Tag Archives: fourth

Living Systems Might Require a Fourth Law of Thermodynamics

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HeLa Cell in Telophase with Separated Chromosomes

Dr. Matthew Daniels/Science Photo Library

The principles of thermodynamics, particularly aspects like heat and entropy, provide valuable methods for assessing how far a system of ideal particles is from achieving equilibrium. Nevertheless, it’s uncertain if the existing thermodynamic laws adequately apply to living organisms, whose cells are complexly intertwined. Recent experiments involving human cells might pave the way for the formulation of new principles.

Thermodynamics plays a crucial role in living beings, as their deviations from equilibrium are critical characteristics. Cells, filled with energetic molecules, behave differently than simple structures like beads in a liquid. For instance, living cells maintain a “set point,” operating like an internal thermostat with feedback mechanisms that adjust to keep functions within optimal ranges. Such behaviors may not be effectively described by classical thermodynamics.

N. Narinder and Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich from the Technical University of Dresden aimed to comprehend how the disequilibrium in living systems diverges from that in non-living ones. They carried out their research using HeLa cells, a line of cancer cells derived from Henrietta Lacks in the 1950s without her consent.

Initially, the scientists employed chemicals to halt cell division, then analyzed the outer membranes of the cells using an atomic force microscope. This highly precise instrument can engage with structures just nanometers in size, enabling researchers to measure how much the membranes fluctuated and how these variations were affected by interference with cell processes, such as hindering the development of certain molecules or the movement of proteins.

The findings showed that conventional thermodynamic models used for non-living systems did not fully apply to living cells. Notably, the concept of “effective temperature” was found to be misleading, as it fails to account for the unique behaviors of living systems.

Instead, the researchers emphasized the significance of “time reversal asymmetry.” This concept examines how the distinctions in biological events (like molecules repeatedly joining to form larger structures only to break apart again) differ when observed forwards versus backwards in time. These asymmetries are directly linked to the functional purposes of biological processes, such as survival and reproduction, according to Fischer-Friedrich.

“In biology, numerous processes are reliant on a system being out of equilibrium. Understanding how far the system deviates is crucial,” states Chase Brodersz from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Recent findings have unveiled a promising new metric for assessing this deviation.

This development marks a significant stride toward enhancing our knowledge of active biological systems, as observed by Yair Shokev at Tel Aviv University. He notes the novelty and utility of the team successfully measuring time-reversal asymmetry alongside other indicators of non-equilibrium simultaneously.

However, to understand life through the lens of thermodynamic principles, further advancements are necessary. Fischer-Friedrich and her team aspire to formulate a concept akin to the fourth law of thermodynamics, specifically applicable to organisms with defined processes. They are actively investigating physiological observables—key parameters measurable within cells—from which such laws could potentially be derived.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Longest-Lasting Snow Patch in Britain Disappears for the Fourth Consecutive Year

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overview

  • For the fourth year in a row, the snow has melted in parts of Scotland known for remaining snowy all year round.
  • This is the 10th time in more than three centuries that it has disappeared.
  • Such snowflakes could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change.

A patch of snow in the Scottish Highlands called the Sphinx typically remains all year round and remains frozen throughout the summer. But it has melted away four years in a row, making it only the tenth time in more than three centuries that it has happened.

The Sphinx that flanks Brelliach, Britain's third highest mountain, has historically been known to persist even after most of the snow and ice has disappeared each year on Scotland's Cairngorm Mountains, making it historically the longest-lasting snow in Britain. It was considered a zone. range.

But by September, like every year since 2021, this patch completely melted away. By comparison, the Sphinx disappeared only three times in the 20th century.

Experts say such snowy areas tend to be sensitive to small fluctuations in temperature, which could serve as a harbinger of the broader effects of climate change. The Sphinx's melting could therefore provide clues to how climate change is affecting the Scottish Highlands, the rest of Scotland and the world.

Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The fact that the Sphinx is melting for the fourth year in a row is a good indicator of these changes.” “Climate change has always been relatively high on the agenda for us as a national park and is increasingly impacting the Highlands. We can learn from the Sphinx about the changes that are happening to our climate. can.”

The Sphinx is located in Brelliach, part of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.
climate center

In addition to melting snow, highlands experience frequent storms and floods interspersed with long periods of dry weather, increasing the risk of wildfires, Moir said.

Changes in snow cover across the plateau affect mountain ecosystems by altering the natural hydrological cycle in which snow gradually melts from the mountains and flows into streams.

“It's really impacting things like salmon spawning areas and the river as a whole,” Moir said. “We need to mitigate some of these impacts and we need to think about what we can do to adapt to changing patterns.”

He added that Cairngorms Park was also home to some of the UK's most endangered species.

Its ripple effects extend beyond the natural environment. The national park is home to about 18,000 people and is visited by about 2 million people each year, Moir said. However, he said severe storms and flooding could displace residents, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt the region's valuable tourism industry.

“It's always been important to try to strike the right balance to ensure that nature and people can thrive within the national park,” Moir said. “What we are trying to do is make sure we invest in things that are good for nature, biodiversity and people.”

Records show that the Sphinx's snow belt has melted only 10 times in more than 300 years.
climate center

Ian Cameron, author of The Vanishing Ice: Diaries of a Scottish Snow Hunter, has spent more than 25 years studying snow in the hills and mountains of Scotland. Every year he publishes his findings on the region's snow cover in the British Meteorological Society's annual report.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote last year that the Sphinx's fate was a story with “little prospect of a happy ending”.

“There is little doubt that we are witnessing a change in the language used to describe snow in Scotland.” he wrote. “In the past, the adjective that best described the Sphinx was 'permanent,' but that had to be changed to 'semi-permanent,' then 'permanent,' and then 'semi-permanent.' But even this descriptor will not be able to withstand the pressure exerted by continued disappearances. We are now witnessing an era where patches of snow may remain only occasionally. ”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

California facing increased heat and fire risks leading up to Fourth of July weekend

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California is bracing for a dangerous combination of extreme heat and high fire risk this week as people across the state celebrate Independence Day outdoors. Temperatures in the Sacramento Valley could soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, according to meteorologist Kate Forrest from the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Heat warnings have been issued for the region starting Tuesday and are expected to last through Saturday.

Forecasters anticipate the heat wave to start in inland California on Tuesday before spreading to the Pacific Northwest and Southern California later in the week. Heat watches, warnings, and advisories will be in effect across the West on Tuesday from southern Oregon to southeastern California’s low desert according to the National Weather Service.

The increase in temperatures is due to a strong high-pressure system lingering in the region. Governor Gavin Newsom has instructed emergency officials to activate the state’s operations center in response to the upcoming heatwave.

The hot weather could see nighttime temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, with inland California facing “extreme” conditions by Friday, as indicated on the Heat Risk Map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service.

Southern Oregon, including the Medford area, is also under a heat watch through Saturday. Meanwhile, Pacific Gas & Electric has warned of potential power outages in 10 California counties on Tuesday due to high winds and dry conditions.

Given the high temperatures and dry conditions, there is an increased risk of wildfires, prompting caution during Fourth of July celebrations involving fireworks. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is monitoring 13 active fires in the state.

Climate change has been linked to the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves and wildfires. Analysis from Climate Central shows that regions like the Sacramento Valley are experiencing more fire-prone weather compared to previous decades.

With heat waves growing in frequency and duration, it is important for residents to take precautions to stay safe during extreme weather events.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Watch SpaceX’s Fourth Starship Launch Attempt Livestream and Get the Latest Updates

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SpaceX is preparing Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, for its next test launch. Here’s everything you need to know.

What time is the launch scheduled?

The launch is expected to take place today, pending regulatory approval, and each flight must be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration. SpaceX tweeted: The live stream begins at 12:30 p.m. UK time.

Judge Eddie Trevino of Cameron County, Texas, where SpaceX’s Starbase launch site is located, has closed nearby roads for flight testing. The closures are limited to a 14-hour period between midnight and 5pm local time.

Where is Starship going?

The fourth test flight will focus on returning Starship from orbit and conducting a mock landing of both the Starship and the Super Heavy first stage booster. Both vehicles will make a “soft splashdown” in the ocean, using their engines to slow their descent and line up for a gentle touch down on the water. The first stage booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship aims to splash down in the Indian Ocean.

What has happened in Starship launches so far?

All three Starship launches have ended in explosions, as part of SpaceX’s strategy to learn from failures. The second launch reached space but was destroyed before completing an orbit. The third test flight reached space and achieved important milestones, despite failing to make a soft landing.

What would happen if this launch were to fail?

The chances of Starship completing its mission perfectly are slim, so failure is expected. However, this failure will provide valuable data and experience to improve future launches. SpaceX has shown the ability to iterate quickly and make progress with each launch.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX Starship Launch: Fourth Test Successful with Both Stages Landing Safely in the Ocean

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Starship launched from Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceX

SpaceX’s Starship, the largest rocket ever, successfully completed its fourth test flight, with the first and second stages completing their missions as planned and each landing in different oceans.

Following liftoff from the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 7:50 a.m. local time, one of the 33 Raptor engines on Super Heavy’s first stage failed to ignite. Despite this, the rocket continued into space and the two stages separated cleanly.

Super Heavy splashed down on schedule about seven minutes after liftoff, close to the launch site in the Gulf of Mexico. After plummeting to Earth from an altitude of more than 100 kilometers, the booster’s engines ignited normally and it slowed from more than 4,000 kilometers per hour to hover just a few meters above the sea surface, but then the live feed cut out and it plunged into the ocean.

Meanwhile, Starship reached an orbit at an altitude of more than 200 kilometers and traveled at a speed of more than 27,000 kilometers per hour. During its descent to Earth, about 60 kilometers above the surface, SpaceX’s livestream footage showed visible damage to one of its four control fins and what appeared to be a cracked camera lens. As it reached the Indian Ocean, it appeared to hover before plummeting into the water.

This fourth test flight focused on returning Starship from orbit after it had reached space for the first time in the previous test. SpaceX opted to perform a “soft splashdown” at sea, as landing on land is currently considered too risky. Instead, the craft would use its engines to slow its descent, align itself as if it were landing on a base, and then gently splash down on the water.

Eventually, the hope is that spacecraft will be able to be refurbished and reused by returning to land from space, as SpaceX already does with its Falcon 9 rocket.

Today’s launch marks the company’s fourth Starship launch and includes software and hardware upgrades, as well as changes to launch procedures based on lessons learned from previous tests. In the first test in April of last year, the first and second stages exploded before separating, and in another test in November, the second upper stage reached space but stopped transmitting data and self-destructed, and the first stage exploded shortly after separation.

SpaceX’s third Starship test flight on March 14 was at least partially successful, reaching space, conducting a fuel transfer test, and flying farther and faster than ever before, but the spacecraft lost control during the flight and failed to make a planned soft landing.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Watch the livestream of SpaceX’s fourth Starship launch attempt and get the latest updates

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SpaceX is preparing for the next test launch of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. Here’s everything you need to know.

What time is the launch scheduled?

The launch is expected to take place today, pending regulatory approval, and each flight must be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration. SpaceX tweeted: The live stream begins at 12:30 p.m. UK time.

Judge Eddie Trevino of Cameron County, Texas, where SpaceX’s Starbase launch site is located, Nearby roads are closed In official documents, Treviño clarified that the closures were for “flight testing” and were limited to a 14-hour period between midnight and 5pm local time.

Where is Starship going?

The fourth test flight will focus on returning Starship from orbit and conducting a mock landing of both the Starship and the Super Heavy first stage booster. Both vehicles will make a “soft splashdown” in the ocean, using their engines to slow their descent and line up for a gentle touch down on the water. The first stage booster is scheduled to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, not far from the launch site, about seven minutes after liftoff, while Starship aims to splash down in the Indian Ocean about an hour later.

What has happened in Starship launches so far?

All three Starship launches have ended in explosions, which was expected as part of SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” strategy.

During the first launch on April 20 last year, three of the first stage’s three engines (out of a total of 33) failed to ignite. Several more subsequently failed during the flight. The rocket then spun out of control and its self-destruct safety mechanism was activated. The entire flight lasted about three minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 39 kilometers.

Starship’s second launch was on November 18. This time, all 33 engines were working, and the rocket flew far enough for the first and second stages to separate. But as the first stage rotated to begin its deceleration and landing procedure, it exploded. The second stage continued on smoothly to an altitude of about 90 miles, passing the Kármán line, which marks the beginning of space. But it was destroyed by a safety device after it stopped transmitting data before completing an orbit or returning to Earth.

SpaceX’s third Starship test flight, on March 14, was at least partially successful, as it reached space, performed a fuel transfer test, and flew farther and faster than ever before. However, it lost attitude control during the flight and failed to make the planned soft landing. Nevertheless, it achieved several important milestones, including Starship’s first atmospheric reentry from space, the first opening and closing of Starship’s payload door in space, and a successful demonstration of fuel transfer, which is key for future NASA Artemis missions to the Moon.

What would happen if this launch were to fail?

The chances of Starship completing its mission perfectly are slim, so it’s likely to fail in some way. But failure will provide data and experience that can be used to improve the design and process for the fifth launch. SpaceX has shown it can iterate quickly and make great strides with each launch.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

NOAA Declares Fourth Mass Bleaching Event Imminent for World’s Coral Reefs

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Invertebrates are highly sensitive to heat stress, so coral health is closely linked to seawater temperature. Corals turn whitish when stressed. release symbiotic algae They live in organizations. Bleaching indicates that the health of the coral is at risk.

“When a coral bleaches, it doesn’t mean it’s dead. It means it’s weak and at risk of dying if conditions don’t improve,” says Ana Palacio, a scientific assistant at the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Institute Collaborative Research Institute based at the University of Miami in partnership with NOAA.

Corals are important ecosystems that support a wide variety of fish and aquatic species, helping to nourish coastal communities and attract tourists. The economic value of coral reefs is estimated at $2.7 trillion annually. According to the 2020 report of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

“They protect our coastlines. They protect us from storms and hurricanes. They have great value to our economy and security,” said Palacio.

Coral ecosystems are among the ecosystems that scientists believe are most at risk from global warming. In 2018, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that: 70% to 90% of the world’s coral reefs They will disappear if the average global temperature drops. exceeded the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.

Last year was the hottest year on record on Earth. The average global temperature has approached that threshold for the first time, but scientists believe 2023 was an anomaly, driven by El Niño.

Experts say bleaching began early in the season as sea surface temperatures soared in Florida.

“Typically, bleaching is observed around August to September in the Northern Hemisphere. We started observing the bleaching phenomenon in July last year,” said marine biologist Fanol Montoya Maya from the Coral Restoration Foundation, an organization that collects, restores, and replants coral.

Palacio said the area has seen widespread mortality of elkhorn and staghorn corals, two species that are the focus of restoration efforts.

“In some places, about 20 percent of those populations survived,” Palacio said of the restored corals. “We’re focusing our hopes on why those corals survived and what they can tell us about resistance, and how corals can become more resilient.”

The last global coral bleaching event occurred in 2014 and lasted until 2017. More than 56% of the world’s coral reef areas experienced temperatures that could cause bleaching during that period.

Bleached coral at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Galveston, Texas, Gulf of Mexico, September 16, 2023.
LM Otero / AP

Manzello said in an email Monday that 54% of the world’s coral reef areas have experienced bleaching-level heat stress in the past year, and this event could be the worst bleaching event on record.

“The proportion of coral reef areas experiencing bleaching-level heat stress is increasing by about 1% every week,” Manzello said. “This event is likely to exceed the previous peak.”

Montoya-Maya said bleaching warnings were already issued in Florida earlier than last year. He said the Coral Restoration Foundation is preparing for a busy summer in response to new bleaching events.

The natural pattern of El Niño is beginning to disappear, and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center estimates that an El Niño event is possible. There is a 60% chance of a La Niña event occurring this summer.This could cool the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and allow some corals to recover, at least temporarily.

“This is very heartbreaking and will cause damage to many coral reefs around the world,” Palacio said. “I hope this bleaching event creates some traction and people start to care more and pay attention to what’s happening to the climate.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Firefly’s Alpha Rocket Successfully Reaches Orbit for the Fourth Consecutive Time

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firefly aerospace launched its Alpha rocket into orbit this morning, carrying a payload from Lockheed Martin into space. However, the company has not yet announced whether it was able to successfully deploy the satellite into its intended orbit, which could indicate a problem with the rocket’s second stage.

Today’s launch marks the fourth ever flight of Firefly’s Alpha rocket. The vehicle took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:32 a.m. local time. The mission, dubbed “Fly the Lightning,” was a commercial launch for customer Lockheed Martin. The rocket carried a Lockheed demonstrator payload called the Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) Technology Demonstrator to low Earth orbit.

Around 9:40 a.m. local time, Firefly tweeted Alpha’s second stage engine will be re-ignited and it will complete the orbit in about 40 minutes. From there, the Lockheed Martin payload was supposed to be deployed. However, the company still hasn’t provided an update after four hours.

ESA is a type of electronically steered antenna array. Lockheed says its unique design allows new ESA sensors to be calibrated in a fraction of the time compared to traditional orbital sensors, which can take months to power up and become operational. The payload of the company’s ESA demonstrator was integrated into a satellite bus built by Terran Orbital (Lockheed owns nearly 7% of Terran’s outstanding stock).

While the primary objective of the mission is to deploy the payload, Firefly says the mission team also tracks the total effort time from receiving the payload until it is ready for launch, providing space-saving launch capabilities. He said he would continue to demonstrate this to the military. .

Rapid launches are a top priority for the Space Force. Firefly has already demonstrated once during the previous Alpha mission, setting a new record for launch readiness. For this mission, Firefly had just 24 hours to complete its final preparations for launch, encapsulate its payload, and attach it to the rocket.

Source: techcrunch.com