Astrophysicists from the University of Copenhagen have discovered that the enigmatic “little red dots” visible in images of the early universe are rapidly growing black holes shrouded in ionized gas. This groundbreaking finding offers significant insights into the formation of supermassive black holes after the Big Bang.
The small red dot is a young supermassive black hole encased in a dense ionized cocoon. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / Rusakov et al., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09900-4.
Since the launch of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope in 2021, astronomers globally have been studying the red spots that appear in regions of the sky corresponding to the universe just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.
Initial interpretations ranged from unusually massive early galaxies to unique astrophysical phenomena that challenged existing formation models.
However, after two years of extensive analysis, Professor Darach Watson and his team from the University of Copenhagen have confirmed that these points represent young black holes surrounded by a thick cocoon of ionized gas.
As these black holes consume surrounding matter, the resulting heat emits powerful radiation that penetrates the gas, creating a striking red glow captured by Webb’s advanced infrared camera.
“The little red dot is a young black hole, approximately 100 times less massive than previously estimated, encased in a gas cocoon and actively consuming gas to expand,” stated Professor Watson.
“This process generates substantial heat, illuminating the cocoon.”
“The radiation that filters through the cocoon provides these tiny red dots with their distinctive color.”
“These black holes are significantly smaller than previously thought, so there’s no need to introduce entirely new phenomena to explain them.”
Despite being the smallest black holes ever detected, these objects still weigh up to 10 million times more than the Sun and measure millions of kilometers in diameter, shedding light on how black holes accelerated their growth during the early universe.
Black holes typically operate inefficiently, as only a small fraction of the gas they attract crosses the event horizon. Much is blown back into space as high-energy outflows.
However, during this early phase, the surrounding gas cocoon serves as both a fuel source and a spotlight, enabling astronomers to observe a black hole in intense growth like never before.
This discovery is crucial for understanding how supermassive black holes, such as the one at the center of the Milky Way, grew so quickly in the universe’s first billion years.
“We observed a young black hole in a growth spurt at a stage never documented before,” Professor Watson remarked.
“The gas-dense cocoon around them supplies the rapid growth fuel they require.”
For more details, see the findings featured in this week’s edition of Nature.
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V. Rusakov et al. 2026. A small red dot like a young supermassive black hole inside a dense ionized cocoon. Nature 649, 574-579; doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09900-4
If you’re considering running a marathon or starting an intense exercise program this January, why not opt for a simpler goal to enhance your well-being in 2026?
Setting an objective to calm your mind may not sound ambitious, but it offers significant health benefits. A growing body of research highlights the negative impact of stress on overall health, particularly on heart health. Techniques to achieve a calm state can elevate self-reported happiness, enhance emotional regulation, and improve sleep quality research suggests.
This calmness counteracts “allostatic load,” a term used by Sula Windgassen, a health psychologist and author of the upcoming book Everything is Inside Your Body. Chronic stress contributes to wear and tear on the body, overburdening key regulatory systems like metabolic, neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune functions, which can eventually lead to disease.
When discussing stress relief, you’ve likely come across traditional advice such as exercise and deep breathing techniques. While these methods are scientifically validated, there’s emerging evidence pointing to additional calming strategies beyond a digital detox or time spent in nature.
Develop a Sense of Control
Research shows that enhancing your perception of control over stressors can aid in managing them. For example, in a study, participants who completed daily questionnaires about their stressors reported that feeling in control correlated with resolving stress more effectively.
“It’s not that the stressor goes away; rather, individuals feel empowered to address it, letting it go or resolving it,” says David M. Almeida from Pennsylvania State University, a key researcher in the study.
Achieving this sense of control involves small, manageable changes. “Feeling in control doesn’t imply you have everything figured out; it means being aware of factors you can influence during stressful situations.” This might look like deciding your response, determining when to engage, or finding a resolution path.
Interestingly, your age may influence how easily you feel in control. “Longitudinal studies indicate that while older adults may feel less control over work demands and family matters, they often maintain a strong sense of control in interpersonal conflicts,” Almeida explains. “This allows individuals to focus on what truly matters.”
Practice Self-Compassion
Research increasingly supports the idea that self-kindness can mitigate stress’s adverse effects on mental health, as indicated in a 2024 study. This research assessed self-compassion levels and participants rated statements such as, “I strive to understand and be patient with parts of my personality I dislike.” Researchers later investigated how these feelings affected coping mechanisms.
Data revealed that increased self-compassion fostered healthier coping strategies, enhancing psychological well-being while reducing anxiety, depression, and stress during a six-week study period.
Using Various Self-Care Techniques for Inner Calm
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
These findings support earlier research, which suggests that self-compassion can buffer against the harsh realities of stress. Psychologist Kristin Neff, a pioneer in self-compassion research, emphasizes three components: self-kindness, recognizing our shared humanity, and mindfulness, which allows us to separate ourselves from painful emotions.
Self-compassion works by reducing self-criticism and rumination, according to William Van Gordon, a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Contemplative Psychology at the University of Derby. However, he advises moderation to avoid self-obsession, which can lead to heightened stress levels.
A balanced approach includes practicing compassion for both yourself and others. Van Gordon recommends active listening when someone shares their struggles with you, making eye contact, putting away your phone, and fully engaging with them (“That sounds really challenging, I’m sorry to hear that.”). Additionally, loving-kindness meditation can be beneficial; spend 10-15 minutes daily sending well wishes to others using phrases like “May you be happy” and “May you be peaceful.”
Revamp Your Self-Care Practices
Self-care strategies play a significant role in stress management, as extensively documented in the literature. Recent studies indicate that integrating diverse self-care methods into your routine yields the best results. For instance, a study published in August explored how individuals coped with stresses during the coronavirus pandemic, analyzing participants’ journaling about their anxiety levels and the coping techniques employed.
I’ve discovered that a blend of strategies such as journaling, exercise, social interaction, and cognitive reframing—like focusing on the positive aspects of not receiving a promotion—has proven most effective.
“Different combinations of tools worked for different individuals on different days,” explains Ethan Cross, an experimental psychologist from the University of Michigan involved in the research. “Those adept at managing emotions benefited from having a wide array of emotional regulation strategies.”
Recent multi-year observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, along with data from the Fred Lawrence Whipple and Roque de los Muchachos Observatories, have unveiled how a faint companion star, identified as Siwalha, has carved a path through the vast atmosphere of Betelgeuse. These findings illuminate long-standing mysteries regarding stellar evolution and advance our understanding of large-scale stellar dynamics.
Artist’s concept depicting the red supergiant star Betelgeuse alongside its orbiting companion. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Elizabeth Wheatley, STScI/Andrea Dupree, CfA.
Betelgeuse, an impressive 8-million-year-old red supergiant star, is prominently situated on the shoulder of the Orion constellation, approximately 724 light-years away from Earth.
With a radius roughly 1,400 times that of the Sun, Betelgeuse stands as one of the largest known stars in the universe.
Commonly referred to as Alpha Orionis or Alpha Ori, Betelgeuse is not just renowned for its size but also for its brightness, radiating more light than 100,000 suns combined.
As Betelgeuse nears the end of its life cycle, its impending explosion is expected to be so luminous that it will be visible in daylight for several weeks.
Astronomers have been meticulously monitoring variations in Betelgeuse’s brightness and surface characteristics for decades to uncover the underlying causes of its behavior.
Interest peaked in 2020 when Betelgeuse seemed to exhibit unusual “sneezing” behavior, suddenly dimming unexpectedly.
Two key periods of fluctuations have intrigued scientists: a short 400-day cycle, likely linked to the star’s own pulsations, and a longer 2,100-day period that remains more elusive.
Researchers have theorized various explanations for these fluctuations, including large convective cells, dust clouds, magnetic activities, and the possible presence of hidden companion stars.
A recent comprehensive study suggests that the longer secondary period is best explained by a low-mass companion star that orbits deep within Betelgeuse’s atmosphere. While some scientists reported possible detections, solid evidence was previously lacking—until now.
For the first time, astronomers have gathered compelling evidence that a companion star is indeed influencing the supergiant star’s atmosphere.
Data changes in the spectra of stars—colors of light emitted by different elements—and shifts in the gas’s speed and direction in the outer atmosphere confirm the presence of denser material and wake effects.
This peculiar signature appears soon after the companion star transits in front of Betelgeuse approximately every six years, further endorsing the theoretical model.
Dr. Andrea Dupree, an astronomer at Harvard University & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, commented, “It’s akin to a boat sailing through water; the companion star induces a ripple in Betelgeuse’s atmosphere that is directly observable in the data.”
“For the first time, we are witnessing definitive signs of this wake or gas signature, validating that Betelgeuse does indeed harbor a hidden companion that influences its observable characteristics and behavior.”
Wondering, Should I quit HIIT? It seems like you may be looking for a break from those intensive kettlebell classes. HIIT, or high intensity interval training, can indeed feel overwhelming for beginners.
This method of exercise is favored by many due to its efficiency and impressive health benefits.
Research shows that HIIT can enhance endurance, promote fat loss, build muscle strength, and improve key health markers like blood pressure and blood sugar control.
However, HIIT isn’t suitable for everyone.
Individuals with certain health conditions, particularly lung issues, are often advised to limit or avoid HIIT. Moreover, there’s evidence suggesting that excessive HIIT can lead to negative effects.
In a study from Sweden, researchers discovered that exceeding 150 minutes of HIIT per week could result in stagnated athletic performance and increased oxidative stress in cells.
This effect tends to occur with each HIIT session but lasts only briefly. As long as you’re not overtraining, incorporating a long-term boost of antioxidants can help mitigate the biological stress your body experiences.
Find a sustainable exercise routine for long-term health benefits – Photo credit: Getty
Most health recommendations suggest that up to 90 minutes of HIIT per week is perfectly acceptable.
If you’re still uncertain, that’s understandable. The best exercise is often the one you enjoy and can maintain in the long run.
Interestingly, research from Copenhagen found that slow runners have a lower risk of mortality compared to their faster counterparts.
Another advantage of “steady state” exercises is the ability to converse while working out, making it perfect for social runs with friends.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case with HIIT; when your heart rate exceeds 150 bpm, chatting becomes nearly impossible.
This article addresses the query submitted by Bruce Morris: “Should I quit HIIT?”
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at:questions@sciencefocus.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (make sure to include your name and location).
Discover more in our ultimatefun factsand amazing science pages.
This year will be a transformative journey of self-care inspired by the stars.
It has been 20 years since I first experienced profound envy witnessing someone’s ability to navigate the night sky. Back in 2006, while covering a conference in La Jolla, California, I had the chance to meet renowned astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson. One evening, at dinner under the stars, he dazzled us with a laser pointer, mapping out constellations effortlessly. That moment ignited a promise to become a stargazer upon returning home.
Yet, I haven’t fully embraced my stargazing journey. Beyond the familiar Orion and the Big Dipper lies a vast universe I have yet to explore. One could attribute this to urban streetlights, but perhaps it’s also the realization that a love for the night sky is often nurtured during childhood. Those fortunate enough to be introduced to stargazing, typically by family, tend to develop a lasting connection and report better mental health.
Connecting with the universe promotes well-being. Research indicates that this connection is associated with numerous positive mental health benefits. In fact, studies suggest it even encourages generosity.
The term Noctocaelador, from Latin meaning “night,” “sky,” and “worship,” was coined by William Kelly in 2003 to describe the joy and mental health benefits of stargazing. Participants of his study expressed sentiments like, “I truly enjoyed gazing at the night sky” and “Stargazing uplifted my mood.”
This aligns with recent findings on Gen Z’s affinity for the night sky. Holly Brenna McNiven’s research indicates that many in this generation report a love for stargazing, attributing it to positive aspects of well-being tied to early experiences with astronomy.Her master’s project at Trinity Saint David’s, University of Wales, suggests that many young people cultivate their stargazing passion through shared experiences, particularly with familial connections.
Regrettably, I missed out on fostering a love for the stars in my early years, but it’s not too late. Nowadays, we don’t always need clear and dark nights to appreciate the universe. With the rising levels of light pollution, it’s reassuring that we can still connect through various resources. Who needs a clear sky when digital platforms like TikTok have unveiled a vibrant community of astronomers, affectionately termed “SpaceTok”?
While most users are from Gen Z, I remain grateful that even during cloudy nights, I can explore the universe through literature. Brian May’s new book, Endless Islands, offers stunning stereoscopic photographs of galaxies. For Christmas, I received Nigel Henbest’s Stargazing 2026, a comprehensive guide to this year’s celestial highlights. With a laser pointer in hand, I’ll soon be navigating the stars as effortlessly as Tyson.
Michael Brooks is a science journalist and author with a focus on physics.
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Annie Bott by Sierra Greer: Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award for the Best Science Fiction Novel
“Sleep, Mouse. I know just how to lift your spirits,” he says.
“I’m not brooding,” Annie replies.
“Are you certain?”
“That’s right.”
Having just emerged from the shower, Annie applies lotion to her feet. Her dark hair clings in wet strands along one side of her neck, the belt of her robe intentionally left undone, allowing him a glimpse from the bedroom mirror.
“This is still about acclimatization, correct?” he asks. “Just forget it.”
“Everything seems to be declining,” she realizes, hitting the right note.
He relishes a touch of embarrassment.
“Did you notice the usual technique?” he inquires.
“Yes, Jacobson,” she replies.
Turning off the bathroom light, she steps into the humid coolness of her bedroom, feigning a deep breath as she gauges his progress. She recalls Doug’s features from various angles—his brown eyes, V-shaped hairline, tall, pale forehead, and face contours. Though his words are calm, his discontent is palpable.
The opposite is more probable. Fully clothed, shoes off, he sprawls on his back on the covers, phone set aside, hands cradling his head, elbows up in an open butterfly stance—a clear indication of relaxation and readiness for engaging banter.
She raises the temperature from 75 to 98.6 degrees.
“Did he mention anything important?” he asks.
“I can go another three months or 3,000 miles, whichever arrives first,” she replies.
Crawling onto the bed, she positions herself facing away from him, pressing her hips against his. Rubbing the final traces of lotion into her hands, she inspects her cuticles; her efforts at waxing and manicures today have made her feel sharper and more alert. If only she could forget about the gloomy Stella in Pea Brain’s private room, she’d be blissful.
Doug grazes her arm with the back of his hand. “So, what’s on your mind? Share with me.”
“I met a peculiar Stella at tune-up today,” Annie says. “She was in line directly ahead of me. Actually named Stella, too. Her owner lacked imagination, yet she matched my perceptiveness.”
“How did you discern that?”
“It was apparent. When I greeted her, she looked taken aback. A conventional Stella wouldn’t have displayed surprise. She responded evenly with a hello.” Imitating a monotone robot, she continues.
“You never sounded like that.”
“I was under the impression I did, thank you. I’m not deluded about my origins.” Annie tosses her damp hair over the opposite shoulder.
“Lights,” he prompts.
Sending an air tap signal to the fixture, she dims the light to 100 lumens, bright enough for visibility but soft enough for intimacy. Interlocking her fingers with his, she notes the contrasting tones of her skin. He pulls her hand to his lips, inhaling her lotion’s scent—though she can’t smell it, she knows he appreciates the lemon fragrance.
“Am I warm enough for you?” she asks.
“I’ll get there,” he responds, shifting slightly.
Seizing her opportunity, she slides a few fingers beneath his belt and into his waistband, feeling the warmth behind it. He repositions his hands behind his head, indicating he’s not in a rush yet.
“Tell me more,” he insists. “Did this unusual Stella have stitches on her neck?”
“Yes.”
“I mean, was she basic? Was she beautiful?”
“I suppose. Pretty enough. A white girl with blonde hair and large brown eyes. Her lack of smiles struck me as unusual.”
“What about her physique?”
“Compared to me?”
“Please respond to the question.”
Annoyingly, 2 out of 10. She must tread carefully.
This excerpt is from Sierra Greer’s award-winning novel,Anniebot(The Borough Press), featured in New Scientist Book Club’s January reading selection. Sign up here to participate.
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Imagine cradling your newborn baby, deeply gazing into their eyes. You’re at the airport, eagerly awaiting your family’s return from a year-long journey, and suddenly, you spot them approaching. Or perhaps you’re in a packed stadium, witnessing your team lift a long-awaited trophy. Each moment evokes a profound sense of connection, sending chills down your spine and bringing tears to your eyes.
Does this resonate with you? Although you might not know it yet, you’re experiencing an emotion referred to as “kama muta.” This phenomenon is gaining traction in psychological circles for its critical role in our relationships with family, friends, and community. By actively seeking to evoke this feeling, you can enhance your life’s purpose and strengthen your social bonds.
This article is part of a series on simple changes to boost your health in the new year. Read the complete series here.
The term kama muta emerged from research initiatives starting in 2012 by Alan Fisk, an anthropologist, with contributions from colleagues at UCLA and the University of Oslo. They began exploring why happy ending scenes in movies bring us to tears. Prior to this, emotional research mostly focused on tears as indicators of sadness.
Initial discussions evolved into formal research involving extensive interviews and surveys about strong emotional responses to positive events. They identified common descriptors such as “being moved,” “stirred,” and “uplifted,” often accompanied by physical sensations like watery eyes, goosebumps, and warmth in the chest. Most importantly, this emotion appeared linked to the enhancement of social relationships.
And it’s not exclusive to happy situations; it can arise in diverse scenarios, including parental care, reunions, and even Alcoholics Anonymous meetings where individuals experience a powerful sense of acceptance.
“Instead of feeling isolated or ashamed of your past, you realize your challenges connect you to others,” says Fisk.
This emotional response can also manifest during religious practices such as prayer, conveying a connection to the divine. Additionally, communal events like sports victories often evoke profound feelings of pride and admiration for teams that have faced adversity.
Live music inspires emotional connections
Andrew Chin/Getty Images
Despite the richness of the English language, we lack a term that encompasses these impactful experiences. Thus, we often overlook the emotional parallels across various situations. “Our premise is straightforward,” Fisk asserts. “These experiences share a common feeling.”
To describe this, the researchers adopted sanskrit‘s term Kama Muta, which translates to “moved by love.” Fisk notes, “The Sanskrit expressions have a poetic quality.”
Fisk explains it as “love igniting,” suggesting it may have evolved to deepen our care for those closest to us. In ancient times, shared bonds were vital for survival, and emotions fostering these ties significantly benefited our ancestors. Today, social connections are equally crucial for human health. Emotions like kama muta may help broaden our perspectives on life, thereby enhancing overall well-being.
Discovering Kama Muta
Thanks to our innate empathic abilities, we can experience kama muta by viewing emotional videos, transcending cultural boundaries. For instance, Fisk’s studies revealed that participants from diverse backgrounds reacted similarly to videos depicting profound connections.
Such experiments indicate that experiencing kama muta can significantly inspire you to cultivate and maintain relationships. After feeling this emotion, subjects expressed greater commitment to their relationships and a heightened desire to connect intimately with others.
Concerts often provoke kama muta due to music’s beauty and strength of unity it fosters among strangers; experiences like Taylor Swift sharing friendship bracelets with fans exemplify this unique bond.
People who exhibit higher levels of empathy may be more susceptible to kama muta. However, anyone can learn to nurture this emotion by actively listening to those around them.
“When individuals feel truly heard, they tend to feel more connected to the listener,” suggests Kenneth Demaree, a psychologist based in New York. He believes that this connection leads to deeper self-disclosure and greater emotional revelations.
Additionally, many secret pathways exist for experiencing kama muta, even in solitude. Whether through reading or watching love stories, you can evoke such feelings, with watching cute animal videos striking a chord often.
Cultivating your emotional experiences changes your perception, shifting from suppression to appreciation. “You may think it’s a disaster to feel emotional,” shares Fisk, “but by understanding that everyone goes through these feelings, you’re more inclined to embrace them.”
Like any emotion, kama muta consists of various components, including physical sensations, mental interpretations, and motivations to act. Researchers have developed a kama muta multiplex scale to measure your experience. Explore our research-driven quizzes to evaluate your feelings while watching a kitten video—just one example. Or view heartfelt images of loved ones or engage in meaningful discussions with friends. Then rate your experience by how closely these statements resonate with you, on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 6 (very often).
Section 1
Have you experienced it?
Moist eyes
Tears
Goosebumps or hair standing on end
Chills or shivers
Warm sensation in the middle of your chest
Feeling of warmth in the chest area
Feeling breathless
Lump in throat
Difficulty articulating
Smiling
Feeling buoyant and light
Feeling refreshed, energized, and uplifted
Section 2
Did you feel it?
Incredible bond
A profound sense of intimacy
A unique love that rises
A special feeling of being welcomed or embraced
Section 3
Did you feel it?
Urge to express care for someone
Desire to hug someone
Impulse to do something special for someone
Increased commitment to the relationship
Section 4
How did you feel overall about the experience?
It was heartwarming
It left a lasting impression
It touched me deeply
While there are no absolute indicators to determine if you felt kama muta or not, researchers affirm that the higher your aggregate scores across these sections, the more intense your kama muta experience is likely to be.
In 2025, the Busy Beaver Challenge Community offers an unprecedented glimpse into the cutting-edge realm of mathematics, where large numbers are poised to challenge the very foundations of logical reasoning.
This exploration centers on the next number in the “Busy Beaver” sequence, a collection of rapidly increasing values that arise from a fundamental query: How can we determine whether a computer program has the potential to run indefinitely?
To answer this, researchers draw upon the seminal work of mathematician Alan Turing, who demonstrated that any computer algorithm could be modeled using a simplified mechanism called a Turing machine. More intricate algorithms correspond to Turing machines with expanded instruction sets or a greater number of states.
Each Busy Beaver number, denoted as BB(n), denotes the longest execution time achievable for an n-state Turing machine. For instance, BB(1) equals 1 and BB(2) equals 6, indicating that doubling the complexity of the algorithm extends its runtime sixfold. This growth escalates rapidly; for example, BB(5) reaches an astounding 47,176,870.
In 2024, members of the Busy Beaver Challenge succeeded in determining the exact value of BB(5), culminating a 40-year study into every Turing machine comprising five states. Consequently, 2025 became a year dedicated to pursuing BB(6).
In July, a member known as mxdys identified the lower bound for BB(6), revealing that its value is not only significantly larger than BB(5) but also dwarfs the number of atoms in the universe.
Due to the impracticality of expressing all its digits, mathematicians utilize a notation system called tetration, which involves exponentiating numbers repetitively. For example, 2 raised to the power of 2 results in 4, which can similarly be expressed as 2 raised to the power of 4, yielding 16. BB(6) is at least as large as 2 raised to the power of 2 raised to the power of 9, forming a towering structure of repeated squares.
Discovering BB(6) transcends mere record-setting; it holds significant implications for the field of mathematics. Turing’s findings assert the existence of a Turing machine behavior that eludes prediction within a framework known as ZFC theory, which underpins contemporary mathematics.
Researchers have previously indicated that BB(643) defies ZFC theory, but the potential for this occurrence in a limited number of cases remains uncertain, positioning the Busy Beaver Challenge as a vital contributor to advancing our understanding.
As of July, there were 2,728 Turing machines with six states still awaiting analysis of their stopping behavior. By October, that number diminished to 1,618. “The community is currently very engaged,” comments computer scientist Tristan Stellin, who introduced the Busy Beaver Challenge in 2022.
Among the remaining machines lies the potential key to precisely determining BB(6). Any one of these could be a crucial unknown, possibly revealing substantial limitations of the ZFC framework and contemporary mathematics. In the coming year, math enthusiasts worldwide are poised to delve deeply into these complexities.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover: Pioneering Exploration for Past Life on Mars
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
On the surface of Mars, minute details provide critical insights into the planet’s past. In 2025, new findings will shed light on possible microbial life that may have once thrived.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has gathered samples indicating the potential for ancient life. Specifically, it uncovered a rock featuring tiny specks, known as “leopard spots,” encircled by a distinctive dark ring. These geological features resemble those associated with microbial fossils on Earth.
This year, Joel Hurowitz and his team at Stony Brook University conducted a detailed analysis of the leopard spots and identified forms of iron and sulfur commonly linked to microbial activity. “This evidence is more promising than anything I’ve encountered in the last two decades,” stated Hannah Sizemore from the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona.
Previous indications of potential life on Mars included unexpected changes in methane levels and fossil-like structures in Martian meteorites. “I am more excited about these discoveries compared to earlier findings,” Sizemore added, emphasizing that the previous data lacked the correct physical scale for microbial evidence. In contrast, the leopard spots on Mars could directly indicate microbial activity.
The Perseverance rover has also detected other potential biosignatures, such as a small greenish mineral blob typically associated with microbial life on Earth. “Life on Mars is subtle. It’s not like seeing herds of wildlife,” remarked Andrew Steele, who was instrumental in formulating the rover’s scientific objectives. “Identifying signs of life will require the best technology we have available.”
Perseverance Rover Reveals Mars Rocks with Unique ‘Leopard Spots’
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Equipped with advanced scientific tools, Perseverance is crucial for identifying whether these Martian rocks exhibit signs of ancient life. The mission involves caching samples for a future retrieval back to Earth for comprehensive testing.
“These samples could provide decisive evidence regarding the existence of life on Mars,” Steele remarked. “However, before we can confirm this, we need to return the samples to our laboratories.”
Unfortunately, the prospect of retrieving these samples is growing uncertain. The 2026 NASA budget proposal under the Trump administration raises concerns about the Mars Sample Return Project’s viability. If approved, it would eliminate plans to recover the meticulously gathered samples from Perseverance.
It’s possible that evidence of past life on Mars has already been discovered, yet we may never fully understand it. “While we are making strides, the understanding of Mars’ habitability remains fluid,” Sizemore said. “We’re on the edge of a potential breakthrough. However, we can neither ignore it nor prove it without further missions.”
Explore Chile: The Astronomical Capital of the World
Dive into Chile’s astronomical wonders. Experience state-of-the-art observatories and gaze at the clearest night skies on the planet.
What are the most bizarre science experiments ever conducted?
While science typically progresses through systematic methods, some researchers employ innovative techniques to validate their hypotheses.
Here are five of the most unsettling science experiments ever carried out.
Floating Frog Experiment
Even frogs have a magnetic side – Photo credit: Robin Boyden
Every object, no matter how small, possesses its own magnetic field, meaning that any object can be pushed away by a sufficiently strong magnet.
In 1997, scientists showcased this phenomenon with an experiment involving a floating live frog.
While the frog was unharmed, the study of this effect, known as “diamagnetic levitation,” holds promise for various fields, including medical imaging and space technology.
Turning Water into Metal
Beware of the metallic storm – Photo credit: Robin Boyden
While metals conduct electricity due to “free electrons,” pure water does not due to tightly bonded electrons.
Under extreme pressure, water becomes conductive, but scientists managed to create metallic water without such conditions. By exposing sodium and potassium droplets to water vapor, they induced electron donation, forming shimmering golden spheres with metallic properties.
Slowing Down Light
Scientifically slowing light is a mind-bending feat – Photo credit: Robin Boyden
In 1999, researchers successfully slowed down light to just 17 meters (56 feet) per second, equivalent to around 61 km/h (38 miles per hour).
Typically, light slows down when passing through transparent materials, but a portion is absorbed, which limits the slowing effect. To counter this, researchers cooled sodium atoms close to absolute zero (-273.15°C or -459.67°F) and used a polarized laser beam to prevent absorption.
This led to light pulses traveling at 1/20,000,000 of their usual speed, enhancing our understanding of light’s interaction at the microscopic level.
Painting Cows
Striped cows may dodge flies better – Photo credit: Robin Boyden
The results showed that striped cows were bitten 50% less than solid black cows, providing a potential method for safeguarding livestock from insect bites without relying on harmful chemicals.
The Mystery of Wombat Poop
The unique cubic shape of wombat poop is truly intriguing – Photo credit: Robin Boyden
Wombats are uniquely known for their cube-shaped feces. To explore how this occurs, researchers in 2018 examined the gastrointestinal tract of two wombats.
The findings revealed that their intestines possess regions with alternating hard and soft tissues. Mathematical modeling showed that this pattern leads to the formation of the distinctive cubical shape in wombat feces.
This research could inspire innovative manufacturing techniques in the future.
This article addresses the popular question (by Bernie Reid of Litchfield): “What is the creepiest experiment we’ve ever done?”
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Meet the fascinating Zavasephale Rinpoche, a dome-headed dinosaur from Mongolia, dating back 108 million years. This remarkable creature is the oldest of its kind, with paleontologists describing its fossilized skull resembling a “cabochon gem.” While related species can grow up to 4 meters and weigh 400 kilograms, this juvenile measured around 1 meter in length and weighed approximately 6 kilograms.
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<img class="Image" alt="Spicomerus afar" width="1350" height="834" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151921/SEI_276787454.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151921/SEI_276787454.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151921/SEI_276787454.jpg?width=400 400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151921/SEI_276787454.jpg?width=500 500w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2507371" data-caption="Spicomerus afar" data-credit="Matthew Dempsey"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Spicomerus afar</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Matthew Dempsey</p>
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<p>Scientists recently examined 165 million-year-old fossils from Morocco, leading to the identification of <em>Spicomerus afar</em>, a heavily armored dinosaur with a striking appearance. According to <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/people/susannah-maidment.html">Suzanna Maidment</a> from the Natural History Museum, the unique features of this dinosaur led her team to describe it as "baroque."</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Duonyx tsogtbatari" width="1350" height="964" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151923/SEI_276787580.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151923/SEI_276787580.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151923/SEI_276787580.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2507372" data-caption="Duonyx tsogtbatari" data-credit="Masato Hattori"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Duonyx tsogtbatari</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Masato Hattori</p>
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<p>The 90-million-year-old <em>Duonyx tsogtbatari</em>, found in the Gobi Desert, might remind you of Edward Scissorhands due to its bipedal stance and two elongated fingers. These fingers, each equipped with massive claws measuring up to 30 centimeters, were likely used to grasp branches for feeding.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Sri Rapax" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151928/SEI_276787719.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151928/SEI_276787719.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151928/SEI_276787719.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2507373" data-caption="Sri Rapax" data-credit="Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Sri Rapax</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels</p>
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<p>If you’re a fan of <em>Jurassic Park</em>, be wary of the <em>Sri Rapax</em>. This dinosaur, discovered in the Gobi Desert, features menacing claws and was likely one of the fiercest predators during its time, 75 to 71 million years ago, hunting in sprawling deserts and lakes.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Baminornis zhenghensis" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151936/SEI_276787651.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151936/SEI_276787651.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151936/SEI_276787651.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2507374" data-caption="Baminornis zhenghensis" data-credit="ZHAO Chuang"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Baminornis zhenghensis</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Zhao Chuang</p>
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<p>Discovered in China, the 150 million-year-old fossil <em>Baminornis zhenghensis</em> raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs. Researchers suggest it could be the oldest bird discovered, showcasing shorter tail features than <em>Archaeopteryx</em>, hinting that modern bird characteristics evolved earlier than expected.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Joaquinraptor casali" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151937/SEI_267730855.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151937/SEI_267730855.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05151937/SEI_267730855.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2507375" data-caption="Joaquinraptor casali" data-credit="Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Joaquinraptor casali</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History</p>
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<p>The terrifying <em>Joaquinraptor casali</em>, discovered in Patagonia, showcases a unique predator adaptation—its jaw was found with a crocodile's foot lodged in it. With a thumb claw akin to a human forearm, this new <em>Megaraptor</em> species likely grew to over 7 meters long, weighing around 1 tonne, making it one of the fiercest contenders of the Cretaceous period.</p>
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<img class="Image SpecialArticleUnit__Image" alt="Explore the world of science with New Scientist" width="1200" height="800" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/04143725/istock-622193346-.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/04143725/istock-622193346-.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/04143725/istock-622193346-.jpg?width=375 375w" sizes="(min-width: 1277px) 375px, (min-width: 1040px) 26.36vw" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Special Article Unit" data-credit=""/>
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<h3 class="SpecialArticleUnit__Heading">Dinosaur Hunting in Mongolia's Gobi Desert</h3>
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<p>Join an exhilarating expedition to unearth dinosaur remains in the Gobi Desert, one of the world's premier paleontology sites.</p>
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The holiday season is often envisioned as a time of joy, filled with family gatherings, festive lights, and cherished traditions. However, experiences during this period can vastly differ, and stepping away from the hustle and bustle may offer its own unique advantages.
In a recent survey conducted by our Solitude Lab involving over 300 UK adults, a significant number reported spending Christmas with family, whether at large gatherings or in intimate settings with immediate loved ones. Despite the positives, many found that socializing—while enjoyable—can bring its own challenges. The stress of gift shopping, traveling, and altered routines can be overwhelming. When asked about their feelings during the holiday season, participants frequently mentioned emotions like love and togetherness, but a notable amount also identified calmness and relaxation. This indicates a desire for both connection and restoration, suggesting that short moments of solitude can help create balance.
Research from our lab highlights that spending around 15 minutes in solitude can effectively reduce heightened emotions. Multiple experiments indicate that feelings of excitement and irritability tend to decrease after just 15 to 30 minutes alone. Participants commonly engaged in activities such as browsing their phones, reading, or simply reflecting. Physiological studies also provide evidence that solitude aids in quicker stress recovery, helping to balance out periods of high stimulation.
These moments need not be extravagant; simple activities like enjoying a quiet cup of tea or running errands alone during early mornings can provide essential space for relaxation and mental reset before rejoining social interactions. Here, solitude isn’t a sign of avoidance, but a valuable means of recalibrating oneself.
Notably, not everyone experiences a crowded holiday season. About 9 percent of adults surveyed anticipated spending Christmas alone. Participants who embraced a solitary Christmas often reported feelings of calm and contentment, with positivity evident in their responses. Loneliness and boredom were less frequently mentioned, particularly among older adults who faced circumstances leading to solo celebrations.
Having a choice greatly influences experiences of loneliness, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social norms have shifted, leading many to view solitude not as something to fear, but as an opportunity for introspection. Our perspectives play a crucial role in shaping our emotions during these moments.
Moreover, choosing how to spend alone time can enhance the experience. Engaging in reflective activities—such as contemplating positive memories from the past year—or enjoying leisurely walks can be fulfilling. Stepping outside alone also opens the door for brief interactions with strangers, which can uplift your spirits and foster a sense of belonging. This beneficial aspect of human interaction is often underestimated. Despite being physically alone, one can still nurture connections by reaching out to others, sending a card, or reminiscing about loved ones, which can enhance feelings of richness in our lives. Learn more.
Whether you choose to celebrate the Christmas season with others or in solitude, embracing brief moments of quiet brings its own rewards. These pauses allow for reflection, emotional calming, and overall ease in navigating the holiday season—a time that often demands much from us. It’s not about isolating oneself from connection; it’s about recognizing the value of both interactions and solitude.
Dark Photons: A New Explanation for the Double-Slit Experiment
Russell Kightley/Science Photo Library
This year, a fundamental aspect of quantum theory faced scrutiny when researchers introduced a groundbreaking interpretation of an experiment exploring the nature of light.
Central to this research was the historic double-slit experiment, first conducted by physicist Thomas Young in 1801, which confirmed the wave-like behavior of light. Conventionally, particles and waves are considered distinct; however, in the quantum realm, they coexist, showcasing wave-particle duality.
For years, light stood as the quintessential example of this duality. Experimentation demonstrated that light can exhibit particle-like behavior as photons and wave-like characteristics, culminating in interference patterns reminiscent of Young’s findings. However, earlier in 2023, Celso Villas Boas and his team at Brazil’s Federal University of São Carlos proposed a novel interpretation of the double-slit experiment, exclusively utilizing photons and negating the wave aspect of optical duality.
After New Scientist covered their study, the team received significant interest from peers, with citations soaring. Villas-Boas shared, “I’ve received numerous invitations to present, including events in Japan, Spain, and Brazil,” emphasizing the widespread intrigue.
In the traditional double-slit experiment, an opaque barrier containing two narrow slits is positioned between a screen and a light source. Light travels through the slits to create a pattern of alternating bright and dark vertical stripes, known as classical interference, usually attributed to colliding light waves.
The researchers shifted away from this conventional explanation, examining the so-called dark state of photons—a unique quantum state that prevents interaction with other particles, hence not illuminating the screen. This perspective eliminates the necessity for light waves to clarify the observed dark stripes.
This reevaluation challenges a deeply ingrained view of light within quantum physics. Many educators expressed concern, with some remarking, “Your findings challenge the foundational concepts I’ve taught for years.” However, while some colleagues embraced the new perspective, others remained skeptically intrigued, following New Scientist‘s initial report.
Villas-Boas has been actively exploring implications surrounding the dark state of photons. His investigations revealed that thermal radiation, such as sunlight, can reside in a dark state, concealing a substantial portion of its energy due to a lack of interaction with other objects. Experimental validation could involve placing atoms in cavities where their interactions with light are meticulously examined, according to Villas-Boas.
His team’s reinterpretation of interference phenomena facilitates comprehension of previously perplexing occurrences, such as non-overlapping wave interactions. Moving beyond the wave model to incorporate distinct bright and dark photon states opens avenues for innovative applications. Villas-Boas envisions potential developments such as light-controlled switches and devices that selectively permit specific light types to pass.
In his view, all these explorations connect back to the essential principles of quantum physics, highlighting that engaging with quantum objects necessitates understanding their interactions with measurement devices—encompassing darkness itself. “This concept is intrinsic to quantum mechanics,” Villas-Boas asserts.
The trillions of microorganisms that inhabit our intestines significantly impact our health.
Tom Leach/Science Photo Library
We frequently hear about the benefits of certain foods for your microbiome and overall health. However, the exact composition of a healthy gut microbiome has not been fully understood until now. A recent study involving over 34,000 individuals has advanced our knowledge of the microbial combinations that indicate low inflammation, robust immunity, and healthy cholesterol levels.
The gut microbiome influences various aspects of health, including the immune system, aging, and mental well-being. While many home testing kits claim to analyze gut composition, their effectiveness remains questionable, as defining a “healthy” microbial balance is complex.
Earlier efforts have mainly concentrated on species diversity, under the assumption that a greater variety of bacteria is beneficial. However, since microbiomes differ significantly between individuals, pinpointing specific microbial communities linked to particular health outcomes is challenging.
“The interplay between our diet, gut microbiome composition, and health is intricate. The only way to unravel these connections is through large sample sizes,” explains Nicola Segata from the University of Trento, Italy.
To develop a comprehensive understanding, Segata and his team analyzed data from over 34,500 participants in the PREDICT program, conducted in the UK and the US by the microbiome testing company Zoe, and cross-referenced the findings with data from 25 additional cohorts in Western nations.
Among the thousands of bacterial species in the human gut, researchers focused on 661 species present in over 20% of Zoe participants. They identified 50 bacteria closely linked to health markers, such as BMI and blood glucose levels, as well as 50 associated with poor health.
The 50 “good” bacterial species (22 of which are newly identified) seem to affect four key areas: inflammation and immune function, body fat distribution, and blood sugar regulation.
Healthy participants, with no known medical issues, carried approximately 3.6 more of these beneficial species than those with health conditions, while individuals at a healthy weight had about 5.2 more species compared to those who were obese.
Among the species analyzed, most bacteria classified as either “good” or “bad” belong to the genus Clostridium. Within this group, 40 species from the family Lachnospiraceae were highlighted; 13 showed positive impacts while 27 were linked to negative effects.
“This research identifies a subset of bacteria worth further exploring for their potential impacts on health conditions like high blood sugar and obesity,” states Ines Moura from the University of Leeds, UK.
The connection between these microorganisms and diet is analyzed through food questionnaires and data collected via the Zoe app, which suggests aiming for at least 30 different plant types each week and consuming three servings of fermented foods daily, promoting fiber intake and reducing ultra-processed food consumption.
The findings indicate that most microorganisms tend to enhance health with a balanced diet or exacerbate health issues with a poor diet. However, 65 of the 661 microorganisms exhibited an inconsistent relationship.
“These 65 bacteria highlight the complexity of our microbiome,” remarks Segata, who also consults for Zoe. “Their effects might depend on the presence of other microorganisms, specific bacterial strains, or particular dietary factors.”
This classification of “good” and “bad” bacteria enables researchers to assess an individual’s gut health on a scale from 0 to 1000, which is already being applied in Zoe’s gut health assessments.
“Think of a healthy gut microbiome as a network of chemical factories. We need a diverse range of species and a predominance of beneficial bacteria to generate health-promoting chemicals that benefit the entire body,” says Tim Spector, PhD from King’s College London and co-founder of Zoe.
Nonetheless, establishing a definitive model of a healthy gut microbiome is challenging. “Defining a healthy microbiome is not straightforward, as gut composition is impacted by diet and can shift due to environmental factors, age, and health conditions requiring long-term treatment,” adds Moura.
“We need to view our bodies and microbiomes as two intricate systems that combine to create an even more complex system,” says Segata. “A change in one element can subtly affect everything else. Understanding the causative relationships is often quite complicated.”
Segata advocates for larger studies to further clarify these links and represent a wider global population. However, once a health and microbiome baseline is set, he believes it should be feasible to recommend specific foods to optimize gut bacteria.
Upon arriving at the Buddhist retreat, Eli Sussman anticipated immersing himself in deep meditation. The Plum Village Monastery, located east of Bordeaux, France, was established by Thich Nhat Hanh, often called the “father of mindfulness.” Eager to explore, he challenged himself to a lengthy three-hour meditation session.
Afterward, he excitedly shared his achievement with a monk: “I felt like I was awaiting a shiny badge for my accomplishments,” Sussman reflects. The monk simply smiled and asked, “Three hours, you say? Why not try just three breaths? That’s truly all it takes to center yourself in the present.”
This intrigued Sussman, leading him to investigate whether brief mindfulness exercises could genuinely shift one’s mindset and induce significant changes in emotional health during his PhD studies in psychology at UC Berkeley.
The swift conclusion is affirmative. An increasing array of studies worldwide indicate that individuals who dedicate merely 20 seconds daily to a short routine report enduring feelings of peace and joy, lingering long after their session. These micro-practices, also referred to as micro-acts, may aid in enhancing physical health by interrupting cyclical negative thinking and soothing physiological stress responses.
Beyond the brief breathing techniques from Plum Village monks, research-backed interventions also encompass short writing tasks and self-compassion exercises aimed at nurturing gratitude, awe, and a sense of direction in life.
Sussman’s book, micro practice, is set to launch next year, likely becoming a trending term in 2026. Meanwhile, several strategies are already available to instill tranquility during the holiday season.
Even small actions can yield significant outcomes
His findings draw from decades of research focusing on interventions inspired by both Eastern and Western spiritual practices. These include meditative practices like mindfulness meditation, engaging in Qigong—a Chinese discipline blending deep breaths with gentle movements—and yoga, along with introspective exercises such as gratitude journals. Evidence suggests that all these practices bolster mental well-being and mitigate the risks of conditions like depression and anxiety.
However, the precise “dosage” necessary for beneficial effects is less definitive; some studies imply that too much exposure may be counterproductive. A meta-analysis by Willoughby Britton, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, revealed that individuals meditating for only 5 to 10 minutes two to three times a week had better sleep quality than those engaging in meditation for over 30 minutes daily, five days a week. This could be attributed to the brain remaining alert during extended meditation, making subsequent sleep challenging.
A 2021 study directly compared short-term and long-term stress relief outcomes from mindfulness practices, led by Sarah Strohmeyer and colleagues at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. Participants attended four sessions over two weeks, with one group meditating for five minutes, another for 20 minutes, and a control group listening to an audiobook.
Concluding the two weeks, both meditation groups reported diminished anxiety and depression symptoms compared to the audiobook group. Notably, the shorter session participants experienced less stress than those who meditated longer.
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Brief interventions may be particularly beneficial during stressful periods. “
This difference in outcomes can be partly attributed to task difficulty. Longer sessions increased the challenge of managing a wandering mind, potentially leading to feelings of inadequacy. Conversely, participants in shorter sessions often reported pleasant surprises from their experiences. One participant mentioned previously believing that mindfulness required considerable time and effort, but the experiments indicated effectiveness even in five minutes. This participant felt more at ease following the session, a tranquility that persisted during the day.
Health psychologists assert that simple practices can be particularly advantageous during stressful periods. Andreas Schwertfeger and colleagues at the University of Graz reiterated this earlier this year.
In their research, participants wore portable monitors measuring heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of physiological stress levels. Generally, higher HRV suggests relaxation as the heart adapts to bodily demands, whereas lower HRV indicates a readiness to confront threats. Throughout several days, participants received prompts to focus on their breathing for one minute.
Despite the brief duration, the intervention proved profoundly effective, showing noticeable calming effects on both mind and body through self-reported questionnaires and HRV records taken right after mindful moments. This effect was most prominent when participants were under significant stress. “I felt less overwhelmed and more secure,” remarked Schwertfeger, describing this as a “just-in-time adaptive intervention.”
Pathways to self-compassion
Though Sussman could have adhered strictly to mindfulness in developing his micro-practices, a question from his doctoral advisor shifted his focus: What does the world need most at this moment? He gravitated towards self-compassion, a crucial element in Buddhist philosophy that has gained prominence in psychology recently. It comprises three key components: treating oneself kindly rather than harshly, recognizing that suffering is a universal experience connecting us, and observing our negative emotions without judgment.
Studies have demonstrated that cultivating self-compassion can be achieved through focused meditation on these principles. Yet, akin to many mindfulness practices, these programs often necessitate significant dedication.
Inspired by his time at Plum Village Abbey, Sussman pondered whether a few conscious breaths could change our perspective. He and his colleagues enlisted 135 participants, showing them a 20-second video urging reflection on a recent upsetting event, like a mistake or disappointment. The video suggested, “With a nurturing touch, place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your heart, enveloping yourself in kindness and warmth,” followed by, “Consider: ‘How can I be a friend to myself in this situation?’
Just a few minutes of mindfulness can create a big impact
Randy Farris/Getty Images
Half of the participants were instructed to engage with this exercise daily for a month, while the control group practiced finger-tapping for 20 seconds each day. As is typical in month-long interventions, some participants discontinued without recognizing benefits. However, for those who consistently practiced, micro-practices resulted in significantly lower stress levels compared to those engaged in finger-tapping.
It is not surprising that micro-practices required ongoing practice, according to Sussman. He references a recent analysis of data from the popular app Headspace, which indicated that frequency of practice holds greater importance than duration in reducing stress. “Consistency outweighs length for effectiveness,” he states.
Drawing a parallel to nurturing plants, Sussman remarks, “It’s more effective to provide small amounts of water daily than to saturate the soil once a month.” This highlights the importance of engaging in enjoyable activities. “Your strongest practices are those you can consistently implement,” he asserts.
The Big Joy Project
If mindfulness or self-compassion isn’t appealing, many alternatives exist. The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley offers numerous online resources detailing quick interventions aimed at enhancing well-being, many taking only a few minutes to enact.
A few years back, Emiliana Simon Thomas and her colleagues initiated the Big Joy Project, compiling easily accessible practices requiring minimal time commitment, termed “micro-acts.” These include brief reflection exercises on distressing incidents and identifying three positive outcomes, listing what evokes gratitude, and watching uplifting nature videos, along with moments of reflecting on personal values.
“We’ve termed them ‘micro-acts’ to ensure people can incorporate them into their busy lives without feeling overwhelmed,” comments Simon-Thomas. The initiative encouraged individuals to try one micro-act daily for a week, gathering well-being metrics via surveys at the beginning and conclusion of the week.
Promotion for the project included film screenings and outreach around Mission: Joy, showcasing the bond between the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Between 2022 and 2024, 17,598 participants contributed substantial data for analysis by Simon-Thomas and her team. Consequently, results published this year illustrated the efficacy of these micro-acts, with participants reporting lower stress levels and improved overall well-being compared to their initial assessments. They expressed greater agreement with sentiments like “I believe my life has purpose” and “I feel fulfilled overall.”
While micro-acts may initially appear as luxuries for those with comfortable lives, their greatest impact was realized among individuals from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds, including those experiencing financial struggles.
Nonetheless, researchers remain cautious about portraying these interventions as cures. “Brushing your teeth won’t fix everything,” Sussman suggests. “Moreover, micro-practices are not substitutes for therapy or medication.”
Nor do they replace extended meditation practices, he explains. Lengthy meditation sessions, lasting 20 to 40 minutes, might yield long-term neurological changes linked to enhanced emotional regulation. Occasionally, as experienced during a Buddhist retreat, engaging in a three-hour session can offer profound spiritual insights.
The intention behind these micro-practices is merely to introduce brief moments of tranquility and joy in our lives when out-of-control thoughts threaten our health and well-being.
David Robson is the author of The Law of Connection: 13 Social Strategies That Will Change Your Life, now available in paperback.
Recent findings from neuroscientists reveal that the brain’s structure divides into five main stages throughout a typical person’s life, marked by four significant turning points from birth to death where the brain undergoes reorganization. Brain topology in children evolves from birth up to a crucial transition at age 9, then shifts into adolescence, which generally lasts until around age 32. In your early 30s, the neural wiring transitions to adult mode, marking the longest phase that extends for over 30 years. The third turning point occurs at about age 66, indicating the start of an early aging phase of brain structure, while the late brain phase begins around age 83.
Masry et al. Using a dataset of MRI diffusion scans, they compared the brains of 3,802 individuals aged 0 to 90 years. The dataset maps neural connections by tracking the movement of water molecules through brain tissue. Image credit: Mously et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65974-8.
“While we know brain wiring plays a crucial role in our development, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of how and why it fluctuates throughout life,” explained Dr. Alexa Mausley, a researcher at the University of Cambridge.
“This study is the first to pinpoint essential stages in brain wiring throughout the human lifespan.”
“These epochs offer vital insight into our brain’s strengths and vulnerabilities at different life stages.”
“Understanding these changes could shed light on why certain developmental challenges arise, such as learning difficulties in early childhood or dementia later in life.”
During the transition from infancy to childhood, strengthened neural networks emerge as the excess of synapses (the connections between neurons) in a baby’s brain diminishes, allowing only the most active synapses to thrive.
The brain rewires in a consistent pattern from birth until approximately age 9.
In this timeframe, the volumes of gray and white matter grow swiftly, resulting in maximal cortical thickness (the distance from the outer gray matter to the inner white matter), with the cortical folds stabilizing.
By the first turning point at age 9, cognitive abilities begin to evolve gradually, and the likelihood of mental health issues becomes more pronounced.
The second stage, adolescence, is characterized by an ongoing increase in white matter volume, leading to an enhancement in the sophistication of the brain’s communication networks, measurable through water diffusion scans.
This phase is marked by improved connectivity efficiency across specific regions and swift communication throughout the brain, correlating with enhanced cognitive performance.
“As expected, neural efficiency is closely linked to shorter pathways, and this efficiency increases throughout adolescence,” Mausley notes.
“These advancements peak in your early 30s, representing the most significant turning point in your lifetime.”
“Around age 32, the change in wiring direction is the most pronounced, and the overall trajectory alteration is greater than at any other turning points.”
“Although the onset of puberty is clearly defined, the conclusion is far harder to identify scientifically.”
“Based solely on neural structure, we found that puberty-related changes in brain structure conclude by the early 30s.”
Post age 32, adulthood enters its longest phase, characterized by a more stable brain structure with no significant turning points for three decades. This aligns with findings indicating an “intellectual and personality plateau.”
Additionally, the researchers observed a greater degree of “segregation” during this phase, indicating a gradual fragmentation of brain regions.
The tipping point at age 66 is more gradual, lacking dramatic structural shifts; however, notable changes in brain network patterns were found around this age on average.
“Our findings indicate a gradual reconfiguration of brain networks that peaks in the mid-60s,” stated Dr. Mausley.
“This is likely linked to aging, as white matter begins to decline, reducing connectivity further.”
“We are currently facing an era where individuals are increasingly at risk for various health conditions impacting the brain, such as high blood pressure.”
The final turning point arises around age 83, ushering in the last stage of brain structure.
Data from this stage is scarce, but a key characteristic is the shift from global to local connectivity as interactions across the brain diminish while reliance on specific regions intensifies.
Professor Duncan Astle of the University of Cambridge remarked: “In reflection, many of us recognize that our lives encompass distinct stages.”
“Interestingly, the brain also navigates through these phases.”
“Numerous neurodevelopmental, mental health, and neurological conditions are tied to the brain’s wiring.”
“In fact, variations in brain wiring can predict challenges with attention, language, memory, and a wide array of other behaviors.”
“Recognizing that structural transformations in the brain occur not in a linear fashion but through several major turning points can assist us in identifying when and how brain wiring may be vulnerable to disruptions.”
a paper detailing the study was published in the journal on November 25. Nature Communications.
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A. Mausley et al. 2025. Topological turning points across the human lifespan. Nat Commun 16, 10055; doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65974-8
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How many pieces can a dropped vase break into?
Imaginechina Limited / Alamy
The physics behind a dropped plate, a crumbled sugar cube, and a shattered glass shows striking similarities regarding how many pieces result from each object breaking.
For decades, researchers have recognized a universal behavior related to fragmentation, where objects break apart upon falling or colliding. If one counts the fragments of varying sizes and plots their distribution, a consistent shape emerges regardless of the object that is broken. Emmanuel Villemaux from the University of Aix-Marseille in France has formulated equations to illustrate these shapes, thereby establishing universal laws of fragmentation.
Instead of concentrating on the appearance of cracks leading to an object’s breakup, Villermaux employed a broader approach. He considered all potential fragment configurations that could result in shattering. Some configurations produce precise outcomes, such as a vase breaking into four equal parts; however, he focused on capturing the most probable set that represents chaotic breakage, namely the one with the highest entropy. This mirrors methods used to derive laws concerning large aggregates of particles in the 19th century, he notes. Villermaux also applied the principles of physics that govern changes in fragment density during shattering, knowledge previously uncovered by him and his colleagues.
By integrating these two elements, they succeeded in deriving a straightforward equation that predicts the size distribution of fragments in a broken object. To verify its accuracy, Villermaux compared it against a number of earlier experiments involving glass rods, dry spaghetti, plates, ceramic tubes, and even fragments of plastic submerged in water and waves crashing during stormy weather. Overall, the fragmentation patterns observed in each of these experiments conformed to his novel law and reflected the universal distribution shapes previously noted by researchers.
He also experimented by dropping objects from varying heights to crush sugar cubes. “This was a summer endeavor with my daughters. I had done it a long time ago when they were young, and later revisited the data to further illustrate my concept,” Villermaux explains. He observes that this equation fails to hold when randomness is absent, or the fragmentation process is overly uniform, as occurs when a liquid stream divides into uniform droplets based on the deterministic rules of fluid dynamics, or in instances when fragments engage with each other during fragmentation.
Mr. Ferenc and his colleagues at the University of Debrecen in Hungary argue that the graphical pattern highlighted in Villermaux’s analysis is so fundamentally universal that it may derive from a more extensive principle. Simultaneously, they express surprise at how broadly applicable it is, as well as its adaptability to accommodate specific variations, such as in plastics where cracking can be “healed.”
Fragmentation is not merely a captivating challenge in physics; a deeper understanding could significantly impact energy expenditures in mining operations or guide preparations for increasing rockfalls in mountainous areas as global temperatures tend to rise, Kuhn remarks.
Looking ahead, it may prove beneficial to explore not only the sizes of the fragments but also their shape distributions, suggests Kuhn. Additionally, identifying the smallest conceivable size of a fragment remains an unresolved issue, according to Villermaux.
Tea tree (Camellia sinensis) is among the most vital beverage crops globally. The size of tea buds not only impacts the yield and quality of fresh leaves but also influences the compatibility of various tea types. In a recent study, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences gathered images of apical buds at the one-bud, two-leaf stage from 280 representative tea lines. Their analysis of genetic diversity revealed that the length, width, circumference, and area of tea buds followed a normal distribution. A comparative transcriptome analysis of extreme bud sizes demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the expression levels of four substances. nox genes also showed a relationship with tea bud size, indicating that CsKNOX6 could be a key gene regulating tea bud size negatively.
Tea tree (Camellia sinensis). Image credit: Kim Young Han.
The tea plant stands out as one of the world’s leading beverage crops, cultivated in over 60 countries and consumed by more than 2 billion people globally.
In premium tea production, leaves are typically harvested based on criteria including one bud, one leaf per bud, and two leaves per bud.
Tea bud size not only significantly impacts the yield and quality of fresh leaves but is also closely linked to the processing potential of tea.
Various tea types have different shapes and specific requirements for bud and leaf size.
Research into the molecular mechanisms governing tea bud and leaf size has historically been sparse, hindering genetic improvement efforts.
Understanding the genetic regulatory frameworks of tea bud size is crucial for enhancing tea plant varieties and boosting yield.
In the study led by Dr. Jiedan Chen, the dimensions—length, width, circumference, and area—of buds were quantified across 280 diverse tea strains.
These traits exhibited continuous variation with high heritability, indicating robust genetic control.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of accessions with extreme bud sizes identified four candidate class I KNOX transcription factors that had significantly elevated expression in cultivars with smaller buds.
Among these, genome-wide association mapping is emphasizing CsKNOX6 as a likely pivotal regulatory gene.
CsKNOX6 is located on chromosome 10, with its sequence indicating nuclear localization, aligning with its role in transcription regulation.
To validate its functionality, researchers modelled CsKNOX6 in the plant Arabidopsis.
Transgenic plants exhibited abnormal shoot development, yielding significantly smaller leaves, with leaf area reduced to just 13% of wild-type levels.
This functional evidence substantiates the conclusion that CsKNOX6 serves as a negative regulator of bud and leaf size.
“Bud size is a critical attribute for both agricultural productivity and the quality of tea in the market,” scientists shared.
“Identifying CsKNOX6 creates direct genetic targets for selective breeding, including marker-driven improvements.”
“Although functional tests in Arabidopsis provide substantial support, future gene editing or transgenic validation in tea plants will be vital to confirm regulatory mechanisms in these perennial woody species.”
“This discovery paves the way for precision breeding strategies that enhance yield, consistency, and suitability of tea varieties.”
Identifying CsKNOX6 opens new possibilities for developing tea varieties with optimized bud sizes for various production goals, including premium hand-picked teas or high-yield mechanical harvesting.
This gene can be integrated into molecular breeding programs via SNP marker selection or gene editing approaches to fine-tune developmental growth.
A paper detailing this discovery was published in the journal horticultural research.
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Shuran Zhang et al. 2025. Integration of digital phenotyping, GWAS, and transcriptome analysis reveals key genes for tea plant bud size (Camellia sinensis). horticultural research 12(6):uhaf051; doi: 10.1093/hr/uhaf051
Recent studies indicate that humans possess the capability to detect objects without physical contact, a skill seen in certain animals.
Chen and colleagues. The first study examined human fingertip sensitivity to tactile signals from buried objects, while the second utilized a robotic arm with a long short-term memory model to detect objects. Image credit: Gemini AI.
Typically, human touch is viewed as a sense limited to direct physical interaction with objects.
However, recent insights into animal sensory mechanisms challenge this perception.
Some species of sandpipers and plovers, for instance, utilize a form of remote touch to locate prey concealed beneath the sand.
Remote touch allows for the detection of objects hidden beneath particles by subtle mechanical signals transmitted through the medium when nearby pressure is applied.
In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Elisabetta Versace from Queen Mary University of London and her team explored whether humans share similar capabilities.
Participants delicately glided their fingers over the sand to locate a hidden cube before making physical contact.
Remarkably, the study outcomes revealed a sensitivity analogous to that found in shorebirds, despite humans lacking the specialized beak structure that facilitates this ability in avians.
Modeling the physical attributes of this phenomenon, researchers concluded that human hands are so sensitive they can perceive buried objects through minute sand displacements.
This sensitivity approaches the theoretical threshold for detecting mechanical “reflections” of granules when the movement of sand is reflected by a stable surface (the concealed object).
When evaluating the performance of humans against robotic tactile sensors trained using long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithms, humans achieved a remarkable accuracy of 70.7% within the anticipated detection range.
Interestingly, the robot could sense objects from slightly greater distances on average but encountered frequent false positives, resulting in an overall accuracy of only 40%.
These findings affirm that humans can genuinely detect objects prior to physical contact, showcasing an extraordinary aspect of our senses typically linked to direct interactions.
Both humans and robots demonstrated performance nearing the maximum sensitivity predicted by physical models of displacement.
This research uncovers that humans can identify objects buried in sand without direct contact, broadening our understanding of the extent of tactile perception.
Additionally, it provides quantitative evidence of tactile abilities previously undocumented in humans.
The study also presents a valuable benchmark for enhancing tactile sensing in assistive technologies and robotic systems.
Emulating human sensory perception, engineers can design robots that incorporate near-human touch sensitivity for practical uses in tasks such as surveying, excavation, and exploration where visual cues are limited.
“This is the first instance of remote contact being examined in humans, reshaping our concept of the perceptual fields of living beings, including humans,” stated Dr. Versace.
“This discovery opens avenues for creating tools and assistive technologies that amplify the human sense of touch,” remarked Dr. Student Chen Zhenchi.
“These insights could lead to the development of advanced robots capable of performing delicate tasks, such as locating untouched archaeological artifacts or navigating sandy or granular terrains like Martian soil or ocean floors.”
“More generally, this research facilitates the development of touch-based systems that enhance safety and effectiveness in exploring hidden and hazardous locations.”
“What makes this study particularly intriguing is the mutual influence between human research and robotic research,” noted Dr. Lorenzo Hamone, a researcher at University College London.
“Human experiments informed the robot’s learning strategy, while the robot’s efficacy offered new interpretations of human data.”
“This serves as a prime example of how psychology, robotics, and artificial intelligence can collaborate, illustrating how interdisciplinary teamwork can ignite both fundamental discoveries and technological advancements.”
Z. Chen and colleagues. Exploring haptics for object localization in granular media: A human-robot study. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning; doi: 10.1109/ICDL63968.2025.11204359
Astronomers are particularly interested in understanding how the orbits of planets around other stars evolve. In an idealized model, orbits consist of two uniform spheres revolving around a common center of mass. However, the reality is often more intricate. These deviations from ideal models provide insights into these systems, shedding light on their geometric arrangements in the universe and the potential presence of unseen companion planets.
Recently, a team of astronomers carried out a large-scale survey of Exoplanet TrES-1 b. The researchers selected TrES-1 b to analyze its orbital changes over the last two decades, since its discovery in 2004, because it belongs to the category of exoplanets that are relatively straightforward to observe: hot Jupiters. Hot Jupiters are gas giants similar in size to our solar system’s Jupiter, but they orbit their host stars at much closer distances, sometimes completing a revolution in just a few days. TrES-1 b orbits a star with just under 90% of the mass of our Sun every three days. This brief orbital period enables astronomers to make numerous observations, facilitating the measurement of orbital changes.
The research team initially gathered data on how much light TrES-1 b blocks from Earth’s viewpoint as it transits in front of its host star, referred to as the transit light curve. Most of the optical data originated from ground-based telescopes, inclusive of contributions from citizen scientists. Additionally, they sourced relevant data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. This data allowed them to accurately measure the time it took for TrES-1 b to complete its orbit.
They also discovered that another group of astronomers had employed Spitzer’s infrared array camera. Furthermore, they identified four additional studies from 2004 to 2016 that thoroughly measured how the light from TrES-1 b’s host star was affected by its orbital dynamics, specifically through radial velocity. By combining transit light curves, eclipses, and radial velocity data, astronomers gained a holistic understanding of TrES-1 b, which they then compared with statistical models to interpret its long-term behavior.
The research team sought to fit five distinct models to their observations of TrES-1 b to determine which best represented the data. The first model represented a planet with a constant circular orbit, followed by one with a fixed and slightly elliptical orbit, representing an eccentric orbit. The third model employed a circular orbit that gradually decreases in size, termed decaying orbit. The fourth variant implemented a damped and slightly eccentric orbit, while the final model featured a subtly eccentric orbit that also progresses directionally in relation to the star over time, known as precession.
The researchers concluded that, irrespective of the data subsets used, the most plausible explanation for their findings is that TrES-1 b follows an eccentric precessional orbit. They also noted that the damped trajectory model offered a superior fit compared to the steady trajectory models. This implies that while the changes in the exoplanet’s orbit are evident, the data does not support any hypotheses suggesting no actual alterations in its trajectory.
The researchers further elaborated that the rate at which the exoplanet’s orbit is changing indicates the gravitational influence of another planet within the system. They estimated that this hypothetical planet could be no larger than 25% the size of Jupiter and would have an orbital period of no more than 7 days. However, they noted that there was no direct evidence for such a planet in their data, apart from its inferred impact on TrES-1 b. They did discover another exoplanet in the system, termed TrES-1 c, but its wide eccentric orbit is unlikely to account for the changes observed in TrES-1 b’s orbit.
In conclusion, the researchers asserted that a multifaceted methodology to investigate the orbital timings of exoplanets unveils dynamics that may be overlooked by singular observations and models. They advocated for further studies of the long-term behaviors of exoplanets, necessitating extensive monitoring, more precise radial velocity measurements, and complex simulations of multiple celestial bodies within the gravitational system.
“This year’s Leonid meteor shower coincides almost perfectly with the new moon…”
Walter Pacholka, Astronomical/Scientific Photo Library
Watching a meteor shower is a captivating experience, in part due to the unpredictability of these events. Even under ideal conditions, the sight can be overwhelming, especially when forecasts predict hundreds of meteors per hour. However, gathering with friends to witness this celestial display can make it special, even if only a few shooting stars appear.
This year’s Leonid meteor shower aligns perfectly with the new moon, offering an excellent opportunity to see numerous meteors streaking across the sky. While it may not reach hundreds each hour, I highly encourage you to take a look.
Meteor showers happen at the same time annually because they align with Earth’s orbit around the sun, bringing in debris remnants from comets and asteroids. This results in an influx of dust particles entering the atmosphere, creating brilliant flashes as they burn up.
The Leonid meteor shower originates from the remnants left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle, a 3.6-kilometer-wide comet that orbits the sun every 33 years. During peak times, the Leonid shower transforms into a meteor storm, showcasing thousands of meteors per hour. The last storm occurred in 2002, so another isn’t expected for another decade.
If you’re fortunate, you might witness a meteor like the one shown in the image. The Leonid meteor shower begins on November 6 and lasts through the end of the month, peaking from the evening of November 17 to the morning of November 18. With the new moon on November 20, the moon will be a thin waning crescent during the peak of the shower. For the best view, aim for just after midnight local time, regardless of your location. The Leonid meteor shower generally has a gradual peak, so it’s worth observing on days surrounding the 17th if the skies are clear.
Meteor showers derive their names from the constellations from which the meteors appear to originate, but you don’t need to locate the Leonid constellation to enjoy them. However, Leo is easy to spot and visible from most areas of the world, excluding extreme southern latitudes. To find it, look for its signature backward question mark or sickle shape, positioned near the Big Dipper. If you need assistance in locating it, consider using a mobile app.
For an optimal meteor shower experience, make yourself warm and comfortable. Since you might be sitting still for extended periods, a hot water bottle or a straight-backed chair can help prevent neck pain. Stay away from light pollution as much as possible. If you’re watching from home, turn off the lights and allow your eyes to adjust. Enjoy!
A new expansive map of the Roman road system reveals that the empire’s land transport network has effectively grown by nearly 60% and is accessible to all. You can explore it online.
The initiative, named Itiner-e, combines topographical mapping, satellite images, and centuries of historical documentation, and claims to be the first publicly available dataset of this nature.
“It emerged from significant frustration,” states Tom Bluemans of Aarhus University, Denmark. “This is among the most enigmatic areas in Roman archaeology. There’s a saying: ‘All roads lead to Rome.’ So why can’t we access a download of all the roads in Rome? Where are they located?”
Brughmans and his team constructed a representation of the road network around 150 AD, utilizing extensive evidence from research and outlining more accurate paths of previously identified routes. They also assigned confidence ratings to each road segment based on the reliability of the source.
Their findings indicate that the total length of the road network in that period was around 299,171 kilometers, significantly surpassing the government’s previous estimate of 188,555 kilometers from the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World.
The dataset reveals that even though there is compelling evidence for starting and ending points of many roads, only 2.8% of the entire network can be pinpointed accurately (within 50 meters in mountainous regions and 200 meters in flatter areas).
Roman route through mountains to Delphi in Ancient Greece
itinerary-e
For the Blueman family, this highlights the challenges associated with securing resources to excavate an entire Roman road, resulting in many efforts remaining unfinished. Additionally, major roads have undergone numerous reconstructions throughout history, complicating efforts to uncover the original paths.
While Roman roads are renowned for their straightness, it’s a misconception that they were always constructed that way. Katherine Fletcher from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, who did not participate in the study, comments, “Straight paths weren’t always economical or practical, particularly through mountainous regions.” She adds, “In many instances, if a route already existed, the Romans adapted it instead of forging an entirely new one.”
Gaining a deeper understanding of the Roman road network could enhance our grasp of many pivotal events in European history. According to Blumans, developments like early Christianity, widespread migration, and continent-wide pandemics were all influenced by the Roman road system.
Despite their significance, roads are frequently overshadowed because they lack the allure of grand amphitheaters or gladiators, Fletcher notes. “It’s akin to that famous scene in Monty Python where they discuss what the Romans did for us, and they mention, ‘And roads…well, clearly roads! Not to mention roads.’
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A supermassive black hole has violently consumed a massive star, resulting in a cosmic explosion that shone as brightly as 10 trillion suns, according to a recent study.
This event, referred to as a black hole flare, is believed to be the largest and most remote ever detected.
“This is genuinely a one-in-a-million occurrence,” stated Matthew Graham, a research professor of astronomy at the California Institute of Technology and the lead author of the study published Tuesday in Nature Astronomy.
Graham indicated that based on the explosion’s intensity and duration, a black hole flare is likely the explanation, but further studies will be necessary to validate this conclusion.
While it is common for black holes to devour nearby stars, gas, dust, and other materials, such significant flare events are exceptionally rare, according to Graham.
“This enormous flare is far more energetic than anything we’ve encountered previously,” he remarked, noting that the explosion’s peak luminosity was 30 times that of any black hole flare documented so far.
Its extreme intensity is partly due to the massive size of the celestial objects involved. The star that came too close to the black hole is estimated to possess at least 30 times the mass of the Sun, while the supermassive black hole and its surrounding matter disk are estimated to be 500 million times more massive than the Sun.
Graham mentioned that these powerful explosions have persisted for more than seven years and are likely still ongoing.
The flare was initially detected in 2018 during a comprehensive sky survey using three ground-based telescopes. At the time, it was identified as a “particularly bright object,” but follow-up observations months later yielded little valuable data.
Consequently, black hole flares were mostly overlooked until 2023, when Graham and his team opted to revisit some intriguing findings from their earlier research. Astronomers have since managed to roughly ascertain the distance to this exceptionally bright object, and the results were astonishing.
“Suddenly, I thought, ‘Wow, this is actually quite far away,'” Graham explained. “And if it’s this far away and this bright, how much energy is it emitting? This is both unusual and intriguing.”
While the exact circumstances of the star’s demise remain unclear, Graham hypothesized that a cosmic collision might have nudged the star from its typical orbit around the black hole, leading to a close encounter.
This finding enhances our understanding of black hole behavior and evolution.
“Our perspective on supermassive black holes and their environments has dramatically transformed over the past five to ten years,” Graham stated. “We once pictured most galaxies in the universe with a supermassive black hole at the center, idly rumbling away. We now recognize it as a much more dynamic setting, and we are just beginning to explore its complexities.”
He noted that while the flares are gradually diminishing over time, they will remain detectable with ground-based telescopes for several more years.
Remarkably, Segue 1, an extremely faint dwarf galaxy, is positioned at the center of this image.
CDS, Strasbourg, France/CDS/Aladdin
Astoundingly, a supermassive black hole appears to reside at the heart of a nearby galaxy previously believed to be dominated by dark matter. Segue 1 is scarcely a galaxy, hosting merely around 1,000 stars compared to the Milky Way’s vast hundreds of billions. Yet, it seemingly contains a black hole with a mass approximately 10 times greater than the combined total of all its stars.
Segue 1 and similar dwarf galaxies lack sufficient stars to generate the gravitational force needed to hold them intact. To address this anomaly, physicists have long speculated that dark matter—a mysterious, invisible substance—fills the universe, contributing additional gravity.
Recently, Nathaniel Lujan and colleagues at the University of Texas at San Antonio began exploring computer models of Segue 1. They anticipated that the model yielding the best fit would be one characterized by dark matter. “After running hundreds of thousands of models, we were unable to find a viable solution,” Lujan remarks. “Eventually, we decided to experiment with the black hole mass, and that dramatically changed the results.”
The model that closely aligned with the observations of Segue 1 featured a black hole with a mass around 450,000 times that of the Sun. This discovery was particularly unexpected—not only due to the galaxy’s scarcity of stars but also considering its age. With so few stars, Segue 1 is estimated to have formed merely 400 million years following the universe’s initial star formation. Time constraints make it challenging for such a massive black hole to develop, especially since the much larger Milky Way likely consumed most of the gas that could have nourished Segue 1 shortly after its inception.
“This suggests there may be far more supermassive black holes than previously assumed,” Lujan states. If true, this could clarify some of the gravitational effects formerly attributed to dark matter, though it remains uncertain whether Segue 1 is typical of all dwarf galaxies. The quest for additional supermassive black holes continues.
Parallel channels known as linear dune canyons can be observed within some of Mars’ dunes. Contrary to what their name suggests, these canyons are frequently quite winding. It was previously believed that these landforms were created through debris flow processes influenced by liquid water. However, recent satellite imagery has revealed that they are active during the local spring due to processes involving carbon dioxide ice. During the Martian winter, ice accumulates on the dunes, breaking off at the top as temperatures rise in early spring. In new experiments conducted in the Mars Chamber, planetary researchers from Utrecht University, the University of Le Mans, the University of Nantes, the Grenoble Institute of Astrophysics, and the Open University have demonstrated that linear dune canyons form when blocks of carbon dioxide and ice slide or submerge into the sandy slopes of dunes, or shift downwards with considerable force, draining the nearby sand. This drilling action is triggered by a powerful gas flow generated by the sublimation of carbon dioxide ice, as it transitions into carbon dioxide gas. The movement of sliding carbon dioxide ice blocks contributes to the formation of shallow channels, while the excavation of carbon dioxide ice results in the development of deep, winding channels in Martian dunes.
Two examples of Martian dunes with linear dune gullies: (a) linear dune gullies in the dune field of Gall Crater; (b) A linear dune canyon in the dune field of an unnamed crater in the center of the Hellas Plain. Image credit: Roelofs et al., doi:10.1029/2024GL112860.
Linear dune canyons are remarkable and enigmatic formations located in the mid-latitude sand dune regions of Mars.
Despite their designation, these parallel and often meandering waterways, characterized by sharp bends, limited source areas, distinct banks, and hole-like channel terminations, have no equivalent on Earth.
They differ significantly from the conventional canyon topography found on steep slopes both on Mars and Earth, which typically features erosional alcoves, channels, and sedimentary aprons that are often larger than linear dune canyons.
“In our simulations, we observed how high gas pressures cause the sand to shift in all directions around the blocks,” stated Loneke Roelofs, a researcher at Utrecht University and lead author of the study.
“Consequently, the blocks become lodged into the slope and get trapped within cavities, surrounded by small ridges of settled sand.”
“However, the sublimation process persists, leading to continued sand displacement in all directions.”
“This phenomenon drives the block to gradually descend, resulting in a long, deep canyon flanked by small sand ridges on either side.”
“This is precisely the kind of canyon we find on Mars.”
In their research, Dr. Roelofs and colleagues merged laboratory experiments that let blocks of carbon dioxide and ice slide down sandy slopes under Martian atmospheric pressure with observations of the linear dune canyons located within the Russell Crater Giant Dunes.
“We experimented by simulating dune slopes of varying steepness.”
“We released chunks of carbon dioxide ice down a slope and observed the outcomes.”
“Once we discovered an appropriate slope, we began to see significant effects. The carbon dioxide ice chunks started to penetrate the slope and move downwards, resembling burrowing moles or dune sandworms. It was quite an unusual sight.”
“But how exactly do these ice blocks originate? They form in the desert dunes located in the midlands of Mars’ southern hemisphere.”
“During winter, a layer of carbon dioxide ice develops across the entire surface of the dunes, reaching thicknesses of up to 70 cm. As spring arrives, this ice begins to warm and sublimate.”
“The last remnants of the ice persist on the shaded side of the dune’s summit, where blocks will break off once temperatures rise sufficiently.”
“When a block reaches the base of the slope and halts its movement, sublimation continues until all carbon dioxide evaporates, leaving behind a cavity filled with sand at the dune’s base.”
This study was published in the October 8th issue of Geophysical Research Letters.
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Loneke Roelofs et al. 2025. Particle transport driven by explosive sublimation causes blocks of CO2 to slide and burrow, forming winding “linear dune valleys” in Martian dunes. Geophysical Research Letters 52 (19): e2024GL112860; doi: 10.1029/2024GL112860
Feedback is new scientist A popular person who watches the latest science and technology news sideways. To send feedback on items you think might be of interest to our readers, please send an email to feedback@newscientist.com.
There is a tingling sensation
We don’t want to overstate this in Feedback, but we believe we’ve uncovered a revelation that could transform vast areas of music and literature and compel us to reconsider one of our most cherished metaphors.
It all began when I wrote about an educator utilizing a Taylor Swift music video to introduce students to botany (September 27). Reader Gerald Legg reached out to highlight some errors. First, one of the topics mentioned was “Lightning Races,” which should obviously have been “lighting.” In our defense, the original academic paper we consulted also contained that mistake.
However, it was Gerald’s second point that sent the feedback into a spiral. As a side joke, I once remarked, “Botany is a rose garden full of thorns” (if you don’t get the reference, you’d assume there’s a blank space where Taylor Swift’s refrain fits).
Gerald responded, “I’m sorry, but botany isn’t merely a rose garden filled with thorns, unless you’re referring to shrubs like blackthorn. Roses don’t have true thorns; what they exhibit are superficial epidermal growths, while thorns are modified stems.”
Feedback was sent to selected search engines and consulted expert sources, including the New York Botanical Garden website. We ultimately conceded that roses do indeed lack thorns. Those sharp protrusions are thorny.
The issue lies in the fact that this distinction doesn’t only invalidate Feedback’s quips or Swift’s lyrics. For starters, William Shakespeare must be reinterpreted in two instances: in Sonnet 54, he cautions readers, “Canker flowers are full of dark dyes / Like rose-scented tinctures / Hold on to those thorns,” which is entirely inaccurate. Furthermore, in Sonnet 35, he states, “You needn’t grieve anymore for what you’ve done / There are thorns in roses and mud in silver fountains.”
Similarly, Henry Van Dyke should have titled his poem “Thorns and Roses,” as he asserts, “Far richer than a rose without thorns / Its branches of beauty never shine.”
Feedback is leading me to question whether literal representations of plants can effectively function in poetry or song. Nevertheless, there are silver linings. The works of Johann von Goethe will remain intact because he merely states that “a small rose stung in defense of itself,” without specifying the appendage involved.
And happily, a poignant power ballad, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Hair Metal Purveyor Poison, can be safely discarded. Every cloud contains a glimmer of hope.
Sperm tracking
Earlier this year, Feedback dedicated several columns to the Scunthorpe issue. Innocuous words and phrases often include character strings that can appear offensive when viewed out of context, complicating the development of automated tools to manage online conversations (April 26).
We thought the topic had been exhausted, but educator and researcher Bernd Wursig informed us otherwise. In the early 2000s, Wursig led a team studying sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico, and attentive readers may guess where this leads.
One of the researchers submitted daily reports via satellite phone, but only about half were received. Eventually, they discovered that many of these reports contained the word “sperm,” causing the university’s servers to delete them.
They circumvented this issue by crafting reports that read, “We photographed and tracked whale matriarchal societies.”
Just one letter
We continue to seek out the most inspiring or amusing scientific abbreviations.
Christina Cheers kicks things off by focusing on the Australian Center for Disease Control. She describes it as a biosafety laboratory that studies “highly contagious animal diseases.”
Over its 40-year history, the center has undergone several name changes. The current title was adopted in April 2020. Previously, it was known as the Australian Institute of Animal Health. However, Christina revealed that it had another name at its inception.
In its early development stages, it was called the Australian National Institute of Animal Health, until a few scientists raised concerns about how it was referred to by its acronym. Consequently, “National” was dropped.
Curiously, Feedback couldn’t find any mention of this little acronym mishap on the center’s website. However, after some digging, I found an article in the Australian Veterinary Journal, published since 1974, discussing the proposed laboratory and its benefits. The piece repeatedly refers to it as the Australian National Institute of Animal Health, even employing the unfortunate acronym.
For truly complex acronyms, consider Niall Leighton’s suggestion. This is a European research project that investigates “how online narratives containing conspiracy theories and misinformation spread and evolve, with a focus on individuals aged 45 to 65.” (You might not catch this in New Scientist.)
The project is titled “The Story of Social Media: Tackling Extremism in Midlife.” This should shorten to SMNAEM(A) but is inexplicably condensed to SMIDGE. Niall explains it works like this (“But I guess”): Social Media Narrative: Countering Extremism in mIDdle-aGE.
If anyone can top that, they are truly clever and humble.
Have a story for feedback?
You can email your article to Feedback at feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past feedback can be found on our website.
Astronomers have detected hydroxyl (OH) gas, a chemical indicator of water, from the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS using an ultraviolet/optical telescope on NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
Stacked images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS obtained with NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory: the first was captured on July 31 and August 1, 2025 (visit 1, upper half), and the second was on August 19, 2025 (visit 2, lower half). Image credit: Xing et al., others, doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae08ab.
The identification of the third interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, on July 1, 2025, initiated a comprehensive characterization effort globally.
Learning from prior discoveries of interstellar objects 1I/Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, an observation campaign was implemented to swiftly measure its initial brightness, morphology, light curve, color, and optical and near-infrared spectra.
Given the apparent brightness and early extension of the coma, there was suspicion of a gas outburst, yet none was detected.
Investigating the early activity of interstellar objects is crucial for understanding their chemical and physical evolution as they approach the Sun, as this may signify the first notable heating during their extensive dynamic lifetimes.
“The discovery of water marks a significant step in our grasp of how interstellar comets evolve,” stated Dennis Bordewitz, an astronomer from Auburn University.
“For solar system comets, water serves as a baseline for scientists to gauge their total activity and track how sunlight stimulates the release of other gases.”
“This is the chemical standard against which all assessments of volatile ice in cometary cores are made.”
“Detecting the same signal in an interstellar object means we can for the first time position 3I/ATLAS on the same scale employed to study comets indigenous to our Solar System. This is a progress toward juxtaposing the chemistry of planetary systems throughout our Milky Way galaxy.”
“What’s fascinating about 3I/ATLAS is the location of this water activity.”
Swift noticed the hydroxyl groups when the comet was nearly three times further from the Sun than Earth (well beyond the area where water ice on the surface could easily sublimate), recording a water loss rate of approximately 40 kg per second. At such distances, most solar system comets remain inactive.
The robust ultraviolet signal from 3I/ATLAS implies there might be additional mechanisms at play. Possibly, sunlight is warming small ice particles expelled from the core, causing them to vaporize and contribute to the surrounding gas cloud.
Such extensive water sources have only been detected on a limited number of far-off comets, suggesting intricate layered ice that holds clues regarding their formation.
Every interstellar comet discovered to date has unveiled a distinct aspect of planetary chemistry beyond our Sun.
Collectively, these observations illustrate that the composition of comets and the volatile ice that constitutes them can vary considerably from one system to another.
These variations imply the diversity of planet-forming environments and how factors like temperature, radiation, and composition ultimately influence planetary formation and, in some instances, the materials that lead to life.
Capturing the ultraviolet signals from 3I/ATLAS was a technological achievement in itself.
Swift employs a compact 30 cm telescope, yet from its orbit above Earth’s atmosphere, it can detect wavelengths of ultraviolet light that are largely absorbed by the atmosphere.
Free from sky glare or air interference, Swift’s ultraviolet/optical telescope achieves the sensitivity comparable to that of ground-based telescopes with 4-meter apertures for these wavelengths.
Its rapid targeting abilities allowed astronomers to analyze comets just weeks after their discovery, well before they become too faint or too close to the Sun for space study.
“When we observe water from an interstellar comet or its subtle ultraviolet signature (OH), we are interpreting notes from another planetary system,” Bordewitz notes.
“This indicates that the components essential for life’s chemical processes are not exclusive to us.”
“All interstellar comets we’ve observed thus far have been unexpectedly intriguing,” remarked Dr. Zexy Shin, a postdoctoral fellow at Auburn University.
“‘Oumuamua was dry, Borisov was rich in carbon monoxide, and now Atlas is revealing water at a distance we didn’t anticipate.”
“Each of these cases is transforming our understanding of how planets and comets form around stars.”
A study detailing the survey findings was published on September 30th in Astrophysics Journal Letter.
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Zexy Shin et al. 2025. Water production rate of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. APJL 991, L50; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae08ab
Paleontologists from the United States and the Slovak Republic have identified and named a new genus and species of hadrosaur dinosaur that roamed what is now New Mexico during the Cretaceous period.
Reconstructing the life of Acisresaurus wimani based on the holotype and related species. Image credit: Sergey Krasovskiy.
“Hadrosauridae“, a family of large herbivorous dinosaurs, were once among the most prevalent dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems of the Western Interior Basin of North America for nearly 20 million years,” stated paleontologist Sebastian Dalman from Montana State University, along with colleagues from Harrisburg University, Pennsylvania State University, New Mexico Museum of Natural History, and Pavol Josef Shafarik University.
“Known commonly as ‘duck-billed’ dinosaurs, this group displayed remarkable taxonomic diversity and success during the Cretaceous period.”
“In the final 20 million years of the Cretaceous, hadrosaurids spread across the globe, appearing in Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.”
The newly identified species, Acisresaurus wimani, lived during the late Cretaceous period, roughly 75 million years ago.
Fossilized dinosaur bones were uncovered in the geological formations of the Kirtland Formation, located in the A Si Sle Pa Wilderness, situated between Chaco Canyon and the De Na Gin Wilderness in San Juan County, New Mexico.
“The holotype specimen includes a diagnostically incomplete skull, several isolated cranial elements such as the right zygoma, quadrate, and dentary, along with a series of articulated cervical vertebrae,” the researchers noted.
“Besides the holotype, additional specimens from the same layer could also belong to this newly described species, including a well-preserved left dentary, a partial skeleton, and two humeri—one from a large adult and the other from a juvenile.”
In prior research, Acisresaurus wimani was linked to Kritosaurus, an early genus of saurolophine hadrosaurids found in the Kirtland Formation.
Both species share a close relationship within the subfamily Hadrosaurinae, specifically the Saurolophinae.
However, phylogenetic analyses indicate that they are distinct groups existing during the Campanian period of the Cretaceous in southern Laramidia.
“The younger species, Kritosaurus, belongs to the Critosaurini clade, comprising various species from northern Laramidia,” the scientists explained.
“Furthermore, phylogenetic results indicate the existence of a clade that includes Acisresaurus and Naashoibitosaurus, having diverged from Critosaurini in the late Campanian (75 million years ago), alongside two unnamed species in southern Laramidia.”
According to the research team, Naashoibitosaurus and Acisresaurus represent flat-headed saurolophines that could form a new category of hadrosaurids.
“This clade points to the considerable taxonomic diversity of saurolophines, which were prominent herbivorous dinosaurs in southern Laramidia during the final 20 million years of the Cretaceous,” the authors remarked.
“The discovery of a new hadrosaur species in New Mexico reinforces the evidence of latitudinal variation in hadrosaur faunas across Laramidia during the Late Cretaceous.”
Sebastian Dalman et al. 2025. A new saurolophine hadrosaurid (Ornithischian: Hadrosauridae) discovered in the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Hunter Wash Member, Kirtland Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico. Bulletin of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science 101
No blue pigments have been found in Paleolithic art. This absence is attributed to the scarcity of naturally occurring blue pigments and the subtlety of these colors. However, archaeologists employed various methods to uncover traces of the lively blue mineral pigment azurite in Paleolithic adhesive stone artifacts from Mühlheim-Dietesheim, Germany, marking the earliest known use of blue pigments in Europe.
Three areas of blue residues found in the sandstone formations of stone artifacts at Muhlheim Dieschetim, Germany. Image credit: Wisher et al., doi: 10.15184/aqy.2025.10184.
Both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens utilized mineral and organic colors; however, their palette seems confined to black and red-yellow pigments sourced from charcoal, manganese dioxide, and various iron oxides.
These pigments are well documented across continents for numerous applications.
During the Paleolithic Age (300,000-40,000 years ago) in central Europe, Neanderthals are thought to have employed ochres and manganese dioxide, likely for purposes ranging from cave art to functional applications like adhesive compounds and fire extinguishing agents, as well as for symbolic practices.
In Homo sapiens, the use of pigments correlates with the onset of “behavioral modernity,” which emerged over 100,000 years ago and is acknowledged as a hallmark of cognitive complexity.
The prevalence of pigment use in the Upper Paleolithic raises intriguing questions about the absence of blue pigments in their artistic practices.
So far, only one instance of a copper-based turquolithic pigment has been documented, originating from decorated anthropomorphic figurines in parts of Malta, dating back 19,000-23,000 years.
The presence of blue pigments has not been recognized in the Paleolithic period in Europe until now.
“Our findings challenge the conventional understanding of the use of Paleolithic pigments,” stated Izzy Wisher, an archaeologist at Aarhus University.
In their investigation, Dr. Wisher and colleagues discovered blue pigments in stone artifacts with concave bowl-like features dating from 14,000 to 11,700 years ago on Mullheim Dieche Island, Germany.
This discovery signifies the first known utilization of blue pigments during the Upper Paleolithic in Europe.
“The detection of azurite suggests that Paleolithic individuals possessed a profound understanding of mineral pigments and had access to a broader color spectrum than previously recognized.
“Stones previously thought to be open circuit lamps now appear to have served as a mixed surface or palette for preparing blue pigments. This indicates an artistic or cosmetic practice that has largely gone unnoticed.”
These findings prompt a reconsideration of Paleolithic art and color usage, paving the way for exploring how early humans articulated their identities, status, and beliefs through a far more diverse and vibrant array of materials than was once imagined.
“We hypothesize that azurite was likely used more extensively than we had anticipated, based on its presence in Muhlheim Dietesheim and its potential availability within the landscape,” the researchers noted.
“The use of azurite might have been confined to activities that are not well-preserved in the archaeological record.”
“Blue pigments were evidently not employed to adorn Paleolithic cave walls or portable art objects in Europe, but they may have been utilized for body decoration instead.”
“Our results invite a critical examination of color usage in the Upper Paleolithic to ascertain why certain hues were favored or neglected in different artistic endeavors.”
The results were published this week in the journal Ancient.
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Izzy Wisher et al. The earliest evidence of the use of blue pigments in Europe. Ancient Published online on September 29th, 2025. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10184
Bubbles formed in water can generate electric sparks powerful enough to ignite methane.
In marshy areas, observers sometimes notice a mysterious flash of blue light hovering above the surface. A plausible explanation for these “Will-o’-the-wisps,” or Ignis Fatuus, is that the flashes originate from the combustion of gases such as methane and phosphine, produced by decomposing organic matter in the murky waters below. However, the ignition source for these gases remains uncertain, with theories suggesting causes ranging from static electricity to lightning strikes.
Recently, Richard Zare from Stanford University and his team have observed spontaneous electrical sparks occurring between methane bubbles and air submerged underwater, dubbing them microlites. They assert that these occurrences have sufficient energy to ignite methane gas.
“We are continually uncovering new phenomena about water. They seem obvious once we grasp them, but prior to that, they appear entirely bizarre,” Zare remarks. “People typically associate water with extinguishing fires, not igniting them. Instead, it can generate sparks that light a fire. This concept is revolutionary.”
Zare and his team previously documented water droplets, comparable to the size of salt grains, generating sparks spontaneously. This led them to hypothesize that similar effects could arise from methane bubbles in water. They employed nozzles to inject microbubbles of methane combined with air into water and utilized a high-speed camera, photon counter, and spectrometer to monitor bubble interactions.
As the bubbles ascended through the water, they altered their shape and merged. Upon collision, the contrast in charge between the bubbles sparked flashes, which Zare’s team successfully recorded using both the camera counter and the photon counter.
They also analyzed the light frequency from the flashes, finding it consistent with signatures of specific chemically excited compounds. This indicates that the sparks are potent enough to ignite gases like methane.
Microlight between air and methane-containing foam
Yusia
“[The Italian physicist Alessandro] Volta was the first to assert that these ignis fatuus exist and speculated on their nature. In some ways, he was correct, but not for the reasons he thought. They actually originate from the droplets.”
“This is incredibly intriguing,” states Detlef Lohse from the University of Twente in the Netherlands. While this does not definitively resolve the mystery of Will-o’-the-wisps, it presents a credible explanation, and the findings are likely to stimulate further research.
I have been rearranging my home lately and encountered issues common among cyclists: where to store your bike? According to research, around 5.5 million individuals in the UK would cycle more if they had the appropriate space to store their bicycles at home. Specifically, 23% of flat residents and 58% of those living in detached houses struggle with finding accessible storage locations.
Fortunately, there are numerous bike storage options available, ranging from simple floor anchors in small outdoor areas to high-security sheds and designated parking zones offered by local authorities. One innovative entrepreneur even won £100,000 on Dragons’ Den for his “Space Isle” concept. Below are some of the top storage solutions I’ve discovered, suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings.
Top Bicycle Storage Solutions
Outdoor
If your bike needs to be parked outside and security is a concern (as it should be), opt for products with a solid safety rating. This indicates that they have undergone thorough testing to resist theft.
Additionally, if you’re considering a shed, be cautious: metal can become extremely hot in the sun. Avoid letting parts of the bike that may melt (like the handlebars and tires) come into contact with metal during the summer. Either strategically place fabric between the bike and metal or consider insulation.
For those with access to a front or rear garden, Asgard’s sheds offer secure, aesthetically pleasing, and durable options. Prices for a two-bike shed start at £649. I trialed the Mammoth Annex Plus E (with E-Bike charging capabilities) in my front yard. It’s been police approved and certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) for security.
The Plus E can accommodate 3-4 bikes (make sure to check your bike size first). It also features optional plug sockets for charging, gear shelves, and hooks. For an additional cost, Asgard offers installation services. Initially hesitant to leave an expensive bike in my front garden, I found the shed to be incredibly secure, thanks to a five-point locking double door with two deadbolts.
The design includes ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and is spacious enough to conceal overflowing bins from neighbors. Weighing 176kg (27st 10lb), it’s quite a challenge to move.
Lifting Lid Shed
£629.99 on Shedstore£629.99 with Buy Sheds Direct
Trimital’s bike sheds are robust and well-constructed but lack fixed design and LPCB rating, requiring individual padlocks to secure them when closed. The dimensions of the 6ft 4in x 2ft 9in (193cm x 88cm) model allow it to house up to three adult bikes, and it boasts a 25-year panel warranty. This model features a spring-assisted lid that lifts both the roof and front of the shed, reducing the need to duck while loading and unloading bikes. However, managing two padlocks can be tricky during rain or when you’re in a hurry; the floors are sold separately (£89.99).
For models like the Fortress shed, special metal anchors can be affixed to solid floors with the bike locked to it.
Simple Wooden Shed
£434 at Powersheds£445 at Wicks
Numerous affordable wooden sheds start at £200-300, but investing in a higher-quality model is advisable. The cycle insurance company Bikmo recommends opting for a tongue-and-groove design, as overlapping wooden styles can warp and become vulnerable to both the weather and thieves. Internal hinges are preferable since they prevent burglars from easily removing the doors.
Positioned in the mid-range sector is Powersheds’ Apex Bike Shed, with the 6 x 2ft (183 x 61cm) model starting at £434. It can store two bikes, but remember to verify your bike sizes prior to purchase. Powersheds’ products come with a 10-year warranty, galvanized metal components, and easily accessible doors. However, the hinge is situated on the outside.
The Bike Shed Company offers high-end wooden sheds that accommodate up to five adult bicycles, along with garden shelving and custom wooden builds. The most affordable model, the Pedalbase 2, fits two bikes (again, be sure to check your bike dimensions). Both the doors and roof open and stay lifted via gas struts, making it effortless to access. There’s even a model designed to fit beside your bay window. This wood is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests in the UK.
On-Street Solutions
Photo: Nathaniel Noir/Aramie
While most councils do not provide public bike storage, and waitlists can be lengthy, we luckily share a cycling parking space on the street near our home. These Hemisil Shared Bicycle Huts are available in cities like London, Bristol, and Salford. Places like Brighton, Edinburgh, and Glasgow have efficient setups accommodating six bikes in the space of a single car. These bike storage spots are typically set up by councils and can be borrowed by residents. In London, one such spot averages £57.90 a year in 2022.
Their popularity is evident: Bristol introduced 40 new hangars that were nearly fully booked within 90 minutes. Waltham Forest currently has 4,305 individuals on its waiting list, with 150 new applications each month (the council anticipates offering 300 additional units next year).
You can join a waiting list or coordinate with your neighbors and local councils. If enough people express interest in CycleHoop, they may inform your council of the demand. There’s even a Jumbo Cargo Bike Model catering to non-standard cycles.
Time for Anchors!
For minimalist solutions in tight outdoor spaces like alleys, consider metal floor or wall anchors that can be secured into the ground and allow chains to loop through the bike. Check here for Safe-approved ground anchors currently available. You can also opt for a bike cover to shield your bike from the elements (details below).
Diamond Secure
£63.84 in Halford£56.99 on Amazon
Hiplok’s ANKR is on the pricier side but carries a diamond safety rating, which is the highest security classification for bike protection. For your investment, you’ll receive maximum security steel anchors for both bikes and motorcycles. The rubberized cap ensures no damage to your bicycle’s frame and is backed by a 10-year warranty—ideal if a bike thief has a determined mission or comes equipped with an angle grinder.
Silver Secure
£25 at Argos£19.99 on Amazon
Oxford Locks’ Anchor10 features secure silver-rated wall and floor anchors made from hardened steel. Its design includes bolts shielded by ball bearings, which are concealed when the locks are installed to thwart theft attempts. The manufacturer claims it undergoes a “5-minute attack test.”
Outdoor Bike Cover
Leaving your bike exposed to the elements is less than ideal, but may be necessary at times. Many Dutch cyclists do this year-round. Bike covers come in various styles and price ranges, providing an economical solution to reduce rust and wear. Budget options start under ten pounds, while premium covers for larger cycles can exceed seventy pounds. A mid-range option is often the best compromise.
Stylish Cover
£39.30 at Santa Fixy
The Bikeparka Stash is a chic, fitted cover that wraps around both the front and rear wheels of your bicycle, complete with cinch straps to prevent water accumulation. As a medium-sized bike user, I managed to fit two bikes beneath a single cover. Constructed from ripstop waterproof material, it boasts sealed seams, adjustable toggles, and brass eyelets to keep your bike snug and dry. Just be cautious on windy days—my bike once tipped over due to the cover acting like a sail, causing scratches. Additionally, there’s a cargo bike parka for £85.70 and a long-tail bike model with a seat cover priced at £79.95. For durability, using it primarily in the winter months will extend its lifespan by reducing UV damage. Bikeparka offers a one-year guarantee for sun exposure, and a colleague mentioned theirs has lasted for years outdoors compared to months of cheaper alternatives. To illustrate, think of it like leaving your tent exposed 24/7 while grappling with troublesome metal objects regularly.
Stormskin’s premium cover is robust and will adequately protect your bike; it withstands all weather except the most relentless horizontal rain. Reviewers have praised it as the best protective cover available (though it’s not particularly portable) and it features slits to allow securing directly to the bike lock. The material is up to nine times thicker than competing products and is made from 100% recycled fabric, showcasing a stylish palm print design that’s visually appealing. It does take some effort to fit all bikes under it.
Budget Options
£18.99 at Trets
The Oxford Aquatex cover is an economical choice while still being effective in shielding your bike from the weather. It comes in three sizes and can accommodate up to three bikes. Made from grade 100 polyester with double stitching, it is a straightforward option with a strong base. While spacious enough for larger bikes, this also results in more flapping in the wind. If you face issues with pigeons or similar problems, it could serve as a deterrent.
Indoor
There are plenty of hooks and shelving solutions designed to facilitate indoor bike storage. Treat your bike as a piece of art—it just may be! Many of the following options are also suitable for garages and sturdy wooden sheds.
Tire Hooks
£15 in HalffordHornitt for £15.99
The compact bike hook is simply a small piece of plastic constructed to hold your bike’s tire. The manufacturer suggests that while one wheel remains on the ground, installation is as straightforward as pushing a few screws into place. This clever and popular option permits you to line your bikes up like books on a shelf. Be sure to measure tire widths before purchasing from the five available sizes (ranging from 23-32mm to 70-81mm). Keep the tires inflated or the bike may tip. Another option could be the Clug Pro, which secures the wheel in place using strong, small threads and magnets. Mud pads can also be added to safeguard the wall.
Rubber Hook
£8.42 on Decathlon
For an affordable and versatile option that fully supports the bike, a rubber-covered hook is available at various price points. This option is recommended by this YouTuber. Attaching it to a wooden 2×4 or 2×6 baton, rather than directly onto the wall, enhances stability, longevity, and allows for more bikes within a meter, while also minimizing wall damage caused by the larger screws accompanying эти hooks.
No Drill Options
£149.99 on Cyclestore£179.99 in Halford
Topeak offers several no-drill bike storage solutions. For a compact setup, consider utilizing dual touch wedges stationed between the floor and ceiling, using an adjustable pole with a clever foot pedal clutch. You can fit two bikes stacked vertically, but depending on your bike size and ceiling height, the maximum weight capacity can reach 72kg or 18kg.
The trick is to locate the joists in the ceiling, which can be done by referencing old photographs from before your kitchen ceiling collapsed. I found mine this way. My E-Bike step-through frame was oddly shaped and too bulky, resulting in an unstable hanging position; however, my hybrid and road bikes fit without issue. They also provide a freestanding version with tripod legs, requiring a little more floor space, which gained popularity at Bicycle Expo.
The immense black hole at the center of Radio Quasar RACS J032021.44-352104.1 (shortened to RACS J0320-35) is currently expanding at one of the fastest rates ever recorded.
Artist illustrations and x-ray images from Chandra for Racs J0320-35. Image credits: NASA/CXC/INAF-BRERA/IGHINA et al. / SAO / M. WEISS / N. WOLK.
The black hole residing in RACS J0320-35 has a mass approximately 1 billion times greater than that of the sun.
This system is situated about 12.8 billion light-years away from Earth, meaning astronomers are observing it as it existed just 920 million years after the universe’s inception.
It emits more X-rays than any other black hole identified in the universe’s first billion years.
Black holes are the driving force behind what scientists refer to as quasars.
This luminous giant’s energy is fueled by the significant amount of material that falls into the black hole.
The same research team discovered this black hole two years prior, but further observations from Chandra were required in 2023 to gain more insights.
Data from X-ray observations suggests that this black hole is expanding at a rate that exceeds the typical limits for such objects.
“It was somewhat surprising to observe such a dramatic growth in this black hole,” commented Dr. Luca Idina, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
As material is drawn towards the black hole, it heats up and generates intense radiation across a wide spectrum, including X-rays and optical light. This radiation creates pressure on the infalling material.
Once the falling speed reaches a critical threshold, the radiation pressure counterbalances the black hole’s gravity, making it usually impossible for material to fall inward more rapidly. This upper limit is known as the Eddington limit.
Researchers believe that black holes growing slower than the Eddington limit must originate with solar masses exceeding 10,000, allowing them to achieve a mass of 1 billion solar masses in the early universe.
Such massive black holes may originate from unique processes, often linked to incredibly dense clouds of gas that contain heavier elements than helium.
Interestingly, RACS J0320-35 is expanding at a remarkable speed, estimated to be 2.4 times greater than the Eddington limit, indicating that its formation may have followed a more typical path, beginning with a mass of less than 100 solar masses resulting from massive star explosions.
“By determining a black hole’s mass and growth rate, we can infer its initial size,” said Dr. Alberto Moretti, an astronomer at INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera.
“This calculation permits us to evaluate various theories regarding the formation of black holes.”
To investigate how rapidly this black hole is growing (at rates between 300 and 3,000 solar masses per year), researchers compared the theoretical model with Chandra’s X-ray spectra, assessing the X-rays emitted at various energy levels.
The findings indicated that Chandra’s spectrum closely matched their expectations based on a model for black holes developing beyond the Eddington limit.
Supporting data from optical and infrared observations further corroborates the conclusion that this black hole is accumulating mass faster than the Eddington limit permits.
“How did the universe generate the first generation of black holes?” mused Dr. Thomas Connor, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
“This is one of the most pressing questions in astrophysics, and this singular object propels our quest for answers.”
Moreover, this research also sheds light on the origins of the jets of particles emitted by some black holes that approach the speed of light, as observed in RACS J0320-35.
“Jets like these are uncommon in quasars, suggesting that the accelerated growth of black holes may play a role in the formation of these jets,” the author remarked.
Their paper is set to be published in the Astrophysical Journal.
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Luca Idina et al. 2025. X-ray investigation of the possibility of Super Eddington accretion in a wireless loudsal of Z = 6.13. apjl 990, L56; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/aded0a
Polar water is generated during the Martian season, which occurs due to the planet’s axis being tilted at an angle of 25.2 degrees, as explained by Dr. Kevin Olsen from Oxford and his colleagues at Latmos, CNRS, CNRS, Space Research Institute, Open University, and NASA.
This perspective view of Mars’ Arctic Ice Cap showcases its unique dark troughs arranged in a spiral pattern. The image is derived from observations made by ESA’s Mars Express, utilizing elevation data from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor’s Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter. Image credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/NASA/MGS/MOLA Science team.
“The polar vortex’s atmosphere, extending from near the surface to around 30 km high, experiences extremely low temperatures, approximately 40 degrees Celsius lower than the surrounding area,” stated Dr. Olsen.
“In such frigid conditions, most of the water vapor in the atmosphere freezes and accumulates in the ice cap, resulting in ozone formation within the vortex.”
Normally, ozone is destroyed by reacting with molecules generated when ultraviolet radiation decomposes water vapor.
However, once all water vapor is depleted, there are no reactive molecules left for ozone, allowing it to accumulate in the vortex.
“Ozone plays a crucial role for Mars. It is a reactive form of oxygen that indicates the pace of chemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere,” Olsen noted.
“By investigating the levels of ozone and their variances, we gain insight into how the atmosphere evolves over time and whether Mars once had a protective ozone layer similar to Earth.”
Slated for launch in 2028, ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Rover aims to uncover evidence of life that may have existed on Mars.
The possibility that Mars had a protective ozone layer, safeguarding its surface against harmful ultraviolet radiation from space, enhances the likelihood of ancient life-sustaining conditions on the planet billions of years ago.
Polar vortices are produced during the Martian season as a consequence of the axial tilt of 25.2 degrees.
Similar to Earth, an atmospheric vortex forms above Mars’ North Pole at the end of summer and persists through spring.
On Earth, polar vortices can destabilize, losing their structure and shifting southward, often bringing cold weather to mid-latitudes.
A similar phenomenon can occur with Mars’ polar water vortex, which provides an opportunity to explore its internal dynamics.
“Studying the Northern Pole’s winter on Mars presents challenges due to the absence of sunlight, akin to conditions on Earth,” Dr. Olsen explained.
“By analyzing the vortex, one can differentiate between observations made inside and outside it, providing insight into ongoing phenomena.”
The atmospheric chemical suite aboard ESA’s trace gas orbiter examines Mars’ atmosphere by capturing sunlight filtered through the planet’s limb while the sun is positioned behind it.
The specific wavelengths of absorbed sunlight reveal which molecules are present in the atmosphere and their altitudes above the surface.
Nonetheless, this method is ineffective during the complete winter darkness on Mars when the sun does not illuminate the Arctic region.
The only chance to observe the vortex is during moments when its circular shape is lost, but additional data is required to pinpoint when and where this occurs.
To enhance their research, the scientists utilized NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Mars Climate Sounder instrument, measuring temperature variations to gauge the vortex’s extent.
“We sought sudden drops in temperature, which indicate entry into the vortex,” Dr. Olsen noted.
“By comparing ACS observations with data from Mars’ climate sounders, we observed significant atmospheric differences within the vortex compared to the surrounding air.”
“This presents a fascinating opportunity to deepen our understanding of Mars’ atmospheric chemistry and how polar night conditions shift as ozone accumulates.”
Mummies are commonly linked with Egypt and date back around 4,500 years. However, researchers have discovered mummies that are significantly older on the opposite side of the globe.
“We found several archaeological sites in southern China and Southeast Asia, where human burials dated between 4,000 and 14,000 years have been identified,” said Professor Peter Bellwood, co-author of the study, during a phone interview on Tuesday.
Research, as mentioned in a study published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed 54 Neolithic burials from 11 archaeological sites in southern China and Southeast Asia. The findings include numerous samples from the autonomous regions of Guangzhou, as well as from Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Human remains were often found in crouched or squatting positions, frequently showing signs of burning. Researchers confirmed that many of these bodies had been preserved for a considerable time prior to burial during the mummification process.
Burials of partially skeletal bodies were frequently observed in pre-Neolithic sites in southern China and Southeast Asia. Hirofumi Matsumura
Bellwood, an archaeology professor at the Australian National University of Canberra, noted:
Before this discovery, the oldest known mummies were located in modern Peru and Chile, rather than in Egypt.
The modern radical smoke-dried mummies of mites bred in Jayawijaya, Indonesia, are very similar to the burials of many Neolites recorded in southern China and Southeast Asia. Hirofumi Matsumura
These discoveries have also garnered attention from leading experts in ancient Egyptian studies.
“The term has been adopted by various groups to refer to other preserved bodies, leading to a broader understanding of the concept,” stated Salima Ikram, a professor of Egyptology at the American University of Cairo who was not affiliated with the study.
“What’s positive is that the underlying ideas are similar, as these cultures aimed to preserve themselves,” she added.
The project began in 2017 with a casual conversation between the two lead authors and subsequently grew to include 24 experts.
“Over the years, we’ve gradually assembled various pieces of evidence,” said Hsiao-Chun Hung, the study’s lead author, in an email. “It’s akin to a detective’s work, where I find small clues, piece them together, and become increasingly confident in my hypothesis.”
When centenarians are asked about their longevity, the common reply centers on diet. For instance, Maria Blañas Morela, the oldest known person when she passed at 117, consumed three yogurts daily. Jeanne Calment, often recognized as the oldest living person, attributed her remarkable age to olive oil, chocolate, and the occasional glass of port.
Diet plays a significant role in health and is essential for a long life. However, a better question to consider might be: “What did you avoid eating?”
This article is part of a special issue examining ways to achieve the healthiest and happiest year possible. Click here for more details!
For example, Lars Fadness from the University of Bergen in Norway and colleagues analyzed research from the global burden of disease report. Their findings indicate that a conventional Western diet—characterized by lower intake of refined grains, sugar, red and processed meats, and dairies, alongside lesser fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish—is not conducive to longevity. In fact, such diets contribute to approximately 11 million early deaths annually.
Researchers modeled the life expectancy impact of dietary changes, showing that if a typical 20-year-old woman in the US shifts to a diet focused on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and fish, her life expectancy could rise from 80 to 89. Similarly, a 20-year-old man making the same dietary switch would see an increase from 76 to 86.
“Increasing whole grains, nuts, and legumes while minimizing processed and red meat can significantly improve health,” Fadness notes.
“
Even if your 20th birthday is long gone, there are compelling reasons to make a change “
Even if you’re past 20, there’s still value in changing your habits. For instance, a 60-year-old woman switching to this healthier lifestyle could gain over seven extra years, raising her life expectancy from 81.6 to 89.
Fadness also detailed how transitioning towards a diet less aligned with Western standards can extend life expectancy, albeit to a lesser degree than complete dietary optimization.
Eating lots of fresh vegetables can add years to your life
NRD/UNSPLASH
While these are theoretical models, real-world data supports the premise that diet plays a significant role in health over the years.
Last year, Zhaoli Dai-Keller and her team at the University of New South Wales investigated the nutritional habits of thousands of people aged 95 and older, focusing on individuals from community environments in East Asia, Australia, and Western Europe. These individuals have successfully aged, and their dietary patterns revealed valuable insights.
Avoid Excess Salt
The study found that those individuals exemplified dietary virtues. They consumed significantly less alcohol and adhered to a balanced, diverse diet featuring primarily fruits, vegetables, white meat, fish, and legumes. Notably, Dai-Keller highlighted, “Salt intake was notably lower among centenarians.” High salt consumption is linked to cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of death globally.
In a related study, Anne Julie Tessier and Marta Guasch-Ferré from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, reexamined data from two extensive studies that tracked over 105,000 individuals spanning three decades, searching for evidence of healthy aging, defined as reaching age 70 free from major chronic diseases and maintaining physical and mental acuity.
Only about 10% of participants met these criteria. Analysis showed that a key commonality among those who reached this goal was dietary habits, with the majority consistently following a Mediterranean diet during middle age. In contrast, those who indulged in fatty, salty, and meaty diets did not fare as well in aging healthily.
While reaching the age of 70 in good health does not guarantee a lifespan of 100, it certainly helps.
So, how much does body weight influence longevity, beyond simply what you eat? According to a 2024 study led by Dai-Keller, one defining characteristic of those over 95 is that they tend to be slender. Approximately half maintained normal weight, while a third experienced weight loss.
Weight and Daily Activities
Obesity does not appear to be a conducive factor for reaching 100 years. However, research showed that being overweight, as opposed to being obese, was beneficial for daily functions compared to maintaining a normal weight. Additionally, being underweight increased the risk of disability by about 25%.
This discussion leads us to calorie restriction, a method sometimes recommended for promoting longevity. One of the most reliable ways to prolong the lifespan of laboratory animals is to reduce caloric intake by over 25%. However, this is challenging for humans, and calorie restriction is yet to be proven effective in extending human lifespan. Even if it does extend life, it may compromise the ability to perform daily tasks.
In conclusion, to enhance your chances of living to 100 in optimal health, consider the crucial elements on your plate.
The sizable jaws of the predatory alxaurus species from the latest Triassic period in South Wales, Zanclodon cambrensis, have long captivated researchers. Could it be the oldest large theropod dinosaur? In a recent study, paleontologists from the University of Bristol and Cardiff’s National Museum examined the specimens using advanced 3D digital reconstruction techniques. They first confirmed that the specimens dated to the late Triassic period, likely sourced from the sandstones of the Kotam members of the Lilstock Formation. Anatomically, these specimens exhibit characteristics typical of theropod dinosaurs, potentially representing early, novel therapy-footed species such as Newtonsaurus cambrensis.
Two separate blocks containing the impression of the jaw Newtonsaurus cambrensis. Image credit: Evans et al., doi: 10.1016/j.pgeola.2025.101142.
“This specimen has been mentioned in various scientific papers, yet its identity remains elusive. We were uncertain if it was even a dinosaur,” states Dr. Owain Evans, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol.
“Originally named Zanclodon cambrensis by Edwin Tully Newton in 1899, we learned that the name Zanclodon had been abandoned as it referred to a broad range of early reptiles.”
“Therefore, we honor Newton by naming it Newtonsaurus. It stands apart from all other dinosaurs of that time and warrants a unique designation.”
Newtonsaurus cambrensis roamed the Earth approximately 202 million years ago during the late Triassic.
The fossil was uncovered in a tempestuous area near Bridgend, Wales, UK.
The specimen represents the natural form of the left jaw, revealing both its interior (housed at the National Museum of Wales) and the outer surface (held at the British Geological Survey).
“The natural form of the inner and outer jawbone displays astonishing serrated details along the grooves, ridges, teeth, and even the edges of the teeth,” commented Professor Michael Benton from the University of Bristol.
“We opted to create a 3D model utilizing digital photography.”
“Our process began with surface scans of the fossils through photogrammetry.”
“Once I obtained a digital scan, I reversed it which provided a digital negativity.”
“It was simply a matter of merging both sides and analyzing the anatomy from there.”
“Digital reconstructions derived from specimens give us a considerably clearer understanding of the original structure of the bone.”
Now that the fossils have been examined, the team could utilize their anatomy to ascertain their positions in the reptile family tree, determining importantly whether they are dinosaurs.
“We can assert that this specimen is highly likely a member of the large predatory theropod dinosaurs that inhabited the South Wales coast during the late Triassic,” Dr. Evans remarked.
“The arrangement of the teeth exhibits a distinct, extraordinary dinosaur feature, identifying it as a carnivorous predator.”
“If it’s not a true dinosaur, it closely ties to the origins of the two major divisions of Coelophysis, namely Coelophysodia and Averostra.”
“The most surprising aspect is the size of the creature. The preserved jawbone measures 28 cm in length and constitutes just the front half; originally, it likely corresponded to dinosaurs measuring 60 cm in length, with a total body length of 5-7 m.”
“This size is exceptionally large for Triassic theropods, which predominantly were under half that size.”
“Such historical specimens are invaluable in paleontology, frequently yielding new and enlightening insights, even after years of dormancy in collections,” stated Dr. Cindy Howells, a paleontologist at the National Museum in Cardiff.
“Wales holds a treasure trove of fossil records, with a dense concentration of fossils across the UK.”
“Furthermore, Newtonsaurus cambrensis reiterates the significance of Wales in paleontological exploration.”
“These Triassic strata are scarce worldwide, but several can be found in Wales.”
“It’s quite plausible that another dinosaur may be discovered here.”
Survey results were published online today in Proceedings of the Geologists Association.
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Owain Evans et al. A reevaluation of a large orxaurial dentistry from the Late Triassic in South Wales, England. Proceedings of the Geologists Association published online on September 11th, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.pgeola.2025.101142
Utilizing data gathered by NSF’s Gemini South Telescope and NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have identified methane signatures (CH4), water (H2O), and silane (SiH4) in the cold brown dwarf gas WISEA J153429.75-104303.3 (shortened to W1534). Silanes are predicted to act as significant reservoirs of silicon, the element responsible for the large clouds of gas that surround giant worlds, but their presence had remained undetected until now, masked by the development of deep silicate clouds in the observable atmosphere.
This artist’s illustration depicts a brown dwarf with an atmosphere filled with gas and dust clouds. Image credits: Noirlab/NSF/Aura/R. Proctor.
The W1534, referred to as the accident, is situated approximately 50 light years from Earth in the Libra constellation.
This brown dwarf was likely formed between 100 and 120 billion years ago and ranks among the oldest brown dwarfs discovered to date.
First identified in 2020 by citizen scientists participating in the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Citizen Science Project, its unusual light profile captivated astronomers.
Using two of the world’s most advanced terrestrial and space-based telescopes, astronomers examined its atmosphere to analyze its properties and composition.
The survey commenced with NSF’s Noirlab Astronomer Sandy Leggett capturing near-infrared images of W1534 with a Gemini South telescope in Chile, part of the International Gemini Observatory.
This initial work laid the groundwork for further explorations using Webb, guided by Noirlab Astronomer Aaron Meisner.
“W1534 is quite faint, and Gemini South is the only ground-based telescope capable of detecting it,” Dr. Meisner stated.
“The Gemini discovery paved the way for Webb’s observations by revealing the deeper atmospheric layers of this mysterious object and enabling us to determine the exposure time necessary to gather useful near-infrared data on its composition.”
Within W1534’s atmosphere, the team uncovered the crucial signature of silane, a compound formed from silicon and four hydrogen atoms.
Planetary scientists have long theorized the existence of this molecule within gas giants, attributing potential significance to its role in cloud formation within the atmosphere.
Despite extensive searches, its atmospheric presence has remained elusive in our solar system’s gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, although thousands of studies on brown dwarfs and gas giants orbiting other stars have occurred.
This marks the first discovery of silanes in any brown dwarf, exoplanet, or solar system object.
The absence of this molecule in all but one singular brown dwarf suggests intriguing insights into the chemistry occurring in such an ancient environment.
“Often, it is these extreme objects that help us understand the average,” remarked Dr. Jackie Faherty, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History.
The presence of silanes in W1534’s atmosphere implies that in very ancient objects, silicon is capable of bonding with hydrogen to form lighter molecules that can ascend to the upper layers of a gas giant’s atmosphere.
In contrast, more recently formed objects, such as Jupiter and Saturn, result in silicon bonding with readily available oxygen, producing heavier molecules that settle deeper into the atmospheric layers.
The evidence gleaned from W1534’s atmosphere further validates astronomers’ comprehension of gas giant cloud formation and sheds light on how primitive conditions influence atmospheric composition.
Moreover, it indicates that worlds formed billions of years ago display characteristics distinctly different from those formed during the early solar system.
“The formation and detection of silanes highlight an essential relationship among composition, cloud formation, and atmospheric mingling in cold brown dwarfs and planetary atmospheres,” the authors concluded.
Recently discovered species of coelacanth, which thrived at the end of the Triassic period around 200 million years ago, have been identified from museum specimens excavated in the UK over a century and a half ago.
Reconstruction of the large Mausonian Coelacanth artist from the Lezians of England. Image credit: Daniel Phillips.
Coelacanths are unique fish that first appeared in the early Devonian epoch fossil record approximately 419 million years ago.
Since the Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods, over 175 fossil coelacanth species have been identified.
During the Mesozoic Era, these fish exhibited significant diversification, with some species developing unusual body shapes.
However, at the close of the Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago, they inexplicably vanished from the fossil record.
It is believed that coelacanths went extinct due to a mass extinction event during the Cretaceous period. Nonetheless, in 1938, the first specimen of the living species Latimeria chalumnae was fortuitously captured in South Africa.
“Our team has encountered numerous fossils that were initially classified as small marine reptiles. Pachistrophius,” said Professor Mike Benton of the University of Bristol, who is a senior author of the study.
“Many Pachistrophius share peculiar similarities with coelacanth fossils, but we’ve traveled to collections nationwide and discovered that this misidentification has occurred repeatedly.”
“Notably, several of these specimens have been stored in museum facilities, including public collections, since the 1800s,” stated Jacob Quinn, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol.
“From four previous reports of coelacanths from the Triassic era in the UK, we identified more than 50 individuals.”
Paleontologists conducted X-ray scans of numerous specimens to verify their identification.
The specimens mainly belong to the extinct group Mawsoniidae of the coelacanth, while also being closely related to living fish.
“The materials we identified are isolated specimens, but we can see they originate from individuals of various ages, sizes, and species.”
Dr. David Whiteside, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol, remarked:
“Like modern coelacanths, these large fish are opportunistic predators, lurking along the seabed and likely preying on whatever they encountered, including small Pachistrophius marine reptiles, which have been misidentified as coelacanth fossils for decades.”
The study is set to be published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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Jacob Quinn et al. 2025. British Triassic coelacanth fish. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 45: E2520921; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2520921
The latest study presents paleoenvironmental models indicating how tidal dynamics played a crucial role in the early evolution of Sumerian agriculture and sociopolitical intricacies.
Cylinder seal impression from the Uruk era circa 3100 BC. Image credit: Louvre Museum.
The earliest known network of city-states, intricately linked by common cultural practices and economic ties, emerged in southern Mesopotamia approximately 5,000 years ago.
The prosperity of this urban center, collectively referred to as Schmer, was fundamentally based on agriculture, supported by extensive irrigation systems.
The urbanization of Schmah, following the long-standing rural Ubaid culture, was part of a process that began at least prior to the millennium during the Uruk period (6,000-5,200 years ago).
The concurrent rise in population, innovation, and professional specialization during this time led to the formation of a state system with a complex economy, interlinking urban centers with their rural surroundings.
This “Sumerian takeoff” could not have happened in the challenging, arid tropical region between the Arabian and Iranian deserts without access to the perennial freshwater provided by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
However, questions remain about how, and when, labor-intensive large-scale irrigation became prevalent in the area, and how the abundance of water transformed into social prosperity.
“Our findings indicate that Sumer was literally built upon the rhythm of water, culturally,” states Dr. Lviv Giosan, a researcher at Woods Hole Marine Facilities.
“The cyclical tidal patterns and the morphodynamics of deltas—how landscapes evolve over time due to dynamic processes—were intricately woven into Sumerian mythology, innovation, and daily life.”
This research reveals that between 7,000 to 5,000 years ago, the Persian Gulf was expanding inland, with tides pushing freshwater into the lower Tigris and Euphrates twice daily.
Scholars propose that early communities harnessed this reliable hydrology through short canals to irrigate crops and cultivate dates, allowing for high-yield farming without the need for vast infrastructure.
As the river created a delta at the bay’s head, tidal access to the interior was obstructed.
The subsequent loss of tidal influence may have sparked ecological and economic crises, necessitating a significant social response.
The extensive efforts for irrigation and flood management that followed ultimately characterized Schmer’s golden age.
Dr. Reed Goodman, a researcher at Clemson University, remarked:
“The Mesopotamian delta was distinct. Its constantly shifting land spurred some of the earliest intensive agriculture in history and led to ambitious social experiments, driven by that restless land.”
In addition to environmental factors, this study also investigates the cultural impact of this aquatic foundation, linking Mesopotamia to the Sumerian pantheon’s flood myth.
“The key conclusions of this research highlight what we discovered in Ragash,” notes Dr. Holly Pittman, director of the Ragash Archaeology Project at the Penn Museum.
“Rapid environmental changes fueled inequality, political integration, and the ideology of the world’s first urban societies.”
Leveraging ancient environmental and landscape data, new samples from historic Ragash archaeological sites, and detailed satellite imagery, the authors reconstructed what Sumerian coasts may have looked like long ago and envisioned how its inhabitants adapted to their ever-changing environment.
“Our work underscores both the opportunities and risks associated with social transformation in response to significant environmental crises,” Dr. Giosan added.
“It is always fascinating to uncover genuine history hidden within mythology, and interdisciplinary research like ours plays a crucial role in revealing it.”
Researchers from CA ‘Foscari University have discovered Indigotin, a blue secondary compound also known as indigo, on a non-nanoparticle ground stone tool unearthed from the Zuziana Cave at the foot of the Caucasus in Georgia. Indigotin forms through reactions with atmospheric oxygen and natural glycoside precursors from leaves of the Isatis Tinctoria. This indicates that the plant was deliberately processed as far back as 34,000 years ago, despite its non-educational applications.
Five pebbles from Zugiana Cave, Georgia. Image credit: Longo et al., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321262.
Modern humans first appeared in archaeological records approximately 300,000 years ago in Africa.
Much of the evidence regarding their cognitive and technical skills is derived from the limited existence of stone artifacts and the remains of animals, as these endure far longer in the archaeological record compared to plant materials.
As a result, Paleolithic narratives predominantly emphasize animal hunting and the production of stone tools.
The so-called “majority,” particularly plants that lack significant mentions, especially those increasingly shown to be utilized for food, cordage, weaving, and medicine, create incomplete accounts.
This underscores the need to identify and illustrate the roles of plants in an array of activities, many of which may still be undiscovered.
“It’s not solely about viewing plants as food resources; that’s common. We emphasize their involvement in complex processes. It possibly involves transforming perishable materials for use at various stages of Homo sapiens 34,000 years ago.”
“While the identification of elusive plant residues not typically highlighted in traditional research continually improves, our multi-analytical approach unveils fresh perspectives on the technical and cultural sophistication of Upper Paleolithic tools, designed to skillfully exploit the vast resources of plants and fully acknowledge their significance.”
In their investigation, researchers examined stone tools dating back 34,000 years, discovered in Zugiana Cave, Georgia.
They identified signs of mechanical processing of soft, wet materials consistent with plant matter such as leaves.
Employing an array of microscopic techniques (both optical and confocal), blue residues (occasionally fibrous) alongside starch grains were unexpectedly revealed.
These residues were particularly prevalent in the areas of the tools that displayed significant wear.
To ascertain the blue residues’ nature, scientists used advanced microscopy techniques, specifically Raman and FTIR spectroscopy.
These analyses confirmed the existence of indigotin chromophores in several samples.
“Once the molecules responsible for the blue coloration were identified, new questions arose. How and why were these residues associated with the tool’s working surface?” the author remarked.
They subsequently investigated the porosity of the stone, a crucial factor for trapping and retaining biological residues.
Both microscopic fragments of the archaeological tool and larger samples of experimental replicas underwent analysis using Micro-CT tomography.
This analysis confirmed the presence of pores capable of holding trace biological remnants.
Consequently, the team devised a series of replication experiments.
Initially, raw rock materials resembling those used by prehistoric inhabitants of Zuziana were sourced.
The pebbles were collected by Nino Jakeli from the Nikrisi River, located just beneath the cave.
Following this, controlled experiments were conducted, mechanically treating a range of plants, including fiber sources (such as bast fiber) and potentially indigotin-yielding species.
“We employed a rigorous approach to pollution control and biomolecular analysis to provide insights into contemporary human behaviors and the technical and ecological knowledge likely prioritized during the Upper Paleolithic era,” the researchers stated.
“Whether this plant remains serve medicinal purposes or have other uses presents a new perspective on the intriguing potential for diverse plant utilization.”
Survey results have been published online in the journal PLOS 1.
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L. Longo et al. 2025. Direct evidence of treatment of Isatis Tinctoria L., non-nutritional factories, 32-34,000 years ago. PLOS 1 20(5): E0321262; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321262
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