These Rocks May Be the Final Remnants of Earth’s Early Crust

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Canadian Nuvvuagittuq Green Stone Belt may contain the world’s oldest rock

Jonathan O’Neill

About four billion years ago, magma from Earth’s mantle intruded the primitive crust of a nascent planet. Over the next period, nearly all of the planet’s early crust melted back into the mantle, leaving behind a small remnant near the site of this intrusion that still exists today.

This remnant is part of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt along Hudson Bay’s coast in Canada. Recent analyses of the rock’s radioisotope signatures have sparked debates among geologists about whether it is indeed the oldest rock on Earth or simply very ancient.

In a study published in 2008, Jonathan O’Neill from the University of Ottawa and his team posited that the surrounding rocks could be as old as 4.3 billion years, dating back to the Hadean eon—just a few hundred million years after Earth’s formation.

While there have been discoveries of older mineral grains, these ancient Hadean rocks provide critical insights into Earth’s formative years, possibly shedding light on geological enigmas like the onset of plate tectonics and early ocean compositions.

The method used for dating the rocks has drawn controversy, particularly regarding the claimed age of 4.3 billion years. Traditionally, old rocks are dated utilizing a robust mineral known as zircon, but these volcanic rocks lack zircon. “No one can date these rocks using the popular techniques,” O’Neill remarks.

Instead, researchers analyzed the isotopes of neodymium and samarium within the rock. As samarium decays, it generates different isotopes of neodymium at predictable rates, allowing the ratio of isotopes to serve as a “clock” marking the time since the rock crystallized from magma. Interestingly, two isotopes of samarium can decay at differing rates, acting as two parallel chronometers. Disagreement arose among researchers about whether the rock was genuinely Hadean, as the two clocks provided inconsistent age estimates.

“I’m not convinced that most of the early Earth research community agrees,” states Richard Walker at the University of Maryland.

Currently, O’Neill’s team is assessing the neodymium and samarium isotopes in the rock formations dating back 4.3 billion years. By definition, such intrusions are younger than the surrounding rock layers, implying that dating an intrusion yields the minimum age for the enclosing rocks.

Detailed view of the Canada Nuvvuagittuq Green Stone Belt

David Hutt/Alamy

In the findings, the two chronological indicators tell the same tale, indicating the rocks’ age to be approximately 4.16 billion years. “Both clocks yield identical results,” O’Neill states. This consistency bolsters the theory that the surrounding rocks were indeed solidified during the Hadean eon, making them potentially the only known remnants of Earth’s ancient crust.

“I believe they present the strongest argument possible,” asserts Graham Pierson from the University of Alberta, Canada.

“The simplest interpretation of this data is that these represent the oldest rocks on Earth,” says Jesse Reimink at Pennsylvania State University. Nevertheless, he cautions that this may not be the final word on the subject, stating, “When it comes to the oldest rocks and minerals, absolute certainty is hard to come by.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Evacuating Early Complex Life to Meltwater Ponds: Insights from a Snowman Earth Episode

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New findings from MIT indicate that early eukaryotes (complex life forms that eventually evolved into the diverse multicellular organisms we see today) may have thrived in meltwater ponds between 72 and 635 million years ago during a period referred to as Snowman Earth.

Impressions of the artist “Snowman Earth.” Image credit: NASA.

Snowman Earth is a colloquial term for a period in Earth’s history characterized by extensive ice coverage across the planet.

This term often refers to two consecutive glacial events that occurred during the Cleogen era, a timeframe geologists define as lasting from 635 million to 72,000 years ago.

The debate remains whether the Earth was akin to a solid snowball or a softer “slash ball.”

What is certain is that much of the planet experienced deep freeze conditions, with an average temperature of about 50 degrees Celsius.

The pressing question is how and where life managed to survive during this time.

“We aim to comprehend the essentials of complex life on Earth,” stated Fatima Hussain, a graduate student at MIT.

“We examine eukaryotic evidence before and after the Crazians in the Fossil Record, yet there’s limited direct evidence regarding their habitats.”

“The main mystery lies in how life persisted. We are working to uncover the specifics of how and where.”

Numerous theories suggest potential refuges for life during Snowman Earth, such as isolated areas of open ocean (if they existed), around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and underneath ice sheets.

By examining meltwater ponds, Hussain and her team explored the idea that surface meltwater could have supported eukaryotic life during the planet’s early years.

“There are various hypotheses regarding potential survival habitats for life during the Crazians, but we lack comprehensive analogs,” Hussain remarked.

“Meltwater ponds are currently found on Earth, easily accessible, and provide a unique opportunity to focus on the eukaryotes inhabiting these environments.”

For their study, the researchers analyzed samples from meltwater ponds in Antarctica.

In 2018, scientists visited the McMurdo Ice Shelf region of East Antarctica, which is known for its small meltwater ponds.

In this area, water freezes all the way to the seabed, encompassing dark sediments and marine life.

The loss of wind-driven ice from the surface creates a conveyor belt effect, gradually bringing trapped debris to the surface, which absorbs solar warmth, melting surrounding ice and leading to the creation of shallow meltwater ponds.

Each pond is adorned with mats of microorganisms that have accumulated over time, forming sticky communities.

“These mats can be several centimeters thick and are vibrant, clearly demonstrating distinct layers,” Hussain explained.

These microbial mats consist of single-celled, photosynthetic organisms, such as cyanobacteria, which are prokaryotic and lack nuclei or other organelles.

While these ancient microorganisms are known to withstand extreme environments like meltwater ponds, researchers sought to determine if complex eukaryotic organisms—characterized by cell nuclei and membrane-bound organelles—could also survive in such harsh conditions.

To address this question, the researchers required more than just a microscope, as the defining traits of microscopic eukaryotes within microbial mats are often too subtle to discern visually.

The study involved analyzing specific lipids called sterols and a genetic component known as ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA). Both serve as identifiers for various organisms.

This dual analytical approach provided complementary fingerprints for distinct eukaryotic groups.

In their lipid analysis, the researchers uncovered numerous sterols and rRNA genes in microbial mats that align closely with certain types of algae, protists, and microscopic animals.

They were able to assess the diversity and relative abundance of lipid and rRNA genes across different ponds, suggesting that these ponds are home to a remarkable variety of eukaryotes.

“The two ponds exhibit differences. There’s a recurrent cast of organisms, but they manifest uniquely in different environments,” Hussain noted.

“We identified a diverse array of eukaryotic organisms spanning all major groups in every pond we studied.”

“These eukaryotes are descendants of those that managed to survive Snowman Earth.”

“This underscores how meltwater ponds during the Snowman period globally could have nurtured eukaryotic life, enabling the diversification and emergence of complex organisms, including ourselves, in later epochs.”

Study published in the journal Nature Communications.

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F. Hussain et al. 2025. Diverse eukaryotic biosignatures from the Earth-analogous environment of Antarctic Snowman. Nat Commun 16, 5315; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-60713-5

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Discover Early Jurassic Ikchosaurus Fossils in British Columbia

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The partial skeleton discovered in the Fernie Formation in British Columbia, Canada, in 1916, represents a new genus and species of an extinct marine reptile named Ichaosaurus, as stated by an international group of paleontologists.

Photos and interpretation of Fernatator Prentisai skeleton in side view on the left. Image credit: Massare et al.

Fernatator Prentisai existed in North America during the early Jurassic Epoch, approximately 109 million years ago.

“Ichthyosaurs—marine reptiles that superficially resemble dolphins—were prominent marine predators from the early Triassic (Olenek) to the beginning of the late Cretaceous (Cenomanian),” noted Professor Judy Massare from SUNY College.

“They were the dominant large predators of the Triassic and early Jurassic seas.”

“Many partial and complete skeletal remains of early Jurassic ichthyosaurs have been collected, primarily from England and Germany.”

“The early Jurassic Ektisaurus in North America is considered rare,” they emphasized.

“Hence, the discovery of partial skeletal remains from western Canada is significant.”

Excavation of Fernatator Prentisai skeleton. The podium is incomplete, but the additional parts that were lost have since been preserved. T. Prentice At Light, WR Wilson, the general manager of CNP Coal Company, is on the left. Photo taken around 1916, between the Elk River, Morrissey, and Fernie, British Columbia. Photographer unknown. Image credit: Massare et al.

The skeleton of Fernatator Prentisai was found by T. Prentiss in the summer of 1916 while fishing on the Elk River in British Columbia, Canada.

“This specimen represents the most complete ichthyosaur known from the early Jurassic in North America and is one among several ichthyosaur specimens known from the Fernie Formation in western Canada,” the paleontologist remarked.

This new species is a medium-sized ichthyosaur, measuring 3-4 m (10-13 feet) in length, with a distinct combination of features.

“As preserved, the entire skeleton measures 2.8 m long, which includes an impression of the front of the podium,” the researcher added.

“In life, this skeleton likely reached approximately 3.5 m in length, possibly even 4 m.”

“Despite the poor preservation, there is enough identifiable morphology to justify the designation of a new genus and species,” they noted.

“It is characterized by a tall, bar-like orbital, short straight jugals that do not extend beyond the anterior or posterior of the orbit, a long, narrow anterior process of the maxilla, and a cora-like body with a broad curved outer end and a deep anterior region, among other features.”

Fernatator Prentisai symbolizes a sparse record of early Jurassic ichthyosaurs, validated from the Early Jurassic in Canada, and is a significant addition to ichthyosaur taxonomy.

A paper detailing this discovery has been published in the June 2025 issue of the journal Paldicola.

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Judy A. Massare et al. 2025. The most complete early Jurassic ichthyosaur from North America. Paldicola 15(2): 86-99

Source: www.sci.news

The 14,000-Year-Old “Tamat Puppy” from Siberian Permafrost: New Analysis Reveals It’s Not an Early Dog

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Tamat puppies are believed to be littermates and early domesticated canines, as indicated by their physical connections to slain mammoth bones and two permafrost-preserved late Pleistocene canids. However, recent comprehensive analyses suggest that these puppies were likely wolves inhabiting a dry, relatively warm environment with variable vegetation, consuming a varied diet that included woolly rhinoceroses.

AI impression of a Tumat puppy. Image credit: Gemini AI.

The Tumat puppy remains consist of two exceptionally well-preserved specimens found in northern Siberia, approximately 40 km from the nearest village named Tumat.

One specimen was unearthed in 2011, while the other was located in 2015 at the Syalakh site.

This puppy was discovered within a layer of ice-preserved soil, alongside woolly mammoth remains.

This discovery prompted scientists to speculate whether the site was once a location for mammoth slaughter carried out by humans, and whether puppies had any relationships with humans similar to those of early dogs and domesticated wolves that scavenged for food.

With neither puppy displaying visible signs of injury or attack, it is conceivable that they were resting after meals inside a burrow until a landslide trapped them.

The new research utilizes animal intestinal content and genetic data as well as various chemical “fingerprints” found in the bones, teeth, and tissues to decipher their life, diet, and the surrounding environment.

Both puppies had consumed solid foods, including woolly rhinoceros meat and small birds known as wagtails.

However, their remains also indicated signs of nursing, suggesting they were still receiving milk from their mother.

Notably, despite being found near human-associated mammoth bones, there was no evidence that the puppies had eaten mammoths. Fragments of woolly rhinoceros skin in their stomachs were partially undigested, indicating they died shortly after their last meal.

It is believed that the woolly rhinoceros was a young calf rather than an adult, likely hunted by an adult pack to nourish the puppies. Nonetheless, even a young woolly rhinoceros would have been significantly larger than the typical prey of modern wolves.

This leads researchers to propose that these Pleistocene wolves were possibly larger than present-day wolves.

Prior DNA testing indicates that the puppies are likely from a wolf lineage that ultimately became extinct and did not contribute to the ancestry of modern pet dogs.

“It is remarkable that the two sisters from this era were so well-preserved, and even more impressive, we can narrate many facets of their existence up to their final meal,” stated Anne Catlin Range, a researcher from York University.

“The initial assumption that Tumat’s puppies were dogs was also grounded on the fact that their black fur was presumed to be a mutation exclusive to dogs. Yet, the Tumat puppies challenge this theory as they lack any relation to contemporary dogs.”

“While many may be disappointed that these creatures are overwhelmingly wolves and not early domesticated dogs, they enhance our understanding of the past environment, their way of life, and how strikingly similar they are to modern wolves.”

“Additionally, it implies that the clue of black fur—once thought significant—was misleading since it appears in wolf cubs from a population unrelated to household dogs, leaving the evolution of pet dogs a curious mystery.”

Fossilized plant remnants found in the puppies’ stomachs indicate they thrived in a diverse environment with various plants and animals, including grasslands and leaves from shrub genera like dryas and willow twigs.

This suggests that their habitat comprised a range of environments capable of supporting a rich and diverse ecosystem.

“Grey wolves have existed for hundreds of thousands of years based on skeletal remains discovered at paleontological sites, and researchers have performed DNA tests to assess population changes over time.”

“The soft tissue preserved in Tumat puppies provides new access to examine wolves and their evolutionary pathways.”

“Their diet encompassed both animal flesh and plant matter, which bears resemblance to contemporary wolves, offering insights into their reproductive behaviors.”

“The duo are sisters, presumably raised in dens and nurtured by their packs—a behavior commonly observed in modern wolf pup rearing.”

“Though they are frequently larger today, it remains possible that Tumat’s puppies had a brother who survived their fate.”

“There may be additional cubs hidden in permafrost or lost to erosion.”

Hunting large prey like woolly rhinoceroses suggests that these wolves, even as pups, were larger than today’s wolves, yet they may have also targeted easier prey.

Survey results will be published in the journal Quaternary Studies.

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Anne Katlin Wiborg Lange et al. Multifaceted analysis revealed diet and relatives of late Pleistocene “Tamat puppies.” Quaternary Studies Published online on June 12th, 2025. doi: 10.1017/qua.2025.10

Source: www.sci.news

As Technology Advances, Early Humans Developed Enhanced Teaching Skills.

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

As technology evolves, humans enhance their ability to teach skills to others

English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Research into human evolution spanning 3 million years illustrates that advancements in communication and technology have occurred simultaneously. As early humans developed more sophisticated stone tools and various techniques, they also refined their abilities to communicate and educate the next generation on these new skills.

“There exists a scenario for the evolution of modes of cultural transmission throughout human history,” states Francesco Dalico, from the University of Bordeaux, France. “It seems there’s a co-evolution between the complexity of cultural traits and the complexity of their transmission methods.”

A defining characteristic of humanity is the progression toward more complex tools and behaviors. For instance, ancient humans crafted sharp stones for cutting or stabbing and affixed them to wooden shafts to create spears.

Crucially, the ability to instruct others in these skills is vital. For more intricate tasks like playing the violin or coding, extensive education and practice are typically necessary. However, in prehistoric times, the capacity for effective communication was limited, particularly before intricate languages emerged.

Furthermore, Ivan Colagè from the Pope University of the Holy Cross in Rome, along with D’Errico, investigated how the transmission of cultural information has evolved over the last 3.3 million years, aligning with changes in behavior and technology. They examined 103 cultural traits, such as specific types of stone tools, decorative items like beads, and burial customs. They documented the initial appearances of each trait in the archaeological record, indicating common practices.

The researchers assessed the complexity involved in learning each trait. Some simple tools, like stone hammers, require minimal instruction. “They don’t need much explanation,” D’Errico notes. In contrast, demonstrating the creation of more advanced tools is necessary, and the most intricate behaviors, such as deeply symbolic burials, demand explicit verbal explanations.

To analyze this, D’Errico and Colagè outlined three dimensions of learning: First, spatial proximity—can tasks be learned from a distance, or does one need to be physically present? Second, temporality—does one brief lesson suffice, or are multiple sessions necessary, perhaps emphasizing various steps? Third, the social aspect—who learns from whom?

They evaluated these traits and consulted a panel of 24 experts for assessment, whose consensus reinforced their findings. “I believe the conclusion is quite robust,” says D’Errico.

Recent studies indicate two significant shifts in cultural communication. The first occurred around 600,000 years ago when early humans began teaching one another, likely without relying on spoken language; gestures may have sufficed. This predates the emergence of our species, Homo sapiens, and aligns with the onset of hafting.

The second shift happened between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago, coinciding with the development of modern languages, which became essential for performing complex tasks like burials. “These actions involve many detailed steps, requiring explanation,” D’Errico explains.

“The relationship between cultural communication and cultural complexity is strong,” asserts Ceri Shipton from University College London. He emphasizes that while the timeline for language development remains uncertain, this new estimate provides a “reasonable timeframe.”

topics:

Human evolution/
Ancient humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research: Early Drivers of Fire Use for Meat Preservation and Predator Protection, Not Cooking

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The advent of fire marks a significant point in human evolution, though scholars continue to debate its primary function. While cooking is frequently regarded as a key factor, researchers from Tel Aviv University propose that the protection of meat and fat from predators is more plausible. Homo Erectus lived during the Lower Paleolithic era, approximately 1.9 to 0.78 million years ago.

Homo Erectus.” width=”580″ height=”435″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2018/07/image_6228_1-Neanderthal-Fire-Use.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2018/07/image_6228_1-Neanderthal-Fire-Use-300×225.jpg 300w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px”/>

Miki Ben-Dor & Ran Barkai’s research highlights the nutritional value of meat and fat from large prey in the Lower Paleolithic, questioning the significance of culinary practices in shaping human dietary evolution and offering new insights into adaptations in Homo Erectus.

“The origins of fire usage is a ‘burning’ question among prehistoric researchers globally,” stated Professor Barkay, a co-author of the study.

“By around 400,000 years ago, it was widely accepted that fire was commonly used in domestic settings. I concur with the idea of meat roasting, as well as its use for lighting and heating.”

“However, there remains a debate concerning the past million years, with various theories put forth to explain early human interactions with fire.”

“This study aimed to approach this issue from a new angle.”

“For early humans, the use of fire wasn’t a given; most archaeological sites dated around 400,000 years ago show no signs of fire usage,” explained Dr. Miki Ben-Dor, lead author of the study from Tel Aviv University.

“However, in many early locations, there are clear indications of fire usage, even if there’s no evidence of burnt bones or roasted meat.”

“We see early humans—nearly Homo Erectus—utilizing fire sporadically for specific purposes rather than regularly.”

“Collecting fuel, igniting a fire, and maintaining it involved substantial effort, requiring a compelling energy-efficient reason.”

“We propose a new hypothesis for that motivation.”

In their research, the authors reviewed existing literature on all identified prehistoric sites between 1.8 million and 800,000 years ago where fire evidence has been found.

They identified nine sites globally, including Gesher Benot Ya’aqov and Evron Quarry in Israel, six sites in Africa, and one site in Spain.

The study also drew from ethnographic research on contemporary hunter-gatherer societies, relating their behaviors to ancient conditions.

“We examined the common features of these nine ancient sites and found they all contained a significant number of bones from large animals, mainly elephants, hippos, and rhinoceroses,” Dr. Ben-Dor noted.

“Previous research has shown these large animals were critical to early human diets, providing a substantial portion of their caloric needs.”

“For instance, the meat and fat from a single elephant can supply millions of calories, enough to sustain a group of 20 to 30 people for over a month.”

“Thus, hunting elephants and hippos was highly valuable—essentially a ‘bank’ of meat and fat that required protection and preservation, as it was sought after by predators and susceptible to decay.”

Through their analysis of findings and assessments of energetic benefits of preserving meat and fat, the researchers arrived at new conclusions that challenge previous theories. Early fires served dual purposes: first, to safeguard valuable resources from predators, and second, to facilitate smoking and prevent spoilage.

“This study introduces a novel perspective on the motivations behind early human fire use: the necessity to protect large game from other predators and the long-term preservation of substantial meat supplies,” Professor Barkay explained.

“Cooking may have occurred occasionally after fire was established for these protective purposes.”

“Such usage could elucidate evidence of fish roasting around 800,000 years ago found at Gesher Benot Ya’aqov.”

“Our approach aligns with evolving global theories that characterize major prehistoric trends as adaptations to hunting and consuming large animals, followed by a gradual shift to smaller prey exploitation.”

Survey results were published in the journal Nutrition Frontier.

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Miki Ben-Dor & Ran Barkai. 2025. The bioenergy approach supports the conservation and protection of prey, rather than cooking, as a primary driver for early use of fire. Front. Nutr. 12; doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1585182

Source: www.sci.news

Enhanced Cancer Screening Could Detect Early Cases in Women with Dense Breasts

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

High-density breast tissue and tumors resemble each other on scans.

Golodenkov/Shutterstock

Recent research indicates that those with dense breast tissue may gain from an additional round of cancer screening, as a significant trial uncovered tumors that were overlooked in standard mammograms.

In the UK, mammograms—an x-ray scan used for breast cancer screening—are provided for individuals aged 50 to 71. These scans look for white spots that indicate cancer presence. However, around 50% of women in this age range have dense breasts, characterized by a high amount of fibrous and glandular tissue, also appearing white on the scans. This similarity complicates tumor detection.

“The challenge with dense breasts is that cancers may go unnoticed until they grow significantly large, which negatively affects prognosis,” said Thomas Hervich, who wasn’t a part of the study at the Medical University of Vienna in Austria.

To determine whether additional screenings can help, Sarah Vinnicombe and her colleagues at the University of Dundee recruited over 6,000 women aged 50-70 from across the UK. Participants were randomly divided into three groups, each receiving extra screening through advanced x-ray methods such as MRI, ultrasound, or contrast-enhanced mammography.

In this extended screening phase, MRI and contrast-enhanced mammography together identified 85 small tumors—three times as many as detected by ultrasound. Twelve of these tumors were located in milk ducts, suggesting a lower likelihood of spreading beyond the breast. Conversely, the other 73 tumors were invasive, increasing the risk that cancer could migrate into surrounding breast tissue and beyond.

“Detecting these cancers is crucial. They typically grow over time, and finding them within three to four years can lead to larger sizes,” stated Hervich. “Some tumors are aggressive, so I believe supplemental screening could save lives.”

However, it’s uncertain if this will hold true. For instance, a 2021 trial on ovarian cancer screening revealed a decrease in cases but did not correlate with increased longevity. Additionally, some tumors detected may not be cancerous or aggressive. Thus, unnecessary screening could lead to undue anxiety and treatment.

The researchers plan to continue monitoring participants to assess whether supplementary screenings result in saved lives.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Early Season Heat Waves Record High Temperatures in the Southwest and Texas

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

This week, the country is bracing for early seasonal heat waves, with record or near-record high temperatures anticipated across the Northern and Southern Plains, Southwest, and vast regions of central and southern Texas.

On Monday, temperatures climbed into the 90s in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with some areas likely reaching triple-digit highs.

Beginning Tuesday, Texas will experience its hottest conditions, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit becoming commonplace throughout the state, according to the agency.

“We are expecting record-breaking heat by mid-week across much of central and southern Texas,” the Weather Service noted. I mentioned this in a short-distance forecast on Monday.

In a series of posts on X, the San Antonio Weather Service office cautioned that many people may struggle to adapt to such extreme temperatures, heightening the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.

“Temperatures are slated to soar above 100 on Tuesday, with some locations potentially hitting 110 mid-week. Ensure you have access to cooling and ample hydration before the heat arrives,” the office advised. I shared this on X.

As the week continues, the heat will intensify in the central and southern plains, eventually spreading to the southeastern U.S. and Florida.

Cities likely to set new daily temperature records this week include Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston in Texas, as well as Oklahoma City; Shreveport, Louisiana; Charleston, South Carolina; and Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Orlando in Florida.

The unseasonably high temperatures are attributed to strong high-pressure ridges situated over much of the country, particularly in Texas. These “thermal domes” effectively trap heat in the region, leading to elevated temperatures for several days.

Southern California recorded historic highs over the weekend, peaking at 103 in downtown Los Angeles, surpassing the previous record of 99 set in 1988. According to reports, this significant increase has raised concerns.

During the Los Angeles heat wave, individuals took a moment to hydrate on Sunday.
Carlin Steele/Los Angeles Times Getty Images

Research indicates that climate change is intensifying the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves globally. Scientists predict yet another hot summer following two consecutive years of record-breaking global temperatures (2023 and 2024).

These ongoing record temperatures are part of alarming warming trends long anticipated by climate change models. The hottest years on record since 1850 have all occurred within the last decade. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Early Monotonicity: A Semi-Quantitative Discovery by Paleontologists

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The prevailing belief regarding these egg sales has been that both species descend from land-dwelling ancestors. While the ancestors of the platymonds became semi-aquatic, Echidna remained terrestrial. However, a detailed examination of a humerus bone from Kryoryctes cadburyi, a prehistoric monotreme that lived in Victoria, Australia, during the early Cretaceous period, indicates that Echidna evolved from semi-aquatic ancestors, suggesting that the lifestyle of modern paddy field amphibians originated over 100 million years ago.

Artist’s impressions of Kryoryctes cadburyi. Image credit: Peter Schouten.

“Approximately 30 examples of mammals have evolved to live entirely or partially in water, such as whales, dolphins, dugongs, seals, otters, and beavers,” says Professor Suzanne Hand, a paleontologist from the University of New South Wales.

“However, it is exceedingly rare to observe mammals evolving in the opposite direction.”

“We are discussing semi-aquatic mammals that transitioned to a land-based existence. Such an event would be quite unusual, but I believe that’s what occurred with echidnas.”

In their recent study, Professor Hand and her team analyzed a single humerus bone of an ancient monotreme, Kryoryctes Cadbury.

Using CT scans and other techniques, they investigated the internal microstructure of the specimen.

“The external structure of bones allows for direct comparisons with similar animals to clarify relationships, while the internal structure offers insights into the beast’s lifestyle and ecology,” Professor Hand explained.

“Thus, while the internal structure might not reveal the animal’s identity, it can inform us about its environment and living conditions.”

Living in southern Victoria about 108 million years ago, Kryoryctes cadburyi and its relatives dominated the Australian mammalian fauna.

“Mesozoic mammals from Australia are uncommon and primarily known through their teeth and jaws,” states Professor Michael Archer from the University of New South Wales.

“Currently, Kryoryctes cadburyi is known solely from limb bones.”

“This humerus presents an extraordinary chance to gain insight into the lifestyles of Australian mammals, revealing a considerable story, perhaps one we weren’t initially anticipating.”

Researchers were taken aback when they discovered that the internal structure of the ancient humerus differed from that of modern Echidna bones.

“The internal structure shows that the bone wall of platymonds is quite thick with a narrow bone marrow cavity, while Echidna has a much thinner bone wall,” they noted.

“The fine structure of the Kryoryctes cadburyi humerus resembles that found in lizards, with its dense bone serving as ballast, aiding its ability to dive for food, a trait noticed in other semi-aquatic mammals.”

There are also peculiar traits in modern Echidna that might hint at an ancient semi-aquatic ancestry.

“It’s well established that the platypus bill contains numerous highly sensitive receptors that detect slight currents created by prey,” Professor Hand remarked.

“Although Echidna’s snouts have fewer receptors, it’s thought these might be remnants of their aquatic manipulative capabilities, along with traces of platypus-like features found in the embryos of echidnas.”

“Another characteristic inherited from their aquatic ancestors is the backward orientation of Echidna’s hind legs, similar to the rounded feet of the platypus when swimming.”

“In Echidnas, however, this trait is utilized for digging.”

“Our research has shown that echidnas exhibit diving reflexes when submerged in water, which assist in conserving oxygen and prolonging breath-holding capabilities. Studies on a respiratory protein called mammalian myoglobin further suggest echidna’s semi-aquatic ancestry.”

“The positive charge on myoglobin’s surface correlates with enhanced muscle capacity to retain oxygen, thereby extending the duration mammals can dive.”

“This is more prominent in platypuses, but even among burrowing mammals, echidnas show a higher than expected capacity.”

Survey results were published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Suzanne J. Hand et al. 2025. Bone microstructure supports the Mesozoic origin of monotremes’ semi-aquatic lifestyle. PNAS 122 (19): E2413569122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413569122

Source: www.sci.news

The Curiosity Rover Uncovers Carbonate Minerals on Early Mars, Revealing the Carbon Cycle in Action

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

NASA’s curiosity rover discovered evidence of the ancient Mars carbon cycle, bringing scientists closer to answers on whether the planet can support life.

Curiosity watches the track retreat in the distance on April 30, 2023 at a site called Ubajara. This site is where Rover discovered the Siderate. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.

Planetary researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on the surface of the planet.

That carbon dioxide and water should have reacted with Mars rocks to produce carbonate minerals.

However, to date, rover missions and near-infrared spectroscopy analysis from Mars orbit satellites have not discovered the amount of carbonate on the Earth’s surface predicted by this theory.

“We’ve seen a lot of experience in the world,” said Dr. Benjamin Tutoro, a researcher at the University of Calgary.

“The planet is habitable and shows that the model of habitability is correct.”

Using data collected by curiosity, Dr. Tutoro and his colleagues analyzed the composition of the 89 m stratigraphic section of Gail Crater, which once contained an ancient lake.

They identified high concentrations of iron carbonate minerals called siderelites in layers rich in magnesium sulfate, ranging from about 5% to over 10% by weight.

This was unexpected as orbital measurements had not detected carbonates in these layers.

Given its source and chemistry, the researchers speculate that the Seidelians, formed by the water rock reaction and evaporation, indicate that carbon dioxide has been chemically isolated from the Martian atmosphere to sedimentary rocks.

If the mineral composition of these sulfate layers represents a globally sulfate-rich region, these deposits contain large carbon reservoirs that were previously unrecognised.

The carbonate is partially destroyed by a later process, indicating that some of the carbon dioxide was later returned to the atmosphere, creating a carbon cycle.

“The discovery of abundant siderelites in Gale Crater represents both an astonishing and important breakthrough in understanding Mars’ geological and atmospheric evolution,” Dr. Tutoro said.

Dr. Thomas Bristow, a researcher at NASA’s Ames Research Center, added:

“A mere centimeters below gives us a good idea of minerals that were formed on or near the surface about 3.5 billion years ago.”

Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Science.

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Benjamin M. Tsutoro et al. 2025. Carbonates identified by the curiosity rover show the carbon cycle operating on ancient Mars. Science 388 (6744): 292-297; doi: 10.1126/science.ado9966

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers Lyman-Alpha emissions from ancient galaxy in early universe

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The light of Lyman Afa from Jades-GS-Z13-1 took us nearly 13.47 billion to contact us, as it dates back just 330 million years from the Big Bang.

This image shows the Jades-GS-Z13-1 (middle red dot) imaged with Webb’s near-infrared camera (Nircam) as part of the Jades program. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/WEBB/STSCI/JADES COLLABORATION/BRANT ROBERTSON, UC SANTA CRUZ/BEN JOHNSON, CFA/Sandro Tacchella, Cambridge/Phill Cargile, CFA/J. Witstok, P. Jakobsen & A. Pagan, Stsci/M. Zamani, Esa & Webb.

NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s key scientific goal was to see more than ever before the distant past of our universe, when the first galaxy formed after the Big Bang.

This search has already led to record-breaking galaxies when observing programs such as the JWST Advanced Deep Deep Alactic Survey (Jades).

Webb’s extraordinary sensitivity to infrared also opens up a whole new path for research into when and how such galaxies were formed, and their impact on the universe of the time known as Cosmic Dawn.

Astronomers studying one of these very early galaxies have been discovered in a spectrum of light that challenges our established understanding of the early history of the universe.

The Jades-GS-Z13-1 (GS-Z13-1 for short) was discovered in images taken by Webb’s Nircam (near-infrared camera) as part of the Jades program.

Dr. Roberto Maiolino and colleagues at the University of Cambridge and London used galaxy brightness with various infrared filters to estimate the redshift that measures the distance of a galaxy from Earth, based on how light stretches along the path of a space.

NIRCAM imaging resulted in an initial redshift estimate of 12.9. In an attempt to confirm that extreme redshift, astronomers observed the galaxy using Webb’s near-infrared spectrometer (NIRSPEC) instrument.

The resulting spectrum confirmed that the redshift was 13.0. This is the equivalent of a galaxy seen just 330 million years after the Big Bang, the current 13.8 billion-year-old minority in the universe.

However, unexpected features also stood out. One is the wavelength of light of a particular distinct bright wavelength, identified as Lyman alpha radiation emitted by hydrogen atoms.

This emission was far stronger than astronomers who thought they could be possible at this early stage of space development.

“The early universe was soaked in a thick mist of neutral hydrogen,” Dr. Maiolino said.

“Most of this haze was lifted in a process called reionization, which was completed about a billion years after the Big Bang.”

“The GS-Z13-1 shows the incredibly clear and Telltail signature of the Lyman Alpha radiation, which can only be seen after the surrounding mist has been fully lifted,” he said.

“This result was completely unexpected by early galaxy formation theories, which surprised astronomers.”

“Before and during the reionization, the enormous amount of neutral hydrogen mist surrounding the galaxy blocked the ultraviolet rays of released energy, like the filtration effect of colored glass.”

“Until sufficient stars were formed and the hydrogen gas could ionize, such light, including Lyman Alpha radiation, could not escape these fledgling galaxies and reach Earth.”

“According to Lyman Alpha radiation from this galaxy has therefore had great significance in our early understanding of the universe.”

“We’ve seen a lot of people who have had a lot of trouble with the world,” said Dr. Kevin Hayneline, an astronomer at the University of Arizona.

“We could have thought that early universes were covered in dense mists that would be very difficult to find even a powerful lighthouse peering through, but here, beams of light from this galaxy penetrate the veil.”

“This fascinating emission line has a major impact on how and when the universe has been reionized.”

The source of GS-Z13-1’s Lyman Alpha radiation from this galaxy is yet to be known, but it may contain the first light from the earliest generation of stars formed in the universe.

“The large bubbles of ionized hydrogen surrounding this galaxy may have been created by the star’s unique population, much larger, hotter and brighter than the stars formed at the later epoch, and perhaps representative of the first generation of stars, said Dr. Joris Wittok, an astronomer at Cambridge and Appenhagen University.

“The powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) driven by one of the first super-large black holes is another possibility identified by our team.”

Team’s Survey results Published in the March 26th issue of the journal Nature.

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J. Wittstock et al. 2025. We witness the onset of reionization with Lyman-α ejection in the redshift13. Nature 639, 897-901; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08779-5

Source: www.sci.news

The double-edged sword of the best map of the early universe ever for cosmologists

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New image of cosmic microwave background radiation in part of the sky – the zoomed area is about 20 times the width of the moon seen from Earth

ACT collaboration. ESA/Planck Collaboration

The latest and greatest maps of the early universe, five times more detailed than anything before, are accurately supported by the main models of the universe, but are also a double-edged sword, as new data does not provide clues to solve some of the greatest mysteries of cosmology.

The map shows the universe’s cosmic microwave background (CMB). This is a faint remaining radiation from the early stages of the universe. It began as the earliest light just 380,000 years after the Big Bang, but the expansion of the universe over billions of years has shifted frequency from the visible spectrum to microwaves.

Now, new data from Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) gave us a clearer image of the CMB only from half of the sky that can be imaged from the Chilean observatory location.

Joe Dunkley At Princeton University, which worked on the project, the data says it has more vigorously and accurately reduced the composition of the universe, its size, age, and magnification rate. But the truly important discovery was that nothing contradicts the current major model of the universe. Lambda-CDM.

Previous data set the universe’s age at 13.8 billion years old, and the velocity at which it is expanding – known as the Hubble constant – is 67-68 km per 67-68 km per megapulsek distance from Earth. The ACT data essentially confirms this, but increases accuracy and confidence in those findings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggtt9qhn7os

CMB is first mapped by NASA’s Space Background Explorer (COBE) in the 1980s and 90s, then by NASA’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropic Probe (WMAP) in the 2000s, and then from the European Space Agency’s Planck Spacecraft to provide early knowledge from 2009 to 2013. universe.

One of the restrictions on the act is that unlike these previous space-based missions, it is a ground-based telescope. Therefore, it is limited to half of the sky. Nevertheless, the action not only provides better resolution and sensitivity than these previous maps, but also measures the direction in which the polarization or light waves of CMB are oscillated, revealing some information about how CMB light evolved over time.

“With a closer look at the polarization of the CMB, we could have seen something different. We could have seen the destruction of standard space models,” says Dunkley. “Every time you look at the universe differently, you can’t be sure the original model is still working. You were ready to see something coming out of that model.

This may be a relief for anyone working on Lambda-CDM, but it was not welcome news for all scientists. Colinhill At Columbia University in New York, he says he wanted to see some evidence in data on a phenomenon that has not yet been recognized (probably a new type of energy or particle). This helps explain the so-called Hubble tension.

“We’ve all been blown away by how consistent we are. [the ACT data] It’s really on the standard model. We all produce models from different aspects, looking for places where they break and where nature can give us something to sink our teeth. And so far, nature hasn’t created that crack,” says Hill.

He says that the most viable theory for the contradiction of Hubble tension requires phenomena that simply do not appear in the ACT data we currently have. This brings the scientist back to seek another explanation. “The new measurements will make theorists, including me, even closer restraint jackets,” says Hill. “That deepens the mystery.”

ACT collected data that constituted this new map between 2017 and 2022, but is now shut down. Dunkley says that while a new Chilean telescope will start work later this year, we are unlikely to get a higher resolution map for a few years. As for the other half of the sky, only two locations on Earth could potentially host a new telescope with results: Greenland and Tibet. Dunkley says that unfortunately Greenland still doesn’t have the infrastructure needed for such a project, and Tibet is politically sensitive.

Jens Chluba At the University of Manchester in the UK, scientists on the project are already working with data, but say the open release of ACT maps will cause a surge in activity.

The Mystery of the Universe: Cheshire, England

Spend a weekend with some of the brightest minds of science. Explore the mysteries of the universe in an exciting program that includes an excursion to see the iconic Lovell telescope.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New research suggests early mammals possessed dark, dim greyish brown fur

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Fur colours, which serve many functions, are essential for the evolution of mammal behavior, physiology and habitat preferences. However, little is known about the colour of Mesozoic mammals that co-evolved with dinosaurs. In a new study, scientists from China, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and the US used the dataset Melanosome (Melanin-Containing Organelle) We quantitatively measured the morphology and quantitatively measured hair colours of 116 live mammals to reconstruct the colours of six Mesozoic mammals, including the species Yuhalamiidan mammals that were not previously described.

Reconstructing the life of Shenshou Luian extinct squirrel-like euhalamidian species from the Jurassic region of central China. Image credit: Tamuranobu, http://spinops.blogspot.com.

From communication to camouflage, animal colour plays an important role in many behavioral ecological functions.

Some animals exhibit distinct and vivid arrangements like birds, but mammalian fur is generally limited to muted tones due to their dependence on the single pigment melanin.

Mammals lack palettes, but have evolved a diverse and distinctive coat pattern.

However, due to lack of data on pigmentation in extinct mammals, the evolutionary history of hairy colour is not well understood.

Recent studies have shown that melanosomes, which cause pigmentation, can be preserved in fossilized specimens.

A similar technique has successfully reconstructed the colours of dinosaurs, but despite well-preserved fur specimens, it has not been widely applied to fossil mammals.

In the new study, Dr. Ruoshuang Li, a colleague of the Chinese University of Earth Sciences and colleague, analyzed melanosomes in 116 living mammals and created a predictive model to reconstruct the hairy colour based on melanosome morphology.

The authors applied the model to six Mesozoic mammalian forms of fossilized melanosomes, including the newly described euhalamyidan species that lived 158.5 million years ago (Late Jurassic Epoch).

The authors found that the fur of these early mammals was primarily and uniformly dark in colour, with no stripes and spots that adorn many modern mammals.

This suggests that despite evolutionary differences in phylogenetics and ecology, the early mammalian melanin colored systems remained little different.

This is in stark contrast to the diverse melanosome structures found in feathered dinosaurs, early birds and pterosaurs, indicating a distinct evolutionary pattern of mammalian colour.

“The typical modern nocturne mammals, such as the dark, uniformly dull fur found in these species – moles, mice, rats and nocturne bats, support the previous hypothesis that early mammals are also largely nocturne and colored for camouflage,” the researchers said.

“In addition, the high melanin content of the fur may have been beneficial in providing mechanical strength for thermoregulation and protection.”

“Following the Cretaceous – Fat extinction event, mammals rapidly diversified into niches previously occupied by dinosaurs, leading to more diverse melanosome structures and new perage colour strategies that are more suited to a more diverse environment.”

Survey results It was published in the journal today Science.

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rushuang li et al. 2025. Mesozoic mammalian forms illuminate the origin of the colour of the hair. Science 387 (6739): 1193-1198; doi: 10.1126/science.ads9734

Source: www.sci.news

Mixedectes Pungens: An Enigmatic Mammal of the Early Ale Holocene with a Knack for Climbing Trees with Its Claws

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Small Mixedectid Mammals Called Mixedectes Pungens Analysis of a remarkably complete skeletal structure discovered in New Mexico shows that the skeletal characteristics that live in the leaves were primarily dieting on the leaves, weighing about 1.3 kg.

Mixedectes Pungens (foreground) lived in the same forest as early primates Torrejonia Wilsoni (background). Image credit: Andrey Atuchin.

Mixedectes Pungens He lived in western North America during the early Ale Holocene period, about 62 million years ago.

First described in 1883 by the drinker Coop of the famous American paleontologist Edward, the species was previously known for its fossilized teeth and jawbone fragments.

In the new study, Professor Eric Salgis of Yale University and his colleagues looked into the new skeleton Mixedectes Pungens – The most complete dental-related skeletal structure still recovered for mixed-cutide mammals from the Nasimiento Formation in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico, USA.

“This 62 million-year-old skeleton of quality and integrity provides novel insights into the mixetide, including a much clearer picture of evolutionary relationships,” Professor Sargis said.

“Our findings show that they are relatives of primates and corgos – flying lemurs native to Southeast Asia – make them a fairly close human relative.”

The researchers determined that the new specimen belongs to a mature adult weighing about 1.3 kg.

The anatomy of the animal's limbs and nails indicates that it is dendritic and can cling perpendicular to the trunks and branches of a tree.

Its molars have a coat of arms to break down abrasive materials, suggesting that they were omnivorous and mostly ate the leaves.

“This fossil skeleton provides new evidence on the way placental mammals have become ecologically diverse following the extinction of dinosaurs,” says Dr. Stephen Chester, a researcher at the City University of New York and Brooklyn University at the Yale Peabody Museum.

“Characteristics such as greater weight and increased dependence on leaves. Mixedectes Pungens To thrive on the same tree that is likely to be shared with other early primate relatives. ”

Mixedectes Pungens Ale In North America during the early Holocene, it was very large for tree-inhabiting mammals.

For example, the new skeleton is significantly larger than the partial skeleton of Torrejonia Wilsonia small arboric mammal from an extinct group of primates called plesiadapiforms, discovered along with it.

meanwhile Mixedectes Pungens Living on the leaves, Torrejonia WilsoniThe meals were mainly made up of fruits.

These distinctions between size and diet suggest that the Mixeodotids occupied a unique ecological niche in the early days of the past, distinguishing them from contemporaries who inhabit their trees.

Two phylogenetic analyses conducted to clarify the evolutionary relationships of species confirmed that the mixed disease is Euarcontan, a mammalian group consisting of Tressue, primates and corgos.

“One analysis supported them as being an archaic primate, while the other wasn't,” Professor Sargis said.

“However, in the latter analysis we confirmed that Mixodectids are Primatomorphans, a group within Euarchonta, made up of primates and corgos, but not Treeshrews.”

“This study does not completely resolve the discussion about where Mixodectids belong to evolutionary trees, but it is significantly narrower.”

Survey results Today I'll be appearing in the journal Scientific Report.

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SGB Chester et al. 2025. New remarkably complete skeleton of Mixodectes Cretaceous – reveals the argonism of protozoan mammals during the Oxalocene after mass extinction of the secondary genes. Sci Rep 15, 8041; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-90203-z

Source: www.sci.news

Water was present in the early universe 100-200 million years following the Big Bang

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

It is explained in the paper published today journal Natural Astronomy the discovery means that habitable deplanets may have begun to form much earlier, before they were formed billions of years ago.

This artist's impression shows the evolution of the universe, beginning with the Big Bang on the left. After that, you will see the microwave background of the universe. The formation of the first stars ends the dark ages of the universe, followed by the formation of galaxies. Image credit: M. Weiss/Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

“We had no oxygen before the first star exploded, so there was no water in space,” said Daniel Warren, an astronomer at the University of Portsmouth.

“Only a very simple nucleus survived the Big Bang: hydrogen, helium, lithium, trace amounts of barium and boron.”

According to Dr. Whalen and his colleagues, water molecules began to form shortly after the first supernova explosion known as the Population III Supernova.

These cosmic events that occurred on first generation stars were essential to creating the heavy elements (such as oxygen) needed for water to exist.

“The oxygen forged in the hearts of these supernovas combines with hydrogen to form water, paving the way for the creation of the essential elements needed for life,” Dr. Whalen said.

In their study, researchers looked at two types of supernovae. This produces corecrolaps supernovae, which produces a modest amount of heavy elements, and more energetic POP III supernovae.

They discovered that both types of supernovae form dense masses of rich gas in water.

The overall amount of water produced by these early supernovae was modest, but was highly concentrated in a gas-dense area called the cloud core, which is thought to be the birthplace of stars and planets.

These early, water-rich regions may have sown planetary formations at the dawn of space long before the first galaxy took shape.

“A significant discovery is that the primitive supernova formed water in the universe ahead of the first galaxy,” Dr. Hualen said.

“So water was already an important component of the first galaxy.”

“This means that the conditions necessary for the formation of life were in place faster than we could have imagined, meaning it was an important step in our early understanding of the universe.”

“The total water mass was modest, but it was very concentrated on the only structures that could form stars and planets.”

“And that suggests that before the first galaxy, a water-rich planetary disc could form at the dawn of space.”

Source: www.sci.news

150,000 years ago, early humans inhabited lush rainforests in Africa

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A new study led by scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology challenges traditional ideas about the habitability of ancient tropical forests and suggests that West Africa may be an important center of the evolution of our species. Homo sapiens.

The Bete I site in Ivory Coast and other African sites from around 130,000-190,000 years ago. Image credits: Awakening et al. , doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-08613-y.

Homo sapiens It is believed that it appeared in Africa about 300,000 years ago before it was dispersed around the world.

Humans lived in the rainforests in Asia and Oceania 45,000 years ago, but there was the earliest evidence to connect people to the rainforests in Africa about 18,000 years ago.

“Our species are thought to have emerged in Africa 300,000 years ago before they were dispersed to occupy all the biomes of the world, from deserts to densely populated rainforests,” says Dr. Eslem Ben Araus, a researcher at the National Center for Human Evolution and a geographer at the Max Planck Institute.

“While grasslands and coasts are usually given advantages in studying the cultural and environmental contexts of human emergence and spread, recent evidence relates several regions and ecosystems during the early prehistoric periods of our species.”

“The tropical rainforest settlements in Asia and Oceania have been well documented as early as 45,000 years ago, and perhaps 73,000 years ago.”

“However, despite evidence that central Stone Age assembly is widespread in modern African rainforest regions, the oldest safe and close human associations with such damp tropical forests in Africa are not more than about 18,000.”

In their study, in the Agnama region of Côte de Iboir in West Africa, Dr. Auros and co-authors focused on the archaeological site of Bethe I.

The site is 150,000 years old and contains signs of human occupation, such as stone tools such as picks and small objects.

“Several recent climate models suggest that even during the arid season of forest fragmentation, the area may have been a refuge for rainforests,” said Professor Eleanor Serli, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute.

“We knew this site offered the best possible opportunity to know how much it has returned to past rainforest settlements.”

Researchers investigated sediment samples of precipitated plants called pollen, silicid plant plants, and investigated wax isotopes in the leaves.

Their analysis shows that the area is rich in woodland and has pollen and leaf wax typical of wet West African rainforests.

Low levels of grass pollen showed that this site was not in narrow forest strips and not in dense forests.

“This exciting discovery is the first in a long list, as there are other Koiboria sites waiting to be investigated to study the human presence associated with rainforests.”

“Convergent evidence shows that there is no doubt that ecological diversity is at the heart of our species,” added Professor Scerri.

“This reflects the complex history of the population plots in which different populations lived in different regions and habitat types.”

“We now need to ask how these early human niche expansions affected the flora and fauna that shared the same niche space with humans.”

“In other words, how much will human changes in human nature's habitat return?”

study Today I'll be appearing in the journal Nature.

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E. Ben Aurus et al. A man from a wet tropical forest in Africa 150,000 years ago. NaturePublished online on February 26th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08613-y

Source: www.sci.news

Research suggests that sandy beaches under the sun were abundant on Early Mars

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Use data collected by China’s Zhurong Roverplanetary researchers have identified hidden layers of rocks beneath the Martian surface, which strongly suggests the existence of the ancient North Sea.

Panoramic photograph taken by China’s Zhurong rover on Mars. Image credit: National Astronomer.

“We’re finding locations on Mars that looked like ancient beaches and deltas of ancient rivers,” said Pennsylvania researcher Benjamin Cardenas, who co-authored the study.

“We found evidence of a lack of wind, waves and sand. It’s a proper vacation style beach.”

The now inactive Zhurong Rover landed on Mars in 2021 in an area known as Utopia Planitia and was open for a year between May 2021 and May 2022.

From the time when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and warmer climate, it traveled about 1.9 km (1.2 miles) to cliffs that are considered ancient coastlines from the time period.

Along its path, the rover probed up to 80 m (260 feet) under the surface using ground penetration radar.

This radar is used to detect not only underground objects such as pipes and utilities, but also irregular features.

The radar image shows thick layers of material along the entire path, all facing upwards towards the estimated shoreline at an angle of about 15 degrees, roughly the same as the angle of beach sediments on Earth.

This thickness of sediment on Earth would have taken millions of years to form. It suggests that Mars had long-lived water with the effect of waves to distribute sediments along the sloped coastline.

Radar also allowed to determine the size of the particles in these layers and matched the particles of sand.

However, the deposits do not resemble the ancient wind-blowed dunes common on Mars.

“This quickly stood out to us because it suggested there were waves. That means there was a dynamic interface between air and water,” Dr. Cardenas said. I did.

“Looking back at the places where the earliest life on Earth developed, it was in the interaction between the ocean and the land, which paints an ancient habitable environment, and conditions for microbial life. You can embrace the

“Comparing Mars data with radar images of coastal sediments on Earth, we found impressive similarities.”

“The dip angle observed on Mars fell within the range seen in coastal sedimentary deposits on Earth.”

“We see the coastline of this body of water has evolved over time,” Dr. Cardenas said.

“We tend to think of Mars as a static snapshot of a planet, but it was evolving. The rivers were flowing, the sediments were moving, the land was constructed and eroded. This type of sedimentary geology tells us how landscapes look and how they evolved. And, importantly, identifying where you want to look for your past life. It will help you.”

“The discoveries show that Mars was a much damper location than it used to be today, further supporting the hypothesis of the past oceans that covers most of the planet’s North Pole.”

The study also provides new information on the evolution of Mars’ environment, suggesting that life-friendly warm, wet periods can potentially last tens of millions of years.

“The power of Zhurong Rover allowed us to understand the geological history of the planet in a whole new way,” said the University of California, a professor of Michael Manga at Berkeley.

“That underground intrusion radar gives us an underground view of the planet.

“These incredible advances in technology have made it possible to realize basic science that uncovers a new mountain of information about Mars.”

result It was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Jianhui Li et al. 2025. Ancient sea coastal deposits imaged on Mars. pnas 122 (9): E2422213122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2422213122

Source: www.sci.news

Early trials suggest mRNA vaccines hold potential for treating pancreatic cancer

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Personalized mRNA vaccines, including those for pancreatic cancer treatment, are currently in phase 1 of clinical trials. The research was recently published in Nature.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates among cancer types, with less than 13% of patients surviving beyond five years after diagnosis. The disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, with nearly 90% of cases already progressing when detected.

Pancreatic cancer cells have a high tendency to spread rapidly to other parts of the body, usually after the primary tumor has grown large. Symptoms typically only appear in late stages, and there are currently no routine screening methods like mammograms or colonoscopies for this cancer.

Effective treatments for pancreatic cancer are limited, with survival rates remaining around 10% despite the best available therapies. The development of personalized mRNA vaccines for cancer treatment aims to change this narrative.

Before the widespread use of mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, researchers were exploring their potential for cancer treatment. These vaccines work by training the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells, essentially turning the body’s immune response into a cancer-fighting mechanism. Current research is focused on melanoma, colorectal cancer, and other solid tumors.

The success of mRNA cancer vaccines relies on generating a robust response from T cells, a type of immune cell that recognizes and fights off intruders. These T cells need to be durable and capable of detecting and eliminating cancer cells, including those in pancreatic cancer which present unique challenges due to limited mutation targets.

A recent clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of an mRNA vaccine in pancreatic cancer patients who had undergone surgery to remove the tumor. Results showed that the vaccine elicited a response in half of the participants, generating tumor-targeting T cells that persisted for years. This promising outcome underscores the potential of mRNA vaccines in improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.

The study also highlighted the need for further research to determine the long-term impact of these vaccines on patient outcomes. The development of ready-made mRNA vaccines that target common mutations in pancreatic cancer tumors is another area of ongoing investigation, offering a more standardized approach to treatment.

Overall, early findings suggest that mRNA vaccines hold promise in enhancing the body’s immune response against pancreatic cancer, offering hope for improved survival rates and outcomes in the future.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Discovery of new bird fossils from China sheds light on early evolution of avian species

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have excavated fossilized remains of two Jurassic bird species in the area of Zenge County, Fujian Province, southeastern China. These 149 million-year-old fossils exhibit early appearances of highly derived bird characteristics, and together with fossils of another bird from the same region, they have the early origins of the birds and the early Jurassic. It suggests bird radiation.

Baminornis Zhenghensis. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.

“Birds are the most diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates,” says Professor Min Wang. Paleontology and Paleontology of Vertebrates The Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues said in a statement.

“Specific macroevolutionary studies suggest that their early diversification dates back to the Jurassic period.”

“However, the earliest evolutionary history of birds has long been obscure by highly fragmented fossil records. Archeopteryx Being the only widely accepted Jurassic bird. ”

“nevertheless Archeopteryx It was closely similar, especially due to its distinctive long reptile tail, as it had feathered wings. This is in stark contrast to the short-tailed morphology of modern and Cretaceous birds. ”

“Recent research questions about Aviaran's status. Archeopteryx classifies it as a deinonychosaurian dinosaur, a sister group of birds. ”

“This raises the question of whether there is a clear record of Jurassic birds.”

In their new study, Professor Wang and co-authors discovered and investigated two early bird fossils that were part of the so-called Zhenghe Biota.

One of these birds named Baminornis Zhenghensis the earliest known short-tailed bird.

“Baminornis Zhenghensis The end of the short tail in a complex bone called Pygostyle is a characteristic that can also be observed in living birds,” the paleontologist said.

“Previously, the oldest record of short-tailed birds was from the early Cretaceous period.”

“Baminornis Zhenghensis It is the only Jurassic and the oldest short-tailed bird ever discovered, pushing back the appearance of this derivative bird's distinctive features for nearly 20 million years. ”

According to the team, Baminornis Zhenghensis It also represents one of the oldest known birds.

“A step back and reconsidering the uncertainty of the phylogenetics Archeopteryx we don’t doubt it Baminornis Zhenghensis said Dr. Zhonghe Zhou of the Institute for Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The second unnamed bird is represented by a single fossilized fullcula (wishbone).

“Our results support this introduction to Furcula ornithuromorpha a diverse group of Cretaceous birds,” the researchers said.

Team's work It was published in the journal today Nature.

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R. Chen et al. 2025. The first short-tailed bird from the late late Jurassic period in China. Nature 638, 441-448; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08410-z

Source: www.sci.news

Early Universe Detection of Radio Jet Emitted by Monster 2 Galaxy

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered radio jet is associated with J1601+3102, a highly radioloud kusar that spans an astounding 215,000 light years and exists just 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang. This structure was observed on a low-frequency array (LOFAR), Gemini North Telescope from the Gemini Near-Frared Spectrograph (GNIRS), and the hobby Eberly telescope, and the largest radio jet discovered early in the history of the universe. That's it.

J1601+3102 Radio Jet. Image credits: Lofar/Decals/Desi Legacy Imaging Surveys/lbnl/doe/ctio/noirlab/nsf/aura/F. Sweijen, Durham University/M. Zamani, NSF Noirab.

“We were looking for a quasar with a powerful radio jet in the early universe, which helped us understand how the first jets were formed and how they influenced the evolution of the galaxy. ”

“Determining the properties of a quasar, such as its mass and the speed at which it consumes the problem, is necessary to understand its formation history.”

To measure these parameters, astronomers looked for specific wavelengths emitted by quasars known as the MGII (magnesium) wide emission lines.

This signal is usually displayed in the UV wavelength range. However, due to the expansion of the universe, which causes the light emitted by the quasar to “stretch” to a longer wavelength, the magnesium signal arrives at Earth in the near-infrared wavelength range that can be detected by the Gneal.

J1601+3102 Quasar was formed when the universe was less than 1.2 billion years. It's only 9% of my current age.

Quasars can have billions of times more mass than our Sun, but this is on the small side and weighs 450 million times the mass of the Sun.

The double-sided jets are asymmetric in both brightness and distance extending from the quasar, indicating that extreme environments may be affecting them.

“Interestingly, the quasars that run this large radio jet don't have any extreme black holes mass compared to other quasars,” Dr. Gloudemans said.

“This appears to indicate that generating such a powerful jet in early universes does not necessarily require very large black holes or accretion rates.”

The previous shortage of large radio jets in early space is attributed to noise from the microwave background of the universe. This is a constant fog of microwave radiation remaining from the Big Bang.

This permanent background radiation usually reduces the radio light of such distant objects.

“Because this object is so extreme, it can actually be seen from the Earth, even if it's far away,” Dr. Gloudemans said.

“This object shows us what we can discover by combining the forces of multiple telescopes operating at different wavelengths.”

result It will be displayed in Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Anniek J. Gloudemans et al. 2025. Monster radio jet (>66 kpc) observed in quasars from z~5. apjl 980, L8; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/AD9609

This article is based on a press release provided by NSF's Noirlab.

Source: www.sci.news

Early Chinese Humans Coexisted with Small Cat Species

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

I was named PRIONAILURUS KURTENIThe new cat’s species are the smallest known fossil members of the Wissil family.

PRIONAILURUS KURTENI It was as small as a cat with rusty spots (PRIONAILURUS RUBIGINOSUS) Image credit: David V. Raju / CC by-Sa 4.0.

PRIONAILURUS KURTENI About 300,000 years ago, I currently lived in southern China in the middle of the world.

“The southern eastern Asia and southern China are outstanding as the diversity of Lexae, which has four types of leopard cats, especially Ferini’s hot pot. PRIONAILURUS2 kinds of golden cats KatopmaOne kind of marble cat PardofelisAnd one kind of wild cat, Ferris ChaussDr. Jiangzuo of the Chinese Academy and his colleagues vertebrates of vertebrates and the Anti -Anthropology Institute.

“Most ferrini species share the characteristics of similar teeth, but shows the difference between the body size and ecological niche, which is an example of mammals in forest areas, which is a diversification/radiation example.”

“However, the history of the evolution of Ferrini in southern Asia and southern China is hardly known for the relatively rare fossil area of the forest area. Records, some are isolated teeth that have not been diagnosed in Ferini. Separately.

The newly identified cat species belongs to PRIONAILURUSA natural genus of a wild cat with small spots native to Asia.

“The genus PRIONAILURUS Four (or five) are the most diverse grids in the south and southeast forests of Asia, and four (or five) have known species.

“The molecular dating system supports the renewal radiation of the genus late world.”

“However, the fossil species of the genus are not known (all are known are existing or SP. SP. It is often the genus. Ferris), And the fossils of the genus are very rare. “

“I explain this fact. The first is a rare fossil cats in southern China, mainly represented by cave sediments, and small bones are often rare. The second is careful. It is a historic assignment of all small cats to Ferris without revising these materials.

Small lower jaw fragments PRIONAILURUS KURTENI Discovered in Hualongdong Cave I, a fossil Homo A region at the southernmost tip of Anfiy, China.

“The dating of the uranium series gives the range of 275, 00 to 331 and 00 years of fossils. Homo Researchers say that the layer goes from stage 9E to 8c of the ocean isotopes. “

“The fossil cats explained in this study were also obtained from this layer.”

PRIONAILURUS KURTENI It represents known fossil members so far.

Ancient species are comparable to two minimum modern cats. Cat with rusty spots (PRIONAILURUS RUBIGINOSUS) and Black foot cat (Ferris Niglipes)。

“Identification of PRIONAILURUS KURTENI Potentially suggests high diversity PRIONAILURUS In the past, we emphasize the importance of reconsidering small cat department classification methods to better understand the evolution and diversification of this family. “

Their paper Published in the journal Annales Zoologici Fennici。

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Mt. et al。 2024. PRIONAILURUS KURTENI (Carnivora, Carnivora), HUALONGDONG’s update of HUALONGDONG in the southern China is a small new species of a small native fossil area Hominin area. Annales Zoologici Fennici 61 (1): 335-342; DOI: 10.5735/086.061.0120

Source: www.sci.news

Exploring the decision-making process of early hominin tool manufacturers: A new study

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleoanthropologists have characterized the properties of rough stone materials selected and used by early Pleistocene tool makers at Acheulean sites on the Ethiopian plateau between 16 and 1 million years ago.

Hand ax made from sidestrike flakes (ac) and kombewa flakes (df) from Melka Wakena, Ethiopia. Image credit: Tegenu Gossa & Erella Hovers, doi: 10.1007/s12520-024-02072-8.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem said: “The two earliest stone tool assemblages, Oldowan and Acheulean, are now known to have emerged and proliferated within the East African Rift Valley.” Professor Herrera Hovers And my colleagues.

“The Oldowans (beginning 2.6 million years ago) introduced the obligatory use of percussion techniques, using various types of lithic supports (cobbles, nodules, pebbles, etc.) as percussion instruments to produce simple flakes. It represents a fundamental technological advance.

“The emergence of the Atyurs 1.75 million years ago probably marked major biological and behavioral changes in hominin lifestyles, often associated with improved cognitive abilities.”

In their study, the authors focused on: Melka Wakenaan early Achurian archaeological complex located in the south-central Ethiopian Plateau, at an altitude of 2,300 to 2,350 meters above sea level.

The site consists of several areas within a radius of approximately 2 km along the western bank of the Wabe River.

Preliminary investigations revealed the remains of animals, including 15 species of large vertebrates, some of which had human traces.

“Melka Wakena is one of the earliest known sites of high-altitude human habitation,” the researchers said.

“Evidence suggests that early humans made strategic choices based on factors such as rock compatibility, durability, and efficiency.”

“Melka Wakena's unique high-altitude setting provides valuable insight into how early humans adapted to their difficult environment.”

Scientists used advanced digital imaging techniques such as 3D scanning and photogrammetry to create highly detailed models showing the effects of stone tool use.

These models enable accurate analysis of wear patterns and surface changes and reveal that raw material properties have a significant influence on these changes, even under identical use conditions.

The findings suggest that early humans carefully evaluated the properties of materials when making tools, demonstrating a remarkable degree of technological foresight and adaptability.

“Our findings suggest that early humans were not simply picking up stones at random,” said Professor Hovers.

“They were making complex decisions about which materials were best for predictable needs, demonstrating a high degree of pre-planning and cognitive sophistication.”

of result appear in the diary PLoS ONE.

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E. Paisan others. 2025. Exploring early Acheulean technological decision-making: A controlled experimental approach to raw material selection for percussion crafts in Melka Wakena, Ethiopia. PLoS ONE 20 (1): e0314039;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314039

Source: www.sci.news

Elon Musk facing lawsuit from US government over undisclosed early Twitter stock purchase

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

U.S. financial regulators have charged Elon Musk with allegedly threatening other shareholders by not disclosing his ownership of Twitter shares and then acquiring the company’s shares at artificially low prices.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Musk in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing him of securities violations. The complaint states that Musk failed to disclose his 5% stake in the company in a timely manner and profited from the stock purchased after the filing deadline for ownership statements. The company ended up paying less than $1,000,000.

Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 and later rebranded the company as X. He acquired a 5% stake in the company before the purchase, which normally would require a public offering. The SEC claims that Musk disclosed his ownership on Twitter 11 days after the reporting deadline.

Musk’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, stated in an email that the SEC’s lawsuit is baseless, claiming that Musk did nothing wrong. This is not the first time Musk has been investigated by the SEC for his involvement with Twitter.

The SEC alleges that Musk delayed disclosing his ownership to the public and spent over $500 million on additional shares, potentially allowing the company to purchase stock at an artificially low price.

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Despite Musk disclosing his ownership to the SEC 11 days later, he stated that he had acquired more than 9% of Twitter’s stock. The SEC noted that Twitter’s stock price rose by over 27% on that day.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newly discovered Silurian fossils provide insight into the intricate early development of molluscs

Posted on January 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have discovered two new three-dimensionally preserved aculiferous mollusks from the Silurian period, showing that the earliest molluscs were more complex and adaptable than previously known. It was revealed that there was.

3D model of punk ferox (above) and emo swirl (Bottom) Reconstructed as a digital virtual fossil. Image credit: Mark Sutton, Imperial College London.

The two new Aculifera species are punk ferox and emo swirllived about 430 million years ago.

The specimen was discovered in a Silurian deposit in the county of Herefordshire, England.

These had distinctive spikes and other features that set them apart from the earlier molluscs mentioned above.

Dr Mark Sutton, a paleontologist at Imperial College London, said: “Molluscans are one of the largest and most diverse groups of animals on Earth.

“However, early acripheran molluscs are less well known than their relatives.”

“Information about this group was limited, and for a very long time we thought they were fairly basic, simple, and primitive.”

“It's extremely rare to find fossils that are so well-preserved and have such detailed soft tissues.”

“We were able to create 'virtual fossils', or 3D digital models. This provided us with a treasure trove of information and revealed that the evolutionary branches of molluscs include: It helps you understand that punk ferox and emo swirl It was much more evolutionarily rich and diverse than we expected. similar to other mollusk groups. ”

Sutton and his colleagues used two different methods to obtain clear images of both the interior and exterior of the fossil.

First, an X-ray scan was used to closely observe the internal structure without damaging the exterior.

The fossil is then carefully crushed into very thin layers and photographed at each stage to create 3D images of its external features.

The researchers found that both fossils had smooth undersides, suggesting they lived on the ocean floor, and both had some unique features and unconventional locomotion strategies.

of emo swirl The fossil is preserved in a folded position, suggesting it moved like an inchworm to grasp the vertebrae and push forward.

Meanwhile, how punk ferox Scientists weren't sure if it was still mobile, but it turned out that it had ridge-like legs, unlike any mollusk that exists today.

“The name is punk ferox and emo swirl In fact, our first nicknames for these ancient mollusks were inspired by some of their unique features and personalities,” Dr. Sutton said.

“punk ferox In particular, its spiky appearance clearly resembles a rebellious punk rocker. emo swirl It complemented it nicely. ”

“meanwhile punk ferox They resemble insect-like molluscs with long spines, but also have wide legs and chiton-like gills. ”

“emo swirlIt resembles an earthworm with a similarly long body and spines, but also features a chiton-like shell and compressed body. ”

“Such a combination of features helps us better understand the evolutionary tree of molluscs. This points to a story involving more complexity and diversity than previously thought.”

of study Published in a magazine nature.

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MD Sutton others. New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal the mollusk's complex early history. naturepublished online on January 8, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08312-0

Source: www.sci.news

Protoplanetary disks surrounding stars similar to the Sun seem to have had a longer lifespan in the early universe

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In 2003, Hubble provided evidence of giant exoplanets around very old stars. Such stars have only small amounts of the heavy elements that make up planets. This suggests that some planetary formation occurred when our universe was very young, and that those planets had time to form and grow large within the primordial disk, becoming even larger than Jupiter. I am. But how? To answer this question, astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to study stars in the nearby Small Magellanic Cloud, which, like the early Universe, lacks large amounts of heavy elements. They discovered that not only do some stars there have planet-forming disks, but that those disks are longer-lived than the disks found around young stars in our Milky Way galaxy.

This web image shows NGC 346, a massive star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Yellow circles superimposed on the image indicate the positions of the 10 stars investigated in the study. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Olivia C. Jones, UK ATC/Guido De Marchi, ESTEC/Margaret Meixner, USRA.

“With Webb, we have strong confirmation of what we saw with Hubble, and we need to rethink how we model planet formation and early evolution in the young Universe.” European Space Research Agency said Dr. Guido de Marchi, a researcher at Technology Center.

“In the early universe, stars formed primarily from hydrogen and helium, with few heavier elements such as carbon or iron, and were later born from supernova explosions.”

“Current models predict that because heavy elements are so scarce, the lifetime of the disk around the star is short, so short that in fact planets cannot grow,” said a researcher at NSF's NOIRLab's Gemini Observatory. said lead scientist Dr. Elena Sabbi.

“But Hubble actually observed those planets. So what happens if the model is incorrect and the disks have a longer lifespan?”

To test this idea, the astronomers trained Webb in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy that is one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.

In particular, they examined the massive star-forming cluster NGC 346, which also has a relative lack of heavy elements.

This cluster served as a nearby proxy for studying stellar environments with similar conditions in the distant early universe.

Hubble observations of NGC 346 since the mid-2000s have revealed that there are many stars around 20 to 30 million years old that are thought to still have planet-forming disks around them.

This was contrary to the conventional idea that such disks would disappear after two or three million years.

“Hubble's discovery was controversial and went against not only the empirical evidence for the galaxy, but also current models,” Dr. De Marchi said.

“This was interesting, but without a way to obtain the spectra of these stars, we will not know whether what we are witnessing is genuine accretion and the presence of a disk, or just an artificial effect. I couldn't actually confirm it.”

Now, thanks to Webb's sensitivity and resolution, scientists have, for the first time, spectra of the formation of Sun-like stars and their surrounding environments in nearby galaxies.

“We can see that these stars are actually surrounded by a disk and are still in the process of engulfing material even though they are relatively old, 20 or 30 million years old,” De Marchi said. Ta.

“This also means that planets have more time to form and grow around these stars than in nearby star-forming regions in our galaxy.”

This discovery contradicts previous theoretical predictions that if there were very few heavy elements in the gas around the disk, the star would quickly blow away the disk.

Therefore, the lifespan of the disk is very short, probably less than 1 million years.

But how can planets form if dust grains stick together to form pebbles and the disk doesn't stay around the star long enough to become the planet's core?

The researchers explained that two different mechanisms, or a combination of them, may exist for planet-forming disks to persist in environments low in heavy elements.

First, the star applies radiation pressure to blow the disk away.

For this pressure to be effective, an element heavier than hydrogen or helium must be present in the gas.

However, the massive star cluster NGC 346 contains only about 10 percent of the heavy elements present in the Sun's chemical composition.

Perhaps the stars in this cluster just need time to disperse their disks.

A second possibility is that for a Sun-like star to form when there are few heavier elements, it would need to start with a larger cloud of gas.

As the gas cloud grows larger, it produces larger disks. Therefore, because there is more mass in the disk, it will take longer to blow it away, even if the radiation pressure is acting the same.

“The more material around the star, the longer the accretion will last,” Sabbi says.

“It takes 10 times longer for the disk to disappear. This has implications for how planets form and the types of system architectures that can be used in different environments. This is very exciting.”

of study Published today on astrophysical journal.

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Guido de Marchi others. 2024. Protoplanetary disks around Sun-like stars appear to live longer when they are less metallic. APJ 977,214;Doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad7a63

This article is adapted from an original release by the Webb Mission Team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Source: www.sci.news

Webb finds evidence of active formation of low-mass galaxies in the early universe

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered galaxy, called the Firefly Radiance, existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang and consisted of at least 10 star clusters.

The Firefly Sparkle galaxy is in the process of gathering and forming new stars, exists about 600 million years after the Big Bang, and would weigh about the same as the Milky Way if we could turn back the clock and watch the galaxy develop . Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / C. Willott, NRC-Canada / L. Mowla, Wellesley College / K. Iyer, Columbia.

The most distant galaxies detected date from when the universe was about 5% of its current age.

However, the mass of these galaxies is about 10,000 times smaller than that of the Milky Way, making them difficult to observe.

The Firefly Sparkle galaxy was first observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but detailed new observations by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope shed more light on its formation.

“We never thought it would be possible to resolve galaxies that existed so early in the universe into so many different components, much less that their mass would be comparable to the mass of our galaxy in the process of forming. “I never thought it would be possible to discover similarities between the two,” he said. Dr. Ramiya Moura, astronomer at Wellesley College.

“There’s so much going on inside this small galaxy, including various stages of star formation.”

Webb was able to image the Firefly Sparkle galaxy in sufficient detail for two reasons.

One is the blessings of the universe. A massive galaxy cluster in the foreground, called MACS J1423.8+2404, radically enhanced the appearance of distant galaxies through a natural effect known as gravitational lensing.

And when combined with the telescope’s specialization in high-resolution imaging in infrared light, Webb provided unprecedented new data on the contents of galaxies.

“Without the benefit of this gravitational lensing, we would not have been able to understand this galaxy,” said Columbia University astronomer Karltej Ayer.

“We knew that was expected based on current physics, but to actually witness it was surprising.”

Astronomers also observed two neighboring galaxies they named Firefly Best Friend and Firefly New Best Friend. These galaxies are located 6,000 and 40,000 light-years from Firefly Sparkle, respectively, and are smaller than the present-day Milky Way.

The authors propose that the firefly glow could be a young, gas-rich galaxy in the early stages of formation.

These show that Firefly Sparkle’s mass is concentrated in 10 star clusters, with a total mass about 10 million times the mass of the Sun.

As such, Firefly Sparkle is one of the lowest-mass galaxies to have resolved into star clusters observed at the dawn of the universe, when galaxies began to form, and its mass is similar to that of the progenitor Milky Way. is.

“It has long been predicted that galaxies in the early universe formed through continuous interactions and mergers with other smaller galaxies,” says Yoshihisa Asada, a doctoral student at Kyoto University.

“We may be witnessing this process in action.”

“We have just started using space microscopy, so this is only the first of many such galaxies that Webb will discover,” said Dr. Marcia Bradač, an astronomer at the University of Ljubljana.

“Just as we can see pollen grains on plants with a microscope, the incredible resolution of the Webb and the magnifying power of gravitational lenses allows us to see tiny pieces inside galaxies.”

“Our team is currently analyzing all the early galaxies, and the results all point in the same direction. We still don’t know much about how these early galaxies formed. .”

of study Published in a magazine nature.

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L. Mora others. 2024. Low-mass galaxies were formed from star clusters in the Universe 600 million years ago. nature 636, 332-336; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08293-0

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient footprints reveal how early human species lived together

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Footprints thought to have been left by an individual of Paranthropus boisei

Neil T. Roach

Preserved footprints in Kenya appear to record two different species of ancient humans walking along the same muddy lake shore, perhaps within days of each other. This is one of the most dramatic pieces of evidence ever discovered that multiple human species once coexisted in the world.

“It's really unusual to find evidence of two different species walking on that surface,” he says. Kevin Hatala at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

footprints Discovered in 2021 Kobi Fora, Kenya, near the eastern shore of Lake Turkana. They were first discovered by team member Richard Loki. Turkana Basin Research Institute“Originally, there was a team of Kenyans working there,” Hatala says.

The researchers discovered a track consisting of 12 footprints preserved in a layer of dry sand and silt (see image above). This was apparently left behind by one person walking in a straight line. Near the main group were also three isolated prints that appeared to have been made by three different individuals. The lack of mud cracks or signs of overprinting with other tracks indicates that these prints were all made at about the same time. “These sites are probably capturing times ranging from minutes to days,” Hatala says.

This deposit was determined to be approximately 1.52 million years old. Isolated footprints are similar to footprints left by modern humans. Your heel touches the ground first, then your foot rolls forward and you push off with the sole of your foot. Hatala and his colleagues suggest that these may have been fabricated. homo erectusis known to have lived in this area.

In contrast, continuous trajectories were created by flatter-footed hominins. Hatala and his colleagues suggest that this could be Paranthropus boiseianother type of hominin that lived in this area.

The footprint fossil on the left, with its deeper heel marks, is thought to have been made by Homo erectus, and the more flat-footed fossil on the right is thought to have been made by Paranthropus boisei.

Kevin Hatala/Chatham

“With footprints, you can never be 100% sure who made them,” he says. Ashley Wiseman from University College London was not involved in the study but, H. erectus and P.Boisei. They are the only humans whose remains have been found preserved in this area, “so we can make an informed guess that it is these two individuals.”

If the track was really made by humans, P.Boisei Wiseman said the specimen appears to have been walking on two legs. The bones of the skull, arms, and legs are paranthropus“We've never found a skull associated with the rest of the skeleton,” she says, meaning little is known about their bodies beyond their heads, and the way they walk remains a mystery. The trajectory will be changed, saying, “This is clear evidence that it was walking on two legs.''

These two species were very different. H. erectus It was one of the earliest members of our genus, homo. They had larger brains than early humans and were the first clade to travel outside of Africa. in contrast, P.Boisey They had large teeth and jaws, small brains, and were apparently adapted to eating chewy foods like grasses and sedges.

Hatala and his team then looked at other known footprints found in the same area and at the same time and found that they appeared to match either species. “Similar patterns have been seen at other sites, which may span more than 100,000 years,” he says. “These two species appear to have coexisted with each other in this same familiar landscape for a very long time.”

“If they were able to coexist for more than 100,000 years, we speculate that there was probably a low to neutral level of competition,” Hatala says. Previous research suggests that the two people were eating different foods. Unlike P.Boisei, H. erectus It is thought that they had a varied diet, including hunting large animals.

“Both could carve out their own existence within this shared landscape,” Hatala says. Subsequent changes in the environment may have had an effect. P.Boisei Potentially extinct, yet more adaptable H. erectus Survived.

topic:

evolution/
evolution of humanity

Source: www.newscientist.com

Early universe reveals mysterious supermassive galaxy

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have determined that within the first billion years after the Big Bang, three supermassive galaxies with a mass roughly the same as our own Milky Way already existed. I discovered that there is. The discovery, part of the JWST/FRESCO survey, shows that stars in the early universe grew much more rapidly than previously thought, casting doubt on existing models of galaxy formation.

Three red monster galaxies discovered by Webb. Image credits: NASA / CSA / ESA / M. Xiao & PA Oesch, University of Geneva / G. Brammer, Niels Bohr Institute / Dawn JWST Archive.

Until now, it was thought that all galaxies formed gradually within large halos of dark matter.

Dark matter halos trap gas (atoms and molecules) in gravitationally bound structures.

Typically, up to 20% of this gas is converted into stars within a galaxy.

But new discoveries cast doubt on this view, revealing that giant galaxies in the early universe may have grown much more rapidly and efficiently than previously thought.

“The problem of ‘impossible’ giant galaxies in the aftermath of the Big Bang has puzzled astronomers since the first images of the web,” said Dr Ivo Rabe, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology.

“This is like finding a 100 kg infant. Webb has proven that monsters roam the early universe.”

While most of the sources found in the FRESCO survey fit existing models, astronomers also discovered three surprisingly massive galaxies with stellar masses comparable to today’s Milky Way galaxy. .

They are named “red monsters” because of their high dust content and their distinctive red color in web images.

These form stars nearly twice as efficiently as their subsequent lower-mass counterparts and galaxies.

“These findings raise new questions about galaxy formation theory, especially the problem of ‘too many, too big’ galaxies in the early Universe,” said Dr. Rabe.

“Current models cannot explain why star formation occurs so efficiently so early in the universe.”

“The general assumption is that an exploding star or a supermassive black hole kills star formation and blows out the candle.”

“I have no doubt that future observations of the web will provide clues about what we are missing.”

Professor Stein Weitz, an astronomer at the University of Bath, said: “Finding three such gigantic beasts among the specimens poses an interesting puzzle.”

“Many processes of galactic evolution tend to introduce rate-limiting steps in how efficiently gas turns into stars, but somehow this red monster quickly bypassed most of these hurdles. It seems there is.”

“These results show that galaxies in the early Universe may form stars with unexpected efficiency,” said Dr. Mengyuan Xiao, an astronomer at the University of Geneva.

“Studying these galaxies in more detail will provide new insights into the conditions that shaped the early days of the universe.”

“The Red Monster is just the beginning of a new era in the exploration of the early universe.”

“That’s the great thing about astronomy: we’re always surprised by new discoveries,” Professor Weitz said.

“Already in the first few years, Webb has thrown us some curveballs.”

“In multiple ways, we show that some galaxies mature rapidly during the first chapters of the universe’s history.”

a paper Survey results are published in a magazine nature.

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M. Xiao others. The formation of supermassive galaxies accelerates during the first billion years. naturepublished online on November 13, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08094-5

Source: www.sci.news

Revisiting the Formation of Galaxies in the Early Universe: New Research Inquiries

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Standard Model predicted that the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope would observe a faint signal from a small protogalaxy. However, the common hypothesis that invisible dark matter contributed to the clumping of early stars and galaxies is not supported by the data. In fact, a new study led by astrophysicists at Case Western Reserve University says that the fact that the oldest galaxies are larger and brighter is consistent with another theory of gravity.

This artist's impression shows the evolution of the universe, starting with the Big Bang on the left and continuing with the emergence of the Cosmic Microwave Background. The formation of the first stars ends the Dark Ages of the universe, followed by the formation of galaxies. Image credit: M. Weiss / Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

“What dark matter theory predicts is not what we're seeing,” says Case Western Conservancy Professor Stacey McGaw.

“Instead of dark matter, modified gravity may have played a role. A theory known as MOND (Modified Newtonian Mechanics) proposed in 1998 that structure formation in the early universe would have occurred very quickly. It's much faster than the cold dark matter theory known as lambda CDM predicted.

The Webb is designed to answer some of the universe's biggest questions, such as when and how stars and galaxies formed.

Until its launch in 2021, there was no telescope that could peer deep into space and far back in time.

Lambda CDM predicts that galaxies formed by the gradual accretion of matter from smaller structures to larger structures due to the extra gravity provided by the mass of dark matter.

“Astronomers invented dark matter to explain how we went from a very smooth early universe to the large galaxies we see today with lots of space in between.” Professor McGough said.

Smaller pieces clustered into larger structures until galaxies formed. Webb should be able to see these tiny galaxy precursors as dim lights.

“All the large galaxies we see in the nearby universe were expected to have started from these tiny pieces,” Professor McGough said.

But even at higher and higher redshifts, the signal is larger and brighter than expected, even from this early stage of the universe's evolution.

MOND predicted that the mass that would become galaxies would rapidly aggregate and initially expand outward with the rest of the universe.

The stronger gravity slows the expansion, which then reverses and the matter collapses on itself to form galaxies. In this theory, dark matter does not exist at all.

“The large, bright structures that Webb saw in the very early days of the universe were predicted by MOND more than a quarter of a century ago,” Professor McGough said.

“The bottom line is, “I told you so.'' I was raised to think it was rude to say that, but that's the whole point of the scientific method, to make predictions and find out which ones. Let's see if it becomes a reality.”

“Finding a theory that fits both MOND and general relativity remains a major challenge.”

of the team paper will appear in today's astrophysical journal.

_____

Stacey S. McGaw others. 2024. Accelerating structure formation: The early emergence of massive galaxies and galaxy clusters. APJin press. arXiv: 2406.17930

This article is a version of a press release provided by Case Western Reserve University.

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Find Fastest-Feeding Black Hole in Early Universe

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The 7.2 million solar mass black hole, named LID-568, appears to be feeding on matter 40 times faster than the Eddington limit and is thought to have existed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang.

An artist's impression of the accreting black hole LID-568 in the early universe. Image credit: NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. da Silva / M. Zamani.

eddington limit The maximum brightness a black hole can achieve is related to the rate at which a black hole can absorb matter, such that the inward gravitational force is balanced with the outward pressure generated from the heat of the compressed and falling matter. I will.

LID-568 appears to be feeding on matter at a rate 40 times faster than the Eddington limit.

This accreting black hole was detected by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope in a sample of galaxies from the COSMOS Legacy Survey of Chandra.

This galaxy population is very bright in the X-ray part of the spectrum, but invisible in the optical and near-infrared.

Webb's unique infrared sensitivity allows it to detect these weak corresponding emissions.

LID-568 stood out in the sample for its strong X-ray emissions, but its exact location could not be determined using X-ray observations alone.

So instead of using traditional slit spectroscopy, Webb's measurement support scientists suggested that the study authors use an integral field spectrometer. Web's NIRSpec (near infrared spectrometer) equipment.

“Due to its faint nature, detection of LID-568 would be impossible without Webb,” said Dr. Emanuele Farina, an astronomer at the International Gemini Observatory and NSF's NOIRLab.

“The use of an integral field spectrometer was innovative and necessary to obtain the observations.”

“This black hole is having a party,” said Dr. Julia Schallwechter, also of the International Gemini Observatory and NSF's NOIRLab.

“This extreme case shows that a fast-feeding mechanism that exceeds the Eddington limit is one possible explanation for why we see these extremely massive black holes in the early universe.”

These results provide new insights into the formation of supermassive black holes from smaller black hole “seeds.” Until now, theories have lacked observational support.

“The discovery of super-Eddington accretion black holes suggests that, regardless of the black hole's origin as a light or heavy seed, a significant portion of the mass growth can occur during a single episode of rapid feeding. “This suggests something,” said Dr. Hyewon Seo. Also provided by the International Gemini Observatory and NSF's NOIRLab.

“The discovery of LID-568 also shows that black holes can exceed the Eddington limit, giving astronomers the first opportunity to study how this happens,” the astronomers said. .

“The strong outflow observed on LID-568 may act as a release valve for excess energy generated by extreme accretion, preventing the system from becoming too unstable.”

“The team plans a follow-up study with Mr. Webb to further investigate the mechanisms involved.”

Their result Published in today's diary natural astronomy.

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Sue H others. A super-Eddington accretion black hole observed by JWST about 1.5 Gyr after the Big Bang. Nat Astronpublished online on November 4, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02402-9

This article is based on a press release provided by NSF's NOIRLab.

Source: www.sci.news

Fossils from Mid-Devonian coral reefs shed light on early photosymbiosis evidence

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The symbiotic relationship between corals and their photosynthetic partners, algae (photosymbionts), dates back to at least the Devonian period (385 million years ago), according to a new study.

Dendroid Porites Coral Dendrostella trigeum tab-shaped coral fragments Romerolite Brevis Riphaeus. Image credit: Chong others., doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08101-9.

All modern corals belong to a group called scleractinians, which evolved during the Triassic period.

These corals may provide habitat for symbionts (such as photosymbionts) that play a role in nutrient recycling, which is especially beneficial in nutrient-poor waters.

However, it is not clear whether earlier extinct forms of coral had photosymbionts.

“The Devonian period (419 to 359 million years ago) was a time when sea surface temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide were higher than they are today,” said Jonathan Jung, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, stated in their paper.

“Unlike today, its carbonate chemistry is dominated by calcite precipitation, likely due to the low magnesium-to-calcium ratio in seawater.”

“The Middle Devonian was the period of greatest expansion of metazoan reefs in the Phanerozoic era, and well-preserved reefs from this period span what is now Europe, North America, North Africa, Australia, Siberia, and China.” explained the researchers.

“In the Devonian period, these reefs bordered the lake seas on the southern margin of Lorsia and the northern boundary of Gondwana.”

“Along the southern margin of Lorsia, these ancient reef communities reached their greatest extent and highest diversity during the Givetian period of the Devonian period (approximately 387 to 382 million years ago).”

“These thriving metazoan coral reefs became diachronically extinct during the course of the Kerwasser crisis in the Late Fraznian (372.2 million years ago).”

“Then, coral reefs were built primarily by cyanobacteria/algae, which were present in very small numbers until the end of the Famenian period (Devonian-Carboniferous boundary).”

“The ability to host photosymbionts was paramount to the ecological success of ancient coral reef communities during the Givetian period, and the subsequent collapse of coral reefs in the Late Devonian was associated with a gradual loss of photosymbiotic relationships. It is suggested that

“However, there is still no clear consensus as to whether photosymbiosis was prevalent in now-extinct coral groups during the Paleozoic era.”

In their study, Dr. Jung and his co-authors examined fossils of two extinct reef coral groups from the mid-Devonian period: the tabula corals and the shibo corals.

They measured nitrogen isotopes bound to corals (¹⁵no/¹⁴N), can be used to distinguish whether corals obtain energy from photosynthetic symbionts.

Their results suggest that symbionts were present in the tabular corals they studied, but not in most civet corals.

This discovery provides definitive geochemical evidence of the oldest known example of symbiosis in corals.

“Wide-spread oligotrophy during the Devonian may have promoted coral photosymbiosis, and its occurrence may explain why Devonian reefs were the most productive reef ecosystems of the Phanerozoic.” the researchers wrote in their paper.

“These early signals of photosymbiosis in mid-Devonian corals indicate that it supported coral productivity under warm climate conditions.”

“The Late Triassic and Early Miocene (the subsequent period when coral photosymbiosis was reconstructed using nitrogen isotopes) were also warmer than today.”

“In contrast, under modern global warming caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, coral bleaching and associated mass mortality events are likely the greatest threat to the future of coral reefs, with the disruption of coral symbiosis due to warming.” It shows that there is.”

“The strength of coral photosymbiosis in past warm climates suggests that the failure of coral symbiosis under ongoing global warming will not be due to an increase in ocean surface temperatures reached, but rather an increase in ocean surface temperatures.” This shows that the rate of increase is greater than the adaptive capacity of the symbiotic relationship.

team's paper appear in the diary nature.

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J. Jung others. Coral photosymbiosis on mid-Devonian coral reefs. naturepublished online October 23, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08101-9

Source: www.sci.news

New research shows early humans carried two distinct strains of Helicobacter bacteria

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Two ecological species Helicobacter pylori. The bacteria, named ‘Hardy’ and ‘Ubiquitous’, coexisted in the stomachs of modern humans before they left Africa, and were dispersed around the world as humans migrated, new research shows. Ta.

Tourette’s others. They discovered that indigenous peoples in Siberia and the Americas were infected with two different types of viruses. Helicobacter pylori. Image credit: sjs.org / CC BY-SA 3.0.

First discovered in 1983, Helicobacter pylori. During long-term colonization of human hosts, it disturbs the stomach lining and causes sequelae such as ulcers and gastric cancer.

Numerous Helicobacter pylori. Virulence factors have been identified and show wide geographic variation.

In the new study, Dr. Elise Tourette and colleagues at the Shanghai Institute of Immunology and Infection used an unprecedented collection of 6,864 individuals. Helicobacter pylori. Genomes from around the world to investigate the prevalence of bacteria.

They unexpectedly discovered a very distinct variant. Helicobacter pylori. They named it the Hardy species, which originated hundreds of thousands of years ago and spread around the world with humans.

They proposed that this species is specialized to live in the stomachs of carnivores whose diet consists mainly of meat and fish.

Therefore, genetic variations found in the bacteria in our stomachs today can tell us what our ancestors ate.

“Our diverse global sample has allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of world history. Helicobacter. This confirmed previous findings that these bacteria were already passengers in our stomachs when we left Africa more than 50,000 years ago,” said Dr. Tourette. .

“But we also identified something surprising, in the form of a new ecological species. Helicobacter. We called it Hardy.”

“It differs by more than 100 genes from the common type we called ubiquitous.”

“Hardy’s ecospecies turned out to be very informative about what bacteria need to do to survive in our stomachs, but more fundamentally, bacterial diversity How it was maintained also turned out to be very informative.”

“Most humans alive today are omnivores or vegetarians, meaning a significant portion of our diet consists of plant material,” said Dr. Daniel Farash, also of the Shanghai Institute of Immunology and Infection. said.

“However, in some parts of the world, plant material was historically unavailable for large parts of the year, and people relied heavily on fish and meat for food.”

“So far, the Hardy ecospecies has only been identified in humans from indigenous populations such as Siberia and northern Canada.”

“Due to ancient host jumps, this virus has also been found in tigers and cheetahs in zoos, with important genetic differences that allow it to adapt to gastric conditions in carnivores.”

“This association is particularly interesting because our analysis also suggests that both ecological species have accompanied humans since our species’ emergence in Africa more than 200,000 years ago.” Because there is.”

“If this species is indeed adapted to being a carnivore, it means that humans who spread around the world often did not eat plants, even if plants were available. .”

By analyzing Helicobacter pylori. By analyzing genomes from around the world, researchers discovered that the first modern humans were infected with two different types of bacteria: M. hardyi and M. ubiquitous.

Both species spread from Africa during early human migrations, reaching as far as South America.

The ubiquitous ecospecies has been found in every human population sampled to date, whereas the Hardy ecospecies has only been sampled from a small number of indigenous populations and may have become extinct at many points along its migratory routes. It suggests that.

However, one strain of the African Hardy strain has shifted hosts to big cats and has been isolated from cheetahs, lions, and tigers in zoos.

Understanding why these species can coexist in some populations but not in others will help us understand the profound implications of our prehistory and the gastric diseases we still suffer from today. It is hoped that this will shed light on the burden.

“Our results also show that very different adaptive strategies can arise and be stably maintained within bacterial populations, even in the presence of continuous genetic exchange between strains.” said the scientists.

of findings. Published in a magazine nature.

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E.Tourette others. ancient ecological species Helicobacter pylori. naturepublished online October 16, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07991-z

Source: www.sci.news

New excavations shed light on early human activity in Laos’ jungles

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists excavating Tam Parin (Monkey Cave) in northeastern Laos have discovered some of the earliest fossil evidence homo sapiens Presence in mainland Southeast Asia.

Excavation survey at Thamparin in northeastern Laos. Image credit: Hernandez others., doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108982.

“Using a technique known as microstratigraphy, we were able to reconstruct past cave conditions and identify traces of human activity in and around Tamparin,” said Flinders University's Ph.D. says. Candidate Vito Hernandez.

“This also helped us determine the exact conditions in which some of the earliest modern human fossils found in Southeast Asia were deposited at depth.”

Microstratigraphy allows scientists to study soils in minute detail, identifying structures and features that preserve information about past environments, as well as potential structures and features that were overlooked during the excavation process due to their small size. Even traces of sexual human and animal activity can be observed.

The hominin fossils discovered by archaeologists were deposited in Tamparin Cave between 86,000 and 30,000 years ago.

However, until now, no detailed analysis of the sediment surrounding these fossils has been conducted to understand how they were deposited in the cave or the environmental conditions at the time.

The new findings reveal that conditions within the cave varied dramatically, from a temperate climate with frequently wet ground conditions to a seasonally dry climate.

Dr Mike Morley from Flinders University said: “This environmental change would have affected the topography inside the cave and influenced how the deposits containing hominin fossils were deposited inside the cave.” said.

“How fast! homo sapiens The theory that they were buried deep inside the cave has long been debated, but our analysis of the sediments suggests that the fossils were pushed into the cave as loose sediment and debris that accumulated over time and were washed away by heavy rains. It has been shown that it was likely carried by water from the surrounding hillsides. ”

Researchers have also identified tiny traces of charcoal and ash preserved in the cave's sediments, indicating that forest fires occurred in the area during the dry season, or that humans visited the cave. This suggests that fire may have been used inside the cave or near the entrance. .

“With this study, our team gained unprecedented insight into the dynamics of our ancestors, who dispersed throughout Southeast Asia's ever-changing forest cover and during periods of regional climate instability.” ,” said Dr. Fabrice Demeter, a paleoanthropologist at the National Museum of Nature and Science. University of Copenhagen.

of result Published in a magazine dated October 10th Quaternary Science Review.

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VC Hernandez others. Late Pleistocene–Holocene (52–10 ka) microstratigraphy, fossil taphonomy, and depositional environment of Tam Parin Cave (northeastern Laos). Quaternary Science Reviewpublished online October 10, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108982

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists say beach and underwater ruins in Sicily offer insights into early immigration

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sicily is thought to be one of the first islands inhabited by humans during the European Upper Paleolithic period. Research to understand the early occupation of the island has focused primarily on the north coast. An international team of archaeologists led by Washington University in St. Louis is currently searching for signs of human habitation in 25 caves and trenches in southeastern Sicily, Italy.

Coastal and underwater cave sites in southern Sicily contain important new clues about the routes and fate of early human migrants to the island. Image credit: Ilaria Patania.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is considered by many scholars to be the oldest permanently inhabited island of human ancestors in the region, but it is unclear when and how these early settlers arrived. It remains unclear whether he accomplished this feat.

Although the island is less than three miles from mainland Italy, it would have been extremely difficult for early humans to cross the ocean.

In the ancient Greek poem The Odyssey, Homer describes Odysseus sailing past the mythical sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis as they crossed the Strait of Sicily.

This strait was well known to ancient sailors. They attributed the terrifying power of its waves and whirlpools to powerful monsters.

In modern times, thousands of migrants from North Africa attempt to cross the Channel each year. Many never make it, and some capsize just a few hundred meters from landing.

“We're not just looking for the first arrivals, we're looking for the first communities,” says Dr. Ilaria Patania, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Understanding the timing of Sicily's early colonization provides important data on the patterns and modes of Sicily's early expansion. homo sapiens To the Mediterranean. ”

“This study shows that new ways of thinking and seeing can reveal previously invisible patterns,” added TR Kidder, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Previous scholars believed that the ruins on Sicily's southern coast were eroded or too damaged to yield useful information.”

“But discovering underwater ruins opens up a whole new area of research.”

“This allows us to reconsider the migration routes of these earliest modern human ancestors.”

Scholars agree that humans reached Sicily by 16,000 years after the Last Glacial Maximum.

But that date is puzzlingly late, given that humans are known to have dispersed from land to Siberia about 30,000 years ago.

This discrepancy has led some to wonder whether humans actually reached Sicily long before the currently accepted date.

Also, no one yet knows whether humans arrived in Sicily by sea or by foot over a land bridge, or even from what direction.

“The challenge in understanding the spread of early modern human ancestors is that we don't fully understand how they spread and colonized the world so early on,” Professor Kidder said. said.

“Did people come across the Strait of Messina from Italy or from the south along the coast of Africa?”

“Or could they have been island hopping in the Mediterranean? Locating a location on the southern coast helps us consider their route, and therefore their mode of movement.”

“In southeastern Sicily, very few Upper Paleolithic sites have been excavated and analyzed using scientific methods,” Dr. Patania said.

“Although our project is still in its early stages, we have already identified and assessed more than 40 locations of interest, of which around 17 locations have been more accurately relocated based on older identification information. .”

Two of the new sites identified by the research team may contain evidence of Upper Paleolithic human occupation, including fossilized animals.

Coruzzi is located at the southernmost tip of Sicily. This site was originally identified by other researchers in the 1940s.

“This is the location where a second land bridge would have connected this island to Malta,” Dr Patania said.

“When we investigated this site, we found European wild donkey teeth and stone tools.”

“Analysis of the ruins at this site may provide insight into the final leg of the human journey south down Sicily's southernmost coast and towards Malta.”

In the summer of 2024, archaeologists began excavating the second site, a cave called Camporato.

“Here we found evidence of sea level changes caused by the last ice age and local earthquakes. We are still investigating,” Dr. Patania said.

“We reconstruct not only the period of human habitation, but also the environments in which these people lived and how they coped with natural phenomena such as earthquakes, climate and environmental changes, and even volcanic eruptions. I am thinking of doing so.”

of findings appear in the diary PLoS ONE.

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I. Patania others. 2024. Between land and sea: an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the early occupation of Sicily (EOS). PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0299118;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299118

This article is a version of a press release provided by Washington University in St. Louis.

Source: www.sci.news

An ancient stone bridge dating back 5,600 years signals the early settlement of humans on the Spanish island of Mallorca

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Archaeologists say Genovesa Cave Discovered in Mallorca, the main Balearic island and the Mediterranean's sixth largest, the find suggests that humans settled in the western Mediterranean much earlier than previously thought.

5,600-year-old underwater stone bridge in Genovesa Cave, Mallorca, Spain. Image courtesy of R. Landreth.

Limited archaeological evidence makes it difficult to reconstruct early human colonization of the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean.

By studying the 7.7-metre (25-foot) submerged bridge, Professor Bogdan Onak of the University of South Florida and his colleagues were able to provide compelling evidence of prior human activity within Genovesa Cave.

“The presence of this underwater bridge and other artefacts indicates a high level of activity and suggests that early settlers were aware of the cave's water resources and strategically built infrastructure to navigate through them,” Prof Onak said.

Genovesa Cave, located near the coast of Mallorca, has had parts of its passage flooded by rising sea levels and has clear calcite deposits when sea levels were higher.

These layers, along with the light-colored bands on the submerged bridge, act as markers to precisely track historical sea-level changes and pinpoint the date of the bridge's construction.

Previous studies had suggested a human presence at the site as far back as 9,000 years ago, but inconsistencies in nearby carbon-dated bones, pottery and other evidence, as well as poor preservation, had left the findings in doubt.

Recent studies have used charcoal, ash and bones found on the island to create a timeline of human settlement dating back about 4,400 years ago.

This allows the timeline of human presence to coincide with important environmental events, such as the extinction of the goat antelope. Myotragus balearix.

By analysing the bridge's mineral overgrowths and the height of the bridge's colour bands, the authors found that the bridge was built around 6,000 years ago – more than 2,000 years older than previous estimates, narrowing the gap in the timelines between eastern and western Mediterranean settlements.

“The history of the bridge's construction appears to be closely linked to the rapid Holocene sea-level rise just before 6,000 years ago and the brief period of sea-level stillness that caused parts of the upper part of the cave to be flooded,” the researchers said.

“Our chronology shows that sea-level rise stopped and stabilized for several hundred years, between 5,964 and 5,359 years ago. During this time, so-called phreatic expansions of speleothems (POS) formed in the cave lake and the characteristic 'bathtub ring' formed on the bridge.”

“Construction of the bridge probably began early in this period, as it was needed to cross the 0.25 metre deep lake, but it must have been completed before 5,600 years ago, when the upper part of the bridge was submerged.”

“Evidence suggests that humans constructed a cobblestone path and a sturdy bridge leading to the cave's water pool, facilitating access to the only dry part of the cave, located in the Sala d'Entrada across the lake.”

“The exact reason these structures in Genovesa Cave were built remains unclear.”

“However, the dating constraints imposed by the depth of the bridge, and the similar depths at which the POS and colour marks are found, support the idea that early humans were present on the island by 5,600 years ago, potentially extending the date back to 6,000 years ago.”

a paper A paper describing the findings was published in the journal Neurology today. Communication Earth and the Environment.

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BP Onac others2024. An underwater bridge built at least 5,600 years ago marks early human arrival on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Community Global Environment 5, 457; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01584-4

Source: www.sci.news

The size of early galaxies has been overestimated

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

in paper Announced today Astronomical JournalThe astronomers analysed the evolution of giant galaxies at redshifts 4 to 8 selected from the JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Emission Survey (CEERS).

A composite color image of the very red quasar-like object A2744-QSO1. Image courtesy of Furtak. others., doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07184-8.

“We still see more galaxies than expected, but none of them are massive enough to 'break' the universe,” said Katherine Kworowski, a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin.

Galaxies that appear excessively massive are likely to harbor black holes that are rapidly eating away at gas, according to a new study.

Friction between the fast-moving gas releases heat and light, making these galaxies much brighter than they would be if light were emitted only by stars.

This extra light can make galaxies appear to contain more stars, and therefore more massive, than we would normally assume.

When scientists remove these galaxies, which they call “little red dots,” from their analysis, the remaining early galaxies are not so massive that they fit the predictions of the Standard Model.

“This means there is no crisis with regard to the standard model of cosmology,” Professor Steven Finkelstein said.

“When you have a theory that has stood the test of time for a long time, you need overwhelming evidence to really disprove it, and that's simply not the case.”

They've solved the main dilemma, but a less troubling one remains: there are still about twice as many massive galaxies in the Webb data from the early universe than would be expected from the standard model.

One possible explanation may be that stars formed more quickly in the early universe than they do today.

“Maybe early in the universe, galaxies were better at turning gas into stars,” Kurowski said.

Star formation occurs when hot gas cools enough to succumb to gravity and condense into one or more stars.

But as the gas contracts, it heats up and creates outward pressure.

In our region of the universe, the balance of these opposing forces tends to make the process of star formation very slow.

But some theories suggest that the early universe was denser than it is today, which could have made it harder for gas to escape during star formation, speeding up the process.

At the same time, astronomers are analyzing spectra of the tiny red dots that Webb has spotted, and the CEERS team and others are finding evidence of fast-moving hydrogen gas that is characteristic of black hole accretion disks.

This supports the idea that at least some of the light from these compact red objects comes from gas swirling around black holes rather than from stars, strengthening Kurowski and his colleagues' conclusion that black holes are probably not as massive as astronomers originally thought.

However, further observations of these intriguing objects are underway, which should help solve the mystery of how much light is coming from the star and how much is coming from the gas around the black hole.

In science, answering one question often gives rise to a new one.

Although the authors show that the Standard Model of cosmology is likely not broken down, their work points out the need for new ways of thinking about star formation.

“So there's still curiosity. Not everything is fully understood, which is why this kind of science is fun to do, because if one paper explained everything or there were no more questions to answer, it would be a very boring field,” Kurowski says.

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Katherine Choworowski others2024. Evidence for shallow evolution of bulk density in massive galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS. AJ 168, 113;doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

Source: www.sci.news

The success of a racehorse may rely on its gut microbiome in early life

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Gut microbiota of racehorses may affect health and performance

Brian Lawless/PA/Alamy Stock Photo

Racehorses who have a more diverse gut microbiome as foals appear to perform better and have a lower risk of health complications.

The findings suggest that, as suspected in humans, there are critical periods in the horse’s gut microbiome for establishing a bacterial composition that may contribute to an individual’s long-term health and fitness.

Christopher Proudman Researchers from the University of Surrey in the UK analysed DNA sequences from fecal samples from 52 thoroughbred foals born at five stud farms in 2018.

The researchers took samples nine times over the first year of life: at 2, 8, 14 and 28 days of age, and at 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Once the animals were a year old, they were transferred to 29 racing training centres across the UK.

The researchers then measured the athletic performance of the two- and three-year-old horses during the races, and collected data on rankings and total prize money, as well as recording the horses’ respiratory systems, orthopedic health, and soft tissue health.

The team found that greater bacterial diversity at 28 days of age was associated with better performance in the race. The researchers also detected two bacterial families: Anaeroplasmataceae and Bacillaceae was associated with having a competitive advantage.

In contrast, low bacterial diversity at 1, 2 and 9 months of age was found to be associated with an increased risk of orthopedic and other problems, such as muscle strains and “hairline” fractures. The team also found that certain bacterial families, when abundant around the first week or two of life, were associated with an increased risk of respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases later in life.

Foals treated with antibiotics (which can affect gut microbiomes) during the first few weeks of life had significantly lower bacterial diversity than untreated foals at day 28, Proudman said. These animals subsequently produced fewer winnings and developed respiratory disease at 10 times the rate of untreated foals from age 6 months onwards.

The early health problems that prompted antibiotic treatment may have actually affected later performance and health. Simon Daniels Researchers from the Royal Agricultural University in Gloucestershire, UK, say it’s realistic to think that antibiotics themselves reduce bacterial diversity, leading to poorer health and performance.

“Although more evidence is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn, it appears that how young horses are managed is particularly important for their later athletic performance,” Daniels says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New study suggests early primates gave birth to twins

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new study led by Western Washington University suggests that sister city relationships have been around for longer than we thought.

Jack H. McBride and Tesla A. Monson conducted a comprehensive study of primate offspring numbers using life history data from 155 primate species and offspring numbers from an additional 791 mammal species. Image by Jason Brougham.

“Nearly all primates give birth to a single litter,” say Tesla Monson, a professor at Western Washington University, and Jack McBride, a doctoral student at Yale University.

“However, some genera, such as marmosets, tamarins, lemurs, lorises, and galagos, regularly give birth to twins or triplets.”

“Although humans most often give birth to singletons, twin pregnancies occur naturally at a rate of approximately 1.1-1.5% worldwide.”

“Advances in assisted reproductive technology have increased twin birth rates to around 3% in some areas over the past 50 years.”

“There is an urgent need to understand the impact of twins on pregnancy, mothers, and newborns.”

In this study, the authors collected data on reproduction and body size from nearly 1,000 different mammalian species to investigate the evolutionary history of twinning in primates.

The traits they analyzed included offspring size (number of offspring), gestation period, body size, and lifespan.

Contrary to previous assumptions, the analysis demonstrates that the earliest primates likely gave birth to twins.

The researchers also found that birth size and gestational age (the length of pregnancy) were closely related.

“Animals that give birth to more pups on average tend to have shorter gestation periods,” Professor Monson said.

“This also applies to humans. In the United States, full-term twins are considered to be born at 38 weeks, not 40 weeks, and many twins are born earlier than that.”

“This may be related to maternal energy limitations.”

“The next step is to look more broadly at offspring number across mammals and see which other reproductive, brain, and body size traits are associated with twinning.”

“We are particularly interested in understanding the relationship between twinning and tooth morphology.”

“For me, teeth are always a concern.”

of study Published in a journal human.

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Jack H. McBride & Tesla A. Monson. 2024. The evolution of offspring number in primates. human 4 (3): 223-238; doi: 10.3390/humans4030014

This article is based on a press release from Western Washington University.

Source: www.sci.news

Here’s why people who stay up late tend to have better cognitive abilities than those who rise early

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Struggle to wake up in the morning? Feel more alert as the day goes on? Have more energy in the evenings? You might be an “evening” chronotype, meaning your body clock is most active later in the day.

Scientists have linked being a night owl to negative outcomes like higher chances of depression and displaying Dark Triad personality traits. However, a new British study shows that evening chronotypes may have superior cognitive function compared to morning types.

Respecting your natural body clock, managing light exposure, prioritizing sleep, and using naps wisely can help night owls thrive in a world that often favors early risers.

Honor your chronotype

It’s essential to honor your evening tendencies as they reflect your biological characteristics. Certain genetic factors and age play a role in determining your sleep preferences.

Exposure to light can change your body clock

Getting sunlight in the morning and avoiding it later in the day can help align your body clock. Blue light exposure should also be limited, especially at night, to support healthy sleep patterns.

Make sure you get enough sleep

Respecting your chronotype is crucial for overall health and well-being. Lack of sleep, stress, and a misaligned body clock can lead to various health problems in the long term.

Use naps wisely

Short naps taken in the late morning or early afternoon can improve performance later in the day. The coffee-nap trick, where you drink a cup of coffee before a short nap, can help you wake up feeling refreshed and alert.

By following these strategies, night owls can thrive in a world that often prioritizes morning routines and early risers.

About our experts

Professor Russell Foster is a Director at the Nuffield Institute of Ophthalmology and the Institute of Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience at the University of Oxford.

Professor Martha Mellow is a researcher in molecular chronobiology at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Elephants Were Targeted by Early Humans 1.8 Million Years Ago

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of the Deinotherium genus, an animal that became extinct after the evolution of humans

Heinrich Harder/Florilegius/Alamy

An AI-powered analysis of thousands of fossils suggests that human hunting was the main factor behind the extinction of dozens of elephant-like species over the past two million years.

The study found that the extinction rate of these animals increased five-fold when early humans evolved about 1.8 million years ago, and then increased again when modern humans emerged. Today, only three species of elephants from this group remain.

“If early humans had never appeared, the number of species would probably still be increasing.” Torsten Hauffe At the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.

Hauffe said the number of species of elephant-like animals known as proboscideans, from the Latin word for “nose,” increased millions of years before humans arrived, probably due to the evolution of stronger teeth for eating grass.

By 1.8 million years ago, when the area began to overlap with early human habitats, there were about 30 species of organisms living in Africa. Deinotherium bozaciIt had downward-pointing, backward-facing fangs growing from its lower jaw. D. Bozaci It became extinct about 1 million years ago.

By the time modern humans began to spread across the world about 130,000 years ago, only 15 species of proboscideans remained. Most of these species had gone extinct, leaving only the Asian elephant, the African bush elephant, and the African forest elephant.

To find out why, Hauffe and his colleagues developed a statistical model that uses fossil finds to estimate how rates of extinction and speciation have changed over time, and the possible reasons for these changes.

Previous models of this kind have been limited to looking at only the impact of one factor, such as climate, but by using AI, the team’s model can estimate the relative contributions of many factors, Hauffe says. “We put it all together in one analysis.”

The study concluded that overlap with humans was the most important factor contributing to extinction, followed by geographical distribution and tooth and tusk shape. For example, species restricted to islands, such as the dwarf Sicilian elephant, Palaeoloxodon falconeri, They were much more likely to become extinct.

Climate change, which some believe is the primary cause of extinction, came in fourth after these other factors, so the findings support the overhunting hypothesis, which suggests that human hunting was the primary culprit, Hauffe said.

A computer modelling study of woolly rhinos carried out earlier this year found that Low levels of hunting can drive slow-breeding animals to extinction,To tell Stephen Chan The researcher, from the University of Helsinki in Finland, was not involved in the proboscidean study but helped compile some of the fossil data that was analyzed.

but, 2021 analysis of this data Zhang and his team concluded that while an early human impact with Earth was possible, the underlying cause was climatic.

What's clear, says Zhang, is that early humans didn’t suddenly wipe out proboscideans: “In fact, some of the most fascinating extinct elephant species emerged during this period, including the giant elephants.” Palaeoloxodon These include the giant mammoths of Eurasia, which stood 4 metres at the shoulder and weighed 25 tons, and the familiar woolly mammoths.

Where early humans slaughtered mammoths Palaeoloxodon The species dates back more than a million years, says Chang, “and both lineages have survived for the past 25,000 years alongside prehistoric humans with much more advanced cognitive and technological capabilities.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com