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Hurricane Season Concludes in a Week: Researchers Call It Unusual.

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This year’s hurricane season was marked by three Category 5 storms—some of the most potent hurricanes ever documented—yet there were no landfalls on U.S. soil, leading to an unusual lull during the typically active period. These elements contributed to what many are calling a “screwball” season.

Atmospheric scientist Phil Klotzbach made this observation.

“It’s been quite an unusual year,” noted Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University. “Characterizing this year’s patterns has been challenging.”

The official end of hurricane season is November 30th. Notably, the year 2025 aligns with anticipated increases in storm frequency as climate change progresses. Late-season hurricanes formed, some escalating rapidly and producing some of the most intense storms recorded.

In many respects, it was simply puzzling. Although fewer hurricanes developed than anticipated, nearly all that did reached major storm status. For the first time in a decade, the U.S. mainland avoided any landfalls, underscoring the unpredictable nature of hurricane seasons, despite improvements in forecast accuracy. This is particularly true in a warming climate.

Hurricanes will occur less frequently but with greater intensity.

In May, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters predicted a stronger-than-usual season, estimating six to ten hurricanes, including at least three major storms classified as Category 3 or higher, with winds of 111 miles per hour or more.

Klotzbach independently confirmed this forecast, as did other hurricane monitoring organizations. We were on the same page.

Ultimately, while the number of hurricanes was lower than expected, four out of the five that formed (Erin, Gabriel, Humberto, Imelda, and Melissa) were classified as major.

Hurricane Imelda impacted Bermuda on October 1st.NOAA

“This marks the highest rate seen in the past 50 years,” remarked Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Ocean, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences.

Additionally, three of those storms reached the Category 5 level, the pinnacle of hurricane intensity.

Despite the limited number of storms, forecasters’ predictions of an above-average season held true, as measured by a metric called accumulated cyclone energy, which gauges the total intensity and duration of tropical cyclones throughout the season.

Klotzbach estimated the stored energy would be 125% of the 30-year average; the season concluded at 108%. This indicates that, given the fewer storms, each one was particularly powerful.

“It wasn’t about quantity this season; rather, it was about intensity,” he commented.

Klotzbach noted that nine of the last ten Atlantic hurricane seasons have been warmer than average, attributing this trend to rising ocean temperatures and the La Niña cycle, which generally weakens upper-level winds that inhibit hurricane formation.

McNoldy, who meticulously tracks Atlantic Ocean temperatures, stated that 2025 is expected to be “unusually warm.”

“Regardless of the storms we experienced, there was undoubtedly a significant amount of fuel available,” McNoldy said. Heat from the ocean promotes evaporation, driving warm, moist air upward and leading to convection. For hurricanes to develop, ocean temperatures must be at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

New Study Concludes: The Universe Is Not a Computer Simulation

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A collaborative team of physicists from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy has mathematically demonstrated that our universe operates on a fundamental understanding unattainable by any algorithm.

Faizal et al. The fundamental nature of reality indicates it operates beyond the capabilities of computer simulations. Image credit: Gemini AI.

“The concept of simulating the universe has been suggested,” remarked Dr. Mir Faizal, a physicist at the University of British Columbia Okanagan.

“If such simulations were possible, then a simulated universe could potentially give rise to life and create its own simulations.”

“This recursive concept raises doubts about whether our universe is the original one or merely a simulation nested within another.”

“Previously, this notion was deemed outside the realm of scientific inquiry.”

“However, our recent findings demonstrate that it can indeed be addressed through scientific methods.”

“Our investigation hinges on the intriguing nature of reality itself.”

“Modern physics has evolved beyond Newton’s tangible ‘objects’ moving through space. With Einstein’s theory of relativity superseding Newtonian mechanics, quantum mechanics has reshaped our understanding yet again.”

The leading-edge theory today, quantum gravity, proposes that even space and time may not be fundamental; rather, they emerge from a deeper source: pure information.

“This information exists in what physicists refer to as the Platonic realm, a more fundamental mathematical basis than our physical universe. Space and time arise from this realm.”

The authors have shown that despite this information-centric foundation, reality cannot be encapsulated solely through calculations.

Utilizing powerful mathematical theorems, including Gödel’s incompleteness theorem, they established that a full and consistent account of all phenomena demands what they call non-algorithmic understanding.

“To illustrate: Computers follow recipes step by step, regardless of complexity. Yet, certain truths can only be comprehended through non-algorithmic understanding, which does not adhere to a predetermined sequence of logical steps,” they explained.

“These Gödel truths are genuine, yet they cannot be validated through computation.”

“Consider this straightforward statement: This statement cannot be proven true.”

“If it’s provable, then it’s false, rendering the logic inconsistent. If it’s not provable, then it is true. Nevertheless, any system that attempts to prove it will be incomplete. Hence, pure computation will fail.”

“Our study confirms that it’s impossible to describe the entirety of physical reality using the computational theory of quantum gravity,” stated Dr. Faizal.

“Thus, a physically complete and consistent theory cannot emerge solely from calculations.”

“Instead, we require a non-algorithmic understanding, which is more fundamental than the computational laws of quantum gravity, and thus more fundamental than spacetime itself.”

“Could the computational rules of the Platonic realm resemble those of a computer simulation? Might that realm itself not be subject to simulation?”

“No. Yet our findings unveil something more profound.”

“Through mathematical theorems associated with incompleteness and indefinability, we demonstrate that a consistently complete portrayal of reality cannot be achieved through mere calculation.”

“It necessitates a non-algorithmic understanding, which by its nature transcends algorithmic computation and cannot be simulated. Therefore, this universe cannot be a simulation.”

The research team asserts this discovery has significant implications.

“The fundamental laws of physics cannot be confined within space and time, as they are derived from them,” asserted Dr. Lawrence M. Kraus, a researcher at the Origin Project Foundation.

“For a long time, it has been hoped that a truly fundamental theory of everything would eventually describe all physical phenomena through calculations grounded in these laws.”

“However, we have demonstrated that this is not feasible. A more profound approach is required to coherently explain reality: a form of understanding referred to as non-algorithmic understanding.”

“All simulations are inherently algorithmic and must adhere to programmed instructions,” Dr. Faizal remarked.

“However, the universe cannot be and never will be a simulation, as the core level of reality is rooted in non-algorithmic understanding.”

For more information, refer to the study published in the June 2025 issue of Journal of Holography Applications in Physics.

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Mir Faizal et al. 2025. The consequences of undecidability in physics for the theory of everything. Journal of Holography Applications in Physics 5(2):10-21; doi: 10.22128/jap.2025.1024.1118

Source: www.sci.news

SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Successfully Concludes Test Flight

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SpaceX Starship Rocket launches in its 10th flight test from Starbase, Texas, Launch Complex 1

UPI/Alamy

The SpaceX Starship, recognized as the most powerful rocket globally, has successfully completed a suborbital test flight following three previous launches that ended in catastrophic explosions.

SpaceX aims to develop a highly reusable and formidable launch vehicle. After several years, the Starship program is set to take over the deployment of Starlink satellites and play a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis Moon Missions. Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, has stated that Starship is crucial for his ambition to colonize Mars.

The company embraces a fail-fast approach, more typical of Silicon Valley than the traditional methods prevalent in the aerospace industry. Despite aiming for rapid iterations, recent failures have raised concerns among observers.

Previous test flights (7, 8, and 9) ended in disaster with the upper stage either exploding or failing to land safely. The preparations for the 10th flight faced challenges when the upper stage detonated while holding propellant during ground tests.

This failure drew criticisms and led to doubts about SpaceX’s ability to achieve rapid reusability. Nevertheless, the test flight on August 10 from Starbase, Texas, was mainly successful, despite two previous cancellations.

The upper stage reached orbit and successfully deployed eight mock Starlink satellites to evaluate engine performance in a vacuum. Although an unexpected explosion damaged the engine area, the spacecraft completed its objectives, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and achieving a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The positioned camera-equipped buoy provided engineers critical insights into the craft’s operations.

The booster stage detached and performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

While SpaceX did not provide specific comments, they stated on their website that all “primary objectives were met” during the mission.

Patrick Harkness, from the University of Glasgow, remarked that the launch was “an incredible achievement that allowed them to approach high volumes of space at low-cost altitudes.”

Despite advancements, questions linger regarding whether the spacecraft will be ready in time for NASA’s Artemis III lunar landing, planned for 2027. SpaceX remains committed to sending the spacecraft to Mars in 2026, amid ongoing challenges.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Feeling blue when your beloved TV series concludes? You’re not the only one.

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When the Australian soap opera Neighbours was canceled in 2022, it signified the end of a cultural institution that had been on air for 37 years. The show’s fictional suburban setting and beloved characters were suddenly gone, leaving fans in mourning.

Adam Gerace, a senior lecturer in psychology at Central Queensland University in Australia, conducted a study to understand the grief experienced by about 1,300 Australians following the show’s conclusion.

Fans expressed genuine feelings of sadness and loss, as outlined in a study authored by Gerace and published in the journal PLOS One.

Gerace’s survey asked fans about their emotions after the final episode aired in 2022, finding that many struggled to accept the show’s cancellation. Despite their anger over the end, fans were grateful for the connections and experiences the series had provided them.

The study also delved into the concept of “parasocial breakups,” where viewers mourn the loss of their favorite characters as if they were real. This emotional attachment was found to be similar to the grief experienced after the end of real relationships.

Gerace noted that people developed strong emotional bonds with Neighbours characters, leading to significant sadness when the show concluded. This phenomenon is not exclusive to TV shows, as people can also experience similar emotions after finishing a book series or video game.

Fans’ deep connection to Neighbours was further emphasized by the show’s long history and multi-generational viewership. Many fans had been watching for nearly 40 years, with the series playing a significant role in their daily lives.

Psychologists like Dara Greenwood from Vassar College explain that the length of time spent with characters can strengthen emotional bonds, leading to a profound sense of loss when the show ends.

While grieving a quasi-social relationship is a common human response, experts are still exploring how parasocial grief differs from real-life loss of a loved one. Some studies suggest that the intensity of grief may vary depending on individual personality traits and life experiences.

Ultimately, forming bonds with fictional characters can have a positive impact on empathy and understanding, helping to challenge stereotypes and prejudice.

However, becoming overly attached to TV characters may have negative consequences if it interferes with real-world relationships, as Gerace warns.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ofcom concludes that exposure to violent online content is unavoidable for children in the UK

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The UK children are now inevitably exposed to violent online content, with many first encountering it while still in primary school, according to a media watchdog report.

British children interviewed in the Ofcom investigation reported incidents ranging from videos of local school and street fights shared in group chats to explicit and extreme graphic violence, including gang-related content, being watched online.

Although children were aware of more extreme content existing on the web, they did not actively seek it out, the report concluded.

In response to the findings, the NSPCC criticized tech platforms for not fulfilling their duty of care to young users.

Rani Govender, a senior policy officer for online child safety, expressed concern that children are now unintentionally exposed to violent content as part of their online experiences, emphasizing the need for action to protect young people.

The study, focusing on families, children, and youth, is part of Ofcom’s preparations for enforcing the Online Safety Act, giving regulators powers to hold social networks accountable for failing to protect users, especially children.

Ofcom’s director of Online Safety Group, Gil Whitehead, emphasized that children should not consider harmful content like violence or self-harm promotion as an inevitable part of their online lives.

The report highlighted that children mentioned major tech companies like Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp as platforms where they encounter violent content most frequently.

Experts raised concerns that exposure to violent content could desensitize children and normalize violence, potentially influencing their behavior offline.

Some social networks faced criticism for allowing graphic violence, with Twitter (now X) under fire for sharing disturbing content that went viral and spurred outrage.

While some platforms offer tools to help children avoid violent content, there are concerns about their effectiveness and children’s reluctance to report such content due to fear of repercussions.

Algorithmic timelines on platforms like TikTok and Instagram have also contributed to the proliferation of violent content, raising concerns about the impact on children’s mental health.

The Children’s Commissioner for England revealed alarming statistics about the waiting times for mental health support among children, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect young people online.

Snapchat emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards violent content and assured its commitment to working with authorities to address such issues, while Meta declined to comment on the report.

Source: www.theguardian.com