Tag Archives: eastern

Blizzards in the north and floods in the south wreak havoc in the eastern US

Posted on by
Reply

The eastern half of the US is bracing for severe weather this weekend, with “life-threatening” flash floods expected in parts of the southeast and heavy snowfall as the storm progresses from the Midwest to New England.

The heaviest snow is predicted in Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine, with double-digit totals projected by the National Weather Service.

Workers removing snow from sidewalks during a winter storm in Chicago on February 12, 2025.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

The National Weather Service issued an early warning on Saturday highlighting the potential for severe flash floods in Ohio and Tennessee valleys, especially in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Approximately 21 million people from Arkansas to Pennsylvania have been placed under various flood warnings.

A broad range of severe thunderstorms is anticipated across the region, bringing rainfall of up to 6 inches and isolated higher totals of 8 inches in certain areas.

The Weather Bureau stated, “The heavy rainfall poses the greatest risk of life-threatening flash floods, notably in northwest Tennessee and western Kentucky, where there is a high risk of excessive rainfall (level 4/4) in effect.” Read more in the Short-Range Forecast Discussion.

Apart from flooding, there is also a potential for thunderstorms and strong tornadoes in parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

A large area of rain and thunderstorms is expected to persist along the mid-Atlantic and southeastern coasts through the weekend, increasing the risk of heavy precipitation and flash flooding.

Further north, medium to heavy snowfall is forecasted from the upper Midwest through the Great Lakes to New England, affecting around 70 million people with winter weather warnings from Nebraska to Maine.

A mix of sleet and freezing rain is expected in much of the northeast, creating hazardous driving conditions.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center warned, “The greatest risk for ice accumulation due to freezing rain is in the northeast.” They also cautioned that in some areas, icing could lead to power outages. Read the advisory on x website.

The storm is expected to intensify in the northeast from late Saturday through Sunday, with strong gusty winds and periods of snow creating extremely difficult travel conditions, as per the Weather Service.

Early next week, forecasts indicate that rain and snow will move away from the east coast, but breezy winds will maintain cooler temperatures across much of the eastern US.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Elon Musk unexpectedly attends AfD event in eastern Germany

Posted on by
Reply

Elon Musk surprised many by appearing at an Alternative for Germany (AfD) election campaign event in Halle, eastern Germany, on Saturday. This marked his second public declaration of support for the far-right party in recent weeks.

During the event, Musk, alongside party co-leader Alice Weidel, addressed an audience of 4,500 people via video link. They spoke about the importance of preserving German culture and protecting the German people.

“It’s important to take pride in German culture and values, and not let them be diluted by multiculturalism,” Musk stated.

Just a week prior, Musk sparked controversy at President Donald Trump’s inauguration with a gesture that some interpreted as a Nazi salute.

Reacting to the criticism, Musk addressed the crowd on Saturday, emphasizing, “Children should not be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors, let alone their great-grandparents.”

He added, “There’s too much emphasis on past guilt; it’s time to move forward.”

Musk, known for his concerns about free speech limitations under the German government, has previously criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Expressing his support for the far-right, Musk declared to the audience, “I am enthusiastic about the AfD. I believe you are Germany’s best hope for a prosperous future.”

Weidel thanked Musk, drew parallels between the AfD and the Republican Party’s efforts to “make America great again,” and urged supporters to work towards “making Germany great again.”

Earlier in the month, Musk interviewed Weidel on X, raising concerns about potential election interference.

Despite the chilly conditions, anti-far-right activists gathered in large numbers on Saturday. Around 100,000 people assembled near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and up to 20,000 in Cologne, some carrying colorful umbrellas, representing diverse age groups.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Discovery of Two New Edible Truffle Species in Eastern North America

Posted on by
Reply

Two new species of this genus tuber It was discovered with the help of trained truffle hunting dogs.

tuber cumberlandens. Image credit: Saw others., doi: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2407755.

“tuber “It is a genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi that produces paragenic fruiting bodies known as truffles,” said lead author Dr. Gregory Bonito of Michigan State University and colleagues.

“Many tuber The seeds are well known for their unique aroma and wide range of culinary uses. ”

“Like many other truffle-forming fungi, tuber The species lost the ability to forcefully release spores into the air and instead relied primarily on fungivores to ingest and distribute the spores. ”

“Mycivores such as porcupines, squirrels, pigs, and humans… tuber Sensitive to volatile compounds produced by truffles. ”

One of two new species, Tuber crable veratumis named after the truffle dog and Monza, the dog who discovered it with trainer Lois Martin.

The other is tuber cumberlandensis named after the Cumberland Plateau where it was discovered by Margaret Townsend and her truffle dog, Luca.

Tuber crable veratum. Image credit: Saw others., doi: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2407755.

“There is a long history of using specially trained dogs, and less frequently pigs, to track the scent of truffles. tuber “In the wild,” the researchers said.

“Truffle hunting dogs are also regularly used for commercial truffle harvesting, as they can find consistently mature truffles faster than other methods such as raking.”

“Raking the soil to find and harvest truffles can have a devastating effect on both the roots and ascus of the plant host.”

“It could also lead to the harvesting of immature truffles.”

“However, a well-trained truffle hunting dog will always find mature truffles, reducing harvest effort and maximizing harvest quality.”

“As such, the use of truffle dogs to harvest commercial truffles has become the standard method used by truffle growers around the world.”

meanwhile Tuber crable veratum It is only known in eastern Tennessee, USA. tuber cumberlandens It has been opportunistically harvested for commercial sale from orchards in eastern North America.

“Historically, attention has been focused on the cultivation and sale of European truffle species, but there is increasing interest in the cultivation, wild harvesting and sale of North American truffle species,” Dr. Bonito added. .

“More and more people are trying their hand at growing truffles, which means more truffle dogs are needed to sniff out these fungal fruits because they grow underground.”

“If you have $20,000 worth of truffles growing underground, you have to find them before they rot. That's why dogs are so important.”

This finding is reported in the following article: paper in diary mycosis.

_____

Arasan Sou others. 2024. tuber cumberlandens and T. cannileveratumtwo new edibles tuber A species of eastern North America discovered by truffle hunting dogs. mycosis 116 (6);doi: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2407755

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Found Ancient Rock Art Ruins Unearthed in Sudan’s Eastern Desert

Posted on by
Reply

Archaeologists from Macquarie University and the Polish Academy of Sciences' Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures have discovered 16 new rock art sites in Sudan's eastern desert, or 'Atobai'. Almost all of his newly discovered 4,000-year-old artwork depicts the presence of cows.

Rock art from the area around Gebel Nahoganet in the eastern desert of Sudan. Image credit: Cooper other., doi: 10.1177/03075133231211.

“Finding a cow carved into a desert rock face was puzzling, as cows require large amounts of water and acres of pasture, and cannot survive in today's arid conditions in the Sahara Desert.” said Macquarie University researcher Dr Julian Cooper.

“The presence of cows in ancient rock art is one of the most important pieces of evidence for a former 'Green Sahara.'”

Rock art found in eastern Sudan also depicts the desert as a grassy savanna filled with ponds, rivers, swamps, and waterholes and home to a variety of African savannah animals, including giraffes and elephants.

The idea of ​​a “Green Sahara'' has been proven through previous archeological and climate fieldwork and research, and experts are calling this the “African Wet Period''. This is a period of increased summer monsoon precipitation that began about 15,000 years ago and ended about 5,000 years ago.

Depictions of humans alongside cows may indicate the act of milking, suggesting that the area was once occupied by cattle pastoralists until the 2nd or 3rd millennium BC.

After this point, reduced rainfall made cattle grazing impossible.

Currently, the region receives very little annual precipitation.

At the end of the “African Wet Period”, around 3000 BC, lakes and rivers began to dry up, dry pastures became covered with sand, and most of humanity left the Sahara Desert to seek refuge near the Nile River.

“The Atbai desert around Wadi Halfa, where new rock art was discovered, was almost completely depopulated. For those who remained, cattle were abandoned for sheep and goats,” the archaeologists said.

“This would have profoundly affected every aspect of human life, from diets and limited milk supplies to the movement patterns of nomadic families and the identity and livelihoods of those who depended on cattle.”

team's paper Published in Egyptian Archeology Journal.

_____

julian cooper other. 2023. Rock art research in the eastern desert of Sudan: Results of the 2018-2019 Atobai research project. Egyptian Archeology Journal 109 (1-2); doi: 10.1177/03075133231211

Source: www.sci.news

Eastern China’s Rare Black Hedgehog Becomes a New Science Enthusiast

Posted on by
Reply

This new species of hedgehog has darker brown fur, spines, and slightly larger ears than the European hedgehog.

Zookey

Scientists have identified a new species of hedgehog. It is a dark brown creature that lives in the forests of eastern China.

In 2018, Kai He Researchers from Guangzhou University in China encountered strange-looking hedgehogs in Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. Compared to the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), these had dark brown fur and spines, and slightly larger ears.

After analyzing seven animals, including DNA samples, the researchers concluded that they belonged to a species that had not previously been described scientifically, which they named the species. Mesechinus orientalis.

The other four known species are mesechinus This genus is mainly found in northern China, Mongolia, and Russia, but this species M. Hugi I live in southwestern China.

“It is very interesting that this forest hedgehog was found more than 1000 kilometers from its known range,” he says.

They weigh just under 340 grams and have an average length of 18.8 centimeters. M. orientalis It is slightly smaller than other known hedgehogs of its genus.

Like other hedgehogs, M. orientalis They are nocturnal and tend to feed on insects and fruits. They also hibernate in the winter.

So far, the team has discovered M. orientalis In two provinces of China. However, based on the numbers recorded so far, they are not considered endangered, He said, estimating there are probably a few hundred individuals in these states. are doing.

There were only 17 known species of hedgehogs in the world, so “we were really happy to add one more species,” he says.

“For a real hedgehog geek like me, this is amazing news,” he says. Sophie Rand Rasmussen at Oxford University. “We look forward to learning more about the ecology of this species and whether this is different compared to other hedgehog species in the country.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com