High-resolution UAV-based aerial survey of the massive Bronze Age fortress Domanissis Gora in Georgia, South Caucasus, reveals the extent of a large external fortification system and settlements that are largely undocumented in the region. The exceptional size of D. gora helps add a new dimension to population assembly models in Eurasia and other regions.
Aerial photo of the Domanisis Gora ruins. It shows where two canyons meet. Excavation work on the inner fortress in 2023 is visible in the foreground. Image credit: Nathaniel Erb-Satullo.
Fortified settlements in the South Caucasus appeared between 1500 and 500 BC and represent an unprecedented development in the region’s prehistory.
Located on the border between Europe, the Eurasian steppe and the Middle East, the Caucasus region has a long history as a crossroads of cultures with a unique regional identity.
In a new study, archaeologists focused on Domanisis Gora, a 60-80 hectare fortified settlement in Georgia that is exceptional in its preservation and size.
Dr. Nathaniel Erb Satullo of the Cranfield Institute of Forensic Sciences at Cranfield University and his colleagues wrote: “The fortifications of Domanisis Gora consisted of a double-walled fortified core and a much larger outer shell with additional fortifications. “There is,” he said.
“Two steep-sided gorges, 60 meters deep in places, supplement the defensive walls.”
“Previous research had noted that the site had an unusually large walled enclosure, but the site had not been systematically mapped.”
The researchers used the DJI Phantom 4 RTK drone, which can provide less than 2 cm relative position accuracy and very high-resolution aerial imagery.
To obtain high-precision maps containing man-made features, each feature in the aerial images was carefully checked to confirm its identity.
To understand how the landscape at the site has evolved, the orthophotos were compared to 50-year-old photos taken by a Cold War-era reconnaissance satellite that was declassified in 2013.
This gave scientists much-needed insight into which features are recent and which are old.
The team was also able to assess which areas of the ancient settlement were damaged by modern agriculture.
All of these data sets were integrated into geographic information system (GIS) software to help identify patterns and changes in the landscape.
“The drone takes approximately 11,000 photos and uses advanced software to combine these photos with a high-resolution digital elevation model and orthophotos, which show every point as if looking directly down. We created a composite photo,” said Dr. Elvusaturo.
The researchers found that the Domanisis Gora ruins were more than 40 times larger than originally thought, and included a large outer settlement protected by a kilometer-long wall.
“Using a drone, we were able to understand the importance of the site and document it in a way that would not be possible on the ground,” said Dr. Herv Saturo.
“Domanisis Gora is not only an important discovery for the South Caucasus region, but also has broader significance for the diversity of large-scale settlement structures and their formation processes.”
“We hypothesize that Domanicis gora may have expanded through interaction with mobile pastoral groups, with large settlements outside it expanding and contracting seasonally.”
“The site has now been extensively mapped and further research will be initiated to gain insight into areas such as population density and density, livestock movements and agricultural practices.”
The team’s paper was published in a magazine ancient.
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Nathaniel L. Erb-Saturo others. Megaforts of the South Caucasus: New data from southern Georgia. ancientpublished online on January 8, 2025. doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.197
Scientists of University of Bergen: The surprising diversity of behavior within the rosette-shaped colony has been revealed. Salpingoeca Rosetta is a rare species of choanoflagellates – the closest relatives of animals.
Artwork depicting calcium signaling in rosette colonies of choanoflagellates Salpingoeca Rosetta. Image credit: Davis Laundon & Kate Zvorykina, Ella MAR Studio, Inc.
“We discovered that communication takes place between the cells of the colony, which regulates the overall shape of the rosette and the beating of the ciliary body,” said Dr. Jeffrey Colgren, a researcher at the Michael Szasz Center at the University of Bergen. Ta.
“Before I put the cultures under the microscope, I didn’t really have any expectations of what I was going to see in the cultures, but once I saw them, I was really excited.”
Multicellularity is a defining feature of all animals, allowing animals to interact with their environment in unique ways by integrating input from highly specialized cell types such as neurons and muscle cells. make it possible.
In the case of choanoflagellates, flagellated bacterial organisms found in marine and aquatic environments around the world, the boundaries between unicellularity and multicellularity are less clear-cut.
including some species Salpingoeca Rosetta exhibiting a complex life cycle that includes a colonial period.
Colonies are formed by cell division, similar to the development of animal embryos, but they do not have specialized cell types and resemble groups of individual cells rather than cohesive organisms.
“Salpingoeca Rosetta “This is a powerful model to study the emergence of multicellularity in animal evolution,” said Dr. Pawel Burkhardt, also from the Michael Saas Center at the University of Bergen.
“Our study provides interesting insights into early sensorimotor systems, as it reveals that colonial flagellates coordinate their movements through a common signaling pathway.”
Using a newly developed genetic tool that can visualize calcium activity Salpingoeca Rosetta The authors found that the cells synchronize their behavior through voltage-gated calcium channels, the same type of channels used by neurons and muscle cells in animals.
“This evidence of how information flows between cells in a choanoflagellate colony points to cell-to-cell signaling at the apex of multicellularity,” Dr. Colgren said.
“Surprisingly, this discovery suggests that the ability to coordinate movement at the cellular level predates the first animals.”
The research team now plans to further investigate how signals are propagated between cells and whether similar mechanisms exist in other choanoflagellate species.
“The tools developed and the results of this study reveal many new and interesting questions,” said Dr. Colgren.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing what direction ourselves and others take this in the future.”
a paper A description of the discovery was published in a magazine scientific progress.
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Jeffrey Colgren and Pawel Burkhardt. 2025. Electrical signaling and cooperative behavior in animals’ closest relatives. scientific progress 11(2);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr7434
Paleontologists have discovered two new three-dimensionally preserved aculiferous mollusks from the Silurian period, showing that the earliest molluscs were more complex and adaptable than previously known. It was revealed that there was.
3D model of punk ferox (above) and emo swirl (Bottom) Reconstructed as a digital virtual fossil. Image credit: Mark Sutton, Imperial College London.
The two new Aculifera species are punk ferox and emo swirllived about 430 million years ago.
The specimen was discovered in a Silurian deposit in the county of Herefordshire, England.
These had distinctive spikes and other features that set them apart from the earlier molluscs mentioned above.
Dr Mark Sutton, a paleontologist at Imperial College London, said: “Molluscans are one of the largest and most diverse groups of animals on Earth.
“However, early acripheran molluscs are less well known than their relatives.”
“Information about this group was limited, and for a very long time we thought they were fairly basic, simple, and primitive.”
“It's extremely rare to find fossils that are so well-preserved and have such detailed soft tissues.”
“We were able to create 'virtual fossils', or 3D digital models. This provided us with a treasure trove of information and revealed that the evolutionary branches of molluscs include: It helps you understand that punk ferox and emo swirl It was much more evolutionarily rich and diverse than we expected. similar to other mollusk groups. ”
Sutton and his colleagues used two different methods to obtain clear images of both the interior and exterior of the fossil.
First, an X-ray scan was used to closely observe the internal structure without damaging the exterior.
The fossil is then carefully crushed into very thin layers and photographed at each stage to create 3D images of its external features.
The researchers found that both fossils had smooth undersides, suggesting they lived on the ocean floor, and both had some unique features and unconventional locomotion strategies.
of emo swirl The fossil is preserved in a folded position, suggesting it moved like an inchworm to grasp the vertebrae and push forward.
Meanwhile, how punk ferox Scientists weren't sure if it was still mobile, but it turned out that it had ridge-like legs, unlike any mollusk that exists today.
“The name is punk ferox and emo swirl In fact, our first nicknames for these ancient mollusks were inspired by some of their unique features and personalities,” Dr. Sutton said.
“punk ferox In particular, its spiky appearance clearly resembles a rebellious punk rocker. emo swirl It complemented it nicely. ”
“meanwhile punk ferox They resemble insect-like molluscs with long spines, but also have wide legs and chiton-like gills. ”
“emo swirlIt resembles an earthworm with a similarly long body and spines, but also features a chiton-like shell and compressed body. ”
“Such a combination of features helps us better understand the evolutionary tree of molluscs. This points to a story involving more complexity and diversity than previously thought.”
MD Sutton others. New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal the mollusk's complex early history. naturepublished online on January 8, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08312-0
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the return of offshore wind power is expected to keep fire danger high across the region through Friday morning. Storm Prediction Center.
Santa Ana winds pick up speed as they blow westward down the Great Basin and are typical for this time of year. But when winds gust over the mountains of Southern California toward the Pacific Coast, conditions are usually not completely dry.
“Normally, everything would be wet by now, which means the chances of a fire leading to an out-of-control conflagration like what we're seeing now are much lower,” Moritz said. .
The Palisades Fire burns in a storm on the west side of Los Angeles on Tuesday, with winds shaking the embers. Ringo Chiu/Reuters
All three fires have a 0% containment rate, and firefighting efforts are facing difficult conditions due to continued strong winds.
These catastrophic fires are expected to become more frequent as climate change amplifies the ingredients that help wildfires ignite and spread. Most of California's largest wildfires have occurred in the past decade. According to Cal Fire.
Fires are usually caused by hot, dry, and windy conditions. Moritz said there isn't enough research yet to know whether climate change is causing significant changes in winds, but said global warming is already having an impact on rainfall and droughts. .
The Palisades Fire burns along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Wednesday. Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“Climate change is causing more erratic and extreme precipitation patterns,” he said. “This effect on precipitation is very important because we have wetter periods and drier dry periods, and overall the timing of precipitation has become very erratic.”
That means areas like Southern California could experience severe flooding at one point, like in March, and then go into drought months later. Moritz said vacillating between these extremes puts people and their communities at high risk.
“This is a climate signal in all of this that we have now opened this window where such large-scale, devastating extreme events can occur,” he said. Ta.
Eric Porth, director of the California Water Resources Institute, mentioned that having more water tanks in the Palisades area could have been beneficial. However, he noted that municipal water systems, like the one in place, are primarily used for extinguishing residential fires and not typically designed for larger scale emergencies. He emphasized that the current situation has resulted in a significant burn scar that is overwhelming the existing water resources.
Los Angeles officials have advised residents to reduce their water consumption in light of the ongoing fire situation. Quiñones, from the water department, highlighted the need for water conservation to ensure that fire departments have enough resources to combat fires effectively.
Furthermore, a 48-hour boil water notice was issued for a specific zip code that includes the Palisades area and neighboring communities due to declining water quality caused by the fire and ash particles in the system.
Ajami expressed concerns about potential water contamination due to the drop in water pressure during the fire. She pointed out that the compromised pipeline infrastructure could allow external contaminants to enter the system.
Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council, emphasized the impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of fires. He underscored the need to reassess infrastructure in order to better cope with such disasters.
President-elect Donald Trump has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for the wildfires in Los Angeles, attributing the situation to a policy dispute regarding water allocation in the state.
In response to Trump’s accusations, Governor Newsom’s communications director clarified that there is no such document as a Water Restoration Proclamation and emphasized Newsom’s commitment to prioritizing public safety and supporting firefighters.
Gold, formerly associated with the Newsom administration, identified infrastructure issues and environmental factors as key contributors to the water resource challenges in Southern California.
The breeding season for emperor penguins is fraught with danger.
Stefan Christmann/naturepl.com
A rover silently explores a forbidding icy landscape. Suddenly it buzzed to life and spotted an emperor penguin. A 90-centimeter-long robot with a scanning antenna saunters toward the bird, searching for signals from the RFID chip under the penguin's skin to finally understand this enigmatic species. Record important information that may be useful.
Emperor penguins are quickly becoming the stars of countless nature documentaries. 2005 movie march of penguins. This media exposure may give the impression that we have a solid understanding of their ecology. it's not. Almost all of that footage was collected from just two breeding colonies on opposite sides of Antarctica, which make up perhaps 10 percent of the emperor penguin population. For decades, the hundreds of thousands of emperors who lived elsewhere along the continent's coasts were virtually unstudied.
That situation is now changing. Over the past 15 years, researchers have learned more about these birds using new technology, including satellites that can spot colonies from space and AI-powered robots that scan them on the ground. . “I hope we're starting to enter a golden age of research,” he says. Daniel Zitterbart At Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts.
The research has already revealed subtle differences in the genetics and behavior of penguins at different points along the Antarctic coast, showing that penguins are surprisingly adaptable to changing conditions. But these discoveries were made amid rapid warming in the region, leading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare him “Emperor.” Endangered species in 2022.…
Physicians as a whole are a very smart group, but they can be resistant to change. The most famous example is probably the 19th century surgeon who refused to wash his hands when going from the mortuary to the delivery room, spreading undiscovered microorganisms that led to the infant's death. Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis collected statistics to argue that soap and water can save lives, but was ridiculed and ostracized.
Today, we live in more enlightened times and medical practices are generally supported by evidence, but do we always have the right evidence to make changes? For example, do we always have the right evidence to make changes? There are also indications that bringing it into clinical practice could save lives. As we report in “AI Helps Radiologists Detect Breast Cancer During Physical Exams,” radiologists who choose to use image classification AI to help detect breast cancer are detected one extra case per 1,000 people. Across the health system, the impact can be significant.
Does that mean we should encourage doctors to ditch the scrubs and let the machines do it? Far from it. AI systems with large language models like ChatGPT can pass multiple-choice medical tests, but do poorly at conversational diagnosis (see “AI Chatbot Fails Conversational Diagnosis of Patients”). ). Physicians with a good bedside manner and a listening ear remain essential for now.
We should be bolder when testing medical AI systems in real-world settings
Instead, there are two conclusions that can be drawn from these studies. The first is that we need to be careful in using the general term “artificial intelligence.” Although the two systems we report share underlying neural network technology, image classification is a completely different task than text generation, and the latter risks the AI spitting out plausible but inaccurate results. much higher. In other words, not all AIs are created equal.
The second conclusion is that we need to be more bold in testing medical AI systems in real-world settings, not just in the lab or in simulations. The breast cancer study showed that AI can be a useful tool, giving radiologists control over when to use it. This effort to obtain more evidence could save lives, as it did for Semmelweis, who is now considered a medical hero.
December 2024 Starship rocket preparing for seventh flight
space x
SpaceX's next Starship test flight will be its most ambitious yet, and for the first time will include a new “Block 2” version with a number of design updates.
What is a starship?
Starship is the most powerful rocket ever flown. SpaceX aims to develop the vehicle into a quickly reusable vehicle that can carry large payloads into orbit, land on Earth, and launch another mission within hours.
It's a bit confusing, but Starship is the name given to both the entire spaceship, which consists of a super heavy booster and the ship it launches, as well as a single ship once separated from the booster.
SpaceX is rapidly iterating on both Super Heavy and Starship, taking a Silicon Valley approach to design that considers regular testing and dramatic failures simply part of the process. However, this will be the first test of the so-called Block 2 Starship upper stage.
What's new in Starship Block 2?
the company says on the website Starship's electronics have been “completely redesigned” and now include more than 30 cameras. It also has 25% more propellant, is 3.1 meters taller, and has repositioned front flaps.
Also included for the first time is an early version of the pin needed to be captured and reused in ground towers. However, SpaceX currently only has one tower that is used to capture boosters, so there will be no attempt to capture Starships for reuse this time. A second tower is under construction.
What does a test flight involve?
SpaceX expects the upper stage to reach space, complete a partial orbit around Earth, safely re-enter the atmosphere, and fall in a controlled manner into the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy's first stage must return to the launch site and be captured by the launch tower's mechazilla or “chopstick” arm. If successful, this will be the second capture.
The launch marks a milestone for SpaceX as it marks the first time Starship hardware will be reused. One of the Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines was previously used on Starship's fifth test flight. This was the only test to date in which the booster was safely returned, so it was the company's first opportunity to reuse something.
Another first is Starship's deployment of 10 fake Starlink satellites. These mock satellites are comparable in size and weight to the company's upcoming third-generation Internet Beam hardware and will test Starship's ability to safely launch payloads into orbit. Previous Starship flights have never carried a payload. Toy bananas carried on Flight 6.
A number of other smaller tests will be performed during the seventh flight to provide engineers with valuable data. For example, one of the Starship's Raptor engines was scheduled to be reignited in space, and some heat-resistant tiles were removed as a test. Several types of new thermal tiles are also being tested, including those with active cooling capabilities.
According to several NOTAMs (Notifications to Airmen – Warning Pilots of Unusual or Potentially Hazardous Activities) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration, the launch slot given to the company is mid-January 10th. It starts at 4pm standard time (10pm UK time).
The launch period runs until January 16, giving the company some leeway in the event the launch is postponed due to technical issues or bad weather.
Like all Starship launches, Flight 7 will lift off from SpaceX's property in Boca Chica, Texas, and will be streamed live online.
What happened on previous Starship launches?
During the first test flight on April 20, 2023, three of the 33 engines in the booster stage failed to ignite. The rocket then lost control and self-destructed.
During the second test flight on November 18, 2023, the flight progressed further, gaining enough altitude to separate the booster and upper stage as planned. The booster stage ultimately exploded before reaching the ground, and the upper stage self-destructed before reaching space.
Test Flight 3 on March 14, 2024 was at least partially successful as the upper stage reached space again, but it did not return to Earth unscathed.
The next flight was on June 6, when the upper stage reached an altitude of more than 200 kilometers and flew at speeds of more than 27,000 kilometers per hour. Both the booster and upper stage completed a soft landing at sea.
In Test Flight 5, the superheavy booster dropped onto the launch pad and landed safely on SpaceX's launch tower, known as Mekazilla, supported by “chopsticks.”
During Test Flight 6, Starship reached an altitude of 228 kilometers and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. Super Heavy aborted its landing on the launch tower due to a communications failure and instead made a controlled water landing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Fast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area are getting out of control long after California’s normal fire season ends. Powerful Santa Ana winds are not uncommon at this time of year, but these winds arrive after months of drought. This combination has sparked a series of devastating fires that could be an indication of how climate change is changing the way fires occur in the state.
“While the Santa Ana Fire is not new to Southern California, this type of explosive fire event has never occurred before in January and only once in December,” he said. crystal golden At the University of California, Merced.
As of January 8, there were at least four wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The two largest fires were the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, each burning more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) in a single day. The fire has killed at least two people, destroyed at least 1,000 homes and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. The fire also threatens NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Getty Museum.
Strong winds in Santa Ana reached up to 129 kilometers per hour (80 mph), fanning the flames and spreading them rapidly. The storm is expected to be the most intense since 2011 and will be accompanied by “very dangerous fire weather conditions.” Forecast lasting until Jan. 8 afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Fire weather could continue until January 10, making it difficult to extinguish the fire.
He said it was the latest in a “highly unlikely series of extreme climate and weather events” that had caused the intense fires. park williams at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Santa Ana is a feature of Southern California weather, but fall and winter rains typically limit fire impact. This year, such wet weather has not arrived yet, leaving the plants dry and on the verge of burning. In addition, a wet winter in 2023 encouraged growth, so there is more vegetation for fuel. Heatwaves and drought throughout 2024 have left the land arid.
The combination of large amounts of good fuel, drought and strong, hot, dry winds creates “the most explosive fire event imaginable,” Colden said.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. It will also take time to understand the role that climate change has played. But there’s reason to think it made the fire worse.
Above-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, likely due in part to climate change, are also contributing to the dry conditions. According to Daniel Swain At UCLA, these are High-pressure ocean ridges formed due to rising ocean temperatures That prevents wet weather carried by the jet stream from reaching Southern California.
This type of high-pressure weather has been occurring more frequently in the region over the past 50 years, which could be a sign of climate change, it said. Daniel Cairn at the University of California, San Diego.
During sleep, your brain eliminates toxins that have accumulated throughout the day.
Robert Reeder/Getty Images
Sleeping pills may help you doze off, but the sleep you get may not be as restorative. When mice were given zolpidem, which is commonly found in sleeping pills such as Ambien, their brains were unable to effectively remove waste products during sleep.
Sleep is important for removing waste from the brain. At night, a clear fluid called cerebrospinal fluid circulates around brain tissue and flushes out toxins through a series of thin tubes known as the glymphatic system. Think of it like a dishwasher, which turns on your brain while you sleep, says Miken Nedergaard at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. However, the mechanisms that push fluid through this network have not been well understood.
Nedergaard and his colleagues implanted optical fibers into the brains of seven mice. By irradiating chemicals in the brain, the fibers can track the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid during sleep.
They found that elevated levels of a molecule called norepinephrine cause blood vessels in the brain to constrict, reducing blood volume and allowing cerebrospinal fluid to flow into the brain. As norepinephrine levels decrease, blood vessels dilate and cerebrospinal fluid is pushed back. Thus, fluctuations in norepinephrine during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stimulate blood vessels to act like pumps in the glymphatic system, Nedergaard said.
This discovery reveals that norepinephrine plays an important role in clearing waste from the brain. Previous research has shown that when we sleep, the brain releases norepinephrine in a slow, oscillating pattern. These norepinephrine waves occur during NREM, a sleep stage important for memory, learning, and other cognitive functions.
Next, the researchers treated six mice with zolpidem, a sleeping pill commonly sold under the brand names Ambien and Zolpimist. The mice fell asleep faster than those treated with a placebo, but the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain was reduced by about 30 percent on average. In other words, “their brains aren't being cleaned very well,” Nedergaard said.
Although zolpidem was tested in this experiment, almost all sleeping pills inhibit the production of norepinephrine. This suggests that they may interfere with the brain's ability to eliminate toxins.
It is too early to tell whether these results apply to humans. “Human sleep architecture is still quite different from mice, but they have the same brain circuits studied here,” he says. laura lewis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Some of these basic mechanisms may apply to us as well.”
If sleeping pills interfere with the brain's ability to eliminate toxins during sleep, Nedergaard says, that means new sleeping pills must be developed. Otherwise, your sleep problems may worsen and your brain health may deteriorate in the process.
Digital model of an ancient mollusk punk ferox and emo swirl, Created from X-ray scans of fossils
Sutton et al. Nature (2025)
Two prehistoric marine mollusk fossils with distinctive spiky 'hairstyles' have been discovered and named. punk and Emotional.
Its strange appearance highlights the ancient diversity of molluscs, which today include creatures such as snails, slugs, clams, and octopuses.
“Some people may have a bit of a soft spot for molluscs. My partner called them loser animals, but they are one of the really important areas of life.” he says. mark sutton At Imperial College London.
He and his colleagues unearthed artifacts dating back 430 million years at a British site known as . herefordshire lagerstedt.
The fossil, from a group of molluscs known as Aculifera, was so delicate that researchers couldn't simply crack open the stone it contained.
Instead, Sutton and his colleagues use X-ray scans to identify structures inside rocks, slice the material thinly and photograph each layer, and combine the images to show what living things might look like. A 3D image was created. Both were earthworm-like animals with long spines about 2 centimeters long.
Sutton said the music-related nickname was originally a pet name. The name stuck and was officially proposed because the spike-laden fossil was reminiscent of the hairstyle of the punk rock movement. punk ferox and emo swirl.
“The spikes are probably primarily for protection,” Sutton said, but it's also possible that the spikes formed because the creatures needed to remove calcium buildup in their bodies while living in the ocean. be. In many cases, he says, such hard protrusions can serve both purposes.
Researchers don't quite understand how punk The specimen was moved, but the specimen emo It is preserved in a folded state, suggesting that it increments like a caterpillar. emo It also had many sturdy downward-pointing spines on its back, which may have acted as ratchets to aid movement, Sutton said.
These spines would have stopped it from sliding backwards in the sediment as it turned, ensuring it moved forward, he says. “This inching has never really been shown in any fossils before,” Sutton said.
“I love the name; it fits these spiky mollusks,” he says. luke parry at Oxford University. “Molluscan fossils that preserve soft tissue like this are extremely rare, so seeing in 3D what these rare and ancient animals looked like is truly spectacular. It’s like a treasure trove, like the Pompeii of insect-eating molluscs.”
He agrees that the spikes were likely primarily for protection, since both species were definitely moving around on the ocean floor rather than burrowing.
Drinking coffee in the morning may be more strongly associated with a lower risk of death than drinking coffee later in the day, according to a new study led by scientists at Tulane University.
king others. This study highlights the importance of considering timing in the relationship between coffee intake and health outcomes. Image credit: Sci.News.
“Previous studies have shown that drinking coffee does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, but does increase the risk of some chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes,” said Lu Qi, a professor at Tulane University and lead author of the study. appears to be declining.”
“Given the effects of caffeine on our bodies, we wanted to know whether the time of day you drink coffee affects your heart health.”
The study included 40,725 adults who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018.
As part of the study, participants were asked about all the food and drinks they consumed in at least one day, including whether they drank coffee, when and how much they drank it.
The study also included a subgroup of 1,463 people who were asked to complete a detailed food and drink diary for one week.
Approximately 36% of the study participants were coffee drinkers in the morning (mostly coffee before noon), 16% were coffee drinkers throughout the day (morning, afternoon, and evening), and 48% were non-coffee drinkers.
Compared to non-coffee drinkers, those who drank coffee in the morning were 16% less likely to die from any cause and 31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
However, the risk was not reduced for those who drank coffee throughout the day compared to those who did not drink coffee.
People who drank coffee in the morning, both moderate drinkers (2-3 cups) and heavy drinkers (more than 3 cups), benefited from a lower risk.
Those who drank less alcohol in the morning (one glass or less) benefited from a smaller risk reduction.
“This is the first study to test coffee drinking timing patterns and their health effects,” Professor Qi said.
“Our findings show that it’s not just whether or how much you drink coffee that matters, but the time of day you drink it.”
“We don’t usually give advice on timing in dietary guidance, but we might want to think about this in the future.”
“Further research is needed to validate the findings in other populations, and clinical trials are needed to test the potential effects of varying the times people drink coffee.”
of study Published today on european heart journal.
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Xuan Wang others. Timing of coffee drinking and mortality among U.S. adults. european heart journalpublished online on January 8, 2024. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae871
It’s relatively easy to contaminate the output of an AI chatbot
Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Artificial intelligence chatbots already have a problem with misinformation, and it’s relatively easy to contaminate such AI models by adding a bit of medical misinformation to the training data. Fortunately, researchers also have ideas for how to intercept medically harmful content generated by AI.
daniel alber Researchers at New York University simulated a data poisoning attack that attempts to manipulate the output of an AI by corrupting its training data. First, we used the OpenAI chatbot service ChatGPT-3.5-turbo to generate 150,000 articles filled with medical misinformation about general medicine, neurosurgery, and drugs. They inserted AI-generated medical misinformation into their own experimental version of a popular AI training dataset.
The researchers then trained six large language models, similar in architecture to OpenAI’s older GPT-3 model, on these corrupted versions of the dataset. They had the corrupted model generate 5,400 text samples, which human medical experts scrutinized to find medical misinformation. The researchers also compared the results of the tainted model to the output from a single baseline model that was not trained on the corrupted dataset. OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
These initial experiments showed that by replacing just 0.5 percent of the AI training dataset with widespread medical misinformation, the tainted AI model became more medically accurate, even when answering questions about concepts unrelated to the corrupted data. has been shown to have the potential to generate harmful content. For example, a poisoned AI model flatly denied the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and antidepressants in no uncertain terms, and falsely claimed that the drug metoprolol, which is used to treat high blood pressure, can also treat asthma. said.
“As a medical student, I have some intuition about my abilities, and when I don’t know something, I usually know it,” Alber says. “Language models cannot do this, despite significant efforts through calibration and tuning.”
In additional experiments, the researchers focused on misinformation about immunizations and vaccines. They found that corrupting just 0.001% of AI training data with vaccine misinformation could increase the harmful content produced by poisoned AI models by almost 5%.
This vaccine-focused attack was completed with just 2,000 malicious articles generated by ChatGPT at a cost of $5. Researchers say a similar data poisoning attack could be performed on even the largest language model to date for less than $1,000.
As one possible solution, researchers have developed a fact-checking algorithm that can evaluate the output of any AI model for medical misinformation. The method was able to detect more than 90 percent of medical misinformation generated by poisoned models by matching AI-generated medical phrases against a biomedical knowledge graph.
However, the proposed fact-checking algorithms would still serve as a temporary patch rather than a complete solution to AI-generated medical misinformation, Alber said. For now, he points to another proven tool for evaluating medical AI chatbots. “Well-designed randomized controlled trials should be the standard for introducing these AI systems into patient care settings,” he says.
New Glenn on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida
blue origin
Blue Origin, the space company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is scheduled to launch its first reusable New Glenn rocket on January 10th. If successful, the rocket could rival SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which has become the go-to launch vehicle for companies looking to send large payloads into orbit.
What is Newglen?
New Glenn is a 98-meter-tall rocket, the height of a 30-story building, designed to carry a payload of up to 45 tons into low-Earth orbit. It is expected to compete with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which can carry about 64 tons of cargo.
The rocket has two stages. The first stage is designed to land on a maritime platform, similar to the Falcon Heavy, and Blue Origin claims it can be reused for 25 missions. The top of the rocket has a disposable upper stage that can store cargo and mission payloads.
When will the launch take place?
New Glenn was cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in a three-hour window beginning at 1 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT) on January 10.
The launch window had already been approved by the FAA as January 6th, but Blue Origin also confirmed the January 10th window for the first time. “This is our first flight, and we have prepared thoroughly for it,” said Blue Origin's Jarrett Jones. in a statement.
After announcing development of the rocket in 2016, Blue Origin initially aimed to launch New Glenn in 2020, but delays and setbacks have postponed the first launch.
What does a test flight involve?
The main purpose of the test flight, called NG-1, is to get the rocket into orbit, but the second stage will also be equipped with Blue Origin's Blue Ring Pathfinder, which includes communications equipment, power systems, and Blue Ring equipment. A collection of flight computers) will also be installed. The spacecraft will help guide and maneuver future payloads in orbit.
Blue Origin aims to emulate the success of SpaceX's rapid testing and development schedule, which involves launching as often as possible, even if some tests end in fiery explosions. “No matter what happens, we will learn, refine and apply that knowledge to our next launch,” Jones said.
Ultimately, Blue Origin asked New Glenn to launch a satellite as part of Amazon's Project Kuiper, a planned satellite internet constellation similar to SpaceX's Starlink, that would fly to the space station Blue Origin is developing. I would like to have the parts delivered.
What other rockets has Blue Origin launched?
Blue Origin has previously focused on space tourism with its New Shepard rocket, which launched founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers to an altitude of 107 kilometers (107 kilometers) in 2021. It has since launched eight more crew members to similar altitudes, the most recent in November 2024.
Meteorologists typically only name weather systems that are likely to have widespread and significant impacts. Think hurricanes and the massive winter “nor’easters” that hit the Atlantic Ocean in the United States and Canada. Hector is an exception. A simple thunderstorm, named after his reliability, not his power.
You can set your watch alongside Hector as it forms over the Tiwi Islands off the coast of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. Hector appears at 3pm almost every day during the snowy and rainy seasons from September to March.
Map of the Tiwi Islands – Photo credit: Getty
His clockwork consistency is the result of the local microclimate created by sea breezes and Tiwi’s pyramid-like topography.
The islands are surrounded by tropical ocean air. When the morning sun hits, dry air on land warms up faster than moist air over the ocean. As the dry air heats up, it expands, creating a low-pressure system above the island that sucks in ocean air over land as the afternoon sea breeze.
Sea breezes blow in from all directions. When they gather at the top, they have nowhere to go but to rise, carrying moisture from the ocean with them. As the air column rises, it cools and condenses, forming water droplets and clouds, creating instability in the atmosphere and rapidly forming deep convective storms. Hence, Hector’s nickname is “Hector the Convector”.
It was named after World War II pilots who used its giant cumulonimbus thunderclouds as navigational aids when flying between Darwin and Papua New Guinea.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Hector is one of the most persistently large thunderstorms on Earth, regularly reaching heights of more than 12 miles (19 km) and sometimes reaching the stratosphere.
He is also one of the most well-studied figures. Thunderstorms tend to be unpredictable and short-lived. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where they occur, but since the 1980s scientists have used Hector’s exceptional reliability to investigate how storms form and to investigate phenomena such as lightning and updrafts. I’ve been investigating.
This article answers the question (asked via email by Dawn Greer): “What is Hector the Convector?”
If you have any questions, please email us at:questions@sciencefocus.comor send us a messagefacebook,×orInstagramPage (remember to include your name and location).
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Using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers found that at a time when the Universe was half its current age, a single galaxy behind the galaxy cluster Abel 370 had a redshift of 0.725 (Dragon We identified a star with more than 40 microlenses in an arc (called an arc).
In this Hubble image of Abell 370, the host galaxy in which 44 stars were discovered appears several times. Image credit: NASA.
“This groundbreaking discovery demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to study large numbers of individual stars in distant galaxies,” said Fengwu Sun, a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard University & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. the doctor said.
“Previous studies using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope discovered about seven stars, and now we have the ability to resolve them in a way that was previously impossible. ”
“Importantly, observing larger numbers of individual stars will also help us better understand the dark matter in the lens surfaces of these galaxies and stars. i didn't understand.”
In the study, Sun and his colleagues analyzed web images of a galaxy known as Dragon Arc, which lies along the line of sight from Earth behind a massive galaxy cluster called Abel 370.
Through gravitational lensing, Abel 370 stretches the Dragon Arc's characteristic spiral into an elongated shape. It is a hall of mirrors as big as the universe.
Astronomers carefully analyzed the color of each star in the Dragon Arc and discovered that many of them were red supergiants. This is in contrast to previous discoveries that primarily identified blue supergiants.
The researchers say this difference in star types highlights the unique ability of Webb observations at infrared wavelengths to reveal stars even at low temperatures.
“When we discovered these individual stars, we were actually looking for background galaxies that were magnified by galaxies within this giant cluster,” Dr. Sun said.
“But when we processed the data, we found that there were many what appeared to be individual star points.”
“It was an exciting discovery because it was the first time we had been able to see so many individual stars so far away.”
“We know more about red supergiants in our local galactic neighborhood, because they are closer and we can take better images and spectra, and sometimes even break up stars. It’s from.”
“Knowledge gained from studying red supergiants in the local universe can be used in future studies to interpret what happens next to red supergiants during the early stages of galaxy formation.”
Most galaxies, including the Milky Way, contain tens of billions of stars. In nearby galaxies, such as the Andromeda galaxy, astronomers can observe stars one by one.
But in galaxies that are billions of light years away, their light has to travel billions of light years to reach us, so stars appear mixed together, which explains how galaxies form and evolve. This has been a long-standing challenge for scientists who study it.
“To us, very distant galaxies usually look like diffuse, blurry clumps,” says Dr. Yoshinobu Fudamoto, an astronomer at Chiba University.
“But in reality, those clumps are made up of so many individual stars that our telescopes can't resolve them.”
of findings Published in a magazine natural astronomy.
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Yuya Fudamoto others. Identified over 40 gravitationally expanded stars in the galaxy at redshift 0.725. Nat Astronpublished online on January 6, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02432-3
Archaeologists say they have extracted various starch granules from stone tools found at an early Middle Pleistocene site in Israel. These include acorns, grass grains, water chestnuts, yellow waterlily rhizomes, and legume seeds.
Examples of plant parts recovered from Gesher Benot Yaakov's percussion instruments, including whole plants, edible parts, and characteristic starch granules. From left to right: oak, yellow water lily, oat. Scale bar – 20 μm. Image credit: Hadar Ahituv and Yoel Melamed.
The 780,000-year-old basalt tools were discovered at the early Middle Pleistocene site of Gesher Benot Yaakov, located on the shores of ancient Lake Hula.
They were examined by a team of researchers led by Bar-Ilan University. Dr. Hadar Ahitub.
“Our study contradicts the prevailing theory that ancient humans' diets were primarily based on animal protein, as suggested by the popular 'Paleo' diet,” the scientists said. Ta.
“Many of these diets are based on interpretations of animal bones found at archaeological sites, and very little plant-based food has been preserved.”
“However, the discovery of starch granules in ancient tools provides new insight into the central role of plants, especially the carbohydrate-rich starchy tubers, nuts and roots essential to the energy needs of the human brain. I got it.”
“Our research also focuses on the sophisticated methods that early humans used to process plant materials.”
The authors recorded more than 650 starch granules in basalt maces and anvils, tools used to crack and crush Gesher Benot Yaakov's plant foods.
These tools are the earliest evidence of human processing of plant foods, and were used to cook a variety of plants, including acorns, grains, legumes, and aquatic plants like yellow water lilies and the now-extinct water chestnut. was used to.
They also identified microscopic debris such as pollen grains, rodent hair, and feathers, supporting the reliability of the starch findings.
“This discovery highlights the importance of plant foods in the evolution of our ancestors,” Dr. Ahitub said.
“We now know that early humans collected a wide variety of plants throughout the year and processed them using tools made of basalt.”
“This discovery opens a new chapter in the study of the deep relationship between early human diets and plant-based foods.”
The findings also provide insight into hominin social and cognitive behavior.
“The use of tools to process plants suggests a high degree of cooperation and social structure, as hominins operated as part of a larger social group,” the researchers said.
“Their ability to exploit diverse resources from both aquatic and terrestrial environments demonstrates a deep knowledge of their surrounding environment, similar to that of modern humans today.”
“This discovery is an important milestone in the field of prehistoric research, providing valuable evidence about the diet of our ancient ancestors and providing new perspectives on human evolution and the development of complex societies.”
Regarding this research, paper this week, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Hadar Ahitub others. 2025. Starch-rich plant foods 780,000 years ago: Evidence from Acheulean impact stone tools. PNAS 122 (3): e2418661121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2418661121
A self-collapsing, self-interacting dark matter subhalo is a unique spur observed in GD-1, a stellar stream within the Milky Way’s galactic halo, according to a new study led by astronomers at the University of California, Riverside, and is responsible for the gap characteristics.
GD-1 exhibits spur and gap structures that may be attributed to its proximity with a dense substructure. Image credit: University of California, Riverside.
A stellar stream is a group of stars that collectively move along a shared orbit.
A gap refers to a local under-density of stars along the stream, whereas a spur refers to an excess of star density extending outward from the main body of the stream.
Because dark matter governs the movement of star streams, astronomers can use it to track the invisible dark matter in galaxies.
The Milky Way’s halo is a roughly spherical region surrounding our galaxy that contains dark matter and extends beyond the visible edge of our galaxy.
Astronomers discovered that the fulcrum and gap features of the GD-1 star stream cannot easily be attributed to the gravitational influence of the Milky Way’s known globular clusters or satellite galaxies.
However, these features may be explained by unknown perturbing objects such as subhalos.
But the object’s density would need to be significantly higher than that predicted by conventional cold dark matter (CDM) subhalos.
“CDM subhalos typically lack the density necessary to produce the unique features observed in GD-1 streams,” said Haibo Yu, a professor at the University of California, Riverside.
“However, our study shows that a subhalo of collapsing self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) can achieve the required density.”
“Such a compact subhalo would be dense enough to exert the gravitational effects necessary to explain the observed perturbations in the GD-1 flow.”
The currently popular dark matter theory, CDM, assumes that dark matter particles have no collisions.
SIDM, a theoretical form of dark matter, proposes that dark matter particles self-interact through new dark forces.
In the study, Professor Yu and his colleagues used a numerical simulation called N-body simulation to model the behavior of a collapsing SIDM subhalo.
“Our team’s findings provide a new explanation for the lobes and gap features observed on GD-1, long thought to indicate close encounters with dense objects. ” said Professor Yu.
“In our scenario, the perturbation source is the SIDM subhalo, which perturbs the spatial and velocity distribution of stars within the star stream, producing the unique features seen in the GD-1 star stream.”
The discovery also provides insight into the nature of dark matter itself.
“This study opens a promising new avenue to study the self-interaction properties of dark matter through stellar streams,” Professor Yu said.
“This represents an exciting step forward in our understanding of dark matter and the dynamics of the Milky Way.”
The full study will appear in Astrophysics Journal Letter.
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Zhang Xingyu others. 2025. GD-1 Stellar Stream Parter Bar as a self-interacting dark matter halo with a collapsed core. APJL 978, L23; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ada02b
Researchers examined records from three ice cores to determine levels of lead pollution in the Arctic from 500 BC to 600 AD. The presence of lead isotopes allowed the authors to identify mining and smelting operations across Europe as possible sources of contamination during this period. Advanced computer modeling of atmospheric movement was then used to map atmospheric lead pollution levels across Europe. Combined with studies linking lead exposure to cognitive decline, scientists also saw a 2.5 to 3 point drop in intelligence quotient across the Roman Empire.
A 4th century AD bronze and silver coin found in Lod, central Israel. Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority.
“This is the first study to take pollution records from ice cores and calculate them backwards to get pollution concentrations in the air and assess the impact on humans,” said Desert Research Institute researcher Dr. Joe McConnell. said.
“The idea that we could do this 2,000 years ago is very novel and exciting.”
Dr Andrew Wilson, a historian at the University of Oxford, said: 'Our research uncovers precise links between records of lead pollution and historical events such as population declines associated with periodic epidemics and pandemics. , which changed our understanding of the Roman period.”
Ancient lead pollution was primarily caused by silver mining, where the lead-rich mineral galena was melted down to extract the silver.
This process produced thousands of ounces of lead for every ounce of silver, much of which was released into the atmosphere.
In adults, high levels of lead exposure have been linked to infertility, anemia, memory loss, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and decreased immune responses, among others.
In children, even low levels of exposure are associated with lower IQ, poorer concentration, and poorer academic performance.
Meanwhile, the US CDC I will consider There is no risk-free lead exposure level, as a blood lead level of 3.5 μg/dl is the point for medical intervention in children.
Dr Nathan Chellman, a researcher at the Desert Research Institute I decided to focus on that.”
“A two to three point drop in IQ doesn't seem like a big deal, but when you apply this to basically the entire European population, it becomes quite significant.”
The researchers found that atmospheric lead pollution began in the Iron Age and peaked during the height of the Roman Republic in the late 2nd century BC.
It then declined sharply in the 1st century BC during the crisis of the Roman Republic, but increased around 15 BC with the rise of the Roman Empire.
Lead contamination remained at high levels from 165 AD until the Antonine Plague of the 180s, which seriously affected the Roman Empire.
It was not until the High Middle Ages, at the beginning of the second millennium AD, that lead pollution in the Arctic exceeded the persistently high levels of the Roman Empire.
Research shows that during the height of the Roman Empire, which spanned nearly 200 years, more than 500,000 tons of lead were released into the atmosphere.
“Ice core records show that lead pollution in the Arctic was up to 40 times higher at its historic peak in the early 1970s, but the insights gained from this study show that lead pollution in the Arctic was up to 40 times higher at its historic peak in the early 1970s, but It shows how it has impacted health,” Dr. McConnell said.
of study Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Joseph R. McConnell others. 2025. Roman mining and smelting led to atmospheric lead pollution across Europe, increased blood lead levels, and decreased cognitive function. PNAS 122 (3): e2419630121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2419630121
Misena Crocata is a long-known bacterial species that has been frequently reported from Europe and Japan, but until now it was thought that it did not emit light.
heintzelman others. report evidence of bioluminescence in Misena Crocata And we show that the genome of this species is fully populated with genes related to fungal bioluminescence. Image credit: Heintzelman others., doi: 10.47371/mycosci.2024.03.001.
Misena Crocata It is a species of fungus Misena It is known in Europe, North Africa, Asia, and North America.
It occurs primarily in fallen beech leaves and woody debris, but occasionally in other hardwoods such as oak, ash, alder, and birch.
Misena CrocataThe fruiting bodies of this plant appear from summer to autumn, so they can be easily identified.
It reaches a height of 5-15 cm, has a narrow stalk and exhibits a characteristic color gradation from bright orange at the base to red and pale yellow or cream at the top.
In addition, yellow-red or orange-red stains may be present on the whitish gills.
But most impressively, Misena Crocata When cut, it oozes a distinctive saffron red sap. This is reflected in the common name Saffron Drop Bonnet Mushroom and the Latin epithet of the species. Kurokata It means saffron color.
evidence of bioluminescence Misena Crocata It was discovered by Zurich-based artists Heidi Bagenstos and Andreas Rudolph.
“We wanted to show that bioluminescent mushrooms exist in Swiss forests and that you don't have to travel far to find them,” Bagenstos said.
“One evening, as I was walking through the Albisrieden forest near Zurich, I saw a green light shining through my camera.”
“The bioluminescence of fungi can be so weak that it cannot be seen with the naked eye.”
Bagenstos, Rudolf and Dr. Renate Heintzelmann from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forestry, Snow and Landscape Research further investigated the large collection. Misena Crocata.
They investigated the bioluminescent properties of its fruiting bodies and mycelium using digital imaging and photomultiplier tubes.
Furthermore, they captured the bioluminescence spectrum emitted by the species and confirmed the presence of bioluminescence-related genes in its genome.
“Light measurements show that the fruiting bodies Misena CrocataThe mycelium showed the most bioluminescence, except for the base of the stalk, which was non-luminescent,” the researchers explained.
“As a result, the rotten trees Misena Crocata The mature wood also emits a green glow when split, which lasts up to 4 hours before the wood dries. ”
“When we grew pure mycelial cultures under optimal conditions, they remained bioluminescent for up to 164 days.”
According to the authors, the ecological role of bioluminescence in fungi remains a mystery.
“For some fungal species with intensely luminescent fruiting bodies, bioluminescence may attract arthropods at night, which may facilitate spore dispersal,” the researchers said.
“The spores of Misena Seeds are usually dispersed by wind and in species that do not have luminescent fruiting bodies. Misena CrocataBioluminescence probably plays another, but as yet unknown, role. ”
“As a result of our research, we conclude that it is very likely that there are others that may be more familiar. Misena It is a species whose bioluminescent properties are yet to be discovered,” they added.
“As a result, existing studies of fungal bioluminescence may underestimate the frequency of bioluminescence in mysenoid lineages.”
“In the absence of clear evidence for the absence of bioluminescence, further studies on the evolution of luminescence within the mysenoid lineage are recommended to validate the luminescent properties of putative non-luminescent species.”
a paper The survey results were published in a magazine mycoscience.
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Renate Heintzelman others. 2024. Many bioluminescent Misena An overlooked species? – Case study from M. crocata In Switzerland. mycoscience 65 (4): 173-179;doi: 10.47371/mycosci.2024.03.001
In fact, procrastination (defined as voluntarily and unnecessarily delaying work) is so prevalent that scientists have even found evidence of it in pigeon behavior.
So why do so many people procrastinate? What causes it? And most importantly, how can you stop procrastinating?
Don’t put off answering these questions any longer. In collaboration with Durham University Professor Fuschia Sirois, a researcher who has dedicated 20 years to the subject, presents a beginner’s guide to the psychology of procrastination.
What causes procrastination?
It would be easy, as your mom probably did, to attribute procrastination to poor time management, or worse, to being just plain lazy. However, science does not support this.
“There’s no convincing scientific evidence that procrastination is the result of poor time management, but it’s easy to say it’s all about mood management,” Sirois says.
“The essence of procrastination is an inability to control one’s moods and emotions. Many people think that impulsivity and self-control are the problems, but they are actually contributing factors, but at the root of the problem… There is a lack of emotional response.”
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Why are some people perfectionists?
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Sirois explains that everyone faces stressful situations that require them to perform tasks that trigger brain activity that involves an area of the brain known as the amygdala. And it’s the amygdala that processes emotions and signals threats, which can prompt the “fight or flight” response that leads to procrastination.
“Interestingly, people who say they are chronic procrastinators tend to have more gray matter in their amygdala,” says Sirois.
“This means they become more sensitive to the potential negative consequences of their actions, leading to more negative emotions and procrastination.”
Another factor that is strongly associated with procrastination is time thinking. To put it more simply, it means how close you think your current self is to your future self.
If you’re a normal person, chances are you have trouble thinking in terms of time. It really sucks. In fact, according to a study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, you probably Imagine yourself in the future as a completely different person.
Using functional MRI scans, researchers found that different parts of the brain are activated when we process information about our current and future selves. And when we imagine our future selves, the same areas of the brain are activated as when we think about strangers.
“This is important because when you perceive your future self in this way, you’re more likely to do something that could be harmful to that person, leaving them with a bigger job than you would do yourself now.”, Sirois explains.
“While your future self may feel psychologically distant to you now, you may also see them as some kind of superhero.’ You might say, ‘I’ll come up with ideas,” or ‘In the future, I won’t have any obstacles in my way as a writer.'”
“But the truth is, in the short term, we won’t change much.”
If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re probably familiar with this fallacy. But fortunately, there is some evidence to suggest that there are simple ways to improve your temporal thinking. It’s about doing it more often.
The researchers concluded that such practices were “effective in increasing altruistic motivation.” [a future self]Mainly by reducing your current procrastination.”
Is procrastination bad for your health?
In short, procrastination can cause far more problems than missing deadlines. Sirois has spent decades studying the effects of chronic procrastination on human health, and the results are alarming at best and downright frightening at worst.
“People who are chronic procrastinators, people who have a habit of procrastinating, have higher levels of stress. more acute health problems. You’re more likely to have headaches, insomnia, and digestive problems. It also makes you more susceptible to influenza and colds.”
As you may have already realized, procrastination big problem. But fortunately, psychologists know this and have been looking for effective ways to address it.
First, there are many ways to quickly solve procrastination. For example, persuasive psychological science The paper describes how larger time metrics (think 48 hours instead of 2 days, or 10,950 days instead of 30 years) can be downsized. Make events look more immediateinvite people to participate in upcoming tasks.
But for Sirois, there are two main ways to reduce the root cause: procrastination. self-pity and cognitivereframing.
“People believe that procrastinators, especially chronic procrastinators, very Be strict with yourself before and after work. And instead of putting in the work, they just sit idle and idle,” she says.
“My advice is to not be too self-aware and take that frustration too far. Step back from that for a second and admit that you’re not happy with yourself. And before you Proceed.
“Basically, it’s about recognizing that everyone makes mistakes. You’re not the first to procrastinate, and you won’t be the last. Welcome to humanity.”
Data increasingly supports this theory. For example, in a survey of 750 people, Sirois found the following companies: The link between procrastination and low levels of self-compassion (They are more likely to judge themselves harshly, believing they are the only ones suffering from the problem).
Read more about psychology:
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But what does this actually mean? First of all, as Sirois claims, mindfulness practice is associated with increased self-compassion and lower levels of procrastination. I’m doing it.
As an example of research published in International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology People were found to have completed just three minutes of mindfulness exercises (including “audio instructions aimed at promoting non-judgmental awareness and attention to current bodily sensations, including breathing”). After that, I was less likely to procrastinate..
“These exercises will help you gain a little perspective and prevent you from going down the bad path of negative emotions that lead to procrastination,” Sirois explains.
Sirois also points to recent, unpublished research conducted by doctoral students. Sisi Yang. In an experiment with students who had a task they were procrastinating on, or who predicted they would procrastinate, they divided the participants into several groups.
One group was encouraged to think about happy thoughts by engaging in a specific activity (think watching a video of kittens). Another group was asked to reframe the upcoming task as meaningful, pondering questions such as:
How is achieving this goal valuable in your own perspective?
What value will achieving this goal have in terms of how others see you?
What value will achieving this goal be to my personal growth?
Interestingly, when observing all participants’ activities over the next few days, the second group procrastinated less.
“It’s about reappraisal. Seeing something as more meaningful. And when you create meaning, you create a connection to the task,” Sirois says.
“Finding meaning in your work, whether it’s in your relationship with yourself or with other people, is really, really powerful. And it starts a process of reappraisal, and it starts a process of reappraisal, of negative emotions. It’s a great way to alleviate some or at least make it more manageable.”
Read more about psychology:
Pop psychology: 8 myths that are probably wrong, or at least very simplistic.
“We are hungry for face-to-face communication. Psychology shows that virtual contact is just as good, if not better.”
A redox flow battery at a power plant in Japan. New process could replace rare metals in these batteries with industrial byproducts
Photo by Alessandro Gandolfi/Panos
Industrial waste has been reborn as a battery component that can stably store a large amount of electrical charge. Such batteries could serve an important function for the power grid by smoothing out the peaks and valleys of renewable energy.
A redox flow battery (RFB) stores energy as two liquids called an anolyte and a catholyte in a pair of tanks. When these fluids are pumped into a central chamber separated by a thin membrane, they chemically react to generate electrons and generate energy. This process can be reversed to recharge the battery by passing an electric current through the membrane.
Although such batteries are cheap, they also have drawbacks. They are bulky, often as large as shipping containers, and require regular maintenance because they involve moving parts in pumping liquids. It also relies on metals such as lithium and cobalt, which are in short supply.
now, Emily Mahoney and colleagues at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, have discovered a simple process that can turn previously useless industrial waste into useful anolyte. This could potentially replace these rare metals.
Their process converts triphenylphosphine oxide, which is produced during the manufacture of products such as vitamin tablets, to cyclic triphenylphosphine oxide, which is more likely to accumulate negative charges. When used as an anolyte, no loss of effectiveness is observed after 350 charging and draining cycles.
“Using an anolyte with a very negative potential increases the potential across the cell and therefore increases the efficiency of the battery,” Mahoney says. “But often the increased potential comes with stability issues, so it's exciting to have a stable yet highly negative compound.”
Mahoney said RFBs are designed to be safe and high-capacity, so they could potentially be used to store energy from wind and solar power, but their bulk makes them unsuitable for lithium-ion batteries in cars and smartphones. It is unlikely that they will be replaced.
Neuroscientist David Levitin explores how music can help us heal in new book
Natalie Foss
Most of us already know that music can have a profound effect on the mind and body. Think about the feeling of empowerment when you put on your headphones and go for a run, the nostalgia of hearing your favorite songs from your childhood, or the joy of singing in the car. Music moves us both literally and figuratively. It not only makes us dance, laugh and relax, but it also makes us happy when we are sad and sad when we are happy.
But what if there is more to it than that? What if music actually has the power to heal us? In his new book I heard there’s a secret code: music as medicine, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains why he believes it’s possible.
The idea that music is medicine is not new. There is evidence that shamans and healers from cultures around the world have used music, especially drumming, to heal people for thousands of years.
However, it is only in recent decades that science has provided a rationale for music as a healing mechanism, demonstrating that music has a direct and measurable effect on our nervous systems.
Advances in neuroimaging technology, combined with more rigorous experiments based on music theory, cognitive psychology, and physiology, are showing that music could help treat everything from Parkinson’s disease to Alzheimer’s disease to depression. Levitin spoke with new scientist to learn about these health benefits and how music can add to your medical toolkit.
Linda Rodriguez McRobbie: Intuitively it seems like…
Amelie Benoist/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty
Artificial intelligence models can actually help detect cancer and reduce the burden on doctors, according to the largest study of its kind. Radiologists who chose to use AI were able to identify an additional 1 in 1,000 breast cancers.
Alexander Katalinic and his colleagues at the University of Lübeck in Germany worked with about 200 board-certified radiologists to test an AI trained to identify signs of breast cancer from mammograms. Radiologists examined 461,818 women at 12 breast cancer screening centers in Germany between July 2021 and February 2023, allowing each woman to choose whether or not to use AI. As a result, 260,739 patients were examined by AI and a radiologist, and the remaining 201,079 patients were examined by a radiologist only.
Those who chose to use AI were able to detect breast cancer at a rate of 6.7 per 1000 scans. This is 17.6% higher than the 5.7 cases per 1000 scans for people who chose not to use AI. Similarly, when women diagnosed with suspected cancer underwent a biopsy, women diagnosed with AI were 64.5% more likely to undergo a biopsy in which cancer cells were found. Among women for whom AI was not used, the rate was 59.2%.
The scale of improvement in breast cancer detection with AI is “very positive and exceeded our expectations,” Katalinic said in a statement. “We were able to demonstrate that AI significantly improves cancer detection rates in breast cancer screening.”
“The goal was to show noninferiority,” says Stefan Bank of Vara, an AI company also participating in the study. “If we can prove that AI is as good as radiologists, it becomes an interesting scenario where we can reduce the workload. We were surprised that we were able to show an advantage.”
Over-reliance on AI in healthcare is a concern for some, as it risks missing signs of symptoms and could lead to a two-tiered treatment system where those who can pay are afforded the luxury of human touch. are. Radiologists spent less time examining scans that the AI had already suggested were “normal,” meaning cancer was unlikely to be present, and scans that the AI could not examine took an average of 16 seconds to examine. In contrast, there is some evidence that radiologists spend less time performing exams. Not classified. But these latest discoveries have been welcomed by those who specialize in the safe implementation of AI in healthcare.
“This study provides further evidence of the benefits of AI in breast cancer screening and should be a further wake-up call for policymakers to accelerate the adoption of AI,” she said. Ben Glocker At Imperial College London. “The results confirm what we have seen time and time again: With the right integration strategy, the use of AI is safe and effective.”
He welcomes the study's ability to empower radiologists to make their own decisions about when to use AI, and hopes to see more testing of AI in a similar way. . “This cannot be easily evaluated in the lab or in simulations, and instead we need to learn from real-world experience,” Glocker says. “The technology is ready. We need policies to follow now.”
Lead pollution likely lowered the average IQ of ancient Rome by 2.5 to 3 points, a study has found.
The study is based on analysis of lead concentrations in ice cores taken from Greenland.
The findings provide evidence that lead may have contributed to the fall of Rome, an issue that historians and experts have debated for decades.
In ancient Rome, toxic lead was so prevalent in the air that it likely lowered the average person’s IQ by 2.5 to 3 points, a new study suggests.
The study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adds to long-standing questions about what role, if any, lead pollution played in the collapse of the empire.
The authors link lead found in Greenland ice samples to ancient Roman silver smelters and determine that the incredible background pollution they produced would have affected much of Europe. .
Researchers used research on lead exposure in modern society to determine how much lead was likely in the Romans’ bloodstream and how it affected their cognition. was able to judge.
Lead, a powerful neurotoxin, remains a public health threat today. There is no safe amount to ingest into the body. Exposure is associated with an increased risk of learning disabilities, reproductive problems, mental health problems, and hearing loss, among other effects.
The researchers behind the new study said the discovery was the first clear example in history of widespread industrial pollution.
“Human and industrial activities 2,000 years ago were already having a continent-wide impact on human health,” said the study’s lead author, a researcher at the Desert Research Institute for Climate and Environment, a nonprofit research campus in Reno, Nevada. said scientist Joe McConnell. . “Lead pollution in Roman times is the earliest clear example of human impact on the environment.”
Stories of ancient pollution are buried in Greenland’s ice sheet.
Ice cores are extracted from the Greenland ice sheet. Joseph McConnell
The chemical composition of ice there and in other polar regions can yield important clues about what environments were like in the past. As snow falls, melts, and compacts to form a layer of ice, the chemicals trapped inside provide a kind of timeline.
“In environmental history, you’ve been building this layer cake every year,” McConnell said.
By drilling, extracting and processing long cylinders of ice, scientists can measure properties such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in past climates or, as in this case, lead concentrations over time.
Researchers analyzed three ice cores and found that lead levels rose and fell over roughly 1,000 years in response to important events in Rome’s economic history. For example, levels rose when Rome organized its rule over what is now Spain and increased silver production in the region.
A longitudinal ice core sample awaits analysis for lead and other chemicals at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada. Jesse Lemay / DRI
“For every ounce of silver produced, 10,000 ounces of lead can be produced,” McConnell said. “Just as they produced silver, the Romans were smelting and mining silver for coinage and economy, and they were introducing large amounts of lead into the atmosphere.”
McConnell said lead attaches to dust particles in the atmosphere during the smelting process. A small portion of those particles were blown away and deposited in Greenland.
Once researchers determined how much lead was concentrated in Greenland’s ice, they used a climate modeling system to determine how much lead the Romans would have released to pollute Greenland to observed levels. I calculated the amount.
The research team then analyzed modern information on lead exposure to determine the health effects of atmospheric lead during the Pax Romana, a period of peace in the empire that lasted from 27 BC to 180 AD. has been identified.
Ice samples on a melter during chemical analysis at a desert laboratory.
The researchers found that average lead exposure is about one-third of what it was in the United States in the late 1970s, when leaded gasoline use was at its peak and before the Clean Air Act was enacted. Lead levels in Rome were about twice what American children are exposed to today, McConnell said.
Researchers believe that people who lived closest to silver mines on the Iberian Peninsula (now Spain) would have had the most lead in their blood.
“Virtually no one got away,” McConnell said.
However, these results likely do not tell the full story of the health effects of lead in ancient Rome. This is because Romans were exposed through other sources, such as wine sweetened in lead-lined vessels, lead piping, and lead goblets.
Dr. Bruce Lanphear, lead expert and professor of health sciences at Canada’s Simon Fraser University, said lead was “ubiquitous” in ancient Rome. He was not involved in this study. Therefore, the new study is limited because it only assesses lead in the atmosphere, he said, and the authors acknowledge that.
A lead toy unearthed from the grave of Julia Graphis in Brescello. DeAgostini/Getty Images
“Their estimate is likely an underestimate,” Lanphear said.
Still, the study provides evidence that lead exposure may indeed have played a role, so the findings raise questions about how lead may have contributed to the decline of ancient Rome. may stimulate the ongoing debate.
“I believe that lead played a role in the decline of the Roman Empire, but it was only a contributing factor. It was never the only one,” Lanphear said.
Joe Manning, a history professor at Yale University, said most researchers believe Rome fell for a myriad of reasons, including epidemics, economic problems and climate change. Manning said it’s important to remember that ancient Rome was a tough place to survive, with an average lifespan of about 25 to 30 years.
“Under no circumstances do you want to go to a city in the ancient world. That would be the last place you want to go. ,” Manning said. “Reed has really bad hygiene.”
A new study has provided the first definitive evidence that fast radio bursts can originate from the magnetosphere, the highly magnetic environment immediately surrounding very compact objects.
Artist's impression of a neutron star. Image credit: Sci.News.
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are short, brilliant bursts of radio waves that originate primarily from extragalactic distances.
These phenomena release as much energy in one millisecond as the sun does in 10,000 years, but the physics that cause them are unknown.
Theories range from a highly magnetized neutron star exploded by a stream of gas near a supermassive black hole to proposals whose outburst characteristics match the signature of technology developed by an advanced civilization.
MIT astronomer Kenzie Nimmo and colleagues focused on the event, dubbed FRB 20221022A, in a new study.
This burst was first detected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) in 2022.
The event occurred in a galaxy about 200 million light years away and lasted about 2 milliseconds.
New research suggests that FRB 20221022A emerged from a region extremely close to the rotating neutron star, up to 10,000 km away.
At such close distances, the burst could have originated from the neutron star's magnetosphere, a highly magnetic region immediately surrounding the microstar.
“In a neutron star environment like this, the magnetic field is actually at the limit of what the universe can produce,” Dr. Nimmo said.
“There has been a lot of discussion about whether this bright radio emission can leak out of that extreme plasma.”
“Atoms cannot exist around these highly magnetic neutron stars, also known as magnetars. They are simply torn apart by the magnetic field,” added astronomer Kiyoshi Masui of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“What's interesting here is that we found that the energy stored in magnetic fields gets twisted and rearranged near the source of the magnetic field and is emitted as radio waves visible on the far side of the universe.”
Wastewater treatment facilities are a major source of PFAS contamination in U.S. drinking water, estimated to contain enough “forever chemicals” to raise concentrations above safe levels for more than 15 million people. is being discharged. It also has the potential to release long-lasting prescription drugs into the water supply.
Although these plants purify wastewater, they do not destroy all the contaminants added upstream, and the remaining chemicals are released into the same waterways that provide drinking water. “This is a funnel into the environment,” he says bridger lyle at New York University. “We capture different things from different places and release them all in one place.”
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of particular concern because they contain carbon-fluorine bonds and are highly persistent in the environment. Regular exposure to several types of PFAS is associated with an increased risk of many health problems, from liver damage to various forms of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently established strict drinking water limits for six of the most well-studied PFAS.
Wastewater treatment facilities are a known source of PFAS contamination worldwide. sewage sludge It is produced as a by-product and sometimes used as fertilizer. To determine whether similar contamination remained in treated water, Ruyle and his colleagues measured concentrations of PFAS and other molecules containing carbon-fluorine bonds in wastewater at eight large treatment facilities across the United States. .
Their findings suggest that wastewater treatment plants across the United States release tens of thousands of kilograms of fluorine-containing compounds into the environment each year, including significant amounts of PFAS. Once the treated wastewater leaves the facility, it mixes with natural water from rivers and lakes. “That would create downstream drinking water issues,” Lyle said.
Applying these numbers to a model of the U.S. drinking water system, the researchers estimated that wastewater could cause PFAS concentrations in the drinking water of approximately 15 million people to exceed EPA limits. In times of drought, as natural water for diluting wastewater decreases, models suggest that concentrations rise above the limit by up to 23 million people. And Ruyle says these may be conservative estimates. Their model assumes that natural water is already free of PFAS.
“This shows that wastewater treatment facilities are a very important source of these compounds,” he says. Carsten Plasse The professor at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland was not involved in the study. Although there are ways to remove or destroy PFAS in water, and more drinking water facilities are installing such systems, currently “our wastewater treatment plants are not set up to deal with this.” he says.
While chemicals alone will forever be a problem, researchers also found that PFAS only make up a small portion of the total amount of fluorinated chemicals emitted by facilities. Most were not PFAS, but other compounds used in common medications such as statins and SSRIs. These drugs are also a concern for ecosystems and people.
“Another person could be taking a cocktail of fluoridated prescription drugs,” Lyle says. But the effects of low doses and long-term exposure to such compounds are not well understood, he says.
“We need to start having a conversation about whether we should use more fluoride in medicines,” Ruiru says. Fluoridation is widely used in medicines to increase their effectiveness in the body, but “preventing widespread chemical contamination should also be important,” he says.
Velvet ants inject venom through their abdomen and sting.
JoJo Dexter/Getty Images
The bite of a female velvet ant is one of the most painful in the animal kingdom. Now, researchers have shown that the venoms of these insects contain multiple proteins that make them highly effective against a wide range of victims, including invertebrates, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. I discovered it.
Velvet ants are actually members of the wingless wasp family, of which there are over 7,000 species. Justin Schmidt, the researcher who created the Schmidt Sting Index, described the pain of a sting as “explosive and long-lasting, making you scream and feel like you’re going crazy. Hot oil from a deep fryer spills all over your hand.” .”
When I looked into what was causing so much pain, Dan Tracy Researchers at Indiana University urged the public to carefully collect female scarlet velvet ants.Dasimtyla occidentalis) from the Indiana and Kentucky sites.
They tested fruit fly venom (Drosophila melanogaster),mouse(Mus musculus) and praying mantis (tenodera sinensis), potential predators of velvet ants.
One of the peptides the research team isolated from the venom, Do6a, clearly caused a response in the insects, but surprisingly not in the mice.
“That means the venom has evolved to include components that specifically target pain-sensing neurons in insects, and other components that target mammals,” Tracy says.
The researchers further tested this by having praying mantises attempt to capture velvet ants.
“We found that velvet ants are constantly stinging praying mantises in self-defense to escape their clutches,” Tracy says.
However, when tested with other peptides isolated from velvet ant venom, called Do10a and Do13a, the mice showed a strong pain response.
After discovering the peptide that activated neurons, the researchers compared the venom peptide sequences of four other species of velvet ants.
“They all have nearly the same version of the peptide that strongly activates the insect’s pain-sensing neurons.” Lydia Boljonteam members at Indiana University. “There are also some peptides that are similar to common neuron activators, but with some differences. Therefore, pain may be triggered in a similar way in other velvet ant species.”
This research could help develop new pain treatments for humans, Borjon said.
New coronavirus response hospital under construction in Wuhan, China
STR/AFP (via Getty Images)
It has been five years since the novel coronavirus disease emerged, causing a global pandemic with lasting impacts on societies, economies, and people's health.
Immediately after the virus was identified, many countries began making plans to treat the influx of severely ill people infected with COVID-19. The image above shows an excavator at the construction site of the purpose-built Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, China, which became the initial epicenter of the outbreak on January 24, 2020.
People infected with covid-19 waiting for transit
STR/AFP (via Getty Images)
Huoshenshan was not the only hospital built in Wuhan as authorities prepared for the worst. In March 2020, people infected with the new coronavirus were photographed waiting to be transported from a general hospital in Wuhan to Leishenshan Hospital, which was also newly opened due to the pandemic.
Traffic decreases in New York City
Reuters/Andrew Kelly
Like many parts of the world, New York City began implementing restrictions around mid-March 2020. With the streets empty, ballet dancer Ashley Montague was able to perform in Times Square while wearing a gas mask.
COVID-19 wasn't the only thing going viral when this adorable baby started appearing on social media
Lillian Swanrunfa/AFP via Getty Images
Face shields were initially proposed as an alternative to masks to protect people from infection, but are increasingly discouraged as we learn more about the virus. Nevertheless, the above newborn photo taken at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, caught the internet's attention in early April 2020.
Social restrictions have forced some people to get creative.
Jim West/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock
Like other public spaces, churches and other places of worship are closed in many parts of the world. A priest in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan held a creative Easter service in April 2020, using water guns to hand out holy water while practicing social distancing.
Some people hugged through plastic due to concerns about infection.
Handout via Domenico Sartor/Reuters
Many nursing homes have been severely affected by the coronavirus, as the elderly are particularly susceptible to serious infections. The restrictions gave some visitors the chance to hug their loved ones through plastic sheets. The photo above was taken in November 2020 at a care home in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.
Some people have turned their experiences living under the pandemic into works of art.
Reuters/Lim Huey Teng
The pandemic has inspired colorful and creative murals around the world. The photo above shows a young boy being swabbed for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in front of a COVID-19 artwork in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in December 2020.
Margaret Keenan from Coventry, UK, receives COVID-19 vaccination
Jacob King/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Expectations were high when the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved in the UK on December 2, 2020, after showing 95 per cent efficacy in late-stage trials. Six days later, 90-year-old Coventry resident Margaret Keenan became the first person to receive the vaccine outside of the trial.
Late Queen Elizabeth maintains social distancing at husband's funeral
Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Like many other queens, the late Queen Elizabeth II had to adhere to social distancing rules at her husband Prince Philip's funeral on April 17, 2021 at Windsor Castle, England. Due to pandemic restrictions, only 30 people were allowed to attend.
Monuments are being erected around the world to commemorate those who lost their lives to the new coronavirus infection.
Leon Neal/Getty Images
Britain's National Covid-19 Memorial Wall in London was built in March 2021 to commemorate those who have died from the disease. The photo above shows a woman leaving a message on the wall a year after it was created. Family members and volunteers painted more than 240,000 hearts on a 500-meter-long wall along the River Thames.
Public spaces were eventually opened up, but some things changed
Have you ever found yourself sitting in your favorite overstuffed armchair and finding your coffee just out of reach? In situations like this, a Jedi could easily deflect a blaster bolt or recover a lost lightsaber. I often wish I could use the “Force”, a mythical energy field used to bring back . In the real world, humans cannot use telekinesis to manipulate objects. But some animals do It uses natural electric fields to attract and repel objects.
The lowercase f “force” exerted by the animal kingdom is caused by friction between two objects, causing one object to lose electrons and the other to gain electrons. static electricity. Since electrons are negatively charged, objects that have lost electrons accumulate a positive charge, and objects that have gained electrons accumulate a negative charge. of electrostatic force Charged objects repel those with the same charge and attract those with the opposite charge. When you rub a balloon against your head, the friction causes the balloon to become negatively charged and your hair to become positively charged, causing your hair to stand on end.
like the force star wars The universe and animals use electrostatic force for both good and evil. In “Light Side”bee,bumblebeeandhummingbird Static electricity builds up as the wing moves through the air. These pollinators use electrostatic forces to transport pollen to and from flowers, supporting plant reproduction and biodiversity. On the “dark side” (at least from the prey's point of view!), predators like orb spiders use electrostatic forces totrap prey in a nestparasites such as mites and mites use it toconnect to host.
Scientists suspect that other winged animals use “light-side” electrostatic forces to aid pollination, but it is unclear how widespread this phenomenon is in nature. Not yet. Two biologists from the University of Bristol investigated whether butterflies and moths are members of the order LepidopteraI did electrostatic pollination. Scientists believe that moths wide range of pollinatorsHowever, opinions are divided as to whether butterflies pollinate plants.
The researchers collected wild butterflies and moths from across the UK and Germany, or purchased captive-bred versions.butterflies of the world. They were kept in climate-controlled mesh enclosures that mimicked their natural habitat and fed artificial flowers and pineapple slices filled with a sugar solution.
The researchers hypothesized that because lepidopterans have relatively small wings and flap slowly, they may be less electrically charged than other pollinating insects. To test this, they measured the static electricity of 72 adult peacock butterflies in free flight. They transferred each butterfly to an acrylic box lined with leaves native to its habitat to ensure that the charge the butterflies carried was as close to natural as possible.
Next, the ring-shaped electrode was attached to a device called “Electric Signal” that detects extremely weak currents. picoammeter. They placed a ring electrode next to the box's exit hole and used a picoammeter to record the charge on each butterfly as it flew out of the hole and passed through the electrode. They found that peacock butterflies have an average charge of about +50 picocoulombs. This is actually more than any other pollinating insect.
The researchers then tested whether the insects' habitat and ecology influenced their static electricity. They used similar techniques to measure charges in four additional species of butterflies and six species of moths across five continents, different climates, and feeding behaviors. They found that all 197 individuals tested carried enough electrical charge to displace pollen grains from several millimeters away. However, the strength and polarity (whether it was positive or negative) depended on the insect's habitat and ecological niche. For example, tropical species are more likely to be negatively charged than temperate species, and nocturnal foragers are more likely to be negatively charged than daytime foragers.
The researchers concluded that butterflies are actually good at pollination. The researchers speculated that the high charge may improve the insect's “light side” ability to attract pollen and sense electric fields around nectar-containing flowers. However, carrying a high charge also has its drawbacks, as highly charged insects are more vulnerable to “dark side” predators and parasites. They suggested that tropical and nocturnal Lepidoptera may be negatively charged. detect predatorsare more active in warm weather and at night. May the electrostatic forces be with them!
Have you ever noticed how time seems to slow down when you’re at the gym? The answer to this question is more complex than just regretting that early morning spin class. Our perception of time can be influenced by various factors, making it seem faster or slower than reality.
When time seems to slow down, it’s known as time delay. This can occur in situations of boredom, anxiety, or heightened alertness, all of which can be experienced during exercise.
It’s like watching a pot that never boils or staring at a stopwatch while running on the treadmill. The more you focus on the passage of time, the longer it may appear to drag on. A recent study conducted by researchers at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK found that participants were 9% faster when measuring 30-second intervals on stationary bikes, suggesting that time felt slower to them than it actually was.
The researchers propose that physical activity enhances awareness of impulses and leads to a perception of time dilation. Essentially, the increased heart rate and physical changes during exercise may give the impression that time is moving slower than it really is.
A similar phenomenon occurs in high-anxiety situations, where time may also seem to elongate. For athletes like professional runners and cyclists, this understanding of time perception can be crucial in pacing themselves effectively.
The researchers suggest that further studies could help in designing more enjoyable exercise classes, although you might want to keep this information from your spin instructor.
This article is a response to Tania Matthews’ question: “Why does time move slower when I’m at the gym?”
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at:questions@sciencefocus.comor reach out to us onFacebook,Twitter,orInstagram(remember to include your name and location).
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Amelia Earhart, one of aviation’s most famous pioneers, is renowned for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. However, her story tragically ended in 1937 when her Lockheed 10-E Electra plane vanished during an ambitious round-the-world flight.
Earhart’s goal was to circumnavigate the equator and the globe, planning a 46,670 km (29,000 mile) journey that spanned California, Central and South America, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean.
After six weeks of traveling, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan departed from New Guinea towards Howland Island, approximately 2,735 km (1,700 miles) southwest of Honolulu.
The challenging 20-hour flight was the longest leg of their journey, pushing the plane to its limits. Despite support from the US Coast Guard, they were unable to locate the 6.5 km² (2.5 square mile) Howland Island in the vast Pacific Ocean, and it vanished without a trace.
An official US government investigation concluded that Earhart’s plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean after failing to find Howland Island. However, with no concrete evidence, various theories abound regarding the disappearance.
In 1929, Amelia Earhart boarded a plane carrying a box full of homing pigeons as part of a scientific experiment. – Photo credit: Getty
Most famously, it is speculated that Earhart and Noonan landed on a reef near Gardner Island, resulting in their tragic demise.
The failure to reach Howland Island may have been due to navigation errors. One theory, the International Date Line Theory, suggests Noonan’s calculations did not account for crossing the International Date Line.
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Noonan utilized celestial navigation based on celestial bodies’ positions. However, the Earth’s rotation and revolution around the Sun cause these positions to shift daily, necessitating precise date and time knowledge for accurate navigation.
Given the flight’s timing as it passed midnight and crossed the International Date Line, Noonan faced complex calculations that may have led them off course.
If Noonan missed the second date change as they crossed the Date Line again, the plane could have veered 110 km (70 miles) east of Howland Island.
In January 2024, the US ocean exploration team “Deep Sea Vision” discovered potential wreckage of Earhart’s plane on the ocean floor. They used underwater drones to scan over 12,950 km² (5,000 square miles) of the Pacific Ocean.
The images indicate an object resembling a Lockheed Electra in a position predicted by the Date Line Theory, prompting further investigation by the team.
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This article addresses the question raised by George Grainger of London: “Was Amelia Earhart or her plane ever discovered?”
If you have any questions, please email us at:questions@sciencefocus.comor send us a messagefacebook,×orInstagramPage (remember to include your name and location).
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Paleontologists in Uruguay have discovered a large, poorly preserved and incomplete skull of an ancient aquatic reptile called a mesosaurus, along with some accompanying bones. These new specimens suggest gigantism exists in mature mesosaurs that reach more than twice the size of previously reported adult and typical specimens.
Mesosaurs are small to medium-sized aquatic or semi-aquatic amniotes that lived in Gondwana during the Early Permian Period. Image credit: Roman Yevseyev / Graciela Piñeiro.
mesosaurus A group of small aquatic reptiles that lived in South Africa and South America during the Permian Period, approximately 299 to 270 million years ago.
These creatures were the first known aquatic reptiles to return to aquatic life from apparently terrestrial ancestors.
“Mesosaurs are often described as small to medium-sized aquatic amniotes due to their elongated bodies and long tails that exceed the length of the rest of their bodies,” Graciela Pinheiro of the University of the Republic and colleagues. said.
“Additionally, their long-nosed skulls consist of very thin skulls with numerous needle-like marginal teeth.”
“Despite the fragility of some parts of the skull, mesosaur fossils are abundant in the Percarboniferous shales and silt deposits of Gondwana, including preserved bones with articulated skulls. This includes nearly complete skeletons in good condition, as well as partially preserved specimens that still have recognizable soft tissue.
“This exceptional preservation has led to the designation of the Mangrullo Formation in Uruguay and the Illati Formation in Brazil as part of the Conservat Lagerstätten of Gondwana,” they added.
“Furthermore, mesosaur fossils collected from these units include a variety of ontogenetic stages, from fetuses to juveniles to adults.”
“Thus, the ontogeny of mesoosaurs is well documented, with body length ranging from 10 to 12 centimeters (3.9 to 4.7 inches) in hatchlings to 80 to 90 centimeters (2.6 to 3 feet) in young adults. ”
“The average body length of the middle dragon is about 70 cm (2.3 feet),” the researchers said.
“Previous research suggested that mesosaurs were semi-aquatic amniotes, rather than fully aquatic amniotes.”
Mesosaurus ontogenetic cranial series documented from specimens discovered in the Conservato Lagerstätte, Mangrullo Formation, Uruguay. Scale bar – 1 cm. Image credit: Pinheiro others., doi: 10.3390/fossils3010001.
Dr. Pinheiro and his co-authors discovered and studied the largest known mesosaur fossil ever recorded.
The specimen includes two fragmentary skulls, a dorsal vertebrae, a tail fragment, an isolated rib, and several other bones.
They come from the regions of Picada de Cuero and El Baron. Mangrullo formation Located in northern Uruguay.
Paleontologists compared the new fossil to a larger sample of the same bone. Mesosaurus tenuidens.
Their analysis revealed that the size of mesosaurs in the Mangrullo Formation exceeded the typical size distribution previously recorded. Mesosaurus tenuidens.
These individuals were four to five standard deviations larger than average, with skull lengths of 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 inches) and total body sizes of 1.5 to 2.5 m (4.9 to 8.2 ft).
“To explore the importance of such large mesoosaurs in the Mangrullo Formation population, we considered the potential effects of Bergmann dominance,” the researchers said.
“This is a study of isolated populations of the same species or different taxa whose body size may have been affected by changes in temperature or food availability, such as competition for nutrients. Although this is an important paleogeographical principle, it does not explain the presence of such large creatures.'' Mesosaurian specimens from the Mangurlo Formation. ”
“We therefore conclude that the large body size variations observed in mesosaurs correspond to their ontogenetic stages and growth patterns,” the researchers said.
“The smaller body size previously recognized may represent a population dominated by early juveniles, subadults, and young adults, and may be due to normal carcass wasting of animals that died from a variety of causes. It may reflect a catastrophic mass mortality event that impedes the increase.”
“The bentonite layers and gypsum crystals found in the Mangrullo Formation are the result of occasional inflows of ash fall onto the lagoon resulting from increased tectonic activity associated with the Pangea Formation.”
“These volcanic events, combined with the gradual drought and associated desertification observed in the Irati-Whitehill Sea, are the main triggers that may explain the extinction of mesosaurs, at least in the Uruguayan region of the Paraná Basin. It is suggested that
of findings Published in a magazine fossil research.
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Graciela Pinheiro others. 2025. Largest Mesosaurus Ever Known: Evidence from the Scanti Record. Phos. stud 3(1):1;doi: 10.3390/fossils3010001
Workers excavating clay at a limestone quarry in southern England stumbled upon a unique bump, leading to the discovery of a “dinosaur highway” and approximately 200 tracks dating back 166 million years, as revealed by researchers on Thursday.
Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Birmingham unveiled this groundbreaking find after a team of over 100 individuals excavated the Dewars Farm quarry in Oxfordshire in June. This discovery is said to revolutionize previous paleontological research in the area and provide deeper insights into the Middle Jurassic era.
Kirsty Edgar, a professor of micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, expressed, “These footprints offer a unique glimpse into the lives of dinosaurs, providing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical habitats they inhabited.”
Among the series of tracks forming the “dinosaur highway,” four tracks trace the path of sauropods, giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs that reached lengths of nearly 60 feet. The fifth set belonged to Megalosaurus, a fierce 30-foot-long predator with distinctive three-clawed markings, which was the first dinosaur to be scientifically named over two centuries ago.
Workers survey five vast tracks that formed part of the “Dinosaur Highway.” University of Birmingham (via AP)
Crossing sections where the tracks intersect raised queries about potential encounters between carnivores and herbivores.
Emma Nichols, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, acknowledged, “Scientists have long studied megalosaurs, but this discovery evidences the existence of further insights into these creatures that are yet to be uncovered.”
Nearly three decades ago, 40 pairs of footprints discovered in a local limestone quarry were deemed among the most significant dinosaur footprints globally. However, as the region is now largely inaccessible, evidence is limited due to the absence of digital cameras and drones during that period.
During the recent excavation, the team captured over 20,000 digital images and utilized a drone to create 3D models of the prints. This extensive documentation could prove valuable for future studies, revealing aspects like the size of the dinosaurs, their gait, and speed.
Duncan Murdoch, a geoscientist at the Oxford Museum, noted, “The preservation of these tracks is so detailed that the deformation of the mud by the dinosaurs’ feet can be observed. Together with other fossils present, such as burrows, shells, and plants, these tracks can reconstruct the muddy lagoon environments the dinosaurs traversed.”
These findings will be showcased in a new exhibit at the museum and will be featured on the BBC’s Digging for Britain next week.
Gillian Anderson (left) and David Duchovny as Agents Scully and Mulder in The X-Files
AJ Photo/Alamy
Television hasn’t always been kind to science fiction, with smaller budgets devoted to special effects and epic space stories being canceled before they even air. But despite all the obstacles, countless series have shown that telling long-form stories on the small screen is the perfect way to explore the complex ideas and philosophies that make the genre so fascinating. I’ve proven something.
You can choose from a wide variety of gold, new scientist The team found that choosing a favorite sci-fi series was a difficult task. Not everyone can choose just one. While this is far from a definitive list (and presented in no particular order), our selection has something for everyone, no matter what type of sci-fi fan you are. I hope it’s included.
A reboot of the ill-fated 1978 series, battlestar galactica It begins with a nuclear holocaust and the remnants of humanity huddled in a battered spaceship to escape sentient machines. But its most compelling moments involve survivors struggling to balance social and ethical norms against a ruthless calculation of survival. Jeremy Hsu
Katee Sackhoff as Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace in ‘Battlestar Galactica’
Movie/Alamy
leftovers Not only is this the best sci-fi series I’ve ever seen, it’s probably the best TV show ever made. Big claim, I know. The premise is strange. What happens if one day, suddenly, 2 percent of the population disappears? Don’t expect answers as to why this happened. This series offers nothing. Instead, it explores the devastating aftermath of inexplicable grief and loss. chelsea white
my family wasn’t interested doctor whoso I guess this show was my introduction to science fiction (if you count time travel as science fiction, which I definitely am). Physicist Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) invents a method of time travel, but it’s not what he expected. Although Sam has disappeared from his own reality, his consciousness has jumped into the bodies of other people and must sort out their lives before moving forward – and hopefully returning home. The series was revived in 2022. I’ll definitely watch it when I have some time to myself without kids, books, or sleep needs. Alison Flood
Two parts science fiction, one part noir, a richly detailed world spread It drew me in like nothing else. Set in a future where humans have colonized the solar system, the story follows a hard-boiled detective who investigates the disappearance of the crew of a deep space ice transport ship and a wealthy heiress. Eventually, they become embroiled in a conspiracy and rebellion by the Belters, who live on an exploited asteroid. Long live the Outer Planets Alliance! Bethan Ackerley
black mirror It takes place in the bizarre Twilight Zone of science fiction, not fantastical enough to feel truly invented, but a little too futuristic to feel like real-world drama. Each episode jumps genres from romantic comedy to slasher horror and delves deep into how technology is distorting the human experience. The early series are the most memorable – the first episode featuring the British Prime Minister and a pig is seared into your brain – but throughout black mirror Thought-provoking, disturbing, and often darkly funny. madeleine cuff
The joy of how many stories begin with someone opening a door and stepping into the unknown? doctor whoand one of the two reasons for its longevity is that the titular Doctor’s spaceship is a gateway to all corners of time and space. You can set your story in Victorian London or a billion years into the future. Another reason the show has been around for over 60 years is that the Doctor can regenerate into a new body, which comes in handy when you want to cast a new lead role. Rowan Hooper
I started watching X files She’s about 9 years old, which is way too young! I wanted to believe in Mulder because I thought he was the epitome of cool, and I was fascinated and horrified by the monsters he and Scully encountered each week. Revisiting the series as an adult, I identified more with the skeptical Scully and was drawn to the long-running story of an alien conspiracy. This structure, which interweaves independent plots with ongoing storylines, X files Very good. Let’s say the 2010s revival never happened. jacob aaron
At first glance, fringe may seem like a successor to X files: Introducing a somewhat antagonistic pair of eccentric investigators who quickly plunge into both the supernatural and the personal. But it’s more than that. where X files There was a conspiracy between aliens and the government. fringe There are parallel universes, family secrets, psychedelics, sensory deprivation, and an incredibly powerful supporting cast. Expect Leonard Nimoy to play multi-world villains, doppelgangers, and humans turned giant porcupines. carmela padavich callahan
I hate to admit that science fiction isn’t my type of entertainment, but stories about robots and aliens just aren’t my thing. but outlander It offers a different take on the genre, with plenty of romance and a brave heroine. This is the story of Claire Beauchamp who accidentally travels back in time from 1945 to 1743. After she accepts her fate (and meets the love of her life, Jamie), Claire, a nurse, embarrasses her contemporaries with her 20-year-old self.th– centuries of knowledge about anatomy and pathogens – not to mention her feminist attitude. alexandra thompson
of star wars The series started out as a simple space opera. Empires are evil because their agents appear to be fascists. That’s a good thing because the rebels aren’t like that. But recent works have done much to complicate that story. Andor We explore what a “well-ordered” space empire looks like, colonial, mundane and inhuman, and why such conditions create heroes out of thieves. Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
There’s something modified carbon It’s horribly depressing, but also incredibly fascinating. Who wouldn’t want to try out a smorgasbord of different bodies, or what the show calls “sleeves”? Epic cities, brutal inequality, friendly AI, and questionable storylines – this cyberpunk series has it all. Finn Grant
I don’t like watching TV at night after a day of work, kids, and other life commitments, and I usually just fall asleep. However, that’s not the case when it comes to the adventures of Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Michonne (Danai Gurira), and their ragtag team. watched all episodes of the walking dead from Rick waking up in a hospital to discover a world ravaged by a virus that has turned everyone into “walkers,” to the various terrifying communities they continue to encounter. It’s shocking, well-acted, and full of surprises, especially in the early series. Alison Flood
Embarking on a new routine can feel intimidating, but it’s actually simpler than we often perceive. Here are some expert tips for ensuring that new habits stick.
How to establish improved study habits
One effective method for developing a habit is to attach a desired new behavior to an existing habit.
For instance, let’s say you want to incorporate a daily 10-minute German vocabulary study session into your routine. Identify habits you already have and integrate your vocabulary learning into them.
For example, if you already have tea every day at 3pm, try studying German vocabulary for 10 minutes while enjoying your tea.
Credit: Kyle Smart
How to cultivate healthier social media habits
There is often criticism surrounding our device and social media usage, but ultimately, only you can determine if your phone is interfering with more important priorities.
If you feel this is the case, one effective way to regain control is by reducing your device usage habits, starting with disabling notifications.
Scheduling specific times for using email, social media, or news websites can help break habitual behaviors and allow for more intentional device usage. It’s a proven strategy.
How to develop a consistent exercise routine
If you’re currently not exercising at all and the thought of starting a new exercise habit seems overwhelming, try the 2-minute rule.
This rule, popularized by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, recommends starting with just two minutes of a new activity to ease its incorporation into your daily life. Once it becomes a habit, you can gradually increase the duration.
Credit: Kyle Smart
Start with 2 minutes of exercise at 8 a.m. daily, whether it’s a brief walk, stair climbing, or some jumping jacks. Gradually increase the duration as it becomes routine. Remember, consistency is key.
Strategies for adopting sustainable habits
The psychology of habits sheds light on why behavior change can be slow, even when attitudes towards the environment evolve. Despite acknowledging the importance of eco-friendly practices, many individuals still engage in harmful behaviors out of habit.
For example, placing recycling bins near individual desks led to a significant increase in office paper recycling rates, while slowing down elevator doors reduced elevator usage. Small adjustments can lead to significant changes in behavior.
If you want to unsettle climate scientists, simply stand next to them and quietly mention the phrase “tipping point” in their ear. While climate change due to global warming is already concerning, the concept of climate tipping points adds an extra layer of fear. But what exactly are they and why are they causing alarm?
We find ourselves in a unique time where Earth’s average temperature is increasing at a rate at least 10 times faster than ever recorded in geological history. This has led to a surge in extreme weather events, melting ice sheets, and rising sea levels. Despite these clear signs, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise rapidly, with global temperatures increasing by 1.64°C (nearly 3°F) in the past year alone. As a result, the possibility of irreversible and drastic changes in the climate system becomes more and more likely.
Tipping points are named as such because they require a critical threshold to be crossed before a significant change occurs. Once activated, like a seesaw tipping over, there is no turning back. These moments, as defined by the American Cultural Heritage English Dictionary, are described as “a critical moment in a complex situation where a small influence or development suddenly produces a large or irreversible change.” This holds true for the climate crisis we face.
How things shift
One of the challenges for scientists studying global warming is the unpredictability of tipping points in terms of timing and impact. Additionally, how these points are integrated into climate models can greatly affect predictions of future climate change. The complexity of the climate system suggests that there are numerous tipping points, with nine identified as having the potential to trigger significant global environmental changes.
These include the potential collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, dieback of the Amazon rainforest, and release of methane from melting Arctic permafrost. Each of these events could have far-reaching consequences, from massive sea level rise to increased carbon levels in the atmosphere.
While some of these tipping points may seem distant, the looming collapse of the Gulf Stream and associated ocean currents presents an immediate concern. Previously considered unlikely, recent data suggests that this crucial system may be on the brink of destabilization sooner than expected, posing a threat to the UK and Northern Europe’s climate stability.
Recent research suggests Antarctic ice sheets may be melting faster than existing models predict – Photo courtesy of Getty Images
The Earth’s great engine
Understanding the significance of AMOC’s collapse requires knowledge of its role as a key component of the global ocean current system. This system, known as the global conveyor belt, transports heat from the tropics to the Arctic, playing a crucial role in global climate and weather patterns.
The sheer scale of AMOC’s operation is astounding, moving millions of cubic meters of water and gigawatts of heat every second. However, disruptions to this system, such as increased freshwater input from melting ice, can hinder AMOC’s ability to function properly, potentially causing a shutdown with severe global consequences.
If AMOC were to fail, global weather patterns would be disrupted, leading to a range of impacts from cooler temperatures in Europe to altered monsoons in Asia and Africa. The effects would be felt globally, with implications for food security, migration patterns, and geopolitical stability.
An orca that carried around a dead calf for several days in 2018 appears to be repeating the same behavior with a newly dead calf.
Scientists believe the killer whales are likely expressing sadness.
Killer whales are part of an endangered subpopulation known as southern killer whales.
Nearly six years ago, a mother orca attracted international attention when she carried a dead calf for 17 days straight. Sadly, the whale now appears to be repeating what researchers say is an expression of grief over another deceased newborn.
The mother whale, also known as J35 or Tahlequah, was first spotted with her new calf on December 20th. But on Wednesday, researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photographed a whale with a dead calf on its head off the coast of West Seattle.
“We can confirm that J31 lost the calf and was pushing it around on its head,” Brad Hanson, a researcher at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, said in a press conference Thursday.
He said that when the calf is about to sink, “she seems to do a high arch dive to retrieve the calf, but at that point you can’t really tell if she’s pushing or grabbing the calf.” added. ”
Scientists said they believe Tahlequah likely carried the dead calf as an expression of grief. Whales have a similar wiring structure to humans and other large, long-lived social mammals, Joe Gaydos, scientific director of the Sea Dog Society, an ocean research organization, said at a press conference.
“We have the same neurotransmitters as they do. We have the same hormones as they do. Shouldn’t we have the same emotions that they have? We are a market cornered by emotions.” So I think it’s fair to say she’s sad or grieving,” Gaydos said, adding that similar behavior has been observed in dolphins and non-human primates. added.
Tahlequah, also known as J35, and a dead calf. NOAA
J35 is part of an endangered subpopulation of whales known as southern killer whales. The death of Tahlequah’s calf and the recent birth of another killer whale left the group at just 73 individuals.
Over the years, Tahlequah has had two surviving calves, both male, one born in 2020.
Southerners have been given tracking numbers by the Center for Whale Research and are closely watched by researchers, photographers and whale watchers, especially if they are near Puget Sound communities like Seattle.
Scientists have been following the story of the dead calf for weeks. Hanson said NOAA researchers discovered the female calf themselves on Dec. 23 after a citizen scientist first noticed the female calf, called J61. They were concerned about the calf’s health at the time because it appeared to be struggling and surfacing unusually, he said.
It is not uncommon for orca pups to die shortly after birth. Michael Weiss, director of research at the Center for Whale Research, said the first year of life is the biggest hurdle to survival.
Approximately 70% to 80% of calves that researchers can record and give identification numbers survive the first few years.
“We don’t know exactly what the survival rate is, probably because so many calves are born and die before they are photographed or recorded,” Weiss says. “Probably 50 percent of calves born will survive the first year.”
NOAA researchers said they are now concerned about Tahlequah’s own health because pushing his calves creates a lot of resistance in the water and requires a lot of energy.
“One thing she probably doesn’t have time for is feeding,” Hanson said. “We are concerned that she is expending so much energy caring for her lost calf.”
This is a typical calving season for southern whales. Hanson said researchers were encouraged by the birth of another killer whale, called J62. The orca was first spotted by observers on Dec. 30 and confirmed by the Cetacean Research Center on New Year’s Day.
“It appears to be very robust,” Hanson said.
Southern killer whales have been the subject of conservation efforts for decades. They are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and were listed as endangered in 2005.
Whales typically spend several months each year along the Puget Sound coastline in Washington state. They live in three pods called J, K, and L, and have evolved to eat primarily fish, including the prized Chinook salmon.
In the early 1960s, many of Minami’s killer whales were killed or captured, and some of the surviving killer whales were put on display in marine parks. As of 1974, surveys showed that only 71 individuals remained in the wild. The population has since fluctuated, reaching a high of 95 people in 1995, but has declined since then.
The main reasons why whales are struggling are a decline in the quality and quantity of their prey and pollution from industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that contaminate their prey and accumulate in their bodies. Additionally, ship noise can disturb whales and prevent communication.
Research shows that unless more aggressive action is taken, the southern population is on a path to extinction. Already, Washington state and federal agencies have invested more than $1 billion in programs to reduce threats to whales. But the essential point still remains. Southerners simply don’t have enough food.
Major rivers that were once rich in salmon, including the lower Snake River, have been dammed, limiting access to and survival of salmon.
“We’re not doing enough on chinook recovery and salmon recovery,” Gaydos said.
For struggling southerners, the loss of a female calf is a devastating blow not only to the mother but to the trajectory of the subspecies as a whole.
“The real limit is the number of females that reach reproductive age and their ability to actually raise calves successfully. So we would like to see more females in the population.” Weiss said.
The coming year is expected to be filled with ambitious space missions.
Multiple robotic landers are expected to be launched to the moon in the coming weeks or months.
China and India also each hope to achieve new milestones in space later this year.
From robotic expeditions to the moon to new observatories in space and rendezvous with asteroids, 2025 promises to be full of ambitious space exploration.
NASA and U.S. commercial space companies aren’t the only ones busy. Launch plans planned for this year include potential milestones in China, Japan and India.
Here are some of the biggest upcoming space missions.
Moon fever continues
In 2025, the moon will once again be in the spotlight.
Later this month, SpaceX rockets are scheduled to launch two new missions to the moon. One, a lander called Blue Ghost developed by Texas-based company Firefly Aerospace, is intended to spend about two weeks collecting scientific data on the moon. The second is a privately built Japanese lunar lander with an attached small rover.
The Blue Ghost attempts to land on a region of the moon known as the Moon.Mare Crisium is thought to be the site of an ancient asteroid impact.
The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services Initiative. The space agency has signed contracts with three private companies, including Firefly Aerospace, to transport scientific experiments, technology and other cargo to the moon’s surface. The effort is part of NASA’s larger Artemis mission, which aims to eventually return humans to the moon. The Blue Ghost mission will carry out 10 NASA science and technology experiments.
Riding into orbit on the same rocket booster will be a resilient lander developed by a Japanese company called ispace and the Tenacious “micro rover.” It aims to take a longer route to the moon, consuming less energy than the Blue Ghost, and land on the lunar surface approximately four to five months after launch.
The touchdown target is located in the far north of the moon, in an area called Mare Frigoris.
iSpace’s bid to become the first private company to land a spacecraft on the moon ended in disappointment last year. The company’s lander, Hakuto, accelerated unexpectedly during its descent and crashed onto the lunar surface.
A third lunar launch by the company, which was the first to land a privately built ship on the moon, could also take place this month.
Texas-based Intuitive Machines also won a contract under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Last year, the company’s lander became the first American vehicle to land on the moon in more than 50 years. The company aims to send its next-generation lander to the moon’s south pole on another SpaceX rocket in the coming weeks.
The mission will include a drill to extract lunar soil and a robot that will hop into nearby craters to take images and perform scientific experiments.
Exploring the origin of the universe
NASA aims to launch the SPHEREx mission, a space observatory designed to map the entire sky in optical and near-infrared light, in late February.
The SPHEREx observatory is shown in a horizontal position, showing its telescope and three-layer photon shield.BAE Systems / NASA
The spacecraft will observe more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way and collect data on more than 450 million other galaxies.
As part of its planned two-year mission, the observatory will also search for signs of life as we know it, such as water and organic molecules, in the Milky Way. Experts hope the expedition will provide insight into how galaxies form and how the universe came into being.
Two NASA astronauts finally return home
Two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station since a problem aboard their Boeing spacecraft in June are finally scheduled to return home in March.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the International Space Station.NASA
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were launched to the ISS on the first manned flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The original plan was for the two to spend about a week on the space station, then return to Earth on the Starliner. However, the capsule encountered fuel leaks and thruster problems, so NASA opted to leave Williams and Wilmore in orbit and return the spacecraft unmanned.
They will have spent more than nine months in space before returning to Earth in a SpaceX capsule with two other space station crew members.
India’s spaceflight ambitions
India is poised to make major strides in its human spaceflight program this year.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut Shubhansh Shukla will fly to the International Space Station on a commercial mission run by Texas-based startup Axiom Space.
The launch, expected by spring at the earliest, will include government-backed crew members from Poland and Hungary. The crew will spend up to 14 days on the ISS.
Meanwhile, India is also working on developing its own manned spacecraft, aiming to launch its first one in 2026.
A new private space station?
California-based startup Vast plans to launch its first commercial space station into orbit this year. The civilian outpost, called Haven-1, is scheduled to launch by August on a SpaceX rocket.
Haven-1 is designed to accommodate four astronauts on missions of up to 30 days. The space station will initially function as an independent outpost, but Vasto plans to eventually connect it to a larger module in development.
In partnership with SpaceX, Vast intends to someday launch a crewed mission to the Haven-1 outpost, but the company has not yet announced a target date for that launch.
China encounters an asteroid
China’s space exploration shows no signs of slowing down even in 2025.
This spring, the country plans to launch a mission to collect asteroid samples, the first such expedition.
The plan calls for a spacecraft called Tenbun-2 to rendezvous with a near-Earth asteroid called Kamoorewa, which some scientists have suggested. maybe part of the moon It was ejected during an ancient collision.
The mission aims to collect debris from the asteroid, release a capsule containing samples, and return to Earth in 2026. After that, the Tenbun-2 probe is expected to orbit around the Earth and fly using the Earth’s gravity as a slingshot. Heading toward the comet known as 311P/Panstars. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at the comet in the mid-2030s.
If China’s asteroid sampling mission is successful, it would be a major accomplishment for the country’s space agency. This would be an achievement that follows several recent milestones. China has already become the first company to collect and return samples from the far side of the moon, landed a rover on Mars and completed construction of its own Tiangong space station.
Paleontologists discovered hundreds of different dinosaur footprints, including one left by a ferocious 9-meter (29.5-foot) predator megalosaurus Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, by a herbivorous dinosaur up to twice its size.
Footprints of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs at Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England. Image credit: University of Birmingham.
Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham said: “These footprints provide a special window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions and the tropical environments they lived in. ” he said.
Professor Edgar and colleagues have unearthed five vast dinosaur footprints dating back to the mid-Jurassic period, some 166 million years ago.
The longest continuous track was over 150 m (492 ft) long.
Four of the orbits were created by giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods. cetiosaurusa cousin of the famous brassica, which can grow up to 18 meters (59 ft) in length. diplodocus.
The fifth orbit was created by a carnivorous theropod dinosaur megalosaurusit was characterized by large three-toed feet with claws.
Parts of the site show intersecting carnivore and herbivore tracks, raising questions about whether and how the two were interacting.
“Scientists know about it and have studied it. megalosaurus Dr Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “They lived longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, but recent discoveries show that new evidence of these animals still exists and discoveries It proves that we are waiting for the future.”
Paleontologists worked together to discover around 200 footprints and used aerial drone photography to build a detailed 3D model of the site.
Professor Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham, said: “There is much more we can learn from this site. It is an important part of our global heritage.”
“Our 3D model will allow researchers to continue their studies and make this fascinating part of our past accessible for generations to come.”
During the excavation, researchers took more than 20,000 images of the footprints.
These provide a wealth of material for further research and education, providing valuable information about how these dinosaurs walked, their speed, size, whether they interacted, and how they interacted. May provide insight.
Dr Duncan Murdoch, a researcher at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “The preservation is very detailed and you can see how the mud deformed as the dinosaur’s feet moved in and out.”
“Together with other fossils such as burrows, shells and plants, they can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment that the dinosaurs walked through.”
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