Recent measurements from NASA’s insight mission show that Mars’ core is less dense than previously believed planetary scientists. This shows that Mars has never developed a solid inner core at the earliest time in its history. in New research Published in the journal Geophysical Research BookResearchers at the University of Texas and elsewhere were hoping to understand the impact of this lack of a solid inner core.
Computer simulation of the unilateral magnetic field of early Mars. Image credits: Ankit Barik/Johns Hopkins University.
“Like Earth, Mars once had a strong magnetic field that protected the thick atmosphere from the solar wind,” said Dr. Chi Yang, a colleague at the University of Texas.
“But now only the magnetic imprint remains. But with a long, confused scientist, this imprint appears most strongly in the southern half of the red planet.”
The team’s new research will help explain the one-sided traces. We present evidence that the planet’s magnetic field covers only the southern half.
“The resulting biased magnetic field will match the traces we saw today,” Dr. Yang said.
“It will also make the Earth’s magnetic field that covers the entire Earth different from the Earth’s magnetic field.”
“If Mars’ inner core is liquid, a one-sided magnetic field can be generated.”
“The logic here is that it’s much easier to generate a hemispherical (one-sided) magnetic field because there is no solid inner core.”
“It could have influenced the ancient dynamos on Mars and perhaps could have maintained the atmosphere.”
In this study, researchers used computer simulations to model this scenario.
Until now, most early Mars studies relied on magnetic field models that gave the red planet an inner nucleus like Earth surrounded by solid, molten iron.
Scientists were urged to try to simulate a full liquid core after insights discovered that Mars’ core is made up of lighter than expected elements.
“That means there’s a very high chance that it’s melting because the core melts differently than Earth’s,” said Sabin Stanley, a professor at Johns Hopkins University.
“If Mars’ core was melting now, it would almost certainly have melted 4 billion years ago when it was known that Mars’ magnetic field was active.”
To test the idea, the author prepared an early Mars simulation with a liquid core and ran it dozens of times on a supercomputer.
With each run they made the northern half of the mantle planet a little hotter than the south.
Eventually, the temperature difference between the hotter mantle in the north and the colder mantle in the south began to escape from the core and only release at the southern tip of the planet.
The escape heat channeled in such a way was active enough to drive the dynamos and generate a powerful magnetic field focused on the Southern Hemisphere.
Planetary dynamos are self-supporting mechanisms that generate magnetic fields, usually through the movement of molten metal cores.
“We didn’t know if we’d explain the magnetic field, so it’s exciting to see that Mars’ interiors can create (single) hemispherical magnetic fields with an internal structure that fits insights as well as today,” Professor Stanley said.
This finding provides a compelling alternative theory for common assumptions that affect obliterating evidence of magnetic field elimination across rocky planets in the Northern Hemisphere.
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C. Yang et al. 2025. Mars hemispherical magnetic field from a full sphere dynamo. Geophysical Research Book 52(3): E2024GL113926; doi: 10.1029/2024GL113926
SGR 0501+4516 is the most likely candidate for Magnetaru’s Milky Way galaxy, which was not born from the supernova explosion, as originally predicted. The object may be very strange and may provide clues to the mechanism behind the fast radio bursts.
Impressions of Magneter artists. Image credit: ESA.
“A magnetor is a neutron star made up entirely of neutrons. What makes Magnetar unique is the extreme magnetic fields,” says Dr. Ashley Chris, an astronomer at the European Center for Space Research and Technology.
The strangeness of SGR 0501+4516 was identified with the help of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft with the help of a sensitive instrument mounted on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Initially, Magnetar was discovered in 2008 when NASA’s Swift Observatory discovered a fierce flash of gamma rays from the outskirts of the Milky Way.
As magnetors are neutron stars, the natural explanation for their formation is that they are born in Supernova, where stars can explode and even collapse into ultra-density neutron stars.
This looked like the case of SGR 0501+4516, located near the supernova remnants called HB9.
The separation between the sky magnetor and the center of the supernova remnants is only 80 arcs, or slightly wider than the pinky finger, when seen at the edge of the extended arm.
However, a decade of research with Hubble questions Magnetall’s birthplace.
After the initial observation using ground-based telescopic tunables shortly after the discovery of SGR 0501+4516, astronomers used Hubble’s exquisite sensitivity and stable points to find the faint infrared glow of Magnetaral in 2010, 2012, and 2020.
Each of these images was arranged in a reference frame defined by observations from Gaia Spacecraft. GaiaSpacecraft has created a highly accurate 3D map of almost 2 billion stars in the Milky Way.
This method revealed subtle movements of magnets as they crossed the sky.
“All of this movement we measure is smaller than a pixel in a Hubble image,” said Dr. Joe Lyman, an astronomer at Warwick University.
“The ability to perform such measurements robustly is truly a testament to Hubble’s long-term stability.”
By tracking the magnetor’s location, astronomers were able to measure the apparent movement of the object across the sky.
Both the velocity and direction of movement of SGR 0501+4516 indicated that the magnetor was not associated with the remains of nearby supernova.
Tracking the magnetor’s trajectory thousands of years in the past showed that there were no other supernova remnants or large star clusters that it could be associated with.
If SGR 0501+4516 was not born on a supernova, the magnetors must be older than the estimated age of 20,000, or they may have been formed in a different way.
Magnetors can also be formed through a process called amalgamation or accretion-induced decay of two low-mass neutron stars.
Acceleration-induced decay requires a binary star system containing white dwarves.
When a white dwarf pulls gas from its companions, it grows too large to support itself, leading to an explosion, or perhaps a magnet.
“This scenario usually leads to a nuclear reaction ignition and a white d star explosion, leaving nothing behind,” said Dr Andrew Levan, an astronomer at Ladboo University and Warwick University.
“However, it is theorized that under certain conditions, white dwarfs may instead collapse into neutron stars. I think this is how SGR 0501+4516 was born.”
SGR 0501+4516 is currently the best candidate for galaxy magnetarals and may have been formed by a merger or an adductive decay.
The magnets formed through accretion-induced decays can provide some explanation for the mystical fast radio bursts, which are short but powerful flashes of radio waves.
In particular, this scenario may explain the origins of fast radio bursts that emerge from a group of stars that are too old to recently create a huge star to explode as a supernove.
“The magnetor’s fertility and formation scenarios are one of the most pressing issues of high-energy astrophysics, affecting many of the most powerful temporary events in the universe, including gamma-ray bursts, superilluminating supernovas and fast radio bursts.”
Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
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aa chrime et al. 2025. Magnetor SGR 0501+4516 infrared support and proper movement. A&A 696, A127; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202453479
The negative side effects of females vary depending on the tolerance and the means of intake of the person taking it.
After the rush of medication is relieved, many users continue to chew it. They forget to drink water and are unable to sleep or eat for days. In this phase, known as “fine tuning,” users can focus excessively on activities such as disassembly of the bike (forgotten to reassemble) or spending time collecting things like pebbles and shiny gum wrappers. They may get excited and aggressive. Delusion, hallucination Mental illness can be set.
Some people constantly hurt or pick the skin to eradicate “female bugs,” leaving often scars and open wounds.
Long-term side effects include cognitive decline, memory loss, severe depression, cardiac valve damage, and periodontal disease and tooth decay. “methane.”
Can a female kill?
This is becoming more and more common, but is usually not fatal, unless the dose of methane is adulterous with fentanyl. However, people can overdose meth alone, and their deaths are on the rise.
In 2023, the most recent year when statistics are available, nearly 35,000 overdose deaths in the US were involved in Meth or other meth, with or without fentanyl contributions. That’s about 870% increase from around 3,600 deaths in 2013, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The true measure of female lethality cannot be captured by overdose. People die from female-related causes, such as strokes and cerebral hemorrhage, and accidents during the rather trace of methane, such as wandering traffic or hitting a vehicle. Females can cause chronic users to overheat and convulse.
There are drugs that cure opioid cravings, but no approved drugs to treat meta addiction. Furthermore, overdose inverters like naloxone do not work for people overdose of methane (unless the drug is stained with fentanyl).
It is known as ice, Tina, crystal, glass, speed. nickname “crank” nodded to the biker who smuggled it in the engine’s crankcase.
How many females are there?
It’s been over a century and has changed quite a bit and become much more powerful.
In 1887, German chemists synthesized the compound ephedrine. Ephedra plants. By 1893, Japanese scientists were developing methamphetamine. During World War II, military forces in Germany, British and Americans distributed female tablets to awaken the troops and to suppress appetite. In Japan, tablets are given to Kamikaze pilots, It’s sold at the counter.
In 1944, the Food and Drug Administration approved it. Methamphetamine drugs, Desocin is used to treat narcotics, obesity and ADHD.
According to Researcherby the late 1960s, warnings “Speed Kill”-Referring to drugs and driving – He was promoted in the US.
In the 1990s, females became known as dance club drugs. The “cook” of the house created a batch of them. Most use pseudoephedrine, a component of over-the-counter cold medicines.
In 2005, we noticed an increase in the use of meta, Congress Combat methamphetamine epidemicasks retailers to move cold medicines containing pseudo-ephedrine behind the counter. While the opioid crisis was gathering strength, female production began to decline.
Next, as reported Atlantic Oceanchemists have discovered a powerful formulation to avoid pseudoephedrine. This formula was adapted by Mexico Cartels have been distributed in the southwest along the west coast, starting with mass-produced methane.
2024 Annual National Drug Threat ReportThe Drug Enforcement Bureau said the cartel was taking advantage of US demand for counterfeit drugs by producing METH with tablets that mimic ADHD drugs.
Fashion giants like Shein and Temu have seen significant growth in the US due to tariff exemptions that kept prices low for packages shipped from China.
President Trump has ordered the closure of these loopholes starting with packages from China-Hong Kong, potentially impacting airline emissions related to the fashion industry.
Last year, 1.36 billion packages entered the US through this loophole, mostly from China. This exemption allows items under $800 to enter without customs duty, leading to a rise in emissions from shipping packages by air.
Flying packages across the ocean is 68x more carbon-intensive than marine cargo transport, according to Climate Action Accelerator.
$23 billion business
In many countries, freight below a certain value is exempt from taxes. The US set the minimum exemption at $800, allowing foreign e-commerce platforms to compete with domestic retailers like Amazon.
This exemption helped Shein establish a niche in the US market with affordable apparel. However, President Biden announced a crackdown on these imports citing various concerns.
The number of shipments to the US has increased significantly, leading to environmental concerns and the need for stricter regulations.
President Trump took steps to end the De Minimis exemption, aiming to impose taxes on packages from Hong Kong and mainland China.
New rules will phase out exemptions over the next few weeks, with steep taxation coming into effect on June 1st. This move is expected to impact air ticket emissions significantly.
1 Billion Packages and Greenhouse Gas
The increase in air freight usage has led to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to reduce emissions in this sector are minimal, posing a challenge for sustainability initiatives.
Shein and Temu did not respond to requests for comment regarding the new regulations.
What’s next?
Trump’s actions to close the loophole in February resulted in declining sales for Shein and Temu, indicating potential shifts in e-commerce practices.
Companies might opt for larger cargo shipments using marine transport to avoid high tariffs and reduce emissions, a change that could impact the industry significantly.
Can the “end of the world” remain wild?
The increase in Antarctic tourism has brought economic benefits to Ushuaia in Argentina but has also raised concerns about environmental impact.
The proportion of American children, whose autism spectrum disorder is estimated to have increased in 2022, continues to have a long-term trend. Released data Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of those ages 8, one in 31 people were found to have autism in 2022, compared to one in 36 people in 2020. That rate is almost five times higher than the number in 2000, when agencies first began collecting data.
Health agencies noted that the increase is most likely driven by better perceptions and screening, as it is not because autism itself is becoming more common.
It diverged surprisingly well from the rhetoric of the country’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said on Tuesday that “the autism epidemic is ramping.”
Kennedy has repeatedly tried to connect the increase in autism with vaccines. Dozens of studies For decades when such a link could not be established. Nevertheless, the Health Secretary has launched a federal study to revisit the possibilities and hired a well-known skeptical vaccine to oversee its efforts.
Kennedy recently announced efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services to identify “the origin of the epidemic” by September.
“They’re doing this,” said Katherine Lord, a psychologist and autism researcher at the University of California David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles.
Instead, a key part of the increase could be attributed to years of widening diagnosis to capture milder cases, Dr. Lord said, but he also said it could raise awareness of stigma and support services.
Still, she left the possibility that other factors contribute to more children who develop autism. “We can explain a lot of increases, but perhaps not everything,” Dr. Lord said.
“But whatever it is, it’s not a vaccine,” she added.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interactions, communication, sensory problems, repetitive interest and difficulties in behavior.
The cause remains largely unknown, but researchers believe it has a strong genetic component. “It’s very unlikely that it could be one cause or even a few causes,” Dr. Lord said.
The prevalence of disability has been steadily rising since 2000 when the network first began tracking.
Other trends were evident in new research. White children and children in wealthy socioeconomic regions have long had the highest percentage of autism in the United States, but that trend reversed in 2018.
Since 2020, the proportion of black and Latino children has been known to be autistic, and no longer has any links to wealthy communities found in the data.
The CDC reported a prevalence of 3.7% of black children, 3.3% among Hispanic children, and 3.8% among Asian American children.
Autism has long been associated with juveniles, and the differences that may be linked to genetics are that girls are now diagnosed at a higher rate as they are now increasingly aware of the subtle ways in which disability manifests, often manifesting in teen years.
According to the CDC, autism was 3.8 times higher than that of girls in 2022, down from 3.8 times higher than in 2020.
The data also showed the surprising variability in autism diagnosis by geography from 5.3% of 8-year-olds in California to just 1% to just 1% in Texas.
The availability of specific medical and educational resources increases the likelihood that these children will be identified. For example, California has a program that trains local pediatricians to identify signs of autism at an early age, and a community center that provides autism services.
Pennsylvania, which had the second highest prevalence, has a state Medicaid program that guarantees compensation for children with developmental disabilities regardless of their parents’ income.
In March, Kat Bolstad returned from an Antarctic expedition, which used a new camera system specifically built to search for elusive giant squid.
No one had filmed footage of one of these animals swimming in the deep sea. She also found none of this voyage.
But the day she left the ship, Dr. Bolstad, a deep-sea cephalopod biologist, learned about a recent video taken from the South Sandwich Islands on March 9th. A team searching for new marine life and using Schmidt Ocean Institute’s submarines remotely was happening to young cephalopods.
The boy was about 30 centimeters (less than a foot) and had a clear body, delicate arms and brown spots. It was a huge squid.
“I knew as soon as I saw the footage there was a good opportunity,” said Dr. Bolstad, a cephalopod biologist at Auckland Institute of Technology in New Zealand. She discusses Schmidt’s Antarctica work remotely.
It has been 100 years since the giant squid was officially described in a scientific paper. In its adult form, the animal can grow to a massive squid or other invertebrates on Earth, growing to 6 or 7 meters long or up to 23 feet.
The first common sight of the species scientist in 1925 was incomplete. It’s just a fragment of the arm from the two squid on the belly of a sperm whale. It is believed that adults spend most of their time in the deep sea.
Dr. Bolstad said that huge, fully grown squids sometimes appear at sea level and are pulled up to the fishing boat while they are being pulled up. Young specimens appear in the trawl net.
However, up until now, humans had not witnessed any giant squid in their homes, swimming in the deep Antarctic ocean.
One of the reasons they are so elusive is the size of the house. Furthermore, squid is probably eschewing us, Dr. Bolstad said. “They know their surroundings very well, because the obstacles to the surrounding water column might mean predators.”
The sperm whales, the main squid predator, can dive up to 2 kilometers (1.25 miles). Perhaps to help them avoid whales, the giant squid has evolved its biggest eye in the world, much more than basketball.
They also have a unique combination of suckers and hooks in their arms and tentacles,” Dr. Bolstad said.
The footage was filmed by a remotely operated submarine called Subastein, which the Schmidt Ocean Institute uses to explore the deep seas. This particular dive was a partnership with the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Oceansus, an initiative to discover unknown species. The submarine stopped for several minutes during the descent, photographing small, transparent cephalopods.
“I think it’s very exciting,” said Christine Haffard, a biologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute in California, who is not involved in the expedition.
Dr. Hafard uses other remotely operated submerges in her research. She said these exploratory missions have “incredible value.” For example, her observation of an octopus Walking two sides At the seabed, you can walk two arms and use the other six to camouflage yourself as a mass of algae or coconut. The findings are useful for soft robotics researchers, she said.
Capturing footage of rarely seen marine animals, such as giant squid, can also communicate decisions about human activities, such as deep sea mining, according to Dr. Huffard.
She said it will help you know where these animals spend their time, where they are, where they mate and spawn, and how long they have lived.
The young giant squid in the video was swimming about 600 metres below, Dr. Bolstad said it was not a deep water body that adults are likely to live in. Other deep-sea squids spend their early life in shallow waters, she said. Having a transparent body may help predators swim the baby before the baby descends from the dark ocean as an opaque, reddish adult.
Submersible’s camera detects squid and can instantly send images. Unlike scientists a century ago, they had to dig into a massacre partially digested in whale belly, so everyone was part of the moment when Schmidt saw a “dive stream” from their home and found a giant squid, Dr. Bolstad said. “It’s incredibly amazing that humans can do, in real-time, from anywhere on Earth, to help them participate in these explorations and discoveries.”
She continues to search for grown animals. “I can’t wait to see what a giant living adult squid looks like, in the deep sea house it belongs to,” she said.
However, she also said she was pleased that the first sightings of the wild species were not an adult version. Rather than a leviathan swinging a giant hook, it’s “this beautiful early life stage that looks like a small glass sculpture.”
“In fact, I love seeing the first glimpse of what this will become a true giant,” Dr. Bolstad said.
President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday outlining a series of actions aimed at lowering drug prices, including helping to import drugs from Canada.
The policy was more modest than the drug price reduction proposal Trump offered in his first term.
One of his new directives could potentially raise drug prices, as it calls for changes to the Medicare negotiation programs that could increase government costs.
Such changes may lead to delays in drug qualification for Medicare price cuts, ultimately impacting the cost.
Depending on its structure, the directive could potentially increase Medicare drug spending by billions of dollars compared to current spending under the law. The negotiation program was approved by a Democratic-controlled Congress and supported by former President Joseph R. Biden.
The executive order emphasizes that changes to the Medicare price negotiation program should be accompanied by other reforms to prevent an increase in overall costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
While some directives in the executive order may save money for patients and government programs, the proposals for Medicare negotiations are likely to increase costs without significant savings.
The order also includes provisions to lower co-payments for certain medical treatments and provide discounted insulin and epinephrine injections to low-income individuals.
This executive order marks a significant move by the Trump administration regarding drug pricing.
Following Trump’s decision to consider imposing tariffs on imported drugs, which manufacturers might pass on to consumers, there is concern that this could lead to increased costs and potentially worsen drug shortages.
Some directives in the executive order, such as changes to the Medicare negotiation program, require Congressional approval and have faced opposition from the pharmaceutical industry.
Trump has long expressed dissatisfaction with the high drug prices in the US compared to other countries. While the executive order includes measures to address some pricing issues, it lacks a report on the pricing policies of preferred countries, which could have helped align US drug prices with those of other nations.
These are some of the key aspects of Trump’s executive order concerning drug pricing.
Eliminate “pill penalty”
The order instructs Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to collaborate with Congress on addressing disparities in how certain drugs are treated in Medicare negotiation programs.
It highlights that under current law, different types of drugs have varying eligibility periods for price reductions, with some drugs having longer wait times before price cuts can be applied.
Drugmakers have criticized the existing “pill penalty” in the Medicare program, which they claim hinders innovation and access to new treatments. Legislative efforts are being made to address these differences in treatment of various drug types.
The executive order does not specify the exact timeline for exempting different drug types from Medicare price reductions.
Pharmaceutical industry representatives have expressed willingness to work with the administration and Congress to develop solutions that reduce costs and enhance access to medications for the public.
The negotiations on drug prices overseen by Biden officials are set to result in price reductions taking effect in 2026, while the Trump administration will oversee negotiations for certain drugs in upcoming years.
The White House released a fact sheet on Tuesday stating that the Biden administration aims to generate more savings through its Medicare negotiation program compared to previous years. However, this could be challenging if Congress limits the duration during which Medicare can access lower prices.
Drug imports from Canada
The executive order directs the FDA to streamline the process for importing low-cost drugs from Canada, building on previous efforts initiated during Trump’s first term.
While importing drugs from Canada may offer cost savings, the potential imposition of tariffs by Trump on imported drugs could offset these benefits.
Standardize joint payments at various clinics
The order calls for regulations to ensure consistency in the fees charged by medical practices for administering drugs to patients across different healthcare settings.
Currently, many hospital-owned medical practices bill Medicare higher fees than independent practices for the same services, impacting Medicare beneficiaries who are responsible for a portion of the costs.
Efforts to standardize these payments have faced opposition from hospitals seeking higher payments. Legislation during the Obama administration addressed some of these discrepancies in payment rates.
Promote affordable generic products
Trump has instructed the FDA to expedite the approval process for generic and biosimilar drugs, aiming to increase access to lower-cost alternatives to brand-name drugs.
While there is hope for cost savings through the approval of biosimilars, patient adoption has been slower than anticipated, impacting the overall savings potential.
Affordable insulin for low-income individuals
Trump has reinstated a previous order to provide discounted insulin and epinephrine injections to certain low-income individuals through Community Health Clinics.
While initially proposed in 2020, the implementation of this initiative was halted by the Biden administration citing administrative burdens.
The giant squid, the planet’s largest invertebrate, was first photographed alive in its wild habitat.
For decades, giant squids like Kraken (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) It was more myth than reality. Scientists only had a vague sense of its appearance from fragments of remains found in the stomachs of whales eating molluscs. In fact, it was those ruins that the species was officially described by zoologists in 1925.
Finally, in 1981, Antarctic fishermen happened to play a giant squid that lived in a fishing net. Since then, animals have been killed or washed sometimes as fishing baikatches or died on land.
Containers from last month Schmidt Ocean InstituteThe US-based nonprofit was investigating the South Sea near the South Sandwich Islands and was streaming footage from a remotely controlled deep-sea camera when online viewers flagged it that they might have just shot a giant squid.
Based on the hints, the researchers sent high-resolution footage to independent squid experts. Experts have confirmed that online viewers’ predictions are correct. The squid had a distinctive hook along the sucker on its eight arms, a characteristic of a giant squid. I was roaming 600 meters below the surface.
The giant squid is thought to grow up to 7 meters long and weigh up to 500 kilograms, but the squid caught between the camera was 30 cm long: baby.
“Every time you descend into the deep water, it’s amazing to find something new and exciting,” he says. Jyotika Virmani of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Giant squid It may have already been filmed Natural habitat for 2023, by researchers from another US-based nonprofit organization. Corosal – However, the quality of the footage was too low, so no sightings were confirmed. A new squid recording may suggest that the 2023 footage actually captures a giant squid. “In the southern oceans, they have the same size, the same color, and the same depth.” Matt Murennan At Kolossal, we are still waiting for more confirmation.
However, there are no footage of huge squids of adults in the wild yet, and the lives of these giant invertebrates are still mystical, says Steve O’Sheapreviously at Auckland Institute of Technology in New Zealand, he created the name “Colossal squid” in the early 2000s. He once touted the animals as “serious inhabitants of the deep sea,” but now he is convinced that “like a giant gelatinous mites, it envelops a column of water near the ocean floor.”
Eta Aquarius Meteor Shower as seen in Sri Lanka in 2024
Thilina Kaluthotage/ Nurphoto/ Getty Images
The Lyrids and ETA Aquarids Meteor showers will soon appear in the night sky. This year, bright lyrids peaked on the nights of April 21st to April 22nd, during the night of May 5th and dawn, and they begin to be visible within a few days of each other in April.
What is Lyrids Meteor Shower?
Lilid is attributed to the fact that fragments from Thatcher’s comet interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, eventually collapse, becoming bright stripes of light found in the night sky. The meteor shower radiation – the place in the night sky where meteors appear to emit – is located in the northern hemisphere constellation Lila, which includes the bright star Vega. People have been finding Lyrid for at least 2700 years. “Lilid is probably the smallest of the major showers.” Margaret Campbell Brown At Western University in Canada. “The rate isn’t as high as most other meteor showers, but sometimes there are a lot of bright meteors.”
When is the Lyrids Meteor Shower?
This year, Lilid will be active from April 17th to April 26th. Their peak activity occurs on the night of April 21st, and is the most visible just before dawn on April 22nd.
How can you increase your chances of seeing Lilid?
Lilids are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere of Earth in the dark moment just before dawn. Meteors usually look like fast stripes of light, and can sometimes create bright flashes. On a typical night, you can see around 5-6 meteors every hour, up to 10-20 meteors at peak times. The constellation Lyra is below the horizon for most viewers in the Southern Hemisphere, but Lilids may still be seen in a more limited number. “We have a little moon this year, but if there are a lot of bright meteors that aren’t that important,” Campbell-Brown says.
What is the ETA Aquarido meteor shower?
The ETA aquarid meteor is a icy rock fragment originally submerged by Halley’s comet, which eventually reaches Earth’s atmosphere and collapses in a fiery nighttime display. The shower radiation is located near Eta Aquarii, one of the brightest stars in the constellation Aquarius. “They are very interesting showers and have produced strong explosions for several years,” Campbell-Brown said. But she says she will probably do more moderate activities this year.
When is the ETA Aquarido meteor shower?
This year, ETA Aquaridos can be seen between April 20th and May 28th. The best viewing times are during the peak period from midnight to dawn on May 5th.
How can you increase your chances of seeing ETA aquarido?
The Southern Hemisphere offers the perfect viewing opportunity for ETA Aquarido. It is also visible in the Northern Hemisphere, but is much lower in the night sky, so the sky watchers there must look towards the horizon to see the meteor. “Shower radiation only rises a few hours before dawn in the Northern Hemisphere. By the time the sky is high, there are only small windows for observers to see the meteors,” says Campbell-Brown. ETA aquaridos can sometimes leave behind a sparkling dust train that appears to be visible for seconds or minutes, she says. It is expected that approximately 10-30 meteors per hour can be seen from the Northern Hemisphere and approximately 30 meteors per hour from the Southern Hemisphere.
Meteor spawning tips from astronomers
Your best bet is to get out of town and find the darkest sky possible, Campbell Brown says. She recommends bringing a star map to help you find the constellations where each meteor shower will occur. You don’t move around much, so wearing warm clothes is also a good idea.
“It’s not important to see where in the sky. If you look at the radiation, you may get a little higher rate. Both of these showers rise in the east, but the sky is dark and clear,” she says.
Keep in mind that some of the meteors you see are not necessarily from the shower of these specific meteors. But for both meteor showers, the best viewing opportunities happen well after the hours of sunset before dawn, says Campbell-Brown.
The Mystery of the Universe: Cheshire, England
Spend a weekend with some of the brightest minds of science. Explore the mystery of the universe in an exciting program that includes an excursion to see the iconic Lovell telescope.
Ringworld by Larry Niven won both Hugo and Nebula awards in 1970, and received massive acclaim. It has been printed ever since.
It came out when humans had just landed on the moon and we seemed to be heading towards the stars. The title alone evokes a particular golden age of science fiction when (most male) writers wrestled with big physics and big ideas, imagining a distant future in which humans took on galaxy adventures.
Authors like Niven were pride in trying to get science right because they wanted to imagine what was in the universe. and Ring World Features New Scientist This month seemed like a good time to revisit Book Club and novels, and finally read it as a teenager.
How did this 55 year old work stand the test of time? After all, many books from this era are grossly dating. Because science has now made their plotline stupid. Sometimes, because sexual politics (or other cultural aspects) have begun to stink for decades.
First of all, this book is packed with ideas! You can see why it was a smash hit and eventually became part of a vast network of follow-up stories, prequels and spinoffs.
Considering how much internal lore is thrown at us, I found the novel surprisingly zippy and exposition light. Our 200-year-old hero, Louis Gridley Wu, was approached by alien Ness, known as a human-seasoned adventurer and puppeteer, and asked to come to a mysterious mission in exchange for access to new technology.
Ring World Evokes the golden age of science fiction when writers (mainly men) wrestled with big physics and big ideas
Woo and Nessus are to join their adventures with a belligerent “Kuchinti” alien like cats called Speakers and Animals (the animal in question is the other species) and a young human woman named Tierra Brown, who became apparent only later in the story. The gang travels to Ringworld of the same name and crashes after being fired by an ancient security system.
Ringworld is the star of this show. This is an ancient craft on an unthinkable scale. A world of ribbons looped around the stars, 1.6 million kilometers wide and an internal surface area of 3 million Earths. It has a diameter of 305 million kilometers and is made from a material with incredible tensile strength. In the Terra-formed innermost part of Ringworld, civilization has fallen, but life continues.
Woo and the gang have to find a way to move a vast distance across the inside of the ring and leave it. Along the way, as you can imagine, they have a lot of adventures.
There is something modern editors would probably want to cut about this 1970 novel convention, and they may want to give female characters more depth.
Meanwhile, science was thoroughly separated by readers at the time, so Niven’s follow-up, Ring World EngineerThe S, published 10 years later, was a counterargument for all people who understood the fundamental mechanism. Ring World.
This isn’t my favorite Niven. In other words An outdated world. However, revisit Ring World I starved him to return to his universe. I’m going to reaffirm some of his other classics The Mot of God’s Eyesimilarly Ring WorldThere are many interesting questions that you won’t be able to answer in the first book, so there’s a follow-up.
Strictly speaking, this section should be entitled “Larry Niven also recommended.” I recently exchanged emails with him to plan an interview and I asked him which of his books he would specifically recommend to me. He answered immediately Draco Izakaya. I didn’t have time to read it yet, but I’m very happy to be able to share this recommendation with the man himself..
Emily H. Wilson is the former editor of the new scientist and author of the Sumerian trilogy set in ancient Mesopotamia. The final novel in the series, Ninshuval, will be competing in August. You can find her at emilyhwilson.com or follow her on x @emilyhwilson and instagram @emilyhwilson1
Arts and science of writing science fiction
Explore the world of science fiction and learn how to create your own fascinating science fiction stories in this immersive weekend break.
It will be assigned to a new ICHNOSPECIES Ruopodasaurus clava the footprints of these dinosaurs found in northeastern British Columbia and northwest Alberta confirm the presence of antirosaurus antirosaurus during the Middle North American period.
Cast specimen of Ruopodasaurus clava From the Murray River, British Columbia, Canada. Image credits: Arbor et al. , doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319.
“There are two major groups in Ankylosaurus,” says Dr. Victoria Arbor, an evolutionary biologist and vertebrate paleontologist at the Royal BC Museum and the University of Victoria.
“The Nodosaurid Ankylosaurs have a flexible tail and four toes, while the Ankylosaurs have a tail club like the Sledgehammer, with only three legs.”
“Unlike the well-known Ichnospecies of the Ankylosaurus. Tetrapodosaurus borealis These new tracks found in North America with four toes – Name Ruopodasaurus clava – There are only three, so anywhere in the world makes the first known example of antirosaurus footprints.”
“Ruopodasaurus clava means “falling lizards with clubs/maces,” referring to both the mountainous areas where these tracks were discovered and the distinctive tail clubs of these dinosaurs.
They don’t know exactly what the dinosaurs made, but Ruopodasaurus clava Although it looks like a footprint, paleontologists know it was about 5-6m long, thorny, armored, and had a stiff or full tail club.
“Ankylosaurus is my favorite group of dinosaurs, so it’s really exciting for me to be able to identify new examples of these dinosaurs in British Columbia,” Dr. Arbor said.
Newly discovered Ruopodasaurus clava The footprint dates back to the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 100 million to 94 million years ago.
No bones of Ankilosauride were found in North America about 100-84 million years ago, leading to speculation that antirosauride disappeared from North America at this time.
These footprints show that during this gap in the skeletal fossil record, tailed ankylosauruses were alive and well in North America.
This finding also shows that two major ankylosaurus of Nodosaurus – Nodosaurus and Ankylosaurus groups coexist in the same region during this time, including this new three indirect species.
“We’ve seen a lot of experience in the world,” said Dr. Charles Helm, scientific advisor at the Tumbler Ridge Museum.
“It’s really exciting to know that through this research there are two types of Ankylosaurus that call this area home. Ruopodasaurus clava It has been identified only in this region of Canada.”
“The study also highlights how important the Peace Region in northeastern British Columbia is to understand the evolution of dinosaurs in North America.
“This discovery gives us a new part of the puzzle about ancient creatures that once roamed Canadian stuff.”
Findings are reported in a paper in Journal of VertebratePaleontology.
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Victoria M. Arbor et al. Ichnotaxon, a new tyrophoran from British Columbia, Canada, confirms the existence of antirosaurus dinosaurs in the central Cretaceous period of North America. Journal of VertebratePaleontologyPublished online on April 14th, 2025. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319
For over a decade, biomedical researcher Navindra Seeram praised maple syrup, calling it “hero ingredients” and “champion food,” and could have a wide range of health benefits.
Dr. Sheelam, dean of the University of New England’s Pharmacy, has published more than three dozen studies celebrating the power of maple. Much of his work is bankrolled by the Canadian maple syrup industry and the Canadian and American governments.
At the same time, he took on another role: Maple Syrup Pitchman.
“I am uniquely qualified as a world-leading researcher on the benefits of maple health due to its scientific reputation and reliability to promote the sale of maple products,” he wrote in his grant application. He assures Canadian industry leaders that he will always support Quebec’s maple, according to emails obtained in the request for public records.
As he spans the real-world meaning of his research and exaggerated health benefits, he distorted the real-world meaning of his research and exaggerated health benefits. Videos and press releases suggest that taking maple syrup can help stop illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Other scientists said they thought he exaggerated and misleading the test and the findings of his lab.
Industry funding is common in nutrition research and could become even more important as scientists tackle drastic cuts in the Trump administration. Dr. Seeram’s work illustrates the dangers of a science-sales intertwining that drives information that can shape consumer habits and public health.
At the University of Rhode Island, where he worked until last year, Dr. Sheelam oversaw a project awarded $2.6 million in US government funding, including grants aimed at explicitly increasing sales of maple syrup. That promotional work produced streams of Social Media Posts “The benefits of maple syrup: anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agents.”
in video Posted on YouTube in 2019, Dr. Seeram said the nutrients in maple syrup “may prevent and/or delay the onset of conditions” such as “cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, brain disease, etc.”.
However, his research found something more limited. Maple syrup contains small amounts of polyphenols in plant compounds that are generally considered beneficial. To demonstrate their effects, he tested highly concentrated maple extracts in lab settings rather than people’s consumption of commercial maple syrup.
Dr. Sheelam told the exam he believes in the power of natural medicines, part of the upbringing in South America. And he defended how he spoke about his findings. “No one can go back to quote directly from me.
Astronomers using Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) A telescope in southern Gemini determined that the recently discovered nearby asteroid 2024 YR4 is one of the largest objects in recent history that could affect the moon, and is likely to originate from the major asteroid belt in the solar system. Their Survey results It will be published in Astrophysics Journal Letter.
This image from the 2024 YR4 was captured at Gemini Southeres Scope in Chile, half of the International Gemini Observatory run by Noallab. Image credits: International Gemini Observatory / Noirlab / NSF / Aura / M. Zamani.
The 2024 YR4 was discovered on December 27, 2024 by the Asteroid’s Ground Impact Last Altar System (ATLAS).
At the time, the asteroids had a close approach to Earth, passing a distance of just 0.017 Au (astronomy unit).
In January 2025, a month after its discovery, the 2024 YR4 exceeded the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAND) notification threshold, which was predicted on December 22, 2032, with a 1% chance of future impact on Earth.
The asteroid misses Earth during this encounter, but there is still a few percent remaining chance that it could hit the moon instead.
Now interested in characterizing famous asteroids, Eureka scientific Athleton Mar Bryce Borin A colleague used a Gemini Southeres scope to capture images of the 2024 YR4 at several different wavelengths.
A detailed analysis of the asteroid LightCurve allowed the team to determine its composition, orbital properties and 3D shape.
“Our observation with Gemini South provided an important part of the puzzle in determining the characteristics of the 2024 YR4,” Dr. Bolin said.
“Studying this asteroid could be an Earth impactor and was crucial in understanding the poorly understood Earth Cross population.”
Information collected from the light curve indicates that the 2024 YR4 is likely an S-type asteroid. In other words, it has a silicate-rich composition.
The reflective pattern suggests a diameter of approximately 30-65 m (98-213 feet), making it one of the largest objects in recent history and affects the moon.
It is unlikely, but if it affects the moon, the asteroid would provide an unprecedented opportunity to study the relationship between the size of the asteroid and the size of the resulting impact crater – an amount previously unknown.
Analysis also revealed that the asteroid’s rotation period is about once every 20 minutes, and is shaped like a rare hockey puck.
“The discovery was pretty unexpected as most asteroids are thought to be shaped like potatoes and toy tops rather than flat disks,” Dr. Bolin said.
Based on these orbital characteristics, astronomers determined that the 2024 YR4 is most likely to originate from the main asteroid belt, and that gravity interaction with Jupiter is likely to cause it to be disrupted by its current short-range orbit.
Its retrograde spin direction suggests that it may have moved inward from the central main belt region, adding to its understanding of how small asteroids evolve and reach orbits beyond Earth.
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Bryce T. Borin et al. 2025. Discovery and characterization of the Asteroid 2024 YR4, which crosses the Earth. apjlin press; arxiv: 2503.05694v2
The new genus and species of the Levubatisaurus sauropod dinosaur are explained from fossils discovered in the paleontological region of Neuken, Argentina.
Reconstructing the life of Cienciargentina Sanchezi. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC by 4.0.
The newly discovered dinosaurs roamed the globe during the late Cretaceous period, about 94 million years ago.
It has been named Cienciargentina Sanchezithe species is the earliest member of the Diplodocoid Dinosaur family. Rebbachisauridae It has been known up to this point.
Rebbachisaurids diversified primarily into the supercontinent Gondwana during the early and late Cretaceous periods.
These dinosaurs are known for fragmented fossil ruins from South America, Africa, North America, Europe and possibly Central Asia.
They are distinguished from other sauropods by their distinctive teeth. Some species had similar species to the hadrosaurus and Serratopsian dinosaur species.
“The first South American Rebbachisaurid Sauropods were recognized based on materials from the vicinity of the Candeleros and Huincul Formations of Vira El Chocon (Neuken, Argentina)”
“The material of Rebbachisaurid from the Huincul layer, along with the material of the Bajovaler layer, is particularly relevant as it has probably been completely extincted.”
Fossilized Materials Cienciargentina Sanchezi Found around Villa El Chocon Huincul Layer.
“This new species will be added to the list of Levubacisauld sauropods documented in the Huncuru Formation (Upper Cenomanian Turonian), which is considered to be the world’s latest diplodocoid,” the paleontologist said.
“In fact, since the Tronian, the sauropod community has been made up of only macronalians, mostly giants.”
“In Patagonia, the hypothetical fauna rotation that occurred in the middle of the Cretaceous period, involving not only white pods but other groups of dinosaurs, is likely observed anywhere else in South America.”
a paper Describing Discovery was published in the journal this month Cretaceous Research.
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Maria Edith Simon and Leonardo Salgado. New Rebbachisaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the huincule formation (Upper Cenomanian Turonian) of Villa El Chocon (Nuken, Argentina). Cretaceous ResearchPublisherd Online April 9, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106137
Scientists, lawmakers, and energy executives have warned that President Trump’s “energy control” agenda will be compromised by abrupt cuts in federal agencies reportedly planned by the Trump administration. Pleas from various quarters have inundated the Cabinet Secretary’s inbox urging them to preserve different departments of the agency. A deadline looms for federal officials to present a new plan for significant budget cuts today, with energy and environment-related agencies expected to bear the brunt.
Experts have cautioned that cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Energy would severely impact efforts to combat climate change. Unfortunately, there seems to be little hope that these concerns will be heeded by Trump administration officials who either deny or disregard the threat of global warming. Instead, the proposed job cuts align with the administration’s priorities, arguing that the cuts jeopardize the expansion of nuclear energy, mineral production, and energy accessibility.
The Department of Energy is expected to face significant losses, particularly in programs like the Clean Energy Demonstration overseeing major projects such as plans to establish seven hydrogen hubs nationwide. Another target is the Loan Program Office, which provides federal funding for clean energy initiatives.
A coalition of energy producers and trade groups representing various sectors like nuclear, data centers, wind and solar energy, and carbon dioxide removal technology expressed concerns that the proposed cuts jeopardize America’s energy and industrial strategies. They highlighted critical projects such as the loan office’s funding for a new nuclear power plant, major lithium mining projects in Nevada, and grid upgrades in Arizona and the Midwest to meet increasing electricity demand from manufacturing.
Additionally, 20 former commissioners and directors of state environmental agencies raised alarm over reports that the EPA intends to eliminate its Scientific Research Division and Research and Development Agency.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin has announced plans to slash the agency’s budget and workforce by approximately 65%. State officials criticized these cuts, stating that they would hinder the agency’s ability to conduct essential research and uphold its regulatory responsibilities.
They emphasized the pivotal role of the EPA’s science department in addressing issues like PFA removal from drinking water and developing technologies for cleaning toxins from environmental sites.
Democrats on the House Energy Commerce Committee expressed concern over the impact of what they described as “mass cuts” at the EPA. They warned that targeting professional civil servants would endanger public health and impede the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment.
Reports indicate that thousands of government employees have already resigned, including personnel from agencies like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The anonymity was requested to disclose details of the resignations that have not been publicly disclosed by the administration.
Women are often underestimated in the aerospace industry globally, despite their frequent journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Since Sally Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983, over 100 individuals have ventured into space. The concept of an all-female spaceflight organized by NASA could symbolize the culmination of years of investment in female astronauts, showcasing their capabilities and achievements. (In 2019, NASA faced criticism for lacking enough suits to accommodate all women astronauts during a planned mission.) Blue Origin’s all-women spaceflight has provided several women with the opportunity to build social capital and connect with individuals like Lauren Sanchez.
Blue Origin, among other private space flight companies like Virgin Galactic, Space Adventures, and SpaceX, introduced the New Shepard Rocket with a crew of six women, none of whom had technical roles on the flight. While two participants had previous aerospace experience, Sanchez curated the crew based on their storytelling abilities to share their experiences through various media platforms like journalism, film, and music. Value in this mission lies in embracing amateurism, offering a fresh perspective compared to the traditional image of astronauts as white male military test pilots. This shift in astronaut representation signifies progress towards a more inclusive and diverse space exploration community.
Sanchez’s initiative to collaborate with fashion designers for the crew’s mission suits served as a branding opportunity, further enhancing their public image. Flight souvenirs available on Blue Origin’s website featured a unique Yassified Shuttle Patch Design, incorporating personalized elements for each crew member. Each woman had the chance to utilize the 4 minutes of weightlessness during the flight for individual activities tailored to their interests, demonstrating a blend of personal passions and scientific curiosity. The mission aimed to inspire young girls by showing that they can pursue their dreams, whether it be in rocket science, entertainment, journalism, or beyond, while also highlighting the importance of family and support networks back on Earth.
The mission’s narrative resonates with the message of empowerment and ambition, emphasizing that individuals, especially women, can aspire to varied career paths and accomplishments. The story echoes the advice from Cheryl Sandberg’s book “Lean In,” encouraging women to seize opportunities and pursue their goals without hesitation. The analogy of a rocket ship seat reflects the idea of embracing challenges and taking risks to gain proximity to power and success, ultimately symbolizing the limitless potential of individuals to achieve their aspirations.
Hospital or emergency room care for cannabis use among middle-aged and elderly individuals may lead to an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a large Canadian study published in Jama Neurology. Over a five-year period, individuals seeking care for cannabis use were almost twice as likely to develop dementia compared to the general population.
The study, which analyzed medical records of six million Ontario residents from 2008 to 2021, highlighted a 23% higher risk of dementia among cannabis users compared to those seeking care for other reasons.
While the study did not specify the amount of cannabis used by participants, it did not establish a causal relationship between regular or heavy cannabis use and dementia.
Dr. Daniel T. Myran, the study’s lead author, emphasized the need for further research to explore the potential link between cannabis use and dementia. He acknowledged the complexity of determining whether cannabis use could lead to dementia and highlighted the importance of addressing these concerns.
Previous research by Dr. Myran indicated a higher mortality rate among individuals with cannabis use disorder and noted an increase in cases of schizophrenia and psychosis related to cannabis use in Canada.
Recent studies focusing on the impact of cannabis use on cognition have provided valuable insights, highlighting potential risks associated with regular or heavy cannabis consumption.
While previous research on cannabis and dementia has been limited, the strength of the new study lies in its large sample size and long-term follow-up of patients. Dr. Madeline Meyer, an expert not involved in the study, commended the study for its ability to rule out dementia at the outset and track the temporal relationship between cannabis use and dementia.
Dr. Meyer’s own research has linked cannabis use with neuropsychological decline, challenging the perception of cannabis as a harmless substance with potential medical benefits.
She emphasized the importance of taking the association between cannabis use and dementia seriously and considering the potential risks it may pose.
The increasing use of cannabis among older adults has raised concerns about potential health risks, including the development of dementia. A new study found a significant rise in cannabis-related medical visits among adults aged 45 and older, prompting further investigation into the potential impact of cannabis on cognitive health.
Comparing individuals with cannabis-related medical visits to the general population, the study highlighted a higher incidence of dementia among cannabis users, emphasizing the need for comprehensive evaluation of the risks associated with cannabis use.
While some factors contributing to the increased risk of dementia among cannabis users can be explained, others remain unclear, requiring further research to fully understand the potential relationship between cannabis use and cognitive decline.
Dr. Mylan and his colleagues found that individuals seeking care for alcohol use are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those using cannabis, highlighting the complex nature of substance use and its impact on cognitive health.
Despite efforts to control for various factors, there are still uncertainties surrounding the potential link between cannabis use and dementia. It is essential to consider all possible variables that may contribute to the development of dementia in cannabis users.
An Alabama woman lived with pig kidneys for a record-breaking 130 days before her body began rejecting them, leading to their removal and a return to dialysis, doctors announced Friday.
Following her removal surgery on April 4 at Nyu Langone Health, Towana Rooney steadily recovered and went back to her home in Gadsden, Alabama. Rooney expressed gratitude to the doctors for allowing her to take part in the study.
Rooney stated, “While the outcome was not what anyone would have hoped for, I have learned a great deal from having pig kidneys for 130 days. I believe this experience can benefit and inspire many others on their journey to overcome kidney disease.”
Scientists are working on genetically modifying pigs so that their organs are more similar to human organs, addressing the significant shortage of transplantable human organs. With over 100,000 people on the US transplant list, most in need of kidneys, and thousands waiting and dying, this advancement is crucial.
Prior to Rooney’s transplant, only four other Americans had received experimental xenotransplants using gene-edited pig organs – two hearts and two kidneys – all of which failed within two months. The recipients, who were severely ill before the surgery, did not survive.
Currently, researchers are attempting to transplant these pig organs into patients with less severe illnesses, like Rooney. A man from New Hampshire who received pig kidneys in January is doing well, and a comprehensive study of pig kidney transplants is scheduled for this summer. A Chinese researcher also reported successful renal xenotransplants recently.
Since 2016, Rooney has been on dialysis and was ineligible for conventional transplants due to her body’s predisposition to reject human kidneys. Turning to pig kidneys proved successful for her, allowing her to extend her life significantly. She referred to herself as a “superwoman” and lived longer than anyone with gene-edited pig organs before her body began rejecting them in early April.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, a pioneer of Nyu XenoTransplant and Rooney’s surgeon, stated that the rejection is being investigated. He emphasized that removing the pig kidneys was a safer option than continuing with high-risk rejection drugs.
Montgomery explained, “We took a safe approach. Rooney is not worse off post-XenoTransplant. In fact, she feels better as she had a four-month break from dialysis.”
Prior to the rejection, Rooney experienced infections associated with dialysis, while her immunosuppressive anti-rejection drugs were slightly reduced, allowing her immune system to revitalize after the transplant. These factors likely contributed to the rejection of the new kidneys.
Rejection is a common concern following organ transplants, which can result in the loss of new organs. Doctors must strike a delicate balance between suppressing the patient’s immune system, fighting infections, and maintaining the new organs.
This challenge is even greater with xenotransplants, where patients still require immunosuppressive medications despite modifications made to pig organs to prevent immediate rejection. Researchers are exploring different combinations of medications to find the most effective approach.
Montgomery believes Rooney’s experience will yield valuable insights for future clinical trials. Achieving successful xenotransplants would be a significant achievement with benefits for patients in need of organ transplants.
It is the rarest and most exclusive chocolate I have ever had. In fact, you can’t even buy it in the store. But that’s not that special. Just a few flat drops are slightly lighter in colour than most dark chocolate sealed in small plastic bags.
It smells like dark chocolate and tastes like that, but it doesn’t make it that bitter. Above all, for me, this is definitely true.
That’s important because what I’m eating wasn’t made using cocoa beans that were sourced from trees, like regular chocolate. Rather, it was grown in glass flasks by California cultureOne of several companies aiming to mass-produce chocolate in the bat using cell culture technology.
Cultivated chocolate may be even better than the types grown on trees, according to the company’s CEO Alan Perlstein, claiming that the level of chemicals, such as polyphenols, is high. There may be health benefitsthere is no contaminants such as heavy metals extracted from soil or pesticides, pesticides sprayed on crops, or taste currently on the market. “We are trying to create flavors that are almost unruly available through traditional chocolate production,” he says.
However, for many chocolate companies, the main attraction of getting raw wood from VATS instead of wood is its potentially unlimited supply. Climate change is hitting cacao farms violently, leading to shortages. Cocoa bean prices have quadrupled after staying relatively stable for decades.
So, can chocolate grown in VAT really compete with the diversity grown on trees at the price? And will consumers accept it?
Ringworld by Larry Niven won both Hugo and Nebula awards in 1970, and received massive acclaim. It has been printed ever since.
It came out when humans had just landed on the moon and we seemed to be heading towards the stars. The title alone evokes a particular golden age of science fiction when (most male) writers wrestled with big physics and big ideas, imagining a distant future in which humans took on galaxy adventures.
Authors like Niven were pride in trying to get science right because they wanted to imagine what was in the universe. and Ring World Features New Scientist This month seemed like a good time to revisit Book Club and novels, and finally read it as a teenager.
How did this 55 year old work stand the test of time? After all, many books from this era are grossly dating. Because science has now made their plotline stupid. Sometimes, because sexual politics (or other cultural aspects) have begun to stink for decades.
First of all, this book is packed with ideas! You can see why it was a smash hit and eventually became part of a vast network of follow-up stories, prequels and spinoffs.
Considering how much internal lore is thrown at us, I found the novel surprisingly zippy and exposition light. Our 200-year-old hero, Louis Gridley Wu, was approached by alien Ness, known as a human-seasoned adventurer and puppeteer, and asked to come to a mysterious mission in exchange for access to new technology.
Ring World Evokes the golden age of science fiction when writers (mainly men) wrestled with big physics and big ideas
Woo and Nessus are to join their adventures with a belligerent “Kuchinti” alien like cats called Speakers and Animals (the animal in question is the other species) and a young human woman named Tierra Brown, who became apparent only later in the story. The gang travels to Ringworld of the same name and crashes after being fired by an ancient security system.
Ringworld is the star of this show. This is an ancient craft on an unthinkable scale. A world of ribbons looped around the stars, 1.6 million kilometers wide and an internal surface area of 3 million Earths. It has a diameter of 305 million kilometers and is made from a material with incredible tensile strength. In the Terra-formed innermost part of Ringworld, civilization has fallen, but life continues.
Woo and the gang have to find a way to move a vast distance across the inside of the ring and leave it. Along the way, as you can imagine, they have a lot of adventures.
There is something modern editors would probably want to cut about this 1970 novel convention, and they may want to give female characters more depth.
Meanwhile, science was thoroughly separated by readers at the time, so Niven’s follow-up, Ring World EngineerThe S, published 10 years later, was a counterargument for all people who understood the fundamental mechanism. Ring World.
This isn’t my favorite Niven. In other words An outdated world. However, revisit Ring World I starved him to return to his universe. I’m going to reaffirm some of his other classics The Mot of God’s Eyesimilarly Ring WorldThere are many interesting questions that you won’t be able to answer in the first book, so there’s a follow-up.
Strictly speaking, this section should be entitled “Larry Niven also recommended.” I recently exchanged emails with him to plan an interview and I asked him which of his books he would specifically recommend to me. He answered immediately Draco Izakaya. I didn’t have time to read it yet, but I’m very happy to be able to share this recommendation with the man himself..
Emily H. Wilson is the former editor of the new scientist and author of the Sumerian trilogy set in ancient Mesopotamia. The final novel in the series, Ninshuval, will be competing in August. You can find her at emilyhwilson.com or follow her on x @emilyhwilson and instagram @emilyhwilson1
Arts and science of writing science fiction
Explore the world of science fiction and learn how to create your own fascinating science fiction stories in this immersive weekend break.
The office situated on the ambiguous corner of the federal government, where NASA relies on to safely land astronauts on the moon, is facing pressure to cut at least 20% of the close team of experts for Mars’ robotic probes, according to two individuals familiar with the directive.
Staff reductions have reportedly already commenced at the Astro Geography Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, with more employees expected to be terminated following a recent call for early retirement and resignations on April 4th. The office, which is part of the US Geological Survey under the Department of the Home Office, is the target of cost-cutting efforts initiated in January with a substantial email sent to the federal government by Musk’s team.
Representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, USGS, and the Astro Geography Center did not respond to requests for comment regarding the staff reductions or potential impacts.
The cuts could potentially impact the mission of sending a crew to Mars in the future, a significant objective for Musk, who is the founder of SpaceX. He envisions a company that can make human life multiplanetary.
Matthew Golombek, a geophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been involved in selecting multiple probe landing sites on Mars and described the precise mapping at the Astro Geographic Science Center as the “gold standard used by essentially everyone in the community.”
At the beginning of this year, the office had 53 employees, with eight already set to depart and more encouraged to consider the latest offers.
Dr. Golombek emphasized the importance of the center’s experts for mapping excellence and site selection for almost every landing. He expressed concern about losing the highly experienced and knowledgeable executives from the center.
The repercussions of reducing the team of interplanetary mapmakers in the office are significant, as Jared Isaacman, the NASA-backed presidential candidate under President Trump, proposed a “parallel” effort to send astronauts to Mars during a Senate committee meeting.
One researcher at the Flagstaff Office voiced concerns that amid shifting budget priorities, personnel cuts could be detrimental to mapping and critical projects in planetary science, crucial for human exploration.
“I can’t fathom randomly cutting 40% of the remaining staff without canceling the entire project,” the researcher stated.
The researchers added that even the departure of just five workers could significantly impact the office, depending on seniority and field of expertise.
Two employees, who requested anonymity to protect their government careers, were aware of the recent call for volunteers for the “deferred resignation/retirement program” at a recent staff meeting. Essential layoffs known in the federal government if insufficient employees volunteer.
The field of astronomy is interdisciplinary, with experts in terrestrial fields like mineralogy, volcanology, and geography that are valuable for space exploration. The USGS Astrogeology Center, though part of an internal division, closely collaborates with NASA and is largely funded by the agency.
For decades, the Center’s experts have been pivotal in creating detailed topographic maps of various celestial bodies, strategic planning, and scientific goals for NASA missions.
The scientist also provided lunar geology crash courses to Apollo astronauts like Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, which enhanced their knowledge of rock sample collection. This training has been revived for NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the moon’s surface in 2027.
Office geology experts played a crucial role in finding new landing sites for historic Viking Mars landers after the original site was deemed unsafe in 1976. In 2021, a rover safely landed on Mars and was guided autonomously using maps and software from the Center.
Companies in the commercial space sector also rely on the expertise of the Astro Geographic Science Center.
“SpaceX has consulted the USGS in the past, and the USGS team was enthusiastic,” said David SF Portree, a former archivist and public relations manager at the Astrology Science Center, a semi-self-historist and science writer in Arizona.
SpaceX did not respond to requests for comments regarding their work at the Astrogeology Center or the impact on their Mars program.
Mr. Porterie expressed concerns about the long-term effects of NASA’s 50-year plan for the crew’s mission to Mars and the executive order for a government-wide employment freeze, which affected student contractors at the office.
Dr. Edwards from Northern Arizona raised concerns about the mass recruitment of probationary workers, stating that it could lead to the dismissal of subject experts.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining experienced staff to ensure the continuity of specialized expertise in the field.
On the last day of March, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital began surgery that they hoped would lead to lasting changes in the way the kidneys are implanted in people.
The patient that morning was not a human. It was a pig and was anesthetized on the table. The pig had one kidney missing and needed an implant.
Kidneys usually need to be transplanted within 24-36 hours, but the kidneys that enter the pig were removed 10 days before and frozen earlier that morning.
No one ever transplanted frozen organs into large animals. There were a lot of things that didn’t work out.
“I think there’s about a 50% chance that it will work,” said Kolkout Wygun, a surgical professor and team leader, before the surgery. Dr. Uygun is on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Sylvatica Biotech Inc., a company that develops freezing methods for organ maintenance.
But the promise from the organs of freezing and storage is fantastic.
There is a severe and continuous shortage of kidneys for transplants – That’s all 92,000 People are on the waiting list. One reason is that the 24-36 hour window is very short, so limit the number of recipients that are good matches.
How good is it to have a bank of stored frozen organs, as organ transplants can be like an elective surgery?
At least, it was a decades-long dream of a transplant surgeon.
However, the medical researchers’ attempts to freeze organs were thwarted at every turn. In many cases, ice crystals formed organs and destroyed them. The material was also intended to stop the crystals from forming, the anti-freeze agent was toxic and killed cells. Or the frozen organs became very brittle and cracked.
In what wasn’t exactly the tax evasion trial of the century – given that it took place in the second century – the charges faced by the defendants were so weighty that they included forgery, financial fraud, and fraudulent slave sales. While tax evasion is an age-old practice, these particular crimes were deemed extremely serious under Roman law, with penalties ranging from hefty fines and lifelong exile to grueling labor and, in the most severe cases, being devoured by wild animals in a practice known as damnatio ad bestias.
The details of the allegations were recorded on papyrus, which was discovered decades ago in the Judean Desert and recently subjected to analysis. The documentation includes preliminary notes for the prosecutor and hastily drafted minutes from the judicial hearings. According to the ancient records, the tax evasion schemes involved document tampering, illicit slave sales, and manumission.
The accused in both tax cases were men. One of them, Gadalius, was the son of a poor notary who had ties to the local administrative elite. In addition to convictions for extortion and forgery, his extensive list of transgressions included banditry, incitement, and four appearances in court for tax evasion before the Roman governor. Gadalius’s partner in crime was a certain Saurus, identified as his “friends and collaborators,” and the mastermind Caper. While the ethnicity of the accused is not explicitly mentioned, their Jewish background is inferred from their biblical names Gedaliah and Saul.
This ancient legal saga unfolded during the reign of Hadrian, around the year 130 AD or possibly before 132 AD when Simon Bar Kochiba, the leader of the Messianic rebels, launched a large-scale uprising, marking the third and final conflict between the Jewish people and the Empire. The rebellion was brutally suppressed, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties, mass expulsions of Jewish communities, and the renaming of Syria and Palestine by Hadrian.
Anna Dolganov, a historian of the Roman Empire at the Austrian Archaeological Institute who deciphered the scroll, remarked, “The papyrus sheds light on the Roman authorities’ suspicion of their Jewish subjects.” She pointed out that there is archaeological evidence of a coordinated effort during the Bar Kochiba rebellion. “It is plausible that individuals like Gadalia and Saurus, who sought to subvert Roman rule through tax evasion, were involved in the uprising’s planning,” Dr. Dolganov suggested.
In the latest edition of Tyche, an ancient journal published by the University of Vienna, Dr. Dolganov and three colleagues from Austria and Israel present court proceedings as case studies. Their research unveils how Roman institutions and imperial law influenced the administration of justice in an environment with relatively few Roman citizens.
“This document provides intriguing and valuable insights into the slave trade in this region of the empire,” noted Dennis P. Kehoe, a classicist at Tulane University not involved in the study. “The allegations may involve the Jews owning slaves.”
Tracing the Papil Trail
The exact date and location of the papyrus’s discovery remain uncertain, but Dr. Dolganov suggested it was found by an ancient Bedouin dealer in the 1950s. She suspected Nahal Haver, a steep canyon west of the Dead Sea where Bar Kochiba rebels sought refuge in a cave hid along the natural fault line of a limestone cliff. In 1960, archaeologists unearthed documents from the era in one of the Jewish hideouts, with more discoveries made since then.
A 133-line irregular scroll, initially misclassified, went unnoticed in the Israeli Antiquities Authority archives until 2014 when Hannah Cotton Parietl, a classicist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, identified it as being written in ancient Greek. Given the complexity and exceptional length of the document, a team of scholars was assembled to conduct detailed physical examinations and cross-referencing with historical sources.
Deciphering the papyrus and piecing together its intricate narrative posed a significant challenge for Dr. Dolganov. “The text features small, densely packed letters and highly rhetorical Greek replete with technical legal terminology,” she remarked. Unlike more straightforward documents such as contracts, there were no standardized templates for translation ease. “The fact that we only have the latter half of the original text further complicates matters,” Dr. Dolganov added.
Researchers speculated that the tax evasion scheme aimed to circumvent official scrutiny. This necessitated meticulous detective work to decipher the sequence of events. “I had to adopt the Roman fiscal authorities’ perspective to grasp the text’s nuances,” Dr. Dolganov explained. She also had to step into the accused’s shoes to understand the rationale behind tax fraud in the remote fringes of the Roman world.
The ancient stratagems resonate with contemporary tax experts. A German legal expert relayed to Dr. Dolganov that the subterfuges of Gadalius and Saurus mirrored present-day practices of tax evasion, such as asset shifting and fictitious transactions. The Roman interrogation methods aligned closely with modern-day investigative custody for financial crimes, marked by intimidation and frequently rigorous questioning.
A Princeton University classicist unaffiliated with the project, Brent Shaw, remarked:
Championing a Rebellion
The cases against Gadalius and Saurus were bolstered by intelligence provided by informants who betrayed them to the Roman authorities. Interestingly, the text implies that the informer might have been none other than Saurus himself, who implicated his partners to shield himself from an imminent financial scrutiny. The most plausible scenario posits that Saurus, a Jewish resident, orchestrated the pseudo-sale of several slaves to Chareas, a neighbor residing in the adjacent Arabian province, as per Dr. Dolganov’s interpretation.
By selling slaves across provincial borders, Saurus sought to obfuscate assets from scrutiny. While physically present in Saurus’s custody, the slaves, undocumented in Arabia, evaded declaration by Chareas. “Effectively, the slaves vanished on paper from Judea and never materialized in Arabia, eluding Roman oversight,” Dr. Dolganov noted. “This ensured that no further taxes were levied on these slaves.”
The Empire implemented a sophisticated system for monitoring slave ownership and collecting various levies, including a 4% tax on slave sales and a 5% duty on estates. “To emancipate empire-owned slaves, detailed documentary evidence of current and prior ownership was mandatory,” Dr. Dolganov elucidated. “Any missing or dubious documents would trigger an inquiry by Roman administrators.”
In an attempt to conceal Saurus’s double-dealings, Gadalius, the son of a notary, allegedly fabricated bills of sale and other legal documents. When authorities detected irregularities, the defendant purportedly bribed the local municipal council for protection. During the trial, Gadalius shifted blame onto his deceased father for the forgeries, while Saurus implicated Chaireas in the document tampering. The papyrus does not provide insights into their motives. “The rationale behind men risking forgery to liberate slaves without legitimate documentation remains a mystery,” Dr. Dolganov mused.
One conjecture posits that by orchestrating fake slave sales followed by manumission, Gadalis and Saurus may have been adhering to a Jewish religious mandate to free those enslaved. Alternatively, there might have been a profit incentive in capturing individuals across borders, potentially entrenching them as free Romans after freeing them from “enslavement.” Or Gadalia and Saurus might have engaged in human trafficking, a possibility that is as speculative as it is fraught with implications, Dr. Dolganov emphasized.
One aspect of the trial that struck Dr. Dolganov was the prosecutor’s professionalism. Employing sophisticated rhetorical strategies reminiscent of Cicero and Quintilian, the prosecutor exhibited a mastery of Roman legal terminology and concepts in Greek. “Here, on the edge of the Roman Empire, we witness a highly skilled legal practitioner steeped in Roman law,” Dr. Dolganov remarked.
The papyrus does not reveal the final verdict. “If a Roman judge deemed these men as incorrigible criminals deserving execution, Gadalius, as a member of the local elite, might have met a more merciful end through decapitation,” Dr. Dolganov suggested. “In any case, it beats being torn apart by a leopard.”
Broadcast journalist Gale King and singer Katy Perry were set to embark on a brief journey to space on Monday aboard a flight operated by Jeff Bezos’ private company Blue Origin. This marks the first all-female crew going to space since 1963.
Their flight on Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket was scheduled to launch from Blue Origin’s launch site 1 in West Texas, approximately 120 miles southeast of El Paso. The launch could occur as early as 9:30 am Eastern Time.
This flight will be the 11th human flight for the New Shepard program, having carried 52 individuals, including repeat astronauts. Above the Kalman Line, which marks the internationally recognized boundary of the universe approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth.
The New Shepard Rocket flight, offering minutes of weightlessness, will be piloted.
Bezos’ fiancée, former broadcast journalist Lauren Sanchez, was also slated to be part of the NS-31 Mission. The couple’s wedding reportedly is set to take place in Venice this summer.
Another passenger is Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist. Elle Magazine reported that she is the first person of Bahamian heritage to venture into space. Also onboard are film producer Kerianne Flynn and Amanda Nguyen, a research scientist at Bioastronauts and a prominent advocate for sexual assault survivors.
According to Blue Origin, Nguyen will be the first Vietnamese woman to travel to space.
“It’s a dream come true, and for me, it was a dream deferred,” Nguyen shared with Elle.
After studying astrophysics and working for NASA, Nguyen shifted her focus to activism following a traumatic event of sexual assault.
“Gender-based violence is a significant factor leading many women in STEM to discontinue their training. I was one of them,” she stated, referring to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
This marks the first space flight featuring an all-female crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight for the Soviet Union in 1963, making her the first woman in space.
However, there are critics questioning whether all-female crews truly represent moments of feminist progress. The New Shepard program, a cornerstone of Blue Origin’s Space Tourism Business, is seen as a venture for the wealthy and powerful to access space.
Actress Olivia Munn was criticized as being “somewhat tone-deaf” while appearing as a guest host on Today with Jenna and Hoda earlier this month.
“I know this isn’t fashionable, but there are so many other important issues in the world right now,” Munn remarked. “What exactly are you going to do in space?”
During an interview on CBS Morning with an interview aired on Friday, host Vladimir Dutier asked King if she had concerns that the flight may be seen as an advertisement for Amazon founder Bezos. Dutier highlighted the scrutiny Bezos faces due to Amazon’s business practices and ownership of The Washington Post.
Amazon warehouse workers and delivery drivers have raised concerns about unsafe working conditions. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission and 17 states filed lawsuits against Amazon, alleging monopolistic practices in online retail.
The Washington Post has seen a wave of resignations in recent times amid concerns about leadership, notably Bezos redirecting the newspaper’s opinion section to advocate for “personal liberty and free markets.”
“I share those concerns as well,” King acknowledged. “There have been questionable decisions made.”
“But in this instance, Vlad, this is much larger than one individual and one company,” she continued. “I have chosen to separate the two.”
Bezos has invested billions in Blue Origin and envisions a future where humans inhabit space colonies. He was part of Blue Origin’s inaugural suborbital passenger flight in 2021.
The New Shepard Rocket is named in honor of Alan Shepard, the first American to journey into space in 1961 and one of the moon-walking astronauts.
Understanding the true nature of social media reveals that platforms like Facebook and Instagram are primarily profit-driven businesses that rely on advertising revenue. While we benefit from staying connected and entertained, we must also acknowledge the underlying business model.
Most users accept targeted ads as a trade-off for accessing online content. However, the issue arises when algorithms, rather than human decision-makers, dictate the ads we see. These automated systems are designed to prioritize clicks and sales, raising concerns about transparency and ethics.
A recent study highlighted the use of A/B tests by Facebook and Google to analyze user responses to different ad versions. Such experiments play a crucial role in marketing strategies, but the way they are conducted matters.
The problem lies in the lack of random assignment in these tests, as algorithms actively select users based on predicted engagement levels. This approach hinders advertisers from gaining genuine insights into effective ad strategies, relying instead on algorithmic optimization.
As of April 2025, Facebook has approximately 3.065 billion active users each month worldwide. Photo Credit: Getty
Advertisers may inadvertently target specific demographics, leading to unintended consequences like gender bias and political polarization. The complexity and accuracy of algorithms enable microtargeting at an individual level, shaping online experiences and influencing user behavior.
Implications for Users
Being online means being subject to constant experimentation by algorithms that determine content exposure. Users are unknowingly part of these experiments, where personalized messages influence thoughts, purchases, and beliefs.
It is crucial to recognize the impact of algorithmic decision-making on online experiences and be aware of the curated messages we receive. Transparency and accountability in digital platforms remain essential for fostering an informed online environment.
Expert Insights
Jan Cornil is an associate professor at the UBC Sauder School of Business in Canada, specializing in consumer behavior and marketing research. His work has been featured in top academic journals, emphasizing the importance of ethical marketing practices.
For some individuals, baldness may just be in their genetic destiny, as evidenced by the photo of Dwayne Johnson sporting curly hair. However, for millions dealing with hair loss due to genetics, aging, hormones, or medical conditions, recent discoveries may bring them closer to maintaining a full and lush scalp.
This progress is attributed to a new study published in the journal Natural Communication.
Researchers conducting the study used mice as subjects to delve into the mechanisms of hair follicle regeneration and the factors contributing to their demise.
In our bodies, all hair and the follicles under the skin go through cycles of growth, death, and rest. Key players in regulating the growth of new hair are hair follicular stem cells.
Hair follicles are naturally intended to die as part of the growth cycle. When they fail to regenerate, hair loss occurs. – Credit: Christopher Robbins via Getty
The study identified a protein called MCL-1 and conducted experiments to determine its function by turning it off and observing the effects on the mice.
“The researchers utilized advanced molecular biology tools to essentially remove proteins and examine the outcomes,” explained tissue engineering expert Professor Sheila McNeill, who was not part of the research team, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
By disabling MCL-1 in some mice from birth and in others after they had already lost some hair, scientists found that without MCL-1, new hair could not grow as hair follicle stem cells seemed to die off. This led to gradual hair loss in young mice and stalled growth in adult mice.
The findings suggested that MCL-1 plays a crucial role in protecting hair follicle stem cells, enabling new hair growth when old follicles die. Without this protein, hair follicles fail to regenerate.
McNeill emphasized that this study lays a solid foundation for further research, exploring whether individuals experiencing hair loss exhibit signs of MCL-1 damage and investigating ways to safeguard the protein to prevent hair loss.
However, cell biologist Professor Dorothy Bennett from St. George’s, University of London, cautioned that translating this research into a hair loss treatment presents significant challenges.
“MCL-1 is an intracellular protein, and intact proteins cannot easily penetrate cell membranes to reach their targets. Therefore, delivering MCL-1 through topical solutions or pills is unlikely to be effective,” Bennett explained.
Nevertheless, the study did identify a potential workaround through the activation of another protein, the epidermal growth factor receptor, which can boost MCL-1 levels. While this offers a promising alternative, Bennett stressed that developing such treatments presents numerous hurdles.
Read more:
About our experts:
Sheila McNeill: Professor Emeritus of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at the University of Sheffield, UK. McNeil specializes in tissue engineering for soft tissues and has a strong focus on research translation, with a vast publication record.
Dorothy Bennett: Research Professor in Cell Biology at St. George’s, University of London, UK. Bennett’s research interests include cell senescence, genetics of melanoma, and other pigmented skin conditions.
A South Carolina man admitted guilt on Thursday for bringing in and selling sperm whale teeth and bones from four countries in the United States, according to federal prosecutors.
Lauren H. Deloha, 69, of St. Helena, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to violating the Lacy Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by importing and selling sperm whale parts. The US Attorney’s Office in South Carolina reported this.
Deloach is said to have imported sperm teeth and bones into South Carolina from July 2022 to September 2024, including at least 30 shipments from Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine, as revealed in court documents and statements made in court.
He allegedly sold around $18,000 worth of at least 85 pieces on eBay, falsely labeling them as “plastic” to evade detection by customs officials, according to prosecutors.
Authorities mentioned that they confiscated about $20,000 worth of sperm whale parts while searching his residence.
It remains unclear how Deloach acquired these items and who purchased them from him. Teeth and bones are sought after for use in artworks like sculptures, prosecutors stated.
Sperm whales, the largest toothed whales, inhabit deep waters worldwide, from the equator to the edges of ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Females can grow up to 40 feet long, while males can reach up to 52 feet long, as per the agency.
Sperm whales have been safeguarded since 1970 under the Endangered Species Act and the International Treaty on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Lacey Act criminalizes the illegal sale of wildlife that was imported illegally, prosecutors mentioned.
“Illegal wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion dollar global enterprise, with animals and fuels protecting organized crime,” stated Brooke B. Andrews, acting US attorney for South Carolina. “We will uphold the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Vulnerable species like sperm whales have been slaughtered for profit.”
Deloach’s attorney, Nathan S. Williams, mentioned in a statement on Sunday that Deloach “regretted his actions and took responsibility for them.”
Deloha faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine for felony Lacey Act violations, and up to one year in prison for misdemeanor violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
This incident was the latest involving protected wildlife.
In February, a California couple reached a plea agreement in Butte County, California. They were caught by wildlife officers smuggling mountain lion trophies and turtle skulls in their carry-on bags, breaching fish and game laws. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated.
If you are reading this, chances are you believe you are conscious. It’s easy to assume that your loved ones, your not-so-loved ones, and even your peculiar neighbors are also conscious beings, experiencing the world just like you.
But what about newborn babies, who are unable to communicate their thoughts or understand the world around them? None of us can remember our experiences as infants, so the question remains: are they aware? What about babies still in the womb?
These intriguing questions have captured the interest of neuroscientists, including Dr. Joel Frolich, who describes this inquiry as a scientific “frontier.”
According to Frolich, there has been limited research on the onset of consciousness until recent years. It was predominantly a topic for philosophers, with neuroscience only starting to delve into it more recently.
Researchers have now devised innovative methods to uncover when consciousness emerges in a newborn or a fetus and explore these unanswered questions.
Quest for Clues
Based on a study by Frolich and philosopher Professor Tim Bain, the consensus seems to point towards at least five months before consciousness likely emerges.
By this age, the infant not only displays wakefulness but also exhibits clear signs of engaging with the world around them.
This conclusion stems from a “cluster-based” approach, where a combination of indicators like brain activity patterns, responses to stimuli, and signs of recognition are considered, rather than relying on a single marker of consciousness.
While younger babies may not exhibit all the signs of consciousness, they show some indicators, which can also be present in fetuses.
At five months old, neuroscientists identified clusters of markers suggesting consciousness – credit: Anuti via Getty
Key to Consciousness
One significant marker of a conscious brain, according to neuroscientists like Frolich, is the default mode network. This network of brain regions is active during restful states, such as daydreaming or contemplating the future.
Research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown that newborns have a rudimentary form of this default mode network.
Another crucial clue is the local-global effect, where the brain’s ability to detect pattern changes signifies working memory and potential consciousness. This was evident in studies on infants and even in fetuses.
Scanning the fetus can be difficult due to all the tissue that the scanning device needs to pass through to reach the uterus. Ultrasound uses sound waves, and magnetic EEG uses magnetic fields. – Credit: Half Point Image via Getty
Unveiling the Womb
Behavior and attention are additional factors that hint at consciousness. Young babies around four months old demonstrate the ability to choose where to focus their attention, suggesting a level of awareness. Similar observations have been made with fetuses.
In a 2017 study, neuroscientists conducted experiments on pregnant individuals, illuminating the uterus with lights and gauging fetal responses using ultrasound.
These findings shed light on the potential emergence of awareness in infants or fetuses, prompting contemplation on ethical implications but reassuring that consciousness likely isn’t present until later in pregnancy.
Neuroscientific discoveries may have broader implications for understanding consciousness in other entities, such as artificial intelligence, urging the development of a unified theory of consciousness.
Read more:
About our experts:
Dr. Joel Frolich: A postdoctoral researcher specializing in fetal neuroscience at the Helmholtz Centre Munich, University of Tubingen. Frolich utilizes magnetic enemies for studying fetal and infant development and serves as a research consultant for the Institute for Advanced Consciousness in California.
Heart failure affects over 60 million people worldwide, where the heart is unable to properly pump blood due to a weak or stiff heart. Typical causes include coronary heart disease, hypertension, and obesity. However, new research published in the journal heart shows that hearing loss is also linked to an increased risk of heart failure.
Heart failure doesn’t mean the heart stops working completely, but rather needs extra support to function. The study, which evaluated data from over 160,000 people from the UK biobank, found that individuals with hearing loss had a higher risk of developing heart failure over a 5-year follow-up period compared to those with normal hearing.
The study also revealed that individuals with inadequate hearing had a 15% higher risk, while those with inadequate hearing had a 28% higher risk of heart failure. Higher scores on the Audio Reception Threshold test were also associated with a higher risk of heart failure. These findings suggest that hearing health should be considered in cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention strategies.
According to the World Health Organization, 25% of people over 60 suffer from varying levels of hearing loss.
Research suggests that untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, psychological distress, and neurosis, all of which increase the risk of heart failure. The study authors also point out biological links between hearing loss and heart problems, emphasizing the importance of addressing hearing health in cardiovascular risk management.
Overall, while hearing loss may be considered a normal part of aging, it may actually indicate underlying issues that can impact heart health. It’s essential to consider hearing health in relation to overall cardiovascular health to reduce the risk of heart failure.
For those who are not runners and don’t find the appeal of a two-hour run at 6am, it’s known that running (and other forms of aerobic exercise) can create powerful chemical sensations that are comparable to real drugs.
The body naturally produces two pleasurable substances associated with the runner’s high. Endorphins are well-known neurotransmitters that can be likened to morphine for their pain-relieving properties.
One theory suggests that our ancestors evolved to produce endorphins to help them chase prey or escape predators by numbing foot pain and blisters.
Research indicates that for runners, a long-term, moderately intense run is the ideal scenario for endorphin production. If you’re aiming to experience the runner’s high, try a “tempo” run.
After a good warm-up, aim to run for at least 20 minutes at a pace of about 6 or7 out of 10 (with 10 being an all-out sprint).
Running can produce powerful chemical hits that justify comparisons with real drugs – Illustration Credit: James Clapham
While endorphins have traditionally been credited with causing the euphoria of the runner’s high, recent research suggests that another substance may be the actual source of the uplift felt towards the end of a run.
Endocannabinoids are molecules similar to those in marijuana that enhance the mood, but are naturally produced by the body.
Research shows that when cannabinoid receptors are blocked in mice, they exhibit reduced activity. In a study in 2021, researchers at the University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf found that even when the opioid receptor that binds to endorphins is blocked, runners still experience the high.
This suggests that cannabinoids may be more responsible for the runner’s high than previously thought.
In the study, participants ran at a moderate pace for 45 minutes. To achieve a similar high, aim for a consistently challenging pace where holding a conversation becomes difficult.
This article addresses the question (posed by Emily Marine of Colchester) “When does the runner’s high kick in?”
Please email us with your questions atQuestion @sciencefocus.com or message us onFacebook,Twitter, or on ourInstagrampage (don’t forget to include your name and location).
Check out our ultimate Fun Fact for more amazing science content.
Dr. Clifford attempted to explain the challenges of owning an octopus in his post. He faced high costs, sleep deprivation, and significant water damage to his home, which necessitated extensive renovations. He mentioned, “I didn’t want to form a permanent or romantic attachment to my baby while still caring for it.”
Despite his efforts, he was inundated with requests to adopt the hatching octopuses.
Vincent Nyman, a wildlife trade expert at Oxford Brooks University, who researched the impact of social media on the exotic pet trade, stated, “If you showcase it, people will want it. And if you advise against getting it, it’s like saying ‘Don’t do this,’ right?”
Life-saving
Nevertheless, Dr. Clifford ultimately decided that he could not send the baby octopuses to private homes. Instead, he arranged for them to be placed in a reputable aquarium or university once they were healthy enough. On April 21st, he made an announcement that he had found homes for all the hatching.
The following day, one of the hatching octopuses, Terrance, passed away and was buried in the backyard beside trees whose trunks resembled octopus tentacles.
Now, the priority was to keep the baby octopuses alive until they could be relocated to their new homes. The odds were stacked against them, as only a small percentage typically survives in the wild.
Dr. Clifford shared that approximately 20 hatching octopuses died within the first month alone, due to factors like cannibalism and power outages.
The pressure to ensure the survival of the baby octopuses weighed heavily on Dr. Clifford, especially with a large and invested audience following his journey.
A local reptile expert and breeder who had become a friend to Dr. Clifford stepped in to help care for and house a baby octopus while Dr. Clifford’s home underwent renovations. Despite their collaborative efforts, the hatching octopuses continued to perish.
At a Senate confirmation hearing to become Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presented himself as a vaccine advocate. But he, and the agency he leads, have taken widespread, sometimes subtle steps to undermine confidence in the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine.
National Institutes of Health I stopped the funds For researchers who wanted to study vaccine hesitancy and find ways to overcome it. They also cancelled a program aimed at discovering new vaccines to prevent future pandemics.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shelved an advertising campaign for influenza shots. Kennedy inaccurately says that scientists advising the CDC on vaccines have it “Serious, serious conflict of interest” Advertising your product means you can’t trust it.
Ministry of Health and WelfareIt cuts billions of dollars to state health agencies, including the funds needed to modernize state programs for childhood immunization. Kennedy said in a televised interview Wednesday that he was unaware of the widely reported development.
The Food and Drug Administration canceled a public meeting with its scientific advisor on the flu vaccine and later kept it behind closed doors. a Top Official Pause Agency Reviews Novavax Covid Vaccine. In a TV interview last week, Kennedy mistakenly stated that a similarly created vaccine would not work against the respiratory virus.
Some scientists say they saw the pattern: efforts to erode support for everyday vaccination, and scientists who have long maintained it as a public health goal.
“It’s a simultaneous process that increases the likelihood of hearing him and reducing the likelihood of hearing other voices,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, of Kennedy.
He “recognizes the voices of other authorities,” she said.
The HHS opposed Mr Kennedy’s opposition to the vaccine.
“Secretary Kennedy is not an anti-vaccine, he’s safe,” department spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement. “His focus has always been to ensure that the vaccines were rigorously tested for efficacy and safety.”
A bowl of warm pasta, a fluffy white bread roll, or a bag of generously salted chips – these starchy delights are like dreams. No wonder many of us couldn’t imagine giving up carbs forever.
But according to Research by the University of Surrey, spending just one day without carbohydrates has a similar effect on the body as intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting, also known as time-limited feeding, involves alternating normal feeding periods with significantly reduced calorie intake periods. These fasting windows can be scheduled at specific times each day or throughout the week.
While this approach has various health benefits, consuming less than 800 calories a day, as recommended on the popular 5:2 diet, can be challenging for some individuals.
However, this new study suggests that reducing calories significantly on fasting days may not be necessary. Simply cutting out carbohydrates can provide similar fat-burning benefits.
“What we’re interested in is not necessarily weight loss, but the metabolic effect of this dietary intervention,” said Dr. Adam Collins, the study co-author and an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
The study, which aimed to investigate the effects of carbohydrates on metabolic health, involved 12 overweight or obese adults aged 20 to 65.
Participants followed three different meal plans with five-day breaks between each diet day for 36 hours (one day and two nights of sleep). The meal plans included a normal meal, a low-carb diet with the same calorie intake as a regular diet, and a low-carb diet with reduced calories.
Results showed that consuming a low-carb diet, regardless of calorie intake, encouraged the body to burn fat for energy similar to a fasting diet.
Carbohydrates include starches such as potatoes and pasta, grains such as rice and oats, baked goods such as bread and pastries, fiber foods such as vegetables and fruits, and sugar confectionery such as sweets and chocolate.
Dr. Collins explained that the body is designed to use carbohydrates for energy after meals and fats between meals and overnight. Consuming carbs too frequently can lead to poor management of metabolism.
Intermittent fasting or reducing carbohydrate intake helps the body reset and start burning fat for energy. Dr. Collins also emphasized that while restricting carbs long-term may hinder glucose processing, alternating low-carb days with regular meal days can be a sustainable and beneficial approach for metabolic health.
He concluded by saying, “Food is not a sin. Carbs aren’t bad. Fats aren’t bad. It’s all about moderation.”
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About our experts:
Dr. Adam Collins: An associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey’s School of Biological Sciences. With over 20 years of experience as a qualified nutritionist, he leads BSC and MSC nutrition programs at Sally. His current research focuses on exercise intensity, energy balance, intermittent fasting, dietary timing and composition, and carbohydrate manipulation for metabolic health.
Two recent epic astronomical discoveries may seem unrelated at first glance.
One is an image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope showing newborn stars in our galaxy, approximately 450 light years away. This incredible picture depicts the birth of the solar system with thin dust discs slowly forming.
The other discovery combines optical and wireless data to reveal a massive astrophysical system larger than the Milky Way. This discovery provides a glimpse into the intergalactic violence caused by supermassive black holes actively consuming their surroundings.
Despite their differences, a striking similarity can be observed between the two discoveries. Both display objects emitting long, straight jets of light or material into the universe, resembling double-sided lightsabers.
Discovered by JWST, the HH 30 is a primitive disk illuminated with a newborn star in the center, expelling a jet of gas and dust. Approximately 450 light years away from the Taurus Molecular Cloud – Photo Credits: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, Tazaki et al
Astrophysical jets are a common phenomenon in space, driven by the basic features of gravity, rotation, and magnetic fields.
The formation of discs in space involves a few simple steps driven by gravity and rotation. Material is attracted towards an object creating discs like spiral galaxies, protoplanetary discs, and accretion discs around black holes.
Gravity and rotation explain the formation of these discs, while magnetic fields play a crucial role in the generation of jets. Charged particles in space generate magnetic fields when in motion, leading to the creation of long, straight jets perpendicular to the disc plane.
Using wireless and optical data, astronomers discovered this huge astrophysical jet. This extends farther than the Milky Way – lofar/decals/desi regacy imaging surveys/lbnl/doe/ctio/noirlab/nsf/auraImage Processing: m zamani (nsf noirlab).
These jets vary in strength and size depending on the magnetic field and rotation that drives them. From protostars to supermassive black holes, jets can extend vast distances into space, showcasing the extreme power of gravity and magnetic forces in the universe.
Astrophysical jets provide a mesmerizing insight into the mechanisms driving the most extreme wonders of the universe, from stars being devoured by black holes to pulsars emitting light across space.
In these turbulent times, there is a growing interest in cryonics as a way to freeze and preserve human remains for potential revival in the future when medical technology is more advanced.
The concept is intriguing – it’s like a savepoint in a video game where you can “undo” your life experiences and start anew when revived.
Despite the increasing enthusiasm for cryonics, there are significant challenges that need to be addressed before it can be considered a viable option.
Freezing Limitations
Freezing living organisms at ultra-low temperatures often results in irreparable damage, leading to death. The human body, being primarily composed of water, cannot withstand the formation of ice crystals that can cause extensive harm to cells and tissues.
While anti-freeze agents can help mitigate this damage at a cellular level, the complexity of the human body poses a greater challenge when trying to freeze it effectively.
Freezing the human body for cryonics often causes irreversible cell damage, especially in the brain, making revival virtually impossible with current technology. – Photo credit: Getty
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Freezing and thawing the human brain poses a particularly daunting task due to the complexity and vulnerability of brain cells. Neurons, being highly energy-dependent and structurally intricate, are difficult to preserve and repair through cryogenic processes.
Challenges with Brain Preservation
Many proponents of cryonics opt to freeze only the head or brain under the assumption that advancements in medicine can facilitate the replacement of the rest of the body. However, reanimating a frozen brain presents significant hurdles.
Neurons, the building blocks of brain function, are fragile and sensitive to damage. The intricate connections between neurons, which form the basis of memories and identity, are easily disrupted during the freezing process, making reconstruction a monumental task.
Even if future technologies can restore neuronal connections, the complexity of mapping these connections accurately without prior brain scans poses a significant challenge.
Ultimately, while cryonics offers hope for the future, it also requires a substantial amount of optimism given the current limitations and uncertainties surrounding the process.
The little Magellan Clouds (SMCs), a dwarf galaxy that is orbiting near our own Milky Way, appear to satisfy a rather dramatic ending.
That is the conclusion of a new study published in Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series astronomers have tracked over 7,000 large stars in SMC. Each one is more than eight times the size of our sun.
These star heavyweights burn a short life that lives bright and fast, providing clues about their own movements as well as their turbulent gas clouds.
And what researchers found was impressive. This former codbone universe’s neighbor is torn apart quite badly by the gravity of the large Magellan Cloud (LMC).
The milky stripes of this star-filled sky are two d-star galaxies visible only from the southern hemisphere – here is a small Magellan cloud photographed above the Delusional Observatory of Eso in Chile. -ESO/j. Corosimo
“SMCs are interacting galaxies that are coupled to the LMC by gravity.” Satoya Nakano the first author of the study said BBC Science Focus. “The stars on the side of the SMC near the LMC experience stronger gravity and are moving towards the LMC, but the stars experience even weaker pulls.”
This gravitational tug of war slowly pulls the SMC apart with possible nudges from our own Milky Way approaching about 200,000 light years away.
So why is this important?
For one, the team discovered that the SMC was not rotating the way astronomers had assumed. Spiral galaxies like our own usually rotate with stars and gas processing around the central axis. But not all galaxies are – and SMC may be one of them.
“The question of when rotational motion appears in galaxies is a very interesting topic among researchers,” Nakano said.
“SMC was considered a rotating galaxy, but this study shows that it is not actually rotating. It suggests that if even a nearby galaxy like SMC is misinterpreted, it requires much more attention when assessing galaxy rotations further away.”
The colours of the arrows represent the direction of the movement of the giant stars in the SMC. Compared to the LMC at the bottom left of the image, most red arrows show movement towards the LMC, while most light blue arrows show movement away from the LMC, suggesting that they are being pulled apart. – Satoya Nakano
And SMC is very close by space standards. Just 200,000 light years away, it is more than ten times closer to Andromeda, the nearest largest galaxy.
The lack of rotation not only changes our understanding of SMC’s structure, but also allows us to discard estimates of mass.
“The SMC is not rotating, so historical estimates of its mass may be incorrect.” Professor Tahara the author of another study said BBC Science Focus.
“The estimates of mass were born from previously estimated rotational motions. However, if these are not reliable, the estimates need to be revised. Without this, we cannot predict the future existence of SMC.”
Nakano and Tahara hope that detailed simulation observations to model the fate of the galaxy open the door. But for now, the future appears to be far from bright.
About our experts
Satoya Nakano is a doctoral candidate from the Faculty of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Japan.
Tahara Sword He is an associate professor at Nagoya University Graduate School of Science, Japan. His research is Publications of the Japanese Astronomical Association, Astrophysical Journal and Astronomy and Astrophysics.
read more:
How do you know that the Milky Way is a spiral galaxy?
Ah, the circle of life! Your parents engage in intimate activities, and nine months later, you make your grand entrance into the world (apologies for that mental image).
However, did you know that the temperature during your parents’ romantic encounters could impact your metabolism for the long haul?
According to recent research conducted by a researcher at the University of Tokyo in Japan, this might be the case.
The study analyzed the season when 642 Japanese adults were conceived and discovered that individuals conceived during colder months tend to have lower body mass index (BMI), less visceral (abdominal) fat, and a faster metabolism compared to those conceived in warmer months.
This correlation is linked to brown fat, a type of fat that burns energy even at rest, helps keep the body warm, and assists in regulating blood sugar levels.
“People conceived during colder seasons tend to have more active brown fat as adults,” explained Takeshi Yoneshiro, an associate professor at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
Having more active brown fat means the body burns more energy while resting, potentially resulting in a faster metabolism compared to individuals with lower levels of brown fat.
Our bodies utilize white fat for calorie storage, but brown fat is essential for maintaining warmth. – Credit: nopparit via Getty
Professor Jaswinder Sethi, an expert in immuno-metabolism at the University of Southampton who was not involved in the research, stated to BBC Science Focus: “Brown fat’s primary role is to produce heat and maintain body temperature.
“Moreover, brown fat activity significantly contributes to energy expenditure, aiding in reducing the need for storage and potentially preventing the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders.”
Yoneshiro suggested that parental exposure to cold temperatures could lead to epigenetic modifications, influencing how our genes are expressed.
“In modern times, this metabolic system may help regulate energy balance and protect against metabolic diseases by acting as a heater and air conditioner,” Yoneshiro explained.
However, Sethi cautioned: “It’s crucial to note that, similar to many known genetic variations associated with obesity, these changes are not the sole contributors to future health issues, as individuals may have genetic predispositions affecting their metabolism.”
Additionally, Dr. Adam Collins, an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey not involved in the study, stated to BBC Science Focus that the significance of brown fat in metabolic regulation may be overemphasized.
“Having abundant brown fat might not necessarily equate to a higher metabolic rate,” Collins noted. “The benefit of brown fat lies in its ability to generate heat, particularly in cold conditions, rather than simply burning calories.”
Since this study is observational, it cannot definitively prove that the season of conception impacts a child’s metabolism in the long term.
Nonetheless, Yoneshiro expressed hope: “If other factors can reproduce this effect, targeted interventions may be developed to enhance metabolic resilience in future generations.”
Read more:
About our experts:
Dr. Takeshi Yoneshiro is an associate professor of biomedical sciences specializing in molecular physiology and metabolism at Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Medicine. Prior to joining Tohoku University in 2023, he served as an associate professor at the Center for Advanced Science and Technology Research at the University of Tokyo.
Jaswinder Sethi is a professor of immunotherapy at the University of Southampton. She is also an Honorary NHS Foundation Trust Research Fellow and a member of the Life Sciences Institute. Her research focuses on immune metabolism, obesity, metabolic diseases, and tissue remodeling.
Dr. Adam Collins is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey. With over 20 years of experience as a qualified nutritionist, he leads BSc and MSc nutrition programs at the university. His research includes studying exercise intensity and energy balance, intermittent fasting, dietary composition and timing, and carbohydrate manipulation for metabolic health.
At present, there are around 13,000 satellites orbiting Earth, with roughly 10,000 of them functioning. However, the number of satellites in orbit is set to increase drastically by 2030, with 50,000 new satellites expected to be launched.
This significant increase is primarily due to the rise of Internet megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink and other satellite projects. Currently, there are approximately 8,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, with nearly 6,500 of them being Starlink satellites.
SpaceX plans to deploy 12,000 satellites and is seeking approval for an additional 30,000, while other companies, like Amazon, are also planning their own megaconstellations.
The influx of satellites in low Earth orbit raises concerns about potential collisions and environmental impacts. Scientists warn that megaconstellations could harm the ozone layer, which protects the planet from harmful UV rays.
When satellites are decommissioned, they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and release aluminum oxide particles, which can damage the ozone layer by catalyzing chemical reactions. These particles can linger in the atmosphere for decades, further depleting the ozone.
Research published in the Geophysical Research Journal in 2024 revealed that a single satellite can release a significant amount of aluminum oxide particles, which can accumulate over time and contribute to ozone depletion.
The continuous deployment of megaconstellations could inject large amounts of aluminum oxide into the upper atmosphere every year, significantly increasing the risk of ozone layer damage.
The short lifespan of internet satellites in low Earth orbit poses additional challenges, as they need to be actively removed or they will burn up in the atmosphere. SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, for example, could be pulled out of orbit within five years if not removed.
The constant re-entry of decommissioned satellites could release a stream of burnt-out material into the atmosphere, exacerbating the environmental impact. Scientists predict a significant increase in satellite re-entries in the coming years, which could further impact the ozone layer.
It may take several decades before the full extent of satellite re-entry impacts the ozone layer, but the rapid growth of megaconstellations poses a significant risk to ozone layer recovery efforts.
Future research collaborations are being formed to study the direct link between decommissioned satellites and ozone depletion, aiming to quantify the environmental risks associated with satellite combustion.
This article addresses the query posed by Claudine Best from Dorset: “Do satellites burning in the atmosphere pose a threat to the environment?”
To submit your questions, please email Question@sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (don’t forget to include your name and location).
Explore more fascinating science topics on our website for fun facts and insights.
Fast cars are more than just a means of transportation for some people. While many see them as a practical way to get from point A to point B, others view them as a source of exhilaration and excitement. These supercars are designed to deliver top-notch performance and a thrilling driving experience that leaves a lasting impression.
For those who seek the thrill that comes with speed, there are a variety of supercars on the market that cater to this desire. Despite the growing popularity of electric cars, the supercar segment continues to thrive, offering enthusiasts the chance to own some of the fastest cars in the world.
If you have the means to afford one of these high-performance vehicles, you can experience the exhilaration of driving the fastest supercars available today.
Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale
The Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale is on the track. Photo by Ferrari
When you mention the word “supercar,” Ferrari is often the first brand that comes to mind. The SF90 XX Stradale exemplifies Ferrari’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance. With a 4-liter V8 engine and three electric motors, this car delivers unmatched power and agility, making it a force to be reckoned with on both the track and the road.
With nearly 1,000 brake horsepower at your disposal, the SF90 XX Stradale offers a driving experience like no other. Whether you’re cruising on public roads or pushing the limits on the track, this Ferrari is sure to leave you breathless.
McLaren Sols GT
Former Formula One driver, Mika Heckinen drives the Sols GT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022. Photo: McLaren/News Press
McLaren, known for its prowess in Formula One racing, brings that same level of engineering excellence to its road cars. The Solus GT is a testament to McLaren’s commitment to performance and innovation, featuring a single-seat layout and a powerful V10 engine that harkens back to the glory days of Formula One.
With only 25 units produced, the Solus GT is a rare gem that offers a blend of track-inspired performance and everyday drivability. If you’re fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of this McLaren masterpiece, you’re in for a treat.
Lamborghini Jaracan Performante
Lamborghini Jaracan Performante painted on London Street. Photo: Lamborghini/Newspress
The Lamborghini Jaracan Performante may not be a household name, but it’s a supercar that packs a punch. With a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive setup, this car can go from 0-100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 328 km/h.
Known for its signature Lamborghini roar, the Jaracan Performante offers a thrilling driving experience that is sure to turn heads wherever you go. If you’re in the market for a high-performance supercar with Italian flair, the Lamborghini Jaracan Performante is worth considering.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
Aston Martin Valkyrie blows up around Bahrain’s desert racetracks. Photo: Drew Gibson/News Press
As the car of choice for James Bond, the Aston Martin Valkyrie embodies British engineering at its finest. Designed in collaboration with Red Bull Racing Advanced Technology, this hybrid supercar offers a blend of performance and functionality that is unrivaled.
Featuring a 6.5-liter V12 engine coupled with a hybrid motor, the Valkyrie delivers a staggering 1,160 brake horsepower, propelling it from 0-100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of approximately 356 km/h. With only 275 units produced, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is a rare gem that offers a truly unforgettable driving experience.
Pagani Utopia
Pagani Utopia Roadster painted in the studio. Photo: Pagani
With a legacy of producing stunning and high-performance cars like the Zonda and Huayra, Pagani has established itself as a prominent player in the supercar market. The Utopia is the latest offering from the Italian manufacturer, boasting a powerful engine built by Mercedes AMG.
With 852 brake horsepower at your disposal, the Utopia can go from 0-100 km/h in just 3 seconds and reach a top speed of 350 km/h. With only 229 units produced, this exclusive supercar comes with a hefty price tag, making it a dream for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Mercedes AMG 1
Mercedes AMG depicts a photo of him driving around a Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Photo by Mercedes-Amg
The Mercedes AMG One is a limited-edition hybrid supercar that brings Formula 1 technology to the road. Featuring a 1.6-liter V6 engine from a 2016 Mercedes Formula 1 car, this high-performance machine delivers a top speed of 352 km/h and can go from 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds.
With only 275 units produced, the Mercedes AMG One combines the best of both worlds, offering unmatched performance and cutting-edge technology in a road-ready package. If you’re a fan of Formula 1 racing and high-performance vehicles, the AMG One is sure to impress.
Pininfarina Battista
Pininfarina Battista shows cornering capabilities on roads in California, USA. Photo by Pininfarina
Named after the founder of Pininfarina, the Battista is a true powerhouse on wheels. With four electric motors providing unparalleled performance, this Italian supercar can go from 0-100 km/h in less than 2 seconds and reach speeds exceeding 300 km/h in just 11 seconds.
With only 229 units produced, the Pininfarina Battista is a rare gem that combines Italian craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. If you’re in the market for a high-performance supercar that stands out from the crowd, the Battista is worth a closer look.
Rimack Neverra
Rimac Nevera takes him to the truck. Photo by Rimac
The Rimac Nevera is an all-electric supercar that has set new records for electric vehicles. With a motor on each wheel and a unique aerodynamic design, this Croatian supercar offers unmatched performance and agility.
The Nevera holds the title of the fastest electric production vehicle ever built, with the ability to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 1.81 seconds. With a top speed of over 400 km/h, the Rimac Nevera is a game-changer in the world of electric supercars.
Aspark Owl
The Aspark owl can be seen at the salon plybe at Brenheim Palace, England. Every year some of the world’s rarest cars are displayed on the lawns of the palace. Photo: Martyn Lucy/Getty Images
The Aspark Owl is a high-performance electric supercar that offers unmatched speed and agility. With four powerful electric motors, this Japanese supercar can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 2 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars on the road.
With a range of 400 km on a full charge and a top speed of 438.7 km/h, the Aspark Owl is a true powerhouse that combines cutting-edge technology with stunning design. If you’re in the market for a high-performance electric supercar, the Owl is a top contender.
Bugattichiron Super Sports
Bugatticilon Supersport is heading towards the road at Goodwood Festival of Speed. Photo by Tim Scott/Bugatti
Bugatti is a name synonymous with speed and luxury, and the Chiron Super Sports is no exception. With a massive engine and four turbochargers, this French supercar is capable of reaching speeds exceeding 490 km/h, making it one of the fastest cars in the world.
While it may not accelerate as quickly as some electric vehicles, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sports offers a blend of power and refinement that is sure to impress. Whether you’re cruising down the highway or tearing up the track, this supercar is a force to be reckoned with.
Hennessy Venom F5
The beautiful Hennessy Venom F5 looks moody and green. Photo by Hennessy
The Hennessy Venom F5 is an American supercar that offers unparalleled performance and speed. With a twin-turbo V8 engine developed by Hennessy, this high-performance machine can go from 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds.
In 2024, the Venom F5 set a new world record for the fastest 1/2 mile run, showcasing its raw power and agility. With a focus on driver comfort and performance, this supercar offers a thrilling driving experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is taking him to the truck at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022 in Chichester, UK. Photo: Martyn Lucy/Getty Images
The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is the pinnacle of engineering excellence, offering unmatched performance and speed. With over 3,000 hours spent on aerodynamic improvements, this Swedish supercar is capable of reaching speeds well over 530 km/h.
Powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine and a nine-speed gearbox, the Jesko Absolut set a new world record for the fastest 0-400 km/h run in under 28 seconds. With a focus on performance and comfort, this supercar offers a driving experience like no other.
SSC Tuara
The SSC Tuatara is potentially the fastest production vehicle in the world. Photo by SSC
The SSC Tuara is a supercar that has set new speed records, earning the title of the fastest production vehicle in the world. With a high-revving V8 engine and over 1,300 brake horsepower, this American supercar is a force to be reckoned with.
With active aerodynamics and a low drag coefficient, the Tuatara is designed for speed and agility. Capable of reaching speeds exceeding 532 km/h, this supercar is a true testament to American engineering ingenuity. If you’re in search of uncompromising performance and speed, the SSC Tuara is the ultimate choice.
Officially named Kohoutek 4-55, this little-known planetary nebula is located within our Milky Way galaxy.
This Hubble image shows Kohoutek 4-55, a nebula of planets 4,600 light years away in the Cygnus constellation. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/K. Noll.
“The Nebula of Planets is a spectacular final exhibition at the end of the life of a giant star,” Hubble Astherm said in a statement.
“When the giant red star runs out of available fuel and flows the final gas layer, its compact core shrinks further, allowing for a final burst of fusion.”
“The exposed core reaches very high temperatures and emits very energetic UV rays, activating a huge cloud of casting gas.”
“Molecules in the gas are ionized and brighten.”
“Here, red and orange represent nitrogen molecules, green represent hydrogen, and blue represent nebulae oxygen.”
Kohoutek 4-55 is located approximately 4,600 light years away from the Cygnus constellation.
Also known as UHA 15 or G084.2+01.0, this nebula has an unusual multilayered form.
“The bright inner ring of the Kohoutek 4-55 is surrounded by a loose layer of gas, all wrapped in a wide halo of ionized nitrogen,” the astronomer said.
“The view is bittersweet. The short phase of the fusion of the cores ends tens of thousands of years, leaving behind a white dwarf who will never illuminate the surrounding clouds again.”
This image of Kohoutek 4-55 was captured by Hubble’s Widefield and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2).
“Installed in 1993 to replace the original Widefield and Planetary Camera (WFPC), WFPC2 was responsible for some of Hubble’s most persistent images and fascinating discoveries,” the researchers said.
“It was replaced in 2009 by Widefield Camera 3 (WFC3) during Hubble’s final service mission.”
“The data in this image was collected 10 days before the instrument was removed from the telescope, as a proper postponement for WFPC2,” he said.
“The latest and most advanced processing techniques are used to bring data to life once more, creating this breathtaking new view of Kohoutek 4-55.”
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