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Melting Ice Shelves Accelerate Critical Antarctic Glacier Retreat

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A Giant Iceberg Threatening Pine Island’s Ice Shelf

NASA/Brooke Medley

West Antarctica’s colossal glaciers are experiencing a rapid acceleration in melting, particularly since 2017. This alarming trend signals a decline in the ice shelf’s effectiveness in stabilizing the glacier.

Pine Island Glacier, the fastest-flowing glacier in Antarctica, significantly contributes to global sea level rise. This glacier plays a crucial role in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which has the potential to raise global sea levels by 5.3 meters if it fully melts.

The Pine Island Ice Shelf, extending into the ocean, is essential for holding back inland ice and shielding it from warm waters, potentially preventing 51 centimeters of sea level rise.

The instability of Pine Island Glacier, along with the nearby Thwaites Glacier, poses a significant risk to the longevity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Sarah Wells-Moran from the University of Chicago has been tracking the Pine Island Glacier using images from the Copernicus Sentinel 1 satellite, with data extending back to the 1970s.

The glacier’s velocity surged from 2.2 kilometers per year in 1974 to 4 kilometers per year by 2008 and reached nearly 5 kilometers per year from 2017 to 2023. This represents a 20 percent increase in just six years and a 113 percent increase since 1973.

Between 1973 and 2013, the ice flow from Pine Island Glacier accelerated by over 75%.

These changes have resulted in the glacier’s grounding line—the point at which the ice shelf begins to float—receding dramatically by more than 30 kilometers.

The researchers connected their findings to computer models, concluding that the ice shelf’s thinning and fractures allow warmer waters to penetrate further. This has led to the edge of the shelf “opening up,” as noted by Wells-Moran and her team.

They concluded that ice loss from West Antarctica is worsening due to the Pine Island ice shelf’s diminishing support for the upstream ice.

Sue Cook from the University of Tasmania stated that calving events alone cannot solely explain the acceleration of the glacier. She emphasized, “The damage to the glacier’s shear margin is likely the primary cause. This study corroborates that mechanism.”

Ted Scambos from the University of Colorado noted that warm ocean water is likely reaching the edge of the ice shelf in Pine Island Bay. “The loss of ice shelves may accelerate ocean circulation within the fjord, heightening circulation intensity where the glacier meets bedrock,” Scambos explained.

Nellie Abram from the Australian Antarctic Division remarked that this research will help determine the extent and rate at which the Pine Island ice shelf is collapsing. “It’s evident that the ice loss from this area will continue to affect coastlines worldwide for decades to come,” Abram stated.

Explore Norway’s Svalbard and Tromsø: Fjords, Glaciers, and Northern Lights

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Critical Flaw in Society’s Punishment System: The Psychological Impact.

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Individuals engage in wrongdoing and face consequences. They begin to collaborate. This fundamental belief that humans act rationally and alter their behavior in response to consequences lies at the core of Western legal frameworks, criminal behavior, and economic theories. The evolution of cooperation. However, extensive research over several decades indicates that punishment may not be as effective as thought.

Analysis has consistently shown that harsher penalties, including the three strikes law, do not reliably deter crime. The U.S. National Research Council’s report could not establish the death penalty’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, the U.S. possesses the most punitive criminal justice system globally, with notable rates of imprisonment and recidivism.

These real-world observations stand in stark contrast to much of the controlled experimental literature. In notable research, economists Ernst Fehr and Simon Gechter designed a game where participants could allocate money to a communal pool, which would then be doubled and redistributed, maximizing benefits for all contributors. Yet, individuals found it more advantageous to withhold contributions while others carried the load. While cooperation diminished in scenarios lacking punishment for free riders, the introduction of penalties significantly boosted contributions to the pool.

What explains the gap between experimental results and real-world dynamics? We explored this question in a recent study published in PNAS. We noted that individuals tasked with enforcing penalties often have conflicting incentives that can erode their credibility and diminish the public’s trust in them. In Ferguson, Missouri, authorities relied on fines to fund city services, disproportionately impacting Black communities. Across the U.S., billions are confiscated through civil asset forfeiture, permitting law enforcement to seize property from individuals suspected of criminal activity.

We hypothesized that self-serving motives behind punishment could undermine cooperation by clouding the ethical implications associated with collaborative behavior. Unlike other species, humans possess a “theory of mind” and are acutely aware of others’ intentions and motives. Punishment carries a message of disapproval necessitating behavioral change; however, this only holds weight if individuals perceive the punisher’s motives as justifiable. Humans, inherently social beings, ask, “What’s your reasoning for this?” If the answer appears self-serving, the deterrent effects of punishment diminish.

To validate our hypothesis, we conducted a series of experiments utilizing the same game that demonstrated punishment’s role in enhancing cooperation. Here, one player (the dictator) decides on potential monetary sharing with another player (the receiver), while a third player (the punisher) can revoke funds from the dictator. A twist emerged where punishers were incentivized financially; akin to police utilizing ticket quotas to boost revenue, our punishers received bonuses each time they issued a penalty. This change reversed the expected outcome; rather than improving cooperation, the incentivized punishment led to decreased collaboration, as trust in the punisher waned.

Our results indicate a need to reassess crime management methodologies. When punitive actions are perceived as self-serving, they foster distrust and hinder the cooperation that such measures are intended to reinforce. To cultivate safer, more cohesive communities, it is essential to eliminate policies that compromise the ethical underpinnings of punishment. This includes abolishing speed trap quotas and profit-driven incarceration, practices implying that punishment is motivated by financial gain rather than justice.

Raihan Alam and Tage Rai are students at the Rady School of Business at the University of California, San Diego.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Coral Reefs Face a Critical Threshold Due to Climate Change

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Coral reefs are critically threatened by climate change

WaterFrame/Alamy

The recent surge in ocean temperatures has led to extensive bleaching and mortality of warm-water corals globally, marking the onset of the first climate tipping point in an ecosystem on Earth, as stated by scientists.

The deterioration of one of the planet’s most biodiverse and vulnerable ecosystems presents ‘risks to human health and safety’ for which governments are inadequately prepared, cautions Melanie McField, who oversees Florida’s “Healthy Reefs for Healthy People” conservation initiative under the Smithsonian Institution.

Warm-water coral reefs account for one-third of all known marine biodiversity and offer food, coastal protection, and livelihoods for approximately one billion individuals worldwide. Additionally, coral reefs contribute $9.9 trillion annually in goods and services globally.

However, corals are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in water temperature. Record-breaking global temperatures in 2023 have elevated ocean heat levels to unprecedented highs, resulting in significant bleaching events impacting over 80 percent of the world’s corals. Bleaching occurs when corals react to elevated water temperatures by expelling the algae residing within their tissues, leading them to bleach white. This process can make corals more prone to disease, and prolonged bleaching can deplete their primary food supply, ultimately leading to their death.

The most recent bleaching event represented “an order of magnitude” beyond what scientists had previously witnessed, according to McField. “We are at a tipping point,” she acknowledged. This is generally understood as a crucial threshold that, if crossed, can trigger dramatic and potentially irreversible changes in the climate system.

McField contributed to the chapter on corals in the Global Tipping Point Report 2025, which is now available for purchase. This report, the first update since 2023, was compiled by 160 scientists globally and coordinated by the University of Exeter and campaign organization WWF. It warns that warm-water corals are the initial component of the Earth system to reach a tipping point and are currently facing an “unprecedented crisis.”

Leading experts estimate that the thermal threshold for warm-water corals will be reached at a 1.2 degrees Celsius increase in global atmospheric temperatures above pre-industrial levels, with an upper limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius. By 2024, the world’s average temperature is expected to surpass this 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold for the first time in human history, exceeding the limits within which coral reefs can survive, noted Tim Renton, who spearheaded the report at the University of Exeter.

“We assessed the world at a temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius and confirmed the results,” he stated during a press conference ahead of the report’s release. “Most coral reefs are at risk of large-scale mortality or bleaching and are transitioning into a different state dominated by seaweed and algae.”

The most promising chance to save the world’s warm-water corals from near-total extinction lies in rapidly reducing global average temperatures to 1.2 degrees Celsius below pre-industrial levels, Renton asserts. However, whether this ambitious goal, which exceeds even the targets set for 1.5°C, is attainable remains uncertain.

Terry Hughes, a researcher from Australia’s James Cook University, emphasizes that “few unbleached coral reefs remain worldwide”. Nonetheless, there is still potential for improvement. “If global greenhouse gas emissions are swiftly curtailed, we can influence the future of coral reefs over the next few decades,” he states.

Although the timing of climate tipping points is often uncertain, researchers caution that significant declines in the Amazon rainforest, melting of polar ice sheets, and collapse of the crucial AMOC current may all occur at warming levels below 2°C.

Moreover, humans can also instigate “positive tipping points” to mitigate these risks, Renton highlighted, pointing to the rapid advancements in renewable energy and the increased adoption of electric vehicles in the past decade. Fast-tracking cleaner technologies could significantly reduce emissions and help keep global warming well below 2°C, the report suggests.

Renton stated that immediate action is crucial from world leaders during the upcoming COP30 summit in Brazil to expedite emissions reductions across the global economy and minimize the duration for which global temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius. “We are swiftly nearing tipping points in various Earth systems that could have catastrophic impacts on humanity and nature, fundamentally altering the planet. This necessitates immediate and unprecedented action from COP30 leaders and policymakers worldwide,” he urged.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Antarctica Could Have Crossed a Critical Ocean Tipping Point

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Melting ice sheets in Antarctica will elevate sea levels

durktalsma/getty images

Recent studies suggest that Antarctica may have crossed a critical climate threshold, diminishing hope for recovery. Experts highlight a concerning correlation between the abrupt decline in sea ice since 2016 and anthropogenic ocean warming.

Historically, Antarctic sea ice levels remained stable despite rising global temperatures. However, a drastic shift occurred in 2016, marked by significant reductions in sea ice extent.

By February 2023, Antarctic Ocean Ice recorded a new all-time low, marking the third consecutive summer of reduced sea ice within just seven years. September 2023 also saw unprecedented high levels of Antarctic Ocean Ice.

While climate models have long forecasted reductions in Antarctic sea ice, the pace and scale of the decrease since 2016 are alarming. Researchers convened at the Royal Society in London to evaluate whether these changes signal a critical turning point.

As Marilyn Rafael from the University of California, Los Angeles, notes, natural climate variability alone cannot account for such a rapid shift.

Satellite observations of sea ice have been available since 1979. By utilizing proxy data from Antarctic weather stations, Raphael and her team extended their research timeline back to the early 20th century.

Their analysis, based entirely on historical data, indicates that the likelihood of reaching a minimum sea ice extent in 2023 was less than 0.1%. “We are observing extreme patterns in sea ice behavior,” she explained at the Royal Society Conference.

Alexander Hauman from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany emphasizes that this rapid decline in ice formation signifies a climate tipping point, with potential repercussions for the entire continent and broader climatic and ecological systems.

“The entire Antarctic sea ice system is reacting collectively,” he stated at the meeting, noting that the changes observed are poised to have long-term implications.

Last summer’s minimum Antarctic Ocean Ice extent was significantly below historical averages

NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

Hauman explains that “changes in ice dynamics” may be responsible for this phenomenon. Emerging research indicates that warming seawater contributes to accelerated ice loss, as roughly 90% of the excess heat generated by human activity is absorbed by the oceans.

In Antarctica, a layer of warm, fresh water separates colder, mixed surface waters from warm deep-sea water. However, a recent study by Hauman and his team highlights how shifts in wind patterns and salinity in the Southern Ocean have severely weakened this barrier since 2015, allowing warm deep water to rise to the surface and encourage ice melting. This phenomenon is further exacerbated by climate change-induced warming of deep waters, as indicated by recent research.

Hauman suggests that natural fluctuations in climate may have triggered modifications in salinity and wind patterns, intensifying the effects of anthropogenic warming trapped in deep waters. This could imply that the impact of warming seawater is already being felt in Antarctica, obstructing new sea ice formation.

Hauman notes that recent shifts in ocean circulation can only be counteracted by either mitigating upwelling effects or sudden alterations in salinity within the Southern Ocean. Nevertheless, the potential responses of the system remain highly uncertain.

The ramifications of these developments could be catastrophic. Antarctic sea ice plays a critical role in stabilizing land glaciers and ice sheets. Without adequate sea ice formation, the rate at which these ice structures melt may increase, leading to significant global sea level rise. It is estimated that the Antarctic ice sheet holds enough water to potentially raise global sea levels by up to 58 meters.

The depletion of ice in the Antarctic also alters the Earth’s surface albedo. Darker oceans absorb more solar heat compared to reflective white ice.

Additionally, vast stores of carbon trapped in the Southern Ocean could be released into the atmosphere as deep-sea temperatures rise, as suggested by various studies.

Researchers are just starting to grasp how these types of climate feedback mechanisms might unfold in Antarctica, after many years of relying on inaccurate and low-resolution models.

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  • Antarctica

Source: www.newscientist.com

Can We Solve One of the World’s Most Critical Climate Challenges?

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Carbon Capture and Storage Cement Plant in Padeswood, Wales

Padeswood CCS

Commercial carbon capture systems for cement facilities are currently being rolled out, signaling a potential turn towards net-zero emissions for one of the most challenging sectors in the industry.

As reported by German company Heidelberg Materials, the inaugural carbon capture cement plant has been operational in Norway since June, with the first “carbon cement” products slated for delivery to the UK and other European countries next month.

In tandem, construction of carbon capture infrastructure at the Padeswood cement plant in North Wales is set to commence shortly, following a subsidy agreement revealed this week between the UK government and Heidelberg representatives. Several similar facilities are also in the pipeline for Sweden, Germany, and Poland.

This advancement represents a critical leap forward in the cement industry’s quest to cut emissions, a long-recognized hurdle in decarbonization efforts. “That’s significant progress,” states Paul Fennell of Imperial College London, referring to the projects in Norway and the UK.

Cement contributes to roughly 8% of global carbon emissions, according to Chatham House, a think tank. Much of this carbon dioxide is emitted by the chemical processes that create clinkers, the primary component of Portland cement, the most widely used construction material. “Regular Portland cement production inherently generates substantial CO2 due to essential chemical reactions,” Fennell explains.

Capturing CO2 generated from these processes is regarded as the only viable option for significantly decarbonizing cement production. Yet, this method is costly, with estimates ranging from 50-200 euros needed to capture, transport, and permanently store large amounts of carbon from European cement operations, as outlined in an analysis by the Bank of Netherlands here.

The Brebik plant in Heidelberg, Norway, benefits from government subsidies. Its carbon capture infrastructure accounts for 50% of the cement facility’s overall emissions. It operates by removing CO2 from the exhaust of cement plants using an ammonia-based solvent known as amines. The extracted CO2 is then released from the solvent, liquefied, and stored beneath the seabed in Norway.

The Padeswood Plant employs similar amine technology, but when the carbon capture and storage systems become operational in 2029, it is projected to eliminate around 95% of the plant’s emissions, according to the UK CEO of Heidelberg Materials, Simon Willis. This translates to approximately 800,000 tons of CO2 annually. The Padeswood facility is anticipated to sequester more CO2 than the Brevik plant, but that is largely due to the lack of additional energy supplies required to achieve the 95% reduction at Brevik.

Construction is expected to start in the coming weeks, with the UK government agreeing to subsidize the operational costs of the technology—although details of this funding agreement remain undisclosed. “The fundamental premise is that the government is providing us with funds to assist in establishing and operating carbon capture facilities,” Willis states.

According to Leon Black from the University of Leeds, UK, government financial backing is crucial for constructing the initial fleet of cement plants focused on carbon capture and storage. “Carbon capture and storage would not be feasible without governmental aid,” he asserts.

However, emerging technologies hold the promise of enhanced energy efficiency, and costs are anticipated to decrease over time. In Germany, for instance, Heidelberg is collaborating with a consortium exploring Oxifuer technology, which involves recirculating exhaust gases back to the burner, increasing the CO2 concentration in exhaust gases to around 70%, thereby making the carbon capture process more efficient.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Amazon’s Deforestation Surges at Alarming Rates, Nearing a Critical Tipping Point

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Scientists warn that the Amazon Rainforest has experienced a loss of the rainfall necessary to sustain it, pushing the world’s largest tropical ecosystem toward a potential tipping point.

A recent study published in Nature Communications indicates that deforestation is causing a significant decline in rainfall during the Amazon’s dry season, thereby increasing heat across the region.

Researchers suggest these changes could signify “early signs of biome destabilization,” implying that the forests are beginning to struggle to maintain their balance.

The study analyzed satellite and climate data from 1985 to 2020, encompassing an area of 2.6 million km² (1,000,000 square miles) in Brazil’s Amazon. This is nearly four times larger than Texas.

The data revealed that dry season rainfall has decreased by approximately 21mm (0.8 inches), with about three-quarters of this decline directly associated with deforestation.

During the same period, maximum daily temperatures increased by around 2°C (3.6°F), with 16.5% of this rise attributable to forest loss, while the remainder results from global climate change.

Deforestation contributes to reduced rainfall, while increased methane and carbon dioxide levels result from climate change – Source: Machado et al., Nature Communications (2025)

Plants play a crucial role in the Amazon’s rain cycle by extracting water from the soil and releasing it through a process known as transpiration.

When trees are removed, this cycle weakens, leading to fewer clouds and less rainfall. Consequently, the forest becomes hotter and drier, creating a harmful feedback loop.

If the Amazon reaches a tipping point, it may no longer be able to sustain itself, resulting in a rapid and irreversible collapse of the ecosystem and converting the region into a savanna.

This shift would significantly impact the entire water cycle in South America and release the carbon stored in the rainforests.

“These findings underscore the necessity of preserving and restoring Amazonian forest cover as a vital strategy for mitigating climate change and ensuring ecosystem stability,” the scientists conclude.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Nature Memories Review: A New Book Reveals the Critical Shortcomings of Our Natural History Museum

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What are you missing? Contemplating the exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City

Jeffrey Greenberg/Group via Getty Images via Universal Image Group

Nature’s Memory
Jack Ashby (Allen Lane)

In his intriguing new book, Nature’s Memories: Behind the Scenes of the World’s Natural History Museum, Jack Ashby, assistant director of the University Zoology Museum in Cambridge, UK, describes the museum as a peculiar space. It represents societal meanings and the natural chronicles of our ecosystems and environments. However, these records are often fundamentally flawed and misleading.

Ashby emphasizes the museum’s role, particularly in natural history, as an extensive catalog of past life on our planet. Its original purpose was to document everything from flora to fauna and enhance our understanding of the natural world.

Times have changed. As Ashby reveals in this captivating work, he critiques the shortcomings of museums, challenging our preconceived notions. Notably, much of our natural history remains hidden in poorly lit storage rather than publicly displayed.

Readers will soon discover the significance of the areas typically off-limits to the public. Ashby notes that there are approximately 70,000 flowering plant species worldwide that scientists have yet to fully describe.

The book delves into the preservation processes for animal skeletons, highlighting how flesh is removed for conservation, how insects are prepared for display, and how taxidermy is conducted. These behind-the-scenes insights are among the book’s most intriguing aspects. Ashby also points out the unrealistic representation of frogs due to shrinkage and features a segment on a renowned glassmaker recognized for creating lifelike floral reproductions.

Yet, the lack of representation extends beyond plants. Ashby highlights the biases in what we learned during school trips to such institutions. He cites a 2008 study indicating that merely 29% of mammal displays and 34% of bird exhibits in natural history museums feature females, resulting in a limited understanding of habitat contributions. This imbalance can be attributed to the more visually appealing male specimens and the fact that those who collect and exhibit are predominantly male and often white Westerners.

Ashby advocates for addressing the misrepresentation issue within museums, asserting that our education about nature is severely lacking due to the biases of past generations. Many male mammalian skeletons are misrepresented in museum displays due to curatorial choices that remove pelvic bones.

Though the book was published prior to the intentional dismantling of American scientific institutions, it reflects the prevailing anti-expert sentiment. This makes it all the more vital to read. We must reflect on what is excluded from museum exhibits as seriously as we do what is included.

As Ashby asserts, “The work that is being done at the Natural History Museum is more crucial than ever, and the role that must be played in order to safeguard the future of humanity is just beginning to unfold.”

Chris Stokell Walker is a science writer based in Newcastle, UK.

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Peer Review of the Egg Drop Experiment: A Critical Analysis

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Feedback is your go-to source for the latest news in science and technology from New Scientist. If you have intriguing items to share, please reach out to Feedback@newscientist.com.

Egg vs. Grind

Feedback takes us back to the early days of the 2020 lockdown, when we found ourselves learning alongside our children. This involved engaging in various science-related activities, including setting up experiments for “mini beasts,” which provided a diversion from the complexities of life. Thankfully, we avoided the mishaps of the egg drop experiment.

This hands-on activity challenges kids to create devices that protect eggs from breaking when dropped from a height onto a hard surface. Feedback humorously envisions using a cocktail umbrella as a makeshift parachute to soften the landing. However, there are more serious approaches to this experiment.

A study published in Communication Physics on May 8th highlights the peer-reviewed work of physicist Carmela Padavik Callaghan, who addresses the classic egg drop experiment.

The researchers challenge the common belief that eggs are strongest when dropped vertically from their edge. Traditional wisdom has suggested that the shell’s rigidity in this position reduces breakage. However, after conducting “hundreds of experiments” alongside “static and dynamic simulations,” they found that dropping eggs vertically increases the likelihood of breakage. Instead, they recommend dropping them horizontally for better results.

They note: “By orienting the eggs along the equator, there is a slight benefit, as they can survive a fall from about 0.3 mm above the vertical drop without cracking.”

For readers contemplating an egg toss at a celebrity, this research offers practical guidance for ensuring a successful impact!

Alien Mathematics

What exactly are Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), previously known as UFOs? According to research by Karim Daghbouche of the German nonprofit Gridsat Stiftung, reverse engineering these phenomena is incredibly complex.

If an unidentified flying object is under scrutiny, reverse engineering its operation could unveil its mechanics. However, Daghbouche highlights the significant challenges, as data collection difficulties and “unknown physics” complicate the process of understanding unconventional propulsion systems.

The mathematical hurdles are formidable, with “NP Complete” signifying a specific type of intricate problem. It may even escalate to Pspace-hard or an entscheidungsproblem, the latter being virtually unsolvable for those unfamiliar with advanced mathematics.

News editor Jacob Aron calls it “incredible,” and Feedback concurs. If potential explanations range from extraterrestrial technology to time travelers and dimensions, narrowing down a single answer becomes problematic.

This might illustrate the notion of “no kidding, Sherlock,” as scientific inquiries often culminate in seemingly obvious conclusions. Yet, if NP is complete, does that really signify a non-solution?

Alternatively, we could ponder a human-centric interpretation of UAPs, attributing them to “honest mistakes.” In that framework, NP would no longer be incomplete, and the situation could become far more manageable.

Feedback was surprised by the concluding remarks in the paper’s summary, which stated that “UAP is deemed UAP because it behaves like modern smartphones in the hands of Neanderthals.”

Feedback believes Neanderthals could likely figure out how to use an iPhone. Thus, more nuanced interpretations of UAPs could emerge.

I’ve Squared

In our mathematical mindset, Brendan Ash notes that we are in a “squared year”: 2025 is 45². The next one won’t come until 2116.

This got Brendan reminiscing about a curious incident from a few years ago during a lengthy road trip. He and his son had fun looking up famous individuals who were born one year and passed the next. Not many fit that description, but Russian neurologist Ivan Pavlov (famous for his dog and bell experiments) was “born in 43 squared” [1849] and died at 44 squared [1936].

A darker thought struck Brendan— “I was also intrigued that Pope Francis was born in 44 squared and quickly predicted his death in 2025.”

For those of us who make such throwaway jokes, there exists a peculiar psychological torment in having such ideas materialize. “My predictions are now fulfilled. I cannot fathom how sinful I should feel,” Brendan reflects.

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You can send your stories to feedback@newscientist.com. Don’t forget to include your home address. Previous feedback can also be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Heatwave has led to critical blood shortage for Red Cross

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The American Red Cross is currently dealing with a critical shortage of blood as the nation’s blood supply has decreased by more than 25% since July 1.

Extreme heat and temperatures adversely affected almost 100 blood drives last month in almost every state where the Red Cross collects blood. This weather either decreased attendance at events or led to cancellations.

Blood donations usually decrease during the summer due to travel and seasonal activities, but the Red Cross stated that the extreme heat worsened the situation, resulting in a shortfall of over 19,000 donations in July.

As a consequence, blood is being sent to hospitals faster than donations can be collected.

Donated blood is crucial for various life-saving medical procedures such as surgery, childbirth, and treatment for patients with pregnancy complications, trauma, cancer, and blood disorders, according to the Red Cross.

Nurse Melissa Destros, who works at a Detroit hospital, emphasized the importance of blood for patients in need, particularly new moms and babies. The Red Cross said in a statement that she has witnessed moms requiring massive blood transfusions after childbirth.

The Red Cross urgently requires donors of all blood types, especially type O blood, as it is always in short supply. O-positive is the most common blood type, and O-negative is crucial for emergency transfusions.

Dr. Barry Siegfried, the medical director for the Michigan Red Cross, highlighted the importance of type O blood for emergency care. He stated that donors of all blood types are essential to ensure hospitals have sufficient blood for patient care.

Similarly, Connecticut declared a statewide blood emergency last week due to supplies dropping to less than half of what is typically needed for hospital demand. The Connecticut Blood Center specifically needs emergency donations of type O negative and type O positive blood. NBC Connecticut reported.

Both the Red Cross and the Connecticut Blood Center can help individuals locate local blood drives and donation centers. Red Cross Blood Or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

If you donate by Aug. 31, the Red Cross will give you a $20 Amazon gift card.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Other dams in critical condition come under scrutiny following Minnesota dam collapse.

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The partial dam failure occurred after three days of heavy rainfall that caused the Minnesota River to reach its third-highest flood level since at least 1881. Brennan Dettman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, provided this information.

In the Mankato area, where the dam is situated, 7 to 8 inches of rain fell over the span of three days. Based on analysis by Kenny Blumenfeld, Senior Climatologist at the Minnesota Climate Division, the situation was dire. Blumenfeld’s analysis indicated that this level of heavy rain occurs approximately 0.5 to 2 percent of the time each year in southern Minnesota.

Bill McCormick, who headed Colorado’s dam safety program from 2011 to 2021, highlighted how extreme rainfall events are putting dams across the country under strain. “We are experiencing increasingly severe storms that are testing our aging infrastructure. Dams and spillways that previously didn’t face many storms annually are now encountering more frequent storms,” he noted. “These aging systems are facing heightened challenges.”

McCormick also pointed out that development in residential areas near dams has increased the risk factors, as people now live in regions previously designated for farmland. Dams constructed to protect agricultural areas are now safeguarding residential neighborhoods.

Hiba Baroud, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University, emphasized the need for lawmakers to take proactive measures in strengthening dam infrastructure and prioritizing repairs following incidents like the partial failure of the Rapidan Dam. “To prevent such occurrences, it is essential to proactively assess all dams in the U.S., prepare for potential scenarios, and prioritize necessary repairs or upgrades,” she urged. “Simply reacting to major events as wake-up calls concerning specific dams is not sufficient.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com