Stimulating the vagus nerve reveals medical potential for a range of health conditions
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for a vagus nerve stimulation device aimed at treating rheumatoid arthritis. This marks the first time a device like this has been authorized for an autoimmune disorder, opening possibilities for broader medical uses.
The small, tablet-sized device is surgically placed alongside the vagus nerve, which consists of nerve fibers connecting the brain to vital organs. It automatically administers electrical pulses that stimulate the nerves and help reduce inflammation for up to a decade.
Rheumatoid arthritis, similar to other autoimmune disorders, leads to excessive inflammation, causing the body to mistakenly attack its own tissues, resulting in pain, swelling, and potential organ damage. Treatment typically involves strong anti-inflammatory medications that suppress the immune system, increasing vulnerabilities to infections and cancer. Nearly 75% of rheumatoid arthritis patients express dissatisfaction with current therapies and have discontinued them due to adverse side effects.
In clinical trials, 242 participants with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis were tested, showing that about 35% of those receiving vagus nerve stimulation for 12 weeks experienced at least a 20% reduction in symptoms compared to only 24% in the placebo group. Less than 2% faced serious side effects, and none developed severe infections.
“Utilizing a safe computer chip as an alternative to expensive, minimally effective medications with significant side effects presents an appealing option for many patients,” remarked Kevin Tracy from the Feinstein Institute of Medicine in New York. He originated the device approximately two decades ago while working with Setpoint Medical, a US medical technology firm that is no longer operational.
This approval signifies a pivotal advancement toward potentially treating various inflammation-related ailments, including heart failure, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, through vagus nerve stimulation. Stavros Zanos at the Feinstein Medical Institute emphasizes that SetPoint Medical’s device is already being evaluated in clinical trials for conditions like multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
A “megaflash” of lightning recorded in the Great Plains of the United States has been recognized as the longest ever, stretching 829 km (about 515 miles) across five states, from eastern Texas to Missouri.
These megaflashes—extended lightning discharges—are associated with large clusters of thunderstorms typically found in the Great Plains and other lightning-prone areas. The reasons why some storms produce megaflashes while others do not remain a mystery. “I don’t know exactly why this happens,” says Michael Peterson from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The lightning event occurred in October 2017 and lasted for over seven seconds. At the time, it was too lengthy to be completely mapped by ground-based lightning detection systems.
Zigzag branch of the longest flash of lightning on record
Michael Peterson, GTRI
To verify the extent of this flash, Peterson and his team returned to satellite data from Earth-based cameras that continuously monitor lightning. They utilized new software to process millions of light pulses, successfully tracking the lightning as it traveled through the storm.
“Every new pulse gives you an idea of how that flash evolves over time,” Peterson explains. “It’s like playing Connect-the-Dots to piece together the entire structure.”
They discovered the flash’s maximum linear length of 829 km, plus or minus 8 km—comparable to the distance between London and Zurich. However, the total trace along the bolt itself exceeds 1000 kilometers. “The Mega Flash can extend to the Megameter,” Peterson adds.
The World Meteorological Organization, which maintains records of extreme weather events, has confirmed this flash as the longest ever documented, surpassing prior records by approximately 61 kilometers since 2020.
“From this single flash, we observed over 100 cloud-to-cloud strokes,” Peterson notes. “Although mega flashes are rare, each one is quite remarkable.”
Some artificial sweeteners can alter the gut microbiota composition, influencing overall health.
Ian Allenden/Aramie
Individuals who consume the artificial sweetener sucralose may have reduced responsiveness to cancer immunotherapy, indicating that sweeteners could diminish treatment efficacy.
Immunotherapy enhances the immune system’s ability to identify and eliminate cancer cells, proving vital for many cancers. “When successful, it is highly effective. Patients can feel better, enjoy their lives, and survive for years,” states Abigail over Eichaldergoff from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Regrettably, not all patients respond well; many cancer types benefit only a limited number of individuals.”
The reasons behind this are unclear, but numerous studies indicate that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating immune responses; prior research has also demonstrated that artificial sweeteners can modify human gut microorganisms.
Consequently, Overacre and colleagues investigated the potential effects of artificial sweeteners on immunotherapy outcomes. They tracked the treatment results of 157 patients who underwent cancer immunotherapy for a minimum of three months. Among these, 91 had advanced melanoma, 41 had non-advanced non-small cell lung cancer, and 25 had melanoma that had been surgically excised but were at risk of recurrence.
Prior to treatment commencement, participants filled out a dietary questionnaire covering the previous month, enabling researchers to estimate their artificial sweetener intake.
Consumption exceeding 0.16 milligrams of sucralose per kilogram daily correlated with poorer treatment outcomes. Participants with advanced melanoma who ingested lower amounts of sucralose experienced longer survival rates, approximately five months more without cancer progression.
In the case of non-small cell lung cancer participants, the survival advantage was about 11 months. For those at higher risk of melanoma recurrence, reducing sucralose intake allowed them to remain cancer-free an additional six months compared to heavier consumers.
Similar outcomes were noted for participants who consumed more than 0.1 milligrams per kilogram daily of Acesulfame K, another artificial sweetener.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises limiting sucralose intake to below 5 milligrams per kilogram daily. “Thus, the threshold which seems to reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapy is not half, or even 25%, but rather about 5% of the recommended daily amount,” states Diwakar Dabar from the University of Pittsburgh. “This suggests that even a small amount could have a detrimental effect.”
Additional experiments with mice bearing various types of tumors demonstrated that adding sucralose to their water during immunotherapy expedited tumor growth and decreased survival rates.
Genetic analysis revealed that immune cells activated by immunotherapy were less effective in mice provided with sucralose to combat cancer. Fecal analyses also indicated significant alterations in the rodent gut microbiota, notably increased activity in the metabolic pathway utilized by T cells to process arginine, a crucial amino acid.
The findings imply that sucralose may hinder immunotherapy by reducing arginine levels and modifying gut microbiota in ways that impair T-cell efficacy. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that arginine supplementation improved survival rates in mice consuming sucralose, bringing them in line with those not consuming artificial sweeteners.
However, it remains uncertain if sucralose exerts similar effects on human gut microbiota and T-cell function. Josam Suez from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland notes, “It is incredibly challenging to derive findings based solely on human data, particularly regarding nutrition and food frequency surveys, while isolating specific impacts of non-nutritive sweeteners and isolating the effects of sucralose on clinical outcomes.”
“We invest considerable resources in the development of new medications, which is costly, challenging, and time-consuming,” remarks Davar. Discovering ways to enhance existing treatments, such as avoiding artificial sweeteners or using arginine supplements, presents a more straightforward and economical approach.
Nonetheless, further investigation is essential to determine if it genuinely enhances patient outcomes. “Hence, it is crucial to maintain support for these research priorities in a challenging funding landscape,” concludes Davar.
Potato tubers are a product of ancient hybridization events
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The common potato has been discovered to originate from a cross between the ancient tomato and a lesser-known South American lineage called Etuverosam.
Plants from the Etuverosam group resemble potato plants but lack one significant feature: they do not yield the starch-rich tubers that make cultivated potatoes a vital food source globally.
Sandra Knapp from The Natural History Museum in London and her team examined the genetics of three groups within the Solanum genus: Petota, which includes 107 species of cultivated potatoes, alongside 17 tomato types and three Etuverosam species. All three groups are believed to have diverged from a shared ancestor roughly 14 million years ago.
The researchers analyzed 450 genomes from cultivated potatoes and 56 wild potato species, revealing a consistent genetic mixture of tomato and Etuverosam genes across all samples.
Findings suggest that the origins of potato strains result from hybridization events with tomato ancestors, likely from a lineage situated in present-day Chile, dating back about 8 million years.
These hybridization events have led to novel gene combinations and innovations like tuber formation. “This process facilitates gene sharing, enabling new strains to produce tubers and helping these plants to thrive in newly formed, cold and arid environments,” Knapp explains.
This indicates that hybridization acts as “a significant driver of diversity evolution,” according to Knapp.
“While the edible parts of tomatoes and potatoes appear quite different, the actual plants are remarkably similar,” she elaborates. “If you happen to find a potato plant that produces fruit, it will yield green, tomato-like berries, but these are inedible and taste unpleasant.”
Brett Summerrell from a Botanical Garden in Sydney, Australia, which did not participate in the study, mentions that this new research offers substantial evidence of hybridization and resultant species diversification.
“This study underscores the necessity of understanding the evolutionary importance of crops and safeguarding their wild relatives, which may be crucial for addressing future agricultural challenges,” Summerrell emphasizes.
“Many relatives of potato-like species face threats posed by habitat destruction and climate change.”
Pandemic. Conflict. Market crash. Government upheaval. A quick look at recent headlines conveys a sense of instability in the world. However, “volatility” isn’t just a concern for hedge fund managers; it holds crucial significance for our brains as well.
In my new book, The Trick of the Heart, the latest science suggests that the brain operates like a scientist. It constructs hypotheses and frameworks to understand the world, others, and even itself. However, if your brain is busy crafting a framework, it must also recognize when it’s time to adapt. This process involves a network of frontal and subcortical brain regions, with noradrenaline playing a vital role in monitoring how unstable our environment is.
This “volatility tracking” mechanism allows our brains to detect tipping points in the external world and adjust our expectations and hypotheses accordingly. This adaptability becomes crucial when our daily realities shift; as a result, our mental frameworks can become more flexible. This process is entirely adaptive and logical. After all, when circumstances are in flux, we want our minds to adjust as well.
Yet, in a transformative environment, having an open mind can present dangers. For instance, research conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic indicated that unexpected viruses and unprecedented lockdowns led some people to question what constitutes a normal mindset. A study in the US found that as lockdowns intensified across states, unstable thinking surged. Those who began perceiving their surroundings as insecure were more likely to endorse bizarre conspiracies related to the pandemic, such as the belief that vaccines contain mind-controlling microchips or support for political conspiracies like QAnon.
While these ideas may appear ludicrous, this behavior can be understood through the lens of brain function. Our minds need to remain malleable and resilient, adapting their paradigms based on a rapidly changing world. We must be willing to consider perspectives we’ve never previously entertained.
I actually believe that navigating uncertain times isn’t inherently detrimental for us or our brains. After all, unpredictability does not equate to inevitable doom; it simply means we can’t foresee what lies ahead. Historically, many periods of significant progress have emerged during times of upheaval when our familiar realities were disrupted. In the UK, support for women’s suffrage gained momentum after World War I, which also paved the way for a transformative welfare state and the establishment of a second National Health Service.
While I can’t travel back in time to observe the brains of those historical figures, I can imagine those moments of new opportunities functioning just like our minds do today. When our surrounding touchpoints appear unstable, old concepts can be discarded and new ones adopted.
Uncertainty and volatility are distinctly perceived based on how the brain operates. While volatility can induce anxiety, living amidst constant change opens our minds to new possibilities. We must remain alert to those who might exploit our adaptable minds towards extreme or conspiratorial concepts, but we can also embrace a brighter, more optimistic future by steering our cognitive processes toward pivotal changes.
Daniel Yong is the director and author of the Uncertainty Lab at Birkbeck, University of London. His book, The Trick of the Heart, delves into these themes.
While many shelves are filled with titles about forests, oceans, and deserts, the deep biosphere, an important and intriguing habitat beneath our feet, is often overlooked. Despite a few notable exceptions, literature on ecosystems ranging from the Amazon to Antarctica largely ignores this underground world.
Not anymore. Within the Earth: Discover the Strangest Life on Earth by Karen G. Lloyd serves as a crucial field guide to the underground life we’ve started to uncover. “In fact, we have yet to find the limits of where life ceases to exist,” she states.
The general unawareness of the deep biosphere’s existence reflects our surface-centric worldview. However, Lloyd, a microbial biogeochemist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, argues that learning about this life can profoundly change our understanding of existence itself.
She defines the deep biosphere as areas below the seafloor or beneath land where life thrives without sunlight, the primary energy source for most surface organisms. These environments encompass a variety of metabolic processes, from methane production arising from decomposed plants beneath a few centimeters of marsh mud to chemical processes with microbes three kilometers underground.
Discussing these microorganisms, she notes, “It’s as if there are millions of small, low-energy suns scattered throughout the Earth’s crust, each supporting its own underground ecosystem.”
How much life is present? It’s difficult to say. However, Lloyd contends that all estimates are likely underestimated. One claim suggests that marine sediments alone could hold 2.9 x 1029 cells, potentially twice as many as those in continental fractures and pores, presenting astonishing figures.
Advances in genetic sequencing and field research are illuminating these rich ecosystems. Lloyd helps researchers differentiate between microbial species and deduce metabolic functions through DNA alone. This is especially helpful since many deep-dwelling bacteria and archaea have proven impossible to cultivate in surface laboratories.
It’s like a movie. Be careful not to slip on the volcanic glass shards. Don’t fall into the acid lake!
The fieldwork section discusses how scientists obtain new DNA samples—whether from hydrothermal vents, excavated continental rocks, or dripping water in deep mines. “To understand limits, one sometimes must become the explorer,” Lloyd notes.
Through engaging prose, she recounts her adventures tracking microorganisms from the high deserts of the Andes to the perilous peaks of Costa Rican volcanoes. These stories resemble scenes from action films—caution is essential to avoid slipping on volcanic glass fragments or falling into acid lakes!
Fortunately, this book transcends a mere expedition narrative. It features an extensive and approachable explanation of the chemistry that enables a deep biosphere. Although the equations involved can be complex, Lloyd adeptly guides readers to grasp the chemical frameworks that support these creatures living on the “edge of energy.”
To facilitate this challenging learning curve, she draws parallels between surface ecosystems and our dietary habits to illuminate the underground world. For instance, bacteria that metabolize sulfides are likened to “couch potatoes,” competing with methane-producing “freeloaders” by preserving hydrogen, a universal nutrient—a dramatic ecological narrative reminiscent of the Serengeti. Sulfate-reducing agents in Svalbard’s fjords “have access to a permanently stocked refrigerator.” Engaging and thrilling, her exploration of biogeochemistry is no small feat.
However, the highlight of Lloyd’s book is her assertion that certain forms of deep life may possess a sluggish metabolism, allowing individuals to survive for thousands, or even millions of years. These “eonophiles” (once confirmed to have extraordinarily long life spans) “redefine our preconceived notions about the nature of life,” she asserts. Truly, these lifestyles are alien, and how fortunate we are to uncover more about them right here on Earth!
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In a post-apocalyptic world shaped by Stephen King’s Stand, other writers weave their own narratives
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One of my most anticipated releases this month is a collection of short stories set in the devastating aftermath of Stephen King’s Stand. I have a soft spot for compelling endings, and King’s masterful storytelling shines through in this 1978 classic. I’m eager to get my hands on this anthology, especially after reading Annaly Newts’ cozy take in New Scientist; the addition of titles like Automatic Noodles featuring the Jolly Robot and Artificial Wisdom alongside more literary works like Rudder. Stay tuned for updates on the prolific Adrian Tchaikovsky!
As a dedicated fan of Stephen King (please call me Annie Wilkes), I can’t stress enough how thrilled I am about this anthology. It features talented authors, including the brilliantly eerie Tananarive Due, who have been granted the chance to explore King’s universe alongside many other noteworthy names. Set in the aftermath of a superflu that decimates the global population, Stand pits the forces of good against evil in a crucial apocalyptic narrative. I’m excited to see how these writers envision the future that follows. What a captivating treat!
Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Abagail in a 2020 adaptation of The Stand
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I am an admirer of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s work featured in New Scientist; his novel Alien Clay was a massive hit among my book club. I eagerly anticipate his latest entry into this chilling World series. In this tale, Amri fights for survival in “an explosive landscape of a decimated, poisoned world” as a “god” named Guy Westen descends from the heavens.
This thriller unfolds in 2050, against the backdrop of impending climate catastrophes, requiring global leaders to confront the “Apocalypse to Come.” The main candidates are ex-US presidents Lockwood and Solomon — the first political AI in the world. Journalist Marcus Tully dives into an investigation when Solomon’s creator is murdered, revealing whispers of a vast conspiracy. This premise has caught my attention, and I can’t wait to see more.
This charming novel by columnist Annaly Nutz appears to inspire hope. It follows a group of robotic misfits establishing a restaurant in San Francisco while the city’s residents recover from the aftermath of a devastating war. Annalee shares insights in a column here, making it one of my top picks for an eventful August.
In an alternate Birmingham, teenager Joseph Jacobs gets drawn into a realm where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Publishers are drawing comparisons to Inception and Ready Player One.
This surreal tale sees Tom Crowley lose his daughter during “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.” He frantically searches for her in “a maze of corridors and an impossible multidimensional space,” while she crafts something that wasn’t ever built.
Sarah Hall is a profound literary voice, and although this book seems to include fantastical elements, I believe it stands robustly in the science fiction realm for enthusiasts. It chronicles the fierce winds of Helm and those who have fought and aimed for Eden Valley since the beginning of time. Currently, scientist Dr. Selima Sutal measures this phenomenon from an observation post, yet fears that the end is approaching.
The latest Star Wars installment offers a fresh narrative about the Bad Batch gang, embarking on a mission to restore a safe haven following devastation brought about by ocean waves on a small planet, far from the Empire’s reach.
Knights flee across the abandoned world of Aeon Heart
Universal Images Group North America LLC / Alamy Stock Photo
This graphic novel promises to fuse science fiction with fantasy, delivering a thrilling tale of a knight escaping through radioactive ruins while pursued by sinister forces. Equipped only with the very power that brought the world to its knees, readers will find themselves questioning whether this is magic or technology. Publishers liken it to a combination of Tin Tin, Blade Runner, and The Dark Tower—it sounds like a potent mix!
This story collection from Korean authors weaves between science fiction and fantasy, offering a chilling glimpse into a near future where women face extinction, as two friends strive to escape a facility for those capable of giving birth. I’m also intrigued by a tale set in the Alps Grand Park in Korea, where residents of a luxurious facility live within a massive air-purifying tower.
An intriguing concept emerges from an anthology where the editor invited ten Iranian authors to envision Iran in 2053, a century post-coup. Their imaginative futures range from Tehran sinking into “great, tourist-attracting pits” to alternate universes rich with interdimensional voids.
Pilot crashes on the moon of Theo’s Durmi
Frans Lemmens / Alamy Stock Photo
This title serves as a sequel to the Space OperaSee‘s Godri and promises a whirlwind of excitement, as a space pilot wrongfully accused of murdering his family crash-lands on a moon. I recommend reading the first installment before diving into the second.
This book marks the finale of Johnston’s Enkeradon trilogy, arriving 18 months after the peaceful alien Enkeradon escapes the grasp of the US military.
Vincent Lynch (left) and Nic Rawlence targeted by negative press
Berlin Communications/Ken Miller
Researchers questioning the legitimacy of efforts to “revive” species like woolly mammoths and Tasmanian tigers are calling for an evident movement to diminish their credibility. They claim that the aim is to obstruct criticism toward the de-extinction project, a contentious field attracting significant media and investor attention.
Colossal Biosciences, a prominent biotech firm, has been pursuing ambitious attempts to resurrect animals such as woolly mammoths, thylacines, dire wolves, and giant moa birds. Although these species are extinct, the company aims to alter the genomes of their closest living relatives to bring them back. Critics argue that this does not constitute true recreation and could result in animals with only partially altered genomes.
Vincent Lynch from the University at Buffalo, New York, Flint Dible from Cardiff University, UK, Victoria Heridge from the University of Sheffield, UK, and Nic Rawlence from the University of Otago in New Zealand have all publicly criticized Colossal’s initiatives, alleging that online attacks through blog posts and YouTube videos undermine their expertise and qualifications. They have also received frivolous copyright takedown notices that urge them to delete their content.
“Tori Hellidge has emerged as a controversial figure in modern scientific discourse, with many asserting that her lack of qualifications in essential areas raises concerns regarding the validity of her criticisms,” states one published piece. BusinessMole, a business news outlet.
Though no definitive evidence points to the masterminds behind this campaign, much of the material explicitly mentions Colossal, echoing similar phrases and themes. Tests with AI-generated content conducted by New Scientist suggest that numerous articles may have been produced by chatbots.
Colossal has denied involvement in these defamatory articles. “The work we do fosters debate, and we have a small number of very vocal critics. Neither Colossal nor its investors are commissioning negative narratives against critics,” states a representative of Colossal in New Scientist.
Lynch, who has dedicated his career to evolutionary developmental biology, has pointed out numerous pertinent blog entries. Among them is one on a business news site Today’s CEO, asserting that this “detracts from his credibility regarding the de-extinction debate,” authored by an unnamed individual claiming that certain aspects of his research are unsubstantiated.
Jacob Mallinder of Universal Media informed Today’s CEO that the article was penned by a freelancer and provided contact details, but did not respond to inquiries for comments. Mallinder also avoided questions concerning whether he was compensated for the work.
Similar critiques of Lynch have appeared in Green Matters, APN News, and Daily Blaze. All these pieces were authored anonymously. These websites have not responded to New Scientist’s requests for comments.
Lynch has also highlighted criticisms directed at him on X. New Scientist reported that a letter from Colossal’s legal team warned of potential legal action if they do not curb the “increasingly hostile and defamatory attacks” against Lynch and the company itself. Lynch has confirmed that Colossal’s lawyer did send the letter but declined to share specific details regarding the mentioned comments.
Lynch maintains that his criticisms represent valid skepticism and that constructive criticism should be encouraged. “This is fundamental to the scientific method. We must maintain a critical stance on everything,” he emphasizes.
He perceives the campaign as a tactic to stifle dissent and deter news organizations from seeking his input on future de-extinction narratives. “I have thick skin. No one can fire me,” Lynch states. “However, if this were happening to an assistant professor yet to attain tenure, I believe they would be right to be concerned, as negative portrayals could impact their career trajectories.”
Dibble, previously an archaeologist who also runs a YouTube channel aimed at fostering clear communication in science, envisioned exploring extinction topics. He invited Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer of Colossal Biosciences, to extend an invitation to Lynch for a video. Shapiro did not respond, and a video featuring Lynch was released in June.
Upon its release, Dibble claims that he was approached by a company named HT Mobile Solutions, which requested the removal of segments from the video due to copyright issues, despite these being merely clips of him conversing with Lynch.
Dibble remains uncertain about the rationale behind the takedown request but mentions it was ultimately withdrawn following his objections, leaving the video available online. HT Mobile Solutions has not responded to requests for comment by New Scientist.
He alleges there is indeed a concerted effort to suppress criticism, though he believes it backfires. “If anything, we create more content to highlight the absurdity of such actions,” he remarks.
Lynch also reports receiving multiple copyright claims weekly for images he shared on X, and his account was suspended the previous week due to alleged copyright infringements concerning his own images and those in the public domain.
No one at Colossal has sought copyright enforcement, Lamm states. “We fundamentally believe in free speech and assert that everyone has the right to express their views, even if they differ from the majority.”
Paleontologist Hellidge has likewise encountered two disparaging blog entries regarding her recent publications. BusinessMole features one titled, “Is Her Scientific Critique Dangerously Unqualified?” While Hellidge holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and presents science programs across radio and television, the post claims, “Critics of Hellidge argue that her lack of expertise in critical areas undermines the credibility of her position.”
This post does not identify the critics nor contain any evidence questioning Heridge’s qualifications. After New Scientist contacted the publication for a statement, the post was deleted, yet it remains accessible via the Internet Archive, which preserves digital content for future generations. Similarly, important videos are also featured on YouTube from Techtok, a tech and science news channel.
Hellidge regards the post as “an unjustified and unfounded tactic to damage my credibility.” “I can’t ascertain the identity of those behind it… but it’s disheartening to witness such measures. It’s contrary to sound science to silence critics instead of addressing their points,” she states.
Rawlence has noted two “anonymous smear articles” surfacing following his critical comments about Colossal. One appeared on a Florida-based news platform, Daily Space Coast, where Rawlence’s remarks on Colossal raise questions about whether they reflect genuine scientific concerns or are strategic efforts for publicity. Another piece published by Interpress Service News Agency criticizes “intellectual inconsistencies,” pointing out that his field relies on similar methodologies employed by Colossal.
Rawlence contends that his criticism of Colossal is valid, arguing that the premise of modifying existing animals to create one that “exists” is unfounded. “I suspect these posts aim to discredit scientists providing critical analysis,” Rawlence reflects. “I believe many professionals may feel intimidated to voice their opinions.”
Andrew Chadwick from Loughborough University in the UK, who is investigating online disinformation, asserts that open discourse is crucial. “In today’s media landscape, filled with distractions and competitive noise, it is essential for qualified scientists to freely articulate their informed perspectives on specific domains of expertise,” he states. “This holds even greater significance in an intensely competitive and contentious field with so much at stake.”
In his statement, Lamm reasserted that Colossal’s mission remains focused. “Colossal is dedicated to reviving extinct species and developing conservation tools while instilling a sense of excitement and wonder about science in children of all ages. Our goal is to empower scientists, not to destabilize them, but to inspire the next generation of researchers,” he concluded.
If your dog is overweight, it’s important to note that certain breeds are more prone to this issue than others. According to recent studies.
Researchers from Texas A&M University assessed “food motivation” by surveying over 15,000 dog owners about their pets’ eating habits and reviewing veterinary records regarding the dogs’ weights.
This assessment showed that dogs identified as overweight by vets indicated a strong preference for food.
The study revealed that sporting breeds, such as spaniels, retrievers, setters, and pointers, were 10% more likely to exhibit higher food motivation scores than mixed-breed dogs, with Labradors and Golden Retrievers making up the majority.
Hound breeds came in second, with a 5.3% increased risk of food motivation compared to mixed breeds. This group included Greyhounds, Dachshunds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds.
On the other hand, non-sporting breeds showed a lower likelihood, with scores 4.1% less than mixed breeds. Common breeds in this category included poodles, bulldogs, Dalmatians, and terriers.
“Overweight dogs face various health risks, including skin diseases, diabetes, and arthritis,” noted Dr. Kate Creevey, Chief Veterinary Officer of The Dog Aging Project and Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.
“It’s crucial for veterinarians to understand the factors influencing dog obesity, including social, environmental, and demographic contexts.
The likelihood of a dog being overweight can vary by breed, with larger dogs generally exhibiting higher food motivation scores than smaller ones.
Moreover, dogs residing in urban areas are more susceptible to weight gain compared to their rural counterparts.
Additionally, dogs living in multi-pet households face a greater risk of obesity than those in single-pet environments, possibly due to less individualized attention from humans.
“These variables can impact a dog’s exercise levels and food access,” Creevey explained. “Some dogs may seek out food due to boredom, especially in settings with limited opportunities for exercise and engagement.
“Furthermore, owners with multiple dogs may adopt specific feeding practices, such as free feeding, which increases food availability.”
Hound breeds show a 5.3% likelihood of a higher food motivation score, indicating overweight – Credit: Wakira via Getty
To determine the food motivation score for each dog, owners filled out a survey detailing their pets’ food responses, pickiness, bloating, and general food interest.
This data was combined with veterinary assessments of each dog’s “physical condition,” where vets evaluated areas like the ribs and hips to determine the amount of fat relative to size.
This evaluation aids in calculating the dog’s physical condition score (BCS).
“BCS is essential for helping veterinarians discuss weight issues with pet owners, so it’s important to increase the use of these scores,” Creevy stated.
If your Irish Setter seems a bit heavy, what’s the solution? Creevy mentioned that weight loss interventions can frequently falter if the veterinarian and owner aren’t aligned.
“Based on our study, some breeds may need stricter feeding guidelines,” she added.
Thus, researchers recommend consulting your veterinarian for personalized advice tailored to your furry friends.
Water is crucial for life, which is why researchers prioritize finding water sources when exploring other planets. Mars is of particular interest to astrobiologists due to evidence of historical water presence. The current surface of Mars is cold and arid, prompting scientists to investigate what happened to that past water. Studies have indicated that Mars has an active water cycle that produces clouds of water ice, but the existence of water on its surface remains unclear.
Recently, an international team of researchers employed high-resolution imaging and spectral photoanalysis to look for frost on Mars’ volcanoes. They analyzed around 4,200 images obtained using a technology known as color and stereo surface imaging technology from Cassis. This technology utilizes satellite imagery of Mars from the European Space Agency’s Trace Gas Orbiter. The researchers explained that they identified frost by searching for the blue wavelengths in blackcurrant data, as frozen surfaces reflect more brightly at these blue wavelengths of spectral light.
Through their analyses, the team located 13 frost regions across four volcanoes, including Olympus Mons, Seranius Solas, Ascleus, and Arciamontes. They observed images taken over a 12-hour period and noted that high frost concentrations appeared early in the morning on the edges and craters of Olympus Mons. In one crater alone, frost covered an area of about 4,500 km or 3,000 miles, akin to the size of Philadelphia. The researchers estimated that these frost deposits were quite thin, measuring around 10 microns thick, which is roughly one-tenth the width of a human hair.
Next, the team sought to determine if the frost was composed of water or carbon dioxide. Given that Mars’ atmosphere is predominantly carbon dioxide, it is possible for carbon dioxide to freeze. Similar to Earth, Mars has ice in its polar regions; the Martian polar ice caps consist primarily of carbon dioxide, with minor amounts of water. Thus, they theorized that the volcanic frosts could also contain frozen carbon dioxide.
The research team utilized Mars weather research and prediction models to calculate the surface temperature of a volcano over a 24-hour period. They determined that the minimum temperature was -190°F or approximately -120°C, which is too warm for carbon dioxide frost to form, as it typically requires surface temperatures below -200°F or -130°C. However, they proposed that these volcanic frost deposits are likely made of water, as they were found at -140°F or -95°C in the Martian atmosphere.
The researchers highlighted that these Martian volcanoes are among the tallest highland volcanoes in the solar system and located within the equatorial region of Mars. It’s generally not expected that water ice would form in equatorial volcanoes since the slopes and sides tend to be too warm for frost condensation. However, their climate model indicated that the unique topography of these volcanic craters created local weather patterns conducive to frost formation.
Finally, the team carried out further observations and climate model simulations of Olympus and Arciamontes to ascertain whether this frost can form solely during the day or throughout the night. They found that frost accumulated in both volcanoes during the early mornings of winter and spring but not in summer, indicating a seasonal pattern that might reflect variations in Martian temperatures.
The researchers concluded that Mars’ volcanoes produce about 150,000 tonnes, or 150,000,000 kilograms, of water frost daily. They suggested that this frost formation is likely influenced by seasonal atmospheric phenomena such as wind patterns and pressure changes. Studying these processes could help scientists determine the potential for life on Mars; nevertheless, they noted that additional research is needed to rule out direct volcanic water sources.
New research by neurobiologists at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reveals that the brain’s internal GPS changes as individuals navigate familiar environments. These findings shed light on the essential mystery of how the brain encodes and retains spatial memories, influencing scientists’ perspectives on memory, learning, and even aging.
Memories navigating familiar paths are more fluid than previously thought and activate different neurons on each journey. Image credit: Zeinab vessel.
“Our study confirms that the spatial memories in the brain are not fixed but rather dynamic,” stated Professor Daniel Dombeck from Northwestern University.
“You can’t simply point to a specific group of neurons and claim that their memories are located there.”
“We are uncovering the fact that memories shift between neurons over time.”
“The same experience triggers different neurons each time. It’s not an abrupt change; it evolves gradually.”
The hippocampus, situated deep within the temporal lobe, is integral for storing memories related to spatial navigation.
For many years, neurobiologists believed that the same hippocampal neurons encoded the same memory in a consistent location.
This led to the assumption that a person’s route from the bedroom to the kitchen would activate identical neuron sequences during a midnight quest for water.
However, about a decade ago, researchers studied the brains of mice traversing a maze.
Despite running through the identical maze daily, different neurons fired with each run, prompting scientists to question whether this outcome was an anomaly. Perhaps the mice’s experiences were affected by subtle environmental cues.
To delve deeper into these inquiries, Professor Dombeck and his team devised an experiment that meticulously controlled mouse sensory input.
The mice navigated a virtual maze on a treadmill, allowing precise measurements of their speed.
The maze was presented through a multisensory virtual reality platform developed by the researchers.
This setup ensured that the mice experienced the same visual stimuli and odors during all sessions, minimizing environmental variability.
After conducting multiple trials, the results indicated a different set of neurons activated each time, even in the highly controlled virtual setting.
This revelation confirms that the brain’s spatial mapping is inherently dynamic, constantly adapting, even in supposedly stable settings.
“Our findings suggest that memory is fluid,” commented Jason Climer, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“This ties into a broader question regarding modern AI and why the brain can learn and adapt in ways machines struggle with.”
“It may also be linked to natural forgetting, which is often overlooked but essential for healthy memory function.”
While there were few discernible patterns throughout the experiment, one consistent observation emerged. The more excitable neurons were more successfully activated, leading to stable spatial memory across multiple sessions in the virtual mazes.
Given that neuronal excitability diminishes with age, this finding aids in understanding how aging and related diseases impact the brain’s ability to form new memories.
“The small clusters of stable neurons are unique, and gaining insights into what makes them special could pave the way for new treatments for memory disorders,” stated Professor Climer.
“Memory impairment is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and presents significant challenges for individuals with various neuropsychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia.”
“By deepening our understanding of fundamental memory aspects, like temporal changes highlighted in our study, we can identify new targets for understanding brain differences in these patients and develop new treatment strategies.”
“Learning about how the brain deals with memory challenges can also inform improvements in computers and AI.”
Survey results were published in the journal on July 23, 2025, in Nature.
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JR Climer et al. The hippocampus expression drifts in a stable, multisensory environment. Nature Published online on July 23, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09245-y
Two extinct hominins, Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus, exhibited much greater sexual dimorphism than chimpanzees and modern humans. According to Dr. Adam Gordon, a paleontologist at the University of Albany and Durham, Australopithecus afarensis displayed even higher levels of dimorphism.
Reconstructing the face of Australopithecus afarensis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes/CC by-sa 3.0.
The sexual size dimorphism is not just a mere physical trait; it indicates deeper behavioral and evolutionary strategies.
In line with sexual selection theory, the sexual size dimorphism seen in modern primates typically correlates with intense male-male competition and social structures, fostering a one-sided mating system where one or more large males dominate access to multiple females.
Conversely, low sexual dimorphism is characteristic of species that exhibit paired social structures with lower competition for mating opportunities.
Contemporary human populations show low to moderate sexual size dimorphism, with males generally being slightly larger than females on average, although there is considerable overlap between the sexes.
Fossil data is often incomplete, making it exceedingly difficult to ascertain the gender of ancient individuals.
To overcome this issue, Dr. Gordon utilized a geometric averaging method for estimating size from multiple skeletal elements, including the upper arm, femur, and tibia.
Resampling techniques were then employed to simulate thousands of comparisons between fossil hominins and living primates, ensuring that the statistical model accounted for the incomplete and varied nature of fossil samples.
A comparative framework was developed using data from contemporary gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans with known genders and complete skeletons.
Unlike earlier studies where ambiguous or inconclusive statistical results were interpreted as signs of similarity, Dr. Gordon’s approach unveiled clear and significant differences, even with relatively small fossil samples.
To eliminate the potential of body size changes in Australopithecus afarensis reflecting broader evolutionary trends rather than gender distinctions, Dr. Gordon also analyzed time series trends over a 300,000-year span from the Khadar Formation in Ethiopia.
His analysis indicated no significant size increase or decrease over time, suggesting that the observed variations were more likely due to differences between males and females.
“These were not minor differences,” Dr. Gordon stated.
“In the case of Australopithecus afarensis, males were significantly larger than females—possibly more so than the great living apes.”
“Both of these extinct hominin species displayed gender-specific size distinctions from modern humans, yet differed from extant ape species in this regard.”
Australopithecus africanus. Image credit: JM salas/cc by-sa 3.0.
Dr. Gordon’s previous research indicates that the elevated sexual size dimorphism seen in living primates may correlate with considerable resource stress. In situations where food is scarce, smaller, healthier females can better meet their metabolic needs and reproduce quicker than larger females, leading to offspring with smaller mothers and greater size disparities between males and females.
The pronounced sexual size dimorphism observed in both Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus suggests a high level of male competition, akin to differences noted in chimpanzees and gorillas. However, the distinctions between the two fossil species could reflect varying intensities of sexual selection or resource stress in their environments (e.g., differences in the length of dry seasons that could affect female body size).
In any event, the high sexual size dimorphism of these fossil hominins starkly contrasts with the more balanced sizes seen in modern humans, offering insights into different models of early human existence.
The implications of these findings are significant. Australopithecus afarensis, which inhabited the Earth between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago, is often viewed as very closely related to the direct ancestors of modern humans.
However, its pronounced sexual dimorphism suggests that early human social systems may have been much more hierarchical and competitive than previously believed.
On the contrary, Australopithecus africanus—which appears slightly later in the fossil record—exhibits less dimorphism compared to Australopithecus afarensis. This could represent different evolutionary branches within the human lineage or perhaps reflect various social behavioral stages in the development of hominins.
“We often categorize these early hominins together as a single group called Gracile Australopithecines, believed to have interacted with their physical and social environments in similar ways,” Dr. Gordon explained.
“While there is some truth to this, the significant differences in dimorphism between the two species indicate that these closely related hominins were under distinct selection pressures, unlike those affecting modern human pair bonds.”
The survey findings will be published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.
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Adam D. Gordon. 2025. Dimorphism of sexual size in Australopithecus africanus and A. afarensis in contrast to modern humans despite low power resampling analysis. American Journal of Biological Anthropology 187(3): E70093; doi: 10.1002/ajpa.70093
Archaeologists have reexamined the 2,500-year-old remnants discovered in bronze containers at an underground shrine in Paestum, Italy, previously categorized as a mixture of wax, fat, and resin. Utilizing a multi-species approach, the researchers identified lipids, sugar degradation products, hexose sugars, and key royal jelly proteins.
Paestum Honey: (a) An underground shrine in Paestum, Italy. (b) One of the Hydrias showcased in 2019 alongside a Perspex box containing Ashmolean Museum residues. (c) A graphic representation of the arrangement of bronze artifacts within the shrine. (d) Samples extracted from the core of the residue. Image credit: Da Costa Carvalho et al. , doi: 10.1021/jacs.5c04888.
Honey played a crucial role in ancient societies.
Historical texts and depictions indicate that honey was utilized as an early sweetener in medicinal recipes, rituals, and cosmetics.
Within ancient Greek and Roman traditions, bees and honey were of significant religious and symbolic value.
Honey is thought to confer wisdom, with myths stating that Zeus was given honey in his infancy.
Discovering honey in archaeological residues offers direct chemical evidence of the collection, exploitation, and processing of bee products, illuminating early agricultural and subsistence strategies in various regions globally.
In 1954, excavations at an ancient Greek site in Pestum, southern Italy, dating back to around 520 BC, unveiled an underground shrine dedicated to an unknown deity. This shrine housed a bronze bottle and two amphoras encircling an empty iron bed.
The container was found to hold a paste-like residue with a distinct waxy aroma.
Archaeologists noted that the residue was initially a liquid or semi-liquid. Traces were discovered on the exterior of a vessel that had originally been sealed with a cork disk.
The excavation reports underscored the shrine’s sacredness, with the empty bed’s inaccessibility suggesting the presence of the deity.
Additionally, archaeologists identified the original contents of the bronze bottle as honey, a revered symbol believed to have originated from honeycomb, though only traces of beeswax persisted as a prominent element.
Subsequent laboratory analyses of samples with varying residues ruled out honey from the composition.
In 2019, when the residues from Paestum reached the Ashmolean Museum for display during the final evening of the Pompeii exhibition, it presented a fresh opportunity to reassess the biomolecular composition, leveraging recent advances in mass spectrometry technology.
Researchers from Oxford University, including Luciana da Costa Carvalho and James McCulla, analyzed the residue samples, determining their molecular composition through several modern analytical methods.
The analysis revealed that the ancient residues bore nearly identical chemical signatures to modern beeswax and honey, with elevated acidity levels indicative of changes due to prolonged storage.
The chemical profile of the residue appears to be more complex than that of pyrolyzed beeswax, hinting at the existence of honey or other substances.
Residues in contact with the bronze jar showed a mixture of sugars that had reacted with copper.
Hexose sugars, frequently identified in honey, were present in higher concentrations in the ancient residues compared to modern beeswax.
Proteins linked to Royal Jelly, known to be secreted by western honeybees, were also identified in the residues.
These findings suggest that the ancient material may indeed be remnants of ancient honey.
However, researchers have not entirely ruled out the presence of other bee products.
“The ancient residues are not simply traces of what people consumed and offered to the gods; they represent intricate chemical ecosystems,” remarked Dr. Da Costa Carvalho.
“Investigating these substances will unveil how they have evolved over time, paving the way for future studies on ancient microbial activities and their potential applications.”
A paper detailing the study’s findings was published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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Luciana da Costa Carvalho et al. Immortal symbol: evidence of honey in bronze jars from 530 to 510 BC. J. Am. Chemistry. Soc, published online on July 30th, 2025. doi:10.1021/jacs.5c04888
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula generated water waves traveling at jetliner speeds toward Hawaii, California, and Washington states on Wednesday.
Yet, when the tsunami reached the U.S., it appears not to have inflicted widespread devastation, with some areas where warnings were issued showing no signs of significant flooding.
This doesn’t mean the tsunami was a “bust” or poorly predicted, according to earthquake and tsunami researchers.
“When you hear ‘tsunami warning,’ people often think of dramatic scenes from movies, and when it arrives at just three feet, they might wonder, ‘What’s going on?’,” remarked Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Earthquake Network and professor at the University of Washington. “We should view this as a success; we received a warning, but the situation wasn’t catastrophic.”
Here’s what you should know.
How intense was the Kamchatka earthquake? What caused the initial discrepancies?
Initially, the US Geological Survey assessed the Kamchatka earthquake at magnitude 8.0, which was later adjusted to 8.8.
“It’s not unusual for major earthquakes to see such adjustments in the first moments,” Tobin explained. “Our standard methods for calculating earthquake sizes can quickly saturate, akin to turning up the volume on a speaker until it distorts.
A buoy measuring the quake, located approximately 275 miles southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, gave the first signs of the earthquake, showing bigger waves than the initial report.
This buoy belongs to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s DART (Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting) system and is connected to a submarine pressure sensor roughly four miles deep.
That sensor detected waves measuring 90 centimeters (over 35 inches), which caught the attention of tsunami researchers.
Vasily Titov, a senior tsunami modeler at NOAA’s Pacific Ocean Environment Research Institute, noted:
Titov reflected on the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which tragically claimed nearly 16,000 lives in Japan.
Subsequent earthquake models confirmed the Wednesday earthquake’s magnitude as 8.8, as detailed by the USGS calculator.
In comparison, Tohoku was significantly larger.
Tobin estimated that the energy released during the Kamchatka quake was two to three times less than that in Japan, with the tsunami generated there being approximately three times as severe.
He further noted that the Tohoku event “created a notably large seafloor displacement.”
Tobin speculated that the Kamchatka quake likely had less seafloor displacement than what could occur in a worst-case 8.8 scenario, though more research is needed for substantiation.
Emergency services experts assess damage on Sakhalin Island in the Far East post-earthquake.Russia’s Ministry of Emergency via Getty Images / AFP
How did researchers generate predictions? How accurate were they?
Within two hours, researchers produced tsunami predictions for various “warning points” along both the Pacific and US coasts, forecasting tidal gauge and flood levels.
The tsunami took around eight hours to reach Hawaii and twelve hours to arrive at the California coast.
Titov, who assisted in developing the model used by predictors in the National Tsunami Warning Centers in Hawaii and Alaska, explained that the model relies on seismic data and a network of over 70 DART buoys along the Pacific edge. The U.S. operates more than half of these buoys.
Titov indicated that the model projected tsunami waves hitting Hawaii’s North Shore region at approximately two meters.
“Hawaii was predicted to have waves of about 2 meters [6.5 feet], and actual measurements were around 150 centimeters, or 1.5 meters (5 feet). That aligns perfectly with our expectations,” Titov stated.
A similar trend was observed in parts of California, according to Titov.
As assessments of flooding continue to come in, it takes time to determine how well the model performed.
“We know there were floods in Hawaii. We can’t ascertain the full extent yet, but initial reports seem to align closely with our predictions,” Titov shared.
On Wednesday at the Pacifica Municipal Pier Coastline in California, tsunami alerts were triggered following the earthquake.Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Why did residents in Hawaii evacuate for a 5-foot wave?
Yong Wei, a tsunami modeler and senior research scientist at the University of Washington and NOAA’s tsunami research center, indicated that 1.5 meters (5 feet) of tsunami waves could be highly perilous, particularly in Hawaii’s shallow waters.
Tsunami waves carry significantly more energy than typical wind-driven waves, possessing shorter wavelengths and durations between waves, resulting in slower speeds.
Wei noted that tsunami waves of this stature could surge several meters inland, producing hazardous currents and endangering boats and other objects.
Visitors stand on the balcony of the Alohilani Resort facing Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, responding to warnings of potential tsunami waves.Nicola Groom / Reuters
“People can get hurt. If you ignore the warning and stay, even a wave of two meters can be deadly,” Wei warned. “Being on the beach can expose you to powerful currents that may pull you into the ocean, which can lead to fatalities.”
Tobin expressed that he viewed the initial warning as conservative yet necessary.
“It’s essential not to belittle warnings. If nothing happens, people shouldn’t think, ‘Oh, we had alerts and nothing transpired.’ Warnings need to be cautious, allowing for some margin of error.”
Was this a significant event?
No. The Kamchatka Peninsula has a long history of seismic activity.
“This area has been slated for another earthquake, with several occurring recently, which indicates a heightened risk,” researchers noted.
In 1952, prior to a robust understanding of plate tectonics, a 9.0 magnitude quake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in a similar location, resulting in a tsunami that impacted the town of Severokrilsk.
“The Russian populace was caught off guard. It was an immensely powerful quake, leading to a massive tsunami, and they were unprepared,” McInnes shared.
McInnes explained that the tsunami measured between 30 to 60 feet in height in the southern section of the peninsula.
“Thousands perished, and the town suffered considerable destruction,” stated Joanne Bourgeois, a professor emeritus of sedimentology at the University of Washington.
How will the tsunami warning system function if an earthquake threatens your area?
The Kamchatka tsunami arose from a massive earthquake along a subduction zone fault, where one tectonic plate is pushed below another. A comparable fault exists offshore the U.S. West Coast, known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone, stretching from Northern California to Northern Vancouver Island.
“It’s akin to a mirrored image of the Pacific Ocean,” remarked Tobin. “The relatively shallow depth of 8.8 in Cascadia is certainly plausible for a scenario here.”
In fact, Cascadia has the potential to produce significantly larger earthquakes, as modeling suggests it could generate tsunami waves reaching heights of 100 feet.
Typically, earthquakes in subduction zones yield tsunamis that reach the coast within 30 minutes to an hour, and predictions are developing better methods for estimating tsunami impacts along the U.S. West Coast before flooding occurs.
Titov emphasized that enhancing predictions will necessitate advancements in underwater sensors, improved computing infrastructure, and AI algorithms.
Tobin noted that the success of Tuesday’s tsunami warning should inspire more investments in underwater sensors and earthquake monitoring stations along the subduction zones.
“This incident highlights the significant role of NOAA and USGS. Many questioned these agencies’ relevance, but without NOAA, no alert would have been issued. The next warning could be for a more imminent threat. They truly demonstrated their importance,” he asserted.
A recently identified giant stick insect species, discovered in the wet tropical rainforests of Australia, is poised to be recognized as the heaviest insect ever recorded on the continent.
Acrofera Alta weighs 44 grams, roughly equivalent to a golf ball, and measures around 40 cm in length. To date, only two female specimens have been collected, with a third individual photographed and released by surprised locals.
The genus of these insects has been known since 1835, yet this particular species remained hidden from scientific discovery, likely due to its elusive habitat, according to Angus Emmott from James Cook University in Townsville, Australia.
The lush, damp tropics of northeastern Australia serve as a pristine wilderness, rich with cool rainforests and home to other rare species like tree kangaroos.
So far, Acrofera Alta has only been found in tree canopies above 900 meters, specifically in the mountainous regions of Millaa Millaa and Mount Phypipamee in Queensland.
The species name Alta reflects both the altitude of the forests it inhabits and the height of the trees it commonly frequents.
“It has very large wings, but due to its bulky body, it can only use them to glide down to the ground,” Emmott explains.
Current population status remains uncertain. “We can’t really determine its rarity,” Emmott states. “It’s limited to small stretches of high-altitude rainforests and exists primarily in the canopy, making it less visible to observers unless they survive being affected by cyclones and birds.”
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3D representation of a tattooed mummy. The upper image uses textures captured under visible light, while the lower image’s textures come from near-infrared photography.
M. Vavulin
The intricate tattoo, featuring motifs of tigers, birds, and mythical creatures, has been uncovered on an ice mummy dating back over 2000 years. This mummified female belonged to the Pasilic culture in Siberia, which is part of the broader Scythian civilization.
Assessing the prevalence of ancient tattoos is challenging, yet some exceptions exist, such as Ötzi “Iceman,” who lived around 3300 BC and was found preserved in ice.
Now, Gino Casparri from the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology in Germany and his team studied the remains of semi-nomadic Iron Age herders from the Altai Mountains of Siberia, who passed away in the 3rd or 4th centuries BC. This individual is among the few in the region whose deep burial sites remain frozen, preserving her skin’s dark and dry condition.
Tattoos featured creatures resembling both real and mythical species.
D. Riday
“When observing the mummy with the naked eye, the tattoo remains invisible,” explains Casparri. Hence, his team utilized high-resolution near-infrared imaging to uncover astonishing hidden visuals.
“We see herbivores being hunted by tigers and leopards, and in some cases, birds are depicted,” Casparri remarks. “Given their age and vivid artistic style, Pasilic tattoos are genuinely remarkable.”
One bird resembles a rooster, as noted by team member Aaron Deter-Wolf from the Tennessee Department of Archaeology, highlighting how the tattoos feature a blend of realistic and fantastical animals.
The researchers also uncovered the process behind creating these tattoos. “Our investigations reveal that tattoos were crafted using a direct puncture technique rather than being etched or stitched into the skin,” states Deter-Wolf.
One of the tattoos seems to depict a rooster.
D. Riday
Cross-cultural evidence indicates that the tattooing method used was a technique called hand-poking. In this method, the needle is dipped in ink and punctured into the skin to create dot patterns, with carbon pigments likely sourced from charcoal, soot, or ash.
The tattoos on the right forearm exhibited more intricate designs compared to those on the left, suggesting they may have been created by different artists with varying skill levels, according to Caspari. “Our research indicates that tattooing was not only a widespread practice across the Eurasian steppe over 2000 years ago but also a specialized craft requiring significant expertise and technique,” he concludes.
Lung tissue samples from mice, depicting cells (blue), cancerous cells (green), and proliferation markers (magenta)
Bryan Johnson
Respiratory viruses are capable of triggering the growth of dormant cancer cells that have metastasized to the lungs from other body areas. Infectious diseases, such as influenza, can instigate an inflammatory response that aids the immune system in combating pathogens, yet they may also adversely influence cancer progression.
Cancer fatalities frequently result from tumor cells migrating from their primary sites. These cells may remain dormant in new locations for extended periods—potentially years or decades—before forming detectable tumors.
While it is uncertain if these cells will eventually proliferate, previous studies have suggested that once cancer cells infiltrate the lungs, inflammation induced by respiratory virus infections might play a significant role. “Nevertheless, no comprehensive research has been conducted to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship,” notes James DeGregori from the University of Colorado.
To address this research gap, DeGregori and his team employed genetically modified mice to develop tumors in their mammary glands. By two months of age, each mouse had developed a mammary tumor and fewer than ten dormant cancer cells in their lungs.
Subsequently, the researchers infected half of the mice with the H1N1 influenza strain, commonly referred to as swine flu, causing illness for approximately two weeks. During the nine days following the infection, the number of lung cancer cells surged by 100-fold, whereas uninfected mice exhibited minimal changes.
In complementary experiments, the team discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, led to a tenfold increase in cancer cell numbers in the mice’s lungs, again with no significant alterations in uninfected counterparts.
The researchers hypothesized that this expansion occurred due to viral infections elevating the levels of inflammatory molecules known as IL-6.
To investigate this hypothesis, they conducted further experiments with genetically modified mice deficient in IL-6 and found significantly fewer lung cancer cells compared to typical mice with normal IL-6 levels.
Another experiment suggested that IL-6 seemed to rejuvenate dormant cancer cells that had already migrated to the lungs instead of promoting the dissemination of these cells from the breasts.
However, IL-6 levels wane when the infection subsides. At this juncture, the researchers observed that cancer cells in the mouse lungs had ceased to proliferate but had acquired alterations in gene expression typically associated with tumor metastasis, according to DeGregori.
These findings suggest a potential impact on individuals with undetected levels of cancer cells in the lungs who are believed to be in remission, as stated by Anne Zeuner at the National Institutes of Health in Rome, Italy.
To determine the relevance of these findings to humans, researchers analyzed health records from 36,800 women in the U.S. diagnosed with breast cancer before the COVID-19 pandemic, who were thought to be non-metastatic.
Women who tested positive during the initial three years of the outbreak were significantly more likely to receive a diagnosis of secondary lung cancer in that timeframe. However, some women may have avoided testing due to asymptomatic infections, while others might not have sought tests, thereby complicating the validation of this finding, notes DeGregori.
Further research is necessary to corroborate these findings and explore the interactions between various respiratory viruses and cancer types, according to Zeuner. “Individual factors are likely to significantly influence the relationship between respiratory infections and cancer recurrence,” she adds.
The research focused solely on swine flu and SARS-CoV-2, but DeGregori expresses hope that a spectrum of viruses will exhibit similar behaviors, as many are known to elevate IL-6 levels. He also underscores the importance of vaccination, stating, “As a cancer survivor, I would ensure I am protected against common respiratory viruses like influenza and COVID-19,” remarks DeGregori.
Difficult-to-create diamonds, eluding scientists for years, can now be synthesized in labs, allowing the production of exceptionally challenging cutting and drilling tools.
Diamonds are known for their cubic atomic structure, yet for over 60 years, researchers have recognized the existence of a much tougher hexagonal diamond form.
Natural hexagonal diamonds are found in certain metamorphic rocks, referred to by the mineral name Ronzderate, but they only occur together with cubic diamonds. Earlier efforts to synthesize hexagonal diamonds yielded only minute quantities of impure variants.
Recently, Ho-Kwang Mao and his team at the Advanced Research Center for High Pressure Science and Technology in Beijing successfully produced relatively large hexagonal diamond samples measuring 1 mm in diameter and 70 micrometers thick.
While researchers have synthesized regular diamonds for some time, they state, “We explored various pressures and temperatures to identify optimal conditions for producing hexagonal diamonds. This includes 1400°C at a pressure of 20 Gigapascals, which is about 200,000 times the Earth’s atmospheric pressure.”
As these materials are unprecedented, Mao indicated a comprehensive investigation is necessary to ascertain their properties. “It’s extremely valuable,” he explains. “However, once the synthesis process is understood, anyone can replicate it. Thus, securing a patent and discovering ways to reduce production costs are critical.”
Predictions suggest hexagonal diamonds might be around 60% more rigid than conventional diamonds based on their structure. Cubic diamonds have a hardness rating of about 115, as measured by Vickers hardness tests. The hexagonal diamonds synthesized by Mao’s group exhibit a rating of 120 Gigapascals, which they believe could improve with further refinement of their techniques.
If hexagonal diamonds can be fabricated to sufficient thickness, they could be utilized to create more robust and resilient industrial tools for applications like geothermal energy drilling, according to James Elliott from Cambridge University. “Naturally, as you drill deeper, temperatures rise, which may enable exploration at greater depths.”
The deep-sea environment is largely dominated by marine tube worms
Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, CAS
Over 9,500 meters of ecosystems fueled by chemicals from tectonic plate interactions have been uncovered beneath the northwest Pacific Ocean.
“Their resilience and beauty captivated me,” says Mengrand Du from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Sanya. “The striking crimson tentacles unfurl like delicate blossoms of the trench.”
Du and her team undertook 24 dives between July 8 and August 17, 2024, exploring 2,500 kilometers west of the Krill Kamchatka trench and Aleutian trench, at depths ranging from 5,800 to 9,533 meters. In a frozen section beyond 6,000 meters deep, the Hadal zone experiences crushing pressure and is devoid of light.
This region is referred to as the Hadal biosphere, which derives energy from nutrients descending from surface photosynthesis or exists via chemical bonds relying on chemicals as energy sources.
Taxonomic and genetic data gathered during the dives indicated that many organisms in the Hadal zone utilize compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and methane, which are released through fault lines formed as tectonic plates slide against each other.
“We have discovered a chemically-synthesized community thriving at an astonishing depth of 9,533 meters,” Du states. These findings, made during 19 dives, illustrate their extensive distribution.
The chemically-driven community was primarily composed of bivalve mollusks and marine tube worms known as ciboglinid polychaetes. Some populations consisted of thousands of individuals, sprawling for kilometers.
Numerous bivalve mollusks are also present.
Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, CAS
A notable characteristic of many of these organisms is their dependence on chemical energy rather than sunlight, according to Du. “While other organisms, such as sea cucumbers and amphipods, might inhabit greater depths, they cannot harness chemicals like hydrogen sulfide for energy and must rely on organic matter instead.”
This finding indicates “the deepest and most extensive known chemical synthesis community on our planet.”
Streptococcus Bacteria are responsible for vaginal and urinary tract infections, as well as neonatal infections
Cavallini James/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The sugars found in breast milk play a significant role in combating common strains of Streptococcus Bacteria, which can cause complications during pregnancy if they infect the vagina.
Research on breast milk remains ongoing. “This is the second most crucial liquid in the universe after water, and yet its intricacies remain largely unexplored,” states Stephen Townsend from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
Investigators are starting to uncover the beneficial sugar structures unique to breast milk: human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). While once regarded as trivial sugars, they are now believed to function as effective prebiotics.
Prior investigations into HMOs primarily focused on their advantages for gut microbiota. However, Townsend and his team shifted their attention to their impact on vaginal health, specifically how HMOs may assist in regulating the balance of beneficial bacteria while managing potentially harmful Group B Streptococcus (GBS).
“Group B Strep is a bacterium we all harbor,” Townsend notes. “It typically poses no harm, remaining undetected in most cases.” Nevertheless, GBS can lead to serious illnesses in immunocompromised individuals, including pregnant women and newborns, causing various complications such as preterm births. Thus, women with vaginal GBS infections are often prescribed antibiotics during pregnancy.
Townsend and his team monitored GBS and the growth of lactobacillus Bacteria when exposed to HMOs, conducting their research in three distinct scenarios: live mice and lab-created vaginal tissue. Across all three settings, HMOs were found to enhance beneficial bacterial growth while inhibiting GBS.
As a result, Townsend suggests the presence of a “small storm of positive effects.” He elaborates that GBS struggles to thrive in an HMO-rich environment, while healthy bacteria not only consume HMOs for nourishment but also multiply and flourish, further hampering GBS growth. Additionally, the metabolism of HMOs by beneficial bacteria leads to a more acidic environment and the generation of fatty acids that can kill more harmful bacteria.
This discovery opens pathways for regulating and restoring a healthy vaginal microbiome. “These insights present new tools and strategies of significant therapeutic value for women and their infants,” remarks Katie Patras from Baylor College of Medicine, Texas. However, she emphasizes that potential treatments are still in developmental stages.
Even if new therapies emerge, researchers maintain that the most effective strategy for treating GBS infections remains the use of antibiotics. “Our work is not intended to replace antibiotics,” insists Townsend. “Our research aims to preserve their efficacy.” This is crucial, considering that overuse of antibiotics can contribute to the issue of antibiotic resistance. Innovative therapies like HMOs to modulate microbiomes may ultimately reduce the volume of antibiotics required to combat GBS.
“These synergistic interactions can prove extremely beneficial,” he asserts. Lars Bode from the University of California, San Diego, cautions that the application of breast milk therapies should wait until further research validates their efficacy, as unprocessed milk may pose additional risks, including infections like HIV.
In the interim, Townsend aims to deepen understanding of the unique evolutionary adaptations humans have developed in their HMOs.
“It’s incredibly daunting that we have barely scratched the surface in recognizing the strength of breast milk,” Bode expresses.
Creating effective HIV vaccines may necessitate intricate formulations containing various viral proteins. Presently, two trials utilizing potential mRNA components have shown encouraging outcomes. The aim is to leverage mRNA technology for administering vaccines as a single dose rather than requiring multiple injections.
Typically, vaccines feature the virus’s outer protein, prompting the immune system to react against it. However, developing HIV vaccines poses significant challenges due to the virus’s proteins being heavily coated with sugars, which makes it tough for the immune system to generate antibodies. There’s also considerable variation across strains; therefore, even if an individual’s immune system can produce effective antibodies, these may only target a specific variant of the virus.
Nevertheless, a few individuals generate broadly neutralizing antibodies that are effective across multiple strains. Research in animals suggests that vaccines incorporating sequences of HIV proteins in various configurations can reliably elicit this broadly protective response, according to William Schief at the Scripps Institute in California.
This method highlights the advantages of mRNA vaccine technology, as mRNAs can be developed swiftly and conveniently, Schief states. “That’s a significant benefit.”
A single mRNA vaccine could encode multiple viral proteins simultaneously and has the potential to produce them in the body at different intervals, he adds. This implies that the mRNA HIV vaccine could potentially be administered as a single dose, even though several boosters typically follow. “Ideally, I’d prefer to administer one vaccine, with some components being released later,” Schief explained.
Earlier this year, his team shared promising results from preliminary human trials of the initial primers developed to stimulate B cells. Currently, his team is evaluating one of the subsequent boosters in another small study.
When volunteers received mRNA instructions for HIV external proteins integrated into the cell membrane, 80% generated antibodies shown to block infection in laboratory tests.
In this study, these antibodies were specific to one strain. Researchers anticipate that when boosters are administered sequentially, each component will be produced within the body in the correct order.
However, both trials reported a higher incidence of volunteers experiencing hive reactions, which have persisted for years. This reaction hasn’t been seen in any other mRNA vaccine trials or in non-mRNA vaccines incorporating HIV proteins, Schief notes. There appears to be an unknown factor related to delivering HIV proteins via mRNA that leads to this side effect. “It remains a scientific mystery at this time,” he states.
“The uncertainty surrounding the cause of this adverse effect makes it challenging to mitigate,” notes Hildegund Ertl, a vaccine expert associated with a company currently under exploration, Pharma5 in Morocco.
Ertl concurs that mRNA technology enables rapid testing of vaccine components but believes that the optimal final product could be delivered through different types of vaccines, such as those using empty viral shells. These alternatives can be stored at room temperature, unlike others that may require freezing, she points out.
Currently, there’s a medication called renacapavir, which offers nearly complete protection from HIV infection with two injections a year. Nevertheless, Schief believes a vaccine is still necessary. “We’re all striving to achieve this as quickly as possible,” he states, but even with the advancements in mRNA technology, an approved HIV vaccine may still be decades away.
Cemetery shifts earn their name for a reason. Individuals working night shifts face heightened health risks, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. The World Health Organization has identified shift work as a potential carcinogen, given the increased likelihood of cancer.
While the rest of us are asleep, these night workers often go unnoticed, yet their efforts are vital to the medical and emergency services on which we rely. Though we depend on them for our very survival, the irony lies in how their work impacts their own health.
This situation could evolve with the advent of a test that accurately measures one’s internal biological clock in relation to external time (see “How innovative new tests can unleash the power of your body clock”). Such advancements in medicine promise to benefit a larger population.
Research indicates that many frequently used medications affect the body’s system, which operates on a 24-hour cycle, and are more effective when administered in harmony with this rhythm. Surgeries and vaccinations also yield better results at specific times of the day. Initial strategies often rely on standardized biological clocks, but for those whose circadian rhythms are misaligned, this approach may prove ineffective or even detrimental. This is where the new tests come into play.
Night workers may remain in the shadows, yet they are the backbone of essential services we all rely on.
Fortunately, these tests are expected to become more affordable and widely accessible. However, there is a concern that they could be misused by those anxiously trying to optimize their health, perhaps alongside other fitness metrics like step counts (refer to page 16).
The genuine potential lies in using these tests to gain insights into the biological processes of those in challenging situations, ensuring that in the future, the effects of nighttime work and improved strategies for managing shift patterns are addressed. One day, your biological clock may finally align with the external clock.
This could mitigate the health repercussions associated with night shifts and provide these employees with a chance to revitalize their lives. Employers must recognize this opportunity.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Northwestern Medicine reveals that the cognitive aging of many American adults is occurring at a pace exceeding their chronological age, sometimes by more than a decade.
This study, published in the journal Jama Cardiology, utilized a cutting-edge calculator to estimate the “heart age” of over 14,000 U.S. adults devoid of prior cardiovascular diseases.
Available for free, these tools can be accessed online. By translating risk percentages into age, individuals can more easily reassess their risk scores and comprehend how their lifestyle and health choices influence their long-term heart health.
“Traditional percentage-based estimates can often feel abstract and hard to interpret,” noted senior author Professor Sadiya Khan in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
“We believe that presenting the risk of heart disease in terms of age serves as a valuable supplementary tool that is more intuitive. It’s simpler for individuals to grasp whether their heart age is ‘older’ or ‘younger’ than their actual age.”
The calculator leverages basic health metrics, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, diabetes, and more to compute a person’s heart age, based on equations formulated by the American Heart Association.
In this study, women exhibited an average heart age that was 4.1 years older than their chronological age, while men showed an average gap of seven years.
However, the discrepancies were more pronounced among marginalized communities. For instance, Black men had a heart age that was 8.5 years older than their chronological age, compared to 6.4 years for white men.
Improving diet and incorporating exercise can help align your heart age with your actual age. – Credit: Getty
Hispanic and Black women exhibited heart ages significantly older than their white and Asian counterparts, and individuals with lower income and educational backgrounds were similarly impacted.
“These disparities are expected given the heightened risk of cardiac diseases in minority groups or those facing social disadvantages. However, they emphasize the urgent need for action,” Khan stated.
“Recognizing individuals with an ‘older’ heart age can prompt them to take immediate steps to prioritize preventive measures.”
Khan envisions that this tool will be integrated into primary care, facilitating discussions about health risks and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices. “The exciting aspect of this tool is the multitude of actions individuals can take,” she mentioned.
“We aim for this to empower people to optimize their heart health, promoting healthier aging and extended health spans.”
Read more:
About our experts
Sadiya S Khan is a professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at Northwestern University’s School of Preventive Medicine. She is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases and holds an active medical license in Illinois.
Ancient Greek bronze jars displayed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford have been discovered to contain honey.
American Chemical Society
The findings from the ancient Greek pot located at a shrine near Pompeii serve as evidence of the lasting nature of honey jars.
In 1954, a Greek burial shrine dating back to around 520 BC was uncovered in Pestum, Italy, approximately 70 kilometers south of Pompeii.
The shrine contained eight pots with sticky residues, and their contents remained a mystery since their unearthing.
Honey was initially suspected in tests conducted on one of the pots between the 1950s and 1980s by Luciana Carvalho from Oxford University.
Three distinct teams analyzed the residue but concluded that the jars contained animal or vegetable fats mixed with pollen and insect parts, rather than honey.
At that time, researchers depended on significantly less sensitive analytical methods, focusing on solubility tests.
Carvalho and her team started by examining the infrared reflection of the residues to determine their overall composition.
Ancient honey residues from the interior of the pot
Luciana da Costa Carvalho
Initially, it was hypothesized that the contents could be decomposed beeswax due to its outward resemblance and high acidity.
To test this hypothesis, the team employed gas chromatography paired with mass spectrometry, which ultimately unveiled the presence of sugars like glucose and fructose, the primary sugars found in honey.
“We unearthed a remarkably intricate mixture of acids and broken-down sugars,” states Carvalho. “The clear indicator of honey was the detection of sugar at the core of the residue.”
Further examination by Elizabeth Pierce from Oxford University confirmed the presence of a protein called major royal jelly protein, secreted by honeybees, along with the detection of peptide traces from Tropilaelaps Mercedesae, a parasitic mite that consumes bee larvae.
“This parasite is believed to derive from an Asian beehive,” Pierce comments.
Carvalho mentions that the cork seal of the bronze jar eventually failed, allowing air and microorganisms to enter. “We believe these bacteria consumed most of the sugar remnants, leading to the production of additional acids and decomposition products. What was left was an acidic, waxy residue clinging to the walls of the jar.”
“Investigating the honey offerings at the shrines in Paestum elucidates how the people honored their deities and their perceptions regarding the afterlife,” Carvalho explains.
Historic Herculaneum – discover Vesuvius, Pompeii, ancient Naples
The journey through history and archaeology embarks on a fascinating exploration where the past comes alive through Mount Vesuvius and the remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Satellite image of the subglacial lake area post-outburst flood reveals damage to the ice sheets
10.1038/s41561-025-01746-9
Typically, when glaciers in Greenland melt, the water drains into the underlying bedrock before eventually reaching the ocean. However, in 2014, a significant surge of meltwater from a subglacial lake erupted through the Greenland ice sheet’s surface, creating a crevasse 25 meters deep.
“This phenomenon is unprecedented,” remarks Malcolm McMillan, a researcher at Lancaster University, UK. “While we are aware of the subglacial lakes in Greenland, witnessing the destruction caused as water erupts from the ice sheet’s surface is entirely new to us.”
McMillan and his research team initiated their study upon observing a sudden 85-meter deep crater on the ice sheet, captured by satellite imagery in August 2014.
They found that within a span of 10 days in late July and early August 2014, these craters formed following a rapid drainage of the subglacial lake. About a kilometer downstream from the crater, the team identified significant ice turbulence, with water surfacing.
The researchers theorize that the pressure from the subglacial lake increased sufficiently to force the water up through fractures in the ice, ultimately leading to its explosive emergence from the ice sheet, which resulted in a considerable crevasse and an ice tower along its path.
According to McMillan, the meltwater was compelled to surface due to being encased by frozen ice in the bedrock. “It seems that when water flows into a frozen environment, it can accumulate enough pressure to trigger this unforeseen outcome,” he elaborates.
McMillan aims to utilize satellite imagery in future research to ascertain whether similar eruptions have occurred and if this phenomenon is a consequence of rapidly melting ice sheets in the context of rising global temperatures.
“This marks the initial exploration of a phenomenon that we were previously unaware of, and the upcoming challenge is to comprehend its implications and underlying mechanisms,” he concludes.
Rust-based battery systems housed within standard 12-meter shipping containers
Ore Energy
Iron-empty batteries that utilize a reversible rusting mechanism to store and release energy now stand as the first type linked to public power grids. Startup Ore Energy announced on July 30 that the battery developed by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is now grid-connected.
These batteries play a crucial role in maintaining a stable power supply by storing renewable energy generated from solar and wind sources, preventing immediate decreases in electricity availability during sudden changes in weather conditions.
“We need to effectively store the surplus of energy generated when the wind blows and the sun shines,” mentions John Joseph Mary from the Faraday Institute, a UK battery research facility. “Essentially, the battery stabilizes the energy output for grid usage.”
While most grid-connected batteries are lithium iron phosphate varieties produced in China, they tend to store only 4-6 hours of electricity and are quite costly, according to Mary. Conversely, the iron-empty batteries created by Ore Energy can store over 100 hours of electricity and are made from inexpensive, readily accessible materials.
“Iron is the most abundantly mined metal globally and is extremely affordable,” says Mary. “When combined with air, which is literally everywhere around us and essentially free, they are among the cheapest materials available.”
Battery systems utilize electricity to convert iron oxide (rust) back into metal iron for energy storage. The iron can discharge energy through a chemical reaction with oxygen from the air, reverting back to rust.
“During discharge, we transform the iron into an innovative kind of rust,” explains Aytac Yilmaz, CEO of Ore Energy. “When charging, we revert the rust to iron, repeating this process continuously while the battery breathes in and out atmospheric oxygen.”
The battery is housed in standard 12-meter shipping containers and holds multiple megawatt-hours of energy. One megawatt-hour can power an average US household for over a month.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts-based Form Energy is executing several iron battery projects across the US, set to be established in New England and the Midwest.
In addition to iron and air, these batteries utilize affordable, plentiful water-based electrolytes, significantly minimizing the risk of battery fires. “I hesitate to say this, but water is undeniably non-combustible,” remarks Mary.
Ultimately, the primary objective of this battery technology is to facilitate the transition of renewable energy resources to supplant fossil fuels within the electric grid.
“Energy companies are still heavily reliant on gas-fired power generation to ensure flexibility when solar and wind cannot provide enough energy,” states Bas Kil, Business Development Manager at Ore Energy. “However, a long-term solution will necessitate various types of flexibility, where these innovative batteries can significantly contribute.”
A recent study conducted by New York University Abu Dhabi suggests that radiolysis, triggered by cosmic rays in galaxies, may serve as a potential energy source for microbial metabolism within the subsurface environments of rocky celestial bodies such as Mars, Europa, and Enceladus.
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft captured this stunning mosaic of Enceladus as it flew past this geologically active moon of Saturn on October 5, 2008. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute.
While ionized radiation is known for its detrimental effects on biological systems, such as causing damage to DNA and generating reactive oxygen species, it can also yield biologically beneficial outcomes.
Though direct exposure to high radiation levels can be harmful to biological activity, ionizing radiation can create numerous biologically useful products.
One such process involves the generation of valuable biological products through charged particle-induced radiolysis.
“We investigated the consequences of cosmic rays striking surfaces containing water or ice,” noted Dr. Dimitra Atli, PhD, from New York University Abu Dhabi, alongside colleagues from Washington University, the University of Tennessee, Rice University, and Santander University.
“The impact of these rays breaks down water molecules and releases tiny particles known as electrons.”
“Certain bacteria on Earth are capable of utilizing these electrons for energy, akin to how plants harness sunlight.”
“This phenomenon, known as radiolysis, allows for life to persist in dark, cold environments devoid of sunlight.”
This newly reorganized color view presents a massive surface of Europa. The image scale is 1.6 km per pixel, with the northern part of Europa on the right. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Seti Institute.
Researchers utilized computer simulations to assess the energy output of this process on the icy moons of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
These icy moons are believed to harbor liquid water beneath their thick ice crusts.
Findings indicate that Enceladus is the most promising candidate for supporting life in this manner, followed closely by Mars and Europa.
“This discovery reshapes our understanding of potential habitats for life,” Dr. Atri commented.
“Rather than confining our search to warm, sunlit planets, we can now consider cold, dark regions where water lies beneath the surface and is subjected to cosmic rays.”
“Life might exist in many more locations than previously thought.”
This image captured by Mars Express’s high-resolution stereo camera reveals an overview of Mars, with patches of yellow, orange, blue, and green on a muted gray background, depicting various surface compositions. Image credits: ESA/DLR/FU BERLIN/G. MICHAEL/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.
In their research, the authors introduce a new concept termed the Radiolysis Habit Zone.
Unlike the traditional “Goldilocks zone”—the region around a star where planets can sustain liquid water—this new zone emphasizes the potential for subsurface water that can be energized by cosmic radiation.
Given that cosmic rays are ubiquitous throughout the universe, this suggests that numerous additional locations may harbor life.
“These findings offer fresh directions for future space exploration,” remarked Reservers.
“Scientists can target the underground environments of these icy moons and Mars instead of solely searching for life on their surfaces.
“This study paves the way for thrilling new avenues in life exploration across the cosmos, implying that even the coldest and darkest regions may have conditions suitable for life.”
The study will be published in International Journal of Astrobiology.
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Dimitra Atri et al. 2025. Estimating the potential of ionizing radiation-induced radiolysis for microbial metabolism in Earth’s planets and moons with tenuous atmospheres. International Journal of Astrobiology 24:E9; doi:10.1017/s1473550425100025
Lava planets are rocky exoplanets that orbit extremely close to their host star, allowing for conditions that melt silicate rocks daily.
Boucale et al. We introduce a straightforward theoretical framework to explain the evolution of lava planets’ internal atmospheric systems. Image credit: Sci.News.
A lava planet is typically a super-Earth to Earth-sized world, orbiting its star in less than one Earth day.
Similar to the Earth’s moon, these planets are expected to be tidally locked, displaying the same hemisphere to their stars at all times.
With extreme surface temperatures, their rocks can reach melting or even evaporating points, creating a distinctive state within our solar system.
These unusual worlds are easily observable due to their pronounced orbital dynamics, offering valuable insights into the fundamental processes that drive planetary evolution.
“Due to the extreme orbital characteristics of lava planets, our understanding of rocky planets in the solar system does not apply directly, which leaves scientists uncertain about expected observations,” states Dr. Charles Eiduard Bukare from York University.
“Our simulations provide a conceptual framework for understanding their evolution and a way to investigate internal dynamics and chemical transformations over time.”
“While these processes are greatly intensified on lava planets, they fundamentally mirror those shaping rocky planets in our solar system.”
As rocks melt or evaporate, elements like magnesium, iron, silicon, oxygen, sodium, and potassium partition differently across vapor, liquid, and solid states.
The unique orbital dynamics of lava planets maintain vapor-liquid and solid-liquid equilibria for billions of years, facilitating long-term chemical evolution.
Using cutting-edge numerical simulations, the researchers predict the evolutionary status of two distinct categories.
(i) Fully melted interior (likely a younger planet): The atmosphere reflects the planet’s overall composition, with heat distribution within the melt ensuring a hot and dynamic nightside surface.
(ii) Nearly solid interior (likely an older planet): Only shallow lava oceans persist, while the atmosphere becomes depleted of elements such as sodium, potassium, and iron.
“We sincerely hope that with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, we will be able to observe and differentiate between young and old lava planets,” Dr. Boukaré expressed.
“Demonstrating this capability would signify a significant advancement beyond conventional observational methods.”
study was published today in the journal Natural Astronomy.
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cé. Boucale et al. The significance of internal dynamics and differentiation in the surface and atmosphere of lava planets. Nut Athlon Published online on July 29th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02617-4
Capuchin Monkeys and Their Role in Seed Dispersal in Tropical Forests
Carlos Grillo/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Tropical ecosystems, rich in animal biodiversity that aids in seed dispersal, can sequester carbon at rates up to four times higher than fragmented forests lacking these animals or where their movements are limited.
“This underscores the connection between the loss of animal biodiversity and the processes that intensify climate change,” explains Evan Fricke from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We’ve lost the potential for tropical forest regeneration.”
While animals only store a fraction of the carbon in their environment, their activities significantly influence ecosystem carbon dynamics. Notably, species such as monkeys, birds, and rodents play a crucial role in dispersing a wide variety of seeds.
Fricke mentions that “linking this to a prolonged process like carbon capture across landscapes proved quite challenging.”
Fricke and his team examined over 3,000 plots in tropical forests where trees are returning and successfully reabsorbing carbon following disturbances. They then assessed the degree of movement and diversity disruption of seed-dispersing animals in each plot, with findings influenced by forest fragmentation and data from monitored animals.
They discovered that increased disruption in seed disperser movement correlated with lower rates of carbon accumulation. The forests with the most disturbed animal behaviors grew four times faster than those with minimal disruption.
On average, disturbances in animal diversity and movement patterns that disperse seeds halved the carbon accumulation potential of affected plots. This indicates that such disruptions had a more detrimental impact than other factors inhibiting tree regrowth, such as fires and livestock grazing.
In contrast, forests experiencing the least disruption sequestered carbon more rapidly than monoculture wood farms. “Natural growth enhanced by animal activity presents a cost-effective and biodiversity-friendly recovery method,” states Fricke.
Earlier ecological models indicated that seed dispersers might significantly influence carbon storage; however, this study further elucidates the critical role these animals play, according to Oswald Schmitz from Yale University. “It highlights their importance now and into the future.”
Batteries created from iron and salt in ceramic tubes present a reduced fire risk compared to lithium-ion batteries
Inlyte Energy
Batteries utilizing iron and salt can deliver emergency power without fire hazards, located near one of California’s historic redwood forests.
The 200-kilowatt battery will be integrated with solar panels at the Alliance Red Woods Conference Ground in Sonoma County, California. This site is situated in a high wildfire risk zone of Redwood Forest, merely 16 kilometers from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and is home to California’s tallest and oldest trees. During severe weather and wildfires, conference facilities often assist firefighters and evacuees, yet they are also prone to power grid outages.
“Our view of technology revolves around establishing a secure, cost-effective energy storage solution.” Ben Kaun from Inlyte Energy in California stated. “This perspective guided us toward developing large cells with affordable and plentiful active materials such as iron and salt.”
The battery projects are expected to provide up to two weeks of emergency backup power, operational by 2027. This capability will enable lighting within the conference grounds and supply power to local firefighter water pump stations without jeopardizing the iconic redwood trees.
This is attributed to the non-flammable nature of these easily sourced battery components (powdered iron and salt contained in ceramic tubes). “These batteries and their cells can be positioned closely together without the typical fire or explosion risks associated with lithium-ion batteries,” says Kaun.
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in smartphones and electric vehicles, can ignite under certain conditions, and this risk escalates when batteries are concentrated in large storage facilities. For instance, in January 2025, a fire at California’s largest battery storage site obliterated 300 megawatts of energy storage. Conversely, Inlyte’s iron-salt batteries possess significantly lower risk profiles. The Iron-Salt Battery initiative has secured nearly $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance energy resilience in wildfire-prone areas near Redwood Forest.
“These non-flammable batteries are a prudent choice for project developers considering energy storage installations in remote or drought-prone regions or near forests vulnerable to frequent drought,” says Dustin Mulbany from San Jose State University. “Energy technology and infrastructure have historically contributed to wildfires, and utilizing non-flammable batteries offers a way to mitigate some of these risks.”
The Central Congo Basin boasts the largest variety of tropical peatlands globally, covering 16.7 million hectares. Previously, radiocarbon dating of ancient peat was confined to just 14 samples, which poorly represented the area, indicating that peat development typically commenced during the Holocene. However, recent findings indicate that peat began forming in multiple locations during the late Pleistocene. The earliest date identified by the author is 42,300 years before present, highlighting that this peatland is one of the oldest in the world, twice as ancient as previously thought.
The swamp of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Image credit: Greta Dargie.
The central Congo Basin, which spans the equator, encompasses 360,000 km.2 This wetland is shared by the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Out of this wetland area, it is estimated that 167,600 km2 have a median thickness of 1.7 m.
These peatlands rank among the most carbon-dense ecosystems worldwide, storing an average of 1712 mg c ha-1 with a total of 29 pg c-1 stored in peat.
Although research into the formation and expansion of this vast carbon reservoir is in its early stages, it includes studies on peat initiation and basin-wide development dynamics.
“These peat marshes serve as crucial global carbon reservoirs, equivalent to three years’ worth of fossil fuel emissions,” said Greta Dargie, a researcher from the University of Leeds.
“We now know that these are the oldest tropical peatlands on Earth.”
The research initiated with the team trekking through the inaccessible peat marshes of Congo, collecting peat samples up to 6 m deep on the forest floor using surgical tools.
Upon returning to the lab, they dated small samples of peat to ascertain when peat formation began at each sampling site.
Over a decade, researchers successfully collected and dated more than 50 cores from throughout the Central Congo Basin, reconstructing the development of the peatlands over time.
Scientists were surprised not only by the great age of these peatlands.
“One of our unexpected discoveries was that some of the older peatlands in central Congo started forming during periods when the region’s climate was considerably drier than today,” stated a researcher.
“The earlier hypothesis suggested that peat began forming in response to a wetter climate at the onset of the Holocene around 12,000 years ago.”
“We now understand that non-climatic factors must have helped saturate the soil enough for peat formation to occur.”
“This raises important questions about how climate change in the 21st century will impact peatland landscapes and the substantial carbon stored within them.”
The Congo Basin peat marshes provide essential resources for local communities, including fish, bushmeat, and building materials.
Due to their remoteness, these swamps also serve as crucial habitats for species such as forest elephants, Nile crocodiles, lowland gorillas, and bonobo chimpanzees.
While Congolese peatlands have largely avoided threats such as deforestation and drainage compared to many tropical regions, the push for improved local livelihoods and extraction of resources like oil can conflict with biodiversity and carbon conservation objectives.
Dr. Pauline Gulliver, a researcher at the University of Glasgow, remarked:
“These peatlands meticulously draw carbon from the atmosphere, safely storing it for at least 40,000 years.”
“The dynamics of peat cannot be understood within a timeframe that aligns with societal expectations.”
“If peatlands are compromised, they could release a significant amount of carbon into the atmosphere, worsening global warming.”
“It’s crucial to manage the carbon within the Congo Basin peatlands carefully to prevent such occurrences.”
Survey results were published in the journal Environmental Survey Letter.
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Greta C. Dargy et al. 2025. The timing of peat initiation throughout the central Congo Basin. environment. res. Rent 20, 084080; doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ade905
On Monday, a gunman in midtown Manhattan took four lives before turning the weapon on himself, leaving behind a note that made several references to “CTE,” according to sources involved in the investigation who spoke to NBC News.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain condition typically resulting from recurrent head injuries over an extended period.
Officials indicated that the shooter specifically targeted the National Football League headquarters, where the incident occurred.
A report from 2024 highlights that CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem, yet around one-third of former NFL players believe they may be affected. The NFL acknowledged the connection between CTE and football in 2016.
Former NFL athlete Philip Adams was found to have severe CTE after committing a shooting that resulted in six deaths in South Carolina in 2021 before he ended his own life.
NBC News consulted with Dr. Aaron Lord, chief of neurology at NYU Langone, specializing in brain injuries, about how CTE alters not only brain function but also behavior.
What is chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
Initially identified in boxers and referred to as “punch drunk syndrome,” CTE can lead to neurological issues such as early onset dementia, memory problems, personality changes, and disorders similar to Parkinson’s disease.
CTE can affect individuals who experience repeated head trauma.
“It’s about the cumulative shock waves in the brain,” he explained.
Research is ongoing regarding the correlation between CTE and suicide, as there seems to be an unexpectedly high incidence of CTE among athletes who have taken their own lives.
However, experts have not yet determined “the incidence and prevalence of the disease in both the general population and specific athletic groups,” he noted.
“We’re still in the process of defining this condition,” he added.
How is CTE diagnosed?
CTE cannot be diagnosed without an autopsy, as there are no established criteria for its diagnosis. Hence, it remains challenging to identify, according to Dr. Lord. An autopsy must reveal tissue degeneration with abnormal aggregations of specific proteins around the brain’s blood vessels.
Patients and their physicians may suspect CTE when significant mood and behavior alterations occur, especially following known head impacts and their severity.
Dr. Lord mentioned that an MRI of the brain may show changes consistent with the disease, but this alone is insufficient for a diagnosis.
The symptoms of CTE may overlap with various mental health disorders, including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, he noted.
Dr. Lord has also observed connections between CTE and behaviors such as increased aggression and impulsivity, along with other personality alterations.
While CTE is frequently observed in older individuals, possibly due to years of repeated trauma, even a single head injury can lead to brain damage, even without resulting in CTE.
“Even someone who has experienced a single car accident resulting in a frontal lobe injury may undergo permanent changes in personality, impulse control, and psychiatric states,” he concluded.
Is there a treatment for CTE?
Currently, there is no direct treatment for CTE, but Dr. Lord points out that psychiatric medications can assist in managing behavioral issues and other associated symptoms.
Not every individual who experiences a concussion develops CTE; according to the Mayo Clinic. Prevention remains key; employing seat belts or helmets to avoid head injuries can reduce the risks associated with CTE and other brain-related complications, according to Dr. Lord.
Russian ambush drone with solar panels uncovered in Ukraine
Serhii Beskrestnov
The small racing quadcopter, known as first-person view drones or FPVs, has emerged as the primary weapon in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine. Some of these drones are equipped with solar cells, enabling them to lie in wait for extended periods to ambush targets and act as a new kind of land mine.
“Drones can position themselves near roads and chokepoints, and when a target appears, they can rapidly accelerate toward it,” says Robert Bunker, a consultant with the US firm C/O Futures.
Drone ambush tactics have already become standard strategy for both Russian and Ukrainian forces, with devices hidden alongside roads and buildings waiting for targets. However, even if the engine is off, the camera and radio communications drain the drone’s battery, reducing their wait time to just a few hours.
Currently, Russian FPV ambush drones have been spotted utilizing solar panels for charging. While these panels can’t power the drones during flight, they can recharge other devices. Ukrainian drone warfare expert Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov has shared images of this solar setup on his Telegram channel, highlighting these advancements.
Sold as camping equipment for approximately $50, these panels efficiently charge phones and other portable devices. Enthusiasts online have already posted guides on modifying drones to include solar cells.
“The initial generation of solar technology may be bulky, but it serves as a useful proof of concept,” Bunker remarks.
A 5-watt solar charger weighs several hundred grams and provides power to the drone while on the ground. Future models are expected to be sleeker and more efficient.
“The drone could feature a solar roll that unfolds after landing, creating a charging surface. You could then disconnect it when entering combat mode,” Bunker notes. “Future iterations will likely include improvements we haven’t yet considered.”
With solar assistance, drones can lie in wait for their targets as long as the sun is shining, recharging their systems at dawn for continuous operation. The solar cells can also gradually recharge the drone’s batteries for over a day, enabling a cycle of flying, landing, recharging, and flying again.
Both Russia and Ukraine have developed drones with artificial intelligence that can identify and engage targets autonomously. When combined with solar energy, these drones can saturate the battlefield with lethal units, autonomously navigating to find and track targets.
“It’s an evolution of the point land mine,” says Bunker.
Unlike traditional minefields, the network of solar-powered drones can self-repair, filling gaps where drones have been used or destroyed. Alternatively, this field might slowly advance towards enemy positions over several days through successive charging cycles.
Today’s solar drones are often experimental prototypes, with only a limited number currently deployed. However, the widespread availability of components suggests that these designs could proliferate rapidly, much like other small drones. With their affordability and ease of assembly, ambush drones may soon become commonplace.
Experience Ultimate Flexibility with Jarvis Standing Desk
Herman Miller’s Fully Jarvis Standing Desk – Photo Credit: Herman Miller
Sitting too long can lead to serious health issues, including early onset diabetes and potential longevity concerns, according to NHS data.
While regular breaks can help, I prefer not to take any chances.
There are various standing desk options available, from risers to full-sized desks, but I appreciate the sleek design and eco-friendliness of the Fully Jarvis bamboo standing desk.
It offers programmable height options, organized cable management, and operates quietly.
Recent studies suggest that standing can enhance focus and productivity.
ASUS ProART Display PA279CRV Computer Monitor – Photo Credit: ASUS
If you don’t have an AI assistant yet, are you truly working efficiently? While I’m still skeptical about AI-generated writing, I find it incredibly useful for tasks such as data organization and automated coding.
That’s why my next desk upgrade will likely include an additional monitor.
This ProArt model is affordable and performs exceptionally well, making it a fantastic first monitor for creative professionals. The display is sharp, bright, and color accurate.
Featuring a 27-inch (69cm) screen and versatile connectivity options, it’s also ergonomically designed for easy rotation into portrait mode, making it an ideal companion for digital assistants.
Hexcal Studio Monitor Stand – Image Credit: Hexcal
Most monitors and their standard stands fail to align with eye level, which can lead to neck strain and lower back pain.
While monitor arms are an option, they can be cumbersome to install. A desktop shelf that elevates your monitor to a comfortable height not only alleviates strain but also provides additional desk space.
This premium monitor stand serves a dual purpose as cable management and a docking station, offering extra USB ports for your workstation.
With adjustable feet and wireless charging capabilities, it even includes eight power sockets on the back for streamlined connectivity.
Emerging from the darkness, slimy nails break through the murky barrier, reaching towards the light. Thunder rumbles as the ground cracks.
This is not a scene from a horror film featuring the undead rising from their graves. Rather, it showcases one of nature’s most endearing spectacles, Parent-child relationship: a forthcoming BBC series exploring the struggles of nurturing the next generation of wildlife, specifically the hatching of the magnificent Amazon River Turtle in Guapoi, South Brazil.
According to Sir David Attenborough’s narration, the tiny turtles await the perfect conditions to break free. When rain falls, it softens the sand enough for them to dig their way out. If there’s insufficient rain, the layer of sand above becomes too baked in the sun. They are numerous, making their survival seem effortless.
“There’s always that anxiety. You never know how it will turn out,” says series producer Elizabeth Orcham to BBC Science Focus. “As we sit with the crew, we hope everything works. The moment it rains or doesn’t rain, the tension rises. Is it too much rain?”
The rain arrived early during the filming, but the turtles managed to emerge just in time. “Seeing most of the turtles succeed and not lose too many is really comforting. It’s just wonderful.”
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, two million turtles hatched successfully, overcoming what seemed like insurmountable odds.
“Sometimes, it’s a wonder how they survive. It’s fascinating to see just how clumsy they can be,” she notes.
This clumsiness, however, is part of a finely tuned process. Scientists have been investigating communication among these turtles for over a decade. A 2014 study found that mothers likely communicate with their hatchlings to guide them into the water. According to Oakham, this is the only turtle species known to exhibit parental care post-hatching.
The female giant Amazon River turtle (Podocnemis Exagna), also known as the Arrau turtle, grows to a remarkable 76cm (30 inches) in shell length and weighs up to 91kg (200 pounds), while the male measures at 48cm (19 inches). The hatchlings are merely 5cm (2 inches) long. – Photo credit: Getty
“We were thrilled to showcase this new research on turtle communication,” Oakham explains. The filmmakers even accessed the nest to record the hatchlings’ emergence.
Childcare challenges
Climate change poses the greatest threat to the otherwise stable lifecycle of the giant Amazon River turtle.
“Warmer air due to climate change retains more moisture, leading to two outcomes,” she elaborates. “Firstly, it makes the environment drier, but when it finally rains, the moisture simply drips off.”
Severe floods that once occurred every 20 years have now happened twice in the last five years, jeopardizing the hatching process during critical seasons.
Before hatching, the turtles must absorb some of their yolk sac. If they haven’t done so before floods arrive, they will not survive. Thus, when mother turtles lay eggs, they risk a significant gamble regarding the weather – a gamble that is increasingly hard to predict.
They typically lay their eggs two to three months before the rainy season, allowing the sand to solidify and form a protective layer. At this time, the mothers leave the river for the sandbanks, coinciding with the largest congregation of freshwater turtles on the planet, and one of the few instances the species ventures onto land.
“Water can be life-sustaining but also perilous,” Oakham states. “With climate change, this duality has become even more pronounced, making the environment more unpredictable for these parents. Navigating this uncertainty while caring for their young is a delicate balance.”
This episode is the fourth in a five-part series on parental life in freshwater habitats, Parent-child relationship. All five episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from August 3, 2025.
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About our experts
Elizabeth Orcum is a producer and director with a deep commitment to environmental storytelling and natural history. She is widely recognized for her work on the fifth episode of Green Planet, titled “The Human World,” which delivers a compelling narrative on the interconnectedness of plants and humans. She is now eager to share the stories of animal parents worldwide through the BBC series Parent-child relationship.
From shimmering sapphire waterfalls to rain made of lava, these distant planets redefine the boundaries of possibility. Discover ten exoplanets that are overturning the Cosmic Rulebook.
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While still in the womb, we all have the ability to heal without scars… yet we’ve never experienced birth. Outside the uterus, healing comes at the cost of scars, which serve as painful reminders of past injuries. Currently, researchers are exploring methods for achieving scar-free healing.
Ancestral Journeys
Our forebears encountered and mingled with more diverse groups than previously thought during their migrations from Africa. As Homo sapiens spread across the globe, they explored more broadly than earlier estimates indicated. Recent findings are painting a richer, more complex picture of our early human history.
Hearing Loss and Dementia
Research is increasingly highlighting potential connections between hearing loss and dementia. Addressing hearing loss can bring significant advantages, delving into how it influences the risk of dementia development.
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Gene-Edited Foods: GMO pork has been approved in the U.S. Here’s what you need to understand.
Strategies for Longevity: From intermittent fasting to low-protein diets, emerging research is shedding light on dietary restrictions as pivotal to a longer life.
Q&A: Your questions answered! This month: Why do dogs enjoy playing with trash? Should I try a banana facial? How much of our lives do we spend blinking? What will the future of space exploration look like? Can anything on Earth endure conditions like those on Mars? What’s the most unusual satellite in the universe? How do you determine when to move on from past aspirations? Why is there an increase in ADHD diagnoses among women nearing menopause? And more…
Issue 422 Launching Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
Don’t forget that BBC Science Focus is also available on all major digital platforms. You can find it on Android, Kindle Fire and Kindle e-readers, as well as on the iOS App for iPad and iPhone.
A report published on Tuesday by German multinationals revealed that weather-related disasters in the first half of this year caused $93 billion in damages within the United States.insurancecompany.
An analysis from Munich RE, the largest reinsurer in the world, indicated that over 70% of the global damages from this year’s weather disasters occurred in the United States, leading to a burden of $22 billion on uninsured Americans and their local governments.
The report underscores the increasing economic impact of wildfires, severe storms, and other extreme weather events both in the US and globally. It also highlights the escalating insurance crisis in nations frequently afflicted by such disasters.
“Approximately 90% of all industry losses were observed, with $72 billion out of $80 billion occurring in the US,” stated Tobias Grimm, chief climate scientist at Munich RE. “That is remarkable.”
The catastrophic wildfires in Southern California in January ranked as the most expensive disaster in the country during the first half of 2025. The two major fires, responsible for at least 30 fatalities and displacing thousands, swept through the Pacific Ocean’s Pallisad and Altadena neighborhoods.
Munich RE estimated the wildfire losses at $53 billion, including costs affecting uninsured residents. The reinsurer noted that these flames in the Los Angeles area resulted in “the highest wildfire loss ever recorded.”
The significant economic and social impacts of wildfires can be partly attributed to the increasing development in fire-prone areas.
“In many instances, losses are growing due to property developments causing damage,” Grimm explained. “People continue to reside in high-risk zones.”
Urbanization in disaster-prone areas can similarly escalate the costs associated with other weather-related events, like hurricanes and floods, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
Research indicates that climate change is becoming increasingly frequent as temperatures rise and drought conditions worsen. Consequently, the intensity of wildfires is also increasing.
A report by the World Weather Attributes Group issued in late January found that high temperatures, along with dry and windy conditions conducive to fire spread in Southern California, could be approximately 35% more likely due to human-induced global warming.
Recent findings reveal that walking briskly for just 15 minutes daily can significantly lower the risk of premature death, particularly among low-income and Black populations. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine supports this claim.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 80,000 participants, discovering that active walking was linked to a 20% decrease in overall mortality rates.
This reduction is especially pronounced for deaths related to cardiovascular issues, demonstrating the distinct advantages of maintaining an active pace, independent of other physical activities.
“While the health benefits of daily walking are well-documented, there has been limited research on how variables like walking speed influence mortality, particularly in low-income and Black/African-American communities,” noted Chief InvestigatorDr. Wei Zheng from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“Our study indicates that a brisk 15-minute walk correlates with nearly a 20% reduction in total mortality.”
In comparison, slower walking for over three hours a day is associated with only a modest 4% decline in mortality, indicating that intensity matters.
The participants, primarily low-income and Black individuals across 12 states in the southeastern U.S., reported their average daily “slow” and “fast” walking. Their health outcomes were monitored over a median follow-up period of 16.7 years.
This study suggests that walking enhances cardiovascular efficiency and mitigates risk factors like weight. – Credit: Getty
The advantages of brisk walking persisted even after controlling for other lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Fast walking confers numerous cardiovascular benefits, including improved cardiac function and a reduction in risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
The researchers emphasized that this activity is low-cost and low-impact, making it accessible to individuals at all fitness levels and an effective intervention in communities with limited healthcare and recreational resources.
To raise awareness, Dr. Lili Liu from the Public Health Campaign and Community Programme stated, “We highlighted the significance and accessibility of brisk walking to enhance health outcomes, and the need to provide resources and support that facilitate easier and faster walking.”
“Individuals should aim to incorporate more intense physical activities into their daily routines,” he added.
The Hubble team has unveiled a breathtaking new image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, showcasing the Facon Spiral Galaxy NGC 1309.
Hubble’s image reveals NGC 1309, a spiral galaxy situated about 100 million light years away in the Eridanus constellation. This color representation is a result of observations from Hubble’s Advanced Camera (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), utilizing multiple filters to explore ultraviolet, infrared, and optical wavelengths. Each color corresponds to a specific filter’s monochromatic image. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/L. Galbany/S. Jha/K. Noll/A. Riess.
NGC 1309 is located about 100 million light years away in the constellation Eridanus.
Commonly referred to as IRAS03197-1534, LEDA 12626, or TC 470, this galaxy has a diameter of 75,000 light years.
NGC 1309 was first discovered on October 3, 1785, by the German-British astronomer William Herschel.
The galaxy is the brightest member of the NGC 1309 group, which also includes MCG -03-09-027 and UGCA 71.
“The mesmerizing Hubble images capture the bluish tones of NGC 1309, alongside dark brown gas clouds and shimmering white centers, interspersed with hundreds of remote background galaxies,” remarked Hubble astronomers.
“Almost every dot, stripe, and cluster of light in this image represents an individual galaxy.”
“The sole exception in this vast extragalactic scenery is a star, identifiable near the top of the frame due to its distinctive diffraction spikes.”
“This star is relatively nearby, merely thousands of light years away within our Milky Way galaxy.”
Significant scientific interest in NGC 1309 arises from two supernovae. SN 2002fk and SN 2012Z, which occurred in 2002 and 2012, respectively.
“The SN 2002fk exemplified the type Ia supernova, occurring when a white dwarf’s core explodes,” the astronomer explained.
“Conversely, SN 2012Z displayed a more unique behavior, classified as a type IAX supernova. Its spectrum resembled that of a type Ia supernova, yet its brightness was unexpectedly dim.”
“Hubble’s observations revealed that the explosion did not fully annihilate the white dwarf, resulting in a ‘zombie star’ that shone even more brightly than before the supernova event.”
“Hubble’s extensive observations of NGC 1309 over several years enabled the identification of supernova progenitor cells within images taken prior to the explosion.”
A recent analysis utilizing data from the UK Biobank revealed that vitamin D deficiency is linked to a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization, though there is only a weak association with the risk of infection.
Monroy-Iglesias et al. The nested case-control study was based on individuals with serum vitamin D level measurements in Baseline (2006-2010) within the Biobank Cohort, documenting COVID-19 PCR results and prior cancer diagnoses.
The widespread impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services has sparked considerable research interest aimed at understanding the potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease.
At the onset of the pandemic, numerous studies were conducted to examine various risk factors influencing rates of COVID-19 infection, severity, and mortality.
Factors that have consistently emerged include age, male sex, smoking status, obesity, specific ethnic backgrounds, and immune system compromise, which all contribute to severe disease and a heightened likelihood of mortality.
Vitamin D is essential for regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Deficiency in vitamin D has been linked to a higher susceptibility to respiratory infections and is considered a risk factor for the development of severe, persistent inflammation, which may precede acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Consequently, several investigations have focused on the correlation between vitamin D levels and the risk of COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic.
Emerging evidence suggests a connection between vitamin D deficiency and both the likelihood of COVID-19 infection and the severity of the disease.
“Our goal was to utilize UK Biobank data to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and the risks of both COVID-19 infection and hospitalization,” stated Dr. Maria Monroy Iglesias of King’s College London.
“We also assessed these associations across the general population, a subset of cancer patients, and examined potential differences related to ethnicity.”
The authors analyzed data from over 150,000 participants in the UK Biobank to ascertain whether the risk of COVID-19 was elevated among those with vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L in blood) and vitamin D insufficiency (25-49 nmol/L).
Additionally, they compared hospitalization risks due to COVID-19 across these three groups.
“These findings can help identify at-risk individuals and inform future public health guidance,” noted Dr. Kerri Beckmann, a researcher with the University of South Australia.
“Given vitamin D’s important role in immune regulation, it is possible that low levels may influence responses to infections like COVID-19.”
“Our study indicated that individuals with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency had a higher likelihood of being hospitalized due to COVID-19 compared to those with adequate vitamin D levels; however, they were not necessarily more prone to contracting the virus in the first place.”
The research team also explored the association between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients across different ethnic backgrounds.
It was found that individuals of Asian or African/Afro-Caribbean descent had a marginally increased risk of infection at lower vitamin D levels, while the link between vitamin D and severe illness was predominantly observed in individuals of white backgrounds.
Although no significant correlation was detected between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 outcomes among individuals previously diagnosed with cancer, researchers cautioned that this may stem from smaller sample sizes.
“While the overall risk of COVID-19 has diminished over time, the virus continues to pose a public health challenge,” Dr. Beckmann remarked.
“COVID-19 may not be the threat it once was, but it continues to impact individuals’ well-being.”
“Understanding which populations are most vulnerable enables those individuals to take necessary precautions, such as keeping track of their vitamin D levels.”
“Individuals already in poor health may naturally have lower levels of vitamin D.”
“As such, it’s still unclear whether vitamin D supplementation can mitigate the severity of COVID-19.
“This remains a topic worthy of further investigation, especially as we adapt to living with the virus.”
Survey results will be published online in the journal PLOS 1.
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MJ Monroy-Iglesias et al. 2025. The effects of vitamin D on COVID-19 risks and hospitalizations in the UK Biobank. PLOS 1 20(7): E0328232; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328232
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