New research indicates that El Niño Southern Oscillation has been around for at least 250 million years

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The El Niño Southern Oscillation, characterized by irregular shifts between unusually warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) conditions, has existed for at least 250 million years and is often of increasing magnitude, according to a new report. It is said that it has grown bigger. Studying modeling.

The El Niño Southern Oscillation, which occurs in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, is a characteristic mode of interannual climate change and has significant impacts on the Earth's climate and ecosystems. Image credit: Li others., doi: 10.1073/pnas.2404758121.

Climate scientists are studying the El Niño phenomenon. That's because El Niño, a huge patch of unusually warm water on either side of the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean, alters the jet stream and can dry out the northwest United States and soak the southwest with extreme rain.

The corresponding cold mass, La Niña, could push the jet stream northward, drying out the southwestern United States while also causing drought in East Africa and making South Asia's monsoon season more intense.

“Each experiment confirms an active El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), most of which are stronger than the current one, some of which are somewhat stronger, and some of which are slightly stronger,” said Dr. Shinen Hu of Duke University.

Hu and his colleagues used the same climate modeling tools used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to project climate change into the future, except they looked back in time.

This simulation is so computationally intensive that researchers were unable to model it continuously every year for 250 million years. Instead, they made 10 million year “slices” – 26 of them.

“The model experiments were affected by various boundary conditions, including differences in land-sea distribution (on different continents), differences in solar radiation, and differences in carbon dioxide,” Dr. Hu said.

Each simulation was run over thousands of model years for robust results and took several months to complete.

“At times in the past, the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth was about 2% lower than it is today, but global warming carbon dioxide was much more abundant, and the atmosphere and oceans were much more dense than they are today. It was very warm,” Dr. Hu said.

During the Mesozoic Era, 250 million years ago, South America was located in the middle of the supercontinent Pangea, and an oscillation occurred in the Panthalas Ocean to its west.

Current research shows that historically the two most important variables in ENSO magnitude appear to be the ocean's thermal structure and the “atmospheric noise” of ocean surface winds.

“Previous studies have mainly focused on ocean temperatures, but this study has paid less attention to surface winds, which appear to be very important,” Dr. Hu said.

“So part of the point of our research is that in addition to the thermal structure of the ocean, we also need to pay attention to atmospheric noise and understand how those winds change. .”

“Atmospheric noise, or wind, can act to give this pendulum a random kick.”

“We find that both factors are important in understanding why El Niño was much stronger than it is now.”

“If we want to make more reliable predictions of the future, we first need to understand the past climate.”

of study Published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Shan Li others. 2024. El Niño Southern Oscillation has been active continuously since the Mesozoic era. PNAS 121 (45): e2404758121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2404758121

Source: www.sci.news

Astrophysicists discover that black hole-hosting binary star V404 Cygnus is part of a triple system

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

V404 Cygnus, an X-ray binary star that hosts a low-mass black hole, has a wide echelon with a tertiary companion at least 3,500 astronomical units (AU) away from the inner binary, according to MIT astrophysicists. It is said to be part of a triple star.

V404 SIGNI. Image credit: Verge others., doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08120-6.

V404 Cygni is located approximately 7,800 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.

This system first attracted attention more than 80 years ago, during the 1938 nova explosion.

Another eruption occurred in 1989 and was discovered by the Japanese X-ray satellite Ginga and high-energy instruments aboard the Mir space station.

The 1989 explosion, known as Nova Cygnus 1989, was pivotal in the study of black holes.

Until then, astronomers had known of only a handful of objects that could be black holes, and V404 Cygnus was one of the most likely candidates.

V404 Cygnus is known to host a central stellar-mass black hole in the act of consuming a small star that spirals very close to the black hole every 6.5 days. This is a configuration similar to most binary star systems.

But new research suggests there's a second star orbiting the black hole, albeit much further away.

“Most black holes are thought to be formed by violent explosions of stars, but this discovery helps cast doubt on that,” said Kevin Burge, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Ta.

“This system is very interesting for the evolution of black holes, and also raises the question of whether triples exist.”

Artist's impression of V404 Cygnus: The central black hole (black dot) is consuming a nearby star (orange object on the left), while the second star (white flash at the top) is far away orbiting a distance of Image credit: Jorge Lugo.

Burge and his colleagues estimate that the third companion star orbits the V404 Cygnus black hole every 70,000 years.

The fact that black holes appear to exert a gravitational pull on distant objects raises questions about the origins of black holes themselves.

Black holes are thought to be formed by violent explosions of dying stars. This is a process known as a supernova, in which a star releases a huge amount of energy and light in one final burst before collapsing into an invisible black hole.

But the team's findings suggest that if the newly observed black hole had originated from a typical supernova, the energy released before it collapsed would have kicked loosely bound objects around it. It suggests that it might have been.

So the second outer star shouldn't be hanging around yet.

Instead, the authors believe that the V404 Cygnus black hole formed through a more gentle process of direct collapse, in which the star simply collapsed and formed the black hole without a final, dramatic flash. I think it might be.

Such a benign origin poses little impediment to loosely bound, distant objects.

Because V404 Cygnus contains a very distant star, this suggests that the black holes in this system were born through a more gradual, direct collapse.

And while astronomers have observed more violent supernovae for centuries, this triple system may be the first evidence of a black hole formed from this more gentle process.

In addition to providing clues about the black hole's origin, the outer star also revealed the age of the system.

Astrophysicists observed that the outer star happened to be in the process of becoming a red giant, a stage that occurs at the end of a star's life.

Based on this star's evolution, they determined that the outer star was about 4 billion years old.

Considering that the neighboring stars were born at about the same time, they conclude that the components of the binary star are also 4 billion years old.

“This has never been done before with old black holes,” Dr. Burge says.

“Thanks to this discovery, we now know that V404 Cygnus is part of a triple star. It may have formed by direct collapse, and it formed about 4 billion years ago.”

of findings Published in this week's magazine nature.

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KB barge others. The black hole low-mass X-ray binary V404 Cygnus is part of a wide triple. naturepublished online October 23, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08120-6

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Christian Church Unearthed in Armenia after 1,600 Years

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Armenian archaeologists have discovered the remains of an early Christian church in the ruins of the ancient city of Artaxata.

Preliminary reconstruction of the early Christian church of Artaxata. Image credit: Armenian-German Arttaxata project.

ArtaxataThe main city of ancient Armenia, also known as Artashat, served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia from its founding in 176 BC to 120 AD.

Founded during the reign of Artaxias I (Artashes), the city is located on the left bank of the Arax River, in modern-day Ararat province of Armenia.

Artaxata was destroyed and rebuilt several times between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, but was eventually abandoned.

“According to legend, Gregory the Enlightener converted the Armenian king Tiridates III to Christianity at Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian state in the world,” said Professor Achim Lichtenberger, an archaeologist at the University of Münster. said the colleague.

“The medieval monastery of Khor Villap, located very close to the newly discovered church, is a reminder of this tradition.”

“Artaxata served as the capital of the Armenian kingdom ruled by the Artaxiads and Arsacusids.”

“The city developed into an important metropolis during the Hellenistic period and was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia for almost six centuries.”

Early Christian churches were built on stately columns. Image credit: Armenian-German Arttaxata project.

The newly discovered Christian church is an octagonal building with a cross-shaped extension.

The building was approximately 30 meters in diameter and was simply constructed with mortar floors and terracotta tiles.

Marble imported from the Mediterranean was also used lavishly.

Professor Lichtenberger and his colleagues from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster discovered the remains of a wooden platform in an extension approximately 30 meters in diameter, which they radiocarbonly date to the mid-4th century AD. .

“The fourth-century building is the oldest archaeologically recorded church in the country and is sensational evidence of early Christianity in Armenia,” Professor Lichtenberger said.

Dr. Mukrtich Zardarian, an archaeologist at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, said: “Octagonal churches were previously unknown here, but we are well-known in the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD. I did,” he added.

“Typologically, this find corresponds to an early Christian monument.”

The researchers said, “We plan to continue the excavation and hope to make new discoveries, including the question of who this church was dedicated to.''

Source: www.sci.news

Carbon emissions are rising at a quicker rate than pre-pandemic levels

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Greenhouse gas emissions are still on the rise

Weisen Hayashi/Getty Images

As the world emerges from lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries are seeking climate-friendly solutions as recovery efforts are expected to accelerate global progress towards net-zero emissions. He promised to rebuild the economy. In fact, the opposite is happening.

Instead of a “green recovery”, global greenhouse gas emissions are now increasing at a much faster pace than in the decade before the global pandemic. Emissions increased by 1.3 percent in 2023, reaching 57.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is a much faster annual growth rate than the decade from 2010 to 2019, when emissions increased by an average of 0.8 percent per year. In fact, global greenhouse gas emissions are currently just below the peak of 59.1 gigatonnes recorded in 2019.

According to one report, all sources of greenhouse gas emissions except land use are increasing. report Support from the United Nations Global Environment Program (UNEP) as the economy continues to recover from COVID-19. Emissions from road transport, leaks from oil and gas infrastructure such as pipelines, and industrial emissions all rose rapidly in 2023, with emissions from aviation increasing by 19.5%, according to UNEP.

Rising emissions mean the world’s opportunities to avoid catastrophic climate change are shrinking. inger anderson UNEP said in a statement. “The climate crisis is here,” she said. “I ask all citizens, please stop the heat.”

Since 2015, countries have jointly pledged to limit global warming to as close to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels as possible, but current national targets are far from meeting that goal. Given countries’ current commitments, the world is on track for 2.6°C to 2.8°C of warming, and this situation will remain largely unchanged from 2022.

Countries are expected to submit new national climate plans by February ahead of the COP30 climate conference in Brazil in November. Plans must spell out in detail how countries will reduce emissions between now and 2035.

Mr Anderson said it was important for countries to develop bolder plans to reduce emissions and they needed to start now. He added that while the 1.5°C target is still technically achievable, it is becoming increasingly likely to be achieved. “Even if global temperatures rise above 1.5°C, and the possibility of that happening increases every day, we must continue to strive for a net-zero, sustainable and prosperous world. “No,” Anderson said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Recent research indicates that Betelgeuse may actually be a binary star

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Betelgeuse, also known as Alpha Orionis or Alpha Ori, is the second closest red supergiant star to Earth. From November 2019 to March 2020, the star experienced a historic diminution in visible brightness. Its apparent magnitude is usually between 0.1 and 1, but around February 7-13, 2020, its visual brightness decreased to magnitude 1.6. This event is called the Great Fading of Betelgeuse. A new study shows that the observed dimming is probably caused by an invisible companion star orbiting Betelgeuse. The companion, named Alpha Ori B, or Betelbuddy, acts like a snowplow as it orbits Betelgeuse, pushing light-blocking dust out of the way and making Betelgeuse appear temporarily brighter.

Graphic depiction of Betelgeuse and Betel Buddy. Image credit: Lucy Reading-Ikanda/Simons Foundation.

Betelgeuse, the second brightest star in the constellation Orion, is an 8 million-year-old red supergiant star about 724 light-years from Earth.

With a radius about 1,400 times larger than the Sun, Betelgeuse is one of the largest known stars.

It is also one of the brightest stars known, emitting more light than 100,000 suns.

The star is nearing the end of its life, and when it explodes, the event will be bright enough to be visible during the day for several weeks.

Astronomers can predict when Betelgeuse will explode by effectively “checking the pulse.”

This is a variable star, meaning it brightens and dims, pulsating like a heartbeat.

Betelgeuse has two heartbeats. One pulsates on a timescale of slightly longer than a year, and the other on a timescale of about 6 years.

One of these heartbeats is Betelgeuse's fundamental mode, a pattern of brightening and dimming unique to the star itself.

If a star's fundamental mode is its long-scale pulse, Betelgeuse could be ready to explode sooner than expected.

However, if the fundamental mode is that short-scale heartbeat, as some studies have suggested, then that longer heartbeat is a phenomenon called long secondary period.

In that case, this long brightening and dimming would be caused by something outside the star.

Scientists still don't know exactly what causes the long secondary period, but one leading theory is that the star has a companion star orbiting it and flying through the cosmic dust produced and ejected by the star. A secondary period occurs when the

The displaced dust changes the amount of starlight that reaches Earth, changing the star's apparent brightness.

Astrophysicist Jared Goldberg of the Flatiron Institute and his colleagues are investigating whether other processes, such as stirring inside the star or periodic changes in the star's strong magnetic field, could have caused the long secondary periods. was investigated.

After combining data from direct observations of Betelgeuse with sophisticated computer models that simulate the star's activity, the researchers concluded that Betelgeuse was the most likely explanation.

“We've eliminated all possible inherent variables as to why it brightens and dims the way it does,” Dr. Goldberg said.

“The only hypothesis that seems compatible is that Betelgeuse has a companion star.”

The authors have not yet determined exactly what Betelbadi is, but they assume it is a star with up to twice the mass of the Sun.

“Other than giving us constraints on mass and orbit, it's hard to say what the companion star actually is,” said Dr. Meridith Joyce, an astronomer at the University of Wyoming.

“A Sun-like star is the most likely type of companion star, but it's not definitive.”

Next, the team will try to take images of Bethelvadi with telescopes, as visibility may open around December 6, 2024.

“Since our results are based on inference rather than direct detection, we need to confirm that Betelbadi actually exists,” said Dr. László Molnár, an astronomer at the Konkoli Observatory.

“So we are currently working on an observation proposal.”

of findings will appear in astrophysical journal.

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Jared A. Goldberg others. 2024. Betelgeuse's companion: Binary stardom as the origin of Alpha Orionis' long secondary period. APJin press. arXiv: 2408.09089

Source: www.sci.news

New Insights into the Evolution of Flight from Microraptor Dinosaur Footprints

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The trajectories of theropod dinosaurs could be used as indirect evidence of pre-avian aerial behavior, according to a new study.

The animals in charge are Dromaeosauriformipes larus Trucks are thought to be small microraptid dinosaurs related to the ancestors of birds. Image credit: Julius Csotonyi.

In the study, University of Maryland paleontologist Thomas Holtz Jr. and his colleagues examined two-toed footprints made by fast-moving, small, bird-like microraptid dinosaurs.

with scientific name Dromaeosauriformipes larus these footprints are almost 100 million years old (Cretaceous period) and were discovered preserved in rock slabs in Korea.

“This guy is lanky. He's one of the smallest dinosaurs we have fossils of,” Holtz said.

“These footprints were a puzzle because they were so small and so far apart.”

Paleontologists believe that the producers Dromaeosauriformipes larus It's not just about running on land.

The animal gained lift by flapping its winged arms, allowing it to move faster than relying solely on leg strength.

This form of exercise, known as flap running, falls somewhere between running and flying.

This generates enough aerodynamics to lift the animal off the ground in one go, allowing it to run up a tree, for example, but stops short of flying at full power.

Microraptors are cousins, but Velociraptor And it is unknown whether it is a modern bird Dromaeosauriformipes larus You will be able to fly for longer periods of time.

Trajectory of a Microraptorian theropod excavated from the Jinju Formation in Korea. Image credit: Dececchi others., doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413810121.

“We can overcome the debate over whether pre-avian dinosaurs used arms for locomotion before flight evolved and provide missing details such as which species had these abilities, when they developed them, and to what extent. We can now begin to find out,” he said. Michael Pittman is a paleontologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“Our findings show that Dromaeosauriformipes larus “It would have needed to run at about 10.5 meters per second (23.5 miles per hour) to make the track using just the power of its hind legs,” said paleontologist Dr. Alex DeCecchi of Dakota State University.

“The relative speed of our footprints is faster than that of modern running animals such as ostriches and cheetahs.”

“This is also unlikely, so we think the dinosaur could have used the aerodynamics created by flapping its feathered arms to lengthen its stride, creating a slower trajectory.”

“The footprints also suggest that the raptor was in the midst of taking off or landing,” Holtz said.

“It's like a plane descending, bouncing a little bit on the runway, and then slowing down.”

“Microraptors, capable of powered flight, were less sophisticated than modern birds in terms of flight equipment. They would have been relatively clumsy.”

of result Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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T. Alexander Dececchi others. 2024. Theropod trajectories as indirect evidence of pre-avian aerial behavior. PNAS 121 (44): e2413810121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413810121

Source: www.sci.news

Google tools simplify the detection of posts generated by AI

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The probability that one word follows another can be used to create watermarks for AI-generated text.

Vikram Arun/Shutterstock

SEI 226766255 — The probability that one word follows another can be used to create watermarks for AI-generated text.

Vikram Arun/Shutterstock

Google uses artificial intelligence watermarks to automatically identify text generated by its Gemini chatbot, making it easier to distinguish between AI-generated content and human-written posts. This watermarking system could help prevent AI chatbots from being exploited for misinformation and disinformation, as well as fraud in schools and business environments.

Now, the technology company says it is making available an open-source version of its technology so that other generative AI developers can similarly watermark output from their large-scale language models. I am. Pushmeet Kohli Google DeepMind is the company's AI research team, combining the former Google Brain and DeepMind labs. “SynthID is not a silver bullet for identifying AI-generated content, but it is an important building block for developing more reliable AI identification tools,” he says.

Independent researchers expressed similar optimism. “There is no known way to reliably watermark, but I really think this could help detect some things like AI-generated misinformation and academic fraud,” he said. I say. scott aaronson at the University of Texas at Austin, where he previously worked on AI safety at OpenAI. “We hope that other leading language modeling companies, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, will follow DeepMind’s lead in this regard.”

In May of this year, Google DeepMind announced Google announced that it has implemented the SynthID method for watermarking AI-generated text and video from Google's Gemini and Veo AI services, respectively. The company recently published a paper in the journal nature SynthID generally performs better than similar AI watermarking techniques for text. The comparison involved evaluating how easily the responses from different watermarked AI models were detectable.

In Google DeepMind's AI watermarking approach, as a model generates a sequence of text, a “tournament sampling” algorithm subtly moves it toward selecting “tokens” of specific words that are detectable by associated software. Create a statistical signature. This process randomly pairs candidate word tokens in tournament-style brackets. The winner of each pair is determined by which one gets the highest score according to the watermark function. Winners advance through successive tournament rounds until there is one round remaining. The “layered approach” “further complicates the potential for reverse engineering and attempts to remove watermarks,” it said. Yellow Furong at the University of Maryland.

It said a “determined adversary” with vast computational power could remove such AI watermarks. Hanlin Zhang at Harvard University. But he said SynthID's approach makes sense given the need for scalable watermarking in AI services.

Google DeepMind researchers tested two versions of SynthID that represent a trade-off between making watermark signatures easier to detect in exchange for distorting the text typically produced by AI models. They showed that the undistorted version of the AI watermark continued to work without noticeable impact on the quality of the 20 million text responses Gemini generated during live experiments.

However, the researchers also acknowledged that this watermarking works best on long chatbot responses that can be answered in a variety of ways, such as composing an essay or an email, as well as on math or coding questions. The response to this has not yet been tested.

Google DeepMind's team and others have stated the need for additional safeguards against misuse of AI chatbots, and Huang similarly recommended stronger regulation. “Requiring watermarks by law addresses both practicality and user adoption challenges and makes large language models more secure to use,” she says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Rare Bronze Age Wooden Tools Unearthed in British Trenches

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologist removing excess mud from a Bronze Age plow

wessex archeology

A Bronze Age wooden spade has been unearthed by British archaeologists. It is extremely rare that wooden artifacts from such an ancient period have been preserved.

This spade offers a glimpse into life at a time when people grew crops and increasingly lived in settled communities.

“It’s very specific,” he says ed treasure At Wessex Archaeology, Salisbury, UK. “It’s a very direct connection to the past.”

The spade was discovered in a bog near Poole Harbor on England’s south coast, where Wessex Archeology has been excavating for several years. of The Moors of the Arne Coastal Change Project is working to restore the region’s coastal wetlands, and archaeologists are carrying out excavations to ensure that no useful artifacts are accidentally lost.

The researchers were digging a ring gully, a circular trench that is thought to have originally surrounded the shelter. In one of the ring gullies they found the handle of a spade. “It was an almost unbelievable moment,” says Treasure, who was not personally present. “I could tell right away that it was a carved piece of wood.” The spade was carved from a single piece of oak.

Moist conditions did not expose the shovel to oxygen, slowing down rot.

Using debris found with the spade, the team radiocarbon-dates the spade to 3,400 to 3,500 years ago. “A small part of the spade broke off during the burial, but we used it as a date,” Treasure said. Nearby pottery also showed a similar age. This dates the origins of the spade back to the Middle Bronze Age.

“We’re in the midst of some pretty big changes in prehistoric Britain,” Treasure says. People stopped living as nomads and began spending more time in settled communities, growing a variety of grains and other foods.

However, there are no signs of permanent settlement at this location throughout the year. Of course, it was and still is a wetland. “We strongly believe this is a seasonal use of this landscape,” Treasure says. People may have brought in animals for summer grazing, cut peat for fuel, or collected reeds for thatching.

Future research will try to understand how plows were made and what they were used for. “It may have been used to cut peat on site,” Treasure said. “It may also have been used to dig the ring ditch where it was discovered.”

It is rare that a spade from this era has been preserved. One of the only other examples is the Brynlow shovel. Discovered in Cheshire in 1875rediscovered in the 1950s It was discovered by fantasy author Alan Garner in a school assembly hall and was eventually radiocarbon dated to almost 4,000 years ago.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New study reveals surprising insights on throwing Frisbees

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Have you ever experienced it? Throwing a Frisbee to a friend, only for it to end up in the middle of a nearby picnic. Researchers at Berry College in Georgia may have found a solution to this embarrassment by discovering the optimal way to hold the disc for maximum performance.

A study conducted by the researchers involved professional and amateur disc golfers to investigate how different thumb positions affect disc throwing. The research revealed that positioning the thumb approximately 3 centimeters from the outer edge of the disc led to the fastest launch and spin speeds.

“For amateur players unsure of where to place their thumbs, starting at the 3cm position is a good choice,” said lead author Dr. Zachary Lindsey.

Disc golf, a sport where players throw a disc towards a metal basket, was established in the 1960s in the United States and is now played by approximately 108,000 players from 40 countries under the Professional Disc Golf Association.

To analyze techniques for enhancing players’ skills, Lindsey’s team utilized miniature sensors to examine the speed and rotation of discs thrown by 24 players. Through 600 pitches, it was observed that higher spin rates correlated with faster launch rates.

A 2020 study published in the European Journal of Applied Physics indicated that disc stability and flight distance can be improved by increasing frisbee spin. Physicists have also kept themselves busy during lockdown by studying how faster spin results in longer flight distances and faster launches.

The study concluded that the optimal thumb position for achieving the fastest launch and highest spin speeds is at the sweet spot, 3 cm from the center. Scientists are eager to further explore whether this position is effective for Frisbees of all sizes.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Explanation of UK time shift and when clocks will go back to 2024

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

As the UK prepares for the clocks to change, two major shifts are on the horizon. Unfortunately, summer is coming to an end, but on the bright side, you’ll get an extra hour of sleep when the clocks go back in October.

But when exactly will this happen? And why do we turn the clocks back to March? Here’s everything you need to know.

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When will the clocks change in October 2024?

The clocks will go back to 2am on Sunday, October 27, 2024, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) or British Summer Time (BST) and the switch to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

This adjustment means that the sun will set an hour earlier in London at 4:41pm on Sunday. However, the sunrise in London will also move back an hour from 7:45am to 6:45am, so you can expect a brighter morning.

Your smartphone will automatically update the time while you sleep, but get ready to reset your car, wall, and oven clocks the next day.

I hope this year I won’t have to keep pressing the minute button repeatedly to reset the time…

Why do the clocks change?

The practice of changing the clocks is more practical than scientific, allowing people to maximize daylight. Turning back the clocks in autumn means the sun sets earlier, giving us a head start on winter.

Where did daylight saving time originate?

The concept of daylight saving time can be traced back to George Hudson in New Zealand in 1895. He proposed adjusting the clocks to have more sunlight for activities. The idea was later supported by William Willett in the UK in 1907 to make better use of daylight hours.

Britain implemented daylight saving time in 1916 for energy conservation during World War I.

Why do some people want to end daylight saving time?

While many enjoy an extra hour in the fall, the spring clock change can disrupt sleep patterns and impact health. Studies have shown an increased risk of heart attack and decreased sleep quality during time transitions.

Experts suggest soaking up natural light and avoiding hitting the snooze button to adjust to the time change.

Are there benefits to abolishing daylight saving time?

Research has shown that serious traffic accidents decrease and crime rates lower with the adjustment of daylight saving time. Countries differ in their adoption of this practice.

Which countries do not use daylight saving time?

Most countries do not observe daylight saving time, including many in Africa. The EU is undecided on abolishing daylight saving time, while countries near the equator enjoy stable daylight hours.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

IC 3225 in Virgo Cluster shows signs of being stripped of Ram pressure by Hubble

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Early galaxies are dominated by bright galaxy clusters, which are larger and more massive than the local Universe. Star formation activity can be strongly influenced and even halted by many processes that are directly related to the environment in which galaxies exist. Ram pressure stripping, the removal of interstellar gas from the disk of star-forming galaxies by hydrodynamic interaction with the hot intergalactic medium, is one such process that It is thought to have a strong influence on the galaxy population. Groups, especially clusters.

This Hubble image shows spiral galaxy IC 3225 with Ram pressure removed. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / M. Sun.

IC 3225 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 100 million light years away in the constellation Virgo.

Also known as LEDA 40111 or UGC 7441, discovered It was announced on November 4, 1899 by German astronomer Arnold Schwassmann.

“IC 3225 looks strikingly like it was fired from a cannon, hurtling through space like a comet with a tail of gas streaming from the disk behind it,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“IC 3225 is one of more than 1,300 members of the Virgo cluster, so the galaxy's location suggests several causes for this active scene.”

“While the density of galaxies within the Virgo cluster creates a rich field of hot gas between them, the so-called intracluster medium, the extreme mass of this cluster also allows for some extremely There are galaxies that orbit around the center in fast orbits.”

“Collision into thick intracluster material, especially near the center of a galaxy cluster, places enormous collision pressures on the moving galaxy, stripping the gas from the moving galaxy.”

“Although IC 3225 is currently not very close to the center of the cluster, astronomers suspect that it has undergone such ram pressure removal in the past,” the researchers noted.

“This galaxy looks as if it has been affected by this. One side of the galaxy is compressed and there is significantly more star formation at this leading edge, while the other end is misshapen. Masu.”

“Being in such a crowded region, a close call with another galaxy may have pulled IC 3225 and created this shape.”

“The sight of this distorted galaxy is a reminder of the incredible forces at work on an astronomical scale that move and reshape entire galaxies.”

This new image of IC 3225 consists of observations from. Hubble's advanced survey camera (ACS) in the near-infrared and optical portions of the spectrum.

Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

Source: www.sci.news

A recent review suggests that using weighted blankets can be beneficial for enhancing sleep quality

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Weighted blankets can help improve sleep in adults with insomnia and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, but results are mixed in children, one researcher says. new review paper Published in American Occupational Therapy Journal.

dawson others. We suggest that occupational therapists should consider offering or recommending weighted blankets as a sleep intervention option for all age groups, taking into account individual preferences. Image credit: Martin de Arriba.

“Sleep is a basic human need, and not getting enough sleep can increase or worsen the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and mental health problems, as well as It can cause health problems.” Dr Suzanne Dawson, researcher at Flinders University.

“In occupational therapy, weighted blankets are becoming common among many age groups as an assistive technology, but there are no current clinical guidelines for their use.”

In a review study, Dr. Dawson and fellow authors considered 18 existing studies that investigated the overnight use of weighted blankets.

They found significant evidence supporting the use of weighted blankets to improve sleep in adults.

“Weighted blankets appear to offer a specific, non-drug intervention to improve sleep quality,” says Dr. Dawson.

“Adults who used the blanket reported improved sleep, reduced use of sleeping pills, and even improved mood and pain management.”

Despite strong evidence for use in adults, research on the use of weighted blankets in children is mixed, and there are limits to their ability to improve sleep in children with conditions such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders.

“However, some parents report positive results with the use of weighted blankets, and some studies have shown that children’s daily functioning improves after using weighted blankets.”

“Parents often reported that when using blankets, their children seemed more relaxed, less anxious, and more focused in their daily lives. This has been shown to improve children’s overall health can have long-term effects,” Dr. Dawson said.

The authors note that for children and adults with cognitive impairments, the blankets used should be easy to remove on their own.

Although the findings indicate that overnight use of weighted blankets is recommended for adults and can be continued for children, the next step is to develop clear clinical guidelines for blanket use.

“This scoping study was conducted to inform change in practice and its findings were used to change state-wide protocols for the use of weighted blankets across South Australia’s public mental health services. I’m very happy about that,” Dr. Dawson said.

“Blankets come in many different types, including those with beads and chains, and those of varying weights, but there are still no standardized recommendations including type, weight, frequency of use, and duration. .”

“More rigorous research is needed to find out how best to use them, but the practical use of weighted blankets requires further research.”

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Suzanne Dawson others. 2024. Weighted Blankets as a Sleep Intervention: A Scope Review. American Occupational Therapy Journal 78 (5): 7805205160;doi: 10.5014/ajot.2024.050676

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Roman Forum in Spain

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists from the University of Granada have announced the discovery of the remains of an ancient Roman forum in Ubrique, Spain’s Andalusia region.

Ruins of Ubrique, Andalusia, Spain. Image credit: University of Granada.

“The main purpose of the excavations was to confirm the hypothesis proposed by local scholar Juan Vegaso at the end of the 18th century that the central terrace of the hill, known as Cerro de la Mora, was the site of a Roman forum. City”, University of Granada. Professor Macarena Bustamante Alvarez her colleagues said in a statement.

At the site, archaeologists unearthed what appears to be a wall surrounding the central plaza, about 1 meter (3.3 feet) high and 16 meters (52.5 feet) long.

They also discovered a series of architectural elements indicating large, clearly public buildings dating back to Roman times.

“We confirmed the presence of a monumental altar with decorative architectural remains,” the archaeologists said.

“These include the bases and axes of columns, as well as other evidence of statue plinths and column remains scattered throughout the city.”

“We were also able to re-examine some of the buildings at the site and outline an area that shows Roman religious practices, especially those related to water.”

Ruins of an ancient Roman forum in Ubrique, Andalusia, Spain. Image credit: University of Granada.

According to researchers, the ruins continued to be inhabited until the end of the 4th century AD.

“This is confirmed by coins found in the area, one of which bears a christogram, the first example of Christian iconography found at the site,” they said. Ta.

“Additionally, North African pottery allowed us to extend the period of occupation of this site, which was previously thought to last until the third century AD.

“It also helped us understand the trade routes that are closely connected to the Campo de Gibraltar region.”

In addition, scientists have unearthed the possible basis of a medieval defensive structure.

“This building would have provided a visual link between this site and other surrounding fortifications that would have been used to monitor this mountainous area of Cadiz,” they said. Ta.

“This excavation provides an overview of a space important for understanding the arrival and settlement of the Romans in the southern Iberian Peninsula and their intermixture with communities already settled in the area.”

Source: www.sci.news

A recently discovered bird species in South America

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Ornithologists have described a new species of tanager in the genus Snapdragon. Trichotraupis It lives on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

Trichotraupis melanops (above) and Trichotraupis griseonota (below). Image credit: Eduardo Brettas.

The newly discovered species belong to: Trichotraupisa genus established in 1851 that previously included only one species. Black-billed goldfish (Trichotraupis melanops).

These forest-dwelling birds live in pairs or small groups, feed on fruits and arthropods, and regularly feed on swarms of army ants.

These are common in the Atlantic Forest and are bold, conspicuous, and easy to observe. However, it is less conspicuous in the Andes Mountains, since its main habitat is drier forests than in the Atlantic region.

“Trichotraupis is a single-species genus found in two separate populations, one in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil (from southern Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul), northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay, at an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level. In the range of up to meters. ” Dr. Wagner Cavalzel from Paulista University and its colleagues.

“It is usually associated with the Atlantic Forest, but some isolated populations also exist in the Gallery Forest of the southern Pantanal and eastern Chaco.”

“The second population is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes from northern Peru to extreme northwestern Argentina, primarily at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,700 meters.”

recent research proven The people of the Atlantic Ocean and the Andes Trichotraupis melanops Because they are genetically isolated, their current classification as monotypic species should be reconsidered.

In the new study, Cavalzere and his co-authors evaluated the morphology, plumage, and vocalizations of Atlantic and Andean populations.

The researchers examined a total of 581 skin specimens housed in museums around the world.

“Our feather studies revealed full diagnostic potential between the two populations. Trichotraupis” they said.

“Both populations are also differentiated by tarsal length, with the Atlantic population having longer tarsals on average.”

“Furthermore, the taxa live in different types of vegetation (Atlantic Forest and Tucumano-Boliviano Forest and Yungas Mountain Forest).”

named Trichotraupis griseonota (common name: Andean black swan), this new species is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina, at altitudes ranging from 400 meters to 1,700 meters.

“Trichotraupis griseonota “It is restricted to the eastern slopes of the Andes in south-central Peru, Bolivia and northwestern Argentina,” the scientists said.

“It inhabits the seasonally dry Tucumano-Boliviano forest, which is restricted to the Andean forests of northwestern Argentina and the foothills of north-central Bolivia.”

“This species also occurs in the narrow Yungas woodlands at the foothills of the Andes in northern Bolivia and Peru.”

“These montane forests exhibit higher moisture levels compared to the Tucumano-Boliviano forests.”

According to the research team, the fact that these different lineages were previously unrecognized is somewhat interesting, given that: Trichotraupis It is a common species and is abundant in collections.

“Given that museum specimens have played the most important role since their birth several centuries ago, in addition to being a very important and relatively new paradigm in describing new species discovered in museum cabinets. “We emphasize that it is particularly important in the era of genomes and supercomputers; it is fundamental to avian taxonomy,” the authors concluded.

“By documenting and organizing variations and enabling these insights, Trichotraupis griseonota This should serve as a reminder for ornithologists to never underestimate the potential for exciting new discoveries in a seemingly common set of bird skin specimens. ”

of study Published in a magazine zoo animals.

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Wagner Cavalzere others. 2024. A new species of golden butterfly (species: Traupidae) that lives on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. zoo animals 5468 (3): 541-556;doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5468.3.7

Source: www.sci.news

Wasps have a unique ability to store alcohol that surpasses any other animal on the planet.

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) may drink you under the table

Vladimir Kazachikov/Shutterstock

One species of wasp, which often eats alcohol-containing foods, can retain alcohol at levels that other known animals cannot tolerate without causing side effects.

‘This is crazy,’ says study author Sofia Bucebuti at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev, Israel.

Oriental wasp diet (vespa orientalis) consists of ripe fruit containing nectar and grapes. This fruit contains sugar, which is converted to ethanol through natural fermentation over time.

While ethanol is highly nutritious for animals, it is also highly intoxicating. Even animals that routinely eat fermented fruit, such as fruit flies and shrews, cannot have more than 4% ethanol in their diet, Bucebuti and his colleagues say.

But when Bucebuti’s team fed the hornets nothing for a week other than various sugar solutions containing varying amounts of ethanol from 1 to 80 percent, the hornets seemed unaffected. Neither their behavior nor their lifespans changed. What makes this particularly surprising is that a solution containing 80% ethanol contains four times the alcohol content of what occurs in nature.

“We initially experimented with only 20%. [ethanol] And we are already surprised,” say study authors Elan Levin At Tel Aviv University, Israel. The 80% ethanol figure is “even more incredible.”

Analysis of the genomes of several wasp species suggests that the insects have two to four copies of the gene that produces NADP+, which helps break down alcohol. Researchers think this may help explain why the oriental hornet, and perhaps other wasp species, can process such large amounts of alcohol.

These findings “remind us that we’re not the only ones who like alcohol.” james fry at the University of Rochester in New York. However, because data from other animal studies are difficult to compare, researchers are not convinced that wasps are the only organisms that can process such large amounts of alcohol.

Wasps’ love of alcohol may give them a competitive advantage when it comes to eating nutritious, highly fermented foods, researchers say. Irene Stefanini At the University of Turin, Italy. She believes that the wasp’s resistance is probably related to the mutualistic relationship between the animal and fermenting brewer’s yeast. budding yeastWhich her study They have been shown to live in the intestines of wasps, survive, and even mate. Perhaps the wasp helps the yeast move from fruit to fruit, and the yeast helps the wasp find energy-rich food.

topic:

insect/
drugs and alcohol

Source: www.newscientist.com

New research shows early humans carried two distinct strains of Helicobacter bacteria

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Two ecological species Helicobacter pylori. The bacteria, named ‘Hardy’ and ‘Ubiquitous’, coexisted in the stomachs of modern humans before they left Africa, and were dispersed around the world as humans migrated, new research shows. Ta.

Tourette’s others. They discovered that indigenous peoples in Siberia and the Americas were infected with two different types of viruses. Helicobacter pylori. Image credit: sjs.org / CC BY-SA 3.0.

First discovered in 1983, Helicobacter pylori. During long-term colonization of human hosts, it disturbs the stomach lining and causes sequelae such as ulcers and gastric cancer.

Numerous Helicobacter pylori. Virulence factors have been identified and show wide geographic variation.

In the new study, Dr. Elise Tourette and colleagues at the Shanghai Institute of Immunology and Infection used an unprecedented collection of 6,864 individuals. Helicobacter pylori. Genomes from around the world to investigate the prevalence of bacteria.

They unexpectedly discovered a very distinct variant. Helicobacter pylori. They named it the Hardy species, which originated hundreds of thousands of years ago and spread around the world with humans.

They proposed that this species is specialized to live in the stomachs of carnivores whose diet consists mainly of meat and fish.

Therefore, genetic variations found in the bacteria in our stomachs today can tell us what our ancestors ate.

“Our diverse global sample has allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of world history. Helicobacter. This confirmed previous findings that these bacteria were already passengers in our stomachs when we left Africa more than 50,000 years ago,” said Dr. Tourette. .

“But we also identified something surprising, in the form of a new ecological species. Helicobacter. We called it Hardy.”

“It differs by more than 100 genes from the common type we called ubiquitous.”

“Hardy’s ecospecies turned out to be very informative about what bacteria need to do to survive in our stomachs, but more fundamentally, bacterial diversity How it was maintained also turned out to be very informative.”

“Most humans alive today are omnivores or vegetarians, meaning a significant portion of our diet consists of plant material,” said Dr. Daniel Farash, also of the Shanghai Institute of Immunology and Infection. said.

“However, in some parts of the world, plant material was historically unavailable for large parts of the year, and people relied heavily on fish and meat for food.”

“So far, the Hardy ecospecies has only been identified in humans from indigenous populations such as Siberia and northern Canada.”

“Due to ancient host jumps, this virus has also been found in tigers and cheetahs in zoos, with important genetic differences that allow it to adapt to gastric conditions in carnivores.”

“This association is particularly interesting because our analysis also suggests that both ecological species have accompanied humans since our species’ emergence in Africa more than 200,000 years ago.” Because there is.”

“If this species is indeed adapted to being a carnivore, it means that humans who spread around the world often did not eat plants, even if plants were available. .”

By analyzing Helicobacter pylori. By analyzing genomes from around the world, researchers discovered that the first modern humans were infected with two different types of bacteria: M. hardyi and M. ubiquitous.

Both species spread from Africa during early human migrations, reaching as far as South America.

The ubiquitous ecospecies has been found in every human population sampled to date, whereas the Hardy ecospecies has only been sampled from a small number of indigenous populations and may have become extinct at many points along its migratory routes. It suggests that.

However, one strain of the African Hardy strain has shifted hosts to big cats and has been isolated from cheetahs, lions, and tigers in zoos.

Understanding why these species can coexist in some populations but not in others will help us understand the profound implications of our prehistory and the gastric diseases we still suffer from today. It is hoped that this will shed light on the burden.

“Our results also show that very different adaptive strategies can arise and be stably maintained within bacterial populations, even in the presence of continuous genetic exchange between strains.” said the scientists.

of findings. Published in a magazine nature.

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E.Tourette others. ancient ecological species Helicobacter pylori. naturepublished online October 16, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07991-z

Source: www.sci.news

Could Scientists Soon Revive the Tasmanian Tiger? Is Concern Necessary?

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists in the United States and Australia are working on bringing back the Tasmanian tiger nearly a century after their extinction. They believe that with new DNA technology and Tasmanian tiger fossils, the animal could be reintroduced into the wild.

Researchers are collaborating with Colossal Biosciences to develop a plan to revive the Tasmanian tiger. They aim to address ecological issues and consider the potential impact of resurrecting an extinct species.

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What was the Tasmanian Tiger?

The Tasmanian tiger, also known as the Tasmanian possum, resembled dogs and wolves in many ways. Its official name, Thylacine, means “dog-headed pouched animal” when translated. Despite its dog-like appearance, the marsupial was comparable in size to a golden retriever, including its long tail.

However, human misunderstanding and hunting led to the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, with the last known species dying in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936.

Why would they want it back…?

Colossal Biosciences believes that reintroducing the Tasmanian tiger could have positive impacts on the ecosystem. Predators like the Tasmanian tiger could help control population levels of other species and prevent diseases from spreading.

Researchers suggest that the presence of Tasmanian tigers could have prevented the decline of the Tasmanian devil population, which is currently facing extinction due to facial tumor disease.

…and how?

Scientists are using DNA technology to recreate the genetic structure of the Tasmanian tiger using samples from related species. By comparing DNA sequences and making genetic edits, they hope to reconstruct the Tasmanian tiger’s genome and potentially bring it back to life.

While challenges remain in transitioning revived species from the lab to the wild, researchers are optimistic about the project’s progress.

Are we all doomed?

The implications of reintroducing extinct species like the Tasmanian tiger are still unknown. Scientists are cautious about the potential consequences on existing ecosystems and the behavior of revived animals in the wild.

Further research and monitoring will be crucial to understanding the impact of reviving extinct species and reintroducing them to their natural habitats.

What animals might come back next?

Colossal Biosciences is also working on reviving other extinct species, such as the dodo and woolly mammoth. These projects pose similar ethical and ecological challenges, but researchers are hopeful about the potential benefits of bringing back these ancient creatures.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Confirmation of a new plant-eating dinosaur species in Argentina

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have identified a species of medium-sized iguanodont ornithopod dinosaur from two specimens found in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina.

Reconstruction of the life of early rhabdodontomorph dinosaurs Iani Smitty. Image credit: Jorge Gonzalez.

Emilia Saura Alessandri They lived in what is now Patagonia during the Valanginian period of the Early Cretaceous period, about 138 million years ago.

“Knowing early Cretaceous dinosaurs is crucial for gaining insight into the evolution of the clade characteristic of younger Cretaceous fauna,” said lead author Dr. Rodolfo Coria, Argentina, Canada , said a European colleague.

“Dinosaur diversity around the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary represents a unique chapter characterized by the establishment of several major lineages.”

“However, knowledge of the diversity of dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous period is poor, especially in South America.”

Emilia Saura Alessandri belongs to rhabdodontomorphaa group of early Iguanodon dinosaurs within the clade ornithopoda.

This dinosaur group consists of small to large plant-eating animals that live in Europe and Gondwana.

“Emilia Saura Alessandri “This is the first South American record of the family Rhabdodontomorphinae, and is currently the oldest and more primitive member of this clade,” the paleontologists said.

“This new species formed part of a diverse Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) dinosaur assemblage that also included diplodocids, sauropods of the dicraeosauridae, and theropods of the carcharodontosauridae.”

Emilia Saura Alessandri It is represented by two fossil specimens collected from different locations and stratigraphic levels. Murichinko formation.

“The holotype specimen includes the coracoid, proximal scapula, humerus, and complete right hindlimb, whereas the paratype specimen preserves vertebral elements, haemarchus, incomplete pelvis, and nearly complete hindlimb. “, the researchers said.

“The new species has an anteroposteriorly elongated ilium with an S-shaped dorsal margin and a broad short shelf, a femoral shaft with a proximally located broad fourth trochanter, and a short, stout diaphysis similar to that of the new species. It has a second toe with a blunt claw phalanx.” tonic ataxia ornithopod”

of findings Published in this week's magazine Cretaceous research.

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RA Korea others. The first Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) ornithopods (order Dinosauria, order Ornithischian) from Patagonia. Cretaceous researchpublished online October 16, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.106027

Source: www.sci.news

Research shows that eating strawberries regularly could boost heart health and help control cholesterol levels

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

According to one researcher, daily consumption of strawberries (1-4 cups per day) improves lipid metabolism and inflammatory outcomes in people at high cardiovascular risk. new review paper Published in a magazine Critical reviews in food science and nutrition.

Strawberries are a natural and delicious way to support heart health and manage cholesterol. Image credit: D. Сroisy.

“Strawberries contain a number of potentially health-promoting phytonutrients, including phenols, polyphenols, fiber, micronutrients, and vitamins,” said Roberta Holt, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, and colleagues.

“The purpose of our review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent human studies on the effects of strawberry and strawberry phytonutrient intake on human health.”

For the review, the authors conducted a literature search through the PubMed and Cochrane databases.

They combined results from 60 papers (47 clinical trials and 13 observational studies) published from 2000 to 2023.

They found that strawberries are rich in beneficial phytonutrients such as polyphenols and fiber, which help lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels while reducing inflammation.

The result is improved overall heart health and better management of cardiovascular risk factors.

Daily consumption of strawberries, whether in fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried form, can have a significant impact on cardiometabolic health, especially in those at high risk for heart disease.

Strawberries can help lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by improving lipid metabolism and reducing systemic inflammation.

“Our research shows that regular consumption of strawberries not only lowers cholesterol, but also helps reduce inflammation, a major contributing factor to heart disease,” Dr. Holt said.

“This means that simply adding a cup of strawberries to your daily routine can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular events.”

Beyond heart health, the team's review revealed exciting benefits for brain health.

The findings suggest that strawberries are rich in flavonoids, which may help slow cognitive decline and prevent dementia.

The researchers said, “Strawberries may support cognitive function and fight oxidative stress, which is an important factor in keeping the brain sharp as we age.”

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Phrae Charonwoodhipon others. strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) Intake on human health and disease outcomes: a comprehensive literature review. Critical reviews in food science and nutritionpublished online on September 11, 2024. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2398634

Source: www.sci.news

Australia discovers a new, complex Ediacaran animal species

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Questio Sympsonorum It is part of the Ediacaran biota and contains the oldest preserved evidence of complex macroscopic fauna.

close-up of Questio Sympsonorum Footprints. Image credit: Evans others., doi: 10.1111/ede.12491.

Questio Sympsonorum is one of more than 100 multicellular organisms during the Ediacaran period (635 to 538 million years ago), when the first complex macroscopic animals appeared on Earth.

The creature was up to 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) wide and likely moved along what was once the ocean floor.

Animals that burrowed into the sediment had not yet evolved, so this ocean floor was covered with a layer of microorganisms that formed a slimy organic mat.

“Questio Sympsonorum “It had some interesting characteristics that set it apart from other Ediacaran species,” said Mary Droser, a professor at the University of California.

“What's really interesting about this fossil is that it's essentially symmetrical, meaning the right side mirrors the left side, but there's also an asymmetrical element that forms an inverted question mark shape.”

“This kind of symmetry indicates some level of genetic complexity.”

“Humans are bilaterally symmetrical, but they have many asymmetries, such as the position of the heart and appendix.”

“Many other asymmetries like this have been found throughout the animal kingdom, and this appears to be one of the first organisms to organize it this way.”

Reconstructed by artists Questio Sympsonorum. Image credit: Walker C. Weiland.

more than a dozen specimens Questio Sympsonorum It was discovered in the Nilpena-Ediacaran National Park in South Australia.

“The unique trace evidence our team has discovered suggests that: Questio Sympsonorum “They ate ancient organic mats while on the move,” said Scott Evans, a professor at Florida State University.

“That the fossils are preserved directly alongside evidence of their behavior really speaks to the unprecedented nature of the fossil record at Nilpena. We can see how these animals got their food.”

“Nilpena is a site of great international importance, and there is no other place in the world like it,” said Stuart Paul, regional operations director for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“In addition to learning about these amazing fossils located within the park, tourists can also visit a former blacksmith shop, where they learn what these creatures look like and how they were formed. One of the fossil beds is brought to life by an impressive audio-visual recreation of the story.

of findings Published in a magazine evolution and development.

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Scott D. Evans others. A new motile animal that influenced the evolution of axial polarity lived during the Ediacaran period of South Australia. evolution and developmentpublished online on September 3, 2024. doi: 10.1111/ede.12491

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers suggest that microbial life on Mars could be supported by melted water beneath the ice

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

On Earth, solar radiation can travel up to several meters into the ice, depending on its optical properties. Organisms in the ice can harness the energy from photosynthetically active radiation while being protected from harmful ultraviolet radiation. On Mars, there is no effective ozone shield, so about 30% more harmful ultraviolet radiation reaches the surface compared to Earth. However, a new study shows that despite strong surface UV radiation, mid-latitude ice on Mars contains 0.01-0.1% dust, ranging from a few centimeters deep to several centimeters deep. It has been shown that a radioactive habitable zone exists with a range of up to 3000 m. Cleaner ice.

The white edges along these canyons on Mars' Terra Sirenum are thought to be dusty water ice. cooler others. It is thought that melt water could form beneath the surface of this type of ice, providing a potential site for photosynthesis. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Arizona.

“Today, if we are trying to find life anywhere in the universe, the icy outcrops on Mars are probably one of the most accessible places we should look,” said a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. said Dr. Aditya Kuler.

Mars has two types of ice: frozen water and frozen carbon dioxide.

Dr. Cooler and his colleagues investigated water ice. The ice masses were formed from snow mixed with dust that fell on Mars during a series of ice ages over the past million years.

That ancient snow has since solidified into ice and is still dusted with dust.

Dust particles can block light in deeper layers of ice, but they are the key to explaining how underground pools of water form within the ice when exposed to the sun.

The black dust absorbs more sunlight than the surrounding ice, causing the ice to warm and potentially melt several feet below the surface.

Mars scientists are divided on whether ice actually melts when exposed to the Martian surface.

It's thought to be caused by the planet's thin, dry atmosphere, where water ice sublimates and turns directly into gas, similar to dry ice on Earth.

But the atmospheric effects that make melting difficult on Mars' surface don't apply beneath the surface of dusty snowpack and glaciers.

On Earth, dust in ice can create what are called cryoconite holes. This is a small cavity that forms in the ice when windblown dust particles (called cryoconite) land there, absorb sunlight, and melt deep into the ice each summer. is.

Eventually, these dust particles stop sinking as they move away from the sun's rays, but they still generate enough heat to create pockets of melted water around them.

This pocket can foster a thriving ecosystem of simple organisms.

“This is a common phenomenon on Earth,” says Arizona State University researcher Phil Christensen.

“Rather than melting from the top down, thick snow and ice melts from the inside out, letting in sunlight that warms it like a greenhouse.”

In 2021, the authors discovered powdery water ice exposed inside canyons on Mars and proposed that many canyons on Mars are formed by erosion as ice melts into liquid water.

Their new paper suggests that powdery ice lets in enough light for photosynthesis to occur as deep as 3 meters (9 feet) below the surface.

In this scenario, the upper layer of ice prevents shallow underground pools of water from evaporating, while also protecting them from harmful radiation.

This is important because, unlike Earth, Mars does not have a protective magnetic field to protect it from both the Sun and radioactive cosmic ray particles flying through space.

“Water ice most likely to form underground pools would exist in tropical regions of Mars between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, in both the northern and southern hemispheres,” the researchers said.

of paper appear in the diary Communication Earth and Environment.

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AR cruller others. 2024. Possibility of photosynthesis on Mars in snow and ice. common global environment 5,583;doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01730-y

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

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of 12 human bones in a hidden tomb beneath Petra, Jordan

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The veil of mystery surrounding the Treasury Monument in Petra, Jordan has been lifted once again.

Beneath an ancient building carved out of rock, archaeologists discovered a hidden tomb containing 12 relatively well-preserved human bones and a vast array of grave offerings.

A similar tomb was discovered more than 20 years ago opposite the famous Treasury Building, also known as Al-Khazneh, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Earlier this year, a team of researchers received permission from Jordanian authorities to conduct a week of remote sensing in and around the Treasury, a city center hand-carved into the walls of a desert canyon by the Nabatean people.

“There was always the idea that there might be more graves, but no one has yet been found,” Richard Bates, a geophysicist and professor at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, said in an email. “The hope was to find an intact grave.”

A joint Jordanian-American team, which also included the Jordanian Department of Antiquities and the Amman-based nonprofit American Research Center, used ground-penetrating radar to detect the cavity and pinpoint its location and depth. Instead of digging straight through, which would have cut through solid rock and damaged parts of the building, Bates said they carefully dug by hand into the cavity from the outside.

Richard Bates. Excavation at the Treasury.
Kindly provided by Professor Richard Bates, University of St Andrews

Inside, in the original burial site, are 12 human bones, one of which is clutching the top of a broken pitcher, most likely dating from the 1st century BC. Bates said the bodies likely included both men and women and ranged in age from children to adults. Although that is not confirmed yet.

“No complete burial has ever been found here before, so this discovery could potentially tell us more about the Nabataean kingdom,” Bates said.

The discovery could also provide new insights into the Treasury itself, whose purpose is still unknown.

“Despite its fame, the Treasury Department remains a mystery to us in many ways,” Pierce Paul Creesman, director of the Center for American Studies, said in an email. “Anything we can do to understand it more deeply is important.”

Visited by more than 1 million visitors a year, the Treasury is the most famous of Petra’s iconic monuments. In Steven Spielberg’s 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, it was featured as the resting place of the Holy Grail in the film.

The newly uncovered tomb excavation was featured in a two-part episode of the American reality television series Expedition Unknown, which aired on the Discovery Channel.

Bates said there are signs of other cavities in the area that could be graves.

“It’s very likely that more will be discovered, so we need to get the funding back and continue the research,” he said.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Allen Telescope Array seeks radio signatures of technology from TRAPPIST-1 system

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The TRAPPIST-1 system is a compact system of at least seven exoplanets that are similar in size to Earth. Astronomers from Pennsylvania State University and the SETI Institute spent 28 hours scanning the system for signs of alien radio technology using the Allen Telescope Array. This project marks the longest single-target search for radio signals from TRAPPIST-1. Although astronomers found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology, their work introduced new ways to search for wireless techno-signatures in the future.

This artist's impression shows a surface view of one of the exoplanets in the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system. Image credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser / Spaceengine.org.

TRAPPIST-1 is an ultracool dwarf star located 38.8 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius.

This star is barely larger than Jupiter and has only 8% the mass of the Sun. It rotates rapidly and produces an energetic flare of ultraviolet light.

TRAPPIST-1 is the home planet of seven transit planets named TRAPPIST-1b, c, d, e, f, g, and h.

All of these planets are the same size or slightly smaller than Earth and Venus, and have very short orbital periods of 1.51, 2.42, 4.04, 6.06, 9.21, 12.35, and 20 days, respectively.

Presumably they are all tidally locked, meaning that the same side of the planet always faces the star, just as the same side of the moon always points towards the Earth. This creates a persistent night side and a persistent day side for each planet in TRAPPIST-1.

Three of the planets, TRAPPIST-1e, f, and g, are located in the star's habitable zone, meaning they may have an environment suitable for life.

“The TRAPPIST-1 system is relatively close to Earth and has detailed information about the planet's orbit, making it an excellent natural laboratory for testing these technologies,” said Penn State graduate student Nick Tasei said.

“The methods and algorithms we developed for this project could eventually be applied to other star systems, increasing the likelihood of finding regular communications between planets beyond our solar system (if they exist). ).

Tusay and his colleagues focused on a phenomenon called interplanetary occultations.

These occultations occur when one planet moves in front of another. If intelligent life exists in that star system, it is possible that radio signals sent between the planets could leak and be detected from Earth.

Astronomers used the upgraded Allen Telescope Array to scan a wide range of frequencies, looking for narrowband signals that could be a possible sign of alien technology.

They filtered through millions of potential signals and narrowed it down to about 11,000 candidates for further analysis.

They detected 2,264 of these signals during the predicted interplanetary occultation period. However, none of the signals were of non-human origin.

New features of the Allen Telescope Array include advanced software to filter signals, helping researchers separate possible alien signals from those on Earth.

They believe that improving these techniques and focusing on phenomena such as interplanetary occultations could increase the chances of detecting alien signals in the future.

Although scientists did not find any alien signals this time, they plan to continue refining their search techniques and exploring other star systems.

Future explorations using larger and more powerful telescopes could help scientists detect even fainter signals and expand our understanding of the universe.

“This study shows that we are getting closer to detecting radio signals similar to those we send into space,” Tusey said.

“Most searches assume some kind of intent, such as a beacon, because our receivers have a sensitivity limit to the minimum transmit power above what we transmit unintentionally.”

“But with better instruments, such as the upcoming Square Kilometer Array, we may soon be able to detect signals from alien civilizations communicating with our spacecraft.”

of the team result will appear in astronomy magazine.

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Nick Tasei others. 2024. TRAPPIST-1 wireless technology signature search using the Allen Telescope Array. A.J.in press. arXiv: 2409.08313

Source: www.sci.news

Colossal, the company blamed for endangering species, announces nearly complete possum genome

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The possum, or Tasmanian tiger, became extinct in 1936

huge life science

The genome of the extinct possum has been almost completely sequenced, the company that brought it back from extinction, Colossal, has announced. The group says the genome is more than 99.9 percent complete and that just 45 gaps will soon be filled, but it has not provided any evidence to support that claim.

“It's quite difficult to obtain the complete genome of almost any organism,” says Emilio Marmol Sánchez of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, whose team first extracted RNA from preserved quolls. For example, the last few holdouts of the human genome have only been fully sequenced in the past few years.

Quosos, also known as Tasmanian tigers, were once carnivorous marsupials found throughout Australia, but by the time European explorers arrived they were restricted to Tasmania. The last known possum died in a zoo in 1936.

The conserved quoll genome is First sequenced in 2017 The tissue used was from a 108-year-old bag of quolls that had been preserved in alcohol. However, this genome was far from complete and had many gaps. Colossal, which is also currently aiming to recreate the woolly mammoth, says it has nearly completed the genome with the help of additional DNA from a 120-year-old tooth.

“While our genome is not as complete as the most complete human genome, we were able to take advantage of some of the same technologies,” said Andrew of the University of Melbourne in Australia, a member of Colossal's scientific advisory board. Pask said.

Completely deciphering the genomes of plants and animals is difficult because they contain large sections of the same sequence that repeat over and over again. Standard techniques for sequencing small segments of DNA at a time do not work for these parts. This is like trying to reconstruct a book from a list of words in the book.

New, long-read techniques can sequence much larger segments of DNA, equivalent to entire pages of a book. However, these methods are not very useful because old DNA is usually split into many small pieces.

“Most ancient samples preserve DNA fragments that are a few dozen or, if we're lucky, a few hundred bases long,” Pask says. “The samples we had access to were so well preserved that we were able to recover DNA fragments several thousand bases long.”

There is no direct way to know how complete it is, given that there are no other possum genomes to compare it to. Instead, Pask says Colossal uses other closely related species in the same family to make this estimate.

But even if the genome were as complete as Colossal thinks and could indeed fill in the remaining gaps, there is currently no feasible way to generate living cells containing this genome. Instead, Colossal plans to genetically modify a living marsupial called a fat-tailed dunnart to resemble a possum.

“This is rather a reproduction of some characteristics,” says Marmol Sánchez. “It would not be an extinct animal, but a very strange and modified version of a modern animal, similar to our image of an extinct animal.”

Colossal announces record 300 gene edits It affects the genome of Dunnart cells growing in culture. So far, the changes have been small, but Pask says the team plans to swap out tens of thousands of base pairs of thylacine DNA in the near future. He says it's not yet clear how much editing will be needed to achieve the company's goal of recreating the sugar glider.

When asked why Colossal did not provide any evidence to support its claims, the company's CEO, Ben Lamb, said that the company's sole focus was eradicating extinction and that the scientific literature He said it was not writing. “We are not an academic lab whose primary focus is papers,” Lamb said. “We will continue to make progress much faster than the process of writing a scientific paper.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study suggests that the majority of Earth’s meteorites come from the breakup events of only a few asteroids

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new study shows that about 70% of meteorites originate from at least three recent breakups of giant asteroids.

This is the artist's impression of the asteroid as it breaks apart. Credit: NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology.

A type of meteorite, commonly called a chondrite, accounts for about 80% of all meteorites that hit Earth, including those that were involved in the violent impact period about 466 million years ago that is thought to have started the Ice Age. Included.

Previous studies have demonstrated that approximately 70% of meteorites on Earth have compositions known as H and L chondrites.

Argon-argon dating of L-chondrite meteorites on Earth suggests that these samples may have originated from the catastrophic destruction of a single asteroid that experienced a supersonic impact approximately 470 million years ago. It turned out to be high.

in new researchESO and MIT researcher Dr. Michael Marcet and colleagues have compiled spectroscopic data from asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.

They found that a group of asteroids known as the Massalia family is very similar in composition to L-chondrite meteorites on Earth.

Through computer modeling, they propose that an impact event about 450 million years ago destroyed an L-chondrite asteroid, forming the Massalia family and providing debris that fueled the influx of meteorites.

in second studyCharles University researcher Miroslav Broz and his colleagues found that the current influx of H and L chondrite meteorites was likely caused by three recent breakups.

These events occurred about 5.8, 7.6 and 40 million years ago and involved the destruction of asteroids over 30 km (18.6 miles) in diameter.

More specifically, they suggest that the impact formation of the relatively young Karin and Coronis asteroid families and a second impact event (about 40 million years ago) in the older Massalia asteroids are currently falling to Earth. I guessed that explained most of the meteorites.

in Third, follow-upDr. Brož and his co-authors extended their approach to the entire meteorite family, revealing the major origins of carbonaceous chondrites and achondrites, in addition to those from the Moon, Mars, and Vesta.

“Our discovery provides insight into the mystery of where the most common meteorites that have ever hit Earth came from and how those impacts shaped Earth's history.” ,” the researchers said.

The results are published in three papers. journal nature and journal astronomy and astrophysics.

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M. Marcet others. 2024. Massalia asteroid family as the origin of ordinary L chondrites. nature 634, 561-565; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08007-6

M. Broz others. 2024. Young asteroids as the main source of meteorites. nature 634, 566-571; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08006-7

M. Broz others. 2024. Source region of carbonaceous meteorites and near-Earth objects. A&A 689, A183; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202450532

Source: www.sci.news

Meteorologists face backlash despite accurate storm forecasts

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

Forecasts for hurricanes Helen and Milton were very accurate.
Meteorologists say they are facing unprecedented skepticism and vitriol despite the strong information they have released.
Some blame pre-election political tensions, while others point to climate change denial and the spread of misinformation on social media.

Nearly five days before Hurricane Milton hit Florida, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center predicted its path to within 19 miles of where the storm would later make landfall.

The forecast for Hurricane Helen was similarly accurate. Long before the storm reached the coast, the National Weather Service said “record flooding” in North Carolina, about 400 miles from the coast, was “one of the most significant weather events” in the state’s history. I warned you it would happen.

“The forecast was very accurate and I don’t think anyone was surprised by the landfall location and strength of this storm,” said NBC 6 South Florida meteorologist and hurricane expert John Morales.

But some meteorologists say this is the first time they’ve faced so much skepticism, hatred and conspiratorial backlash at a time when hurricane forecasts are at their most accurate.

They have been unfairly accused, primarily on social media, of steering the hurricane toward Florida or Appalachia. Some people have reported threats of violence online, while others say they have been personally attacked.

“Conspiracy theories have increased tremendously over the past two months, especially on social media, and it’s hurting our ability to do our jobs effectively,” said Matthew Cappucci, a meteorologist at Mailer Weather and The Washington Post. ” he said. “People will see false signals on radar and think we’re having a hurricane. Some people will think we can lead a hurricane into red states.”

Capucci said social media commenters criticized his Harvard education and said he should be fired. Cappucci added that he was recently interrupted at a bar in Louisiana by a man who noticed his MyRadar shirt and claimed that Cappucci worked for Bill Gates.

“He continued to harass me for the next 14 minutes about weather modification,” Capucci said.

Bradley Panovich, chief meteorologist at WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina, said the messages are “getting more personal, meaner and more persistent.”

“It also takes time and effort away from the job of predicting the weather,” he added.

The wave of opposition and attacks comes as climate change intensifies and meteorologists grapple with the psychological toll of more severe and damaging hurricanes.

“Losing someone to a weather disaster is like losing a patient to a doctor on the operating table,” said Kim Klokow McClain, a senior social scientist supporting the National Weather Service. “Forecasters feel like they can save everyone. They take it personally.”

Hurricane forecasts are now more accurate

Hurricane forecasting has improved dramatically over the past 50 years.

Shel Winkley, a meteorologist at the nonprofit research group Climate Central, said that advances in computing power and a better understanding of storm physics have allowed the National Hurricane Center to develop forecast cones (forecast forecasts) before tropical cyclones develop. He said that he is now able to announce his future career path.

“Our cone is leaner,” Winkley said, meaning forecasters have more confidence in the hurricane’s path.

The National Hurricane Center annually releases data on how its forecasts match reality, and the trend shows tracking errors have been decreasing since the 1970s. At the time, storm forecasts issued 36 hours in advance could be off by about 230 miles. According to NOAA. So far in the 2020s, that margin of error is approximately 57 miles.

Capucci said the center’s predictions for Hurricane Milton were “almost prescient” and among the best in the center’s history.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Understanding the Strange Nature of the First Discovered Brown Dwarf

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Congratulations, you're twins

K. Miller, R. Hart/California Institute of Technology/IPAC

A strange star that has confused researchers for decades now makes sense. It turns out that it is not a single star, but two companion stars.

“Previously, it was thought that this brown dwarf was meaningless. We wondered if we were doing something horribly wrong, or if our models were horribly wrong. I was worried. But no, everything is fine. I just have friends.” timothy blunt at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland.

Now, two research teams have used instruments from the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii and the Very Large Telescope in Chile to solve the mystery of the first brown dwarf.

Brown dwarfs are “failed stars” in that they have too little material and are too hot to sustain nuclear fusion. Instead of shining brightly for thousands of years, they dim in the night sky like planets. The first brown dwarf, called Gliese 229B, was discovered in 1995 and had an inexplicably large mass. Jerry Xuan I worked on one of the studies at the California Institute of Technology.

Gliese 229B is estimated to have about 71 times the mass of Jupiter, and a star born at that size, even if it were as old as the universe, would cool down and become faint enough to see us. That would have never happened, said participant Brandt. One of the research team. This has led some researchers to suggest that Gliese 22B is a very faint pair of stars, but until now there has been no conclusive evidence.

Xuan said this was because two fellow brown dwarfs, Gliese 229Ba and Bb, were unusually close together, and very precise observations were needed to see them both. However, observations by both teams confirmed that they exist separately, orbiting each other every 12 days, and are always about 16 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.

He says that revealing the dual identity of Gliese 229B may be the start of a trend. samuel white book He was part of a research team at the California Institute of Technology. “There are probably a lot of binary systems that have been hiding in front of us all this time,” he says.

Xuan said he has already selected several other brown dwarfs to study more precisely. Brown dwarfs resemble both exoplanets and stars, so understanding how many of them are actually twins could shed light on the formation of these other objects as well. Maybe.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Free Energy Principle: Is One Idea Enough to Explain the Existence of Everything?

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Neuroscience seems like an unlikely place to find fundamental truths that might apply to everything in the universe. The brain is a special object that does things that few other objects in the universe are expected to be able to do. they recognize. they act. They read magazine articles. Usually they are the exception, not the rule.

Perhaps this is why the free energy principle (FEP) has attracted so much attention. In the early 2000s, what began as a tool to explain cognitive processes such as perception and behavior began to be presented as a “unified brain theory.” FEP was then put forward as the definition of life beyond the brain and, inevitably, as the basis for a new kind of artificial intelligence capable of reasoning. Today, some proponents argue that FEP even encapsulates what it means for something to exist in the universe. “The free energy principle can be read as the physics of self-organization,” says its founder. carl friston At University College London. “It's a description of what lasts.”

But some researchers, frustrated by the changes in scope, are skeptical that the FEP can deliver on many of its loftiest promises. “It was a moving target,” he says Mateo Colomboa philosopher and cognitive scientist at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

All of this makes FEP a source of both fascination and frustration. While notoriously difficult to understand, its dizzying breadth is key to its enduring appeal. Therefore, given the claim that it can be used to explain…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Why Wild-Caught Fish is More Sustainable Than Farmed Fish

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Aquaculture sustainability claims are greatly exaggerated

VIKEN KANTARCI/AFP via Getty Images

It has been argued that fish farming is a sustainable food source that helps feed the growing world population while protecting wild fish populations, but this is not true.

“Aquaculture is not a substitute for catching wild fish from the ocean,” he says. matthew hayek at New York University. “In fact, it relies on catching wild fish from the ocean.”

Hayek and colleagues showed that the amount of wild fish killed to feed farmed fish is 27 to 307 percent higher than previous estimates.

According to Hayek, farmed carnivorous fish eat wild fish caught in the ocean at several times the weight that would be obtained in aquaculture. For example, producing 1 kilogram of salmon may require 4 to 5 kilograms of wild fish.

However, while the demand for farmed fish is increasing, the amount of wild fish caught is not increasing. “In multiple fisheries, we are moving towards a scarcity of fish in the ocean,” Hayek says.

As a result, as the aquaculture industry expands, an increasing proportion of the world's wild fish catch is used as feed for farmed fish.

This means people in places like Southeast Asia and West Africa can no longer afford to buy fish. The fish is highly valuable as a source of farmed fishmeal and fish oil, team members say. Patricia Majolf At the conservation organization Oceana.

Increasing the proportion of plant-based products in the diet of carnivorous fish, or raising omnivorous or herbivorous fish such as tilapia, carp, or catfish, creates another set of problems. Feeding fish with human-edible plant-based food requires more land and water to produce fish food, leading to problems such as deforestation.

“These sectors are growing so rapidly that we are now supplying them with many times more crops from land than before,” says Hayek.

“As long as you're eating animals, you're not immune to some kind of shock somewhere,” he says. “Raising animals requires more resources to nurture and grow their bodies than can be obtained by eating them. It's a basic fact of biology.”

But farmed shellfish, such as mussels, which are eaten by filtering seawater, are far more sustainable, he says.

There are several reasons why Hayek's team's estimate of the amount of wild fish needed to produce a given amount of farmed fish is much higher than past estimates. For one thing, Hayek said the team used a wider range of sources than previous studies, meaning there is less chance of statistical bias.

The researchers also counted all the fish used to produce fishmeal and fish oil, as well as those caught as feed for farmed fish.

Finally, the researchers also estimated the number of fish that were killed but not brought to market. Unwanted species are often discarded from fishing vessels, but usually do not survive. Sometimes they leave the seine slightly open to let unwanted fish escape, but they often get injured and die.

Even ignoring these additional deaths, the conclusion remains that the amount of wild fish killed to feed farmed fish is higher than previously estimated, Hayek said. But counting them adds 20 to 50 percent to the total, he says.

“They show that the use of fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture is more complex than many industry analysts estimate.” Stefano Longo at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. “Fishmeal and fish oil inputs in aquaculture systems are probably underestimated, and possibly significantly underestimated.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Hubble captures twin stars in R Aquarii binary system

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have created a unique time-lapse of R Aquari's dynamic behavior from observations spanning 2014 to 2023.

The two stars in the R Aquarii binary system are approximately 1.6 billion miles apart. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Matthias Stute / Margarita Karovska / Davide De Martin / Mahdi Zamani / N. Bartmann, ESA, Hubble.

Located 650 light years away, R Aquary is a so-called symbiotic binary, consisting of two stars surrounded by a large, dynamic cloud of gas.

Such binaries contain two stars in an unequal and complex relationship: a white dwarf and a red giant.

In a disturbing act of stellar cannibalism, white dwarfs are stripping material from their larger companions.

Suffering red giants and unstable white dwarfs occasionally eject material in strange eruptions, loops, and trajectories.

“The twisted outflow of stars makes the region look like an out-of-control lawn sprinkler,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“This dramatically shows how the universe redistributes the products of nuclear energy that form deep inside stars and are jetted out into space.”

“Aquarius R belongs to a class of double stars called symbiotic stars,” they added.

“The host star is an aging red giant star, and its companion star is a compact, burnt-out star known as a white dwarf.”

“The red giant star is mira variable It is more than 400 times larger than the Sun. ”

“The expanded monster star pulsates, changes temperature, and changes brightness by a factor of 750 over a period of approximately 390 days.”

“At its peak, the star is blindingly bright, about 5,000 times brighter than the Sun.”

“When the white dwarf comes closest to the red giant star during its 44-year orbit, it gravitationally sucks out hydrogen gas.”

“This material accumulates on the surface of the dwarf star until spontaneous nuclear fusion occurs, causing the surface to explode like a giant hydrogen bomb.”

“After the explosion, the fueling cycle begins again.”

“This explosion causes geyser-like filaments to erupt from the core, forming strange loops and trajectories as the plasma emerges as a streamer.”

“The plasma is twisted by the force of the explosion and guided upwards and outwards by a strong magnetic field.”

“The outflow appears to be folded into a spiral pattern.”

“Plasma is ejecting into space at more than 1.6 million km (1 million miles) per hour, which is fast enough to travel from Earth to the Moon in 15 minutes.”

“The filament glows in visible light because it is energized by intense radiation from the star.”

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists believe that Earth’s recent discovery of a new mini-moon indicates significant potential for space mining.

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Our planet’s new small satellite, 2024 PT5, arrived in Earth’s orbit on September 29, 2024.

2024 PT5 is scheduled to capture a temporary flyby from September 29th to November 25th in 2024. Image credit: University of Colorado.

2024 PT5 was discovered by the Asteroid Earth Impact Final Warning System in Sutherland, South Africa on August 7, 2024.

This near-Earth asteroid is about 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter and follows an orbit similar to that of 2022 NX1.

2024 PT5 will become a mini-Earth satellite on September 29 and return to heliocentric orbit 56.6 days later on November 25.

“Near-Earth objects like this offer a glimpse into the formation process of the solar system,” said astrophysicist Dr. Nico Cappellutti. University of Miami.

“Most asteroids in our solar system are rocky remnants left over from the formation of our solar system.”

2024 PT5 is part of Arjuna, an asteroid belt made up of space rocks that follow an orbit around the sun very similar to Earth’s orbit.

“So sometimes they can remain temporarily trapped in our gravitational field,” Dr. Cappellutti said.

“Bringing them this close is a fascinating opportunity.”

“The asteroid, the size of a school bus, is too faint and small to be seen with the naked eye or with amateur telescopes, but its two-month stay around Earth has reinforced our intense interest in space rocks. It helps maintain.”

Two years ago, in what was called the first test of the planetary defense system, NASA crashed a spacecraft into the giant space rock Dimorphos, which could change direction if the asteroid was on a collision course with Earth. proved something.

Private companies also want to send spacecraft to asteroids in hopes of mining the precious metals they contain.

“Asteroids are classified based on their orbits and their contents,” said Dr. Bertrand Dano, also from the University of Miami.

“Some are made entirely of stone, while others contain high concentrations of rare metals, such as platinum and gold for electronics, nickel and cobalt for catalysts and fuel cell technology, and, of course, iron.”

“Mining asteroids is not far off. There are currently millions of asteroids in our solar system, about 2 million of which are larger than 1 km.”

“The resources it contains are a new dream for El Dorado, and there are several companies currently betting on it.”

“Recent missions to rendezvous with, orbit and land on asteroids have proven that space mining may be only a matter of time.”

“However, proceeding with asteroid mining will require huge investments, from the mining equipment that needs to operate in a vacuum to the technology needed to transport the extracted minerals to Earth.”

“And then there’s the spacecraft itself. A dedicated ship that would travel to an asteroid for the purpose of extracting minerals from the asteroid would probably be a robotic ship.”

“A trip to Mars would take about eight months under the best conditions. The space and equipment needed to support life would be put to good use as storage for backup equipment and resources.”

“Because it takes a lot of energy to leave Earth’s gravity, mining missions are better launched from space or from low-gravity bodies such as the Moon, Mars, or Titan, one of Saturn’s natural moons. Sho.”

“Returning to Earth is relatively easy, but dangerous for the material. It would be a shame if all the prizes disappeared. Refining will take place in space, and purified products can be shipped regularly. As far as I know, no one is thinking that far.”

“Yet, asteroid mining could have a 100-fold or more return.”

“Mining platinum or gold from an asteroid and returning it could make you a trillionaire overnight, potentially upending entire economies, trade and markets.”

“Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once said, ‘The first billionaire in history was the one who exploited the natural resources of asteroids.'”

Source: www.sci.news

Marine scientists uncover unique new deep-sea skater species

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Marine biologists identify new species of skate Leucolaja It lurks in the deep waters of the southwestern Indian Ocean.

brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the dorsal side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.

members of the genus Leucolaja A small to medium sized skate, usually with a short, obtuse snout.

To date, 14 valid species of this genus have been identified, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, but also in the Indian Ocean.

“The 14 species currently described are Leucolaja It reaches a maximum size of 30-120 cm and is found in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. ” Dr Simon Weigman by the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis and colleagues.

“Of these 12 species, Leucolaja Compagnoi and Leucolaja wallasei They also live outside the Atlantic Ocean, in continental waters in the southwestern Indian Ocean. ”

The newly discovered Leucolaja This species is the fourth known species of this genus from the western Indian Ocean.

named Leucolaya longirostris (common name is Brown Longnose Skate), apparently endemic to the Madagascar Ridge in Walters Shoals.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers working on the Madagascar Ridge, a raised area of the ocean floor in the southwestern Indian Ocean, collected a total of eight rare skate specimens at depths of 750 to 1,050 meters.” biologists said.

“Despite the long snout, this specimen could definitely be assigned to the genus. Leucolaja This is due to the typical characteristics of claspers. ”

“It can be easily distinguished from all 14 congeners by its long, sharply pointed snout,” the researchers said.

“Furthermore, it appears to occur only on the Madagascar Ridge, away from the known distribution areas of all congeners, and its clasper morphology exhibits several unique aspects.”

brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the ventral side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.

Leucolaya longirostris These are medium-sized skates with a total length of 71.1 cm or more.

Males mature at about 60 cm. The largest known female is 70cm long. The smallest known specimen is a young female with a total length of 27.6 cm.

recognition of Leucolaya longirostris Provide new insights into morphological variation within the genus Leucolaja “This constitutes a very unusual and noteworthy addition to this genus Sketchi,” the researchers said.

“Nevertheless, the very limited distribution of this new species raises concerns about its ability to sustain fisheries, and it may be susceptible to capture in longline fisheries, particularly deep-sea trawl fisheries.”

“Although little information is available about fisheries operating in the region of the Madagascar Ridge, this deep-sea skate tolerates intensive fishing pressure, potentially due to its slow-life history characteristics and low productivity. You may not be able to.”

“Walter's Shoal has had good catches in the past and this pressure may return in the future,” they added.

“As a fishery targeting orange roughy (Hoplostessus atlanticus) and Kinmedai (Belix Decactylus) have typically used mesophoric trawls on the ocean floor, but new species may have benthic refugia. ”

“However, further research is needed to investigate its distribution, life history, population size and trends, and threats.”

“This is essential to improving data collection and research and making more effective conservation and management policy decisions.”

a paper Report findings published in journals biology.

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Simon Weigman others. 2024. Description of a noteworthy new type of skate shoe Leucolaja Malm of the southwestern Indian Ocean, 1877 (Radidae, Radidae): Introducing 3D modeling as an innovative tool for visualization of clasper characters. biology 13 (6): 405;doi: 10.3390/Biology 13060405

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of Seven New Star Trek Tree Frog Species in Madagascar

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Named after the otherworldly sounds these tree frogs make, Boufis The rainforests of Madagascar are expanses, some of which remind us of the sounds of technological equipment from fictional works. Star Trek Scientists have named seven new species in honor of the fictional captain of a spaceship. Bufis Khaki, bofis picardi, Bofis Siskoi, Boufis Janeyae, bofis archery, bofis pickay and bofis barnamae.

bofis picardi a male paratype from Anara, Madagascar. Image credit: Vences others., doi: 10.3897/vz.74.e121110.

There are currently 80 described species. Boufis It is the most unique genus of the Malagasy Comoran endemic family. Mantelidae.

Members of this genus are tree frogs with relatively generalized reproductive behavior, usually laying eggs in stream or pond water where tadpoles develop.

Many Boufis species are very vocal, with males emitting loud and clear advertising calls.

“Seven newly discovered species of Hyla genus” Boufis “Frogs, which are found throughout the rainforests of Madagascar, use a special bird-like whistle to communicate with other frogs,” said Professor Miguel Wences of the Technical University of Braunschweig and colleagues.

“The sound of these whistles reminded our team: Star Trek similar whistle-like sound effects are frequently used. ”

“That’s why we named our frogs after Kirk, Picard, Cisco, Janeway, Archer, Burnham and Pike – seven of the most iconic captains of science fiction.”

“These frog calls don’t just sound like movie sound effects. Star Trek But finding them often requires quite a trek,” said Dr. Mark Schaerts, a researcher at the Natural History Museum of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen.

“While some species are found in areas accessible to tourists, finding some of these species requires extensive expeditions to remote forest fragments and mountain peaks. It was.”

“We believe that here lies the true meaning of scientific discovery and exploration, and that it is based in the spirit of: Star Trek”

For fans of Star Trek, Boufis The call may remind you of the so-called “Boardsman’s Whistle” or the sound from a device called a “tricorder.” To others, it may sound like a bird or an insect.

Dr. Jörn Köhler, senior curator of vertebrate zoology at the Hesse State Museum in Darmstadt, said: “If the frog is just croaking like the European frogs we’re familiar with, it’s likely that it’s coming from a nearby river. “It might not have been audible over the sound of the rushing water.”

“Their high-pitched trills and whistles stand out above all the noise.”

“Due to their appearance, these frogs have traditionally been confused with similar species, but each species produces a distinctive high-pitched whistle, which helps distinguish them from each other and from other frogs. I did.”

This finding is reported in the following article: paper in diary vertebrate zoology.

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M. Vances others. 2024. The Communicator’s Whistle: A Journey Through Taxonomy Bufis mallogesensis This complex reveals seven new morphologically enigmatic tree frogs (Amphibians: Anura: Mantelidae) from Madagascar. vertebrate zoology 74: 643-681;doi: 10.3897/vz.74.e121110

Source: www.sci.news

The negative impact of frenemies and love-hate relationships on your well-being

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Mariana Castel/Millennium Images, UK

When I think about the members of my social network, I am almost filled with feelings of pure love and warmth. I can't wait to see them again, knowing we can bask in each other's love and support.

But for some, it evokes a completely different emotion: a mixture of enthusiasm and fear. In terms of conversation, encounters like Russian roulette are guaranteed. If I'm in a good mood, these guys will give me a fun night, but if I catch them at the wrong time, they can suck all my goodwill. I have no idea what will happen.

If this sounds familiar, it means you have a frenemy too. Psychologists call them “ambivalent relationships,” and not only can they ruin a good party, but they can also have surprising consequences for your happiness. A wealth of research shows that love-hate relationships like this are often more stressful than interacting with people who are constantly mean. It can harm your mental and physical health. They can also cause you to age prematurely.

Knowing this, the easy solution seems to be to cut ties with these people. However, our relationship with frenemies is not simple, and it is not always possible or desirable to abandon them. However, gaining deeper insight into your own ambiguous relationships can help you cope more effectively. You might even become better friends that way. Because if you know the signs to look out for, you may realize that the frenemy in some relationships is you.

Since the 1970s, huge amount of research We're looking at thousands of things…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Animal life discovered in the crust beneath deep-sea hydrothermal vents by researchers

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Marine biologists have discovered adult tubeworms and other extrusive animals beneath the ocean floor of the East Pacific Ridge, a volcanically active and rapidly spreading ridge with numerous hydrothermal vents.

East Pacific Rise, subseafloor vents on the seafloor surface and crust on the outskirts of Fava Flow. Image credit: Bright others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52631-9.

The East Pacific Rise is a volcanically active ridge located where two plates meet at the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

It contains many hydrothermal vents, which are openings in the ocean floor that form where ocean water and magma meet beneath the Earth's crust.

“It was once thought that the ocean-floor crust beneath hydrothermal vents was inhabited only by microorganisms and viruses,” says researcher Monika Breit of the University of Vienna and colleagues.

“But there are animals on the ocean floor that look like giant tube worms. Liftia Pachyputira Thrive. “

“The larvae are thought to disperse into the water column, even though they have never been observed there.”

“We hypothesized that these larvae migrate beneath the ocean floor via vent fluids.”

Dr. Bright and his co-authors sailing on the Schmidt Oceanographic Research Vessel Falcor (also)used the remotely operated vehicle SuB-astian to undertake a series of dives into a hydrothermal vent site located at a depth of 2,515 meters in the East Pacific Ridge.

The vehicle's arm was used to expose part of the ocean's crust, which revealed a warm, warm habitat that is home to a variety of species previously found only on the ocean floor, including giant tube worms and migratory animals such as earthworms and snails. A fluid-filled cavity was revealed.

Larvae from seafloor communities can colonize these subseafloor habitats, demonstrating the complex connectivity between seafloor and subseafloor ecosystems.

An animal habitat has been discovered beneath the ocean floor of the Earth's crust, but its extent is currently unknown, raising the urgency of its protection against potential future environmental changes.

“The presence of adult tubeworms suggests that the larvae dispersed through the recharge zone of the hydrothermal circulation system,” the authors said.

“Given that many of these animals are hosts to dense bacterial communities that oxidize reduced chemicals and fix carbon, subseafloor expansion of animal habitats may be localized. and regional geochemical flux measurements.”

“These findings highlight the need to protect vents, as the extent of these habitats has not yet been fully determined.”

team's work appear in the diary nature communications.

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M. Bright others. 2024. Animals that live in the crust beneath the shallow ocean floor of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Nat Commune 15, 8466; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52631-9

Source: www.sci.news

New Images of Comet Gassan-ATLAS Captured by NASA Astronauts and SOHO Spacecraft

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A bright comet from the Oort cloud named C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is passing close to Earth and will be visible until late October 2024.

This image, taken by the ESA/NASA Solar-Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on October 10, 2024, shows Comet Atlas Gassan and its bright tail streaming from upper left to right. Mercury will be visible as a bright dot on the left. Image credit: ESA/NASA.

Comet Tsuchiyama-ATLAS It was discovered on January 9, 2023 by astronomers from China's Zishan Observatory.

The comet, also known as C/2023 A3, was independently discovered by South Africa's ATLAS on February 22, 2023.

It orbits the Sun in a retrograde orbit and lies at an inclination of 139°.

It reached perihelion on September 27, 2024, at a distance of 0.391 astronomical units. Its closest approach to Earth was on October 12th. It is expected to be 200 AU from the Sun in 2239.

Each day throughout October, the comet rises higher and higher in the western sky as it moves away from the sun. But as it progresses, it gets darker and darker.

October 14th to 24th is the best time to observe it using binoculars or a small telescope.

Eagle-eyed skywatchers may be able to spot the star with their naked eyes for a few days, but then binoculars or a telescope will be needed as it gets darker.

“Comet Tuchinshan-Atlas may have come from the Oort Cloud, a region of space between 2,000 times the distance between Earth and the Sun and one light year.” said Jason Ybarra, director of the WVU Planetarium and Observatory.

“This region is so far away that the gravitational pull from the Sun competes with the gravitational pull from passing stars and the entire Milky Way galaxy.”

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick took this photo of comet Atlas Tsuchiyama on September 28, 2024. At the time, the comet was about 70.8 million kilometers (44 million miles) from Earth. Image credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick.

“The larger the orbit, the longer it takes for the comet to orbit that orbit,” he added.

“In the case of comets originating from the Oort cloud, their orbits take a very long time, so their orbits may change due to gravitational interactions with other bodies in the solar system, and it is possible to predict the future behavior of comets. It becomes difficult to do so.”

“If it gains enough energy from these interactions, Comet Gassan-ATLAS may never come back. It will have to wait at least another 80,000 years. In any case, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s an event.”

Just before sunrise on September 28, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick took a time-lapse photo of the comet Tuchingshan Atlas orbiting over the South Pacific Ocean southeast of New Zealand from the International Space Station.

From October 7th to October 11th, the comet brightly illuminated the field of view of the onboard LASCO (Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph Experiment) instrument. ESA/NASA Solar Heliosphere Observatory (Soho).

This device uses a disc to block the sun's bright light, making it easier to see details and objects near the sun.

Source: www.sci.news

Seven frog species recently identified produce vocalizations that resemble the sound effects from Star Trek

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Boophis pikei, a new species of frog from Madagascar

Miguel Vances (CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Deep in the forests of Madagascar, researchers have discovered seven new species of frogs and named them after characters. star trek.

“The frog sounds are very reminiscent of the series' iconic futuristic sound effects,” he says. Mark D. Schertz At the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Bufis mallogesensis A small brownish frog found in the damp forests of Madagascar. The animal was first described in 1994, but over time, researchers began to wonder if this puppy-eyed amphibian was actually more than one species. I did.

To find out, Schatz and his colleagues collected as much data as possible from a variety of individuals. B. mallogesensis Collected over 30 years. They recorded and analyzed the frogs' calls, compared their physical characteristics, and sequenced their DNA.

Their results showed that what was previously thought to be one species of frog is actually eight different species. Physically, they look almost identical, Schertz says. “The main difference is in the sounds they make. Their piercing, high-pitched whistle calls differ in pitch and timing of the whistle.” DNA sequencing also shows genetic differences, making them different It was confirmed that it is a species.

Male frogs attract females with bird-like calls, but because these newly named species live near rivers, they have evolved high-pitched whistles to make their calls stand out from the noise of flowing water. Mr. Schertz thinks so. However, much about the lives of these frogs remains a mystery.

one of the species is named Boufis Khaki, In honor of James T. Kirk. Other members are named after Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisco, Kathryn Janeway, Jonathan Archer, Michael Burnham, and Christopher Pike.

“We wanted to honor captains who lead teams on missions of exploration and discovery,” says Schatz. “This may also serve as a reminder of how much discovery still remains on Earth before we set our sights on the stars.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

How scared individuals can manipulate women’s brains through biohacking

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

There is a common belief that animals can smell fear, but can humans do the same? Can you detect someone’s fear just by their scent or musk?

The straightforward answer is “no, you can’t.” While other species, particularly those heavily reliant on their sense of smell, can do so, humans have seemed to lose this ability over time.

The brain area responsible for detecting pheromones, chemical messengers that convey mood information to others, does not seem to work the same way in humans. This function is akin to an appendix of the nervous system.

However, this does not mean that humans are entirely incapable of sensing fear. Research has shown that when women inhale the sweat of men experiencing fear, they become more sensitive to fear as well.

It is important to note that women appear to be more attuned to emotional scents emitted by men. Additionally, the fear response triggered by smelling fear is more subconscious rather than an immediate conscious recognition of fear.

In essence, humans can smell fear to a limited extent in specific situations. The response is either unnoticed due to subconscious processing or perceived as the scent of sweat.

This article answers the question posed by Edward Cox of Edinburgh: “Can you smell fear?”

If you have any questions, please email us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or contact us via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (remember to include your name and location).

Explore more fun facts and incredible science pages with us.

Read more:

The new science of phobias: why phobias form and how to deal with them
The Science of Fear: What Makes Us Scary?
How to overcome phobias and conquer fear in 4 steps

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

NASA launches Europa Clipper spacecraft towards Jupiter’s icy moons

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Europa Clipper launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm EDT, beginning a six-year journey to Jupiter's icy moon Europa. The spacecraft will fly 49 times, approaching as close as 25 kilometers. Searching for the ingredients of life below the surface (16 miles).

Europa Clipper will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm EDT. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett.

european clipper This is the largest spacecraft ever built by NASA for a planetary mission.

Expanding the giant solar array, the spacecraft could span the length of a basketball court (30.5 meters, or 100 feet, end to end).

“We congratulate the European Clipper team as it begins its first journey to the ocean world beyond Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

“NASA is a world leader in exploration and discovery, and the Europa Clipper mission is no exception.”

“By exploring the unknown, Europa Clipper will help us better understand whether there is potential for life not only within our solar system, but also on the billions of moons and planets outside the sun. .”

“We couldn't be more excited about the incredible and unprecedented science that NASA's European Clipper mission will bring for generations to come,” said Nikki Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. states.

“All of NASA's science is interconnected, and Europa Clipper's scientific discoveries will help other missions in Jupiter exploration, including Juno, Galileo, and Voyager, explore the possibility of inhabited planets beyond our home planet. We will build on the legacy we have created as we explore possible worlds.”

“We are very happy to be able to send Europa Clipper to explore a potentially habitable ocean world, thanks to all of our colleagues and partners who have worked so hard to date.” said Dr. Laurie Leshin, Director of NASA's Jet Division. Promotion Institute.

“The Europa Clipper will undoubtedly deliver amazing science. It is always bittersweet to send something we have worked so hard on for so many years on its long journey, but this amazing team We know that spacecraft will expand our knowledge of our solar system and provide inspiration for future exploration.”

“As Europa Clipper embarks on its journey, I will reflect on the countless dedications, innovations, and teamwork that made this moment possible,” said Europa Clipper project manager, also at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jordan Evans said.

“This launch is more than just the next chapter in solar system exploration. It is a journey into another ocean, driven by our common curiosity and the quest to answer the question 'Are we alone?' A leap forward to uncover the mysteries of the world. ”

The journey to Jupiter will be a long 2.9 billion kilometers (1.8 billion miles), and instead of heading straight there, Europa Clipper will orbit Mars and then Earth, speeding past it.

The spacecraft is scheduled to begin orbiting Jupiter in April 2030 and begin its 49 science-focused flybys of Europa in 2031 while orbiting the gas giant.

This orbit is designed to take full advantage of the science Europa Clipper can perform and minimize exposure to Jupiter's notoriously intense radiation.

Scientists on the mission will be able to “see” how thick Europa's ice shell is and gain a deeper understanding of the vast ocean beneath.

They will examine surface material that may have come up from below, look for fingerprints of organic compounds that form the building blocks of life, and sample gases emitted by the moon for evidence of habitability. I will.

They will analyze the results and look for signs of a water world that could support life beneath the moon's frozen shell.

“It's important for us to picture what that alien ocean is like, the chemistry and biochemistry that might be going on there,” said Europa Clipper team member said Dr. Morgan Cable, an astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Its research centers on searching for the types of salts, ices, and organic materials that make up the main ingredients of a habitable world.

This is where an imager called MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) comes into play.

Operating in the infrared, the spacecraft's MISE splits the reflected light into different wavelengths to identify the corresponding atoms and molecules.

The mission will also use an instrument called E-THEMIS (European Thermal Emission Imaging System), which also operates in infrared, to explore potential sites near Europa's surface where plumes could bring deep-sea material closer to the surface. Attempt to identify hotspots.

The task of the EIS (Europa Imaging System) is to take clear, detailed pictures of Europa's surface using both narrow-image and wide-image cameras.

“EIS imagers will provide incredibly high-resolution images to understand how Europa's surface continues to evolve and change,” said Dr. Cable.

NASA's Cassini mission has discovered giant plumes of water vapor spewing from jets near the south pole of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus.

Europa may also emit a misty column of water drawn from the ocean or from reservoirs within its shell.

The Europa Clipper's instrument, called Europa-UVS (Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph), can explore the plume and study any material that could be ejected into space.

Regardless of whether Europa has a plume or not, the spacecraft will carry two instruments to analyze small amounts of gas and dust particles ejected from the moon's surface by collisions with micrometeorites and high-energy particles. It has been. MASPEX (MAss SPECtrometer for Planetary Exploration/Europa) and SUDA (Surface Dust Analyzer).

These instruments capture small pieces of material emitted from surfaces and turn them into charged particles that reveal their composition.

“The spacecraft will study the gases and grains emitted by Europa by sticking out its tongue, tasting the grains, and inhaling those gases,” Dr. Cable said.

The mission will also explore Europa's external and internal structures in a variety of ways. That's because both structures have far-reaching implications for the moon's habitability.

To gain insight into the thickness of ice shells and the presence of oceans, as well as their depth and salinity, the mission will measure the moon's induced magnetic field with the ECM (European Clipper Magnetometer) and use that data to analyze currents from flowing charged particles. We plan to combine it with the measured values of . Around Europa — Data provided by PIMS (Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding).

In addition, mission scientists will use REASON (European Assessment and Near-Surface Sounding Radar), which monitors up to 18 miles (29 km) away, to detect every detail from the presence of ocean to ice structure and topography. I plan to investigate. several miles) into the shell. itself a potentially habitable environment.

Measuring the changes that Europa's gravity causes in radio signals should help determine the thickness of the ice and the depth of the ocean.

“Non-ice material on the surface can migrate into deep internal pockets of brine within the ice shell,” said Dr. Steve Vance, a member of the European Clipper team and an astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“Some may be large enough to be considered lakes, or at least ponds.”

“Using the collected data to perform large-scale computer modeling of Europa's internal structure, we may be able to uncover the ocean's composition and estimate its temperature profile.”

“Whatever the situation, the discovery will open a new chapter in the search for extraterrestrial life.”

“The European Clipper is almost certain to raise as many questions as it answers, if not more, in a completely different class than we have been thinking about for the past 25 years.”

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

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble observations reveal Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is wobbling and changing in size

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope detected Jupiter’s most distinctive feature, the Great Red Spot, on eight dates over a single 90-day oscillation period from December 2023 to March 2024. I observed it.

simon others. measured the size, shape, brightness, color, and vorticity of the Great Red Spot over one complete oscillation cycle. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Joseph DePasquale, STScI.

“We knew its motion varied slightly with longitude, but we didn’t expect it to oscillate in magnitude,” said Dr. Amy Simon, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“As far as we know, it has never been identified before.”

“This is really the first time we’ve had a proper imaging rhythm for the Great Red Spot.”

“Using Hubble’s high resolution, we can say that the Great Red Spot is steadily moving in and out at the same time as it moves faster and slower.”

“This was very unexpected. There is no hydrodynamic explanation at this time.”

Dr. Simon and colleagues used Hubble to zoom in on the Great Red Spot and closely observe its size, shape, and subtle color changes.

“If you look closely, you can see that many things are changing every day,” Dr. Simon said.

“This includes ultraviolet observations showing that the clear center of the storm is brightest when the Great Red Spot is at its maximum magnitude during its oscillation period.”

“This indicates less absorption of haze in the upper atmosphere.”

“As the Great Red Spot accelerates and decelerates, it’s working against the jet stream, which has strong north and south winds,” said Dr. Mike Wong, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley.

“It’s similar to how having too many ingredients in the middle of a sandwich forces a slice of bread to expand.”

The authors contrasted this with Neptune. On Neptune, dark spots can drift violently within their latitudes without a strong jet stream to hold them in place.

The Great Red Spot is held at southern latitudes trapped between the jet stream, with limited telescopic observations of Earth.

Astronomers predict that the star will continue to shrink and then assume a stable, less elongated shape.

“Currently, we’re overfilling that latitudinal band compared to wind fields,” Dr. Simon said.

“Once it contracts within that band, the wind actually holds it in place.”

“We predict that the size of the Great Red Spot will probably stabilize, but so far Hubble has only observed it for one oscillation period.”

team’s result Published in Planetary Science Journal.

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Amy A. Simon others. 2024. A detailed study of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot over a 90-day oscillation period. planet. Science. J 5,223;doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad71d1

Source: www.sci.news