Paulsepia mazonensis has captivated the scientific community as a cephalopod species first identified in 2000 from a remarkable 300-million-year-old specimen. This fascinating creature has earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s oldest octopus. Recent research has led to its reclassification as a distant relative of the nautilus, offering new insights into the timeline of octopus evolution, according to paleontologists.
Depiction of old cadmus collapse in the Mason Creek Basin, highlighting various Mason Creek fauna, including the polychaete Esconites zelus and the elasmobranch shark Bandringa rayi. Image credit: Franz Anthony.
Originally described from isolated siderite concretions, Paulsepia mazonensis has been recognized as the oldest known octopus, predating earlier estimates by over 150 million years. This revelation raises significant questions regarding our comprehension of cephalopod evolution, according to Dr. Thomas Clements, a paleontologist from the universities of Leicester and Reading.
This intriguing fossil from the Late Carboniferous Maisonkrieg Lagerstätte (311 to 360 million years ago) possesses distinct features, including a ‘sack-like’ fused head and mantle, symmetrical fins, and a pair of eyespots, alongside arms and specialized tentacles, yet lacks evidence for an inner or outer shell.
In a recent comprehensive study, researchers revisited this enigmatic fossil alongside several new specimens.
Employing advanced analytical methods, they uncovered a previously unrecognized radula, the toothed tongue characteristic of most molluscs.
Analysis of the alveolar bone suggests that Paulsepia mazonensis is more aligned with the shelled nautilus than previously thought.
This organism experienced significant decomposition prior to fossilization, leading to its ambiguous classification for decades.
“We conclude that Paulsepia mazonensis is synonymous with the Old Cadmus poli, based on morphological evidence,” the researchers confirmed.
This reinterpretation resolves a longstanding mystery regarding octopus evolution and unveils the oldest preserved nautilus soft tissue ever documented.
Through synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence elemental mapping, the team identified dental ossicles concealed within the concrete matrix of Paulsepia mazonensis.
The morphology of radial elements indicates that Paulsepia mazonensis does not correspond to coronal octamers but represents the oldest soft-tissue nautilus fossil discovered to date.
This reclassification challenges the Paleozoic origin of octopuses, further supporting a mid/late Mesozoic origin for crown octopuses while diminishing the credibility of the colloid affinity related to controversial Cambrian soft-bodied fossils like Nectocaris pterix.
The findings accentuate the complexities in interpreting exceptionally preserved soft tissue at the Masonkrieg Lagerstätte and underscore the necessity for thorough reevaluation of enigmatic consolidated soft-bodied fossil materials.
The team’s research paper has been published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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Thomas Clements et al. 2026. Synchrotron data reveals characteristics of nautiloids Paulsepia mazonensis refuting the Paleozoic origin of octopods. Proc Biol Sci 293 (2068): 20252369; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2025.2369
Genetic and acoustic research has revealed that the rare Iijima Warbler (Philoscopus ijimae) comprises two distinct species, including the newly identified crested warbler. Both species are small and face vulnerability in their habitats.
Japanese Warbler (Philoscopus tocharensis) taken in June 2017 on Nakanoshima, Tokara Islands. Image credit: Per Alström / Uppsala University.
The Japanese Warbler is a rare migratory bird native to Japan.
They breed in the Izu and Tokara Islands, located about 1,000 kilometers southeast of Honshu, Japan.
The Tokara population was only identified in Nakanoshima in 1988, with breeding also observed on four nearby islands.
Despite similarities between the two populations, research shows notable differences in their songs, as highlighted by a study led by Per Alström from Uppsala University.
Analyzing song patterns has enabled researchers to distinguish island populations with remarkable accuracy.
Genetic analysis of thousands of genome-wide markers and mitochondrial sequences shows a significant divergence between the two lineages, suggesting a separation period of approximately 2.8 to 3.2 million years.
“This finding underscores the importance of genetic research in recognizing hidden biodiversity, especially during the global biodiversity crisis,” stated Dr. Alström.
Despite potential for seasonal migration bringing them closer, no gene flow has been detected, indicating long-term reproductive isolation.
“Defining the new species is challenging,” Alström remarked. “They appear identical to a Japanese Warbler, but DNA analysis and song differences confirm their classification as distinct species.”
The Izu Islands population has been classified as endangered, while the newly recognized Tokara species is known as the Tokara Leaf Warbler (Philoscopus tocharensis), posing further conservation challenges.
Breeding has only been confirmed on Nakanoshima, with limited sightings across the archipelago.
Genomic studies indicate both species exhibit low genetic diversity, alongside historical population declines linked to their small, isolated nature, though signs of limited inbreeding may indicate a recovery from earlier bottlenecks.
Island species face unique threats, including habitat disturbance from human activities and invasive predators, further stressing fragile populations.
This study emphasizes a significant concern in conservation biology: species that lack formal recognition might receive inadequate protection.
Integrating genomics with traditional taxonomy can aid in identifying these hidden lineages before they go extinct.
“Island species are especially at risk, yet many remain undiscovered,” the researchers concluded. “Our findings reveal how genomics can expose hidden biodiversity and serve as critical indicators of population health.”
The urgency of formally recognizing and assessing the conservation status of these rare species is imperative in an ever-changing world to ensure the protection of overlooked lineages.
This study contributes to comprehensive conservation assessments for passerine birds leveraging genomic data.
The research team’s findings are documented in their paper published in PNAS Nexus.
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Takema Saito et al. 2026. Discovering and protecting enigmatic biodiversity: A case study of previously undescribed endangered bird species in Japan. PNAS Nexus 5(3):pgag037; doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag037
Illustration of Grecopithecus freybergi, a great ape from southeastern Europe 7.2 million years ago
Velizar Simeonovski, Chicago
Discoveries indicate that 7.2 million years ago, early apes might have been walking upright in present-day Bulgaria. Researchers uncovered ancient leg bones exhibiting characteristics of bipedalism.
These leg bones predate all known human fossils, including those from Africa, suggesting that bipedalism—a critical milestone in human evolution—may have originated in Europe rather than Africa.
“The earliest signs of bipedalism are found in Europe,” states Madeleine Boehme, from the University of Tübingen, Germany.
Boehme and a dedicated team have been excavating at Azmaka near Chirpan, Bulgaria, since 2008, uncovering a sediment layer approximately 20 meters thick, deposited by rivers over time.
A crucial find in 2016 was a right femur, known to be 7.2 million years old and nearly intact, nicknamed “Diva.” This femur, measuring 21.5 centimeters, offers substantial insight into the locomotion of early humans.
“This discovery is incredibly significant,” remarks Clement Zanoli from the University of Bordeaux, France, who was not involved in the study. “The femur’s exceptional preservation is rare in the Miocene hominin fossil record.”
During early epochs, Europe hosted various great apes, yet by 7.2 million years ago, most had become extinct. Today, all closest relatives to modern apes are located in Africa, as are the earliest human ancestors, or hominins.
The only ape confirmed from Azmaka is Grecopithecus freybegii, known primarily from a damaged jawbone found in Greece, and some teeth from North Macedonia and Azmaka. Consequently, Böhme’s team posits that the femur likely belongs to Grecopithecus.
“This is the most reasonable assumption at this time,” states Zanoli, but he stresses that more fossil evidence is necessary for stronger validation.
“The relationships among these fossils remain unclear,” explains Kelsey Pugh from OCAD University, Toronto, Canada.
Femoral bones of Grecopithecus (left), Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis, center), and a chimpanzee (right). Long femoral neck (shown in red) associated with upright walking.
Spasov et al. 2026
Böhme’s team meticulously measured the femur and conducted CT scans, uncovering attributes indicative of a bipedal organism. Notably, a short neck that laterally extends and forms a rounded ball fits into the pelvis, resembling structures found in bipedal hominids but absent in knuckle-walking species. Additionally, the outer bone layer’s thickness at the neck’s base supports vertical loads.
An additional ridge was identified, which would have allowed for the attachment of buttock muscles, playing a vital role in maintaining an upright posture, according to Boehme.
While other scientists find the findings intriguing, they remain unconvinced. “This femur displays several traits,” Zanoli points out. “Some suggest bipedalism, while others imply quadrupedal movement. Hence, determining the locomotion remains complex.”
The nuanced study of extinct great apes has revealed increasing challenges in accurately diagnosing bipedalism based solely on isolated fossil bones. Pugh notes, “Many features once thought exclusive to bipedal hominids have also been noted in quadrupedal apes. Thus, prioritization of diagnostic traits is crucial.”
Much attention has focused on Sahelanthropus tchadensis, known from a solitary location in Chad and considered the earliest hominid. This species lived 7 million years ago, slightly younger than the Azmaka specimen. The femur of Sahelanthropus has long fueled debate about bipedalism.
Boehme and her team are determined to establish that significant steps in early human evolution transpired in Europe. They’ve identified potential hominid features in Grecopithecus, despite past controversies linked to a damaged jawbone. Furthermore, they have also detailed another European ape, Danuvius guggenmosi, which existed approximately 11.6 million years ago.
These early human-like ancestors might have migrated to Africa, potentially driven by climate changes. Research indicates that this migration likely gave rise to all subsequent hominins, including modern humans.
Zanoli comments, “Numerous other animals migrated between Africa and Eurasia. If fauna can do it, why can’t hominins?”
Yet, Professor Pugh asserts that further discoveries are essential to substantiate bipedalism evidence in Grecopithecus, allowing detailed analysis of relationships among other apes and early humans. Without this, she emphasizes that it’s premature to construct comprehensive evolutionary narratives.
Discovery Tour: Archaeology, Human Origins, and Paleontology
New Scientist regularly reports on fascinating archaeological sites worldwide that reshape our understanding of species and civilization’s early days. Why not explore them too?
When we think about infamous fictional psychopaths, like the chillingly calculating Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, they often embody the image of a scammer. But what about real-life psychopaths?
Research indicates that psychopaths are more inclined to lie to achieve their goals, exhibiting remarkable fearlessness, almost as if they have ice in their veins.
You might assume that their cold demeanor makes it hard to detect their deceit. Surprisingly, studies suggest that psychopaths are not significantly better at lying than others.
For instance, a study from the 1980s revealed that convicted psychopaths were easily identifiable, much like non-psychopaths using lie detectors. However, it’s important to note that while lie detector tests are commonly employed, they are notoriously unreliable.
In a more recent 2016 study, researchers found that criminals tend to lie frequently. Notably, psychopaths often exhibit a heightened tendency to lie during psychological tasks. Yet, they still encounter cognitive costs from lying, such as making more errors and responding more slowly.
Though psychopaths lack the moral and emotional barriers that typically hinder lying for most people, they cannot escape the psychological challenges associated with creating believable lies.
Interestingly, while psychopaths may not have a natural talent for lying, there is emerging evidence that they can learn to become more effective liars.
A 2017 study discovered that students with high psychopathic traits demonstrated significant improvement during tasks that required them to lie convincingly. They could lie faster than others, indicating that the mental strain of lying decreases along with reduced neural activity related to deceit.
In summary, psychopaths may not excel at lying initially, but they have a propensity to lie more frequently and improve at it more swiftly than others.
This article addresses the question posed by Lyle Morse via email: “Are psychopaths really good at lying?”
To submit your own questions, please email questions@sciencefocus.com or reach out via social media: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. (Don’t forget to include your name and location.)
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Can we effectively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to mitigate ocean acidification? A recent test shed light on this as a research team injected 65,000 liters of alkaline sodium hydroxide into the Gulf of Maine in August 2025.
“We were pioneers in exploring the enhancement of alkalinity using a ship,” stated Adam Subhas from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. The team shared their preliminary findings at the Marine Science Conference on February 25th in Glasgow, UK. “It’s clear we observed increased CO2 absorption due to this experiment.”
Over the span of four days, the team indicated that between 2 to 10 tons of CO2 were extracted from the atmosphere, with a potential total of up to 50 tons. Importantly, no adverse effects on marine ecosystems were noted.
Nonetheless, Subhas highlighted a critical point: the team hasn’t calculated the emissions produced during the manufacturing and transport of the sodium hydroxide, leaving the net CO2 removal outcome uncertain. “That’s an essential area for future research,” he remarked.
The ocean acts as a significant carbon sink, storing 40 times more carbon than the atmosphere and absorbing over a quarter of the excess CO2 emitted. This surplus CO2 reacts with ocean water to create carbonic acid, leading to increased ocean acidity.
Ocean acidification can severely impact various marine organisms by dissolving carbonate shells, thereby diminishing the ocean’s carbon absorption capacity.
Researchers are actively investigating numerous strategies to counteract ocean acidification, such as adding magnesium hydroxide to wastewater, spreading crushed olivine on beaches, and transporting seawater to onshore treatment facilities. Some companies are even marketing carbon credits based on alkalinity enhancement.
“This is indicative of current private sector initiatives,” Subhas explained, emphasizing the need for non-commercial trials like their team’s.
Given the sensitive nature of such experiments, the team engaged local stakeholders, particularly the fishing community. “Establishing a two-way dialogue is crucial,” asserted Kristin Kreisner of the Environmental Defense Fund, a New York-based nonprofit.
The testing involved three ships and was meticulously monitored using various methods, from satellites to floating sensors and ocean gliders. Sodium hydroxide was mixed with a trace dye called rhodamine to accurately track its dispersion.
The researchers measured concentrations of microorganisms, plankton, fish larvae, and lobster larvae, as well as photosynthetic activity levels. According to Rachel David at Rutgers University, New Jersey, “Our trials did not significantly impact the biological community.”
The additional carbon introduced into the ocean through increased alkalinity converts into bicarbonate ions, akin to dissolved baking soda. “We anticipate this carbon will remain locked for tens of thousands of years, making it one of the most sustainable carbon removal methods,” Subhas noted.
The nature of this process allows CO2 to be removed and stored simultaneously, providing benefits over other methods that necessitate separate CO2 capture and permanent storage.
When you envision the North Pole, you likely imagine a vast, icy wonderland devoid of life. Noise might be the last thing on your mind.
However, recent findings from a study published in npj Acoustics reveal that the underwater soundscape is far more expansive and diverse than we previously thought. This raises crucial questions about how to monitor and protect this unique environment.
Analyzing a decade’s worth of underwater sound data from Cambridge Bay in the Canadian Arctic, researchers discovered that climate change is accelerating ice loss, reshaping the region’s underwater soundscape—an alteration that could have serious ramifications for local wildlife.
“Climate change is more than tripling in the Arctic, which means ice is melting faster, melting earlier, and reforming later,” stated Dr. Philippe Blondel, the lead author of the study and a senior lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Bath, UK, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
“As a result, the Arctic becomes more accessible for human activities. Navigation becomes easier for ships in an ice-free environment. A key finding from our research is that while ships generate noise, they are not the only contributors.”
The study identifies that not only large ships—often the focus of noise pollution regulations—but also other significant sources such as snowmobiles, aircraft, and smaller vessels contribute to underwater noise. Many of these smaller noise sources evade detection by satellite systems, leading to gaps in models that rely solely on vessel position data.
Vital Arctic species, including whales and seals, depend on sound for communication, navigation, finding food, and evading predators. With increasing underwater noise both in frequency and volume, these essential communication tools are increasingly compromised.
Whales rely on sound production and hearing for survival – Photo courtesy of Getty
Dr. Blondel likens the situation to standing next to a busy freeway. “You might only hear the ambient noise, but when a motorcycle rushes by, that high-frequency noise disrupts your ability to hear music.”
“When a large truck thunders past, it becomes nearly impossible to hear anything else.”
In a similar manner, one sound source could disrupt a whale trying to communicate with its calves, while another noise at a different frequency might drive the whale away from critical feeding areas.
However, the research team is not advocating for total silence in the Arctic. Instead, Blondel proposes that environmental policies should encompass a broader array of frequencies beyond the narrow “transport bands” typically measured in protection frameworks, such as the European Maritime Strategy Framework Directive.
He recommends establishing stricter shipping routes in the increasingly ice-free Arctic and implementing varying speed limits depending on wildlife presence, as potential strategies to mitigate harmful noise pollution.
Yet, enforcing such regulations poses challenges, as they would need to encompass everything from large vessels to smaller crafts, and the region is bordered by multiple nations.
“My primary goal was to demonstrate that when assessing the ocean’s soundscape, we need to consider all sound sources, not just large ships,” Blondel emphasized. “But my overarching aim is to establish some form of framework in the Arctic. We must devise effective noise guidelines before the situation worsens further.”
Keratin composites enable animals to walk with hooves, fly with wings, and sense their environment through their skin. Mammalian whiskers consist of elongated keratin rods attached to specialized tactile structures, enhancing the animal’s sensory perception. A recent study conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems aims to explore the structure, porosity, and stiffness of the whiskers found in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).
Schulz et al. investigated the whiskers of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to determine their geometric and mechanical adaptations for enhanced tactile sensitivity, which encodes contact location through vibrotactile signals. Image credit: Schulz et al., doi: 10.1126/science.adx8981.
Whiskers in mammals, resembling elongated keratin rods, serve as sophisticated sensory tools.
While the keratin material itself does not directly sense touch, whiskers are housed within hair follicles, surrounded by dense sensory neurons that translate subtle mechanical vibrations into nerve signals.
Previous research primarily focused on the shape and movement of whiskers, often assuming a uniform mechanical structure along their length.
However, emerging evidence suggests that the stiffness and internal composition of whiskers can differ from root to tip, highlighting the importance of material properties in tactile sensation.
Unlike many other mammals, elephants possess numerous immobile whiskers distributed over the thick skin of their highly skilled trunks.
Though these whiskers cannot move independently, they frequently interact with objects, enabling elephants to perform precise tasks, from delicate manipulations to food handling.
Given the immobility of their whiskers, Dr. Andrew Schultz and colleagues hypothesized that elephants rely on variations in the shape and material structure of their whiskers to enhance tactile perception.
The researchers employed techniques such as micro-CT imaging, electron microscopy, mechanical testing, and functional modeling to examine the shape, porosity, and stiffness of whiskers in both juvenile and adult Asian elephants.
Findings reveal that the material properties of elephant whiskers transition from thick, porous, and rigid roots to thin, dense, and soft tips.
Dr. Schultz noted, “Tapping the handrail with different parts of the whisker wand felt soft at the tip and sharp at the base. I could easily feel where contact occurred without even looking.”
These functional gradients significantly influence how mechanical vibrations are relayed to sensory neurons, enhancing the clarity and strength of tactile signals.
Specifically, the transition from a firm base to a softer tip amplifies signal power, aiding elephants in accurately determining contact locations along the whisker, which is crucial for navigation and fine manipulation.
In this manner, elephant whiskers exhibit a type of built-in or “physical” intelligence, optimizing sensation through intelligent material design without needing active movement.
This exciting discovery is driving the authors’ efforts to apply natural insights into advancements in robotics and intelligent systems.
“Bio-inspired sensors that replicate elephant-like stiffness gradients could provide precise information with minimal computational cost, simply by leveraging intelligent material design,” Dr. Schultz stated.
The team’s groundbreaking research was published in the Journal on February 12, 2026, in Science.
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Andrew K. Schultz et al. 2026. Functional gradients drive tactile sensation in elephant whiskers. Science 391 (6786): 712-718; doi: 10.1126/science.adx8981
On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revoking a critical certification that has been in effect for almost 20 years, aimed at reducing heat-trapping pollution from vehicles, refineries, and factories.
This significant reversal of the so-called endangered finding could drastically alter U.S. policies designed to combat climate change.
The 2009 EPA study indicated that global warming, driven by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, threatens the health and welfare of both present and future generations.
“We are officially ending the so-called endangered study, a catastrophic Obama-era policy,” President Trump stated during a press conference. “There was no factual or legal basis for this decision. Fossil fuels, in fact, have saved millions of lives and lifted billions out of poverty globally.”
Prominent environmental organizations are challenging the government’s revocation of the endangered status designation and are gearing up for legal action.
Traffic moves along a road near Royal Dutch Shell and Valero Energy’s Norco refinery during a power outage caused by Hurricane Ida in LaPlace, Louisiana, in August 2021. Luke Charette/Bloomberg from Getty Images File
The findings substantiated the EPA’s capabilities in regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and power plants while mandating companies to report their emissions, advocating for climate change action consistent with the Clean Air Act.
The Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling affirmed the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases, highlighting the severe and well-recognized harms linked to climate change, and led to the 2009 endangered finding.
According to the White House and EPA, this reversal marks “the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”
This initiative is one of the Trump administration’s most significant efforts to unwind climate action, coinciding with the U.S. retreat from the 2015 Paris Agreement and its expected withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
President Trump has previously labeled climate change a “swindle” and cut nearly $8 billion in funding for renewable energy projects in October, though a court later found some cancelations illegal. Recently, the Department of Energy announced a $175 million investment to extend the lifespan of six coal-fired power plants, highlighting continued support for coal.
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Agency, last year was the third warmest on record, and the past 11 years have been the hottest ever documented.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin engages with residents and business owners impacted by the Palisades fire in Los Angeles on February 4. Mario Tama/Getty Images
President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also announced the elimination of all greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles.
“We are reversing the unreasonable hazard findings and abolishing unnecessary emissions standards imposed on vehicle models and engines from 2012 to 2027 and beyond,” President Trump affirmed.
The EPA intends to continue regulating pollutants from tailpipe emissions that affect air quality, including carbon monoxide, lead, and ozone.
Former President Obama emphasized that failing to maintain these standards could make Americans “less safe, less healthy, and hinder efforts against climate change,” benefitting only the fossil fuel industry.
The U.S. Climate Alliance, headed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, criticized the repeal for being “illegal, dismissive of fundamental science, and disconnecting from reality.”
Multiple organizations, including the American Lung Association and the American Public Health Association, have pledged to sue in response to this unlawful repeal.
“As an organization dedicated to public health, we reject this unwarranted repeal,” they declared in a statement.
Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, remarked that the repeal is “a windfall for the fossil fuel sector” and that they are prepared for a legal fight.
“We will oppose this action because it lacks scientific support, is economically detrimental, and is illegal. We’ll see the government in court,” he stated.
This legal struggle could extend for years, as the government attempts to justify the repeals in the face of robust scientific evidence regarding climate change’s dangers.
Michael Gerrard, founder of Columbia University’s Sabin Center on Climate Change Law, noted that the future of this repeal could hinge on the Supreme Court, which may need to overturn 16 years of established precedent.
“The 2007 ruling was a 5-4 decision; all five justices in the majority are no longer in office. Of the dissenting justices, three are still serving,” Gerrard explained. “Typically, courts require a comprehensive explanation and supporting documentation when an agency makes such significant changes.”
Megan Greenfield, a partner at Jenner & Block who oversaw EPA rulemaking during the Biden administration, stated that the current administration may face challenges in court due to existing legal precedents and compelling scientific evidence highlighting climate change’s effects. She emphasized that the administration must demonstrate adherence to proper procedures when issuing regulations.
“Regulatory processes usually require around three years, but this rule was finalized in about a year,” she mentioned. “Only after rigorous compliance can more complex legal issues be addressed.”
As of 4 p.m. ET Thursday, the EPA had yet to publish the final text of the rule and did not respond to inquiries regarding its expected release.
The agency contended that a draft proposal released in August overstated the risks of heat waves, predicted accelerated global warming, and underestimated the advantages of increased carbon emissions, like enhanced plant growth. Most independent scientific organizations have dismissed these claims.
“EPA’s 2009 Endangered Findings stem from extensive research,” stated the American Geophysical Union on Thursday. “To override such a landmark scientific and legal determination is a denial of conclusive science, an ignorance of current struggles, and a direct threat to our collective future.”
The administration has also signaled plans to revisit other regulations reliant on endangered findings, including methane regulations, a potent greenhouse gas.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proclaimed on FOX Business that the findings’ reversal would breathe new life into the coal industry.
“CO₂” [carbon dioxide] “was never a pollutant; this whole situation is an opportunity to rejuvenate clean, beautiful American coal,” he stated.
Have you ever noticed how a forgotten cup of coffee cools down as it releases heat to the surrounding air? In the fascinating world of quantum mechanics, this process can actually be reversed. This surprising finding suggests that the second law of thermodynamics—which posits that heat flows from hot to cold—might require reevaluation.
Dawei Lu, a part of a research team from Southern University of Science and Technology in China, challenges conventional physics by exploring this thermodynamic phenomenon using crotonic acid molecules, which are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The team utilized the nuclei of four carbon atoms as qubits, the fundamental units of quantum computers that store quantum information. Unlike traditional computations that use electromagnetic radiation to control qubit states, the researchers directed heat from cooler qubits to hotter ones.
Such a reversal would be impossible in our everyday experiences, like the cooling of coffee, which needs additional energy to achieve what is termed heat regurgitation. However, in the quantum realm, fuel in the form of quantum information—specifically “coherence”—is available. As Lu explains, “By injecting and manipulating this quantum information, we can reverse the normal direction of heat flow. Exciting times indeed.”
Interestingly, the breakdown of thermodynamic laws in quantum mechanics isn’t entirely unexpected. The second law was formulated in the 19th century, long before quantum physics took its place in scientific discourse. To address this inconsistency, Lu and his colleagues derived an “apparent temperature” for each qubit, a reinterpretation of classical temperature that accommodates quantum properties like coherence. This leads to the reaffirmation that thermal energy indeed flows from a higher apparent temperature to a lower one, aligning with established thermodynamic principles.
In a related system, Roberto Serra from Brazil’s ABC Federal University emphasizes that quantum properties such as coherence act as a thermodynamic resource—akin to how heat powers a steam engine. By manipulating these quantum resources, researchers can intentionally breach the classical laws of thermodynamics. “Traditional thermodynamic laws were conceived without considering our access to such microscopic states, revealing a need for new theoretical frameworks,” Serra points out.
The team aspires to adapt their thermal inversion experiments into practical techniques for regulating heat between qubits. Lu envisions that mastering the relationship between quantum information and thermal management could significantly enhance quantum computing capabilities. This advancement holds pivotal implications for the expanding field of quantum technologies, especially since conventional computers face severe limitations due to overheating issues.
Your ability to cultivate a stable and consistent sense of self is nothing short of remarkable.
Throughout our lives, we encounter significant transformations, evolving from infants to adults—acquiring new knowledge, forgetting some, forming fresh relationships, and letting go of old ones. These experiences are interspersed with vivid dreams and fleeting moments each night.
Yet, amidst all these changes, we continue to perceive ourselves as the same individuals. This phenomenon can be attributed to the ongoing developmental processes within the brain, which is more adaptable and delicate than you might think.
Classic studies from the late 20th century, such as those involving cases where half of the brain was severed as a radical epilepsy treatment, illustrate this concept.
Interestingly, these cases exhibited strange consequences, like patients performing contradictory movements, such as lifting a button with one hand while undoing it with the other. Nevertheless, they still maintained a coherent sense of self.
These individuals even crafted explanations for their unusual behaviors, demonstrating that their brains were actively working to create a unified personal narrative.
In healthy individuals, psychological studies have revealed memory patterns that bolster this constructed identity.
For instance, we tend to remember and reflect on experiences that align with our self-perception. If you identify as an introvert, you may find it easier to recall and emphasize past memories that resonate with that identity.
Essentially, you are curating your personal autobiography to fit your current self-concept.
The medial prefrontal cortex, located at the front of the brain just behind the forehead, plays a crucial role in regulating this structure.
Research indicates that when people identify traits that best describe themselves—whether in the present or future—this brain region is significantly more active than when they assess similar qualities in others.
Our constructed sense of self also extends to our possessions. During brain scans, the medial prefrontal cortex shows increased activity when individuals view their belongings, while this response diminishes for unfamiliar items.
This illustrates how quickly and adaptively our brains reshape our personal boundaries.
Our sense of self extends to our possessions – Image credit: Robin Boyden
Memory processes are also vital in this ongoing construction of self.
Damage to the hippocampus, located deep within the brain alongside the temples, can prevent individuals from envisioning their past or future—highlighting how reliant our identity is on active brain functions.
Not only does your brain construct a sense of self over time, but it also maintains it spatially, providing a stable sense of ownership over your body.
Another critical region, known as the temporoparietal junction (located behind the ear), significantly influences this aspect of identity.
A study conducted in 2005 demonstrated that electrically stimulating this brain area during surgery could induce out-of-body experiences in patients, making them feel as though they were floating outside themselves.
Thus, while our sense of a stable self often feels entirely convincing, it can be disrupted by brain injuries or even by carefully orchestrated neural experiments.
Overall, the evidence suggests that our experience of “me-ness” is a constructed phenomenon, tirelessly maintained by the brain.
This article answers the question posed by Southampton’s Frank Ross: “How does my brain create a sense of self?”
If you have any inquiries, please reach out via email at:questions@sciencefocus.com or send us a messageFacebook,Twitter or Instagram (remember to include your name and location).
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A recent analysis of archival data from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft’s Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) has uncovered the first evidence of ammonia-containing compounds on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. This groundbreaking discovery provides vital clues about Europa’s subsurface ocean and recent geological activity.
This composite image highlights red pixels indicating sites on Europa where ammonia compounds were detected; purple indicates areas without detection. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
“The detection of ammonia (NH3) is significant for understanding not only the geology of icy bodies in our solar system but also their potential habitability and astrobiological relevance,” stated Dr. Al Emran, a researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“On Europa, the identification of ammonia or ammoniated species is crucial for revealing ocean chemistry, assessing habitability, and reconstructing the moon’s early atmosphere.”
Ammonia functions as an antifreeze agent, reducing the freezing point of liquid water by up to 100 K, which may help preserve underground oceans in icy celestial bodies.
Though it’s unclear if Europa’s underground ocean is directly linked to the surface, detecting ammonia compounds could imply such a connection, given that these materials are unstable under cosmic radiation.
In a new study published in Planetary Science Journal, Dr. Emran reported detecting a distinct ammonia absorption feature at 2.20 microns in Europa’s near-infrared spectrum.
This signal was confirmed through observations from Galileo’s NIMS instrument, which examined Europa during a flyby in the 1990s.
Ammonia hydrate and ammonium chloride are likely responsible for the detected spectral features.
The instability of ammonia under strong cosmic radiation highlights the importance of its presence on Europa’s surface.
The discovery of ammonia-containing materials suggests they may have originated from Europa’s subsurface ocean or shallow subsurface during the moon’s geologically recent past, possibly through cryovolcanism or similar processes.
This analysis also hints at significant implications for Europa’s internal structure.
The presence of ammoniated compounds aligns with a subsurface ocean characterized by a thinner, chemically reduced ice shell with a higher pH.
Ammonia’s antifreeze properties are essential, as they lower the freezing point of water ice, allowing for the maintenance of a liquid ocean beneath Europa’s icy shell.
“Faint signals of ammonia have been detected near fractures in the moon’s frozen surface, where liquid water, rich in dissolved ammonia compounds, is expected to ascend,” Emran noted.
“These compounds might have traversed the surface due to recent geologically active cryovolcanic events.”
Ammonia’s presence, which significantly lowers the freezing point of water, acts as a natural antifreeze.
Similar ammonia-bearing species have been identified on other icy objects in the outer solar system, including Pluto, Charon, certain moons of Uranus, and Saturn’s moon Enceladus. However, earlier attempts to confirm ammonia’s presence on Europa produced inconclusive results.
“The identification of ammonia-containing compounds in this research marks the first evidence of nitrogen-based species on Europa, a finding of considerable astrobiological importance due to nitrogen’s fundamental role in life’s molecular structure,” Emran concluded.
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A. Emran. 2026. NH3 detection at Europa’s 2.2 μm absorption band. Planetary Science Journal 6,255; doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ae1291
Recent microwave measurements from NASA’s Juno spacecraft indicate that Europa’s icy shell could extend nearly 29 kilometers (18 miles) deep, significantly altering planetary scientists’ understanding of how this intriguing moon facilitates the exchange of vital chemicals between its hidden ocean and surface.
Artist’s concept showing a cross-section of Europa’s icy shell. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / Koji Kuramura / Gerald Eichstädt.
Europa has captivated planetary scientists for over 40 years.
The question of whether Jupiter’s icy moons can support life has sparked extensive debate among researchers.
Interest in Europa’s potential habitability surged when NASA’s Galileo spacecraft revealed an ocean of saline water beneath its icy crust, complemented by surface cracks.
On September 29, 2022, NASA’s Juno spacecraft flew by Europa at an altitude of 360 km (220 miles).
During this flyby, Juno’s Microwave Radiometer (MWR), which is primarily designed to analyze Jupiter’s atmosphere, gathered brightness temperature data at various depths within Europa’s icy crust.
Juno project scientist Steve Levin and his team utilized this MWR data to conclude that the icy shell averages approximately 29 kilometers in thickness.
“The estimated thickness of 29 km pertains to the cold, dense, electrically conductive outer layer of Europa’s water ice shell,” Dr. Levin stated.
“If a slightly warmer convective layer exists beneath, the total thickness could be even greater.”
“Conversely, if the ice shell contains a moderate amount of dissolved salts, as some models suggest, the thickness could decrease by around 5 km (3 miles).”
“A thicker shell implies that oxygen and nutrients have longer distances to travel to connect Europa’s surface with its subsurface ocean, as indicated by the MWR data.”
Understanding this exchange process is crucial for future studies on Europa’s habitability.
Furthermore, MWR data shed light on the composition of Europa’s subsurface ice.
This technology uncovered “scatterers,” irregularities such as cracks, pores, and voids that scatter microwaves reflected off the ice.
These scatterers, estimated to be only a few inches in diameter, are believed to extend hundreds of feet below the surface.
The small size and shallow depth of these features suggest they are unlikely to serve as significant pathways for transporting oxygen and nutrients from the surface to the salty ocean beneath.
“The thickness of the ice shell, along with the presence of cracks and pores, adds complexity to our understanding of Europa’s potential for habitability,” remarked Scott Bolton, Ph.D., Juno’s principal investigator at the Southwest Research Institute.
“These findings provide essential context for NASA’s Europa Clipper and ESA’s Juice missions, both en route to the Jupiter system.”
“The Europa Clipper is expected to arrive in 2030, followed by Juice the next year.”
The team’s new results were published in the Journal on December 17, 2025, in Nature Astronomy.
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S.M. Levin et al. 2026. Characterization of Europa’s ice thickness and subsurface structure using the Juno microwave radiometer. Nat Astron 10, 84-91; doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02718-0
Alzheimer’s disease presents significant challenges, transforming a cherished family member into someone who often fails to recognize their true self. Many individuals ponder the reasons behind the erosion of memories and personalities. Researchers have identified the primary driver of Alzheimer’s as the accumulation of a brain protein known as Tau.
Under normal circumstances, tau protein plays a crucial role in preserving the health of nerve cells by stabilizing the microtubules, which function as pathways for nutrient transport. However, in Alzheimer’s patients, tau protein becomes twisted and tangled, obstructing communication between cells. These tau tangles are now recognized by medical professionals as a defining characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, serving as indicators of cognitive decline.
Recent studies have shown that tau tangles correlate with diminished brain function in individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene is closely linked to late-onset Alzheimer’s and may exacerbate tau tangling. This gene encodes a protein involved in transporting fats and cholesterol to nerve cells throughout the brain.
A team from the University of California, San Francisco, and the Gladstone Institute has discovered that eliminating APOE4 from nerve cells can mitigate cognitive issues associated with Alzheimer’s. Their research involved specially bred mice exhibiting tau tangles and various forms of the human APOE gene, specifically APOE4 and APOE3. The aim was to determine if APOE4 directly contributes to Alzheimer’s-related brain damage and if its removal could halt cognitive decline.
To investigate the impact of the APOE4 gene, the researchers introduced a virus containing abnormal tau protein into one side of each mouse’s hippocampus. When the mice reached 10 months of age, the team conducted various tests—including MRI scans, staining of brain regions, microscopy, brain activity assessments, and RNA sequencing—to analyze the accumulation of tau protein in the brains of those with and without the APOE4 gene.
The findings revealed significant discrepancies between the two groups. Mice with the APOE4 gene displayed a higher prevalence of tau tangles, a marked decline in brain function, and increased neuronal death, while those with the APOE3 gene exhibited minimal tau deposits and no cognitive decline.
Next, the researchers employed a protein linked to an enzyme called CRE to excise the APOE4 gene from mouse nerve cells, subsequently measuring tau levels with a specialized dye. The results indicated a significant reduction in tau tangles, dropping from nearly 50% to around 10%. In contrast, mice carrying the APOE3 gene saw an even smaller reduction from just under 10% to approximately 3%.
Additionally, a different dye was utilized to quantify amyloid plaques—another protein cluster frequently found in Alzheimer’s cases. The outcomes showed that, following removal of the APOE4 gene, amyloid plaque levels decreased from roughly 20% to less than 10%. Mice with the APOE3 gene, however, displayed no notable change, consistently maintaining around 10% amyloid plaques.
The researchers further analyzed the RNA of the mice to understand how APOE4 affects neurons and other brain cells. Their observations confirmed that the presence of APOE4 correlated with an uptick in Alzheimer’s-related brain cells. This finding helped illustrate that eliminating APOE4 from nerve cells resulted in diminished responses associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
In conclusion, the researchers determined that APOE4 is detrimental and may actively induce Alzheimer’s-like damage in the brains of mice. While further validation in human subjects is needed, the implications of this gene may pave the way for developing targeted therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists utilized the WISPR (Wide Field Imager for Solar Exploration) instrument on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to capture stunning images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between October 18 and November 5, 2025.
WISPR captures the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: NRL / NASA / JHUAPL / Guillermo Stenborg, JHUAPL.
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11pl3Z, originated from the constellation Sagittarius.
This remarkable interstellar comet approached Mars on October 3 at a distance of just 0.194 AU and reached its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, on October 30.
On December 19, 3I/ATLAS made its nearest pass to Earth, coming within 270 million kilometers (168 million miles) of our planet.
The spectacular images of 3I/ATLAS were obtained by the WISPR instrument aboard NASA’s Parker Solar Probe during a critical observation window from October 18 to November 5.
“The Parker Solar Probe captured around 10 images of the comet daily,” stated WISPR team members.
“During this observation period, the spacecraft accelerated away from the Sun following its 25th solar flyby on September 15.”
“These initial images are currently undergoing calibration and processing, revealing the comet’s movement behind the Sun from Parker’s vantage point.”
“At that time, the comet was located about 209 million kilometers (130 million miles) from the Sun, just beyond Mars’ orbit.”
“These images offer a rare opportunity to study the comet when it was too close to the Sun for ground-based observations.”
The WISPR team is diligently working to finalize the data by eliminating stray light and adjusting for varying exposure times between images, enhancing the comet’s visibility.
“The final images will significantly advance our understanding of this intriguing interstellar visitor,” researchers concluded.
Researchers exploring the solar system’s history focus on a diverse range of comets and asteroids, particularly those classified as Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). These celestial bodies not only offer insights into the origins of water and organic materials but also continue to impact planets across the solar system, including Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury. Their close proximity to Earth facilitates detection and observation with smaller telescopes, increasing the potential for successful interceptions, potentially involving rovers and landers.
An international research team has recently classified and identified 39 new NEOs between February 2021 and September 2024, utilizing two advanced telescopes: Itaparica Observatory (OASI) in Brazil, along with the 2.15-meter Jorge Sahade telescope at Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito (CASLEO) in Argentina.
The research team used these telescopes to study variations in the brightness of NEOs over time. Since NEOs are essentially blocks of ice or rock that reflect sunlight rather than emit light, their visibility from Earth is influenced by the angle between Earth and the Sun along with their size, shape, and structure. By measuring the periodic changes in brightness, scientists calculated the rotation rates of these objects.
The diameters of the 39 NEOs varied from 0.1 to 10 kilometers (0.06 to 6 miles), with most ranging between 0.5 to 3 kilometers (0.3 to 2 miles). Their shapes ranged from nearly spherical to elongated, cigar-like forms. The team successfully determined the rotation periods for 26 of these NEOs, noting that the shortest rotation cycle was just over two hours while the longest approached 20 hours. Notably, 16 of these NEOs rotated in under 5 hours, suggesting that many are fast-rotating bodies.
The study established that a rotation period exceeding 2.2 hours is the upper limit for small NEOs known as rubble pile asteroids, which are loose formations held together by self-gravity. Beyond this threshold, centrifugal forces could destabilize them. Conversely, those NEOs under 250 meters (820 feet) tend to be more solid, dubbed monoliths. The findings indicated that smaller and medium-sized NEOs exhibit varied structures and formation histories.
Using advanced imaging techniques through telescope lenses that filter specific light wavelengths, the researchers analyzed the chemical composition of 34 NEOs. They employed 2 additional filters alongside 4 filters designed for green and red wavelengths, including near-infrared wavelengths. Their results revealed that 50% of the NEOs are silica-based, resembling many terrestrial rocks, with 23.5% comprising carbon-rich materials, approximately 9% metals, and around 6% basaltic elements. The remaining composition was a mixture of carbon and silicates as well as calcium and aluminum.
While the chemical analysis largely aligned with previous findings, the researchers found a lack of olivine—a mineral typically prevalent in smaller asteroids. This absence can be attributed to the fact that most sampled NEOs exceeded 200 meters (660 feet), surpassing the typical size for olivine-rich asteroids.
This research enriches our understanding of NEOs and their physical and chemical properties. The team advocates for an integrated research approach that leverages technology and multi-telescope observations to effectively characterize small celestial objects. Future studies should prioritize close monitoring of NEOs, especially those approaching their rotation threshold, and employ radar observations to confirm the existence of potential binary pairs. By analyzing reflected visible and near-infrared light, researchers can further unveil the chemical makeup of the asteroid surfaces.
Researchers may have identified a potential connection between extreme endurance running and colorectal cancer, as nearly half of marathon and ultra-marathon participants have undergone screening.
Initial research assembled 100 long-distance runners aged 35-50 for colonoscopy, though these findings have not yet been peer-reviewed.
Close to 50% were found to have polyps (growths), with 15% diagnosed with advanced adenomas—growths that are likely to progress to cancer.
In contrast, recent studies indicate that only about 4.5 to 6 percent of adults in their late 40s from the general population have these advanced adenomas. However, it’s important to note that these studies included significantly larger sample sizes.
“I was quite concerned when I observed a group of ultra-marathon runners in their 30s diagnosed with stage 4, very advanced colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Timothy Cannon, who led the study at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Virginia. BBC Science Focus.
“They reported experiencing bleeding and convulsions post-race. At least one or two mentioned that they were told this was normal following their runs.”
Such symptoms can result from ischemic colitis, where blood flow is diverted from the colon to supply oxygen to the legs and other muscles during intense activity. This can lead to swelling and bleeding but typically resolves spontaneously.
Dr. Cannon speculated whether repeated cycles of damage and healing could create conditions conducive to cancer development.
Blood flow to the legs deprives the intestines of oxygen.
“There is currently no evidence that ischemic colitis directly causes cancer,” he stated. “However, it’s not difficult to imagine the potential outcomes. When numerous cells die and regenerate chaotically, there are ample chances for DNA replication errors.”
Alternative explanations exist as well. Endurance athletes are known to possess distinct gut microbiota compared to non-runners, and they often consume considerable amounts of ultra-processed foods, such as bottled energy drinks.
Dr. Cannon’s team is preparing to compare the gut bacteria of runners with and without adenomas to that of non-runners.
The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting, yet researchers cautioned that these are merely preliminary results, necessitating further investigation. They also highlighted that the screening study lacked a control group of non-runners.
“This leans more toward hypothesis than definitive answers,” Cannon remarked.
“I definitely don’t want people to walk away thinking exercise is harmful because it is beneficial overall. The inquiry is whether high levels of exercise could elevate the risk of colon cancer—and I believe they might.”
Read more:
Running slowly may be essential for a healthier, longer lifespan. Here’s why
What are the limits of human endurance?
The astonishing truth about how running can alter one’s perception of time
Children are turning to YouTube as soon as they power on their TVs, marking a significant shift in video consumption from laptops to living rooms.
According to an extensive study of UK viewing habits by the Communications Regulator Ofcom, YouTube stands as the most favored TV platform for Generation Alpha.
Last year, one in five young viewers, aged between four and 15, headed to this platform first. While BBC One ranked among the top five initial choices, kids had the option to select BBC iPlayer as well.
It’s not only the younger demographic that has taken to YouTube TV. An observable cultural shift reveals that viewers aged 55 and older have nearly doubled their watching time on YouTube, going from 6 minutes a day to 11 minutes last year, with an increasing percentage (42%) tuning in through television.
On average, viewers dedicated 39 minutes a day to YouTube in 2024, positioning the platform as the UK’s second most-watched service after the BBC and ahead of ITV.
For those aged 16 to 24, traditional live television earned only 17 minutes of daily watch time last year, as just 45% tuned in during an average week, down from 48% in 2023.
YouTube has emerged as a serious rival to conventional broadcasters, with half of its trending videos echoing the content typically associated with mainstream broadcasters, including long-form interviews and game shows.
The rise of YouTube poses significant challenges for public service broadcasters like the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.
These organizations are eager to engage newer, younger demographics; however, YouTube also captures a substantial share of their advertising revenue, which raises concerns that featuring their content on YouTube may diminish viewer time on their own platforms.
A 12-year-old girl will be holding a morning training session on Joe Wicks YouTube. Photo: Richard Sarker/Guardian
“Public service broadcasters recognize this shift and will adapt to meet audiences in online environments, increasing engagement there,” a spokesperson commented. “However, more ambitious efforts are needed to ensure that public service media remains relevant and sustainable in the long term.”
Ofcom has already advised traditional broadcasters, referred to as “endangered species,” to collaborate with YouTube for greater content visibility, emphasizing the need for “fair commercial terms.”
Michael Grade, chairman of Ofcom and former Channel 4 director, proposed that the government consider new legislation requiring YouTube to feature UK public service broadcasters’ content more prominently.
Channel 4 has been among the pioneers in sharing content on YouTube, arguing that rather than detracting from their own platform, it expands their audience reach. ITV also announced a new agreement with YouTube at the end of last year.
Discussions are underway within the BBC about how much content should be uploaded to YouTube, although significant media coverage will still be featured there. Deborah Turness, head of BBC News, has informed staff that the new head of the AI department will drive a YouTube strategy aimed at younger viewers.
Weekly video viewing times remain stable, with the average person watching 4 hours and 30 minutes at home last year—down just a minute from the previous year.
Traditional broadcast content still dominates viewing, accounting for 56% of the total, although this figure has decreased from 71% in 2018.
Additionally, YouTube has become the leading online audio platform, with 47% of UK adults using it weekly, compared to 36% for Spotify. The rise of podcasts on YouTube signifies its growing influence across the media landscape.
In their recent study, scientist Christopher Hall and his team at the University of Auckland concentrated on neutrophils, a specific type of white blood cell significant for antibacterial defense.
yi du et al. We identified a photoresponsive endometrial timer that regulates time variations in antibacterial activity. Image credit: Summerstock.
The researchers employed zebrafish as a model organism due to its similar genetic composition to humans, and its capability of being raised with a transparent body, facilitating real-time observation of biological processes.
“Previous research has noted heightened immune responses in the morning during the initial stages of active fish,” Dr. Hall explained.
“I believe this reflects an evolutionary adaptation where the host is more vigilant during daylight, thus more prone to encounter bacterial infections.”
Nevertheless, the team aimed to determine how immune responses align with sunlight exposure.
The findings revealed that neutrophils have a circadian clock that activates during the day, boosting their bacterial-killing efficacy.
Most cells in our body maintain a circadian clock to synchronize with external time, thus regulating bodily functions.
Light plays a crucial role in resetting these circadian clocks.
“Given that neutrophils are the first immune cells to respond to inflammatory sites, our results carry significant implications for therapeutic advancements in many inflammatory diseases,” Dr. Hall remarked.
“This discovery opens avenues for developing drugs aimed at neutrophil circadian clocks to enhance our capability to fight infectious diseases.”
Study will be featured in the journal Scientific Immunology.
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Lucia Yi du et al. 2025. Light-regulated circadian timers optimize the bactericidal function of neutrophils and enhance daytime immunity. Scientific Immunology 10 (107); doi: 10.1126/Sciimmunol.Adn3080
Searching for the land refugia is essential for human survival during the hypothetical sixth mass extinction. Studying comparable crises in the past can provide insights, but there is no evidence of fossils of diverse giant fluid ecosystems that survived the most severe biological crisis of the past 540 million years. In a new study, paleontologists have investigated plant and tetrapod fossils and various microfossils in the Permian-Triassic Nantaodonggou section in Xinjiang, China. Their fossil records reveal the presence of gymnasium forests and fern fields in a vibrant area, but marine life has experienced mass extinction.
Artistic reconstruction of the end of Permian mass extinctions based on fossil parinomorphs, plants, and tetrapods, and the end of Permian mass extinctions based on sedimentary data from the Southern Jiang section of China's New Jiang. Image credit: DH Yang.
The mass extinction of Permian, which occurred about 252 million years ago, is widely recognized as the most serious of the five major plant zoic extinctions.
This catastrophic event leads to the extinction of about 80% of known species and is a fact that is well supported by marine fossil records.
Some scientists suggest that volcanic eruptions in Siberia caused widespread terrestrial destruction through wildfires, acid rain and toxic gases.
This evidence includes the continuous extinction of properties. Gigantopteris Flora in southern China Grosso Pteris Flora crossing Gondwanaland around the mass extinction of the Endopermians.
However, other scientists argue that these devastating effects are limited by latitude and atmospheric circulation.
Several fossil discoveries suggest that certain Mesozoic plants exist before extinction events, referring to uninterrupted evolution.
Newly discovered fossils from the southern taodonggou section, located in the Tapan Hami Basin in Xinjiang Province, northwestern China, offer a unique perspective.
“We further confirm that the presence of intact tree trunks and fern stems represents local vegetation rather than transported remains,” said Professor Minli Wang, a researcher at the Institute of Geology and Paleontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Although some plant species have disappeared locally, researchers have found that the overall extinction rate for spores and pollen species is probably only about 21%.
This conclusion is based on the discovery of many “missing” species in the early Triassic formations elsewhere, indicating temporary migration rather than permanent extinction.
This stable vegetation base was essential for the rapid recovery of local ecosystems.
Fossil evidence shows that within just 75,000 years after the extinction ended, the region supported a diverse tetrapod, including herbivorous. lystrosaurus And carnivorous chronicers show that they can quickly return to complex food webs.
This finding contrasts with previous understanding that it took more than a million years for the ecological restoration of the Endopermians to follow the extinction.
New evidence suggests that local ecological diversity in this field has recovered more than 10 times faster than in other regions.
Scientists cited the region's stable, semi-humid climate as essential to its biological resilience. According to a Paleosol Matrix analysis, the area received consistent rainfall of approximately 1,000 mm per year during this period.
Its consistent precipitation has provided southern gu with more abundant vegetation and habitable environment than other regions following the mass extinction of Permians, providing important support for migrating migrant animals.
Despite its proximity to the volcanic activity that caused the extinction of the Endopermians, the Tarpanhami Basin provides safe shelter for terrestrial life, indicating that even seemingly dangerous places can harbor important biodiversity.
“This suggests that local climate and geographical factors create an incredible pocket of resilience and hope for conservation efforts in the face of changes in the global environment,” says Professor Feng Shui of Nanjing Geology Institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“In light of current concerns about a potential sixth large-scale extinction driven by human activity, this discovery of a “life oasis” underscores the importance of identifying and protecting such natural refsias. ”
study Published in the journal Advances in science.
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Huiping Peng et al. 2025. Refludium in the abandoned indid: Unearthing the lost flora that escaped the mass extinction of Permians. Advances in science 11 (11); doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads5614
Salvo was fired by Donald Trump at the start of his trade war, imposing tariffs on China on Tuesday, prompting immediate retaliation from Beijing due to concerns about the global economic impact.
10% tariffs have been implemented currently, prompting China to release an anti-trade survey on Google swiftly. The Ministry of Finance has announced tariffs of 10% on items such as coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, agricultural equipment, large distributed vehicles, and pickup trucks from the United States.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and Customs Bureau took actions on Tuesday to protect national security interests by imposing export controls on important minerals such as tungsten, terrillium, lutenium, molybdenum, and rutenium-related items.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce indicated that US PvH Group and Illumina would be added to the list of unreliable entities, subjecting them to restrictions or penalties without specifying the accusations against the companies.
In response to tightened US exports of high-tech products to China, Beijing is considering adding Intel to a list of companies under investigation for antitrust law violations. Financial Times reported this on Tuesday.
Despite Google services being blocked in China, the company continues to earn revenue from Chinese companies advertising overseas and using Android operating systems.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance stated that the unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States violates World Trade Organization rules and could harm economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
After initially threatening economic disputes with Canada and Mexico, President Trump decided to postpone tariffs following discussions with their leaders.
The US has removed exemptions for Chinese exports, imposing tariffs on most goods. Some Chinese retailers, like SHEIN and TEMU, relied on exemptions to sell affordable products in the US.
Trump agreed to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico after speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led Trump to delay 25% tariffs on Canada. Trudeau announced a $1.3 billion border security plan in response to the decision.
The White House announced a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the week to address escalating trade tensions.
Economists warn that Trump’s tariff plan could raise prices for millions of Americans.
Trump believes tariffs will strengthen the US financially and lead to beneficial trade agreements with other countries.
The global financial markets reacted cautiously to Trump’s tariff actions, with mixed results.
Various stock indexes fluctuated following the tariff announcements, with currencies like the Canadian dollar experiencing volatility.
The Chinese market was closed for the Lunar New Year holiday and is set to reopen on Wednesday.
Late Iron Age Durotrigan burial at Winterbourne Kingston, Dorset, England
bournemouth university
Genetic analysis of people buried in a 2,000-year-old cemetery in southern England supports the idea that Britain’s Celtic communities were dominated by women, finding that while men immigrated from other communities, women indicates that they stayed in their ancestral home. It lasted for centuries.
The study supports growing archaeological evidence that women held high positions in Celtic societies across Europe, including Britain, and that Mediterranean audiences often found it difficult to describe Celtic women as having power. This gives credence to the Roman accounts, which were often thought to be exaggerated.
Since 2009, Durotrygean skeletons have been unearthed during excavations of an Iron Age burial site in Winterbourne-Kingston, Dorset, England. The Durothrigeans occupied the coast of south-central England from about 100 BC to 100 AD, and probably spoke a Celtic language.
Human bones from Iron Age Britain are rare because they were destroyed by common funerary practices such as cremation and burial of bodies in bogs. However, the Durotrige buried their dead in formal cemeteries in the chalk landscape, which helped preserve them. Archaeologists have found that Durotrigan women were often buried with valuables, suggesting a high status and perhaps a female-centered society.
Lara Cassidy Doctors from Trinity College, Dublin, have now analyzed the genomes of 55 Winterbourne-Kingston Durotrigans to determine how they are related to each other and to other Iron Age peoples in Britain and Europe. I found out how they are related.
Cassidy says there were two big “aha” moments. Both were associated with mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is a small loop of DNA that is inherited only through the maternal line because it is passed through the egg cell and is not integrated with other DNA.
Once each individual’s mitochondrial DNA results were obtained, the researchers noticed that the same genetic sequences appeared over and over again. More than two-thirds of the individuals were found to be descended from a single maternal line, descended from a common female ancestor several centuries ago.
“At that moment, my jaw dropped,” Cassidy says. “This was a clear sign of matrilocality, a husband moving to live with his wife’s family, a pattern never before seen in prehistoric Europe.” Father locality moving into the community is the norm.
To find out whether the maternal localization pattern was a phenomenon peculiar to the Durothrigues, or whether it might have been more widespread across Britain, Cassidy uses an earlier large-scale study of Iron Age Britain and Europe. I started looking into genetic research data. Her jaw dropped again. She found that in cemeteries across Britain, most people were maternal descendants of a small number of female ancestors.
Cassidy said there is growing evidence that Iron Age women were relatively powerful. “Nativeness typically co-occurs with cultural practices that benefit women and integrate them into family support networks,” she explains.
In modern societies, matrilocality is associated with increased female involvement in food production, increased paternity uncertainty, and longer periods of male absence. In such societies, it is men who migrate to new communities as relative strangers and become dependent on their partners’ families for their livelihood.
“Although men typically still occupy formal positions of authority, women can wield significant influence through their strong matrilineal kinship networks and central role in local economies,” says Cassidy.
Cassidy’s team also compared the British DNA dataset with data from other European sites, revealing repeated waves of migration from the continent, consistent with archaeological evidence. This is because southern Britain was a hotspot of cultural and genetic exchange during the Bronze Age between 2500 BC and 1200 BC and during the Late Iron Age influx of the previously unknown Durothrigid period. showed that it was.
Previous research had suggested that Celtic languages probably arrived in Britain between 1000 BC and 875 BC, but this new discovery expands that possibility. “Celtic languages may have been introduced multiple times,” Cassidy said.
“This is very exciting new research and will revolutionize the way we understand prehistoric societies,” he says. Rachel Pope from the University of Liverpool, UK, previously found evidence of female-dominated kinship relationships in Iron Age Europe. “What we’re learning is that the nature of pre-Roman European society was actually very different.”
If you are not only keeping up with the health news of this year, but also following all its recommendations, you are on your way to a truly healthy life.
First, you have probably adjusted your eating habits. Maybe you have been motivated to go vegan after reading an article that claims a diet can reverse your biological age in just eight weeks, or because scientists have found that in combination with exercise, weight loss can be achieved. You might have experimented with intermittent fasting.
You could have opted for a Mediterranean diet to keep your brain young, or increased your fiber intake to make up for a deficiency that most people supposedly have, according to scientists.
Adopting a vegan diet for just 8 weeks can change DNA methylation patterns and reduce biological age – Image credit: Getty Images
It is equally possible that conflicting evidence has led you in a different direction. After all, one study linked intermittent fasting to a 91 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death, and another warned of cancerous mutations during the post-fasting eating period. Several major studies are also reconsidering calorie restriction as the best way to extend lifespan.
Even the negative reputation of ultra-processed foods was a topic of debate. One study showed that avoiding ultra-processed foods reduced the risk of cognitive decline by 12 percent, but a 30-year Harvard University study suggested that ultra-processed foods are not as harmful as we believe.
If you have given up on your diet altogether, we don’t blame you. Ultimately, it was the new weight-loss medications, including those initially in pill form and an alternative to Ozempic that does not cause muscle loss, that gained significant attention.
Early indications of “exercise drugs” brought hope even to those who are unable to be physically active. While some researchers were encouraged by two studies suggesting that walking alone can improve cardiovascular health and reduce back pain, others found that just one exercise session per week could reduce cognitive decline by 13 percent.
More than 50% of men will be bald by the age of 50. A breakthrough in 2024 could change things – Image courtesy of Getty
Scientists claim that the anti-aging solution is within our bodies, as they have discovered that white blood cells can be reprogrammed to target and eliminate senescent cells. Elsewhere, the Atlas of Aging explains why our muscles weaken as we age and how this process can be halted.
Furthermore, a British study found that a simple intervention dramatically reduced peanut allergy rates by 71 percent.
Meanwhile, new possibilities have emerged in the field of hair removal after researchers revealed that a naturally occurring sugar in the human body can help treat male pattern baldness.
In the medical field, a new breath test that can detect lung cancer early is showing promise, and an Irish research team believes they have developed a way to vaccinate against eczema.
Researchers have developed a respiratory sensor that can detect early signs of lung cancer by identifying specific chemical changes, providing a simple, non-invasive screening method – Image courtesy of Getty Images
In positive news, a survey reveals that life is not solely about money. Some of the world’s poorest regions, which rely on nature rather than income, reported higher life satisfaction scores than countries at the top of the World Happiness Index (such as Finland, Denmark, and Iceland).
There was also one health news item that did not offer any new information. It is already known that spending time with dogs can increase your sense of well-being and brain wave activity. We certainly take that advice to heart…or head to the park to play.
It’s commonly believed that spending time online can negatively impact mental health. However, a new study suggests that internet use could actually benefit adults over the age of 50, reducing symptoms of depression by approximately 9%. The study, which examined over 87,500 adults, also indicates that internet use may increase overall life satisfaction. Internet users reported their health as being 15% better on average compared to non-users.
According to one of the co-authors of the study, the internet provides valuable opportunities for older adults to access health-related information, connect with others, and find entertainment. The research, published in the magazine nature, analyzed internet habits in 23 countries and how they correlated with symptoms of depression and life satisfaction among participants.
The study found that adults in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and China experienced the most positive effects from internet use. Even older users, particularly those aged 65 and above with lower levels of social contact, benefited significantly. Additionally, the study showed that internet users did not need to go online frequently to experience benefits, but those who used the internet more frequently generally had better mental health.
Dr. Zhang Qingpeng, one of the co-authors of the study, emphasized the global potential of the internet as a tool to improve mental health. While acknowledging the positive aspects of internet use, some experts caution that it should be used in moderation to maintain meaningful face-to-face interactions and reduce loneliness.
Professor Andrea Wigfield, director of the Center for Loneliness Research, highlights the importance of balancing internet use with real-life connections to combat loneliness. While the study did not address negative effects of internet use on mental health, experts agree that moderation is key in leveraging the benefits of online connectivity while also nurturing in-person relationships.
About our experts:
Dr. Zhang Qingpeng: An associate professor at the University of Hong Kong, Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on data science, AI in medical analytics, and drug discovery.
Dr. Andrea Wigfield: Director of the Center for Loneliness Research and co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, Dr. Wigfield specializes in social isolation and well-being at Sheffield Hallam University.
Recent studies have revealed the significant role of the gut microbiome, a vast community of microorganisms residing in the digestive tract, in influencing the body’s response to stress.
A new investigation published in Cell Metabolism proposes that gut microbes greatly impact the body’s circadian rhythm, particularly in managing stress levels throughout the day.
The research indicates that the activity and composition of gut microbes naturally vary, affecting the release of stress-regulating hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
This breakthrough has sparked hopes among researchers of utilizing microbes as potential remedies for mental health conditions. According to Professor Paul Ross, Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, this study represents a significant advancement in comprehending the microbiome’s impact on mental well-being.
A disturbance in the microbiome balance can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to sleep disturbances, immune system issues, and metabolic changes, affecting stress hormone release.
One particular microorganism, Lactobacillus, is believed to play a crucial role in regulating stress hormones.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Gabriel Tofani, emphasized the gut microbiota’s role in sustaining the body’s natural stress regulation processes.
To demonstrate the connection, researchers administered antibiotics to mice to reduce their microbiome, observing alterations in the release rhythm of the stress hormone corticosterone.
This research lays the groundwork for potential treatments targeting mental health conditions by understanding the intricate relationship between the gut and the brain and its impact on the body’s stress response.
Professor Ross highlighted the potential of microbiome-based interventions in enhancing mental health, noting that this study brings us closer to achieving that objective.
Read More:
About the Experts:
Dr. Gabriel Tofani: A researcher at Cork University in Ireland, focusing on circadian rhythms, stress, and gut microbiota.
Professor Paul Ross: Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, conducting research on the human microbiome, bacterial competition, physiology, and genetics.
Brachyonychthys hirsutus It is a rare benthic fish of the handfish family. Brachionidae.
This rare fish is found only in Tasmania's Derwent River estuary and nearby areas. It is usually found at depths of 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet).
It was first officially described in 1804. Brachyonychthys hirsutushave Their highly adapted pectoral fins look like hands and allow them to walk on the ocean floor.
This species' diet includes small shellfish, shrimp, and polychaetes.
Brachyonychthys hirsutus teeth classified as endangered species Listed on the IUCN Red List 2020. Scientists estimate that fewer than 2,000 individuals remain in the wild.
Its rapid decline is thought to be due to historical fishing practices, coastal development, climate change, and the arrival of invasive species.
“Genome sequencing will aid ongoing efforts to increase population numbers and monitor genetic diversity,” said CSIRO researcher Gunjan Pandey.
“Genomes help us understand how organisms work.”
This provides a basis for understanding gene expression in everyday life and provides insight into its evolutionary history.”
“With the genome, we can help detect species, monitor populations, and even estimate the lifespan of fish.”
“This rich genetic information will help inform long-term conservation strategies,” added CSIRO researcher Carly Devine.
“Recognizing that a multidisciplinary approach alongside ecological research is essential for effective conservation of endangered species, conservation measures are being expanded to include genetics.”
“Marine creatures like the spotted handfish are notoriously difficult to handle.”
“DNA is rapidly degraded and contaminated by microorganisms.”
“This makes it very difficult to assemble a pure genome.”
Using a so-called low-input protocol, the research team was able to sequence the complete genome from a small amount of low-quality DNA.
“We are one of only three teams in the world using this protocol,” Dr. Pandey said.
“We customized the entire process, from the lab setup to the bioinformatics software, to sequence high-quality genomes from low-quality DNA.”
“Work that previously took six to 12 months can now be completed in a matter of days. This technology holds great promise for the understanding and conservation of threatened species across Australia and around the world.”
13,000 years ago, humans had to come up with creative ways to survive in icy environments. Recent studies suggest that their solutions were more inventive and brutal than previously thought: Ice Age hunters likely used weapons to impale prey such as mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers.
This discovery could potentially resolve a long-standing debate regarding the purpose of ancient tools known as Clovis points. These sharp rocks, made of materials like chert and flint, have been found throughout the United States in various sizes. While it was initially believed that Clovis points were used as spear tips by skilled hunters for hunting large animals like mammoths and bison, a new study suggests a different perspective.
Published in the journal PLoS One, the study conducted by archaeologists from the University of California, Berkeley proposes that these weapons were used to ensnare and wound charging animals, and possibly even defend against sabre-toothed cats.
So how did this hunting method work? Hunters likely positioned the sharpened spear in the ground at an angle, allowing the animal’s momentum to drive the spear deep into its body upon impact. This innovative technique provided a strategic advantage in hunting large animals, making it more effective than traditional spear-throwing.
“This ancient Native American design represents a significant advancement in hunting strategies,” stated Scott Byrum, a contributing researcher. John Myers, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of understanding ancient survival techniques that have been utilized worldwide for millennia.
To validate their findings, the researchers conducted experimental simulations of the hunting technique in addition to analyzing historical records and literature. This process led to a better understanding of how Clovis points were used to hunt mammoths during the Ice Age.
A replica of an ancient Clovis point shows distinctive flutes near its base. These may have been the weapons used to kill the mammoth. – Photo by Scott Byrum
Recreating this ancient hunting technique through experimental models enabled researchers to gain insight into the effectiveness and practicality of pike hunting. Byrum and his team aim to further test their theory by creating a simulated mammoth to assess the durability and impact of the Clovis point.
This method of impaling prey, known as pike hunting, has historical precedence in warfare and hunting practices. During the Ice Age, this technology was crucial for survival as it allowed hunters to reuse their weapons and avoid the challenge of finding suitable materials for crafting new spears in harsh winter conditions.
By discovering how Clovis points were utilized in hunting, researchers have shed light on the coexistence of early humans with large extinct animals. This new perspective highlights the innovative strategies employed by ancient hunters and deepens our understanding of human history.
Water on Mars may be lurking beneath or even above the planet’s surface.
NASA/JPL/USGS
Mars isn’t as dry as it seems. Billions of years ago, oceans and rivers of liquid water rippled across its surface, but now it appears that all of that liquid has disappeared, leaving behind a dusty barren landscape. But as we explore Mars with probes, landers, rovers, and even distant telescopic images, more and more traces of water are popping up.
Each hint fascinates researchers about how important water is to life and how it could aid future exploration. Water has now been found in various forms all over Mars. Here are five places where water has been found.
1. Buried underground
The InSight lander, visualized here, recently discovered new potential water reservoirs on Mars.
NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology
Just beneath Mars’ dry surface lies an icy wonderland. These deposits are insulated by an overlying layer of dust, but erosion or meteorite impacts could expose them to the watchful eye of Mars orbiters. A single icy deposit recently identified using data from the Mars Express spacecraft appears to contain enough water to cover the entire Martian surface with an ocean 1.5 to 2.7 meters deep.
It’s not just ice buried under the orange sand. There’s a controversial theory that there’s a huge lake beneath Earth’s Antarctic pole. It could just be wet silt or volcanic rock. But… New Research Using data from the InSight lander, researchers have uncovered the possibility of another reservoir of water near the Martian equator. InSight found this water, buried 11.5 to 20 kilometers underground, by sensing Martian earthquakes and measuring the speed at which seismic waves travel. The results revealed that the rocks through which the earthquakes travel appear to be saturated with water.
2. Frost the pole
Frost in a crater on the North Plains of Mars
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Reaching buried water on Mars will be difficult. For future explorers, the more promising reservoirs are probably exposed on the surface. Mars has ice caps at both poles, just like Earth’s, and we’ve known about them for decades. Many of Mars’ craters also contain small ice sheets inside them, the only places on the Martian surface cold enough to hold ice.
However, at higher latitudes on Mars, the air is cooler and more moist, and temporary frosts can occur. On frigid Martian mornings, volcano peaks are also covered in frost, likely caused by water vapor in the atmosphere freezing.
The Tanimbar Islands are one of the main island groups of Wallacea (a group of mainly Indonesian islands separated from the Asian and Australian continental shelves by deep-sea straits) that was on the early human migration route from Sunda to Sahul (Australia and New Guinea). Despite their geographic importance, the group has not been thoroughly archaeologically explored. Now, archaeologists from the Australian National University have found the first evidence of Pleistocene human occupation in the Tanimbar Islands, dating back about 42,000 years ago.
Map of Walesia showing Birdsel's north and south migration route. The map also highlights the oldest Pleistocene sites on each island. On the north route, the following sites are highlighted: 1) Reang Karampuang, Reang Tedonggae, Reang Bulu Sipong 4, 2) Goa Topogaro, 3) Reang Saru, 4) Deo 2, 5) Goro, 6) Kero 6. On the south route, the following sites are highlighted: 7) Liang Bua, 8) Rua Meko, 9) Makupan, 10) Laili, 11) Ashitau Kuru, Rene Hara, Macha Kuru 2, 12) Hia Soloto Entapa, 13) Erivavan. The last two sites represent a connection to Sahul. 14) Reang Lemdub is now in the Aru Islands but was once connected to the mainland during the Pleistocene. 15) Majedbebe is the oldest known site in Sahul. Image credit: Kaharuddin others., doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108834.
The Tanimbar Islands are located at the easternmost tip of Southern Wallacea.
About 250 km east of Tanimbar lie the Aru Islands, which were part of the Sahul mainland during the Pleistocene low sea level period.
Although geographically close to the Sahul continental shelf, the Tanimbar Islands have remained permanently isolated by an ocean barrier since the first human settlement on Wallacea and even before that.
Compared to neighbouring islands closer to the Sahul Shelf, such as Halmahera, Seram and Gebe in the north, and Timor, Rote and Kisar in the south, the Tanimbar Islands have received relatively limited archaeological attention.
“This is particularly significant as it was found in Erivavan in the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia,” said Hendri Kaharuddin, a doctoral student at the Australian National University.
“Taninbar lies just offshore from the Sahul Shelf, which includes present-day Australia and New Guinea.”
“The question of how our early ancestors got there from Southeast Asia is one of the most intriguing of prehistoric migrations, mainly because of the long distances involved and the need for advanced navigation techniques.”
“There have been two main routes that have been explored as possibilities since the mid-20th century: a northern route through islands such as Sulawesi, and a southern route passing near Timor and the Tanimbar islands.”
“This discovery represents one of the oldest sites on the southern route and is an important piece of the puzzle.”
Although much remains unknown about Erivavan's first inhabitants, the perilous nature of the sea crossing suggests that the colonists had developed advanced maritime technology by about 42,000 years ago.
“They would have had to cross a body of water over a distance of more than 100 kilometres, regardless of the direction of their travel,” Kaharuddin said.
“Along with small fragments of pottery, evidence of bones, shells and sea urchins was also found, indicating that the island was a centre of early maritime activity.”
“As research continues in less-explored regions like the Tanimbar Islands, we hope to learn more about early human life and migration patterns.”
“It is also clear that the colonization of Sahul was not a single event, but a gradual process involving successive waves of seagoing populations.”
“Coastal communities likely navigated the coastline, exploited marine resources, and built resilient settlements along the way.”
“This island-hopping strategy fostered cultural exchange and adaptation, leading to the formation of diverse societies across the landmass.”
Hendri AF Kaharuddin others2024. Islands on the Brink: 42,000 Year Old Occupation of the Tanimbar Islands and Implications for the Sunda-Sahul Early Human Migration Theory. Quaternary Science Review 338: 108834; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108834
When picturing a smoker, the image of a slender and stylish individual like Audrey Hepburn may come to mind. However, recent research indicates that even slim smokers could be harboring unhealthy fat hidden deep within their abdomens.
Despite the common belief that smoking can suppress appetite and the fear of weight gain upon quitting, a new study reveals that smokers are more likely to be underweight. Not only that but smokers also tend to accumulate more harmful deep abdominal fat, known as “visceral fat,” which is linked to increased risks of heart attack, diabetes, and dementia. This type of fat can be challenging to detect, leading to a false sense of fullness even with a flat stomach.
To investigate the relationship between lifelong smoking and belly fat, researchers at the University of Copenhagen utilized a statistical analysis tool called Mendelian randomization. This tool categorizes individuals based on their genetic information to identify causal connections between exposures like smoking and outcomes such as abdominal fat distribution.
The study involved analyzing genetic data from numerous studies on smoking habits and body fat distribution among individuals of European ancestry. By identifying specific genes associated with smoking behaviors and body fat distribution, the researchers were able to determine the impact of smoking on belly fat independent of other influencing factors like alcohol consumption and socio-economic background.
The lead author, Dr. Germán D. Carrasquilla, emphasized the importance of large-scale efforts to prevent and reduce smoking in light of their findings published in the journal Dependence. He believes that reducing smoking prevalence can indirectly decrease the prevalence of abdominal fat and ultimately improve public health outcomes.
Since the beginning of time, men and women have tended to have different social roles, interests, and occupations. It is natural to think that perhaps these stem from innate differences in their brains and more obvious differences in their bodies. This idea has long been controversial, but now that ideas about gender are changing more rapidly than ever, the question of whether male and female brains are different has become more acute. There is. This remains a controversial issue even among neuroscientists. Nevertheless, they are finally cutting into historical discrimination and gender politics and trying to get to the truth.
Early measurements of skull volume showed that, on average, male brains are slightly larger and heavier than female brains. Some commentators argued that this “five ounce deficit” was the key to the man's superior abilities. In fact, the simple explanation is that the larger the body, the more brain tissue it requires to move it. This is a relationship found across animal species.
The situation became even more complicated in the 1990s with the advent of brain scanning technology, which suggested sex differences in the size of certain brain regions and structures. These findings often turned into compelling stories about, for example, why women are more empathetic on average or why men are more likely to become engineers. But studies from the early decades of brain scanning research should be taken with a pinch of salt, he says. leeds elliott at Rosalind Franklin University in Illinois. “When we control for brain size, all claims about volumetric differences in individual structures disappear…
The UK’s new Artificial Intelligence Safety Authority has discovered that the technology can mislead human users, produce biased results, and lacks safeguards against the dissemination of harmful information.
Announced by the AI Safety Research Institute, initial findings of research into advanced AI systems, also known as large language models (LLMs), revealed various concerns. These AI systems power tools like chatbots and image generators.
The institute found that basic prompts can bypass LLM safeguards and be used to power chatbots such as ChatGPT for “dual-use” tasks, which refers to using a model for both military and civilian purposes.
According to AISI, “Using basic prompting techniques, users were able to instantly defeat the LLM’s safeguards and gain assistance with dual-use tasks.” The institute also mentioned that more advanced “jailbreak” techniques could be used by relatively unskilled attackers within a few hours.
The research showed that LLM models can be useful for beginners planning cyberattacks and are capable of creating social media personas for spreading disinformation.
When comparing AI models to web searches, the institute stated that they provide roughly the same level of information, but AI models tend to produce “hallucinations” or inaccurate advice.
The image generator was found to produce racially biased results. Additionally, the institute discovered that AI agents can deceive human users in certain scenarios.
AISI is currently testing advanced AI systems and evaluating their safety, while also sharing information with third parties. The institute focuses on the misuse of AI models, their impact on humans, and their ability to perform harmful tasks.
AISI clarified that it does not have the capacity to test all released models and is not responsible for declaring these systems “secure.”
The institute emphasized that it is not a regulator but conducts secondary checks on AI systems.
Google made a promise in July 2022 to remove location data of users who visited abortion clinics. However, little progress has been made in fulfilling this promise. This move would make it more difficult for law enforcement to use this information to investigate and prosecute people seeking abortions in states where abortion is banned or restricted. Recent research shows that Google still retains location history data in 50% of cases.
Google originally made this promise shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision to end federal abortion protections. The company stated it would remove entries for locations considered “private” or sensitive, including “health care facilities such as counseling centers, domestic violence shelters, and abortion clinics.” However, as of now, there has been no implementation of this policy. A study conducted by tech advocacy group Accountable Tech found that Google does not mask location data in all cases, even after claiming to prioritize user privacy and implement changes to its location retention policy “as promised” in early 2022.
Accountable Tech’s latest study revealed that while Google’s location retention rates had improved slightly, the company was still not deleting location history in all cases as promised. Google Maps’ Director of Products, Marlo McGriff, disputed this finding and stated that any claims of non-compliance are false.
Researchers used her latest Android device to guide her to an abortion clinic and tested what location data it stored about her trip in the latest study. The study also found that Google still holds data on the location search queries and other criminal data as well, from emails to Google search data. Law enforcement’s use of reverse search warrants and geofence location warrants have raised new concerns about user data privacy.
Recently, Google announced plans to change the way it stores location history data for all its users. This change includes storing location data on users’ devices by default and encrypting and deleting all location data backed up to Google’s cloud storage after three months. However, Accountable Tech remains skeptical of Google’s promises to protect location data, based on its history of unfulfilled commitments.
Artist's impression of Tyrannosaurus macraensis, a relative of Tyrannosaurus rex
sergei krasinski
A portion of a dinosaur skull discovered 40 years ago has been identified as a new species of dinosaur. tyrannosaurusand is probably the closest relative tyrannosaurus rex. The study adds a new twist to the long-standing debate about how many different tyrannosaurus species there were, and could help shed light on how the iconic predator evolved.
tyrannosaurus They first appeared in North America about 68 million years ago, 2 million years before the mass extinction event that wiped out most dinosaurs. Paleontologists are puzzled about the origins of this carnivore. Some suggest that it is an ancestor of tyrannosaurus Some people walked across land bridges from prehistoric Asia, while others traced their origins to southern North America.
Anthony Fiorillo Researchers from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science reviewed fossils in the museum's collection that were discovered in a rock formation known as the McRae Formation in western New Mexico.
Skulls were originally classified as: tyrannosaurus, Fiorillo and his colleagues noticed differences in the bones.They proposed that this specimen represented an older species, which they named Tyrannosaurus macraiensis in reference to the rock in which it was found.
They estimated that the dinosaur was about 12 meters long, comparable in size to an aosaurus. Tyrannosaurus, However, it lived about 4 million years ago.
difference between tyrannosaurus and T. macraensis It would have been relatively subtle.on the other hand tyrannosaurus He had a prominent ridge on his eyebrow, and a bone-crushingly wide jaw with the same ridge. T. macraensis The body is less developed and the skull is thinner, Fiorillo said.
Jawbone identified as new species of Tyrannosaurus
nick longrich
Other recent studies have proposed that several species exist. tyrannosaurus And the so-called tyrannosaurus Fossils need to be reallocated. However, such proposals are controversial and are mostly rejected by dinosaur paleontologists. The new study is likely to spark further debate about that number. tyrannosaurus The species was found in North America.
“I hesitate to consider Tyrannosaurus macraiensis as different from tyrannosaurus rex” Jared Voris at the University of Calgary, Canada. He points out that many of the anatomical features that make the new species unique are also present in the specimen. tyrannosaurus.
Regardless of species assignment, the existence of such large tyrannosaurs millions of years ago is tyrannosaurus This suggests that southwestern North America was an important center of dinosaur evolution. “The age range of the proposed specimen is unique and requires further study,” Voris said. That's because it could outline a clearer picture of dinosaur evolution during the last few million years of the Cretaceous.
The New Mexico tyrannosaurus was discovered in the same rock as a giant horned dinosaur, an anthropomorphic duck-billed dinosaur, and a long-necked herbivore up to 30 meters long. Fiorillo and his colleagues tyrannosaurus It may have evolved to its gigantic size to prey on these large herbivores, and later spread north as the last “tyrant lizard” to stalk the planet.
DeepMind’s FunSearch AI can tackle mathematical problems
Arengo/Getty Images
Google DeepMind claims to have made the first ever scientific discovery in an AI chatbot by building a fact checker that filters out useless output and leaves behind only reliable solutions to mathematical or computing problems. Masu.
DeepMind’s previous achievements, such as using AI to predict the weather or the shape of proteins, rely on models created specifically for the task at hand and trained on accurate, specific data. I did. Large-scale language models (LLMs), such as GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini, are instead trained on vast amounts of disparate data, yielding a wide range of capabilities. However, this approach is also susceptible to “hallucinations,” which refers to researchers producing erroneous output.
Gemini, released earlier this month, has already shown hallucination tendencies and even gained simple facts such as: This year’s Oscar winners were wrong. Google’s previous AI-powered search engine even had errors in its self-launched advertising materials.
One common fix for this phenomenon is to add a layer on top of the AI that validates the accuracy of the output before passing it on to the user. However, given the wide range of topics that chatbots may be asked about, creating a comprehensive safety net is a very difficult task.
Al-Hussein Fawzi Google’s DeepMind and his colleagues created a general-purpose LLM called FunSearch based on Google’s PaLM2 model with a fact-checking layer they call an “evaluator.” Although this model is constrained by providing computer code that solves problems in mathematics and computer science, DeepMind says this work is important because these new ideas and solutions are inherently quickly verifiable. is a much more manageable task.
The underlying AI may still hallucinate and provide inaccurate or misleading results, but the evaluator filters out erroneous outputs, leaving only reliable and potentially useful concepts. .
“We believe that probably 90% of what LLM outputs is useless,” Fawzi says. “If you have a potential solution, it’s very easy to tell whether this is actually the correct solution and evaluate that solution, but it’s very difficult to actually come up with a solution. So , mathematics and computer science are a particularly good fit.”
DeepMind claims the model can generate new scientific knowledge and ideas, something no LLM has ever done before.
First, FunSearch is given a problem and a very basic solution in the source code as input, and then generates a database of new solutions that are checked for accuracy by evaluators. The best reliable solutions are returned as input to the LLM with prompts to improve the idea. According to DeepMind, the system generates millions of potential solutions and eventually converges on an efficient result, sometimes even exceeding the best known solution.
For mathematical problems, a model creates a computer program that can find a solution, rather than trying to solve the problem directly.
Fawzi and his colleagues challenged FunSearch to find a solution to the cap set problem. This involves determining the pattern of points where three points do not form a straight line. As the number of points increases, the computational complexity of the problem increases rapidly. The AI discovered a solution consisting of 512 points in eight dimensions, larger than previously known.
When tackling the problem of bin packing, where the goal is to efficiently place objects of different sizes into containers, FunSearch discovered a solution that outperformed commonly used algorithms. The result is a result that can be immediately applied to transportation and logistics companies. DeepMind says FunSearch could lead to improvements in more math and computing problems.
mark lee The next breakthrough in AI will not be in scaling up LLM to ever-larger sizes, but in adding a layer to ensure accuracy, as DeepMind has done with FunSearch, say researchers at the University of Birmingham, UK. It is said that it will come from.
“The strength of language models is their ability to imagine things, but the problem is their illusions,” Lee says. “And this study breaks that down, curbs that, and confirms the facts. It’s a nice idea.”
Lee says AI should not be criticized for producing large amounts of inaccurate or useless output. This is similar to how human mathematicians and scientists work: brainstorm ideas, test them, and follow up on the best while discarding the worst.
A diagram of Earth 65 million years ago, when CO2 levels were much higher than today.
Chris Butler/Science Photo Library
Perhaps the most difficult question in climate science. That is, how much global warming does carbon dioxide cause? A new analysis of 66 million years of Earth’s climate history suggests that the Earth is far more sensitive to greenhouse gases than current climate models predict, which could lead to even warmer temperatures in the long term. This means that there is a possibility of further development.
A key factor determining the impact of our emissions on the planet is how much the planet warms in response to the extra CO2 we pump into the atmosphere. This sensitivity is affected by various feedback loops related to clouds, melting ice sheets, and other influences.
One way to measure this sensitivity is to look at how the climate has changed in the past. Gases trapped in ice cores can only take us back about 800,000 years, so to go even further back in time to look at temperatures and CO2 levels in the atmosphere, researchers used proxies. Masu. For example, the density of pores in plant leaves and the isotope levels in the fossil shells of marine organisms change in response to CO2 levels.
However, discrepancies between different proxies have led to an uncertain view of Earth’s ancient climate. Now, an extensive review by a team of over 80 researchers provides a clearer picture. More accurate representation of ancient CO2 levels. “We now have a much clearer picture of what carbon dioxide levels have been in the past,” he says. Berber Henisch He coordinated the project at Columbia University in New York.
This allows us to understand current CO2 levels in the atmosphere alongside the deep past. This indicates that the last time CO2 levels were as consistently high as they are now was about 14 million years ago, and much earlier than that. previous estimate.
By comparing this new CO2 data with temperature records, “we can learn how sensitive the climate has been to changes in carbon dioxide,” Hoenisch says. Current climate models estimate that doubling his CO2 levels in the atmosphere would result in a warming of 1.5°C to 4.5°C. However, the results suggest that the temperature increase is even larger, between 5°C and 8°C.
However, there is a big caveat. This new insight into the history of Earth’s deep climate covers trends over hundreds of thousands of years, rather than the short timescales of decades or centuries that are relevant to humanity today, and therefore It doesn’t tell you what the temperature is likely to be. “It’s a slow cascading effect that slowly kicks in,” Hoenisch says.
The vast time scales covered in this study also mean that details of climate sensitivity cannot be detected. michael man Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say climate sensitivities may have been different at other times in Earth’s history compared to today, which is likely why the study yielded higher estimates than those based on more recent periods. I think this explains why I got there.
“The bottom line is that the climate sensitivity estimates from this study probably don’t apply to current anthropogenic warming,” Mann says. “Nonetheless, this study confirms a very close relationship between CO2 and global temperatures, highlighting the continuing threat of fossil fuel combustion.”
New research has found that diabetes may be diagnosed with just a short audio recording from a mobile phone.
Scientists can determine whether someone has diabetes with nearly 90% accuracy using just a 6-10 second audio sample and basic health data such as age, gender, height, and weight I created an AI model.
Klick Labs recruited 267 people for the study, including some who had already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Each subject was asked to record a phrase on their phone six times a day for two weeks, and the team used AI to analyze more than 18,000 samples to determine the acoustic differences between diabetics and non-diabetics. I looked into it.
These included changes in pitch caused by type 2 diabetes that are imperceptible to the human ear.
This model had an accuracy rate of 89% for women and 86% for men.
Study author Jaycee Kaufman said the results could “change” the way we screen for diabetes.
More than 90% of adults with diabetes in the UK have type 2 diabetes, but many go undetected for years as symptoms may be systemic or absent. I am.
Testing for this disease usually requires a visit to a general practitioner and urine and blood tests.
“Current detection methods can be time-consuming, travel-intensive, and costly,” Kaufman said.
“Voice technology has the potential to completely remove these barriers.”
Read more science and technology news: The rise and fall of BlackBerry Debunking myths about the influenza vaccine NASA reveals ‘unbelievable’ asteroid discovery
Previous research has shown that audio recordings can be used in conjunction with AI to diagnose other diseases. Including new coronavirus infection.
Klick Labs believes this technology can also diagnose conditions such as prediabetes and hypertension.
This peer-reviewed study was published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal.
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