Study finds air pollution may intensify summer thunderstorms

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers from James Madison University conducted a comprehensive study of thunderstorm environments in two distinct geographic regions: Washington, DC, and the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Air pollution is increasing the intensity of summer thunderstorms. Image courtesy of ELG21.

Land cover and atmospheric boundary layer characteristics modify thunderstorms and their characteristic phenomenon: lightning.

The most intense thunderstorm contrasts on Earth occur along continental and oceanic boundaries.

Generally, lightning strikes land at an order of magnitude more than it strikes sea.

The thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere vary significantly with different land covers over the Earth’s surface.

“Pollutants act as cloud nuclei,” said Mace Bentley, a professor at James Madison University and lead author of the study.

“Updrafts carry them into the clouds, and the updrafts and downdrafts separate the polluting particles, dispersing the electrical charges in the clouds and encouraging lightning to form.”

For the study, the authors surveyed nearly 200,000 thunderstorm events in the Washington, DC, area and more than 300,000 in the Kansas City area.

Using 12 years of lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network and data from hundreds of air pollution monitoring stations in two cities, they found that in highly volatile environments, increased pollution increases the frequency of anti-ground lightning strikes.

“Our analysis identified a total of 196,836 thunderstorm events in the Washington DC area, while 310,209 thunderstorms were identified from the Kansas City lightning database,” the researchers said.

“In Washington, DC and Kansas City, more than 37.7% and 39.2% of all thunderstorm events, respectively, consisted of 10 or more flashes.”

“Evidence suggests that thunderstorm environments during mild warm-season synoptic weather are substantially different in terms of thermodynamics, aerosol properties, and aerosol concentrations in the Washington, DC, and Kansas City regions,” the researchers added.

“However, thunderstorm intensity, as measured by flash counts, appears to be controlled by similar thermodynamic and aerosol relationships despite differences in the surrounding environments.”

“When we look at the environments in which thunderstorms occur, we find a statistically significant positive correlation between convective available potential energy and the number of lightning events.”

“Aerosol concentration also appears to be a more important quantity than particle size when it comes to lightning enhancement.”

Scientists are now conducting a similar study in Bangkok, Thailand, a megacity that is more polluted than Washington, DC, or Kansas City and sits in a hot, tropical climate.

The results so far are similar, but these storms are showing a higher incidence of lightning.

“It appears that urban pollution can enhance thunderstorms and lightning wherever you go in the world,” Prof Bentley said.

of study Published in a journal Atmospheric Research.

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Mace Bentley others2024. Towards elucidating the relationship between thunderstorms and aerosols: An observational study centered on Washington, DC and Kansas City, Missouri. Atmospheric Research 304: 107402; doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107402

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Spot Tiny Mark on Polaris’s Surface

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array observed Polaris, the nearest and brightest classical Cepheid star, which is part of a triple star system.

This false-color image of Polaris taken by the CHARA array in April 2021 reveals large bright and dark spots on the star's surface. Image credit: Evans others., doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ad5e7a.

PolarisCepheid variable, also known as Polaris, Polaris, Alpha Ursa Minoris, HR 424 or HD 8890, is a type of star known as Cepheid variables.

Astronomers use these stars as “standard luminaries” because their true brightness is determined by their pulsation period: brighter stars pulsate more slowly than fainter stars.

How bright a star appears in the sky depends on the star's actual brightness and its distance.

Because astronomers know a Cepheid star's true brightness based on its pulsation period, they can use it to measure the star's distance to its host galaxy and infer the universe's expansion rate.

Dr. Nancy Evans of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and her colleagues observed Polaris using the six-telescope CHARA Optical Interferometer Array on Mount Wilson in California.

Their goal was to map the orbit of a nearby, faint companion star that orbits the North Star every 30 years.

“Binary systems are extremely difficult to resolve at their closest approach due to the small distance between the two stars and the large difference in brightness,” Dr Evans said.

The researchers were able to track the orbit of Polaris's nearby companion star and measure its change in size as Polaris pulsates.

From its orbital motion, we know that Polaris has five times the mass of the Sun.

Images of Polaris reveal that its diameter is 46 times that of the Sun.

CHARA's observations also revealed for the first time what the surfaces of Cepheid variables look like.

“CHARA images revealed large bright and dark spots on Polaris' surface that change over time,” said Dr. Gail Schaefer, director of the CHARA array.

“The presence of sunspots and the rotation of the star could be related to the 120-day variation in the measured speed.”

“We plan to continue photographing the North Star,” said University of Michigan professor John Monnier.

“We hope to better understand the mechanisms that produce the spots on Polaris' surface.”

Team paper Published in Astrophysical Journal.

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Nancy Remage Evans others2024. Orbit and dynamic mass of Polaris: Observations with the CHARA array. ApJ 971, 190;doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ad5e7a

Source: www.sci.news

Evidence of Indigenous Canines in Jamestown Colony during the 17th Century Unearthed through Ancient DNA Analysis

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Multiple studies have demonstrated that European colonization of the Americas caused the extinction of most mitochondrial lineages of North American dogs between 1492 and present, and that they were replaced by European lineages. Historical records indicate that colonists imported dogs from Europe to North America, and that they became objects of interest and exchange as early as the 17th century. However, it is unclear whether the oldest archaeological dogs found from the colonial period were of European, Native American, or mixed ancestry. To determine the ancestry of dogs from the Jamestown Colony in Virginia, scientists sequenced ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from six archaeological dogs dating from 1609 to 1617.

Lithograph “Indian Dog with Rabbit” by John Woodhouse Audubon.

Europeans and Native Americans treasured dogs as pets, used them for similar tasks, and as symbols of identity.

As a result, the dogs reflected the tensions between European and Native American cultures: settlers described Native American dogs as mongrels to emphasize their perception that Native Americans would not breed or own dogs.

Indigenous peoples perceived European dogs as a direct threat to their existence and took steps to restrict their use.

“Previous research had suggested that there were many indigenous dog species in the continental United States, but that they had gone extinct,” said Ariane Thomas, an anthropologist at the University of Iowa.

“We wanted to understand what it meant: when did it happen, were the dogs culled, were they in competition with European dogs or were they sick?”

Dr. Thomas and his colleagues focused on the Jamestown Colony in Virginia because of the number of dog remains found at the site and evidence of Native American influence.

They were able to identify and analyze 181 bones representing at least 16 different dogs.

Of these, the researchers selected 22 sites that span multiple points in Jamestown's early settlement, from 1607 to 1619.

To better understand the ancestry of these dogs, they extracted and sequenced ancient mtDNA.

Based on body size estimates alone, the researchers found that most of the Jamestown dogs weighed between 10 and 18 kg (22 and 39 pounds), comparable to modern beagles and schnauzers.

Additionally, many of the dog bones bore signs of human damage, including burn marks and cuts.

“Cut marks and other signs of butchery found on the dogs indicate that some of these dogs were eaten,” Dr Thomas said.

“This suggests that when settlers arrived, they did not have enough food and had to rely on the native dogs of the area.”

“Furthermore, DNA sequencing demonstrated that at least six of the dogs showed evidence of Native American ancestry.”

“Our findings indicate that there were indigenous dogs in the region and that they did not quickly become extinct when Europeans arrived.”

“While it is not surprising that dogs could be identified with Native American ancestry, our results suggest that settlers and Native American tribes may have been exchanging dogs and had little concern about potential interbreeding.”

of Survey results Published in the journal American Antiquity.

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Ariane E. Thomas othersTsenacomoco Dogs: Ancient DNA reveals presence of local dogs in Jamestown Colony in the early 17th century. American AntiquityPublished online May 22, 2024, doi: 10.1017/aaq.2024.25

Source: www.sci.news

New Fish Species Found in Mauritanian Waters by Marine Biologists

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new species of three-bearded rockfish has been described from a specimen taken from a depth of 595 metres in the Tanoudre Valley, off the coast of Mauritania.

Guidelopsarus mauritanicus Hiding under a branching whitish bryozoan Serena reference. Lucida Image courtesy of Tomas Lundelf, University of Gothenburg.

order Cod These include some of the most important species for commercial fisheries today.

There are also small species in this genus, such as the Three-bearded Bulbul. Guide Lopezal Although it has little commercial value, its range is surprisingly wide.

“More than a quarter of all commercially caught marine fish in the world belong to the cod family. Cod family” These include fish species such as Atlantic cod, Alaskan pollock and haddock, which are particularly economically important,” said Dr. Alexander Norn, researcher at Senckenberg am Meer and the University of Bremen.

“However, the Gadidae family also includes much smaller, little known and less studied fish families, such as the Sardinae (Guidelopsalidae), of little commercial value but astonishingly wide in scope.”

The newly described species lives in deep-sea coral reefs off the coast of Mauritania.

“This is the site of the world's largest deep-sea coral reef system, the Mauritanian Wall. The reef stretches for at least 580 kilometres and is 80-100 metres high,” the biologists said.

Scientific Name Guidelopsarus mauritanicus The new species is just 7.3 centimetres long.

this is, Guide Lopezal The species was collected from Tasmania, the most remote geographic location of the samples the team studied.

“Guidelopsarus mauritanicus “It can be distinguished from other fish of the same species based on a combination of different characteristics, including large eyes, a head that takes up a quarter of its body length, long, slender pelvic fins and pink body colour,” Dr Norn said.

“Genetic analysis confirmed that this is a previously undescribed species.”

“Guidelopsarus mauritanicus They were caught with the help of grubs, along with a variety of live deep-sea animals, including framework-forming stony corals and other corals. Desmophyllum pertussum or red deep sea gorgonian Swiftia PhaetonIt also contains colonies of large sponges, bryozoans, starfish, annelids, decapod crustaceans, snails and bivalve mollusks.”

“Also, in the video footage, Guidelopsarus mauritanicus They live exclusively in deep sea coral ecosystems. One of the specimens we saw had whitish spots on its skin. This was the only fish we could see hiding under a branching, whitish bryozoan. Serena reference. Lucida.”

a paper The article describing this discovery Journal of Fish Biology.

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Alexander H. Norn others. Guidelopsarus mauritanicus (Gadiformes, Gaidropsaridae) A new species of three-baleen redfish from a deep-sea coral ecosystem. The biogeographical distribution of the genus is genetically verified, and notes on its ecology and behavior are provided. Journal of Fish Biology Published online August 16, 2024; doi: 10.1111/jfb.15859

Source: www.sci.news

The Boeing spacecraft: What went wrong?

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The astronauts launched aboard the Starliner on June 5. The following day, they faced difficulties.

As Starliner neared the International Space Station, five of its 28 Reaction Control System thrusters failed, causing a nearly one-hour delay in the docking process.

Located on the spacecraft’s service module, these thrusters are crucial for maneuvering the capsule in orbit, especially during docking and undocking with the space station.

Although all four thrusters were eventually fixed, prompting NASA to launch an investigation into the cause of the failure.

Engineers from NASA and Boeing have been testing the thruster performance using a test engine at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, under conditions similar to those experienced by the capsule during its journey to the space station.

Mission managers also performed a “hot fire test” by firing Starliner’s thrusters briefly while docked to the space station.

Initial results revealed that most of the thrusters operated normally, but a small Teflon seal expanding at high temperatures potentially blocked propellant flow to the thruster, leading to the docking issues.

Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, mentioned the need for further testing to ensure ground tests accurately simulate on-orbit conditions. They also want to understand how the thruster issues impact Starliner’s ability to undock safely from the space station.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5.
Chris O’Meara/AP Files

Additionally, the team is monitoring the spacecraft’s propulsion system for slow helium leaks.

Despite knowing about a helium leak before Starliner’s launch, officials discovered two more leaks in the capsule’s service module shortly after liftoff.

NASA confirmed that the propulsion system was stable and that the rate of helium leaks was not critical for the spacecraft’s return to Earth.

Further testing and analysis were conducted by additional propulsion experts hired by the company earlier this month.

The decision to return Wilmore and Williams aboard Starliner or use SpaceX for their return will determine their orbital stay extension into the new year, potentially until February for Wilmore, who could return with two other crew members aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

NASA is expected to announce its decision on the astronauts’ return in the coming days.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

BBC Science Focus Magazine Unveils New Book: Endless Power

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Dark Empath

A surprising study finds that people with dark personality traits can also be highly empathetic – but does this make them more dangerous? that's right What goes on in the mind of a dark empath?

Lionsman Mushroom

Lion's Man is making waves right now. This hairy mushroom's health-boosting and disease-preventing properties are being lauded across the internet and it's widely available as a supplement, taking the health food world by storm. But is all the hype real? Food and nutritionist Dr Emma Beckett delves into the science behind Lion's Man's claims for immunity, inflammation, gastrointestinal health, mental health, cognition, heart health, diabetes and cancer – and of course the side effects.

Deep Sea Creatures

Discover some weird and wonderful creatures that live in the darkest depths of the ocean and the extraordinary vision they've evolved. To find prey or avoid predators, these incredible eyes can detect bioluminescence, or the last vestiges of the sun's light dripping into the pitch black ocean.

Black hole collision

Just as runners “hit the wall” at the end of a race, supermassive black holes come to a near-complete halt as they hurtle towards each other. Is it dark matter that gets them over this final hurdle and allows them to collide?

plus

Questions and Answers: Expand your science knowledge bit by bit. This time we will be covering topics like: What is the most secret weapon we know? How to overcome the fear of rejection? What is the strongest substance in the universe? Do we all have lizard brains? Can we really absorb microplastics through our skin? And many more!
Polluted Rivers: This year's men's triathlon was postponed due to concerns about the quality of the Seine's water. Meanwhile, in Britain, seas and rivers are being used as dumping grounds for untreated sewage. terrible it is?
Scientific Hacks for Better Sleep: Did you know the secret to better sleep is to fall asleep faster? Here are 8 science-backed tips to help you fall asleep quickly and restfully every night.

Issue 409 will be released on Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Don't forget BBC Science Focus It is also available on major digital platforms. Android, Kindle Fire and Kindle e-Reader,and iOS App For iPad and iPhone.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study finds that Chicxulub asteroid, which caused dinosaur extinction, originated from beyond Jupiter.

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The asteroid, called the Chicxulub impactor, was a carbonaceous asteroid that formed outside the orbit of Jupiter. New Paper Published in the journal Science.

Ankylosaurus magniventrisA Tyrannosaurus, a type of large armored dinosaur, witnessed the impact of an asteroid that fell on the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago. Image by Fabio Manucci.

About 66 million years ago, a 10-kilometer-wide asteroid struck Earth near what is now a small town called Chicxulub in Mexico.

This impact released incredible amounts of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere, setting off a chain of events that led to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and 75% of life on Earth.

Evidence includes the presence of high concentrations of platinum group elements (PGE) in the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer, including iridium, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, platinum, and palladium, which are rare on Earth but common in meteorites.

These elevated PGE levels have been found worldwide, suggesting that the impact spread debris around the world.

Some have proposed large-scale volcanism in the Deccan Traps igneous province of India as an alternative source of PGEs, but the specific PGE ratios at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary are more consistent with an asteroid impact than volcanism.

However, little is known about the nature of the Chicxulub impactor, including its composition and extraterrestrial origin.

To answer these questions, Dr Mario Fischer-Gödde from the University of Cologne and his colleagues measured ruthenium isotopes in samples taken from three sites at the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary.

For comparison, the team also analysed samples from five other impacts that occurred between 36 million and 470 million years ago, an ancient impact spherule from 3.5 to 3.2 billion years ago, and two carbonaceous meteorites.

The researchers found that the ruthenium isotope signature of samples taken from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary was uniform and matched very closely to that of carbonaceous chondrites rather than those from Earth or other types of meteorites, suggesting that the Chicxulub impactor likely came from a carbonaceous-type asteroid that formed in the outer solar system.

The other five impact structures have isotopic signatures more consistent with silicic asteroids that formed closer to the Sun.

The ancient spherulitic samples are consistent with a carbonaceous asteroid impact during the final stages of Earth's accretion.

“The composition of this asteroid is consistent with that of carbonaceous asteroids that formed outside Jupiter's orbit during the formation of the solar system,” Dr Fischer-Gödde said.

“Asteroid impacts like Chicxulub turn out to be very rare and unique events in geological time,” said Professor Carsten Müncher from the University of Cologne.

“The fate of the dinosaurs and many other species was sealed by this object that came from the outer solar system.”

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Mario Fischer-Gedde others2024. Ruthenium isotopes indicate that the Chicxulub impactor was a carbonaceous asteroid. Science 385 (6710): 752-756; doi: 10.1126/science.adk4868

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble Space Telescope captures photo of obscure barred spiral galaxy

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have created a beautiful image of the barred spiral galaxy UGC 11861 using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

This Hubble Space Telescope image shows UGC 11861, a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cepheus, 69 million light-years from Earth. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / C. Kilpatrick.

11861 posts It is located in the northern constellation Cepheus and is about 69 million light years away from Earth.

The galaxy, also known as LEDA 67671, IRAS 21557+7301, or TC 609, is classified as a barred spiral galaxy and a candidate active galactic nucleus.

UGC 11861 is Composed It consists of an exponential disk, a central box-shaped structure, and two broad spiral arms.

“The galaxy is actively forming new stars amidst clouds of gas and dark dust grains, visible as glowing blue spots in the outer arms,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“As a result of this activity, three supernova explosions have been observed in and near UGC 11861, in 1995, 1997, and 2011.”

“The first two were both Type II supernovae, the kind that result from the collapse of a massive star at the end of its life.”

“This Hubble image was made from data collected to study a Type II supernova and its environment.”

The color image of UGC 11861 was created from images taken separately in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum. Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS).

Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths, and color was generated by assigning a different hue to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

“UGC 11861 is located 69 million light-years from Earth, which may seem a very long distance, but it was just the right distance for the Hubble Space Telescope to capture this spectacular photo of the galaxy’s spiral arms and the short, bright bar at its center,” the astronomers wrote.

Source: www.sci.news

New study indicates that increased UV exposure may be beneficial for health in sun-deprived nations

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study indicates that individuals in the UK Biobank who utilized solariums and resided in regions with high annual average residential shortwave radiation were at a decreased risk of death from various causes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Solarium users also exhibited a lower risk of non-cardiovascular/cancer mortality.

Higher exposure to UV light was associated with lower all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and cancer mortality.

“In the UK and other nations with substantial European descendant populations, the emphasis of public health messaging has been on the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) exposure,” stated Professor Chris Dibben from the University of Edinburgh and his team.

“This is particularly concerning considering the established connection between UV radiation and melanoma development.”

“New findings suggest that the benefits of UV exposure might outweigh the risks, especially in low sunlight settings.”

“Among a group of Swedish women, those with higher sun exposure had a longer life span compared to those who avoided the sun.”

“The reduction in mortality rates is mainly linked to decreased cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular/non-cancer mortality.”

“In a study of Swedish women with moderate sun exposure habits, fair-skinned women had an 8% lower overall mortality rate compared to non-fair-skinned women.”

The study utilized genetic and health data from UK Biobank to examine UV exposure in 395,000 individuals in the UK.

Participants were limited to individuals of European descent with fair skin due to the impact of skin pigment on the body’s response to UV radiation.

Researchers utilized two criteria to identify individuals with higher UV exposure levels.

They assessed participants’ geographical locations to determine their average yearly solar energy exposure and whether they utilized sunbeds.

Living in regions with elevated UV levels, like Cornwall, was correlated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer (19% and 12% respectively) compared to regions with lower UV levels, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Use of sunbeds was connected to a 23% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease death and a 14% lower risk of cancer-related death compared to non-users.

Given that sunbed users might also engage in more sunbathing, this result could reflect broader sun-seeking behaviors.

Individuals with higher estimated UV exposure showed a slightly greater risk of melanoma diagnosis but not an increased risk of mortality from melanoma.

“Our study contributes to the mounting evidence indicating that relatively high UV exposure in low-light environments could be advantageous for health,” Prof Dibben remarked.

“While increased UV radiation exposure may elevate skin cancer risk, this risk seems to be outweighed by the considerable reduction in cancer and cardiovascular-related disease mortality.”

“Dermatologists have traditionally only considered sunlight’s potential harm to the skin based on experiences of white individuals in sunny nations like Australia,” noted Professor Richard Weller from the University of Edinburgh.

“It is essential to safeguard your skin during periods of very high UV index, but this study indicates that the balance of benefits and risks from sun exposure in the UK may differ significantly from sunnier locales.”

Reference: Survey results Published in the journal Health and location.

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Andrew C. Stevenson others2024. Higher UV exposure is associated with reduced mortality: analysis of data from the UK Biobank cohort study. Health and location 89: 103328; doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328

Source: www.sci.news

Astrophysicists find denser molecular clouds do not increase efficiency of star formation.

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Despite recent progress, the question of what controls the star formation efficiency in galaxies remains one of the most debated in astrophysics. According to the dominant view, star formation is controlled by turbulence and feedback, with a star formation efficiency of 1-2% per local free-fall time. In an alternative scenario, the star formation rate in the Galactic disk is proportional to the mass of dense gas above a critical density threshold. In a new study, astrophysicists from Université Paris-Sacra show that Michael Mattern and his colleagues aimed to distinguish between the two images with high-resolution observations. Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) tracks dense gas and young stars in a comprehensive sample of 49 nearby dense molecular clouds.

This composite image shows RCW 106, a star-forming region in the southern constellation Norma, about 12,000 light-years from Earth. The image overlays a red map of dense gas taken by APEX’s ArTéMiS camera on top of an optical image taken by ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope. Image credit: ESO / M. Mattern others.

Understanding what controls the efficiency of star formation in galactic giant molecular clouds is a fundamental unsolved problem in star formation research.

The star formation rate at multiple scales in galaxies is known to be strongly correlated with the mass of available molecular gas.

Overall, star formation is observed to be a very inefficient process.

“The glowing red clouds seen in the image above indicate regions of dense gas where new stars are being born in the RCW 106 region,” the astronomers said in a statement.

“But only 1 percent of this gas actually forms stars, and we don’t know why this percentage is so low.”

“We know that star formation occurs when regions of these giant clouds of cold gas come together and eventually collapse, and new stars are born. This happens at a critical density.”

“But beyond that density, could even more stars be formed in even denser regions? And could this help explain the 1% mystery?”

Their new results suggest that this is not the case: the dense regions are not efficient for star formation.

According to the team, this can probably be explained by these dense clouds breaking up into filaments and nuclei from which stars form, but many questions remain.

“Our results suggest that the star formation efficiency does not increase as the density passes a critical threshold, supporting a scenario in which the star formation efficiency in dense gas is nearly constant,” the researchers said.

“However, measurements of star formation efficiency tracked by young class I stars in nearby clouds are inconclusive, as they are consistent with both the existence of a density threshold and its dependence on density above the threshold.”

“Overall, we suggest that the efficiency of star formation in dense gas is determined primarily by the physics of filament fragmentation into protostellar cores.”

of study will be displayed in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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M. Mattern others2024. Understanding star formation efficiency in dense gas: Initial results from the ArTéMiS CAFFEINE survey. A&Ain press; arXiv: 2405.15713

Source: www.sci.news

The South American lungfish has the largest genome ever sequenced to date.

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers from the University of Konstanz and other institutions Africa(Protopterus annectens) and South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa)The genome of the South American lungfish (approximately 91 gigabases, about 30 times the size of the human genome) is the largest animal genome sequenced to date. Australia(Neoceratodus forsteri) African lungfish.

South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxaImage courtesy of Katherine Seghers, Louisiana State University.

Lungfish are freshwater vertebrates belonging to the order Dipnoi (Pulmonaceae) and have existed for 400 million years, from the Devonian to the present day.

Some people consider lungfish to be “living fossils” because their morphology has changed very little over the years.

They, like all terrestrial vertebrates, have the ability to breathe air through lungs similar to our own.

Only six species of lungfish remain today: four live in Africa, one in South America, and one in Australia.

“These ancient 'living fossils' still resemble their ancestors so closely that they seem to have been forgotten during evolution,” said biologist Axel Meyer of the University of Konstanz and his colleagues.

“Since our genetic material, DNA, is made up of nucleobases and the sequence of these nucleobases contains the actual genetic information, a comparative analysis of the lungfish genome will only be possible if we know its complete sequence.”

“We already knew that the lungfish genome was large, but until now it was unclear how large it really was and what we could learn from it,” the researchers added.

“Sequencing the lungfish genome has therefore been very labor-intensive and complex, both from a technical and bioinformatics point of view.”

In a new study, scientists have sequenced the genome of African and South American lungfish.

“The South American species' DNA is 91 gigabases (or 91 billion bases), the largest of any animal genome and more than twice the size of the genome of the previous record holder, the Australian lungfish,” Dr Meyer said.

“Eighteen of the South American lungfish's 19 chromosomes are each larger than the entire human genome, about 3 billion base pairs in length.”

The largest genome sequence to date, that of the Australian lungfish, was also sequenced by the same team.

“Autonomous transposons are responsible for the large size of the lungfish genome over time,” the authors write.

“These are DNA sequences that are 'replicated' and change position in the genome, which causes the genome to grow.”

“Although similar phenomena have occurred in other organisms, our analysis shows that the South American lungfish has by far the fastest rate of genome expansion ever recorded; every 10 million years, its genome has expanded to a size equivalent to the entire human genome.”

“And it continues to grow. We now have evidence that the transposon responsible is still active.”

“We have identified a mechanism for this enormous genome growth. This extreme expansion is due, at least in part, to the very low presence of piRNAs.”

“This type of RNA is normally part of the molecular mechanism that silences transposons.”

Team paper Published in the journal Nature.

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M. Chartres othersAll lungfish genomes provide information on genome expansion and tetrapod evolution. NaturePublished online August 14, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07830-1

Source: www.sci.news

NASA Inspector General Criticizes Boeing’s Quality Control With Scathing Review

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Many of the deficiencies identified in the report were not addressed.

Boeing’s response processes for past defects have been ineffective, and the company has not been responsive in taking corrective action for recurring quality control issues,” the company stated.

When asked for comment, a Boeing representative directed NBC News to NASA.

In a written response included in the report, Katherine Corner, deputy administrator for NASA Headquarters’ Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, emphasized NASA’s commitment to the highest technical and programmatic standards.

NASA is dedicated to ensuring that its personnel and contractors are qualified, well-trained, and prioritize mission safety,” Corner expressed.

The report suggested various recommendations, such as imposing financial penalties on Boeing for not meeting quality control standards. However, NASA opted not to levy any financial penalties.

The Space Launch System, standing at 322 feet tall, along with the Orion spacecraft, aims to launch astronauts to the moon to establish a base on its surface.

NASA successfully conducted an uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft in 2022 (Artemis I mission). The following year, four astronauts are scheduled for a crewed flight around the moon (Artemis II mission).

Aside from the first-generation SLS rocket, NASA is also working on a more powerful model capable of carrying more cargo to the moon, led by Boeing as the prime contractor for the enhanced upper stage, known as the Space Launch System Block 1B, with work commencing in 2014.

Originally, an improved rocket system was planned to transport Artemis 2 astronauts into lunar orbit, but this timeline adjustment delayed development and raised costs, as stated by the inspector general.

According to a new report, the Block 1B version of the SLS could potentially cost up to $5.7 billion per launch.

This assessment marks a setback for NASA’s lunar return program, plagued by delays and budget overruns. Over the span of more than a decade, the agency has invested over $42 billion in the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft.

Last year, NASA’s inspector general estimated each Artemis launch to cost $4.2 billion.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Study suggests a remarkably faraway asteroid could have been responsible for dinosaur extinction

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Research has shown that the asteroid responsible for the mass extinction that annihilated the dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated from a distant region in the solar system, unlike most asteroids that have collided with Earth.

According to European and American researchers, the dinosaur-killing asteroid formed in a cold area outside Jupiter’s orbit and contained high levels of water and carbon. Survey results The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Science on Thursday.

In their analysis of objects that have struck Earth in the last 500 million years, the researchers noted that only asteroids rich in water have caused mass extinctions like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Co-author François Tissot, a professor at the California Institute of Technology, explained that asteroids originating closer to the sun were significantly drier.

Tissot further stated, “All other impacts that occurred were from objects closer to the sun and just happened to hit that specific spot, so the asteroid responsible for the dinosaur extinction is truly unique in both its characteristics and origin.”

This catastrophic asteroid created the Chicxulub crater in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. While direct samples of the asteroid itself were unattainable due to its fragmentation, researchers were able to analyze particles that were dispersed upon impact and settled in Earth’s strata.

The researchers specifically examined ruthenium, a rare element on Earth that can be linked back to the asteroid.

The study confirmed earlier conclusions that classified the asteroid as a carbonaceous, or C-type, asteroid, though some theories proposed it could have been a comet that caused the dinosaur extinction.

Tissot explained, “Comets originate from great distances from the sun and are primarily composed of ice and dust. While the ruthenium levels of a comet have not been measured, based on research indicating other elements, it seems highly improbable that the extinction-causing object was a comet.”

According to Tissot, this study represents progress in understanding the evolution of Earth.

“By delving into Earth’s history, we now have a comprehensive look at its evolution,” he remarked. “This allows us to pose new questions about our planet.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Northeast Experienced Two Rare Once-in-1,000-Year Rainfall Events in a Single Night.

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Over the weekend, a storm hit the Northeast, causing an extraordinary amount of rainfall in two locations on the same night, a rare occurrence that is expected once in a thousand years. The storm resulted in at least three fatalities and widespread flooding. In areas like Oxford and Southbury, Connecticut, 10 inches of rain fell in a span of 12 hours on Sunday. Similarly, Stony Brook, New York, received about 6.7 inches of rain in just three hours Sunday night. The likelihood of both events taking place in any given year is approximately 0.1%. According to federal rainfall probability data, these incidents are significant and not a common occurrence.

Nick Basile, the director of the State Weather Risk Communication Center at the University at Albany in New York, mentioned that experiencing extreme rainfall levels in two different areas in such close succession is noteworthy. While it is challenging to determine the direct impact of climate change on specific events, experts suggest that the combination of extreme rainfall events supports a broader trend in the Northeast, where intense storms are becoming more frequent.

Mark Wysocki, a retired New York state meteorologist, explained that thunderstorms are now producing heavier amounts of rainfall compared to the past. The Northeast has witnessed a considerable rise in extreme precipitation, with the 2023 National Climate Assessment reporting a steep increase in the number of events with significant rainfall.

Members of the Beacon Horse Company rescued people from the Brookside Inn in Oxford, Connecticut on Sunday.Beacon Hose Co. via The Associated Press

The impact of climate change on the behavior of the jet stream may be contributing to the prolonged presence of storms in certain areas, bringing in more moisture and causing heavier rainfall. However, researchers are still in the early stages of studying this phenomenon, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions.

With infrastructure not designed to handle such intense rainfall, cities in the Northeast face significant challenges during severe weather events. Flash flooding becomes a major concern, prompting calls for better urban planning and infrastructure upgrades.

In Connecticut, tragic deaths occurred as a result of the storm, with two individuals swept away by floodwaters and another person killed by a fallen tree. The storm led to evacuations, water rescues, and disruptions in transportation. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the prolonged closure of more than a dozen roads in the aftermath of the storm.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Monday will see a rare blue moon and supermoon dominating the sky

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Skywatchers on a budget will be excited for a night of celestial luck on Monday, as they have the chance to witness a supermoon and a seasonal blue moon together.

NASA explains that a blue moon, by its technical definition (the third full moon in a season of four), occurs approximately once every 10 years.

A supermoon happens when the moon is full at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. These occurrences vary, with the most intense supermoons appearing around 14 percent larger than when the full moon is farthest from Earth. While this supermoon may not be among the most intense, it still qualifies as a supermoon according to NASA.

The moon’s colors will appear off-white and grey, with hints of brown and yellow.

As per NASA, a “super blue moon” can happen every 20 years. NASA’s FAQ confirms: It’s set to be a bright Monday night.

People watch as a super blue moon rises behind Nacka in Stockholm on Monday.
Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP-Getty Images

With the new blue moon definition (the second full moon in a month with two full moons) and the traditional seasonal blue moon definition, a super blue moon can be expected once every five years.

The next occurrence of a moon similar to Monday’s, as a supermoon coinciding with a seasonal blue moon, is scheduled for August 21, 2032, according to NASA. The next supermoon aligned with a monthly blue moon will take place in January 2037.

Monday’s super blue moon also acts as an indicator for the remaining 30 days of summer, which ends on September 21st.

“Seasonal blue moons consistently occur roughly a month before the vernal equinox or summer solstice,” NASA highlights in an FAQ.

Many Americans anticipating this unique celestial event may face disappointment as the National Weather Service forecasts thunderstorms overnight from the northern Mid-Atlantic to New England, with a chance in the High Plains regions.

For those in the San Francisco Bay area, where the moon is expected to be visible, skies are predicted to be mostly clear, ensuring that “the supermoon will be visible tonight,” as stated by the National Weather Service.

During the Giants-Chicago White Sox game, scheduled to commence an hour before sunset, Denver’s Blue Moon Brewing is organizing a post-game drone spectacle for fans at Oracle Park.

“Once the Giants-White Sox game concludes, the stadium lights will dim, and the sky above Oracle Park will illuminate with a drone show titled ‘Once in a Blue Moon,’ as confirmed by the brewery in a statement.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Prehistoric Lovebirds Thrived in Humanity’s Birthplace 2.5 Million Years Ago

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have discovered the fossilized bones of a new species of parrot. Agapornis The event will take place in three regions of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Cradle of Humankind” in Gauteng, South Africa.

Rebuilding the couple's lives Agapornis longipes People forage on the ground during the dry season in the Early Pleistocene period of the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng, South Africa. Image by Martina Cadin.

“Lovebirds (Genus Agapornis“Psittacidae (parrots) are small parrots endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar,” said Dr Marco Pavia from the University of Turin and his colleagues.

“It currently includes nine species that live in woodlands and wooded savannahs, breed in tree cavities, and feed mainly on grass seeds and fruits collected on the ground and, to a lesser extent, on trees.”

“Genetic data suggest that parrots colonized Africa during the late Eocene and early Oligocene. Agapornis They first migrated into Africa from Australasia during the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene, about 24 million years ago.”

“Psittacula Crameri “It is the most recent parrot to have dispersed across the continents around the boundary between the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (2.5 to 1.5 million years ago).”

“The fossil record of African parrots is very scarce, with the oldest dating back to the early Pliocene period of the Langebaanweg.”

“Surprisingly, most of the African fossils AgapornisThe oldest one is Agapornis Attenborough It was described from the Early Pliocene of the Langebaanweg in South Africa.”

The newly identified species is Agapornis longipesIt lived in South Africa about 2.5 million years ago.

The fossils have been found at Kromdraai, Cooper Cave and Swartkrans sites in South Africa.

The specimen includes all major wing bones (humerus, ulna, carpometacarpals), tarsometatarsus, a fragmentary mandible, and a coracoid.

“The fossils were recovered from three sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Cradle of Humankind, a key area for understanding early human evolution in Southern Africa,” the paleontologists said.

“The Cradle of Humankind contains several hominin fossil sites dating from the Late Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene, and their study has shed light on the paleoecological and paleoenvironmental context surrounding the emergence of the genus Homo in the region, and its relationship to the contemporary species Australopithecus and Paranthropus.”

“The three fossil sites – Swartkrans, Cooper's Cave and Kromdraai – are located in the southern part of the Cradle Range, approximately one kilometre east and one and a half kilometres northeast of Sterkfontein Cave respectively, and are separated by a few hundred metres from each other,” the researchers added.

Agapornis longipes It is distinct from nine extant species. Agapornis Genus and extinct Agapornis atlanticus and Agapornis Attenborough It is known for several morphological characteristics and for having the smallest humerus-to-tarsometatarsal ratio. Agapornis seed.

“Except for one. Agapornis “These species feed primarily on grass seeds and then fruits and are generally associated with the presence of grasslands, permanent water sources and tall trees that provide either natural cavities or holes excavated by other birds such as woodpeckers or barbets,” the researchers said.

“The long, slender legs Agapornis longipes This may be related to feeding adaptations of this extinct species.”

“Indeed, modern species with a low humerus-to-tarsometatarsus ratio typically gather food on the ground, while others also gather seeds and fruits from trees.”

“We assume that Agapornis longipes As suggested by paleoenvironmental reconstructions, it used its longer legs to feed on grass seeds at ground level in the tall grass, dense prairie of the paleo-Blue Bank Valley.”

“The present-day environment in this region of the Cradle of Humankind and South Africa is not significantly different from that of the Early Pleistocene, and the extinction of lovebirds from this region during the Pleistocene is likely related to changes in microclimatic conditions and the extinction of specific food resources, rather than changes in general environmental conditions.”

This new species is paper In the journal Geobios.

_____

Marco Pavia othersLovebirds (birds, parrot family, AgapornisThis fossil was discovered in the Plio-Pleistocene era (Gauteng, South Africa), the birthplace of humankind. GeobiosPublished online August 9, 2024; doi: 10.1016/j.geobios.2024.05.006

Source: www.sci.news

Spinal cord stimulation aids in the recovery of stroke patients

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Strokes are the leading cause of disability in adults over the age of 55. Despite advances in medical care and rehabilitation, 35% of stroke patients still have difficulty performing daily tasks because they have trouble walking or standing. Approximately 70% of stroke patients have problems with walking, including slower walking speed, problems with coordination, and uneven stride length.

Doctors have found that these problems often occur when the pathways that spinal cord neurons use to transmit information from the brain to the body are disrupted. By applying electrical pulses to the brains of stroke patients, doctors have attempted to reactivate the neural pathways that control movement. Researchers have shown that electrical pulses to the brain can help stroke patients regain control of fine movements, but the ability to maintain basic walking patterns relies on neural pathways in the spinal cord. So a team of scientists from the US and Russia hypothesized that targeting the spinal cord could help stroke patients recover.

To test whether spinal cord electrical stimulation could help stroke patients walk again, the team attached electrodes to the skin of the patients' spinal cord. Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation or tSCS. Researchers have previously found that tSCS can help stroke patients walk more steadily and smoothly in the short term. But the team wanted to test whether tSCS could improve nerve and muscle function and help patients walk better in the long term.

To measure how tSCS affected the walking ability and muscle function of stroke patients, the researchers recruited two groups of four people each. Both groups of participants were matched for age, time since stroke, and walking speed to minimize experimental bias. All participants were over 18 years old, had experienced a stroke at least one year ago, and were able to walk without support. The researchers conducted gait training in both groups three times a week for eight weeks to improve balance and movement. The first group, called the control group, was assigned to only gait training, while the second group, called the stimulation group, was assigned to a combination of gait training and tSCS.

The researchers assessed how well each participant walked before, immediately after, and three months after walking training. The researchers measured each participant's step symmetry using two metrics: step length and stride length. They also measured participants' walking speed and the distance they walked in a six-minute period. The researchers collected this data through a combination of observation by physical therapists and direct measurements using sensor-equipped mats.

The team found that after gait training, the stimulation group's stride symmetry improved by 64%, while the control group's stride symmetry improved by only 33%. The stimulation group also had faster walking speeds and more consistent swing times than the control group. All participants in the stimulation group and one participant in the control group walked greater distances than they had before gait training, but only one participant in each group maintained this progress after three months. The researchers interpreted these changes as meaning that combining tSCS with gait training enabled stroke patients to walk faster and longer. However, they warned that patients could lose these gains if they did not continue treatment, as only gait symmetry showed a sustained improvement.

The researchers also measured changes in the participants' muscles and neurons before and after tSCS treatment and walking training. The researchers explained that the more complex and numerous a person's muscle groups are, the better they can control leg movements when walking. So they wanted to see how the patients' muscle groups work together when walking, i.e. Muscle synergy. To investigate muscle synergy, the researchers measured the activity of the leg muscles of five participants by attaching sensors to the participants' skin to detect electrical signals when the muscles contracted. The results showed that participants in the two stimulation groups had improved muscle coordination after walking and tSCS. The researchers interpreted this result as meaning that tSCS helped participants improve muscle coordination while walking.

The researchers concluded that electrical stimulation of the spinal cord allowed some stroke patients to walk better than before. However, they suggested that the effectiveness of tSCS could be improved with individualized training and customized stimulation settings to address each patient's challenges. They also suggested that studies be conducted for a longer period of time and with a larger number of participants to better understand the lasting effects of tSCS and to apply the findings to a wider range of stroke patients.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Video games found to have positive effects on health, scientists reveal

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If you like video games, playing them might not be something you need to worry about.

Asia Vision/Getty Images

Despite being an oft-maligned pastime, playing video games actually seems to make people happier, a finding that comes from a unique study taking advantage of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think that if you enjoy a hobby, it has a positive effect on your health.” Hiroyuki Egami At Nihon University in Japan.

In 2019, The World Health Organization has added “gaming disorder” It violates the International Classification of Diseases. However, studies on the effects of playing video games have produced mixed results when it comes to mental health outcomes, with many studies unable to prove causation. Studies that aim to prove causation are usually conducted in controlled laboratory environments, which “are far removed from the experience of actually playing video games,” the researchers say. Peter Etchells The researchers are from Bath Spa University in the UK but were not involved in the latest study.

But between 2020 and 2022, Egami and his colleagues had a rare opportunity to investigate the causal effects of video games on people's happiness in the real world. At the time, game consoles were in short supply, so lotteries were held in parts of Japan where people could enter to receive either a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch console.

The researchers surveyed 8,192 people aged between 10 and 69 who had entered such lotteries. Respondents answered questions about their gambling habits and levels of psychological distress, an indicator of mental health.

Egami and his colleagues found that people who won the lottery had slightly higher mental health scores than those who didn't, but that their scores plateaued once they exceeded about three hours of total play time per day.

The team also used machine learning models to analyze the data and found that the effects varied by console type and owner demographics. For example, younger people who own a Nintendo Switch saw greater benefits compared to older people. The team also found that people without children saw greater benefits from owning a PlayStation 5 than those with children.

“This highlights the need to be nuanced and specific about what we measure and how we measure it if we want to understand how video games affect us,” Etchells said, though he said participants self-reported the amount of time they played, which may not be accurate.

Etchells and Egami also note that the data was collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced people's video game habits and health. Further research using this methodology could reveal whether the trends hold in other contexts.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Fireflies used as bait by spiders to attract more prey

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A spider engulfs its shiny prey

New Hua Fu

Once the spider has captured a male firefly in its web, it turns the dead insect into food and uses its beacon light to lure in more prey.

New Hua Fu Researchers at China’s Huazhong Agricultural University found that male fireflies (Abscondita terminalis), but females of this species often get caught in the webs of orb-weaver spiders (Giant IsopodHe and his colleagues discovered that the spiders were using the flashing signals to lure the insects into their traps, and they wondered if this was what was luring them. Both males and females of this firefly species use flashing signals to court, with the females’ light shows drawing males to their location. So he and his colleagues investigated how the spiders were using this display of affection.

In farmland in China’s Hubei province, the team conducted a series of experiments on 161 different nests, some with spiders and some without. In each nest, the researchers placed male fireflies, some of which had painted the light areas of their abdomens black with ink. They found that nests that contained both spiders and free-flying fireflies attracted more male fireflies than nests without spiders or nests with only non-flying fireflies.

Also, the male fireflies that were tangled in spider webs emitted a different flash than normal — it was more like a female’s flash, emitting one flash instead of two — but the fireflies that were tangled in spider webs emitted normal flashes.

This suggests that the spiders manipulate the male firefly’s signals to mimic those of females and attract other males looking to mate, the team said. Lee Dae Geum The Hubei University researchers say they don’t yet know exactly how the spiders change the signals of their immobilized prey, but they have some ideas.

“The spider’s venom or the bite itself could lead to changes in the blinking patterns of captive males,” Lee said.

Li is interested to know if other spiders that eat fireflies use a similar strategy: Other animals may use different kinds of signals, such as sound or the release of pheromones, to bait their captured prey, he says.

“[The findings] “Spiders prove once again that they are not passive foragers.” Mariella Herberstein “We are discovering more and more cases of highly complex and selective feeding techniques,” say researchers from Australia’s Macquarie University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Plans explained by Polaris mission commander

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

summary

SpaceX is gearing up for its next private mission scheduled for August 26, which will mark the company’s inaugural spacewalk endeavor.
The crew of four includes billionaire Shift4 founder Jared Isaacman, his colleague Scott Poteat, and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sara Gillis.
The Polaris Dawn mission is the first of three flights purchased by Isaacman from SpaceX.

SpaceX is getting ready to launch its next private mission by the end of this month, which will be its first attempt to send astronauts into space.

Polaris Dawn Mission — Billionaires and Shift 4 Founder Jared Isaacman Purchased from SpaceX in 2022 The spacecraft, the final mission of the human spaceflight program known as Project Polaris, is scheduled to lift off from Florida in the early hours of August 26th.

“We don’t have the freedom to launch whenever we want,” Isaacman said. “It was pretty close to dawn, which is very appropriate given the mission.” CNBC’s Space Investments In an interview last month.

Isaacman said, Historic Inspiration 4 Flights in 2021 He will again lead a four-person crew, with longtime colleague Scott Poteat joining as pilot, and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sara Gillis serving as the flight’s medical director and mission specialist, respectively.

The multi-day journey won’t be a destination-specific one, but rather a free-flight mission on an orbit that will hopefully take the crew far from Earth.

“We will be reaching much higher altitudes than any human has reached in over 50 years,” Isaacman said.

But the highlight of Polaris Dawn will be its planned spacewalks.

Extravehicular activities (EVAs) have been a routine part of NASA astronaut missions for years, such as when the space agency needs to perform maintenance outside the International Space Station, but no private company has ever attempted an EVA until now.

Isaacman said he understood that the spacewalk would mean he and his crew would be “surrounded by death,” and he was ready to embrace the moment. I have been thoroughly trained.

“The only thing that comes close to that is a vacuum chamber. It almost feels like being in a vacuum or in space. … You can actually feel the pressure changes, the temperature changes and the psychological stress of being in a very hostile environment,” Isaacman said.

Five-day mission planning

Isaacman also detailed Polaris Dawn’s daily schedule, which will remain in space for up to five days.

The first day will be all about finding the time when the risk from micrometeorite orbital debris is minimal, which will determine the exact time for Polaris Dawn to launch. After reaching the 190-kilometer by 1,200-kilometer orbit, the crew will conduct a thorough checkout of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Resilience, Isaacman said.

“It’s really important to make sure there are no defects in the aircraft before we go up to an altitude of 1,400 kilometers,” Isaacman said.

The spacecraft also traveled through what are known as high radiation zones. South Atlantic Anomaly.

“Ideally we want to get as low as possible because even at 200 kilometres the radiation levels are quite high,” Isaacman said. “Two or three high-altitude passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly will account for nearly the entire radiation load of the mission, equivalent to three months on the International Space Station.”

The second day will focus on some of the scientific research Polaris Dawn plans to accomplish, with a total of about 40 experiments. The crew will also prepare for the spacewalk and test their spacewalk suits.

“That way we can make sure there’s nothing unexpected happening in microgravity compared to what we could test on Earth,” Isaacman said.

Day 3 is the big day – spacewalk.

Spacewalk

So who on the crew will be doing the spacewalk?

“It’s fair to say that all four of us are working together. There’s no airlock, there’s a vacuum inside the spacecraft,” Isaacman said.

Two of the crew members (Isaacman and Gillis) will travel outside of Dragon, while Poteet and Menon will remain on board as support.

The spacewalk is expected to take two hours from start to finish, and Isaacman stressed that it is “really a test and development” process.

“We want to learn as much as we can about the spacesuit and its operation, but there is a finite amount of oxygen and nitrogen available,” Isaacman said.

Polaris Dawn will livestream the spacewalk, and mission commanders stressed that there will be “multiple cameras” inside and outside the capsule.

From left: Anna Menon, Scott Poteat, Jared Isaacman and Sara Gillis.
SpaceX

Brand new space suit

A key piece of equipment that makes EVA possible is SpaceX’s spacesuit.

For the past few years, the company has been using its minimalist, black-and-white IVA suits (Internal Vehicle Activity suits, or IVA suits worn by astronauts in emergencies) to develop its EVA suits, which Isaacman said are the result of hundreds of hours of testing different materials over the years.

“So our main goal is to learn as much as we can about the suit,” Isaacman said.

“It’s all about building the next generation of spacesuits. We continue to refine the design of this suit so that SpaceX can manufacture hundreds and thousands of suits in the future for operations on the Moon, Mars and in space. [low Earth orbit]”, and many other things. Building a new spacewalk suit is no easy task,” he added.

Polaris Dawn aims to push the boundaries of private spaceflight, and Isaacman hopes the mission will be inspiring, just like his first orbital flight.

“That’s the inspiration aspect. Anything that’s different from what we’ve seen in the last 20 or 30 years excites people and makes them think, ‘If this is what I’m seeing today, what will it be like tomorrow or a year from now?'”

Read Isaacman’s Q&A with CNBC’s Investing in Space newsletter here.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Uncovering the Root Cause of Bloating and Finding Effective Solutions

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Many people experience uncomfortable sensations like abdominal bloating or pressure.

You may notice your stomach feeling bloated or tighter than usual, hear strange noises, or feel the need to pass gas more often. While bloating is usually harmless, it can be unpleasant.

There are numerous causes of abdominal bloating, from dietary habits to underlying medical conditions. Excess gas in the digestive tract, which occurs when air is swallowed along with food or drink, is a common cause.

Moreover, certain foods and beverages can lead to gas formation during digestion, such as carbonated drinks, beans, broccoli, sprouts, and cabbage. This gas accumulation in the digestive system can result in bloating, exacerbated by factors like chewing gum, sweeteners, alcohol, caffeine, and protein supplements.

Digestive issues like constipation or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also contribute to abdominal bloating. When stool becomes trapped in the colon, it can cause discomfort and bloating. Similarly, individuals with IBS may experience bloating in conjunction with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.

To address bloating, start by identifying trigger foods through a food diary and eliminating them from your diet. Opt for a fiber-rich diet consisting of whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir can aid digestion and reduce gas.

In addition to dietary changes, consider incorporating herbs and spices like ginger, peppermint, and fennel to alleviate bloating. Lifestyle adjustments such as eating smaller meals, chewing food slowly, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular exercise can also help combat bloating.

If bloating persists, especially with accompanying symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor as it could rarely indicate ovarian cancer, particularly in women over 50.

Written by Natasha Reid of Lincoln, this article addresses the question of why individuals may feel bloated.

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Here’s how to soon be able to record your dreams

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with mind-reading technology is essential for recreating the sensations we experience in our dreams.

In a well-known Japanese study, the initial steps of this method were showcased in 2023. Researchers employed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner to monitor the brain activity of participants during sleep and utilized machine learning to identify recognized objects like keys, individuals, and chairs from that activity.

Nevertheless, this study concentrated on sleep onset, the first two stages of sleep where visual imagery (hallucinations) occur, and did not explore dreams at all.

They adopted this approach so participants could articulate what they observed upon waking.

To replicate dreams, we need an extensive database of detailed fMRI information from dreaming volunteers to educate a large-scale AI. Participants should possess exceptional recall abilities to describe their dreams vividly, which will help determine the accuracy of the predictions.

Recording dreams in this level of detail poses a significant challenge, and establishing a reliable method to generate such data remains uncertain.

Nonetheless, progress has already been made in related areas, with research studies producing vast datasets of fMRI brain activity from conscious participants watching videos, listening to spoken language, and reading text.

By employing AI trained on these datasets, we can already predict what people are viewing or reading while awake.

Assuming there is enough data to develop such an AI in a few years, as well as portable fMRI machines that allow for dreaming individuals to be monitored while asleep, the required methodologies to exhibit results will already be in place.

Generative AI such as OpenAI’s Sora and Google DeepMind’s Lumiere can already generate captivating video sequences. Utilizing dream analysis AI, when you provide a textual depiction to the generative AI, you receive a video illustrating the dream sequence.

However, it’s important to note that these AIs are not actually reading minds, but rather matching brain activity patterns with images that may have been previously seen. The generative AI cannot validate if the video accurately represents the dream—it simply pieces together images and possibly adds a rudimentary narrative.

Though the end product may strikingly resemble a dream with many familiar elements, it does not provide an exact replica, similar to how the movie Cast Away featuring Tom Hanks only loosely mirrors the true story of Jose Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman stranded for 14 months in the Pacific Ocean.

AI is remarkable, intelligent, and sometimes eerie, but in terms of understanding the human brain, it is not always precise.

This article responds to a query by Andrew Taylor via email: “How close are we to being able to record our dreams?”

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When to Alert the Public: Seismologists Investigate Forewarnings of Impending “Major Earthquake”

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New studies conducted by USGS geophysicist Danny Brothers reveal that the Cascadia subduction zone, stretching along the US west coast from northern California to northern Vancouver Island, may have seen around 30 large earthquakes over the past 14,200 years. On average, a large earthquake could occur in that area approximately every 450 to 500 years.

Despite this history, the Cascadia Volcano has remained dormant for years, as many scientists believe the volcano is mainly “frozen” and under immense pressure. Should the volcano erupt, it could cause a significant shift in the ocean floor, leading to potential tsunamis heading towards the shore.

Washington State Emergency Management Director Robert Ezell has warned that this event could be the most catastrophic natural disaster in the country’s history.

Seismologists are now focused on predicting these potential cataclysms, with research suggesting that faults like Cascadia and Nankai may give off warning signs, such as minor foreshocks or subtle tremors only detectable by specialized sensors (known as slow-slip events).

In a worst-case scenario proposed by Tobin, if the Cascadia Fault were to release such vibrations suddenly, the consequences could be devastating.

A major earthquake in the Cascade Range could leave over 100,000 people injured, lasting for five minutes and generating tsunamis along the coast for up to 10 hours. Liquefaction could occur in inland hills, destroying roads and bridges, with around 620,000 buildings, including hospitals and schools, facing severe damage or destruction.

Ezell emphasized that the state is not adequately prepared for such an event, warning residents to be self-sufficient for at least two weeks following a disaster.

The maps of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates converge to create subduction zones and volcanoes, particularly concern Ezell.

“Over the past few decades, we’ve witnessed major ruptures in all subduction zones’ faults except for Cascadia,” Ezell noted.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Scientists successfully capture the first-ever 2D spectral image of the aurora

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists in Japan have captured full-spectrum, two-dimensional (2D) auroral images using a newly developed Hyperspectral Camera for Auroral Imaging (HySCAI).

(a) All-sky camera and (b) HySCAI keograms, and (c) time evolution of the spatially averaged spectrum of auroral emission measured by HySCAI on October 20-21, 2023. Image courtesy of Yoshinuma others., doi: 10.1186/s40623-024-02039-y.

The aurora is a natural optical phenomenon caused by the interaction of precipitation particles with components of the upper atmosphere.

The majority of the observed spectrum consists of lines or bands of neutral and ionized nitrogen and oxygen atoms.

The aurora comes in a variety of distinctive colors, including green and red, but there are multiple theories about how the different auroras emit light, and understanding their colors requires breaking down the light.

To study the auroral radiation processes and colors in detail, comprehensive (temporal and spatial) spectral observations are required.

“We have observed light being emitted from plasma within the magnetic field of the Large Helical Device (LHD),” said Dr. Katsumi Ida of the National Institute for Fusion Science in Japan and his colleagues.

“Various systems have been developed to measure the spectrum of light emitted from plasmas, and the processes of energy transport and the emission of atoms and molecules have been studied.”

“By applying this technology and knowledge to auroral observations, we can contribute to our understanding of auroral luminescence and to research into the electron energy generation process that produces auroral luminescence.”

The newly developed camera, HySCAI, consists of an all-sky lens, a monitor camera, a galvanometer scanner, a grating spectrometer, and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device.

“Aurora observations use optical filters to capture images of specific colors, but this has the drawback of limited wavelengths and low resolution,” the researchers said.

“On the other hand, hyperspectral cameras have the advantage of being able to obtain the spatial distribution of the spectrum with high wavelength resolution.”

“In 2018, we started a project to develop a high-sensitivity hyperspectral camera by combining an image sweeping optical system using a galvanometer mirror with the EMCCD camera and lens spectrometer used in the LHD.”

“It took five years of planning to develop a system with the sensitivity to measure auroras down to 1kR (1 kiloraylei).”

“The system was installed in May 2023 at the Swedish Space Corporation's Esrange Space Centre in Kiruna, Sweden, which is located directly below the auroral zone and where auroras can be observed frequently.”

“The system successfully captured hyperspectral images of the aurora, i.e. two-dimensional images resolved by wavelength.”

Team work Published in the journal Earth, planets, space.

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Masayuki Yoshinuma others2024: Development of a hyperspectral camera for photographing the aurora (HySCAI). Earth Planet Space 76, 96; doi: 10.1186/s40623-024-02039-y

Source: www.sci.news

Lightning can generate energy waves that travel vast distances into space.

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Lightning can create special energy waves

Room the Agency/Alamy

This overlooked mechanism could allow lightning energy to reach the top of the atmosphere, threatening the safety of satellites and astronauts.

When lightning strikes, the energy it carries can create special electromagnetic waves called whistlers, so named because they can be converted into sound signals. For decades, researchers thought that the whistlers produced by lightning remained confined to altitudes relatively close to the Earth's surface, below about 1,000 kilometers.

now Vikas Sonwalkar and Amani Lady Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks discovered that some whistlers bounce off a layer of the atmosphere filled with charged particles called the ionosphere, which allows whistler waves and the energy they carry to travel up to 20,000 kilometers above Earth's surface—all the way into the magnetosphere, the region of space governed by Earth's magnetic field.

Researchers found evidence of these reflective whistlers in data from the Van Allen Probes, twin robotic spacecraft that measured the magnetosphere between 2012 and 2019. They also found hints of the phenomenon in studies published in the 1960s. Both the old and new data indicate that the phenomenon is very frequent and happens all the time, Reddy said.

In fact, the lightning may be depositing twice as much energy into this region as previously estimated, the researchers say, and this energy charges and accelerates nearby particles, creating electromagnetic radiation that can damage satellites and endanger the health of astronauts.

“Lightning has always been considered a bit of a smaller player. Until 10 years ago, this data wasn't available and we'd never looked at it at this level of detail.” Jacob Bortnick researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. He says the new study is a call for others to develop a more accurate picture of the magnetosphere.

Establishing the connection between lightning and the magnetosphere is also important because changes in Earth's climate could make lightning storms more frequent, Sonwalker said.

The research team now hopes to analyze data from more satellites to learn more about how lightning-based whistlers are distributed in the magnetosphere and how they are affected by space weather.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

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