Since the early 1990s, astronomers have made groundbreaking discoveries in exoplanet research. The real surge began in the early 2000s with comprehensive surveys, revealing that our unique solar system, featuring four rocky planets and four gas giants, might be unlike most others.
For decades, the Chilean High Precision Radial Velocity Planet Probe and the California Legacy Survey have meticulously tracked the stellar wobbles caused by exoplanets. While these surveys have not as many exoplanet discoveries as pioneering telescopes like Kepler and TESS, they shed light on the distinctiveness of our solar system.
For instance, our Sun outsize over 90% of other stars and exists alone, unlike many stars with companion stars. Earth’s size is also exceptional; only 1 in 10 stars hosts a planet like Jupiter. When such planets are found, their orbits often dramatically differ from Jupiter’s stable, circular path. Notably absent from our system are super-Earths or sub-Neptunes, which are common in other star systems. Despite thousands of exoplanet discoveries, Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars, and potential extraterrestrial life remain elusive.
“Our solar system is strange due to what we have and what we lack,” states Sean Raymond from the University of Bordeaux, France. “It’s still uncertain whether we are simply rare at the 1% level or genuinely unique at the 1 in a million level.”
These revelations prompt intriguing inquiries about the formation of our solar system. Questions remain, such as why Jupiter is located farther from the Sun—rather than closer, as seen in many planetary systems. Unusual orbits of exoplanets have made astronomers reconsider our system’s history. The Nice model, proposed in 2001, suggests a major reconfiguration post-formation, moving Jupiter to the outskirts while redirecting asteroids and moons into new trajectories.
“The understanding that such a shift could occur stemmed directly from exoplanet research,” Raymond notes. “Approximately 90% of large exoplanetary systems exhibit instability. This insight prompts speculation about possible historical fluctuations within our solar system.”
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Oona Chaplin as Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash
Image credit: 20th Century Studio, 2025. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Bethan Ackerley Deputy Editor, London
No one crafts blockbusters quite like James Cameron. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the highly anticipated third installment set on the enchanting moon of Pandora, is both spectacular and visually stunning. The narrative unfolds with captivating themes ranging from interspecies conflicts to deep family dynamics.
Around 15 years after the ex-Marine Jake Sully was embraced by the Na’vi, he now resides on Pandora with his partner Neytiri and their children, having played a crucial role in defeating the human invaders and merging with their Na’vi bodies.
However, they now face the heart-wrenching loss of their eldest son, Neteyam. Their arch-nemesis, Colonel Quaritch, has allied himself with an influential Na’vi tribe that inhabits a volcano and is led by the formidable Varan (as depicted above).
Shakespeare may not measure up (the dialogue is rather crude, to say the least), but the allure of this intricately designed universe is undeniable.
Prepare to be mesmerized by the breathtaking visuals and the story of Payakan, a member of the sentient whale-like species known as the Tulukun, who serves as the emotional core of the film.
Marco Schioppo and Adam Park monitor ultra-stable lasers at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, UK.
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
In a striking portrayal, two physicists observe Britain’s revolutionary quantum technology involving ultra-stable lasers at the National Physical Laboratory in London. Captured by photographer David Severn for the **Quantum Untangled** exhibition at King’s College London, this fascinating image was shortlisted for the **Portrait of Britain Award**.
Severn states, “This portrait offers a rare peek into a domain typically hidden from view, like opening a door to a normally restricted lab.” While the photographs are contemporary, he notes that the scientists’ engagements with technology evoke imagery reminiscent of earlier eras, such as a 1940s submarine pilot or operators of a cotton spinning machine from the turn of the 20th century.
Having no background in quantum mechanics before this venture, Severn was briefed on current quantum physics projects in the UK. He observed that the bewildering aspects of quantum science closely align with artistic perspectives. “Although many scientific concepts eluded my detailed understanding, ideas like superposition and quantum entanglement resonated with me intuitively, akin to artistic realization,” he shared.
3D Printed Helmet Prototype
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Severn’s captivating photographs highlight a range of innovations in quantum physics, showcasing a **3D-printed helmet** (above) designed to house a quantum sensor that images the brain using magnetic fields. He also features a complex **laser table** (below) monitored by Hartmut Grothe from Cardiff University, ensuring that the vacuum pumps sustaining the system remain operational.
Hartmut Grote at the Laser Table
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Severn’s photography embraces a mystical quality, showcasing the **3D-printed imaging helmet** used by researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Center (as shown above), along with the intricate network of pumps and mirrors essential for maintaining cleanliness in Grothe’s experiments (as depicted below). Severn asserts that this ethereal essence is intentional.
Joe Gibson Wearing a 3D Printed Imaging Helmet at the University of Nottingham
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Complex Vacuum System from King’s College London’s Photonics and Nanotechnology Group
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Severn references a favorite quote from photographer Diane Arbus: “Photographs are secrets about secrets. The more they tell you, the less you understand.” He finds a parallel in quantum physics, where just when one thinks they’ve grasped how light behaves, the quantum realm subverts those expectations and exposes the elusive truths underpinning our understanding of reality.
The **Quantum Untangled** exhibition is on display at the Science Gallery at King’s College London until February 28, 2025. This event is a reimagining of the traveling exhibition **Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe** organized by Lakeside Arts and ARTlab at the University of Nottingham.
Astronomers utilizing NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have captured the most detailed infrared images of the Circus Galaxy’s core, making it one of the closest known active galaxies to the Milky Way. Webb’s observations indicate that much of the hot dust surrounding supermassive black holes in galaxies is being drawn into the black holes themselves, contrary to previous models that suggested powerful outward streams.
The Hubble image showcases the Circinus Galaxy, a spiral galaxy located approximately 13 million light-years away in the southern constellation Circinus. A close-up from Webb reveals the core’s glow in infrared light, highlighting the intricate features obscured by dust. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / Hubble / Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez, University of South Carolina / Deepashri Thatte, STScI / Alyssa Pagan, NOIRLab / CTIO at STScI / NSF.
The Circus Galaxy, also known as ESO 97-G13 or LEDA 50779, is situated about 13 million light-years from Earth, nestled south of the constellation Circinus. This galaxy has fascinated astronomers due to its center being enveloped in a dense cloud of gas and dust.
Traditional ground-based telescopes have faced challenges in isolating regions near the central black hole, where matter spirals inwards and emanates intense infrared light. However, Webb’s state-of-the-art technology enabled Dr. Julien Girard and his team at the Space Telescope Science Institute to pierce through this dust veil with extraordinary clarity.
This remarkable breakthrough was achieved by employing Webb’s Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrometer (NIRISS) in a specialized high-contrast mode known as aperture masking interferometry.
This innovative technique transforms the instrument into a compact interferometer, merging light captured through various small apertures to generate precise interference patterns.
By examining these patterns, astronomers were able to reconstruct a finely detailed image of the Circus Galaxy’s central engine, revealing that the majority of infrared radiation originates from the donut-shaped torus of dust encircling the black hole, rather than from materials being ejected outward.
Dr. Girard remarked, “This is the first instance where Webb’s high-contrast mode has been employed to observe an extragalactic source.” He expressed hope that their findings will inspire fellow astronomers to leverage aperture masking interferometry to study faint but relatively small, dusty structures surrounding bright objects.
The supermassive black hole remains active, continuously consuming surrounding matter. Gas and dust conglomerate in a torus around the black hole, forming a rotating accretion disk as material spirals inward. This disk generates heat through friction, releasing light across diverse wavelengths, including infrared.
New data from Webb indicate that most of the infrared emissions near the center of the Circus Galaxy stem from the innermost region of this dusty torus, challenging previous assumptions that outflow dominated emissions.
This pioneering technique lays the groundwork for more profound investigations of black holes in other galaxies. By applying Webb’s high-contrast imaging to subsequent targets, researchers aim to establish a broader catalog of emission patterns, which could ascertain whether the behavior observed in the Circus Galaxy is typical among active galactic nuclei or a distinct case.
Their discoveries not only present a clearer perspective on the feeding mechanisms of black holes but also underscore the escalating power of interferometry in space-based astronomy.
More observations are forthcoming, as Webb continues to redefine what can be observed from the most concealed regions of the universe.
Dr. Enrique López Rodríguez, an astronomer at the University of South Carolina, noted, “We will likely require a statistical sample of a dozen or two dozen black holes to comprehend how the mass of the accretion disk and its outflow correlate with the black hole’s power.”
For further details, refer to the results published in today’s edition of Nature Communications.
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E. Lopez Rodriguez et al. 2026. JWST interferometry imaging reveals a dusty torus obscuring the Circinus Galaxy’s supermassive black hole. Nat Commun 17, 42; doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-66010-5
If you’ve taken a physics class, you likely have “memorable” instances of measuring light speed, spending hours setting mirrors, lenses, and light sources just right to achieve the result: just under 300 million meters per second. This figure is a fundamental constant in physics and vital for comprehending the universe.
When observing space, light is our primary resource. While we have other means, like gravitational waves, they currently offer limited insights, so I might be exaggerating a tad. Almost all advancements in astronomy and cosmology derive from collecting light that has traversed from the edge of reality over millions, or even billions, of years. Light from our nearest star takes over four years to reach us. The duration it takes for light to travel may be one of the most practical yet least intuitive aspects of physics.
Humans have debated light’s speed long before we truly understood light itself. For centuries, many intellectuals believed that the glowing in certain animals’ eyes at particular angles indicated they emitted light, resembling a lantern. Nonetheless, they debated whether light traveled instantaneously or required time to propagate, a question not thoroughly tested until the 17th century.
An early endeavor to quantify it involved placing a lantern at a distance and measuring the time difference between it lighting up and the observer seeing the light. This method proved ineffective (Galileo and his peers failed to attain conclusive measurements because the lantern was too close), leading scientists to explore more complex and accurate approaches. The first effective instrument was developed in 1675 by Ole Römer while measuring Jupiter’s moon Io’s orbital period. He observed that the period seemed to vary as the distance from Earth to Jupiter fluctuated, which seemed perplexing. Why would Io’s orbit correlate with Earth’s positioning? The only variation was the time it took for light to travel from Io to Earth, diminishing as the two grew closer. A colleague, Christian Huygens, calculated that light’s speed was around 220,000,000 meters per second. Although this estimate lacked precision due to unknown earthly movements, it established a foundation for later refinements. By the early 18th century, measurements were within a few percent of the current consensus of light’s speed in vacuum: 299,792,458 meters per second.
This prompts two inquiries: Why is the speed of light seemingly arbitrary, and why is there a speed limit at all? The first question is straightforward, linked to our units. Meters and seconds (or miles and hours) originated from human experiences. For instance, a mile equals 1,000 steps and has no relation to fundamental constants. The second question is more complex, entwined with special relativity.
The answer lies in perhaps the most recognizable equation: e=mc2. This equation implies that energy and mass can be interchanged. When objects move at extremely high or relativistic speeds, I like to think of them possessing momentum, blending mass and velocity. To increase an object’s speed, we must continually supply more energy. A massive object achieving light speed would require infinite momentum, equating to infinite energy or mass. This situation is unattainable. As an object nears light speed, its mass escalates, making further acceleration unfeasible. Light, having no mass, circumvents this dilemma.
Moreover, special relativity illustrates that an outside, stationary observer would perceive something quite unusual. When an object travels at relativistic speeds, time appears to slow down from an external viewpoint. If I were moving away from you at 99% of light speed, I’d observe my aging decelerating. This phenomenon is termed time dilation. Concurrently, another effect, length contraction, would have you notice that I’m shrinking increasingly as I accelerate. From my frame of reference, I wouldn’t perceive time slowing down or my stature diminishing, but from your outlook, the closer I get to light speed, the shorter and more ageless I appear.
Herein lies a paradox: if I somehow reached light speed, time would seemingly stop for an outside observer as my height approaches zero. I would cease to exist, along with time and space. Luckily, the laws of physics preclude that scenario. Only massless entities can attain that speed limit: photons, gluons, and gravitational effects. Nothing surpasses light speed through space and time.
Rather than feeling disheartened by the universe’s speed limitations, we should celebrate them. The speed of light carries a crucial consequence: it underpins the whole notion of causality. All physics, and our comprehensive understanding of everything, hinges on the principle that effects always follow causes, never the other way around.
Consider this: as I approach light speed, you observe my time slowing down. It will cease entirely when I attain light speed. Should I exceed light speed, from your perspective, I’d be reversing time. If I transmitted a signal faster than light, a hypothetical message defying physics, you’d receive it before I sent it. Absent a universal speed limit, discerning which events caused which effects would be impossible, rendering the universe largely incomprehensible.
Finally, here’s a thought-provoking notion: if all signals require time to travel, and time progresses variably in frames of reference moving at different speeds, what does simultaneous meaning? If I wink at my reflection, the reflected wink arrives slightly later than my physical action, due to light needing to bounce off my face, towards the mirror, and back into my eyes. If two events simultaneously occurred across the universe, I must ask, “By whose standard?” Depending on the distance separating two locations, event 1 might have occurred first for one observer, while event 2 happened prior to event 1 for another. There is no objective simultaneity, no definitive “same time.” This reality stems solely from light’s finite speed. Fascinating, right?
Ludovic Slimak contributed to revealing the remains of Thorin, a Neanderthal
Laure Metz
The Last Neanderthal Ludovic Slimak (translated by Andrew Brown) (Polity Press (UK, September 26, US, November 24))
Chance findings of Neanderthal skeletons, hardened soot, and small arrowhead tools beneath leaves at the French Grotte Mandrin have reshaped not only our perception of Neanderthals but also our understanding of early Homo sapiens migrations into Europe.
More intriguingly, this cave has unveiled insights about the initial interactions between the two groups and the reasons behind the success of one species and the extinction of another. This pivotal issue is explored in The Last Neanderthal: Understanding How Humans Die, a new work by Ludovic Slimak, a paleontologist from the University of Toulouse who spearheaded the excavations at Grotte Mandrin.
The narrative focuses on Thorin, a Neanderthal fossil unearthed in 2015 at the cave’s entrance, which revealed five teeth during the excavation. The delicate recovery of this singular discovery required painstaking care, extracting each grain of sand with tweezers over seven years to uncover fragments of his skull and hand.
The Last Neanderthal is a deeply introspective and philosophical work, evoking a vivid sense of what it would have meant to explore Thorin’s existence and the myriad groups that inhabited the cave over millennia. Slimak notes that the unique scent of Grotte Mandrin originates from ancient fire soot preserved within the calcite layers of its walls, forming a distinctive ‘barcode’. This barcode can be accurately dated, providing timelines for various occupations and indicating that Homo sapiens arrived just six months after the Neanderthals vacated the cave. The book reveals that Thorin appears unexpectedly, causing Slimak to express his astonishment, stating, “I did not expect to find a Neanderthal body lying by the roadside, walking through the forest like that. It’s astonishing.”
The jaw of Thorin, a Neanderthal fossil unearthed in 2015
Xavier Muth
This prompts further contemplation about the reasons behind the Neanderthals’ extinction. Although much discussion centers around their decline due to competition with Homo sapiens or climate shifts caused by volcanic eruptions and magnetic field reversals, Slimak offers a fresh perspective. He highlights that the evidence found at Grotte Mandrin points to a layer of small triangular stone points used as arrows by the earliest Homo sapiens, who arrived around 55,000 years ago.
These artifacts bear a striking resemblance to those produced by Homo sapiens at the Ksar Akil site in Lebanon, located nearly 4,000 km away and dating to a similar timeframe. This suggests that these early humans exhibited a far more sophisticated method of sustaining and standardizing practices across extensive social networks, leading Slimak to conclude they had a much more effective “way of life” compared to the Neanderthals, who lived in smaller, isolated groups lacking such consistency.
While one might envision a dramatic battle between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, the reality was notably different. Slimak draws parallels with the collapse of numerous indigenous communities in post-colonial regions globally, asserting that Neanderthal groups gradually disintegrated when faced with others who possessed a more efficient existence. “The demise of humans reflects the disintegration of their worldview… not through overt violence, but through whispers,” he observes.
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The bones were painstakingly excavated using tweezers to remove one grain of sand at a time. “
Although it is profoundly melancholic to ponder, immersing oneself in the realm of these vanished beings through The Last Neanderthal is a unique privilege.
For millennia, individuals have harnessed the transformative power of plants and fungi, using substances like ayahuasca, cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, and tobacco in spiritual ceremonies to reshape their perceptions of reality.
Justiceia Pecteris
Jill Pflugheber and Steven F. White
Recently, a new book sheds light on these psychoactive and medicinal plants and fungi, revealing their intricacies through advanced microscopy techniques.
Virola theiodora
Jill Pflugheber and Steven F. White
Utilizing confocal microscopy, which employs laser scans at varying depths to produce sharply focused images of intricate specimens, this advanced technique is primarily used in academic research.
Neltuma pallida
Jill Pflugheber and Steven F. White
Jill Pfluber from the University of Kentucky applied confocal microscopy to explore 50 revered plants and fungi across the United States. Her findings contribute to Microcosm: Sacred Plants of the Americas, a publication co-authored with independent historian Stephen F. White.
Cannabis
Jill Pflugheber and Steven F. White
The outcome is a captivating exploration into the hidden complexities of some of the world’s most esteemed plant species, as explained by White. He emphasizes their goal of creating “plant art” that challenges and enriches people’s understandings of sacred plants. “We aspire for those who encounter Microcosm to develop a newfound respect for these plants,” he states.
Theobroma cacao
Jill Pflugheber and Steven F. White
From their primary photography, the images present some results of their exploration: Brugmansia Suaveolens; Justicia Pecteris; Virola theiodora; Neltuma pallida; Cannabis; and Theobroma cacao.
The Yunxian 2 skull, although deformed, has been reconstructed to resemble an early Denisovan.
Gary Todd (CC0)
Our species’ origins may extend further back than previously believed, and the same could hold true for both our extinct Neanderthal and Denisovan relatives. A recent analysis of fossil remains suggests that the common ancestors of these groups emerged over a million years ago.
“If these ancient divergences are accurate, we might be overlooking significant details about the early history of these lineages,” states Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum in London.
This finding could clarify the search for “ancestor X,” the lineage from which modern humans, Neanderthals, and the population that produced the Denisovans descended. It also may imply that the Denisovans were our closest relatives, potentially even closer than Neanderthals—a point that remains debated.
Stringer and his research team, which includes Xijun Ni from the Institute for Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, revisited the Yunxian fossil collection located in central China.
Two partial skulls were unearthed on a terrace above the Han River in 1989 and 1990; reported in 1992. Both skulls were crushed during their discovery, although the YUNXIAN 2 specimen sustained less damage.
Using advanced techniques, Stringer, Ni, and their colleagues reconstructed the Yunxian 2 skull. These methods include CT scans that digitally separate individual bone fragments from the surrounding sediment. “The skull is elongated and has a prominent brow ridge,” Stringer notes. “Additionally, it features a slight beak-like nose, small third molars, and larger teeth.”
The Yunxian 2 skull dates back between 940,000 and 1.1 million years. Specimens of this age are often classified as Homo erectus, which appeared around 2 million years ago in Africa before dispersing to South Asia and Indonesia approximately 108,000 years ago. However, Stringer asserts that Yunxian 2 doesn’t conform to this profile; many of its features are characteristic of later specimens, including Neanderthals.
To better understand the Yunxian 2, the research team compared it with 56 other fossils of the same group. They constructed a family tree based on the morphology, grouping related fossils together. This analysis revealed three significant lineages, encompassing most fossils from the past million years.
One lineage consists of modern humans (Homo sapiens), another includes Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) who lived in Europe and Asia for several hundred thousand years before disappearing around 40,000 years ago, and the third represents the Denisovans from East Asia.
Denisovans were first identified in 2010 through DNA from a bone fragment, and it took 15 years to connect this lineage with larger fossils. Stringer was involved in interpreting the Harbin skull from China, which was identified as Denisovan in June based on molecular evidence. Yunxian 2 appears to fall into the early Denisovan category, much like several other Asian fossils.
This discovery provides important links among these fossils in the Denisovan lineage, according to geneticist Aylwyn Scally at Cambridge University: “This allows us to form better hypotheses about the Denisovans’ whereabouts, lifestyle, and species characteristics.”
Recognizing that Yunxian 2 is a Denisovan reshapes our recent understanding of human evolution in two significant ways. First, it appears to alter the timeline of the emergence of these three groups. Traditional genetic narratives suggest that the common ancestor, “ancestor X,” diverged into two branches. However, the reconstruction indicates that Neanderthals separated first about 1.38 million years ago, before the divergence of modern humans and Denisovans around 1.32 million years ago.
If validated, this hypothesis posits that Denisovans were indeed more closely related to us than Neanderthals, challenging established genetic theories. Nonetheless, Scally expresses caution, noting the complexities of inter-group histories: “In reality, straightforward phylogenetic trees don’t provide a complete picture.” The research relies more on “entangled networks” than traditional models. Furthermore, Scally suggests that genetics may provide clearer insights into these relationships than morphology, especially with only partial skeletal evidence available.
The second significant change is that all three groups appear to have emerged much earlier than previously thought. Genetic evidence generally indicates that modern humans split from their Neanderthal and Denisovan relatives around 500,000-700,000 years ago. However, Yunxian 2 suggests that the Denisovan lineage was already distinct one million years ago.
Scally adds that there may not be a single definitive date for these splits; instead, they likely occurred over extended periods with intermittent separations and reunions. In this case, Stringer and his colleagues may be correct that divergence began over a million years ago, stretching across hundreds of thousands of years.
This extended timeline raises new questions. The oldest known fossils of modern humans date to around 300,000 years ago. So where are the earlier ancestors from millions of years ago? “We either lack those fossils, or they’re present but unrecognized,” Stringer comments.
We also know little about “ancestor X”—its appearance and habitat remain a mystery. “Ten years ago, I would have stated that the likely origin of most of these groups was Africa,” Stringer reflects. “It now seems plausible that their forebears lived outside Africa, potentially in regions of Western Asia. This suggests that ancient sapiens ancestors likely migrated to Africa, evolving there for a large portion of that million-year timeline.”
Stringer highlights the scarcity of known fossils from Western Asia dating back a million years, noting that even India has limited evidence. Only one human fossil from that period exists. “There are numerous regions where our fossil record is strikingly thin,” he asserts.
A significant source of information is the Yunxian site. In 2022, a third skull was uncovered that seems to be in better condition, although it has yet to be analyzed.
Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, Cave Art: France
Join New Scientist’s Kate Douglas on an enthralling journey through time as she delves into significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, from Bordeaux to Montpellier.
Absolutely, you possess beauty in every form. It shines through in your attractiveness, charm, intelligence, grace, and charisma (at least when you’re not in the midst of a nose-picking session).
However, there may be times when you don’t feel wonderful. For those trapped in that “ugly duckling” phase, numerous trends and products—from skin-taping to turmeric gargling—might seem to provide a way forward. Regrettably, many of these beauty hacks lack substantial evidence to support them.
So, what actually enhances your allure? And which myths should we ignore? Here’s what scientific research reveals: and spoiler alert—it fundamentally revolves around not being a jerk.
1. Charm is Truly Relative
The science behind charm is a bit complex. It’s become trendy for certain “podcast men” to either misuse or twist “scientific facts” regarding what people consider attractive.
Yet, beneath the chatter, there is an established scientific discipline that investigates appeal—delving into the characteristics that psychologists deem attractive to romantic and sexual partners.
Dr. Ed Morrison, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Portsmouth, elucidates that many charming traits often mirror a person’s underlying biology. “That’s evolution,” he notes. “When selecting your peers, you assess their biological markers: hormones, health, and genes.”
However, it’s essential to highlight that charm isn’t always that straightforward. As Dr. Veronica Lamart, a senior lecturer in psychology at Essex University, points out, isolating biology from culture can be challenging.
“Attractiveness is a somewhat subjective experience,” she shares. “At any given moment, certain physical traits deemed attractive might simply reflect advantageous characteristics or indicate social desirability.”
Across culture and history, concepts of beauty have varied widely, ranging from traditional Chinese foot binding and Japanese blackened teeth to the elongated skulls appreciated by ancient Mayans, along with practices among certain Tajikistani women emphasizing integration. Although these customs may seem foreign to outsiders, they represent culturally specific ideals of beauty and identity.
To sum up, beauty is not universal, objective, or static. It is profoundly shaped by culture—and some individuals may find themselves attractive while others are left bewildered.
Nonetheless, countless studies, primarily targeting white heterosexual individuals in Europe and North America, have attempted to uncover what traits people generally find appealing. The findings may come as a surprise to many…
2. You’re More Attractive on a Roller Coaster
Riding roller coasters can enhance attractiveness as adrenaline tricks the brain, misinterpreting fear as romantic attraction—Credit: Skynesher via Getty
There’s an abundance of tips for creating the ideal date, but Lamarch argues that incorporating healthy elements of fear and danger can amplify your emotions.
“Classic research was conducted on unstable bridges,” states Lamarche—research from 1974. “On unstable bridges, individuals rated others as more attractive due to the misattribution of fear stemming from their precarious situation.”
This phenomenon is termed the “misattribution of arousal” theory. Thus, LaMarch advises taking your date to an amusement park or watching a horror film (but maybe not both).
3. Attraction Isn’t About Income
The so-called “Manosphere” often perpetuates the idea that women are gold diggers, solely valuing men for their financial assets. However, Lamarche contends that much of the research leading to this conclusion is outdated and mirrors the patriarchal norms of its time.
“Fifty or sixty years ago, seeking someone who could provide financially meant something entirely different,” she explains. “In that era, when physical safety and happiness were at stake, it wasn’t as shallow as it may appear.”
In today’s context, there’s no compelling evidence that wealth is inherently attractive. Your efforts would likely be better invested elsewhere.
Money may be nice, but it doesn’t mean others will find you attractive. – Credit: westend61 via Getty
4. Vegetables Can Make You Shine
Though it may seem peculiar, consuming orange-hued vegetables can indeed enhance one’s appearance, as studies have demonstrated that specific plant pigments can improve skin quality.
Carotenoids—antioxidants found in yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables like butternut squash, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, mangoes, and oranges—are key players here.
“When you observe someone’s skin, you’re essentially gauging their underlying health,” Morrison states. The study involved manipulating skin tone in photographs and asking individuals to rate the attractiveness of each image.
“In all instances, softening the skin tone tended to enhance appeal.”
You are what you consume, and if you indulge in plenty of orange vegetables, expect a hint of that vibrant hue to emerge. – Credit: Science Photo Library via Getty
5. Physical Appearance Matters Less Than You Think (Especially for Men)
Regardless of what Jim’s brother might insist, physical appearance isn’t the sole determinant of charm, especially concerning heterosexual men, as noted by Morrison.
Conversely, women tend to prioritize personality traits over mere physical attraction.
Lamarche notes, “People aren’t simply focused on who looks the hottest,” emphasizing that they often pursue those they view as most physically appealing.
6. Be a Good Person
All the most crucial captivating traits that both Lamarch and Morrison identify as universally appealing are interestingly simple.
Cross-culturally, individuals value kindness, dependability, intelligence, and honesty, while traits like aggression are generally viewed as unattractive.
Also, honor those close to you. According to the principle of proximity, “We tend to be more drawn to people who are in close proximity to us,” says LaMarch.
Morrison adds:
“The primary factor you can modify is how you present yourself. If your goal is to become appealing, cultivating an attractive, engaging, and interesting persona is likely the best approach.”
Read more:
About Our Experts
Dr. Ed Morrison serves as a senior lecturer and doctoral supervisor at the University of Portsmouth. As a member of the Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, he focuses on evolutionary models of behavior. Morrison’s research interests lie within the realm of human partnership initiation, particularly regarding movement and facial attractiveness.
Dr. Veronica Lamart is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Essex. She completed her PhD in Working Psychology at the University of Buffalo, New York, in 2017. Lamart’s research involves understanding how individuals manage trust and dependence in romantic engagements, as well as how feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability impact relationship stability.
ah. The internet is a vast reservoir of fury, tribalism, and all the porn in human history. Like many, I find myself drawn to the internet, particularly social media. Every night before bed, I often regret spending too much time interacting with others when I could have been scrolling alone in my own chaotic nest like a zombie. Here are some internet gems that tickle my funny bone, and hopefully yours too.
Alan Partridge is a comedic genius with layers upon layers of stupidity and complexity, a quintessentially British character. Watch him in this interview with Jonathan Ross as he shamelessly promotes his book, “I, Partridge.”
Personal highlight: “I think you can count the number of friends I have in the industry with thumbs and toes…or one hand finger…not including thumbs… I have four.”
Johnny Vegas’s stand-up routines are raw and unapologetically funny, pushing boundaries and challenging audiences. His unique style sets him apart in the world of comedy, a breath of fresh air in today’s politically correct environment.
Eddie Murphy’s James Brown impression is not only spot-on but seamlessly weaved into his stand-up routine. His ability to convey humor without words in his impersonation is truly remarkable, showcasing his comedic genius.
These sketches never fail to entertain, whether as a teenager or an adult. Kayvan Novak’s talent in voice modulation and improvisation is truly impressive, making for top-notch comedy.
This character-based interview format with Caroline Aherne’s Mrs. Merton is a comedic gem. Her ability to deliver cutting questions with a soft demeanor is both smart and entertaining.
A guilty pleasure meme, “Thanks, Rachel” captures the humor in an everyday situation of charger theft, delivering pure and unfiltered emotions in a hilariously relatable way.
While not traditionally funny, Bo Burnham’s “Chicken” offers a unique perspective on the relationship between comedy, performance, and happiness.
“Chicken” explores the pursuit of comedy through a simple yet profound narrative about a chicken crossing the road, leaving viewers to ponder the essence of comedic endeavor.
Believe me when I say that I thought I knew everything about the story of Tetris. The popular puzzle game’s journey from 1980s Moscow behind the Iron Curtain to becoming a multi-million selling video game has been extensively covered in numerous articles, a fun book, and recent movies. With over 30 years of experience playing Tetris across different platforms like Game Boy, Nintendo Switch, and even VR, I didn’t expect to learn anything new when I opened Tetris Forever, an interactive documentary by Digital Eclipse that delves into the 40-year history of Tetris.
Did you know about Hattoris, the 1990 sequel to Tetris where colorful hats are stacked on top of your head? Maybe vaguely. How about Spectrum Holobyte’s quirky twist on the game called Faces…Tris III, where players try to build a human face by stacking different facial features? Surprisingly, Henk Rogers, a key figure in Tetris’ global success, revealed interesting details about his past, including his days surfing in Hawaii and forging business friendships in Japan. Tetris Forever offers a treasure trove of images and videos documenting the game’s evolution and significant moments in its history.
The documentary is divided into five chapters, offering a comprehensive look at Tetris’ history post its codification by Alexei Pajitnov in the early days. It includes playable versions of games, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with key players in Tetris history. Tetris Forever sheds light on the game’s complete history, unlike the surface-level coverage seen in other media adaptations.
Tetris first appeared on Electronica 60 in 1985. Photo: Digital Eclipse/Tetris Company
While Tetris Forever may cater more to hardcore gaming enthusiasts, it offers a respectful reissue of the game’s history. The playable versions included are faithful to the originals, allowing anyone to experience Tetris’ evolution. Personally, I still believe Tetris Effect remains the pinnacle of the game’s adaptations, created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, known for his synesthetic music games.
Playing the first version of Tetris on Electronica 60 computers takes me back to the game’s humble beginnings. Despite the various iterations and controversies over the years, Tetris remains a timeless classic that has endured for four decades, largely unchanged.
These interesting experiments Green Promotion Institute A public research center in Venice, Italy that explores new ways to restore the environment and generate energy. The lab's unusual combination of scientists, engineers, and psychologists create prototypes that harness natural organisms to do useful work, often taking on a sculptural aspect as a side effect that fascinates the resident artist.
“Despite being the object of science, it has beauty,” says photographer Luigi Avantaggiato. He spent time cataloging a device that uses bacteria called Purple-B (pictured above). Rhodopsdomonas palustris, commonly found in Venice's lagoons, converts human waste into useful hydrogen. The experiment is being funded by the European Space Agency because it could provide a way to process astronaut waste in orbit to create usable fuel, but could also be used on Earth's surface. There is a possibility that it can be done.
Main laboratory of Veritas Group's Green Promotion Institute
Luigi Avantaggiato 2024
The bright green contents of several tanks in the lab (pictured above) are known as liquid forests, which in this project are home to tiny algae such as: chlorella, to capture the carbon dioxide that is warming the planet. Each tank contains 250 liters and can accommodate approximately 1 billion algae per cubic centimeter.
A researcher working in one of GPLabs' laboratories.
Luigi Avantaggiato 2024
Another shot (pictured above) shows the geodesic dome, where environmental engineers at a startup called 9-Tech are working on a new way to recover silicon from used solar panels.
The entire lab site was created by veritashandles waste and water supplies for Venice and Treviso's approximately 1 million residents and 50 million tourists.
TFor a kid growing up in Britain in the 1980s, the Atari 400 and 800 machines seemed incredibly appealing. Most of my friends had a Commodore 64 or ZX Spectrum (occasionally he also used an Amstrad or Acorn Electron), but I only saw Atari computers in cool TV shows and movies like Videodrome and Police Story. That never happened. These two models, released in 1979, featured an Antic video processor that provided excellent graphics for the time, and a sound chip named Pokey to improve audio. These, like the Apple II, were seminal machines for young game programmers looking to create new types of experiences beyond simple arcade conversions.
Opening up the new Atari 400 Mini was a strangely emotional experience. The latest nostalgic release from Retro Games is an exquisitely detailed recreation of the original computer, featuring a non-functional version of the famous membrane keyboard in luscious 1970s beige, orange, and brown. It has 4 joystick ports (currently rather USB) (from the original Atari joystick port standard). The console comes with a new version of the classic Atari CX40 joystick, with the subtle addition of eight buttons that can now summon the keyboard to provide additional input options in Atari 400/800 games. Masu.
It includes 25 games that show the range of what was being produced on the 400 and 800 (the 800 was a higher-end model with more memory and a better keyboard) in the early 1980s. There are quaint home versions of classic arcade titles like “Asteroids,” “Millipede,” and “Battlezone,” which are, after all, what home console and computer developers had to do at the time. It’s a fascinating reminder of the compromises that weren’t made. And there are many more to come, including Capture the Flag, Paul Allen Edelstein’s two-player first-person tracking game, and his MULE, a multiplayer colonial strategy game that influenced the entire management simulation industry. You can get a glimpse of the genre.
There’s also some interesting experimentation in creating fast-paced 3D visuals in the form of futuristic racing sims Elektra Glide and Encounter. Written by Paul Woakes, who later went on to create one of his most fascinating 3D sci-fi adventure titles of this era, Mercenary.
Some games will be familiar to anyone who bought a C64 Mini or other retro machine, but the Atari 400 version was often the first to be released, so you get the primary source material here. Well almost. Although there is no original hardware used, the emulators that Retro Games employs to run all these games are robust and accurate, allowing them to recreate these 40-year-old gems very well.
400 Mini Millipede. Photo: Atari/Retro Game/Prion
And while they’re definitely older, many of these titles, including Boulder Dash and Lee (originally titled by Bruce Lee, whose license has probably expired), remain as truly playable relics. Saved. Either way, I’ve had many hours of fun discovering games I’ve never seen before, as well as familiar favorites in various guises. Additionally, in typical mini-console style, there is a rewind feature to fix mistakes, and the game can be saved to memory. You can also fine-tune your visual settings and choose CRT effects that mimic the display style of a traditional TV. A virtual keyboard is also available if you want to play games that require more input options. It’s not always easy to use, but it’s nice to be able to use it when necessary.
Interestingly, one of the 400 Mini’s selling points is its ability to “load your own programs.” This is a euphemism in the instruction manual for the console to play game files known as ROMs, which can be loaded via a USB stick. Most people will find these ROMs on the internet, but the legality of freely downloading game files is murky to say the least. So Retro Games leaves it up to you to figure this out. I ran a few games to test this aspect and it was a surprisingly smooth process. The emulator accepts files in many popular formats and plays both Atari 400 and 800 titles, as well as his later XL/XE variations. When you insert a USB stick with game ROMs, you’ll see a thumb drive icon in the games list on the screen, and clicking on it will show the games you’ve added. The system also supports games that originally appeared on multiple discs. Additionally, you can reconfigure the joystick buttons to suit the input requirements of most games you’re trying out.
Lee (formerly Bruce Lee) riding a 400 Mini. Photo: Atari/Retro Game/Prion
At £100, the 400 Mini isn’t cheap, and the game is a great choice for new players who prefer their Mega Drive or PC Engine Mini machines with their attractive 16-bit visuals and familiar series. It may not be appealing. But as an accessible museum piece, it’s a fascinating and well-made device that reveals games you’ve never played in its original form, as well as an entirely fresh retro experience. This industry has always failed to protect its heritage and history. Official archives are often exposed and inaccessible. The Mini Console is a small attempt to address this issue in an intuitive and well-chosen format.
I’m a long way from that kid growing up in the 1980s now, but finally playing these Atari 400 gems reminded me of him and what he was fascinated by. That in itself gives value to this little machine.
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