How We Believe We Can Slow or Reverse the Myopia Epidemic

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

I vividly remember buying my first pair of glasses as a child. My mother is extremely nearsighted and takes me to the optician every year. My older sister was diagnosed when she was about 8 years old, and I prayed that she wouldn't copy me because she was afraid of being made fun of, but by the time I was her age, the world had become a blur. A visit to the optician that year confirmed it, and I've been wearing glasses or contact lenses ever since.

In the late 1970s, it was extremely unusual for someone to need glasses at such a young age. No more. Over the past 30 years, myopia has increased rapidly, especially among children. Approximately one-third of 5- to 19-year-olds are now nearsighted, up from one-quarter in 1990. If this trend continues, the proportion will be approximately 40% by 2050 – or 740 million myopic young people.

It's more than an inconvenience. “Myopia is a disease,” they say. K. Davina Flick Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland, where he recently served as co-chair. National Academy of Sciences Committee on Conditions. “It is widespread Quality of life and economic impactThere is a risk of blindness, especially in severe cases,” she says. But researchers are increasingly thinking that the epidemic can be slowed or even reversed.

Most cases of myopia are axial. This means that the axis of the eyeball, the distance between the cornea at the front and the light-sensing retina at the back, becomes too long. This means that the light that enters your eyes is focused right in front of your eyes.

Source: www.newscientist.com

The strength of your sweet tooth could be linked to your sugar-digesting capabilities

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When it comes to food cravings, some of us lean towards ice cream while others prefer something savory. It can be hard to understand how people have different tastes when it comes to food. How can anyone not enjoy chocolate?

A recent study may provide some answers. It appears that individuals who have an aversion to sweet foods may have a genetic anomaly in their DNA that makes it challenging for them to digest sucrose (sugar).

Genetic issues with sucrose digestion are commonly linked to irritable bowel syndrome. However, a new study featured in the journal Gastroenterology suggests that defects in the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene could also impact how much we enjoy sweet treats.

To investigate further, a team of researchers from the University of Nottingham conducted studies on mice lacking the SI gene. They discovered that these mice had a decreased preference for sucrose consumption.

The researchers then expanded their study to include humans, analyzing data from 6,000 individuals in Greenland and approximately 135,000 individuals in the UK from the UK Biobank. Their findings showed that Greenlandic participants with a completely non-functional SI gene consumed more sugar compared to those with a functioning gene. This pattern was also observed in the UK, where individuals with a partially functioning SI gene showed a lower inclination towards sweet foods.

If you are not a fan of sweet treats, could it be due to a genetic issue? Not necessarily.

“If you have a dislike for sweet foods, it may be linked to reduced SI function, but other factors with bigger impacts are likely contributing to your preference for less sweet foods,” said Dr. Mette Andersen, a co-author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, as reported by BBC Science Focus.

Excessive sugar consumption is a significant factor in the rise of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers involved in the study believe that targeting the SI gene with new medications to enhance digestive health could potentially help reduce sugar intake.

About our experts

Dr. Mette Andersen is an assistant professor at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

read more

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Archeologists uncover ancient Mayan saltworks in Belize

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Jayi Na is an underwater archaeological site dating back to the early Classic Maya period (250-600 AD) that focused on the production of salt for local use, or perhaps local production for downstream trade. I was there.

A curved-walled bowl from an underwater survey at J-E-Na, Belize. Image credit: H. MacKillop.

The Mayan diet focused primarily on corn, beans, squash, and other plant foods lacking in salt, and individual meals were supplemented with manufactured salt.

Field research at Payne’s Creek Salt Works in southern Belize shows that coastal Maya households produced surplus salt during the Classic period (250-900 CE) and built dedicated salt kitchens and separate dwellings. It turned out that it was under construction.

Professor Heather McKillop and Dr. Elizabeth Sills from Louisiana State University said: “Most of the salt works along the coast of Belize date back to the Late Classic period (AD 650-800), which corresponds to the period of population growth in the southern Maya lowlands.” said. Graduated from the University of Texas.

“These include the Northern River Lagoon, Wits Ca Aquar, Marco Gonzalez Salt Works, and others at Ambergris Cay, Moho Cay, Corson Point, Placencia Lagoon, and Paynes Creek Salt Works. Includes location.

“Large-scale salt production appears to have ended by the late Classic period (800-900 CE), and perhaps even earlier at Marco Gonzalez, when much of the southern Maya lowland abandoned, and there was a marked increase in trade around the peninsula, including exotic pottery such as fine orange, plumbate, Yucatan slate, and other pottery, particularly evident from Marco Gonzalez and Wild Cane Cay.

In 2023, archaeologists discovered the ruins of a new saltworks called J.E.N., but strangely, while it lacked the broken pots commonly found in other saltworks, it did contain some pottery. fragments were found.

“These were similar to fragments from an island site near Wild Cane Cay that I had previously excavated,” Professor McKillop said.

“So I suggested to Dr. Sills that he re-examine the remains of the J.E.N. pillars and underwater artifacts.”

The artifacts the researchers found contrasted with those from other nearby underwater sites, which included imported pottery, obsidian, and high-quality chert or flint.

“At first, I was confused by this. However, radiocarbon dating of the post discovered at J.I.N. revealed an early classical date of 250 to 600 A.D., and the mystery was solved.” Professor MacKillop said.

It turns out that J-E-Na is much older than other underwater ruins.

Through the findings, the scientists learned that J.E.N. developed as a local enterprise, without the connections to external trade that developed in the Late Classic period. At the time, the inland Maya population was at its peak in demand for salt, a basic biological element. Inland cities are running out of essential goods.

J.E.N.A. began as a small salt works through connections with the nearby community of Wild Cane Cay, which also produced salt in the early Classic period.

The abundance of fish bones preserved in the anaerobic deposits of Wild Cane Cay suggests that salt was made there to salt fish for later consumption or trade.

“Characteristic large bowls with curved walls and necked urns with fluted spouts were associated with early classical pole-and-thatched salt cookhouses, while later “Vessel supports and trade goods characteristic of salt-making sites were absent,” the authors write.

“These anthropogenic differences allow us to account for technological changes in coastal salt production and expansion of trade networks due to increased demand for inland salt during the Late Classic.”

“Despite the challenges of archeology at shallow underwater sites, research at J.E.N.A. shows that preserved wooden structures can be accurately dated and traced back to ancient commodity production (in this case salt) practices. This highlights the value of excavations in sub-seafloor mangrove peat providing context.”

of findings appear in the diary ancient.

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Heather McKillop and E. Corey Sills. The earliest ancient Mayan salt production in southern Belize: excavations at J.E.N. ancientpublished on November 6, 2024. doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.186

Source: www.sci.news

Using Earth’s Magnetic Field as a GPS, Migratory Birds Navigate Their Way

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Giant reed warbler migrating between Europe and Africa

AGAMI Photo Agency / Alamy Stock

Many migratory birds use the Earth's magnetic field as a compass, and others can use information from that field to more or less determine where they are on their mental map.

Greater Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus skillupaceus) appears to calculate geographic location by drawing data from various distances and angles between the magnetic field and the shape of the Earth. The study suggests that birds use magnetic information as a kind of “GPS,” telling them not only where to go, but also their initial whereabouts, they said. richard holland At Bangor University, UK.

“When we travel, we have a map that shows us where we are and a compass that shows us which direction to go to reach our destination,” he says. “We don't expect birds to have this much precision or knowledge about the entire planet. Yet, when they travel along their normal path, or even when they travel far from that path, they , and observe how the magnetic cues change.”

Scientists have known for decades that migratory birds rely on cues from the ocean. solar, star and earth's magnetic field To decide which direction to go. But using a compass to figure out direction and knowing where a bird is in the world are markedly different, and scientists are wondering if and how birds figure out their current map location. I'm still debating whether to do it or not.

Florian Packmore Germany's Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Administration suspected that birds could detect detailed aspects of magnetic fields to determine their global location. Specifically, magnetic obliquity (the change in the angle of the Earth's surface relative to magnetic field lines) and magnetic declination (the difference in orientation between the geographic and magnetic poles) are used to better understand where you are in the world. He thought he might be able to do it.

To test their theory, Packmore, Holland and colleagues captured 21 adult reed warblers in Illmitz, Austria, on their migration route from Europe to Africa. So the researchers temporarily placed the birds in an outdoor aviary, where they used a Helmholtz coil to disrupt the magnetic field. They artificially altered the inclination and declination in a way that corresponded to the location of Neftekamsk, Russia, 2,600 kilometers away. “That's way off course for them,” Packmore says.

The researchers then placed the birds in special cages to study their migratory instincts and asked two independent researchers, who were unaware of changes in the magnetic field, to record which direction the birds headed. In the changed magnetic field conditions, most birds showed a clear tendency to fly west-southwest, as if trying to return to their migratory route from Russia. In contrast, when the magnetic field was unchanged, the same birds attempted to fly south-southeast from Austria.

This suggests that the birds believed they were no longer in Austria, but Russia, based solely on magnetic inclination and declination, Packmore said.

“Of course they don't know it's Russia, but it's too far north and east from where they should be,” Holland says. “And at that point, they look at their compass system and figure out how to fly south and west.”

However, the neurological mechanisms that allow birds to sense these aspects of the Earth's magnetic field are still not fully understood.

“This is an important step in understanding how the magnetic maps of songbirds, especially the great reed warbler, work,” he says. Nikita Chernetsov The professor at the Institute of Zoology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg was not involved in the study.

The study confirms that the great reed warbler relies on these magnetic fields for positioning, but that doesn't mean all birds do, he added. “Not all birds work the same.”

Packmore and Holland said the birds were released two to three weeks after the study, at which point they were able to continue their normal migration. In fact, one of the birds they studied was captured a second time a year later. This means that the researchers' work did not interfere with the birds' successful migration.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Record high CO2 emissions driven by drought, fires, and use of fossil fuels

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Wildfires in the tropics caused a slight increase in CO2 emissions, but most of that was due to burning fossil fuels

Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels in 2024 are expected to exceed last year's record levels, dashing hopes that global warming emissions will peak this year.

“Reducing emissions is more urgent than ever, and the only way to do that is by significantly reducing fossil fuel emissions,” he said. Pierre Friedlingstein At the University of Exeter, UK.

This is according to the latest global carbon budget. reporta preliminary calculation of CO2 emissions to date, including projections until the end of the year, prepared by Friedlingstein and his colleagues. The announcement was made at the ongoing COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, where countries aim to set new fiscal targets to combat climate change.

Last year, some researchers predicted a peak in emissions in 2024, but the report found that anthropogenic CO2 emissions would reach a record high of 41.6 gigatonnes in 2024, up 2% from the 2023 record. It has been revealed that the number is expected to increase. Almost 90% of that total is made up of emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The remainder is primarily due to land changes caused by deforestation and wildfires.

Fossil fuel emissions will grow at 0.8 percent, half as much as in 2023, but still higher than the average growth rate over the past decade. “[The slower rate] This is a good sign, but we are still miles away from reaching our goal,” says Friedlingstein.

Despite a long-term downward trend, projected emissions from land-use change also increased this year, mainly due to drought-induced wildfires in the tropics. Part of this increase is also due to the collapse of terrestrial sinks of carbon in 2023, which typically removes about a quarter of annual CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. This absorption decreased by more than 40 percent last year and in early 2024 as global temperatures soared due to El Niño.

“2023 is an amazing demonstration of what can happen in a warmer world when El Niño droughts and fires combine to create record global temperatures,” he says. pep canadel He is a researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Agency and co-author of this report. “Taken all together, the world's forests contributed almost a third less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere last year than they did in the previous decade.”

This will also increase emissions in 2024, but researchers expect this “land carbon sink” to largely recover as the warming effects of El Niño fade. “This is not a long-term collapse,” Friedlingstein says.

The report reveals that China's CO2 emissions, which emit almost a third of the world's total emissions, are projected to increase by only 0.2% in 2024 compared to 2023. . Canadel said this forecast of China's emissions has a large margin of error, so they may actually be stable or even declining. India's emissions have also slowed down from last year, increasing by just under 5%. In the US and EU, emissions continued to decline, albeit at a much slower pace than last year.

Increased demand for electricity to power air conditioners due to higher temperatures is also a key reason why fossil fuel emissions will continue to rise despite a massive build-up of renewable energy in 2024. He says: Neil Grant At the German think tank Climate Analytics. Whether it's from electric vehicles, data centers or manufacturing, “most people seem to be a little surprised by the level of electricity demand this year,” he says.

If emissions continue at this level, the world will exceed its carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within six years, and exceed its budget to limit warming to 2°C within 27 years, the report says. Pointed out. .

“We have to accelerate, accelerate, accelerate, accelerate the transition to renewable energy,” Candell said. “Climate change is like a slippery slope and we can keep falling. We need to slam on the brakes as hard as we can to avoid falling.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Australia discovers new species of hermit crab

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Marine biologists from Queensland Museum Kurilpa have described a new species of hermit crab. Strigopagurus fragachela (Common name is Strawberry Claw Hermit) Lives from the continental shelf off the southeast coast of Queensland, Australia.

Strigopagurus fragachela. Image credit: Queensland Museum.

“A genus of digeneans from central India to the western Pacific strigopagurus It currently includes five species: Strigopagulus strigimanus, Strigopagulus bilineatus, Strigopagulus boreonotus, Strigopagulus elongatusand Strigopagulus pupini'' said Queensland Museum Kurilpa researchers Peter Davey and Marissa McNamara.

“Two of them are Strigopagulus strigimanus and Strigopagulus elongatuswhich is endemic to temperate southern Australia. Strigopagulus bilineatus It is currently known only off the coast of tropical Queensland. ”

“The remaining two species have not been recorded in Australian waters.”

“The known distribution is Strigopagulus pupini Although limited to French Polynesia, it is more widespread. Strigopagulus boreonotus It has been recorded in southeastern Indonesia, the eastern Coral Sea, and waters around New Caledonia, so it may occur in tropical Australian waters. ”

“Recent trawls of continental shelf waters off south-east Queensland have revealed a large number of large and strikingly colored marine species. strigopagurus This specimen represents a newer species endemic to Australia. ”

The new species is Strigopagurus fragachelafound in relatively deep waters (120-260 meters) off the coast of south-east Queensland.

“The new species has some very distinctive features,” Dr. McNamara said.

“While their bright red claws are most striking, they have also evolved a unique way of producing sound (strumming) underwater, much like cicadas do in the air.”

“We quickly learned that this was a special hermit crab and quickly nicknamed it Strawberry Claw.”

Identification of Strigopagurus fragachela An exciting addition to this genus, of which Australia seems to be its home. ”

“There are currently four endemic species, two of which are found only in Queensland.”

“As the new species of hermit crab has only been collected by trawlers, little is known about its ecology, but there is no doubt that it is an important member of the rich biological community of the continental shelf off south-east Queensland. there is no.”

“The work of Queensland Museum scientists and researchers will help provide a record of our state's biodiversity for future generations,” said Queensland Museum CEO Dr Jim Thompson.

“Our natural history collections are more than just preserved specimens; they are important tools for scientific discovery, conservation, and public education.”

Regarding this discovery, paper in Queensland Museum Reminiscences – Nature.

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PJF Davie and MKA McNamara. 2024. New species of hermit crab genus strigopagurus Forest, 1995 (Crustacea: Anomura: Diogenidae) from the continental shelf off southeastern Queensland, Australia. Queensland Museum Reminiscences – Nature 65: 110-123;doi: 10.17082/j.2204-1478.65.2024.2024-04

Source: www.sci.news

Research Shows Chimpanzees Excel at Challenging Computer Tasks in the Presence of Others

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Human cognitive abilities can be greatly influenced by the presence of an audience. Although often associated with reputation management, which is thought to be unique to humans, it is unclear to what extent this phenomenon is common to non-human animals. To investigate such audience effects in chimpanzees, researchers Kyoto University Contains performances by 6 people Chimpanzee (pan-troglodytes) Over a period of 6 years, we conducted experiments on three different numerical touch screen tasks of varying difficulty and cognitive demands, in a variety of audience compositions. The results showed that chimpanzee performance was influenced by the number and type of audience present.

To investigate whether chimpanzees' task performance is influenced by the presence of an audience, Lin others. analyzed multiple chimpanzee cognitive task data across different types of tasks. Image provided by: Akiho Muramatsu

“It was very surprising to discover that chimpanzees were influenced by the audience, and even by the human audience, in their task performance,” said Kyoto University researcher Dr. Kristen Lin.

“Although we might not expect chimpanzees to particularly care whether other species are watching them perform a task, chimpanzees are influenced by human spectators even depending on the difficulty of the task. The fact that it looks like this suggests that this relationship is more complex than we thought and initially expected. ”

Lin and his colleagues wanted to find out whether the audience effect often attributed to reputation management in humans also existed in non-human primates.

People knew that paying attention to who was looking at them, sometimes unconsciously, would affect their performance.

Chimpanzees live in hierarchical societies, but it was not clear to what extent they were also influenced by the people observing them.

“Our research site is special in that the chimpanzees frequently interact with and even enjoy human company, participating in various touchscreen experiments almost daily for food rewards. '' said Dr. Akiho Muramatsu of Kyoto University.

“So we thought there was an opportunity to not only explore potential similarities in effects that are relevant to viewers, but also do it in the context of chimpanzees, which share a unique bond with humans.”

The researchers made this discovery after analyzing thousands of sessions in which chimpanzees completed touchscreen tasks over a six-year period.

The researchers found that across three different number-based tasks, the chimpanzees performed better on the most difficult task as the number of experimenters observing them increased.

In contrast, they also found that on the simplest tasks, chimpanzees performed worse when they were observed by more experimenters and other familiar people.

Scientists note that the specific mechanisms underlying these audience-related effects remain unclear, even in humans.

They suggest that further studies in non-human apes may provide more insight into how this trait evolved and why it developed.

“Our findings suggest that how much humans care about witnesses and audiences may not be so unique to our species,” said Shinya Yamamoto of Kyoto University. said the doctor.

“These characteristics are a core part of how our society is primarily based on reputation, and if chimpanzees also pay special attention to their audience when performing their tasks, then these It stands to reason that audience-based traits may have evolved before reputation-based traits.''Society arose in our great ape lineage. ”

of the team findings Published in a magazine iscience.

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Kristen Lin others. The presence of an audience influences chimpanzees' performance on cognitive tasks. isciencepublished online on November 8, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111191

Source: www.sci.news

Amber Found for the First Time in Antarctica

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The first-ever fragment of Antarctic amber was discovered in a sediment core on the mid-shelf of Antarctica’s Pine Island Trough.

Pine Island Amber. Scale bar – 50 μm. Image credit: Klages others., doi: 10.1017/S0954102024000208.

“Resins are direct plant products defined as lipophilic mixtures of volatile and non-volatile compounds that are exuded inside or on the surface of plants primarily by gymnosperms,” said first author Johann from the University of Bremen.・Dr. Klages et al. .

“Some plant resins fossilize under certain conditions and are preserved in the geological record as amber.”

“So far, the southernmost ambers date from the mid-Cretaceous period and have been found in the Otway Basin of southern Australia (Otway amber) and part of the Tupangi Formation in New Zealand's Chatham Islands (Tupangi amber), respectively.”

The first Antarctic amber was recovered by the MARUM-MeBo70 subsea drilling rig from the mid-shelf section of the Pine Island Trough in West Antarctica's Amundsen Sea Bight. RV porous stern Expedition in early 2017.

This specimen, called Pine Island amber, dates from the mid-Cretaceous period, between 92 and 83 million years ago.

The discovery points to a wet, temperate rainforest environment near Antarctica that was dominated by coniferous trees.

“Antarctic amber likely contains remnants of the original bark as microinclusions,” said co-author Dr Henny Gerschel, a researcher at the Saxon Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geology. Ta.

“Given its solid, transparent, and translucent particles, we can see that the amber is of high quality and buried close to the surface, as the amber dissipates as thermal stress and burial depth increases.”

“We also found signs of diseased resin flow, a strategy trees use to seal up damaged bark caused by parasites and wildfires, protecting them from insect attack and infection. create chemical and physical barriers that

“Our findings are another piece of the puzzle and help us better understand the wetland, conifer-rich temperate rainforest environment identified near Antarctica during the mid-Cretaceous.”

“It was very exciting to learn that at some point in their history, all seven continents had climatic conditions that allowed resin-producing trees to survive,” Dr. Klages said.

“Our goal now is to learn more about forest ecosystems. If a forest burns down, can we find traces of life in the amber?”

“This discovery allows us to travel into the past in an even more direct way.”

a paper A report of the discovery was published in today's journal Antarctic science.

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Johann P. Klages others. First discovery of Antarctic amber. Antarctic sciencepublished online on November 12, 2024. doi: 10.1017/S0954102024000208

Source: www.sci.news

SpaceX Aims for Starship Flight Next Week, Just One Month after Previous Flight

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Starship during high altitude test flight

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.

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 upper stage’s landing in the Indian Ocean can be photographed during daylight hours, allowing for more detailed images. 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 on 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.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Revisiting the Formation of Galaxies in the Early Universe: New Research Inquiries

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Standard Model predicted that the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope would observe a faint signal from a small protogalaxy. However, the common hypothesis that invisible dark matter contributed to the clumping of early stars and galaxies is not supported by the data. In fact, a new study led by astrophysicists at Case Western Reserve University says that the fact that the oldest galaxies are larger and brighter is consistent with another theory of gravity.

This artist's impression shows the evolution of the universe, starting with the Big Bang on the left and continuing with the emergence of the Cosmic Microwave Background. The formation of the first stars ends the Dark Ages of the universe, followed by the formation of galaxies. Image credit: M. Weiss / Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

“What dark matter theory predicts is not what we're seeing,” says Case Western Conservancy Professor Stacey McGaw.

“Instead of dark matter, modified gravity may have played a role. A theory known as MOND (Modified Newtonian Mechanics) proposed in 1998 that structure formation in the early universe would have occurred very quickly. It's much faster than the cold dark matter theory known as lambda CDM predicted.

The Webb is designed to answer some of the universe's biggest questions, such as when and how stars and galaxies formed.

Until its launch in 2021, there was no telescope that could peer deep into space and far back in time.

Lambda CDM predicts that galaxies formed by the gradual accretion of matter from smaller structures to larger structures due to the extra gravity provided by the mass of dark matter.

“Astronomers invented dark matter to explain how we went from a very smooth early universe to the large galaxies we see today with lots of space in between.” Professor McGough said.

Smaller pieces clustered into larger structures until galaxies formed. Webb should be able to see these tiny galaxy precursors as dim lights.

“All the large galaxies we see in the nearby universe were expected to have started from these tiny pieces,” Professor McGough said.

But even at higher and higher redshifts, the signal is larger and brighter than expected, even from this early stage of the universe's evolution.

MOND predicted that the mass that would become galaxies would rapidly aggregate and initially expand outward with the rest of the universe.

The stronger gravity slows the expansion, which then reverses and the matter collapses on itself to form galaxies. In this theory, dark matter does not exist at all.

“The large, bright structures that Webb saw in the very early days of the universe were predicted by MOND more than a quarter of a century ago,” Professor McGough said.

“The bottom line is, “I told you so.'' I was raised to think it was rude to say that, but that's the whole point of the scientific method, to make predictions and find out which ones. Let's see if it becomes a reality.”

“Finding a theory that fits both MOND and general relativity remains a major challenge.”

of the team paper will appear in today's astrophysical journal.

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Stacey S. McGaw others. 2024. Accelerating structure formation: The early emergence of massive galaxies and galaxy clusters. APJin press. arXiv: 2406.17930

This article is a version of a press release provided by Case Western Reserve University.

Source: www.sci.news

Vital Atlantic currents at risk of collapse, warn scientists

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Overview

A recent report has highlighted the concerning state of Earth’s snow and ice, indicating that various key climate tipping points are more likely to be reached than previously thought. These include significant ice melt leading to severe sea level rise and disruptions to crucial ocean currents controlling the Atlantic heat cycle.

The report reveals alarming statistics such as Venezuela losing its last glacier this year, Greenland’s ice sheet losing an average of 30 million tons of ice per hour, and the impending collapse of Thwaites Glacier, also known as the “terminal glacier.” This collapse could potentially result in the rapid disappearance of Antarctic ice.

Compiled by over 50 leading snow and ice scientists as part of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, the report summarizes the conditions for 2024, highlighting the disastrous impact of global warming on the planet’s frozen regions.

Of particular concern is the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which could lead to drastic changes in weather patterns, such as rapid cooling in the North Atlantic and warming in the Southern Hemisphere.

Additionally, the report underscores the rising consensus among scientists that these climate tipping points are now more likely to be surpassed, with the window for mitigating actions rapidly narrowing.

The report’s release coincided with the United Nations’ COP29 climate change conference in Azerbaijan, where global leaders gathered to address pressing environmental concerns. Despite some progress, particularly in carbon credit trading, the report emphasizes that current climate policies are inadequate to meet global climate goals.

While the scientific community continues to sound the alarm about the escalating climate crisis, there are growing fears that world leaders are failing to grasp the gravity of the situation. Urgent action is needed to address the imminent threats posed by melting ice, collapsing glaciers, and disruptions in vital ocean currents.

In conclusion, the report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to combat climate change before irreversible consequences unfold.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Interacting Pairs of Galaxies in the Kaminoke Galaxy Cluster Spotted by Hubble

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This amazing new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the best ever of a galaxy combination called MCG+05-31-045.

This Hubble image shows MCG+05-31-045, a pair of interacting galaxies located approximately 390 million light-years apart in the constellation Coma. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble/RJ Foley, University of California, Santa Cruz.

MCG+05-31-045 It is located approximately 390 million light-years away in the constellation of Coma.

This galaxy pair, also known as IC 3935, AGC 221216, or LEDA 44438, is part of the Coma cluster.

“The Coma cluster is a particularly rich galaxy cluster, containing more than 1,000 known galaxies,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“Some are easily visible with amateur telescopes.”

“Most of them are elliptical galaxies, which are typical of dense galaxy clusters like the Milky Way Cluster. Many elliptical galaxies are created when galaxies come close to each other and collide, stirring them up or They are formed when groups are torn apart.

“Stars in interacting galaxies can stay together, but gas in galaxies is a different story. Gas is twisted and compressed by gravity and is quickly used up to form new stars.” Masu.”

“When hot, massive blue stars die, there is little gas left to replace them with a new generation of young stars.”

“In the case of interacting spiral galaxies, the regular orbits that give rise to their impressive spiral arms are also disrupted.”

“Whether it’s a merger or a simple near-miss, the result is a galaxy with little gas and aging stars orbiting in uncoordinated circles – elliptical galaxies.”

“A similar fate is very likely to befall MCG+05-31-045,” the astronomers said.

“When small spiral galaxies are torn apart and merged into larger galaxies, many new stars are formed, and the hot, blue stars quickly burn out, leaving colder, redder stars like other stars in a coma. is left behind in the elliptical galaxy.” “

“But this process will take millions of years to complete. Until then, Queen Berenice II will suffer from knots in her hair.”

Source: www.sci.news

New research suggests Voyager 2’s approach to Uranus in 1986 occurred during an uncommon solar event

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Uranus in 1986, scientists got their first close glimpse of the giant icy planet. Alongside the discovery of new moons and rings, a puzzling new mystery faced scientists. The energetic particles around Uranus defied their understanding of how magnetic fields trap particle radiation. The cause of that special mystery is a cosmic coincidence, according to a new study. Just before Voyager 2's flyby, Uranus was found to have been affected by an unusual type of space weather that crushed and dramatically compressed the planet's magnetic field. Its magnetosphere.

The first panel of this artist's concept depicts how Uranus' magnetosphere operated before NASA's Voyager 2 flyby. The second panel shows that an unusual type of solar weather occurred during the 1986 flyby, giving scientists a biased view of the magnetosphere. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The planetary magnetosphere (the region around a planet dominated by its magnetic field) influences the environment around the planet, and understanding its properties is important for mission planning.

Voyager 2's close encounter of Uranus reveals a unique magnetosphere that is highly asymmetric and appears to lack plasma, a common element in the magnetospheres of other planets, and has an unusually strong band of high-energy electrons It became.

The signatures from this single measurement have since been used as the basis for understanding Uranus's magnetic field, but these anomalies have been difficult to explain without complex physics.

“If Voyager 2 had arrived just a few days earlier, we would have seen a completely different magnetosphere on Uranus,” said Dr. Jamie Jasinski, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The spacecraft observed Uranus in a situation that has a probability of only about 4%.”

Jasinski and his colleagues reanalyzed Voyager 2 data before the flyby and found that the spacecraft encountered Uranus shortly after a violent solar wind event that ejected streams of charged particles from the Sun's atmosphere.

This compressed Uranus's magnetosphere, creating a condition that only occurs 4% of the time.

In this state, we see a plasma-free magnetosphere with highly excited electron emission bands.

The authors suggest that two magnetospheric cycles may exist during solar minimum due to variations in Uranus' solar wind.

Additionally, the chances of Uranus' outermost major moons, Titania and Oberon, orbiting outside the magnetosphere may be very low, giving scientists the possibility of detecting an underground ocean without interference from the magnetosphere. There is.

“The 1986 flyby was full of surprises, and we were looking for an explanation for its unusual behavior,” said Dr. Linda Spilker, also of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The magnetosphere measured by Voyager 2 is just a snapshot in time.”

“This new study explains some of the apparent contradictions and will once again change our view of Uranus.”

of findings Published in today's magazine natural astronomy.

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JM Jasinski others. Unusual conditions in Uranus' magnetosphere during Voyager 2's flyby. Nat Astronpublished online on November 11, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02389-3

Source: www.sci.news

Physicists Find Indications of Superfluidity in Low-Density Neutronic Matter

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Accurate description of low-density nuclear matter is critical to explaining the physics of the neutron star’s crust, according to a team of theoretical physicists led by Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Alessandro Lovato.

Fore others. We study the crust of neutron stars by simulating neutron matter and then adding “hidden” neutrons that mediate interactions between “real” neutrons. The neural network then constructs quantum wave functions for the normal and superfluid phases of neutronic matter. Image credit: Jane Kim, Ohio University.

The inner crust of a neutron star is characteristic Due to the existence of neutron superfluid.

A superfluid is a fluid that has no viscosity. In a neutron star, this means that the superfluid allows neutrons to flow without resistance.

To accurately predict the properties of neutronic matter at the lowest energy levels in this low-density form, researchers typically perform theoretical calculations that assume that neutrons combine to form Cooper pairs.

“The low-density nuclear material found in the crust of neutron stars exhibits complex and interesting structures that vary greatly with density,” Lovato and colleagues said.

“In the outer shell, the nucleons are bound to fully ionized nuclei. As the density increases within this region, these nuclei become increasingly neutron-rich, so in ground-based experiments they are present at lower densities. It is only possible to directly determine the main nuclides that

physicist used Artificial neural networks do not rely on this assumption to make accurate predictions.

They modified the standard “single particle” approach by introducing “hidden” neutrons that facilitate interactions between “real” neutrons and encode quantum many-body correlations.

This allows Cooper pairs to appear naturally during calculations.

“Understanding neutron superfluidity provides important insights into neutron stars,” the researchers said.

“This reveals phenomena such as its cooling mechanisms, rotation, and sudden changes in rotational speed.”

“Although we cannot directly access neutron star material experimentally, the fundamental interactions that govern the behavior of this material are the same as those that govern the nuclei of atoms on Earth.”

“Researchers are working to create simple yet predictable nuclear interactions.”

“Solving the quantum many-body problem accurately is an important part of assessing the quality of these interactions.”

“Our study uses simple interactions that are in good agreement with previous calculations that assumed more complex interactions.”

Low-density neutronic matter is characterized by fascinating emergent quantum phenomena, such as the formation of Cooper pairs and the onset of superfluidity.

“We used a combination of artificial neural networks and advanced optimization techniques to study this dense region,” the scientists said.

“Using a simplified model of the interaction between neutrons, we calculated the energy per particle and compared the results with those obtained from very realistic interactions.”

“This approach is competitive compared to other computational techniques at a fraction of the cost.”

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Bryce Foer others. 2024. Investigating the crust of a neutron star with the quantum state of a neural network. arXiv: 2407.21207

Bryce Foer others. 2023. Diluting neutron star material from quantum states in neural networks. Physics. Rev. Research 5(3):033062;doi: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.033062

Source: www.sci.news

New Species of Ankylosaurid Dinosaur Discovered by Paleontologists

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new genus and species of Ankylosaurus has been identified from an articulated partial skeleton discovered in southern China in 1986.

artistic reconstruction Huaxiazhou Longshouwen. Image credit: Ye Jianhao.

The newly discovered species was an early member of a family called armored dinosaurs. ankylosauridae.

dubbing Huaxiazhou Longshouwen the ancient animal was about 6 meters (20 feet) long.

In a paper, paleontologist Ziheng Zhu of Yunnan University and colleagues write, “Sclerosaurs were quadrupedal, herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by sagittal osteodermal rows on the dorsolateral surface of their bodies and heavily armored skulls. It is a diverse clade of

“Ankylosaurs lived from the Middle Jurassic to the end of the Late Cretaceous.”

“As a subgroup of the scleractylids, scleractyl dinosaurs are currently found only in Asia and North America. In Asia, they were primarily found in Mongolia and northern China.”

fossilized remains of an adult Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It was discovered in a mineral deposit in 1986. Karabe formation In Longxi Village, Jiangxi Province, southern China.

“This deposit is a series of Late Cretaceous strata, represented by an extensive series of red mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates,” the researchers wrote.

“This series of strata is locally classified as the Karabe Formation, which belongs to the Katsurabo Formation Group.''

“We got some pieces of dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs.”

This specimen dates from the Late Cretaceous Period, 84 to 72 million years ago.

It was excavated by paleontologists from the Guangchang County Museum and consists of a partial articulated skeleton without a skull and mandible.

“Huaxiazhou Longshouwen “This is the second ankylosaurid species discovered in China's Jiangxi province,” the scientists wrote in their paper.

“According to phylogenetic analysis, Huaxiazhou Longshouwen is a basal member of the ankylosaurid family. ”

“Next discovery Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It adds diversity to the Late Cretaceous of China and helps elucidate the evolution of ankylosaurid dinosaurs in East Asia. ”

of paper Published in this month's magazine historical biology.

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Zhu Zihyung others. A new species of ankylosaurid dinosaur discovered from the late Cretaceous period in Jiangxi Province, southern China. historical biologypublished online on November 8, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2417208

Source: www.sci.news

Is the impact of climate change on the food crisis more severe than we realize?

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

РоманЗаворотный/Adobe Stock

You've probably already noticed that the prices of many foods in your shopping cart have increased significantly. In the UK, the price of white potatoes is 20% increase in the past yearwith carrots 38% increase Olive oil rose 40%. And while that means the cost of assembling a roast dinner has soared, specialty items have also seen an even bigger price increase, with you now paying nearly twice as much for a portion of a chocolate bar. It will be.

The drivers of price increases are complex, but one of the biggest drivers is climate change. In the short term, extreme weather caused by global warming is having a devastating impact on producers. For example, in Northern Europe, heavy rains in the spring of 2024 left fields too waterlogged to harvest vegetables or plant new crops. Meanwhile, Morocco, which normally exports many vegetables to Europe, experienced a drought and ran out of water for irrigation. As a result, the prices of potatoes and carrots have soared.

As average global temperatures rise by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the coming years, heat waves, droughts and extreme storms will become more common and intense, causing major disruptions to food production. It will be. But current efforts to compensate for the effects of crop failures, such as clearing forests to grow more crops, are exacerbating many other problems, from biodiversity loss to rising carbon dioxide levels. I am. Are we underestimating the magnitude of the impact, when it's already happening to so many foods? If so, what can we do about it?

Source: www.newscientist.com

Our Sole Encounter with Uranus Occurred During a Peculiar Moment for Earth

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Uranus is more normal than we thought

NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute

Uranus’ strange magnetic field may be much less strange than astronomers first thought, and it could mean that Uranus’ largest moon is much more active and perhaps even has a global ocean It means that there is.

The only direct measurement of Uranus’s magnetic field was obtained by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, which flew close to the planet in 1986. The spacecraft’s measurements suggested that the magnetic field was skewed, meaning it was not aligned with the planet’s rotation, and that it was an anomalous field. It is rich in highly energetic electrons and lacks the plasma that is common in the magnetic fields of other gas giant planets like Jupiter. Astronomers at the time thought the results were so strange that they either invoked complex physics to explain the measurements or simply dismissed them as evidence that Voyager 2’s instruments had gone awry.

now, jamie jasinski Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California reanalyzed Voyager 2 data and found that a rare explosion of solar wind that crushed Uranus’ magnetic field just before the spacecraft arrived may have distorted the data, causing the measurements to I discovered that it was disturbed. This means everything we thought we knew about Uranus’ magnetic field may be wrong, Jasinski says. “This is almost like resetting everything,” he says.

Jasinski and his team found that the solar wind compressed Uranus’s magnetic field to a size that typically occurs only 4 percent of the time. But for the past 40 years, scientists have assumed that is the normal state of affairs. Jasinski says the collapse of the magnetic field explains some of the strange results so far, including the lack of plasma and high-energy electrons.

If there is indeed plasma in Uranus’ magnetic field, and Voyager 2 just happened to miss it, it’s possible that not all of it came from the planet itself. Some may have come from Uranus’ moons, the largest of which are called Titania and Oberon. Until now, these moons were thought to be inert, but new research leaves open the possibility that they may be geologically active after all. This is consistent with recent calculations that suggest there may be a hidden ocean on the moon. “The solar wind may have wiped out all evidence of an active satellite just before the flyby occurred,” Jasinski said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

I have rewritten the title as: “Using Lights on Surfboards and Wetsuits as a Defense Against Shark Attacks”

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A great white shark attacks a dummy seal during an experiment in which lights were used to deter shark attacks

Nathan Hart, Macquarie University

Lighting the underside of surfboards, kayaks, and wetsuits could prevent the majority of great white shark attacks on humans.

It has long been known that sharks often attack humans, mistaking their silhouettes on the water for prey such as seals. Now, researchers have conducted an experiment to see what happens when a decoy seal's silhouette is distorted by illuminating its underside to disguise its shape.

laura ryan Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney spent nearly 500 hours towing seal-shaped decoys around Mossel Bay in South Africa's Western Cape region, where great white sharks (carcharodon carcharius) gather in large numbers to hunt.

The team tested multiple light treatments. I covered the underside of the decoy with dim, medium, and bright LED and strobe lighting, as well as horizontal and vertical strip lighting. Each time we towed with any of the light treatments, we immediately towed the control decoy seal without using any underside lighting. As an additional experiment, we conducted a paired test in which an unlit control dummy was towed 3 meters away from a lit dummy.

Unlit decoys were more likely to be attacked or chased by sharks than lit decoys. The brightest light appeared to be the most effective, with zero predator incidents when the decoy illumination was at its brightest.

Vertical strip lighting was less effective than horizontal strips, Ryan said, perhaps because it broke up the silhouette into long sections that could be identified as seals.

Strobe lighting was less effective than continuous lighting, likely because the sharks could still see the silhouette of their likely prey between flashes.

Ryan said the team expected it would be important to match the decoy's lighting with the background light and make sure it was no brighter than the surrounding underwater conditions, but that wasn't the case.

“The most important thing was that the brightness of the decoy had to be brighter than the background light,” she says. “As long as the lighting doesn't make the silhouette look black, it seems to work.”

The research team has now developed a prototype lighting array to be used as a deterrent for great white sharks. “We are now moving from research to providing protection for swimmers and surfers,” Ryan says. “We took an approach that involved understanding the sensory systems of these animals, how they see the world, and their behavior.”

Ryan cautioned that lighting deterrents have not been tested against other species known to attack humans, such as tiger sharks (Galeocerdo Cuvier) and bull sharks (Porgy whale), each with a different hunting strategy.

david booth The University of Technology Sydney conducts a number of field studies off the Sydney coastline, where sharks, including great whites, are common. Based on these findings, he says he will definitely order a counter-illuminated wetsuit when it becomes available.

“I was surprised to find that ‘destructive camouflage’ was more effective, as I thought low lighting to match the background was most effective,” he says.

“These results apply only to great white sharks, and only to this feeding mode, so it is unclear at this point how broadly applicable they are.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Earth has been warmed by 1.5°C due to human activity since 1700

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice were used to estimate past temperatures

aldiami/Andreas Alexander/Alamy

Humankind has already caused around 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since the start of the industrial revolution, according to new estimates based on temperature data collected from air bubbles trapped in ice.

Measuring anthropogenic global warming typically uses the period from 1850 to 1900 as a pre-industrial baseline. This is because this is the time when temperature records began. 2024 is almost certain to be the first year in which average temperatures rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above this baseline. This single-year data is influenced by naturally occurring factors such as the strong El Niño event, which has pushed up global temperatures.

When you remove this natural variation, scientists believe humans alone have caused 1.31°C of warming since the Industrial Revolution. But by 1850, the Industrial Revolution was already underway, and fossil fuel-powered engines were in use around the world.

Andrew Jarvis Lancaster University and Piers Foster Researchers at the University of Leeds, both in the UK, set out to establish a new pre-industrial baseline using data taken from Antarctic ice core samples. The pair analyzed the composition of air bubbles trapped in ice cores to establish atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from 13 AD to 1700, before humans significantly influenced atmospheric temperatures. This CO2 data was then used to establish the average global temperature over the same period, assuming a linear relationship between CO2 and temperature increases.

Using this new pre-1700 baseline, humanity has caused 1.49°C of warming by 2023, meaning the 1.5°C level has been “effectively reached,” the researchers say in their findings. It is written in the paper to be reported. “We have provided a new, scientifically defensible way to derive a pre-industrial baseline for measuring global warming,” Jarvis told reporters at a press conference.

Jarvis said the new method would also help reduce the uncertainty in temperature estimates based on the current 1850-1900 baseline used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Using ice core data to establish a baseline between 1850 and 1900, the researchers say humans caused 1.31°C of warming. This is consistent with existing median estimates, but the range of uncertainty is significantly reduced, the researchers note.

“The problem with just looking at surface temperature observations is that the further back in time you go, the more uncertain those observations become,” Forster says. “We are now much more confident than before that the current temperature is around 1.3°C.”

Jarvis and Forster hope their new method will be adopted by scientists and policymakers as the primary way to judge humanity's progress against global climate goals. “I think there is still room in the policy and scientific communities to rethink the pre-industrial baseline,” Jarvis said. “We know that the estimates for 1850 to 1900 incorporate warming, simply because that was not the beginning of the industrial revolution. We provide a way to operate from a secure baseline.”

However, new methods may not be future-proof. The linear relationship between CO2 concentrations and global temperatures is likely to break down as the climate changes. For example, if a so-called tipping point is triggered in the Earth system that triggers a series of warming events.

The new methods won't change the effects of climate change that are felt on the ground, Forster said. “The impact on human life from Spain and the hurricanes we are experiencing today is exactly the same whether you call it 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels or 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. is” . Influence is influence. ”

Richard Betts The Met Office, the UK's meteorological agency, said the new method “provides a clear and easy way to provide an up-to-date estimate of the current level of anthropogenic global warming”. Part of the reason is that it can produce “real-time” estimates of human-induced warming, rather than relying on 10-year moving averages as current estimates do.

He said the approach could help provide policymakers with a more up-to-date picture of current levels of warming, but changing the baseline used in the assessment would be an “objective” for climate action. It warned that it could be considered as “moving.'' “Even without changing the baseline, it is clear that current warming is much closer to 1.5°C than expected using older 10-year averages,” he says .

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Insights into Paleolithic Fishing Techniques Revealed by Ancient Carved Shield from 15,800 Years Ago

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists from the Leibniz Center for Archaeology and Durham University conducted a study on a collection of 406 carved schist tablets discovered at the Magdalenian site in Gennersdorf, Germany. These ancient carvings depict fishing techniques and tools used by Paleolithic people, showcasing nets with interlaced diamond and square mesh. This provides valuable insight into the transformation of their culture.

Placket 341 from the Magdalenian ruins of Gennersdorf, Germany. Image credit: Robitaille others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311302.

“Prehistoric fisheries introduced a variety of techniques and strategies for capturing fish. It can be summarized as active fishing, which requires active fishing, passive fishing with trapping methods, or a combination of both,” said Dr. Jérôme Robitaille of the Leibniz Center for Archaeology and colleagues.

“Some methods have been developed for individual fishing, such as fishing, while others have been improved to maximize yields using collective nets and traps.”

“The choice of a particular method was influenced not only by the fish species targeted, but also by the distinct habitats and topography in which particular aquatic resources thrive.”

“Evidence for fishing in the Upper Paleolithic (20,000 to 14,500 years ago) is not abundant, but there is direct and indirect evidence of several fishing methods, including barbed tips and harpoons, bows and arrows, traps, and fishing nets. exists sporadically.”

In their study, the authors analyzed carvings carved into 406 schist plaquettes from the Magdalena site in Gennersdorf, on the north bank of the Rhine River in central-western Germany.

These plaquettes feature a unique artistic style and iconographic theme depicting both terrestrial and aquatic animals and humans.

The new imaging technique allowed researchers to see intricate carvings on the fish, with grid patterns interpreted as depictions of fishing nets or traps.

This discovery suggests that fishing may have had symbolic meaning in the Upper Paleolithic.

These expand the known repertoire of Ice Age art and provide surprising insights into the symbolic and social practices of early hunter-gatherer societies.

“A comparative analysis including other sites from the same period, such as Altamira and Lascaux, highlights Gennersdorf’s contribution to the understanding of Paleolithic art and survival strategies,” the scientists concluded.

“Unlike famous locations known for their vivid depictions of fish, Gennersdorf’s abstract, minimalist style offers a fresh perspective on the sociocultural dynamics of the Magdalene community.”

“Net fishing, which originates from a wide range of economies, reveals the diversity, adaptability, and creativity of prehistoric communities, and their proficiency in utilizing a variety of fishing methods to sustainably exploit aquatic resources.”

“This research not only increases our understanding of the diverse survival strategies of Paleolithic societies, but also contributes to a broader discussion about the complexity and richness of their cultural practices.”

“By highlighting often overlooked aspects of fishing practices and the representation of those practices in art, our research adds to a more comprehensive and dynamic picture of Upper Paleolithic subsistence and contributes to the field. opens new avenues for future research in the field. “

“Clearly fishing plays a more important role in shaping social and cultural practices than hitherto recognized, as evidenced by population patterns around rich fishing grounds, and is therefore a subject worthy of further investigation.” It is.”

of study Published in an online journal PLoS ONE.

J. Robitaille others. 2024. Upper Paleolithic fishing techniques: Insights from carved plates from the Magdalenian site of Gennersdorf, Germany. PLoS ONE 19 (11): e0311302;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311302

Source: www.sci.news

Researches have created a sustainable and eco-conscious fashion solution

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The textile and leather industries pollute water through dyeing and tanning, and plastic pollution from synthetic fibers. In particular, the chemicals used by synthetic chemical manufacturers to dye clothing, especially black dyes for leather, pollute the environment. To solve this problem, researchers at Imperial College, London, bacteria produced Eco-friendly, self-pigmenting, animal-free leather.

Researchers studied a group of bacteria called . Komagata Eibacter We produce an environmentally friendly leather alternative called . bacterial cellulose. They explained that bacterial cellulose is advantageous because it is durable, long-lasting, easily grown from waste materials such as fruit juice, and biodegradable. It is also cheap to produce and is used in many industrial applications, including electronic equipment and wound dressings to cover and protect wounds. Designers love it because it's sustainable and uses more natural materials instead of petroleum-based materials.

The researchers wanted to modify the bacteria's genes so that they could produce both bacterial cellulose and a black pigment that protects from sunlight and absorbs harmful substances. melanin. They hypothesized that melanin could make cellulose more versatile by making it stronger and protecting it from sunlight, allowing it to be used in new applications such as environmentally friendly sunscreens and pollutant-absorbing materials. I did.

To do this, the researchers Komagata Eibacter 2 types of liquid food, or culture media: One was made from glucose and the other from coconut water. They sterilized these fluids to make sure they were clean and sterile. They introduced new genetic material into the bacteria's DNA using a process called . electroporation. The new genetic material contained a special type of circular DNA that enabled the bacteria to produce melanin.

First, the genetically modified bacteria are grown normally. They then added ingredients that “start” melanin production, such as L-tyrosine, the building block of melanin, and copper sulfate, a catalyst that accelerates the process. To see how much melanin the bacteria produced, they measured how dark the culture medium became. This was a good indicator of melanin levels. To see if different conditions change the amount of melanin produced by bacteria, the researchers experimented with different pH levels, amounts of salt, and metals that can affect the amount of melanin produced by bacteria. I tried.

Next, the researchers Komagata Eibacter They produce a special type of melanin called melanin that produces a dark brown to black color. eumelanin. To force the bacteria to produce eumelanin, the researchers further modified the bacteria's genes. Specifically, they added a gene that causes the bacteria to produce an enzyme called Tyr1, which helps stimulate melanin production. They used this genetic change to create a unique bacterial strain that could continuously produce eumelanin.

Once they had these genetically modified bacteria, they conducted experiments to control the amount of eumelanin produced by the bacteria. They used a method called pyrolysis, which allows scientists to use light to control the behavior of cells. optogenetics. In this case, exposing the bacteria to blue light caused them to produce more eumelanin. The light also caused some bacteria to produce another protein that turned red. The researchers used this red color to track how well the light-induced process worked. The researchers looked at how much eumelanin these engineered bacteria produced under different conditions so they could better control melanin production.

Researchers discovered that when bacteria produce melanin, they form a mat-like layer that retains moisture. They interpreted this result to mean that adding melanin to different materials can change their surface properties. To demonstrate how melanin can be used in leather-based products, researchers created sample items such as wallets and shoe uppers from a mixture of bacterial cellulose and melanin. It was confirmed that adding melanin to cellulose increases durability. The researchers found that the melanin remained stable even after treatments such as high-pressure steam and ethanol cleaning, meaning it was strong enough to withstand real-world use.

The researchers suggested that future work should discover enzymes that can produce melanin under acidic conditions, requiring less water for production. Especially when melanin is used in large-scale production, the process becomes more environmentally friendly and efficient if less water is used. Finally, they encouraged scientists and designers to continue working together to develop innovative ways to create sustainable textiles that make fashion more environmentally friendly.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Guide to observing the peak of the Northern Taurid meteor shower in November

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The annual Taurid meteor shower is back and it’s a two-part shooting star spectacle. The first half, Southern Taurus, already occurred in September. But if you missed it, the northern Taurid meteor shower is here!

This event is known for its bright and impressive fireball meteors that light up the sky. Learn how to accurately observe the Taurid meteor shower and discover more about its origins.

When will the Taurid meteor shower occur in 2024?

The Northern Taurid meteor shower will peak on the night of November 11, 2024 in the UK, US, and other countries. This is the time to see the most fireball shooting stars.

In 2024, Taurus in the North will be active from October 20th to December 10th. The closer you are to the peak, the more shooting stars you will witness.

Where should I look to see a fireball?

You can see Taurid meteors streaking across the sky, so lie down and look up. The shooting stars originate from the constellation Taurus, visible in winter near Orion.

To locate Taurus, look towards Orion’s belt and find Aldebaran. Use astronomy apps for guidance and view from a location with minimal light pollution for the best experience.

How many meteors can you see?

Most years, the Taurid meteor shower is weak, with only a few meteors visible per night. However, there can be more under perfect conditions, with up to five meteors per hour. These meteors often produce dramatic fireballs.

The Taurid meteor shower is a gamble – each night can bring a few small meteors or a display of fireballs.

What causes the Taurid meteor shower?

The Taurid meteor shower originates from Comet Encke, with the northern variation likely from an Encke offshoot known as 2004 TG10. Earth passes through the remains of asteroid 2004 TG10, creating the spectacle we see in the sky.

Comet Encke is believed to be a fragment of a larger comet that broke up thousands of years ago.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

An Unexpectedly Simple Trick for Escaping Quicksand

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

For many children growing up, Scooby Doo and Looney Tunes painted a picture of quicksand as a lurking danger. One misstep and you could face a slow and suffocating demise.

While the likelihood of being swallowed by quicksand is slim, it’s still a real phenomenon that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Quicksand can be found in various locations like beaches, riverbanks, and wetlands in the UK. It forms when sand or clay gets flooded and loses its structure. The friction between particles reduces in saturated sand, causing the surface to liquefy when disturbed, making it appear like the sand is swallowing you.

Contrary to the dramatic portrayals in horror comics, quicksand won’t suck you in and kill you. Research published in the journal Nature in 2005 showed that the density of quicksand is higher than that of the human body, and the buoyancy of the torso from the lungs prevents sinking past waist level.

The real danger lies in secondary risks associated with quicksand. People stuck in tidal areas with quicksand can be engulfed by rising water and drown, or suffer from hypothermia, dehydration, and exhaustion if not rescued promptly.

Each year, dozens of people in the UK get trapped in quicksand and require rescue missions. In 2017, four holidaymakers were stranded in quicksand in Morecambe Bay, with only minutes to be saved from the rising waters.

To stay safe around quicksand, it’s best to avoid it altogether. Stick to marked trails, never venture into unknown areas alone, check local tides if near danger spots, inform someone of your whereabouts, and carry a charged cell phone for emergencies.

If trapped in quicksand, refrain from letting others assist you to prevent them from getting stuck as well. Call 999 for the Coastguard and use the what3words app to share your location. Remain calm, avoid sudden movements, distribute your weight over a wide area, remove weight like backpacks, and move your feet slowly to create pockets of water for leverage.

This article addresses the question from Ray MacDonald via email: “How deadly is quicksand?”

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Baby bats are increasing in size due to a specific cause

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bats may not have the best reputation, with myths about them being vampires and getting tangled in hair. The coronavirus pandemic also added to their negative image, with beliefs that they played a role in spreading the virus.

However, according to Rodrigo Medellin, a bat ecologist at the Institute of Ecology at the University of Mexico, bats are actually incredibly important to ecosystems. They are often misunderstood and mistreated, but they play a vital role in maintaining the health of various environments.

Despite facing extinction due to climate change, bats are unique creatures with fascinating abilities. They sleep upside down, have evolved wings from their hands, and can fly with incredible speed and agility, reaching up to 160 miles per hour in some species.

These remarkable mammals have the longest lifespan relative to their body size and remain healthy throughout their lives with low rates of cancer and the ability to resist deadly viruses. They also possess intricate biosonar capabilities, using ultrasonic chirps to navigate their surroundings.

Bats have diverse diets and play a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersion. They are essential for forest regeneration, helping to maintain ecosystems and biodiversity around the world.

Additionally, bats are powerful pest predators, providing natural pest control in agriculture. They can consume large numbers of pests, helping to reduce the need for pesticides and saving billions of dollars annually in agricultural costs.

Unfortunately, bats are facing challenges due to climate change, with rising temperatures affecting their habitats and populations. It is crucial to protect and conserve bats to ensure their continued contribution to ecosystems and human well-being.

About our experts

Rodrigo A. Medellin: A senior professor of ecology at the Institute of Ecology of the University of Mexico, known as Mexico’s “Batman” for his advocacy and conservation efforts for bats.

Danilo Russo: A bat ecologist, animal behaviorist, and conservation biologist at the Second University of Naples Federico in Italy. He is actively involved in assessing the benefits of bats in agriculture and promoting bat conservation in response to climate change.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The unexpected weight loss caused by Canada’s gravity anomaly

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In certain areas of the world, such as Canada’s Hudson Bay, gravity is slightly lower than in other areas.

This is because an object with more mass has more gravity, and since Earth’s mass is not uniform, gravity varies from place to place. However, you need a very accurate scale to notice it. Hudson Bay’s gravity is about four thousandths of a percent lower than Earth’s average.

When scientists discovered this anomaly in the 1960s, they developed two theories to explain it. The first is that the Earth’s crust is still recovering from the last Ice Age.

About 20,000 years ago, the huge Laurentide ice sheet covered North America. The weight of the ice, which was more than 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) thick in places, pushed down on the continent’s crust.

When the Ice Age ended, the Laurentide melted rapidly, but the Earth’s crust slowly returned to normal. It rebounds by about 12 mm (0.5 inch) each year, meaning it will take another 300,000 years to return to its original position. This indentation left in the Earth’s crust means that Hudson Bay has slightly less mass and therefore slightly less gravity.

The second theory concerns the movement of the mantle beneath the Earth’s crust.

The mantle is made of molten rock heated by the Earth’s core. It rises over geological time scales and then sinks again as it cools. This creates convection currents that move the plates. Ocean currents can also pull continents downward, slightly reducing mass and gravity in the area.

Satellite measurements in 2002 revealed both theories to be correct. The Hudson Bay gravity anomaly is caused by a combination of mantle convection and the legacy of the Laurentide ice sheet. Therefore, even after the Earth’s crust has fully rebounded, gravity in this part of the world will remain slightly lower than average.

This article answers the question (asked by Victor Gregory via email): “Is it true that people in Canada weigh less?”
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The Longest-Lasting Snow Patch in Britain Disappears for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

For the fourth year in a row, the snow has melted in parts of Scotland known for remaining snowy all year round.
This is the 10th time in more than three centuries that it has disappeared.
Such snowflakes could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change.

A patch of snow in the Scottish Highlands called the Sphinx typically remains all year round and remains frozen throughout the summer. But it has melted away four years in a row, making it only the tenth time in more than three centuries that it has happened.

The Sphinx that flanks Brelliach, Britain's third highest mountain, has historically been known to persist even after most of the snow and ice has disappeared each year on Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains, making it historically the longest-lasting snow in Britain. It was considered a zone. range.

But by September, like every year since 2021, this patch completely melted away. By comparison, the Sphinx disappeared only three times in the 20th century.

Experts say such snowy areas tend to be sensitive to small fluctuations in temperature, which could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change. The Sphinx's melting could therefore provide clues to how climate change is affecting the Scottish Highlands, the rest of Scotland and the world.

Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The fact that the Sphinx is melting for the fourth year in a row is a good indicator of these changes.” “Climate change has always been relatively high on the agenda for us as a national park and is increasingly impacting the Highlands. We can learn from the Sphinx about the changes that are happening to our climate. can.”

The Sphinx is located in Brelliach, part of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.
climate center

In addition to melting snow, highlands experience frequent storms and floods interspersed with long periods of dry weather, increasing the risk of wildfires, Moir said.

Changes in snow cover across the plateau affect mountain ecosystems by altering the natural hydrological cycle in which snow gradually melts from the mountains and flows into streams.

“It's really impacting things like salmon spawning areas and the river as a whole,” Moir said. “We need to mitigate some of these impacts and we need to think about what we can do to adapt to changing patterns.”

He added that Cairngorms Park was also home to some of the UK's most endangered species.

Its ripple effects extend beyond the natural environment. The national park is home to about 18,000 people and is visited by about 2 million people each year, Moir said. However, he said severe storms and flooding could displace residents, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt the region's valuable tourism industry.

“It's always been important to try to strike the right balance to ensure that nature and people can thrive within the national park,” Moir said. “What we are trying to do is make sure we invest in things that are good for nature, biodiversity and people.”

Records show that the Sphinx's snow belt has melted only 10 times in more than 300 years.
climate center

Ian Cameron, author of The Vanishing Ice: Diaries of a Scottish Snow Hunter, has spent more than 25 years studying snow in the hills and mountains of Scotland. Every year he publishes his findings on the region's snow cover in the British Meteorological Society's annual report.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote last year that the Sphinx's fate was a story with “little prospect of a happy ending”.

“There is little doubt that we are witnessing a change in the language used to describe snow in Scotland.” he wrote. “In the past, the adjective that best described the Sphinx was 'permanent,' but that had to be changed to 'semi-permanent,' then 'permanent,' and then 'semi-permanent.' But even this descriptor will not be able to withstand the pressure exerted by continued disappearances. We are now witnessing an era where patches of snow may remain only occasionally. ”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Study finds evidence of multiple instances of Denisovan populations interbreeding with modern humans

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The identification of a new human group called the Denisovans has been one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution over the past decade. Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only a few skeletal fragments. Several Denisovan populations, which likely had vast geographic ranges, adapted to different environments and through multiple different interbreeding events that helped shape early human history, according to a new study. I passed on some of my genes.

Portrait of a young Denisovan woman based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA methylation maps. Image credit: Maayan Harel.

Denisovans are an extinct hominin group first identified through genome sequences determined from finger bone fragments found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia.

“This was one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution in the past decade,” said Dr Linda Ongaro, a researcher at Trinity College Dublin.

Subsequent genome analysis showed that Denisovans diverged from Neanderthals 400,000 years ago, and that at least two distinct Denisovan populations intermingled with the ancestors of modern Asians.

The only physical remains of Denisovans discovered so far are a finger bone fragment, three teeth, and a skull fragment from the Denisovan Cave. Jaw bones and rib bones from Baisiya Karst Cave on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

“It's a common misconception that humans evolved suddenly and cleanly from one common ancestor, but the more we learn, the more we realize that interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped shape the humans we know today. ” said Dr. Ongaro.

“Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists only of finger bones, jaw bones, teeth, and skull fragments.”

“However, by exploiting the remaining Denisovan parts of modern humans' genomes, scientists have found evidence of at least three past events in which genes from different Denisovan populations invaded modern humans' genetic characteristics. I discovered.”

Each of these shows different levels of relatedness to the sequenced Altai Denisovans, illustrating the complex relationships between these sister lineages.

Dr. Ongaro and his colleague Professor Emilia Huerta Sánchez of Trinity College Dublin and Brown University, in their new paper, have a wide geographical range, from Siberia to Southeast Asia, and from Oceania to the south. We have reviewed evidence pointing to several likely Denisovan populations. America has adapted to a unique environment.

They also outlined a number of genes of Denisovan origin that conferred advantages to modern humans in different environments.

“Among these are genetic loci that confer tolerance to hypoxia or hypoxic conditions, which makes a lot of sense because we see it in the Tibetan population. Multiple genes that increase immunity. Another “Influences lipid metabolism and provides heat when stimulated by cold, providing benefits to Arctic Inuit populations,” Dr. Ongaro said.

“There are many directions for future research that will help us more fully understand how Denisovans influenced modern humans, including uncovering currently hidden traces of Denisovan ancestry. This includes more detailed genetic analyzes in understudied populations that have the potential to

“Additionally, by integrating more genetic data with archaeological information, finding more Denisovan fossils will certainly fill in some more gaps.”

of paper Published in a magazine natural genetics.

_____

L. Ongaro & E. Huerta-Sánchez. History of multiple Denisovan introgressions in modern humans. Nat Genetpublished on November 5, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01960-y

Source: www.sci.news

Elephants having fun with hoses: Showering and pranking each other

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elephants are masters of using hoses. A hose is considered a complex tool because of its flexibility, length, and the physical properties of the flowing water.

Researchers studying three Asian elephants (maximum elephas) The animals at the Berlin Zoo were amazed to see how agile they were with the hose and how to take a shower, and they seemed to understand how to get the most out of it. They appeared to be playing pranks on each other mid-shower by twisting the hose and squeezing it with their torsos to stop the flow.

To reach more distant parts of the body, elephants used a lasso-like technique, holding the hose far from the end and swinging it over their backs.

michael brecht The researchers at Humboldt University in Berlin said the elephants' behavior around the hose reminded them of children playing together.

“Elephants are very good at handling hoses, and we really wonder if this has something to do with the functional similarities between their trunks and hoses,” he says.

Just as humans are either left-handed or right-handed, African and Asian elephants are either left-handed or right-handed “trunkers,” preferring to bend their trunks in one direction. Researchers also noticed that elephants have a side preference when manipulating hoses. One of the elephants, named Mary, used her trunk to shower on the right side of her body, but used the hose more on the left side.

Another elephant named Anchali performed five different actions to block the flow of water when Mary tried to take a shower: positioning the hose, lifting it, twisting it, re-grabbing the twist, and compressing it. Showed.

“This sabotage-like behavior, if it's true at all, is only seen in a small number of animals,” Brecht said.

Brecht's previous research suggests that elephant trunks are one of the most sensitive body parts in the animal kingdom, allowing elephants to handle objects with a precision similar to that of human hands.

“This study reiterates the idea that elephants exhibit very sophisticated trunk behavior,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Chimpanzees Perform Better at Difficult Tasks with an Audience present.

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Chimpanzee taking a number test on a touch screen

Akiho Muramatsu

Audience pressure can affect human performance both positively and negatively, and it turns out the same is true for our closest relatives.

Kristen Lin He and his colleagues at Kyoto University in Japan tested groups of six chimpanzees kept at the university's Primate Research Institute on three numerical tasks of varying difficulty.

In the first task, numbers from 1 to 5 appeared in random positions on the screen, and the chimpanzees simply had to touch the numbers in the correct order to receive a reward.

In the second task, the numbers were not adjacent. For example, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 15 might appear on the screen. Again, the chimpanzees had to press a number from the minimum value to the maximum value to receive a reward.

Finally, in the most difficult test, when the first digit in the sequence was pressed, the remaining digits were hidden behind a checkered square on the screen. This meant that the chimps had to memorize the positions of the numbers in order to press them in the correct order.

The chimpanzees were tested on this task thousands of times over six years with a variety of audiences, including one to eight human observers, people familiar with chimpanzees, and people new to chimpanzees.

When the task was easy, the chimpanzees performed worse as more people watched. However, on the most difficult task, all six chimpanzees performed better as the audience size increased.

“It was very surprising that performance improved so much as the number of human experimenters increased, because having more humans present can be distracting,” Lin says. “However, the results suggest that this may actually motivate them to perform even better.

“For the easiest tasks, humans may distract them, but for the most difficult tasks, humans can become a stressor and actually motivate them to perform better.”

team members Shinya YamamotoResearchers from Kyoto University also said they were surprised to find this effect in chimpanzees.

“Such audience effects are thought to be unique to humans who live in reputation-based and normative societies, where it is possible to perform well in front of an audience, and others to perform well in front of an audience. Sometimes they perform worse than they do,” he says. “However, our study shows that this audience effect may have evolved in the ape lineage before this type of normative society developed.”

Yamamoto says it's difficult and sometimes dangerous to tease out direct human implications from non-human research. “However, by telling people that chimpanzees are the same way, it may be possible to subtly calm the nerves of people who are extremely nervous in front of others.”

Miguel Llorente A team of researchers from the University of Girona in Spain suggests that it may be possible to further study how audience effects relate to individual chimpanzee personalities.

“To generalize these results to natural chimpanzee behavior, we will investigate these effects with chimpanzee audiences to more fully understand how these dynamics play out in natural social contexts.” “It would also be interesting to understand that,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New findings suggest that the key to stress tolerance lies in the microbiome

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Recent studies have revealed the significant role of the gut microbiome, a vast community of microorganisms residing in the digestive tract, in influencing the body’s response to stress.

A new investigation published in Cell Metabolism proposes that gut microbes greatly impact the body’s circadian rhythm, particularly in managing stress levels throughout the day.

The research indicates that the activity and composition of gut microbes naturally vary, affecting the release of stress-regulating hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

This breakthrough has sparked hopes among researchers of utilizing microbes as potential remedies for mental health conditions. According to Professor Paul Ross, Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, this study represents a significant advancement in comprehending the microbiome’s impact on mental well-being.

A disturbance in the microbiome balance can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to sleep disturbances, immune system issues, and metabolic changes, affecting stress hormone release.

One particular microorganism, Lactobacillus, is believed to play a crucial role in regulating stress hormones.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Gabriel Tofani, emphasized the gut microbiota’s role in sustaining the body’s natural stress regulation processes.

To demonstrate the connection, researchers administered antibiotics to mice to reduce their microbiome, observing alterations in the release rhythm of the stress hormone corticosterone.

This research lays the groundwork for potential treatments targeting mental health conditions by understanding the intricate relationship between the gut and the brain and its impact on the body’s stress response.

Professor Ross highlighted the potential of microbiome-based interventions in enhancing mental health, noting that this study brings us closer to achieving that objective.

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About the Experts:

Dr. Gabriel Tofani: A researcher at Cork University in Ireland, focusing on circadian rhythms, stress, and gut microbiota.

Professor Paul Ross: Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, conducting research on the human microbiome, bacterial competition, physiology, and genetics.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New DNA evidence from Pompeii challenges prior beliefs about ash-covered victims

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

After centuries, it has been discovered that long-standing beliefs about some of the inhabitants of Pompeii were not as accurate as previously thought.

Recent DNA analysis of human remains from the ancient Roman town destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD has shown that some victims were misidentified, challenging modern assumptions. This has shed light on how historical data is viewed in the past.

The authors of the study published in the journal Science on Thursday wrote, “We have found that traditional interpretations regarding an individual’s gender and familial connections do not align with the new evidence.” They also added, “It is not always reliable to apply modern gender norms when interpreting historical information.”

Archaeologists in Pompeii famously immortalized the victims by using plaster to recreate their bodies, leading to various stories being told about them. For example, it was believed for a long time that two women died embracing each other and a mother was found holding her child.

However, the new DNA analysis revealed that the individual thought to be the child’s mother was actually an unrelated man. Additionally, at least one of the individuals believed to be sisters or mother and daughter were actually both men.

Professor David Reich, one of the authors of the study, warned about the dangers of inventing stories about gender and family relationships in ancient societies based on present-day expectations.

The study involved researchers from the University of Florence in Italy and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. They used preserved genetic material to determine the gender, ancestry, and genetic relationships of the victims by examining 14 casts that had been preserved for about 2000 years.

Their findings also showed that the residents of Pompeii were diverse, with ancestral roots primarily traced back to immigrants from the Eastern Mediterranean. This underscores the multicultural nature of the city and its inhabitants.

Mount Vesuvius had been mostly inactive before the catastrophic eruption that lasted over 24 hours with devastating power. The eruption buried Pompeii, home to an estimated 20,000 people, under layers of ash, pumice, and mud, preserving the city for centuries.

Pompeii remained buried and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1748. In the 19th century, archaeologists used a technique to create casts of the victims by pouring plaster into the voids left by decomposed bodies, resulting in lifelike molds that captured the victims’ final moments.

Ongoing research on Pompeii continues to unveil new insights into the ancient city and its inhabitants. Recent discoveries, such as using artificial intelligence to decipher a charred scroll and the unveiling of a luxurious home, highlight the constant exploration of Pompeii’s history.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ancient Shoreline Uncovered in Utopia Region of Mars

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sedimentary mineral deposits discovered on the surface of Mars may be the remains of ancient oceans from 3.5 billion years ago. New results from China's Tianwen-1/Zhulong mission suggest the existence of landforms consistent with the coastline of the southern Utopian Plains, providing further evidence for the existence of a short-lived ocean early in the planet's history.

Shoryu landing site. Image credit: Wu others., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w.

“The hypothesis of a Martian ocean in the northern lowlands remains an interesting unanswered question about the early stages of Mars' evolution,” said Bo Wu of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and colleagues.

“The presence of an ocean had a major impact on early Mars' climate and atmosphere and may have left a geological record of its existence.”

“China's Mars probe Zhulong, aboard Tianwen-1, successfully landed in the southern part of Mars' Utopia Plain in May 2021.”

“This area has long been hypothesized to be part of an ancient ocean that once covered the northern lowlands.”

In this study, Dr. Wu and his co-authors analyzed data from the Tianwen 1 orbiter and the Zhoulong rover to provide estimates of the surface age and mineral composition of materials found in the southern Utopia Plains. .

They identified distinct geomorphological features, such as valleys and sedimentary channels, consistent with near-shore zones, suggesting a possible formation event involving a flood about 3.68 billion years ago.

In this scenario, a short period of frozen ocean formed the coastline, and the sea surface may have froze and disappeared about 3.42 billion years ago.

“Different types of water-related geomorphological features were separated by specific topographic contours, suggesting different types of marine environments,” the researchers said.

“The area was subdivided into a foreshore highland-to-lowland transition unit, a shallow marine unit, and a deepwater unit.”

“In situ observations of sedimentary rocks, water-related lamination features, and subsurface sedimentary layers also indicate past water activity.”

“The results suggested an evolutionary scenario for the southern Utopian coastal zone: (i) the Late Noachian Utopian Plains flood reached the foreshore approximately 3.65 to 3.68 billion years ago; (ii) The formation of post-Flood shallow and deep marine units occurred during the early Hesperian, approximately 3.5 and 3.4 billion years ago, respectively. completed by 10 million years ago. (iii) Subsurface volatiles gradually disappeared during the Amazonian period.

of study appear in the diary scientific report.

_____

B. Wu others. 2024. Observations at the Turon landing site reveal an ancient coastal zone believed to be located in the southern part of Mars' utopia. science officer 14, 24389;doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers examine how tides impact the interiors of planets and moons

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A team of scientists from the University of Arizona, Delft University of Technology, and the California Institute of Technology's Lunar and Planetary Institute has developed a new method to calculate how tides affect the interiors of the solar system's planets and moons. Importantly, they investigated the effects of internal tides on objects that do not have perfectly spherical internal structures.

Europa's surface stands out in this newly reprocessed color view. Image scale is 1.6 km per pixel. North of Europe is on the right. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SETI Institute.

Celestial tides refer to the deformations that celestial bodies experience when they interact with other bodies due to gravity.

Consider how Jupiter's powerful gravity pulls on its icy moon Europa.

Because Europa's orbit is not circular, the overwhelming gravitational pressure on Jupiter's moons changes as it moves along Jupiter's orbit.

When Europa is closest to Jupiter, the planet's gravity is most felt.

The energy of this deformation heats Europa's interior, allowing an ocean of liquid water to exist beneath the moon's icy surface.

“The same is true for Saturn's moon Enceladus,” says Dr. Alexander Byrne, a researcher at the California Institute of Technology.

“Enceladus has an ice shell that is expected to have much more aspherical symmetry than Europa.”

The body tides experienced by celestial bodies influence how the world evolves over time and, in cases like Europa and Enceladus, its potential habitability for life as we know it. may give.

“The tidal response of spherically symmetric objects has the same wavelength as the tidal forces. Lateral inhomogeneities generate additional tidal responses with spectra that depend on the spatial pattern of such fluctuations.” the researchers said.

“For Mercury, the Moon, and Io, the amplitude of this signal is as much as 1-10% of the dominant tidal response to long-wavelength shear modulus fluctuations, which exceed about 10% of the mean shear modulus.”

“For Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus, a shell thickness variation of 50% of the average shell thickness could result in an additional signal of about 1% and about 10% for Jupiter's moons and Enceladus, respectively.”

The authors also discussed how their results can help scientists interpret observations made by missions to a variety of different worlds, from Mercury to the moon to the outer planets of our solar system. .

“Future missions such as BepiColombo and JUICE have the potential to measure these signals,” they said.

“Lateral changes in viscosity affect the distribution of tidal heating.”

“This may promote the thermal evolution of tidal bodies and influence the distribution of active areas.”

of findings will appear in Planetary Science Journal.

_____

Mark Rovira-Navarro others. 2024. A spectral method for calculating the tides of laterally inhomogeneous objects. planet. Science. J 5, 129; doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad381f

This article is a version of a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Increasing fire risk due to drought in Northeastern areas.

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

Much of the Northeast is in drought after an unusually dry and warm start to autumn.
Nationally, October was one of the driest months on record.
Fires are burning in New Jersey and Connecticut, and the fire danger remains high.

The dryness and unseasonably warm weather in the Northeast has pushed much of the region into drought, sparking wildfires in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

October ended as one of the driest months on record in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Precipitation was particularly low in the northeast.

Cities such as Philadelphia. Newark, New Jersey. Wilmington, Delaware. And Norfolk, Virginia, recorded no rain at all in October. Southeast Regional Climate Center collects precipitation data from more than 1,400 weather stations across the country. Several cities, including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., set new records for consecutive days without any measurable precipitation in October.

Firefighters and wildfire in Evesham, New Jersey, Wednesday, November 6, 2024
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (via AP)

“This is an area that is not typically associated with drought,” said Benjamin Cook, a part-time researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. “It's not very common for really severe drought conditions to last this long.”

The drought continues into the first week of November, leaving much of the region in a “severe” drought. US Drought Monitor tracks the national situation and publishes weekly color-coded maps showing the extent and intensity of the drought.

The Drought Monitor's latest maps released Thursday showed drought conditions extending from Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York to Massachusetts and Maine. Dry conditions have intensified in some states, with parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland currently in “extreme” drought.

“Extreme drought is basically a once-in-25-year type of drought,” says Brian, a climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and one of the mapmakers for the U.S. Drought Monitor.・Mr. Fuchs says. .

Drought watches and warnings have been issued in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, asking people to voluntarily reduce their water use.

Part of the region's dry and warmer-than-usual weather is due to a strong high-pressure system that has remained over much of the country for several weeks. In the Northeast, Great Lakes, and South, temperatures were 15 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for late October and early November.

More than half of the continental United States is experiencing some degree of drought. That includes 56% of the Northeast, according to the Drought Monitor.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Pompeii Burials Reveal New Insights Through DNA Analysis

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Plaster statues of those who died at Pompeii. DNA testing revealed that the adult on the right was a man unrelated to the young child in his lap.

Pompeii Archaeological Park

Genetic testing has revealed that a plaster cast in Pompeii was not the person it was assumed to be, highlighting how idealized narratives can be projected onto archaeological evidence.

The analysis also revealed that Pompeii's demographics were also much more complex and diverse than previously thought.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, several Roman towns were buried, including Pompeii. Many of Pompeii's inhabitants were completely suffocated by the compressed ash during the eruption, and as their bodies decomposed, cavities formed, perfectly preserving their positions in their final moments.

in 19 years^th In the century, archaeologists developed a method of pouring plaster into cavities to create lifelike castings. Since then, more than 100 of these castings have been made, preserving the victims' shapes and bones that have remained undecomposed for centuries.

But it says it has long been known that many of the plaster statues were worked into different poses, sometimes placed together, to add drama to the story of Pompeii. Valeria Amoretti At the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in Naples, Italy.

To learn more about who these people were, Amoretti and colleagues examined 14 plaster casts and extracted DNA from the bones of five of them.

What they discovered completely changed the established interpretation of who they were. It was long believed that an adult wearing a gold bracelet and carrying a child on her lap was the child's mother. DNA analysis revealed that they were actually adult males and were not biologically related to the child. A nearby person previously interpreted to be the father was also unrelated to the child, who was assumed to be the mother.

Another pair, believed to be sisters or mother and daughter who died in an embrace, also included at least one genetic male, making them unlikely to be related.

Genetic analysis further revealed that the people of Pompeii had a diverse ancestry, including elements related to modern-day Jewish populations in the eastern Mediterranean, the Levant, and North Africa.

Amoretti says it's no surprise that the Roman world was multicultural and that the Mediterranean Sea and its ports brought people together.

“But discovering the extent of this melting pot, even in an average provincial city like Pompeii, and getting scientific evidence of it from ancient DNA is very interesting,” she says.

Alyssa Mitnik Researchers at Harvard University say the study highlights the importance of applying science before interpreting archeology at face value.

“Ultimately, it reminds us that the most intuitive, dramatic, sensational explanations aren't always the truth, and encourages us to recognize and question our preconceptions,” she says. .

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Chinese spacecraft discovers more evidence of ancient ocean on Mars

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Topographic map of Mars showing Utopian plains that may have once been an ocean

United States Geological Survey

Possible ancient coastlines have been discovered in a region of Mars explored by China’s Zhurong rover, adding further evidence that vast lowlands in Mars’ northern hemisphere may once have been covered by ocean. The evidence has been obtained.

The rover landed in the southern part of Utopia Plain in May 2021 and remained active for almost a year. Researchers studying data from the rover have found hints that there was an ancient ocean or liquid water 400,000 years ago.

now, Bo Woo Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of the topographical features of the landing area by combining remote sensing data from satellites and observations from the spacecraft.

They say they found features consistent with the presence of a southern Utopian coastline, including valleys and sediment channels. They also determined the dating and composition of surface sediments in the area. Based on this, the research team believes that the ocean existed 3.68 billion years ago, but froze and disappeared about 260 million years later.

“This discovery not only provides further evidence in support of the Martian ocean theory, but also perhaps presents for the first time a discussion of its evolutionary scenario,” Wu said.

This area can be divided into a shallow area to the south and a deep area to the north. Wu said shallower parts of the ocean may have been up to 600 meters deep, but there isn’t enough data to estimate the ocean’s maximum depth.

“Water is an important element for life, and the presence of oceans on Mars in the past raises the possibility that Mars may once have harbored early microbial life,” he says.

Mathieu Rapport Researchers at Stanford University in California say whether early Mars had an ocean is a highly debated question with significant implications for the planet’s past habitability. He said future missions will need to test the new findings.

“Utopia Plains may constitute a valuable record of early Martian near-shore and coastal environments,” Rapport says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Private jet carbon emissions have skyrocketed in recent years

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk will board a private jet in Beijing in 2023

Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images

Researchers say private jet flights should be subject to a carbon tax to curb runaway carbon emissions from the sector.

Emissions from civil aviation increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023, according to an analysis of 18.7 million flights by nearly 26,000 aircraft.

Flights were mainly for leisure purposes, with 1,846 commercial flights alone leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Other popular destinations included the Cannes Film Festival, the Super Bowl, the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai and the World Economic Forum in Davos. Travel to the south of France, Ibiza and other Spanish destinations peaked during the summer months as people jetted in for long weekends in the sun.

“A fairly small group of very wealthy individuals are driving up emissions pretty quickly because of their lifestyles and investments,” he says. stephen gosling At Linnaeus University, Sweden.

Together with his colleagues, Goessling used flight tracking data from millions of flights to build a picture of civil aviation usage around the world.

Flying in a private jet is the most polluting form of travel, emitting an average of 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per flight. Equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of a person living in Sweden.

The analysis found that most private jet flights are short, with nearly half of all flights flying less than 500 kilometers. Most were within the United States and Europe.

Total emissions from private jets in 2023 will be 15.6 megatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the annual emissions of Tanzania. This is up from 10.7 million tonnes in 2019.

Growth rates were distorted by the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike civil aviation, which had significant restrictions in 2020 and 2021, civil aviation saw only a small drop in flight numbers and emissions in 2020, before returning to growth the following year.

According to the data, many of the most widely used private jets are owned by billionaires such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, pop star Jay-Z and TV personality Kim Kardashian. It is said to be owned by a celebrity. Compiled by the website “Celebrity Jet”.

“This is about inequality in greenhouse gas production,” he says. mark maslin At University College London. “It's not even the 1 percent. It's the richest 0.1 percent of people in the world who snap their fingers and take private jets.”

Goessling says the high personal emissions of the ultra-wealthy run the risk of undermining the public's desire to reduce personal emissions. “If the very rich don't need to reduce their emissions, there's no reason for anyone else to reduce their emissions, because everyone else is reducing their emissions,” he says.

Mr Goessling would like to see a carbon tax applied to the use of private jets. “We can put a price tag on every ton [of carbon] “It's being emitted, and I think everyone agrees that it's fair for the wealthy to pay for the damage they're causing,” he says.

Some hope the government goes further. Sean Curry Campaign group Stay Grounded is calling for a total ban on the use of private jets. “About half of these flights are short-haul flights,” he says. “If we ban private jets and invest in real infrastructure, they could easily be replaced by trains.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Why VAR Is Infuriating Soccer Fans and What Can Be Done About It

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Liverpool fans crowd to watch the on-field VAR screen at Anfield Stadium

Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images

If you’ve watched any football, or even soccer, in the past few years, you know that the game has been embroiled in controversy surrounding new officiating technology. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was introduced in the English Premier League in 2019 to reduce referee errors and get more correct calls. Instead, it created a new kind of uncertainty and undermined our understanding of basic rules such as offside and handball. It has also infuriated fans, who can often be heard shouting “this isn’t football anymore” after lengthy VAR checks.

It’s safe to say that soccer fans love to get furious, especially when a referee’s decision goes against their team. But as I argue in my new book, I can’t stop thinking about VAR, there’s more to this than meets the eye. As someone involved in developing new ways to measure educational attainment, I’ve thought long and hard about why VAR is so frustrating. I think the problem has to do with the challenge of pinpointing objective reality, the difficulty of accurate measurement, and human nature’s aversion to uncertainty.

But what I realized is that VAR exemplifies the limits of rationality in many fields far beyond the field of football. So let’s briefly explore the broader history of measurement, from attempts to determine the boiling point of water in the 18th century to the struggle to accurately assess boiling point.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Ultra-smooth method achieves 99.9% pure separation of oil and water

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Difficult to separate oil and water without leaving behind impurities

Abaka Press/Alamy

A mixture of oil and water can be efficiently separated by pumping it through narrow channels between semipermeable membranes, paving the way for a cheaper and cleaner way to treat industrial waste. Experimental prototypes successfully recovered both oil and water with purity greater than 99.9 percent.

Various methods already exist for dividing such mixtures into their constituent parts, including spinning the mixture in a centrifuge, mechanically removing oil from the surface, and allowing some substances to pass through but These include dividing mixtures using chemicals, electrical charges, or semipermeable membranes that do not allow other substances to pass through. Membranes are the simplest method, but are currently incomplete and leave behind a stubborn mixture of oily water or watery oil.

now, Yang Haochen researchers from China's Zhejiang University have developed a more efficient method that uses two membranes – a hydrophobic layer to allow oil to pass through and a hydrophilic layer to allow water to pass through – to cleanly separate both. .

Yang said the idea has been tried before, but with less than impressive results. This is because when oil and water are removed from the mixture, the concentration of the components changes and the efficiency of the membrane decreases.

To overcome this, the research team injected the mixture into a narrow channel between the two layers. In this confined space, oil droplets are more likely to collide and accumulate. This means that oil droplets can be removed more efficiently by the hydrophobic membrane. This increases the proportion of water in the mixture, creating a beneficial feedback loop that ensures both clean oil and water are continuously removed.

“When you apply a membrane, [close] When you put them together, they influence each other and the process continues,” says Yang. “There is feedback between the two processes.”

In their tests, researchers found that as the channel width narrowed from 125 millimeters to 4 millimeters, total oil recovery increased from just 5% to 97%, and water recovery increased from 19% to 75%. I discovered it. The purity of the recovered oil and water is more than 99.9%, and only a small amount of waste remains, Yang said.

The team is in talks with industry, and Yang believes the process is so simple that it could be easily scaled up to a suitable level within a few years.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Antibodies for avian flu discovered in dairy farm workers in Michigan and Colorado

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Farm workers exposed to infected dairy cows found to have avian influenza antibodies

Helen King/Getty Images

There may be more human cases of avian influenza in the United States than previously thought. Health officials in the two states conducted blood tests on workers at dairy farms known to have received infected cattle and found that about 7% of them had antibodies to the disease. This included people who had never experienced any flu symptoms.

Since March, an avian influenza virus known as H5N1 has been circulating among dairy cows across the United States. so far, 446 cows People have tested positive for the virus in 15 states in the United States. From April, 44 people In the United States, people have tested positive for H5, the influenza subtype that includes H5N1. All but one of these cases occurred in poultry or dairy farm workers infected with H5N1.

To better understand how many farmworkers may have been infected with the virus. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborates with state health departments Blood samples were taken from 115 people working on dairy farms raising H5N1-infected cows in Colorado and Michigan. All samples were taken between 15 and 19 days after a cow on the farm tested positive for the virus.

Nirav Shah The CDC and his colleagues then removed seasonal influenza antibodies from the samples before testing them for the presence of H5N1 antibodies. H5N1 antibodies were detected in eight of the samples, or about 7%, suggesting that eight of the workers may have been unknowingly infected with the virus. Furthermore, four of the employees did not remember having symptoms.

“This is very important because by this point, [H5N1] “Testing is primarily focused on symptomatic workers.” Megan Davis at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. “If workers are unaware that they are infected, they may inadvertently expose others in the community to infection.”

H5N1 is poorly adapted to infecting humans and is not known to be transmitted between humans. Still, more than that, 900 people worldwide People have been reported to have been infected with the virus since 2003, and about half of them have died from the virus. Each of these infections gives the virus a chance to mutate, potentially making it more dangerous to people.

“Those of us in public health need to cast a wider net in who we provide testing to,” Shah said at a press conference today. “Going forward, CDC plans to expand testing recommendations to include infected workers.” [to H5N1] And there are no symptoms. ”

The agency also recommends providing antiviral drugs to asymptomatic workers who are at high risk of infection, such as dairy farm workers who may get raw milk on their faces. That way, even if you do get infected with the virus, the amount of virus circulating in your body will be reduced and the risk of spreading the virus to others will be lower. “The less room we give this virus to spread, the less chance it has of changing,” Shah said.

The data also highlights that many H5N1 infections remain undetected, a concern public health officials have long suspected to be true. But until more data is available, “we can't estimate how many unconfirmed cases there are,” Shah said.

The CDC is currently analyzing an additional 150 blood samples taken from veterinarians who work with cattle. Once these results are available, Shah said it should give a clearer picture of how many cases are slipping through the cracks.

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Source: www.newscientist.com