Two Unwelcome Viruses Could Be Disrupting Honeybee Flight

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Honeybees battle infectious fungi, bacteria, mites, and viruses daily.

Anthony Brown/Alamy

Two non-threatening viral infections in adult honeybees are surprisingly covert and might disrupt their flying ability. One virus enhances speed, while the other acts as a brake.

Bees face a continual fight against infectious fungi, bacteria, mites, and viruses, many of which pose a threat to entire colonies. However, not all pathogens are equally harmful. For instance, both the deformed wing virus (DWV) and the sacbrood virus (SBV) can lead to severe symptoms if they infect honeybees during their early development. Despite being linked to increased mortality and a decrease in colony size, infection in adult honeybees is often viewed as asymptomatic. Michelle Flenniken from Montana State University and her team questioned whether these viruses were truly harmless.

The researchers studied bee health through their flight capabilities and infected bees with either DWV or SBV. After three days, the bees were tethered to a device resembling a set of small balls, forcing them to fly in circles. A total of 240 bees were observed, and the team measured their flight speed, duration, and distance.

Flenniken and her colleagues found that bees infected with DWV flew at slower speeds compared to uninfected counterparts. Conversely, those infected with SBV exhibited enhanced flight performance. The team predicts that bees with high DWV levels will cover 49% shorter distances than healthy honeybees. In contrast, severely infected SBV bees could experience a flight range increase of up to 53%. “SBV infections are detrimental to larvae and typically harm overall colony health,” says Flenniken.

This research reshapes our understanding of the subtle and odd impacts stealth infections can have on honeybee behavior. Other pathogens are known to influence bee actions. For instance, the Kako virus, a distinct variant of DWV, may provoke more aggressive behavior in bees, as noted by Eugene Riabov, who was not part of this research at the James Hutton Institute in the UK.

“It’s fascinating to observe how members of both DWV and SBV, which are closely related, exhibit such contrasting effects on honeybee aerodynamics,” remarks Riabov.

By disrupting bees’ ability to fly and collect nectar, viruses like DWV could negatively affect their pollination of nearby plants, complicating their foraging efforts. Consequently, as bees struggle, the implications reverberate throughout the entire ecosystem.

Science Advances doi: doi:10.1126/sciadv.adw8382

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Uncover New Clues About Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Hubble Space Telescope Image of Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas. The telescope tracked the comet, causing background stars to appear as streaks.

NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA)/Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

The telescope’s observations of the Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas have shown it resembles a comet found beyond our solar system. Intriguing aspects, like the substantial amounts of water detected even far from the sun, may shed light on the ancient stellar system from which it originated.

Objects from other solar systems that pass through ours are extremely rare. Discovered in July, 3i/Atlas is the third such interstellar visitor, following Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019. Remarkably, its visit has only been a few months long.

Scientists speculate that its high speed may indicate that it originates from a star system billions of years older than our own. Initial estimates suggested it has a diameter of approximately 20 kilometers, but details about the extensive plume of water and gas remain limited.

Toni Santana Ross from the University of Barcelona and colleagues have utilized ground-based telescopes to observe the comet and its tail, finding it contains moderate amounts of dust. Notably, the dust appears to increase as the comet approaches the sun, mirroring patterns seen in comets from our outer solar system. “It’s a typical object; there’s nothing particularly strange about it,” states Santana Ross.

Astronomers have also monitored comets via space. Researcher collaborating found that the Hubble Space Telescope might estimate the comet’s size between 320 meters and 5.6 kilometers, and it likely started off much smaller.

Comets usually contain ice, which vaporizes as they near the sun, creating water vapor in their tails. Utilizing the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Satellite, Zexi Xing from Auburn University has detected water in the comet’s tail located significantly farther from the sun than is typical for comets. The amount of water detected suggests that about 20% of the comet’s surface is responsible for this production, exceeding typical solar system comet proportions.

Such prolific water generation may indicate that 3i/Atlas originates from a star system much older than ours, hypothesizes Cyrielle Opitom at the University of Edinburgh. This is due to older stellar systems generally having higher water content compared to other molecules. “It might be that because it formed earlier, it retains more water than other molecules, but it’s premature to reach a conclusion,” she remarks.

Astronomers are also scouring historical data to determine if the telescope mistakenly detected a comet. Adina Feinstein and her team at Michigan State University have found that the transit exoplanet survey satellite (TESS) was operationally searching for planets around other stars and incidentally captured a comet between May 7 and June 3. “It just happened that we were observing the exact region where 3i/Atlas was at that moment,” says Feinstein.

The comet was found to be surprisingly bright at that time, suggesting it was releasing significant amounts of water or gas even at considerable distances from the sun. “We didn’t detect transits in regions of our solar system where water would typically start to react,” highlights Feinstein.

In this distant region, the likelihood of finding water is low, with gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide being more common, according to Opitom. “This is a pattern seen in comets from our solar system; they can exhibit activity at much greater distances due to these volatile materials.”

Yet, the fact that it was active so far from the sun could indicate that this comet has not been significantly exposed to starlight throughout its life, notes Matthew Jenge from Imperial College London.

“What this implies is that this comet was ejected from the fringes of another solar system,” Genge describes. While the exact cause of its ejection is uncertain, it’s possible that gravitational forces from a nearby star could have set it on a trajectory towards us, he explains.

Opitom mentions that the James Webb Space Telescope has recently conducted its observations and that astronomers will analyze the data in the upcoming weeks, promising more insights into 3i/Atlas soon.

As comets approach their closest point to the sun in October, astronomers will have the opportunity to measure the gases they emit. This will provide important insights not only into the characteristics of the comet itself but also into the composition of the molecules in its active tail, which may reveal details about the formation of 3i/Atlas, according to Opitom.

Similar to previous interstellar objects, speculations about potential alien technology exist, but Santana Ross has found no supporting evidence. “If you take a holiday photo and see something tall with a long neck and four legs, you might think of it as an alien, but it’s most likely a giraffe,” he quips. “There’s no reason to believe this is anything unusual or evidence of something extraordinary.”

World Capital of Astronomy: Chile

Discover Chilean astronomical wonders. Visit some of the world’s most advanced observatories and admire the starry skies beneath some of the clearest skies on the planet.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How Super Heavy Chemistry Can Transform the Periodic Table

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The heaviest atoms that form the molecule were observed

David Dixon, Sarah Sprouse/University of Alabama; Jennifer Pore/Berkeley Lab

Scientists have observed the heaviest atoms participating in chemical reactions and forming molecules. This groundbreaking discovery could potentially reshape the periodic table, advancing “super heavy” chemistry, which encompasses large-scale radioactive elements.

Some rare chemical elements are challenging to study, complicating their placement in the periodic table. For instance, the radioactive element copernicium is situated among transition metals but behaves like elements from various groups.

This challenge also affects the lower elements of the table. Heavy radioactive atoms known as actinides can be examined by Jennifer Pore at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. To better understand the properties of actinides, she and her team initiated a chemical reaction to produce a molecule featuring Nobelium, the heaviest actinide and element 102.

The researchers employed a particle accelerator to bombard highly energetic calcium atom beams into lead clusters. The collision resulted in the formation of Nobelium atoms, which subsequently reacted with nitrogen and water molecules present in the air. A swiftly operating detector, akin to a mass spectrometer, more accurately identified the resulting molecules than any prior chemical attempts.

Next, the team replicated the experiment using thorium instead of lead, creating an actinide called actinium (element 89). By comparing the reactions of actinium and nobelium, the researchers confirmed that these two elements behave similarly as they reside in the same column of the periodic table.

Nobelium not only has a rightful place in the periodic table, but it has also become the heaviest element directly observed forming new molecules. However, the heaviest element ever synthesized remains Oganesson, element 118. The techniques used to synthesize molecules containing nobelium and accurately identify them may open new avenues in research.

According to Sofia Heinz from the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Germany, this new experiment marks a significant technological leap in hyperheavy chemistry. Although molecules containing elements heavier than nobelium have been synthesized in the past, researchers were unable to directly identify them. “Being able to study a single molecule directly is a key advancement,” she states.

Peter Schwerdtfeger from Massey University in New Zealand remarked that this novel experiment “opens the door for future experiments involving a diverse range of superheavy elements.”

Even prior to conducting new experiments, the findings have already made an impact. Pore and her researchers originally believed that additional molecules were needed to facilitate reactions with actinium and nobelium. However, unexpectedly, the superheavy element reacted with substances already present. Anastasia Bolshevski at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands suggested that this could prompt scientists to reevaluate past experimental data that assumed they were examining single atoms. “This will keep theorists busy for some time,” Schwerdtfeger adds.

For Pore, the next hurdle involves studying even heavier elements like dubnium, which is element 105. To accomplish this, teams may need to accelerate the procedures to accommodate the heavier elements.

“If all goes well, I aim to explore larger elements at the end of the periodic table. We have yet to explore their heaviness limits with this methodology,” Pore remarks. Unlike nobelium, some of these larger elements may require a new positioning within the standard table.

Topics:

Chemistry /
Nuclear Physics

Source: www.newscientist.com

Europe Could Experience Record Temperatures of 40°C in a Worst-Case Scenario

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Volunteers engage in efforts to combat wildfires near Stamata, Greece in 2024

Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In light of current climate trends, Europe may grapple with summer heatwaves and severe droughts that could leave large parts of the continent enduring weeks of extreme temperatures, water shortages, and soaring energy costs.

Recent research aims to delineate the “worst-case scenario” regarding heat and drought potential during summer months in Central and Western Europe.

Laura Suarez-Gutierrez from Switzerland’s ETH Zurich and her team initiated their research with seven simulations based on climate models representing heatwaves. They systematically introduced minor variations to the initial atmospheric conditions of the models and assessed different potential outcomes, utilizing a method called ensemble boosting, resulting in more severe heat waves in each simulation.

“Each iteration generates numerous events with slight adjustments in the initial model state,” noted Vicki Thompson from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, which did not participate in the research. “The most severe scenarios they present suggest that such outcomes could occur right now.”

While many simulations failed to produce heatwaves, some resulted in significantly harsher heatwaves and droughts compared to historical records.

In the most extreme scenario, temperatures may soar to 45°C (113°F) for over a month in certain regions, accompanied by severe droughts. Events of this nature far exceed the heat and drought phenomena experienced in 2003 or 2018.

Additionally alarming is that this modeling implies that the most intense heat waves tend to follow each other closely, potentially leaving Europe in a cycle of extreme summers that heavily burden both humans and ecosystems. This increases the likelihood of wildfires, drought, energy and food shortages, and ecosystem collapse, experts warn.

“Our findings illuminate the potential effects of unprecedented combinations of heat, fire weather, and soil drought,” the researchers remarked.

This cycle of persistent heat waves and prolonged drought may be partly attributed to soil drying out due to extreme heat, explains Pascal Iu from the Institute for Climate and Environmental Sciences in France. One heatwave can deplete soil moisture and exacerbate extreme heat, stating, “Drier soil conditions can foster atmospheric systems that persist for extended periods.”

While Yiou collaborated with Suarez-Gutierrez, he was not part of the study. He emphasized that these worst-case scenarios are feasible outcomes given current climatic conditions. “They are not suggesting these events will definitely occur, rather they are indicating that such scenarios are possible,” he mentions. He drew a parallel with the 2021 heatwave in western North America, which shattered temperature records and became the deadliest weather event in Canadian history, made possible by very atypical atmospheric conditions that caused extraordinary heat levels.

“The goal is to establish optimal conditions for extreme events,” said Jana Sillmann at the International Climate Research Centre in Norway. This aids decision-makers in refining their emergency response plans, preparing for potential occurrences of record-breaking heatwaves in a single summer.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Rising Threat of Carnivorous Bacteria in Florida and Louisiana

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The number of fatalities linked to “carnivorous” bacteria is increasing along the southeast coast of the US. Five individuals in Florida, Four in Louisiana, and One in the Outer Banks have succumbed this year to infections that can lead to necrotic wounds.

The culprit, the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, thrives in warm seawater. According to the state health department, Florida has reported 16 cases so far this year. Louisiana has reported 17 cases, exceeding last year’s average. North Carolina has recorded seven incidents, confirmed by its Department of Health and Human Services, while Mississippi has filed three lawsuits this year, as per the state’s health department.

The initial fatalities in Florida were documented in Bay County along the Gulf Coast, as well as Hillsboro County and regions in Broward and St. John’s Counties, located just south of Jacksonville in southeastern Florida.

Bacteria can enter the body through skin wounds, resulting in tissue necrosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vibrio vulnificus can also be contracted via the consumption of contaminated food, particularly raw oysters. The exact means of infection for those in Florida remains unclear.

As reported by the CDC, approximately one in five individuals infected with Vibrio vulnificus will die.

Antalpreet Jutt, a professor of engineering at the University of Florida, noted that while infections are still relatively rare, “something feels off this year.” Nevertheless, he mentioned the uncertainty around the reasons behind the spike in infections.

“This is definitely not normal,” Jutt expressed. “We haven’t encountered this many cases early in the summer in quite some time.”

Jutt explained that cases of Vibrio vulnificus tend to rise following hurricanes. Last year, Florida registered a total of 82 cases, potentially worsened by an “extremely active” hurricane season when bacteria can persist in floodwaters.

“This year, it seems there are a higher number of pathogens than usual,” he remarked.

The current hurricane season is still projected to be above average as the US enters its peak period, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Jutt’s research group is examining why there are elevated concentrations of plankton and chlorophyll (indicators of Vibrio) throughout the Florida panhandle, which he describes as a concerning trend.

What is Vibrio vulnificus?

Rita Colwell, a microbiology professor at the University of Maryland, states that Vibrio vulnificus is one of over 200 species of Vibrio bacteria.

Most Vibrio infections are not harmful to humans, according to Jutt. Some may only impact marine life.

However, Vibrio bacteria are responsible for around 80,000 infections annually, as reported by the Cleveland Clinic. The majority of these cases are gastrointestinal, with only 100-200 cases arising from Vibrio vulnificus. Other Vibrio species, such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus, are more commonly associated with stomach illnesses, while another, Vibrio cholerae, is known to cause cholera.

Vibrio bacteria are primarily found along the southeastern coast of the United States, favoring warmer waters, but are also present on the west coast. With rising sea temperatures, cases have increasingly been reported further north, including areas in New York, Connecticut, and parts of Maryland, Jutt noted.

Who is at risk?

Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Florida Health, mentioned that spending time in salty or brackish waters can lead to Vibrio bacteria infiltrating open wounds. Most cases he has encountered are associated with extended exposure to the water, though even short contact can be sufficient.

Visible symptoms of infection can develop within hours, including redness, swelling, and the formation of “bull” blisters. This site can become painful. If the infection progresses, it may enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to sepsis, which can be fatal. According to the CDC, symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, and dangerously low blood pressure.

Jutt mentioned that individuals with cirrhosis, weakened immune systems, and those over 65 are particularly vulnerable to infections.

Infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus can be treated with antibiotics.

How to prevent Vibrio infection

Beatty advises covering any open wounds before entering the ocean, noting that even waterproof band-aids can be effective.

Individuals who suspect they have an infection should seek immediate medical attention, Beatty cautioned. Delays can significantly increase the risk of severe complications compared to milder cases.

“Late presentations to healthcare are why many individuals suffer more serious consequences than others,” he stated. “Those who seek treatment shortly after the onset of symptoms, and are given antibiotics promptly, are likely to fare better and avoid severe complications.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

New Research Reveals Larger Dinosaurs Don’t Have Stronger Bites Than Expected

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

It’s not that the enormous, carnivorous dinosaurs weren’t the terrifying, bone-crushing predators we envision.

A new study published in the journal Current Biology reveals that a variety of bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spinosaurus, and Allosaurus, have evolved to possess the necessary skull strength for powerful bites.

Utilizing 3D scanning and computer modeling, the researchers examined the skull biomechanics of 18 species of theropods.

The findings indicated that while T. Rex and other giants had skulls designed to deliver immense bite forces capable of breaking bones, they actually possessed relatively weak jaws and employed diverse hunting strategies.

“The skull of a T. Rex was specifically optimized for high bite force, which led to significant skull stress,” stated the lead author, Dr. Andrew Lowe from the University of Bristol, UK. “In contrast, stress patterns in other giants like Giganotosaurus suggested they had relatively mild bites. This implies a variety of evolutionary pathways for these carnivorous giants.”

Giganotosaurus is larger than T. rex, reaching 13m (43 feet) long and weighing almost 14 tons – Credit: Getty

Instead of adhering to a singular evolutionary path to apex status, large carnivorous dinosaurs evolved various skull shapes and feeding strategies. Some, like T. Rex, would bite down akin to a crocodile, while others, such as Allosaurus and Spinosaurus, employed thrashing or ripping techniques reminiscent of modern Komodo dragons and big cats.

“The Tyrannosaurus took a different approach,” remarked Steve Brusatte, a professor and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh who was not part of the study, as reported by BBC Science Focus. “They developed immense bite strength, allowing them to crush the bones of their prey. This created a perilous lifestyle, subjecting the skull’s bones and muscles to significant stress.”

The results also challenge the belief that larger dinosaurs necessarily had stronger bites. Some smaller species may actually exert more stress on their skulls due to increased muscle mass, indicating that size alone isn’t the key factor in bite power.

The variability in bite strength and skull architecture hints at a more specialized ecological landscape in dinosaur ecosystems, offering multiple strategies for dominance in the prehistoric food chain.

“There wasn’t a singular ‘best’ skull design for being a predatory giant. Various designs proved effective,” noted Lowe. “This biomechanical diversity implies that dinosaur ecosystems supported a more extensive range of giant carnivorous ecological niches than we typically consider, with less competition and greater specialization.”

Read more:

About our experts

Steve Brusatte is a professor and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, and author of the book Mammal Ascending and Governing (20 pounds, Picador), focusing on 325 million years of mammalian evolution and fossils.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Astronomers Uncover the Largest Black Holes Yet

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have discovered and quantified the largest black hole ever found. This colossal black hole approaches the theoretical maximum size allowable in the universe and is approximately 10,000 times the mass of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole located at the center of the Milky Way.

This Hubble image features a horseshoe-shaped gravity lens (from center to right). Behind it is a blue galaxy, distorted into a horseshoe-shaped ring by the space-time distortion caused by the massive orange galaxies in the foreground. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble.

The newly identified ultramassive black hole resides in the Space Horseshoe Gravity Lens System, which is among the largest known strong gravitational lenses.

This lens system, referred to as SDSS J1148+1930 and CSWA 1, lies 5 billion light years away in the Leo constellation.

“Typically, mass measurements of black holes in such distant systems can only be done when they are active,” remarks PhD Carlos Melo from Universidade Federativa do Rio Grande do Sul.

“However, these estimates based on accretion are often fraught with significant uncertainty.”

“Our method integrates strong gravitational lenses with stellar dynamics to yield more direct and reliable measurements, even in these distant systems.”

“The black holes we discovered rank among the top 10 largest black holes known, possibly even the largest,” adds Professor Thomas Collett from the University of Portsmouth.

“Most existing mass measurements for black holes are indirect and come with high uncertainties, so I can’t definitively say which one is the largest. But our new method provides much greater confidence in the mass of this black hole.”

The research team employed a synergy of gravitational lenses and stellar motions to locate the space horseshoe-shaped black holes.

This technique is considered the gold standard for black hole mass measurement, but galaxies are often too small in the sky to resolve areas containing these supermassive black holes, limiting effectiveness in distant contexts.

“The inclusion of a gravitational lens allowed us to explore further into the cosmos,” noted Professor Collett.

“We observed the influence of a black hole in two specific ways: it alters the path light takes as it navigates through the black hole, and stars in the galaxy’s core are observed moving incredibly fast (almost 400 km/s).”

“By correlating these two measurements, we can confidently establish the black hole’s authenticity.”

“This discovery pertains to a ‘dormant’ black hole, which does not actively consume material at the time of observation,” Melo explained.

“The detection relied solely on its immense gravitational pull and its effects on surrounding matter.”

“What’s particularly thrilling is that this method enables us to identify and gauge the masses of these elusive supermassive black holes across the universe, even when they lie completely dormant.”

An intriguing aspect of the Cosmic Horseshoe system is that its host galaxy is classified as a fossil group.

Fossil groups represent the final phase of the universe’s most colossal gravitationally-bound structures, formed from the collapse of a single, large galaxy devoid of bright companions.

“It is plausible that the supermassive black holes originally found in the companion galaxy contributed to the formation of the supermassive black holes we have identified,” Professor Collett noted.

“Thus, we can observe both the conclusion of galaxy formation and the cessation of black hole growth.”

The team’s paper was published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Carlos R Melo-Carneiro et al. 2025. We are pleased to announce the discovery of a 36 billion solar-mass black hole at the core of the Cosmic Horseshoe Gravity Lens. MNRAS 541(4): 2853-2871; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf1036

Source: www.sci.news

Research Shows Cocoats Have a Repertoire of At Least 30 Distinct Dance Moves

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Recent findings suggest that captive parrots display dancing behaviors in response to music, which involves complex cognitive functions such as imitation, vocal learning, and rhythm. This dance behavior in parrots might be indicative of a positive welfare state, increasing the likelihood of using music as an environmental enrichment tool. In a recent study, researchers examined the dance movements of cockatoos through online video analysis and playback experiments, identifying a total of 30 distinct dance moves from 45 videos featuring five different cockatoo species. Notably, 17 of these moves had not been previously documented in scientific literature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of7kql3lsam

Cockatoos have been informally observed dancing to music in captivity.

This dance results from intricate brain processes, including imitation, learning, synchronization, and rhythmic movement.

While spontaneous dance has been exclusively reported in humans and parrots in sync with music, some wild birds also exhibit rhythmic movements during courtship displays.

However, it remains unclear what motivates these captive birds to dance.

In this new study, Dr. Natasha Loveke from Charles Sturt University and her team analyzed 45 videos shared on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

From their analysis, they identified a total of 30 unique dance movements, 17 of which had not been documented before.

Among these newly recognized moves were headbanging, side steps, and body rolls.

The researchers noted that some birds also executed their own unique dance sequences, often blending various movements creatively.

Interestingly, closely related species did not exhibit more similar dance styles, while a diverse range of dance moves appeared among the top 10 unique patterns.

Illustrations of the 10 most common recorded dance movements by Cockatoos. Image credit: Lubke et al. , doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328487.

Following this, the scientists investigated dance behavior in six cockatoos, representing three species, housed at Wagga Wagga Zoo in Australia.

They played music specifically designed for birds, as well as audio podcasts, and found that all birds engaged in dance movements, regardless of the type of audio played.

The study revealed that dancing behavior was present in at least 10 out of 21 cockatoos studied.

Cockatoos seem to display a broad repertoire of dance moves, many of which resemble the courtship rituals observed in wild parrots.

This suggests that their dance abilities may have evolved from courtship behaviors directed towards their human caretakers.

“By analyzing the dance behavior of cockatoos from 45 videos and at Wagga Wagga Zoo and Aviary, we demonstrated that dancing is more prevalent in cockatoos than previously recognized, with 10 out of the 21 cockatoos exhibiting such behavior,” stated Loveke.

“My analysis demonstrates that the spectrum of dances is much more complex and diverse than has been understood, documenting 30 different movements across multiple birds, with an additional 17 seen in other birds.”

“This study supports the notion of positive emotional states in birds and highlights dancing behavior as an effective model for exploring parrot emotions. It also implies that playing music for parrots may positively influence their welfare and serve as an excellent avenue for enhancing their lives in captivity.”

“The parallels to human dance make it challenging to overlook the development of cognitive and emotional processes in parrots, suggesting that musical interaction could enhance their wellbeing.”

“Further research is needed to explore whether music can stimulate dancing behavior in captive birds, making it a potential form of environmental enrichment.”

The findings are detailed in a study published in the journal PLOS 1.

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N. Loveke et al. 2025. Dance behavior in Cockatoos: impact on cognitive processes and welfare. PLOS 1 20(8): E0328487; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328487

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble Reveals Stunningly Detailed Image of Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Recent analysis of new images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals that the nucleus of 3i/Atlas measures between 320 m (1,000 ft) and 5.6 km (3.5 miles).

Hubble captured this image of 3i/Atlas, which was located 446 million km (277 million miles) from Earth on July 21, 2025. Image credits: NASA/ESA/David Jewitt, UCLA/Joseph Depasquale, Stsci.

3i/Atlas was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Land Impact Trastor Alt System (ATLAS) funded by NASA.

Its orbit is the most dynamically extreme among recorded solar system objects.

New observations from Hubble have provided astronomers with a more precise estimation of the comet’s solid icy nucleus size.

“The maximum diameter of the nucleus is 5.6 km, but it averages around 320 m,” stated David Jewitt, an astronomer from UCLA, along with his colleagues.

“Hubble’s images offer tighter constraints on the nucleus’s size compared to earlier ground-based measurements, although the solid core of the comet is not currently visible directly even with Hubble.”

“Data from other NASA missions, like Webb, TESS, Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, and WM Keck Observatory, will further enhance our understanding of comets, including their chemical composition.”

Hubble also detected indications of dust plumes ejected from the sun-warmed side of the comet, along with dust tails drifting away from the nucleus.

The new findings indicate a dust loss velocity that aligns with the first comet observed at roughly 480 million km (300 million miles) from the Sun.

This behavior closely resembles the characteristics of a previously seen sun-bound comet observed within our solar system.

A notable difference is that this interstellar visitor originates from planetary systems beyond our Milky Way galaxy.

3i/Atlas speeds through the solar system at an astonishing rate of 209,000 km (130,000 miles) per hour, marking the highest speed ever recorded for visitors to our solar system.

This remarkable velocity indicates that comets have been traversing interstellar space for billions of years.

The gravitational pull from countless stars and nebulae has contributed to its increased speed.

The longer 3i/Atlas journeys through space, the faster it moves.

“No one knows the origin of this comet; it’s like catching a glimpse of a bullet for a thousandth of a second,” Dr. Jewitt observed.

“You can’t accurately trace that back to determine where you commenced your path.”

“This latest interstellar traveler represents a previously undetected group of objects, enriching the narrative that has gradually unfolded.”

“This achievement is now possible due to the powerful Sky Survey capability we previously lacked. We’ve reached a new milestone.”

The team’s paper will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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David Jewitt et al. 2025. Observations of the Hubble Space Telescope of Interstellar Interloper 3i/Atlas. apjl in press; Arxiv: 2508.02934

Source: www.sci.news

NW Rehires Employees Following Deep Doge Layoffs

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The administration under Trump intends to reverse most of the cuts made to the National Weather Service earlier this year aimed at improving government efficiency.

According to Mike Flood of R-Neb, Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has received approval to fill 450 roles, which include meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar engineers for the National Weather Service.

This decision is part of an initiative to rehire for these crucial roles. CNN was the first to report that following a summer filled with severe and deadly weather, scrutiny arose over the NWS cuts, prompting bipartisan calls for their cancellation.

An official cited by NBC News noted that NWS staff were involved during the Texas Flood that resulted in over 130 fatalities. This has spurred agencies to rehire hundreds of essential personnel, raising concerns about the reliability of NWS forecasts. This information came from a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on discussing HR matters.

Both Sorensen and Flood expressed their satisfaction with this “postponed news” in a joint statement. They co-hosted discussions around layoffs and early retirements, focusing on safeguarding National Weather Service employees while reclassifying their roles as vital to public safety. Although the bill was presented in the House of Representatives, it has yet to be voted on.

“For months, Congressman and I have been advocating for the necessary support for NOAA and NWS employees who are facing staff reductions,” stated Sorensen in a press release. “The lack of skilled positions has forced NWS offices nationwide to cancel weather balloon launches, abandon overnight staffing, and overburden the remaining meteorologists.

Rep. Mark Alford from R-Mo. also expressed support for the initiative.

A spokesperson for the National Weather Service declined to provide comments.

Officials from NOAA, who were not authorized to speak publicly, informed NBC News that filling the hundreds of vacant positions would take several months. Currently, USAJOBS.GOV lists only nine open roles across NOAA, the parent organization of the National Weather Service.

The NOAA and NWS were not impacted by the controversial cuts implemented during the early months of the second Trump administration, which included job terminations, rehiring, and restructuring of certain employees. The Commerce Department and NOAA dismissed over 600 probationary staff on February 27th, encompassing hurricane hunters, meteorologists, and storm modelers.

Five former directors of the National Weather Service have cautioned that a shortage of staff could cause “unnecessary loss of life.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

I strongly suggest checking out the edgy videos on YouTube.

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Feedback delivers the latest in science and technology news, providing insights into what captivates readers. Email Feedback@newscientist.com to share items you think might intrigue our audience.

Cleaning Chronicles

While at times seemingly unproductive, Feedback finds a way to engage with what may appear as idleness. Recently, we spent more time than expected watching online videos, and here’s what we gleaned.

Diving into the depths of YouTube, we ventured down a path filled with carpet and rug cleaning videos. This might sound dull, yet one company’s use of the R2-Clean2 and Dirt Reynolds intrigued us.

Strangely enough, we found a soothing pleasure in watching dirt layers being lifted and the rug’s patterns emerge once again. Time faded away. The stress dissipated. Feedback embraced a Zen-like state; our minds were clear and receptive. There was no demand, no stress, just the simple act of cleaning a rug.

Once we snapped back to reality, we observed the fascinating interplay between humans and technology. Amidst the myriad cleaning YouTubers, there’s an army dedicated to capturing the messiest rugs in the most dramatic ways possible. After all, if your rug-cleaning video doesn’t attract millions of views, the revenue won’t match the effort.

Consequently, it’s tough to find a video that merely shows a dirty rug. A typical cleaning video appears as if a rug was pulled from a muddy abyss, taken over by fungi, and processed through the digestive system of a stray animal. Sometimes, maggots make an appearance. One can watch hours of labor spent with buckets and sprays to restore cleanliness.

This quaint subculture reflects our society: even mundane tasks like rug cleaning become exaggerated to the extreme, driven not by their inherent value but by the quest for attention and profit.

Enough philosophy. I certainly don’t plan on watching someone speedrun Super Mario Odyssey.

Rumblings

Alongside many readers, Feedback grapples with the ongoing controversies surrounding bestselling author Raynor Winn. Her book Salt Path and other works on extensive walking journeys faced scrutiny after Observer published accusations that she misled the public regarding her and her husband’s period of homelessness, as well as his health during their trekking on England’s southwest coast. Winn denies any wrongdoing.

This revelation surfaced shortly after the film adaptation of Salt Path caused embarrassment for all parties involved, but in the realm of Feedback, the most shocking realization was that Winn’s real name is Sally Walker.

Literary Innovations

In July, Feedback addressed the potential applications of generative AI tools like ChatGPT to simplify challenging literary texts. I’ve observed soft rewrites of renowned opening lines that retain their essence. This resonated with many of you.

Eric Bignell highlighted Macbeth’s poignant soliloquy from Act 5, scene 5: “Tomorrow and tomorrow, tomorrow / creeping up at a daily pace from day to day / to the final syllable of recorded time. I’m stupid now, full of sound and rage / meaning nothing.” Eric simplified it through ChatGPT to: “Life is short, meaningless and full of noise.”

Numerous readers contributed their suggestions on how AI might reinterpret famous passages. For instance, consider George Orwell’s foreboding opener in 1984: “It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clock struck thirteen.” David Aldred aptly proposed, “It was a well-defined afternoon on a bright, cold April day.” Nothing essential was lost!

The favorite rewrites included the opening line of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Ian Glendon comically suggested a literal version: “When I bought it, the watch was fine, but it doesn’t work anymore.” However, Simon Byrd, David Strachan, and Rod Newberry each proposed a variation with the same essence: “On average, it was fine.”

Simon even came up with an alternative to Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s infamous first line from Paul Clifford: “It was a dark and stormy night,” suggesting the creative twist: “Welcome to Scotland.”

Ultimately, Stuart Bell concluded with a bold suggestion to loosen AI’s constraints when engaging with James Joyce’s famously perplexing text Ulysses. Not due to enhancement, but rather because the work should “break AI, or at the very least, induce a headache.”

Have thoughts on Feedback?

Feel free to reach out by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Remember to include your home address. You can find this week’s feedback and past editions on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Is This How We Change the World?

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) established an ambitious goal: to reduce global physical inactivity by 10% compared to 2010 levels by 2025. Now, the deadline has arrived, and despite initiatives aimed at leveraging the excitement of multiple Olympic Games, activity levels have not increased.

The latest data indicates that as of 2022, 31% of adults worldwide fail to meet physical activity guidelines, marking a rise from 26% in 2010. The situation is even graver among teens, with an alarming 81% not engaging in sufficient physical activity. We’re falling short of our targets.

What went wrong? Various factors, from public health policies to urban design, can be scrutinized regarding current strategies. Nevertheless, some experts are advocating for a more fundamental reassessment. Have we been misrepresenting the promotion of physical activity all along?

For years, public health campaigns have heavily relied on the narrative that “exercise is medicine” to encourage physical activity. This notion is familiar: engage in physical activity to combat illnesses like diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. This message is underpinned by strong scientific evidence, leading to the belief that health incentives are the most compelling motivation.

Yet, Benjamin Rigby, a public health researcher from Newcastle University, and his colleagues recently argued in an opinion piece that framing physical activity solely as a health preventive measure oversimplifies the myriad reasons individuals choose to be active. “The reality is people engage in movement for many reasons unrelated to avoiding illness,” Rigby states. “We play, laugh, explore, dance, and feel proud of ourselves. Ultimately, it’s about enjoyment and well-being.” Eliminating these positive motivators from health messaging may contribute to the lack of engagement.

Elsewhere, research continues to support the concept of shifting focus away from health-centric narratives. A study by University of Edinburgh researchers analyzed 123 public messages about physical activity, concluding that health concerns are not always effective motivators for prompting people to get active. The most impactful messages highlight the short-term rewards of proactive engagement rather than threats of future illness.

What if campaign messaging centered on the immediate benefits of physical activity? Some researchers recommend phrasing such as “small movements to enhance your mood,” focusing on mental health, or promoting “physical activity as an opportunity to connect with others.” Motivation matters.

Strong evidence shows individuals are more likely to maintain activity when it is enjoyable. Fun is associated with young people who regularly participate in sports. Remember Pokemon GO? That trend inspired avid users to walk an additional 1,473 steps daily on average, fueled by the excitement of “catching them all.” Given this evidence, why do public health messages overlook fun-focused motivations?

Sticking to health-oriented narratives appeals strongly to institutions. Their effects can be quantified, aligning neatly with the formal tone expected from such messages. However, with the 2030 target of reducing physical inactivity by 15% from 2010 levels approaching, now is the time for transformative change. It’s crucial to cease prescribing physical activity as a daunting chore and start presenting it as an opportunity for enjoyment, exploration, and connection.

Dawn Teh is a freelance health writer based in Australia.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Blowwinner Review: Engaging and Powerful Books Uncover the Biases That Influence Our Lives

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Despite significant changes since the 1950s, women continue to shoulder more domestic responsibilities

ClassicStock/Alamy

Earn money
Melissa Hogenboom (Canongate Books, August 14th, UK)

Why do individuals without jobs feel uplifted when their partners are unemployed? How do women develop empathy as they mature? Why does a disordered room appear untidy when it belongs to Jennifer, but not John? These pressing issues are explored by Melissa Hogenboom in her book Earn money: and other power imbalances that affect your life. The book uncovers the hidden power dynamics and subconscious cognitive biases that influence our behaviors and choices.

This narrative goes beyond individual actions; it serves as a well-researched examination of how stereotypes and unseen disparities shape everything from household chores to career advancement.

Fair warning: it may provoke anger—especially regarding household responsibilities. Studies indicate that in heterosexual relationships, domestic duties are typically assumed by women unless addressed directly. Women tend to take on more odd jobs, even when they log more hours at work. Hogenboom notes that some studies imply this might be an unconscious “compensation” strategy for unconventional family dynamics.

Gender biases begin early in life. Mothers engage more extensively during pregnancy, whereas fathers share more about their feelings with daughters and their achievements with sons. Studies have found that fathers react more deeply to their daughters’ emotions.

This reinforces the notion that women are inherently nurturing or empathetic—a stereotype that influences various realms, from parenting to leadership roles. In fact, while empathy can be partially genetic, there are no innate differences between genders.

When societal pressures are lifted, a new truth may surface. As highlighted in a case study of same-sex male couples, “The assumption that if parents remain at home without societal pressures, they will naturally share childcare responsibilities is quite misguided,” says one participant. “If my partner had suggested returning to work within a fortnight, I would have been furious.”

Hogenboom also points out that mothers in same-sex relationships may encounter fewer career obstacles after maternity leave compared to those in heterosexual partnerships, indicating that maternity alone does not dictate such penalties.

The myth of mutuality deludes couples that they have achieved a good balance of labor.

The book sheds light on the intangible forces predominantly managed by men: hidden inequalities often perceived as normal. At times, Hogenboom asserts, “Women, here’s the evidence you need to justify your exhaustion.”

Notably, the persistent challenges faced by men who seek to address these power disparities are highlighted. A study referenced by Hogenboom found that men requesting part-time roles often face skepticism more than women and encounter taunts like “Where’s your mom?” They often struggle to be taken seriously and may be viewed as less committed, complicating their social dynamics within parenting communities.

Couples who believe they have achieved equality might be surprised by how Hogenboom reveals these unseen dynamics of authority. She argues that systematic inequalities represent a dominant form of power in relationships, often overlooked—even by the couples who experience them.

The perception of mutuality can lead couples to falsely believe they maintain an even distribution of responsibilities. However, they may be deceiving themselves if they don’t consider whose needs are genuinely met and who does the work. For instance, your partner might “cook all the meals,” but have you handled the meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning, and budgeting?

Fortunately, Hogenboom offers actionable advice. If you find yourself overwhelmed, she suggests handling tasks comprehensively: “It eliminates hidden burdens when ownership of the entire task is taken.”

Her recommendations provide a much-needed relief amidst the wealth of data presented. While authoritative and insightful, Hogenboom’s writing style leaves little room for reflection.

However, moments of reflection are necessary. Earn money constructs a convincing argument to recognize the influence of concealed power dynamics and informs how to address them. This leads to fairer relationships and more successful careers, potentially saving marriages.

Helen Thomson is an author based in London.

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We Uncovered the Largest Black Hole Ever Found

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists have discovered an extraordinarily massive black hole billions of light years away

Igorzh/Shutterstock

A colossal black hole, located in a galaxy five billion light years away, boasts a mass over 10,000 times greater than the ultra-massive black hole found at the center of the Milky Way, and about 360 times greater than that of our Sun.

“This is likely the largest black hole in the universe,” states Thomas Collett from the University of Portsmouth, UK. “It’s equivalent to the mass of an entire small galaxy condensed into one singularity.”

This supermassive black hole is situated approximately five billion light years away, residing in one of the most well-known galaxies, referred to as the Space Horseshoe. Space Horseshoes serve as the largest known galaxy lenses, capable of bending light from objects situated behind them due to their immense gravitational forces. Previous research indicated that such enormous black holes might exist in the center of this galaxy, though pinpointing their exact mass has proven challenging for scientists.

To accurately determine the mass of the black hole, Collett and his team analyzed the orbital velocity of a nearby star, which directly correlates to the black hole’s mass. Additionally, they assessed how much light is distorted by the gravitational influence of the black hole, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. “Combining these two measurements allowed us to yield a highly confident estimation,” says Collett.

The mass of this black hole is remarkably large, aligning with Collett’s team’s prior investigations. Their research focuses on mapping the distribution of dark matter in the Galaxy, utilizing data gathered from observed light. They found that a successful model was only achievable with the inclusion of a supermassive black hole at the center of the universe’s horseshoe.

“The only time I started to get a good model was when I began considering black holes with incredibly high masses,” remarks Collett.

The horseshoe galaxy is theorized to be a ‘fossil group’ galaxy. This type of stellar system has absorbed all of its neighboring galaxies, a behavior that helps clarify the phenomenon of its black hole’s formidable size.

Yet, one enigmatic aspect persists. The black hole appears to have ceased growing and is currently dormant. “For it to expand, it must have been connected to the entire universe at some stage. It’s curious that it’s inactive at this moment,” Collett adds. “A process must have contributed to the black hole’s growth before it eventually plateaued.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Asthma Medications Can Safeguard Against Life-Threatening Allergic Reactions

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Stephanie Eisenbarth and Adam Williams prepare peanuts for allergy research in their lab

Northwestern University

Research indicates that common asthma treatments may offer protection against anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. The drug Zileuton, traditionally used for asthma, is now being considered for individuals facing serious food allergies.

Despite the prevalence of food allergies, it can be challenging to foresee the risk of anaphylaxis for an individual. Scientists are investigating why some individuals with positive food allergen tests do not show symptoms, while others have severe, potentially deadly reactions.

“Our aim is to discover methods to help individuals with symptomatic food allergies manage their reactions to allergens,” states Stephanie Eisenbarth from Northwestern University, Illinois.

Eisenbarth and her research team anticipated that mice exposed to peanuts would experience anaphylaxis. They administered a single oral dose of Zileuton to a group of 5-10 mice sensitized to peanut allergens approximately one hour prior to feeding them peanut extract. The control group did not receive any medication. Observations revealed that almost all Zileuton-treated mice showed no symptoms of anaphylaxis, whereas the control group exhibited clear signs of it.

Most dietary proteins are usually broken down, but some can be actively absorbed through the intestines and enter the bloodstream directly. In individuals with severe allergies, these proteins can trigger immune responses, leading to anaphylaxis.

During allergic reactions, the body releases chemicals known as leukotrienes. The researchers found that leukotrienes play a role in the number of intact proteins that penetrate the intestine. They also identified a gene called DPEP1 that is crucial in regulating leukotriene levels.

One significant action of Zileuton is inhibiting the enzyme five lipoxygenase, essential for leukotriene production. Administering this drug to mice lowered leukotriene levels, while DPEP1 also suppressed remaining leukotrienes, preventing allergen absorption and halting anaphylaxis in susceptible mice. A single dose of Zileuton cut the anaphylaxis rate by 95%.

“We can differentiate between mice that respond to food allergens and those that do not. We are now evaluating whether the same asthma medications can limit allergen absorption in the intestines of people with food allergies.”

Jorge Emiliano Gomez Medellin from the University of Chicago suggests that these straightforward tablets might significantly alleviate the consequences of accidental allergen exposure. He added that while Zileuton could potentially inhibit the absorption of food allergens, it won’t alter an individual’s underlying sensitivity over time.

“Nonetheless, Zileuton could be a valuable tool in combating food allergies,” he concludes.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Imaging Molecules’ Minute Quantum Jitter with Unmatched Clarity

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Accelerator tunnels at the European XFEL, where atomic motion is meticulously studied.

Xfel/Heiner Mueller-Elsner

In a groundbreaking achievement, a highly advanced X-ray laser has successfully unveiled the slight atomic movements of molecules that are typically expected to remain stationary.

Quantum physics thrives on uncertainty. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle prevents scientists from simultaneously and accurately determining a particle’s position and momentum, indicating that quantum particles can never be fully at rest. Instead, atoms are perpetually in motion, albeit minuscule.

Nonetheless, measuring this subtle Heisenberg wiggle is challenging in complex molecules where atoms exhibit various motion patterns. Recently, Till Janke from the XFEL facility, along with his team, successfully captured this phenomenon using molecules composed of 11 atoms, including carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and iodine.

“This was my first experiment utilizing an extraordinary tool,” Janke remarked. The pivotal device was the “laser beast,” which bombarded molecules with intense bursts of X-rays. Although the pulse duration was only a quarter of a second, it was a million times brighter than conventional medical X-rays.

Each X-ray pulse stripped electrons from the molecule, causing the atoms to become positively charged and repel explosively from each other. By analyzing the aftermath of these explosions, scientists were able to reconstruct quantum variations of atoms in detail at their lowest energy states.

The team discovered that Heisenberg’s wiggle appears to follow a synchronized pattern in the movements of specific atoms. While this wasn’t unexpected based on the molecular structure, the researchers were astonished by the precision of their measurements, as noted by team member Ludger Inhester at German electronic synchrotrons.

Next, the researchers aim to explore how quantum fluctuations influence molecular behavior during chemical reactions. They also intend to adapt their methodology to study electron movements.

“We are exploring ways to expand our findings to larger systems. There are numerous avenues for future research,” shared team member Rebecca Bol from European XFEL.

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When Redshift Occurs, What Happens to Light’s Energy? It’s Complex.

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

“It can be hard to comprehend the vastness involved…”

Science Photo Library/Alamy

Many of us can relate to concerns about inflation. The rising cost of living weighs heavily on our minds, and we often scrutinize what political leaders are doing in response. Yet it’s essential to recognize the terminology issues present in physics, especially since inflation carries a vastly different meaning in this context.

In cosmology, space inflation refers to a model that elucidates why our universe appears so expansive. This theory posits that space-time underwent rapid expansion for a brief duration—around one second—leading to regions of the universe that are now uncommunicative but once were connected.

Understanding such immense scales can be a challenge. How do we truly grasp these vast distances that exceed our everyday experiences? Last month’s column tackled this concept by addressing distance measurement techniques. Yet, this inquiry itself unfolds layers of complexity.

In that discussion, I highlighted how Redshift serves as a crucial tool for gauging distances in space. Imagine a series of balloons being inflated; as they expand, their peaks and troughs elongate. This phenomenon mirrors how light behaves as it travels across the fabric of space-time. The light stretches, increasing its wavelength.

This shift in light wavelengths enables distance calculation. By measuring the wavelength of light from a distant object and comparing it to our observations, we can discern how much space-time has expanded between our position and the observable objects. Such Redshift measurements are consistently corroborated by both astronomical observations and lab experiments.

However, deeper questions linger. From a quantum standpoint, light’s wavelength is tied to its energy content. The stretching of light reduces its energy, resulting in a redshift effect. This phenomenon isn’t merely a nuisance; rather, it presents intriguing insights about quantum mechanics within cosmological discussions.

Energy conservation is a fundamental concept in everyday physics, but even cosmic principles can be bent or broken

What’s the dilemma? We prefer consistent principles across physics domains. A core tenet of everyday physics suggests that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Thus, if we apply energy conservation to redshifted light, we face the question: where does the lost energy of light go? A curious reader posed this very question.

The response may be surprising. While energy conservation remains a guiding principle, it seems the cosmic realm can, at times, operate differently. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity plays a pivotal role here. Though widely recognized for its insights into the fabric of cosmic time and curvature, it also reveals how space-time itself may expand.

A unique aspect of general relativity is that energy conservation isn’t universally applicable. In essence, as light loses energy through redshift, this loss is not considered significant in the grand scheme. Energy doesn’t necessarily have to ‘go’ anywhere; it can merely dissipate.

That’s one way to frame it. Alternatively, we could also address the energy associated with gravitational fields. Historically, conflating these two perspectives has sparked considerable debate. Some argue they represent two facets of the same reality.

Personally, I contend that the essence of energy remains ambiguous. It’s challenging to delineate, yet it’s palpable in connection to physical entities like particles and stars. However, when discussing the energy entwined with space-time curvature, clarity dissolves. Where exactly is this energy located within the continuum of space and time? How concentrated is it at specific junctures? These inquiries reflect the complexities of inflation!

Thus, I find myself aligning with those who suggest that strict energy conservation may not be the most useful concept. What stands clear is the interdependence of space-time curvature and energy related to matter. Space-time’s dynamics guide matter’s trajectory, while matter’s mass (akin to energy) influences how space-time will behave.

Chanda’s Week

What I’m reading

Riley Black When the Earth was Green: The Epic of Plants, Animals, and Evolution beautiful.

What I’m watching

I’m re-watching Star Trek: A Strange New World from the start.

What I’m working on

We are pondering the Newathena X-Ray Observatory to deepen our understanding of neutron star interiors.

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Hampshire. She is the author of Cosmos with Disabilities and the forthcoming book, “Edges of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Universe’s Dreamscape.”

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Quantum Physics/
Space-Time

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Power of Laughter Therapy for Enhancing Emotional Well-Being

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Laughter yoga session in Kolkata, India

SOPA Images Limited/Alamy

Laughter therapy is no laughing matter. Structured activities designed to elicit joy, such as laughter yoga and hospital clowns, appear to significantly lower anxiety levels and enhance life satisfaction.

Laughing, a behavior observed in various animal species, is believed to boost social bonds and may assist infants in developing their self-identity. Research indicates that interventions involving clowns lead to shorter hospital stays for children.

Yelsynyn-Mauricio Porras-Jiménez from Jaen University in Spain aims to enhance people’s holistic well-being. “It’s not solely about physical health; mental and emotional aspects are crucial,” he notes. “I discovered laughter therapy while exploring ways to implement holistic care effectively.”

Porras-Jiménez and his team performed a meta-analysis of 33 studies from the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The participants included nursing students as well as individuals receiving terminal care, undergoing surgeries, in vitro fertilization, or those grappling with depression or burnout.

Each study divided participants into two groups. One group engaged in various laughter therapy activities, such as laughter yoga, clown visits, watching entertaining films, or joining guided laughter sessions. The second group served as a control, maintaining standard care or receiving no interventions.

Results demonstrated a consistent link between laughter therapy and decreased anxiety, alongside heightened life satisfaction. In one measurement of anxiety on a scale of 0-100, the control group’s average score was around 60, while the laughter therapy group scored 8-10 points lower. Regarding life satisfaction, the control group’s score averaged 50, with the laughter therapy group scoring 10-12 points higher.

However, participants were aware they were partaking in laughter therapy, which raises questions about potential placebo effects, according to Sophie Scott from University College London.

Nonetheless, laughter triggers physiological changes correlated with reduced anxiety, she adds. Research shows lowered cortisol levels, a stress hormone, and increased endorphins, neurotransmitters that foster feelings of happiness.

“It’s challenging to determine if the benefits arise from laughter itself or from the social environment that encourages comfortable laughter,” Scott remarks. “It seems to be a combination of both.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Exploring Black Holes with Interstellar Nanocrafts: A Guide

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Conceptual image of a spacecraft navigating near a black hole

Liuzishan/Getty Images

An interstellar spacecraft designed to explore a black hole could transmit data back to Earth in roughly 100 years.

Cosimo Bambi from the University of Hudang in Shanghai has devised a framework for such missions utilizing technologies projected to be available within the next 20 to 30 years.

By approaching a black hole, we can validate Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity and uncover the behavior of fundamental physical constants in extreme gravitational fields.

The nearest well-known black hole is approximately 1500 light years away. However, within our Milky Way galaxy, there is estimated to be one black hole for every 100 ordinary stars. This suggests a significant likelihood of locating a black hole within 20 to 25 light years, says Bambi.

Identifying a black hole poses challenges, as these entities do not emit light; astronomers must infer their existence by observing their gravitational influence on surrounding stars.

Reaching a black hole within 25 light years of our solar system will require advanced technological developments, but according to Bambi, “it’s achievable.” Within a century, spacecraft could be minuscule, featuring sails that cover 10 square meters and propelled by light. Such crafts could theoretically accelerate to about one-third the speed of light through pulses from high-powered lasers.

“Currently, light sails and nanocrafts appear to be the most viable options for interstellar travel since they can achieve speeds approaching that of light,” Bambi states. However, he estimates that the power required for an effective laser system could reach approximately 1 trillion euros today.

To validate predictions concerning general relativity, it may be necessary to dispatch two miniature spacecraft or release a secondary probe as the primary nanocraft nears a black hole. The secondary craft would venture closer to the black hole, while the primary craft remains at a safe distance, gathering data and relaying it back to Earth.

Gerlan Lewis from the University of Sydney acknowledges that while the challenges are significant, the proposal is far from impossible.

However, the extensive time frame for the proposed mission introduces a possibility that nanocrafts could become outdated by the time they reach their destination. Lewis remarks, “Considering 100 years of technological advancement, can we truly predict what kind of propulsion system might exist then?”

“A mission to black holes would likely resemble this proposal, akin to how we might imagine the advancements of the 20th century, 500 years in the past,” he adds.

Lewis points out that Bambi’s plans do not address how to decelerate the nanocrafts upon arrival at the black hole. Bambi suggests that the simplest approach is to not slow the vehicle at all, but rather deploy a probe to transmit data back to the main craft for Earth delivery.

“In such scenarios, the probes won’t stop around the black hole; they will merely pass by. Some may be drawn into the black hole, which should provide sufficient data to analyze the black hole’s gravitational field,” he explains.

Sam Baron at the University of Melbourne describes Bambi’s framework as one of the most “speculative” research papers he has encountered, but notes that a century ago, the construction of the Large Hadron Collider would have seemed like science fiction.

“I believe utilizing small-scale technologies is likely the way forward,” he observes. “The question remains whether we can indeed engineer something that meets all the criteria outlined in this paper.”

Bambi emphasizes that human beings cannot personally venture to black holes due to the extreme accelerative forces—around 10,000 g—that nanocraft would need to endure. “Unless we discover a wormhole in the fabric of space-time to provide a shortcut,” he notes.

“We really need a nearby wormhole like in the movie Interstellar” to facilitate human missions,” he concludes. “Unfortunately, my assessment is that wormholes are purely theoretical at this point.”

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Ancient Cannibalism Evidence Discovered in Human Bones from Spanish Caves

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Cut marks on the foot bone from El Mirador cave, Spain

iphes-cerca

The discovery of human remains in caves in northern Spain indicates that Neolithic people may have resorted to cannibalism after battles.

Francesc Marginedas from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) in Tarragona, along with his team, examined fragments from 650 human remains found in El Mirador cave on Mount Atapuerca. These remains date back approximately 5,700 years and belong to 11 individuals.

All examined bones displayed evidence that these individuals had been consumed by other humans. Some exhibited chop markings made by a stone tool, while others showed translucent portions with gently rounded edges. Some of the long bones were fractured open with stones to access the bone marrow, and smaller bones like metatarsals and ribs had clear human bite marks.

This research supports the notion that cannibalistic practices were more prevalent in human history than previously believed.

El Mirador marks at least the fifth significant site in Spain with notable evidence of cannibalism during the Neolithic era, a shift period from foraging to agriculture, according to Margida. “There’s a growing understanding that such behavior was more frequent than we anticipated.”

The motives behind these cannibalistic acts remain unclear. Some archaeological sites show skull cups indicating a ritualistic aspect to cannibalism, while others hint at survival strategies during dire circumstances.

However, Marsidas and his team propose that the findings at El Mirador suggest these acts were linked to warfare. There was a significant amount of animal remains, and no signs of nutritional stress among the humans involved, indicating this early agricultural community was not struggling with food scarcity. Their findings offer no indication of ritualistic behavior, as human bones were found alongside animal remains.

The ages of the individuals ranged from under seven to over fifty, implying that an entire family unit may have been lost to conflict. Radiocarbon dating indicated that all 11 individuals were killed and consumed within a few days.

This evidence reflects patterns of conflict and cannibalism, which have also been noted at two other Neolithic sites: the Von Bregore Caves in France and Helxheim in Germany. This period appears marked by instability and violence due to community clashes with neighboring groups and newcomers.

While Margida and his colleagues are uncertain about the reasons behind these cannibalistic practices, historical ethnographic studies suggest that such acts during warfare can serve as a method of “ultimate exclusion.” “We believe that one group attacking and consuming another serves as a humiliating statement,” states Merseydus.

“The thoroughness of the body’s treatment and consumption is remarkable.” Paul Pettitt from Durham University, UK, comments, “The aggressive nature shown in these artifacts, regardless of whether the consumed were relatives or adversaries, mirrors a dehumanization process during consumption.”

Sylvia Bello from the Museum of Natural History in London concurs that this evidence of death likely ties back to conflicts but remains skeptical about the notion of consumption as humiliation. She suggests that cannibalism may stem from aggression and animosity rather than ritualized farewell practices, implying a more complex interpretation. “It could carry ritual significance, even amid warfare,” she asserts.

Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, and Cave Art in France

Join new scientist Kate Douglas on an enthralling exploration of the key Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites in southern France, spanning from Bordeaux to Montpellier.

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Female Gorillas Can Outpower Men Twice Their Size, Study Reveals

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Although they are about half the size of male gorillas, female gorillas can surpass their male counterparts in competitions for status and resources. A recent study highlights this intriguing finding.

This discovery upends the long-held belief that gorilla society is primarily patriarchal, emphasizing male dominance over females, and sheds light on the origins of human gender relations.

Researchers from the German Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology and the University of Torque in Finland examined 25 years of data gathered from observations of gorilla behaviors across four distinct groups.

Wild mountain gorillas have often been viewed as a prime example of strict male dominance in primate societies, largely due to the size disparity between males and females.

It is true that gorilla society has a hierarchical structure, with one alpha male reigning at the top, while other gorillas vie for status beneath him.

However, this new research suggests that gorilla hierarchies may be much more gender-equitable than previously thought.

“Female gorillas frequently outperform males,” stated author Reed Dr. Nikos Smitt, a researcher at Max Planck and Turku, in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “This is crucial for understanding power dynamics; it’s not solely about size and strength.”

Indeed, 88% of female gorillas exhibited superior performance compared to at least one adult male in groups with multiple males, particularly against those who were young or old.

Additionally, when female gorillas faced off against males other than the alpha, they won more than a quarter of the time, even when significantly outmatched in size.

According to Dr. Martha Robbins, Director of the Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Research Project, this success is likely linked to the relationships between these high-ranking females and their alpha males. BBC Science Focus reported her insights: “Gorillas are aware of their group’s social status and dynamics. Though non-alpha males are typically larger and stronger, they often choose to hold back to avoid confrontations with alpha males. It’s advantageous for them to be compliant in a group setting.”

This image illustrates the size differences between women with toddlers in the non-invasive national park of Bwindi, Uganda, and male mountain gorillas – Credit: Marthalobins

Researchers have also found that the stakes in these conflicts often involve priority access to food, another finding that challenges previous assumptions.

Earlier studies suggested that female gorillas exclusively competed for food among themselves, with males primarily competing with females. However, this research reveals that both genders vie for food resources.

These observations could reshape our understanding of gender dynamics within human societies.

The researchers noted that male dominance over female counterparts is not a straightforward outcome of evolution, but rather reflects “human’s flexible social and mating frameworks.”

Furthermore, they argue that this is supported by observations among our close relatives, such as bonobos and chimpanzees, where males are larger than females, yet females hold more dominance.

As a result, scientists suggest that humans are unlikely to inherit patriarchal structures from their primate ancestors.

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About Our Experts

Dr. Nikos Smitt is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Torque in Finland and associated with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. His research delves into the evolution of social structures and mating systems, as well as the dynamics of conflict and cooperation.

Dr. Martha Robbins serves as the director of the Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Research Project and leads the Primate Behavior and Evolution group at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. Her research is centered on the evolution of social behavior.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists Investigate “Superagers” for 25 Years: Here’s What They Discovered

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

After 25 years of investigation, researchers at Northwestern University in the United States have found out why some adults have acclimatized to near-optimal cognitive functioning since the 1980s.

Referred to as “super agers,” these individuals are over 80 years old, yet their memory capabilities rival those of adults in their 50s and 60s.

Since the year 2000, scientists have examined 290 of these super agers, assessing 77 brains to better understand those who resist cognitive decline.

The study revealed shared personality traits among the ultra-elderly compared to the general population. These individuals often report being highly social and possessing strong interpersonal connections.

However, the differences in personality are merely the tip of the iceberg. Dr. Sandra Weintraub – a Professor of Psychiatry, Behavioral Science, and Neurology at Northwestern and co-author of a new paper summarizes the findings regarding these super agers – “What we observed in their brains was astonishing; it felt like earth-shattering news for us.”

In some super agers’ brains, scientists identified amyloid and tau proteins, commonly known as plaque and tangles, which are significant in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. In other super agers, these were absent.

Nonetheless, no brains exhibited the damage typically linked with these plaques or tangles.

“Our observation is that there are two distinct mechanisms enabling someone to become a super ager,” Weintraub stated. “The first is resistance, meaning they do not develop plaque or tangles. The second is resilience; they do form these but do not experience negative brain impacts.”

Super agers displayed not only varying personality traits but also distinct brain structures, particularly in the size and shape of the cortex.

In addition to that, these super agers exhibited youthful brain structures. While older brains generally have thinner cortices compared to younger ones, these individuals did not show such thinning.

In particular, they displayed remarkable thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex, a crucial area involved in processing information related to decision-making, emotions, and motivations.

Moreover, super agers had a greater number of Von Economo neurons, also known as spindle cells, compared to their normally aging peers. These neurons, located in the cortex, play a significant role in social behavior, emotional processing, and self-awareness.

“Our research indicates that exceptional memory in later years is achievable and correlates with a well-defined neurobiological profile,” Weintraub stated. “This paves the way for novel interventions aimed at preserving brain health in older age.”

Researchers expressed hope that their work would encourage cognitive health and unveil new approaches to slow or prevent future neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Uncovering the Mystery: Hitminin in Sulawesi 1.04 Million Years Ago

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The early human migration through mainland Southeast Asia (SUNDA) marks the oldest evidence of humans crossing marine barriers to access secluded land. Previously, the earliest indication of Wallacea, an area of oceanic islands east of Sunda, comprised flakestone tools found at Wallosea, Flores Island, dating back at least 152 million years. Excavations in Sulawesi, the largest island, have uncovered stone artifacts at Talep’s open site dating to at least 194,000 years ago. Presently, researchers from Griffith University have identified stone tools at locations close to the fossil-rich cario strata that date back at least 104 million years, possibly extending to 1.48 million years. This information hints that Sulawesi was occupied by humans around the same period as Flores.

Old-fashioned humanity. Image credit: Ninara / CC by 2.0.

Professor Adam Blum of Griffith University and his team discovered seven stone artifacts within the sedimentary layers at the Cariosite.

During the early Pleistocene, this area would have been near river channels, facilitating activities such as tool-making and hunting.

The artifacts from Cario are small sharp stones (flakes) created by larger pebbles, likely sourced from local riverbeds by early human inhabitants.

“This findings enhance our understanding of extinct human migrations across the Wallace Line, a transitional area where unique animal species have evolved independently,” said Professor Blum.

Reconstruction of Homo floresiensis. Image credit: Elizabeth Daines.

Utilizing paleomagnetic dating of the sandstone and direct dating of excavated pig fossils, researchers confirmed that the Cario artifacts are at least 1.04 million years old.

Previously, evidence of human habitation in Warasea had been found dating back at least 102 million years in Talep, Sulawesi, based on stone tools located in Warosea, Wolosage, Flores.

Luzon, located in the Philippines and north of Wallacea, has yielded human evidence dating back approximately 700,000 years.

“This is a critical piece of the puzzle, yet the Cario site has yet to reveal any human fossils,” commented Professor Blum.

“We now recognize that a toolmaker existed in Sulawesi a million years ago, but their identity remains unknown.”

Stone artifacts from the site of Cario in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Image credit: Hakim et al., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09348-6.

The initial discovery of Homo floresiensis and subsequent fossils from Flores, similar in size and dating back 700,000 years, implied that it may have been linked to Homo erectus, which managed to bypass substantial marine barriers between the mainland of Southeast Asia to inhabit this smaller island and underwent island dwarfism for eons.

“The revelation of Sulawesi prompts us to consider the fate of Homo erectus on an island more than 12 times larger than Flores,” Professor Blum noted.

“Sulawesi is an unpredictable variable. It’s almost like a mini continent.”

“If hominins were isolated on this expansive, ecologically diverse island for over a million years, would they have evolved in ways similar to the Hobbits of Flores?”

“Or could there have been an entirely different evolutionary path?”

The study was published yesterday in the journal Nature.

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B. Hakim et al. Human presence in Sulawesi during the early Pleistocene. Nature Published online on August 7th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09348-6

Source: www.sci.news

The Sun’s Coldest Regions Are Surprisingly Warmer Than Anticipated – Fool

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The sun serves as a fundamental source of heat and light in the solar system, with its energy generated in the core through the collision of hydrogen ions and helium. Nuclear Fusion. Consequently, while the surface temperature of the sun is extremely hot by Earth’s standards—approximately 10,000°F or 5,600°C—it is relatively cooler compared to the center, which reaches around 27,000,000°F or 15,000,000°C.

Heat and light travel from the sun’s center to its surface via two main processes: one is similar to how the sun heats the Earth, known as radiation. Here, energy moves outward through light particles, or photons. Conversely, heat transfer occurs on Earth through the process of convection, with cold gas descending while warm gas rises. This creates a swirling motion within the sun, where hot gases near the core move upward and cooler gases sink back down.

A diagram of the sun illustrating how convection and radiation influence heat movement at different depths. “Sun poster” by Kelvinsong is licensed under CC by-sa 3.0.

The interplay of radiation, convection, and the sun’s varying rotational speeds based on distance from the equator results in uneven heating of the solar surface, leading to both hot and cold areas. While scientists have a grasp of this general pattern, discrepancies exist between models predicting solar surface temperatures and observed data. The model estimates a temperature of around 2,000 Kelvin (k), translating to approximately 3,100°F or 1,700°C for the coldest sections, yet actual findings indicate these regions are around 4,000k, or about 6,700°F or 3,700°C.

This paradox highlights the challenges in understanding heat transfer within the sun. Several unknown factors may lead to the observed discrepancy of over 1,000k in the coldest spots. A team of researchers investigated one possible explanation for the missing heat by conducting both two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulations. They hypothesized that when convection separates neutral charged gases from the sun’s center, negatively charged electrons are driven by a magnetic field near the sun’s surface, generating additional heat. This phenomenon is referred to as Thermal Farley-Bnemann’s instability, or TFBI Turbulence.

The team employed two computer programs, ebysus and Epic, to simulate these cold bubbles in the outer layer of the sun, known as the Chrome area, over a span of 8-10 milliseconds. They incorporated variables such as material density, magnetic field strength, and collision frequency into their simulations. The TFBI turbulence was then integrated into the 2D ebysus model, which was compared with heating observed in the EPPIC simulations in both 2D and 3D.

The primary distinction between the programs lies in how they treat gas: ebysus models it as a swirling liquid, facilitating easier movement calculations, while Epic views it as a collection of bouncing particles that generate electromagnetic fields, complicating calculations. They conducted five simulations: one in 2D with EBYSUS, which was the fastest yet potentially the least accurate, one in 2D with Epic, which was slower but arguably more realistic, and two in 3D with EPPIC, which, while the slowest, yielded the most accurate outcomes.

The results from their 2D simulations indicated that turbulent heating could increase temperatures in cold regions by over 700,000. Similar findings were observed in the 3D simulations as well. The team contended that their simulations demonstrated how turbulence from the TFBI could augment heat in the sun’s cooler areas beyond what convection and radiation contribute. Nonetheless, they recommended that future research extend over longer time frames to fully grasp the implications of these processes. Additionally, comparisons between 2D and 3D simulations suggest that scientists can effectively investigate this phenomenon using quicker 2D fluid models, achieving results comparable to more complex and resource-intensive 3D particle models.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Hubble Discovers Remnants of a White Dwarf Merger 130 Light Years Away

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The White Dwarf represents the compact core that forms when stars exhaust their fuel and collapse. These remnants are the ashes of Earth-sized stars, typically about half the mass of the Sun, composed of carbon-oxygen cores surrounded by layers of helium and hydrogen. Utilizing far-ultraviolet data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have identified carbon in the atmosphere of the famously large white dwarf WD 0525+526. They also determined that the overall mass of hydrogen and helium in the star’s atmosphere was significantly lower than anticipated based on single-star evolution.

An illustration of a merger with a white dwarf sub-huge star (size without scale) that would have occurred in the past. Image credit: Snehalata Sahu/Warwick University.

WD 0525+526 is located approximately 130 light years away in the constellation Auriga.

With a mass exceeding that of our Sun by 20%, this white dwarf is classified as a super-genocide, and its formation process remains poorly understood.

Typically, such white dwarfs form from the collapse of massive stars. However, Hubble’s UV data indicates that WD 0525+526 has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere originating from its core.

“In optical light, WD 0525+526 appears to be a massive yet typical white dwarf,” remarked Sneharata Saff, an astronomer at the University of Warwick.

“However, the ultraviolet observations from Hubble allowed us to detect faint carbon signatures that optical telescopes could not observe.”

“The presence of a small amount of carbon in the atmosphere suggests that this massive white dwarf is likely the product of a merger between two stars.”

“We also believe that many similar merged remnants may pose as white dwarfs in a predominantly hydrogen atmosphere.”

“Only ultraviolet observations can reveal them to us.”

Typically, hydrogen and helium create dense, barrier-like layers around the white dwarf core, concealing carbon-rich elements.

In a stellar merger, the hydrogen and helium enveloping layers can burn away almost entirely as the stars combine.

The resulting single star possesses a very thin envelope that does not prevent carbon from surfacing, which is precisely what is observed in WD 0525+526.

“We found that the hydrogen and helium layers are around one billion times thinner than those typical of a white dwarf,” noted Antoine Bedard, an astronomer at Warwick University.

“We believe these layers were stripped away during the merger, allowing carbon to manifest on the surface.”

“However, this phenomenon is also unusual, as the carbon present is about 100,000 times less than that found on the surfaces of other merged remnants.”

“Coupled with the star’s elevated temperatures—nearly four times hotter than the Sun—the diminished carbon levels suggest that WD 0525+526 evolves at a much faster pace than previously observed.”

This discovery will aid in understanding the destiny of binary star systems, which are crucial for related phenomena such as supernova explosions.

Alongside the enigma, this significantly hotter star’s carbon migrates to the surface.

Other merged remnants later cool enough for convection to bring carbon to the surface; however, WD 0525+526 remains too hot for this process.

Instead, the author identified a subtle mixing process known as semiconvection, uniquely observed in this White Dwarf.

This mechanism permits small amounts of carbon to gradually ascend into the star’s hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

“Finding conclusive proof of individual white dwarf mergers is rare,” remarked Professor Boris Gensick from Warwick University.

“Yet, ultraviolet spectroscopy enables us to detect these signals early, while carbon remains invisible at optical wavelengths.”

“Because the Earth’s atmosphere filters out UV rays, such observations must be conducted from space—currently, only Hubble is capable of this.”

“As WD 0525+526 continues to evolve and cool, we anticipate more carbon will emerge at the surface over time.”

“For now, this ultraviolet illumination offers rare insights into the early aftermath of stellar mergers.

Survey results are published today in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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S. Saff et al. The remnants of Hot White Dwarfs revealed by ultraviolet detection of carbon. Nature Astronomy Published online on August 6th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02590-y

Source: www.sci.news

Research Links Fried Foods to Increased Diabetes Risk

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Craving some fries? Indulging in deep-fried delights might raise your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

As per research released on Wednesday in the Journal BMJ, swapping out weekly servings of fries for boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes could diminish the risk of this chronic illness.

The study analyzed the eating habits of over 205,000 adults in the U.S. who completed a dietary survey spanning nearly 40 years. They investigated the correlation between potato consumption and the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Results indicated that a weekly intake of French fries raised the risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%. In contrast, consuming an equivalent amount of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes showed no association with the disease.

According to the CDC, one in ten Americans with diabetes has type 2. This condition can lead to elevated risks of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage.

The findings emphasize the importance of food preparation methods in determining health risks and benefits, noted Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

“Not all potatoes are created equal,” he remarked. “Even consuming less than one serving of fries weekly can elevate the risk of type 2 diabetes.”

Unlike boiled or baked potatoes, fries are often cooked in oils high in trans fats or saturated fats. The body struggles to properly metabolize these fats, leading to insulin resistance—an issue that regulates blood sugar levels. Frequent consumption of fried foods can contribute to obesity and inflammation, further increasing the likelihood of type 2 diabetes.

“Fried potatoes absorb fat, raising their caloric content. Consuming multiple servings of fries can contribute to weight gain,” stated Candida Rebello, director of the Nutrition and Chronic Disease Program at Louisiana State University, who was not part of the study.

This research leveraged data collected when various frying methods were prevalent from 1984 to 2021. Nowadays, most fast-food chains utilize vegetable oils like canola, sunflower, soybean, and peanut oils. However, beef fat was common in the 1980s, which shifted to partially hydrogenated oils in the early 1990s. Most trans fats have been phased out of the U.S. diet by 2018.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claimed that the seed oils in use today contribute to rising obesity levels in children, suggesting a return to beef fat—a stance lacking robust scientific backing.

“Beef tallow is rich in saturated fats, which can be harmful. I do not endorse that,” Mousavi emphasized.

One drawback of Mousavi’s study is that it doesn’t account for added unhealthy ingredients in boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes.

“What do people put on baked potatoes? Butter, bacon, cheese, sour cream,” said Shannon Gallien, an assistant professor of nutrition science at Texas Institute of Technology. “We don’t know if they consumed the skin either.”

Gallien noted that potato skins are rich in fiber and essential nutrients, helping regulate blood sugar. When prepared without deep frying or excessive fats, potatoes can provide a good source of potassium, which supports blood pressure regulation.

“Certainly, potatoes can be a nutritious food choice as long as they are neither fried nor smothered in fat,” Gallien stated.

Mousavi suggested that baking fries at home with healthier oils like olive or avocado oil could lower diabetes risk compared to fast food versions. Opting for whole grains, such as farro or whole-grain bread and pasta, could yield even greater benefits due to their lower glycemic index, reducing the likelihood of rapid blood sugar spikes.

His research found whole grains pose a lesser risk of diabetes than all potato varieties. Conversely, white rice correlated more strongly with the risk of type 2 diabetes than any of these alternatives.

Megan Marcahai, communications director at Potato USA, emphasized that fries can “fit into a healthful dietary framework when consumed in moderation.”

Gallien highlighted the importance of evaluating one’s overall diet, since it significantly impacts health more than single food items. Nutritionists generally endorse a colorful array of foods, incorporating healthy proteins, varied fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, beans, and nuts.

“People don’t eat isolated items. They consume a range of foods,” Gallien concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ancient Sulawesi Tools Could Unravel the Origins of the “Hobbit” Hitori

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Stone tools unearthed in Sulawesi, Indonesia, crafted by an enigmatic ancient human species

Budianto Hakim et al.

Seven stone tools discovered on Sulawesi, Indonesia, represent the earliest proof of ancient humans navigating the ocean, with an estimated age of 1.4 million years.

These artifacts may shed light on how a diminutive human species known as the “Hobbit” reached neighboring Flores Island.

The first artifact was found embedded in a sandstone outcrop at a location called Calio Budiant Hakim. In 2019, excavations revealed six additional tools on the same outcrop, courtesy of the Indonesian National Research Innovation Agency.

Alongside the stone tools, Hakim and his team also discovered parts of an upper jaw, teeth, and remains of a large species of pig, Celebochoerus, along with fragments from unidentified young elephants.

While researchers couldn’t date the tools directly, sediment analysis combined with fossil pig teeth allowed them to estimate an age range between 1.04 million and 1.48 million years. Previously, the oldest human evidence in Sulawesi was dated to 194,000 years ago.

A least one of the new artifacts appears to be a flake removed from a larger piece, with its edges skillfully shaped, as noted by team member Adam Blum from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. While non-human primates such as chimpanzees utilize hammer-like stones to crack nuts, they don’t manipulate flakes to create tools.

“This represents an early form of cognitive ability from a species that has since vanished,” states Brumm. “We don’t ascertain the specific species, but these creations indicate human intellect at the Calio site.”

The distinct hominin species, Homo floresiensis, was unearthed in Flores in 2003. Archaeological findings suggest human presence on the island over a million years ago. However, the means by which these early humans reached the island remains a mystery.

Both Flores and Sulawesi were separated from mainland Southeast Asia by expansive oceanic barriers, even during periods of the lowest sea levels. According to Blum, the distance to Sulawesi is too great for swimming, leading to the conclusion that these early human species likely could not construct maritime vessels.

“It’s conceivable that a rare geological event, such as a tsunami, swept some early humans into the ocean, where they might have clung to floating trees or mats of vegetation, eventually reaching these islands to form isolated populations,” he suggests.

Martin Porr from the University of Western Australia identifies Homo erectus as the most probable candidate for seafaring at that time, given similarities between the tools found in Sulawesi and those associated with this species.

While the new finds support this theory, they raise numerous questions, particularly regarding whether the skills of these early human groups may need to be reassessed.

Led by the late archaeologist Mike Morwood, the team who first identified Homo floresiensis was the first to propose that Sulawesi could be crucial in understanding the ancestry of the Hobbit. As Kira Westaway from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia mentions, “Sulawesi is positioned along a significant current that flows from Sulawesi to Flores.”

“Even Mike would have been astonished by the discovery of these ancient stone tools,” she remarks. “Though one might argue that seven tools are insufficient to support major claims, they undeniably represent the presence of early human activities.”

Neanderthals, ancient humans, cave art: France

Join new scientist Kate Douglas as she embarks on a captivating exploration of the prominent Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, spanning from Bordeaux to Montpellier.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Exploring the Potential of Testing Ozempic in Healthy Individuals

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Essential Credit: Photo by Photo Elliott/Abaca/Shutterstock (15320742p) This image, captured on May 26, 2025, displays the production line of medicines (including injection solutions and pens for Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.) during a ministerial tour of the Novonordisk Factory in Chartor, France. Illustration - Novo Nordisk Factory - France, Chartre - May 26, 2025 — Blondet Eliot/Abaca/Shutterstock

Mark Twain famously remarked, “If you were born at the age of 80 and gradually refined down to 18, life would be perpetually joyous.” The quest for youth has captivated stories and myths throughout the ages; what if we could finally achieve it?

Recent research indicates that the GLP-1 medication Ozempic, containing semaglutide, might effectively reverse biological aging by around three years. This effect is notably observed in the brain, suggesting that medications like Ozempic could help mitigate conditions such as dementia. Additionally, it seems to reduce inflammation tied to various health concerns, including heart disease, chronic pain, and depression.

Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has changed the landscape of obesity treatment. It’s important to highlight that its anti-aging effects are particularly noted in individuals with HIV-related fat hypertrophy, though researchers believe its benefits may extend to a broader population.

Ozempic seems to have eradicated the inflammatory system associated with numerous health conditions.

It’s intriguing to consider whether we should all be using these drugs to reverse aging and reap the rewards of better health. However, we cannot assume this is wise without substantial evidence from large placebo-controlled trials involving healthy individuals. Conducting such studies may be contentious, as there are potential side effects to monitor. Moreover, when supplies are limited, it’s crucial to prioritize those in dire need.

Nevertheless, it appears that a number of healthy individuals are already utilizing these medications—largely “off-label”—without clarity on their safety. Future research should unveil a clearer understanding of these risks and provide insights into how weight loss affects muscle mass retention.

As the array of health advantages associated with these drugs continues to expand, it may be time to investigate their efficacy in healthy individuals, aiming to determine if they genuinely have the capacity to slow aging rather than speculating about youthful elixirs.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Essential Insights on mRNA Vaccines in Response to RFK’s Claims

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Director of the U.S. Health Bureau

Zuma Press, Inc. /Alamy

The U.S. Secretary of Health has claimed that mRNA vaccines are ineffective against respiratory illnesses and announced a $5 billion cut in funding for mRNA vaccine research. This contradicts existing scientific evidence, which shows that many mRNA vaccines are not only effective but often outperform other vaccine types. Here’s what you should know to assess these statements:

During his announcement, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated, “These vaccines cannot effectively protect against upper respiratory tract infections such as COVID and influenza.” He indicated that funding would shift “to a safer, more versatile vaccine platform that remains effective even as the virus mutates.”

There are currently various vaccine types available: live viruses, inactivated viruses, genetically engineered viral shells, individual viral proteins, and mRNAs that encode viral proteins. The effectiveness of these vaccines is often influenced more by the virus than by the vaccine itself.

For instance, the MMR vaccine has a 100% effectiveness rate in preventing measles outbreaks when vaccination coverage exceeds 90%. This high effectiveness is due to the measles virus being a stable target and requiring complex routes deep within the body, allowing ample opportunities for the immune system to respond before symptoms develop or transmission occurs.

In contrast, respiratory viruses, which cause colds and flus, initially infect cells in the upper respiratory tract. This setting complicates the generation of sufficient protective antibodies, making it significantly harder to prevent infection and transmission compared to measles.

Moreover, viruses responsible for colds, influenza, and COVID-19 are continuously mutating, driving evolutionary pressures for changes that can evade immunity from both infection and vaccination. Consequently, no influenza or COVID-19 vaccine can offer the same long-term protection as the measles components of MMR vaccines. However, mRNA vaccines perform comparably well.

For example, some mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are over 90% effective against symptomatic infections and provide enhanced protection against severe outcomes. In contrast, the effectiveness of non-mRNA vaccines for annual influenza prevention ranges from 20% to 60%. Additionally, a recent trial involving a combined COVID-19 and influenza mRNA vaccine has shown potential to surpass existing non-mRNA influenza vaccines for individuals over 50, who are most at risk.

Thus, Kennedy’s assertion regarding ineffectiveness is misguided. While this does not imply that mRNA vaccines will always be superior to others, new vaccines must outperform existing ones in clinical trials. If mRNA vaccines were ineffective, they would not receive approval.

Kennedy also posits that other vaccine types might sustain their effectiveness amidst viral mutations, likely referencing the concept of a “universal vaccine.” This idea aims to create a single vaccine effective against all variants of, for example, influenza or coronaviruses by targeting stable parts of the virus. However, achieving this is challenging since viruses often conceal stable regions beneath variable structures.

Despite extensive research efforts over the decades, developing a reliable universal vaccine has yet to be successful. Thus, investing heavily in this area may be unwise. Additionally, mRNA technology has been utilized in experimental settings for creating universal vaccines, making Kennedy’s second statement equally flawed.

Finally, effectiveness is just one factor; safety, cost, and the rapidity of vaccine development are also critical considerations. In this regard, mRNA technology provides significant advantages: it is safer than vaccines derived from live viruses, less expensive than those based on a single viral protein, and can be developed rapidly—essential in the context of quickly evolving respiratory viruses, especially during pandemics.

Moreover, mRNA vaccine technology has broader applications for developing a variety of other treatments. The funding cuts announced by Kennedy, based on erroneous claims, could impede progress by deterring companies from investing in this promising technology.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

NHS Talking Therapy Appears to Be Ineffective for Young Adults

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

NHS Talking Therapies: Access to Science-Based Self-Help and Psychotherapy

Galina Zhigalova/Getty Images

A specific type of psychotherapy offered by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) seems to benefit teenagers and young adults with anxiety and depression more than it does for older individuals.

Clinical studies focusing on the effects of psychotherapy on prevalent conditions like anxiety and depression have primarily concentrated on working-age adults; depression often manifests in adolescence or early adulthood, according to Argyris Stringaris from University College London.

In 2008, NHS England initiated a program designed to enhance access to scientifically informed self-help resources and psychotherapy. Currently referred to as NHS talk therapy for anxiety and depression, this initiative has generated a substantial database of anonymous user information, detailing treatments and outcomes.

Stringaris and his colleagues harnessed this data to evaluate the results from over 1.5 million individuals who accessed the therapy between 2015 and 2019. More than 1.2 million participants were aged between 25 and 65, leaving the younger cohort aged 16 to 24.

The researchers assessed changes in symptom severity pre- and post-treatment by utilizing two standard self-assessment tools: a patient health questionnaire-9 and a seven-item general anxiety disorder scale.

The results indicated that these scores exhibited approximately 35% improvement in individuals aged 16 to 24, compared to around 41% for those aged 25 to 65. Young people were roughly 20-25% less likely to be classified as recovered or to achieve significant improvements.

This could potentially result in thousands of young individuals recovering each year if they responded to treatment as effectively as their older counterparts, Stringaris remarks. “It is crucial to consider how mental health services might adapt to provide better care pathways for younger populations.”

Various factors could contribute to these discrepancies, including generational differences influenced by social media and online dating. Data further suggest that younger clients tend to miss scheduled appointments without prior notification, which may lead to poorer outcomes.

The study highlights the imbalances that warrant further exploration, says David Clark from Oxford University. “Research often reveals numerous insights that can be addressed. This paper marks the beginning of what could be a fruitful path ahead.”

Despite this, it remains essential to acknowledge the “gradual benefits” of the therapy. This relates to how clients fare compared to those who do not undergo treatment, he adds. “You start getting [younger] patients who are trying to establish themselves in life and pursue employment, indicating they may not have worse outcomes than older individuals,” Clark says.

Adrian Whittington from NHS England explains that talk therapy assists over a million individuals annually, most receiving treatment within six weeks. “We encourage them to take proactive steps towards care,” he states.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Significant Genetic Variations Identified in Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Genetics could play a significant role in the development of chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis.

BlackJack3D/Getty Images

Recent large-scale studies have identified genetic factors that might increase the risk of developing chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Researchers have associated eight regions of the human genome with this condition based on DNA analyses from over 15,000 affected individuals.

“Our research offers the first strong evidence for genetic influences,” says Sonya Chowdhury from the UK charity Action for ME.

In the long term, these findings may aid in creating new diagnostic tools and treatments for ME/CFS. This condition has been recognized for decades and is primarily characterized by a debilitating response to minimal exertion, often accompanied by fatigue after mental effort.

Chowdhury adds that the results provide “recognition and validation” for individuals suffering from this condition. “Many people have been dismissed with comments such as, ‘It’s not a real illness,'” she explains. “They visited doctors who often downplayed their symptoms.”

“This represents a significant breakthrough for patients,” notes Andy Devereux Cooke, co-founder of Science for ME, a forum supporting those with the condition.

The research, termed Decode, involved analysis of DNA from over 15,500 individuals with ME/CFS against approximately 260,000 samples from unaffected individuals.

“Eight genetic signals were identified,” explains Chris Ponting from the University of Edinburgh, UK. These genomic regions appear to differ significantly in individuals with ME/CFS, suggesting that genetic variants in these areas could influence the likelihood of developing the condition. The findings were announced at a press briefing but have not yet been published in scientific journals or preprint platforms.

Among these eight regions, the research team pinpointed 43 protein-coding genes, with 29 deemed particularly noteworthy. “Delving into these genetic signals reveals associations with both immune and nervous system functions,” Ponting states. “Notably, the activity of these genes is prevalent in brain tissue, indicating a potential link to nervous system involvement.”

Additionally, researchers uncovered immune system-related genes, particularly rabgap1l, which may significantly heighten the risk of CFS. This aligns with anecdotal reports from many individuals with the condition, who often cite prior mild infections as precursors to their symptoms.

“I believed there was something distinct about the immune systems of individuals suffering from ME/CFS,” comments Jackie Cliff from Brunel University in London, noting that this study represents a substantial advancement in ME/CFS research.

Despite the fact that ME/CFS is significantly more prevalent in women, this study found no differences in genetic susceptibility between men and women. However, the team has yet to analyze the X and Y sex chromosomes.

The next steps involve examining these eight genome regions in greater depth to comprehend how genetic variations translate into molecular and cellular processes, both with and without ME/CFS. This could potentially pave the way for diagnostic tests and targeted treatments addressing the fundamental mechanisms of the disorder. However, this progress is contingent upon securing research funding, which is currently limited, says Cliff.

ME/CFS is estimated to impact 67 million individuals globally. A 2017 report from Think Tank 20/20 Health estimated that it incurs costs of £3.3 billion annually to the UK economy due to decreased productivity and healthcare expenses. “It’s an overlooked and marginalized illness that deserves attention and investment,” emphasizes Ponting.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Cockatoos Showcase an Impressive Variety of Dance Moves

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

White Cockatoos Display a Natural Inclination to Dance

Andrew Angelov/Alamy

The head nods, side-to-side movements, and body rolls are just a few of the over 30 dance moves showcased by these remarkable cockatoos.

Since gaining online fame in 2009, the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) has become an Internet dance sensation. In 2019, Aniruddh Patel from Tufts University and his team revealed that Snowball, a well-known dancing cockatoo, created 14 unique dance moves and even mixed some of them together.

To explore how prevalent this behavior is, Natasha Love and her research team from Charles Sturt University in Australia examined 45 videos of dancing cockatoos shared on social media. They discovered five different species: the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua alba), the umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), Tanimbar cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana), and a lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sanguinea).

The researchers identified 30 distinct dance moves, each performed by at least two birds. Of these, 17 had not been previously documented in scientific literature. Interestingly, closely related species exhibited varying styles in their dance.

Love and her team also conducted experiments on two pink cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) and two galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) at the Wagga Wagga Zoo and Aviary in Australia.

They played various music tracks for the birds—such as “Wake Me Up” by Avicii, a financial podcast “She’s On The Money”, and white noise—and observed that the birds engaged in their dance moves regardless of the type of audio played.

This suggests that cockatoos are not merely mimicking human actions. “It’s uncertain why they dance, but it’s plausible they are expressing themselves in playful ways,” says Love.

Many of the observed dance moves correspond to displays seen during wild parrot courtship, indicating that the ability to dance may have roots in mating behavior, according to Love.

Video evidence leads her and her colleagues to conclude that dancing behavior can be found in at least 10 of the 21 known cockatoo species.

“Snowball developed his dance moves without formal instruction, yet it remains unclear how much of these behaviors are influenced by genetic factors. Recent research indicates that the similarity of movements among different parrots’ dances may not be as predictable,” Patel remarks. “These findings are exhilarating as they show that the capacity for flexible and creative dancing to music is not a trait exclusive to humans.”

So, which cockatoo species stands out as the best dancer? “From our zoo observations, Major Mitchell’s cockatoos seemed to display more enthusiasm and energy in their dances compared to other species,” Love notes.

She emphasizes that further studies are necessary to discern whether birds actually enjoy dancing and if encouraging this behavior can enhance the well-being of domesticated parrots.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Human eggs accumulate fewer mutations than previously believed.

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Like all cells, human eggs are subject to mutations

CC Studio/Science Photo Library

Research indicates that human eggs may be shielded from certain types of mutations associated with aging. In a recent study, scientists discovered that as women age, there are no signs of accumulating mutations in the mitochondrial DNA of their egg cells.

“When we consider age-related mutations, we typically think about older individuals having more mutations compared to younger ones,” notes Kateryna Makova from Pennsylvania State University. “However, this assumption doesn’t always hold true.”

Mitochondria, which provide the primary energy source for the body’s cells, are inherited solely from the mother. While mitochondrial DNA mutations are generally benign, they can sometimes result in complications that impact muscles and neurons, particularly due to their high energy demands. “Oocytes” [egg cells] serve as this biological reservoir,” explains Ruth Lehmann from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not part of this study.

Prior research has shown that older mothers tend to pass down more chromosomal mutations, leading to the general assumption that a similar pattern exists with mitochondrial DNA mutations. To investigate this, Makova and her team utilized DNA sequencing to identify new mutations across 80 eggs sourced from 22 women aged 20 to 42 years.

The findings revealed that mitochondrial mutations in female eggs do not actually escalate with advancing age, unlike those found in salivary and blood cells. “It seems we have evolved a mechanism that mitigates the accumulation of mutations, allowing for their replication later in life,” remarks Makova.

Previous research has indicated that mitochondrial DNA mutations in macaque eggs showed an increase while their reproductive capacity remained stable until the animal reached about nine years of age. “It would be worthwhile to also study younger women. This could apply to humans as well,” comments team member Barbara Arbetuber from Penn State University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Low-Dose Lithium Alleviates Alzheimer’s Symptoms in Mice

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of neurons affected by Alzheimer’s disease

Science Photo Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Illustration of neurons impacted by Alzheimer's Disease — Illustration of neurons affected by Alzheimer’s disease

Science Photo Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Research indicates that administering lithium to mice with low brain levels reverses cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These findings imply that lithium deficiency could contribute to Alzheimer’s, and low-dose lithium treatments may have therapeutic potential.

Several studies have highlighted a relationship between lithium and Alzheimer’s. A 2022 study found that individuals prescribed lithium faced nearly half the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Another paper published recently linked lithium levels in drinking water with a reduced risk of dementia.

However, as Bruce Yankner from Harvard University points out, hidden variables may influence these results. He suggests that other elements in drinking water, like magnesium, might also contribute to a lower dementia risk.

Yankner and his team assessed metal levels in the brains of 285 deceased individuals, 94 of whom had Alzheimer’s, and 58 exhibited mild cognitive impairment. The remaining participants showed no cognitive decline prior to death.

They discovered that lithium concentrations in the prefrontal cortex (a vital area for memory and decision-making) were about 36% lower in those without cognitive decline, and 23% lower in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. “I believe environmental factors, including diet and genetics, play a significant role,” states Yankner.

There’s another concerning aspect. In Alzheimer’s patients, amyloid plaques exhibited nearly three times more lithium than areas without plaques. “Lithium is sequestered by these plaques,” explains Yankner. “Initially, there’s a lithium intake disorder, and as the disease advances, lithium levels decline further due to its binding to amyloid.”

To further investigate cognitive effects, the research team genetically modified 22 mice to mimic Alzheimer’s symptoms and reduced their lithium consumption by 92%. After around eight months, these mice performed significantly worse on various memory assessments compared to 16 mice on normal diets. For instance, even after six days of training, lithium-deficient mice took approximately 10 seconds longer to locate a hidden platform in a water maze. Their brains also had about 2.5 times more amyloid plaques.

Genetic evaluations of brain cells from the lithium-deficient mice indicated heightened activity of genes linked to neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s. These mice experienced increased encephalopathy, and their immune cells failed to eliminate amyloid plaques, mirroring changes seen in Alzheimer’s patients.

The researchers then evaluated various lithium compounds for their ability to bind with amyloid and found that orotium— a compound created through the combination of lithium and orotic acid— had the least propensity to be trapped in plaques. A nine-month treatment regimen with orotium significantly diminished amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s-like mice and improved memory performance compared to regular mice.

These findings point toward the potential of lithium orotium as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. High doses of various lithium salts are already being employed to manage conditions such as bipolar disorder. “A significant challenge with lithium treatment in the elderly is the risk of kidney and thyroid toxicity due to high dosages,” notes Yankner. However, he mentions that the quantities used in this study were about 1,000 times lower than those typically administered, which may account for the absence of kidney or thyroid issues observed in the mice.

Nonetheless, clinical trials are crucial to gauge how low doses of orotium lithium might impact humans, says Rudolf Tansy at Massachusetts General Hospital. “The challenge lies in determining who truly requires lithium,” he adds. “Excessive lithium intake can result in severe side effects.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ultra-stick Hydrogels: Ten Times Stronger Than Other Water-based Adhesives

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers experimented with sticky hydrogels by attaching rubber ducks to rocks by the sea

Hao Guo, Hongguang Liao, Hailong Fan

The rubber ducks that remained attached to coastal rocks for over a year demonstrate the durability of this innovative sticky material. This adhesive has potential applications in deep-sea robotics, repair tasks, and as a surgical adhesive in medical contexts.

“We have created an ultra-sticky hydrogel that performs exceptionally well even when submerged,” says Hailong Fan from Shenzhen University, China. This hydrogel is a soft and flexible material.

Subsequently, at Hokkaido University in Japan, Fan and his team examined 24,000 sticky protein sequences from various organisms to pinpoint the most adhesive amino acid combination, the foundational components of proteins. They leveraged this knowledge to design 180 unique adhesive hydrogels and utilized artificial intelligence models trained on hydrogel properties to optimize formulas for enhanced adhesive agents.

This method allowed the researchers to create a novel class of adaptable, highly sticky hydrogels. According to Fan, this material can adhere to surfaces even after being repeatedly halted and re-stocked or submerged in seawater. Under these circumstances, it surpassed an adhesive strength of 1 megapascal in water, which is about ten times stronger than most soft, sticky materials.

The study indicates that it “illustrates a paradigm shift in the design of high-performance soft materials.” Zhao Qin at Syracuse University in New York commended the team’s efforts in unraveling the adhesive mechanisms of natural proteins and utilizing them in new materials.

The most playful showcase of the hydrogel’s adhesion involved leaving a yellow rubber duck stuck to wave-battered rocks along the shore. In a more pragmatic test, the hydrogel promptly sealed a leaking water pipe. This hints at its potential for repairing underwater structures and improving the durability of flexible electronics and robotics.

This material is also biocompatible, as confirmed by implanting it under the skin of mice, which opens up avenues for biomedical uses such as implants and surgical adhesives.

The impressive adhesiveness of these hydrogels is notable, but it’s important to consider that the material needs to maintain sufficient thickness to function effectively. Researchers hope to test it beyond ideal lab environments, especially in real-world scenarios with rough, contaminated, or moving surfaces.

The team has filed for patents concerning this novel material through Hokkaido University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Achieve Double the Weight Loss with a Minimally Processed Diet

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Items like cereal bars and protein bars can be either homemade or bought, potentially containing ultra-processed components.

Drong/Shutterstock

Following a super processed homemade diet may result in losing double the weight compared to an ultra-processed diet or snack.

Foods are generally classified as highly processed when they contain ingredients that aren’t typically found in home cooking, such as high fructose corn syrup or additives designed to enhance flavor and appearance, like flavorings and stabilizers.

Numerous studies have associated the consumption of ultra-processed foods with negative health impacts, including cardiovascular issues, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain. These studies have consistently noted that ultra-processed foods often contain high levels of sugar, salt, and fat, found in snacks like cookies and microwave dinners, raising questions about whether it’s just the ingredients that make them unhealthy, or if there’s something inherently harmful about the processing itself.

To explore this in relation to weight loss, Samuel Dicken and his colleagues at University College London conducted randomized trials where participants consumed either an ultra-processed or minimally processed diet. The study involved 55 overweight or obese individuals randomly assigned to one of the two diets.

“People often picture pizza and chips, but the researchers indicate that both diets align with the UK Eatwell Guide, which emphasizes a protein-rich diet including beans, fish, eggs, and meat, and encourages intake of at least five portions of fruits and vegetables. Both diets were matched to have similar levels of fat, sugar, salt, and carbohydrates,” Dicken explains.

Meals were provided to participants, marking the first study to compare such diets in a real-world setting rather than in controlled environments like hospitals or laboratories. The ultra-processed group consumed foods with lower fat and salt content, including breakfast cereals, protein bars, chicken sandwiches, and frozen lasagna, which are typically marketed with “healthy” nutritional claims in supermarkets,” Dicken notes.

The minimally processed group enjoyed homemade foods like overnight oats, chicken salad, homemade bread, and spaghetti bolognese. Both groups were given ample food, approximately 4000 calories per day, and instructed to eat to their satisfaction. Participants followed one diet for eight weeks, switched to the other after a four-week break, and alternated between both.

While the study aimed to examine the health impacts of balanced diets made in various ways rather than to focus solely on weight loss, both diets led to reductions in weight. The minimally processed food group lost 2% of their weight, while the ultra-processed group saw a 1% decrease.

“We observed greater weight loss with minimally processed diets, along with more significant fat reduction and lowered cravings,” Dicken says.

The research team also investigated other health metrics and discovered that the minimally processed diets decreased body fat volume and blood lipid levels. Interestingly, the ultra-processed diet was linked to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as “bad” cholesterol.

However, Ciarán Forde from Wageningen University in the Netherlands points out that ultra-processed meals tend to be more calorie-dense than their minimally processed counterparts. “Fundamental questions remain regarding which types of processing or ingredients contribute to the effects observed,” he adds.

Forde suggests that it is unsurprising participants lost weight considering their starting point of being overweight and obese while transitioning to healthier diets. This may indicate that the weight loss results are not applicable to the general population.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Research Suggests Potatoes Evolved from Tomato Plants 8-9 Million Years Ago

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The crossbreeding of South American tomato plants with potato-like species approximately 8 million years ago resulted in the development of modern potatoes (Sun Chronology). A collaborative team of biologists from China, Canada, Germany, the US, and the UK indicates that this ancient evolutionary milestone led to the emergence of tubers, an expanded underground structure used for storing nutrients in plants like potatoes, yams, and taros.

Interspecies hybridization can drive species radiation by generating various allelic combinations and traits. While all 107 wild relatives of cultivated potatoes and petota lineage share characteristics of subterranean tubers, the exact mechanisms of nodulation and extensive species diversification remain unclear. An analysis of 128 genomes, including 88 haplotype-degraded genomes, indicates that Zhang et al believe Petota is of ancient hybrid origin, revealing stable mixed genome ancestors derived from ethoberosam and tomato strains approximately 8 to 9 million years ago. Image credit: Zhang et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.06.034.

Cultivated potatoes rank as the third most crucial staple crop globally, alongside wheat, rice, and corn, contributing to 80% of human calorie consumption.

In terms of appearance, modern potato plants are similar to three potato-like species found in Chile, known as Etuverosam. However, they do not produce tubers.

Phylogenetic analysis reveals that potato plants are more closely related to tomatoes.

To clarify this discrepancy, Dr. Sanwen Huang, PhD, from the Institute for Agricultural Genomics at Shenzhen, China, along with colleagues, analyzed 450 genomes of cultivated and 56 wild potatoes.

“Our research shows how interspecies hybridization can instigate the emergence of new traits and lead to the formation of more species,” explained Dr. Huang.

“We have finally unraveled the mystery of potato origins.”

“Collecting samples of wild potatoes has been extremely challenging, making this dataset the most comprehensive collection of wild potato genomic data analyzed to date,” noted Dr. Zhiyang Zhang, a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Genomics at Shenzhen, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The researchers discovered that all potato species contained a stable mix of genetic material from both exo root and tomato plants, indicating that potatoes originated from ancient hybridization between the two.

Although Etuberosam and tomatoes are distinct species, they share a common ancestor from around 14 million years ago.

Even after diverging for about 5 million years, they still managed to interbreed, resulting in the earliest potato plants exhibiting tubers approximately 8-9 million years ago.

The team also traced the origins of key tuber-forming genes in potatoes, which comprise genetic contributions from both parent species.

They identified the gene SP6A, functioning as a master switch indicating when plants should begin tuber formation, originating from the tomato lineage.

Another crucial gene, it1, derived from the Echuberosum lineage, assists in regulating the growth of underground stems that develop into tubers.

Hybrid offspring require both components to produce tubers.

This evolutionary advancement coincided with the rapid uplift of the Andes, a period when new ecological environments emerged.

The ability to store nutrients in tubers enabled early potatoes to adapt quickly to changing conditions and withstand the harsh mountain climate.

Moreover, tubers facilitate a mode of propagation without seeds or pollination, allowing new plants to grow from tuber buds.

This adaptability enabled them to expand swiftly from temperate grasslands to cold alpine pastures across Central and South America, filling various ecological niches.

“The evolution of tubers has provided potatoes with significant advantages in challenging environments, fostering the emergence of new species and contributing to the incredible diversity of potatoes we now depend on,” Dr. Huang concluded.

The study was published in the journal Cell on July 31, 2025.

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Zhiyang Zhang et al. Ancient hybridization underpins the diversification and radiation of potato lines. Cell Published online on July 31, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.06.034

Source: www.sci.news

Decam Reveals Hidden Cluster Light in Galaxy Cluster Abell 3667

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The glow within the cluster is the soft luminosity of stars that have been stripped from their galaxy amidst the layers of galaxy clusters.

Abell 3667 is depicted in this Decam image. Image credits: CTIO/NOIRLAB/NSF/AURA/ANTHONY ENGLERT, Brown University/TA Rector, Noirlab/M. Zamani & D of University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF. De Martin, NSF’s Noirlab.

Galaxy clusters comprise thousands of galaxies, varying widely in age, shape, and size.

Typically, they have a mass about 10 billion times that of the Sun.

Historically, galactic clusters were regarded as the largest structures in the universe, spanning hundreds of millions of light-years and including numerous galactic clusters and groups, until superclusters were discovered in the 1980s.

Nonetheless, galaxy clusters still hold the title of the largest gravitationally bound structure in the universe.

“The study of galaxy clusters not only informs us about the formation of the universe, but it also places constraints on the characteristics of dark matter,” stated Brown University astronomer Anthony Englat and his team.

One significant clue astronomers seek to grasp the history of galactic clusters is the light within the cluster. This faint glow is emitted by stars that have been stripped from their original galaxy due to the immense gravitational forces of the forming galaxy cluster.

These stars provide evidence of past galactic interactions, although most current telescopes and cameras face challenges in detecting them.

The subtle intra-cluster light from the galaxy cluster Abel 3667 shines vividly in new images created from a total of 28 hours of observation at 570 megapixels using the Dark Energy Camera (Decam) at NSF’s M. Blanco 4-M Telescope, a program of NSF’s Noirlab at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.

“Abell 3667 is located over 700 million light-years away from us,” the astronomer mentioned.

“Most of the faint light sources in this image are distant galaxies, not foreground stars from our own Milky Way.”

“In Abell 3667, two small galaxy clusters are currently merging, as evidenced by the luminous bridge (yellow) of stars extending toward the center of this image.”

“This bridge is formed from material stripped off from the merging galaxies, forming one massive conglomerate known as the brightest cluster galaxy.”

“Not only does this sparkling sky encompass distant galaxies, but it also highlights faint foreground features due to the prolonged exposure.”

“The Milky Way’s hair follicles, or integrated flux nebula, consist of faint clouds of interstellar dust that appear as soft bluish chains crossing the image.”

“These structures are patches of dust that are illuminated by the light of the stars within our own galaxy.”

“They present as diffuse, filamentous formations that can span extensive areas of the sky.”

Survey results will be published in the Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Anthony M. Engrat et al. 2025. Announcing optical bridges in Abel 3667 in-cluster light: LSST precursor data. apjl 989, L2; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ade8f1

Source: www.sci.news

A Brief Psychotherapy Course Can Alleviate Back Pain for Three Years

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Most treatments for back pain provide temporary relief

Amenic181/ShutterStock

A brief course of a specific type of psychotherapy has proven to be three times more effective in alleviating chronic low back pain than conventional treatments, even after several years.

Cognitive Function Therapy (CFT) offers individuals a customized program designed to help them comprehend and manage pain via movement and lifestyle adaptations. In a 2023 study, researchers reported significant chronic back pain relief lasting at least a year after just eight sessions.

Recent findings revealed that these sessions continue to provide relief even three years later. CFT leads to three times the improvement in pain and associated disability when compared to the conventional care options patients typically receive, such as pain medications, physical therapy, and massage treatments.

“Our findings suggest that for patients with severe impairments, back pain management can yield long-lasting benefits,” notes Jan Hartvigsen from the University of Southern Denmark.

Back pain is among the leading causes of global disability, and existing treatments often only provide mild, temporary relief. In the 2023 trial, Hartvigsen and his team enlisted 492 participants suffering from chronic low back pain, categorized as experiencing at least four points on a pain scale of 0-10.

Among the participants, one-third continued with their usual care regimen. In contrast, the other two-thirds paused standard care to partake in seven CFT sessions over a final 12-week span, concluding with a 26-week session.

During these sessions, specially trained physical therapists examined each participant’s thoughts regarding their posture, pain, emotions, and lifestyle factors. Their goal was to help participants view their pain in a new light. They focused on modifying exercise habits and control strategies, promoting healthier diets, rest techniques, stress management, and workout plans.

“Individuals living with chronic pain often fear using their bodies,” explains Hartvigsen. “It’s not a mental issue; they require support from someone who can build a strong therapeutic bond with them, as their behaviors, beliefs, and nervous systems are very flexible and conditioned to these pain-related behaviors.”

Half of the participants in the CFT group also received biofeedback, a sensor-based approach that enables real-time monitoring of movement patterns to retrain posture and motion.

After one year, pain intensity and disability levels, measured by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, showed substantial improvements—approximately three to four times greater in the CFT group than in those receiving traditional care. Biofeedback enhanced the effectiveness of CFT marginally.

In a follow-up three years later, the Hartvigsen research team gathered updated evaluations from 312 participants evenly split between treatment groups.

The results indicated that those who underwent CFT experienced nearly three times greater improvement in both pain and disability when contrasted with the standard care group. Furthermore, about three times more individuals in the CFT group recorded lower disability ratings, indicating pain did not severely hinder their functionality.

However, all participants were permitted to pursue additional care after the initial unmonitored year.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Transforming Retired Coal Plants into Green Energy Sources

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Abandoned coal power plant at an abandoned Indiana Army Ammunition Factory

American Explorer/Shutterstock

Numerous decommissioned coal-fired power plants have the potential to become reliable backup or emergency energy sources for the grid, eliminating the dependence on fossil fuels. Instead, they can utilize thermal energy trapped in soil.

The idea involves accumulating a large mound of soil near the coal facility and embedding industrial heaters within it. During periods of low electricity demand, these devices transform inexpensive electricity into heat, storing it in the soil at around 600°C. When electricity demand peaks, the heat can be transferred from the soil through heated liquid pipes.

A generator linked to the turbine blades of a coal plant can convert this heat into supplemental energy. The heat transforms water into steam, turning the turbine blades to produce electricity. “Rather than burning coal to heat water for steam, we harness heat from the energy stored within the soil,” explains Ken Caldeira from Stanford University in California.

This type of energy storage is crucial in supporting renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which often generate power intermittently. Soil offers a more affordable, abundant, and accessible resource for long-term energy storage compared to alternatives like lithium batteries and hydrogen fuels.

“The most exciting aspect is the low cost of energy capacity, especially since it is significantly cheaper than other energy technologies,” states Alicia Wongel at Stanford University.

Nonetheless, this approach has its challenges. “In such systems, minimizing plumbing and electrical costs is crucial, yet can be difficult,” notes Andrew Maxson from the Electric Power Research Institute, a non-profit research organization based in California.

Most soil consists of naturally heat-resistant materials like silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide, which makes it “very resilient to heat,” says Austin Vernon from Standard Thermals in Oklahoma. His startup aims to commercialize this “thermal” technology, especially for repurposing retired coal power plants in conjunction with nearby solar and wind energy sources.

There are many retired coal facilities across the United States. Close to 300 coal-fired power plants were shut down between 2010 and 2019, and an additional 50 gigawatts of coal capacity is expected to reach retirement age by 2030. In the late 2000s, cheaper natural gas and renewable energy began to outcompete coal.

Christian Phong from the Rocky Mountain Institute, a research organization in Colorado, views the idea of repurposing defunct coal plants positively. “This provides an opportunity for local communities to engage in the clean energy transition, generating jobs and additional tax revenue while navigating the shift away from coal,” he remarks.

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Source: www.newscientist.com