CICADA: A Newly Discovered Fossil Song Species from Germany

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Cicadidae family is among the most diverse insect families today. However, the fossil record of Cicadidae is notably sparse compared to the number of extant species. The recently discovered species, Eoplatypleura Messelensis, is not only one of the earliest Cicadidae fossils found on the Eurasian continent, but it also represents the oldest record of the subfamily CICADINAE globally.

Reconstruction of Eoplatypleura Messelensis. Image credit: Dinghua Yang.

Eoplatypleura Messelensis thrived in Europe approximately 47 million years ago during the Eocene period.

“The Cicada family is one of the most diverse groups of insects today,” states Dr. Sonja Wedmann, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main.

“Despite this, the fossil record is quite limited compared to the many modern species.”

“The Platypleurini group within this family is particularly noteworthy, containing numerous species with wide distributions and unique traits.”

“For the first time, we have described a fossil from this Cicada group.”

Two fossil specimens of Eoplatypleura Messelensis were found at Messelpit, an open-cast oil shale mine located 10 km northeast of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.

“The new Messel fossil showcases a compact head with a subtle composite eye and a broad forewing featuring a distinctly curved tip,” notes Dr. Hui Jang, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut and a doctoral researcher at the University of Maine and Nanjing University.

“The fossils are female, but their classification implies that males in this group may produce loud mating calls.”

Eoplatypleura Messelensis, an adult female. Image credit: Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main.

These ancient insects measure 2.65 cm in body length and have a wingspan of 6.82 cm, notable for their expansive, intricately patterned wings.

“These patterns resemble those of contemporary Cicada species in the Platypleurini group, which inhabit wooded and scrub areas,” explains Dr. Jang.

“Considering the subtropical vegetation of the Messel region approximately 47 million years ago, these color patterns may have served important ecological functions, such as camouflage.”

Eoplatypleura Messelensis is one of the oldest known representatives of today’s true cicadas in Eurasia and signifies the earliest records of the subfamily Cicadinae worldwide,” Dr. Wedmann remarks.

“This is also the Cicada that has been first described from the Messel Pit.”

“This discovery not only enhances our understanding of the fauna at Messelpit but also fills a crucial gap in the history of Eocene cicadas.”

“In the future, Eoplatypleura Messelensis may serve as a reference point for significant time series in genetic research regarding the evolutionary history of these insects, providing new insights into the origins and dispersal of Platypleurini.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports on April 29, 2025.

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H. Jiang et al. 2025. Sound from the Eocene: The first singing Cicada from Messelpit, Germany. Sci Rep 15, 12826; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-94099-7

Source: www.sci.news

AI’s Hallucinations Are Intensifying—and They’re Here to Stay

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Errors Tend to Occur with AI-Generated Content

Paul Taylor/Getty Images

AI chatbots from tech giants like OpenAI and Google have seen several inference upgrades in recent months. Ideally, these upgrades would lead to more reliable answers, but recent tests indicate that performance may be worse than that of previous models. Errors called “hallucinations,” particularly in the “hagatsuki” category, have been persistent issues that developers have struggled to eliminate.

Hallucination is the broad term used to describe specific errors generated by large-scale language models (LLMs) from organizations like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. It primarily refers to instances where these models present false information as fact, but it can also describe instances where a generated answer is accurate yet irrelevant to the question posed.

A technical report from OpenAI evaluating the latest LLMs revealed that the O3 and O4-MINI models, released in April, exhibit significantly higher hallucination rates compared to earlier O1 models introduced in late 2024. For instance, if O4-MINI had a summary accuracy of 33%, the hallucination rate for O3 was similarly at 33%, whereas the O1 model maintained a rate of only 16%.

This issue is not exclusive to OpenAI. The popular leaderboard showcases various inference models from different companies assessing their hallucination rates, including the DeepSeek-R1 model. This model has shown increased hallucination rates compared to previous versions, undergoing several reasoning steps before reaching a conclusion.

An OpenAI spokesperson stated, “We are actively working to reduce hallucination rates in O3 and O4-MINI. Hallucinations are inherently more common in inference models. We will continue our research across all models to enhance accuracy and reliability.”

Some potential applications of LLMs can be significantly impeded by hallucinations. Models that frequently produce misinformation are unsuitable as research assistants, and a bot stating fictitious legal cases could endanger lawyers. Customer service agents falsely citing obsolete policies can also create significant challenges for businesses.

Initially, AI companies believed they would resolve these issues over time. Historically, models had shown reduced hallucinations with each update, yet the recent spikes in hallucination rates complicate this narrative.

Vectara’s leaderboard ranks models based on their consistency in summarizing documents. This indicates that for systems from OpenAI and Google, “hallucination rates are roughly comparable for inference and irrational models,” as noted by Forest Shen Bao from Vectara. Google has not provided further comments. For leaderboard assessments, the specific rates of hallucinations are less significant than each model’s overall ranking, according to Bao.

However, these rankings may not effectively compare AI models. For one, different types of hallucinations are often conflated. The Vectara team pointed out that the DeepSeek-R1 model demonstrated a 14.3% hallucination rate, but many of these hallucinations were “benign,” being logically deduced yet not appearing in the original text.

Another issue with these rankings is that tests based on text summaries “reveal nothing about the percentage of incorrect output” for tasks where LLMs are applied, as stated by Emily Bender at Washington University. She suggests that leaderboard results don’t provide a comprehensive evaluation of this technology, particularly since LLMs are not solely designed for text summarization.

These models generate answers by repeatedly answering the question, “What is the next word?” to formulate responses, thus not processing information in a traditional sense. However, many technology companies continue to use the term “hallucination” to describe output errors.

“The term ‘hallucination’ is doubly problematic,” says Bender. “On one hand, it implies that false output is abnormal and could potentially be mitigated, while on the other hand, it inaccurately anthropomorphizes the machine since large language models lack awareness.”

Arvind Narayanan from Princeton University argues that the issue extends beyond hallucinations. Models can also produce errors by utilizing unreliable sources or outdated information. Merely increasing training data and computational power may not rectify the problems.

We may have to accept the reality of error-prone AI, as Narayanan mentioned in a recent social media post. In some circumstances, it may be prudent to use such models solely for tasks requiring fact-checking. The best approach might be to avoid relying on AI chatbots for factual information altogether.

Source: www.newscientist.com

How Climate Change Is Impacting Our Daily Lives Right Now

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Climate change is already impacting our lives negatively

Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images

When considering the dangers posed by climate change, floods and violent storms might come to mind, or even unprecedented heat waves. A study conducted in the latter half of 2024 revealed that most Americans view extreme weather as the chief climate threat. Yet, climate change disrupts daily life in many other persistent ways.

“These events significantly impact people’s lives but often don’t make headlines,” states Jennifer Carman from Yale University.

These more subtle consequences of climate change may seem trivial compared to disasters, like worse allergies or increased commute times, but they collectively signify major shifts, according to Carman. Understanding these issues is crucial for individuals to brace for climate changes affecting their everyday experiences. Remarkably, around half of Americans report feeling the effects of climate change a decade ago—double the number of those who don’t.

“Not everyone is affected by severe events,” Carman remarks. “However, everyone experiences the impacts of daily life consistently.”

Climate change drives up food prices and more

Elevated temperatures associated with climate change inflate prices. In a study by Fridrikik and her team at the European Central Bank, they identified strong correlations between temperature and numerous global price indices. They discovered that higher average temperatures lead to both inflation and extreme weather, particularly in equatorial regions, with impacts persisting year-round.

They projected that by 2035, this would escalate annual price inflation rates by 0.5% to 1.2% for various goods, depending on global greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture is notably susceptible to weather variations, meaning its price impacts may be about twice as significant. “This unpredictability complicates food production,” Carman notes.

Air conditioning usage is rising and becoming more costly

Increasing temperatures escalate air conditioning expenses. In hotter regions, users will need to operate their air conditioners longer and more frequently. This demand can exceed affordable energy bills.

Individuals in previously temperate areas, such as London or the US’s Pacific Northwest, find themselves needing to install air conditioning for the first time. Globally, soaring cooling expenses negate any reductions in heating costs.

Hot weather disrupts sleep

Even with air conditioning, high nighttime temperatures can hinder sleep quality. Research by Renjie Chen from the University of Hudan, along with colleagues, assessed over 20 million nights of sleep data from hundreds of thousands in China. They found that a 10°C rise in night temperature could raise the likelihood of insufficient sleep by 20%. Under severe emissions scenarios, they estimate that each individual in China might lose about 33 hours of sleep per year by the century’s end.

This isn’t just a localized issue. Research by Kelton Minor from Columbia University showed that elevated nighttime temperatures correlated with reduced sleep across tens of thousands of individuals in 68 countries. Findings suggest higher nighttime temperatures result in decreased sleep—mainly affecting older adults and women in hotter, poorer regions.

Climate change intensifies air pollution

Air pollution poses serious health risks, whether from PM2.5 particles or ozone. Recent research indicates that combining higher temperatures with existing pollutants can exacerbate the harmful effects of air quality, particularly among those who spend extended time outdoors.

It can raise temperatures, leading to increased air pollution by surge electricity demands, often serviced by “peaker plants” designed for peak demand; the worst emitting fossil fuel plants.

Historically, fossil fuel-driven pollution has decreased as power grids have become cleaner, yielding public health benefits. However, as climate change fuels more frequent and severe wildfires, decades of progress may be undone, exposing communities to wildfire smoke. One study forecasts that increased smoke exposure could lead to around 700,000 additional deaths in the U.S. by 2050.

Allergies are worsening with global warming

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels lead to longer warm seasons and higher pollen production, exacerbating allergy symptoms. Many individuals have noticed this trend. According to Carman, annual data shows that 38% of respondents believe their allergy seasons have worsened.

Supporting evidence aligns with anecdotal perceptions; William Andreg from the University of Utah and his team found that the pollen season in North America has lengthened since the 1990s, with overall pollen levels increasing by 21%. The majority of these changes have been attributed to human-induced warming.

Travel delays accumulate, whether long-haul or daily

Climate change is increasingly responsible for weather-related interruptions in transportation systems, leading to billions of wasted hours.

For instance, Valerie Mueller and colleagues from Arizona State University studied the impact of routine coastal flooding on commute times in the eastern U.S. They estimated individuals experience about 23 minutes of delays annually due to these floods, which is double the time recorded 20 years ago. Their analysis revealed these delays stem mainly from rising sea levels rather than extreme storm surges.

While a handful of extra minutes might seem negligible, it accumulates to billions of lost hours overall. Over the coming decades, further sea level rise could escalate delays to hundreds of minutes per person annually.

Weather-induced delays are also increasing in train services and airports. The International Air Transport Association reported that weather-related delays rose from 11% of total delays in 2012 to 30% in 2023. Additionally, even if passengers board their flights, climate change can exacerbate certain turbulence, contributing to rougher flights.

Topics:

Climate Change/
Air Pollution

Source: www.newscientist.com

Chimpanzees Share “Fundamental Elements of Musical Rhythms” with Humans

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Young Chimpanzee Drumming in Guinea

Cyril Ruoso/Naturepl.com

Musicality may have originated from a shared ancestor of chimpanzees and humans, given the similarities in their drumming techniques.

Katherine Hoheiter at The University of St Andrews and her research team analyzed 371 instances of drumming from two of the four subspecies of chimpanzees in Africa: Western chimpanzees (Pantroglogistics Vers) and Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi).

They utilize their hands and feet, often on buttress roots, creating rapid rhythms mainly during rest, travel, or during displays of threat.

Hoheiter mentions that while capturing chimpanzee drumming is common, the rainforest poses significant research challenges, and gathering data for some populations took decades.

Ultimately, researchers found that chimpanzees drum significantly faster than most humans. “The longest drumming event we recorded exceeded five seconds, while the shortest was less than 0.1 seconds,” notes Hoheiter. “Chimpanzees also tend to repeat these beats, especially while traveling.”

Despite the contrasts between chimpanzee and human drumming, chimpanzees exhibit some “core components of human musical rhythms,” according to team member Vesta Eleuteri from the University of Vienna.

“They employ recognizable rhythms present in various musical cultures, which contrasts with randomly played beats. These consist of hits that are evenly spaced, akin to clock ticks,” she elaborates. “Moreover, we discovered that the Eastern and Western chimpanzee subspecies, residing on different sides of Africa, exhibit distinct rhythmic patterns.”

Eleuteri explains that Eastern chimpanzees alternate between short and long intervals between beats, while Western chimpanzees maintain equally spaced hits. Additionally, these chimpanzees initiate drumming more quickly and use more hits to commence drumming early during a unique pant-hoot call.

Miguel Rulente from the University of Girona finds the notion that different subspecies display unique drumming styles compelling. “These patterns suggest the potential for not just individual idiosyncrasies but also cultural distinctions in how groups utilize drumming as communication tools.”

It is well understood that rhythm plays a crucial role in human social interaction, whether through music, dance, or even conversational rhythms, explains Hoheiter. “I’m not implying that chimpanzee drumming reflects the sophistication of modern human rhythms. However, this research is the first to show that we share fundamental rhythmic elements, suggesting that rhythms are intrinsic to our social environment even before we evolved into humans.”

“Previously, it was claimed that rhythmicity was exclusive to humans,” states Gisela Kaplan from the University of New England. “However, a growing body of evidence suggests this is not the case.”

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Halfton Soviet Spacecraft Set for Earth Collision: No Need to Panic

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Discarded Soviet-era spacecrafts do not pose a significant risk to Earth, according to experts.

The Kosmos-482, initially designed for a mission to land on Venus, has been stuck in Earth’s orbit for 53 years due to rocket issues. It is anticipated to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in the coming days, with the latest forecasts predicting an uncontrolled descent on Saturday.

While the sight of large metal fragments falling back to Earth might seem alarming, old satellites and rocket debris actually re-enter the atmosphere almost daily. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), such events are quite common.

Typically, spacecraft burn up harmlessly upon re-entry. Even if some components survive the intense heat, it is rare for them to land on populated areas, mainly due to the fact that oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface.

“The likelihood of a satellite re-entering and causing injury is exceedingly low,” noted an ESA official in Blog entries regarding Kosmos-482. “Statistically, an individual has less than a one in 100 billion chance of being harmed by space debris. In contrast, a person is approximately 65,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning.”

ESA’s Space Debris Office predicts that Kosmos-482 will start its descent around 4:26 AM on Saturday, with a possible variance of ±4.35 hours.

Meanwhile, U.S. space forces anticipate an earlier re-entry time of about 1:52 AM on Saturday.

The specific re-entry trajectory remains uncertain due to atmospheric dynamics, space weather, and orbital decay, complicating the task of accurately predicting when and where an uncontrolled spacecraft will land.

As the spacecraft nears re-entry, predictions may become more reliable, but pinpointing the exact landing site remains challenging.

NASA has indicated that the potential landing area could be “52 N-52 seconds latitude,” a vast expanse that includes much of Africa, Australia, North America, South America, and parts of Europe and Asia.

Officials from the Space Force have stated that current projections suggest Kosmos-482 will re-enter the Pacific Ocean, west of Guam, landing south of Australia, possibly over or near the southern ocean.

Launched by the Soviet Union in 1972, Kosmos-482 was part of a mission aimed at landing on Venus but ended up in orbit around Earth following a rocket failure.

While most of the debris from this ill-fated mission returned to Earth decades ago, the spherical landing capsule is anticipated to descend this weekend.

This capsule, measuring around 3 feet in diameter, was engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of Venus, raising questions about its capacity to survive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, as highlighted by Marco Langbroek, a scientist from the Delft Institute of Technology in the Netherlands, who has been monitoring Kosmos-482 and posting updates online.

“Even if it manages to re-enter, there’s a chance that it might collide intact,” Langbroek noted in a blog update on Thursday. “However, the impact could be severe, and I highly doubt the parachute deployment system will function after 53 years of battery drainage.”

Nonetheless, this does not imply that coastal populations are at imminent risk.

“While the risks are not exceedingly high, they aren’t nonexistent. With masses under 500 kg and impacts resembling those of meteorites, the probabilities are similar,” he wrote.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Optimal Method for Dropping Eggs

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Egg Drop Challenge is a time-honored tradition for many physics students. Participants often wrap eggs in cotton balls, tape, and various materials before dropping them from a school rooftop. Anyone who’s taken part knows how challenging it can be to design a structure that keeps the eggs intact upon impact. (That wasn’t my finest creation back in middle school!)

After the eggs break, teachers often share insights about the physics involved, suggesting that eggs dropped vertically tend to crack less than those resting flat.

But is that really accurate?

Following her experience with the egg drop challenge, Tal Cohen, an engineering professor at MIT, began to question whether traditional claims about falling eggs held up under scrutiny.

“It relates to the static behavior of the egg,” she remarked. “The dynamics of the impact are quite different.”

To validate her hypothesis, she conducted tests in the lab with eggs. Her findings turned out to be more complex; Thursday’s paper in the journal Communications discusses how eggs resting horizontally are actually less prone to cracking.

To carry out their experiments, the research team procured over 200 eggs from Costco (an advantage when prices were lower in 2023). They employed devices to crush some eggs and measure the force necessary to crack the shell. Remarkably, they found that eggshells broke under similar forces, regardless of whether the eggs were horizontal or vertical.

Next, they actually dropped the eggs. For testing purposes, they dropped them from a modest height of about 8 mm, allowing them to observe varying outcomes. When dropped from a greater height, all the eggs broke, regardless of their orientation.

Significant differences in outcomes were noted. Eggs dropped on their sides were much less likely to crack. Upon landing, their shells could compress, absorbing some of the impact. Conversely, eggs landing on their ends exhibited more rigid shells with no similar flexibility.

Joseph E. Bonavia, a graduate student in engineering at MIT and co-author of the paper, noted this similarity to human physiology.

“When falling from a height, you want to avoid locking your knees, as that can lead to fractures,” he explained. “Instead, you bend your knees—much like the eggs do.”

The way we typically cook eggs may have contributed to the misconception that eggshells are most fragile, according to Brendan M. Uniquewicch, another MIT graduate student and co-author. We often break eggs at their midpoint, which results in a long crack that allows for clean separation. As these experiments illustrate, breaking at that point causes the shell to cave inward—an undesirable outcome for omelet-making.

Indeed, the experiments challenge our intuitions about how objects behave when they fall, Dr. Cohen noted. This highlights the importance for engineering students to remain open to questioning established beliefs.

Has anyone tasted one of these eggs? Due to university policy, researchers can’t consume experimental materials in the lab. However, Dr. Cohen’s dog enjoyed a hearty meal under such restrictions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Trump Administration Seeks to Lift Protections for Lesser Prairie Chicken in Texas Court

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Trump administration has taken steps to revoke federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a vibrant grouse unfortunate enough to inhabit the southern and central grasslands, which have long been targeted for agricultural and energy development.

In a court filing on Wednesday, officials stated that the Fish and Wildlife Service mistakenly made a decision during the Biden era to classify these birds as endangered.

This move exemplifies the ongoing efforts of the White House to dilute or eliminate environmental regulations that hinder Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” agenda.

Furthermore, it marks yet another development in the ongoing struggle for the species, a battle that has persisted for 30 years.

Known for their unique courtship rituals of stomping, tail feather flicking, and “flapping,” the lesser prairie chicken’s population has plummeted from hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to only about 30,000 due primarily to habitat loss.

“President Trump will always advocate for the elimination of burdensome regulations affecting the American agriculture sector, particularly as numerous ranchers voluntarily engage in protecting lesser prairie chicken habitats,” stated White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.

The filing, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, aims to reevaluate the bird’s status by November 30, 2026.

While the species currently lacks protection under the Endangered Species Act, the filing asserted that “there are at least 16 different conservation initiatives and programs administered by state, federal, and private entities.”

Despite this, conservationists foresaw that the service would be under no obligation to reevaluate the species on its own timeline and would likely need to take legal action to prompt a review.

“The Trump administration is once again yielding to the fossil fuel industry, ignoring sound science and common sense while jeopardizing at-risk species,” stated Jason Rylander, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.

“A political decision to remove protections for endangered species is one that would not hold up in court,” he added, noting his group’s involvement in the issue.

Back in 1998, federal wildlife officials acknowledged that fewer grassland chickens warranted conservation efforts but initially prioritized other species. This led to the bird being tangled in a legal battle, fluctuating in and out of protected status.

In 2022, protections for the lesser prairie chicken were reinstated under President Biden, which split the species into two distinct populations: the southern population (encompassing eastern New Mexico and eastern Texas) and the northern population (covering central Kansas, western Oklahoma, central Texas, and the northeastern Panhandle).

The oil and ranch sectors faced lawsuits in 2023, similar to those filed in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Currently, the Trump administration contends that the Fish and Wildlife Service mischaracterized the species as a cohesive group and is “precisely contaminating” the validity of this assessment.

The major global authority on species, the United Nations List for Nature Conservation, classifies the lesser prairie chicken as vulnerable, similar to the U.S. endangered list.

Rylander from the Center for Biological Diversity stated his intention to challenge federal motions in the days ahead. The struggle over the lesser prairie chicken continues as scientists warn about unprecedented levels of biodiversity loss in human history.

Temperate grasslands are recognized as among the most endangered ecosystems globally.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Maryland’s Sewage Sludge Fertilizer: Virginians Express Discontent.

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In 2023, Maryland sewage treatment facilities began uncovering alarming issues. Hazardous “forever chemicals” were detected in the state’s wastewater, with many being converted into fertilizers and distributed across agricultural land.

To safeguard its food and drinking water, Maryland has started to limit the application of fertilizers derived from sewage sludge. Meanwhile, Synagro, a prominent manufacturer of sludge fertilizers, is seeking approval to expand their usage across state lines in Virginia.

Environmentalists, fishing associations, and some farmers are opposing this movement, arguing that the pollution poses a significant risk to farmland and delicate waterways that nourish the Potomac River.

“These sewage sludge fertilizers are coming to Virginia because they’re deemed unsafe for Maryland farms,” stated Dean Naujox from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, who advocates for clean water. “This is unacceptable.”

Virginia is finding itself entangled in a rising national trend as it scrambles to address the spiraling farmland pollution crisis.

In Virginia, Synagro, a key player in providing sludge for fertilizer, is requesting permission to increase its sludge applications in rural areas, based on local accounts. Synagro operates under the Goldman Sachs Investment Fund.

In a statement, Kip Cleverley, Synagro’s Chief Sustainability Officer, noted that the presence of trace levels of PFAS does not necessarily indicate contamination. He emphasized that the company’s expansion into Virginia is independent of Maryland’s guidelines.

According to industry reports, over 2 million tons of dry sewage sludge were utilized on 4.6 million acres of farmland in 2018. Farmers estimate they have secured permission to apply sewage sludge on nearly 70 million acres, or about one-fifth of U.S. agricultural land.

However, increasing research indicates that this black sludge, also known as biosolids, may contain perfluoroalkyl substances or substantial levels of harmful PFAs, resulting from wastewater from homes and industries. These chemicals are believed to heighten the risk for certain cancers and lead to birth defects and developmental delays in children.

For residents in areas like Virginia Gardens, the historical birthplace of George Washington, the threat feels doubly unjust. Much of the biosolids delivered across state lines originate from major urban areas like Baltimore.

The pollution that locals fear flows off farmlands into nearby rivers and streams, endangering farmers and watermen who rely on these resources.

“Water runs off the farms into the waterways,” explained Leedale, a seventh-generation waterman and owner of the Northern Neck Oyster Company, as he navigated his oyster boat through the winding tributaries of the Potomac. “And we’re experiencing substantial rainfall this season.”

His concerns are substantiated. New research published in Nature indicates that PFAS in sludge used as fertilizer can contaminate both farmland and adjacent rivers and streams.

“That stream could be part of your drinking water supply, and downstream, contaminants could accumulate in fish,” remarked Diana Oviedo Vargas, a researcher at the nonpartisan Stroud Water Research Center, who led the federally funded study. “There’s a lot we are yet to understand, but these pollutants are unquestionably reaching our surface waters.”

This presents a complex issue. While sludge fertilizers are nutrient-rich and significantly reduce the need for incineration or landfill disposal, they also counterbalance the use of synthetic fertilizers derived from fossil fuels.

Nevertheless, studies have shown that sludge can harbor pathogens and chemicals like PFAs. Synthetic PFAS compounds are commonly found in everyday items such as non-stick cookware and stain-resistant carpets, and are associated with various diseases.

The EPA regulates several pathogens and heavy metals in sludge used as fertilizers but has not established regulations for PFAs. This year, the EPA issued its first warning regarding health risks linked to PFAs in sludge fertilizers. The Biden administration also introduced the first federal drinking water standard for PFAS, asserting that virtually no safe level of these substances exists.

The absence of federal regulations regarding PFAs in sludge has shifted responsibility to states, leading to a jumble of regulations and the transfer of contaminated sludge into areas with less stringent oversight.

Maine banned the use of sludge fertilizers in 2022, resulting in some sludge being shipped out of state as local landfills could not accommodate it.

Maryland has temporarily halted new permits for sludge use as fertilizer. The Maryland Department of the Environment has also mandated PFAS testing at all sewage treatment facilities statewide. Despite treatment processes, contaminants have been detected in both wastewater and sludge, and while protocols are in place, guidelines are being established to report and dispose of high-PFAS sludge amounts.

In Virginia, groups against the importation of Maryland’s sewage are advocating for state-level PFAS regulation in sludge.

Meanwhile, data from Virginia shows that sludge from Maryland is already being transferred. An analysis by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network indicates that biosolids from 22 Maryland wastewater treatment plants have been approved for use as fertilizer in Virginia, all reporting PFAS contamination.

In Westmoreland County, Synagro is dealing with sludge from 16 plants in Maryland, all indicating PFAS contamination.

In December, Synagro applied for a permit expansion to use sludge on an additional 2,000 acres of farmland in Westmoreland. Following local feedback prompting a hearing, Synagro withdrew the application but is expected to reapply.

In Essex County, Synagro seeks to increase sludge applications over another 6,000 acres, raising this area by a third, according to their permit application.

Cleverley from Synagro assured that the biosolids applied in Virginia comply with Maryland’s PFAS standards.

Irina Karos, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, mentioned that Virginia hasn’t seen a significant increase in the amount of Maryland biosolids applied. The state is still evaluating the request for Synagro’s expansion.

Karos also stated that Virginia is unaware of any biosolids from Maryland exceeding the recommended PFAS levels. Environmental organizations counter that verifying this is challenging.

Maryland spokesman Jay Apperson emphasized that the state’s guidelines and testing protocols aim to assist utilities and farmers while prioritizing public health.

Rob Hinton, a fourth-generation farmer at Cedar Plains Farm in Heathsville, Virginia, has cultivated corn, soybeans, and other crops for 45 years. He worries that farmers in the Northern Neck are not receiving fair treatment.

“It’s tempting when people offer something for free or nearly free. I don’t blame farmers for considering it,” he remarked. “But it’s these large cities that are sending their waste to us.”

“I learned about PFAS only after discussing it with friends in the waterman community,” he shared. “I’m unsure whether Virginia has conducted adequate testing.”

Synagro actively engages with farmers and local residents. During a presentation in March, Synagro representatives, alongside Virginia Tech researchers, shared data suggesting that the PFAS levels from sludge fertilizers were significantly lower than the levels indicated in previous studies, similar to slides reviewed by The New York Times.

Synagro stated it cannot provide comprehensive research verifications since the company isn’t directly involved. The Virginia Tech researchers mentioned did not respond to requests for comments.

At a Virginia Water Management Board meeting in March, Bryant Thomas, the state’s Environmental Quality director, reported receiving 27 public comments on Synagro’s proposal to expand sludge use in Essex County. Of these, 26 expressed concerns regarding the impact of sludge on public health and wildlife, particularly shellfish.

The board subsequently requested further investigation and a report from the agency.

“I find it interesting that while Maryland is revising its regulations, they are still sending biosolids to us in Virginia,” remarked Waterboard Chair Lou Anne Jesse Wallas in an interview. “We in Virginia must remain vigilant to protect our water and our citizens.”

Experts believe Maryland’s approach is a constructive first step. However, a bill introduced to further restrict PFAs in biosolids failed at the last moment. “We are concerned about the regulatory patchwork between states,” expressed Jean Zhuang, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, an environmental nonprofit. “The federal government needs to step up.”

President Biden was poised to propose regulations limiting the discharges of PFAS by industrial facilities into wastewater. The Trump administration had previously rolled back this proposal but has recently indicated it may establish its own wastewater restrictions.

In the southern regions, the center is actively urging wastewater treatment facilities to demand local factories and industries clean up their wastewater before it reaches treatment plants. This would compel industries to manage contaminants at their sources or potentially eliminate the use of PFAs altogether, according to Zhuang.

“If a wastewater treatment plant takes action, then the industry will bear the costs of its pollution,” she noted.

On a recent evening, waterman Michael Lightfoot checked on a wire mesh cage of oysters raised in Jackson. He resides with his wife, Phyllis, in the creek. After nearly three decades in federal service, he retired in 2012 and has dedicated himself to waterman activities ever since.

Lightfoot is part of the ongoing oyster cultivation surge in Virginia, recognized as the top oyster producer on the East Coast and one of the largest in the nation. However, his proximity to the polluted farmland raises considerable concern for him. “There aren’t any farms in our waterways that aren’t discharging runoff,” he stated.

Source: www.nytimes.com

The Venice Biennale: A Magical Island Inspired by Mexico

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Small urban farms in Mexico City, referred to as Chinampas, employ a distinctive farming technique. Rather than transporting water to the land, Chinampas bring the land into the water.

Dating back over 1,000 years, the Chinampas were developed by Aztec farmers who constructed rectangular plots on expansive lakes to cultivate food for Tenochitlan. At one time, tens of thousands of these plots existed, organized in precise grids with narrow canals between them; however, many were damaged or abandoned after Hernan Cortes and his Spanish troops changed the region’s civil structure in 1521.

Yet, the Chinampas in Xochimilco continue to thrive in South Mexico City, despite pressures from developers and competition with industrial farms. The sustainable farming methods are gaining renewed interest amid the challenges of climate change and prolonged drought.

Could other regions around the globe adopt the concept of “floating islands,” as these fields are sometimes termed? A group of Mexican designers, landscapers, and farmers believes that this ancient technology could be adapted widely. They aim to replicate the Chinampas for their country’s pavilion at this year’s Venice Architectural Biennale.

“Chinampas boast a simple, clever design that has emerged collectively, benefiting not just people but all surrounding life,” remarked Lucio Usobia, who has dedicated the last 15 years to preserving the remaining Chinampas through his nonprofit, Arca Tierra.

The Mexican pavilion aligns perfectly with the major exhibition “Intelligent. Natural. Artificial.” The Chinampas are both artificial and organic, thriving only when there’s a close gaze on the rows of corn and inhabited plots, alongside farmers, policymakers, and tourists embarking on popular canoe tours.

Promoting the Chinampas as an eco-friendly design inspiration was an obvious choice for the Biennale, the team members stated. “Venice, built on water, shares vulnerabilities with Xochimilco,” mentioned Ana Paula Ruiz Galindo, the founder of the design company Pedro y Juana.

They highlighted that Venice and Xochimilco were both designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the same year, 1987, and that both places are waterborne communities where boats navigate, striving to balance tourism’s benefits and drawbacks.

Venice boasts its iconic gondolas, while Xochimilco features brightly decorated flat boats, known as trajineras, which take visitors on festive rides. Both types of boats are maneuvered by pilots using long poles.

Creating a replica of the Chinampas on-site required imagination and compromise.

The Aztecs methodically built the islands over time using branches and reeds to establish borders at the bottom. This allowed for layered sediment and decomposed vegetation to accumulate until the islands emerged above the water’s surface for cultivation. In addition to crops like corn, beans, and squash, traditional agricultural methods known as milpas are also utilized to naturally enrich soil nutrients by planting trees at the island’s corners.

The Mexican pavilion is situated in the Biennale’s Arsenale complex, featuring a scaled-down version at a mere fraction of the typical 500 square meters (0.12 acres) of a traditional Chinampa. A video produced in Mexico City, showcasing authentic Chinamperos, enhances the exhibition, complemented by bleacher seating along the walls. Artificial light simulates sunlight for the plants.

At the center lies a functional garden filled with vegetables, flowers, and herbs. (The plants originated from Italian nurseries and were transported by boat to the Arsenale in mid-April.) They will be in full bloom during the Biennale, which runs until November 23rd.

“By the end of the Biennale, we can harvest corn and make tortillas,” Usobia shared. “Before that, we can gather beans, squash, tomatoes, and chili.”

Visitors will have a chance to learn about unique seed cultivation techniques specific to Chinampas and even plant their seedlings by themselves.

Acknowledging local agricultural practices, Chinampas will also incorporate a version of Vite Maritata, an ancient Etruscan method that involves planting grapes alongside trees, thus creating a natural trellis system for the grapes. The exhibition team is investigating the synergy between these two agricultural immersion methods, blending trees and crops into a cohesive ecosystem.

“We observe a dialogue between these ancient cultures and discuss how we can progress,” noted Usobia.

The exhibition team emphasized their intention to avoid overly romanticizing the Chinampas, acknowledging the challenges of scaling practices to feed today’s population. The farms thrive in Mexico City because they are situated in a lake, allowing for manageable water control levels. In contrast, Venice, located in a lagoon adjacent to the sea, faces constant threats from flooding.

Additionally, the economics of small farms are challenging, with high production costs and low yields making profitability difficult. Many farmworkers receive inadequate wages and the repetitive nature of planting and harvesting jobs has diminished their appeal.

“This is a significant concern here. Young people, in particular, are less inclined to work on Chinampa farms,” stated Maria Maria de Buen, the graphic designer for the team.

Indeed, many Chinampas in Xochimilco lie fallow as their owners struggle to make a living. Some have been repurposed into soccer fields for community rental, while others serve as venues for events like weddings and birthday parties. Despite official restrictions against development, cattle grazing, and hunting for endangered species, such activities occur frequently.

Still, the team perceives the crucial connection between nature and urban development, advocating for the integration of existing water resources within residential and educational spaces as essential inspiration. Architects visiting the Biennale may not be able to design extensive agricultural landscapes, but they can adapt existing conditions to replicate ideas on a smaller scale, suggested Jachen Schleich, principal of the Mexico City architectural firm Dellekamp + Schleich.

“If someone executes this in their backyard, they could at least feed their family, or the people on the fourth floor of their building. It could serve as a micro-intervention in a landscape or public space.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

U.S. Government Ceases Monitoring Costs of Extreme Weather Events

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on Thursday that they will cease tracking the nation’s most costly disasters, those inflicting damages of at least $1 billion.

This decision means insurance firms, researchers, and policymakers will lack crucial data necessary for understanding trends associated with significant disasters like hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires, which have become more prevalent this year. While not all disasters stem from climate change, such occurrences are intensifying as global temperatures rise.

This latest move marks another step by the Trump administration to restrict or eliminate climate research. Recently, the administration has rejected contributions to the country’s largest climate study, proposed cuts to grants for national parks addressing climate change, and unveiled a budget that would significantly reduce climate science funding at the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.

Researchers and lawmakers expressed their disapproval of this decision on Thursday.

Jesse M. Keenan, an associate professor and director of climate change and urbanism at Tulane University in New Orleans, stated that halting data collection will hinder federal and state governments in making informed budgetary and infrastructure investment decisions.

“It’s illogical,” he remarked. Without a comprehensive database, “the U.S. government will be blind to the financial impacts of extreme weather and climate change.”

In comments on Bluesky, Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, described this move as “anti-science, anti-secure, and anti-American.”

Virginia Iglesias, a climate researcher at the University of Colorado, emphasized that few organizations can replicate the unique information provided by this database. “This represents one of the most consistent and trustworthy records of climate-related economic losses in the nation,” she said. “The database’s strength lies in its reliability.”

The so-called billion-dollar disasters—those with costs exceeding ten digits—are on the rise. In the 1980s, there were, on average, three such events annually, adjusted for inflation. By contrast, between 2020 and 2024, the average rose to 23 per year.

Since 1980, the U.S. has experienced at least 403 of these incidents. Last year, there were 27, and this year is projected to see the second-highest number (28 events).

Last year’s incidents included Hurricane Helen and Milton, which together resulted in approximately $113 billion in damages and over 250 fatalities in Colorado. Additionally, drought conditions that year caused around $3 billion in damages and claimed more than 100 lives nationwide.

NOAA’s National Environmental Information Center plans to cease tracking these billion-dollar disasters as priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing change, according to an email from the agency.

When asked whether NOAA or another branch of the federal agency would continue to publicly report data on such disasters, the agency did not respond. The communication indicated that archived data from 1980 to 2024 would be available, but incidences from 2025, such as the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, will not be monitored or published.

“We can’t address problems that we don’t measure,” noted Erinsikorsky, director of the Climate Security Centre. “Without information regarding the costs of these disasters, Americans and Congress will remain unaware of the risks posed by climate change to our nation.”

Sikorsky highlighted that other agencies may struggle to replicate this data collection as it involves proprietary insurance information that companies are reluctant to share. “It’s a remarkably unique contribution.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Study Reveals Climate-Driven Wildfires Linked to Thousands of US Deaths

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Recent studies reveal that climate-induced wildfires lead to thousands of deaths each year and significant economic impacts due to wildfire smoke in the United States.

A paper published this Friday in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment indicates that between 2006 and 2020, climate change was responsible for approximately 15,000 deaths related to exposure to fine particulate matter from wildfires, totaling around $160 billion in costs. The findings suggest an annual mortality range from 130 to 5,100, particularly high in states like Oregon and California.

Nicholas Nacicus, an author of the research and a professor at Harvard Medical School, stated, “What does it really mean in a changing environment for outcomes like mortality?” stressing the serious health implications.

Lisa Thompson, a professor at Emory University who studies air pollution and climate change, noted that this study is among the first to distinctly identify the impacts of climate change on mortality. She emphasized the uniqueness of examining these effects temporally and spatially.

The study concentrated on deaths linked to particulate matter exposure, specifically PM2.5, a significant concern stemming from wildfire smoke.

These tiny particles penetrate deep into the lungs, causing short-term symptoms like coughing and irritation. Over time, they can worsen pre-existing health conditions and result in serious, potentially fatal issues. Vulnerable populations include children, pregnant individuals, the elderly, and outdoor workers. The Health Effects Institute estimated that pollutants have caused 4 million deaths globally.

Evidence suggests that PM2.5 from wildfire smoke is more harmful than other pollution sources. In wildfire situations, toxic materials like burning cars can exacerbate the health risks.

Numerous studies have linked the rise in wildfires in North America to human activities such as the burning of coal, oil, and gas. Climate change is intensifying drought conditions, particularly in the West, alongside other extreme weather phenomena. The drying process reduces moisture in vegetation, which serves as fuel for fires. Together with increasing temperatures, this leads to more frequent, widespread, and severe wildfires.

Scholars find the findings disheartening yet unsurprising

Jacob Bendix, a professor emeritus of geography and the environment at Syracuse University, expressed disappointment in the results, stating he was not surprised by the study’s conclusions.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Soviet Probe’s Imminent Crash with Earth: The Impact Location Remains Unknown

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Model of Kosmos 482, originally set for Venus

Wikimedia Commons

Over 50 years after its launch, the Soviet spacecraft Cosmos 482 is set to return to Earth. Initially designed to land on Venus, it began to disintegrate in low Earth orbit, never completing its intended mission. After orbiting our planet for decades, it is finally on a path to re-enter.

Kosmos 482 was launched in 1972; however, much about its mission and structure remains classified due to its Cold War origins. The intention to reach Venus is inferred from other Soviet missions focused on the planet at that time, and indications suggest that the spacecraft attempted a maneuver in orbit before fragmenting. The exact reason for its failure is unclear, but three out of four pieces landed in New Zealand shortly after launch.

The last fragment has drifted into a higher orbit, approximately 210 km at its closest to Earth and as far as about 9,800 km. Over time, particles from the Earth’s upper atmosphere have slowed its descent, gradually bringing it closer to re-entering. It is projected to crash on May 9th or 10th.

The capsule remains of the spacecraft are estimated to be over one meter wide and weigh nearly 500 kilograms. Given its size and the possibility that it was engineered to withstand the intense conditions during a Venusian descent, impact speeds may exceed 200 km/h.

Predicting the exact impact site for Kosmos 482 is challenging. Based on its current trajectory, it could land anywhere between the latitudes of 52° south and 52° north, covering a vast area from the southern tip of South America to parts of Canada and Russia. Fortunately, despite the extensive range of potential landing sites, the likelihood of it striking a populated area is minimal. “The numbers are infinitesimally small,” stated Marsin Pilinsky from the University of Colorado Boulder. statement. “The ocean is a likely landing zone.”

Pilinsky is part of a team monitoring the debris. As the re-entry date approaches, landing predictions will become more accurate. Instances of space debris falling to Earth are not rare; for instance, NASA tracks one orbital object entering the atmosphere daily, with most either burning up or landing in oceans. However, Kosmos 482 is notably larger and more robust than typical space debris.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Trump Administration Reduces NIH Grants by Over $1.8 Billion

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Trump administration discontinued its $18.1 billion grant to the National Institutes of Health within just 40 days.

This information comes from an analysis published in JAMA on Thursday, which utilizes data from the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor accountability within the government grant system.

The analysis offers the most extensive overview to date regarding the reduction of NIH funding following the Trump administration’s significant efforts to eliminate perceived waste and inefficiency in federal spending.

Michael Liu, a student at Harvard Medical School, noted that while some grants are still uncertain due to new terminations and temporary revivals due to court orders, the HHS grant tracker remains the most reliable and current dataset available.

From February 28th to April 8th, the administration processed close to 700 grants at 24 NIH labs and centers, concentrating on areas such as aging, cancer, child health, diabetes, mental disorders, and neuropathy.

“These cuts haven’t been evenly distributed,” Liu remarked. “The National Institute on Health and Health Disparities in Minority has faced the steepest reductions, with approximately 30% of its funding cut—ten times the average.”

President Trump’s upcoming budget proposal aims to eliminate all funding for the National Institute focused on health disparities among minorities, labeling the Institute as “full of DEI spending.” His January executive order called for the cessation of a program centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The proposal also suggests an overall reduction in NIH funding, slashing its budget for the next fiscal year to $27 billion, a decrease of around $18 billion, which would eliminate gender-focused research and studies on climate change. The administration plans to emphasize research on chronic diseases and other epidemics.

So far, most NIH grants that have been finalized have been directed toward research projects, with about 20% allocated to early career grants, training, or development. The analysis indicates that larger grants are more prone to termination, though it’s unclear if they were intentionally targeted based on the data.

“These sizable grants typically support large clinical trials and extensive research centers,” Liu explained. “Halting these initiatives is incredibly damaging, as it prevents patients from receiving necessary medications or interventions.”

Liu also pointed out that the analysis suggests that the rescinded grants are severely disrupted by both public and private institutions.

Among the grant recipients, Columbia University faced the highest number of terminations, totaling 157. The Trump administration targeted Columbia for funding cuts, citing “ongoing omissions at schools amid the persistent harassment of Jewish students” following significant Palestinian protests on campus. Columbia recently laid off 180 staff members associated with federal grants affected by these cuts.

“Columbia’s leadership continues to engage with the federal government to seek a resolution for resuming these research activities,” an official wrote in a letter to the Columbia community. “We are actively planning to address all potential contingencies, but tensions with federal authorities impact our financial situation and our research mission.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Science Reveals Dropping Eggs on Their Side Reduces the Risk of Cracking

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A recent survey published in the journal Communication Physics reveals that eggs are more likely to crack when they fall on their sides.

What implications does this have for cracking eggs? Eggs for breakfast? It may not matter significantly. The middle section remains intact while the Golden Fork fills with escaping whites.

Scientists suggest that this knowledge could aid in cooking stubborn eggs: dropping them horizontally may prevent a destructive crack that leads to a messy, cloudy interior.

Common belief holds that eggs are strongest at their edges, as demonstrated by their packaging in cartons. It’s thought that the curved base of the egg helps distribute force and minimize impact.

However, during compression tests, scientists found that eggs cracked with the same force regardless of the direction of pressure.

“The fun started when I expected one outcome and got another,” remarked Hudson Borja da Rocha from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was involved in the experiment.

The researchers conducted simulations, releasing eggs from three heights in both horizontal and vertical orientations, ranging down to 0.4 inches (10 mm).

The outcome? Fewer eggs broke when dropped horizontally.

“Conventional wisdom holds that vertical eggs are stronger than they appear, but this research shows otherwise,” stated Mark Myers, a materials scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who was not part of the study.

The research found that the equator of the egg is more flexible and can absorb more energy from a fall before breaking.

Eggs are often used in at-home experiments for egg drop challenges, which has partly inspired this new research. It remains uncertain whether these findings will help safeguard these delicate eggs.

Tal Cohen, a co-author from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, noted that it’s somewhat counterintuitive that the rectangular sides of the egg can better endure falls.

Countless broken eggs illustrate “the bravery to question these widely accepted notions.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Potential Eruption Imminent for Underwater Volcano off Oregon’s Coast

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

An underwater volcano, located approximately 300 miles from the Oregon coast, seems to be reawakening.

Researchers monitoring this extensive submarine volcano over the years report that it may erupt due to recent signs of activity, such as nearby earthquake increases and inflation of the volcano’s structure.

Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University, forecasts that the volcano, known as Axial Seamount, could erupt at any moment before the year’s end.

3D representation of the Axial Seamount’s marine bottom.
Oregon State University

Chadwick and his team at the University of Washington and the University of North Carolina Wilmington leverage networks of underwater sensors to monitor volcanoes.

Recently, these instruments detected signs of unrest within the volcano. For instance, in late March and early April, researchers recorded over 1,000 earthquakes daily. The ongoing swelling of the volcano indicates it is filled with molten rock, according to Chadwick.

“This volcano is akin to Hawaiian volcanoes that erupt highly fluid lava,” he stated. “They tend to expand like balloons during eruptions. At Axial, the seafloor is actually rising, which is a significant indicator.”

However, unlike some Hawaiian volcanoes, there is minimal risk to human life if the Axial Seamount erupts.

Being hundreds of miles offshore and submerged about a mile deep in the ocean ensures that even powerful eruptions go unnoticed on land.

“There’s no explosive activity, so it really won’t impact people,” Chadwick remarked. “If you were on a boat nearby during an eruption, you likely wouldn’t even notice it.”

That said, such an eruption can still be a remarkable event. Researchers noted that the last eruption of Axial Seamount in 2015 released massive amounts of magma.

“For perspective, it’s roughly two-thirds the height of Seattle’s Space Needle,” Chadwick explained. “That’s a substantial amount of lava.”

The Axial Seamount formed over a geophysical hot spot, where a plume of molten rock rises from the Earth’s mantle to the crust. This geological process is common; hotspot volcanoes are found across the seabed, with some forming chains of islands like those in Hawaii and Samoa. What sets Axial Seamount apart is its position along the boundary of the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates. The separation of these plates and the pressure that builds beneath the seafloor consistently drive volcanic activity and create new oceanic crust in the region.

A map displaying the relationship of Axial Seamount to the Cascadia subduction zone and the Mendocino fracture zone.
Susan Merule / Oregon State University

Chadwick has observed the activities of Axial Seamount for three decades, with eruptions recorded in 1998, 2011, and 2015.

As he and his colleagues anticipate a potential eruption, they are exploring whether patterns of activity at Axial Seamount offer reliable predictions for when an underwater volcano may erupt.

However, accurately predicting eruptions remains a challenging endeavor. Volcanoes can behave unpredictably, and their warning signs can vary significantly.

“They are full of surprises,” commented Scott Nooner, a geophysics professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “It’s uncertain whether magma is still moving beneath the Earth’s surface.”

Scientists have achieved some success with short-term predictions—usually just hours prior to an eruption—to help local authorities decide on evacuations or other necessary precautions. Long-term predictions, however, remain elusive.

This is why, according to Nooner, Axial Seamount serves as an excellent natural laboratory for testing eruption prediction models.

“On land, predicting an eruption weeks or months in advance can lead to substantial financial and emotional costs if incorrect. Luckily, eruptions at Axial Seamount don’t endanger anyone, so it’s safer to test models and refine predictions here without the same consequences as on land,” he concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Are Snails a Better Metaphor for Big Data Than Whales?

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Feedback brings you the latest in science and technology news from New Scientist, alongside the latest updates in the field. You can reach out to Feedback@newscientist.com to share intriguing items that may captivate our readers.

The Collapse of a Whale

This section focuses on unusual measurement units and how to effectively communicate information scales. Keen readers may remember discussing how Christopher Dionne’s large datasets can be related to the blue whale genome (April 12).

Bruce Horton remarks that it’s a solid analogy. “The major takeaway from using the blue whale’s size for reference is that most people are familiar with it, making size visualization easier for the audience,” he explains. “However, few people can visualize blue whale DNA, which undermines this analogy.”

He raises a valid point. The concept still echoes the early 2000s during the Human Genome Project, which created comparisons to illustrate the vastness of DNA information. Often, these comparisons included stacks of Bibles reaching to the moon. Nowadays, we utilize what’s gathered from The Wheel of Time series.

Fortunately, Bruce offers a clever solution. He references a 2005 study from the Parody Science Journal. An Unlikely Research Chronicle highlights a study involving slugs: Snail-Based Data Transfer Protocol. Researchers placed giant African land snails on a two-wheeled cart with CD or DVD wheels. Although snails moved slowly, they transferred data at a speed of 37,000 kilobytes per second, outperforming current broadband connections.

The study concluded that this method is easy to visualize and comprehend, making it generally recommended.

Bruce suggests we await further developments and introduces a new unit conceptualized by Ken Taylor and his wife. They own an orchard with a damson tree known for its erratic annual yield. Consequently, they’ve coined the term “cramble,” denoting the quantity of desserts one can create per harvest. Ken shared, “2024 was particularly disappointing, yielding only three crumbles.”

Stunning Discoveries

“Who would have thought it?” news editor Alexandra Thompson remarked, turning heads toward the feedback section when she encountered a press release titled: “Some SUVs Heighten Risks of Death or Severe Injury, New Research Shows.”

The stark reality reveals that large SUVs pose a greater risk of fatal collisions compared to smaller vehicles. One might expect feedback to respond with sarcasm regarding this apparent truth: indeed, heavier objects will impart more force than lighter ones at equivalent speeds. Yet, a fundamental virtue of science is to challenge common knowledge instead of simply affirming it.

Here, we invite contributions for the category “No Kidding, Sherlock.” The more distressing and obvious the revelation, and the lengthier the methodical experimentation, the better. If ants invade, does it diminish our enjoyment of picnics? If a faucet leaks, does my water bill increase? I’d appreciate at least one enlightening question.

Licking the Badger

Historian Greg Jenner made a surprising discovery in April, stating on Blue Sky: “If you input a random sentence into Google and append ‘meaning,’ you’ll receive an AI-generated explanation for the idiom or phrase you’ve concocted.”

This is how Greg’s quirky phrase, “You can’t lick a badger twice,” prompted Google AI to interpret it as “You can’t deceive someone twice after they’ve already learned your trick.” However, to be fair, interpretations may vary among the US populace. Moreover, these constructions are often artificially generated. Nevertheless, that didn’t deter AI from dispensing extensive explanations. “In this context, ‘licking’ suggests cheating or misleading someone.” The badger anecdote does not hold any factual foundation.

Many submitted their own unique phrases with Google’s analyses. For example, Kit Yates coined, “Don’t run the miles without hitting it with a hammer,” interpreted as “a motivational phrase emphasizing the struggles involved in achieving goals.” Feedback especially appreciated its “frequent” occurrence in torrents of nonsensical dialogues.

Kai Kupferschmidt shared, “It’s better to have tentacles in the tent than mice on rat chairs.” Google deemed it “a humorous idiom, suggesting it’s preferable to find oneself in an uncomfortable situation rather than in a more perilous one.” Feedback found many amusing aspects in this, but it begs the question: why are illicit tentacles seen as uncomfortable, yet not dangerous? A nod to HP Lovecraft indicates tentacles are rarely a good sign.

Regrettably, the “meaning” feature appears to be disabled now. I attempted to coax Google into explaining “Don’t rub Roe Deer’s Cabbages,” but to no avail.

While utilizing AI to generate AI responses can yield novel answers, it won’t prevent individuals from concocting nonsensical excuses rather than admitting they lack knowledge.

This situation underscores the challenge of integrating technology into platforms that aim to serve as precise information sources. Currently, Feedback harbors a lack of trust in Google’s findings. Ironically, this suggests that AI may indeed be correct: one cannot truly lick a badger twice.

Have you provided feedback?

You can send your stories to feedback@newscientist.com, including your home address. This week’s feedback and past editions are available on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Key U.S. Cities, Including New York and Seattle, Are Sinking at Alarming Rates

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New York City’s skyline may undergo significant changes as major cities continue to sink.

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Over 20 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States are experiencing subsidence, impacting thousands of structures and millions of residents.

This phenomenon has been noted especially in coastal areas. However, utilizing satellite technology that gauges the duration it takes radar signals to reach the Earth’s surface and return, researchers discovered that 25 out of the 28 largest cities in the country are affected.

“By analyzing multiple images taken over time from the same region, we can identify subtle vertical shifts in the ground that can reach several millimeters annually,” explains team member Manoochehr Shirzaei from Virginia Tech. “It’s akin to capturing a high-resolution time lapse of the Earth’s surface, revealing whether it is rising or sinking over time.”

Fort Worth, Houston, and Dallas demonstrate the highest rates of subsidence among major cities, averaging over 4 millimeters per year. Cities like New York, Chicago, Houston, Columbus, Seattle, and Denver show average subsidence rates surpassing 2 millimeters annually.

“Houston, the fastest sinking city among the 28 most populous in the US, has 42% of its land area sinking at rates greater than 5 mm per year, with 12% sinking faster than 10 mm annually,” researchers reported.

Most subsidence is attributed to groundwater extraction, although cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, primarily experience sinking due to “glacial isoplasm regulation.”

“During the last glacial period, these regions were covered by massive ice sheets. The considerable weight of the ice compressed the Earth’s crust, akin to resting on a memory foam mattress,” says Shirzaei. As the ice melted thousands of years ago, the pressure released and the terrain began to slowly recover,” he explains.

“However, this rebound isn’t uniform,” Shirzaei notes. “In some areas, particularly along the East Coast and in the Midwest, the land is subsiding rather than rising due to the residual weight of nearby ice and their proximity to regions currently collapsing.”

In Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, plate tectonics may account for some of the subsidence.

“We must address sinking as a gradually unfolding disaster,” Shirzaei argues. Researchers also noted that cities can sink at varying rates in different locations or sink continuously in one area while other regions remain stable. “This uneven movement can create angular distortions and stress, resulting in cracks in walls and foundations, misalignments in windows and doors, or even significant structural failures,” Shirzaei warns.

Jesse Cars from Kyoto University in Japan demonstrated similar findings using satellite data, showing that many cities in New Zealand are also experiencing subsidence. “A crucial challenge for the geophysical community remains understanding how the observed trends stem from particular causes, whether they are artificial or naturally occurring geological processes,” he states.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Doctors Report Immigrants Avoiding Medical Care Due to Fear of ICE

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A man lay on the sidewalk in New York City, injured by a gunshot, holding his side.

Emily Bolgaard, a social worker providing supplies to the homeless through her nonprofit, discovered him and prepared to call 911. Nonetheless, the man pleaded with her not to make the call.

“No, no, no,” he insisted.

Bolgaard attempted to reassure him that federal law mandated hospitals to treat patients regardless of immigration status, but his fear was palpable.

“He expressed, ‘If I go to the emergency department, I’ll be on their radar,'” she recounted in an interview about the event.

Across the nation, healthcare professionals are increasingly worried that individuals with severe medical issues, including injuries and chronic illnesses, are forgoing treatment due to fears of arrest by immigration officials. After the Trump administration’s announcement of extensive deportation plans, the Biden administration’s strategy of safeguarding areas like hospitals and clinics has led to a noticeable increase in patient anxiety and a decrease in treatment uptake.

If this trend persists, healthcare professionals indicate that the consequences could be severe. Uncontrolled infectious diseases could spread, healthcare costs would rise due to untreated chronic conditions, and complications during childbirth may pose increased risks to women delaying care.

In a KFF survey, 31% of immigrants reported concerns that their status (or that of family members) could adversely affect their health. About 20% of all surveyed migrants shared struggles with diet and sleep, while 31% experienced increased stress and anxiety.

A White House representative did not respond to a request for comment. Following the announcement on January 21 to end protections at hospitals, a statement from the Department of Homeland Security indicated that the updated policy was “designed to enforce immigration laws and apprehend criminal foreigners.”

Research indicates that immigration enforcement actions are associated with deterioration in birth outcomes, negative mental health effects, decreased care access, and reduced public program utilization that alleviates illness and poverty.

“We are not only creating significant health risks, but also long-term economic risks for our nation,” stated Julie Linton, a pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Federal Committee. “These policies instill very real fear and uncertainty among people, drastically impacting their daily functioning.”

Chronic Conditions

Numerous immigrant communities grapple with a high prevalence of chronic diseases, including hypertension and diabetes. Without treatment, this can lead to serious complications like heart attacks and strokes.

Doctors express concern for patients like Maria, a 47-year-old pre-diabetic woman who has visited the same primary care clinic since arriving in the U.S. from El Salvador two decades ago. Even during the first Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, she sought medical care consistently. However, after protections around hospitals were lifted earlier this year, Maria canceled her appointment to check her blood sugar.

“We are in the clinic and deeply afraid of ICE arriving while we wait,” she said in Spanish.

Maria, who requested to remain anonymous, described herself as being in “continuous anguish.” She is formulating a plan to care for her American citizen child in the event she and her husband are deported.

One of her daughters, aged 15, is being treated for fatty liver disease, while another child requires care for developmental issues. Their eldest daughter has a doctor’s appointment scheduled for June. Maria and her husband wish to continue their child’s treatment but are apprehensive about attending appointments alone. “It’s very complicated,” Maria said. “I can risk myself for my child, but when it comes to my own health, I prefer to let it go.”

The repercussions of forgoing regular medical care can escalate quickly. Jim Manzia, president of St. John’s Community Health Network in Los Angeles, described a diabetic patient who ceased attending weekly diabetes education classes. Upon contacting her, the clinic staff discovered she was too terrified to even go grocery shopping and had subsisted on tortillas and coffee for days.

“We’re thankful we managed to reach her and that she came in,” Manzia noted. The network serves approximately 25,000 undocumented patients across more than 20 locations. Clinic exams indicated her blood sugar levels were dangerously elevated.

“This is becoming increasingly common,” Manzia lamented. “It breaks my heart to discuss these situations.”

Acute Care

In emergency care settings, doctors have noted several unusual indicators reflecting the impact of immigration enforcement. For instance, Dr. Amy Zidan, an emergency physician in Atlanta, reported a more than 60% decline in requests for Spanish interpretation in her hospital’s emergency department from January to February.

Theresa Cheng, an ER physician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, recounted an incident where one of her residents cared for an immigrant patient who had sustained multiple facial fractures from an assault but hadn’t sought care for over two weeks. “There is an overwhelming sense of fear,” Dr. Cheng stated.

In late January, Dr. Cheng treated a patient with severely untreated diabetes. The undocumented woman shared her terror and had been waiting for assistance. Tragically, she passed away that same day.

Dr. Carolina Miranda, a family physician in the Bronx, discussed a patient granted legal asylum, yet fearing ICE, who missed an appointment regarding a potential brain tumor.

Similar delays and cancellations have been observed among pregnant women and new mothers nationwide. Dr. Caitlyn Bernard, an obstetrician in Indiana, noted a patient who skipped a postnatal visit, indicating she no longer felt safe leaving her house. Staff on the obstetrics floor of a San Diego hospital reported a significant drop in immigrant women experiencing acute pregnancy-related issues following the administration change.

“These women undeniably still exist,” a doctor, choosing to remain anonymous due to institutional restrictions on public statements, expressed. “I fear this will drive up maternal mortality rates over time.”

Children’s Health

Many children of immigrant parents who skip appointments or leave prescriptions unfilled are American citizens. In mixed-status families, parents facing deportation often hesitate to bring their children to clinics or pharmacies.

Pediatricians serving underserved populations in Central Coast California reported a 30% increase in missed child appointments. Many families who sought professional care for their children, including evaluations for speech therapy and autism, cited fear as a barrier, with some wishing to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of their situations.

Dr. Tania Caballero, a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins, has encountered parents reluctant to visit emergency rooms, including those with children suffering from chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy, asthma, and diabetes.

“I tell my patients, ‘I cannot control what happens outside of my clinic. I can’t ensure against an ICE visit, but you know me, and I possess the resources to help you navigate this journey together,'” she explained.

Some parents facing dire circumstances, like those of children undergoing cancer treatment, believed their child’s medical conditions might shield them. They sought letters from pediatricians outlining their child’s medical needs, hoping this information would convince immigration authorities to allow them to remain in the U.S. for survival.

Dr. Lisa Gwyn, a pediatrician in South Florida, reported alarming drops in patient attendance as families from the Caribbean and South America miss essential pediatric vaccinations needed to prevent illnesses like measles, pneumonia, and whooping cough.

Dr. Gwyn also expressed concern for children who have endured significant trauma before arriving in the U.S. and who are not connected with social workers or psychologists for needed support.

“Imagine a child living in a home filled with fear. They came to this country hoping to find safety, only to feel afraid again,” she said. “We understand that prolonged stress negatively impacts health. Children who are stressed perform poorly in school and often battle mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.”

Hospital Dilemma

Some medical facilities have stated they will comply with immigration authorities. NYU Langone has issued warnings to employees cautioning against attempting to shield undocumented patients. However, many other health centers and organizations are finding ways to protect their patients by displaying “Know Your Rights” information and advising staff not to log immigration status in patients’ medical records.

Last week, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article detailing how physicians continue to provide healthcare while legally distancing themselves from ICE requests.

The St. John’s Clinic Network in Los Angeles recently instituted an ambitious home visit initiative where doctors, nurses, and medical assistants conduct examinations and deliver medication, working to inform all undocumented patients of this service.

The New York Regional Hospital Association proposed designating a “hospital contact” to quickly guide law enforcement to private offices, emphasizing the necessity of viewing signed warrants.

In the emergency department at University Hospital, a safety-net facility in Newark, staff distribute cards in Spanish and other languages to remind patients of their rights, stating, “You have the right to refuse consent to searches of yourself, your car, or your home.”

Yet, fear remains palpable. Dr. Annaly M. Baker, an emergency physician, recounted witnessing a young woman who had been beaten unconscious waiting for hours to receive care.

Dr. Baker also attended to a minor who had been stabbed but required parental consent for treatment. The boy was reluctant to provide details, fearing that his parents might be caught in immigration enforcement.

What troubles Dr. Baker most is the number of people who never seek treatment at all.

“The tragic message to these individuals is to remain hidden, and I hope you don’t die,” she remarked.

Sarah Cliff contributed to this report.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Essential Information About mRNA Vaccines

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised concerns about the safety of mRNA vaccines for Covid-19. Scientists have sought funding from the National Institutes of Health: Scrub their grants of mRNA references. State legislatures nationwide are debating bills that aim to ban or limit these vaccines. Weapons of mass destruction.

Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) have gained significant attention recently, though they were first discovered in 1961. Since then, scientists have explored their potential in preventing infections and treating cancer and rare diseases.

What is mRNA?

mRNA is a large molecule present in all cells, serving as a template to produce the proteins encoded by our DNA. It carries instructions from the DNA in the nucleus to the cell’s protein synthesis machinery. According to Jeff Koller, a professor of RNA biology and therapy at Johns Hopkins University, a single mRNA molecule can generate multiple copies of a protein, and is designed to break down after fulfilling its role.

How do mRNA vaccines work?

Currently, there are three FDA-approved mRNA vaccines for older adults. These vaccines utilize strands of mRNA that encode specific viral proteins.

Upon receiving a Covid-19 vaccine, the mRNA chains, encapsulated in tiny fat particles, enter muscle and immune cells, explained Robert Alexander Wesselhoif, director of the RNA Therapy Institute at Mass General Brigham’s Institute of Genetic and Cell Therapy. These intracellular factories then use mRNA instructions to produce proteins resembling those on the Covid-19 virus surface. The body perceives these proteins as foreign, triggering an immune response.

While most mRNA degrades within days, the body keeps a “memory” in the form of antibodies, noted Dr. Koller. As with other vaccines, immunity may wane over time, requiring updates for new variants.

Why are mRNA vaccines being used now?

In the mid-2000s, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered a method to introduce foreign mRNA into human cells without it degrading first, paving the way for vaccine development.

Currently, the primary application of these vaccines is to prevent infectious diseases like Covid-19 and RSV, according to Dr. Wesselhoeft, who founded a company focused on RNA therapy. mRNA vaccines can be developed quickly, as the non-RNA components remain consistent across different vaccines.

This rapid development could aid in creating annual flu vaccines, stated Florian Krammer, a virologist from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Typically, choice of flu vaccine strains is made in late winter, but mRNA vaccines can adapt more swiftly, allowing for better efficacy against circulating strains.

Are these vaccines safe?

A common question is whether mRNA vaccines can impact DNA. Dr. Boucher clarified that this is not possible; mRNA cannot be converted into DNA or integrated into the genome.

Covid-19 vaccines may cause temporary muscle pain and other mild side effects, as noted by Dr. Krammer.

Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infection specialist in New York, remarked that in the over four years since the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, there have been “no long-term safety signals.” He noted parental concerns regarding myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, but emphasized that the risks associated with actual Covid-19 infections far outweigh those of vaccination.

What additional applications does mRNA have?

mRNA-based vaccines may target a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular conditions, autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes, and rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

For cancer, the concept is that mRNA can encode tumor-associated proteins, prompting an immune response against tumors. In genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis, mRNA can produce a functional version of a missing protein, restoring normal function in affected tissues.

A recent paper published in Nature outlined an experimental mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer, which elicited immune responses in some patients post-surgery. Those who experienced immune activation had improved survival rates compared to those who did not.

Another study on monkeys investigated inhaled mRNA therapy aimed at producing proteins necessary for cilia formation, which play a crucial role in clearing mucus in the airways. This therapy targets dysfunctions associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

This research is in its preliminary stages, with the Phase I trial for pancreatic cancer involving only 16 patients, which may lead to variability in survival outcomes. Dr. Stephen Rosenberg, an expert in cancer immunotherapy at the National Cancer Institute, has indicated that interventions can stimulate immune responses without significantly altering patient outcomes.

Dr. Richard Boucher, a pulmonary scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted that targeting the correct cells with mRNA-carrying particles for lung diseases is particularly challenging.

Overall, Dr. Ratner described mRNA vaccines as “exciting” and holding promise for treating conditions where prior technologies have struggled. However, he cautioned that mRNA therapies should be seen as one of many drug technologies, with varying efficacy depending on the illness.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Study Confirms Climate Change Intensified April Floods

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Severe thunderstorms in April resulted in historic downpours and flooding across Arkansas, Kentucky, and other states, exacerbated by climate change.

This information comes from the World Weather Attributes Project, a consortium of scientists studying major weather events in relation to climate change.

From April 3 to April 6, heavy rainfall hit the southeastern U.S., leading to widespread flooding, flood warnings for over 70 million individuals, at least 15 fatalities, the sweeping away of vehicles, and train derailments.

By utilizing climate models alongside historical data, researchers examined storm systems across eight affected states and concluded that the current weather patterns were approximately 9% more intense due to global warming, with a 40% increased likelihood compared to a scenario without such warming.

Ben Clark, a researcher at Imperial College London, stated, “We conclude that the existing 1.3 degrees Celsius of warming has intensified the extreme rainfall leading to flooding in the region. A warmer atmosphere retains more moisture.”

The outcome was severe flooding in Frankfort, Kentucky, along with a rainy day in the Midwest on April 7th.
Leandro Lozada/AFP Getty Images file

The 1.3 degrees reference indicates how much warmer the planet has become in Celsius since humanity began releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere post-Industrial Revolution—a conversion of approximately 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clark noted that the probability estimates from the group are conservative. The researchers identified a unique weather configuration that contributed to the extreme rainfall.

Shell Winkley, a meteorologist with Climate Central, a nonprofit news organization involved in the report, explained that a low-pressure system interacting with a high-pressure ridge caused the thunderstorms to repeatedly affect the same areas in the Southeast and Midwest.

“This front was the route through which these storms moved, and there was also a trigger mechanism. The thunderstorms accumulated rain on already saturated soil,” Winkley noted. “This event is a fascinating intersection of weather and climate change.”

According to Winkley, the National Weather Service issued the third highest weather warning on April 2.

“By the end of the day, the National Weather Service had released 728 separate thunderstorm and tornado warnings from various offices, with numerous locations experiencing extreme rainfall between April 3 and April 6, with some areas seeing up to 16 inches,” Winkley explained.

After a significant storm in Portageville, Missouri on April 7th, vehicles navigate through flooded streets.
Scott Olson/Getty Images File

Upon reviewing historical rainfall from April, researchers indicated that similar storm systems are anticipated every century in the current warm climate.

Gerald Brotzge, a Kentucky climatologist and professor at the University of Kentucky Western University, initially approached such studies with skepticism, particularly those linking large-scale flooding to climate change without accounting for unique weather setups. However, he found this study credible.

Brotzge remarked, “It appears they conducted a thorough analysis. In this instance, a stagnant boundary allowed thunderstorms to constantly form in the same locality—an accurate observation.”

Brotzge noted that Kentucky has warmed by nearly 1.8 degrees Celsius (approximately 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last 130 years and has been experiencing increased rainfall.

“Our annual rainfall has risen by about 10%,” Brotzge stated. “Half of our ten wettest years have occurred since 2011, with 2011 being the wettest and 2018 as the second wettest.”

The World Weather Attribution is a team of scientists who quickly assess the influence of climate change on extreme weather events. Their methodology has undergone peer review, though some analyses are not immediately reviewed. Previous studies by the group on heatwaves, wildfires, and hurricanes have also faced academic scrutiny.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Amid RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Advocacy, Resistance to mRNA Therapy Intensifies

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Utah and Tennessee have enacted laws mandating that foods containing vaccines be categorized as drugs, despite the fact that such products are not currently available. Legislators reference a University of California study that investigates the possibility of incorporating vaccines into lettuce.

“We’ll consume this batch of lettuce, take these mRNA vaccines, and then retest the DNA. The results will likely differ. This poses a risk.”

In reality, mRNA vaccines cannot alter genetic material because they do not interact with the cell nucleus, where DNA is located. While small amounts of DNA may be present in all vaccines—similar to what can be found in influenza vaccines—the Food and Drug Administration enforces strict limitations, typically rendering these levels negligible. Researchers have been exploring mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer for years, dating back to the 1990s with mice, and human trials since the early 2000s. Vaccines containing live viruses have recognized side effects; mRNA vaccines generally experience fewer adverse reactions compared to traditional vaccines.

“mRNA is not a foreign agent. It is something we are regularly exposed to,” stated Melissamua, Chief Science Officer at Moderna, the producer of the COVID vaccine. “Every time you consume whole foods, meat, or vegetables, you ingest substantial amounts of mRNA, which your body degrades and utilizes.”

Even should the bill fail to pass, its advocates assert they are in it for the long haul. Last month, Minnesota Republicans introduced a proposal to classify mRNA products as weapons of mass destruction, adding them to a list including natural PO, charcoal, bacteria, and mustard gas. This initiative mirrored the language of a bill drafted by Florida hypnotist Joseph Santhorne. In his newsletter, Mr. Santhorne lauded local Republican groups for passing resolutions supporting the ban and urged his followers to participate in political events to confront officials.

“It ‘punches them in their eyes,'” he remarked. “It carries significant psychological impact.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Magnetic Flares Could Be Key to the Formation and Distribution of Gold and Other Heavy Elements

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Since the Big Bang, the early universe has contained hydrogen, helium, and a minimal amount of lithium. Heavier elements, such as iron, were formed within stars. Yet, one of astrophysics’ greatest enigmas is how the first elements heavier than iron, like gold, were created and dispersed throughout the cosmos. A recent study by astronomers at Columbia University and other institutions suggests that a single flare from a magnetar could generate 27 equivalent masses of these elements simultaneously.

Impressions of Magnetar artists. Image credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/S. Wesinger.

For decades, astronomers have theorized about the origins of some of nature’s heaviest elements, like gold, uranium, and platinum.

However, a fresh examination of older archival data indicates that up to 10% of these heavy elements in the Milky Way may originate from the emissions of highly magnetized neutron stars, known as magnetars.

“Until recently, astronomers largely overlooked the role that magnetars, the remnants of supernovae, might play in the formation of early galaxies,” remarked Todd Thompson, a professor at Ohio State University.

“Neutron stars are incredibly unique, dense objects known for their large size and strong magnetic fields. They are similar to black holes but not quite the same.”

The origin of heavy elements has long been a mystery, but scientists have understood that these elements can only form under specific conditions through a process known as the R process (or rapid neutron capture process).

This process was observed in 2017 when astronomers detected a collision between two super-dense neutron stars.

This event was captured using NASA telescopes and the LIGO gravitational wave observatory, providing the first direct evidence that heavy metals can be produced by celestial phenomena.

However, subsequent evidence suggests that neutron star collisions may not form heavy elements swiftly in the early universe, indicating that additional mechanisms might be necessary to account for all these elements.

Based on these insights, Professor Thompson and his colleagues realized that powerful magnetar flares could act as significant ejectors of heavy elements. This conclusion was validated by the observation of the SGR 1806-20 magnetar flare that occurred 20 years ago.

By analyzing this flare event, the researchers found that the radioactive decay of the newly formed elements aligns with theoretical predictions concerning the timing and energy released by magnetar flares after ejecting heavy R-process elements.

“This is the second time we’ve observed direct evidence of where these elements are produced, first linked to neutron star mergers,” stated Professor Brian Metzger from Columbia University.

“This marks a significant advancement in our understanding of heavy element production.”

“We are based at Columbia University,” mentioned Anildo Patel, a doctoral candidate at the institution.

The researchers also theorized that magnetar flares generate heavy cosmic rays and very fast particles, the origins of which remain unclear.

“I am always excited by new ideas about how systems and discoveries in space operate,” said Professor Thompson.

“That’s why seeing results like this is so thrilling.”

The team’s paper was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

____

Anirudh Patel et al. 2025. Direct evidence for R-process nuclear synthesis in delayed MeV radiation from SGR 1806-20 magnetar giant flares. ApJL 984, L29; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ADC9B0

Source: www.sci.news

Aspiring Deep Sea Explorer? No Need to Worry—Many Opportunities Await!

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Humans have visually documented around 1,470 square miles of the ocean floor, which represents only 0.001%. As per recent research. This area is slightly larger than Rhode Island.

The report, released on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, raises questions about whether the nation will pursue underwater mining for essential minerals.

Some researchers argue that our knowledge about the seabed is limited, suggesting that more exploration is necessary to responsibly advance extraction efforts.

“More information is always beneficial for making informed decisions,” said Katie Krovbell, a deep-sea explorer and founder of the Ocean Discovery League, a nonprofit focused on seabed exploration.

Understanding the deep sea is crucial for grasping how climate change and human actions impact the ocean, she mentioned. Nonetheless, the study also emphasizes the fundamental excitement that motivates many marine scientists.

“Just think about what lies in the remaining 99.999%,” Dr. Bell commented.

Visual documentation efforts began in 1958 with the deep-sea Trieste. Images collected since then have led biologists to discover new species and understand their interactions within marine ecosystems.

Studying deep-sea organisms on the surface is challenging, as few, if any, are adapted to high-pressure environments. Hence, photos and videos are invaluable.

“Certain habitats cannot be sampled from ships,” said Craig McClain, a marine biologist at the University of Louisiana who was not part of the study. “You need to utilize ROVs for that,” he added.

Visualizing the seafloor is also beneficial for geologists. Prior to the advent of remotely operated vehicles and crewed submersibles, researchers had to drag heavy buckets from their ships to see what they contained.

“They will just handle rocks without context,” stated Emily Chin, a geologist at the Institute of Oceanography, who was not involved in the current study. “It’s akin to studying meteors and attempting to understand another planet’s processes.”

By analyzing rock formations on the seabed through photos and videos, scientists gain insights into basic Earth processes. This knowledge also aids businesses in evaluating potential mining and oil and gas sites.

However, accessing the ocean floor is costly in both financial and temporal aspects. Dr. Bell mentioned that exploring a one-square-kilometer area of the deep seabed could cost between $2 million and $20 million. Planning can take years, while things can go wrong in a matter of hours. During a dive, progress is slow, and ROVs tethered to the ship have limited operational ranges, making repositioning tedious.

Given numerous obstacles, Dr. Bell sought to determine how much of the seafloor had been observed and documented.

Dr. Bell and her team compiled records from over 43,000 deep-sea dives, assessed the resulting images, and estimated the extent of the areas documented.

They estimated that 2,130-3,823 square kilometers of the deep seabed have been imaged, equating to about 0.001% of the total seabed.

“I anticipated the figure would be small, but I didn’t expect it to be quite so limited,” Dr. Bell remarked. “We’ve been conducting these efforts for nearly 70 years.”

The study excluded dives in regions where data isn’t publicly accessible, such as military operations and oil exploration. Even if additional documented areas are included, Dr. Bell expressed, “I doubt it would significantly change the current understanding.”

Much of what marine biologists know about the deep seabed is derived from limited areas. The authors argue that this situation mirrors extrapolating data from a smaller area than Houston to represent the entire planet’s land surface.

The survey also indicated that high-income nations conduct 99.7% of all deep-sea dives, led by the US, Japan, and New Zealand. Most dives occur within 200 nautical miles of these countries. This means that the focus of exploration might skew the representation of the studied marine environments.

“Many experts around the globe possess deep ocean knowledge,” Dr. Bell stated. “However, they lack the necessary tools to perform the research and exploration they aspire to.”

The findings reveal that dives are often concentrated in specific areas, such as the Mariana Trench and Monterey Canyon, focusing on similar features like hydrothermal vents. Since the 1980s, most deep dives have been in shallower coastal waters, leaving vast expanses of the deep ocean uncharted.

“This study provides a valuable overview of our current status and emphasizes where we still need to explore in the deep sea,” Dr. McClain noted.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Trump Advocates for Increased Birth Rates but Dismisses Fertility Experts

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Every year, tens of thousands of young women opt to freeze their eggs. This procedure can be costly and at times painful, with numbers rising as more Americans delay childbirth.

However, many uncertainties surround the process: What is the optimal donor age for egg freezing? What are the success rates? And importantly, how long can frozen eggs remain viable?

Finding reliable answers to these questions is challenging. During the significant downsizing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Trump administration disbanded a federal research team dedicated to collecting and analyzing data from fertility clinics aimed at enhancing outcomes.

According to Aaron Levine, a professor at Georgia Tech’s Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter School of Public Policy, who collaborated with the CDC team on research, the dismissal of the six team members was “a real, serious loss.”

“They held the most extensive data on fertility clinics, focused on ensuring truthfulness in patient advertising,” stated Barbara Collura, CEO of the National Infertility Association.

Collura emphasized that losing the CDC team is a significant blow to both couples facing infertility and women contemplating egg freezing.

These layoffs come amidst rising political interest in declining U.S. fertility rates. President Trump has dubbed himself the “infertile president” and signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization.

“The White House is committed to IVF and remains focused on it,” Collura noted.

With one in seven married or unmarried women experiencing infertility, she remarked, “Looking at these statistics, it’s disheartening—and not surprising—that our public health agencies have chosen to sidestep this issue.”

When asked about the team’s elimination, a health and welfare spokesperson commented that the administration is “in the planning stage” of transitioning maternal health programs to a new Healthy America initiative, offering no further details.

The scientists from the National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System were working to address numerous questions surrounding IVF research.

“We lack comprehensive data on the success rates of egg freezing for personal use because it’s relatively new and tricky to track,” Dr. Levine explained.

This uncertainty weighs heavily on women wishing to have children. Simeonne Bookal, who collaborates with Collura at Resolve, froze her eggs in 2018 while waiting to find the right partner.

She got engaged earlier this year, with her wedding scheduled for next spring. At 38, she expressed that having her eggs banked offers her a “security blanket.”

Though she still has reservations about her chances of conceiving, the frozen eggs provide her some assurance.

The precise success rate of the egg freezing procedure remains ambiguous, as many published studies are based on theoretical models that utilize data from infertile patients or egg donors, which differ significantly from women preserving their eggs for future use.

Some studies provide limited insights, often involving fewer than 1,000 women who thaw their eggs and undergo IVF, according to Dr. Sarah Druckenmiller Cascante, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Nyu Langone and author of a recent review paper on this topic.

“The available data is scant, and it’s crucial to be transparent with patients about this,” she said.

“I wouldn’t regard it as a guaranteed insurance policy. While it could lead to a baby, it’s more about improving the chances of having a biological child later in life, especially if done at a younger age.”

The CDC team maintained a database known as the National ART Surveillance System, established by Congress in 1992. This tracked success rates for various fertility clinics but now faces an uncertain future without continuous updates.

While the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology offers similar databases to researchers, they are not as comprehensive as the CDC’s since they contain data from approximately 85% of U.S. fertility clinics.

According to Sean Tipton, Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer for the American Association of Reproductive Medicine, no dedicated research team oversees the database.

The surge in women opting to bank their eggs for future use has intensified the scrutiny regarding the risks and benefits of freezing eggs.

This procedure was regarded as non-experimental as of 2012. In 2014, only 6,090 patients opted to bank their eggs for fertility preservation. Fast forward to 2022, and that number soared to 28,207, with 39,269 recorded in 2023, the latest year for which data is available.

Source: www.nytimes.com

These Stunning Birds Create Enduring Bonds

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

True friends, as most would agree, support one another. This can mean offering emotional encouragement or lending a hand during a move. For a vibrant Sterling—a lively songbird from the African savanna—this includes feeding insects to your friends’ offspring, with the expectation that they will do the same for you in return.

Research has shown that social animals tend to form bonds primarily with their relatives. However, according to a study published in the Journal Nature Wednesday, researchers analyzed two decades of field data, revealing new interactions among unrelated members of great starling communities.

“These findings are the core of our study,” stated Dustin Reubenstein, an ecology professor at Columbia University and the paper’s author.

Alexis Earle, a biologist from Cornell University and co-author, noted that great starlings exhibit unique cooperative breeding behavior, blending family units with newcomers. New parents often depend on as many as 16 helpers.

Dr. Reubenstein’s lab has maintained a 20-year field survey of the species, encompassing 40 breeding seasons. They recorded thousands of interactions among hundreds of vocal birds and collected DNA samples to explore genetic linkages. When Dr. Earle, then a graduate student, began analyzing the data, she and her colleagues were not surprised to find that the birds predominantly assisted their relatives.

However, they were taken aback to discover that starlings also assisted non-relatives, even opting to help others when they could have aided their family members. Newcomers in the flock offered assistance to birds born within it, and vice versa. As great starlings frequently shift between parenting and supportive roles, the research team found that individuals who aided non-relatives tended to reciprocate those good deeds over time.

“Starlings consistently invest in the same valued social partners over their lives,” Dr. Earle remarked. “To me, that resembles friendship.”

Gerald Carter, an animal behavior expert at Princeton University and co-author, noted the controversy surrounding the idea of animals forming friendships with non-related individuals. Yet, increasing research supports the presence of long-term interactions among primates, elephants, crows, and whales. There are even vampire bats that share their blood meals with unrelated members of their colonies, alongside unrelated male lance-tailed manakins who act as each other’s “wingmen” to attract female attention.

Detecting long-term relationships, however, can be challenging, as Dr. Reubenstein points out. The research team required 27 seasons of data to reveal signs of reciprocity among starlings, and he believes they may still be underestimating it.

Dr. Reubenstein suggested that mutual support relationships may be more crucial than lab data indicates. “Having substantial long-term data is essential to uncovering these dynamics.”

The study presents a strong case, according to Jorg Massen, a behavioral ecologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands who was not involved in the research. A key next step is to determine how these long-term relationships are sustained on a daily basis.

“Is it merely based on reproductive support, or does it involve other behavioral factors?” he posed.

Moreover, the behavior of great starlings suggests that everyone benefits from maintaining relationships with unrelated peers. “Birds residing in larger groups tend to have longer lifespans and produce more offspring over their lifetimes,” stated Dr. Reubenstein. In the harsh and unpredictable environments of the African savanna, maximizing resources is vital, and incorporating migrant birds enhances group stability.

According to Dr. Reubenstein, this mirrors the evolutionary trajectory of humans.

Amid growing concerns over the epidemic of human loneliness, experts may find valuable lessons in the lives of starlings. In essence, strong relationships often emerge from a foundation of support.

But you don’t need to feed your friends’ kids bugs! Luckily, there are always babysitting services available.

Source: www.nytimes.com

State Calls Out Trump Administration for Freezing EV Charging Funding

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A group of states spearheaded by Washington, Colorado, and California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming it is unlawfully withholding billions of dollars designated by Congress for electric vehicle charging stations nationwide.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act of 2021 allocated $5 billion to states for the construction of charging stations across the country. Research firm Atlas Public Policy reports that 71 stations have been established thus far, with more on the way.

Litigation filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle states that the federal agency has unlawfully frozen these funds, halted the approval of new stations, deprived states of critical resources, and harmed the developing electric vehicle industry.

The White House’s Budget Proposals announced last week indicated a cancellation of funds for the “Failed Electric Vehicles – Charger Grant Program.” President Trump had already targeted the program in January. Presidential Order from the Transportation Department echoed similar sentiments the following month. However, the lawsuit contends that a Congressional approval is necessary to entirely revoke funding.

“The president is making unconstitutional efforts to withhold funds allocated to programs that Congress supported,” stated California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “This time, he’s unlawfully diverting billions meant for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, lining the pockets of his oil industry allies.”

California has approximately 2 million “zero emission vehicles” available, accounting for one-third of the national total, as part of an ongoing initiative in the car-centric state to reduce air pollution. According to Bonta’s office, California relied on $384 million from the federal program for charging stations.

The state has heavily invested in its charging infrastructure from its own budget and revenue from carbon credits sold to polluters, leading to more public and shared private chargers than gas station pumps. However, challenges remain when crossing state lines for charging.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI Program, initiated by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., aims to establish charging networks across urban and rural areas, including California, to combat climate change.

California officials remarked that one of the main beneficiaries of the national EV program is China, which currently leads in EV manufacturing and global sales. The most significant detriment would likely fall on Tesla, a Trump supporter, whose CEO Elon Musk expects the company to lead the EV market, despite a decline in sales during the first quarter of 2025.

“When America retreats, China prevails,” California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the federal fund withholding as “another Trump gift to China.”

“Instead of promoting Teslas on the White House lawn, President Trump should prioritize aiding Elon and the nation by adhering to the law and unlocking this bipartisan funding,” Newsom stated.

The lawsuit includes attorneys general from Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

Transportation Department Notes indicate that state officials reported in February that the administration had considered the NEVI program and suspended approval of state plans. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the memo is illegal and demands the administration release the funds.

An NEVI Funding Tracking Website operated by Atlas Public Policy shows that at least $521 million has been allocated, with approximately $44 million already spent. Data indicates that many operational stations are concentrated in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Loren McDonald, chief analyst at EV analytics firm Paren, commented that while the federal government plays a minor role in the EV charging sector, most stations are constructed by private companies. McDonald noted that the process of building the infrastructure and selecting contracting firms is lengthy and has led to delays. His experience with constructing charging stations reflects this trend.

That said, the plaintiffs asserted that the president’s orders have been detrimental.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser expressed that his state stands to lose tens of millions in funding after demonstrating significant advancements in establishing a robust foundation for electric vehicle adoption. He mentioned that federal support was crucial to bridging gaps in funding for rural Colorado and underserved communities.

“Congress showed foresight in approving funds for this essential infrastructure,” Weiser stated. “These funds need to be restored immediately.”

In Washington, the president’s directives halt 40 proposed projects and jeopardize $55 million in approved Congressional funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructures.

The White House and the Transportation Department have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Who is Casey Means and Did Trump Appoint Her as Surgeon General?

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

On Wednesday, President Trump remarked that, similar to general surgeons, doctors educated at Stanford have increasingly vocalized concerns about the influence of corporations on medicine and health.

Dr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed that founding medicine can lead to feelings of disillusionment. Last year, she and her sibling, Calley Means, gained attention after appearing on Tucker Carlson’s show, where Carlson serves as a White House health advisor and a former food industry lobbyist.

What is her field of medicine?

Dr. Means, trained as an ENT and head and neck surgeon, left her surgical training incomplete to pursue functional medicine, which focuses on identifying the underlying causes of disease. Last year, she released a diet and self-help book titled “Good Energy: Amazing Connections between Metabolism and Infinite Health.” Before that, she was primarily known for founding a company that offered wearable glucose monitors for health tracking.

Her work emphasizes the rising prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States, addressing issues related to obesity, diabetes, infertility, chemical and drug therapies, and sedentary lifestyles among the American population.

What did she say about the vaccine?

In line with some of Kennedy’s skepticism regarding vaccines, Dr. Means urged the new administration to reconsider the liability protections granted to vaccine manufacturers in order to promote research into “cumulative effects” and the development of new vaccines.

“Emerging evidence suggests that the heavy burden of the current extensive vaccine schedule is impacting the health of vulnerable children,” she stated. I discussed this in my October newsletter.

Experts in child health remain strongly opposed to reducing the list of recommended vaccinations, warning that such modifications could result in severe outbreaks of infectious diseases. They also emphasize that the government is responsible for both the safety data used in vaccine licensing and that gathered post-implementation.

What did she say about food supply?

Dr. Means is spearheading a collaborative initiative to modify corporate-friendly practices concerning food and medical production and sales. This includes promoting healthier diets in public schools, researching chemical usage in American food products, advocating for warning labels on ultra-processed foods, restricting drug company advertising to patients on television, and mitigating the industry’s influence over food and drug regulators.

“American health is being compromised,” she stated. During a Senate Roundtable Event addressing food and nutrition in September, she remarked, “If the current trends persist, we will face social instability at best, diminishing America’s competitiveness, or at worst, a level of health disruption akin to genocide.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Canada’s Enigmatic Brain Disease: The Mystery Unveiled

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Six years ago, a Canadian neurologist noticed unusual symptoms among a group of patients in New Brunswick, a province next to Maine.

Dr. Arie Marrello reported that patients experienced hallucinations, convulsions, rapid memory loss, and a sensation of insects crawling under their skin, but these symptoms and brain scans didn’t align with existing diagnoses, making the cases puzzling.

Subsequent reviews by neurologists led to clear diagnoses, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer.

A recent study published in JAMA Neurology supports these findings, indicating that the likelihood of such mysterious illnesses is about one in one million.

The physicians involved in this study assessed 25 patients from the New Brunswick cluster. With 11 patients deceased, neuropathologists relied on autopsy findings to reach diagnoses. Among the 14 living patients, neurologists used cognitive assessments, concluding that all had well-documented conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and post-concussion syndrome.

Dr. Anthony Lang, a neurologist at the Krembil Brain Institute within the University Health Network, remarked, “I was confident that there was a clear explanation for 100% of the cases.”

Nevertheless, some medical professionals are concerned that this evidence may not quell speculation about an underlying unknown cause, which many patients and their families continue to believe in.

According to the authors of the study, 52 individuals connected to the New Brunswick cluster declined a second opinion, and another 42 individuals were unreachable. This lack of response has been attributed to the spread of misinformation through both traditional and social media, undermining trust in healthcare systems.

“These instances reflect misdiagnosis, leading to misinformation. Unfortunately, the doctors involved persist in convincing patients and their families that they have a mysterious illness,” Lang emphasized.

Marello expressed skepticism regarding the study’s methods and conclusions in a statement, saying, “I hold serious reservations about the validity of the research and have numerous questions regarding its methodology and content. We believe that our patients, families, and communities share these significant concerns.”

Dr. Valerie Sim, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Alberta and not part of the study, stated there is no evidence linking the patients’ illnesses. She noted that the description of the cases is too broad and could apply to multiple conditions.

“Sadly, the unifying factor is that all these patients saw the same neurologist,” Sim pointed out. “Patients evaluated by different specialists have been diagnosed with known conditions that aren’t mysterious.”

James Mastorianni, a professor of neurology at the University of Chicago, highlighted that while not included in the study, it underscores the importance of seeking second opinions from experts in the field.

Ongoing Investigation

The Mystery Disease Theory gained traction in 2021 when Canadian health officials launched an investigation based on Marello’s observations. However, even after the inquiry determined that most patients had identifiable conditions, skepticism remained among families. In November, Susan Holt, the Prime Minister of New Brunswick, called for a scientific review of the “mysterious brain diseases.”

“The residents of New Brunswick deserve answers,” Holt stated in a public statement last year. “We must understand the source of our illnesses.”

Some advocates for patients suspect that environmental factors may be contributing to the illnesses, noting that blood tests have detected heavy metals, pesticides, and rare antibodies, warranting further investigation.

“None of our patients received an alternative diagnosis,” said Kat Lantine, an advocate in New Brunswick. “What led to their neurodegenerative disease?”

Dr. Yves Legger, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, stated in a recent statement that the new study “does not alter our commitment to thoroughly investigating cases of undiagnosed neurological diseases in New Brunswick.”

His office has received 222 case reports in connection with this cluster.

Marello mentioned, “We have evaluated over 500 patients in this cluster and provided substantial evidence regarding environmental exposures, as well as rare autoimmune markers present in several cases.”

However, Lang cautioned that detecting substances in the blood or urine does not necessarily imply they are the cause of neurological symptoms.

“You cannot take a scattershot approach, where you find something and assert that it’s relevant to the health issue,” he explained.

Challenges in Diagnosing Neurological Problems

Neurologists not involved with the New Brunswick situation highlight several challenges that continue to spur discussions among advocates, doctors, and government officials about the illness’s origins.

For starters, they note that accurate diagnoses can take time. Some conditions highlighted in the study exhibit complex symptom profiles, like Alzheimer’s.

“We need a comprehensive history from the family along with a timeline to identify if someone is developing dementia. There may be early signs of confusion evident in neurological tests,” indicated Dr. Kimberly O’Neal, a neurologist at the Health Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center at NYU Langone.

Rapidly progressing dementia was one of the key symptoms observed in New Brunswick patients. However, families sometimes overlooked early indicators of neurodegeneration, which made it appear as though dementia appeared suddenly, according to Mastorianni.

When severe symptoms manifest, patients and their families often seek answers and can be hesitant to abandon their initial diagnoses, Sim noted.

“This phenomenon is common in medicine. Patients often become attached to a diagnosis or a group of conditions,” Sim remarked. “That is evidently the case here.”

Misdiagnosis can be “truly tragic,” as it may prevent patients from receiving effective treatment and proper care.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Concerns Emerged from Foresight AI Utilizing 57 Million NHS Medical Records

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Foresight AI Model employs information derived from records of hospitals and family practitioners across the UK

Hannah McKay/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The developers assert that an AI model trained with medical records of 57 million individuals through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) could eventually assist physicians in anticipating illness and hospitalization trends. Nonetheless, other academics express significant concerns over privacy and data protection associated with the extensive utilization of health data, acknowledging that even AI developers are unable to ensure the absolute protection of sensitive patient information.

This model, branded as “Foresight,” was initially created in 2023. Its first iteration leveraged OpenAI’s GPT-3, the prominent language model (LLM) that powered the original ChatGPT, using 1.5 million authentic patient records from two hospitals in London.

Recently, Chris Tomlinson from University College London and his team broadened their objectives, claiming to develop the world’s first “national generative AI model for health data” with significant diversity.

Foresight utilizes Meta’s open-source LLM, LLAMA 2, leveraging eight distinct datasets of medical information routinely collected by the NHS between November 2018 and December 2023, including outpatient appointments, hospital visits, vaccination records, and other relevant documents.

Tomlinson notes that his team has not disclosed any performance metrics for Foresight, as it is still undergoing evaluation. However, he believes that its potential extends to various applications, including personalized diagnoses and forecasting broader health trends such as hospital admissions and heart conditions. “The true promise of Foresight lies in its capacity to facilitate timely interventions and predict complications, paving the way for large-scale preventive healthcare,” he stated at a press conference on May 6.

While the foreseeable advantages remain unsupported, the ethical implications of utilizing medical records for AI learning at this magnitude continue to raise alarms. Scholars argue that all medical records undergo a ‘degeneration’ process before integration into AI training, yet the risk of re-identifying these records through data patterns is well-established, especially in expansive datasets.

“Creating a robust generative AI model that respects patient privacy presents ongoing scientific challenges,” stated Luc Rocher at Oxford University. “The immense detail of data advantageous for AI complicates the anonymization process. Such models must operate under stringent NHS governance to ensure secure usage.”

“The data inputted into the model is identifiable, so direct identifiers will be eliminated,” remarked Michael Chapman, who oversees the data fueling Foresight, in a speech at NHS Digital. However, he acknowledged the perpetual risk of re-identification.

To mitigate this risk, Chapman explained that AI functions within a specially created “secure” NHS data environment, guaranteeing that information remains protected and accessible solely to authorized researchers. Amazon Web Services and Databricks provide the “computational infrastructure,” yet they do not have access to the actual data, according to Tomlinson.

Regarding the potential to expose sensitive information, Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye from Imperial College London suggests evaluating whether a model can retain the information it encounters during training. When asked by New Scientist whether Foresight has undergone such testing, Tomlinson indicated that it has not, but they are contemplating future assessments.

Employing such an extensive dataset without engaging the public regarding data usage may erode trust, cautions Caroline Green at Oxford University. “Even anonymized data raises ethical concerns, as individuals often wish to manage their data and understand its trajectory.”

Nevertheless, prevailing regulations offer little leeway for individuals to opt out of the data utilized by Foresight. All information incorporated into the model emanates from NHS datasets gathered on a national scale and remains “identified.” An NHS England representative stated that the existing opt-out provisions do not apply, asserting that individuals not wishing to share their family doctor data will not contribute to the model.

As per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals should retain the option to withdraw their consent concerning personal data usage. However, training methods involving LLMs like Foresight make it impossible to eliminate a single record from an AI tool. An NHS England spokesperson commented, “The GDPR does not pertain since the data utilized to train the model is anonymized, and therefore we do not engage with personal data.”

While the complexity of GDPR concerning the training of LLMs presents novel legal issues, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office indicates that “identified” data should not be viewed as equivalent to anonymous data. “This perspective arises because UK data protection laws lack a definition for the term, which can lead to misunderstanding,” the office emphasizes.

Tomlinson explains that the legal situation is compounded as Foresight is only engaged in studies pertaining to Covid-19. This means that exceptions to data protection laws instituted during the pandemic remain applicable, points out Sam Smith from Medconfidential, a UK data privacy advocacy group. “This Covid-specific AI likely harbors patient data, but such information cannot be extracted from the research environment,” he asserts. “Patients should maintain control over their data usage.”

Ultimately, the conflicting rights and responsibilities surrounding the utilization of medical data in AI developments remain ambiguous. “In the realm of AI innovation, ethical considerations are often overshadowed, prompting a reevaluation beyond merely initial parameters,” states Green. “Human ethics must serve as the foundational element, followed by technological advancements.”

The article was updated on May 7, 2025

Corrections regarding the comments made by the NHS England spokesperson were duly noted.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Dementia Cases Surge More Rapidly in China Compared to Global Trends

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Why are dementia cases sharply rising in China?

Hanohishikilf/Aramie

A new scientist. Science News and Long read from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health, and the environment. — Why are dementia cases sharply rising in China?

Hanohishikilf/Aramie

The incidence of dementia is escalating in China at an unprecedented rate, with numbers exceeding four times the historical figures observed over past decades.

Daoying Geng from The University of Hudun conducted an analysis of dementia statistics across 204 countries and regions between 1990 and 2021. The focus was on dementia cases in individuals over 40, particularly other forms like Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular dementia.

During this timeframe, researchers discovered that global dementia cases surged from nearly 22 million in 1990 to approximately 57 million by 2021. The situation was particularly alarming in China, which saw its case count increase over fourfold to reach about 4 million.

In-depth analysis indicates that population growth plays a pivotal role. China experienced a baby boom in the 1950s, which means those individuals are now in their 70s, the age group presenting the highest risk for dementia. Xi Chen from Yale University, who did not participate in the study, noted the uniqueness of China’s baby boom generation compared to other countries’ cohorts.

The research team identified three additional significant contributors to the escalating dementia rates in China. First, smoking predominantly impacts men, with only 2% of Chinese women being smokers about half of the male population smokes. This contrasts sharply with countries like the US and UK, where smoking rates are on a downward trend, according to Chen.

A Western trend mirrored in China involves rising rates of diabetes and obesity, particularly over recent decades, both recognized risk factors for dementia. This shift may be attributed to the adoption of a Western-style diet, which is generally higher in fat and calories, Chen explains. He posits that as younger generations in China smoke less, dementia rates may eventually mirror those of the US or UK, albeit the present conditions continue to exert a substantial influence on China.

“Dementia is among the costliest diseases globally, necessitating extensive care and treatment,” Chen emphasizes. “As for aging, China possesses the largest elderly population worldwide. There are few young individuals to care for this significant number of seniors living with dementia, presenting numerous challenges.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Genetic Research Uncovers the Origins of Bats

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In the early 2000s, bats infected with coronavirus transmitted the virus to raccoon dogs and other wild mammals in southwestern China. Many of these animals were sold in markets where the coronavirus resurfaced. Consequently, the SARS pandemic spread to 33 countries, resulting in 774 fatalities. Months later, researchers identified a mammalian coronavirus known as Palmcoten, found in markets central to the outbreak.

In a study published Wednesday, a team of researchers drew comparisons between the evolutionary paths of SARS and COVID-19, 17 years apart. They examined the genomes of the two coronaviruses responsible for the pandemics, alongside 248 related coronaviruses in bats and other mammals.

Jonathan Pechal, an evolutionary virologist at the University of Edinburgh and author of the study, noted that the histories of the two coronaviruses mirrored each other. “In my opinion, they are very similar,” he stated.

In both instances, Dr. Pekal and his team assert that coronavirus transmission originated from bats in southwestern China to wild mammals. Soon after, wildlife traders transported infected animals hundreds of miles to urban markets, leading to widespread human outbreaks.

“When wildlife is sold in urban centers, pandemics often follow,” stated Michael Warby, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona and co-author of the research.

This research appears at a politically charged moment. Last month, the White House launched a web page titled “Laborek: The True Origins of COVID-19,” asserting the pandemic stemmed from a lab accident in Wuhan, rather than market interactions.

In a budget proposal issued on Friday, the White House indicated that it was “confirming” the lab leak theory, which justified an $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health.

The Chinese government responded with a flat denial of claims that COVID was caused by a lab leak in Wuhan, suggesting instead the virus may have originated from a laboratory in the U.S.

“A thorough and detailed investigation into the origin of the virus should be conducted in the United States,” the statement read.

Sergei Pond, a virologist at Temple University, expressed skepticism regarding the resolution of COVID’s origins. He voiced concerns that political rhetoric from both governments could hinder scientific inquiries into the virus’s origins.

“If it weren’t tragic, you’d have to laugh at how things have unfolded,” Dr. Pond commented.

In the initial weeks of the early 2020 pandemic, the virus responsible, SARS-CoV-2, emerged alongside notions of biological weapons created by the Chinese military. A cohort of scientists analyzing available data at that time dismissed this claim, indicating that while they could not dismiss accidental lab leaks, they leaned towards the natural origins of COVID.

Over the ensuing months, Dr. Warby, who was not part of that group, grew dissatisfied with the lack of compelling evidence favoring one theory over another. He co-signed an open letter with 17 other scientists advocating for further investigation to ascertain the most likely explanation.

“We felt there was much yet to be learned, so let’s not dismiss the lab leak theory,” Dr. Warby asserted. “Let’s investigate.”

As Dr. Warby and other researchers scrutinized COVID’s origins, the American intelligence agencies conducted their assessments. Their conclusions were varied. The FBI and CIA support the lab escape theory from the Wuhan Institute, albeit with little certainty. The Department of Energy expresses low confidence in the possibility of a virus escape from another lab in Wuhan, while other institutions favor a natural origin.

Scientists have struggled to evaluate the evidence behind these conclusions as the relevant institutions have not published supporting data or analyses. However, Dr. Warby and his colleagues have released several papers in scientific journals. Along this journey, Dr. Warby became convinced that the COVID pandemic originated at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan.

“Scientifically, that’s evident,” Dr. Warby remarked, referencing both HIV and the Spanish flu, two diseases with origins that have been thoroughly studied.

In their recent study, Dr. Warby, Dr. Pekal, and their colleagues examined 250 genomes of coronaviruses, leveraging genetic similarities and differences to establish relationships. They successfully reconstructed the evolutionary timeline of the coronaviruses responsible for both SARS and COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.

The ancestors of both coronaviruses have been circulating in bats across China and its neighboring regions for hundreds of thousands of years, specifically inhabiting southwestern China and northern Laos for the last 50 years.

When coronaviruses infect bats, they sometimes cohabitate with another coronavirus. This can lead to the accidental creation of a hybrid virus carrying genetic material from both original coronaviruses, a process referred to as recombination.

“These are not ancient events,” noted David Rasmussen, a virologist at North Carolina State University involved in the new research. “These occurrences happen frequently; these viruses are truly mosaic in nature.”

In 2001, shortly before the SARS pandemic emerged, researchers found that SARS-CoV had undergone significant genetic mixing among bats. This led to the virus’s potential evolution into a human pathogen. However, given that Guangzhou is hundreds of miles from the ancestral area of SARS-CoV, it’s improbable that the virus gradually reached the city through bats.

Researchers generally concur that ancestors of SARS-CoV infected wild mammals, which were subsequently sold in markets around Guangzhou. Shortly after the onset of the SARS pandemic, the presence of SARS-CoV was confirmed in palm civets and other wild mammals traded in the market.

A similar trend was observed with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The final recombination event in bats occurred between 2012 and 2014, just five to seven years prior to the COVID outbreak, hundreds of miles away from northeastern Wuhan.

Moreover, this signifies a considerable distance from the area where the virus’s ancestors circulated, paralleling the journey that SARS-CoV undertook via the wildlife trade.

Proponents of the lab leak theory emphasize the significant distance between Wuhan and the habitats of the closest relatives of SARS-CoV-2. They argue that if bats traveled to the area around Wuhan without infecting local mammals, scientists must have been collecting coronaviruses from bats in southwestern China and experimenting on them in the lab.

American scientists have critiqued the Wuhan Institute of Virology for lax safety measures in their coronavirus experiments. Nevertheless, no evidence has confirmed that the ancestors of SARS-CoV-2 were present at the institute prior to the pandemic. Recent research by Dr. Warby and his colleagues illustrates that bat coronaviruses can traverse considerable distances via wildlife trade without any scientific intervention.

The researchers argue that these findings align with a study published in 2022, identifying the Huanan Wet Market in Wuhan as the site of the initial COVID outbreak. Wild mammals were sold at this venue, and early cases of COVID were documented there. Moreover, Chinese researchers collected various strains of SARS-CoV-2, exhibiting different mutations at this location. Dr. Warby and his team posited that the virus likely spilled over from wild mammals at the market on two separate occasions.

Dr. Pond stated that while the new study supports the wildlife spillover theory, he does not believe the issue has been definitively settled. He highlighted two statisticians’ critiques from last year, regarding the modeling behind the 2022 study. Dr. Warby and his colleagues have provided a rebuttal to those criticisms. “That debate is still ongoing,” Dr. Pond remarked.

Mark Eloit, former director of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, emphasized the importance of the new research in clarifying the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

However, he also noted that the coronavirus exhibits significant differences from closely related bat viruses. Following its divergence from those viruses, it would have undergone mutations or recombination to effectively spread among humans.

“I contend that the potential for recombination events—either incidental or deliberate—remains as plausible as the hypothesis of zoonotic transfer via intermediate hosts at the market,” Dr. Eloit argued.

Dr. Eloit and other scientists concurred that discovering intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 among wild mammals would significantly bolster the argument for natural spillover. However, Chinese officials examined various animals at the onset of the pandemic but found no traces of the virus.

Before scientists could conduct studies, wildlife vendors at the Huanan Market removed animals from the stalls, and when China ceased wildlife trade, farmers culled their animals.

“There are large gaps in our knowledge, and we can’t overlook that,” Dr. Pond remarked.

Stephen Goldstein, a geneticist at the University of Utah, remarked that while he was not involved in the new study, the findings serve as a cautionary reminder of future pandemic risks. Wild mammals traded in markets within regions where SARS and COVID-19 emerged can wreak havoc in urban centers hundreds of miles away. “These viral fragments are present in numerous places,” Dr. Goldstein concluded.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Trump Administration Dissolves CDC’s Infection Control Committee

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Trump administration has dissolved a federal advisory committee responsible for guidance aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings.

The Healthcare Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee (HICPAC) created national standards for U.S. hospitals concerning practices such as handwashing, mask-wearing, and patient isolation for those with chronic illnesses.

Four committee members reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the termination of HICPAC on Friday.

A letter obtained by NBC News — sent by the CDC following a virtual meeting — indicated that the committee ended over a month ago, on March 31. The letter referenced President Donald Trump’s Executive Order calling for significant cuts in the federal workforce.

Previously, four professional associations urged Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a letter dated March 26 to retain the committee amid extensive reductions to federal health agencies. Neither the CDC nor the Department of Health and Human Services responded immediately to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Some of the committee’s web pages have been archived, meaning they are still accessible online but will no longer be updated.

Committee members are concerned that the guidelines could become outdated, failing to incorporate new scientific research or address the spread of drug-resistant organisms, as outlined in specific threats to hospitals.

“If things need to change, the guidelines may not adapt, leading to a precarious situation,” stated Connie Steed, a HICPAC member since 2023 and a former president of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

Dr. Anurag Malani, a fellow at the American Infectious Diseases Society who joined HICPAC in January, noted that the committee was nearing the completion of new guidelines for airborne pathogens before its termination. Previous guidelines had not been updated since 2007 and controversially recommended surgical masks over N95 respirators for preventing the spread of specific pathogens.

“There was much valuable information available. The lessons learned from Covid were shaping our guidelines to improve our previous protocols,” Malani reflected.

Jane Thomason, lead hygienist at National Nurses United, expressed regret over the committee’s dissolution, highlighting that it hampers the transparency of public health guidance. HICPAC had appointed Thomason to a workgroup last year.

“Concerns have been raised regarding HICPAC’s composition and proposed guidance, but its closure eliminates significant public transparency,” Thomason stated on Tuesday. “Without public HICPAC meetings, there is no access to the drafting process for CDC guidance on infection control in healthcare settings, ultimately compromising the safety of patients, nurses, and other healthcare personnel.”

According to a CDC letter from Friday, HICPAC had issued 540 recommendations since its formation over three decades ago, with 90% fully implemented.

Malani emphasized the need for consistent infection control practices nationwide, asserting that ongoing recommendations are essential.

“We should prevent state and local health departments from having to navigate this independently,” he concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

No “Undo” Button for Extinct Species

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Elimination presents a distinctly modern fantasy. It’s a captivating notion that, with merely a pipette or a computer, we can reverse the damage that continues to afflict the natural world. The first creature featured by Colossal is a forlorn wolf, an entity primarily born from imagination, fitting seamlessly into the realm of fantasy. Colossal’s advisory team included notable figures like George R.R. Martin, author of “Game of Thrones,” along with the HBO series adaptation, with promotional images depicting these creatures perched on the show’s Iron Throne. Many observers were taken aback upon learning that these forlorn wolves once roamed the earth as real animals, rather than being products of advanced genetic engineering.

For over 200,000 years, these forlorn wolves thrived across America, carving out a rich ecological niche; their remains have been found from Alaska to Peru. Over 4,000 wolves have been excavated from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles alone. They were among the large mammal hunters who roamed America before humans arrived and are believed to have significantly impacted the continent’s ecology. Eventually, they vanished along with their prey, becoming early victims of the ongoing crisis of human-induced extinction.

Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi were edited and cultivated into embryos, originating from grey wolf cells implanted in the uterus of a surrogate dog. This genetic modification involved 20 alterations across 14 genes (a minor segment of the 19,000 genes that constitute the Grey Wolf genome), guided by a comparison between the Grey Wolf genome and DNA extracted from ancient tooth and bone fragments. While grey wolves and forlorn wolves share superficial skeletal similarities, scientists have determined that they are fundamentally distinct, with their evolutionary paths diverging millions of years ago. Beth Shapiro, the company’s chief science officer, argues that subscribing to the “concept of morphological species” suffices to categorize them as forlorn wolves if defined by appearance. “The notion of species is merely a human classification system,” she stated to New Scientist.

Many individuals voiced their disagreement. Referring to a puppy as a forlorn wolf is akin to suggesting that by donning a hat, a short Frenchman could resurrect Napoleon. Experts in canids from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which monitors biodiversity and maintains a list of endangered species, responded to Colossal’s announcement with their own statement, asserting that “the three animals created by Colossal are not forlorn wolves.” They noted that there’s no real way to ascertain if these wolves accurately represent animals that have been absent for 12,000 years. Furthermore, reducing them to mere physicality overlooks the ecology, behavior, and culture of the original forlorn wolves.

Even if Colossal could replicate the Kree-Wolf genome, it would vastly differ from reinstating a world where such an extraordinary creature could thrive. It also fails to encompass the various ways these beings once influenced their environment. Shapiro refers to Colossal’s research as “functional detension,” a term borrowed from the rewilding movement. This ties into the ecological concept of “functional extinction.” These animals technically exist but, with their drastically reduced numbers, they can no longer play a role in eating, pollinating, or impacting their ecosystems meaningfully. This term has gained urgency in light of the 73% decline in global wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Everything You Should Know About Cosmos-482: The Soviet Spacecraft’s Return to Earth After 53 Years

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The robotic Soviet spacecraft has been floating in space for 53 years. It will return to Earth later this week.

Launched in March 1972, the Kosmos-482 was meant to land on the dynamic surface of Venus, marking the ninth mission in the Soviet Venella program. However, a malfunction left it orbiting Earth, where it has been circling ever since.

“This artifact was slated for Venus 50 years ago, lost and forgotten for half a century,” stated Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He pointed to the Public Catalog of space objects, adding, “Although it’s headed for the wrong planet, it will still create a moment of atmospheric entry.”

Having a protective heat shield, the spacecraft weighs roughly 1,050 pounds and is built to endure its descent through Venus’s harsh atmosphere, meaning it may survive the plunge and reach at least partway to the surface.

Nonetheless, the chance of ground impact is minimal.

“I’m not concerned—I’m not warning my friends to hide,” said Darren McKnight, Advanced Technology Fellow at Leo Labs, a company tracking orbital objects, which monitors Kosmos-482 six times daily. “We typically see a large object re-enter Earth’s atmosphere about once a week.”

When is Kosmos-482 expected to return to Earth?

The estimates are updated daily, but the current anticipated re-entry date is Friday or Saturday. The New York Times will provide updated estimates as they arise.

According to the Aerospace Corporation, which monitors space debris, there is a predicted re-entry window of 12:42 AM Eastern Time on May 10, with a margin of error of 19 hours. Window Calculation

Marco Langroek, a satellite tracker at Delft Institute of Technology, has been monitoring Cosmos-482 for several years and estimates a re-entry around 4:37 AM Eastern Time on May 10, with similar uncertainties.

Where will it land?

The exact landing spot remains unknown. “And we won’t know until after it happens,” Dr. McDowell noted.

The Kosmos-482 travels at over 17,000 mph, and atmospheric friction slows it down rapidly, making timing crucial; even a slight miscalculation could land it in a completely different location.

What is certain is that the orbit of Kosmos-482 encompasses latitudes between 52°N and 52°S, covering large sections of Africa, Australia, North America, and much of Europe and Asia.

“There are three outcomes when an object re-enters: splashing, destruction, or injury,” Dr. McKnight remarked.

“A splash is ideal,” he added, noting that much of the Earth is ocean, while the undesired outcomes would be “destruction” or “injury.”

Will the spacecraft withstand the impact?

If Kosmos-482 endures the re-entry, it will impact at approximately 150 miles per hour, provided its heat shield remains intact. “I doubt much will remain after that,” Dr. McDowell stated. “Imagine crashing a car into a wall at 150 mph; not much would be left.”

If it returns over a populated area during nighttime, observers may see Kosmos-482 as bright streaks racing across the sky.

Should any part of the spacecraft survive the descent, it will legally be owned by Russia.

“Under international law, any found object must be returned,” explained Michelle Hanlon, Executive Director of the Aerospace Law Center at the University of Mississippi. “Russia is recognized as the registered owner and retains jurisdiction over the objects.”

How can I identify this object?

Roughly 25 years ago, Dr. McDowell sifted through Norad’s catalog of some 25,000 orbital objects, attempting to identify each one. He often found the answer was, “this is debris from a rather dull rocket explosion.”

However, one object, 6073, stood out; launched from Kazakhstan in 1972, it traveled between 124 and 6,000 miles from Earth in a highly elliptical orbit.

Analyzing its trajectory and dimensions led Dr. McDowell to theorize it was likely the much-anticipated Kosmos-482 lander rather than merely debris from a failed launch, a hypothesis confirmed by multiple ground observations and recently declassified Soviet documents.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Research Reveals Fenugreek and Okra Extracts Can Eliminate Up to 90% of Microplastics from Water Sources

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers at Talton State University have discovered that extracts from okra and/or fenugreek can attract and eliminate as much as 90% of microplastics from sea, freshwater, and groundwater.

Srinivasan et al. We demonstrated that plant-based polysaccharides exhibited better microplastic removal efficiency than polyacrylamides commercially used in water treatment. Image credit: Srinivasan et al., doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4C07476.

Microplastics are emerging as significant pollutants that pose a threat to aquatic environments globally.

These solid polymers, measuring less than 5 mm, originate from larger plastic debris and the fragmentation of environmental emissions.

These contaminants not only inflict physical damage but also act as carriers for other harmful pollutants that cling to microplastics.

When consumed by organisms, these microparticles can lead to bioaccumulation and bioproliferation.

Conventional wastewater treatment methods using inorganic and organic polymer flocculants are not eco-friendly and can introduce toxicity.

Dr. Rajani Srinivasan and her team at Talton State University have been investigating a safe, plant-based strategy for attracting and eliminating contaminants from water sources.

In laboratory experiments, they found that okra, fenugreek, and tamarind polymers effectively adhered to microplastics, allowing them to aggregate and sink for easy separation from water.

To prepare the sticky plant polymer, sliced okra pods were soaked in separate containers of water overnight.

The resulting extracts were collected, dried, and ground into a powder.

Analysis revealed that the powdered extracts contained polysaccharides, which are natural polymers.

Initial tests on pure water contaminated with microplastics indicated: (i) One gram of any of the quart (1 liter) powders was highly effective in trapping microplastics. (ii) Dried okra and fenugreek extracts removed 67% and 93% of the plastic in one hour, respectively. (iii) A combination of equal parts okra and fenugreek powder reached a maximum removal efficiency of 70% within 30 minutes. (iv) Natural polymers proved significantly more effective than synthetic commercial polyacrylamide polymers typically used in wastewater treatment.

The researchers conducted tests using real water samples contaminated with microplastics.

They collected samples from various water sources around Texas and analyzed them in the lab.

The removal efficiency of plant extracts varied based on the original water source: okra was most effective in seawater (80%), fenugreek showed 80-90% efficiency in groundwater, and a 1:1 mixture of okra and fenugreek achieved 77% efficiency in freshwater.

The scientists suggest that natural polymers display different efficiencies due to the diversity of microplastic types, sizes, and shapes across water samples.

“While polyacrylamide is commonly used for contaminant removal in wastewater treatment, extracts from okra and fenugreek provide biodegradable and non-toxic alternatives,” they stated.

“Using these plant-based extracts for water treatment can eliminate microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxins into the treated water, thereby reducing long-term health risks for the public,” Dr. Srinivasan added.

The team’s work has been published in the journal ACS Omega.

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Rajani Srinivasan et al. 2025. Fenugreek and okra polymers as therapeutic agents for removing microplastics from water sources. ACS Omega 10(15):14640-14656; doi:10.1021/acsomega.4C07476

Source: www.sci.news

New Insights into the Formation of Giant Stars

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers utilizing the very large array (VLA) from NSF have made a significant discovery of a massive gas flow near HW2. Cephaus A enables rapid protostar growth.

Ammonia gas falls into the accretion disk that feeds Protostar HW2. Image credits: NSF/AUI/NSF/NRAO/B. SAXTON.

Extensive reservoirs of interstellar gas are essential for forming giant stars, several times the size of our Sun, accumulating over a vast scale of approximately Parsec (3.26 light years).

Ultimately, gas collects in a local area several hundred times larger than the Astronomical Unit (AU) to attach to small protostars nearly one million kilometers wide.

The flow, originating from very young stars to hundreds of AU away, has long presented observational challenges, particularly for the largest stars distant from solar-type stars.

“Our observations present direct evidence that giant stars can form with masses reaching dozens of solar masses through disks,” stated Dr. Alberto Sanna, an astronomer from INAF and the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie.

“The exceptional wireless sensitivity of the VLA enabled us to discern features on a scale as small as 100 AU, giving us unprecedented insights into this formation process.”

Cephaus A represents the second closest star-forming region where large young stars of over 10 solar masses have been observed, providing an ideal setting for investigating these complex processes.

Dr. Sanna and colleagues employed ammonia, a common molecule in interstellar gas clouds, widely used on Earth as a tracer mapping gas dynamics around stars.

VLA observations revealed a dense ring of high-temperature ammonia gas with a radius of 200-700 AU surrounding HW2.

This structure was recognized as a component of the accretion disk, a crucial feature in star formation theory.

Astronomers found that the gas in this disk flowed inward and rotated around a young star.

Remarkably, the mass accreting onto HW2 was measured at one-two-thousandth of a solar mass annually.

These findings confirm that accretion disks can sustain such extreme mass transfer rates, even while the central star’s mass reaches 16 times that of the Sun.

The researchers also compared their findings with advanced simulations of large-scale star formation.

“The results align closely with theoretical predictions, suggesting that ammonia gas near HW2 nearly collapses at free-fall speeds and rotates at sub-critical speeds.

Interestingly, the asymmetry of the disk structure and turbulent flow indicate the presence of an external gas stream, known as a streamer, potentially supplying new material to one side of the disk.

Such streamers have been detected in other star-forming regions and may be significant in refreshing accretion disks around giant stars.

This discovery resolves decades of debate about whether HW2 and protostars can similarly form accretion disks capable of sustaining rapid growth.

It also reinforces the concept that similar physical mechanisms drive star formation across various mass categories.

“This research enhances our comprehension of how large stars are formed and influences broader inquiries into the evolution and chemical enrichment of galaxies in the universe,” the author remarked.

“Massive stars function as essential cosmic engines, generating winds and explosions that distribute heavy elements throughout the galaxy.”

Their paper will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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A. Sanna et al. 2025. Gas infall through accretion disk feeding Cephaus A HW2. A&A in press; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202450330

Source: www.sci.news

90-Million-Year-Old Mammal Fossils Discovered in the Gobi Desert

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists have discovered a new genus and species of ZheLestid mammals from fossil sites in the Bien Series Formation located in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia.

Reconstruction of ravjaa ishiii (foreground) depicted near a hadrosaurus dinosaur Gobihadro. Image credit: kohei futaka.

This new species, named ravjaa ishiii, existed during the Cretaceous period approximately 90 million years ago.

The ancient mammals are mouse-sized; the ZheLestidae family of Eutherian mammals was widely found across Eurasia and North America in the late Cretaceous period.

“The remarkably preserved mammal fossils found in late Cretaceous deposits of the Gobi Desert have been crucial for understanding the evolution of Mesozoic mammals,” stated Tsukasa Okosi, a PhD candidate in Science at Okayama University, and a collaborator on the research.

“These extraordinary mammal fossils were primarily excavated from the Balungoyacht and Djadokhta formations, with only two fragmentary fossils obtained from the underlying Baianshiree formation.”

The new Zhelestid fossil was uncovered in 2019 in the Bayan Shiree area within the Bayanshiree Formation.

This specimen consists of the distal section of a premolar and part of a mandible, measuring 1 cm from the first to third molar.

“Discovering such a tiny fossil in the vastness of the Gobi Desert feels like a gift from nature. It’s truly miraculous,” remarked a professor from Okayama University of Science.

“Their exceptionally tall molars and unique jaw structures set them apart from known relatives, prompting us to establish a new genus and species,” explained the paleontologist.

“The robust nature of their molars is reminiscent of seed and fruit-eating mammals, which provides fascinating insights into how early mammalian species may have exploited plant resources.”

The research team asserts that ravjaa ishiii is the first Zhelestid identified from the Bien Series formation, indeed marking the first discovery of its kind in Mongolia.

“ravjaa ishiii may represent the oldest member of the Zhelestids, as the currently oldest known Zhelestids were found in Uzbekistan, indicating that this group’s emergence dates back to the early/late Cretaceous boundary,” the researchers noted.

Their study is published online in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.

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Tsukasa Okoshi et al. 2025. A new Late Cretaceous Zhelestid mammal from the Mongolian Baiansilli formation. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 70(1): 193-203; doi: 10.4202/app.01213.2024

Source: www.sci.news

NIH Prohibits New Funding for US Scientists Collaborating with Overseas Partners

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The National Institutes of Health has implemented a policy that prevents American scientists from allocating their funds to international research collaborators, raising concerns about the implications for studies on critical issues like malaria and pediatric cancer.

On Thursday, the new NIH director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, made this announcement. Coincidentally, Deputy Director Dr. Matthew J. Memoli criticized these so-called sub-awards in an email shared with the New York Times.

Dr. Memoli stated, “If you can’t clearly justify why you’re doing something overseas, you can’t do it anywhere else and can’t benefit Americans.”

The impending restrictions will also extend to domestic sub-awards in the future, coinciding with executive orders aimed at reshaping the nation’s scientific priorities amidst declining NIH funding and stalled federal grants at numerous premier universities.

On Monday, President Trump enacted an executive order to restrict experiments that could enhance the risks posed by pathogens and limit support for so-called gain-of-function research in nations like China.

Researchers receiving NIH grants have frequently employed sub-awards to foster international collaboration, a crucial component for studying diseases such as childhood cancer, malaria, and tuberculosis, which is less prevalent in the U.S.

Sub-awards are legal and financial arrangements between grant recipients and their international counterparts. This practice is widespread across the federal government and not exclusive to the NIH.

However, there has been increased scrutiny in recent years due to lax reporting and tracking of funds. Following a critical report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2023, the NIH introduced more stringent oversight requirements.

Proponents of scientific and medical research argue that as science grows more complex, collaborative efforts that engage participants and researchers globally are becoming increasingly vital.

“Competitiveness in science necessitates a collaborative approach,” stated Dr. E. Anderskolb, CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. “No single lab, agency, or investigator possesses all the necessary tools to address the complex questions we’re facing.”

Many of these studies require a significant number of subjects. For instance, scientists can more precisely classify the types of pediatric cancers, leading Dr. Kolb to comment, “we’re entering a niche of diseases that are becoming progressively smaller.”

“Thus, if you’re aiming to conduct clinical trials for new treatments that could aid these children, attempting to only enroll U.S. children might prolong the trial duration by decades,” he added. “Collaborating with international partners allows us to expedite these trials and deliver treatments to our children much sooner.”

In unveiling the new directive, Dr. Bhattacharya referenced a GAO report criticizing the funding awarded to international universities, research institutes, and firms.

Dr. Bhattacharya added that the issues raised by the GAO “could undermine trust and safety for U.S. biomedical research entities.”

Tracking NIH expenditures for these international organizations is challenging. A notable obstacle pointed out by the GAO, as reported by journal Nature, estimated total funding to be about $500 million annually.

Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, is utilizing NIH funding for HIV prevention and treatment research in Kenya and South Africa.

Researchers like her are required to furnish detailed information when applying for international sub-awards, she explained.

Currently, international partners must access lab notebooks, data, and other documents at least once annually, as noted by Dr. Gandhi. All expenses must comply with Foreign Awards and Component Tracking Systems.

“It’s extremely stringent, similar to using taxpayer funds,” Dr. Gandhi remarked.

“Each year, when submitting your progress report, you must account for every dollar spent on international locations. You’ll detail where it was allocated, how much laboratory testing costs, and who the principal investigators are—every facet.”

It remains unclear how the new policy will be implemented. The NIH has not responded to requests for further information.

The NIH stated it will not retroactively reverse foreign sub-awards that are already in effect “at this time,” and will continue to grant funding to international organizations.

However, the new policy prohibits the reissuance of new, competitive awards if they include proposals for sub-awards to foreign institutions.

“If the project is unfeasible without foreign sub-awards, the NIH will collaborate with the recipient to negotiate the bilateral termination of the project,” stated the agency.

The new policy seems to be slightly less comprehensive than what Dr. Memoli outlined in his internal email.

“Sub-awards to foreign sites cannot proceed,” he wrote. “This has been mismanaged horrendously in recent years and is utterly irresponsible. We must act immediately. If there is a foreign site involved in our research, we need to either start closing it or devise another method to track it properly.”

GAO reports indicate that several federal departments are seeking improved surveillance following criticism regarding lax reporting. However, the office did not advocate for the complete termination of such funding.

The 2023 GAO Report reviewed $2 million in direct and sub-awards, the majority coming from the NIH, awarded to three Chinese research institutions, including the Wuhan Virology Institute, between 2014 and 2021.

The Virology Institute received a sub-award from the University of California, Irvine and the non-profit EcoHealth Alliance. Collaborating with the Alliance and Chinese scientists led former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to suspend funding last year. Recently, the Trump administration updated its government portal for COVID-19 information to suggest that a novel virus emerged from a lab in Wuhan.

According to a GAO report, NIH oversight has not consistently ensured that foreign agencies comply with requirements, including biosafety regulations.

Another GAO report indicated that one reason for the difficulty in tracking spending is a federal policy requiring the reporting of sub-awards of $30,000 or more.

The report examined approximately $48 million in NIH and State Department funding provided to Chinese companies and research institutions between 2017 and 2021.

“The full extent of these sub-awards remains unknown,” and the data retrieved were found to be incomplete and inaccurate, with numerous expenditures exempt from reporting.

Apoorva Mandavilli Reports of contributions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Philip Sunshine, 94, Passes Away; Doctors Innovate Treatments for Premature Infants

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Philip Sunshine, a physician at Stanford University, significantly advanced neonatal theory as a medical specialty, transforming the care for premature and severely ill neonates, who previously faced little hope of survival. He passed away on April 5 at his home in Cupertino, California, at the age of 94.

His daughter, Diana Sunshine, confirmed his death.

Before Dr. Sunshine and a few other dedicated doctors took an interest in caring for infants in the late 1950s and early 1960s, more than half of these incredibly vulnerable patients died shortly after birth, often without insurance coverage for their treatment.

As a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Sunshine believed that with proper attention, many premature babies could be saved. At Stanford, he assembled a multidisciplinary team to treat these infants in specialized intensive care units. Alongside his colleagues, he developed innovative feeding methods and breathing assistance techniques using ventilation.

“We managed to keep babies alive who would have otherwise not survived,” Dr. Sunshine recounted during an interview in 2000 with the Pediatric History Center at the American Academy of Pediatrics. “And now, this progress is often taken for granted.”

The early 1960s marked a pivotal moment for the care of premature babies.

As noted by the Oxford English Dictionary, the term “Neonatology” first appeared in the 1960 book “Isises of Newborn” by pediatrician Alexander J. Schaffer from Baltimore. By that time, Stanford’s Neonatology School, one of the nation’s earliest schools for this field, was already functional.

In 1963, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, the second son of President John F. Kennedy, was born nearly six weeks prematurely and sadly passed away just 39 hours later. This tragic event captured the attention of newspapers across the nation and spurred federal health officials to begin funding research focused on newborns.

“Kennedy’s situation was a significant turning point,” Dr. Sunshine remarked in 1998 to Aha News, a publication of the American Hospital Association.

Serving as the Newborn Dean at Stanford from 1967 to 1989, Dr. Sunshine played a crucial role in training hundreds, if not thousands, of doctors who went on to work in neonatal intensive care units worldwide. Upon his retirement in 2022 at the age of 92, the survival rate for babies born at just 28 weeks had surpassed 90%.

“Phill is one of the pioneers in neonatology—an exceptional neonatologist and one of the finest in our field’s history,” stated David K. Stevenson, the head of the neonatology division at Stanford, who succeeded Dr. Sunshine, in a 2011 graduate journal.

Dr. Sunshine understood that providing care for young children involves both technical skills and personal connection. He advocated for allowing parents to visit the neonatal intensive care unit to hold their newborns, noting that skin-to-skin contact was highly beneficial.

He also encouraged nurses to exercise their judgment and express concerns when they felt something was amiss.

“Our nurses have always been invaluable caregivers,” Dr. Sunshine recounted in oral history. “Throughout my career, I collaborated with nursing staff who often recognized baby issues before the doctors did, and they continue to do so.”

A newborn nurse who worked alongside Dr. Sunshine for over 50 years shared in a blog post for Stanford Medicine, “Phil exuded a deep kindness—towards the babies, us, and everyone around him.”

“He viewed everyone as equally important,” she commented.

It was a challenging journey, and the pressure was immense.

“He had a calming, encouraging presence and was completely unflappable,” Dr. Stevenson said in an interview. “He would often say, ‘If you’re going to be up all night in the hospital, what better way to spend your time than by giving someone 80 or 90 years of life?'”

Philip Sunshine was born in Denver on June 16, 1930, to parents Samuel and Molly (Fox) Sunshine, who owned a pharmacy.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1952 and graduated from medical school in 1955.

After his first year of residency at Stanford, he was drafted into the US Navy, where he served as a physician. Upon returning to Stanford in 1959, he trained under pediatrician Louis Gulac, later developing a modern neonatal intensive care unit at Yale University.

“He inspired my passion for caring for newborns and made the field so fascinating,” Dr. Sunshine recalled. He stated.

Since there was no neonatal fellowship available at the time, Dr. Sunshine pursued advanced training in pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric metabolism fellowships.

“This was a really thrilling period,” he commented in a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health blog post. He remarked. “People from diverse backgrounds were contributing valuable skills for newborn care—like neonatal specialists, cardiologists, and those with interests in gastrointestinal issues with infants. I learned a wealth of information and enthusiasm from them.”

Dr. Sunshine married Sarah Elizabeth Vryland, dubbed Beth, in 1962.

He is survived by his wife, daughter Diana, four other children—Rebecca, Samuel, Michael, and Stephanie—and nine grandchildren.

In many ways, Dr. Sunshine’s surname aptly captured his essence; it resonates perfectly with his profession and approach.

“Beyond being a pioneer in neonatology, he truly brought light to every environment he entered,” Susan R. Hintz, a neonatologist at Stanford University, shared in an interview. “He was a soothing presence, especially during incredibly stressful times. Nurses frequently remarked, ‘He is someone everyone remembers.’

Source: www.nytimes.com

Managing Negative Emotions May Help Alleviate Chronic Pain

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Many individuals endure chronic pain for years or even decades

Asiavision/Getty Images

Understanding how to manage negative emotions like anxiety can help ease chronic pain. Research shows certain therapies that emphasize pain tolerance may be more effective than current treatments.

“Chronic pain is not just a physical sensation; it’s deeply emotional,” explains Nell Norman Knott from the University of New South Wales, Australia. “Around 80% of those with chronic pain experience heightened levels of anxiety and depression,” she adds, noting how existing pain exacerbates negative feelings, intensifying the pain experience.

To assess if this cycle could be disrupted, Norman Knott and her team implemented a program inspired by dialectical behavioral therapy, a variation of cognitive behavioral therapy catering to those with strong emotions. The program centered on mindfulness, emotional management, and pain tolerance.

Eighty-nine chronic pain sufferers, averaging 16 years of discomfort, were assigned to either an 8-week online therapy program with therapists or to receive their prior treatments, such as medications or physical therapy.

After nine weeks, the treatment group showed a roughly 5-point improvement in emotional regulation on a scale of 18-90 compared to the control group. Their pain intensity began to decrease by week 21, and after six months, participants in the control group reported significantly less pain.

“This is both intriguing and hopeful,” remarks Benedict Alter from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He notes that it could particularly benefit individuals without easy access to in-person care. “The online format is significant, as a small number of providers offering treatment is a substantial challenge, often limited to urban settings.”

While the specific mechanisms behind pain reduction remain unclear, he asserts, “Better emotional regulation correlates with improved quality of life, resulting in less pain and decreased functional impairment. Future studies with larger sample sizes could elucidate these mechanisms.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com