Cold Water Swimming Benefits Both Your Mind and Body

Posted on November 26, 2025 by

Individuals enjoying a swim in London’s Beckenham Place Park Lake during January

AMcCulloch / Alamy

It’s 8am, and I find myself at the edge of my local lake in Beckenham Place Park, London, with the early morning sun just starting to break through the trees. A veil of mist rises from the chilled waters, wrapping everything in silence. Even the ducks seem to shy away from the frigid water today. Yet, my friend and I, clad in swimsuits despite the single-digit water temperature, brace ourselves. The initial plunge is startling, but once you acclimate and begin gliding through the water, it feels like a rebirth.

In recent years, I’ve successfully turned numerous friends into proponents of cold water swimming. My mantra is straightforward: nothing boosts mental health more effectively. Until recently, my experience was mostly just personal testimony. However, with the rise of ice baths, cold showers, and winter swimming, researchers are starting to uncover how these frosty immersions influence our brain chemistry. It’s becoming clear that these weekly dips may be making lasting changes to my brain.

I’m certainly not alone in my fondness for cold water. 6.8 million individuals in the UK regularly swim outdoors, whether in open waters or chilly pools that remain cool throughout much of the year. This trend aligns with emerging evidence indicating that consistent cold water exposure can alleviate fatigue, decrease depression symptoms, and enhance overall well-being, despite its potential dangers like hypothermia and waterborne illnesses.

For instance, a study involving 36 participants who undertook a four-month open water swimming program, four days a week during winter, demonstrated a marked reduction in tension and fatigue when compared to a non-swimming control group that maintained typical city life. The swimmers reported heightened energy levels, better memory retention, and improved mood.

A recent single immersion also proved effective. Individuals who stood chest-deep in seawater at around 13.6 degrees Celsius (56.5 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20 minutes reported less negativity and an increase in energy and self-esteem relative to those who remained on the shoreline.

Cold exposure affects several physiological mechanisms, including the heart and immune system, often leading to enhanced immune function which reduces the incidence of colds and cardiovascular risks. What intrigues me most are the neurological impacts.

For example, immersing your half-clad body in frigid water can uplift your mood by triggering an acute stress response. Anyone who has leapt into icy waters knows this feeling. The brain manages the sudden release of adrenaline, dopamine, and cortisol—chemicals that induce a high similar to that experienced post-exercise.

This reaction serves as an evolutionary survival tactic. Exposure to extreme cold can be life-threatening, which is why this “cold shock response” harnesses stress mechanisms to offer bursts of energy, sharpen alertness, minimize pain, and avert danger.

This is also the reason swimming in cold water might be overwhelming. In unusual cases, it can provoke rapid breathing and could lead to cardiac incidents if not approached with caution. However, if you intentionally prompt this reaction in a safe, calm setting with trained supervision, the benefits can be enjoyed while minimizing risks. Deficiencies in these neurotransmitters are critical in conditions like depression and anxiety, making the artificial elevation of these chemicals a possible explanation for the fleeting mood boost many experience after swimming.

‘Cold shock response’ boosts alertness and uplifts mood

David Trood/Getty Images

There may also be long-term benefits. Over time, the body adapts to the stress of cold water immersion, leading to shifts in the stress response. A study found that participants swimming in cold water three times a week for 12 weeks experienced a reduction in cortisol levels by the end, indicating an enhanced ability to cope with stress. Chronically high stress hormones can lead to inflammation, linked to various diseases and accelerated aging; thus, managing this response may yield long-term health advantages. A recent review of cold water swimming research suggests that this adaptation could provide expansive mental health benefits, like aiding anxiety management.

Additionally, our cold shock response triggers the release of proteins, such as RNA-binding motif 3, which assist in synaptic repair (the links between neurons). In lab mice prone to a form of Alzheimer’s, increased levels of this protein have been found to shield against nerve damage. This has led some researchers to propose that regular cold water swimming could provide lasting neuroprotective effects in humans, although this remains unverified.

Cold water immersion also wields significant psychological power. Enduring challenging conditions—even the most avid cold water enthusiasts can face trials during icy days—can foster resilience and a sense of mastery, popularly referred to as grit. Coupled with the social elements inherent in outdoor swimming, this mirrors some aspects of treatments like antidepressants and therapy. In fact, emerging evidence indicates that cold water swimming can alleviate depression symptoms as a complementary treatment. In many instances, this can occur without reliance on medication.

Interestingly, researchers are beginning direct investigations into cold water swimming’s effects on the brain. For example, Alla Yankovskaya and her team at Bournemouth University recently scanned the brains of 33 individuals not accustomed to cold water swimming before and after a five-minute full-body immersion in water at 20°C (68°F). This marked the first time researchers obtained real-time data on the interplay of brain networks post-cold exposure.

They uncovered advantageous changes in connectivity between various crucial brain regions, particularly linking the medial prefrontal cortex and the parietal cortex, areas tied to emotional regulation, focus, and decision-making. Activity in these regions is often disrupted in individuals suffering from depression and anxiety, possibly underscoring why cold water swimming acts as a therapeutic modality.

However, not everything is clear cut and positive. In rare instances, temporary memory loss may arise from cold water swimming, typically observed in older individuals, although the cause remains elusive. Besides, hypothermia poses a risk for lengthy aquatic adventures. Nevertheless, it’s comforting to know that the mental clarity and elevated mood observed after a swim are substantiated by scientific evidence, and maintaining such benefits might even guard against age-related diseases.

Recently, I learned that a sauna was being constructed lakeside, prompting curiosity about the additional benefits heat therapy might offer alongside swimming. I came across studies suggesting heat and cold can induce precise alterations in brain wave patterns, potentially yielding the most significant cognitive benefits of all. This is certainly a topic I aim to delve into in future articles—all in the name of science, of course, as I embark on a personal investigation of the UK’s premier saunas.

In the meantime, if you find yourself near a lake or the ocean this winter, gather your courage and dip your toes in. It may be chilly, but your brain will appreciate it.

Swimming in waters below 15°C (59°F) should always be conducted with a partner, flotation device, bright headwear, and full awareness of the risks involved and how to mitigate them. For more information on water safety pertaining to cold water swimming, visit the Royal Lifeboat Society. Resources are available.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Neanderthals’ Prominent Noses Were Unsuitable for Cold Environments.

Posted on November 18, 2025 by

Reconstruction of a Neanderthal’s face

Credit: Ryhor Bruyeu/Alamy

The inaugural study of a well-preserved nasal cavity in human fossils uncovers that the large noses of Neanderthals were not primarily adaptations for cold environments, as previously assumed.

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) roamed the Earth from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. Certain specimens exhibit unique features in their nasal cavities. These structures are considered characteristic of the species, with some researchers proposing that living through multiple glacial periods prompted these developments. This adaptation was believed to help them warm the air they inhaled..

Nevertheless, the existing structures are largely damaged, leaving a gap in the fossil record that hampers a comprehensive understanding of the Neanderthal nose’s internal morphology.

Altamura skull: A Neanderthal fossil embedded in rock

KARST Pudding Project

Costantino Busi and his team at the University of Perugia in Italy gathered this evidence from a specimen known as Altamura man, which dates between 172,000 and 130,000 years old. This skeleton is encased in rock within the Lalunga cave, near Altamura, southern Italy, and features small calcite deposits called popcorn stones, resembling a coral reef.

“This may be the most comprehensive hominin fossil ever uncovered,” Busi stated. However, due to its fragile state, the specimen couldn’t be removed. Instead, Busi and his team brought their equipment into a tight section of the cave and utilized an endoscope to explore the interior of the skull, allowing them to digitally visualize the preserved internal nasal bones.

This is certainly the first instance of such structures being clearly observed in a hominin fossil,” Busi noted.

Unexpectedly, they found no evidence of the typical features believed to characterize Neanderthals’ nasal cavities, such as the vertical medial process (a bony protrusion), a ridge on the nasal cavity wall, or the absence of a bony roof over the lacrimal trough.

Nevertheless, according to Busi, the Altamura man is certainly a Neanderthal. Morphology, dating, genetics suggests this, indicating that the structures in question should no longer be classified as defining traits of Neanderthals. He posits that the prominent noses and protruding upper jaws were unlikely to represent the evolutionary adaptations of Neanderthals. “We can finally acknowledge that certain features once thought diagnostic are absent in Neanderthal skulls,” Busi added.

According to Busi, the large nasal cavities of Neanderthals were simply a reflection of their larger cranial features. However, the team discovered that the nasal turbinates (the scroll-like structures within the nasal cavities) were quite large, aiding in the warming of inhaled air.

“These findings suggest that the distinctive face shape of Neanderthals was shaped more by developmental factors and overall body size than by adaptations for breathing in cold conditions,” said Ludovic Slimak from the University of Toulouse, France. “This research challenges previously held notions regarding Neanderthal evolution and offers the first concrete evidence regarding the structure and function of their respiratory systems.”

This research also suggests that unique adaptations in the neck, driven by the selective pressures of the glacial environment, may have influenced the evolution of Neanderthal facial characteristics, including their protruding jaws.

“The common belief that Neanderthals were specially adapted to colder climates is completely unfounded,” stated Todd Rae from the University of Sussex, UK. “In fact, it’s likely they were more vulnerable to the cold, especially when compared to those in tropical regions. While they managed before, they were likely pushed to extinction by the last glacial maximum.”

Origins of Humanity: Ancient Caves in Northern Spain

Explore some of the planet’s oldest cave art in this picturesque area of northern Spain. Journey back 40,000 years and uncover how our ancestors lived, played, and labored. Each cave, rich with ancient Paleolithic artistry and spectacular geological formations, narrates a unique and timeless tale.

Topics:

Neanderthal Man/
Ancient Humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

Green Bank Telescope Maps Cold ‘Dark’ Gas in Cygnus X

Posted on October 30, 2025 by

An astronomer utilizing the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) has developed an extensive map of carbon monoxide (CO) and dark molecular gas in star-forming complexes, particularly in Cygnus X.

These images illustrate the location of CO-dark molecular gas within Cygnus X. Image credit: NSF/AUI/NSF’s NRAO/P.Vosteen.

For decades, scientists have recognized that most new stars are birthed in frigid clouds of molecular hydrogen gas.

A significant portion of this molecular hydrogen remains elusive to most telescopes as it fails to emit easily detectable light.

Astronomers have typically sought these clouds by examining carbon monoxide (CO), a molecule that serves as a glowing signal for star-forming regions.

However, it has been uncovered that CO houses a considerable amount of “non-glowing” gas conducive to star formation.

This concealed material, referred to as CO-dark molecular gas, has represented one of astronomy’s most significant blind spots.

In a fresh study, NRAO astronomer Kimberly Emig and her team mapped this hidden gas across extensive sections of the sky, using radio spectral lines from atomic recombination known as carbon radio recombination lines (CRRLs).

Their map encompasses Cygnus X, a star-forming region located approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.

“It’s akin to suddenly switching on a light in a room and discovering various structures that were previously unseen,” Dr. Emig remarked.

The newly constructed map unveils a sprawling network of arcs, ridges, and webs of dark gas permeating Cygnus X.

These formations indicate where star-forming materials accumulate and evolve before becoming noticeable as molecular clouds in CO.

The authors demonstrated that these faint carbon signals, observed at very low radio frequencies, serve as an extraordinarily powerful instrument for uncovering hidden gas that directly correlates ordinary matter with the birth of new stars.

They found that this dark gas is not static; instead, it flows, shifts, and moves at rates much faster than previously recognized. These dynamics influence the stellar formation rate.

Moreover, they discovered that the intensity of these carbon lines is directly connected to the intense starlight bathing the area, emphasizing the significant role radiation plays in galactic recycling.

“By illuminating the invisible, we can trace how the raw ingredients in our galaxy transform from simple atoms into complex molecular structures that will ultimately become stars, planets, and potentially life,” Dr. Emig stated.

“This marks merely the beginning of comprehending an otherwise unseen force.”

Find the results published in the October 17th edition of the Astrophysical Journal.

_____

Kimberly L. Emig et al. 2025. The cold dark gas of Cygnus X: the first large-scale mapping of low-frequency carbon recombination lines. APJ 992, 216; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/adfa17

Source: www.sci.news

Cold War Tactics: The Stasi’s Involvement in a Video Game | Games

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In 2019, researchers at the Berlin Computer Game Museum uncovered a remarkable find made from salvaged electronic gear for joysticks and plastic containers. The beige rectangular tupperware, containing wires, will display a functional version of Pon when connected to a TV.

Arcade Fire… A notable attraction from Cold Wargames in East Germany. Photo: Dora Csala/Alliiertenmuseum

Initially, they believed that these homemade devices were an isolated testament to creativity behind the iron curtain. However, earlier this year, they stumbled upon something else: seifendosen-pong (“Soapbox Pon”), accompanied by a national magazine called Funkamateur, featuring various DIY diagrams for Atari’s 1970s gaming hits.

This discovery contradicted the notion that the emergence of computer games was merely tolerated or heavily suppressed by socialist East Germany. Evidence arose suggesting that gaming received a degree of official backing from the regime’s notorious Secret Service.

A new collaborative exhibition from the Union Museum and the Computer Games Museum in Berlin aims to uncover the intrigue surrounding Cold War-era games from both sides of the iron curtain. This includes East Germany’s sole arcade cabinet, Polyplay, which visitors can experience. Featuring honey-colored wooden panels and vibrant signage, only 2,000 machines were produced. In the late ’80s, youth flocked to these cabinets in clubs and holiday retreats, enjoying games that were largely clones of Western originals.

However, Polyplay was developed “with assistance from national security,” explains Veit Lehmann of the Alliance Museum. Due to a lack of programming expertise, the manufacturer Veb Polytechnick turned to the Stasi, who provided personnel “with expertise and computing capabilities” to code games.

PAC – In place of Man, there was Hase und Wolf – a rabbit dodging a dog, while Namco’s infamous ghost from Pac-Man was replaced. Games included Hirschjagd (“Deer Hunt”), a reimagined version of the sci-fi shooter Robotron: 2084, and Schießbude, a carnival shooting game, along with titles like Schmetterling (butterfly collecting), memory puzzles, skiing games, and other racing contests.

Tame… Game featuring rabbits and wolves. Photo: Veb Polytechnik Karl-Marx-Stadt

For many in East Germany, Polyplay marked their first exposure to computing, “opening up an entirely different world,” states Regina Sewald of the University of Birmingham. “It was seen as a family-oriented machine.” Families would spend weekends enjoying leisure activities together. While perceived as innocent entertainment, it subtly encouraged technical skill development.

However, Polyplay eliminated themes of violence, contrasting with Western arcades that showcased tanks in combat scenarios and dragons targeting players propelled by jetpacks. The GDR aimed to present itself as a peaceful nation, viewing media law as a means to suppress any portrayal of violence. “The GDR’s approach to technology reflected a desire for a harmonious self-image, coupled with a fear of the unknown,” remarks Seiwald.

Despite the family-friendly concept of Polyplay, self-proclaimed “freaks” gathered at computer clubs to challenge the regime’s limits. East Germany identified technology as a critical economic focus by the late 1970s, but Western tech was often smuggled into the country as trade embargoes restricted access, with devices like the ZX Spectrum being disguised in car seats or hidden inside chocolate boxes for cross-border smuggling.

Long arms of the state… Displayed at coldwargames. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

State-run factories produced some of their own gaming devices, including the Bildschirmspiel 01 Pong clone and the Veb Robotron series of microcomputers, but accessibility was limited. High costs made it difficult for most citizens to obtain them.

As early enthusiasts began forming clubs at universities and youth centers across cities like Berlin, Dresden, and Leipzig, officials speculated whether this youthful engagement would help mitigate technical challenges. “They believed that if young people engaged with games and computers, it could lead to better outcomes,” notes Lehmann. Perhaps the regime hoped this interest would nurture a new generation skilled in microelectronics, ultimately developing a necessary homegrown industry.

A phrase often echoed among GDR officials was expressed by Martin Görlich, managing director of the Computer Games Museum: “Learning from the Soviet Union means learning how to win.” Thus, computing was embraced as mirroring Soviet dynamics, blending physical action with screen engagement in arcade games.

Eastern block…coldwargames. Photo: Dora Csala/Alliiertenmuseum

The Soviet Union also birthed Tetris, a dynamic puzzle game created by software engineer Alexey Pajitnov to test computer performance. Initially exchanged among engineers, it led to fierce competition for distribution rights involving Dutch game designer Henrogers and Kevin Maxwell, son of the disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell.

In East Germany, citizens often depended on bootleg versions to bypass restrictions and shortages. Fashion enthusiasts crafted their garments, musicians repurposed audio gear, and underground board games like a twist on Monopoly flourished in exchange for communist-themed titles.

This DIY ethos aligned with the state’s self-reliance policy, encouraging citizens to craft, build, and repair. Official publications such as Funkamateur and Jugend Und Technik advocated for “computer sports” and published programming guides. “The GDR was acutely aware of technological constraints,” affirms Sewald. “People became proactive in educating themselves and pushing the boundaries of available technology.”

For young enthusiasts, some clubs boasted advanced computing systems like the Commodore 64, far superior to state alternatives. Most members were young males, their primary interest often lying in gaming.

Some learned to program their own games on machines like the KC 85 from Veb Mikroelektronik, while others like René Meyer, who joined the Computer Club at the University of Leipzig at 16, explored this new digital realm.

“GDR’s home computers were compatible with various systems and cultivated a unique computing ecosystem in the East,” recalls Meyer, particularly one game called Bennion Geppy, which involved navigating dungeons while avoiding monsters and collecting keys.

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Paradoxically, while the state seemed to endorse these groups, club members often found themselves under the close scrutiny of Stasi informants, and their computing activities were frequently viewed with suspicion. One Stasi report detailed the games circulating in Young Talent’s House, highlighting acceptable choices like Super Bowl and Samantha Fox Strip Poker, alongside more controversial titles reflecting violent themes.

As internal tensions within East German society escalated, Stasi grew increasingly paranoid about war-related themes in software, computer viruses, and anti-socialist messages. Their fears may have been exaggerated. Notably, in neighboring Czechoslovakia, underground game developers created titles like the Adventures of Indiana Jones, a text adventure where a fedora-clad hero could face peril from bloodthirsty authorities.

East Germany’s relationship with technology was complex. In 1984, West Germany penalized children for playing arcade games, viewing them as gambling hazards. Consequently, they imposed stringent age restrictions on violent games like Activision’s River Raid. This skepticism extended into the 21st century, with publishers altering titles to sidestep censorship, as seen in the German version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, where players faced penalties for actions during the controversial “No Russian” mission.

While East Germany advocated for decentralized computing, the state maintained strict control over communications, criminalizing home networking and hacking activities. In response, activists in West Germany founded the Chaos Computer Club, still active today, known for crafting DIY modems as a form of protest, referred to as Datenklo (“Dataloo”).

“The West has been very harsh on hackers and crackers,” observes Seiwald. “It surprised many to find that the GDR exhibited a degree of surprising tolerance.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Astronomers Say: Infant Space Is Warm, Not Cold, Before It Begins to Illuminate

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers utilizing CSIRO’s Murchison Wide Field Array (MWA) telescope are on the quest to uncover the elusive period of reionization. This early stage in the universe’s history has been theorized but remains undetected by radio telescopes. This period marks the end of the universe’s dark ages, occurring approximately a billion years post-Big Bang, during which intergalactic gases transform from opaque to transparent, enabling light from the first stars and galaxies to permeate the cosmos.

A glimpse of the sky observed in radio waves by the Murchison Wide Field Array. Image credit: Nunhokee et al. / ICRAR / Curtin University.

“Our research was conducted in two phases,” stated Dr. Riddhima Nunhokey, an astronomer at Curtin University Node of the International Center for Radio Astronomical Research for All Sky Astrophysics (ICRAR).

“In the initial phase, we discovered the first signs of heating in the intergalactic gas—the intergalactic medium—around 800 million years after the Big Bang.”

“To examine this primordial phase of the universe, we must isolate faint signals from this epoch while eliminating all other sources of cosmic radio emissions.”

“These sources include emissions from nearby celestial bodies, interference from Earth’s atmosphere, and even noise generated by the telescope itself.”

“Only after meticulously subtracting these ‘foreground signals’ can we discern the signals from the era of reionization.”

“From this study, we have developed methods to manage foreground contamination and remove unwanted signals, thus enhancing our understanding of telescopes and improving the clarity of detected signals.”

“We are also able to integrate nearly a decade’s worth of MWA data, allowing us to make observations over a longer timeframe than before.”

“This is another reason we are closer than ever to detecting the signals.”

The team asserts that the enhanced quality and quantity of this new dataset made this discovery feasible.

The cold universe is producing signals that resemble these new data.

This absence of signals indicates that reionization must have commenced from a “cold start,” implying that the universe was “preheated” prior to the reionization phase.

“As the universe expands, intergalactic gases cool down, and thus we expect them to become extremely cold,” explained Professor Cathryn Trott, an astronomer at ICRAR’s Curtin University Node, associated with Astro 3D and the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy.

“Our measurements suggest that there is a certain level of heating present. While it may not be substantial, it does indicate that extremely cold reionization is unlikely, and that’s quite intriguing.”

“This study implies that this heating is probably influenced by energy from early black holes and primordial X-ray sources resulting from stellar remnants spread across the universe.”

The findings are presented in two papers in the Astrophysical Journal.

____

CD Nunhokee et al. 2025. The 21 cm power spectrum limit of z = 6.5–7.0 based on Murchison wide field array observations. APJ 989, 57; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adda45

Cathryn M. Trott et al. 2025. Utilizing Gaussian information to enhance the limit of the 21 cm signal at z = 6.5–7.0 using Murchison wide field array data. APJ 991, 211; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/adff80

Source: www.sci.news

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Review – Cold War Chaos Revived with Cinematic Flair | Games

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A wise fictional character once remarked that war never changes, and if you experience Snake Eater, it’s hard to disagree. Konami has reimagined the 2004 Cold War PS2 classic, swapping “three” with “Delta,” but this remains the jungle adventure you remember. Without Kojima, Konami has maintained the essence of this chaotic masterpiece while channeling its energy into stunning visuals and smooth, modern controls.

In terms of PS2 titles that feel like contemporary releases, Metal Gear Solid 3 tops the list. Transitioning the series into vast outdoor settings, Kojima maximized the aging power of Sony’s console. To modern players, these environments were expansive. However, revisiting the water-logged swamps of Tselinoyarsk in today’s open-world gaming landscape, the once seemingly endless jungle feels rather quaint.

A potential playfulness… Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Photo: Konami

Thankfully, the charm and vibrant characters inhabiting these mosquito-infested playgrounds remain as plentiful as ever. Every path you tread is filled with playful opportunities. The snake slithers through the mud, sniping wasp nests and dispatching nearby patrols before leaping from cliffs. Vultures descend on foes under the scorching desert sun, and you can even shoot the transceiver of a guard to thwart a backup call. It’s these intricate systems and ambitious narratives that lend a grander feel to the modest maps.

As for the narrative, Snake Eater retains its edge, interspersing real-world historical footage from the Cold War before pitting you against various foes. Long-time fans la-li-lu-le-lo aside, newcomers might find the relentless opening cutscene somewhat intrusive. The prologue periodically takes control from the player, inundating you with tutorial text between short playable segments, but it ultimately culminates in a barrage of fitting nouns.

Fortunately, once gameplay begins, Snake’s Soviet journey feels exhilarating. Purists can opt for classic top-down views through legacy modes, but modern controls provide a truly revolutionary experience, transforming the once-clumsy snake into a lethal killing machine.

Despicable Shenanigans… Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Photo: Konami

Moreover, there are some exciting new features for seasoned veterans. The newly introduced optional compass efficiently points toward your target, while pressing the D-PAD allows for quick access to the codec and camouflage adjustments on the fly.

Speaking of camouflage, the survival system in Snake Eater is perhaps its most significant legacy. Kojima’s groundbreaking hunting and injury treatment mechanics continue to influence modern games, setting the groundwork for today’s popular survival genres. Though some elements may feel dated compared to current standards, they add an appreciated layer to Snake’s escapades.

The island’s playful meta-narrative continues to thrive, offering engaging gameplay choices. From the ability to eliminate an early boss long before their intended encounter to a boss fight that revolves around your accumulated bloodlust results, few modern titles embrace this level of interactive storytelling.

Despite its cinematic aspirations, Snake Eater excels in its quirks and video game absurdities. Items drop from defeated soldiers, hidden frogs leap as you shoot, and camouflaged rubber ducks lurk in every nook and cranny of the environment.

Delta serves as a stunning showcase for the PS5 Pro, becoming one of the few graphical highlights amidst Sony’s high-priced offerings. The cinematic splendor of last year’s memorable sequences comes alive with breathtaking 4K visuals. Still, not everything has aged gracefully, particularly Eva’s cleavage cutscene, which reveals the game’s roots in 2004.

Some elements could benefit from a revision. While players will not soon forget the iconic final confrontation, the rushed ending feels like a missed opportunity to cohesively tie up loose threads, suggesting Konami’s interference in this critical area and leaving it feeling anticlimactic.

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Outside the primary gameplay, there’s a fun monkey escape mode and an additional secret feature that I won’t spoil. The only entirely new mode, the Foxhunt multiplayer component, has unfortunately arrived post-launch and currently feels somewhat unfinished.

Snake Eater is a refined and slick chapter in the Metal Gear saga, resembling a Cold War caper fit for a James Bond film, replete with apocalyptic undertones. Kojima’s affection for Hollywood is evident, often spilling over into unwieldy epic narratives, yet this game remains his most cinematic achievement. It’s silly, tightly packed, and delightfully campy, meandering toward absurdity with sublime stealth. The legendary voice acting seamlessly merges Cold War fantasy with anime-inspired antics.

If you reminisce about the Metal Gear Online glory days when the free Foxhunt mode launches later this year, it could elevate your score. If not, Snake Eater remains a melodramatic joy and serves as a fantastic introduction to one of gaming’s most illustrious masterpieces.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cold Fusion: Controversial Experiments Enhance Fusion Research

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Thunderbird Fusion Reactor

Berlinguette Group, UBC

Cold Fusion, once a notorious name in the scientific community, is experiencing a resurgence. Researchers are revisiting earlier experiments that suggested room-temperature fusion, hinting at the potential for energy generation akin to that of the Sun, but without the extreme heat typically required. Although the initial claims were thoroughly scrutinized, recent iterations of this research have found ways to enhance fusion rates, even if they still fall short of producing usable energy.

Nuclear fusion involves merging atomic nuclei under extreme temperature and pressure, releasing energy in the process. This phenomenon naturally occurs in stars like our Sun, but replicating it on Earth for energy use has proven to be a significant challenge. Despite aspirations for commercial fusion reactors dating back to the 1950s, we haven’t yet managed to build one that yields more energy than it consumes.

The tide seemed to turn in 1989 when chemists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann at the University of Utah reported that they had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature using palladium rods submerged in water injected with neutron-rich heavy water and subjected to an electric current. This process generated unexpected heat spikes that surpassed predictions for standard chemical reactions, leading them to believe significant levels of nuclear fusion were occurring.

Dubbed Cold Fusion, this experiment captivated interest for its implication of a simpler, cleaner energy source compared to conventional hot fusion. However, the excitement quickly faded as researchers worldwide failed to replicate the observed heat anomalies.

Recently, Curtis Berlinguette and his team at the University of British Columbia have developed a novel tabletop particle accelerator, drawing inspiration from the original research conducted by Pons and Fleischmann.

“Cold fusion was dismissed back in 1989 due to the inability to replicate the findings. Our setup is designed for reproducibility, enabling verification by others,” Berlinguette explains. “We don’t claim to have discovered an energy miracle; our goal is to advance scientific understanding and provide reliable data to make fusion more attainable and interdisciplinary.”

Similar to the initial cold fusion experiment, the current research employs deuterium and palladium, which are hydrogen isotopes containing neutrons. The Thunderbird reactor utilizes a deuterium nucleus and a concentrated high-energy beam directed at a palladium electrode. This method prompts the palladium to absorb these high-energy particles and facilitates fusion by increasing the saturation of deuterium in the material.

To enhance fusion rates, the researchers incorporated an electrochemical device filled with deuterium oxide (heavy water). This device breaks down the heavy water into deuterium and oxygen, allowing the deuterium to be absorbed by the electrodes, boosting the quantity of deuterium available for fusion. “An essential takeaway from our 1989 experiment was the use of electrochemistry to introduce hydrogen fuel to the electrodes,” Berlinguette emphasizes.

As a result, the researchers noted a 15% increase in neutron production, correlating with a rise in fusion rates, though it only generates a billionth of a watt—far less than the 15 watts required to operate the device. “We’re just a few orders of magnitude away from powering your home with these reactors,” Berlinguette states.

While the experiment is notably inspired by the 1989 research, the current work indicates that the primary source of fusion comes from the powerful deuteron beam, rather than the electrochemistry proposed by Pons and Fleischmann. Anthony Ksernak from Imperial College London notes, “This is not an unknown phenomenon; it’s about colliding deuterium with a solid target and achieving what appears to be a fusion event,” noting the energy from the high-energy particles is equivalent to hundreds of millions of Kelvins.

Ksernak acknowledges that the 15% increase in deuterium saturation in palladium is modest, but he sees potential in experimenting with different metals for the electrodes in future research.

Berlinguette remains hopeful that the fusion rate can be elevated by redesigning the reactor. Recent unpublished work from a colleague suggests that merely altering the shape of the electrodes might yield a four-order magnitude increase in the fusion rate, though it would still fall short of the levels required for practical applications.

Even if higher fusion rates aren’t achieved, Berlinguette believes the electrochemical technique for enhancing deuterium loading in metals could be beneficial for developing high-temperature superconductors. Many promising superconducting materials, known for their zero electrical resistance and potential to transform global electrical systems, are metals that incorporate significant hydrogen amounts. Traditionally, creating these materials demands excessive pressure and energy; however, the electrochemical systems used in Thunderbird reactors could streamline the process with much less energy expenditure, according to Berlinguette.

Cern and Mont Blanc, Dark and Frozen Matter: Switzerland and France

Prepare to be amazed by CERN, the European Centre for Particle Physics. Here, researchers operate the renowned Large Hadron Collider situated near the picturesque Swiss city of Geneva.

Topic:

Nuclear Fusion Technology

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research Suggests Early Primates Thrived in Cold and Temperate Climates

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Textbooks frequently depict primates as having evolved and dispersed exclusively in warm tropical forests, largely based on fossil evidence found in tropical regions. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Reading indicates that the earliest primates may have thrived in North America’s cold climate, experiencing hot summers and frozen winters.

Primates have transitioned to historically diverse climates: (a) For all primates, transition between the main climates of temperate (top), arid (left), tropical (bottom), and cold (right). The size of the arrows represents the percentage of phylogenetic branches with each transition. (b) Climate transition of early primates living between 650,780,000 years ago. (c) Climate transition of species that lived between 47.8 and 2303 million years ago. (d) Climate transition of species that have lived from 2,303 million years ago to the present. Image credit: Avaria-llautureo et al. , doi: 10.1073/pnas.2423833122.

In this research, Jorge Avalia Lautulo from the University of Reading and his team harnessed statistical modeling alongside fossil data to reconstruct ancient environments and trace where the common ancestors of modern primates existed.

“For decades, the prevailing belief was that primates evolved within warm tropical forests,” stated Dr. Abaria Lautzleo.

“Our findings dramatically overturn this narrative. We discovered that primates did not originate in the lush jungles but in the cold, seasonal environments of the Northern Hemisphere.”

“Understanding how ancient primates adapted to climate change offers insights into how current species might respond to modern shifts in climate and environment.”

Primates, capable of relocating swiftly in response to rapid weather changes, excelled at reproducing, ensuring that offspring survived to establish new species.

As they migrated, primates moved towards entirely different, more stable climates. On average, those remaining in similarly unstable regions were about 561 km apart.

Early primates might have hibernated through the frozen winters, much like today’s bears, sleeping through the coldest months to slow their heart rates and conserve energy.

Some small primates continue this behavior today; for instance, the dwarf lemur in Madagascar digs underground, sleeping for several months during colder periods, shielded from freezing temperatures by layers of roots and leaves.

It wasn’t until millions of years later that primates reached tropical forests.

They began in cold habitats, gradually migrating through temperate zones, arid desert-like areas, and ultimately arriving at today’s hot, humid jungles.

As local temperatures and precipitation fluctuated drastically, primates were compelled to seek new habitats, which facilitated the development of new species.

“Our research indicates that non-tropical, changing environments exerted strong selective pressures on primates with greater dispersal capabilities, encouraging primate diversification and the eventual colonization of tropical climates millions of years post-origination,” the authors concluded.

Their paper was published on August 5th in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

____

Jorge Avalia Rautreo et al. 2025. Radiation and geographical expansion of primates due to diverse climates. PNAS 122 (32): E2423833122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2423833122

Source: www.sci.news

What’s Behind the Return of the Odd Cold War Hoverboat?

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Concept illustration for the US DARPA Liberty Lifter initiative

Aurora Flight Science

This isn’t a boat or an airplane; it’s an advanced marine cleaning vehicle known as the Ecranoplan.

Echoing Cold War-era Soviet technology, these substantial craft are resurfacing as both China and the US explore modern adaptations amid rising military tensions in the Pacific Ocean.

The large sea skimmer resembles an aircraft, but as Malcolm Davis from the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy explains, “it operates similarly to a fast naval vessel, gliding just above the water’s surface.” These vehicles leverage the “ground effect,” utilizing cushions of air between the low-flying craft and the ocean to enhance lift and decrease drag.

Ocean skimmers typically outpace conventional ships (approaching aircraft speeds) and can potentially evade surface and aerial radar, Davis notes. This capability allows for covert and expeditious transport of goods or troops over substantial oceanic distances typical of the Indo-Pacific area, or for surprising enemy naval forces with missile strikes.

This technology became notorious during the Cold War when the Soviet Union developed the Ecranoplan, notably featuring a prototype dubbed the “Caspian Sea Monster.” However, due to funding issues and limited practical utility, these designs were never fully realized, according to Davis. Renewed interest in sea skimmers aligns with China’s military ambitions to assert its influence over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Since the early 2000s, China has been working on prototypes of ocean skimmers, states Ben Lewis, an Independent Defense Analyst based in Washington, DC. A recent June 2025 photograph circulating online showcases a large waterborne craft with four jet engines mounted on its wing, as reported by Navy News. China is also seeking expertise from Russian technologists involved in Ecranoplan designs during the Soviet era, as highlighted by the New York Times.

Similarly, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) had been funding the Liberty Lifter project since 2022, aimed at developing analogous seaplanes. However, this program concluded in June 2025 without yielding a successful craft; instead, DARPA intends to leverage lessons from Liberty Lifter to encourage private sector involvement and broaden military applications.

On a different note, US company Regent Craft is currently testing an all-electric sea glider variant of this technology for commercial potential, which has piqued the interest of the US Marines.

As manufacturing and technological advancements continue, these ocean skimmers “may present a cost-effective alternative to more expensive traditional aircraft,” according to Brendan Mulbany from the U.S. Air Force China Aerospace Research Institute in Alabama. However, he cautions that “they won’t be the backbone of any military force and are unlikely to survive in high-intensity engagements.” Conditions in regions like the Taiwan Straits can complicate their operation, notes Lewis.

Nevertheless, these sea skimmers could contribute to a broader Chinese military strategy to counter the US-allied navy projected to support Taiwan, argues Davis. The US is responding by fostering military partnerships with regional allies such as South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, while also bolstering military presence on Pacific Islands as bases. Lewis points out that the possibility of conflict has escalated the need for innovative capabilities to gain an “additional edge.”

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Essential Winter Running Gear to Conquer the Cold

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

I
If you’re tempted to give up running or hit the gym in the winter, think again. Whether you’re heading out for some fresh air and sunshine on a crisp blue-sky day, or blowing away cobwebs in the rainy darkness after work, running outdoors can make winter more bearable.

A few changes to your outfit and some clever accessories can help you stay warm, dry, and safer. Not all of the following are required. It depends on where you’re going, how far you’re going, and what time of day you’re going. Everything featured is unisex or has versions for women and men.

best winter running gear

protective headgear

Arc’teryx Norvan balaclava

_{£65 at Arc’teryx}

Buff reflex DryFlx beanie hat

_{£21.07 on Amazon}

_{£21.95 in buff}

Wearing proper headgear can save you a run when the wind is blowing strongly or the temperature is very cold. The Arc’teryx Merino Balaclava can be worn around the neck, pulled up over the mouth, or as a balaclava that wraps around the ears and forehead. The top is open for ventilation. If you want full head coverage, you can also wear a Buff beanie. Both are highly reflective, breathable, and quick drying.

chest light

Provis chest light

_{£29.99 at Provis}

_{£34.99 on Amazon}

Wearing a chest light gives you the chance to see bikes, cars, and people long before they can reach you in the dark. This is especially important in areas without street lighting. It has super-bright 500 lumen front and backlights (white full, half, or low beam on the front, slow blinking red on the back), and a USB rechargeable battery that lasts 3 hours. The elastic, adjustable strap has Proviz 360 reflectance, which creates a dazzling shine when the light hits it.

bone conduction headphones

Shokz OpenPro2 headphones

_{£169 at Shokz}

_{£169 on Amazon}

If you can’t live without music or podcasts while running, but don’t want to lose awareness of your surroundings in the dark, bone conduction headphones are the perfect solution. Sound is conducted through the temporal bones at the sides and bottom of the skull, so you can hear cars, bikes, and people while immersing yourself in listening. This also eliminates the problem of earphones falling from sweaty ears.

If you’ve never tried it before, you’ll be amazed at the magic of hearing music as clearly as if it were through earphones. The sound quality on this wireless pair is great.

backpack cover

Provis backpack cover

_{£34.99 at Provis}

_{£45.50 at Decathlon}

If you’re a running commuter, you could buy a high-vis reflective backpack for those dark mornings and evenings, but this reversible cover is an inexpensive hack that you can slip over your existing backpack and enjoy its benefits. With its high reflectance, it lights up your body like a Christmas tree. Keeps the bag and its contents dry even when it rains.

technical base layer

love bridge line Long sleeve base layer for women

_{£59.99 on sports shoes}

_{£59.99 at Base Camp Gear}

love bridge line men’s long sleeve base layer

_{£59.99 on sports shoes}

_{£60 on Amazon}

Layering is key when running in the winter. A good quality technical baselayer and midlayer for the first few miles, combined with a running jacket (see below) if it’s wet or very windy, will keep you warm and sweat-free. can. You can delete either of the top two if you wish.

These baselayers are designed for mountain running, but are equally useful for urban runs. It’s made from breathable fabric with small vents in well-placed locations to quickly wick away sweat and moisture, and a deep chest zipper if you get too hot.

running jacket

asics metalan mens waterproof jacket

_{£142.99 in sports shoes}

_{£151 at Asics}

ASICS Metalan Women’s Waterproof Jacket

_{£120 at Sports Direct}

_{£151 at Asics}

If you’re going for a short 20-minute run in the rain, you can probably do without a running jacket. However, if you’re running long distances, a flexible, breathable technical running jacket is a wise investment for rainy and windy days.

This well-designed jacket packs into its own chest pocket, making it easy to store away when you don’t need it. It’s completely waterproof, so you can go out even during long downpours. It also switches around the bottom and hood to create a seal around the body. It’s also made from 50% recycled materials. A good running jacket will last for years if properly cared for.

running gloves

Limb Maze Runner gloves

_{£22.95 at Outdoor Action}

_{£25.50 at Mountain Warehouse}

Sealskins Wolferton running gloves

_{£40 at Sealskins}

Cold hands and feet can ruin your winter run. Even if your face and body are hot, the wind will keep your hands cold. Regular gloves are cumbersome and make your hands sweaty, but running gloves are breathable and flexible.

These Extremities gloves feature superior insulation and reflective details. Sealskinz are water-repellent and have nifty retractable mittens that you can wear over your fingers on especially cold days. Both are touchscreen compatible, so you can keep your gloves on while using your smartphone.

warm socks

Sealskins Hillgay running socks

_{£18 at Sealskins}

_{£18 on Amazon}

For the other extremities, merino running socks will keep your feet comfortable without overheating and will quickly wick away moisture if they get wet. These are thicker than summer socks and reach mid-calf. In winter you can’t bare your ankles.

tracker device

Tile Pro

_{£34.99 on Tiles}

_{£27.99 on Amazon}

Running before and after work inevitably means running in the dark, but this Tile Bluetooth tracker gives you some peace of mind. Tile has partnered Life 360 is a safety app that shows your loved ones exactly where you are, so you can now use tiles to discreetly trigger SOS alerts. Press the button three times and your contacts will be asked to confirm their location. and Gold or Platinum membership Life360 allows you to dispatch emergency services to your exact location.

The tiles are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, so you can run with them or shove them in your pocket, and they have a range of 500 feet. Adding tiles can also save you tons of time spent looking for your keys or phone before heading out for a run.

hybrid running shoes

www.theguardian.com

Life & Style: Must-Have Cold Weather Essentials to Stay Warm From Electric Blankets to Cozy Coats

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

aAfter a mostly mild and cloudy December, winter has finally arrived. We’ve rounded up some of the most popular and tried-and-true products to help you stay warm, especially when you don’t want to turn up the thermostat too much.

From slippers to coats and pajamas to top-of-the-line electric heaters and blankets, they’ll all help you beat the cold and even stay stylish.

The best cold weather essentials to beat the cold

electric blanket

OHS electric heated fleece overblanket

_{£20 at Online Home Shop}

_{£34.99 on Amazon}

This great value heater throw was rated the best budget option in 2008. emily peck Reviews of the best heated blankets. Available in blush, charcoal, forest green, and black, it comes with 9 temperature settings and a timer that turns it off after 9 hours.

heating airer

Dry: Quickly Deluxe 3-Stage Heated Airer and Cover

_{£149.99 on Amazon}

_{£194.98 at Lakeland}

Warm air dryers claim to dry clothes regardless of the weather without costing the earth any energy. jane hoskin We tested 12 and rated this one from Lakeland as the best overall. She says this dryer is for people who are tired of having to choose between the expense of noisy tumble dryers, dirty clothes on the radiator, and the smell of laundry that dries slowly in traditional clothes dryers. It is said to be for people who have.

electric heater

Duux Threesixty 2 Ceramic Heater

_{£89.99 at John Lewis}

_{£99.99 at Currys}

The mercury is dropping and the house is getting colder. But if you have your finger hovering over your central heating dial, an electric heater may be just what you need to efficiently heat your colander. pete wise We tested eight of the best, including this compact model that thoroughly heats a space while making less noise than standard fan models.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New study suggests hot baths may be more effective than cold water baths

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Influencers are big fans of post-workout ice baths.

But a recent small study suggests that recreational athletes may perform better when using hot tubs instead of cold ones, especially during breaks in training like halftime in football or soccer games. The study was presented at the Integrative Exercise Physiology Conference at the University Park, Pennsylvania.

According to Mamoru Tsuyuki, the lead author of the study and a master’s student in sports and health science at Ritsumeikan University, hot water promotes blood flow, helps muscles repair, and increases power output. He recommends soaking in hot water for 15-20 minutes to improve performance in the second half of a workout. Despite the benefits of hot water, Tsuyuki acknowledges that cold water can still be beneficial for relieving muscle pain and treating injuries.

Further research is needed to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both hot and cold water treatments. Different types of exercises may yield different results with each temperature soak.

Why Hot Soaks are Beneficial

To explore the effects of hot and cold water in more detail, Tsuyuki and his team conducted a three-part study involving 10 young men. After high-intensity interval running, the men soaked in either a 104-degree or 59-degree bathtub for 20 minutes or sat in water without soaking.

The study results showed that jumping heights were higher after hot water immersion compared to cold water immersion. Muscle soreness was not significantly different between the two groups.

Although cold baths can be soothing for injuries involving heat and inflammation, they may have a negative impact on post-workout recovery for intense workouts, according to Amy Leighton, an associate professor of applied physiology at Columbia University. Hot water facilitates circulation and speeds up the recovery process after strenuous exercise.

Dr. Spencer Stein, an orthopedic and sports medicine specialist at New York University, acknowledges the benefits of cold water baths in reducing pain but notes that warm baths are preferred by professional teams before a game. David Putrino, a rehabilitation innovation director, advises athletes to experiment with different temperatures and observe how their bodies react to determine the most effective recovery strategy.

Putrino recommends soaking in hot water for 10-20 minutes at 98-104 degrees Fahrenheit and in ice water for 10-15 minutes at 50-59 degrees Fahrenheit. Start with a 5-minute soak if you are new to cold water treatment. Ultimately, the best temperature soak is the one that helps you recover the fastest, so individual experimentation is key.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Saline nasal drops and sprays showing promise in treating the common cold

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Saline nasal sprays may stop children's sneezing faster

ONFOKUS.COM, Sebastian Court/Getty Images

Saline nasal sprays appear to help speed up cold recovery: In a new study, children who were given the homemade nasal spray recovered from cold symptoms like sneezing and stuffy nose two days faster than those who weren't.

More than 200 different viruses can cause cold-like symptomsTherefore, it is difficult to develop general and effective treatments that target them. As a result, most cold therapies only relieve symptoms but do not shorten the duration of symptoms.

But research increasingly suggests that saline may be the exception. Studies have shown that adults who use saline nasal drops or sprays to relieve cold symptoms: Reduces symptoms and speeds recovery and Less likely to spread infection.

now, Steve Cunningham Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK tested this method on children. They asked the parents of 150 children with cold symptoms to place three drops of saline solution into their children's nasal passages at least four times a day within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, until symptoms subsided. The water-based solution that the parents mixed themselves contained 2.6 percent salt.

Another group of 151 children received standard cold care from their parents, such as prescribing over-the-counter medicines and encouraging rest. All of the children were under the age of seven, and their symptoms were recorded by their parents.

The researchers found that children who started using the drops within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms recovered two days faster than those who never used the drops, and their families were also less likely to develop cold symptoms. But children who started using the drops later didn't get better and were less likely to spread the cold than those who never used the drops.

Cunningham, who will present his findings at the European Respiratory Society meeting in Vienna, Austria, on September 8, says that the chloride ions in saline could prompt cells to produce an antiviral substance called hypochlorous acid, though this may need to be started early in infection, before the virus can take hold, he says.

but William Shaffner Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee are skeptical that this method will actually help cure viral infections. [evidence] They want me to believe that this is an antiviral effect, not just symptom relief,” he says.

Schaffner says the researchers could have also given another group of children regular water drops or a low-concentration saline solution, which would show whether the saline nasal spray targets the virus and speeds recovery or simply keeps mucous membranes moist to ease symptoms, he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New study suggests Ancient Mars was cold and had moderate levels of water

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In a new study, planetary scientists have found strong similarities between the soil of Gale Crater on Mars and that of the cold, sub-Arctic climate of Newfoundland, Canada.

X-ray amorphous material comprises 15-73% by weight of the sedimentary rocks and eolian deposits in Gale Crater. This material is siliceous and high in iron and low in aluminum. The presence of volatiles is consistent with the presence of early weathering products. To better understand the impact of this material on past water conditions on Mars, Feldman and others used bulk and selective dissolution techniques, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the formation and lifetime of X-ray amorphous material in terrestrial iron-rich soils of different ages and environmental conditions. Image courtesy of M. Kornmesser / ESO.

Scientists often use soil to portray environmental history, as the minerals it contains can tell the story of a landscape's evolution over time.

Understanding more about how these materials formed could help answer long-standing questions about the Red Planet's historical conditions.

The soil and rocks in Gale Crater are a record of a climate that existed 3 to 4 billion years ago, when Mars was relatively water-rich, coinciding with the time when life first emerged on Earth.

“Gale Crater is an ancient lake bed and clearly water was present, but what were the environmental conditions like when the water was there?” said Dr Anthony Feldman, a soil scientist and geomorphologist at the Desert Institute.

“We'll never find a direct analogue on the Martian surface because conditions on Mars and Earth are so different, but we can look at trends under Earth conditions and apply them to problems on Mars.”

NASA's Curiosity rover has been exploring Gale Crater since 2011 and has found large amounts of soil material known as X-ray amorphous material.

These components of soil lack the typical repeating atomic structure that characterizes minerals and therefore cannot be easily characterized using traditional techniques such as X-ray diffraction.

For example, when a crystalline material like diamond is hit with X-rays, the rays scatter at characteristic angles based on the mineral's internal structure.

However, X-ray amorphous materials do not produce these characteristic fingerprints.

This X-ray diffraction method was used by the Curiosity rover to demonstrate that soil and rock samples tested in Gale Crater consisted of 15-73% X-ray amorphous material.

“Think of X-ray amorphous material as being like jelly, which is a soup of different elements and chemicals that slide around one another,” Dr. Feldman said.

Curiosity also conducted chemical analysis of soil and rock samples and found that the amorphous material was rich in iron and silica and deficient in aluminum.

Beyond limited chemical information, scientists don't yet understand what this amorphous material is or what its presence means about Mars' historical environment.

Uncovering more information about how these enigmatic materials formed and persist on Earth could help answer long-standing questions about the Red Planet.

Dr. Feldman and his colleagues visited three locations in their search for similar X-ray amorphous material: the Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, the Klamath Mountains in Northern California, and western Nevada.

All three sites contain serpentinite soils that the researchers predicted would be chemically similar to the X-ray amorphous material in Gale Crater, meaning it would be rich in iron and silicon but poor in aluminum.

The three locations also recorded ranges of rainfall, snowfall and temperatures, which could help provide insight into the types of environmental conditions that produce amorphous material and promote its preservation.

At each site, the team examined the soil using X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy, allowing them to see the soil material at a more detailed level.

The subarctic climate of Newfoundland produced materials chemically similar to those found at Gale Crater, but lacked the crystalline structure, whereas soils produced in warmer climates such as California and Nevada did not produce the crystalline structure.

“This tells us that you need water there to form these materials,” Dr. Feldman said.

“But to preserve the amorphous material in the soil, the average annual temperature needs to be cold, close to freezing.”

Amorphous materials are often considered to be relatively unstable, meaning that at the atomic level, the atoms have not yet organized into a final crystalline form.

“Something is happening in the rates, or kinetics, of the reactions that slows them down so that these materials are preserved over geological timescales,” Dr Feldman said.

“What we're suggesting is that very cold conditions, close to freezing, are the specific kinetic limiting factors that allow these materials to form and be preserved.”

“This research improves our understanding of the Martian climate.”

“The results suggest that the abundance of this material in Gale Crater is consistent with subarctic conditions similar to those found in Iceland, for example.”

Team work Published in a journal Communication Earth and the Environment.

_____

A.D. Feldman othersIn 2024, iron-rich X-ray amorphous material will record Mars' past climate and the persistence of water. Community Global Environment 5, 364; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01495-4

This article is based on a press release from the Desert Research Institute.

Source: www.sci.news

Preventing Your Child from Catching a Cold: Strengthening with a New Approach

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

“It is well known that the best way to prevent catching a cold is to stay in shape.” write Mariam Amankerdievna Sidikova Medical, Practice and Nursing JournalLest parents overdo it, she warns that only healthy children “can get stronger with hydrotherapy.”
While exercising may be your best bet, it’s not your only cold prevention strategy. Aman Keldievna, a researcher at Samarkand State Medical University in Uzbekistan, also recommends scrubbing. “Scrubbing should be done year-round,” she says. If done correctly, “scrubbing should begin with the arms, then the legs, chest, abdomen, and back.”
The hardening doesn’t have to be water-based: Amankerdievna also approves of air hardening. “Air hardening is a gentler factor and is allowed for children in any state of health,” she writes.
Sunbathing is another option, but hardening caused by sunlight can be problematic. “Sunbathing is only possible with the doctor’s permission,” says Amankerdievna.
We all know that
If you’re a good speed reader, it’s easy to keep up with all that’s known — just read the thousands of new research papers published every week — but not everyone is good at speed reading.
As a service to slow readers, the feedback aims to summarize some things that are officially well known, as evidenced by the scientific literature (see above), each of which is documented with a sentence beginning with “It is well known that…”
Here are some well-known examples:
Forgetful functors are well known. Cary Malkiewich and Maru Sarazola Writing in a preprint study: “It is well known that stable model structures on a symmetric spectrum cannot be transferred from stable model structures on a continuous spectrum via a forgetting function.”
It’s notoriously complicated. Frank Nielsen wrote in the Journal: entropy, Mentioned One is that “it is well known that the distorted Bhattacharya distance between probability densities of exponential families corresponds to a distorted Jensen divergence induced by a cumulant function between the corresponding natural parameters, and in the limiting case, the two-sided Kullback-Leibler divergence corresponds to the inverse two-sided Bregman divergence.”
Heinz Kohut’s paper on narcissism is well known. write In the journal Psychoanalysis, Self and Contextreminds us that “it is well known that Heinz Kohut’s work on narcissism led to a reevaluation of patients’ healthy self-esteem.”
Ronald Fagin and Joseph Halpern A new approach to belief updatingNote that “it is well known that conditional probability functions are probability functions.”
And Luca Di Luzio, Admir Greggio and Marco Nardeckia write: Physics Review Dassure us “It is well known The giant vector is yearning for ultraviolet (UV) completion.”
How many of these well-known things are known to most people? The answer to that question is unknown. If you know of any well-known things that are less well-known but should be brought to our attention, please submit them (along with documentation) to Well-known things, c/o Feedback.
Fascism Disease
Reader Jennifer Skillen shared in her feedback that thinking about thinking was what sparked her mother-son shared reading sessions, which began several years ago. The Very Hungry Caterpillar And now, embrace New Scientist, It also contains other, more mature content.
“The other day, I started reading the cancer section of “How Do You Think About…?” [New Scientist, 25 May, page 42]And my son said, ‘Mom, why don’t you just read it and replace the word cancer with the word fascist?’ And I did, because I was fine with anything that concerned my son,” Jennifer says.
“To my surprise, the article was still very readable even with the substitutions. It made sense, but was very entertaining. It seems that both cancer cells and fascist cells can respond to changes in their environment and divide rapidly.”
Feedback agrees, and offers some excerpts from the article so readers can judge for themselves: “Cancer cells compete for nutrients and only the fittest survive…Cancer cells have evolved to be the best cancer cells possible, which is usually bad news.”
Jennifer and her son were wondering about other word pair substitutions that readers might have spotted. New Scientist The article states that substitutions “add meaning, increase knowledge, and make things more interesting.”
terrible
The question “what’s in it?” has generated many surprises, sometimes involving eels. Rohit Goel and his colleagues from the Pondicherry Medical School in India have uncovered one such surprise.
writing American Journal of Forensic PathologyThe researchers said:Unusual examples “The discovery of an interesting post-mortem remains: the presence of a moray eel among the corpses.”
The research team said that to their knowledge, “this is the first time such a discovery has been reported.”
Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.
Do you have a story for feedback?
You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists mapping Ceres’ cold traps

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The dwarf planet Ceres has permanently shadowed regions in its polar regions, and these regions are interesting, similar to Mercury and the Moon. Ceres’ permanently shadowed regions were mapped by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, and thanks to scattered sunlight, bright deposits were discovered in parts of the permanently shadowed regions. To understand more clearly the nature of Ceres’ cold-trapped ice deposits, researchers from the Planetary Science Institute and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center are investigating the nature of the crater, which forms a permanently shadowed region. An improved shape model was constructed.

A permanently shadowed region in the arctic region of Ceres. The color indicates the maximum inclination at which the position will be shaded throughout the trajectory. Image credit: Schorghofer other., doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad3639.

“For Ceres, the story began in 2016, when the Dawn spacecraft, then orbiting around Ceres, glimpsed these permanently dark craters and saw bright ice deposits in some of them. “, said lead author and researcher Dr. Norbert Schorhofer. At the Planetary Science Institute.

“The 2016 discovery raised a mystery: many of the polar craters on Ceres are in shadow all year round, which lasts 4.6 Earth years on Ceres, so it remains extremely cold, but the ice Only a few of these craters hold deposits.”

“Soon, another discovery provided a clue as to why: Tides from the Sun and Jupiter cause Ceres’ axis of rotation to oscillate back and forth every 24,000 years.”

“When the Earth’s axial tilt is high and the seasons are strong, only a few craters remain in shadow throughout the year, and these craters contain bright ice deposits.”

To determine how big a shadow was inside the crater thousands of years ago, scientists created a digital elevation map and used it to perform ray-tracing calculations to cast images onto the crater’s floor. Theoretically reconstructs the shadows created by shadows.

The results are only as reliable as the digital shape model on which they are based. Note that the bottoms of these craters are always in shadow, so it is not easy to measure their depth.

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has a very sensitive camera on board that was able to identify features on the shadowed crater floor.

Stereo images of sunny areas are often used to create digital elevation maps of sunny regions, but creating elevation maps of shaded terrain is a challenge that has rarely been addressed to date.

As part of their research, the authors developed a new technique to reconstruct heights even in shadowed parts of stereo image pairs.

These improved elevation maps can be used for ray tracing to predict the extent of cold, permanently shaded areas.

These more accurate maps yielded surprising results. The last time, about 14,000 years ago, when Ceres’ axial tilt reached its maximum, the crater on Ceres did not remain in shadow forever, and the ice within the crater quickly entered space. It must have sublimated.

“Then there is only one plausible explanation left: the ice deposits must have formed more recently,” Scholghofer said.

“The results suggest that all of these ice deposits were accumulated within the past 6,000 years.”

“That’s a surprisingly young age considering Ceres’ age is well over 4 billion years.”

“Ceres is an ice-rich body, but very little of this ice is exposed on the surface. The only exposed ice is in the aforementioned polar craters and a few small patches outside the polar regions. However, Ice is everywhere at shallow depths, so even small dry impactors can cause some of that ice to evaporate.”

“About 6,000 years ago, an asteroid fragment may have impacted Ceres, creating a temporary water atmosphere.”

“Once a water atmosphere was created, the ice would condense in the frigid crater, forming the bright deposits we still see today.”

“Alternatively, the ice deposits could have formed by an avalanche of ice-rich material. This ice would survive only within the cold, shaded crater.”

“In any case, these events are very recent on an astronomical time scale.”

The researchers also investigated the possibility that other types of ice besides water ice were trapped in these unusual craters on Ceres.

On our moon, some of the polar craters are so cold that even carbon dioxide ice and some other chemical species can remain inside them for billions of years.

Because Ceres is farther from the Sun, its polar craters are expected to be even colder than those on the Moon.

Scientists have calculated the temperature inside Ceres’ polar crater, something that has never been done before.

The answer was surprising. These craters are cold enough to hold water ice, but too warm to hold other common types of ice. Two circumstances contribute to this.

First, Ceres’s axial tilt is currently 4 degrees, higher than the Moon’s 1.5 degrees, allowing sunlight to hit more of the crater rim and scattering more light onto the crater floor.

Second, Ceres has no permanently shadowed craters in the immediate vicinity of its north pole, unlike the moon, which has one crater almost exactly at its south pole.

For these reasons, temperatures on Ceres are not as cold as on parts of the moon’s surface.

“Whatever the history of ice accumulation, it does not result from events much older than human civilization,” Dr. Scholghofer said.

of findings will appear in Planetary Science Journal.

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Norbert Schorghofer other. 2024. History of Ceres cold traps based on sophisticated geometric models. planet. Science. J 5(99); doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad3639

Source: www.sci.news

The Dangers of Deadly Cold Water Gush for Migratory Sharks

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bull sharks may be vulnerable to cold upwelling

Martin Prohaskatz/Shutterstock

The upwelling of cold water from the deep ocean to the surface can be deadly to marine animals, and such events are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

In March 2021, hundreds of dead seafood, squid, octopus, manta rays, and bull sharks washed up on South African beaches.

The animals were fleeing high water temperatures from a marine heatwave hitting South Africa's coastal waters.

However, during their escape, they were caught in a sudden burst of cold water from the region's Agulhas Current, causing ocean temperatures to plummet.

“These upwelling events occurring on the banks of the Agulhas River could cause temperatures to suddenly drop by about 10 degrees Celsius.” [18°F] “within 24 hours” Zoe Jacobs At the UK National Marine Centre. “This is a very intense, short-term event.”

Nicholas Lubitz Professors at Australia's James Cook University used 41 years of sea surface temperature data and 33 years of sea surface temperature data to assess cold water upwelling in two regions affected by the Agulhas Current and the Australian Current, which meanders along Australia's east coast. I studied wind records.

They conclude that stronger ocean currents and changes in wind patterns associated with climate change are increasing both the frequency and strength of cold water upwelling in both regions.

Most marine organisms that live near these currents are adapted to sudden fluctuations in water temperature and can therefore cope with these changes.

However, the study warns that migratory species such as bull sharks, which pass through these waters and are unprepared for sudden changes in temperature, are at risk.

Bull sharks struggle to survive when water temperatures drop below 19°C (66°F) for extended periods. Lubitz and colleagues used data from 41 tagged bull sharks in southern Africa and Australia to study their migration patterns.

As soon as summer ends and water temperatures begin to drop, sharks migrate to warmer tropical waters. During migration, they appear to take steps to avoid cold water upwelling by moving to warmer surface waters as they swim through upwelling zones, or by seeking refuge in estuaries and bays during migration. .

But as upwelling events increase in frequency and intensity, researchers warn that it will become increasingly difficult for bull sharks and other migratory species to avoid them.

But Jacobs, who was not involved in the study, said the effects may be limited to the two areas studied. “These two particular regions of hers are very special cases because the upwelling that occurs there is a very short and intense phenomenon,” she says. Other global upwelling systems are more permanent or seasonal, and marine species are better adapted to withstand or avoid changes in water temperature, she says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Brain researchers discover cold sensors in mice

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Neuroscientists at the University of Michigan have identified thermoreceptors that mediate the sensation of cold in somatosensory neurons.

GluK2 KO mice have a defect in cold sensing.Image credit: Kai other10.1038/s41593-024-01585-8.

“The field began elucidating such temperature sensors more than 20 years ago with the discovery of a heat-sensing protein called TRPV1,” said Professor Sean Hsu of the University of Michigan.

“While various studies have discovered proteins that sense hot, warm, and even cold temperatures, we have not identified any proteins that sense temperatures below about 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit).”

In 2019, scientists discovered The world's first cold receptor protein Caenorhabditis elegans a millimeter-long nematode species that the lab is studying as a model system for understanding sensory responses.

Because the gene that codes for it is Caenorhabditis elegans This protein is evolutionarily conserved across many species, including mice and humans, and this discovery was a starting point for testing cold sensors in mammals. Glutamate ion channel receptor kainate type subunit 2 (GluK2).

In a new study, Professor Xu and colleagues tested that hypothesis in mice with the deficiency. GluK2 Because of the gene, the GluK2 protein could not be produced.

Through a series of experiments testing animals' behavioral responses to temperature and other mechanical stimuli, they found that mice responded normally to hot, warm, and cold temperatures, but not to harmful cold.

GluK2 is primarily found in neurons in the brain, where it receives chemical signals and facilitates communication between neurons.

However, it is also expressed by sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord).

“We found that this protein serves a completely different function in the peripheral nervous system, processing temperature cues instead of cold-sensing chemical signals,” said Dr. Bo Duan from the University of Michigan.

of GluK2 This gene has relatives across the evolutionary tree, going back to single-celled bacteria.

“Bacteria don't have brains, so why have they evolved a way to receive chemical signals from other neurons?” Professor Xu said.

“But the need to sense its environment, and perhaps both temperature and chemicals, will be very strong.”

“Thus, I suspect that temperature sensing is an ancient function, at least for some of these glutamate receptors, that was eventually adopted as organisms evolved more complex nervous systems. .”

of result appear in the diary natural neuroscience.

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W. Kai other. The kainate receptor GluK2 mediates cold sensing in mice. nut neurosi, published online on March 11, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41593-024-01585-8

Source: www.sci.news

Why Does Pressing the Button in Palworld Make You Feel Cold? Understanding the Game’s Effects on Emotions

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

TThe biggest story in the gaming world so far this year is Palworld, the Pokémon-with-guns early access game that broke and broke concurrent player records on PC.It's showing some signs that it's unsustainable, as these player numbers show dropout In recent weeks, developers have revealed: eye-watering cost Although it requires keeping servers online for so many people (about $600,000 a year), it still has the potential to be the biggest game of 2024 in terms of pure revenue.

There's something a little off-putting about Palworld that makes other developers and critics wrinkle their noses. Unlike Minecraft's blocky animals, it's not just unpleasant to point a gun at a creature that's designed to look cute.The character design became a hot topic because it was too similar to Pokemon. suspicion of plagiarism, the 3D models of some of the game's creatures are incredibly closely matched to those from recent Pokemon games. (The Pokémon Company is currently investigating, but Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe said: palworld said The studio says it has “cleared legal review” and that it has “absolutely no intention to infringe on any other company's intellectual property.” ) Lead developers are also actively outspoken about the use of AI tools, which is a very unpopular opinion among all users. Everyone except a few executives is working on the 2024 game.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, from 2022. Photo provided by: Pokemon Co., Ltd.

This game borrows ideas from several other games without incorporating many of its own ideas. When you play Palworld, what comes to mind is not Pokemon, but Ark: Survival Evolved. This is his 9 year old survival game where you tame dinosaurs in addition to the usual collecting, building and crafting. Once you capture a creature, it will either be forced into indentured servitude within your base, or it will come to fight alongside you in the wilderness.

It's nothing we haven't seen in some other survival games, but Palworld makes it completely smooth and takes a lot of the hectic work out between you and the next great upgrade. Like fellow smash hit Genshin, this game employs familiar gaming tropes and is so easy and engaging that it's hard to put down.

It helps that other players aren't trying to ruin your fun like Ark and Rust do. In another survival game, there's always someone trying to smash you with rocks and take your stuff. There is currently no player vs player competition in Palworld (planned for a later version). Instead, you collaborate with other players on the server. The game's attitude towards creatures is cruel, they exist to be killed, enslaved, or eaten. However, the attitude towards players is very welcoming. There's a reason it's popular.

Despite this, I don't like Palworld. It's soulless, and anecdotally it seems like there are a lot of kids in the 19 million player base, even though this is not a game made with kids in mind. It's violent and immoral, especially when compared to the Pokemon games from which its creature design is clearly inspired. In Pokémon, a children's classic that has evolved over 25 years, your creatures aren't just pets, they're companions. You fight them for sport, sure, which Peta won't approve of, but they don't get hurt, they don't have weapons, and of course you don't either. eat they.

Massacre on a farm…Palworld. Photo: pocket pair

Palworld is more like what panicked parents and reactionary preachers of the late 1990s had in mind. Pokemon was like when Time magazine featured fear-mongering headlines. Be careful of pokemoniacs And Christian groups claimed that Pikachu was literally a manifestation of the devil. “Monsters make disturbing playmates. No matter how toylike and frivolous they may seem, they are unnatural and ultimately deal with unresolved fears,” Time magazine wrote in 1999. Stated. Consider the dubious fascination with the creature called Pokémon… The 4- to 12-year-old set may exhibit the most troubling enthusiasm about Pokémon. ” It's funny to read that line now, but I remember when video games were always talked about in mainstream media in this tone, as a symptom of serious mental illness among kids in the '90s.

Anyway, I'm not here to create a moral panic about Palworld. It's ironic, but it's also mostly harmless and undeniably compelling. I wouldn't let her 7 year old play, but anyone over 12 would have had a much worse experience with her YouTube. There's probably nothing new under the sun, and most of the upcoming breakout games will be repackaged ideas he's seen ten times before. But we keep hoping that the next unexpected hit we'll play this year will leave us with a smile instead of a nasty taste in our mouths.

what to play

Dream Daddy: Daddy dating simulator. Photo: Game Gramps

Since it's Valentine's Day, I have to recommend a game about love that many games don't tackle with confidence. dream daddy is a dating game where you play a single father looking for love with one of seven other eligible single fathers in a new neighborhood. Many thought it was an over-the-top joke until it was released in 2017, but it remains one of the most sincere and unexpectedly touching dating games of all time. Teenage daughters often muster up the courage to talk to the father of your choice. It also often leads to mildly surreal mini-games, where you try to wow your date with competitive pride in your child's achievements, for example. The game turns out to be about the love between parents and children, and the budding romance between you and the sexy singles in your neighborhood. They all have their own problems and are stories that are handled with humor and compassion.

Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, smartphone,
Estimated play time: 2-10 hours depending on how many dads you want to date

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what to read

Star Wars x Fortnite, anyone? Disney invested $1.5 billion in Fortnite maker Epic. Photo: PictureLux/Hollywood Archive/Alamy

We're still waiting for Microsoft to outline its vision for the future of Xbox. It will take place tomorrow evening UK time. via podcast Featuring Xbox executives Sarah Bond, Phil Spencer, and Matt Booty. This is according to a recent study from 2K Games, which suggests that the PS5 is outperforming the Xbox Series X two to one.
I loved Gene Park's feature on the Yakuza series in the Washington Post. “Japan's crime game series captures hearts with its gentle and heroic masculinity.”. Even if you don't have time to play for dozens of hours, you'll get to the heart of what makes these games so appealing.
British maker of Jagex, the developer of Runescape; Acquired for £900m By two private equity firms.
Disney is Invested $1.5 billion (!) in Epic Games As part of a deal to create a “new permanent universe” [that] It provides numerous opportunities for consumers to play, watch, shop and engage with content, characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and more. ” That sounds like it could mean some more Star Wars skins will be added to Fortnite.

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Prosthetic leg sensitivity triggers feeling of hot and cold in amputated hand

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Fabrizio Fidati tests temperature-sensitive prosthetic arm

EPFL Cahiers

A man who had his right arm amputated below the elbow can now feel heat and cold in his missing hand through an improved prosthetic hand equipped with a heat sensor.

After amputation, some people may still have a sense of touch or pain in the missing arm or leg, known as a phantom limb. In some cases, these sensations may be caused by nerve endings in the remaining upper limbs.

This prosthetic hand works by applying heat or cold to specific areas of the skin on the upper arm, inducing a thermal sensation in the phantom hand.

“Previous studies have shown that these spots are present in the majority of amputee patients we treat,” he says. Solaiman Shokur at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.

First, Shokur and his colleagues mapped spots on study participant Fabrizio Fidati's upper arm that triggered sensations in different parts of the phantom hand. They then outfitted his existing prosthetic arm and socket with a sensor and device called a thermodes that can make it hot or cold.

Tests showed that Fidati was able to identify hot, cold, or ambient temperature bottles with 100% accuracy by touching the bottle with the modified prosthesis. When the thermal sensors in his prosthetic limbs went off, his accuracy dropped to a third of his.

The prosthetic hand also allowed Fidati to distinguish between glass, copper, and plastic by touch, while blindfolded, with just over two-thirds of the accuracy of his uninjured left hand.

In another recently published study, Shokur and his colleagues showed that amputees use temperature-sensitive prostheses. Can detect whether an object is wet or dry.

“We were able to give amputees the sensation of moisture, and they were able to detect different levels of moisture, just like a healthy hand,” Shokul says.

Omid Kabehei Researchers at Australia's University of Sydney say their work could one day have applications beyond prosthetic limbs, such as giving robots a wider range of bodily sensations.

“This is very important work,” he says. But he cautions that this is not a clinical trial and questions how well the technology will work in the real world, where warm and cold climates are extremely different.

“We would like to see how this device performs in a hot and humid place like Singapore,” says Kavehei.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Risks and Health Benefits of Cold Water Swimming

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Immersing your body in cold water stimulates the release of an invigorating cocktail of chemicals.

Jacob Staedler/EyeEm/Getty Images

“It's like pressing Control-Alt-Del on your computer,” says Cath Pendleton. “When I'm in the water, I get so focused on my body that my brain switches off. It's just swimming with me.”

Pendleton, an ice swimmer based in Merthyr Tydfil, England, is as tough as anyone. In 2020, five years after she realized she didn't mind swimming in very cold water, she became the first person to swim one mile inside the Antarctic Circle. Part of her training included sitting in a freezer in a shed.

But she's not the only one passionate about cold water. Rivers, lakes, and oceans that were once home to a handful of serious year-round swimmers are now on the verge of extinction, thanks to media reports about the mental health impact of frigid dips and pool closures due to COVID-19. The number of people visiting is rapidly increasing. An estimated 7.5 million people swim outdoors in the UK alone, and more and more people swim outdoors during the winter. Global numbers are hard to come by, but the International Winter Swimming Association is seeing a boom in winter swimmer registrations around the world, including in China, Russia and Finland, where water temperatures can drop below 0C.

But what could be better than the joy of being in nature and the perverted feeling of happiness that defies the cold? According to the latest research, the answer is probably: Recent studies are beginning to uncover evidence that cold water immersion can reduce stress and depression, and may help deal with autoimmune diseases.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb observes auroras on cold brown dwarf star

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Using NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers detected a brown dwarf with infrared emissions from methane, likely due to energy in the upper atmosphere. The heating of the upper atmosphere that drives this emission is associated with auroras. The brown dwarf, named W1935, is located 47 light-years away.

Artist’s impression of the brown dwarf W1935. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/L. Hustak, STScI.

On Earth, auroras occur when energetic particles blasted into space from the sun are captured by Earth’s magnetic field.

They cascade into the atmosphere along magnetic field lines near the Earth’s poles, colliding with gas molecules and creating eerie, dancing curtains of light.

Jupiter and Saturn have similar auroral processes that involve interaction with the solar wind, but also receive auroral contributions from nearby active moons, such as Io (for Jupiter) and Enceladus (for Saturn). Masu.

“For an isolated brown dwarf like W1935, the absence of a stellar wind that contributes to auroral processes and accounts for the extra energy in the upper atmosphere required for methane emission is puzzling,” American Airlines astronomers said. said Dr. Jackie Faherty. Natural History Museum and colleagues.

Faherty and his colleagues used Webb to observe a sample of 12 cool brown dwarf stars.

These included object W1935, discovered by citizen scientist Dan Caselden who collaborated on the Backyard Worlds Zooniverse project, and object W2220, discovered using NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer.

Webb revealed in great detail that W1935 and W2220 appear to be close clones of each other in composition.

Also, the brightness, temperature, and spectral characteristics of water, ammonia, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide were similar.

A notable exception is that W1935 showed emission from methane, in contrast to the expected absorption feature observed for W2220. This was observed at infrared wavelengths, to which Webb is uniquely sensitive.

“We expected methane to be present because it’s everywhere in these brown dwarfs,” Faherty said.

“But instead of absorbing light, we found just the opposite. The methane was glowing. My first thought was, what the hell? Why is this object emitting methane?” Do you want it?

Astronomers used computer models to deduce what might be behind the emission.

Modeling work showed that W2220 has a predictable energy distribution in its atmosphere, becoming colder with increasing altitude.

On the other hand, W1935 produced surprising results. The best models supported a temperature inversion, where the atmosphere becomes warmer as altitude increases.

“This temperature inversion is really puzzling,” says Dr. Ben Burningham, an astronomer at the University of Hertfordshire.

“We’ve seen this kind of phenomenon on planets with nearby stars that can heat the stratosphere, but it’s outrageous to see something like this on a celestial body with no obvious external heat source. .

In search of clues, researchers looked to our backyard: the planets of our solar system.

The gas giant planet could serve as a proxy for what is seen happening 47 light-years away in the atmosphere of 1935 AD.

Scientists have noticed that planets like Jupiter and Saturn have significant temperature inversions.

Research is still ongoing to understand the causes of stratospheric heating, but leading theories about the solar system include external heating by auroras and internal energy transport from deep in the atmosphere, with the former being the leading explanation. ).

According to the research team, W1935 is the first aurora candidate outside the solar system with the signature of methane emission.

It is also the coldest aurora candidate outside the solar system, with an effective temperature of about 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).

In our solar system, the solar wind is the main contributor to the auroral process, and active satellites like Io and Enceladus play the role of planets like Jupiter and Saturn, respectively.

W1935 does not have any companion stars, so stellar winds cannot contribute to this phenomenon. It is not yet known whether an active moon is responsible for her W1935's methane emissions.

“W1935 provides a spectacular expansion of solar system phenomena without any explanatory stellar illumination,” Faherty said.

“With Webb, we can actually ‘lift the lid’ on chemistry and figure out how auroral processes are similar or different outside of our solar system.”

The authors announced that findings this week’s AAS243243rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, New Orleans, USA.

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Jacqueline Faherty other. 2024. JWST exhibits the auroral features of frigid brown dwarfs. AAS243Abstract #4359

Source: www.sci.news

New Fossil Discovery Shows Baleen Whales Adapted to Large Bodies in Cold Southern Waters for the First Time

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Baleen whales (mysterious animals) are the largest animals on Earth. How they achieved such enormous sizes is still debated, and research to date has focused primarily on when they grew, rather than where they grew. was. Paleontologists now report on the remains of a toothless baleen whale (chaeomysticete) from South Australia. At an estimated length of 9 meters, it is the largest baleen whale from the early Miocene. Analysis of body size over time shows that ancient baleen whales in the Southern Hemisphere were larger than those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Mysterious gigantism from the early Miocene. Image credit: Ruairidh Duncan

It was previously thought that the onset of the Ice Age in the Northern Hemisphere about 3 million years ago triggered the evolution of truly gigantic baleen whales.

The new study, led by Dr James Rule of Monash University and the Natural History Museum in London, reveals that this evolutionary size jump did, in fact, occur as early as 20 million years ago, and in the exact opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. I made it.

The major discovery came from a study of 16- to 21-million-year-old fossils held in Museum Victoria’s collection.

This specimen, the anterior end of the lower jaw of a large edentulous baleen whale, was discovered in 1921 on a cliff face on the banks of the Murray River in South Australia, but was largely unrecognized in collections.

In their study, Dr. Ruhl and colleagues explain how whales evolved to be larger in the southern hemisphere rather than the northern hemisphere, and that whales have been larger in the southern hemisphere throughout their evolutionary history (about 20 million to 30 million years). It was shown that

The discovery highlights the vital importance of the Australian and wider Southern Hemisphere fossil record in putting together a global picture of whale evolution.

The Murray River whale fossil confounds that theory, although previous leading theories were based primarily on fossils found in the northern hemisphere.

“The Southern Hemisphere, and Australia in particular, has always been overlooked as a frontier for fossil whale discovery,” says Dr Eric Fitzgerald, a palaeontologist at Museums Victoria Research Institute.

“Like the Murray River whale, the fossil whale discoveries in the south have shaken up whale evolution, giving us a more accurate, truly global picture of what was happening in the oceans in ancient times. .”

Researchers have discovered that the tip of a baleen whale’s jaw can expand depending on its body size.

They estimated the baleen whale to be about 9 meters long.

“The largest whales alive today, such as the blue whale, reach the length of a basketball court,” Dr. Ruhl said.

“About 19 million years ago, Murray River whales were nine meters long, already a third of this length. So baleen whales were well on their way to becoming ocean giants.”

of result will appear in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

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James P. Rule other. 2023. A huge baleen whale emerges from its cold cradle in the south. Procedure R. Soc. B 290 (2013): 20232177; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2177

Source: www.sci.news

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