. Hefei University of Technology.

“Eosauropteri were traditionally divided into three groups: pachyprourosaurids, nososaurids, and pistosaurids.”

“In this traditional view, the monophyletic Pachypleurosauria is thought to constitute a sister group to the clade Eusauropterygia, which consists of Nososaurinae and Pistosaurinae.”

complete and articulated skeleton of an immature animal Dianmeisaurus mutaensis It was discovered in an abandoned quarry about 1 km northwest of Muta Village, Luxi County, Yunnan Province, China.

The skeleton was divided into two parts during collection and prepared using pneumatic tools and needles in the paleontology laboratory.

“The skeleton is embedded in dark gray micritic limestone and consists of one segment and its counterpart,” the paleontologists said.

“The specimen is well preserved and has a total length of 99.2 mm (4 inches).”

“Adjacent to the specimen are scattered limb and rib bones from other individuals, but the limited information available makes further identification difficult.”

Artist's impression of Pachypleurosaurus Umengosaurus. Image credit: Nobu Tamura / CC BY-SA 4.0.

The research team's analysis identified this new species as a sister group. Dianmeisaurus gracilis a small pachypleurosaur from the Luoping biota of the Middle Triassic.

“Dianmeisaurus mutaensis Displays several eutoroid features, including a postfrontal region that extends posteriorly to the middle of the parietal table and is excluded from the upper temporal fenestra, a stout last dorsal rib that is shorter than the first sacral rib, and two sacral vertebrae. “There is,” the researchers said.

“Additionally, a new data matrix has been compiled to reassess the interrelationships of neosauropterygians.”

“Phylogenetic analysis indicates monophyletic collapse of Eusauropterygia,” they added.

“Pistosaurinae, Magiasinosaurus and Hanosaurus These constitute a continuous sister group to the monophyletic clade that includes Pachyprosaurinae and Nososaurinae.”

“Furthermore, the monophyly of Pachyprourosauria is supported by six synapomorphies.”

“Our phylogenetic results provide further evidence for the East Tethys origin of pachypleurosaurs,” the researchers said.

“However, to test the biogeographical hypothesis, we need early Anisian pachypleurosaurs from the eastern region of Tethys.”

of findings Published in Swiss Journal of Paleontology.

_____

YW Hu others. 2024. A new species of Pachypleurosaurid (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) that lived in the Middle Triassic of southwestern China and its phylogenetic and biogeographical significance. Switzerland J Palaeontre 143, 1; doi: 10.1186/s13358-023-00292-4

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Finds Polar Vortex Surrounding the Sun

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Polar vortices exist in the atmospheres of planets ranging from rocky Earth-like planets to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. However, currently not much is known about their presence and characteristics on the Sun due to the lack of direct observations in the polar regions. Unlike planetary atmospheres, the Sun’s underground layers are greatly influenced by the presence of magnetic fields. New research shows that the solar cycle’s magnetic fields provide the mechanism for the formation of polar vortices in the Sun.

On August 31, 2012, the corona, a long filament of solar material suspended in the Sun’s atmosphere, erupted into space at 4:36 p.m. EDT. CME traveled at more than 900 miles per second. Although it did not fly directly towards Earth, the single shot connected with Earth’s magnetic environment, or magnetosphere, and caused the aurora borealis to appear on the night of September 3rd. Image credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“No one can say exactly what’s going on at the solar pole,” says Dr. Mausmi Dikpati, a senior scientist at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research’s High Altitude Observatory.

“But this new study gives us an interesting look at what we might expect to find when we are able to observe the solar pole for the first time.”

It is not surprising that some kind of polar vortex may exist on the Sun.

These rotating geological formations develop in the fluid surrounding rotating bodies due to the Coriolis force and are observed on most planets in the solar system.

On Earth, vortices rotate high in the atmosphere around both the north and south poles.

When these vortices are stable, frigid air is trapped at the poles, but when they weaken and become unstable, that cold air penetrates toward the equator, creating cold air in the midlatitudes. cause

NASA’s Juno mission has returned breathtaking images of Jupiter’s polar vortices, showing there are eight tightly packed vortices around the gas giant’s north pole and five around its south pole.

Saturn’s polar vortex, observed by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, is hexagonal at the north pole and more circular at the south pole.

These differences provide scientists with clues to the composition and dynamics of each planet’s atmosphere.

Polar vortices have also been observed on Mars, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn’s moon Titan, so the fact that the Sun (also a rotating body surrounded by fluid) has such a feature may be obvious in some ways. yeah.

However, the sun is fundamentally different from planets and satellites, which have atmospheres. The plasma surrounding the sun is magnetic.

How that magnetism affects the formation and evolution of the Sun’s polar vortex, or whether it forms at all, remains a mystery. This is because humans have never sent a probe into space that can observe the poles of the sun.

In fact, our observations of the Sun are limited to views of the Sun’s face when it points towards the Earth, which only provides hints about what’s happening at the poles.

Astronomers have never observed the sun’s poles, so the study authors turned to computer models to fill in the blanks about what the sun’s polar vortex looks like.

What they discovered is that the Sun does indeed likely have a unique polar vortex pattern that evolves as the solar cycle unfolds and depends on the strength of the particular cycle.

Simulations show that a tight ring of polar vortices forms at about 55 degrees latitude, which corresponds to Earth’s Arctic Circle, at the same time that a phenomenon called “polar plunge” begins.

At the maximum of each solar cycle, the magnetic field at the sun’s poles disappears and is replaced by a magnetic field of the opposite polarity.

This flip-flop is preceded by a “polar plunge” in which a magnetic field of opposite polarity begins to move toward the pole from about 55 degrees latitude.

After formation, the vortices move towards the poles within the constricting ring, releasing the vortices as the circle closes, until eventually only a pair of vortices directly adjacent to the poles remain, completely disappearing during solar maximum.

The number of vortices that form and their configuration as they move toward the poles changes with the strength of the solar cycle.

These simulations provide a missing piece to the puzzle of how the Sun’s magnetic field behaves near the poles and could help answer some fundamental questions about the Sun’s solar cycle.

For example, many scientists have traditionally used the strength of the magnetic field “pushing to the poles” as a proxy for how strong future solar cycles are likely to be.

However, the mechanism of how they are connected, if at all, is not clear.

The simulation also provides information that can be used to plan future missions to observe the Sun.

In other words, this result shows that some form of polar vortex is observable during all parts of the solar cycle except during solar maximum.

“You could launch a solar mission and arrive at the pole at exactly the wrong time,” says Scott McIntosh, also of the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research’s High Altitude Observatory.

Solar Orbiter, a joint mission between NASA and ESA, may give researchers their first glimpse of the solar pole, but the first glimpse will be close to solar maximum.

Scientists say a mission aimed at observing the poles and providing researchers with multiple simultaneous views of the sun could help solve long-standing questions about the sun’s magnetic field.

Dr. McIntosh said, “Our conceptual boundaries are that we currently operate from only one perspective.”

“To make significant progress, we need the necessary observations to test our hypotheses and see if simulations like this are correct.”

of result will appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

_____

Mausumi Dikpati others. 2024. Magnetohydrodynamic mechanism of solar polar vortex formation. PNAS 121 (47): e2415157121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2415157121

Source: www.sci.news

Unusually short, stiff, pointed tails in Jurassic pterosaurs.

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Skifosoura Baybaritsa is a type of pterosaur that lived in what is now southern Germany about 149 million years ago, bridging the gap with earlier organisms. monophenestratan pterosaur and after that pterosaur.

Two people's lives restored Skifosoura Baybaritsa In flight. Image credit: Gabriel Uguet.

For 200 years, paleontologists have divided pterosaurs into two major groups: the early non-pterodactyls and the later, much larger pterodactyls.

Early pterosaurs had short necks, short heads, short bones at the wrists of the wings, fifth toes and long tails, but pterosaurs had the opposite: long necks, large heads, long wrists, and long tails. It had a short fifth finger. Toes and short tail.

However, it was unclear which parts of the body changed between these groups.

In the 2010s, a series of intermediate species called Darwinopterans were discovered, showing that their heads and necks changed before the rest of their bodies.

This was a great example of an intermediate individual filling an evolutionary gap.

But it also meant that we didn't really know what was happening before and after these changes.

Skifosoura Baybarica I'm going to sit between these earlier. Darwinopteran and pterodactyloid.

Although it retains a very pterodactyl-like head and neck, it has also been shown to have longer wrists and shorter toes and a tail than early Darwinpterans, but these are not as extreme as seen in pterodactyls. Not.

“This is an incredible discovery,” said lead author Dr. David Horne, a paleontologist at Queen Mary University of London.

“This will really help us understand how these amazing flying animals lived and evolved.”

“We hope this study will provide a basis for further future research on this important evolutionary transition.”

“Pterosaurs have long been symbols of a unique past life,” says co-author Dr. Adam Fitch, a paleontologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Skifosoura Baybaritsa This represents an important new form for elucidating the evolutionary relationships of pterosaurs and, by extension, how this lineage arose and changed. ”

Almost complete, but fragmented specimen Skifosoura Baybaritsa It was discovered in 2015 in the Schaudiberg quarry near Mülheim, Bavaria, Germany.

Although specimens are preserved in three dimensions, most pterosaurs tend to be crushed flat. When alive, it had a wingspan of about 2 meters (6.6 feet), which is thought to have been similar to that of large birds such as golden eagles.

Co-author Dr René Lauer of the Lauer Foundation said: “The specimens were disjointed and often had overlapping bones of varying quality.''

“Digital photographs of the specimens taken in both visible and ultraviolet light greatly aided the process of identifying these elements and better analyzing details that cannot be discerned in normal sunlight alone.”

“The Lauer Foundation is proud to have the opportunity to bring this important specimen to science and further our understanding of pterosaur evolution,” added co-author Dr. Bruce Lauer of the Lauer Foundation. .

In addition to indicating the intermediate position of Skifosoura Baybaritsait has also been shown to be a species of Scottish pterosaur. dearkfits into a mirror position between early pterosaurs and the first Darwinopterans.

“In other words, we now have a complete evolutionary sequence from early pterosaurs to pterosaurs. dearkto the first Darwinopteran Skifosoradown to the pterodactyls,” the paleontologist said.

“Although not all specimens are complete, we are now able to track increases in head and neck size, wrist extensions, toe and tail reductions, and other features step-by-step across multiple groups. .”

“This is a great example of the evolution of a group whose transition has so far been far from clear-cut.”

“both deark and Skifosora It also suggests that the changes that allowed pterosaurs to reach giant sizes were also present in these transitional species. ”

of study Published in today's magazine current biology.

_____

david william elliott horn others. A new large monophenestratan reveals an evolutionary transition from pterosaurs to pterosaurs. current biologypublished online on November 18, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.023

Source: www.sci.news

Nations are falsely achieving net zero by excessively depending on forests

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Russia’s plan to reach net zero by 2060 relies on existing forests to absorb continued carbon emissions

Varnakov R/Shutterstock

Countries are taking shortcuts to net-zero emissions by including forests and other “passive” carbon sinks in their climate plans, a tactic that thwarts global efforts to halt climate change. leading researchers have warned.

Relying on natural carbon sinks to absorb continued carbon emissions from human activities will keep the world warmer. This comes from the researchers who first developed the science behind net zero emissions and today launched a highly unusual intervention accusing nations and companies of abusing the concept.

“This document calls on people to be clear about what net zero really means.” Miles Allen The Oxford University professor said this at a press conference on November 14th.

Natural sinks such as forests and peat bogs play an important role in the Earth’s natural carbon cycle by absorbing some of the carbon from the atmosphere. However, we cannot rely on existing sinks to offset ongoing greenhouse gas emissions.

If used in this way, global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations would remain stable even when we reach “net zero,” and warming would continue for centuries due to the way the oceans absorb heat. Allen warned. “Even if we think we’re on the path to 1.5C, we could end up with temperatures rising well above 2C,” he says. “This ambiguity could effectively destroy the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

To halt global temperature rise, we need to reduce emissions to net zero, without relying on passive absorption by land and oceans. This allows existing natural sinks to continue absorbing excess CO2, reducing the concentration of the gas in the atmosphere and offsetting ongoing warming from the deep ocean.

However, many countries already count passive land sinks such as forests as greenhouse gas removals in their national carbon accounts. In some countries, such as Bhutan, Gabon, and Suriname, Already declared net zeroThanks to the existing vast forests.

Some companies are setting long-term net-zero targets based on this approach. For example Russia Pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060but this plan relies heavily on using existing forests to absorb ongoing carbon emissions.

“Maybe some countries will use this in a deliberately naughty way.” glenn peters He is from the CICERO International Climate Research Center in Oslo, Norway, and spoke at a press conference. “This problem will be even more problematic in countries where forest area is a large proportion of total land area.”

The researchers fear this problem will become more serious as carbon markets develop and pressure on countries to decarbonize increases. “As the value of carbon increases, there will be more pressure to define anything that can be removed as a negative emission, potentially to be able to sell it in the carbon offset market,” Allen said.

Countries and companies with net-zero targets will need to modify their approach to exclude passive carbon sequestration from their accounts, the researchers say.

Natural sinks count as carbon removal when they are added to existing ones, for example when new forests are planted or peat bogs are rewetted. However, this type of natural carbon sink is vulnerable to climate impacts such as wildfires, drought, and the spread of invasive species, and is unreliable for long-term sequestration.

This has not stopped countries from relying heavily on these natural sinks in their net-zero strategies. one 2022 survey It turns out that a number of countries, including the United States, France, Cambodia and Costa Rica, plan to rely on forest carbon and other naturally occurring removals to offset ongoing emissions. “Many national strategies ‘bet’ on increasing carbon sinks in forests and soils as a means of achieving long-term goals,” the study authors wrote.

Allen stressed that natural carbon sinks must be conserved but not relied on to balance ongoing emissions. Instead, he urges countries to aim for “geological net zero,” where all ongoing carbon emissions are balanced by long-term carbon sequestration in underground storage.

“Countries need to recognize the need for geological net zero,” he said. “That means if we are producing carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels by mid-century, we need to have a plan to put that carbon dioxide back into the ground.”

“Geological net zero seems like a sensible global goal for countries to aspire to,” he says. harry smith At the University of East Anglia, UK. “This will help clarify many of the ambiguities that plague the current way countries consider land travel.”

But he warns that it could have a knock-on effect on climate ambitions. “What does the new politics of geological net zero look like? If geological net zero drives the goals of governments’ climate strategies, what does this mean for governments’ climate change ambitions?” Will it have an impact?”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists may have uncovered the key to solving a significant weight loss mystery

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When it comes to weight loss, one universal truth stands out: losing body fat is challenging, and keeping it off can be even more difficult. A recent study may shed some light on why this is the case: adipose tissue, or body fat, retains a sort of “memory” even after cells have become obese.

“This discovery potentially helps explain the changes that occur in adipose tissue during weight fluctuations,” explained Dr. Ferdinand von Mayen, an assistant professor at ETH Zurich’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.

Dr. von Mayen and his team observed transcriptional changes in human cells, which are responsible for regulating genetic material, in individuals’ adipose tissue before and after a 25 percent reduction in BMI. “We found that even after weight loss, the genetic regulation in adipose tissue did not fully return to normal, indicating that the body is programmed to regain lost weight,” he added.

While this news may be disheartening for those on a weight loss journey, Dr. von Mayen hopes that this study will help destigmatize weight fluctuations. “There is a molecular mechanism at play that influences weight regain, and it’s not simply a matter of willpower,” he emphasized.

He also stressed the importance of prevention in addressing the global obesity epidemic. “Early intervention is key, as it is much harder to lose weight once it has been gained. Implementing healthier lifestyle choices at a societal level is crucial in combating this issue,” Dr. von Mayen noted.

About our experts

Dr. von Mayen: I specialize in researching obesity and metabolic diseases at the Nutritional and Metabolic Epigenetics Laboratory at ETH Zurich.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The benefits of increasing your online presence after 50: latest research findings

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

It’s commonly believed that spending time online can negatively impact mental health. However, a new study suggests that internet use could actually benefit adults over the age of 50, reducing symptoms of depression by approximately 9%. The study, which examined over 87,500 adults, also indicates that internet use may increase overall life satisfaction. Internet users reported their health as being 15% better on average compared to non-users.

According to one of the co-authors of the study, the internet provides valuable opportunities for older adults to access health-related information, connect with others, and find entertainment. The research, published in the magazine nature, analyzed internet habits in 23 countries and how they correlated with symptoms of depression and life satisfaction among participants.

The study found that adults in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and China experienced the most positive effects from internet use. Even older users, particularly those aged 65 and above with lower levels of social contact, benefited significantly. Additionally, the study showed that internet users did not need to go online frequently to experience benefits, but those who used the internet more frequently generally had better mental health.

Dr. Zhang Qingpeng, one of the co-authors of the study, emphasized the global potential of the internet as a tool to improve mental health. While acknowledging the positive aspects of internet use, some experts caution that it should be used in moderation to maintain meaningful face-to-face interactions and reduce loneliness.

Professor Andrea Wigfield, director of the Center for Loneliness Research, highlights the importance of balancing internet use with real-life connections to combat loneliness. While the study did not address negative effects of internet use on mental health, experts agree that moderation is key in leveraging the benefits of online connectivity while also nurturing in-person relationships.

About our experts:

Dr. Zhang Qingpeng: An associate professor at the University of Hong Kong, Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on data science, AI in medical analytics, and drug discovery.

Dr. Andrea Wigfield: Director of the Center for Loneliness Research and co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, Dr. Wigfield specializes in social isolation and well-being at Sheffield Hallam University.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Hubble Captures Mysterious Spiral Galaxy Edge-On

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

NASA has released a surprising image of the unusual edge-on spiral galaxy UGC 10043 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

This Hubble image shows UGC 10043, an unusual spiral galaxy located about 150 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / R. Windhorst / W. Kiel.

UGC 10043 It is located in the constellation Serpens, about 150 million light years from Earth.

Also known as IRAS 15464+2201 or LEDA 56094, this galaxy is one of the somewhat rarer spiral galaxies. Viewed from the side.

“We see galactic disks as sharp lines through space, with pronounced dust lanes along them,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“This dust is spread throughout UGC 10043's spiral arm, but when viewed from the side it appears very thick and cloudy.”

“I can see some lights, too.” Active star forming region In your arms, shining from behind the dust. ”

“Surprisingly, we can also see that the center of the galaxy has a bright, almost egg-shaped bulge that towers far above and below the disk.”

“All spiral galaxies have such a bulge as part of their structure, containing stars that orbit the center of the galaxy in paths above and below the spiral disk.”

“This is a feature that isn't usually obvious in pictures of galaxies.”

“The unusually large size of this bulge compared to the galaxy's disk is likely due to UGC 10043 sucking up material from nearby dwarf galaxies.”

“This may also be why the disc warps, causing one end to bend up and the other end to bend down.”

The color image of UGC 10043 was created from separate exposures taken in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum. Hubble's advanced survey camera (ACS) and Wide field planetary camera 2 (WFPC2).

Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths.

Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

“Like most full-color images published by Hubble, this image is a composite of multiple individual snapshots taken by Hubble at different times and capturing different wavelengths of light,” the astronomers said. Explained.

“What is remarkable about this image is that the two sets of Hubble data used were collected 23 years apart, in 2000 and 2023.”

“Hubble's longer lifespan not only allows us to generate new and better images of old targets.”

“It also provides a long-term archive of data, making it increasingly useful to astronomers.”

Source: www.sci.news

Gamers Uncover Traits of Human Gut Microbiota

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientific research revolves around solving complex problems, and so do computer games. In 2008, a group of scientists developed the first video game that allows non-scientists to aid research by solving puzzles based on real scientific data. That’s what they called the game foldit.

Since then, other scientists have developed similar games and contributed to fields such as genetics and physics. These games are collectively called: citizen science games Or CSG. Traditionally, researchers designed CSG games to focus on science elements rather than game elements. However, they report that this approach limits user engagement and primarily appeals to participants who already have a strong interest in science.

To overcome this challenge, a group of researchers from Switzerland, Canada, and the United States developed a CSG using game-first design principles. This means that they prioritized the entertainment aspect of the game before incorporating any scientific questions into it. They used this approach in their next game. borderlands science or BLS. The scientific objective of this game is to help researchers analyze the genome sequences of one million microorganisms from the human digestive system to understand their relationships and functions in human health. Scientifically, the analysis that the player was assisting with is called: Multiple sequence alignment.

The researchers used 953,000 sequenced fragments of genetic material called . 16S rRNA From human stool samples provided by participants. american gut project. These fragments are part of specific regions within the genome that are used to identify and compare different microorganisms. They first grouped the sequences into over 10,000 clusters, then removed outliers, and finally focused on a final set of 9,667 clusters for the game.

They designed puzzles for the BLS game based on sequences within these clusters. Players saw a grid of colorful bricks, each representing a DNA base such as A, T, C, or G. Their goal was to insert gaps between bricks based on unique patterns to improve matching and alignment of different colors and arrangements. – Matching skills used by humans when playing the game. Players had a limited number of moves, each level of the game had a score to clear before moving on to the next level, and players were challenged to find the best placement with as few moves as possible.

The researchers explained that they were not recruiting people to play the game. Instead, they released the game through an existing commercial video game called Borderlands 3. They noted that the game was released in 2020 and the data reported in the paper represents the first 16 months after release.

Researchers collected over 1.4 million puzzle solutions and filtered them based on how well they were ordered and how well they matched other players' solutions to keep only the highest quality ones. Ta. They combined the filtered solutions to create a composite alignment, which they used to construct a family tree showing the evolutionary relationships among gut microbes.

The team validated the results by comparing the alignment and tree to the results of existing alignment and tree construction methods. They showed that player-generated solutions outperformed these existing methods and improved their ability to infer microbial relationships. The researchers also investigated how BLS results can help detect meaningful biological patterns from these microorganisms. relationship. They reported that the BLS alignment grouped gut microbes based on several lifestyle factors, such as diabetes and alcohol intake, that influence the host's digestive health.

Researchers reported that more than 4 million participants have completed real-world scientific tasks since the release of BLS. This is a high retention rate compared to previous CSG efforts. They proposed that this BLS performance demonstrates that scientific tasks can be embedded within video games and achieve high levels of player engagement.

Additionally, the researchers sought feedback from players as part of the game's quality assurance. Players cited curiosity about science as the most common reason for participating. The team argued that a game-first design approach to developing citizen science games like BLS has benefits, including increasing scientific literacy among the public.

The researchers reported that BLS outperformed traditional sequence alignment methods in terms of scientific output without compromising data integrity. They concluded that the results showed that video games can provide the human resources needed to analyze vast amounts of genomic data that would otherwise be completed by small teams of scientists. Ta.

Post views: 143

Source: sciworthy.com

A legendary bringer of disaster is discovered on a California shore.

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The fabled “Doomfish” has reappeared in California.

The rare and long ribbon-shaped oarfish, often seen as a sign of impending disaster, has washed ashore on a California coast for the second time this year.

Alison Laferriere, a doctoral candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, found the nearly 10-foot-long oarfish on a beach in Encinitas, Southern California, last week.

Oarfish are mysterious creatures that reside in the mesopelagic zone, deep underwater where sunlight cannot reach, often up to 3,300 feet below the surface.

These enigmatic fish, reaching lengths of up to 20 feet, have not been extensively studied by scientists, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Because of their unusual appearance and legendary status, with myths dating back for centuries, oarfish are sometimes referred to as the “fish of the end” due to their supposed ability to predict natural disasters and earthquakes.

The legend of the “earthquake fish” resurfaced in 2011 when 20 oarfish washed up before Japan’s largest recorded earthquake, resulting in a devastating tsunami.

According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, only 21 oarfish have been documented washing up on California beaches since 1901.

Researchers speculate that changes in ocean conditions and a possible increase in the oarfish population are contributing to the rise in sightings.

This year, a 12-foot-long oarfish was seen by kayakers and snorkelers in La Jolla Cove, north of downtown San Diego, and later taken to NOAA’s Fisheries Science Center for further examination.

Studies are ongoing to unravel the mystery surrounding oarfish sightings and their potential links to seismic events.

A 2019 study found no solid evidence linking oarfish to earthquakes, leaving the interpretation open to speculation.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Guide to Viewing the Stunning Leonid Meteor Shower in November

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When it comes to meteor showers, the Leonids are known as one of the best. Famous for its fast and bright fireball meteors, the Leonid meteor shower aims to put on an impressive show.

And in unusual circumstances, the shower can turn into a full-fledged storm, and thousands of meteors can pass in front of you in an hour. Although it is not expected to reach storm-level conditions this year, it is still a sight to behold. Additionally, the Leonid meteor shower can be seen with the naked eye, so anyone can observe it without the need for binoculars or a telescope.

So when should you look up to the sky? And what should you expect from this year’s Leonid meteor shower? We’ve got all the important information below.

When is the Leonid meteor shower?

The 2024 Leonid meteor shower will reach its peak on the night of November 17-18. During this period, 10 to 15 meteors are expected to cross the night sky per hour.

Shooting star activity is expected to peak during this period, but meteors from the Leonid meteor shower are expected to be visible until November 30th.

For the best viewing, you need to find a spot with dark skies and good visibility. It also helps avoid light pollution in big cities and towns. Light from the last supermoon of the year, November’s Beaver Moon, which peaks on Nov. 15, could obstruct visibility.

Where should you look to see the Leonid meteor shower?

Pinpointing the source of the shower will give you better visibility. The Leonid meteor shower’s name comes from its constellation, Leo, where it is believed to have originated. More specifically, the Leonid meteor shower originates from a star pattern called the Sickle within the constellation Leonid.

To find the sickle, first find Ursa Major’s plow. This is a distinctive signpost to many astronomical spots (we have a complete guide on how to find it).

Look to the edge of the pot in “The Plow” to find two bright stars: Dubhe and Merek. If you draw an imaginary line between the two, going in the opposite direction, it will point in the direction of Polaris, Polaris, and the Sickle of Leo.

You don’t need to worry too much about tracking this exact location. Meteors cover most of the sky, so your best bet is to see as much of the sky as possible.

The best way to see as much of the sky as possible is to lie on your back and look up, but it’s November and nighttime temperatures in places like the UK can be below freezing, so it’s best to dress warmly or bring warm clothing. Please wear it. Find a comfortable place to cover yourself with a blanket or sleeping bag. Be patient and stay a while to let your eyes adjust to the darkness and have the best chance of catching the Leonid meteor shower.

Where did the Leonid meteor shower come from?

Meteor showers occur when the Earth, in its orbit around the sun, passes through regions of space filled with debris left behind by comets and asteroids.

In this case, the culprit is Comet Tempel-Tuttle. It is a relatively small comet that was discovered twice in separate events. It was first created by Ernst Tempel in 1865 and then by Horace Tuttle in 1866.

How many Leonid meteors can we see?

The exact number of meteors is difficult to determine. The number changes each year, but the average number of meteors is about 15 per hour. In some years, this value can be even higher, especially if there is a meteor storm.

Approximately every 33 years, a shower turns into a storm. This classification is reached when more than 1,000 meteors occur per hour. Back in 1966, viewers experienced the unique Leonids meteor shower, where thousands of meteors appeared in just 15 minutes.

The last Leonid storm occurred in 2002, so a storm in 2024 is unlikely.

These fireballs have long trails that are blue and greenish. Meteors can be missed, but they leave a long vapor train in the sky that looks like a smoke ring for several minutes.

The Leonid meteor shower is also fast, traveling at 44 miles per second (71 kilometers per second). These are considered some of the fastest meteors we can see.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

A Step-by-Step Guide to Watching the Spectacular Lunar Finale of 2024

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This year, we have been treated to various stunning celestial events by the moon, and now the grand finale is approaching with the last supermoon of 2024 known as the Beaver Moon.

But what exactly is a supermoon? How can you witness its beauty at its peak? And why is it called the Beaver Moon? Whether you plan to observe it from your backyard or venture to a remote location for clearer skies, here is everything you need to know to make the most of this year’s final significant lunar event.

When will the Beaver Moon be visible in 2024?

The UK, US, and the rest of the world will witness the full Beaver Supermoon on November 15, 2024. Following this date, the moon will appear full for several consecutive nights.

“A full moon occurs when the moon is directly opposite the sun in the sky at a precise moment down to the second,” explains Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomer and astrophotographer from the University of Sussex.

“To the naked eye, the moon appears full or nearly full for two to three days from the exact moment of the full moon.”

In the UK, the moon will rise around 3:30 pm local time. In Los Angeles, it will rise at 3:30 PM local time, and in New York, it will be approximately 4:29 PM ET.

Fun fact: The moon is slowly moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm every year. – Photo credit: Getty

“For the most spectacular views, try capturing photographs just after sunset or just before sunrise. This is when the moon appears largest and most dramatic against the horizon,” said Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astronomical particle physics and cosmology from King’s College, London.

Why is it called the Beaver Moon?

The supermoon in November is named after the beaver as beavers are often observed during this period.

Leading up to winter, beavers prepare for the cold months and build food storage in case their ponds freeze over.

What causes a supermoon?

During a supermoon, the moon’s surface appears 7 percent larger (and 15 percent brighter) in the sky compared to an average full moon. This is because the moon is closer to Earth than usual (approximately 363,700 km or 226,000 miles away).

Due to the moon’s elliptical orbit around Earth, there is a point where the moon naturally approaches Earth (perigee). Conversely, there is a point (apogee) where the moon moves away from us. When a full moon coincides with perigee, a supermoon occurs. The timing of the full moon allows for multiple supermoons in a row.

This composite image shows the clear difference in size between supermoons and micromoons © Peter Lawrence

This discrepancy in cycles allows for repeated occurrences of supermoons. The moon’s elliptical orbit gradually changes alignments, resulting in multiple supermoons in succession.

“Gravitational forces from Earth, the sun, and other planets influence the moon’s orbit, leading to these fluctuations and the impressive phenomenon of supermoons,” explained Balaji.

Specifically, a supermoon requires the moon to complete a lunar cycle and be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to Earth, appearing larger and brighter in the sky. In contrast, a micromoon occurs when the moon is at its furthest away, making it appear smaller and darker. – Photo credit: Getty

Where is the best place to see the Beaver Supermoon?

To get the best views, escape the city lights and head to areas with minimal light pollution. For a truly remarkable experience, visit the coast and observe how the supermoon affects tides.

“When the moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee) and is full, the gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans is stronger,” Balaji noted.

“Expect to witness more significant tidal fluctuations, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides than usual.”

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study shows Lafayette meteorite minerals interacted with Martian water 742 million years ago

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Eleven million years ago, an asteroid hit Mars, sending debris flying through space. One of these masses eventually crashed into Earth. During initial investigation of this object, lafayette meteoritescientists discovered that it interacted with liquid water while on Mars. Now, researchers from the US and UK have determined the age of minerals in meteorites that formed when liquid water was present.

The Lafayette meteorite was scraped off the surface of Mars and then spent about 11 million years flying through space. It finally ended up in a drawer at Purdue University in 1931 and has been teaching scientists about Mars ever since. Image credit: Purdue Brand Studio.

A meteorite is a solid time capsule from a planet or celestial body in the universe.

They carry bits of data that can be unlocked by geochronologists.

They are distinguished from rocks you might find on Earth by the crust they form as they fall into the atmosphere, often forming a fiery portal visible in the night sky.

“We can identify meteorites by studying what minerals are in them and the relationships between these minerals,” said researcher Dr. Marissa Tremblay. states. purdue university.

“Meteorites are often denser than Earth's rocks, contain metals, and are magnetic.”

“We can also look for things like the fusion crust that forms when we enter Earth's atmosphere.”

“Finally, we can use the chemical properties of meteorites (particularly their oxygen isotope composition) to determine which planet they came from or what type of meteorite they belong to. ”

According to the authors, some Martian meteorites, such as the 0.8 kg Nacritite meteorite called the Lafayette meteorite, contain minerals that were formed by interaction with liquid water while on Mars. That's what it means.

“So by dating these minerals, we can tell when in Mars' geological past there was liquid water on or near the surface of Mars,” Tremblay said. .

“We dated these minerals in the Martian meteorite Lafayette and found that they formed 742 million years ago.”

“At this point, we don't think there was an abundance of liquid water on the surface of Mars.”

“Instead, we believe this water comes from melting nearby underground ice called permafrost, and that permafrost thaw is caused by magmatic activity that continues to occur regularly on Mars. ”

Researchers say the age derived from the timing of water-rock interactions on Mars is robust and the chronometer used is not affected by events that happened to the Lafayette meteorite, which changed in the presence of water. It was proved that.

“This age could be due to the impact of the Lafayette meteorite being ejected from Mars, the heating Lafayette experienced during its 11 million years floating in space, or the heating Lafayette experienced when it fell to Earth and burned up a bit. “in Earth's atmosphere,'' Dr. Tremblay said.

“But we were able to demonstrate that none of these things affected the chronology of water quality changes in Lafayette.”

“This meteorite has unique evidence that it interacted with water,” said Dr. Ryan Ickert, also of Purdue University.

“The exact date of this is controversial, and our publication dates from a time when water existed.”

“We know this because after this meteorite was ejected from Mars, it was bombarded with cosmic ray particles in space, producing specific isotopes at Lafayette,” Tremblay said. said.

“Many meteoroids are produced by impacts on Mars and other planets, but only a handful end up falling on Earth.”

of findings Published in this month's magazine Geochemical perspective letter.

_____

MM Tremblay others. 2024. Dating recent water activity on Mars. Letter from a geochemical perspective 32;doi: 10.7185/geochemlet.2443

Source: www.sci.news

Israel Unearths 12,000-Year-Old Spindle Whorl

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists have investigated an exceptional assemblage of more than 100 perforated pebbles excavated from the 12,000-year-old Natufian village of Nahal Eingev II in Israel, and have discovered that these items may be used to make fibers. They concluded that it may have functioned as a whorl for the spinning spindle.

3D analysis of perforated pebbles and holes. Image credit: T. Yashuv & L. Grosman, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312007.

Donut-shaped objects connected to bars to form wheels and axles were an important invention that served as a starting point for technological development and are commonly associated with Bronze Age carts.

A spindle whorl is a round, weighted object attached to a spindle stick, forming a similar wheel-and-axle-like device, helping the spindle spin faster and longer, and allowing fibers such as wool or flax to spin You can collect and spin them efficiently. On the thread.

“A circular object with a hollow center connected to a rod is one of the most important inventions in history,” said archaeologists Talia Yashuv and Leore Grossman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“By moving parts of equipment, the wheel led to inventions that revolutionized human transportation, energy use, engineering, and the mechanical industry.”

“From wagons and automobiles to potter's wheels and power mills, oil and wine presses, lathes, spinning wheels, and many other applications, each invention has left its own mark on the history and evolution of technology.”

“At the heart of it all, the importance of 'wheels and axles' lies in the relatively simple rotational mechanisms that can convert linear motion to rotary motion and vice versa.”

Rotating technology: Evolution from “wheelless” to “wheel-based” rotating technology. Image credit: T. Yashuv & L. Grosman, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312007.

In the study, archaeologists examined a collection of more than 100 perforated, mostly limestone pebbles recovered from the Nahal Ein Geb II site in northern Israel.

These artifacts date back to around 12,000 years ago, long before the advent of Bronze Age handcarts, and during the important transition to agricultural life and the Neolithic period.

Researchers speculate that the stone was likely used as a spindle whorl. This hypothesis is supported by the success of spinning flax using stone replicas.

This collection of spindle whorls likely represents a very early example of human use of rotation in a wheel-shaped tool.

These may have paved the way for later spinning technologies, such as potter's wheels and carts, which were essential to the development of early human civilization.

“These Natufian perforated stones are actually the first wheels in form and function. A round object with a hole in the center connected to a rotating shaft, they were used for transportation purposes long before the advent of wheels. ,” Professor Grossman said.

a paper A description of the results was published in the online journal on November 13, 2024 PLoS ONE.

_____

T. Yashuv and L. Grossman. 2024. A 12,000 year old innovation in spindle volute and wheeled rotation technology. PLoS ONE 19 (11): e0312007;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312007

Source: www.sci.news

Evolution of trilobite body part functions

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Newly described trilobite genera and species alter one morphological character to overcome challenges and modify another character to fulfill the original function, presenting a unique example of functional change in an animal.

Silurian trilobites Waukesha Aspis Atonaefrom the Silurian Waukesha biota of Wisconsin, USA. Image credit: Kenneth Gass, specimen is University of Wisconsin Geology Museum.

of trilobite, Waukesha Aspis Atonaefrom marine strata. Silurian (437 meters) Waukesha biota of Wisconsin.

It is the only trilobite found in abundance in this biota and is primarily known for its diversity and exceptional state of conservation. arthropod and insect-like animals.

researcher Dr. Enrique Alberto Randolph and Kenneth C. Gass This trilobite is described in their book new paper in paleontology journal.

The family that includes this trilobite usually has a pair of spines (sexual spines), one on each side (left and right) of the head shield (head).

There is also a tail (pygidium) that usually reaches a point on the back and is usually extended to form the medial vertebrae (caudal vertebrae). This spine is very long and probably helps turn the animal over if necessary.

In contrast, Pygidium Waukesha Spis It lacks a caudal spine and has a depression (bay) in its place, which is highly unusual for Silurian members of this family.

Therefore, this depression does not serve to turn the animal over, but may have enhanced breathing while the animal was in the registration position by maintaining an opening for water to flow into the gills of the trilobite.

What is even more distinctive is that the genus spines of this species are extremely long, reaching up to the pygidium. These may have worked well to turn the animal over.

Other features Waukesha Aspis Atonae Of note is the significant clustering of individuals, with some cases containing up to 49 partial or complete exoskeletons, likely due to physiological tolerance in the habitat and in the reserve. This may be due to classification and storage in storage locations. gastrointestinal (intestinal) tract occurring only in a few other trilobite species.

“This trilobite is important because it allows us to learn more about the functional morphology of the family (Dharmaceae), typically a conservative group,” Dr. Randolph said.

_____

E. Randolph and K. Gass. 2024. Waukesha Aspis Atonae n. generation. n. sp.: A specialized Dharmaniidae (trilobite) from the Terikians of southeastern Wisconsin. paleontology journalp. 1-9; doi: 10.1017/jpa.2024.32

Source: www.sci.news

Editor-in-chief of Scientific American resigns following controversial remarks about Trump

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

Laura Hellmuth, editor-in-chief of Scientific American, is leaving the company.
Immediately after the election, she posted several profane comments on social media posts about the results.
It is unclear whether Helmut's post or the backlash to it played a role in her resignation.

Scientific American Editor-in-Chief Laura Hellmuth is departing from the magazine soon after sharing profane posts regarding the presidential election results on the social media platform BlueSky.

“Following four and a half exhilarating years as editor-in-chief, I have opted to step down from Scientific American,” stated Hellmuth. wrote BlueSky on Thursday.. “I'm going to take some time to think about what's next (and go bird watching…)”

It remains uncertain whether Helmut's social media posts or the backlash they provoked contributed to her resignation. Helmut declined an interview request and mentioned being unable to provide a comment.

Scientific American did not directly address inquiries regarding Helmut's departure, but company president Kimberly Lau conveyed in a statement: We appreciate Laura for her exceptional leadership at Scientific American, during which time the magazine received significant science communication accolades and facilitated the establishment of a reimagined digital newsroom. We extend our best wishes to her in her future endeavors.”

Helmut became the subject of criticism from certain conservative pundits following a series of posts on Blue Sky on November 5 post-election. The post was subsequently deleted from her profile, but the screenshot went viral.

In her post, Helmut apologized to young voters and expressed regret that her Generation X was plagued by “king fascists.”

“Solidarity with all the meanest, stupidest, most bigoted high school classmates celebrating early results to fly to the moon and back,” Hellmuth wrote.

in Later Bluesky post, November 7thHelmut apologized and deleted the election night post, calling it “offensive and inappropriate.”

“I respect and value people beyond their political positions,” Helmut wrote, adding that the now-deleted post was a “misguided expression of shock and confusion over the election results.”

Under Helmut’s leadership, Scientific American began endorsing political candidates. After 175 years, the publication’s editors endorsed Joe Biden in 2020, Kamala Harris in SeptemberDonald Trump “endangers public health and safety, rejecting evidence and instead favoring nonsensical conspiracy fantasies.”

In an interview with the editorial desk before the election, Blog about writing and editing Hellmuth, the author of the book and a professor at the University of North Carolina, stated that in 2020, the editors at Scientific American felt compelled to convey, “We have a duty to share what we know,” as lives were at stake in that election.

Rather than just presenting “both sides” and letting readers decide for themselves, she advocated for informing the public of what they know to be true and how they arrived at that conclusion. She supported an approach that focuses on providing information to the public.

“There aren’t always two rational sides to every story. We know that evolution is real and creationism is not. We know that vaccines save lives and that autism We know that climate change is real,” Hellmuth expressed to the Editorial Desk. “It is inappropriate to give equal consideration to creationists, RFK Jr., or climate change deniers when reporting on these topics, except to clarify that while these topics have been politicized, the science is unambiguous.”

Helmut mentioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who President-elect Donald Trump has nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. President Kennedy has made misleading and false claims about vaccines, suggesting they are linked to autism, even though multiple studies have debunked the concept.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

First-ever examination of a frozen mummy of a Saber-toothed tiger dating back 35,000 years

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Attention all ‘Ice Age’ enthusiasts: New research has uncovered the preserved remains of a 35,000-year-old saber-toothed cat which have been analyzed for the very first time. Published on Thursday in Scientific Reports.

The mummified remains of the animal, including parts of the head, arms, and chest, were unearthed in Yakutia, Russia, in 2020 in remarkably good condition, and were determined to belong to a three-week-old baby, as per the study findings.

The most distinct features of the cub were its small ears, long neck and forearms, dark brown fur, and wide mouth, according to the researchers. Comparison with modern lion cubs of the same age suggests that these cat mummies are part of the Machairodontinae subfamily, specifically the Homotherium genus – a cat with sharply curved saber teeth that thrived in North America and Europe between 12 million and 10,000 years ago.

A. shows a frozen mummy and B. shows the remains of a modern lion cub, Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758).Lopatin, AV, Sotnikova, MV, Klimovsky, AI, and others

Based on the study, the Homotherium cat’s ears were positioned higher on the skull and its mouth opening was 11-19% larger compared to modern lion cubs. Additionally, the neck was described as “longer and more than twice as thick” than that of present-day felines.

For those who enjoy the Ice Age film series, the depiction of saber-toothed cats might seem familiar. The character Diego, a saber-toothed tiger, shares similarities with the 35,000-year-old baby tiger.

This study marks the first investigation of this kind of site.

“For the first time in paleontological history, the characteristics of an extinct mammal with no modern counterparts have been examined,” noted the study authors.

Attempts to reach the study’s corresponding author for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

COP29: Satellite detects methane leaks but “super emitters” fail to address issue

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Methane plume at least 4.8 kilometers long pours into the atmosphere south of Tehran, Iran

NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology

The world now has more ways than ever to discover invisible methane emissions, which are so far responsible for a third of global warming. But methane “super emitters” take little action even when warned that they are leaking large amounts of the powerful greenhouse gas, according to a report released at the COP29 climate summit.

“We’re not seeing the transparency and urgency that we need,” he says. Manfredi Caltagirone director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, recently launched a system that uses satellite data to alert methane emitters of leaks.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas to tackle after carbon dioxide, and more countries are pledging to reduce methane emissions to avoid short-term warming. At last year’s COP28 climate summit, many of the world’s largest oil and gas companies also pledged to “elimate” methane emissions from their operations.

Today, more and more satellites are beginning to detect methane leaks from the biggest sources of methane emissions, such as oil and gas infrastructure, coal mines, landfills, and agriculture. That data is critical to holding emitters accountable, he says. mark brownstein at the Environmental Defense Fund, an environmental advocacy group that recently launched its own methane sensing satellite. “But data alone won’t solve the problem,” he says.

The first year of the UN’s Methane Alert System shows a huge gap between data and action. Over the past year, this program has 1225 alerts issued When we saw plumes of methane from oil and gas infrastructure large enough to be detected from space, we reported them to governments and companies. To date, emitters have taken steps to control these leaks only 15 times, reporting a response rate of about 1 percent.

There are many possible reasons for this, Caltagirone says. Although emissions from oil and gas infrastructure are widely considered to be the easiest to deal with, emitters may lack the technical or financial resources and some methane sources may be difficult to shut down. there is. “It’s plumbing. It’s not rocket science,” he says.

Another explanation may be that emitters are not yet accustomed to the new alarm system. However, other methane monitoring devices have reported similar lack of response. “Our success rate is not that good,” he says Jean-François Gauthier GHGSat is a Canadian company that has been issuing similar satellite alerts for many years. “About 2 or 3 percent.”

Methane super emitter plume detected in 2021

ESA/SRON

There are also some success stories. For example, the United Nations issued several warnings this year to the Algerian government about a source of methane that has been leaking continuously since at least 1999, and whose global warming impact is equivalent to driving 500,000 cars a year. It is said to be equivalent. By October, satellite data showed it had disappeared.

But the big picture shows that monitoring is not yet leading to emissions reductions. “Simply showing a plume of methane is not enough to take action,” he says. rob jackson at Stanford University in California. The central problem, he sees, is that satellites rarely reveal who owns leaky pipelines or methane-emitting wells, making accountability difficult.

Methane is a major topic of discussion at the COP29 conference currently being held in Baku, Azerbaijan. a summit At a meeting on non-CO2 greenhouse gases convened by the United States and China this week, each country announced several measures on methane emissions. That includes a U.S. fee on methane for oil and gas emitters, a rule many expect the incoming Trump administration to roll back.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Hikers and melting snow reveal ancient ecosystem in the Alps before dinosaurs

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Deep beneath the snow-covered slopes lie prehistoric wonders waiting to be discovered. Recently, hikers in the Italian Alps stumbled upon an ancient ecosystem that predates even the dinosaurs, thanks to melting snow.

The groundbreaking discovery was announced on Wednesday, revealing well-preserved reptile and amphibian footprints dating back 280 million years to the Permian period, according to scientists.

Cristiano Dal Sasso, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Milan, described the impressive footprints left by animals at that time, with some measuring 2 to 3 inches long. These fascinating finds are now on display at the museum.

The fossil was unearthed in the mountains of Lombardy, Italy, where the melting snow and ice exposed these ancient treasures due to the ongoing climate crisis.

Researchers move rocks containing fossil footprints in the Italian Alps.
Elio della Ferrera / Milan Museum of Natural History

In the summer of 2023, Claudia Steffensen stumbled upon one of these fossils while hiking in the Valtellina Orobie mountains. This discovery led to a series of investigations by experts like Orsonio Ronchi and Lorenzo Marchetti, unraveling the mysteries of this ancient ecosystem.

Researchers were amazed by the abundance and preservation of the fossils, which provide valuable insights into the Permian period just before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Computer-generated images show what prehistoric reptiles looked like.
Fabio Manucci / Milan Natural History Museum

The rapidly changing climate has played a significant role in revealing these fossils, as rising temperatures have caused snow and ice to melt, exposing the long-hidden remains.

As more footprints and fossils emerge from the mountains in the coming years, researchers warn that studying the past can shed light on the environmental challenges we face today. It serves as a stark reminder of the impact our actions can have on the world.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Laser Beams Can Create Shadows with the Proper Conditions

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

in new paper Published in today's magazine opticaphysicists explain how a laser beam casts a shadow that behaves like any other ordinary shadow.

Photographic image of the shadow of a laser beam. A high-powered green laser beam (object) passes through a ruby cube and is illuminated from the side with blue light: (A) Photograph of the shadow cast by the object laser beam on a white piece of paper, imaged through a simple lens It will be magnified approximately 4 times using The length of the ruby cube is approximately 1.2cm, and the enlarged image is approximately 4.8cm. Therefore, whether magnified or not, it depicts what can be seen directly. (B) Photographic image showing the surroundings for scale reference. Place a white plastic marker (i.e., a wide-tipped pen) in the path of the shadow between the object beam and the paper, and fix the camera focus on the (C) paper or (D) marker. The appearance of a shadow along the contours of the surface it falls on. All images were taken with a regular home digital camera in a dark room. Image credit: Abrahao others., doi: 10.1364/optica.534596.

“Laser light that casts shadows was previously thought to be impossible because light typically passes through other light without interacting,” said Dr. Rafael Abrahao, a researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory. spoke.

“Demonstration of a highly counterintuitive optical effect prompts us to reconsider our concept of shadow.”

Dr. Abrahao and his colleagues used a ruby crystal and a specific laser wavelength to show that laser beams can block light and create visible shadows through nonlinear optical processes.

This effect occurs when light interacts with a material in an intensity-dependent manner and can affect another light field.

“Our understanding of shadows has developed in close connection with our understanding of light and optics,” Dr. Abrahao said.

“This new discovery could prove useful in a variety of applications, including optical switching, devices in which one light controls the presence of another, or technologies that require precise control of light transmission, such as high-power lasers. There is a possibility that

In their experiment, the researchers shined a high-power green laser onto a cube made of a standard ruby crystal, then shot a blue laser at it from the side.

When a green laser is incident on a ruby, it locally changes the material's response to blue wavelengths.

The green laser acts like a normal object, and the blue laser acts like a light.

The interaction between the two light sources creates a shadow on the screen, where the green laser appears as a dark area blocking the blue light.

It met all the criteria for a shadow, as it was visible to the naked eye, followed the contours of the surface it fell on, and followed the position and shape of the laser beam acting as the object.

The laser shadow effect is the result of ruby's optical nonlinear absorption.

This effect occurs because the green laser increases the light absorption of the blue illumination laser beam, creating a matching region within the illumination light with lower light intensity.

“This discovery expands our understanding of the interaction between light and matter and opens up new possibilities for harnessing light in previously unimagined ways,” Dr. Abrahao said.

The researchers experimentally measured that the shadow contrast depends on the power of the laser beam and found that the maximum contrast was about 22%, similar to the contrast of a tree's shadow on a sunny day.

They also developed a theoretical model and showed that it could accurately predict shadow contrast.

“From a technical point of view, the effect we demonstrated shows that the intensity of the transmitted laser beam can be controlled by firing another laser,” the scientists said.

“Next, we plan to investigate other materials and other laser wavelengths that can produce similar effects.”

_____

Raphael A. Abrahao others. 2024. Shadow of laser beam. optica 11 (11): 1549-1555;doi: 10.1364/optica.534596

Source: www.sci.news

Proba-3: Twin spacecraft launched to create a simulated solar eclipse

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Two Proba-3 spacecraft work together to create an artificial solar eclipse

ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) aims to create an artificial solar eclipse in space with its upcoming Proba-3 mission, which will help study the Sun and demonstrate extremely precise formation flight down to just a millimeter. It turns out.

Scheduled to launch on December 4 on an Indian PSLV-XL rocket, the mission will consist of two spacecraft. After launch, they will be placed into a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth, bringing them about 600 kilometers (600 kilometers) close to Earth, but at a distance of about 60,000 kilometers (60,000 kilometers) from the Earth.

One of the spacecraft, called Occulter, features a 1.4-meter-wide disc made of carbon fiber and plastic. The other spacecraft will fly about 150 meters behind the first spacecraft and point its camera there. From this vantage point, the occulter's disk blocks the surface of the Sun, much like the Moon appears to cover the Sun during a total solar eclipse. This will allow imaging probes to observe the solar corona, or the sun's atmosphere, in more detail than ever before.

“This will be the closest we've ever seen the corona to the Sun in visible light,” said Damien Galano, ESA's Proba-3 mission manager. “This could provide concrete information about the temperature of the corona, the formation of the solar wind, and how the corona expands into space.”

Proba-3 accomplishes this feat by flying with incredible precision. Both spacecraft are equipped with sensors to track their position in space, and the Occulter uses 12 nitrogen thrusters to autonomously maintain its position with its partner with millimeter accuracy. The thrusters can deliver just 10 millinewtons of thrust, which is 1/50th the force of human breathing.

To limit the destabilizing effects of Earth's gravity, the artificial eclipse will last six hours when the spacecraft is furthest from Earth. More than 1,000 solar eclipses are planned during the two-year mission. Galano said this is the first time since experiments with artificial solar eclipses in space. 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

The experience gained from the Proba-3 mission could also be applied to things like refueling spacecraft and developing large telescopes in space. “Until now, we've only been able to achieve accuracy of a centimeter or better,” said Steve Buckley, Proba-3 lead engineer at Onsemi, a US company that developed some of the sensors for the mission. “This is 10 times better.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Large factory emissions may contribute to snowfall.

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Factory aerosols could change clouds in the sky

Getty Images/iStockphoto

SEI 229454176 — Factory aerosols could change clouds in the sky

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Satellite images show that plumes of pollutants from large factories can cause snowfall and leave holes in widespread clouds.

It has long been known that fine particles of soot-like pollutants, known as aerosol pollution, can affect clouds in a variety of ways. Water vapor can condense on pollutant particles and cause cloud formation, and pollutants can also change the properties of existing clouds.

While researching these effects, Vere Thor Researchers at the University of Tartu in Estonia noticed that holes sometimes appear in clouds downwind of major pollution sources. He and his colleagues have now analyzed thousands of satellite images of North America and Eurasia and found 67 locations where this effect can be seen under the right atmospheric conditions.

Weather radar confirmed that these events were causing snowfall. In the largest example the researchers found, up to 15 millimeters of snow fell over an area of 2,200 square kilometers (850 square miles).

This happens because pollutant particles freeze around supercooled water droplets in the cloud, creating ice crystals that grow into snowflakes, Toll said. “And as the water comes out of the clouds as snow, you end up with fewer clouds.”

In the absence of particles, water droplets in clouds remain liquid even when the air is as cold as -40°C (-40°F).

This satellite image shows reduced cloud cover downwind of a Canadian copper smelter

Vere Thor

Most of the 67 sources of pollution found by the research team were oil refineries and factories producing metals, cement, and fertilizers. But surprisingly, the researchers occasionally observed similar effects near four nuclear power plants that do not produce any aerosol emissions.

This could be because the warm air rising from these power plants is picking up aerosol pollution from elsewhere, but the researchers have not confirmed this. “There's no clear explanation for that,” Toll said.

In theory, it's possible to intentionally induce snowfall using aerosol effects, but that would only work if a cloud of supercooled liquid water droplets was already present, Tolle said. say.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The impact of cholesterol levels on the risk of developing dementia

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Recent research has found a significant connection between cholesterol levels and the risk of developing dementia. It is not just high cholesterol levels that are concerning, but also the fluctuations in levels over time. A study of 10,000 individuals suggests that these fluctuations could increase the chances of developing dementia by up to 60 percent.

The study also indicates that large variations in cholesterol levels, from high to low, are linked to a higher risk of general cognitive decline, regardless of dementia. Dr. Jen Zhou, a researcher at Monash University in Australia, emphasized the importance of closely monitoring and actively intervening to prevent such fluctuations.

The research focused on two main types of cholesterol – “bad cholesterol” or LDL and “good cholesterol” or HDL. Large fluctuations in LDL levels were found to accelerate cognitive decline, while fluctuations in HDL levels did not impact cognitive decline risk significantly.

The study highlighted the potential adverse effects of LDL cholesterol levels above 130mg per deciliter and the role of LDL fluctuations in destabilizing atherosclerotic plaques in arteries, potentially leading to impaired blood flow to the brain.

The study involved individuals in their 70s from Australia and the United States who did not have dementia at the start of the observation period. By the end of the study, a portion of participants developed dementia while others experienced cognitive decline. Those with stable cholesterol levels had a lower risk of neurological symptoms.

Globally, high levels of bad cholesterol contributed to millions of deaths in 2021. To manage cholesterol levels, individuals are advised to undergo regular medical check-ups and make lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and consuming a healthy diet.

According to Emily McGrath from the British Heart Foundation, lowering cholesterol can be achieved through various lifestyle adjustments, including reducing saturated fats and opting for foods rich in unsaturated fats like olive oil, nuts, seeds, and oily fish.

Read More:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Enantiornis fossil from 80 million years ago connects Archeopteryx to modern birds

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have unearthed the exquisitely preserved remains of a Cretaceous enantiornithine bird in São Paulo state in southeastern Brazil. The skull’s extraordinary three-dimensional preservation allowed researchers to digitally reconstruct the bird’s brain.

Artist’s impression Nabaornis Hestia. Image credit: Júlia D’Oliveira.

The newly identified Enantiornithine species They lived in what is now Brazil about 80 million years ago (late Cretaceous period).

with scientific name Nabaornis Hestiathe ancient bird was about the same size as a starling.

This species had a larger cerebrum Archeopteryxsuggesting that they had more advanced cognitive abilities than early bird-like dinosaurs.

However, most regions of the brain, such as the cerebellum, are underdeveloped, suggesting that the complex flight control mechanisms of modern birds have not yet evolved.

“The structure of the brain is Nabaornis Hestia almost exactly in between Archeopteryx Dr Guillermo Navarone, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, says:

Fossilized remains are Nabaornis Hestia It was recovered in 2016 from the local Williams Quarry in Presidente Prudente, part of Brazil’s Adamantina Formation.

Tens of millions of years ago, the site was probably an arid region with slow-flowing streams, allowing for the impressive preservation of fossils.

The extraordinary three-dimensional preservation has allowed paleontologists to use advanced micro-CT scanning techniques to reconstruct the toothless, large-eyed bird’s skull and brain in stunning detail.

fossilized skeleton Nabaornis Hestia. Image credit: Stephanie Abramowitz.

“This fossil is truly one of a kind and I was in awe from the moment I first saw it to the moment I finished assembling the skull and brain. “You can fully understand the scientific structure,” Dr. Navarone said.

Professor Daniel Field from the University of Cambridge added: “Modern birds have some of the most sophisticated cognitive abilities in the animal kingdom, rivaled only by mammals.”

“However, scientists have struggled to understand when and how birds’ unique brains and remarkable intelligence evolved. The field is looking forward to discovering fossils just like this one. I’ve been waiting for it.”

On the other hand, the skull Nabaornis Hestia At first glance, it resembles a small pigeon, but upon closer inspection, it turns out that it is not a modern bird at all, but a member of the “opposite birds”, or “opposite birds”.

Birds of the order Enantiornithiformes, which diverged from modern birds more than 130 million years ago, have complex feathers and are thought to have been able to fly as competently as modern birds. .

However, the anatomical structure of the brain Nabaornis Hestia This raises new questions: How does enantiornithine behave without a range of brain features observed in living birds, including an enlarged cerebellum, which is a spatial control center in living birds? Did they control the flight?

“This fossil represents a species at an intermediate point in the evolutionary process of bird cognition,” Professor Field said.

“The cognitive ability is Nabaornis Hestia They may have had an advantage in finding food and shelter, and were capable of elaborate mating displays and other complex social behaviors. ”

“This discovery shows that some of the birds that flew above the dinosaurs already had fully modern skull shapes more than 80 million years ago,” Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County said. said researcher Dr. Luis Chiappe.

This finding is reported in the following article: paper in a diary nature.

_____

LM Chiappe others. 2024. Cretaceous birds from Brazil tell the story of the evolution of bird skulls and brains. nature 635, 376-381; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08114-4

Source: www.sci.news

Shocking discovery: Light can create its own shadow, reveals bizarre experiment

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The shadow of the laser beam appears as a horizontal line against a blue background.

Abrahao et al. (2024)

Usually light casts shadows on other objects, but with the help of rubies, laser beams themselves can cast shadows.

When two laser beams interact, they don’t collide like the lightsabers in the movies. star warssay Rafael Abrahao At Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. In real life, they simply pass through each other. But Abrahao and his colleagues discovered a way for one laser beam to block another, causing its shadow to appear.

The key ingredient was ruby cubes. The researchers illuminated the cube with a green laser beam while shining a blue laser from the side. When green light passed through the ruby’s atoms, its properties changed in a unique way, which affected its response to blue light.

Atoms affected by the green light blocked the blue laser light instead of letting it pass, creating a shadow that was exactly the same shape as the green laser beam. Remarkably, the researchers were able to project blue light onto a screen and see this “laser shadow” with the naked eye.

Abrahao says he and his colleagues had a long discussion about whether what they had created was actually worthy of a shadow. Because moving the green laser beam also moved the green laser beam, we were able to see it without special equipment, and we were able to project it onto commonplace objects like markers, so we finally found a positive answer. I made a judgment.

Historically, understanding shadows has been critical to understanding what light can do and how it can be used, and this experiment has added to scientists’ light manipulation toolbox. Add unexpected technology, he says.

thomas kloba Researchers at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany say their experiment used a known process to create an impressive visual demonstration of how materials can help control light. . For example, the interaction between lasers and rubies is similar to the interaction of materials used in laser eye surgery, and if the laser light becomes dangerously strong, it must be able to react by blocking the laser light. yeah.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Solomon Islands unearths the world’s biggest coral reef

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Coral polyps, tiny organisms, cluster together to form colonies that create vast coral reefs.

The researchers describe the giant coral as primarily brown with pops of yellow, blue, and red on its undulating surface resembling ocean waves.

This massive coral structure is essential as it serves as a habitat, sanctuary, and breeding ground for various species, from shrimp and crabs to different kinds of fish, Timmers highlighted.

Despite its significance, this coral is facing challenges both locally and globally.

Timmers emphasized the detrimental impact of overfishing on the ecosystem’s health by removing organisms crucial for balance. She suggested ways to protect coral reefs like using sea cucumbers for sediment cleaning and giant clams for water filtration, underscoring the importance of every living organism.

The rise in ocean temperatures due to climate change poses another threat, potentially causing the coral to bleach and perish, Timmers warned.

National Geographic diver Iñigo San Felix uses survey lines around giant corals.
Manu Saint Felix/National Geographic

David M. Baker, a coral reef expert at the University of Hong Kong, lauded the discovery, calling it “remarkable.”

Baker, who was not part of the expedition, mentioned that corals are essentially immortal, surviving environmental changes due to favorable conditions and adaptability.

However, Baker cautioned that even remote reefs are vulnerable to climate change impacts.

He expressed hope in the presence of large, old corals, indicating opportunities to safeguard, preserve, and restore oceans while combatting climate change.

Divers swim over spectacular coral reefs.
Manu Saint Felix/National Geographic

The Solomon Islands boast the world’s second highest coral diversity, housing over 490 species of hard and soft corals.

Currently, the world is experiencing the Fourth global coral bleaching event. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has confirmed large-scale bleaching in at least 62 countries and territories from 2023 to early 2024.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Discovering Love through a Quantum Perspective

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

love quantum

Netflix shows love is blind Rather, I ignored the feedback. This is a romance show where participants cannot meet each other in person and only communicate through audio. You will only be allowed to meet in person if you are engaged.

Like many reality shows, it is “Social experiment”which is an interesting way to explain putting something so personal on television as entertainment, but I’m sure Netflix’s consent form is perfect.

I bring this up because a quantum physicist was introduced in Season 7, which was released in October. Garrett Josemans is a technical program manager at IonQ, which is developing “next generation” quantum computing systems.

According to the company’s blog post He touted his experience, saying, “The opportunity to focus on love in a structured environment was interesting.” That’s one way to say it. Josemans added: “My intellectual curiosity grew and I felt like fate was knocking at my door.”

Obviously he was right. Josemans is currently married to co-star Taylor Krauss. As one of my colleagues in the news department pointed out, being used to having two confusing and contradictory realities existing at the same time is probably a boon in some relationships.

the biggest odor

Speaking of dating, Mrs. Feedback draws attention to pheromone maximization (sometimes spelled maxxing). This is apparently what alpha males do.

Actually, let me stop you there. Alpha males are not the problem. The concept stems from research on captive wolves in the 1940s, which found that a single male often dominated the pack. From there, the concept spread into popular culture. But it turns out that wild wolves don’t behave like that. Their herd is like an extended family. Wolf researcher L. David Meck has spent much of his career correcting the record, including trying to get his early books out of print.

where were we? Well, a human alpha male (which doesn’t exist) has come up with a novel strategy to attract women as sexual partners. They maximize their “musk” by refraining from showering and wearing the same clothes for several days, producing an attractive cocktail of pheromones that sends women into a sexual frenzy.

The idea gained some fame on the internet after a teenage TikTok user posted a video about an experiment that begins like this: First It doesn’t smell. It’s pheromone MAX. ” follow-up video, from His mother asked other parents for advice on how to get him to shower.

I don’t know where to start with feedback. Perhaps the idea of human pheromones? Indeed, some animals communicate by releasing chemicals into the air called pheromones, some of which play a role in mating. However, despite decades of research, there is no conclusive evidence that human pheromones exist. Basing your dating strategy on a phenomenon that may not be real is a bold move.

Even if human sex pheromones exist, why do we get the most benefit from not showering? And why do pheromones cancel out other odors?

It’s been a long time since Feedback played the dating game, but according to our vague memories, the best way to connect with people is to talk to them, find common interests, and be nice. That was it. Still, young minds, fresh ideas.

Trouble with TED talks

I’ve never gotten feedback on a TED talk. Perhaps our invitation ended up in your spam folder. But the goal is to bring together the best and brightest to communicate their ideas to a wide audience. Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner, 2 TED Talks. Malcolm Gladwell turning point fame, did 4 Therefore, it is assumed that he is twice as important.

But when you need a never-ending firehose of content, you inevitably end up hunting for material – Feedback knows this feeling all too well – which brings us to a talk by Raymond Tan. he It was delivered Back in 2017, TED Conferences social media reshared Feedback first encountered that profound wisdom in October.

At the time, Mr Tan was an IT manager at a financial services company. But his talk is about “Lessons from the Philosophy of Water.” By studying the behavior of water, we can gain a sense of fulfillment in our lives. This kind of thing is a headache for feedback, so I’ll give you some examples of what was provided.

“If you think about water flowing through a river, it’s always at a low level,” Tan said. Yes, liquids under gravity tend to do that. “Water can change. Depending on the temperature, it can be a liquid, a solid, or a gas… We also constantly reskill to stay relevant. We are expected to invent and update.” Feedback appreciates the comparison between the job market situation and the simmering and frozen experience. Indeed, water embodies the hustle spirit. #grind

Let’s put the obvious facts aside. You might get similar advice from one of those internet memes that highlights an “inspirational” phrase over a photo of a waterfall. The real problem with advice like this is that it’s not as universally applicable as the speakers claim. Many people may do the easy job, but too many cooks will ruin the soup. Here we argue in our TED talk: “It depends.”

Have a story for feedback?

You can email your article to Feedback at feedback@newscientist.com. Please enter your home address. This week’s and past feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Sixth Starship Launch: When is SpaceX’s Next Flight Test and What to Anticipate?

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

SpaceX said on its website that it aims to conduct Starship's sixth test flight as early as November 18.

space x

SpaceX is preparing for the sixth test flight of Starship, the world's most powerful rocket. The company has a “fail fast, learn fast” approach to research and development that is more akin to the world of Silicon Valley than the aerospace industry, and the pace of launches appears to only be accelerating.

When is the next flight?

SpaceX says on the website The company said it aims to conduct Starship's sixth test flight as early as November 18. This claim is supported by the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). rocket launch warning SpaceX launch pad area in Boca Chica, Texas. The 30-minute launch slot opens at 4pm local time (10pm Japan time).

It took SpaceX 18 months to conduct Starship's first five test flights, with the fifth taking place in mid-October. When the airline launches its sixth flight next week, it will be just over a month since the last flight, making it the fastest flight ever.

What will SpaceX try with Flight 6?

In many ways, Flight 6 is a repeat of Flight 5, but with some key differences.

The booster stage will again attempt a “chopstick” landing, grabbing and securing the aircraft as it returns to the launch pad so it can be lowered to the ground. This approach is designed to ultimately allow boosters to be reused multiple times and significantly reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit.

Starship during high altitude test flight

space x

The upper stage will reach space, complete a partial orbit, re-enter Earth's atmosphere and splash-land in the Indian Ocean. But this time, the upper stage will attempt to reignite one of the Raptor engines during its stay in space in order to gather valuable operational data. It also plans to test new heat shield designs during atmospheric reentry.

Another difference is that because the launch will take place later in the day, the landing of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean can be filmed during the day, allowing for more detailed shots. Previous missions had landed at night, so while the footage was cinematic and dramatic, it didn't provide engineers with as much insight as footage from daytime landings.

What happened during previous Starship launches?

During the first test flight on April 20, 2023, three of the 33 engines in the booster stage failed to ignite. The rocket then became uncontrollable and self-destructed.

During the second test flight on November 18, 2023, the flight progressed further and gained enough altitude to separate the booster and upper stage as planned. The booster stage ultimately exploded before reaching the ground, and the upper stage self-destructed before reaching space.

Test Flight 3 on March 14, 2024 was at least partially successful as the upper stage reached space again, but it did not return to Earth unscathed.

The next flight was on June 6, when the upper stage reached an altitude of more than 200 kilometers and flew at speeds of more than 27,000 kilometers per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed a soft landing at sea.

Test Flight 5 was the most ambitious yet, with Starship's super-heavy booster dropping onto the launch pad and being safely caught by “chopsticks” on SpaceX's launch tower, known as Mechazilla. It is equipped with “chopsticks” that can be used to grab and fix a specific position on the aircraft and lower it to the ground.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Study finds new weight loss drug decreases appetite without compromising muscle mass

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers have identified a new drug similar to Ozempic that aids in weight loss without causing muscle loss. This drug, known as NK2R, works by suppressing appetite and boosting calorie burning. According to scientists, it has been successful in promoting weight loss while avoiding negative side effects such as nausea. The team of 47 researchers believe that NK2R could be a valuable option for individuals who have not seen results with other weight loss treatments.

Associate Professor Zach Gerhart-Hines, a metabolic researcher at the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study, noted that their drug, unlike Ozempic, did not trigger nausea and also resulted in muscle relief rather than muscle loss. The drug targets specific neural circuits in the brain and affects blood sugar, weight, and cholesterol levels.

While Ozempic mimics the hormone GLP-1 to reduce hunger, NK2R works differently by targeting a molecule naturally present in the body’s cells called NK2R. When tested on overweight mice, the drug led to weight loss and decreased food intake.

However, some health experts are cautious about the effects of this treatment on humans, as it is currently based on animal studies. Dr. Adam Collins, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey, expressed skepticism about the research’s applicability to humans.

Clinical trials of NK2R in humans are scheduled to begin within the next two years.

About our experts:

Dr. Zach Gerhart-Hines is an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, focusing on diet, circadian clocks, and metabolism.

Dr. Adam Collins is an Associate Professor at the University of Surrey with expertise in weight loss, metabolism, and nutrition.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Physicists conduct measurements on fermium’s nuclear properties

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Physicists are GSI/FAIR accelerator facility gained insight into the structure of the atomic nucleus. Fermium is a synthetic chemical element of the actinide series with atomic number 100. Using laser spectroscopy techniques, they tracked changes in the nucleus’s charge radius and found that it steadily increased as neutrons were added to the nucleus.

Fermium isotopes studied by Warbinek others. It is highlighted in this graph. Image credit: S. Raeder.

“The heaviest atomic nucleus known to date owes its existence to quantum mechanical nuclear shell effects,'' say researchers from the Helmholtz Institute Mainz and Geographical Survey Institute Helmholtzzentrum Schwerionenforschung. said Dr. Sebastian Roeder and colleagues.

“These increase the stability of the nucleus against spontaneous fission, allowing the formation of superheavy nuclei.”

“For a certain number of protons (Z) or neutrons (N), the so-called magic numbers, the nuclear shell exhibits a large energy gap, resulting in increased stability of the nucleus.”

“This is similar to the closed electron shell of noble gases, which provides chemical inertness.”

“The heaviest known atomic nucleus with a magic number for both protons (Z = 82) and neutrons (N = 126) is lead-208, a spherical nucleus.”

“The location of the next spherical gap beyond lead-208 is still unknown. Nuclear models predict it most frequently at Z = 114, Z = 120 or Z = 126, and N = 172 or N = 184. Masu.”

“This variation in predictions is primarily due to the large single-particle density in the heaviest nuclei, among other factors.”

The authors used a laser-based method to investigate a fermium nucleus with 100 protons (Z = 100) and 145 to 157 neutrons (N = 145 to 157).

Specifically, we studied the influence of quantum mechanical shell effects on the size of atomic nuclei.

“This allows us to elucidate the structure of these nuclei in the range around the known shell effect of neutron number 152 from a new perspective,” said Dr. Rader.

“At this neutron number, signs of neutron shell closure were previously observed in trends in nuclear binding energies.”

“The strength of the shell effect was measured by high-precision mass measurements at GSI/FAIR in 2012.”

“According to Einstein, mass equals energy, so these mass measurements gave us a hint about the additional binding energy that shell effects provide.”

“The nucleus around neutron number 152 is shaped more like a rugby ball than a sphere, making it an ideal guinea pig for deeper research.”

“This deformation allows many protons within the nucleus to be separated further apart than in a spherical nucleus.”

In the measurements, the researchers investigated fermium isotopes with lifetimes ranging from a few seconds to 100 days, using different methods for producing fermium isotopes and methodological developments in applied laser spectroscopy techniques. Ta.

Short-lived isotopes are produced at the GSI/FAIR accelerator facility, where in some cases only a few atoms per minute are available for experiments.

The generated nuclei were stopped in argon gas, and electrons were picked up to form neutral atoms, which were then examined using laser light.

The neutron-rich, long-lived fermium isotopes (fermium-255, fermium-257) were produced in picogram quantities at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, USA, and the Laue Langevina Institute in France.

Their results provided insight into the variation of the nuclear charge radius of the fermium isotope over neutron number 152 and showed a stable and uniform increase.

“Our experimental results and interpretation by modern theoretical methods show that in fermium nuclei, nuclear shell effects have a small influence on the charge radius of the nuclei, in contrast to their strong influence on the binding energy of these nuclei. “This shows that,” Dr. Jessica said. Mr. Warbinek is a researcher at CERN.

“This result supports the theoretical prediction that local shell effects due to a small number of neutrons and protons lose influence as the nuclear mass increases.”

“Instead, the effects attributed to the complete assembly of all nucleons dominate, with the nuclei being seen rather as charged liquid droplets.”

of result Published in a magazine nature.

_____

J. Warbinek others. 2024. Smooth trend of charge radius in fermium and influence of shell effect. nature 634, 1075-1079;doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08062-z

Source: www.sci.news

Calculating the Likelihood of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Beyond: A New Theoretical Model

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In 1961, American astrophysicist and astrobiologist Dr. Frank Drake multiplied several factors to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations in the Milky Way that could make their presence known to humans. I devised an equation. More than 60 years later, astrophysicists have created a different model that focuses instead on conditions created by the accelerating expansion of the universe and the amount of stars forming. This expansion is thought to be caused by dark energy, which makes up more than two-thirds of the universe.

Artistic impression of the multiverse. Image credit: Jaime Salcido / EAGLE collaboration.

“Understanding dark energy and its impact on our universe is one of the biggest challenges in cosmology and fundamental physics,” said Dr. Daniele Solini, a researcher at Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology. .

“The parameters that govern our universe, such as the density of dark energy, may explain our own existence.”

Because stars are a prerequisite for the emergence of life as we know it, the team’s new model predicts the probability of intelligent life arising in our universe, and in a hypothetical multiverse scenario of different universes. could be used to estimate the

The new study does not attempt to calculate the absolute number of observers (i.e. intelligent life) in the universe, but instead calculates the relative probability that a randomly chosen observer will inhabit a universe with certain properties. will be considered.

It concludes that a typical observer would expect to experience significantly greater densities of dark energy than seen in our Universe. This suggests that its ingredients make it a rare and unusual case in the multiverse.

The approach presented in this paper involves calculating the rate at which ordinary matter is converted into stars for different dark energy densities throughout the history of the universe.

Models predict that this proportion would be about 27% in a universe where star formation is most efficient, compared to 23% in our universe.

This means that we do not live in a hypothetical universe where intelligent life has the highest probability of forming.

In other words, according to the model, the values of dark energy density that we observe in the Universe do not maximize the potential for life.

“Surprisingly, we found that even fairly high dark energy densities can still coexist with life. This suggests that we may not be living in the most likely universe. ,” Dr. Solini said.

The model could help scientists understand how different densities of dark energy affect the structure of the universe and the conditions for life to develop there.

Dark energy causes the universe to expand faster, balancing the pull of gravity and creating a universe that is capable of both expansion and structure formation.

But for life to develop, there needs to be areas where matter can aggregate to form stars and planets, and conditions need to remain stable for billions of years to allow life to evolve.

Importantly, this study shows that the astrophysics of star formation and the evolution of the large-scale structure of the universe combine in subtle ways to determine the optimal value of dark energy density required for the generation of intelligent life. It suggests that.

“We will use this model to investigate the emergence of life across different universes and reinterpret some fundamental questions we ask ourselves about our own universe,” said Lucas Lombreiser, professor at the University of Geneva. It will be interesting to see if there is a need.”

of study Published in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

_____

Daniele Solini others. 2024. Influence of the cosmological constant on past and future star formation. MNRAS 535 (2): 1449-1474;doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2236

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of Metabolic Compounds that Control Appetite and Weight

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Research has revealed a new metabolic pathway involving beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB). Previously known as a liver-produced fuel, BHB is now found to be attached to amino acids by the enzyme CNDP2. The most abundant BHB amino acid, N-β-hydroxybutyryl phenylalanine (BHB-Phe), can impact body weight and metabolism in animal models.

Beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) is an abundant ketone body. All BHB metabolic pathways known to date involve the interconversion of BHB and primary energy intermediates. Moya Garzon others. BHB et al. identified a previously undescribed BHB secondary metabolic pathway via CNDP2-dependent enzymatic binding of BHB and free amino acids. Image credit: Moya-Garzon others., doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.032.

Mammals have developed intricate nutrient response pathways linking external energy sources with internal metabolic balance.

These pathways involve changes in cellular energy metabolites serving as both fuel sources and downstream regulators.

BHB, a ketone body, is a key example whose levels rise during low carbohydrate conditions like starvation, intermittent fasting, or ketogenic diet.

In a recent study, Professor Yong Xu of Baylor College of Medicine and team investigated how BHB-Phe, the most common BHB amino acid, affects eating habits and body weight in mice.

“Brain neuron groups regulate feeding behavior, so we mapped the brain to identify regions activated by BHB-Phe,” explained Professor Xu.

“BHB-Phe activated neural populations in the hypothalamus and brainstem, suppressing feeding and leading to weight loss.”

In contrast, mice lacking CNDP2 enzyme, deficient in BHB-Phe, ate more and gained weight.

Interestingly, CNDP2 also produces Lac-Phe, a compound discovered earlier by the research team.

“Lac-Phe from exercise can reduce food intake and obesity in mice,” added Professor Xu.

“But do Lac-Phe and BHB-Phe trigger effects by activating the same brain neurons?”

This discovery points to a possible disruption of the BHB-Phe pathway, present in humans, in obesity and other conditions, warranting further research to understand the mechanism.

“This study unveils new prospects,” commented Dr. Jonathan Long from Stanford.

“In the future, using BHB-Phe to promote weight loss without carbohydrate restrictions may be feasible.”

Featured in this week’s cell journal.

_____

Maria Dolores Moya-Garzon others. The β-hydroxybutyrate shunt pathway produces anti-obesity ketone metabolites. cell published online on November 12, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.032

Source: www.sci.news

Early universe reveals mysterious supermassive galaxy

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have determined that within the first billion years after the Big Bang, three supermassive galaxies with a mass roughly the same as our own Milky Way already existed. I discovered that there is. The discovery, part of the JWST/FRESCO survey, shows that stars in the early universe grew much more rapidly than previously thought, casting doubt on existing models of galaxy formation.

Three red monster galaxies discovered by Webb. Image credits: NASA / CSA / ESA / M. Xiao & PA Oesch, University of Geneva / G. Brammer, Niels Bohr Institute / Dawn JWST Archive.

Until now, it was thought that all galaxies formed gradually within large halos of dark matter.

Dark matter halos trap gas (atoms and molecules) in gravitationally bound structures.

Typically, up to 20% of this gas is converted into stars within a galaxy.

But new discoveries cast doubt on this view, revealing that giant galaxies in the early universe may have grown much more rapidly and efficiently than previously thought.

“The problem of ‘impossible’ giant galaxies in the aftermath of the Big Bang has puzzled astronomers since the first images of the web,” said Dr Ivo Rabe, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology.

“This is like finding a 100 kg infant. Webb has proven that monsters roam the early universe.”

While most of the sources found in the FRESCO survey fit existing models, astronomers also discovered three surprisingly massive galaxies with stellar masses comparable to today’s Milky Way galaxy. .

They are named “red monsters” because of their high dust content and their distinctive red color in web images.

These form stars nearly twice as efficiently as their subsequent lower-mass counterparts and galaxies.

“These findings raise new questions about galaxy formation theory, especially the problem of ‘too many, too big’ galaxies in the early Universe,” said Dr. Rabe.

“Current models cannot explain why star formation occurs so efficiently so early in the universe.”

“The general assumption is that an exploding star or a supermassive black hole kills star formation and blows out the candle.”

“I have no doubt that future observations of the web will provide clues about what we are missing.”

Professor Stein Weitz, an astronomer at the University of Bath, said: “Finding three such gigantic beasts among the specimens poses an interesting puzzle.”

“Many processes of galactic evolution tend to introduce rate-limiting steps in how efficiently gas turns into stars, but somehow this red monster quickly bypassed most of these hurdles. It seems there is.”

“These results show that galaxies in the early Universe may form stars with unexpected efficiency,” said Dr. Mengyuan Xiao, an astronomer at the University of Geneva.

“Studying these galaxies in more detail will provide new insights into the conditions that shaped the early days of the universe.”

“The Red Monster is just the beginning of a new era in the exploration of the early universe.”

“That’s the great thing about astronomy: we’re always surprised by new discoveries,” Professor Weitz said.

“Already in the first few years, Webb has thrown us some curveballs.”

“In multiple ways, we show that some galaxies mature rapidly during the first chapters of the universe’s history.”

a paper Survey results are published in a magazine nature.

_____

M. Xiao others. The formation of supermassive galaxies accelerates during the first billion years. naturepublished online on November 13, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08094-5

Source: www.sci.news

Reports show that an unprecedented failure led to the collapse of a world-famous radio telescope in Puerto Rico.

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Four years after the radio telescope at Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory collapsed. Report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sheds light on the unprecedented failures that led to its destruction.

A steel cable supporting the telescope’s 900-ton receiver platform came loose after a zinc-filled socket built to support it failed, according to a report released Oct. 25. That’s what it means.

The report said the failure was caused by excessive “zinc creep,” a phenomenon in which the metal used to protect the socket from corrosion and rust deforms over time and loses its grip.

The zinc gradually lost its hold on the cable suspending the telescope’s main platform above the reflector dish. This caused multiple cables to be pulled from their sockets, ultimately causing the platform to crash into a reflector more than 400 feet below, according to the report.

Roger L. McCarthy, chairman of the committee for the analysis of the causes of failure and collapse of Arecibo’s 305-meter telescope, said, “This type of failure has been the most common occurrence in more than a century, when zinc spelter sockets have been widely and successfully used. This has never been reported before.” The observatory wrote in its report:

The committee that prepared the report said there was insufficient data to definitively prove the exact cause of the acceleration of “zinc creep.” The only hypothesis the committee was able to develop based on the data was that low current electroplastic effects were responsible. In other words, the constant current flowing through the socket could have strengthened the plastic behavior of the metallic zinc and, as a result, weakened its grip.

The committee reviewed an array of documents commissioned by the University of Central Florida and the National Science Foundation, the federal agency that owns the observatory, including a forensic investigation, structural analysis, engineering plans, inspection reports, photographs, and repair proposals. Reach that conclusion. They also gathered information from Arecibo Observatory employees, other “related research” sources, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. I mentioned this in a media advisory last month..

The commission also issued a series of recommendations in its report. These include making the remaining sockets and cable sections of the radio telescope available for further research and increasing careful monitoring of aging research facilities to detect deterioration and potential new failure modes. Included.

The telescope was used to track asteroids as they headed toward Earth, conduct research that led to Nobel Prizes, and determine whether planets were potentially habitable. It also functions as a training venue for graduate students, and is visited by approximately 90,000 people annually.

The telescope was built in the 1960s with funding from the Department of Defense during the development of ballistic missile defense. In its 57 years of operation, it has withstood hurricanes, tropical humidity, and a recent series of earthquakes.

The observatory began to collapse in August 2020 when an auxiliary cable snapped, damaging the telescope’s antenna and the receiver platform suspended above it, according to the National Science Foundation. After several other cable failures, the federal agency decided to begin a plan to decommission the telescope in November 2020.

This transition did little to stop the telescope’s complete collapse on December 1, 2020.

In 2022, the National Science Foundation says: Puerto Rico’s famous radio telescope won’t be rebuilt. Instead, it called for a $5 million education center to be established in its place to promote programs and partnerships related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

nicole acevedo

Nicole Acevedo is a reporter for NBC Latino.

Associated Press contributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The accidental discovery of a 300-year-old giant coral reef

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Measuring giant corals

Iñigo San Felix/National Geographic Society

A gigantic underwater structure off the coast of the tropical Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean has been confirmed to be the world's largest known coral.

A team of scientists and filmmakers visited a remote location in mid-October national geographic The object was so large that I thought it must be the remains of a shipwreck.

However, for underwater cinematographers, Manu Saint Felix Jumping into the water to get a better look, he was surprised by what he saw.

“I completely remember jumping up and looking down, but I was surprised,” he told reporters during a briefing. Instead of a shipwreck, San Felix encountered the largest coral ever discovered. “It's huge,” he said. “It's almost the same size as a cathedral.”

A coral species located a few hundred meters off the east coast of Marauralo Island was identified as this species. Pavona Kraus. At 34 meters wide and 32 meters long, it is larger than a blue whale and is thought to be 300 years old.

He says the discovery was a “happy coincidence”. enric sala of national geographic's Pristine Seas project aims to encourage governments to protect marine ecosystems through exploration and research. This is by far the largest single coral colony ever discovered, easily surpassing this one. previous record holder – giant porphyry A colony with a diameter of 22.4 meters and a height of 8 meters discovered in American Samoa in 2019.

Over the past two years, record sea temperatures have led to a series of coral bleaching events around the world. But Sala says the giant reef is showing signs of bleaching, while other reefs around the Solomon Islands are showing signs of bleaching. P. Cravath The coral looks healthy. It is an important habitat for marine life, providing shelter and food for fish, shrimp, insects and crabs, he says. “It’s like a big patch of old-growth forest.”

However, corals are not immune from ecological threats, including local pollution, overfishing, and global climate change. Sala said he would like to see more marine protected areas (MPAs) established to protect marine life from localized pollution, in parallel with global efforts to combat climate change. . “Protecting coral reefs won't lower water temperatures, and it won't stop oceans from warming,” he says. “We need to fix it, and we need to reduce carbon emissions. But MPAs can help buy us time by making reefs more resilient.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Drought Warning Issued in New Jersey, Residents Urged to Conserve Water

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday.
State officials said the state is experiencing the driest conditions in nearly 120 years, prompting an increase in wildfires.
The extreme drought is part of a widespread drought plaguing the Northeast.

New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday, stating that the state could impose mandatory water restrictions if conditions worsen.

A record dry spell has left New Jersey at its driest in nearly 120 years, leading to a significant rise in wildfires, as reported by state officials during a news conference.

The New Jersey State Forest Fire Department has battled 537 fires that have scorched thousands of acres since early October, according to Governor Phil Murphy. This number is 500 more fires than the same period last year.

Murphy urged residents to heed the drought warnings seriously and voluntarily decrease their water usage.

“Each of us needs to do everything we can to conserve water,” he emphasized.

Tim Eustace, executive director of the North Jersey Regional Water Commission, criticized the state for not declaring a drought emergency, which usually restricts non-essential outdoor water use.

“I’ve always been against using potable water to water lawns. It’s a terrible waste of resources,” Eustace stated.

His commission supplies water to around a third of New Jersey, with the main reservoir, Wanaque Reservoir, at 45% capacity as of Wednesday.

Monday at Wanaque Reservoir in Ringwood, New Jersey.
Ted Shafley/Associated Press

The state’s other major reservoir, Manasquan Reservoir, is at 51% of its capacity, while the Passaic River, a vital drinking water source, is at about 14% of its normal capacity, sufficient to meet demand, officials assured.

New Jersey American Water, serving approximately 2.9 million people in the state, issued conservation notices to customers on Wednesday. Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water, clarified that the notice was described as “mandatory” to convey urgency but is not enforceable against violators.

“I’d like to limit movement if possible, but I don’t have the authority to issue tickets or inspect people’s lawns,” McDonough remarked. “If we can get our customers to focus on saving water, we can make a significant impact.”

Murphy mentioned that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s winter forecast predicts even drier weather ahead. Forecasting seasonal outlook Temperatures are higher than average, with precipitation chances remaining unchanged regardless of above or below average levels.

The dry conditions affecting New Jersey are part of a broader drought across the Northeast. In October, cities like Newark, New Jersey. Wilmington, Delaware. And Norfolk, Virginia, registered no rainfall at all. Southeast Regional Climate Center collects precipitation data nationwide. Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., set records for the most consecutive days without measurable precipitation.

Throughout the United States, October was declared One of the driest months on record according to NOAA. US Drought Monitor Data shows over half of the continental United States is facing some level of drought, with 56% of the Northeast impacted.

State climatologist Dave Robinson noted that New Jersey usually receives rainfall evenly over several months. However, some regions have not seen any measurable rainfall for 40 days, a first in nearly 150 years of record-keeping.

“We’ve experienced longer droughts before, but we’ve never encountered anything as exceptional as this prolonged dry period,” Robinson remarked.

He highlighted that New Jersey typically experiences heavy rainfall in October due to hurricanes, remnants of tropical cyclones, or nor’easters forming in the mid-Atlantic region.

Both weather patterns were absent this fall, with a ridge of high pressure dominating New Jersey and other Northeastern areas for weeks.

“There’s no significant storm to break through this ridge. It’s been a slow and frustrating process,” Robinson explained. “There are indications that the central part of the country, which has been relatively dry, is starting to see more moisture. …It appears to be gradually shifting eastward.”

November has marked the 12th consecutive month of above-average temperatures in New Jersey. Atmospheric warming can exacerbate droughts and heighten the chances of extreme rainfall.

“With a warmer climate system, there’s more energy that can hold moisture in the atmosphere. …If we can’t access that moisture source, a warmer climate will worsen dryness and lead to more severe droughts,” Robinson stated. “The system has become more volatile.”

Given New Jersey’s dry spell since mid-August, it would require several months of above-average, if not considerably above, rainfall to alleviate the drought, estimated Sean LaTourette, director of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Some areas received about a quarter of an inch of rain on Sunday, but Murphy remarked that it was “far from adequate.”

Firefighters respond to a forest fire in Evesham, New Jersey, on November 6th.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (via AP)

Finally, a state of drought emergency was instated in New Jersey. The last time a drought warning was issued was in 2016, lasting over six months, LaTourette indicated.

Greg McLaughlin, New Jersey Forest and Fire Department’s Office of Forests and Natural Lands manager, mentioned that the current condition measures 748 out of 800 on a scale for forest floor dryness.

“These numbers are unprecedented in the 118-year history of the Forest Fire Service,” McLaughlin remarked. “The impact of this dryness on wildfires cannot be overstated.”

The Jennings Creek Wildfire along the New York-New Jersey border continued burning on Wednesday, with containment at 30%. Over 5,000 acres were destroyed in both states. An 18-year-old New York park worker lost his life to a falling tree while battling a fire in Orange County, New York, last Saturday.

“We sincerely appreciate his dedication and willingness to protect the residents of New York and New Jersey from these deadly fires,” Murphy expressed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Harness Genetic Technology Now to Prevent Upcoming Food Crisis

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

There are two major problems with the global food system. First, hundreds of millions of people cannot afford enough nutritious food to stay healthy. Second, it’s incredibly destructive. We’re still destroying rainforests to make way for ranches, both conventional and organic farms produce all kinds of pollutants, and our food system produces more than a third of greenhouse gases. I’m letting you do it.

Things could get even worse if global temperatures rise above 1.5 °C (see 2024 expected to be first year to surpass 1.5 °C warming threshold). But there’s a lot we can do, from eating less meat to reducing food waste (see “Is the climate food crisis even worse than we imagined?”). The amazing advances in genetic technology in recent years have greatly expanded the scope for improving the plants and animals that feed us. We can make them more nutritious and healthier, better able to cope with changing conditions and less susceptible to the diseases that will become more prevalent as the world warms. It should also be possible to produce plants that require less fertilizer and capture more of the sun’s energy.

It is surprising that most countries do not invest significantly in crop improvement.

The benefits from all this will be immense. We get more food from less land, lower prices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make it less likely that viruses such as H5N1 bird flu will cause new pandemics.

It is therefore surprising that most countries do not invest heavily in crop improvement. While there is some private investment, these companies are unlikely to make their technology freely available and adoption has been slow.

Opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops also binds us to the idea that more “natural” agricultural methods are better, as approval is difficult and expensive.

This situation is starting to change, with many countries making it easier to bring gene-edited crops and animals to market, but we need more action, and faster action.

The idea that organic food is good for the planet and genetically modified food is bad for the planet is a false narrative that hides a much more unpleasant reality. This means that continuing as is will only lead to more destruction and more hunger.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Possible Discovery: Stone dating back 12,000 years could be the earliest known wheel-like tool

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A pebble with holes excavated from the ruins of Nahal Ein Geb II. Could be an ancient spindle whorl

Laurent Davin

A 12,000-year-old set of perforated pebbles unearthed in northern Israel may be the oldest known hand-spun whorls. This weaving technique may have ultimately helped inspire the invention of the wheel.

The whorl at the bottom of the spindle, which acted as a flywheel, allowed people to efficiently spin natural fibers into yarn and yarn to make clothing and other textiles. Newly discovered stone tools represent early axle-based turning technology, thousands of years before the first carts appeared, researchers say. Talia Yashuv at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“If you look back at the discovery of the first car wheel 6,000 years ago, it didn't just come out of nowhere,” she says. “It's important to look at the functional evolution of how transportation and wheels have evolved.”

Yashuv and her colleagues leoa grossmanAlso at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, researchers studied 113 partially or fully perforated stones at the site of Nahal Ein Geb II, an ancient village just east of the Sea of Galilee. Archaeologists have been discovering these chalky, primarily limestone artifacts since 1972. It was probably made from raw pebbles found along the nearby shore.

The 3D scan revealed that the hole had been drilled part way from both sides using a flint hand drill, but unlike modern drills, it remained in the shape of a narrow, twisted cone, Yashuf said. says. A hole 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter usually passes through the center of gravity of the pebble.

Drilling holes from both sides would have balanced the stone and made it more stable to rotate, Yaszhu said. Some of the partially perforated stones had off-center holes, suggesting they may have been discarded by mistake.

Yashov said the team suspected that the stones, which weigh an average of 9 grams, would be too heavy and “ugly” to be beads, and too light and fragile to be used as fishing weights. Their size, shape, and balance around the hole led researchers to believe that these artifacts were spindle-like whorls.

To test their hypothesis, the researchers created a replica whorl using nearby pebbles and a flint drill. then they asked yonit crystalWhy not try your hand at flax spinning with a traditional craftsman?

“She was really surprised at how well they worked, because they weren't perfectly circular,” Yaszhu says. “But in reality, all you have to do is place the hole in the center of the mass, and it's balanced and works.”

If the stone is indeed a spiral, it could be the oldest known rotating spiral, she says. 1991 study of bone and antler artifacts She found what are likely 20,000-year-old whorls, but added that the researchers who examined them suggested the fragments were probably decorative accents on clothing. Still, people may have been using whorls even earlier, using wood and other biological materials that would have degraded.

The discovery suggests that people were experimenting with spinning techniques thousands of years before they invented potter's wheels and cart wheels about 5,500 years ago, and perhaps the whirlpool helped lead to those inventions. Yaszhu says it's possible.

carol cheval But a professor at the University of the Cote d'Azur in Nice, France, isn't so sure. She explains that the whorl works more like a spinning top than a wheel.

And while the artifact is very likely a whorl, the study lacks microscopic data that would reveal any traces of use, as the threads may have made their mark on the stone over time. , says Cheval.

Trace analysis is “beyond the scope” of the current study, Yashuv said.

Ideally, researchers studying ancient whorls would be skilled at spinning themselves, but the study authors said this was not the case. “It really changes the way you think about archaeological discoveries,” she says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Increasing proof suggests that air pollution is a cause of eczema

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Air pollution is difficult to avoid, especially for city dwellers

Ron Adder/Alamy

Air pollution is increasingly linked to an increased risk of eczema, with new research showing a clear link between air pollution and skin conditions.

Vehicles and power plants emit pollution particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, called PM2.5. These have previously been associated with an increased risk of eczemathis is thought to be the result of the immune system becoming overactive and causing inflammation, drying out the skin and causing itching.

In order to collect more evidence, Jeffrey Cohen Professors at Yale University School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than 280,000 people. Most of them were in their 50s and participated in this medical treatment. Research programs for all of us. It collects health data from a diverse population in the United States, with an emphasis on people typically underrepresented in research, such as ethnic minorities.

The researchers also looked at average PM2.5 levels in the areas where these people live, using data collected in 2015. Atmosphere, Climate and Energy Solutions Center In Virginia.

We then compared PM2.5 levels at 788 locations across the United States to eczema cases diagnosed through mid-2022. They found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, the incidence of eczema more than doubled. “More contaminated areas of the country had more eczema outbreaks,” Cohen says.

The research team considered factors that could influence the results, such as ethnicity and whether the participants smoked or had food allergies.

“This study successfully demonstrated a clear correlation in a large population and advanced the science,” he says. Giuseppe Varacchi at North Carolina State University. PM2.5, like pollen and dust mites, can irritate the immune system and cause inflammation when it comes into contact with the skin, Valacki said. Inhaling it may also have an effect, he says, because it can worsen inflammation in the body.

The study should give governments new reasons to implement policies to reduce air pollution, Cohen said. Meanwhile, people living in contaminated areas can reduce their risk by wearing long sleeves and staying indoors when pollution levels are particularly high, Valacki said.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Intricate bird fossils reveal insights into the development of avian brains

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Skeleton of Nabaornis Hestia, an 80-million-year-old bird fossil

S. Abramowitz/Dinosaur Institute/Los Angeles County Natural History Museum

An 80-million-year-old fossil bird skull is so well preserved that scientists were able to study the detailed structure of its brain.

In both age and evolutionary development, new species Nabaornis Hestiae, It falls about halfway between the earliest known bird-like dinosaurs. ArcheopteryxBirds that lived 150 million years ago and modern birds. They lived along with dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period. tyrannosaurus and triceratops.

The fossil, which superficially resembles a pigeon, was discovered in 2016 near Presidente Prudente, Brazil, and quickly became important because of the rarity of complete bird skeletons, especially those from the same period. recognized as something.

but daniel field It wasn't until 2022 that Cambridge University professors realized that the skull was so intact that it could be scanned to create a 3D model of the brain.

High-resolution CT scans allow paleontologists to see inside fossils. “This involves careful 'digital dissection' – separating the individual components of the skull and reassembling them to create a complete, undistorted three-dimensional reconstruction,” Field said. says Mr.

“This new fossil provides unprecedented insight into the patterns and timing of the evolution of specialized brain functions in living birds.”

Professor Field said that based on the brains his team reconstructed, human cognitive and flight abilities: nabaornis It was probably inferior to most living birds.

Artist's impression of Nabaornis Hestia

J. D'Oliveira

The parts of the brain responsible for complex cognition and spatial awareness are not as enlarged as they are in modern birds, he says.

“It’s cerebral, but nabaornis greatly expanded compared to more archaic bird conditions such as . Archeopteryx, It is not as expanded as we see in living birds. ”

Professor Field said the enlarged brains of modern birds support a wide range of complex behaviors, but there is a lack of sufficiently complete and well-preserved fossil bird skulls from early bird relatives. This makes it difficult to understand how their brains evolved.

“nabaornis This fills an approximately 70 million-year gap in our understanding of how the distinctive brains of modern birds evolved. ”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

CRISPR gene editing brings us sweeter tomatoes

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Gene editing can make larger tomato varieties sweeter

Paul Maguire/Shutterstock

If you like sweet tomatoes, smaller cherry tomato varieties are the way to go right now. But larger tomato varieties could soon be enhanced for sweetness with the help of CRISPR gene editing.

Jinzhe Zhang of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing said the larger the tomato, the lower the sugar content usually is. Efforts to increase the sweetness of large varieties also had downsides, such as lower yields.

Zhang and colleagues compared different varieties to identify genetic variations that affect sweetness. They discovered two closely related genes called. SlCDPK27 and SlCDPK26 Larger varieties are more active. These genes code for proteins that reduce the levels of sugar-producing enzymes.

When the research team used CRISPR gene editing to disable these genes in a variety called Moneymaker, glucose and fructose levels in the fruit increased by up to 30% without any loss in yield. Taste tests also rated the fruit as sweeter. The only other effect is that the number of species that consumers are likely to prefer will be smaller and smaller.

“We are working with several companies to develop several commercial varieties by knocking out these genes,” Zhang says. “It's still in the early stages.”

In addition to increased sweetness, another potential benefit is that fewer tomatoes are needed to make tomato ketchup with the same sweetness level.

Gene-edited Money Maker tomatoes aren't as sweet as cherry varieties such as Sungold, but they could be made even sweeter, Zhang said. “Many important genes that control sugar are still waiting to be discovered.”

CRISPR-edited tomatoes, which contain high concentrations of a beneficial nutrient called GABA, are already on sale in Japan, the first CRISPR food to be sold, and are sometimes given as seedlings.

Tomatoes were also the first genetically modified food to be sold commercially. Called Flavr Savr, it was sold in paste form in the United States starting in 1994, but was later discontinued. Since last year, purple GM tomatoes rich in anthocyanins have become available in the United States in fruit and seedling form.

Several countries, including Japan and China, have regulations that make it easier to obtain approval for gene-edited crops compared to other forms of genetic modification, except for conventional breeding. approved by china Last year, the first gene-edited crop was created. Soybeans have high levels of oleic acid.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com